الرَأيُjudgment قَبلَbefore شَجاعَةِthe courage of الشُجعانِthe brave
الرَأيُ قَبلَ شَجاعَةِ الشُجعانِ
هُوَit أَوَّلٌfirst وَهِيَand it المَحَلُّthe place الثانيsecond
هُوَ أَوَّلٌ وَهِيَ المَحَلُّ الثاني
Judgment precedes the courage of the brave.
Opinion before the bravery of the brave
Wisdom precedes the courage of the brave;
It comes first; courage holds second place.
Is the first, and bravery is the second place
It holds the first rank, and she the second.
فَإِذاso when هُماboth of them اِجتَمَعاthey unite لِنَفسٍfor a soul حُرّةٍfreeborn
فَإِذا هُما اِجتَمَعا لِنَفسٍ حُرّةٍ
بَلَغَتit reaches مِنَof العَلياءِeminence كُلَّevery مَكانِstation
بَلَغَت مِنَ العَلياءِ كُلَّ مَكانِ
When both unite in a freeborn soul,
So when they both gather in a free soul
If these two gather in a noble soul,
it reaches every station of eminence.
It reaches the highest of high places
It reaches every height of glory known.
وَلَرُبَّماand often طَعَنَpierces الفَتىthe young man أَقرانَهُhis peers
وَلَرُبَّما طَعَنَ الفَتى أَقرانَهُ
بِالرَأيِwith judgment قَبلَbefore تَطاعُنِmutual spear-thrusting الأَقرانِthe peers
بِالرَأيِ قَبلَ تَطاعُنِ الأَقرانِ
Often a young man pierces his peers
And sometimes the young man stabs his peers
A young man may strike down his rivals
with judgment before peers exchange spear-thrusts.
With opinion before the stabbing of peers
With wisdom, before the spears engage.
لَولاwere it not for العُقولُminds لَكانَwould be أَدنىthe lowliest ضَيغَمٍlion
لَولا العُقولُ لَكانَ أَدنى ضَيغَمٍ
أَدنىcloser إِلىto شَرَفٍhonor مِنَthan الإِنسانِa human being
أَدنى إِلى شَرَفٍ مِنَ الإِنسانِ
Were it not for reason, the lowliest lion would be
Without intellects, the lowest of insects
Were it not for reason, the lowest lion
nearer to honor than a human being.
Would be closer to glory than mankind
Would be closer to honor than man.
وَلَماnor would تَفاضَلَتِsurpass one another النُفوسُsouls وَدَبَّرَتand direct
وَلَما تَفاضَلَتِ النُفوسُ وَدَبَّرَت
أَيديthe hands of الكُماةِarmored warriors عَوالِيَlong spears of المُرّانِash wood
أَيدي الكُماةِ عَوالِيَ المُرّانِ
Nor would souls surpass one another, nor would
And had souls not been distinguished and managed
Nor would souls excel, nor warrior hands
warriors' hands wield long ash-wood spears.
The hands of the unripe, the steeds unbroken
Master the wielding of the towering spears.
لَولاwere it not for سَمِيُّthe namesake of سُيوفِهِhis swords وَمَضاؤُهُand his resolve
لَولا سَمِيُّ سُيوفِهِ وَمَضاؤُهُ
لَمّاwhen سُلِلنَthey were drawn لَكُنَّthey would be كَالأَجفانِlike scabbards
لَمّا سُلِلنَ لَكُنَّ كَالأَجفانِ
Were it not for his swords' namesake and his resolve,
Without his sharp swords and their brightness
Were it not for the swords’ namesake and his edge,
when drawn, they would be like scabbards.
They would have been drawn as eyelids closed
The drawn blades would be but scabbards.
