مُلْكٌkingship جديدٌnew مثلlike طَبْعِthe forging of المُنصُلِthe sword-blade
مُلْكٌ جديدٌ مثل طَبْعِ المُنصُلِ
نَمشُthe speckling of الفرندِthe damask pattern عَلَيهِupon it صنعthe handiwork of الصيقلِthe sword-polisher
نَمشُ الفرندِ عَلَيهِ صنع الصيقلِ
A new kingship, like the forging of a sword-blade,
A new kingdom like the engraving of a blade
its damask speckles are the sword-polisher's handiwork.
The polish of a Frank's sword engraved upon it
ورياسةٌand leadership عُلْوِيّةٌexalted ترنوgazes إلىtoward
ورياسةٌ عُلْوِيّةٌ ترنو إلى
زُهْرِradiant الكواكبِstars إذwhen تَراءتْappeared منfrom عَلِon high
زُهْرِ الكواكبِ إذ تَراءتْ من عَلِ
And an exalted leadership that gazes toward
And supreme authority aspiring
the radiant stars as they appear from on high.
To the blossom of the stars when seen from on high
وسعادةٌand good fortune لوif أنّهاthat it جُعِلتْwere bestowed علىupon
وسعادةٌ لو أنّها جُعِلتْ على
هَرِمٍan aged man لعادَhe would surely return إلىto الشّبابِyouth الأوّلِthe earliest
هَرِمٍ لعادَ إلى الشّبابِ الأوّلِ
And good fortune that, if bestowed upon
And happiness, if it were placed upon
an aged man, would restore him to his earliest youth.
A pyramid, it would return to its first youth
هاتِbring الحديثَthe account عنabout الزّمانِthe age وحُسْنِهِand its beauty
هاتِ الحديثَ عن الزّمانِ وحُسْنِهِ
وَخُذِand take الحديثthe account منfrom المُحدِّثthe narrator عنabout عليAli
وَخُذِ الحديث من المُحدِّث عن علي
Bring news of the age and its beauty,
Give us the news about the time and its beauty
and take from the narrator the account of Ali:
And take the news from the one who talks about Ali
منhe who ألحفَcloaked الدنْياthe world جنَاحَيْthe two wings of عدْلِهِhis justice
من ألحفَ الدنْيا جنَاحَيْ عدْلِهِ
وأجارَand gave shelter منfrom صرْفِthe vicissitudes of الخطوبِcalamities المعضلِgrievous
وأجارَ من صرْفِ الخطوبِ المعضلِ
he who cloaked the world in the two wings of his justice,
Who folded the wings of justice over the world
and sheltered it from the grievous turns of calamity;
And gave refuge from hard and complex events
منhe who مَهّدَsecured الملكَthe kingdom العظيمَmighty وناهضاًand rising
من مَهّدَ الملكَ العظيمَ وناهضاً
للمكرماتfor noble deeds بكلّwith every عبءٍburden مثقلِheavy
للمكرمات بكلّ عبءٍ مثقلِ
he who secured the mighty kingdom and rose
Who paved the way for the great kingdom while active
to noble deeds, bearing every onerous burden.
In honoring with every heavy burden
ملكa king تَفُلّbreaks عداتَهُhis enemies عزماتُهُhis resolves
ملك تَفُلّ عداتَهُ عزماتُهُ
بصوارمwith sharp swords قَدَرِيّةٍof destiny لمnot تُفْلَلِbe blunted
بصوارم قَدَرِيّةٍ لم تُفْلَلِ
A king whose resolves break his enemies
A kingdom whose pillars are strengthened
with swords of destiny that have never been blunted.
By Almighty decrees that cannot be weakened
برٌّrighteous إذاif عَمَلٌa deed خلاis devoid منof نُصْحِهِhis sincerity
برٌّ إذا عَمَلٌ خلا من نُصْحِهِ
ورجاand hoped التقيُّthe pious man قبولهَits acceptance لمnot يُعْمَلِbe performed
ورجا التقيُّ قبولهَ لم يُعْمَلِ
Righteous—if a deed lacks his sincerity,
Righteousness, if a deed lacks his advice
though a pious man hopes it accepted, it counts as undone.
