أعدِ التحيّةَ يا خُزامى بابلِ

أعدِ التحيّةَ يا خُزامى بابلِ

حيتكَ ساريةُ الغَمامِ الهاطلِ

حيتكَ ساريةُ الغَمامِ الهاطلِ

Return the greeting, O lavender of Babylon.

O Khazami of Babylon, prepare the greetings,

May a night-traveling, pouring raincloud greet you,

As your tent is shaded by pouring clouds,

ورعتكَ أبصارُ العيونِ ولا دنتْ

ورعتكَ أبصارُ العيونِ ولا دنتْ

للّهوِ منكَ أناملُ المُتناولِ

للّهوِ منكَ أناملُ المُتناولِ

and may watching eyes guard you, and may no

And your pastoral life is watched by glances of eyes that do not approach the vanities,

plucker's fingertips approach you in idle play.

The fingers that reach out do not enjoy you,

ألتذُّ في الصُّعداءِ نشركَ كلّما

ألتذُّ في الصُّعداءِ نشركَ كلّما

وَلَعَ النسيمُ بهِ ولوعَ الهازلِ

وَلَعَ النسيمُ بهِ ولوعَ الهازلِ

I savor your fragrance in deep sighs whenever

I find pleasure in spreading you out on the hilltops whenever

the breeze delights in it with a playful person's fondness.

The breeze plays with it while the joker jokes,

ويَسرّني ضررٌ يخصّكَ نفعُه

ويَسرّني ضررٌ يخصّكَ نفعُه

ماذا لقيتَ من الخيالِ الخائلِ

ماذا لقيتَ من الخيالِ الخائلِ

A hurt delights me when its benefit is yours alone.

And a harm that benefits you pleases me,

What have you suffered from the beguiling phantom?

What have you found from the fleeting imagination?

أتظنُّ ظبيَكَ في الحقائقِ مانعي

أتظنُّ ظبيَكَ في الحقائقِ مانعي

دَيني وقد أوليتُه في الباطِلِ

دَيني وقد أوليتُه في الباطِلِ

Do you think your gazelle, in reality, will withhold

Do you think your beloved gazelle can stop me in realities?

my due, though I bestowed it upon him in illusion?

I have devoted my religion to falsehood,

أم لا أُفتشُ عن خبيئةِ صاحبٍ

أم لا أُفتشُ عن خبيئةِ صاحبٍ

إلا شققتُ عليهِ جيبَ الثاكلِ

إلا شققتُ عليهِ جيبَ الثاكلِ

Or do I never search a companion's hidden secret

Or should I not search for the hiding place of a friend

without tearing over him a bereaved mother's collar?

Except I tear open the pocket of the sluggish,

يا عارضاً أعطى الجَنوبَ قيادَهُ

يا عارضاً أعطى الجَنوبَ قيادَهُ

بالرَّقْتين إلى الكثيبِ العاطلِ

بالرَّقْتين إلى الكثيبِ العاطلِ

O raincloud that yielded its reins to the south wind

O you who gave the sides leadership over

at al-Raqqatayn, toward the bare dune,

The smooth hill to the barren dune,

ارمِ الصواعقَ فوقَ رأسي عاجلاً

ارمِ الصواعقَ فوقَ رأسي عاجلاً

أو فارمِها بالقطرِ رمي النّآبلِ

أو فارمِها بالقطرِ رمي النّآبلِ

cast your thunderbolts above my head at once,

Throw down thunderbolts quickly over my head

or cast them with rain, as archers shoot.

Or scatter them with rain throwing hail,

واشمرْ يديكَ الجوَّ شَمرةَ مُعجَبٍ

واشمرْ يديكَ الجوَّ شَمرةَ مُعجَبٍ

نَشوانَ يَخْطِرُ باليدينِ مُخائِلِ

نَشوانَ يَخْطِرُ باليدينِ مُخائِلِ

And fling your hands into the air like a self-admiring man,

And roll up your hands to the sky like an amazed scorpion

drunken, swinging his hands and strutting.

Whose pincers glimmer in both hands,

واهدِ النوالَ لها فلولا حبُّها

واهدِ النوالَ لها فلولا حبُّها

ما كنتُ أرغبُ في قبولِ النائلِ

ما كنتُ أرغبُ في قبولِ النائلِ

And bestow your bounty upon her; but for love of her,

And restrain the gifts for their sake, for were it not for loving them

I would not wish to accept a giver's gift.

