أَهلاًwelcome بِمَنْto him who قَهَرَsubdued الملوكَthe kings وَمَرْحَباand welcome
أَهلاً بِمَنْ قَهَرَ الملوكَ وَمَرْحَبا
وأَعَزِّand the most exalted مَنْof those who حُلَّتْwere untied لِرُؤْيَتِهِupon seeing him الحُبىthe knee-bands
وأَعَزِّ مَنْ حُلَّتْ لِرُؤْيَتِهِ الحُبى
Welcome to him who subdued the kings, and welcome!
Greetings to he who has subdued kings, and welcome
And to the most exalted, at whose sight knee-bands are untied.
To the most honourable one whose sight dispelled sorrows
وبحاجِبِand to the chamberlain of الشَّمْسِthe sun الَّذِيwho حَجَبَveiled الأَسىsorrow
وبحاجِبِ الشَّمْسِ الَّذِي حَجَبَ الأَسى
عنَّاfrom us وحاشَand far be it لِجُودِهِfrom his bounty أَنْthat تُحَجَباshe be veiled
عنَّا وحاشَ لِجُودِهِ أَنْ تُحَجَبا
And to the sun’s chamberlain, who veiled sorrow
To the eyebrow of the sun whose shade removed anguish from us
from us; far be it from his bounty to let the sun be veiled!
So it remains unveiled, for its generosity not to be veiled
وَالمُسْتَطارِand him whose foes are scattered لسَيْفِهِbefore his sword فِرَقُcompanies of العِدىthe enemies
وَالمُسْتَطارِ لسَيْفِهِ فِرَقُ العِدى
فَرَقاًin terror فكانَso he was هُوَhe السَّناthe radiance وَهُمُand they الْهَباthe dust motes
فَرَقاً فكانَ هُوَ السَّنا وَهُمُ الْهَبا
And to him before whose sword the enemy’s companies were scattered
And to the one who unsheathed his sword, terror gripped the foes
in terror: he was the radiance, and they the dust.
Scattering them, while he remained glorious and they fled
مَلِكٌa king نماهُbegot him المُلْكُkingship يَتْبَعُfollowing تُبَّعاًTubbaʿ
مَلِكٌ نماهُ المُلْكُ يَتْبَعُ تُبَّعاً
فِيهِin it ويُعرِبُand expresses عَنْabout مآثِرِglorious deeds of يَعْرُباYaʿrub
فِيهِ ويُعرِبُ عَنْ مآثِرِ يَعْرُبا
A king begotten by kingship, following Tubbaʿ
A king raised by kingship, walking the path of Tubba
therein, and giving voice to Yaʿrub’s glorious deeds.
Through whom kingship was Arabized and its glories made Arabic
قادَled الجنودَthe armies مُكاثِراًoutnumbering بِرِماحِهاwith their spears
قادَ الجنودَ مُكاثِراً بِرِماحِها
شُهُبَthe meteors of الدُّجىthe darkness وبأُسْدِهاand with their lions عَدَدَthe number of الدَّباlocust nymphs
شُهُبَ الدُّجى وبأُسْدِها عَدَدَ الدَّبا
He led the armies, with their spears outnumbering
He led armies, challenging with their spears
the night’s meteors, and with their lions the locust nymphs in number.
The darkness of night, and with its lions counted prey
وسَماand he rose فَعادىthen swept successively بَيْنَamong آفاقِthe horizons of الْعدىthe enemies
وسَما فَعادى بَيْنَ آفاقِ الْعدى
خَسَفَthe devastation of الدَّبُورِthe west wind وكَرَّand wheeled back يَعْتَامُchoosing الصَّباthe east wind
خَسَفَ الدَّبُورِ وكَرَّ يَعْتَامُ الصَّبا
And he rose, sweeping the enemy’s horizons in succession,
He charged through the horizons of foes
with the west wind’s devastation, then wheeling back to choose the east wind.