خاضَhe plunged into الحِمامَdeath بِهِنَّwith them حَتّىuntil ماnot دُرىit was known
خاضَ الحِمامَ بِهِنَّ حَتّى ما دُرى
أَمِنِwhether from اِحتِقارٍcontempt ذاكَthat أَمor نِسيانِforgetfulness
أَمِنِ اِحتِقارٍ ذاكَ أَم نِسيانِ
He plunged into death with them, until no one knew
He entered the battle till none could tell
He plunged into death with them, until none knew:
whether that was from contempt or forgetfulness.
Whether from disdain or just forgetfulness
Was it out of contempt, or oblivion?
وَسَعىand he strove فَقَصَّرَso fell short عَنof مَداهُhis reach فيin العُلىglory
وَسَعى فَقَصَّرَ عَن مَداهُ في العُلى
أَهلُthe people of الزَمانِthe age وَأَهلُand the people of كُلِّevery زَمانِage
أَهلُ الزَمانِ وَأَهلُ كُلِّ زَمانِ
He strove, and his reach in glory outstripped
He fell short of his goal though he struggled and raced
He strove, and falling short of his high stride
the people of his age and those of every age.
The people of this time and people of every time
Were the men of this age, and of every age.
تَخِذواthey took المَجالِسَseats فيin البُيوتِhouses وَعِندَهُand in his view
تَخِذوا المَجالِسَ في البُيوتِ وَعِندَهُ
أَنَّthat السُروجَsaddles مَجالِسُseats for الفِتيانِyoung men
أَنَّ السُروجَ مَجالِسُ الفِتيانِ
They took their seats in houses; yet in his view,
They took the gatherings in homes and by him
They took their councils in houses, but to him,
saddles are the seats of young men.
That saddles are the gatherings of young men
The saddles are the councils of the youth.
وَتَوَهَّمواand they imagined اللَعِبَplay الوَغىwarfare وَالطَعنُand spear-thrusting فيin الthe
وَتَوَهَّموا اللَعِبَ الوَغى وَالطَعنُ في ال
هَيجاءِbattle غَيرُdifferent from الطَعنِspear-thrusting فيin المَيدانِthe practice field
هَيجاءِ غَيرُ الطَعنِ في المَيدانِ
They mistook play for war; yet spear-thrusting in the
And imagined play and jesting and stabbing
They mistook sport for war; yet thrusting in battle
fray is not spear-thrusting in the practice field.
Other than battlefield stabbing, the crazed babbling
Is unlike the thrust upon the tilting ground.
قادَhe led الجِيادَthe steeds إِلىto الطِعانِspear combat وَلَمand did not يَقُدlead
قادَ الجِيادَ إِلى الطِعانِ وَلَم يَقُد
إِلّاexcept إِلىto العاداتِaccustomed ways وَالأَوطانِand homelands
إِلّا إِلى العاداتِ وَالأَوطانِ
He led the steeds to spear combat, yet led them
He led the steeds to battle and did not lead
He led the coursers to the clash, leading them
only to their accustomed ways and homelands.
Except to customs and homelands
Only to their habits and their true homes.
كُلُّevery اِبنِson of سابِقَةٍa fleet mare يُغيرُraids بِحُسنِهِwith its beauty
كُلُّ اِبنِ سابِقَةٍ يُغيرُ بِحُسنِهِ
فيin قَلبِthe heart of صاحِبِهِits master عَلىagainst الأَحزانِsorrows
في قَلبِ صاحِبِهِ عَلى الأَحزانِ
Each son of a fleet mare raids, with its beauty,
Every son of a swift camelia changes with his beauty
Each foal of a noble mare raids with his beauty
the sorrows within its master's heart.
In his companion's heart over sorrows
Into his master's heart, dispelling grief.
إِنif خُلِّيَتthey are let loose رُبِطَتthey are bound بِآدابِby the discipline of الوَغىwar
إِن خُلِّيَت رُبِطَت بِآدابِ الوَغى
فَدُعاؤُهاso calling them يُغنيsuffices عَنِin place of الأَرسانِhalters
فَدُعاؤُها يُغني عَنِ الأَرسانِ
If let loose, they are bound by the discipline of war;
If left unrestrained, tied by the ethics of battle
If left loose, they are bound by the laws of war;
so calling them suffices in place of halters.
