لِلّهto God; an exclamation of awe أيَّةwhat a جلَّىmighty calamity بالطفوفat al-Tufuf عرتbefell
لِلّه أيَّة جلَّى بالطفوف عرت
كادتalmost لوقعتهاbecause of its impact الافلاكthe heavens انto تقفاstand still
كادت لوقعتها الافلاك ان تقفا
God! What a mighty calamity befell at al-Tufuf!
A blessing revealed itself in the heavens,
The heavens almost stood still at its impact.
The orbits almost fell due to its gravity,
يوماًon a day ابوAbu (father of) الفضلal-Fadl (bounty) جلَّىshone; excelled فيamid عجاجتهاits battle-dust
يوماً ابو الفضل جلَّى في عجاجتها
طليقcheerful وجهٍof face ووجهand the face of الشمسthe sun قدalready كسفاwas eclipsed
طليق وجهٍ ووجه الشمس قد كسفا
On a day when Abu al-Fadl shone amid its battle-dust,
One day Abul Fadl revealed in its light
his face was cheerful, while the sun's face was eclipsed.
A shining face, even as the face of the sun darkened.
فمرَّthen he swept on يطعنpiercing فيهمamong them فقرةa vertebra وكلاًand kidneys
فمرَّ يطعن فيهم فقرة وكلاً
اعارهاhe lent them لأنابيبto the shafts of القناthe spears شنفاas earrings
اعارها لأنابيب القنا شنفا
Then he swept through them, piercing vertebrae and kidneys,
So he passed piercing them, every warrior
lending them as earrings to the shafts of spears.
His spears lent to the tubes of the spears rust.
الطاعنthe thruster الطعنةthe thrust النجلاءwide-gaping مختلساًsnatching suddenly
الطاعن الطعنة النجلاء مختلساً
والضاربand the striker الضربةthe blow الاthe… (split word prefix) خدودfurrow (word continuation) مختطفاsnatching swiftly
والضارب الضربة الا خدود مختطفا
He who delivers the gaping thrust in a sudden snatch,
The one piercing the excellent piercing stealthily
and strikes the furrow-deep blow in a flash.
And the one striking the strike unless it was snatched cheeks.
فالطعنso the thrusting بالرمحwith the spear شزرoblique خارزpiercing through لَبباًthe upper breast
فالطعن بالرمح شزر خارز لَبباً
والضربand the striking بالسيفwith the sword هبرa hewing cut خادعsevering كتفاa shoulder
والضرب بالسيف هبر خادع كتفا
So the spear-thrust is oblique, piercing the breast,
So the piercing with the spear was the buzzing of an aroused wasp
and the sword-blow hews, severing the shoulder.
And striking with the sword the deceiving roar of a lion.
قومa people; a host of men اذاwhen ازدحمcrowded together الاقرانthe rival champions فيin ضنَكa strait
قوم اذا ازدحم الاقران في ضنَك
اخلتcleared لهfor him الخيلthe horses فيin الصفينthe two ranks مزدلفاa place to advance
اخلت له الخيل في الصفين مزدلفا
A host of men: when rival champions crowd into a strait,
A people when the peers became crowded in distress
the horses in both ranks clear him a place to advance.
Their horses cleared for them in the two ranks, pressed together.
جوَّالever-ranging يومon a day of طرادcharges and countercharges شامسsun-bright قضباًblades
جوَّال يوم طراد شامس قضباً
خوَّاضboldly wading يومon a day of عجاجbattle-dust غائمclouded سدفاdarkness
خوَّاض يوم عجاج غائم سدفا
Ever ranging on a day of charges, sun-bright with blades,
Roaming on the day of chase like a ferocious lion
plunging through a day of battle-dust, clouded with darkness.
Delving on a cloudy day like a rumbling, pouring cloud.
