أعَلِمتَdid you know? حينwhen تجاورbecame neighbors الحيّانِthe two tribes
أعَلِمتَ حين تجاور الحيّانِ
أنّthat القلوبَthe hearts مواقدُhearths النّيرانِof fires
أنّ القلوبَ مواقدُ النّيرانِ
Did you know, when the two tribes became neighbors,
You knew when the loves drew near,
that hearts are hearths of fire?
That hearts are fires of passion lit;
وعرفتَand you knew أنّthat صدورَناour breasts قدalready أصبحتhad become
وعرفتَ أنّ صدورَنا قد أصبحت
فيamong القومthe people وَهيَand they are مرابضُresting places الغِزلانof gazelles
في القوم وَهيَ مرابضُ الغِزلان
And did you learn that our breasts had become,
And you learned that now our breasts
among the people, the resting places of gazelles?
Are dove-cotes where young birds will flit;
وعيونَناand our eyes عِوَضَin place of العيونthe springs أمدَّهاsupplied them
وعيونَنا عِوَضَ العيون أمدَّها
ماwhat غادرواthey left behind فيهاwithin them منof الغُدرانِthe pools
ما غادروا فيها من الغُدرانِ
And our eyes, in place of springs, were replenished
While eyes for eyes made poor amends,
by the pools they left within them.
From those that pierced our souls and smit.
ماnot الوَخذُthe camel gait (probable reading) هزَّshook قِبابَهمtheir pavilions بلrather هزَّهاshook them
ما الوَخذُ هزَّ قِبابَهم بل هزَّها
قلبيmy heart لماbecause of what فيهis within it منof الخَفقانِpounding
قلبي لما فيه من الخَفقانِ
It was not the camels' gait that shook their pavilions, but
Not wine made roof and rafter reel,
my heart, with the pounding within it.
But my heart's tumult flung me flat,
وتراهُand you see it يكَرهُdislikes أنto يرىsee إظعانَهمtheir departure
وتراهُ يكَرهُ أن يرى إظعانَهم
وكأنّماand as though أصبحتُI had become فيamong الأظعانِthe departing camel-litters
وكأنّما أصبحتُ في الأظعانِ
And you see it loath to behold their departure,
Though like a reveller I feel,
as though I myself were among the departing camel-litters.
Who wakes and knows not where he's at.
وبمُهجتىand in my lifeblood قمرٌa moon إذاwhen ماever (emphatic) لاحappeared للسَّto the night- (word fragment)
وبمُهجتى قمرٌ إذا ما لاح للسَّ
ارِىtraveler (word ending) تضاءَلَdwindled دونهbeside it القَمرانشthe two luminaries (apparent typo)
ارِى تضاءَلَ دونه القَمرانش
And in my lifeblood is a moon: whenever it shines for the night-
My forehead hides a moon, whose rays,
traveler, the two luminaries dwindle beside it.
Outshining sun and moon, would quit
قدindeed بانَbecame clear للعُشَّاقِto lovers أنَّthat قَوامَهُhis stature
قد بانَ للعُشَّاقِ أنَّ قَوامَهُ
سرقَتstole شمائِلَهُits graceful traits غصونُthe boughs البانِof the ban tree
سرقَت شمائِلَهُ غصونُ البانِ
It has become clear to lovers that his stature
The sky, and choosing there to blaze,
had its graceful traits stolen by the boughs of the ban tree.
Would shame the sun that once shone bright.
وأراكand I see you غُصناًa bough فىin النّعيمbliss تميلُyou sway إذwhile
وأراك غُصناً فى النّعيم تميلُ إذ
غُصنُthe bough الأراكof the arak tree يميدُsways فىin نَعمانِNu'man
غُصنُ الأراك يميدُ فى نَعمانِ
And I see you, a bough swaying in bliss, while
His charms alone gave him the right
the arak's bough sways in Nu'man.
To raid the branches of the ban.
