أسْنَىloftiest الممالكthe kingdoms ماthose which أطَلْتyou raised منارَهاtheir beacon
أسْنَى الممالك ما أطَلْت منارَها
وجعلتَand you made مُرْهَفَةَsharpened الشِّفارِthe cutting edges دِسارَهاtheir rivets
وجعلتَ مُرْهَفَةَ الشِّفارِ دِسارَها
The loftiest kingdoms are those whose beacon you raised,
and whose rivets you made keen-edged blades.
وأحقُّand the worthiest منone who مَلَكَruled البلادthe lands وأهلَهاand their people
وأحقُّ من مَلَكَ البلاد وأهلَها
رؤٌفcompassionate تكنَّفencompassed عدلُهhis justice أقطارَهاtheir regions
رؤٌف تكنَّف عدلُه أقطارَها
And the worthiest to rule lands and their people
is a compassionate man whose justice embraces their bounds.
منone who عامlavished upon سامShem الخافِقَينِthe two horizons وَحامهاand their Ham
من عام سام الخافِقَينِ وَحامها
مِنناًfavors وَزادand increased هَوىًlove فَخصّso singled out نِزارَهاtheir Nizar
مِنناً وَزاد هَوىً فَخصّ نِزارَها
He who lavished upon Shem and Ham of both horizons
favors, and grew in love, singling out their Nizar.
مُضَرِيَّةٌof Mudar طبعَتforged مَضارِبَهُhis sword-edges وَإِنand even if
مُضَرِيَّةٌ طبعَت مَضارِبَهُ وَإِن
عَدَتهُcounted him ذَروةthe summit of فارسٍPersia أَسوارَهاits mounted nobleman
عَدَتهُ ذَروة فارسٍ أَسوارَها
A Mudari spirit forged his sword-edges, though
Persia's summit counted him its mounted nobleman.
آلgoverned الرّعيّةthe subjects وهيَwhile they تَجهَلُdid not know آلهاtheir fate
آل الرّعيّة وهيَ تَجهَلُ آلها
وتعافand loathed نُطْفَتَهاtheir water وتكرهand hated دارَهاtheir home
وتعاف نُطْفَتَها وتكره دارَها
He governed subjects who did not know their fate,
and loathed their water and hated their home.
فَأَقرَّso settled ضَجعَتَهاtheir repose وَأَنبتَand made grow نيّهاtheir flesh
فَأَقرَّ ضَجعَتَها وَأَنبتَ نيّها
وأساغand made palatable جُرْعتهاtheir draught وأثبتand strengthened زارَهاtheir vigor
وأساغ جُرْعتها وأثبت زارَها
He settled their repose and made their flesh grow,
made their draught easy to swallow and strengthened their vigor.
ملكٌa king أبوهhis father سماaspired لهاto her فَسَمَاand rose بهاthrough her
ملكٌ أبوه سما لها فَسَمَا بها
وأجارهاand sheltered her فعلتso she rose above سُهيلاًSuhayl جارَهاher neighbor
وأجارها فعلت سُهيلاً جارَها
A king whose father aspired to her and rose through her,
and sheltered her, so she outsoared Suhayl, her neighbor.
نَهَجَlaid out السَّبيلَthe path لهfor him فَأَوضَحَso made clear خلفهhis successor
نَهَجَ السَّبيلَ له فَأَوضَحَ خلفه
وَشَداand sang لهُto him يمنthe blessings of العلاglory فَأَنارَهاso illumined it
وَشَدا لهُ يمن العلا فَأَنارَها
He laid out his path; his successor made it clear,
and sang him the blessings of glory, which he illumined.
أنشرْتَyou revived ياO محمودُMahmud ملّةَthe faith of أحمدٍAhmad
أنشرْتَ يا محمودُ ملّةَ أحمدٍ
منfrom بعدafter ماwhen شملencompassed البِلَىdecay أبشارَهاits skins
من بعد ما شمل البِلَى أبشارَها
You revived, O Mahmud, Ahmad's faith,
after decay had encompassed its skins.
إنif جانأتit bent عَدَلَstraightened السِّنانُthe spearhead قَوامَهاits frame
إن جانأت عَدَلَ السِّنانُ قَوامَها
أوor نَأنأتْit weakened كانbecame الحسامthe sword جبارَهاits bone-setter
أو نَأنأتْ كان الحسام جبارَها
If it bent, the spearhead straightened its frame;
if it weakened, the sword became its bone-setter.