Their calling suffices instead of horsemen
A mere call suffices in place of reins.
فيin جَحفَلٍa great host سَتَرَveiled العُيونَthe eyes غُبارُهُits dust
في جَحفَلٍ سَتَرَ العُيونَ غُبارُهُ
فَكَأَنَّماso it is as though يُبصِرنَthey see بِالآذانِwith ears
فَكَأَنَّما يُبصِرنَ بِالآذانِ
In a great host whose dust veiled the eyes,
In a mighty army, its dust veils
In a host where dust has veiled the eyes,
so that they seemed to see with ears.
Eyes, as if they see with their ears
It is as if they see with ears alone.
يَرميhurls بِهاwith them البَلَدَthe land البَعيدَdistant مُظَفَّرٌa victor
يَرمي بِها البَلَدَ البَعيدَ مُظَفَّرٌ
كُلُّall البَعيدِthat is distant لَهُto him قَريبٌnear دانِclose at hand
كُلُّ البَعيدِ لَهُ قَريبٌ دانِ
A victor hurls them toward the distant land;
With it the distant land he strikes victorious
A victor hurls them at a distant land;
all that is far is near and close at hand to him.
For him all distant is near and submissive
To him, the farthest reach is near at hand.
فَكَأَنَّso it is as though أَرجُلَهاtheir hindlegs بِتُربَةِin the soil of مَنبِجٍManbij
فَكَأَنَّ أَرجُلَها بِتُربَةِ مَنبِجٍ
يَطرَحنَthey cast أَيدِيَهاtheir forelegs بِحِصنِat the fortress of الرانِal-Ran
يَطرَحنَ أَيدِيَها بِحِصنِ الرانِ
So it is as though their hindlegs, in Manbij's soil,
As if their legs with Manbij's soil
As if their hind legs tread the soil of Manbij,
cast their forelegs at the fortress of al-Ran.
Cast their hands at Hisn al-Ranid
While they cast their forehooves at the fort of Ran.
حَتّىuntil عَبَرنَthey crossed بِأَرسَناسَat Arsanas سَوابِحاًswimming
حَتّى عَبَرنَ بِأَرسَناسَ سَوابِحاً
يَنشُرنَthey unfurl فيهِin it عَمائِمَthe turbans of الفُرسانِhorsemen
يَنشُرنَ فيهِ عَمائِمَ الفُرسانِ
Until they crossed at Arsanas, swimming,
Until they crossed the Orontes swimming
Until they crossed the Arsanas, swimming deep,
unfurling the horsemen's turbans in its waters.
There spreading the turbans of horsemen
Unfurling in it the turbans of the knights.
يَقمُصنَthey leap فيin مِثلِthe likeness of المُدىknives مِنof بارِدٍcold water
يَقمُصنَ في مِثلِ المُدى مِن بارِدٍ
يَذَرُit leaves الفُحولَthe stallions وَهُنَّwhile they are كَالخِصيانِlike eunuchs
يَذَرُ الفُحولَ وَهُنَّ كَالخِصيانِ
They leap through water whose cold is like knife blades,
Seizing in a span of vastness from cool water
They plunge into water sharp as knives, so cold
which leaves stallions like eunuchs.
Leaving the stallions as if they were geldings
It leaves the stallions shrunken as geldings.
وَالماءُand the water بَينَbetween عَجاجَتَينِtwo dust clouds مُخَلِّصٌa divider
وَالماءُ بَينَ عَجاجَتَينِ مُخَلِّصٌ
تَتَفَرَّقانِthe two part بِهِthrough it وَتَلتَقِيانِand the two meet
تَتَفَرَّقانِ بِهِ وَتَلتَقِيانِ
And the water is a divider between two clouds of dust,
And the water between two barnacle geese delivers
The river flows clear between two clouds of dust;
which part through it and meet again.