للرُّمحa spear has نَصلٌa blade واحدٌone ولقَدِّهِand his stature has
للرُّمح نَصلٌ واحدٌ ولقَدِّهِ
منfrom ناظريهhis two eyes إذاwhen إذاwhen رَنَاhe gazes نَصلانِtwo blades
من ناظريه إذا إذا رَنَا نَصلانِ
A spear has one blade, while his stature has
I see you as a bough made slight
two blades from his eyes when—when he gazes.
By bounty, while the boughs of ban
والسيفُand the sword ليسdoes not لهhave سوىexcept جَفنٍa sheath وقدand already
والسيفُ ليس له سوى جَفنٍ وقد
اضحىhas become لصارمfor the sharp sword طَرفِهof his gaze جَفنانِtwo eyelids
اضحى لصارم طَرفِه جَفنانِ
A sword has only one sheath, yet
Stand stiff in benefaction's demesne.
the sharp sword of his gaze has come to have two eyelids.
One spearpoint serves where spearheads ran;
والسَّهمُand the arrow تكفىsuffices القوسthe bow فيهfor it وقدand already غدَاthere have become
والسَّهمُ تكفى القوس فيه وقد غدَا
منfrom حاجبَيهِhis two eyebrows للحظهِfor his glance قوسانِtwo bows
من حاجبَيهِ للحظهِ قوسانِ
An arrow needs only its bow, yet there have come to be
His eyes for double swords at need
two bows for his glance, fashioned from his eyebrows.
Make eyelids edge take swordblade's span.
ولَرُبَّand many a ليلٍnight خِلتُI imagined خاطفَthe swift flash بَرقِهِof its lightning
ولَرُبَّ ليلٍ خِلتُ خاطفَ بَرقِهِ
ناراًa fire تَلَفَّعَcloaked itself للدُّجَىfor the darkness بدُخانin smoke
ناراً تَلَفَّعَ للدُّجَى بدُخان
Many a night I fancied its flashing lightning
The bow's content with single string,
a fire that cloaked itself in smoke for the darkness.
His drawn brow serving for its bow,
كالمائلlike one swaying الوسنانِdrowsy منfrom طجُولlong duration (probable reading) السُّرَىof night travel
كالمائل الوسنانِ من طجُول السُّرَى
جَوزاؤُهُits Orion والرَّاقصِand the dancer السّكرانِdrunken
جَوزاؤُهُ والرَّاقصِ السّكرانِ
Like one swaying, drowsy from long travel by night,
The arrow's point enough can sting,
is its Orion—and like a drunken dancer.
His glances for its arrows go.
ماnot بانَappeared فيهin it منof ثُرَيَّاهُits Pleiades سوىexcept
ما بانَ فيه من ثُرَيَّاهُ سوى
إعجامِهاtheir diacritical dots والدَّالُand the letter dal فيin الدَّبرانِAldebaran
إعجامِها والدَّالُ في الدَّبرانِ
Nothing of its Pleiades appeared in it but
And nights whose lightning mocked the dark
their diacritical dots, and the letter dal in Aldebaran.
I spent confounded, lost in woe,
وترىand you see المجّرةthe Milky Way فيamong النجومthe stars كأنهاas though it
وترى المجّرة في النجوم كأنها
تَسقِىwaters الرّياضَthe gardens بجدولٍwith a stream ملآنِbrimming
تَسقِى الرّياضَ بجدولٍ ملآنِ
And you see the Milky Way among the stars as though it
Like drunkard lurching, like one stark,
waters the gardens with a brimming stream.
Bewildered, lorn, and fain to know
لوif لمnot يكنit were نهراًa river لَمَاthen not عامَتwould swim بهin it
لو لم يكن نهراً لَمَا عامَت به
أبداًever نجومُthe stars الحوتِof Pisces والسّرطانِand Cancer
أبداً نجومُ الحوتِ والسّرطانِ
Were it not a river, there would not swim in it
How, 'mid the stars, the swirling seas
ever, the stars of Pisces and Cancer.
In Serpent and the Whale can flow;
نادَمتُI took as drinking companions فيهin it الفرقدينthe two Farqad stars كأننيas though I
نادَمتُ فيه الفرقدين كأنني
دونapart from الورىmankind وجَذيمةًand Jadhima أخَوانِtwo brothers
دون الورى وجَذيمةً أخَوانِ
I drank there with the two Farqad stars, as though I
I made the Pleiades heart-ease,
and Jadhima, apart from all mankind, were brothers.
