هلhad ...? كانhad أودعَentrusted سرَّthe secret of قلبa heart مِحجراan eye socket
هل كان أودعَ سرَّ قلب مِحجرا
صَبٌّa lovelorn man يُكابِدُstruggles with دَمعَهُhis tears المُتَحَدِّراstreaming down
صَبٌّ يُكابِدُ دَمعَهُ المُتَحَدِّرا
Had a heart's secret been entrusted to an eye
Did he who deposited the secret of his heart in a rocky cavern
by a lovelorn man struggling with his streaming tears?
Endure like molten lead flowing in tears?
باتَتspent the night لَهُfor him عَينُan eye تَفيضُoverflowing بِلُجّةٍwith a deep sea
باتَت لَهُ عَينُ تَفيضُ بِلُجّةٍ
قَذَفَcast السّهادُsleeplessness علىupon سَواحِلِهاits shores الكرىslumber
قَذَفَ السّهادُ على سَواحِلِها الكرى
All night his eye overflowed with a deep sea,
His eyes flowed copiously in the night
upon whose shores sleeplessness cast slumber.
Pillows cast on their shores.
ماwhat بالُis the matter with ساليone cured of love القلبِthe heart عَنَّفَrebuked مَنone who لَهُhas
ما بالُ سالي القلبِ عَنَّفَ مَن لَهُ
قَلبٌa heart بِتَفتيرِthrough the languor of اللِّحاظِglances تَفَطَّراshattered
قَلبٌ بِتَفتيرِ اللِّحاظِ تَفَطَّرا
Why does one cured of love rebuke a man whose
Why did the torrential heart rebuke the one whose
heart has shattered beneath languid glances?
Heart was rent by the tattered garment?
وَرَمىand cast نَصيحَتهُhis counsel إلىtoward قَنصِthe quarry of الهَوىlove
وَرَمى نَصيحَتهُ إلى قَنصِ الهَوى
فإذاand whenever رَعَىit grazed حَوْلَaround الحبائلِthe snares نُفّراwas scared away
فإذا رَعَى حَوْلَ الحبائلِ نُفّرا
And he casts his counsel toward love's quarry;
And cast his advice to the hunt of passion
whenever it grazes about the snares, it is scared away.
When he shepherded around the ropes of love.
إِنَّindeed الغرامَpassion غرامُهُhis passion ذوpossessing سَوْرَةٍa fierce surge
إِنَّ الغرامَ غرامُهُ ذو سَوْرَةٍ
وَمِنَand from العيونِthe eyes علىover القلوبِthe hearts تَسَوّراscaled the walls
وَمِنَ العيونِ على القلوبِ تَسَوّرا
Indeed, passion—his passion—has a fierce surge;
Lovesickness is ardent lovesickness
and from the eyes it has scaled the walls of hearts.
And eyes on hearts crept up.
وإذاand when تَعَلّقَbecame entangled بالعَلاقةِin love's bond مُهْتَدٍa rightly guided man
وإذا تَعَلّقَ بالعَلاقةِ مُهْتَدٍ
ورناand gazed إلىtoward حَوَرِthe dark-and-white eyes of الظباءِgazelles تحيّراgrew bewildered
ورنا إلى حَوَرِ الظباءِ تحيّرا
And when a man who knows his way becomes entangled in love,
And when an ardent clinger held fast to fondness
and gazes at the gazelles' dark-and-white eyes, he grows bewildered.
He trotted to the Does’ pasture, wandering.
وَمِنand among الفواتِكِthe women who slay بِالوَرىmankind لكَfor you غادَةٌa tender maiden
وَمِن الفواتِكِ بِالوَرى لكَ غادَةٌ
كَحَلَتْshe applied kohl to بمثلِwith the likeness of السحرِmagic طرفاًan eye أحوَراdark against white
كَحَلَتْ بمثلِ السحرِ طرفاً أحوَرا
And among the slayers of mankind you have a tender maiden,
And for you among the girls of the land an absent one
who lined her dark-and-white eyes with something like magic.
