طِوالُlong قَناًlances تُطاعِنُهاjoust against them قِصارُshort ones
طِوالُ قَناً تُطاعِنُها قِصارُ
وَقَطرُكَand your drops فيin نَدىًgenerosity وَوَغىًand battle بِحارُseas
وَقَطرُكَ في نَدىً وَوَغىً بِحارُ
Long lances are jousted against by short ones,
Long lances assail her, yet the short ones defame her,
Long spears that strike, driven by shorter points,
and your drops, in bounty and battle, are seas.
While your blow in dew or in sea is a shower.
Your rain in bounty and in war is like the seas.
وَفيكَand in you إِذاwhen جَنىoffends الجانيthe wrongdoer أَناةٌforbearance
وَفيكَ إِذا جَنى الجاني أَناةٌ
تُظَنُّis thought كَرامَةًhonor وَهِيَthough it is اِحتِقارُcontempt
تُظَنُّ كَرامَةً وَهِيَ اِحتِقارُ
In you, when a wrongdoer offends, there is forbearance
When the offender seeks respite from you,
In you, when offenders sin, lies a patience
thought to be honor, though it is contempt.
You deem it generosity but it is disdain.
Mistaken for respect, yet it is but disdain.
وَأَخذٌand a firm grip لِلحَواصِرِon settled towns وَالبَواديand desert lands
وَأَخذٌ لِلحَواصِرِ وَالبَوادي
بِضَبطٍwith firm control لَمnot تُعَوَّدهُhad been accustomed to it نِزارُNizar
بِضَبطٍ لَم تُعَوَّدهُ نِزارُ
And a firm grip on settled towns and desert lands,
You captured fortresses and deserts
A seizing of the cities and the wild wastes
with a discipline to which Nizar was unaccustomed.
With perfect control unfamiliar to the soft.
With a grasp that Nizar was never wont to know.
تَشَمَّمُهُit sniffs at it شَميمَthe sniffing of الوَحشِwild beasts إِنساًhumans
تَشَمَّمُهُ شَميمَ الوَحشِ إِنساً
وَتُنكِرُهُand finds it strange فَيَعروهاso it is seized by نِفارُaversion
وَتُنكِرُهُ فَيَعروها نِفارُ
It sniffs at it as wild beasts sniff humans,
The perfume of the wild beast repels them,
Men scent this power as wild beasts scent the wind,
and finds it strange, so aversion seizes it.
So they deny and flee from it in disgust.
And deny it, till panic seizes hold of them.
وَماand never اِنقادَتyielded لِغَيرِكَto anyone other than you فيin زَمانٍan age
وَما اِنقادَت لِغَيرِكَ في زَمانٍ
فَتَدريso it would know ماwhat المَقادَةَsubmission وَالصِغارُand abasement
فَتَدري ما المَقادَةَ وَالصِغارُ
It never yielded to another in any age,
My tribe never submitted to another in times gone by,
In times past they bowed to no other master,
so as to know what submission and abasement are.
So you know not submission or disgrace.
Now they learn what led-reins and littleness mean.
فَقَرَّحتِso made sore المَقاوِدُthe reins ذِفرَيَيهاits two nape-ridges
فَقَرَّحتِ المَقاوِدُ ذِفرَيَيها
وَصَعَّرَand turned aside خَدَّهاits cheek هَذاthis العِذارُthe bridle's cheek-strap
وَصَعَّرَ خَدَّها هَذا العِذارُ
So the reins chafed its two nape-ridges,
Saddle-pads fret over their double pommels
The halters have rubbed their neck-veins into sores,
and this cheek-strap twisted its cheek aside.
While the censure mars their cheeks.
And this bridle has twisted their faces awry.
وَأَطمَعَand emboldened عامِرَAmir البُقياclemency عَلَيهاtoward it
وَأَطمَعَ عامِرَ البُقيا عَلَيها
وَنَزَّقَهاand made it rash اِحتِمالُكَyour forbearance وَالوَقارُand dignity
وَنَزَّقَها اِحتِمالُكَ وَالوَقارُ
Clemency toward Amir emboldened it,
‘Amir made presumptions upon her
Mercy shown to them made 'Amir bold with greed,
and your forbearance and dignity made it rash.
While your forbearance and dignity4567 insults her.
Your bearing and your patience made them rash.
وَغَيَّرَهاand changed it التَراسُلُexchanging messages وَالتَشاكيand exchanging complaints
وَغَيَّرَها التَراسُلُ وَالتَشاكي
وَأَعجَبَهاand pleased it التَلَبُّبُtaking up arms وَالمُغارُand raiding
وَأَعجَبَها التَلَبُّبُ وَالمُغارُ
Exchanged messages and complaints changed it,
Correspondence and complaining changed her;
Constant parley and complaint have altered them,
and arming itself and raiding delighted it.
She was impressed by play and frivolity.
Pleased by the girding on of arms and raids.