As though we were not separate,
وترفَّعَتand rose high همَميmy aspirations فماso I do not أرضَىaccept سوىexcept
وترفَّعَت همَمي فما أرضَى سوى
شُهبِthe bright stars الدُّجىof darkness عِوضاًin place منof الخِلاَّنِfriends
شُهبِ الدُّجى عِوضاً من الخِلاَّنِ
My aspirations rose so high that I would accept only
And dreams exalted me to heights
the bright stars of darkness in place of friends.
Far from the world and time's estate.
وَأنِفتُand I disdained حينwhen فُجعتُI was bereaved بالأحبابof beloveds أنto
وَأنِفتُ حين فُجعتُ بالأحباب أن
ألهُوdistract myself عنfrom الإخوانthe brothers بالخَوَّانِwith the treacherous one
ألهُو عن الإخوان بالخَوَّانِ
And when bereaved of my beloveds, I disdained to
I scorned, when friends proved false, to sate
distract myself from my brothers with the treacherous one.
My pain in comrades of a day.
واعتضتُand I received recompense منfrom جودthe generosity الوزيرof the minister مواهباًgifts
واعتضتُ من جود الوزير مواهباً
أسلَتmade me forget عنabout الأوطارdesires والأوطانand homelands
أسلَت عن الأوطار والأوطان
And in the minister's generosity I found recompense in gifts
I was too proud to live on largesse
that made me forget desires and homelands.
And doles from ministry that rules.
ياO كاسِرَbreaker الأصنامِof idols قُمrise فانهضthen lead forth بناwith us
يا كاسِرَ الأصنامِ قُم فانهض بنا
حتىuntil تصيرَyou become مُكَسِّرَa breaker الصُّلبانِof crosses
حتى تصيرَ مُكَسِّرَ الصُّلبانِ
O breaker of idols, rise and lead us forth,
Idol-smasher, rise! Our night is o'er;
until you become a breaker of crosses.
Come lead us, till the Cross lies prone!
فالشَّامُfor Syria مُلكُكَis your dominion قدalready ورثتَyou inherited تُراثَهُits legacy
فالشَّامُ مُلكُكَ قد ورثتَ تُراثَهُ
عنfrom قومِكyour people الماضينthe departed منof غَسَّانِGhassan
عن قومِك الماضين من غَسَّانِ
For Syria is your dominion: you have inherited its legacy
Syria is thine by right of yore;
from your forebears of Ghassan.
Thy line ruled it, since Jassan's reign.
فإذاso if شككتَyou doubt أنّهاthat it was أوطانُهمtheir homelands
فإذا شككتَ أنّها أوطانُهم
قِدماًof old فسَلthen ask عنabout حارثHarith الجَولانِof the Golan
قِدماً فسَل عن حارث الجَولانِ
If you doubt that it was their homeland
Doubt not this land was ever theirs!
of old, then ask about Harith of the Golan.
Question old Hareth of Golan!
أوor رُمتَyou wish أنto تتلوrecite محاسِنَthe glories ذكرِهمof their memory
أو رُمتَ أن تتلو محاسِنَ ذكرِهم
فاسندthen attribute روايتهاits narration إِلىto حسَّانِHassan
فاسند روايتها إِلى حسَّانِ
Or if you wish to recite the glories of their memory,
Or read their virtues' record fair
then attribute its telling to Hassan.
In Hassan's ode and Harith's strain.
ماnot زُلزلتwas shaken أرضُthe land العِداof the enemy بلrather ذاكthat ماis what
ما زُلزلت أرضُ العِدا بل ذاك ما
بقلوبin the hearts أهليهاof its inhabitants منof الخفقانpounding
بقلوب أهليها من الخفقان
The enemy's land did not quake; that was only
Earth quaked not here: within their breasts
the pounding in the hearts of its inhabitants.
Was tumult when thy drum was blown.
