يَاO غِياثَsuccor of العِبادِthe people إِنْif بَخِلَwithheld المُزْthe raincloud (first part)
يَا غِياثَ العِبادِ إِنْ بَخِلَ المُزْ
نُraincloud (final part) سقاهُمْhe watered them وَبْلاًa downpour وَمَاand not اسْتَمْطَرُوهُthey sought rain from him
نُ سقاهُمْ وَبْلاً وَمَا اسْتَمْطَرُوهُ
O succor of mankind, who, when the raincloud withholds,
O succor of servants, if the clouds are stingy
waters them with a downpour, though they never asked him for rain;
With rain for them, and they seek but find none,
والذيand the one who أَمَّنَmade safe العِبادَthe people بِبِيضٍwith gleaming swords
والذي أَمَّنَ العِبادَ بِبِيضٍ
مُرْهَفاتٍkeen-edged لِقاؤُهُنَّencountering them كَرِيهُdreadful
مُرْهَفاتٍ لِقاؤُهُنَّ كَرِيهُ
and who has made mankind safe with gleaming swords,
He who secured servants with shining white gifts -
keen-edged and dreadful to encounter!
To meet them is hated, their looks give disdain -
شَهِدَwitnessed الناسُthe people أَمْسِyesterday مَاwhat لَمْdid not يَرَوْهُthey see it
شَهِدَ الناسُ أَمْسِ مَا لَمْ يَرَوْهُ
فِيin الَّذِيthat which أَدْرَكُواthey lived through ولاand not شَهِدوهُthey witnessed it
فِي الَّذِي أَدْرَكُوا ولا شَهِدوهُ
Yesterday the people witnessed what they had never seen
Witnessed yesterday what they'd not seen before
in all they had lived through, nor ever witnessed.
In their time, nor in times they were told about:
قَتلَkilled المشركونَthe polytheists مِنَّاfrom among us شهيداًa martyr
قَتلَ المشركونَ مِنَّا شهيداً
فَتَمَنَّوْاso they wished بأَنَّهُمْthat they أَنْشَرُوهُhad revived him
فَتَمَنَّوْا بأَنَّهُمْ أَنْشَرُوهُ
The polytheists killed a martyr of ours,
The pagans killed a martyr of our number,
then wished they had brought him back to life.
And wished that they tore him utterly apart.
سُفِكَتْwas shed بالدَّمِfor the blood الكريمِnoble دِماءٌblood (plural)
سُفِكَتْ بالدَّمِ الكريمِ دِماءٌ
وكذاand thus يُوبِقُbrings to ruin الحَليمَthe forbearing man السَّفِيهُthe fool
وكذا يُوبِقُ الحَليمَ السَّفِيهُ
Blood was shed in requital for that noble blood;
With his noble blood, blood was spilled,
thus the fool brings the forbearing man to ruin.
Thus does the rash destroy the forebearing.
قَتلوهُthey killed him مُصَفَّداًfettered فَوَدَوْهُso they paid his blood-price
قَتلوهُ مُصَفَّداً فَوَدَوْهُ
لَوْif عَلاhe mounted ظَهْرَthe back of طِرْفِهِhis steed لَمْwould not يَدُوهُthey pay his blood-price
لَوْ عَلا ظَهْرَ طِرْفِهِ لَمْ يَدُوهُ
They killed him in fetters, then paid his blood-price;
They killed him fettered, else had he not been overpowered,
had he mounted his steed, they would not have paid it.
Had he reared his steed's back they'd not subdued him.
لَقِيَmet الموتَdeath فِيat الرَّصِيفِal-Rasif رِجالٌmen
لَقِيَ الموتَ فِي الرَّصِيفِ رِجالٌ
كُلُّهُمْeach of them فِيamong بَنِيthe sons of أَبيهِhis father وَجِيهُdistinguished
كُلُّهُمْ فِي بَنِي أَبيهِ وَجِيهُ
Men met death at al-Rasif,
Men met their death on the pavement, all of them
each distinguished among his father's sons.
Noble in their father's line, high of repute.
غادَرَتْهُمْleft them صوارِمُthe sharp swords of الهندِIndia والزُّرْand the blue spears (first part)
غادَرَتْهُمْ صوارِمُ الهندِ والزُّرْ
قُblue spears (final part) حَصِيداًmown down يَاO بُؤْسَmisery of يَوْمٍa day لَقُوهُthey faced it
قُ حَصِيداً يَا بُؤْسَ يَوْمٍ لَقُوهُ
The swords of India and the blue spears left them
Indian swords and the swords of Zurq abandoned them
mown down—alas for the day they faced!
As carrion - oh, misery on the day they met!
ورأَيْناand we saw الوزيرَthe minister كاللَّيْثِlike a lion أَنَّىhow
ورأَيْنا الوزيرَ كاللَّيْثِ أَنَّى
غيرَother than هَذَاthis والعامِريُّand al-Amiri أَبوهُhis father
غيرَ هَذَا والعامِريُّ أَبوهُ
We saw the minister like a lion—how could
We saw the vizier like an enraged lion Opening his jaws at that but not this.
he be otherwise, with al-Amiri for his father?
