لَيَاليّmy nights بَعْدَafter الظّاعِنِينَthose who departed شُكُولُalike
لَيَاليّ بَعْدَ الظّاعِنِينَ شُكُولُ
طِوالٌlong وَلَيْلُand the night of العاشِقينَlovers طَويلُlong
طِوالٌ وَلَيْلُ العاشِقينَ طَويلُ
My nights after the departed are all alike:
My nights, since they departed, are fraught and strange;
long—and the lovers' night is long.
Long they are—and the night of the lover is forever long.
يُبِنَّthey reveal ليَto me البَدْرَthe full moon الذيwhich لاnot أُريدُهُI want it
يُبِنَّ ليَ البَدْرَ الذي لا أُريدُهُ
وَيُخْفِينَand they conceal بَدْراًa full moon مَاno إلَيْهِto him سَبيلُway
وَيُخْفِينَ بَدْراً مَا إلَيْهِ سَبيلُ
They show me the full moon I do not want,
They reveal to me the moon I desire not to see,
and hide a full moon to whom there is no way.
While hiding a moon to whom no path can lead.
وَمَاand not عِشْتُI have lived مِنْsince بَعدِafter الأحِبّةِthe loved ones سَلوَةًin consolation
وَمَا عِشْتُ مِنْ بَعدِ الأحِبّةِ سَلوَةً
وَلَكِنّنيbut I للنّائِبَاتِunder misfortunes حَمُولُam enduring
وَلَكِنّني للنّائِبَاتِ حَمُولُ
I have lived without solace since my loved ones left,
I have not lived in comfort since my loved ones left,
but I bear misfortunes patiently.
Yet I am one who bears calamities with strength.
وَإنّand indeed رَحِيلاًa departure وَاحِداًsingle حَالَintervened بَيْنَنَاbetween us
وَإنّ رَحِيلاً وَاحِداً حَالَ بَيْنَنَا
وَفيand in المَوْتِdeath مِنْfrom بَعدِafter الرّحيلِdeparture رَحيلُanother departure
وَفي المَوْتِ مِنْ بَعدِ الرّحيلِ رَحيلُ
One departure has come between us,
A single departure has come between us now,
and in death, after departure, lies another departure.
And in death, following departure, lies a journey yet more far.
إذاif كانَis شَمُّbreathing in الرَّوحِthe breeze أدْنَىnearer إلَيْكُمُto you
إذا كانَ شَمُّ الرَّوحِ أدْنَى إلَيْكُمُ
فَلاthen may not بَرِحَتْنيleave me رَوْضَةٌa garden وَقَبُولُand an east wind
فَلا بَرِحَتْني رَوْضَةٌ وَقَبُولُ
If breathing the breeze brings me nearer to you,
If the scent of the breeze is the nearest I can get to you,
then may no garden or east wind ever leave me.
Then may the garden and the zephyr never depart from me.
وَمَاand not شَرَقيmy choking بالمَاءِon water إلاّexcept تَذكّراًin remembrance
وَمَا شَرَقي بالمَاءِ إلاّ تَذكّراً
لمَاءٍof water بهِbeside it أهْلُthe people of الحَبيبِthe beloved نُزُولُencamped
لمَاءٍ بهِ أهْلُ الحَبيبِ نُزُولُ
I choke on water only in remembrance
My choking on water comes only from remembering
of water beside which my beloved's people camp.
The water where the people of my beloved dwell.
يُحَرّمُهُforbids it لَمْعُthe gleam of الأسِنّةِspearheads فَوْقَهُabove it
يُحَرّمُهُ لَمْعُ الأسِنّةِ فَوْقَهُ
فَلَيْسَso there is no لِظَمْآنٍfor a thirsty one إلَيْهِto it وُصُولُaccess
فَلَيْسَ لِظَمْآنٍ إلَيْهِ وُصُولُ
The gleam of spearheads above it forbids it,
The flash of spearheads above it forbids approach,
so no thirsty one can reach it.