Who, with the magic of dawn, blackened an eyelid.
ملآنُfull منهاin her حِقْفُهاher dune-like hips وَوِشاحُهاand her girdle
ملآنُ منها حِقْفُها وَوِشاحُها
صِفْرٌempty تخالُyou imagine الخَصْرَthe waist فيهwithin it خِنْصَراa little finger
صِفْرٌ تخالُ الخَصْرَ فيه خِنْصَرا
Her dune-like hips are full, while her girdle
Her waist-wrapper and face-veil are filled
is empty—you would take the waist within it for a little finger.
With yellow, as if a girdle split a slender waist.
عادَتshe visited سَقيماًa sick man مِنfrom سَقامِthe sickness of جُفونِهاher eyelids
عادَت سَقيماً مِن سَقامِ جُفونِها
خَطَرَتshe glided عَلَيهِbefore him كَرُؤيَةlike a vision فَتَخَطَّراand he walked swaying
خَطَرَت عَلَيهِ كَرُؤيَة فَتَخَطَّرا
She visited one made sick by the sickness of her eyelids;
She returned sickly from the sickness of her eyelids.
she glided before him like a vision, and he swayed in turn.
She appeared to him like a startling vision.
شَرِقَchoked الظلامُdarkness تألّقاًin radiance بضيائهاwith her light
شَرِقَ الظلامُ تألّقاً بضيائها
فكأنّماso, as though شَرِبَit drank الصَّباحُthe morning المُسفراshining
فكأنّما شَرِبَ الصَّباحُ المُسفرا
Darkness choked, ablaze with her radiance,
The darkness shone radiantly through her splendor.
as though it had drunk the shining dawn.
As if the dawn had drunk the unveiled.
سَحَبَتْshe trailed ذوائبَهاher tresses فَياand oh لأَساودٍwhat black serpents
سَحَبَتْ ذوائبَها فَيا لأَساودٍ
نَفَثَتْbreathed out علىupon القدمينِthe two feet مِسْكاًmusk أَذفَراintensely fragrant
نَفَثَتْ على القدمينِ مِسْكاً أَذفَرا
She trailed her tresses—oh, what black serpents
She lowered her braids—oh, for blackness—
breathed intensely fragrant musk upon her feet!
And breathed musk on legs that spilled saffron.
وَمَشَتand she walked تَرَنّحُswaying كَالنَّزيفِlike a drunkard وَمَشيهاand her gait
وَمَشَت تَرَنّحُ كَالنَّزيفِ وَمَشيها
فَضَحَput to shame القطاةَthe sandgrouse بِحُسنِهِwith its beauty والجُؤذَرَاand the oryx calf
فَضَحَ القطاةَ بِحُسنِهِ والجُؤذَرَا
And she walked swaying like one drunk, and her gait
She walked with a limp like dripping blood while her gait
put the sandgrouse and the young oryx to shame with its beauty.
Put the partridges to shame in grace and beauty.
فَعَجِبتُso I marveled منat غُصْنٍa branch تُدَافِعُهُjostles it الصَّباthe east wind
فَعَجِبتُ من غُصْنٍ تُدَافِعُهُ الصَّبا
بِالنهدِwith the breast أَثمَرbore fruit وَالثناياand the front teeth نَوّرَاblossomed
بِالنهدِ أَثمَر وَالثنايا نَوّرَا
So I marveled at a branch jostled by the east wind:
So I marveled at a branch the morning breeze contended with
it bore a breast as fruit, and front teeth as blossoms.
A breast fruited and hips made tender.
معشوقةٌa beloved woman حَيّتْshe greeted بوردةِwith the rose of وجنةٍa cheek
معشوقةٌ حَيّتْ بوردةِ وجنةٍ
وَسقَتْand gave to drink بكاسِfrom the cup of فمٍa mouth سلافاًpure wine مُسْكراintoxicating
وَسقَتْ بكاسِ فمٍ سلافاً مُسْكرا
A beloved who greeted me with the rose of her cheek,
A beloved who greeted with the rose of a cheek
and served intoxicating pure wine from the cup of her mouth.