I would not have desired to receive the attainments,

مسّحتُ وجهَ الدهرِ ثم مَرَيْتُهُ

مسّحتُ وجهَ الدهرِ ثم مَرَيْتُهُ

خِلْفي عُفافَةِ ضَرعِهِ والحاملِ

خِلْفي عُفافَةِ ضَرعِهِ والحاملِ

I stroked Time's face, then milked it—

I wiped the face of fate and then I saw it behind me

the two teats of its udder's last milk and of the pregnant beast.

With the chastity of its teat and the carrier,

وركبتُ جامحةَ الوادثِ جانحاً

وركبتُ جامحةَ الوادثِ جانحاً

بينَ القَطاةِ وبينَ فرعِ الكاهِلِ

بينَ القَطاةِ وبينَ فرعِ الكاهِلِ

And I rode the unruly mount of mishaps, leaning

And I rode the raging incidents, leaning

between its rump and the crest of its withers.

Between the shoulders and the branch of the shoulder,

ولقد حضتُ الأذنَ يبعُدُ وفده

ولقد حضتُ الأذنَ يبعُدُ وفده

بُعدَ الشّمالِ من الشُّجاعِ المائلِ

بُعدَ الشّمالِ من الشُّجاعِ المائلِ

I urged a hearing [reading uncertain], its delegation far away,

And I had cocked my ear to make its delegation keep away

as far as the north from the slanting Serpent.

As far as the north from the leaning brave,

فتركتُ بابَ الملكِ وهو محجبٌ

فتركتُ بابَ الملكِ وهو محجبٌ

يَفْتَرُّ عن مَلكِ الملوكِ العادِلِ

يَفْتَرُّ عن مَلكِ الملوكِ العادِلِ

I left the king's gate, though it was screened,

So I left the door of the kingdom while it was screened

smiling open upon the just King of Kings.

Talking nonsense about the kingdom of the just king,

ووَثِقْتُ منهُ بالغَنيمةِ آجلاً

ووَثِقْتُ منهُ بالغَنيمةِ آجلاً

ورَبِحْتُ رؤيةَ وجهِهِ في العاجلِ

ورَبِحْتُ رؤيةَ وجهِهِ في العاجلِ

I trusted him for a reward to come,

And I was sure with it of the war booty in the future

and gained the sight of his face at once.

And I gained seeing his face in the present,

ويْلُمِّها عندَ السُّرادقِ وقفةً

ويْلُمِّها عندَ السُّرادقِ وقفةً

لو سَالَمَتْ قَصَبَ العِظامِ خصائلي

لو سَالَمَتْ قَصَبَ العِظامِ خصائلي

What a marvelous stand beside the pavilion—

And I blamed it at the canopy, if only my bones remained intact,

if only my qualities had made peace with the shafts of my bones!

The acceptance of it showered upon me

نَفَضَتْ عليّ من القَبولِ مَحبّةً

نَفَضَتْ عليّ من القَبولِ مَحبّةً

قامت بضَبْعي في المَقامِ الهائلِ

قامت بضَبْعي في المَقامِ الهائلِ

It showered upon me affection born of acceptance,

At my prey in the tremendous position,

which upheld me by the arm in that awesome place.

The seven heights bowed down to the crown of the faith

دانت لتاجِ الملةِ السبعُ العُلا

دانت لتاجِ الملةِ السبعُ العُلا

يجرينَ عنه بالقضاءِ الفاصلِ

يجرينَ عنه بالقضاءِ الفاصلِ

The seven lofty heavens bowed to Taj al-Milla,

Judging it by the final judgment,

running on his behalf with decisive decrees.

It moved the steeds close to the litters successively

جَنَبَ الجيادَ إلى الركابِ دَوالِفاً

جَنَبَ الجيادَ إلى الركابِ دَوالِفاً

يحكينَ عزمَ مسافرٍ بجحافِلِ

يحكينَ عزمَ مسافرٍ بجحافِلِ

He led the horses alongside the riding camels, advancing steadily,

Narrating the resolve of a traveller with great numbers,

mirroring the resolve of a traveler with mighty hosts.