عقلتwere tethered مَعَwith العصمِthe mountain goats العَواصِمthe strongholds مُذsince غَدَتbecame
عقلت مَعَ العصمِ العَواصِم مُذ غَدَت
هذيthese العَزائِمُresolves أسرهاtheir binding وإسارَهاand their fetters
هذي العَزائِمُ أسرها وإسارَها
The strongholds were tethered with the mountain goats, once
these resolves became their bonds and fetters.
وَتَكفَّلتand pledged لَكَto you ضُمَّرlean horses أَنضَيتهاyou exhausted them
وَتَكفَّلت لَكَ ضُمَّر أَنضَيتها
فيin صَونِهاguarding her أَنto تَستردّrecover ضِمارَهاher inaccessible wealth
في صَونِها أَن تَستردّ ضِمارَها
And lean horses you had exhausted pledged to you,
in guarding her, to recover her inaccessible wealth.
كَلأتguarded هَوامِلَهاher straying herds وردand checked مطارهاtheir flight
كَلأت هَوامِلَها ورد مطارها
ماwhat أريشتهyou feathered وَثقفتand straightened آطارَهاits bends
ما أريشته وَثقفت آطارَها
Her straying herds were guarded and their flight checked by
what you feathered and whose bends you straightened.
كَمhow often حاوَلَتsought مِنfrom كفتيهاher two flanks غرّةًa lapse of vigilance
كَم حاوَلَت مِن كفتيها غرّةً
غلبَthick-necked الأسودthe lions فقلَّمتbut you clipped أَظفارَهاtheir claws
غلبَ الأسود فقلَّمت أَظفارَها
How often a lapse on either flank was sought
by thick-necked lions, but you clipped their claws.
أنَّىhow could that be وحاميwhen the protector of سَرحِهاher grazing herds مَنone who لَوif سَمَتrose
أنَّى وحامي سَرحِها مَن لَو سَمَت
لِلفلكِto the celestial spheres بَسْطَتهhis reach أَحالwould alter مدارَهاtheir orbit
لِلفلكِ بَسْطَته أَحال مدارَها
How could they, when her herds' protector is one whose reach, if it rose
to the celestial spheres, would alter their orbit?
فيin كُلِّevery يَومٍday مِنof فُتوحِكyour conquests سورةٌa chapter
في كُلِّ يَومٍ مِن فُتوحِك سورةٌ
للدّينfor the faith يحملcarries سِفْرُهits book أسفارَهاits volumes
للدّين يحمل سِفْرُه أسفارَها
On every day of your conquests there is a chapter
for the faith, whose book carries its volumes.
وَمُطيلةٌand lengthening قِصَرthe shortness of المنابِرِthe pulpits إِنْif غَداbegin الthe
وَمُطيلةٌ قِصَر المنابِرِ إِنْ غَدا ال
خُطَباءُpreachers تَنثُرُscatter فَوقَهاabove them تقصارَهاits close-fitting necklace
خُطَباءُ تَنثُرُ فَوقَها تقصارَها
And one that makes short pulpits taller, when the
preachers scatter its necklace over them.
هِمَمٌambitions تَحجَّلتringed their ankles المُلوكthe kings وَراءَهاbehind them
هِمَمٌ تَحجَّلت المُلوك وَراءَها
بِدَمِwith the blood of العِثارِstumbling وماyet did not اِقتفَتfollow آثارَهاtheir tracks
بِدَمِ العِثارِ وما اِقتفَت آثارَها
Ambitions behind which kings have ringed their ankles
with the blood of stumbling, yet never followed their tracks.
وَعزائمٌand resolves تَستَوئزُfrighten away الآسادَthe lions عنfrom
وَعزائمٌ تَستَوئزُ الآسادَ عن
نَهشِtearing الفَرائسِthe prey إِنif أَحسَّsensed أُوارهاtheir scorching heat
نَهشِ الفَرائسِ إِن أَحسَّ أُوارها
And resolves that frighten lions away from
tearing prey, if they sense their scorching heat.