So no thirsting soul may find a way to its brink.
أماis there not فيamong النّجومthe stars السّائراتِmoving وغَيرِهَاand others besides them
أما في النّجوم السّائراتِ وغَيرِهَا
لِعَيْنيfor my eye عَلىto ضَوْءِthe light of الصّباحِdawn دَليلُa guide
لِعَيْني عَلى ضَوْءِ الصّباحِ دَليلُ
Is there not among the moving stars and other things
Is there not among the wandering stars and others
a guide for my eye to the light of dawn?
A guide to lead my eye toward the light of dawn?
ألمْhas not? يَرَseen هذاthis اللّيْلُnight عَيْنَيْكِyour two eyes رُؤيَتيas I saw
ألمْ يَرَ هذا اللّيْلُ عَيْنَيْكِ رُؤيَتي
فَتَظْهَرَso may appear فيهِin it رِقّةٌtenderness وَنُحُولُand wasting
فَتَظْهَرَ فيهِ رِقّةٌ وَنُحُولُ
Has this night not seen your eyes as I have,
Has this night not seen your eyes through my vision,
so that tenderness and wasting might appear in it?
That it manifests frailty and wasting away?
لَقيتُI met بدَرْبِat the pass of القُلّةِal-Qulla الفَجْرَdawn لَقْيَةًan encounter
لَقيتُ بدَرْبِ القُلّةِ الفَجْرَ لَقْيَةً
شَفَتْhealed كَبِديmy liver وَاللّيْلُand the night فِيهِin it قَتيلُslain
شَفَتْ كَبِدي وَاللّيْلُ فِيهِ قَتيلُ
At the pass of al-Qulla I met dawn—an encounter
At the Pass of the Peak, I met the dawn in a meeting
that healed my liver, with night lying slain within it;
That healed my heart, leaving the night there slain.
وَيَوْماًand a day كأنّas though الحُسْنَbeauty فيهِin it عَلامَةٌa token
وَيَوْماً كأنّ الحُسْنَ فيهِ عَلامَةٌ
بعَثْتِyou sent بهَاwith it والشّمسُand the sun منكِfrom you رَسُولُa messenger
بعَثْتِ بهَا والشّمسُ منكِ رَسُولُ
and a day whose beauty seemed a token
A day wherein beauty seemed a token sent by you,
you had sent, with the sun as your messenger.
And the sun itself appeared as your messenger.
وَماand no قَبلَbefore سَيفِSayf (Sword of) الدّوْلَةِal-Dawla (the State) اثّارَtook vengeance عاشِقٌlover
وَما قَبلَ سَيفِ الدّوْلَةِ اثّارَ عاشِقٌ
ولاnor طُلِبَتْwere sought عندَfrom الظّلامِdarkness ذُحُولُblood-debts
ولا طُلِبَتْ عندَ الظّلامِ ذُحُولُ
Before Sayf al-Dawla, no lover had taken vengeance,
Never before Sayf al-Dawla did a lover claim revenge,
nor had blood-debts been sought from darkness.
Nor were vengeance-debts sought within the gloom.
وَلَكِنّهُbut he يَأتيbrings بكُلّwith every غَريبَةٍmarvel
وَلَكِنّهُ يَأتي بكُلّ غَريبَةٍ
تَرُوقُdelights عَلىdespite استِغْرابِهاits strangeness وَتَهُولُand awes
تَرُوقُ عَلى استِغْرابِها وَتَهُولُ
But he brings every marvel,
Yet he brings forth every marvel, strange and new,
delighting despite its strangeness, and striking awe.
Pleasing in its wonder, yet terrifying to behold.
رَمَىhe hurled الدّرْبَthe pass بالجُرْدِwith sleek horses الجيادِnoble إلىtoward العِدىthe enemies
رَمَى الدّرْبَ بالجُرْدِ الجيادِ إلى العِدى
وَماand not عَلِمُواthey knew أنّthat السّهامَthe arrows خُيُولُwere horses
وَما عَلِمُوا أنّ السّهامَ خُيُولُ
He hurled sleek, noble steeds through the pass at the enemy,
He hurled his sleek steeds at the mountain pass against the foe,
who did not know that the arrows were horses,
Till they learned, too late, that arrows can be horses.
