شِيمَاwatch, you two سَناthe gleam of البارِقِthe lightning المنهلِّrain-pouring فَالْتَمِحاthen discern, you two
شِيمَا سَنا البارِقِ المنهلِّ فَالْتَمِحا
أَيَّwhich السُّرىnightward course أَمَّit sought أَمْor أَيَّwhich البلادِlands نَحاit turned toward
أَيَّ السُّرى أَمَّ أَمْ أَيَّ البلادِ نَحا
Watch, you two, the gleam of the rain-pouring lightning, and discern
O two messengers of the flashing lightning, draw near and inquire
which nightward course it sought, or toward which lands it turned.
Which road, which land did he take?
واسْتَخْبِرَاand ask, you two نَفَحاتِthe breaths of الرِّيحِthe wind هلwhether سَبَكَتْthey cast
واسْتَخْبِرَا نَفَحاتِ الرِّيحِ هل سَبَكَتْ
دُرّاًpearls منfrom التِّبْرِraw gold أَوْor شابَتْmingled دُجىًdarkness بِضُحىwith morning light
دُرّاً من التِّبْرِ أَوْ شابَتْ دُجىً بِضُحى
And ask, you two, the breaths of the wind whether they have cast
Ask the breezes if they have wafted
pearls from raw gold, or mingled darkness with morning light.
Pearls from the sand or the darkness has cleared at dawn,
أَمِor استهامَتْwandered in longing هوادِيthe forerunners of اللَّيْلِthe night فاقْتَبَسَتْthen borrowed fire
أَمِ استهامَتْ هوادِي اللَّيْلِ فاقْتَبَسَتْ
أَمْor هلdid تَضَلَّلَlose his way حادِيthe driver of المزنِthe rainclouds فَاقْتَدَحَاand then struck fire
أَمْ هل تَضَلَّلَ حادِي المزنِ فَاقْتَدَحَا
Or did the night’s forerunners wander in longing, then borrow fire?
Or if the darkness of night has sparked and kindled,
Or did the driver of the rainclouds lose his way and strike a spark?
Or if the guide star has gone astray and it has illuminated.
سارٍa night-traveler كَأَنَّas though اضطرامَthe blaze of الشَّوْقِlonging أَقلقَهُunsettled him
سارٍ كَأَنَّ اضطرامَ الشَّوْقِ أَقلقَهُ
فليسَso does not يَرْقَأُstop flowing منهfrom him مدمَعٌa tear سَفَحاpoured forth
فليسَ يَرْقَأُ منه مدمَعٌ سَفَحا
A night-traveler, as though the blaze of longing had unsettled him,
A traveller as if the turbulence of yearning had unsettled him
so no tear he sheds ever stops flowing.
So no shedding tear comforts him.
ومستهِلُّand a pourer of حياًrain أَحْياrevived الوَرىall creatures غَدِقاًcopious
ومستهِلُّ حياً أَحْيا الوَرى غَدِقاً
بَلْrather طائرٌa bird بِتَباشِيرِwith glad tidings of المُنىcherished hopes سَنَحاcrossed auspiciously
بَلْ طائرٌ بِتَباشِيرِ المُنى سَنَحا
And a pourer of copious rain that has revived all creatures—
And a rising sun that gives life to the world generously
rather, a bird crossing auspiciously with glad tidings of hopes fulfilled.
Rather, a bird heralding demise took wing.
سناًa radiance تأَلَّقَgleamed فِيin دارٍa dwelling يُبَشِّرُناgives us glad tidings
سناً تأَلَّقَ فِي دارٍ يُبَشِّرُنا
دُنُوُّهُits approach بِتَلَقِّيof welcoming شاحِطٍone far away نَزَحاjourneyed far away
دُنُوُّهُ بِتَلَقِّي شاحِطٍ نَزَحا
A radiance gleamed in a dwelling; we are given glad tidings
It glittered in a house giving us good news
by its approach, of welcoming one who had journeyed far away.
Its advent by receiving a rover who camped.
هيthey are السَّوَانِحُthe auspicious omens للمنصورِfor al-Mansur قَدْhave indeed نَطَقَتْspoken
هي السَّوَانِحُ للمنصورِ قَدْ نَطَقَتْ
بقُرْبِهِof his nearness وخفاءُand the obscurity of الفأْلِthe omen قَدْhas indeed بَرِحاvanished
بقُرْبِهِ وخفاءُ الفأْلِ قَدْ بَرِحا
These auspicious omens for al-Mansur have spoken
They are meteors for Al-Mansur that have spoken
of his approach; the omen’s obscurity has vanished.