جِيادٌsteeds تَعجِزُare powerless الأَرسانُthe halters عَنهاagainst them
جِيادٌ تَعجِزُ الأَرسانُ عَنها
وَفُرسانٌand horsemen تَضيقُare too narrow بِهاfor them الدِيارُthe lands
وَفُرسانٌ تَضيقُ بِها الدِيارُ
Steeds beyond the power of halters,
Steeds that test the horsemen,
Steeds that the strongest reins cannot restrain,
and horsemen whom the lands cannot contain.
And horsemen who make the home seem confined.
And knights for whom the lands have grown too straight.
وَكانَتand they became بِالتَوَقُّفِthrough holding back عَنfrom رَداهاtheir destruction
وَكانَت بِالتَوَقُّفِ عَن رَداها
نُفوساًsouls فيconcerning رَداهاtheir destruction تُستَشارُare consulted
نُفوساً في رَداها تُستَشارُ
As you held back from their destruction, they became
By stopping chasing them
By pausing before their doom, they became
souls consulted about their own destruction.
You made souls seek advice in chasing them.
Souls consulted on the manner of their death.
وَكُنتَand you were السَيفَthe sword قائِمُهُits hilt إِلَيهِمtoward them
وَكُنتَ السَيفَ قائِمُهُ إِلَيهِم
وَفيand among الأَعداءِthe enemies حَدُّكَyour edge وَالغِرارُand the keen blade
وَفي الأَعداءِ حَدُّكَ وَالغِرارُ
You were the sword, with its hilt toward them,
You were the upright sword against them
You were the sword whose hilt was offered them,
and your edge and keen blade against the enemies.
While your sharp blade and heat were in the foes.
While for the foe remained the edge and point.
فَأَمسَتso came to be بِالبَدِيَّةِin al-Badiyya شَفرَتاهُits two edges
فَأَمسَت بِالبَدِيَّةِ شَفرَتاهُ
وَأَمسىand came to be خَلفَbehind قائِمِهِits hilt الحِيارُal-Hiyar
وَأَمسى خَلفَ قائِمِهِ الحِيارُ
Then its two edges came to be in al-Badiyya,
Thus its edges spent the day in concealment
But now its twin blades strike in the wilderness,
and al-Hiyar lay behind its hilt.
As if death between you was a shortcut.
And the bewildered herds fall behind the hilt.
وَكانَand were بَنوthe sons of كِلابٍKilab حَيثُwhere كَعبٌKa'b
وَكانَ بَنو كِلابٍ حَيثُ كَعبٌ
فَخافواso they feared أَنthat يَصيرواthey would end up حَيثُwhere صارواthey had ended
فَخافوا أَن يَصيروا حَيثُ صاروا
The sons of Kilab were where Ka'b was,
The pursuit forced them into battle
The Banu Kilab saw where the Ka'b had stood,
so they feared ending where Ka'b had ended.
While fleeing was the keenest of their weapons.
And feared to end where their brethren had ended.
تَلَقَّواthey met عِزَّthe might of مَولاهُمtheir lord بِذُلٍّwith humility
تَلَقَّوا عِزَّ مَولاهُم بِذُلٍّ
وَسارَand he marched إِلىto بَنيthe sons of كَعبٍKa'b وَسارواand they marched
وَسارَ إِلى بَني كَعبٍ وَساروا
They met their lord's might with humility,
They raced with disjointed limbs therein,
They met the might of their Lord with humility,
and he marched against the sons of Ka'b, and they marched too.
Stumbling over their feet in their haste.
As he marched to Banu Ka'b, and they marched too.
فَأَقبَلَهاso he directed them toward المُروجَthe meadows مُسَوَّماتٍmarked
فَأَقبَلَها المُروجَ مُسَوَّماتٍ
ضَوامِرَlean لاnot هِزالَemaciated وَلاnor شِيارُfat
ضَوامِرَ لا هِزالَ وَلا شِيارُ
He directed them toward the meadows, marked steeds,
Every steep ravine hampered them
He cast his marked steeds upon the meadowlands,
lean, neither emaciated nor fat.
For their noble rider and excellent steed.
Lean hunters, neither wasted nor plump with rest.
تُثيرُthey raise عَلىover سَلَميَةَSalamiyya مُسبَطِرّاًspread wide
تُثيرُ عَلى سَلَميَةَ مُسبَطِرّاً
تَناكَرُthey would not recognize one another نَحتَهُits carving (likely intended: beneath it) لَولاbut for الشِعارُthe battle cry
تَناكَرُ نَحتَهُ لَولا الشِعارُ
They stir up over Salamiyya a spreading mass,
Every deafening crash wounds its sides
Stirring up over Salamiyah a spreading cloud,
beneath which they would not know one another but for the battle cry,
With blood flowing from both ankles.
Whose shape is strange, were it not a sign of war.
عَجاجاًdust تَعثُرُstumble العِقبانُthe eagles فيهِin it
عَجاجاً تَعثُرُ العِقبانُ فيهِ
كَأَنَّas though الجَوَّthe air وَعثٌdeep sand أَوor خَبارُsoft, yielding soil
كَأَنَّ الجَوَّ وَعثٌ أَو خَبارُ
of dust in which eagles stumble,
It neglected every one who turned to it
A dust wherein the eagles stumble in flight,
as though the air were deep sand or yielding soil.