وأقولُand I say إنّthat حصونَهمtheir fortresses سجدتbowed down لِماto what
وأقولُ إنّ حصونَهم سجدت لِما
أُوتيتَyou were granted منof مُلكٍkingship ومنand of سلطانِauthority
أُوتيتَ من مُلكٍ ومن سلطانِ
And I say that their fortresses bowed down to
Their mountain fastnesses confessed
the kingship and authority bestowed upon you.
Thy rule, thy sultan's Might alone,
والنّاسُand people أجدَرُare more bound بالسّجودِto bow down إذاwhen غداthere comes to be
والنّاسُ أجدَرُ بالسّجودِ إذا غدا
لعُلاكَbefore your eminence يسجدُbowing down شامخُthe towering البُنيانِbuildings
لعُلاكَ يسجدُ شامخُ البُنيانِ
And people are still more bound to bow down, when
And men should rather prostrate fall,
towering buildings bow before your eminence.
When lofty buildings are o'erthrown.
ولقدand indeed بعثتَyou sent إِلىagainst الفرنجthe Franks كتائباًbattalions
ولقد بعثتَ إِلى الفرنج كتائباً
كالاُسدِlike the lions حينwhen تصولُthey charge فىin خفَّانِKhaffan
كالاُسدِ حين تصولُ فى خفَّانِ
You have indeed sent battalions against the Franks,
Thou sentest troops, like lions all,
like lions when they charge in Khaffan.
To rend the Franks with aid unguessed--
لبسواthey donned الدروعarmor ولمand did not نَخَلwe imagine مِنfrom قَبلهمbefore them
لبسوا الدروع ولم نَخَل مِن قَبلهم
أنّthat البحارَthe seas تحلُّdwell فىin غُدرانِpools
أنّ البحارَ تحلُّ فى غُدرانِ
They donned armor; before them we had never imagined
Who donned their mail, till men no more
that seas could dwell within pools.
Could dream the seas might grant them rest--
وتيمّمواand they headed for أرضَthe land العدوِّof the enemy بقفرةٍacross a wilderness
وتيمّموا أرضَ العدوِّ بقفرةٍ
جرداءَbarren خاليةٍempty منof السُّكانِinhabitants
جرداءَ خاليةٍ من السُّكانِ
They made for the enemy's land across a wilderness
And rode the waste, devoid of folk,
barren and empty of inhabitants.
For twenty days without a tent,
عشرينtwenty يوماًdays فىon المُغَارthe raid وليلةًand nights
عشرين يوماً فى المُغَار وليلةً
يَسرَونthey travel by night تحتbeneath كواكبthe stars الخُرصانِof the spearheads
يَسرَون تحت كواكب الخُرصانِ
Twenty days and nights upon the raid,
And twenty nights 'neath Capricorn
they traveled by night beneath the stars of spearheads.
They fared, where sand's as water blent.
حتىuntil إذاwhen قطعواthey crossed الجِفارَal-Jifar بجحفلٍwith a mighty host
حتى إذا قطعوا الجِفارَ بجحفلٍ
هوit فىin العديدnumber ورملُهُand its sand سِيَّانِare equal
هو فى العديد ورملُهُ سِيَّانِ
Until, when they crossed al-Jifar with a mighty host
Lured by the barrens, there thy bands
equal in number to its grains of sand,
Brought low the lofty battlement.
أغريتهمyou incited them بحمىagainst the protected domain العِدَاof the enemy فجعلتَهُand so you made it
أغريتهم بحمى العِدَا فجعلتَهُ
بِسُطَاكَby your might بعدafter العزِّglory دارa dwelling هوانِof humiliation
بِسُطَاكَ بعد العزِّ دار هوانِ
you set them upon the enemy's protected domain, and made it,
Thou hurriedst them, when they withstood,
by your might, a dwelling of humiliation after its glory.