شَوَائِلَraising تَشْوَالَthe raising of العَقَارِبِscorpions بالقَنَاwith spears
شَوَائِلَ تَشْوَالَ العَقَارِبِ بالقَنَا
لهَاthey have مَرَحٌprancing مِنْfrom تَحْتِهِbeneath it وَصَهيلُand neighing
لهَا مَرَحٌ مِنْ تَحْتِهِ وَصَهيلُ
raising spears as scorpions raise their tails,
Their tails raised high like scorpions amidst the spears,
with prancing and neighing beneath them.
Beneath him they pranced with spirit and with neighs.
وَماand not هيَit إلاّexcept خَطْرَةٌa passing thought عَرَضَتْoccurred لَهُto him
وَما هيَ إلاّ خَطْرَةٌ عَرَضَتْ لَهُ
بحَرّانَat Harran لَبّتْهَاanswered it قَناًspears وَنُصُولُand blades
بحَرّانَ لَبّتْهَا قَناً وَنُصُولُ
It was only a passing thought that came to him
It was but a fleeting thought that seized him at Harran,
at Harran, answered by spears and blades.
Which the spears and blades immediately obeyed.
هُمَامٌa resolute hero إذاwhen ماever هَمّhe resolves أمضَىhe fulfills هُمُومَهُhis purposes
هُمَامٌ إذا ما هَمّ أمضَى هُمُومَهُ
بأرْعَنَwith a towering army وَطْءُthe tread of المَوْتِdeath فيهِin it ثَقيلُheavy
بأرْعَنَ وَطْءُ المَوْتِ فيهِ ثَقيلُ
A resolute hero who, whenever he resolves, fulfills his purposes
A hero who, when he resolves, executes his will
with a towering army in which death's tread is heavy,
With a massive host where the tread of death is heavy.
وَخَيْلٍand horses بَرَاهَاwore them lean الرّكضُgalloping فيin كلّevery بلدةٍland
وَخَيْلٍ بَرَاهَا الرّكضُ في كلّ بلدةٍ
إذاwhen عَرّسَتْthey halt at night فيهاin it فلَيسَthen not تَقِيلُthey rest at midday
إذا عَرّسَتْ فيها فلَيسَ تَقِيلُ
and horses worn lean by galloping through every land:
And horses worn thin by galloping through every land;
when they halt there at night, they take no midday rest.
If they halt to rest, it is never for a midday sleep.
فَلَمّاthen when تَجَلّىhe emerged مِنْfrom دَلُوكٍDuluk وَصَنْجةٍand Sanja
فَلَمّا تَجَلّى مِنْ دَلُوكٍ وَصَنْجةٍ
عَلَتْrose over كلَّevery طَوْدٍmountain رَايَةٌa banner وَرَعيلُand a troop
عَلَتْ كلَّ طَوْدٍ رَايَةٌ وَرَعيلُ
When he emerged from Duluk and Sanja,
When he emerged from Daluk and Sanjah,
a banner and a troop rose over every mountain,
A banner and a vanguard crowned every mountain peak.
علىalong طُرُقٍpaths فيهاin them علىabove الطُّرْقِother paths رِفْعَةٌelevation
على طُرُقٍ فيها على الطُّرْقِ رِفْعَةٌ
وَفيand in ذِكرِهاmention of them عِندَamong الأنيسِhuman company خُمُولُobscurity
وَفي ذِكرِها عِندَ الأنيسِ خُمُولُ
along paths that tower above other paths,
Upon paths that rise high above all common paths,
yet are scarcely mentioned among men.
Whose mention among men is obscure and unknown.