While its zeal for its rider was a duty.
As if the sky were sandy ground or rock.
وَظَلَّand remained الطَعنُspear-thrusts فيbetween الخَيلَينِthe two cavalries خَلساًswift snatches
وَظَلَّ الطَعنُ في الخَيلَينِ خَلساً
كَأَنَّas though المَوتَdeath بَينَهُماbetween them اِختِصارُbrevity
كَأَنَّ المَوتَ بَينَهُما اِختِصارُ
Spear-thrusts between the two cavalries remained swift snatches,
When daylight withdrew its illumination from them,
The thrusting between the hosts was swift and stolen,
as though death between them were made brief.
Two dark nights – one night and the dust – covered them.
As if death were a shortcut between the two.
فَلَزَّهُمُso forced them الطِرادُthe pursuit إِلىinto قِتالٍbattle
فَلَزَّهُمُ الطِرادُ إِلى قِتالٍ
أَحَدُّthe sharpest سِلاحِهِمtheir weaponry فيهِin it الفِرارُflight
أَحَدُّ سِلاحِهِم فيهِ الفِرارُ
The pursuit forced them into a battle
If the wing of darkness protected them,
The chase compelled them to a bitter fight,
in which their sharpest weapon was flight.
Al-Musharrafiyyah8 and daylight exposed them.
Where their sharpest weapon was but to flee away.
مَضَواthey sped away مُتَسابِقيracing one another in الأَعضاءِlimbs فيهِin it
مَضَوا مُتَسابِقي الأَعضاءِ فيهِ
لِأرؤسِهِمfor their heads بِأَرجُلِهِمover their feet عِثارُa stumbling
لِأرؤسِهِم بِأَرجُلِهِم عِثارُ
They sped away, their limbs racing one another,
Behind them a shrouded one cried the weeping
They fled, their own limbs racing one another,
their heads tripping over their feet.
Of a camel-driver or merchant or bedouin.
Their heads stumbling upon their very feet.
يَشُلُّهُمُhe drives them off بِكُلِّwith every أَقَبَّslim-flanked نَهدٍpowerfully built
يَشُلُّهُمُ بِكُلِّ أَقَبَّ نَهدٍ
لِفارِسِهِfor its rider عَلىover الخَيلِthe horses الخِيارُfree choice
لِفارِسِهِ عَلى الخَيلِ الخِيارُ
He drives them off with every slim-flanked, powerful steed,
The clouds of dust covered the bayda’
He drives them with lean steeds, high in the shoulder,
whose rider may take his pick among the horses,
Until the landmarks and roads were obscured.
Whose riders are the choicest of the brave.
وَكُلِّand every أَصَمَّsolid spear يَعسِلُquiver جانِباهُits two sides
وَكُلِّ أَصَمَّ يَعسِلُ جانِباهُ
عَلىover الكَعبَينِthe two shaft-joints مِنهُof it دَمٌblood مُمارُmade to flow
عَلى الكَعبَينِ مِنهُ دَمٌ مُمارُ
and every solid spear whose sides quiver,
They passed the tax-collectors as
And with solid spears that quiver at the sides,
blood flowing over two of its shaft-joints.
The two armies gathered like the tying of a loincloth.
While spilled blood runs down upon their knots.
يُغادِرُit leaves كُلَّevery مُلتَفِتٍone who turns إِلَيهِtoward it
يُغادِرُ كُلَّ مُلتَفِتٍ إِلَيهِ
وَلَبَّتُهُand his throat-hollow لِثَعلَبِهِfor its 'fox' (spear-tip) وَجارُa den
وَلَبَّتُهُ لِثَعلَبِهِ وَجارُ
It leaves every man who turns toward it
They reached Saḥṣaḥ9 without saddles
Leaving dead whoever turns to gaze at it,
with his throat-hollow a den for its 'fox.'
As the turban and veil slipped away.
His chest becoming a burrow for the fox.
إِذاwhen صَرَفَturns away النَهارُthe day الضَوءَthe light عَنهُمfrom them
إِذا صَرَفَ النَهارُ الضَوءَ عَنهُم
دَجاgrow dark لَيلانِtwo nights لَيلٌnight وَالغُبارُand dust
دَجا لَيلانِ لَيلٌ وَالغُبارُ
When the day turns its light away from them,
The virgins drooped, doubled up behind
When the day turns its light away from them,
two nights grow dark: night itself and dust.
And the young lambs stumbled.
Two nights descend: the darkness and the dust.
وَإِنand if جُنحُthe wing of الظَلامِdarkness اِنجابَdraws away عَنهُمfrom them
وَإِن جُنحُ الظَلامِ اِنجابَ عَنهُم
أَضاءَshine المَشرَفِيَّةُthe Mashrafi swords وَالنَهارُand daylight
أَضاءَ المَشرَفِيَّةُ وَالنَهارُ
And when the wing of darkness draws away from them,
Nu‘ayr was emptied so there was no Nu‘ayr,
And when the wing of darkness lifts from them,
the Mashrafi swords and daylight shine.