كأنماas though النقعthe dust والارماحand the spears مشرعةleveled for attack
كأنما النقع والارماح مشرعة
فيin الجحفلينthe two great armies عماداًpillars; supports رافعاًraising سجفاcurtains
في الجحفلين عماداً رافعاً سجفا
As though the dust and the leveled spears
As if the spears and the lances spread out
in both great armies were pillars holding curtains aloft.
As pillars, holding up the loftiest portion of a building.
كأنماas though البيضthe bright swords تعلوrise above البيضthe helmets كادحةscoring; cutting
كأنما البيض تعلو البيض كادحة
برقlightning تهزَّمcrackled thunderously يزجيdrives along عارضاًa raincloud قصفاthunderous
برق تهزَّم يزجي عارضاً قصفا
As though the bright blades, rising above helmets and scoring them,
As if the white mixed with the white, violently churning,
were crackling lightning driving a thunderous cloud.
Lightning you would think it a hostile, pouring hailstorm.
كأنماas though الحلقthe rings الماذيfine, gleaming mail محتبكclosely interwoven
كأنما الحلق الماذي محتبك
علىupon الكماةthe armored warriors حبابbubbles الماءof water حينwhen طفاthey floated
على الكماة حباب الماء حين طفا
As though the rings of gleaming mail, closely woven
As if the continuous swords clashing
upon the warriors, were bubbles floating on water.
Against the skulls like the bubbling of water when it boiled.
انif صرَّحتopenly proclaimed صحفthe pages of الباغيthe aggressor بهدنتهabout his truce
ان صرَّحت صحف الباغي بهدنته
محتerased صحائفهhis sheets; here, sword-blades المرقومةinscribed الصحفاthe pages
محت صحائفه المرقومة الصحفا
If the aggressor's pages openly proclaimed his truce,
If the pages of the rebels proclaimed a truce,
his inscribed sword-blades effaced those pages.
Their inscribed pages erased the scripts.
اوor صدّturned away عنهfrom him وظلَّand remained السلمpeace منتظراًawaited
او صدّ عنه وظلَّ السلم منتظراً
فيin الحربwar سيانboth alike انif اعفاhe spared وانand if دلفاhe advanced
في الحرب سيان ان اعفا وان دلفا
Or if he turned away from him, and peace remained awaited,
Or if he desisted and peace remained expected
in war it was all one, whether he spared or advanced.
In war, it's the same whether he pardoned or pressed an attack.
أنfor; indeed الكميthe armored champion اذاwhen ماردَّcloses (with emphasis) ثغرتهhis defensive gap
أن الكمي اذا ماردَّ ثغرته
اوor راعstruck terror يطلبhe seeks غراةa raid فقدthen indeed زحفاhe advanced to battle
او راع يطلب غراة فقد زحفا
For a champion, if he closes a breach in his defenses,
That the resistant one, whenever his mouth frowned,
or strikes terror seeking a raid, he has advanced to battle.
Or the toiler sought the daring - they marched.
حسبsufficient for الشجاعthe brave man اذاwhen ماemphasis كفَّhe held back منكفئاًretreating
حسب الشجاع اذا ما كفَّ منكفئاً
حزمprudence يريكshows you بهthrough it وجهthe face of الكميthe armored champion قفاa nape
حزم يريك به وجه الكمي قفا
Enough for the brave man, when he holds back and retreats,
It suffices the brave if he stops deflected
is prudence that shows you the warrior's nape in place of his face.
Resolute, he shows you the face of the resistant one stands still.
رخوgentle العريكةin disposition للاجينtoward those seeking refuge منخفضٌhumble
رخو العريكة للاجين منخفضٌ
وفيand in الكريهةbattle; dire conflict يشأوhe outstrips الصلدمthe mighty warrior الصلفاthe haughty one
وفي الكريهة يشأو الصلدم الصلفا
Gentle of disposition, humble toward those seeking refuge,
With a relaxed saddle for the quick from a decline
and in battle he outstrips the mighty, haughty warrior.