فَمَاand not شَعَرُواthey noticed حَتىuntil رَأوْهَاthey saw them مُغِيرَةًraiding
فَمَا شَعَرُوا حَتى رَأوْهَا مُغِيرَةً
قِبَاحاًugly وَأمّاbut as for خَلْقُهاtheir bodily form فَجَميلُthen beautiful
قِبَاحاً وَأمّا خَلْقُها فَجَميلُ
They knew nothing until they saw the horses raiding—
They perceived nothing until they saw the steeds raiding—
dreadful, though their form was beautiful:
Terrifying in their assault, though beautiful in form.
سَحَائِبُclouds يَمْطُرْنَthey rain down الحَديدَiron علَيهِمِupon them
سَحَائِبُ يَمْطُرْنَ الحَديدَ علَيهِمِ
فكُلُّso every مَكانٍplace بالسّيوفِwith swords غَسيلُwashed clean
فكُلُّ مَكانٍ بالسّيوفِ غَسيلُ
clouds raining iron upon them,
Clouds they were, raining down iron upon their heads,
so every place was washed clean with swords.
Until every spot was bathed by the flow of swords.
وَأمْسَىand by evening السّبَايَاthe captive women يَنْتَحِبنَwere sobbing بعِرْقَةٍat Irqa
وَأمْسَى السّبَايَا يَنْتَحِبنَ بعِرْقَةٍ
كأنّas though جُيُوبَthe neck-openings of الثّاكِلاتِbereaved mothers ذُيُولُtrailing hems
كأنّ جُيُوبَ الثّاكِلاتِ ذُيُولُ
By evening the captive women were sobbing at Irqa,
At Irqa, the captives spent the evening wailing,
as though the bereaved mothers' neck-openings were trailing hems.
As if the bosoms of bereaved mothers were trailing hems.
وَعادَتْand they returned فَظَنّوهَاso they thought them بمَوْزَارَat Mawzar قُفّلاًhomeward-bound
وَعادَتْ فَظَنّوهَا بمَوْزَارَ قُفّلاً
وَلَيسَand there is no لهَاfor them إلاّexcept الدّخولَentering قُفُولُreturn
وَلَيسَ لهَا إلاّ الدّخولَ قُفُولُ
The horses returned, and at Mawzar they were thought homeward-bound,
The army turned, and they thought it was withdrawing from Mawzara,
but their only return was to enter.
Yet its only withdrawal was to penetrate still deeper.
فَخاضَتْso they waded through نَجيعَthe fresh blood of القَوْمِthe people خَوْضاًa wading كأنّهُas though it
فَخاضَتْ نَجيعَ القَوْمِ خَوْضاً كأنّهُ
بكُلِّfor all نَجيعٍfresh blood لمْnot تَخُضْهُthey waded through it كَفيلُa guarantor
بكُلِّ نَجيعٍ لمْ تَخُضْهُ كَفيلُ
They waded through the people's fresh blood, as though it
It waded through the blood of the enemy, plunging deep,
were surety for all the blood they had not yet waded through.
As if surety for every pool of blood yet uncrossed.
تُسايِرُهاaccompany them النّيرانُthe fires فيin كلّevery مَنزِلٍstopping-place
تُسايِرُها النّيرانُ في كلّ مَنزِلٍ
بهِin it القوْمُthe people صَرْعَىslain والدّيارُand the dwellings طُلولُruins
بهِ القوْمُ صَرْعَى والدّيارُ طُلولُ
Fires keep pace with them at every stopping-place,
Fires marched beside it in every dwelling place,
where the people lie slain and the dwellings are ruins.
Where the people lay slain and the homes turned to ruins.
وَكَرّتْand they charged again فمَرّتْthen they passed فيthrough دِماءِthe blood of مَلَطْيَةٍMalatya
وَكَرّتْ فمَرّتْ في دِماءِ مَلَطْيَةٍ
مَلَطْيَةُMalatya أُمٌّa mother للبَنِينَof sons ثَكُولُbereaved
مَلَطْيَةُ أُمٌّ للبَنِينَ ثَكُولُ
They charged again and passed through Malatya's blood:
It struck again and swept through the blood of Malatya—
Malatya, a mother bereft of sons.