Neither Nihayy nor Buyayḍah nor Jifār.
The Mashrafiyah swords and the daylight gleam.
يُبَكّيmakes weep خَلفَهُمbehind them دَثرٌabundant herds بُكاهُits weeping
يُبَكّي خَلفَهُم دَثرٌ بُكاهُ
رُغاءٌcamels' bellowing أَوor ثُؤاجٌsheep's bleating أَوor يُعارُgoats' bleating
رُغاءٌ أَو ثُؤاجٌ أَو يُعارُ
Behind them, abundant herds draw tears; their own weeping
No one sought help but Tadmur
Behind them, vast herds weep their master's loss,
is camels' bellowing, or sheep's bleating, or goats' cries.
And Tadmur destroyed them as its name suggests.
With grumbling, bleating, and with mournful cries.
غَطاit covered بِالعِثيَرِwith dust البَيداءَthe desert حَتّىuntil
غَطا بِالعِثيَرِ البَيداءَ حَتّى
تَحَيَّرَتِwere bewildered المَتاليshe-camels followed by their young وَالعِشارُand ten-month-pregnant she-camels
تَحَيَّرَتِ المَتالي وَالعِشارُ
It blanketed the desert in dust until
They intended to reconsider regarding it,
He cloaked the desert in a shroud of dust,
she-camels with following young and pregnant camels were bewildered.
But it greeted them in the morning with a resolute decision.
Till mothers and pregnant camels strayed amazed.
وَمَرّواand they passed بِالجَباةِthrough al-Jabah يَضُمُّenfolds فيهاthere
وَمَرّوا بِالجَباةِ يَضُمُّ فيها
كِلاboth الجَيشَينِthe two armies مِنof نَقعٍdust إِزارُa mantle
كِلا الجَيشَينِ مِن نَقعٍ إِزارُ
They passed through al-Jabah; there, enfolding
An army with which, whenever they disputed a land,
They passed Al-Jabat, where the dust-cloud wrapped
both armies, was a mantle of dust.
They came and went confused within it.
Both armies in a single winding-sheet.
وَجاؤواand they reached الصَحصَحانَal-Sahsahan بِلاwithout سُروجٍsaddles
وَجاؤوا الصَحصَحانَ بِلا سُروجٍ
وَقَدand already سَقَطَhad fallen العِمامَةُthe turban وَالخِمارُand the veil
وَقَد سَقَطَ العِمامَةُ وَالخِمارُ
They reached al-Sahsahan without saddles,
It was surrounded by a desolate waterless wasteland,
They reached Al-Sahsahan without their saddles,
with turbans and veils already fallen away.
With no blood-money to be driven, or apologies to be made.
Turbans and veils all fallen in the flight.
وَأُرهِقَتِand were overtaken العَذارىthe maidens مُردَفاتٍriding pillion
وَأُرهِقَتِ العَذارى مُردَفاتٍ
وَأَوطِئَتِand were trampled الأُصَيبِيَةُthe little boys الصِغارُsmall
وَأَوطِئَتِ الأُصَيبِيَةُ الصِغارُ
The maidens, riding pillion, were overtaken,
Its swords poured the blood of enemies
The virgins were burdened, riding two by two,
and the small boys were trampled.
And its valor spilled every drop that was shed.
And the small children trampled underfoot.
وَقَدand already نُزِحَwas drained الغُوَيرُal-Ghuwayr فَلاso no غُوَيرٌGhuwayr
وَقَد نُزِحَ الغُوَيرُ فَلا غُوَيرٌ
وَنِهياand Nihya وَالبُيَيضَةُand al-Buyayda وَالجِفارُand al-Jifar
وَنِهيا وَالبُيَيضَةُ وَالجِفارُ
Al-Ghuwayr was drained; no Ghuwayr remained,
They were lions with no knives for birds
Al-Ghuwayr is drained, and is Ghuwayr no more,
nor Nihya, nor al-Buyayda, nor al-Jifar.
Nor feathers enabling them to fly.
Nihya, Al-Buwaydah, and Al-Jifar are dry.
وَلَيسَand there is no بِغَيرِanywhere but تَدمُرَTadmur مُستَغاثٌrefuge
وَلَيسَ بِغَيرِ تَدمُرَ مُستَغاثٌ
وَتَدمُرُand Tadmur كَاِسمِهاlike its name لَهُمُfor them دَمارُdestruction
وَتَدمُرُ كَاِسمِها لَهُمُ دَمارُ
There was no refuge except at Tadmur,
When they missed with their spears it reached for them
No refuge is left but Tadmur for their plea,
and Tadmur, like its name, was ruin for them.
With spears of thirst from the barren waste.
Yet Tadmur, like its name, is their ruin too.