In detested situations the solid rock slides.
قدindeed جرَّبتهhave tested him اعاديهhis enemies وقدand indeed عرفتhave learned
قد جرَّبته اعاديه وقد عرفت
غيرother than الأسارcaptivity وغيرand other than المنِّclemency; gracious release ماwhat عرفاhe knew
غير الأسار وغير المنِّ ما عرفا
His enemies have tested him and have learned
I've tested his enemies and I knew
what he knew—other than captivity and clemency.
No captives or booty they have known.
كمhow often خالطmingled with السيفthe sword غلاًّrancor منfrom نفوسهمtheir souls
كم خالط السيف غلاًّ من نفوسهم
حتىuntil اشتفىfound relief غللاًburning thirst منfrom انفسsouls وشفاand healed
حتى اشتفى غللاً من انفس وشفا
How often the sword mingled with rancor in their souls,
How many times the sword mixed with their souls
until it quenched souls' burning thirst and brought healing.
Until it was quenched from striking necks and was sated.
يعطيhe gives الورىmankind نصفاًfair dealing منfrom نفسهhimself ويرىand is seen
يعطي الورى نصفاً من نفسه ويرى
منfrom خصمهhis opponent بذبابwith the point of السيفthe sword منتصفاtaking redress
من خصمه بذباب السيف منتصفا
He gives mankind their due from himself, and is seen
He gives the world half his soul and sees
taking redress from his foe with the sword's point.
From his opponent by the flies of swords halved.
لمdid not يتركنَّleave any at all لهمfor them راساًa head علىon جسدٍa body
لم يتركنَّ لهم راساً على جسدٍ
يومٌa day اطارhe sent flying بهon which الهاماتthe heads والقحفاand the skulls
يومٌ اطار به الهامات والقحفا
Not a head upon a body remained for them
He left them no head on a body
on a day when he sent heads and skulls flying.
A day which the skulls and brows took off in flight.
هلwill…? يجزينَّavail at all وجازand passed الركبthe caravan معتسفاًtaking a trackless route
هل يجزينَّ وجاز الركب معتسفاً
دعوىthe call to الخليطthe companions الاah!; take heed ياO صاحبيَّmy two friends قفاhalt, you two
دعوى الخليط الا يا صاحبيَّ قفا
Will it avail, now the caravan has passed across trackless land—
Can they recompense me, and the caravan passed picked clean,
the call to the companions, "Ah, my two friends, halt!"?
The claim of the mixture, no O my friend stand still?
واستنشداand seek out, you two ليfor me يالقِّيتماmay you both be granted رشداًright guidance
واستنشدا لي يالقِّيتما رشداً
قلباًa heart بقيدin the fetter of حبالاتsnares العناsuffering رسفاshuffled in fetters
قلباً بقيد حبالات العنا رسفا
And seek out for me—may you both be granted guidance—
And they called on me, O may you meet guidance,
a heart that shuffled in the fetters of suffering's snares.
A heart in the fetter of the cord of exile pulled tight.
ونازعينand those leaving عنaway from الأوطانthe homelands قدhave indeed قطعواcrossed
ونازعين عن الأوطان قد قطعوا
متنthe back of المهامهthe wildernesses حتىuntil بارحواthey left النجفاNajaf
متن المهامه حتى بارحوا النجفا
And travelers leaving their homelands have crossed
And disputing over homelands, they had severed
the backs of the wildernesses, until they left Najaf behind.
The sheath of aspirations until they left Najaf.
قدindeed قارعواthey contended with السيرthe journey لاnot شاكينcomplaining فانكشفواand so they were revealed
قد قارعوا السير لا شاكين فانكشفوا
عزلunarmed; bare of السآمةweariness لاnot عزلunarmed; bare of السرىnight-travel كشفاunshielded
عزل السآمة لا عزل السرى كشفا
They contended with the journey without complaint, and proved
They opposed travel without complaining, so they gained distinction,
bare of weariness, not bare of night-travel—unshielded.