Malatya, a mother now bereaved of all her sons.
وَأضْعَفْنَand they weakened ماwhat كُلّفْنَهُthey were tasked with it مِنْof قُباقِبٍQubaqib
وَأضْعَفْنَ ما كُلّفْنَهُ مِنْ قُباقِبٍ
فأضْحَىso it became كأنّas though الماءَthe water فيهِin it عَليلُailing
فأضْحَى كأنّ الماءَ فيهِ عَليلُ
They weakened the waters of Qubaqib they were charged to cross,
They overwhelmed the Qubaqib river with their crossing,
so that its water seemed ailing.
Till the water itself seemed feeble and drained.
وَرُعْنَand they terrified بِنَاwith us قَلْبَthe heart of الفُراتِthe Euphrates كأنّمَاas though
وَرُعْنَ بِنَا قَلْبَ الفُراتِ كأنّمَا
تَخِرُّcrash down عَلَيْهِupon it بالرّجالِbearing men سُيُولُtorrents
تَخِرُّ عَلَيْهِ بالرّجالِ سُيُولُ
With us they terrified the heart of the Euphrates, as though
With us, they struck terror into the heart of the Euphrates,
torrents bearing men were crashing upon it.
As if torrents of men were collapsing upon its banks.
يُطارِدُraces فيهِin it مَوْجَهُits waves كُلُّevery سابحٍswimming horse
يُطارِدُ فيهِ مَوْجَهُ كُلُّ سابحٍ
سَواءٌalike عَلَيْهِto it غَمْرَةٌdeep water وَمسيلُand a stream
سَواءٌ عَلَيْهِ غَمْرَةٌ وَمسيلُ
Every swimming horse there races its waves,
Every swimming steed chases the waves within it,
finding deep water and a stream alike.
Indifferent alike to the depths and the rushing current.
تَراهُyou see it كأنّas though المَاءَthe water مَرّswept away بجِسْمِهِwith its body
تَراهُ كأنّ المَاءَ مَرّ بجِسْمِهِ
وَأقْبَلَand came forward رَأسٌa head وَحْدَهُalone وتَليلُand a neck
وَأقْبَلَ رَأسٌ وَحْدَهُ وتَليلُ
You see it as though the water had swept away its body,
You see him as though the water has swallowed his body,
and only a head and neck came forward.
And only a head and neck advance alone.
وَفيand in بَطْنِthe valley of هِنريطٍHinrit وَسِمْنينَand Simnin للظُّبَىfor the sword-edges
وَفي بَطْنِ هِنريطٍ وَسِمْنينَ للظُّبَى
وَصُمِّand the stout القَنَاspears مِمّنْfor those whom أبَدْنَthey destroyed بَدِيلُa replacement
وَصُمِّ القَنَا مِمّنْ أبَدْنَ بَدِيلُ
In the valley of Hinrit and Simnin, the sword-edges
In the valley of Hinrit and Simnin, the swords
and stout spears found replacements for those they had slain.
And solid spears found substitutes for those destroyed.
طَلَعْنَthey appeared عَلَيْهِمْbefore them طَلْعَةًan appearance يَعْرِفُونَهاthey recognize it
طَلَعْنَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَلْعَةً يَعْرِفُونَها
لهَاit has غُرَرٌwhite forehead blazes مَاnot تَنْقَضِيcome to an end وَحُجُولُand white fetlock markings
لهَا غُرَرٌ مَا تَنْقَضِي وَحُجُولُ
They appeared before them in an onset they recognized,
They dawned upon them with a rising they knew too well,
with blazes and white fetlock markings that never end.
Horses marked with endless blazes and white-ankled legs.