Of his nearing while the obscurity of fate has gone.
لعلَّperhaps قادِمَthe bearer of بُشْرَاهُhis glad tidings يُخَبِّرُناwill tell us
لعلَّ قادِمَ بُشْرَاهُ يُخَبِّرُنا
عنabout هاجِسٍan inward thought بأَمانِيin the wishes of النَّفْسِthe soul قَدْhas indeed نَجَحَاsucceeded
عن هاجِسٍ بأَمانِي النَّفْسِ قَدْ نَجَحَا
Perhaps the bearer of his glad tidings will tell us
Perhaps its herald of good news will inform us
of an inward thought that has fulfilled the soul’s wishes.
Of an ardent desire in the soul that has succeeded.
برقٌlightning تهلَّلَbeamed فِيin المزنِthe rainclouds الهَتُونِpouring كَأَنْas though
برقٌ تهلَّلَ فِي المزنِ الهَتُونِ كَأَنْ
منfrom وجهِهِhis face ضاءَit shone أَوْor عَنْfrom كَفِّهِhis palm سَمَحاgave generously
من وجهِهِ ضاءَ أَوْ عَنْ كَفِّهِ سَمَحا
Lightning beamed amid the rain-streaming clouds, as though
A lightning that glittered in the pleasant, bent cloud as if
it shone from his face or flowed generously from his palm.
Brilliance appeared from its face or generosity from its palm.
والرِّيحُand the wind تسحَبُdrags ذيلَthe trailing skirt of القطرِthe rain فِيin أَرَجٍa fragrance
والرِّيحُ تسحَبُ ذيلَ القطرِ فِي أَرَجٍ
وَحْفٍdense كَأَنَّas though بِرَيَّاwith the perfume of ذِكْرِهِhis mention نَفَحاwafted
وَحْفٍ كَأَنَّ بِرَيَّا ذِكْرِهِ نَفَحا
And the wind drags the rain’s trailing skirt through a fragrance
And the wind trails the train of rain in a meadow
rich and dense, as though it wafted the perfume of his name.
And benzoin as if the remembrance of him has emanated aroma.
إِنَّindeed المَلاthe open plains بجنودِin the armies of الأَرضِthe earth قَدْhave indeed بَجَحَتْexulted
إِنَّ المَلا بجنودِ الأَرضِ قَدْ بَجَحَتْ
والجَوُّand the air منfrom رَهَجِthe dust of الفرسانِthe horsemen قَدْhas indeed طَفَحاoverflowed
والجَوُّ من رَهَجِ الفرسانِ قَدْ طَفَحا
Indeed, the open plains have exulted in the armies of the earth,
Behold, the night’s stars with the earth’s armies have shone
and the air has brimmed with the horsemen’s dust,
And the atmosphere from the neighing of the steeds is filled.
بكُلِّwith every مُعْتَنِقِone grappling with الأَقرانِmatched foes فِيin كُرَبٍordeals
بكُلِّ مُعْتَنِقِ الأَقرانِ فِي كُرَبٍ
لَوْeven if زُلْزِلَتْwere shaken قُنَنَthe peaks of الأَطوادِthe mighty mountains مَاnot بَرِحاhe would budge
لَوْ زُلْزِلَتْ قُنَنَ الأَطوادِ مَا بَرِحا
with every warrior who grapples with his peers amid ordeals,
Every embracer of his peers is anxious
who would not budge even if the peaks of mighty mountains were shaken.
If the pillars of strongholds shake they do not settle
شَرىpurchased منfrom اللهِGod نَفْساًa soul حُزْتَyou won طاعَتهاits obedience
شَرى من اللهِ نَفْساً حُزْتَ طاعَتها
فأَحرزَand so secured الدينَfaith والدنياand worldly life بِماthrough what رَبِحاhe gained
فأَحرزَ الدينَ والدنيا بِما رَبِحا
He purchased from God a soul whose obedience you have won,
Good omen from God a soul whose obedience you gained
and so secured faith and worldly life through what he gained.