So the leap saddles them without trappings,

فالوثبُ يُسرِجُها بغيرِ رحائلٍ

فالوثبُ يُسرِجُها بغيرِ رحائلٍ

والزجرُ يلجمُها بغيرِ مَساحِلِ

والزجرُ يلجمُها بغيرِ مَساحِلِ

Their leaping saddles them without saddles,

And the scolding restrains them without halters,

and a shouted command bridles them without bits,

Until they left tracks in Iraq hurriedly

حتى أثرنَ على العِراقِ عَجاجةً

حتى أثرنَ على العِراقِ عَجاجةً

بنتِ السنابكُ تربَها بجَنادلِ

بنتِ السنابكُ تربَها بجَنادلِ

until they raised a dust cloud over Iraq,

Whose horseshoes cultivated its soil with small spades

whose earth the hooves piled up with rocks.

Neither the arrows penetrate them, nor all the beasts,

لا النبلُ ينفذُها ولا كلُّ الظُّبا

لا النبلُ ينفذُها ولا كلُّ الظُّبا

فتخالها ترساً لكلِّ مُقاتِلِ

فتخالها ترساً لكلِّ مُقاتِلِ

Neither arrows nor all the blades could pierce it;

And they consider its breastplates a shield for every fighter,

you would think it a shield for every fighter.

The spear pierced the hearts so you do not see in the meadows except the withering upon the withered,

دقَّ الطعانُ عن القلوبِ فما تَرى

دقَّ الطعانُ عن القلوبِ فما تَرى

في النّقعِ إلا ذابِلاً عن ذابِلِ

في النّقعِ إلا ذابِلاً عن ذابِلِ

The thrusting was too subtle for hearts to grasp; you could see

And the swords embraced each other an embrace of the certain beloved and the devoted lover,

in the dust only spear after spear.

How much I said, while they waved over their heads:

وتعانقتْ فيهِ السيوفُ تعانقَ الصْ

وتعانقتْ فيهِ السيوفُ تعانقَ الصْ

صبِّ المتيمِ والحبيبِ الواصلِ

صبِّ المتيمِ والحبيبِ الواصلِ

And in it the swords embraced like the embrace of the love-

O you who saw the inferior above the superior!

stricken, enthralled lover and the beloved who returns his love.

Where are the excuses and kinsmen who excused themselves?

كم قلتُ وهي تلوحُ فوق رؤوسِهم

كم قلتُ وهي تلوحُ فوق رؤوسِهم

يا من رأى المفضولَ فوقَ الفاضلِ

يا من رأى المفضولَ فوقَ الفاضلِ

How often I said, as they gleamed above their heads,

They left and their dignity is not with the departing,

'O you who have seen the lesser above the greater!'

They felt safe from the darkness of the night until the dawn visited them

أين المعاذرُ والأُلى عذروا بها

أين المعاذرُ والأُلى عذروا بها

رحلوا وليسَ وقارُها بالرّاحِلِ

رحلوا وليسَ وقارُها بالرّاحِلِ

Where are the excuses, and those who pleaded them?

With every rising radiance, valiant and hero,

They have departed, yet their solemn weight has not departed.

Their breastplates recognize horsemanship and his right hand recognizes

أمِنوا سَوادَ اللّيلِ حتى زارَهُم

أمِنوا سَوادَ اللّيلِ حتى زارَهُم

شَمطُ الصباحِ بكلِّ طَلقٍ باسلِ

شَمطُ الصباحِ بكلِّ طَلقٍ باسلِ

They felt safe in night's darkness until they were visited

The separator with the piercing sword,

by morning's graying, with every bright-faced, valiant man,

And you were saved, O disobedience of the sinful, preparing

عجلانُ يعلمُ بالغزالةِ دِرعُهُ

عجلانُ يعلمُ بالغزالةِ دِرعُهُ

ويمينُه بالمشرفيّ الفاصِلِ

ويمينُه بالمشرفيّ الفاصِلِ

hurrying, his armor marked out by the sun,

To describe cleverness to the camel carrying litter,

and his right hand by the cleaving Mashrafi sword.