تَمَلُّgrow weary of الحُصُونُthe fortresses الشُّمُّlofty طُولَthe length of نِزالِنَاour siege
تَمَلُّ الحُصُونُ الشُّمُّ طُولَ نِزالِنَا
فَتُلْقيso they cast إلَيْنَاto us أهْلَهَاtheir inhabitants وَتَزُولُand vanish
فَتُلْقي إلَيْنَا أهْلَهَا وَتَزُولُ
The lofty fortresses weary of our long siege,
The towering fortresses grew weary of our siege,
so they cast their inhabitants to us and vanish.
Casting down their inhabitants to us as they fell.
وَبِتْنَand they spent the night بحصْنِat the fortress of الرّانِal-Ran رَزْحَىexhausted منَfrom الوَجىhoof soreness
وَبِتْنَ بحصْنِ الرّانِ رَزْحَى منَ الوَجى
وَكُلُّand every عَزيزٍmighty one للأمِيرِbefore the prince ذَلِيلُhumbled
وَكُلُّ عَزيزٍ للأمِيرِ ذَلِيلُ
The horses spent the night at the fortress of al-Ran, exhausted by hoof soreness;
They spent the night at the fort of al-Ran, exhausted by pain,
every mighty one is humbled before the prince.
For every mighty thing is humbled before the Prince.
وَفيand in كُلِّevery نَفْسٍsoul ماinfinitive marker خَلاهُexcluding him مَلالَةٌweariness
وَفي كُلِّ نَفْسٍ ما خَلاهُ مَلالَةٌ
وَفيand in كُلِّevery سَيفٍsword ماinfinitive marker خَلاهُexcluding him فُلُولُnotches
وَفي كُلِّ سَيفٍ ما خَلاهُ فُلُولُ
In every soul except his there is weariness,
In every soul but his, weariness takes hold,
and in every sword except him there are notches.
And in every sword but his, the edges grow dull.
وَدُونَand before سُمَيْساطَSumaysat المَطامِيرُunderground chambers وَالمَلاand open wastes
وَدُونَ سُمَيْساطَ المَطامِيرُ وَالمَلا
وَأوْدِيَةٌand valleys مَجْهُولَةٌunknown وَهُجُولُand broad hollows
وَأوْدِيَةٌ مَجْهُولَةٌ وَهُجُولُ
Before Sumaysat lay underground chambers and open wastes,
Before Sumaysat lie dungeons and desert plains,
and unknown valleys and broad hollows.
And unknown valleys and desolate wastes.
لَبِسْنَthey clothed themselves in الدّجَىdarkness فيهاin them إلىto أرْضِthe land of مرْعَشٍMarash
لَبِسْنَ الدّجَى فيها إلى أرْضِ مرْعَشٍ
وَللرّومِand for the Byzantines خَطْبٌa calamity فيin البِلادِthe lands جَليلُgrave
وَللرّومِ خَطْبٌ في البِلادِ جَليلُ
They clothed themselves in darkness there, as far as Marash's land,
They clothed themselves in darkness on the way to Mar'ash,
while a grave calamity befell the Byzantines in their lands.
While a grave calamity befell the lands of Rome.
فَلَمّاthen when رَأوْهُthey saw him وَحْدَهُalone قَبْلَbefore جَيْشِهِhis army
فَلَمّا رَأوْهُ وَحْدَهُ قَبْلَ جَيْشِهِ
دَرَوْاthey knew أنّthat كلَّall العالَمِينَthe world's peoples فُضُولُsuperfluous
دَرَوْا أنّ كلَّ العالَمِينَ فُضُولُ
When they saw him alone, ahead of his army,
When they saw him standing alone before his army,
they knew that all the rest of mankind were superfluous,
They knew that all other beings were superfluous.
وَأنّand that رِمَاحَthe spears of الخَطّal-Khatt عَنْهُagainst him قَصِيرَةٌtoo short
وَأنّ رِمَاحَ الخَطّ عَنْهُ قَصِيرَةٌ
وَأنّand that حَديدَthe steel of الهِنْدِIndia عَنهُagainst him كَليلُblunt
وَأنّ حَديدَ الهِنْدِ عَنهُ كَليلُ
and that al-Khatt's spears fell short of him,
They saw that the spears of Khatt fell short of him,
and India's steel was blunt against him.