أَبداًever تقصرshortens طولَthe height of مشرفَةِlofty الذُراthe summits
أَبداً تقصر طولَ مشرفَةِ الذُرا
بِالمَشرفيَّةِwith Mashrafi swords أَوor تُطيلُlengthens قصارهاtheir short ones
بِالمَشرفيَّةِ أَو تُطيلُ قصارها
Ever cutting down the height of lofty summits
with Mashrafi swords, or making their short ones tall.
فَغَرَتْopened wide أَفامِيةٌApamea فماًa mouth فَهَتَمْتَهُso you shattered its front teeth
فَغَرَتْ أَفامِيةٌ فماً فَهَتَمْتَهُ
كَبَوَارlike ruin أَجناهاmade her reap الأَرانthe lair بَوارَهاher destruction
كَبَوَار أَجناها الأَران بَوارَها
Apamea opened a mouth, and you shattered its front teeth,
Like ruin—her lair made her reap destruction [wording unclear].
أَرهَقتَyou pressed رائَكَyour rāʾ (letter; sense unclear) فَوقَabove رائكyour rāʾ (letter; sense unclear) تَحتَهاbeneath her
أَرهَقتَ رائَكَ فَوقَ رائك تَحتَها
فَحَططتَso you brought down مِنfrom شعفاتهاher peaks أَعفارهاher tawny gazelles
فَحَططتَ مِن شعفاتها أَعفارها
You pressed your rāʾ above your rāʾ beneath her [sense unclear],
and brought her tawny gazelles down from her peaks.
أَدركتyou exacted ثَأرَكyour vengeance فيupon البُغَاةِthe rebels وَكُنتَand you were ياO
أَدركت ثَأرَك في البُغَاةِ وَكُنتَ يا
مُختارَchosen one of أُمّةِthe community of أَحمدٍAhmad مُختارَهاits chosen one
مُختارَ أُمّةِ أَحمدٍ مُختارَها
You exacted vengeance on the rebels, and were, O
chosen one of Ahmad's community, its chosen one.
عارِيّةa loan الزّمنِof time المُغيرthe marauding سَماrose لهاagainst her
عارِيّة الزّمنِ المُغير سَما لها
مِنكfrom you المعيّرthe lender فَاِستَردَّso reclaimed معارَهاwhat was lent to her
مِنك المعيّر فَاِستَردَّ معارَها
A loan of marauding time, against which there rose
from you the lender, reclaiming what was lent to her.
زَأَرَroared الهِزَبْرُthe lion فَقيّدتand were fettered عاناتهاher wild-ass herds
زَأَرَ الهِزَبْرُ فَقيّدت عاناتها
عَصرَin the age of الضلالِerror وَأَسلَمتand surrendered أَعيارهاher wild asses
عَصرَ الضلالِ وَأَسلَمت أَعيارها
The lion roared, and her wild-ass herds were fettered
in the age of error, and her asses surrendered.
ضاءَتshone نُجومكَyour stars فَوقَهاabove her وَلَربُّماthough many a time
ضاءَت نُجومكَ فَوقَها وَلَربُّما
باتَتَspent the night تنافِثهاwhispering to her النجومthe stars سرارَهاtheir secrets
باتَتَ تنافِثها النجوم سرارَها
Your stars shone above her, though many a time
the stars had spent the night whispering their secrets to her.
أمْسَتْspent the evening معbeside الشِّعْرَىSirius العبورal-ʿAbur, the Crossing One وأصبحتand became in the morning
أمْسَتْ مع الشِّعْرَى العبور وأصبحت
شُعراءhairy تَستقليdespise الفُحولthe stallions شوارَهاher naked parts
شُعراء تَستقلي الفُحول شوارَها
She spent the evening beside Sirius al-ʿAbur, and awoke
hairy, with stallions despising her naked parts.
وَلَكَمand how often قَرعتyou assailed بِمقرباتِكَwith your prized steeds مِثلَهاher like
وَلَكَم قَرعت بِمقرباتِكَ مِثلَها
تلعاًlofty ones وقلّدتand you adorned الكُماةthe armored warriors عذارَهاwith her bridle-straps
تلعاً وقلّدت الكُماة عذارَها
How often you assailed her like with your prized steeds,
lofty ones, and hung her bridle-straps upon armored warriors.