Eclipsing the fleeing and rolling back the darkness of dusk
بكَتائِبٍwith battalions تَرَكَتْleft سَناthe radiance of شَمْسِthe sun of الضُّحىforenoon
بكَتائِبٍ تَرَكَتْ سَنا شَمْسِ الضُّحى
طَرْفاًan eye سَجاgrew still للنَّوْمِfor sleep أَوْor بَرْقاًlightning حَباcrept
طَرْفاً سَجا للنَّوْمِ أَوْ بَرْقاً حَبا
With battalions that made the forenoon sun’s radiance
With regiments that left the splendor of dawn
an eye stilled for sleep, or lightning creeping low.
Drowsy-eyed or as a flash of lightning vanished
تَبْنيthey build عَلَىacross الآفاقِthe horizons مِنْfrom جَعْدِcurls of الثَّرىearth-dust
تَبْني عَلَى الآفاقِ مِنْ جَعْدِ الثَّرى
فَلَكاًa firmament بِزُرْقِwith the blue points of السَّمْهَرِيّSamhari spears مُكَوْكَباstar-studded
فَلَكاً بِزُرْقِ السَّمْهَرِيّ مُكَوْكَبا
They build across the horizons, from curls of earth-dust,
They built upon the horizons, made of earth’s twisted locks
a firmament starred with blue Samhari spearheads.
A revolving heaven with the blue of Suhail
فِيin هِمَّةٍresolve أَوْرَتْkindled زِنادَthe flints of وقَائِعٍbattles
فِي هِمَّةٍ أَوْرَتْ زِنادَ وقَائِعٍ
غادَرْنَthey left رأْسَthe head of الدَّهْرِTime أَشْعَثَdisheveled أَشْيَباgray-haired
غادَرْنَ رأْسَ الدَّهْرِ أَشْعَثَ أَشْيَبا
With resolve that kindled the flints of battles
With an ambition that equipped the combustibles of fate
which left Time’s head disheveled and gray.
And left the head of time disheveled and white-haired
حَتَّىuntil تَجَلَّىhe shone forth فِيin عَجَاجَةِthe dust-cloud of أَوْبَةٍa return
حَتَّى تَجَلَّى فِي عَجَاجَةِ أَوْبَةٍ
آبَتْreturned إِلَىto الدُّنْياthe world بأَيَّامِwith the days of الصِّباyouth
آبَتْ إِلَى الدُّنْيا بأَيَّامِ الصِّبا
Until he shone forth in the dust-cloud of a homecoming
Until he emerged in the knolls of youth
that brought the days of youth back to the world.
Come to the world in the days of childhood
منfrom بَعْدِafter مَاthat وَصَلَhe joined الأَصائِلَlate afternoons بالضُّحىto forenoons
من بَعْدِ مَا وَصَلَ الأَصائِلَ بالضُّحى
تَحْتَbeneath العواليthe lofty lances مُسْئِداًtraveling through the night وَمؤَوِّباand traveling through the day
تَحْتَ العوالي مُسْئِداً وَمؤَوِّبا
After joining late afternoons to forenoons,
After connecting the roots to the dawn
beneath the lofty lances, marching through night and day.
Beneath the heights, hosting and sheltering
حَتَّىuntil تَوَهَّمَهُit imagined him الدُّجىthe darkness بَدْرَthe full moon of الدُّجىthe darkness
حَتَّى تَوَهَّمَهُ الدُّجى بَدْرَ الدُّجى
يَسْرِيjourneying by night أَوِor ابْناًa son لِلْكَواكِبِof the stars أَوْor أَباa father
يَسْرِي أَوِ ابْناً لِلْكَواكِبِ أَوْ أَبا
Until the darkness took him for the full moon of the dark,
Until the darkness imagined him a full moon
journeying by night, or a son of the stars, or a father.
Moving or a son of stars, or their father
شَبَهاًin likeness بِهِto it ناسَبْتَهاyou were kin to them مُتَعالِياًrising high
شَبَهاً بِهِ ناسَبْتَها مُتَعالِياً
ومُحَلِّقاًand soaring ومُشَرِّقاًand going east ومُغَرِّباand going west
ومُحَلِّقاً ومُشَرِّقاً ومُغَرِّبا
In likeness to the moon, you were kin to the stars, rising high,
You likened him, elevating, soaring and radiant
and soaring, and journeying east and west.