Free of grief not free of travel did they gain distinction.
ازورI visit فيهمamong them اباAbu (father of) الفضلal-Fadl (bounty) المثيرthe one stirring up ندىًbounty; dew
ازور فيهم ابا الفضل المثير ندىً
منfrom فيضهhis overflow البحرthe sea بلindeed; rather والبرand the land قدhave indeed غرفاboth drawn up
من فيضه البحر بل والبر قد غرفا
I visit Abu al-Fadl in their company, who stirs up bounty,
I visit in them Abul Fadl, arouser of dew
from whose overflow the sea, and even the land, have drawn.
From its abundance the sea, no the land drew.
اغرradiant ابلجbright-faced اقنىaquiline الأنفthe nose زاهيهproud of it
اغر ابلج اقنى الأنف زاهيه
كمhow often دقَّcrushed ساهمa grim-faced man انفthe nose of شامخٍa haughty man انفاin disdain
كم دقَّ ساهم انف شامخٍ انفا
Radiant, bright-faced, aquiline-nosed and proud of it,
Dazzling white, fine of nose, lively,
how often, grim-faced, he crushed a proud man's nose in disdain!
How much did the striking nose of a lofty one strike?
لوif كانwere يجديcould benefit الفتىthe young man عنover; for فائتٍone lost اسفٌgrief
لو كان يجدي الفتى عن فائتٍ اسفٌ
لقطَّعhe would surely sever المرءa man فيهover him عشرهhis ten fingers اسفاin grief
لقطَّع المرء فيه عشره اسفا
If sorrow for one lost could avail a man,
If anguish over what is past benefitted a young man,
a man would sever his ten fingers in grief for him.
A man would sever himself in grief completely.
لسوفwill surely ابكيكI weep for you ياO نجلson of الوصيthe Legatee; appointed successor اسىًin sorrow
لسوف ابكيك يا نجل الوصي اسىً
عنfrom مهجةa heart سقطعتapparently torn apart (text unclear) اوor مدمعan eye; tear-duct نزفاdrained dry
عن مهجة سقطعت او مدمع نزفا
I shall surely weep for you, O son of the Legatee, in sorrow,
Soon I will cry for you O son of the successor prolonged,
from a heart torn apart, or an eye drained of tears.
For a torrent that fell or weeping eye that shed.
يهيجsurges; stirs ليfor me الدمعtears تبريحاًin torment يصعِّدهraises it
يهيج لي الدمع تبريحاً يصعِّده
عليهover him حرَّthe heat of زفيرٍa sigh معقبbringing in its wake لهفاanguish; longing
عليه حرَّ زفيرٍ معقب لهفا
Tears well up for me in torment, raised
Sorrow kindles for me tears it sends aloft
over him by the heat of a sigh that leaves anguish in its wake.
Upon it the heat of sighs repeating ardently.
ماءwater تحدّرflowed down منfrom نارa fire مؤججةfiercely kindled
ماء تحدّر من نار مؤججة
منwho الفunited النارthe fire بيwithin me والماءand the water فأتلفاso they both destroyed
من الف النار بي والماء فأتلفا
Water poured down from a blazing fire—
Water pouring from a raging fire,
who united fire and water in me, so that both destroyed me?
Commingling fire and water though opposed.
ولاand not ازالI cease عليكover you الدهرfor all time ممترياًdrawing forth; milking
ولا ازال عليك الدهر ممترياً
دمعاًtears سأجريهI shall make it flow منfrom عينيmy eye دماًblood وكفاin a steady stream
دمعاً سأجريه من عيني دماً وكفا
And forever I shall keep drawing forth, in mourning for you,
I will never cease riding upon you, O time,
tears that I shall make flow from my eye as streaming blood.
A tear I will shed flowing from my eye as blood and palm.
Sol 6.1