أَرادواthey wished أَنto يُديرواturn over الرَأيَthe plan فيهاthere
أَرادوا أَن يُديروا الرَأيَ فيها
فَصَبَّحَهُمso he attacked them at dawn بِرَأيٍwith a plan لاnot يُدارُto be debated
فَصَبَّحَهُم بِرَأيٍ لا يُدارُ
They wished to turn over their plans there,
They saw death before and behind them
They sought to turn their counsels in that place,
but he struck them at dawn with a plan beyond debate,
So they chose it out of necessity.
But at dawn he brought a plan that does not turn.
وَجَيشٍand an army كُلَّماwhenever حارواthey were bewildered بِأَرضٍin a land
وَجَيشٍ كُلَّما حاروا بِأَرضٍ
وَأَقبَلَand it advanced أَقبَلَتit began فيهِat it تَحارُto be bewildered
وَأَقبَلَ أَقبَلَت فيهِ تَحارُ
and an army: whenever they were bewildered in a land,
If the unguided ventured onto the highway
With an army that, when they halted confused,
and it advanced, the land itself grew bewildered at it.
Its two eyes were for them a beacon.
Arrived, and the land itself was struck confused.
يَحُفُّsurrounds أَغَرَّa radiant man لاno قَوَدٌblood-retribution عَلَيهِagainst him
يَحُفُّ أَغَرَّ لا قَوَدٌ عَلَيهِ
وَلاnor دِيَةٌblood-money تُساقُis paid وَلاnor اِعتِذارُan apology
وَلا دِيَةٌ تُساقُ وَلا اِعتِذارُ
It surrounds a radiant man against whom no blood-retribution lies,
Were it not for the survivors, no life would remain
Surrounding a glorious King who owes no debt,
nor blood-money is paid, nor apology offered.
And without the past, lessons could not be learned.
No blood-money paid, no apologies offered.
تُريقُpour out سُيوفُهُhis swords مُهَجَthe lifeblood of الأَعاديthe enemies
تُريقُ سُيوفُهُ مُهَجَ الأَعادي
وَكُلُّand every دَمٍblood أَراقَتهُthey shed it جُبارُuncompensated
وَكُلُّ دَمٍ أَراقَتهُ جُبارُ
His swords pour out the lifeblood of enemies,
When their master does not watch over them
His swords spill out the life-blood of the foe,
and all the blood they spill goes uncompensated.
Then who can watch over them and be jealous?
And every drop shed is blood shed in vain.
فَكانواso they were الأُسدَthe lions لَيسَthere was not لَهاfor them مَصالٌpower to pounce
فَكانوا الأُسدَ لَيسَ لَها مَصالٌ
عَلىupon طَيرٍbirds وَلَيسَand there was not لَهاfor them مَطارُa way to fly
عَلى طَيرٍ وَلَيسَ لَها مَطارُ
So they were lions with no power to spring
Wretchedness separates them while fortune unites them,
They were as lions that have no power to pounce
upon birds, and with no way to fly.
As does the carpenter with his adze.
Upon the birds, and possess no wings to fly.
إِذاif فاتواthey escaped الرِماحَthe spears تَناوَلَتهُمseized them
إِذا فاتوا الرِماحَ تَناوَلَتهُم
بِأَرماحٍwith spears مِنَof العَطَشِthirst القِفارُthe deserts
بِأَرماحٍ مِنَ العَطَشِ القِفارُ
If they escaped the spears, they were seized
He turned toward a hill and plain,
If they escaped the lances of the war,
by the deserts with spears of thirst.
And the genteel people seek his tomb.
The barren lands struck them with lances of thirst.
يَرَونَthey see المَوتَdeath قُدّاماًahead وَخَلفاًand behind
يَرَونَ المَوتَ قُدّاماً وَخَلفاً
فَيَختارونَso they choose وَالمَوتُwhile death اِضطِرارُcompulsion
فَيَختارونَ وَالمَوتُ اِضطِرارُ
They see death ahead and behind,
The Banū Numayr bellowed by the Euphrates,
They see death standing before them and behind,
and choose, though death gives them no choice.
But their bellowing was the bellowing of shame.
So they make their choice, though death is compulsion.
إِذاif سَلَكَtraverses السَماوَةَal-Samawa غَيرُone who is not هادٍa guide
إِذا سَلَكَ السَماوَةَ غَيرُ هادٍ
فَقَتلاهُمthen their slain لِعَينَيهِto his eyes مَنارُbeacons
فَقَتلاهُم لِعَينَيهِ مَنارُ
If someone who knows no route crosses al-Samawa,
They lie dead around the Khābūr,
If one travels the Samawah without a guide,
their slain are beacons for his eyes.
Laid low without tasting anything but their own bitter draught.
Their scattered corpses serve as beacons for him.
وَلَوand if لَمnot تُبقِyou had spared لَمnot تَعِشِwould have lived البَقاياthe survivors
وَلَو لَم تُبقِ لَم تَعِشِ البَقايا
وَفيand in الماضيwhat has passed لِمَنfor whoever بَقِيَremained اِعتِبارُa lesson
وَفي الماضي لِمَن بَقِيَ اِعتِبارُ
Had you not spared them, the survivors would not have lived,
No cattle were pastured for them in the morning
Had you not spared, the remnants would not live;
and what has passed holds a lesson for those who remain.