And the pious hopes for its acceptance, is not done
شَرِبَتْdrank قلوبُthe hearts of الناسِpeople مِنهُfrom him محبَّةًlove
شَرِبَتْ قلوبُ الناسِ مِنهُ محبَّةً
كَرْعَthe deep drinking of الصواديthe thirsty فيin عذوبةِthe sweetness of منهلِa watering place
كَرْعَ الصوادي في عذوبةِ منهلِ
People's hearts drank love from him,
The hearts of the people drank love of him
as the thirsty drink deeply at a sweet watering place.
Like the drinking of the plains in the sweetness of a spring
وقضىand decreed لهfor him بالنّجْحِwith success مبدأُthe beginning of أمرِدhis undertaking (probable reading)
وقضى له بالنّجْحِ مبدأُ أمرِد
ويدلّكَand points you الماضيthe past علىtoward المستقبلِthe future
ويدلّكَ الماضي على المستقبلِ
And the outset of his undertaking foretold success for him;
Fate decreed success for him in his principles
the past points you toward the future.
And the past points you to the future
وَسماand rose يُحَلِّقُsends soaring فيin العلىthe heights بِعِداتِهِwith his enemies
وَسما يُحَلِّقُ في العلى بِعِداتِهِ
مثلَlike البغاثِfeeble birds خَشينَthey feared وَقْعَthe swoop of الأجدلِthe falcon
مثلَ البغاثِ خَشينَ وَقْعَ الأجدلِ
And he rose, sending his enemies flying into the heights,
He soared high with his banners
like feeble birds fearing the falcon's swoop.
Like a kite, fearing the fall of a predator
إِيّاكَbeware أَنlest يختالَswagger مِنهُمamong them جاهلٌan ignorant man
إِيّاكَ أَن يختالَ مِنهُم جاهلٌ
فحسامُهُfor his sharp sword للجيدِfor the neck منهfrom him يختليcuts like grass
فحسامُهُ للجيدِ منه يختلي
Beware lest an ignorant man among them swagger,
Beware lest an ignorant person be arrogant with them
for his sword mows down that man's neck.
For his sword separates the worthless from the excellent
إِنَّindeed الشريعةَthe sacred law مِنهُthrough him تُشْرِعُlevels عاملاًa spear's striking end
إِنَّ الشريعةَ مِنهُ تُشْرِعُ عاملاً
منof كلِّevery باغٍrebel عامِلاًstriking فيin المقتَلِthe mortal spot
من كلِّ باغٍ عامِلاً في المقتَلِ
Through him, indeed, the sacred law levels a spear-point,
Through him, the law prospers, busying
striking every rebel in a mortal spot.
Every rebel in killing
وَرِثَinherited الممالِكَthe kingdoms مِنfrom أَبيهِhis father فَحازَهَاand so possessed them
وَرِثَ الممالِكَ مِن أَبيهِ فَحازَهَا
وتُراثَand the heritage of مجدٍglory فيin الصميمthe ancestral stock مُؤثَّلِfirmly rooted
وتُراثَ مجدٍ في الصميم مُؤثَّلِ
He inherited the kingdoms from his father and possessed them,
He inherited the kingdoms from his father and gained them
and a heritage of glory firmly rooted in his lineage.
And the legacy of glory embedded in his soul
حَسَمَput an end to المظالمَinjustices عادلاًacting justly فكأنّهُso it is as though he
حَسَمَ المظالمَ عادلاً فكأنّهُ
منfrom سيرةthe conduct of العُمرَيْنthe two Umars جَدّدَrenewed ماwhat بَليhad worn away
من سيرة العُمرَيْن جَدّدَ ما بَلي
He put an end to wrongs with justice, as though
He arbitrated grievances justly, so it was as if
renewing what had worn away of the conduct of the two Umars.
From the history of the two lives, he renewed what perished
كمhow many قالsaid منof حيٍّa living man لِمَيْتٍto a dead man قُمْrise ترىyou will see
كم قال من حيٍّ لِمَيْتٍ قُمْ ترى
ماwhat نَحنُwe فيهin it منَof التنَعُّمcomfort مُذْsince وليhe took power
ما نَحنُ فيه منَ التنَعُّم مُذْ ولي
How many a living man has said to a dead one, 'Rise and see
How often has one living person said to another dead, "Rise and see
the comfort we enjoy since he came to rule!'