The sons of Hamdan fled from your love after

ونجوتَ يا ضبَّ العقوقِ مشمّراً

ونجوتَ يا ضبَّ العقوقِ مشمّراً

تصفُ البَراعةَ للنّعامِ الجافِلِ

تصفُ البَراعةَ للنّعامِ الجافِلِ

You escaped, O lizard of ingratitude, girding yourself for flight,

They judged you with the judgment of the prejudiced,

describing mastery to the bolting ostriches.

If only your neighbor was faithful from Rabee'ah,

نَحَبو بني حمدانَ وُدَّكَ بعدما

نَحَبو بني حمدانَ وُدَّكَ بعدما

حكموا عليكَ حكومةَ المتحامِلِ

حكموا عليكَ حكومةَ المتحامِلِ

They vowed your affection to the sons of Hamdan [reading uncertain], after

He would protect your position in the words of the speaker,

they judged you with a prejudiced judge's judgment.

He conveyed the bitter blame before his estrangement

لو كانَ جارُكَ من ربيعةَ وافيً

لو كانَ جارُكَ من ربيعةَ وافيً

لحمى مقامكَ في مقالِ القائلِ

لحمى مقامكَ في مقالِ القائلِ

Had your neighbor from Rabi'a been faithful,

Making you a lesson of the sincere adviser,

he would have defended your standing against a speaker's words.

And he extracted the elite of a master in soil

نقلَ العِتابَ المرَّ قبلَ جَفائِهِ

نقلَ العِتابَ المرَّ قبلَ جَفائِهِ

فَقراكَ موعظةَ النّصيحِ العاذِلِ

فَقراكَ موعظةَ النّصيحِ العاذِلِ

He conveyed bitter rebuke before his estrangement,

Which cut your roots while being not deep-rooted,

and served you the admonition of a sincere reprover.

And it grew for me from wonders that

واستلّ حَفظَةَ سيّدٍ في تُربَةٍ

واستلّ حَفظَةَ سيّدٍ في تُربَةٍ

ضربتْ عروقكَ وهي غير عَوامِلِ

ضربتْ عروقكَ وهي غير عَوامِلِ

And he drew forth a lord's wrath in a soil

He broke up the battalions of his wrestling army,

where your roots had struck, though powerless.

With the superiority of the Pleiades, Aamir triumphed

ونمى إليّ من العجائبِ أنّهُ

ونمى إليّ من العجائبِ أنّهُ

شَظّى كتائبَ جَمعِهِ المُتعاضِلِ

شَظّى كتائبَ جَمعِهِ المُتعاضِلِ

Among the wonders reported to me was that he

And the Nukhairah star overcomes the daughter of Wael,

splintered the battalions of his tightly massed host:

Wearing the necklaces of every praised

بعلاوةِ الشّهباءِ حَيّا عامرٌ

بعلاوةِ الشّهباءِ حَيّا عامرٌ

وعلى النُخَيلَةِ تغلِبُ ابنةُ وائلِ

وعلى النُخَيلَةِ تغلِبُ ابنةُ وائلِ

two clans of Amir at the heights of al-Shahba,

Whose amulets hung from an arousing eyelid,

and, at al-Nukhayla, Taghlib, daughter of Wa'il,

Until when the conflict avoided its turmoil,

مُتَقَلّدينَ نجادَ كلِّ مهندٍ

مُتَقَلّدينَ نجادَ كلِّ مهندٍ

علقتْ حمائلُه بجفنٍ ناعِلِ

علقتْ حمائلُه بجفنٍ ناعِلِ

wearing the baldrics of every Indian blade,

Each warrior threw down his weapons and fled like an escapee,

whose straps hung from a metal-shod scabbard.

So beware, O blades of the swords, if the

حتى إذا الضرغامُ فارقَ غيلَهُ

حتى إذا الضرغامُ فارقَ غيلَهُ

طرح السلاحَ وفرّ كل مواكِلِ

طرح السلاحَ وفرّ كل مواكِلِ

Until, when the lion left his thicket,

Feeble joints whose veins protrude become manifest,

every shirker cast down his weapons and fled.