And gave to drink from the goblet of a mouth a heady wine.
لاdo not تَعجَبَنْmarvel مماat what أقولُI say فَمِقوَليfor my tongue
لا تَعجَبَنْ مما أقولُ فَمِقوَلي
عنconcerning حُكْمِthe verdict of عَيْنيmy eye بالبخيلةon the withholding woman أخْبَراreported
عن حُكْمِ عَيْني بالبخيلة أخْبَرا
Do not marvel at what I say, for my tongue
Do not wonder at my words. For my saying
has reported my eye's verdict on the withholding woman.
Informed about the judgment of my stingy eye.
إنِّيindeed I امرؤa man كلّall الفكاهةdelight حازهاhe gained it
إنِّي امرؤ كلّ الفكاهة حازها
والصّيْدُand the game كلُّall الصَّيدِthe game فيin جوفِthe belly of الفِراthe wild ass
والصّيْدُ كلُّ الصَّيدِ في جوفِ الفِرا
I am a man who has gained every delight;
I am a man who gained all jest.
and all game, all of it, is in the wild ass's belly.
And the hunt, all the hunt in the interior of honor.
ياah ربَّmany a ذيpossessing مَدٍّflood tide وجزرٍand ebb tide ماؤهُits water
يا ربَّ ذي مَدٍّ وجزرٍ ماؤهُ
للفلكfor ships هُلْكٌdestruction قَطْعُهُcrossing it فَتَيَسّراyet it became easy
للفلك هُلْكٌ قَطْعُهُ فَتَيَسّرا
Ah, many a sea of ebb and flow, whose water
O Lord of extension and ebb, may His water
dooms ships—yet its crossing proved easy.
Be destruction to the sphere if it is severed.
نَفَخbreathed الدُّجىdarkness لماwhen رآهit saw it ميِّتاًdead
نَفَخ الدُّجى لما رآه ميِّتاً
فيهinto it مكانin place of الروحthe soul ريحاًa wind صرصراbitter and howling
فيه مكان الروح ريحاً صرصرا
Darkness, seeing it dead, breathed
The darkness blew when it saw him dead.
into it a bitter, howling wind instead of a soul.
In place of the soul, it blew a whistling wind.
يُفضيopens إلىonto حيِّthe domain of العبابِthe billows تَخالهyou imagine it
يُفضي إلى حيِّ العبابِ تَخاله
لولاbut for رُبىthe hills of الآذيِّthe waves قيعاًan open plain مقفراdeserted
لولا رُبى الآذيِّ قيعاً مقفرا
It opens onto the billows' domain; you would take it,
It leads to the Bewilderer of mankind in his solitude
but for the waves' hills, for a deserted plain.
Were it not for the mountain goats roaming the barren wadis.
يخشىfears لوحشَتِهbecause of its desolation السُّلَيْكُal-Sulayk سلوكَهُtraversing it
يخشى لوحشَتِه السُّلَيْكُ سلوكَهُ
ويلوكُand gnaws فيهwithin it الرعبُterror قلبَthe heart of الشنفرىal-Shanfara
ويلوكُ فيه الرعبُ قلبَ الشنفرى
Its desolation makes al-Sulayk fear to cross it;
Even the fox fears his fierceness in roaming,
and there terror gnaws at al-Shanfara's heart.
And terror in him makes the spotted hyena recoil.
خُضناwe waded through حشاهits depths فيin حَشَىthe belly of زِنجيَّةٍa black African woman
خُضنا حشاه في حَشَى زِنجيَّةٍ
كَمُسِفّةٍlike a low-skimming bird شَقَّتْcleft سُكاكاًthe air أغبراdust-gray
كَمُسِفّةٍ شَقَّتْ سُكاكاً أغبرا
We crossed its depths in the belly of a black woman,
We sheathed his blade in the guts of a black woman
like a low-skimming bird that cleft the dust-gray air.