What delight we are in since he came to power"
إنَّindeed ابنَthe son of يَحيىYahya فيamong المفاخِرِglories ذِكرُهُhis mention
إنَّ ابنَ يَحيى في المفاخِرِ ذِكرُهُ
مُتَضَوّعٌfragrant منهfrom it فمُthe mouth of المتمثّلِthe verse-reciter
مُتَضَوّعٌ منه فمُ المتمثّلِ
Indeed, amid glories, the name of Ibn Yahya
Indeed, the mention of the son of Yahya in virtues
fills the reciter's mouth with fragrance.
Is perfumed from him, the mouth of the one reciting
ملكٌa king إذاwhen خفقتْfluttered عليهover him بنودُهُhis banners
ملكٌ إذا خفقتْ عليه بنودُهُ
فالحافقانِthen the eastern and western horizons لهfor him جناحاthe two wings of جَحفَلِa mighty army
فالحافقانِ له جناحا جَحفَلِ
A king—when his banners flutter over him,
A kingdom, when its banners flutter over it
the two horizons are the wings of his mighty army.
The fluttering ones have wings for it like a forest
يَقتادُhe leads كلَّevery عَرَمْرَمٍimmense host متَموِّجٍsurging
يَقتادُ كلَّ عَرَمْرَمٍ متَموِّجٍ
كالبحرlike the sea تركُلُهُkicks it نَوؤجُthe roaring blasts of الشّمألِthe north wind
كالبحر تركُلُهُ نَوؤجُ الشّمألِ
He leads every immense, surging host,
It leads every towering, billowing wave
like a sea kicked by the north wind's roaring blasts.
As the sea roils under the pounding of the north wind
وتريكَand show you فيin أُفْقِthe horizon of العجاجِthe dust-cloud رماحُهُhis spears
وتريكَ في أُفْقِ العجاجِ رماحُهُ
شَرَرَsparks of الأسنّةِspearheads فيin رمادِthe ashes of القسطلِbattle-dust
شَرَرَ الأسنّةِ في رمادِ القسطلِ
And his spears show you, on the dust-cloud's horizon,
And you see in the horizon of the rumbling storm its spears
sparks of spearheads amid the ashes of battle-dust.
The sparks of blades in the ashes of dry wood
فيin كُلِّevery سابِغَةٍample coat of mail كَأنَّas though قَتيرَهاits rivet-heads
في كُلِّ سابِغَةٍ كَأنَّ قَتيرَها
حدَقُeyes of الجنادبِlocusts فيin سَرابِthe mirage of المجهَلِa trackless waste
حدَقُ الجنادبِ في سَرابِ المجهَلِ
In every ample coat of mail, its rivet-heads seem
In every darkened night, it is as if its darkness
like locusts' eyes in the mirage of a trackless waste.
Is the stare of owls in the mirage of the lost
ماذيّةٌfine, supple mail يشكوcomplains لِكَثرَةِbecause of the abundance of لَحمِهاits flesh
ماذيّةٌ يشكو لِكَثرَةِ لَحمِها
ضُرّاًharm بلاwithout نفعٍgain لسانُthe tongue of المُنْصُلِthe sword-blade
ضُرّاً بلا نفعٍ لسانُ المُنْصُلِ
Fine mail: its thick flesh draws complaints
Beasts of burden complain of its abundant flesh
of harm without gain from the blade's tongue.
To no benefit, the tongues of engraving blades
كَغَمامَةٍlike a cloud يَجلوreveals عَلَيكَto you بَريقُهاits glitter
كَغَمامَةٍ يَجلو عَلَيكَ بَريقُها
فيin السّردthe linked mail لمعَthe gleam of البارقِlightning المُتَهلِّلِradiant
في السّرد لمعَ البارقِ المُتَهلِّلِ
Like a cloud, its radiance reveals to you,
Like a cloud whose lightning flashes upon you
amid its linked rings, the gleam of radiant lightning.
In the plain, the flashing of the continuous lightning
يَفتَرُّsmiles عَنrevealing ثغرِthe mouth of الرئاسَةِsovereignty والرّدىand death
يَفتَرُّ عَن ثغرِ الرئاسَةِ والرّدى
جَهْمٌscowling يلذّdelights بِعَضِّin the bite of نابٍa fang أعصلِcrooked
جَهْمٌ يلذّ بِعَضِّ نابٍ أعصلِ
He smiles, baring sovereignty's teeth, while death
It snarls, baring the fang of rule and carnage
scowls, delighting in the bite of a crooked fang.