Nor fire kindled for them at night.
In the dead lies a lesson for those who remain.
إِذاif لَمnot يُرعِshows mercy سَيِّدُهُمtheir lord عَلَيهِمto them
إِذا لَم يُرعِ سَيِّدُهُم عَلَيهِم
فَمَنthen who يُرعيwill show mercy عَلَيهِمto them أَوor يَغارُguard their honor
فَمَن يُرعي عَلَيهِم أَو يَغارُ
If their lord does not spare them,
Beware of the youth when he is not pleased with them,
If their own master shows no mercy to them,
who will spare them or guard their honor?
For then wariness will not benefit them.
Who then shall guard them or be jealous for them?
تُفَرِّقُهُمseparate them وَإِيّاهُand him السَجاياnatural dispositions
تُفَرِّقُهُم وَإِيّاهُ السَجايا
وَيَجمَعُهُمand unite them وَإِيّاهُand him النِجارُlineage
وَيَجمَعُهُم وَإِيّاهُ النِجارُ
Their natures separate them from him,
Their delegations by night travel to placate him,
Your natures sever you from what they are,
and their lineage unites them with him.
Seeking the pardon that they request.
Yet ancient lineage binds them still to you.
وَمالَand he turned بِهاwith them عَلىagainst أَرَكٍArak وَعُرضٍand Urd
وَمالَ بِها عَلى أَرَكٍ وَعُرضٍ
وَأَهلُand the people of الرَقَّتَينِthe two Raqqas لَهاfor them مَزارُa place to visit
وَأَهلُ الرَقَّتَينِ لَها مَزارُ
He wheeled them against Arak and Urd,
He repulsed them by returning the tribute,
He turned the horses towards Arak and 'Urd,
and the people of the two Raqqas were a destination for them.
Although their protecting companion took it with him.
That the people of Raqqah might visit their dead.
وَأَجفَلَand fled in panic بِالفُراتِby the Euphrates بَنوthe sons of نُمَيرٍNumayr
وَأَجفَلَ بِالفُراتِ بَنو نُمَيرٍ
وَزَأرُهُمُand their roar الَّذيwhich زَأَرواthey roared خُوارُlowing
وَزَأرُهُمُ الَّذي زَأَروا خُوارُ
The sons of Numayr fled in panic by the Euphrates,
They are those whose noble origin and lineage
The Banu Numayr fled along the Euphrates,
and the roar they roared was merely lowing.
Proved their excellence for him.
And the roar they had roared proved only a lowing.
فَهُمso they حِزَقٌbands عَلىon الخابورِthe Khabur صَرعىlaid low
فَهُم حِزَقٌ عَلى الخابورِ صَرعى
بِهِمin them مِنfrom شُربِthe drinking of غَيرِهِمِpeople other than them خُمارُa hangover
بِهِم مِن شُربِ غَيرِهِمِ خُمارُ
So they lie in bands beside the Khabur, laid low,
They have a right to your partnership in valor,
They lie in heaps upon the Khabur's banks,
hung over from what others drank.
And the least partnership is friendship.
Drunk with a stupor not from their own wine.
فَلَمso not يَسرَحwent out to graze لَهُمfor them فيin الصُبحِthe morning مالٌlivestock
فَلَم يَسرَح لَهُم في الصُبحِ مالٌ
وَلَمand not توقَدwas kindled لَهُمfor them بِاللَيلِat night نارُa fire
وَلَم توقَد لَهُم بِاللَيلِ نارُ
No livestock of theirs went out to graze in the morning,
Perhaps their sons will be troops for your sons,
No cattle grazed for them when morning broke,
and no fire was lit for them at night,
As the first to tame a noble steed is praised.
No fire was kindled for them when night fell.
حِذارَfor fear of فَتىًa young man إِذاif لَمnot يَرضَhe is pleased عَنهُمwith them
حِذارَ فَتىً إِذا لَم يَرضَ عَنهُم
فَلَيسَthen not بِنافِعٍof use لَهُمُto them الحِذارُcaution
فَلَيسَ بِنافِعٍ لَهُمُ الحِذارُ
for fear of a young man: if he is displeased with them,
You are more righteous than one who, if he erred, perished,
Beware a youth who, if he be not pleased,
then caution is of no use to them.
And more forgiving than one whose forgiveness was depravity.
Makes all their caution useless and in vain.
تَبيتُspend the night وُفودُهُمtheir delegations تَسريtraveling by night إِلَيهِto him
تَبيتُ وُفودُهُم تَسري إِلَيهِ
وَجَدواهُand his bounty الَّتيwhich سَأَلواthey requested اِغتِفارُforgiveness
وَجَدواهُ الَّتي سَأَلوا اِغتِفارُ
Their delegations spend the night journeying to him,
You are more able when success arouses you to action
Their delegations travel through the night to him;
and the bounty they asked of him was forgiveness.
And more forbearing when power gives you forbearance.