That joints catch you in striking that are not concerned with anything but entwining the swords,

فَحذارِ يا بيضَ الصوارمِ إنْ بَدَتْ

فَحذارِ يا بيضَ الصوارمِ إنْ بَدَتْ

مهتوكةُ الإدراعِ ذاتُ مَخائلِ

مهتوكةُ الإدراعِ ذاتُ مَخائلِ

Beware, O gleaming blades of cutting swords, if there appears

And you claimed that their bodies are polished,

a form with its armor torn, bearing signs of prowess,

Why not bless the work of the polisher?

مِن أنْ تصيدكَ في الضرابِ مفاصلٌ

مِن أنْ تصيدكَ في الضرابِ مفاصلٌ

ما هنّ للأسيافِ غيرَ حبائلِ

ما هنّ للأسيافِ غيرَ حبائلِ

lest joints entrap you in the fighting—

Their saddles flew, and the steeds chased them,

joints that are nothing but snares for swords.

One of the complete camels, a daughter of the perfect,

وزَعَمتَ أنّ متونَها مصقولةٌ

وزَعَمتَ أنّ متونَها مصقولةٌ

أفَلا تباركُ في بَنانِ الصّاقِلِ

أفَلا تباركُ في بَنانِ الصّاقِلِ

You claimed their flat sides were polished;

So avoid the spears, and if you approach elevated

will you not invoke a blessing upon the polisher's fingers?

You will embrace the past of the misleading death,

طارتْ بسرجكَ والجيادُ وراءَها

طارتْ بسرجكَ والجيادُ وراءَها

إحدى الخَوائفِ من بناتِ الكاملِ

إحدى الخَوائفِ من بناتِ الكاملِ

She flew off with your saddle, the horses behind her—

We thought you would protect it in the stronghold

one of al-Kamil's timid daughters—

To be the first drinker in the battle,

فوتَ الرماحِ فإن دنوتَ تَعِلّةً

فوتَ الرماحِ فإن دنوتَ تَعِلّةً

عانقتَ سالفةَ المَهاةِ الخاذلِ

عانقتَ سالفةَ المَهاةِ الخاذلِ

beyond the reach of spears; if you drew near for comfort,

But you disappointed us when you turned it away

you embraced the neck of a herd-forsaking oryx.

To hide the flawlessness of your diminishing figure,

كنّا نظنّكَ في الرباطِ تصونُها

كنّا نظنّكَ في الرباطِ تصونُها

لتكونَ في الهيجاءِ أولَ ناهِلِ

لتكونَ في الهيجاءِ أولَ ناهِلِ

We thought you were preserving her in the tethering-ground

And you left your neighbor raising both his hands to you

so that in battle you would be the first to drink.

Not out of his pride,

فأفدتَنا مغناكَ حينَ عطفتَها

فأفدتَنا مغناكَ حينَ عطفتَها

تُخفي سَماوَةَ شخصِكَ المُتضائلِ

تُخفي سَماوَةَ شخصِكَ المُتضائلِ

You showed us your dwelling when you wheeled her round,

To the horses in a soft meadow asking for a drink,

concealing the height of your shrinking figure.

You surrendered it and when the brave horses snatched

وتركتَ جاركَ في الأسنّةِ رافعاً

وتركتَ جاركَ في الأسنّةِ رافعاً

كلتا يديهِ إليكَ غير مطاولِ

كلتا يديهِ إليكَ غير مطاولِ

You left your neighbor amid the spearheads, raising

The reins of a brown smooth-flanked steed,

both hands toward you, not seeking to contend,

Do you not fear that a narrator would say

متبختراً يختالُ لا من عُجْبِهِ

متبختراً يختالُ لا من عُجْبِهِ

للخيلِ في بُردَي نجيعٍ سائلِ

للخيلِ في بُردَي نجيعٍ سائلِ

strutting and swaying, not from his conceit,

A horseman dismounted for a pedestrian amongst the people?

before the horses, in two mantles of flowing gore.

Be steady in tracking, and if you are called to battle, then fight,

أسلمتَه ونقلتَ حينَ تناقلتْ

أسلمتَه ونقلتَ حينَ تناقلتْ

ركبُ الكُماةِ عِنانَ أجردَ صاهلِ

ركبُ الكُماةِ عِنانَ أجردَ صاهلِ

You abandoned him and moved away as they passed around—

And travel to enjoy guesses, justifying

the band of champions—the reins of a lean, neighing steed.