To drink destruction's surgent flood
عجّلتyou hastened فيat تلِّthe mound العُجولِal-'Ujul قِراهُمُtheir guest-feast
عجّلت في تلِّ العُجولِ قِراهُمُ
وهُمُand they لكfor you الضّيفانare the guests بالذِّيفانِwith deadly poison
وهُمُ لك الضّيفان بالذِّيفانِ
At Tall al-'Ujul you swiftly served their welcome-feast
Whenas their chiefs thou hadst removed
with deadly poison, for they were your guests.
With blades that bit and blades that hewed.
لمّاwhen أبَواthey refused ماwhat فيwas in الجِفانthe bowls قَرَبتَهُمُyou approached them
لمّا أبَوا ما في الجِفان قَرَبتَهُمُ
بصوارمٍwith sharp swords سُلَّتdrawn منfrom الأجفانِthe sheaths
بصوارمٍ سُلَّت من الأجفانِ
When they refused what lay in the bowls, you approached them
The tents upon the beach o'erthrown
with sharp swords drawn from their sheaths.
Were washed alike in wave and blood.
وثَلَلتَand you toppled فيon يومthe day العريشof al-'Arish عُروشَهُمُtheir thrones
وثَلَلتَ في يوم العريش عُروشَهُمُ
بشَبَاwith the keen edges ضرابٍof blows صادقٍunerring وطعانِand spear-thrusts
بشَبَا ضرابٍ صادقٍ وطعانِ
And on the day of al-'Arish you toppled their thrones
At their decease thy sword drank full,
with the keen edges of unerring blows and spear-thrusts.
And blood and water were as one.
ألجأتهُمyou forced them للبحرto the sea لمَّاwhen أنthat جَرَىflowed
ألجأتهُم للبحر لمَّا أن جَرَى
مِنهfrom it ومنand from دمهمtheir blood معاًtogether بَحرانِtwo seas
مِنه ومن دمهم معاً بَحرانِ
You drove them to the sea, when there flowed
Then men praised Heaven that foemen fell
two seas together: its waters and their blood.
To dye thy mail a crimson tone.
مُدِحَwere praised الورىmankind بالبأسِfor valor إذwhen خَضَبُواthey stained الظُّبَاthe sword blades
مُدِحَ الورى بالبأسِ إذ خَضَبُوا الظُّبَا
فيon يومthe day حربهمُof their battle منfrom الأقرانِtheir opponents
في يوم حربهمُ من الأقرانِ
Men were praised for valor when they stained their blades
Each teeming main runs red for thee,
with their opponents' blood on the day of battle.
With blood of ships thou put'st to flight.
ولأنتَand you indeed تخضبُstain كلَّevery بحرٍsea زاخرٍsurging
ولأنتَ تخضبُ كلَّ بحرٍ زاخرٍ
ممَّنof those whom تحاربُyou fight بالنَّجِيعِwith freshly shed blood القانىdeep crimson
ممَّن تحاربُ بالنَّجِيعِ القانى
But you stain every surging sea
Till thou behold'st their greenest sea
with the deep-red blood of those you fight,
Turn to shygrel and rose bedight.
حتىuntil ترىyou see دمَهمtheir blood وخُضرَةَand the greenness مائِهِof its water
حتى ترى دمَهم وخُضرَةَ مائِهِ
كشقائِقٍlike anemones نُثِرَتscattered علىupon الرَّيحانِsweet basil
كشقائِقٍ نُثِرَت على الرَّيحانِ
until you see their blood and the greenness of its waters
The Greek fleet, when it sailed to war,
like anemones scattered over sweet basil.
Brought what no other fleet e'er brought
وكأنّand as though بحرَthe sea الرُّومof Rum خُلِّقَwas anointed with saffron perfume وجهُهُits face
وكأنّ بحرَ الرُّوم خُلِّقَ وجهُهُ
وطَفَتand floated عليهupon it منابتُbeds المَرجانِof coral
وطَفَت عليه منابتُ المَرجانِ
As though the face of the Sea of Rum were anointed with saffron perfume,
I loved to watch its hawks that wore
and beds of coral floated upon it.