So you won this life and the Hereafter from what you gained
كَأَنَّهُas though he فِيin مجالِthe arena of الخيلِthe horses لَيْثُa lion of شرىًShara
كَأَنَّهُ فِي مجالِ الخيلِ لَيْثُ شرىً
وعندَand amid مُزْدَحَمِthe crush of الفرسانِthe horsemen قُطْبُthe axle of رَحىa millstone
وعندَ مُزْدَحَمِ الفرسانِ قُطْبُ رَحى
As though in the horses’ arena he were a lion of Shara,
As if he is a valiant lion in the battlefield of horses
and in the crush of horsemen, the axle of a millstone.
And at the crammed cavaliers the axis of the mill.
يكَادُhe nearly يشتَفُّdrains to the last drop نفسَthe soul of القِرْنِhis opponent منfrom طَرَبٍrapture
يكَادُ يشتَفُّ نفسَ القِرْنِ من طَرَبٍ
إِذَاwhen المهنَّدُthe Indian-steel sword غَنَّاهُsings to him بماwith what اقْتَرَحاhe requested
إِذَا المهنَّدُ غَنَّاهُ بما اقْتَرَحا
He nearly drains his opponent’s soul to the last drop in rapture,
The soul almost wheezes from ecstasy
when the Indian-steel sword sings him what he requests.
Whenever the vocalist sings to it the composed.
وسابِحِand a swimming steed الشَّأْوِthe racing course مَاnever أَقْحَمْتَyou thrust هادِيَهُits neck
وسابِحِ الشَّأْوِ مَا أَقْحَمْتَ هادِيَهُ
بحرَthe sea of المهالِكِdeadly perils إِلّاexcept that غاضَdived beneath أَوْor سَبَحاswam
بحرَ المهالِكِ إِلّا غاضَ أَوْ سَبَحا
And a steed swimming through its course: never have you thrust its neck
O swimmer of glory, only the audacious plunged its guide
into the sea of deadly perils but it has dived or swum.
In the sea of annihilation, otherwise it recoiled or swam.
طِرْفٍa noble steed تقودُleads عِنانَthe reins of الطَّرْفِthe gaze غُرَّتُهُits forehead blaze
طِرْفٍ تقودُ عِنانَ الطَّرْفِ غُرَّتُهُ
إِذَاwhen تعالىit rises مُجِدّاًstriving earnestly أَوْor وَنىslackens مَرِحاplayfully
إِذَا تعالى مُجِدّاً أَوْ وَنى مَرِحا
A noble steed whose forehead blaze leads the reins of the gaze,
A gaze that makes the others’ glance follow it
whether it rises in earnest or slackens in play.
When it elevates glorious or inclines playful.
وأَزْرَقٍand a blue-steel lance يتلظَّىblazes فوقَabove عامِلهِits upper shaft
وأَزْرَقٍ يتلظَّى فوقَ عامِلهِ
شهابُa fiery meteor قَذْفٍhurling إِلَىtoward العَيُّوقِal-Ayyuq قَدْhas indeed طَمَحَاsoared
شهابُ قَذْفٍ إِلَى العَيُّوقِ قَدْ طَمَحَا
And a blue-steel lance, above whose upper shaft blazes
A blue soaring over its carrier
a hurled meteor that has soared toward al-Ayyuq.
Ember of a throw to the far target he coveted.
ومُرْهَفٍand a keen-edged blade يَتَثَنَّىsways شارِباًdrinking ثَمِلاًdrunk
ومُرْهَفٍ يَتَثَنَّى شارِباً ثَمِلاً
منfrom طولِthe length of مَاits having اغْتَبَقَdrunk at evening الأَرواحَsouls واصْطَبَحاand drunk at dawn
من طولِ مَا اغْتَبَقَ الأَرواحَ واصْطَبَحا
And a keen-edged blade that sways, a drunken drinker,
And a fine steed that bends, satiated, drinking
from long drinking souls at dusk and at dawn.
Of what it has harvested of souls and earned.
هاتِيكَthose أَجنحَةُthe wings of الراياتِthe banners خافِقَةًfluttering
هاتِيكَ أَجنحَةُ الراياتِ خافِقَةً
إِلَىtoward المُبارَكِal-Mubarak منfrom جَوِّthe skies of العُلاglory جُنُحاinclining
إِلَى المُبارَكِ من جَوِّ العُلا جُنُحا
Those are the wings of banners, fluttering,
Behold the wings of the fluttering standards
inclining toward al-Mubarak from the skies of glory.
To the auspicious one from vast space wings took off.