Parting them and then uniting
By its banks they part, and across it they meet.
رَكَضَspurred on الأَميرُthe prince وَكَاللُجَينِand like silver حَبابُهُits foam
رَكَضَ الأَميرُ وَكَاللُجَينِ حَبابُهُ
وَثَنىand turned الأَعِنَّةَthe reins وَهوَwhile it is كَالعِقيانِlike pure gold
وَثَنى الأَعِنَّةَ وَهوَ كَالعِقيانِ
The prince spurred on while its foam was like silver,
The prince galloped, his love like two floods
The Prince spurred on, the bubbles like silver;
and turned the reins while it was like pure gold.
Bent the spear shafts as if they were saplings
He turned the rein, and they gleamed like gold.
فَتَلَhe twisted الحِبالَropes مِنَfrom الغَدائِرِtresses فَوقَهُabove it
فَتَلَ الحِبالَ مِنَ الغَدائِرِ فَوقَهُ
وَبَنىand built السَفينَships لَهُfor it مِنَfrom الصُلبانِcrosses
وَبَنى السَفينَ لَهُ مِنَ الصُلبانِ
He twisted ropes from tresses above it,
He cut the ropes from above, built him a ship
He wove ropes from the locks of hair above it,
and built ships for it from crosses.
From the planks and loaded it with females
And built his rafts from the timber of crosses.
وَحَشاهُand filled it عادِيَةًcharging steeds بِغَيرِwithout قَوائِمٍlegs
وَحَشاهُ عادِيَةً بِغَيرِ قَوائِمٍ
عُقمَbarren البُطونِof belly حَوالِكَpitch-black الأَلوانِin color
عُقمَ البُطونِ حَوالِكَ الأَلوانِ
And filled it with coursers without legs,
Barren bellied, mixed colored, that bring
He filled the stream with legless chargers,
barren-bellied, pitch-black in color.
What the horses seized, as if under the cinches
With barren bellies and colors pitch-dark.
تَأتيthey come بِماwith what سَبَتِtook captive الخُيولُthe horses كَأَنَّهاas though they
تَأتي بِما سَبَتِ الخُيولُ كَأَنَّها
تَحتَbeneath الحِسانِthe beautiful women مَرابِضُresting places of الغِزلانِgazelles
تَحتَ الحِسانِ مَرابِضُ الغِزلانِ
They bring what the horses captured, as though they were
Doe beds of fawns. A sea accustomed
Bearing the cavalry’s spoils, as though
gazelles' resting places beneath the beautiful women.
To subdue for its people the dawns and raiders
Beneath the fair captives lay the beds of gazelles.
بَحرٌa sea تَعَوَّدَgrew accustomed أَنto يُذِمَّgrant protection لِأَهلِهِto its people
بَحرٌ تَعَوَّدَ أَن يُذِمَّ لِأَهلِهِ
مِنfrom دَهرِهِits time وَطَوارِقِand the visitations of الحَدَثانِcalamity
مِن دَهرِهِ وَطَوارِقِ الحَدَثانِ
A sea accustomed to granting its people protection
You left it, though it raged against mankind
A sea accustomed to rebuke, on behalf of his kin,
against its times and the visitations of calamity.
Making exception for the Hamdanid clan
The turning tides of time and sudden fate.
فَتَرَكتَهُso you left it وَإِذاand when أَذَمَّit pledged protection مِنَfrom الوَرىmankind
فَتَرَكتَهُ وَإِذا أَذَمَّ مِنَ الوَرى
راعاكَit took account of you وَاِستَثنىand excepted بَنيthe sons of حَمدانِHamdan
راعاكَ وَاِستَثنى بَني حَمدانِ
You left it so that, whenever it pledged safety from men,
Guarding with every bare sharp sword
You left it behind; and if it censured mankind,
it took account of you and excepted the sons of Hamdan.