Rising and setting with the most lofty determination
بِعَزَائِمٍwith resolves كَلَّفْتَهاyou charged them with أَعلىthe highest of العُلاglory’s heights
بِعَزَائِمٍ كَلَّفْتَها أَعلى العُلا
فتسابَقَتْso they raced شَأْواًover a course إِلَيْهِtoward it مُغَرِّباextraordinarily far-reaching
فتسابَقَتْ شَأْواً إِلَيْهِ مُغَرِّبا
With resolves you charged to attain glory’s loftiest height,
Which vied to set towards him in decline
so they raced toward it over a far-reaching course.
Too shy for their gaze to incline
مُسْتَحْيِيَاتٍtoo ashamed أَنْthat يُعَرِّجَturn aside لَحْظُهاtheir gaze
مُسْتَحْيِيَاتٍ أَنْ يُعَرِّجَ لَحْظُها
لِقُبْولِto accept مَاwhat أَدْنىbrought near الزمانُTime وقَرَّباand put within reach
لِقُبْولِ مَا أَدْنى الزمانُ وقَرَّبا
Too ashamed for their gaze to turn aside
To accept what the nearest of eras offered
to accept what Time brought near and put within reach.
Kingship’s reins are not mounted by the submissive
لاnot يَرْكَبُrides المُلْكَkingship الذَّلُولَthe docile رِكابُهُhis mounts
لا يَرْكَبُ المُلْكَ الذَّلُولَ رِكابُهُ
حَتَّىuntil يُذِلَّhe subdues لَهُfor him الزمانَTime المُصْعَباthe unruly
حَتَّى يُذِلَّ لَهُ الزمانَ المُصْعَبا
His mounts do not bestride docile kingship
Until time is humbled before him, however difficult
until he makes unruly Time submit to him,
Until attaining the utmost heights of glory
حَتَّىuntil يَنالَhe attains العِزَّglory أَعْلىthe highest مُرْتَقَىًheight of ascent
حَتَّى يَنالَ العِزَّ أَعْلى مُرْتَقَىً
ويفُوزَand wins بالآمالِwith the hopes أَبْعَدَthe farthest مَطْلَباgoal
ويفُوزَ بالآمالِ أَبْعَدَ مَطْلَبا
until he attains glory at its highest ascent,
And achieving the farthest of hopes
and wins his hopes at their farthest goal.
They surpassed the horizons, distance upon distance
جاوَزْنَthey passed beyond بالخَيْلِwith the horses المَدىthe limit بَعْدَafter المَدىthe limit
جاوَزْنَ بالخَيْلِ المَدى بَعْدَ المَدى
وأَطَلْنَand they prolonged إِظْماءَkeeping thirsty الأَسِنَّةِthe spearheads والظُّبىand the sword-edges
وأَطَلْنَ إِظْماءَ الأَسِنَّةِ والظُّبى
They carried the horses beyond bound after bound,
And endured the thirst of tongues and gazelles
and prolonged the thirst of spearheads and sword-edges.
Never did your resources provide them a watering place
ماnever أَوْرَدَتْهاit brought them to water منamong عُدَاتِكَyour enemies مَنْهَلاًa watering place
ما أَوْرَدَتْها من عُدَاتِكَ مَنْهَلاً
إِلّاexcept that ابْتَدَرْنَthey raced ahead أَمامَahead of ذَلِكَthat مَشْرَباa drinking place
إِلّا ابْتَدَرْنَ أَمامَ ذَلِكَ مَشْرَبا
They were never brought to a watering place among your foes
Except they hastened ahead, before that, a drinking place
without racing toward a drinking place beyond it.
Seeking in the orbit heights of loftiness
يطلُبْنَthey seek فِيin الأَفْلاكِthe celestial spheres شاهِقَةَthe towering height of العُلاglory
يطلُبْنَ فِي الأَفْلاكِ شاهِقَةَ العُلا
ويَدَعْنَand they leave للأَوْعالِto the mountain goats شامِخَةَthe lofty heights of الرُّبىthe hills
ويَدَعْنَ للأَوْعالِ شامِخَةَ الرُّبى
They seek in the spheres the towering heights of glory,
And leaving ruins heights of desolation
and leave the lofty hills to the mountain goats,
Scornful to clash with one who in the orbit of grandeur is a planet
مُتَكَرِّماتٍdeeming it beneath their dignity أَنthat يُناطِحَbutt against كَبْكَباًKabkab
مُتَكَرِّماتٍ أَن يُناطِحَ كَبْكَباً
منone who كَانَis فِيin فَلَكِthe sphere of المعالِيgreatness كوْكباa star
من كَانَ فِي فَلَكِ المعالِي كوْكبا
deeming it beneath their dignity that Kabkab be butted
Who can equal him? And the closest we see
by one who is a star in the sphere of greatness.