Like a broadsword that rent a dusty quiver.
تنجوshe speeds away أمَامَbefore القدحthe scoop (paddle) وَخْدَat the swift trot of نجيبةَa noble she-camel
تنجو أمَامَ القدح وَخْدَ نجيبةَ
فكأنّهso, as though it were فحلٌa bull camel عليهاover her جرجراbellowing
فكأنّه فحلٌ عليها جرجرا
She speeds before the paddle with a noble she-camel's trot,
She escapes the cup and the forearm of a refined woman.
as though it were a bull camel bellowing over her.
As if he were a stallion mounting her noisily.
بحرٌa sea حكىimitated جودَthe generosity of ابنthe son of يحيىYahya فيضُهُits flood
بحرٌ حكى جودَ ابن يحيى فيضُهُ
وطماand swelled بسيفِat the shore of القصرthe palace منهthan him فَقَصّراyet fell short
وطما بسيفِ القصر منه فَقَصّرا
A sea whose flood imitated Ibn Yahya's bounty;
A sea that related the bounty of Ibn Yahya—its torrents
and swelled along the palace shore, yet fell short of him.
And the meteors of the palace among them diminished.
أقرَىmost hospitable الملوكof kings يداًin giving وأرفعand loftiest ذِمَّةًin pledged honor
أقرَى الملوك يداً وأرفع ذِمَّةً
وأجلّand greatest منقبةًin distinction وأكرمُand noblest عُنْصُراin lineage
وأجلّ منقبةً وأكرمُ عُنْصُرا
Of kings, the most hospitable in giving, the loftiest in honor,
He provides kings a generous hand and the loftiest ethic,
and the greatest in distinction and the noblest in lineage.
And the most distinguished pedigree and noblest ancestry.
لاdo not تحسبِsuppose الهمّاتِaspirations شيئاًa thing واحداًone and the same
لا تحسبِ الهمّاتِ شيئاً واحداً
شتّانَfar apart ماindeed بينbetween الثُّريَّاthe Pleiades والثَّرىand the earth
شتّانَ ما بين الثُّريَّا والثَّرى
Do not think aspirations all one and the same:
Do not consider worries to be one thing—
how far apart are the Pleiades and the earth!
Great is the difference between Pleiades and motes.
بدرُthe full moon of المهابةmajesty يحتبيsits with knees clasped فيupon دَسْتِهِhis throne
بدرُ المهابة يحتبي في دَسْتِهِ
مَلِكٌa king إذاwhen مَلكٌan angel رآهsees him كبّراproclaims God's greatness
مَلِكٌ إذا مَلكٌ رآه كبّرا
A full moon of majesty sits with knees clasped upon his throne,
The full moon of awe hides in the sleeves of his garments.
a king at whose sight an angel proclaims God's greatness.
When a king sees a king he extols.
نجْلُscion of الأعاظمthe mighty منfrom ذؤابةِthe foremost rank of حِمْيَرٍHimyar
نجْلُ الأعاظم من ذؤابةِ حِمْيَرٍ
صقَلَpolished الزمانُTime بهthrough him مفاخرَthe glories of حميَراHimyar
صقَلَ الزمانُ به مفاخرَ حميَرا
Scion of the mighty, from Himyar's foremost line,
The star of the supreme from the loins of a reddish she-camel
Time has polished Himyar's glories through him.
Time polished its glories of a reddish she-camel through him.
يزدانُis adorned فيin العلياءِlofty glory منهthrough him سريرهُhis throne
يزدانُ في العلياءِ منه سريرهُ
بِمُمَلَّكٍwith a crowned king فيin المهدِthe cradle كانَwas مؤمَّراappointed commander
بِمُمَلَّكٍ في المهدِ كانَ مؤمَّرا
High in glory, his throne gains its splendor from him—
His throne in the highest heaven is adorned
a crowned king who was a commander in the cradle.
By a ruler who in the cradle was kept awake at night.