The gift they beg is pardon for their lives.
فَخَلَّفَهُمso he left them behind بِرَدِّby turning back البيضِthe bright swords عَنهُمfrom them
فَخَلَّفَهُم بِرَدِّ البيضِ عَنهُم
وَهامُهُمُand their heads لَهُbelonging to him مَعَهُمwith them مُعارُon loan
وَهامُهُمُ لَهُ مَعَهُم مُعارُ
He left them behind, turning the bright swords away from them,
There is no shame in the tyranny of the great ones,
He left them, turning back the white steel blades,
and their heads, still with them, were on loan from him.
Nor dishonor in the humility of servants.
Their heads remain with them as but a loan.
وَهُمand they مِمَّنamong those أَذَمَّpledged protection لَهُمfor them عَلَيهِbinding on him
وَهُم مِمَّن أَذَمَّ لَهُم عَلَيهِ
كَريمُnoble العِرقِlineage وَالحَسَبُand ancestral honor النُضارُpure
كَريمُ العِرقِ وَالحَسَبُ النُضارُ
They were among those for whom his protection was pledged by
The rays of sunlight are manifest in you,
They are of those protected from his wrath,
noble lineage and pure ancestral honor.
So our eyes are dazzled by its reflection.
By noble root and lineage pure as gold.
فَأَصبَحَso he came to be بِالعَواصِمِin al-Awasim مُستَقِرّاًsettled
فَأَصبَحَ بِالعَواصِمِ مُستَقِرّاً
وَلَيسَand there is no لِبَحرِfor the sea of نائِلِهِhis bounty قَرارُbottom
وَلَيسَ لِبَحرِ نائِلِهِ قَرارُ
So he came to rest in al-Awasim,
Whoever seeks battle, ‘Alī is here,
Now he rests settled in the Border Lands,
and the sea of his bounty has no bottom.
As well as the steeds of Allah and the ardent heroes.
A sea of bounty having no floor nor coast.
وَأَضحىand came to be ذِكرُهُhis fame فيin كُلِّevery أَرضٍland
وَأَضحى ذِكرُهُ في كُلِّ أَرضٍ
تُدارُis passed around عَلىto الغِناءِsinging بِهِof him العُقارُwine
تُدارُ عَلى الغِناءِ بِهِ العُقارُ
His fame came to dwell in every land,
The people saw him in the land of Ka‘b,
His fame has dawned in every distant land,
where wine is passed around to songs of him.
A land whose settlements offer no concealment.
Toasted with wine wherever songs are sung.
تَخِرُّfall down لَهُbefore him القَبائِلُthe tribes ساجِداتٍprostrating
تَخِرُّ لَهُ القَبائِلُ ساجِداتٍ
وَتَحمَدُهُand praise him الأَسِنَّةُthe spearheads وَالشِفارُand blades
وَتَحمَدُهُ الأَسِنَّةُ وَالشِفارُ
The tribes fall prostrate before him,
The deserts display him each day,
The tribes fall down prostrate before his face,
and spearheads and blades praise him.
Seekers seeking, not awaiting the sought.
Praised by the lance-points and the fine-edged blades.
كَأَنَّas though شُعاعَthe radiance of عَينِthe eye of الشَمسِthe sun فيهِin him
كَأَنَّ شُعاعَ عَينِ الشَمسِ فيهِ
فَفيso in أَبصارِناour eyes مِنهُbecause of him اِنكِسارُa faltering
فَفي أَبصارِنا مِنهُ اِنكِسارُ
As though the radiance of the sun's eye were in him,
His cavalry answers, line after line,
As if the very sun-beams dwelt in him;
so our eyes falter at the sight of him.
War horses do not habitually conceal their voices.
Our eyes are broken when we gaze on him.
فَمَنso whoever طَلَبَseeks الطِعانَspear-combat فَذاthen here is عَلِيٌّAli
فَمَن طَلَبَ الطِعانَ فَذا عَلِيٌّ
وَخَيلُand the horses of اللَهِGod وَالأَسَلُand the lances الحِرارُthe noble ones
وَخَيلُ اللَهِ وَالأَسَلُ الحِرارُ
Whoever seeks spear-combat: here is Ali,
O Banū Ka‘b, what a mark you have left in them,
Whoever seeks the thrust, here stands Ali,
and God's cavalry and the noble lances.
A blow that only bracelets can cure.
With God's own horses and the burning spears.
يَراهُsee him الناسُthe people حَيثُwhere رَأَتهُsaw him كَعبٌKa'b
يَراهُ الناسُ حَيثُ رَأَتهُ كَعبٌ
بِأَرضٍin a land ماno لِنازِلِهاfor one encamped in it اِستِتارُconcealment
بِأَرضٍ ما لِنازِلِها اِستِتارُ
People see him where Ka'b saw him,
In it is anguish and loss from a piece
Men see him just as the Banu Ka'b saw,
in a land with no concealment for one encamped there.
And in it is pride in his greatness.
In lands that offer no defense nor veil.