حتَّىuntil إِذاwhen اِشتَملَتكshe enclosed you أَشرَقَshone سورهاher wall
حتَّى إِذا اِشتَملَتك أَشرَقَ سورها
عِزّاًwith glory وَحلاهاand adorned her سَناكَyour radiance سِوارَهاher bracelet
عِزّاً وَحلاها سَناكَ سِوارَها
Until, when she enclosed you, her wall shone
with glory; your radiance adorned her with her bracelet.
خَرَّfell الصّليبُthe cross وَقَدwhile already عَلَتrose نَغَماتُهاher melodies
خَرَّ الصّليبُ وَقَد عَلَت نَغَماتُها
وَاِستَوبَلَتand found oppressive صَلواتُهits prayers تِكْرارَهاtheir repetition
وَاِستَوبَلَت صَلواتُه تِكْرارَها
The cross fell as her melodies rose,
and its prayers found their repetition oppressive.
لَمّاwhen وَعاهاtook them in سَمْعُthe hearing of أَنطاكيةAntioch
لَمّا وَعاها سَمْعُ أَنطاكية
سَرَتِshed الوقارdignity وَكَشفَتand lifted أَستارَهاher veils
سَرَتِ الوقار وَكَشفَت أَستارَها
When Antioch's hearing took them in,
she shed her dignity and lifted her veils.
فَاليَومَso today أَضْحَتshe has come to تَستَذمّseek protection against مُجيرَهاher protector
فَاليَومَ أَضْحَت تَستَذمّ مُجيرَها
مِنfrom جَورِهِhis oppression وَغَدتand has come to تذمّcondemn جوارَهاher refuge
مِن جَورِهِ وَغَدت تذمّ جوارَها
Today she seeks protection against her protector,
from his oppression, and now condemns her refuge.
عَلِمَتshe knew بأَنthat سَتَذوقُshe will taste جرعَةَthe draught of أُختِهاher sister
عَلِمَت بأَن سَتَذوقُ جرعَةَ أُختِها
إِنif زَرَّhe buttons أَطواقَthe collars of القباءِthe coat وزارَهاand visits her
إِن زَرَّ أَطواقَ القباءِ وزارَها
She knows she will taste her sister's draught,
if he buttons his coat's collars and visits her.
ماضٍresolute إذاwhen قرعhe urges الرّكابَthe riding mounts لبلدةٍtoward a town
ماضٍ إذا قرع الرّكابَ لبلدةٍ
ألْقَتْshe cast off لهfor him قبلbefore القراعthe clash إزارَهاher waistcloth
ألْقَتْ له قبل القراع إزارَها
Resolute—when he urges his mounts toward a town,
she casts off her waistcloth for him before the clash.
وإذاand when مَجَانِقُهhis catapults رَكَعنَkneel لِصعبةbefore one difficult in الthe
وإذا مَجَانِقُه رَكَعنَ لِصعبة ال
ملقاةِencounter أَسْجَدَhe made prostrate كالجديرِlike a little enclosure جدارَهاher wall
ملقاةِ أَسْجَدَ كالجديرِ جدارَها
And when his catapults kneel before one hard to
encounter, he makes her wall prostrate like a little enclosure.
ملَأhe filled البِلادَthe lands مَواهباًwith gifts ومَهابةًand awe
ملَأ البِلادَ مَواهباً ومَهابةً
حتّىuntil اِستَرقّتenslaved آيُهُhis wonders أحرارَهاtheir freeborn
حتّى اِستَرقّت آيُهُ أحرارَها
He filled the lands with gifts and awe,
until his wonders enslaved their freeborn.
يُذكيhe kindles العيونَthe eyes إِذاwhen أَقامَhe rises لعونهاto help her
يُذكي العيونَ إِذا أَقامَ لعونها
أَبَداًalways وَيُفضيand penetrates بِالظّباwith blade-edges أَبكارهاher virgins
أَبَداً وَيُفضي بِالظّبا أَبكارها
He kindles eyes whenever he rises to help her,
always, and with blade-edges deflowers her virgins.