When the clouds pour, is us
هَلْis there مَنْanyone who يُسامِيهِrivals his height وأَقْرَبُand the nearest مَاwhen يُرىhe is seen
هَلْ مَنْ يُسامِيهِ وأَقْرَبُ مَا يُرى
مِنَّاto us إِذَاwhen كَانَhe is الغَمامُthe cloud الصيِّباpouring rain
مِنَّا إِذَا كَانَ الغَمامُ الصيِّبا
Is there anyone to rival his height? He appears nearest
We sought refuge in him, from whom no refuge was taken
to us when he is the cloud pouring rain.
And so he became, in his sight, a refuge
عُذْناwe sought refuge بِهِin him مَنْwhoever لاnot تَعَوَّذَsought refuge مَرْقَباًin a watchtower
عُذْنا بِهِ مَنْ لا تَعَوَّذَ مَرْقَباً
مِنْهُfrom him فأَصْبَحَthen he became فِيin ذَرَاهُits heights مَرْقَباa lookout
مِنْهُ فأَصْبَحَ فِي ذَرَاهُ مَرْقَبا
We sought refuge in him; no one took shelter in a watchtower
Rejoice - your winds blew no disappointment
against him without becoming a lookout upon its heights.
Nor did your clouds burst unrewarding
فَابْشِرْso rejoice فماfor not عَصَفَتْraged رِياحُكَyour winds حُسَّراًunarmed
فَابْشِرْ فما عَصَفَتْ رِياحُكَ حُسَّراً
فِيهِin this ولاnor بَرَقَتْflashed سَحابُكَyour clouds خُلَّباrainless
فِيهِ ولا بَرَقَتْ سَحابُكَ خُلَّبا
So rejoice: your winds have not raged unarmed
See - a resolve you ignited with victory
in this, nor have your clouds flashed rainless lightning.
Has shown, with near conquest, it's first fruits
وانظُرْand look فإِنَّfor indeed عزيمَةًa resolve أَلقَحْتَهاyou impregnated it
وانظُرْ فإِنَّ عزيمَةً أَلقَحْتَها
بالنَّصْرِwith victory قَدْalready أَرْأَتْshowed signs of pregnancy بِفَتْحٍwith a conquest مُقْرِباnear delivery
بالنَّصْرِ قَدْ أَرْأَتْ بِفَتْحٍ مُقْرِبا
And look: a resolve you made pregnant
Know - a prisoner of your rule, shackled
with victory has shown signs of bearing conquest, now near delivery.
Is one who sees no refuge in the world but you
واعْلَمْand know بأَنَّthat أَسيرَthe captive of مُلْكِكَyour dominion مُوثَقاًfirmly bound
واعْلَمْ بأَنَّ أَسيرَ مُلْكِكَ مُوثَقاً
مَنْone who لاnot يَرىsees فِيon الأَرْضِthe earth دُونَكَapart from you مَهْرَباa place of escape
مَنْ لا يَرى فِي الأَرْضِ دُونَكَ مَهْرَبا
And know that your dominion’s captive, firmly bound,
If time protected places from you
is one who sees no refuge on earth but you.
Through them it will repent what it transgressed
ولئِنْand even if حَمىprotected منكfrom you الزَّمانُTime مَكامِناًhiding places
ولئِنْ حَمى منك الزَّمانُ مَكامِناً
فَبِهَاthen through them يَتُوبُit repents إِلَيْكَto you مِمَّاof what أَذْنَبَاit did wrong
فَبِهَا يَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا أَذْنَبَا
And if Time has shielded hiding places from you,
Tomorrow it will come to you, regretful and remorseful
then through them it repents to you for the wrong it did.