لبِسَdonned التَّذلُّلَabasement والخشوعَand humility لعزّهِbefore his might
لبِسَ التَّذلُّلَ والخشوعَ لعزّهِ
كلّevery امرئٍman لبسdonned الخنىbaseness وتحيَراand grew bewildered
كلّ امرئٍ لبس الخنى وتحيَرا
Abasement and humility before his might are worn
All mortals donned before his might
by every man who wore baseness and lost his way.
Humility and bewilderment in submission.
وكأنّماand as though فيin كلevery مِقوَلِtongue of ناطقٍa speaker
وكأنّما في كل مِقوَلِ ناطقٍ
منfrom ذكرهmentioning him خَوْفٌfear يُسَلّis unsheathed مُذَكَّراas a keen steel sword
من ذكره خَوْفٌ يُسَلّ مُذَكَّرا
And as though within every speaking tongue
And as if in every saying of the eloquent
fear at his mention were drawn as a keen steel sword.
Fear that makes the admonished tremble was inserted.
وكأنّهُand as though he فيin الدَّهرِtime خُيِّرَwas given a choice فانتقىthen selected
وكأنّهُ في الدَّهرِ خُيِّرَ فانتقى
أيّامَهُhis days منfor حُسْنِهاtheir beauty وتَخَيّراand chose carefully
أيّامَهُ من حُسْنِها وتَخَيّرا
And as though he were given his choice of all time, and picked
And as if He chose him in this world
his days for their beauty, choosing the best.
And picked his days for their beauty.
طَلْقُbright المُحَيَّاof countenance لاno بُسُورَfrowning لهfor him إذاwhen
طَلْقُ المُحَيَّا لا بُسُورَ له إذا
بَسَرَscowled الحِمامُdeath بِمأزِقٍin battle's crush وتَمَعَّراand glowered
بَسَرَ الحِمامُ بِمأزِقٍ وتَمَعَّرا
Bright-faced, he never scowls, even when
Smooth of cheek—no veil covers him when
death scowls in battle's crush and glowers.
The turtledove sings melodiously in the pass.
أخدودهُhis furrow فيin الرأسِthe head ضَرْبَةُa stroke of أبيضٍa white sword
أخدودهُ في الرأسِ ضَرْبَةُ أبيضٍ
وقليبُهand his well فيin القلبthe heart طعنةُa thrust of أَسمَراa brown spear
وقليبُه في القلب طعنةُ أَسمَرا
His furrow in the head is a white sword's stroke;
The crease in his head is the blow of a shining sword.
and his well in the heart, a brown spear's thrust.
And his twist of heart is the stab of a brown spear.
وإذاand when تَعَرّىwas bared للشجاعagainst the brave man حُسَامُهُhis sword
وإذا تَعَرّى للشجاع حُسَامُهُ
بكريهةٍin fierce battle قَتلَkilled الشجاعةَcourage بالعَراon open ground
بكريهةٍ قَتلَ الشجاعةَ بالعَرا
And when his sword is bared against a brave man,
And when the sword of the valiant is bared
in fierce battle it slays courage on the open field.
For the fight, it kills courage with the flawless.
كمhow many منْa صريعٍa fallen man عاطلٍbereft منof رأسهhis head
كم منْ صريعٍ عاطلٍ من رأسه
بالضربby striking طَوّقَهُhe collared him with حساماًa sword مبتراsevering
بالضرب طَوّقَهُ حساماً مبترا
How many a fallen man, bereft of his head,
How many a fallen foe from the blow of his sword
he has collared, by striking, with a severing sword!
He collared with the broken remains of a blade!
مُتَيَقِّظٌvigilant ملأfilled الزمانَthe age لأهلهfor its people
مُتَيَقِّظٌ ملأ الزمانَ لأهله
أمنْاًsecurity أنامَlulled to sleep بهwith it وخوفاًand fear أسهَراkept awake
أمنْاً أنامَ به وخوفاً أسهَرا
Watchful, he has filled the age for its people
Vigilant, he filled time for his nation
with safety that lulls to sleep and fear that keeps awake.