The secrets of your palm to the procrastinating enemy,

أفَما خَشيتَ بأنْ يقولَ محدثٌ

أفَما خَشيتَ بأنْ يقولَ محدثٌ

في القومِ عرَّدَ فارسٌ عن راجِلِ

في القومِ عرَّدَ فارسٌ عن راجِلِ

Were you not afraid that a storyteller would say

Clinging to the frontier of Tadmur, blaming

among the people, 'A horseman fled, abandoning a man on foot'?

The lightning at the palaces of the coast,

كن في الطّرادِ فَقارَةً في ظهرِه

كن في الطّرادِ فَقارَةً في ظهرِه

وإذا دُعيتَ إلى النّزالِ فنازلِ

وإذا دُعيتَ إلى النّزالِ فنازلِ

Be, in pursuit, a vertebra in his back,

You wish Tha'labah would lend you his enemy,

and when called to combat, fight.

Should I lend you my enemy, O Tha'labah the eating beast?

ورحلتَ تنتجعُ الظّنونَ معلّلاً

ورحلتَ تنتجعُ الظّنونَ معلّلاً

أسرارَ كفِّكَ بالغريمِ الماطلِ

أسرارَ كفِّكَ بالغريمِ الماطلِ

You departed, seeking pasture in conjectures, soothing

O sons of 'Adiy, for long I warned you,

the lines of your palm with a procrastinating debtor,

The flocks of the reckless, fleeing camel cows,

متعلّقاً بنياطِ تدمرَ شائماً

متعلّقاً بنياطِ تدمرَ شائماً

برقَ البريقةِ في قصورِ السّاحلِ

برقَ البريقةِ في قصورِ السّاحلِ

clinging to Tadmor's heartstrings, watching

The rays of the sun move in its colors

al-Burayqa's lightning in the palaces of the coast.

And the sun accompanies it with an obscuring color,

ترجو ثعالة أنْ يُعيرَكَ خَطْمَهُ

ترجو ثعالة أنْ يُعيرَكَ خَطْمَهُ

أتُعيرُ خَطمَكَ يا ثعالُ لآكِلِ

أتُعيرُ خَطمَكَ يا ثعالُ لآكِلِ

You hope that Thu'ala the fox will lend you his muzzle;

The peaks of the knights on the day of the Deluge of Babylon,

will you lend your muzzle, O Thu'al, to an eater?

And upon the fifths, their blades made the skulls for the soldiers

أبني عَديَّ طالما أنذرتُكم

أبني عَديَّ طالما أنذرتُكم

أذْرابَ طائشةِ الحلومِ نَواحلِ

أذْرابَ طائشةِ الحلومِ نَواحلِ

O sons of Adi, how often I warned you

A mixture between skulls and anklets,

of keen-edged, flighty-minded, slender spears!

Or whenever the long necks ignorance showed

تسعى شعاعُ الشّمسِ في ألوانِها

تسعى شعاعُ الشّمسِ في ألوانِها

فالشمسُ تصحبُها بلونٍ حائلِ

فالشمسُ تصحبُها بلونٍ حائلِ

The sun's rays course through their hues,

The ropes of ignorance met the ropes of ignorance,

and the sun accompanies them with a faded color.

O you, the king, from whom neither

هُنّ القواطفُ في مخاضةِ أربقٍ

هُنّ القواطفُ في مخاضةِ أربقٍ

قِمَمَ الفوارسِ يومَ فَرةِ بابلِ

قِمَمَ الفوارسِ يومَ فَرةِ بابلِ

They are the pluckers, in the ford of Arbaq,

Generosity nor dew are sought by means,

of horsemen's crowns, on the day of Babylon's rout.

You gave in seriousness and jest his wish to the desirer and the request of the asker,

وعلى الخَوامسِ زايلتْ بنصالها

وعلى الخَوامسِ زايلتْ بنصالها

للجمعِ بين جَماجِمٍ وكَلاكلِ

للجمعِ بين جَماجِمٍ وكَلاكلِ

And at al-Khawamis their points severed

And you sobered from the intoxication of wine and did not say

the host's skulls from its breasts.

If only generosity did not love my traits,

أو كلّما غرتِ الطّوائلُ حَدّ ما

أو كلّما غرتِ الطّوائلُ حَدّ ما

وصلتْ حبال طوائلٍ بطوائلِ

وصلتْ حبال طوائلٍ بطوائلِ

Or whenever vendettas enticed some blade,

Your fear did not leave in the battalions and spears and the whites

they joined the cords of vendetta to vendetta.