يُوَسِّطُهُsets him amid المَفاوِزَthe deserts كُلَّevery يَومٍday
يُوَسِّطُهُ المَفاوِزَ كُلَّ يَومٍ
طِلابُthe pursuit of الطالِبينَthe pursuers لاnot الاِنتِظارُwaiting
طِلابُ الطالِبينَ لا الاِنتِظارُ
He is set amid the deserts each day
They have a right to your partnership in valor
The quest for glory drives him to the wilds,
by pursuit of those seeking him, not by waiting.
And the least partnership is neighborliness.
To seek the foe, and never wait for him.
تَصاهَلُneigh to one another خَيلُهُhis horses مُتَجاوِباتٍanswering one another
تَصاهَلُ خَيلُهُ مُتَجاوِباتٍ
وَماand not مِنamong عادَةِthe habits of الخَيلِhorses السِرارُwhispering
وَما مِن عادَةِ الخَيلِ السِرارُ
His horses neigh, answering one another,
Perhaps their sons will be troops for your sons,
His war-steeds neigh and answer one another,
and whispering is not the habit of horses.
As the first to tame a noble steed is praised.
Though silence is the custom of the raid.
بَنوthe sons of كَعبٍKa'b وَماand what أَثَّرتَyou wrought فيهِمin them
بَنو كَعبٍ وَما أَثَّرتَ فيهِم
يَدٌa hand لَمnot يُدمِهاbloodied it إِلّاexcept السِوارُthe bracelet
يَدٌ لَم يُدمِها إِلّا السِوارُ
The sons of Ka'b, with the marks you left upon them, are
You are more righteous than one who, if he erred, perished,
Banu Ka'b, and the marks you left on them—
a hand bloodied only by its bracelet.
And more forgiving than one whose forgiveness was depravity.
By a hand only bloodied by the bracelet's rim.
بِهاin it مِنfrom قِطعَةٍa cut أَلَمٌpain وَنَقصٌand loss
بِها مِن قِطعَةٍ أَلَمٌ وَنَقصٌ
وَفيهاand in it مِنfrom جَلالَتِهِits splendor اِفتِخارُpride
وَفيها مِن جَلالَتِهِ اِفتِخارُ
It has pain and loss from a cut,
It bears the pain and loss of severing,
and pride from the bracelet's splendor.
Yet in your majesty lies its true pride.
لَهُمfor them حَقٌّa right بِشِركِكَthrough your sharing فيin نِزارٍNizar
لَهُم حَقٌّ بِشِركِكَ في نِزارٍ
وَأَدنىand the least الشِركِsharing فيin أَصلٍan origin جِوارُneighborly protection
وَأَدنى الشِركِ في أَصلٍ جِوارُ
They have a right through your shared descent from Nizar,
They claim a right, sharing Nizar with you;
and the least shared root grants neighborly protection.
The closest bond of kinship is to share.
لَعَلَّperhaps بَنيهِمِtheir sons لِبَنيكَfor your sons جُندٌan army
لَعَلَّ بَنيهِمِ لِبَنيكَ جُندٌ
فَأَوَّلُfor the first stage of قُرَّحِfully grown الخَيلِhorses المِهارُfoals
فَأَوَّلُ قُرَّحِ الخَيلِ المِهارُ
Perhaps their sons will be an army for your sons,
Perchance their sons shall serve your sons as troops;
for full-grown horses begin as foals.
The mightiest war-horse starts as but a foal.
وَأَنتَand you أَبَرُّthe kindest مَنof those who لَوif عُقَّmet with ingratitude أَفنىwould annihilate
وَأَنتَ أَبَرُّ مَن لَو عُقَّ أَفنى
وَأَعفىand gentler مِنthan عُقوبَتِهِhis punishment البَوارُannihilation
وَأَعفى مِن عُقوبَتِهِ البَوارُ
You are the kindest man who, if met with ingratitude, would annihilate,
You are the kindest, though you crush rebellion,
and annihilation is gentler than his punishment,
Most prone to pardon when the doom is total.
وَأَقدَرُand the mightiest مَنof those whom يُهَيِّجُهُrouses him اِنتِصارٌvictory
وَأَقدَرُ مَن يُهَيِّجُهُ اِنتِصارٌ
وَأَحلَمُand the most forbearing مَنof those whom يُحَلِّمُهُmakes him forbearing اِقتِدارُpower
وَأَحلَمُ مَن يُحَلِّمُهُ اِقتِدارُ
and the mightiest man whom victory rouses,
The most potent when stirred to victory,
and the most forbearing whom power makes forbearing.
The most patient when power bids you pause.
وَماand no فيin سَطوَةِthe might of الأَربابِmasters عَيبٌfault
وَما في سَطوَةِ الأَربابِ عَيبٌ
وَلاnor فيin ذِلَّةِthe abasement of العُبدانِslaves عارُshame
وَلا في ذِلَّةِ العُبدانِ عارُ
There is no fault in the might of masters,
There is no fault when masters strike with might,
nor shame in the abasement of slaves.
Nor any shame when slaves bow down in fear.
Partial English translation: 120 of 132 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1