No offender against you remains untroubled
وَغَداًand tomorrow يَجِيئُكَit comes to you مُنْشِداًreciting verse مُتَذَمِّماًseeking protection
وَغَداً يَجِيئُكَ مُنْشِداً مُتَذَمِّماً
لَيْسَis not المُسِيءُthe offender إِلَيْكَagainst you عَبْداًa slave أَعْتَباhas made amends
لَيْسَ المُسِيءُ إِلَيْكَ عَبْداً أَعْتَبا
And tomorrow it will come to you reciting, seeking protection:
Though an appointed term still lingers, determination has not grown weak
A slave who has made amends is not an offender against you.
Though destiny slept, the sword did not sleep
ولئِنْand even if دناdrew near أَمَدٌan appointed end فلاthen no عَزْمٌresolve رَنىgazed idly
ولئِنْ دنا أَمَدٌ فلا عَزْمٌ رَنى
ولَئِنْand even if نباfailed قَدَرٌfate فلاthen no سَيْفٌsword نَباfailed
ولَئِنْ نبا قَدَرٌ فلا سَيْفٌ نَبا
And though an end drew near, no resolve gazed idly;
And Allah chooses fate, though it refuses
and though fate failed, no sword failed.
Perhaps good lies in what hastened or held back
واللهُand God مُختارُthe chooser of القَضاءِthe decree وإِنْeven if أبىHe withheld
واللهُ مُختارُ القَضاءِ وإِنْ أبى
فَعَسىso perhaps لِخَيْرٍfor good مَاwhat تَعَجَّلَHe hastened أَوْor أَبىHe withheld
فَعَسى لِخَيْرٍ مَا تَعَجَّلَ أَوْ أَبى
And God chooses the decree, even when He withholds;
How often victory has shown you its first glimpse
so perhaps what He hastens or withholds is for good.
And perhaps greater than it lies in what is hidden
ولَكَمْand how often أَرَاكَHe showed you النَّصْرَvictory لَمْحاًa glimpse باصِراًclear-sighted
ولَكَمْ أَرَاكَ النَّصْرَ لَمْحاً باصِراً
ولَعَلَّand perhaps أَعْظَمَa greater one منهُthan it فِيماin what غَيَّباHe concealed
ولَعَلَّ أَعْظَمَ منهُ فِيما غَيَّبا
And how often He has shown you victory in a clear glimpse,
My Lord, I pray you return victorious and loyal
and perhaps a greater one lies in what He has hidden.
And grant long life, for which I ask
رَبّاًa Lord بنصرِكَwith your victory عائداًreturning again ومُوَالِياًand sustaining it
رَبّاً بنصرِكَ عائداً ومُوَالِياً
ولِطُولِand for the length of عُمْرِكَyour life واهِباًbestowing مُسْتَوْهَباasked to bestow
ولِطُولِ عُمْرِكَ واهِباً مُسْتَوْهَبا
A Lord renewing victory for you and keeping it unbroken,
It is enough for one who sought refuge in you, wandering
and granting you long life, a giver whose gifts are sought.
The one who saw no home in the lands but you
وكَفىand sufficient is بِمَنْone who آوىsought shelter إِلَيْكَwith you مُشَرَّداًdriven out
وكَفى بِمَنْ آوى إِلَيْكَ مُشَرَّداً
قَلِقَrestless الرَّكائِبِthe riding camels فِيthrough البِلادِthe lands مُغَرَّبَاexiled far away
قَلِقَ الرَّكائِبِ فِي البِلادِ مُغَرَّبَا
And sufficient witness is he who fled to you, driven out,
Until the destitute see your hospitality an unbreakable bond
with restless riding camels through the lands, exiled far away,
And calamity a neck bound to set
حَتَّىuntil يَرىhe sees البُؤْسىmisery غُرَاباًa raven أَعْصَماًwhite-marked
حَتَّى يَرى البُؤْسى غُرَاباً أَعْصَماً
بَنَدَاكَthrough your bounty والضَّرَّاءَand adversity عَنْقاthe ʿAnqāʾ bird مُغْرِباvanished afar
بَنَدَاكَ والضَّرَّاءَ عَنْقا مُغْرِبا
until he sees misery as a white-marked raven
through your bounty, and adversity as the ʿAnqāʾ Mughrib.
Partial English translation: 66 of 68 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1