Dove's feathers: then with osprey fraught
ولقدand indeed أتَىcame الأسطولُthe fleet حينwhen غَزاit raided بماwith what
ولقد أتَى الأسطولُ حين غَزا بما
لمnot يأتِit had brought فيat حينٍa time منof الأحيانِthe times
لم يأتِ في حينٍ من الأحيانِ
And in its attack the fleet achieved what
Its prowling kites tore flesh in shreds.
it had never achieved at any time before.
Once cast for anchor stones, ropes taut,
أحبِبhow dear! إلىَّto me بهاthey are (exclamatory) شوانِيَgalleys أصبحتhave become
أحبِب إلىَّ بها شوانِيَ أصبحت
منbecause of فتكهاtheir ravaging ولهاand toward them العُداةُthe enemies شوانىhaters
من فتكها ولها العُداةُ شوانى
How dear to me are those galleys, which have become,
With captives chained they sailed instead,
because of their ravaging, hated by their enemies!
Hands bound behind them as they fought.
شُبِّهنَthey were likened بالغِربانِto ravens فيin ألوانهاtheir colors
شُبِّهنَ بالغِربانِ في ألوانها
وفَعلنَand they performed فِعلَthe deeds كواسرِof predatory العِقبانeagles
وفَعلنَ فِعلَ كواسرِ العِقبان
They were likened to ravens in their colors,
Hot for the fray against the foe,
and wrought the deeds of predatory eagles.
Thy April fortune smiled elate,
أَوقرتَهاyou loaded them عُددَthe equipment القتالِof war فقدso indeed غَدتthey became
أَوقرتَها عُددَ القتالِ فقد غَدت
فيهاin them القَنَاthe spears عِوضاًin place منof الأشطانthe ropes
فيها القَنَا عِوضاً من الأشطان
You loaded them with the implements of war, so now
When Shaban's closing days shall show
they bear spears in place of ropes.
Division's star malignly great.
فأتتكَthen they came to you مُوقرَةًladen بِسَبيٍwith captives بينهamong them
فأتتكَ مُوقرَةً بِسَبيٍ بينه
أسرَاهُمُtheir prisoners مغلولةَfettered الأذقانِat the chins
أسرَاهُمُ مغلولةَ الأذقانِ
Then they came to you laden with captives, among them
Thine, when the Martyr passed away,
their prisoners, their chins bound in fetters.
His office was to instal the state--
حربٌa war عَوانٌrenewed حكَّمَتكَmade you master منamong العداthe enemy
حربٌ عَوانٌ حكَّمَتكَ من العدا
فىover كلِّevery بكرٍmaiden عندهمin their midst وعَوَانِand matron
فى كلِّ بكرٍ عندهم وعَوَانِ
A renewed war made you master, among the enemy,
Not cease to further, night and day,
of every maiden and matron in their midst.
What thought impossible of fate.
وأعَدتَand you sent back رُسلَthe envoys ابنof the son of القسيمal-Qasīm إليهto him فىin
وأعَدتَ رُسلَ ابن القسيم إليه فى
شعبانَSha'ban كىso that يتلاءَمَmight come together الشَّعبانِthe two peoples
شعبانَ كى يتلاءَمَ الشَّعبانِ
And you returned Ibn al-Qasīm's envoys to him in
He slew the Prince, who led astray,
Sha'ban, so that the two peoples might come together.
And though he strove to dominate,
والفألُand the omen يشهدُattests باسمهby his name أنسوفthat ... will يغbe- (word fragment)
والفألُ يشهدُ باسمه أنسوف يغ
دُوcome (word ending) الشامُSyria وهوَand it is عليكماbetween you both قِسمانِtwo shares
دُو الشامُ وهوَ عليكما قِسمانِ
And the omen in his name attests that soon
I saw the wolds turn Judas grey
Syria will become two shares between you both.
With vicar's blood in reprobate.
وأراكand I see you منfrom بعدafter الشَّهيدthe martyr أباًa father لهto him
وأراك من بعد الشَّهيد أباً له
وجعلَتهand you made him منamong أقربِthe closest الإِخوانِbrothers
وجعلَته من أقربِ الإِخوانِ
And I see you, after the martyr, as a father to him,
Men wondered, when his head was shown,
and you have made him one of your closest brothers.