With safety in which it slept and fear in which it woke.
عَصَفتْblew fiercely لِتُدرِكَهُto catch him الصَّباthe east wind فكأنَّماso, as though
عَصَفتْ لِتُدرِكَهُ الصَّبا فكأنَّما
جَمدَتْfroze وَقرَّتand stood still خلفهbehind him لمَّاwhen جَرىhe ran
جَمدَتْ وَقرَّت خلفه لمَّا جَرى
The east wind stormed to catch him, but seemed
The morning breeze blew to catch up with him
frozen and still behind him when he ran.
As if frozen and settled behind him when he sped off.
أَحْبِبْhow delightful بِذاكَthat السبقِlead إذsince هوَhe فيin مَدىa course of
أَحْبِبْ بِذاكَ السبقِ إذ هوَ في مَدى
شَرَفٍhonor يثيرُraises بهwith it العلىglory لاnot العِثيَراdust
شَرَفٍ يثيرُ به العلى لا العِثيَرا
How fine that lead, for he runs a course
Love that precedence, as it is in the furthest reach
of honor, raising glory with it, not dust!
Of noble glory, not stirring up ashes.
يُسْديbestows المكارمnoble favors منfrom أناملِthe fingers of مُفْضِلٍa benefactor
يُسْدي المكارم من أناملِ مُفْضِلٍ
أغْنىenriched الزمانُTime بنَيلهاthrough their bounty مَنthose whom أَفقَراit impoverished
أغْنى الزمانُ بنَيلها مَن أَفقَرا
He dispenses noble favors from a benefactor's fingers;
He pours generosity from the fingers of Mufaddal
through their bounty, Time enriches those it made poor.
Enriching the times for one impoverished.
أحياrevived بِهِthrough him المعروفَgoodness بينَamong عِبادِهِHis servants
أحيا بِهِ المعروفَ بينَ عِبادِهِ
ربٌّthe Lord بسيرتهthrough his conduct أماتَput to death المُنكَراwrongdoing
ربٌّ بسيرته أماتَ المُنكَرا
Through him goodness was revived among His servants
He revived benefaction among His servants through him.
by the Lord, who through his conduct put wrongdoing to death.
A Lord whose conduct killed immorality.
وكتيبةٍand a battalion كَتَبَتْwrote صدورُthe points of رماحهاits spears
وكتيبةٍ كَتَبَتْ صدورُ رماحها
للموتِfor death فيupon صُحُفِthe pages of الحيازمchests أسْطُراlines
للموتِ في صُحُفِ الحيازم أسْطُرا
And many a battalion whose spearheads wrote
And a troop whose chests their lances inscribed
lines for death upon the pages of chests.
For death pages in books of resolute men.
مُلِئَتْwas filled بهاthrough it الحربُwar العَوَانُoft-renewed ضراغماًlions
مُلِئَتْ بها الحربُ العَوَانُ ضراغماً
وصلادماًand mighty steeds وقشاعماًand aged eagles وَسَنَوّراand armor
وصلادماً وقشاعماً وَسَنَوّرا
Through it, seasoned war was filled with lions,
The war was filled with them—armor,
and mighty steeds, aged eagles, and armor.
Shields, helmets, and coats of mail.
جاءتcame لفيفاًas a gathered host فيbeneath رواقthe canopy of عجاجةٍa dust cloud
جاءت لفيفاً في رواق عجاجةٍ
سوداءَblack دَرْهَمَهاsilvered it like dirhams اللميعُthe gleam ودنّراand gilded it like dinars
سوداءَ دَرْهَمَها اللميعُ ودنّرا
It came as a gathered host beneath a canopy of dust,
They came in throngs in the portico of clanging
black, spangled with dirhams and dinars by the gleam.
Black coins—their mail coats shone brightly.