Responsible for the armor over turbaned heads
It honored you, excepting the Sons of Hamdan—
المُخفِرينَthose who violate بِكُلِّwith every أَبيَضَgleaming sword صارِمٍkeen-edged
المُخفِرينَ بِكُلِّ أَبيَضَ صارِمٍ
ذِمَمَthe pledges of protection of الدُروعِarmor عَلىover ذَويwearers of التيجانِcrowns
ذِمَمَ الدُروعِ عَلى ذَوي التيجانِ
Who, with every gleaming, keen-edged sword, break
Haughty in the density of their kingdom
Those who enforce with every sharp white blade
armor's pledges of protection for wearers of crowns.
Humble in magnificent position
The rights of armor against the wearers of crowns.
مُتَصَعلِكينَliving like paupers عَلىdespite كَثافَةِthe vastness of مُلكِهِمtheir dominion
مُتَصَعلِكينَ عَلى كَثافَةِ مُلكِهِم
مُتَواضِعينَhumble عَلىdespite عَظيمِthe greatness of الشانِstation
مُتَواضِعينَ عَلى عَظيمِ الشانِ
Living like poor wanderers despite their vast dominion,
Seeking shade of each striped cloak
Living like ascetics despite their vast domain,
humble despite their exalted station.
A mighty shade, a steed unsaddled
Humble in spirit despite their high estate.
يَتَقَيَّلونَthey rest at midday ظِلالَthe shade of كُلِّevery مُطَهَّمٍwell-built steed
يَتَقَيَّلونَ ظِلالَ كُلِّ مُطَهَّمٍ
أَجَلِthe doom of الظَليمِthe ostrich وَرِبقَةِand the noose of السَرحانِthe wolf
أَجَلِ الظَليمِ وَرِبقَةِ السَرحانِ
They rest at midday in the shade of every fine-built steed,
Bowed before your cleansing blade perforce
They nap in the shadow of the sleek-flanked steed,
the ostrich's doom and the wolf's noose.
And your religion humbled all religions
The doom of the ostrich, the snare of the wolf.
خَضَعَتyielded لِمُنصُلِكَto your blade المَناصِلُblades عَنوَةًby force
خَضَعَت لِمُنصُلِكَ المَناصِلُ عَنوَةً
وَأَذَلَّand humbled دينُكَyour faith سائِرَall other الأَديانِfaiths
وَأَذَلَّ دينُكَ سائِرَ الأَديانِ
Blades yielded by force to your blade,
On the roads, in returning, precaution
To your sword, all other swords have bowed by force;
and your faith humbled all other faiths.
And traveling prevented by inability
Your creed has humbled the creeds of all the rest.
وَعَلىand at الدُروبِthe mountain passes وَفيand in الرُجوعِretreat غَضاضَةٌdisgrace
وَعَلى الدُروبِ وَفي الرُجوعِ غَضاضَةٌ
وَالسَيرُand advancing مُمتَنِعٌprecluded مِنَfrom الإِمكانِpossibility
وَالسَيرُ مُمتَنِعٌ مِنَ الإِمكانِ
And at the passes, retreat carried disgrace,
The paths have narrow straits with spears
Upon the passes, retreat meant shame,
and advancing was beyond possibility.
And disbelief assembled against belief
While advance was barred beyond all hope.
وَالطُرقُand the roads ضَيِّقَةُnarrow المَسالِكِin passage بِالقَناwith spears
وَالطُرقُ ضَيِّقَةُ المَسالِكِ بِالقَنا
وَالكُفرُand unbelief مُجتَمِعٌmassed عَلىagainst الإيمانِfaith
وَالكُفرُ مُجتَمِعٌ عَلى الإيمانِ
The roads' passages were choked with spears,
They looked upon iron mass as if it
The paths were choked narrow with bristling spears,
and unbelief was massed against faith.