A snarling wolf biting a severed neck
إِنif كرَّhe charges فيin ضَربِstriking الكماةِarmored warriors بِمرهَفٍwith a keen blade
إِن كرَّ في ضَربِ الكماةِ بِمرهَفٍ
قدّcleaves الحديدَthe iron armor علىupon الكميّthe armored warrior بجدوَلِwith a rivulet-like sword
قدّ الحديدَ على الكميّ بجدوَلِ
If he charges to strike armored warriors with a keen blade,
If it attacks the brave with a drawn sword
he cleaves the warrior's iron armor with a rivulet-like sword.
It straightens the iron against the brave one's collarbone
وتخالُand you imagine يومَon the day of الطّعْنِspear-thrusting مهجةَthe lifeblood of قِرنِهِhis adversary
وتخالُ يومَ الطّعْنِ مهجةَ قِرنِهِ
تُجْريmakes flow السليطَlamp-oil علىover السنانِthe spearhead المُشعَلِblazing
تُجْري السليطَ على السنانِ المُشعَلِ
And on the day of spear-thrusts, you would think his foe's lifeblood
And you imagine on the day it thrusts its spearhead
pours lamp-oil upon the blazing spearhead.
It propels the slick iron along the flaming spearpoint
لاdo not تَسأَلَنْever ask عَنabout بأسِهِhis might واقْرَأهand read it فيin
لا تَسأَلَنْ عَن بأسِهِ واقْرَأه في
صفةِthe description of الحديدِiron منfrom الكتابِthe Book المنزلِrevealed
صفةِ الحديدِ من الكتابِ المنزلِ
Do not ask about his might; read of it in
Do not ask about its might, but read it in
the description of iron in the revealed Book.
The description of iron in the Book sent down
صَلْتُsmooth and broad الجبينِthe brow علىupon أسِرّةِthe lines of وجههِhis face
صَلْتُ الجبينِ على أسِرّةِ وجههِ
نورٌa light يشيرُpoints إلىtoward الظلامِdarkness فينجليand so it clears away
نورٌ يشيرُ إلى الظلامِ فينجلي
Smooth-browed: upon the lines of his face
I bowed my forehead to the pillow of his cheek
a light points toward darkness, and darkness clears away.
A light that signals the darkness and it brightens
ثبتَتْbecame firm رصانةُthe solidity of حِلْمِهِhis forbearance فكأنّماso it is as though
ثبتَتْ رصانةُ حِلْمِهِ فكأنّما
أرساهُanchored him خالقُهُhis Creator بِهَضْبَةِwith the rocky height of يَذْبُلِYadhbul
أرساهُ خالقُهُ بِهَضْبَةِ يَذْبُلِ
His forbearance stands so firmly that it is as though
The firmness of his patience is established so it is as if
his Creator had anchored him with Yadhbul's rocky mass.
His Creator anchored him with an unshakable mountain
ماnot زلتَyou have ceased فيin رُتَبِthe ranks of العُلاeminence متنقّلاًmoving from rank to rank
ما زلتَ في رُتَبِ العُلا متنقّلاً
وكذاand likewise انتقالُthe movement of البَدرthe full moon فيin الفَلكِthe sphere العليlofty
وكذا انتقالُ البَدر في الفَلكِ العلي
You have never ceased moving through the ranks of eminence,
You continue rising in the ranks of the high
as the full moon moves through the lofty sphere.
And so too the moon moves on in the highest celestial orbit
وموفّقُand successful الأعمالِin deeds تحسبُyou would think رأيَهُhis judgment
وموفّقُ الأعمالِ تحسبُ رأيَهُ
صُبْحاًa dawn يقدّcleaves أديمَthe skin of ليلٍa night أليْلِpitch-dark
صُبْحاً يقدّ أديمَ ليلٍ أليْلِ
And his deeds are favored with success; you would think his judgment
The harmonizer of deeds reckons his opinion
a dawn cleaving the skin of a pitch-dark night.