To see his lashes raying blue
وهوand he الذىis the one who ماnot زالceased يفعَلُhe does فىagainst العِدَاthe enemy
وهو الذى ما زال يفعَلُ فى العِدَا
ماwhat لمnot يكنwas لِيُعَدَّto be reckoned فىwithin الإِمكانpossibility
ما لم يكن لِيُعَدَّ فى الإِمكان
He is the one who has continued to do against the enemy
As though above the spearhead strewn
what could never have been counted possible.
Another spearpoint met the view!
قَتلَhe killed البِرنسَthe prince ومَنand whoever عساهُhe might have أعانَهaided him
قَتلَ البِرنسَ ومَن عساهُ أعانَه
لمَّاwhen عَتَاhe grew insolent فىin البغىoppression والعدوانand aggression
لمَّا عَتَا فى البغى والعدوان
He killed the prince and whoever may have aided him
Hail to the King! Should he prevail,
when he grew insolent in oppression and aggression.
His throne by might shall stand secure.
وأرىand he showed البريَّةَmankind حينwhen عادَhe returned برأسهwith his head
وأرى البريَّةَ حين عادَ برأسه
مُرَّbitter الجَنَىfruit يبدوappearing علىupon المُرَّانthe ashwood spear
مُرَّ الجَنَى يبدو على المُرَّان
And on returning with his head, he showed all mankind
His spears have deafened with their tale
bitter fruit appearing upon an ashwood spear.
Earth's sovrans, terror struck and dour.
وتعجّبُواand they marveled منat زُرقََةٍa blueness فىin طرفهِhis eye
وتعجّبُوا من زُرقََةٍ فى طرفهِ
وكأنّand as though فوقَabove الرّمحِthe spear نَصلاًa blade ثانىsecond
وكأنّ فوقَ الرّمحِ نَصلاً ثانى
They marveled at the blueness in his eye,
Though floods may raze the highland towers,
as though a second blade stood above the spear.
His bounty builds them new and sure.
فَليَهنِهِso may it gladden him أنthat فازhe gained منكfrom you بسيِّدٍa lord
فَليَهنِهِ أن فاز منك بسيِّدٍ
أوفىrose higher برتبتهin his rank علىabove كيوانِKaywan (Saturn)
أوفى برتبته على كيوانِ
Let him rejoice at having gained in you a lord
The brilliant fire of his mind flowers
whose rank towers above Kaywan.
In verse whose sweetness shall endure,
قدindeed صاغَhe fashioned منfrom أرماحِهِhis spears لمَسَامعfor the ears of الthe (article fragment)
قد صاغَ من أرماحِهِ لمَسَامع ال
أملاكkings أقراطاًearrings منfrom الخُرِصَانِthe spearheads
أملاك أقراطاً من الخُرِصَانِ
He has fashioned from his spears, for the ears of the
Like pearls his phrases charm the ear:
kings, earrings made of spearheads.
Had they assumed material powers,
والخيلُand the horses تعلمُknow فىin الكريهةthe fierce battle أنّهُthat he
والخيلُ تعلمُ فى الكريهة أنّهُ
قدindeed حَطَّhas brought down هيكلَهاtheir mighty frame علىupon الفرسانِthe horsemen
قد حَطَّ هيكلَها على الفرسانِ
The horses know that in the horror of battle he
They had adorned no brow severe
has brought their mighty frames down upon the horsemen.
But wreaths and coronals and flowers.
عجباًhow wondrous! لجُودِat the generosity يديهof his two hands إذas يبنىit builds العُلاeminence
عجباً لجُودِ يديه إذ يبنى العُلا
والسيلُwhile the torrent يهدِمُdemolishes ثابتَthe firmly fixed الأركانِpillars
والسيلُ يهدِمُ ثابتَ الأركانِ
Marvel at his hands' generosity, as it builds eminence,
You grace with gifts that far outvie
while a torrent demolishes what stands on firm pillars.