وبداand appeared عليٌّAli فيin سماءِthe sky of قتامهاits battle-dust
وبدا عليٌّ في سماءِ قتامها
قمراًas a moon وصالَand charged علىagainst الفوارسthe horsemen قَسْوَراas a lion
قمراً وصالَ على الفوارس قَسْوَرا
And Ali appeared in the sky of its battle-dust,
And ‘Ali appeared in the dark heavens of their darkness
a moon, and charged the horsemen as a lion,
A moon that dawned on the horsemen.
بخطيبِwith a preacher of موتٍdeath فيin الوقائعbattles جاعلٍmaking
بخطيبِ موتٍ في الوقائع جاعلٍ
لغرارهfor its edge رأسَthe head of المدجَّجthe armored warrior مِنْبَراa pulpit
لغراره رأسَ المدجَّج مِنْبَرا
with a preacher of death in battle that makes
With the orator of death in battles making
the armored warrior's head a pulpit for its edge.
His own neck for his sermon the pulpit.
بحرٌa sea إذاwhen ماever (emphasis) القرنُthe rival رامsought عبورَهُto cross it
بحرٌ إذا ما القرنُ رام عبورَهُ
لمdid not يَلْقَfind فيهwithin it إلىto السَّلامَةِsafety مَعبراa passage
لم يَلْقَ فيه إلى السَّلامَةِ مَعبرا
A sea—when a rival seeks to cross it,
A sea—when the centuries desired crossing it
he finds within it no passage to safety.
They found no way to safety within it.
عَطِبَتْperished بهin it مُهَجُthe lives of الجبابِرَةِthe mighty tyrants الأُلىwho
عَطِبَتْ به مُهَجُ الجبابِرَةِ الأُلى
بَصُرُواlooked بِكِسرىupon Kisra فيin الزَّمانِtheir time وقَيصَراand Caesar
بَصُرُوا بِكِسرى في الزَّمانِ وقَيصَرا
In it perished the lives of the mighty tyrants who
The viscera of tyrants became barren through him.
beheld Kisra and Caesar in their time.
They saw Chosroes in time as well as Caesar.
رسبتsank بلَجَّتِهِinto its depths النُّفوسُsouls ولوand if طَفَتْthey floated
رسبت بلَجَّتِهِ النُّفوسُ ولو طَفَتْ
لحسبتَهُyou would have thought it قَبْلَbefore القيامةِthe Resurrection محشراa gathering-place for judgment
لحسبتَهُ قَبْلَ القيامةِ محشرا
Souls sank into its depths; had they floated,
Souls were harvested in its torrent, and if they floated
you would have thought it a gathering-place before Resurrection Day.
You would think them—before resurrection—mustered.
وَرَدَcame to النجيعَfresh blood وَسَوْسَنٌand lilies جنباتهits flanks
وَرَدَ النجيعَ وَسَوْسَنٌ جنباته
ثُمَّthen استَقَلَّrose بِهِنَّwith them وَرداًroses أَحمراred
ثُمَّ استَقَلَّ بِهِنَّ وَرداً أَحمرا
It came to fresh blood, with lilies for flanks,
He came to the encampment, and his chest are roses
then rose with them as red roses.
He then dismounted with them as red roses.
وكأنّماand as though نارٌa fire تُشَبُّis kindled بمتنهupon its back
وكأنّما نارٌ تُشَبُّ بمتنه
أبداًforever تُحَرّقُburns فيهwithin it روضاًa meadow أخضراgreen
أبداً تُحَرّقُ فيه روضاً أخضرا
And as though a fire were kindled upon its back,
As if a fire perpetually burning
forever burning a green meadow there.
In it kindled a green meadow.
فَتَقَunsealed الرياحthe winds بفخرهwith his glory فكأنّماso, as though
فَتَقَ الرياح بفخره فكأنّما
خُضْناwe waded إليهtoward him بالمعاطسِwith the nostrils عنبراambergris
خُضْنا إليه بالمعاطسِ عنبرا
He unsealed the winds with his glory, as though
So the winds burst with his pride as if
we waded toward him through ambergris with our nostrils.
We rolled unto him perfumes of ambergris.