Rose between shoulder blades of eagles
And unbelief massed heavily against the faith.
نَظَرواthey looked إِلىat زُبَرِmasses of الحَديدِiron كَأَنَّماas though
نَظَروا إِلى زُبَرِ الحَديدِ كَأَنَّما
يَصعَدنَthey ascend بَينَbetween مَناكِبِthe shoulders of العِقبانِeagles
يَصعَدنَ بَينَ مَناكِبِ العِقبانِ
They looked at masses of iron, as though
And horsemen whom battle enlivens their souls
They gazed upon the iron-clad ranks as if
they were climbing between eagles' shoulders,
As if they were not of animals
They climbed among the shoulders of eagles.
وَفَوارِسٍand horsemen يُحَيِrevives الحِمامُdeath نُفوسَهاtheir souls
وَفَوارِسٍ يُحَيِ الحِمامُ نُفوسَها
فَكَأَنَّهاso as though they لَيسَتare not مِنَof الحَيَوانِliving creatures
فَكَأَنَّها لَيسَت مِنَ الحَيَوانِ
and at horsemen whose souls death brings to life,
Youcontinued to smite them in the fray twofold
Knights whose souls are greeted fondly by Death,
as though they were not living creatures.
A strike as if the sword were doubled
As if they were not made of mortal flesh.
ماnot زِلتَyou ceased تَضرِبُهُمyou strike them دِراكاًin swift succession فيon الذُرىthe crowns of heads
ما زِلتَ تَضرِبُهُم دِراكاً في الذُرى
ضَرباًstriking كَأَنَّas though السَيفَthe sword فيهِin it اِثنانِtwo
ضَرباً كَأَنَّ السَيفَ فيهِ اِثنانِ
You kept striking them in swift succession on their heads,
Specific to the skulls and faces as if
You struck them blow upon blow on the heights,
with blows that made one sword seem two.
Their corpses had come to you in truce
Striking so fast, one sword seemed to be two.
خَصَّit singled out الجَماجِمَskulls وَالوُجوهَand faces كَأَنَّماas though
خَصَّ الجَماجِمَ وَالوُجوهَ كَأَنَّما
جاءَتcame إِلَيكَto you جُسومُهُمtheir bodies بِأَمانِunder safe-conduct
جاءَت إِلَيكَ جُسومُهُم بِأَمانِ
It singled out skulls and faces, as though
So they threw what they threw and turned away
It sought out only skulls and faces, as though
their bodies had come to you under safe-conduct.
Stepping every gentle pass flexible
Their bodies came to you under flag of truce.
فَرَمَواso they cast away بِماwith what يَرمونَthey shoot عَنهُfrom it وَأَدبَرواand they fled
فَرَمَوا بِما يَرمونَ عَنهُ وَأَدبَروا
يَطَؤونَthey trample كُلَّevery حَنِيَّةٍbow مِرنانِresonant
يَطَؤونَ كُلَّ حَنِيَّةٍ مِرنانِ
So they cast away what they shot from and fled,
Shower's rain drenched them in phases
They cast away their weapons and turned in flight,
trampling every twanging bow.
With lancer and piercing and fencer
Trampling the singing bows beneath their feet.
يَغشاهُمُcovers them مَطَرُthe rain of السَحابِclouds مُفَصَّلاًinterspersed
يَغشاهُمُ مَطَرُ السَحابِ مُفَصَّلاً
بِمُثَقَّفٍwith a straightened spear وَمُهَنَّدٍand an Indian blade وَسِنانِand a spearhead
بِمُثَقَّفٍ وَمُهَنَّدٍ وَسِنانِ
Rain from the clouds covered them, interspersed
Deprived of what they hoped and attained of them
A cloud-burst overwhelmed them, raining down
with straightened spears, Indian blades, and spearheads.