A morning that stretches out the leather of a long night
وتكادُand nearly تُرْديslay فيin الغمودِthe sheaths سيوفُهُhis swords
وتكادُ تُرْدي في الغمودِ سيوفُهُ
وتبيدُand destroy أسهُمُهُhis arrows وإنeven if لمnot تُرْسَلِbe loosed
وتبيدُ أسهُمُهُ وإن لم تُرْسَلِ
And his swords all but slay while still in their sheaths,
His swords almost shed their scabbards
and his arrows destroy even when not loosed.
And his arrows are unleashed without being fired
دُمْendure للمعاليfor lofty achievements أيّهاO الملكking الذيwho
دُمْ للمعالي أيّها الملك الذي
أسْدَىbestowed الأمانيwishes منfrom يمينَيْthe two right hands of مفضلِa generous benefactor
أسْدَى الأماني من يمينَيْ مفضلِ
Endure for noble attainments, O king who
Blood, for the heights! O king who
has granted wishes from a benefactor's two right hands.
Has fulfilled hopes from my right hand
نِعَمٌblessings تُنَوِّرُblossom فيin الأَكُفِّpalms كَماjust as سقىwatered
نِعَمٌ تُنَوِّرُ في الأَكُفِّ كَما سقى
عينَthe eye of الرياضgardens حَيَاthe rain of السحابِthe clouds المُسْبَلِpouring down
عينَ الرياض حَيَا السحابِ المُسْبَلِ
Blessings blossom in palms, just as
Blessings shine in cupped hands as Mount Ghada
rain from pouring clouds waters the gardens' eye.
Poured the torrents of clouds from its overflowing streams
وَفَدَتْand came as visitors عَلَيكَto you سعودُthe good fortunes of عامٍa year مُقْبِلٍapproaching
وَفَدَتْ عَلَيكَ سعودُ عامٍ مُقْبِلٍ
فَتَلَقَّهُso welcome it بِسعودِwith the good fortunes of عِزٍّglory مقبلِapproaching
فَتَلَقَّهُ بِسعودِ عِزٍّ مقبلِ
And the good fortunes of a coming year have come to you;
The good fortunes of an approaching year
so welcome it with the good fortunes of glory yet to come.
Came to you, so welcome them with rising fortune
أَهْدَىoffered التحيَّةَthe greeting واستعارَand borrowed لنُطْقِهِfor its speech
أَهْدَى التحيَّةَ واستعارَ لنُطْقِهِ
منfrom كلّevery ممتدحpraise-poet فصاحةَthe eloquence of مِقْولِa tongue
من كلّ ممتدح فصاحةَ مِقْولِ
It offered a greeting and borrowed for its speech
He offered greetings and borrowed
from every praise-poet the eloquence of a tongue.
Eloquence from every well-spoken praiser for his speech
وَسعَىand hastened بِأَرضِكَthrough your land واضِعاًplacing فَمَهُits mouth علىupon
وَسعَى بِأَرضِكَ واضِعاً فَمَهُ على
تُرْبٍdust بأفواهِby the mouths of الملوكِkings مُقَبَّلِkissed
تُرْبٍ بأفواهِ الملوكِ مُقَبَّلِ
And it hastened through your land, placing its mouth upon
He hastened in your land, placing his mouth
dust kissed by the mouths of kings.
Upon dust that the mouths of kings kiss
وكَأَنَّهُand as though it بِكَon having you لِلأنامِto mankind مهنّئٌcongratulating
وكَأَنَّهُ بِكَ لِلأنامِ مهنّئٌ
ومبشّرٌand bringing glad tidings لكto you فيin علوّthe loftiness of المنزلِthe station
ومبشّرٌ لك في علوّ المنزلِ
And it is as though it congratulates mankind on having you,
It was as if he congratulated the people through you
and brings you glad tidings, at your lofty station,
And gave you good tidings of rising through the ranks
بمراتبٍof ranks تُبْنىbeing built وبأسٍand might يُتّقَىheld in awe
بمراتبٍ تُبْنى وبأسٍ يُتّقَى
وسعادةٍand good fortune تَنْمىgrows وكعبٍand stature يعتليrises high
وسعادةٍ تَنْمى وكعبٍ يعتلي
of ranks being built and might held in awe,
Of positions built and might feared
and fortune that grows and stature that rises.
And good fortune growing and heels climbing
Sol 6.1