رَفَعَraised القريضُpoetry بهfor him عقَائِرَthe loud voices of مَدحِهِpraise of him
رَفَعَ القريضُ به عقَائِرَ مَدحِهِ
فَاهتَزَّso stirred فيin يَدِهِhis hand النّدىgenerosity وتَفَجَّراand gushed forth
فَاهتَزَّ في يَدِهِ النّدى وتَفَجَّرا
Poetry raised its loud voices in his praise,
Poetry raised through him the sanctities of his praise.
and generosity stirred in his hand and gushed forth.
Dew shook in its hand and gushed forth.
وأَتىand came العَطاءُgifts مُفَضضاًsilvered ومُذهباًand gilded
وأَتى العَطاءُ مُفَضضاً ومُذهباً
وأتىand came الثناءُpraise مسهّماًarrow-patterned ومحبَّراand richly ornamented
وأتى الثناءُ مسهّماً ومحبَّرا
And gifts arrived silvered and gilded,
And bounty came shedding and scattering gold
and praise arrived arrow-patterned and richly embroidered.
And praise came adorned and illuminated.
فكأنّماso, as though زخرتْsurged غواربُthe wave-crests of دجلةٍthe Tigris
فكأنّما زخرتْ غواربُ دجلةٍ
وكأنّماand as though نُشِرَتْwere spread وشائعُthe woven fabrics of عبقراAbqar
وكأنّما نُشِرَتْ وشائعُ عبقرا
As though the Tigris's wave-crests surged,
So it was as if the ships of the Tigris flourished
and as though Abqar's woven fabrics were spread.
And as if the rumors of Abqar were published.
ياO مَنْyou who إذاwhen بَصَرٌan eye رآهsees him فقدthen indeed رأىhas seen
يا مَنْ إذا بَصَرٌ رآه فقد رأى
فيwithin بردَتَيهِhis two cloaks الأَكرَمينَthe noblest people مِنَof الوَرىmankind
في بردَتَيهِ الأَكرَمينَ مِنَ الوَرى
O you—when an eye beholds you, it has indeed beheld
O you whom when a sighted one saw, it was as if he saw
within your two cloaks the noblest of mankind.
In your two most generousmantles the rarest of mankind.
وَبَداand became clear لَهُto it أَنَّاthat we بِأَلْسِنَةِwith the tongues of العلىglory
وَبَدا لَهُ أَنَّا بِأَلْسِنَةِ العلى
فيwithin جَوهَرِthe essence of الأَملاكِkings نَنظِمُwe string جَوهَراjewels
في جَوهَرِ الأَملاكِ نَنظِمُ جَوهَرا
And it is clear to it that, with the tongues of glory,
And it became clear to him that our tongues
we string gems within the essence of kings.
Compose in the essence of kingdoms essence.
منfrom نُورthe light of بِشرِكَyour smiling face أشرقَshone النورthe light الَّذيwhich
من نُور بِشرِكَ أشرقَ النور الَّذي
بِتَكاثُرِof the multiplying of الأعيادِfestivals عِندَكَin your presence بَشّراannounced glad tidings
بِتَكاثُرِ الأعيادِ عِندَكَ بَشّرا
From the light of your smiling face shone the light that
From the light of your blessedness the light shone
heralded the multiplying festivals in your presence.
Which, with the frequency of your feasts, gave tidings.
وَاسلَمْand remain safe لِملكِكَfor your kingdom فيin تَقَاعُسِthe unyielding stance of عِزَّةٍmight
وَاسلَمْ لِملكِكَ في تَقَاعُسِ عِزَّةٍ
وَأَبِدْand annihilate بِسَيفِكَwith your sword مَنwhoever عَداattacked واستَكبَراand grew arrogant
وَأَبِدْ بِسَيفِكَ مَن عَدا واستَكبَرا
And remain safe for your kingdom in unyielding might,
And submit to your kingdom in neglect of glory
and annihilate with your sword whoever attacks and grows arrogant.
And manifest with your sword those who opposed and grew arrogant.
Sol 6.1