وقلَّبَand turned الملكُthe king فِيacross الآفاقِthe horizons مُنْتَظِراًwaiting
وقلَّبَ الملكُ فِي الآفاقِ مُنْتَظِراً
طَرْفاًan eye إِلَىtoward الغُرَّةِthe radiant brow العلياءِlofty مُلْتمحاseeking a glimpse
طَرْفاً إِلَى الغُرَّةِ العلياءِ مُلْتمحا
And the king scanned the horizons, expectant,
The King glanced about the horizons expectantly
his eye seeking a glimpse of the lofty, radiant brow.
A gaze to the most sublime summit aspiring.
والأَرضُand the earth قَدْhas indeed لبسَتْdonned أَثوابَthe garments of زَهْرَتِهاits bloom
والأَرضُ قَدْ لبسَتْ أَثوابَ زَهْرَتِها
وقُلِّدَand was adorned الروضُthe meadow منfrom أَزهارِهِits flowers وُشُحاsashes
وقُلِّدَ الروضُ من أَزهارِهِ وُشُحا
And the earth has donned the garments of its bloom,
The land has worn its gown of flowers
and the meadow has been adorned with sashes of its flowers.
And the garden was adorned with its blooms and aromas.
والأَيْكُand the grove يهفُوsways بأَنفاسِwith the breaths of الصَّباthe east wind سَحَراًbefore dawn
والأَيْكُ يهفُو بأَنفاسِ الصَّبا سَحَراً
قَدْhas indeed هَبَّstirred مُسْتَنْطِقاًmaking speak أَوْتارَهُits strings الفُصُحاeloquent
قَدْ هَبَّ مُسْتَنْطِقاً أَوْتارَهُ الفُصُحا
And the grove sways in the east wind’s breath before dawn;
The bush croons with the breaths of the morning breeze
it has stirred, making its eloquent strings speak.
Articulated, making its well-tuned strings eloquent.
ياO مَنْyou who إِلَيْهِtoward him استطارَsent flying الشوقُlonging أَنْفُسَناour souls
يا مَنْ إِلَيْهِ استطارَ الشوقُ أَنْفُسَنا
نَأْياًin absence وآبَand he returned فطارَتْso they flew نَحْوَهُtoward him فَرَحاin joy
نَأْياً وآبَ فطارَتْ نَحْوَهُ فَرَحا
O you to whom longing sent our souls flying
O you towards whom our souls’ fervor has soared
in your absence: you returned, and they flew to you in joy.
Keeping apart, and they briskly took off joyfully towards it.
مُلِّيتَmay you long enjoy حاجِبَكَyour chamberlain الأَعْلىthe highest-ranking ودُمْتَand may you endure لَهُfor him
مُلِّيتَ حاجِبَكَ الأَعْلى ودُمْتَ لَهُ
وقُمْتَand may you render بالشُّكْرِthanks فِيهِfor him للَّذِيto the One who مَنَحاbestowed
وقُمْتَ بالشُّكْرِ فِيهِ للَّذِي مَنَحا
May you long enjoy your chief chamberlain, and live long for him,
You have given it a wink and stood for it
and render thanks for him to the One who bestowed him.
And you have thanked the Giver for it.
نجمٌa star أَنافَتْtowered عَلَىover الدُّنياthe world رِياسَتُهُhis leadership
نجمٌ أَنافَتْ عَلَى الدُّنيا رِياسَتُهُ
ومَعْلَمٌand a beacon للهُدىfor guidance والدينِand faith قَدْhas indeed وَضَحاbecome clear
ومَعْلَمٌ للهُدى والدينِ قَدْ وَضَحا
A star whose leadership has towered over the world,
A star whose supremacy the world has raised high
and a beacon for guidance and faith that has shone clear.
And a signpost for guidance and religion made clear.
سَلَلْتَهُyou unsheathed him لِحِمىfor the sanctuary of الإِسلامِIslam مُنْتَقِماًtaking vengeance
سَلَلْتَهُ لِحِمى الإِسلامِ مُنْتَقِماً
مِمَّنْagainst whoever عَتاrebelled فِيin سبيلِthe cause of اللهِGod أَوْor جَمَحاran unbridled
مِمَّنْ عَتا فِي سبيلِ اللهِ أَوْ جَمَحا
You unsheathed him for Islam’s sanctuary, taking vengeance
You made it for protection of Islam avenging
in God’s cause against whoever rebelled or ran unbridled.