أَوماhe gestured إِلىtoward رممthe decayed remains of النَدىgenerosity فَأَعاشَهاand revived them
أَوما إِلى رمم النَدى فَأَعاشَها
وَهَمىand rained لِسابِقَةِfor the foremost of المنىwishes فَأَزارَهاand brought her to visit
وَهَمى لِسابِقَةِ المنى فَأَزارَها
He gestured toward generosity's dead remains and revived them,
and rained for the foremost of wishes, bringing her to visit.
نَبَويُّprophetic تَشبيهِin the likeness of الفُتوحِthe conquests كَأَنَّماas though
نَبَويُّ تَشبيهِ الفُتوحِ كَأَنَّما
أنصارُهhis helpers رجعتbrought back لهto him أنصارَهاher Ansar
أنصارُه رجعت له أنصارَها
His conquests resemble a prophet's, as though
his helpers had restored her Ansar to him.
أَحياhe revived لِصَرحِfor the edifice of سَلامهاher peace سَلمانهاher Salman
أَحيا لِصَرحِ سَلامها سَلمانها
وَأَماتَand killed تحتَbeneath عَمَارَهاher dwellings عُمَّارَهاher inhabitants
وَأَماتَ تحتَ عَمَارَها عُمَّارَها
He revived her Salman for the edifice of her peace,
and killed her inhabitants beneath her dwellings.
إِنْif سارَhe marches سارَhe marches وقَدand already تَقَدّمَpreceded جَيشَهhis army
إِنْ سارَ سارَ وقَد تَقَدّمَ جَيشَه
رجفٌa tremor يقصّعcrushes فيin اللّهاthe throats دعارَهاher brigands
رجفٌ يقصّع في اللّها دعارَها
When he marches, he marches with his army already preceded
by a tremor that crushes her brigands in their throats.
أَوor حلَّhe alights حَلَّhe loosens حباthe knee-bands of القرومِthe chieftains بِهيبةٍwith an awe
أَو حلَّ حَلَّ حبا القرومِ بِهيبةٍ
سَلَبhe robbed البدورthe full moons بدارهاthrough its onrush أبدارَهاtheir fullness
سَلَب البدور بدارها أبدارَها
Or when he alights, he loosens the chieftains' knee-bands with an awe
whose onrush strips the full moons of their fullness.
وَإِذاand when المُلوكُthe kings تَنافَسواcontend for دَرجthe steps of العُلاglory
وَإِذا المُلوكُ تَنافَسوا دَرج العُلا
أَربىhe surpassed بِنَفسwith a soul أَفرعتهraised him high خيارهاits best qualities
أَربى بِنَفس أَفرعته خيارها
And when kings contend for the steps of glory,
he surpasses them with a soul whose best qualities raised him high.
ونُهىًand judgment إِذاwhen هيضَتit is wounded تدلّtakes pride بِخيرهاin its goodness
ونُهىً إِذا هيضَت تدلّ بِخيرها
وسُطىًand might تُذلّhumbles إذاwhen عنتit appears جبارهاits tyrant
وسُطىً تُذلّ إذا عنت جبارها
And judgment that, when wounded, takes pride in its goodness,
and might that, when it appears, humbles its tyrant.
تُهْدَىare offered لمحمودto Mahmud السَّجاياthe character traits كاِسمِهِlike his name
تُهْدَى لمحمود السَّجايا كاِسمِهِ
لوif لزّwere matched closely فاعلةًa female doer بهاin them لأَبَارَهاhe would destroy her
لو لزّ فاعلةً بها لأَبَارَها
They are offered to Mahmud, praised in character as in name;
were a rival doer matched with him in them, he would destroy her.
الفاعِلُthe doer of الفعلاتِthe deeds يَنظِمُstrings together فيin الدجىthe darkness
الفاعِلُ الفعلاتِ يَنظِمُ في الدجى
بَينَamong النجومِthe stars حسودهاtheir envier أَسمارهاtheir nightly tales
بَينَ النجومِ حسودها أَسمارها
The doer of deeds—in darkness are strung
their nightly tales among the stars by their envier.
ساعٍa striver سَعىwho strove وَالسابقاتwhile the racers وَراءَهُbehind him
ساعٍ سَعى وَالسابقات وَراءَهُ
عَنَقاًat a swift trot فَعَصفَرَand dyed safflower-red منتماهhis lineage عثارَهاtheir stumbles
عَنَقاً فَعَصفَرَ منتماه عثارَها
A striver who strove, with the racers behind him
at a swift trot; his lineage dyed their stumbles safflower-red.