Except an adornment for the carrier,

يا أيُّها الملكُ الذي ما تُبتغى

يا أيُّها الملكُ الذي ما تُبتغى

منه السماحةُ والنّدى بوسائلِ

منه السماحةُ والنّدى بوسائلِ

O king, from whom none seek

And blamers whom the swords wearied in their hearts

generosity and bounty through intermediaries,

And approached, but they do not intend anyone but the killer,

أعطيتَ في جِدِّ الفِعالِ وهَزلِهِ

أعطيتَ في جِدِّ الفِعالِ وهَزلِهِ

أمنيّةَ الراجي وسؤلَ السّائلِ

أمنيّةَ الراجي وسؤلَ السّائلِ

you granted, in deeds both serious and playful,

You aimed a stab in his throat

the hopeful one's wish and the petitioner's request.

And gifted another’s gaping wound to the withering,

وصحوتَ من سُكرِ المُدامِ فلم تقلْ

وصحوتَ من سُكرِ المُدامِ فلم تقلْ

ليتَ المكارمَ ما عشِقنَ شَمائلي

ليتَ المكارمَ ما عشِقنَ شَمائلي

You sobered from wine's drunkenness and never said,

You really made a great stand in the land of Babylon,

'Would that noble deeds had not fallen in love with my ways!'

For which the tradition of time, the heedless, flew,

لم يُبقِ خوفُكَ في المعابلِ والقَنا

لم يُبقِ خوفُكَ في المعابلِ والقَنا

والبيضِ إلا زينةً للحاملِ

والبيضِ إلا زينةً للحاملِ

Fear of you has left in broad-headed arrows and spears

The towers of Constantinople are strung

and swords nothing but adornment for their bearer.

From Kairouan to the island of Kabul,

ومطاعنٍ أعْيا السِّبارُ فؤادَه

ومطاعنٍ أعْيا السِّبارُ فؤادَه

ودَنا فما يرتادُ غيرَ القاتِلِ

ودَنا فما يرتادُ غيرَ القاتِلِ

And many a spear-fighter, his heart exhausted by the probe,

You still voraciously devour the religions in the waves

drew near, seeking none but his killer.

And annihilate their army like yesterday's departing,

سَدّدْتَ لحظكَ طعنةً في نحرِه

سَدّدْتَ لحظكَ طعنةً في نحرِه

ووهبتَ ثُغرَةَ غيرهِ للذّابلِ

ووهبتَ ثُغرَةَ غيرهِ للذّابلِ

You aimed your glance as a thrust into his throat,

Their bodies belong to the swords and their desires belong to

and bestowed another's throat hollow upon the slender spear.

The tomb and the croaking raven,

ولقد وقعتَ بأرضِ بابلَ وقعةً

ولقد وقعتَ بأرضِ بابلَ وقعةً

طارتْ لها سِنَةُ الزّمانِ الغافلِ

طارتْ لها سِنَةُ الزّمانِ الغافلِ

You struck such a blow in the land of Babylon

that drowsiness fled heedless Time.

أبراجُ قُسْطَنْطينَةٍ منظومةٌ

أبراجُ قُسْطَنْطينَةٍ منظومةٌ

بالقيروانِ إلى جزيرةِ كابِلِ

بالقيروانِ إلى جزيرةِ كابِلِ

The towers of Qustantina are strung in a chain

through al-Qayrawan to the island of Kabil.

لازلتَ في الغمراتِ تلتهم الِدى

لازلتَ في الغمراتِ تلتهم الِدى

وتُبيد جمعَهم كأمسِ الزّائلِ

وتُبيد جمعَهم كأمسِ الزّائلِ

May you ever devour foes in the thick of battle,

and annihilate their host like vanished yesterday.

أجسامُهم للخامعاتِ وهامُهم

أجسامُهم للخامعاتِ وهامُهم

للمضرحيةِ والغرابِ الحاجِلِ

للمضرحيةِ والغرابِ الحاجِلِ

Their bodies are for the limping hyenas, and their heads

for the broad-winged birds and the hopping raven.