Time's treasuries and fortune's dower--
وَلَنارُand surely the fire فِطنتِهِof his wit تُرِيكَshows you لشعرهin his poetry
وَلَنارُ فِطنتِهِ تُرِيكَ لشعره
عَذباًsweet water يُرَوِّىquenches غُلَّةَthe burning thirst الظَّمآنof the thirsty one
عَذباً يُرَوِّى غُلَّةَ الظَّمآن
The fire of his wit surely reveals, in his poetry,
No caravan across the sky
sweet water that quenches the thirst of the thirsty,
Is burdened with such freight of ore--
وعُقودَand necklaces دُرٍّof pearls لوif تجسَّمَtook bodily form لفظُهاtheir wording
وعُقودَ دُرٍّ لو تجسَّمَ لفظُها
ماnot رُصِّعَتwould be set إِلاَّexcept علىupon التِّيجانcrowns
ما رُصِّعَت إِلاَّ على التِّيجان
and pearl necklaces whose words, if given bodily form,
O thou whose bounties aye increase,
would be set nowhere but upon crowns.
Though lavished inexhaustible!
وتنزّهتand they were too exalted عنfor أنthat تُرَىto be seen أفرادُهَاtheir single pearls
وتنزّهت عن أن تُرَى أفرادُهَا
لمواضعِfor the places الأقراطِof earrings والآذانand ears
لمواضعِ الأقراطِ والآذان
And they are too exalted for their single pearls to be seen
The desert necks are bowed with these,
in the places of earrings and ears.
And weigh them down intolerable,
منof كلِّeach رائِقةٍradiant poem الجمالِin beauty زهَتshone بهاthrough it
من كلِّ رائِقةٍ الجمالِ زهَت بها
بينamong القصائِدthe poems عِزَّةُthe majesty السلطانof the sultan
بين القصائِد عِزَّةُ السلطان
Each is a poem of radiant beauty, through which
Till mankind are as equals made,
the sultan's majesty shines among poems.
The near and far on equal floor.
سيَّارةٌtraveling widely فيthrough الأرضthe earth لاnot يَعتاقُهاimpedes it
سيَّارةٌ في الأرض لا يَعتاقُها
فىin سيرهاits course قَيدٌa fetter منof الأوزانmeters
فى سيرها قَيدٌ من الأوزان
It journeys throughout the earth, unhindered
Your pardons those in need have weighed,
in its course by any bond of meter.
And those who sinful paths explore.
ياO مُنعِماًbenefactor ماnot للثناءfor praise ولوeven if غلاit grew extravagant
يا مُنعِماً ما للثناء ولو غلا
يوماًever بماwith what تُولىbestow يداهُhis two hands يَدَانtwo hands; capacity
يوماً بما تُولى يداهُ يَدَان
O benefactor, praise, however extravagant it becomes,
never has hands enough for what his hands bestow.
قَلَّدتَyou hung upon أعناقَthe necks البريَّةَِof mankind كُلَّهاall of it
قَلَّدتَ أعناقَ البريَّةَِ كُلَّها
مِنَناًfavors تحمَّلَbore ثِقلَهَاtheir weight الثَّقَلانِhumans and jinn
مِنَناً تحمَّلَ ثِقلَهَا الثَّقَلانِ
You have hung upon the necks of all mankind
favors whose weight both humans and jinn have borne.
حتىuntil تساوَىbecame equal الناسُthe people فيكin your regard وأصبحand became الthe (article fragment)
حتى تساوَى الناسُ فيك وأصبح ال
قاصىfar-off بمنزلةat the standing of القريبِthe near one الدَّانىthe close one
قاصى بمنزلة القريبِ الدَّانى
Until all people were equal in your regard, and the
far-off became like the near and close.
ورحمتَand you showed mercy أهلَto the people العجزِof helplessness منهمamong them مثلماjust as
ورحمتَ أهلَ العجزِ منهم مثلما
أصبحتَyou came to تَغفِرُyou forgive للمسىءِthe wrongdoer الجانِىthe offender
أصبحتَ تَغفِرُ للمسىءِ الجانِى
You showed mercy to the helpless among them, just as
you came to forgive the wrongdoing offender.
Partial English translation: 126 of 134 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1