Whoever transgressed in God’s cause or oppressed.
مُتَوَّجاًcrowned بسناءِwith the splendor of المُلْكِkingship مُشْتَمِلاًenfolded
مُتَوَّجاً بسناءِ المُلْكِ مُشْتَمِلاً
بالحزمِin resolve مُلتحِفاًcloaked بالبأْسِin valor مُتَّشِحاgirded
بالحزمِ مُلتحِفاً بالبأْسِ مُتَّشِحا
Crowned with the splendor of kingship, enfolded
Crowned with glory of rule, invested
in resolve, cloaked in valor and girded with it.
With wisdom, clad with might, mantled.
مُسْتَنْصِرَseeking the aid of اللهِGod فِيagainst الأَعداءِthe enemies مُنْتَصِراًchampioning
مُسْتَنْصِرَ اللهِ فِي الأَعداءِ مُنْتَصِراً
لَهُfor Him ومُستفتحاًand seeking conquest باللهِthrough God مُفْتَتِحاconquering
لَهُ ومُستفتحاً باللهِ مُفْتَتِحا
Seeking God’s aid against the enemies, championing
Seeking God’s help against enemies, giving victory for Him
His cause, seeking conquest through God, and conquering.
And opening with God openings making.
ملاذُناour refuge منfrom صروفِthe vicissitudes of الدهرِtime إِنif طَرَقَتْthey strike
ملاذُنا من صروفِ الدهرِ إِن طَرَقَتْ
دُهْماًdark and dire ومفزَعُناand our haven فِيin الخطبِcalamity إِنif فَدَحاit weighs heavily
دُهْماً ومفزَعُنا فِي الخطبِ إِن فَدَحا
Our refuge from the vicissitudes of time, should they strike
Our refuge from fate’s changing states when it darkens
dark and dire; our haven in calamity, should it weigh heavily.
And our resort in calamities when it expands.
الشِّعْرُpoetry أَجْدَرُmore fitting أَنto يلقاهُmeet him مُعْتَرِفاًconfessing
الشِّعْرُ أَجْدَرُ أَن يلقاهُ مُعْتَرِفاً
بالعجزِto its inability عَمَّاregarding what يُناوِيit seeks منهof him مُمْتدِحاwhile praising
بالعجزِ عَمَّا يُناوِي منه مُمْتدِحا
Poetry would more fittingly meet him confessing
Poetry best beholds it confessing
to its inability to attain what it seeks in praising him.
Disability regarding what as his eulogy vies.
والصُّحْفُand the pages تَنْفَذُrun out والأَقلامُand the pens عاجِزَةٌpowerless
والصُّحْفُ تَنْفَذُ والأَقلامُ عاجِزَةٌ
عنto خَطِّwriting down مَاwhat اجْتَثَّhe uprooted منamong أَعدائِهِhis enemies وَمَحاand erased
عن خَطِّ مَا اجْتَثَّ من أَعدائِهِ وَمَحا
The pages run out, and the pens are powerless
Pens penetrate but the pens are inept
to record what he uprooted and erased among his enemies.
Of inscribing what enemies he uprooted and erased.
فَعِشْso live ودُمْand endure وابْقَand remain واملِكْand reign واقتَبِلْand receive نِعَماًblessings
فَعِشْ ودُمْ وابْقَ واملِكْ واقتَبِلْ نِعَماً
واحلُلْand dwell منيعاًunassailable منfrom المكروهِharm مُنْتَزِحاfar removed
واحلُلْ منيعاً من المكروهِ مُنْتَزِحا
So live, endure, remain, reign, and receive blessings,
Then live long, and stay well and remain, and rule!
and dwell unassailable, far removed from harm.
And be adorned with happiness and rid of hated, mottled!
وقَرَّand rejoice عيناًin your eyes بِسِبْطَيْin the two scions of حِمْيَرٍHimyar حِقَباًfor ages
وقَرَّ عيناً بِسِبْطَيْ حِمْيَرٍ حِقَباً
مُستوفِياًfully realizing فيهماin them both آمالَكَyour hopes الفُسُحاfar-reaching
مُستوفِياً فيهما آمالَكَ الفُسُحا
And let your eyes rejoice for ages in the two scions of Himyar,
Delight an eye with the cubs of Humayr decades long
fulfilling in them both your far-reaching hopes.
Fulfilling through them your copious hopes.
Sol 6.1