When they spied the doves they despaired,
أَيْقَنُواthey were certain بالحِمامِof death لماwhen رَأَوْهُthey saw him
أَيْقَنُوا بالحِمامِ لما رَأَوْهُ
مُقْبِلاًapproaching نحوَهُمْtoward them وسِيئَتْand were distressed وُجُوهُfaces
مُقْبِلاً نحوَهُمْ وسِيئَتْ وُجُوهُ
They were certain of death when they saw him
As he bore down on them, their faces turned pale.
advancing toward them, and faces filled with dismay.
We saw him burning like an unsheathed blade,
ورأَيناهُand we saw him كالحسامِlike a keen sword مضاءًin keenness
ورأَيناهُ كالحسامِ مضاءً
فَشَهِدْناso we testified أَنَّthat الحُسامَthe keen sword أَخُوهُhis brother
فَشَهِدْنا أَنَّ الحُسامَ أَخُوهُ
And we saw him like a sword in keenness,
Thus we testify that the blade is his brother.
so we testified that the sword was his brother.
The stallion darted off, panic-stricken, driven
زَرَقَhe speared العِلْجَthe barbarian زَرْقَةًa spear-thrust تركَتْهُleft him
زَرَقَ العِلْجَ زَرْقَةً تركَتْهُ
حَرِضاًnear death قَدْalready أَظلَّهُovershadowed him المكروهُcalamity
حَرِضاً قَدْ أَظلَّهُ المكروهُ
He speared the barbarian with a thrust that left him
To frenzy by the horrors that affrighted him.
near death, already overshadowed by calamity.
Many died of fright because of him, while many
ماتَhe died ذُعْراًin terror منهof him وكمand how often لَقِيَhe met الأَبthe heroes (first part)
ماتَ ذُعْراً منه وكم لَقِيَ الأَب
طَالَheroes (final part) فِيin هَبْوَةٍa cloud of dust فماyet not ذَعَرُوهُthey frightened him
طَالَ فِي هَبْوَةٍ فما ذَعَرُوهُ
He died of terror at him—yet how often he had faced heroes
He long harried, but they feared him not.
in a cloud of dust, and they had never frightened him!
And how many days his prisoner, and his slain?
ولكَمْand how many أَيِّماًa widow لَهُof his making وقَتِيلاًand a slain man
ولكَمْ أَيِّماً لَهُ وقَتِيلاً
صَمَّwas deaf عنto أَنْto يُجِيبَanswer مَنْwhoever يَدْعُوهُcalls him
صَمَّ عن أَنْ يُجِيبَ مَنْ يَدْعُوهُ
How many a widow he had made, and how many a slain man,
Deaf to those begging his ear, to their cries oblivious.
deaf, unable to answer whoever called him;
A captive in fetters, trapped in his bonds,
وأَسيراًand a captive مُصَفَّداًfettered فِيin وَثَاقٍbonds
وأَسيراً مُصَفَّداً فِي وَثَاقٍ
وغِياثاًand succor لطارِقٍto a night visitor جَفَّdried up فُوهُhis mouth
وغِياثاً لطارِقٍ جَفَّ فُوهُ
and how many a captive, fettered in bonds;
Succor for one who knocked whose mouth decay sealed.
and how often he was succor to a night visitor whose mouth was parched!
That until the battle summoned and the people
ذَاكَthat حَتَّىuntil إذَاwhen اللقاءُbattle دَعاهُcalled him
ذَاكَ حَتَّى إذَا اللقاءُ دَعاهُ
عَايَنَsaw الناسُthe people منهُin him مَاwhat اسْتَعْظَمُوهُthey found astounding
عَايَنَ الناسُ منهُ مَا اسْتَعْظَمُوهُ
All this, until battle called him:
Saw in him what filled them with greatest awe.
the people saw in him what they found astounding—
A fallen lion because of his cub's greenness,
أَسَداًa lion ساقِطاًfallen لِزَرْقَةِto the spear-thrust of شِبْلٍa cub
أَسَداً ساقِطاً لِزَرْقَةِ شِبْلٍ
لَوْif دَرَوْاthey had known حَيْثُwhere أَوْغَلَتْit pierced deeply عَذَرُوهُthey would have excused him
لَوْ دَرَوْا حَيْثُ أَوْغَلَتْ عَذَرُوهُ
a lion felled by a cub's spear-thrust.
Had they known his lair, they would have excused him.
Had they known where it had pierced deep, they would have excused him.
They stood in fright from him but when
وَقَفُواthey stood يُذْعَرُونَbeing terrified منهُof him فَلَمَّاthen when
وَقَفُوا يُذْعَرُونَ منهُ فَلَمَّا
عايَنُواthey saw الفضلَbounty مائِلاًinclining أَمَّلُوهُthey set their hopes on him
عايَنُوا الفضلَ مائِلاً أَمَّلُوهُ
They stood terrified of him; but when
They saw virtue itself incline from him, they hoped.
they saw his bounty incline toward them, they set their hopes on him.