Those who returned in deprivation of hopes
Straightened shafts, Indian steel, and spear-points.
حُرِمواthey were denied الَّذيwhat أَمِلواthey hoped for وَأَدرَكَand attained مِنهُمُamong them
حُرِموا الَّذي أَمِلوا وَأَدرَكَ مِنهُمُ
آمالَهُhis hopes مَنthe one who عادَreturned بِالحِرمانِwith deprivation
آمالَهُ مَن عادَ بِالحِرمانِ
They were denied what they hoped for; among them, he attained
And when the spears preoccupied the insides of a rebel
They lost what they had hoped for; while from them,
his hopes who returned empty-handed.
His insides preoccupied him from his brothers
He who dealt loss attained his every hope.
وَإِذاand when الرِماحُspears شَغَلنَthey occupy مُهجَةَthe lifeblood of ثائِرٍan avenger
وَإِذا الرِماحُ شَغَلنَ مُهجَةَ ثائِرٍ
شَغَلَتهُit distracts him مُهجَتُهُhis lifeblood عَنِfrom الإِخوانِthe brothers
شَغَلَتهُ مُهجَتُهُ عَنِ الإِخوانِ
When spears occupy an avenger's lifeblood,
Alas, they were too noble for retaliation
When spears distract the soul of a vengeful man,
his lifeblood distracts him from his brothers.
Many killed by them and few harmed
His own life distracts him from his kin.
هَيهاتَfar from it! عاقَbarred عَنِfrom العِوادِreturning قَواضِبٌkeen blades
هَيهاتَ عاقَ عَنِ العِوادِ قَواضِبٌ
كَثُرَwere numerous القَتيلُthe slain بِهاby them وَقَلَّand were few العانيthe captives
كَثُرَ القَتيلُ بِها وَقَلَّ العاني
Far from it! Keen blades barred their return;
And refined, he commanded deaths among them
Alas! Sharp blades cut off those who came to help;
many were slain by them, and few taken captive.
So he obeyed in obeying the Merciful
The dead were many, and the captives few.
وَمُهَذَّبٌand a noble man أَمَرَcommanded المَناياthe fates of death فيهِمِagainst them
وَمُهَذَّبٌ أَمَرَ المَنايا فيهِمِ
فَأَطَعنَهُso they obeyed him فيin طاعَةِobedience to الرَحمَنِthe Most Merciful
فَأَطَعنَهُ في طاعَةِ الرَحمَنِ
And a noble man commanded the fates of death against them,
Their hair had blackened the trees of the mountains
A chivalrous lord commanded Death among them,
so they obeyed him in obedience to the Most Merciful.
As if amongst it were the cinders of crows
And Death obeyed him, in obedience to the Lord.
قَدindeed سَوَّدَتhas blackened شَجَرَthe trees of الجِبالِthe mountains شُعورُهُمtheir hair
قَد سَوَّدَت شَجَرَ الجِبالِ شُعورُهُم
فَكَأَنَّso it is as though فيهِin it مُسِفَّةَlow-swooping الغِربانِcrows
فَكَأَنَّ فيهِ مُسِفَّةَ الغِربانِ
Their hair has blackened the trees of the mountains,
And the sap flowed on the leaves, drooping
Their severed hair turned the mountain forests black,
as though low-swooping crows were among them.
As if it were the orange in the branches
As if a flock of crows had settled low.
وَجَرىand flowed عَلىover الوَرَقِthe leaves النَجيعُgore القانيdeep-red
وَجَرى عَلى الوَرَقِ النَجيعُ القاني
فَكَأَنَّهُso as though it were النارَنجُbitter oranges فيamong الأَغصانِthe branches
فَكَأَنَّهُ النارَنجُ في الأَغصانِ
And deep-red blood flowed over the leaves,
The swords are with those whose hearts
And crimson blood flowed down upon the leaves,
as though it were bitter oranges among the branches.