كَالمضرَجِيِّlike the blood-stained raptor إِذاwhen يُصَرْصِرُit shrieks آيِباًreturning
كَالمضرَجِيِّ إِذا يُصَرْصِرُ آيِباً
خرسfell mute البغاثthe weak birds وَهاجَرتand abandoned أَوكارَهاtheir nests
خرس البغاث وَهاجَرت أَوكارَها
Like the blood-stained raptor, when it shrieks returning,
the weak birds fall mute and abandon their nests.
عَرَفَتthey recognized لِنورِfor Nur الدينِal-Din, the faith نورa radiance of وقائعٍbattles
عَرَفَت لِنورِ الدينِ نور وقائعٍ
يُغشَىone is overwhelmed إِذاwhen اِكتَحَلَتare lined with kohl بِهِwith it أَبصارهاtheir eyes
يُغشَى إِذا اِكتَحَلَت بِهِ أَبصارها
They recognized in Nur al-Din a radiance of battles,
that overwhelms when their eyes are lined with it.
مَشهورةrenowned سَعَطتadministered a nasal dose وَقَدand already حاولتهاchallenged them الthe
مَشهورة سَعَطت وَقَد حاولتها ال
أقدارfates عجزاًwith helplessness أنْto تشقّcleave غُبَارَهاtheir dust
أقدار عجزاً أنْ تشقّ غُبَارَها
Renowned battles that dosed the challenging
fates with helplessness to cleave their dust.
للّهِto God belongs وَجهُكَyour face وَالوجوهُwhile the faces كأنّماas though
للّهِ وَجهُكَ وَالوجوهُ كأنّما
حطّتlaid down بهاupon them أوقارthe loads of هِيتHit وقارَهاtheir burdens
حطّت بها أوقار هِيت وقارَها
God bless your face! The other faces looked as though
loads from Hit had laid their burdens upon them.
وَالبيضُand the bright swords تَخنسُhide فيin الصُّدورthe breasts صدروهاtheir foreparts
وَالبيضُ تَخنسُ في الصُّدور صدروها
هبراًhewing وتكتحلand use as kohl الشُّفورthe eyelids شفارهاtheir cutting edges
هبراً وتكتحل الشُّفور شفارها
And the bright swords hide their foreparts inside breasts,
hewing, while eyelids use their edges as kohl.
وَالخَيلُand the horses تدلجtravel by night تَحتَbeneath أَرْشيةthe well-ropes of القَناthe spears
وَالخَيلُ تدلج تَحتَ أَرْشية القَنا
جَذبthe pull of المَواتِحِthe water-drawers غاوَرتplunged into آبارَهاtheir wells
جَذب المَواتِحِ غاوَرت آبارَها
And horses travel by night beneath the well-ropes of spears,
with the pull of water-drawers delving into their wells.
فَبَقيتَso may you remain تَستَجليunveiling الفتوحَthe conquests عَرائِساًas brides
فَبَقيتَ تَستَجلي الفتوحَ عَرائِساً
متملّياًlong enjoying صَدرَthe breast of العلاglory وصدارهاand its bodice
متملّياً صَدرَ العلا وصدارها
So may you remain unveiling conquests as brides,
long enjoying glory's breast and bodice,
فيin دَولَةٍa reign لِلنصرِfor victory فَوقَabove لِوائهاits banner
في دَولَةٍ لِلنصرِ فَوقَ لِوائها
زبرscrolls تنمِّقُare embellished فيupon الطّلَىthe throats أسطارَهاtheir lines
زبر تنمِّقُ في الطّلَى أسطارَها
in a reign where victory has, above its banner,
scrolls whose lines are embellished upon throats.
فالدّينُso the faith مَوْماةٌa desert رفعتyou raised بهاin it الصُّوَىthe waymarks
فالدّينُ مَوْماةٌ رفعت بها الصُّوَى
وحديقةٌand a garden ضَمِنَتْguaranteed يداكَyour two hands إيارَهاits May
وحديقةٌ ضَمِنَتْ يداكَ إيارَها
So the faith is a desert where you raised waymarks,
and a garden whose May your hands have guaranteed.
Sol 6.1