And so, as long as the Amīr was a child,
وكذاand so العامِريُّal-Amiri مَاas long as دامَhe remained طِفْلاًa child
وكذا العامِريُّ مَا دامَ طِفْلاً
ولَعَمْرِيand by my life لَنِعْمَtruly excellent مَاwhat شَبَّهُوهُthey likened him to
ولَعَمْرِي لَنِعْمَ مَا شَبَّهُوهُ
Such is al-Amiri while he is still a child;
By my life, how aptly they likened him!
by my life, how aptly they have likened him:
A branch ever nourished on the date palm of glory
غُصُنٌa branch مَاnot يزالُceases منfrom دَوْحَةِthe great tree of المَجْglory (first part)
غُصُنٌ مَا يزالُ من دَوْحَةِ المَجْ
دِglory (final part) فروعٌboughs كثيرةٌmany تَغْذُوهُnourish it
دِ فروعٌ كثيرةٌ تَغْذُوهُ
a branch that is ever, from the great tree of glory,
Many branches feeding from it luxuriant.
nourished by many boughs.
But when he passed nine and three years,
فإِذاthen when جازَhe passes تِسْعَةًnine وثَلاثاًand three
فإِذا جازَ تِسْعَةً وثَلاثاً
جَلَّgrew exalted عنbeyond أَنْthat يَحُدَّهُit should confine him تَشْبِيهُa simile
جَلَّ عن أَنْ يَحُدَّهُ تَشْبِيهُ
But once he has passed nine years and three,
He was too tall for them to limit with similes.
he is too great for any simile to define him.
O elect of noble chiefs, o prince of the world,
ياO ثِمالَrefuge of العُفاةِpetitioners يَاO مَلِكَking of الدُّنْthe world (first part)
يا ثِمالَ العُفاةِ يَا مَلِكَ الدُّنْ
ياworld (final part) ومنand the one whose فازَsucceeded بالغِنىin attaining wealth آمِلُوهُthose who hope in him
يا ومن فازَ بالغِنى آمِلُوهُ
O refuge of petitioners, O king of the world,
You whom good fortune graced, we hope in you.
and you whose hopeful seekers have attained wealth!
My fate gifted me with an age I see
قَدْindeed حَبانِيfavored me دَهْرِيmy lifetime بإِدراكِby reaching دَهْرٍan age
قَدْ حَبانِي دَهْرِي بإِدراكِ دَهْرٍ
مَاnot بِهِin it ناجِهٌone who rebuffs ولاand no مَنْجُوهُone rebuffed
مَا بِهِ ناجِهٌ ولا مَنْجُوهُ
My lifetime has favored me by letting me reach an age
In which no confidant avails, no escape.
in which none rebuffs and none is rebuffed.
Had my prime of youth been gifted with that,
لوif حَبانِيfavored me بذاكَwith that عَصْرُthe season of شبابِيmy youth
لو حَبانِي بذاكَ عَصْرُ شبابِي
لَرآنِيit would have seen me عَلَىover العبادِmankind أتِيهُI vaunt myself
لَرآنِي عَلَى العبادِ أتِيهُ
Had the season of my youth bestowed that on me,
You'd have seen me excel all mankind in glory!
it would have seen me vaunting myself over mankind.
My thanks you know, and my praise of you
ورجائِيand my hope مَاwhat قَدْalready عَلِمْتَyou have known وشُكْرِيand my gratitude
ورجائِي مَا قَدْ عَلِمْتَ وشُكْرِي
وثنائِيand my praise فِيamong الناسِthe people مَاwhat عَلِمُوهُthey know of it
وثنائِي فِي الناسِ مَا عَلِمُوهُ
My hope is as you already know; and my gratitude
Among people, they know it and have heard it.
and my praise among the people are as they know.
Except that old age made my back hunch,
غيرexcept أَنَّthat الزمانَtime ثَقَّلweighed down ظهريmy back
غير أَنَّ الزمانَ ثَقَّل ظهري
فَهْوَso it ثِقْلٌa burden عليَّupon me صعبٌhard كريهُhateful
فَهْوَ ثِقْلٌ عليَّ صعبٌ كريهُ
But time has weighed down my back:
A heavy burden, hateful and detested.
it is a burden upon me, hard and hateful.
By my life, I have no lord but you, o victorious king,
ولَعَمْرِيand by my life مَاnot ليfor me سِوىother than المَلِكِthe king المَنْal-Mansur (first part)
ولَعَمْرِي مَا لي سِوى المَلِكِ المَنْ
صُورِal-Mansur (final part) فِيon الأَرضِearth سَيِّدٌa lord أرجوهُI look to him in hope
صُورِ فِي الأَرضِ سَيِّدٌ أرجوهُ
By my life, I have none but King al-Mansur
On earth whom I wish for and hope in!
as a lord on earth in whom to place my hope.
Partial English translation: 53 of 54 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1