Are like theirs when two armies meet
Like bright oranges hanging from the boughs.
إِنَّindeed السُيوفَswords مَعَwith الَّذينَthose who قُلوبُهُمtheir hearts
إِنَّ السُيوفَ مَعَ الَّذينَ قُلوبُهُم
كَقُلوبِهِنَّlike their hearts إِذاwhen اِلتَقىmeet الجَمعانِthe two hosts
كَقُلوبِهِنَّ إِذا اِلتَقى الجَمعانِ
Swords stand with those whose hearts
Meeting the blade in the sharpness of its edge
For swords belong to those whose very hearts
are like the swords' hearts when the two hosts meet.
Is like the coward with the palm of every coward
Are forged of steel, when armies clash in war.
تَلقىyou find الحُسامَthe keen sword عَلىdespite جَراءَةِthe daring of حَدِّهِits edge
تَلقى الحُسامَ عَلى جَراءَةِ حَدِّهِ
مِثلَlike الجَبانِa coward بِكَفِّin the hand of كُلِّevery جَبانِcoward
مِثلَ الجَبانِ بِكَفِّ كُلِّ جَبانِ
You find the keen sword, despite its edge's daring,
With you the Arabs raised the pillar and made
You find the blade, for all its daring edge,
like a coward in every coward's hand.
The summits of kings into hearths
Turns coward in the grasp of fearful men.
رَفَعَتraised بِكَthrough you العَرَبُthe Arabs العِمادَthe tent-poles وَصَيَّرَتand made
رَفَعَت بِكَ العَرَبُ العِمادَ وَصَيَّرَت
قِمَمَthe heads of المُلوكِkings مَواقِدَhearths for النيرانِfires
قِمَمَ المُلوكِ مَواقِدَ النيرانِ
The Arabs raised their tent-poles through you and made
Lineages of their pride to you, though the
Through you, the Arabs raised their pillars high,
kings' heads hearths for fires.
Lineages of their origin are to Adnan
And made the heads of kings their hearth-stones.
أَنسابُthe lineages of فَخرِهِمِtheir glory إِلَيكَto you وَإِنَّماand only
أَنسابُ فَخرِهِمِ إِلَيكَ وَإِنَّما
أَنسابُthe lineages of أَصلِهِمِtheir origin إِلىto عَدنانِAdnan
أَنسابُ أَصلِهِمِ إِلى عَدنانِ
Their lineage of glory leads back to you; only
O you who kills whom he wants with his sword
Their lineage of glory traces back to you,
their lineage by birth leads back to Adnan.
I have become, from your killing, in comfort
Though their bloodline traces back to Adnan.
ياO مَنone who يُقَتِّلُslays مَنwhomever أَرادَhe wishes بِسَيفِهِwith his sword
يا مَن يُقَتِّلُ مَن أَرادَ بِسَيفِهِ
أَصبَحتُI have become مِنamong قَتلاكَyour slain بِالإِحسانِthrough kindness
أَصبَحتُ مِن قَتلاكَ بِالإِحسانِ
O you who slay whomever you wish with your sword,
So when I see you, my eyes are dazzled by you
O you who slays with the sword whom you desire,
I have become one of your slain through your kindness.
And when I praise you, my tongue is bewildered by you
I am slain by your overwhelming grace.
فَإِذاso when رَأَيتُكَI see you حارَis bewildered دونَكَbefore you ناظِريmy gaze
فَإِذا رَأَيتُكَ حارَ دونَكَ ناظِري
وَإِذاand when مَدَحتُكَI praise you حارَis bewildered فيكَabout you لِسانيmy tongue
وَإِذا مَدَحتُكَ حارَ فيكَ لِساني
When I see you, my gaze is bewildered before you;
For when I see you, my sight is dazzled blind;
and when I praise you, my tongue is at a loss about you.
And when I praise you, my tongue is lost in awe.
Partial English translation: 96 of 98 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1