And that the iron of India was dull against his might.
فأوْرَدَهُمْso he brought them to صَدْرَthe breast of الحِصانِthe stallion وَسَيْفَهُand his sword
فأوْرَدَهُمْ صَدْرَ الحِصانِ وَسَيْفَهُ
فَتًىa youth بأسُهُhis valor مِثْلُlike العَطاءِbounty جَزيلُabundant
فَتًى بأسُهُ مِثْلُ العَطاءِ جَزيلُ
He brought them to his stallion's breast and his sword—
He drove against them the chest of his steed and his sword—
a youth whose valor, like his bounty, is abundant.
A youth whose valor is as boundless as his gifts.
جَوَادٌgenerous عَلىdespite العِلاّتِadversities بالمالِwith wealth كُلّهِall of it
جَوَادٌ عَلى العِلاّتِ بالمالِ كُلّهِ
وَلَكِنّهُbut he بالدّارِعِينَwith armored men بَخيلُis miserly
وَلَكِنّهُ بالدّارِعِينَ بَخيلُ
Generous, despite all hardships, with all his wealth,
Generous with all his wealth, despite all cause to keep it,
yet miserly with armored men.
Yet with the lives of armored men, he is miserly indeed.
فَوَدّعَso he bade farewell to قَتْلاهُمْtheir slain وَشَيّعَand escorted فَلَّهُمْtheir routed remnant
فَوَدّعَ قَتْلاهُمْ وَشَيّعَ فَلَّهُمْ
بضَرْبٍwith blows حُزُونُthe rugged heights of البَيضِhelmets فيهِunder it سُهولُplains
بضَرْبٍ حُزُونُ البَيضِ فيهِ سُهولُ
He bade their slain farewell and escorted their routed remnant
He bade farewell to their dead and escorted their fleeing remnants
with blows that made the ridges of helmets level plains.
With blows that turned the rough helmets into smooth plains.
علىupon قَلْبِthe heart of قُسْطَنْطينَConstantine مِنْهُat him تَعَجّبٌwonder
على قَلْبِ قُسْطَنْطينَ مِنْهُ تَعَجّبٌ
وَإنْeven though كانَthere are فيon ساقَيْهِhis two legs مِنْهُfrom him كُبُولُfetters
وَإنْ كانَ في ساقَيْهِ مِنْهُ كُبُولُ
Constantine's heart is filled with wonder at him,
In the heart of Constantine lies wonder at his deeds,
though his legs wear fetters from him.
Even as his legs are bound in shackles because of him.
لَعَلّكَperhaps you يَوْماًone day ياO دُمُسْتُقُDumustuq عَائِدٌreturning
لَعَلّكَ يَوْماً يا دُمُسْتُقُ عَائِدٌ
فَكَمْfor how many a هارِبٍfugitive مِمّاfrom what إلَيْهِto it يَؤولُhe ultimately comes
فَكَمْ هارِبٍ مِمّا إلَيْهِ يَؤولُ
Perhaps one day, O Dumustuq, you will return;
Perhaps one day, O Domestikos, you will return;
how many flee from what they finally come to!
Yet how many flee only to run back toward their fate?
نَجَوْتَyou escaped بإحْدَىwith one of مُهْجَتَيْكَyour two souls جرِيحةًwounded
نَجَوْتَ بإحْدَى مُهْجَتَيْكَ جرِيحةً
وَخَلّفتَand you left behind إحدىone of مُهجَتَيكَyour two souls تَسيلُflowing
وَخَلّفتَ إحدى مُهجَتَيكَ تَسيلُ
You escaped with one of your two souls wounded,
You escaped with one of your two souls wounded,
and left one of your two souls bleeding.
While leaving the other of your souls to flow away.
أتُسْلِمُdo you abandon للخَطّيّةِto al-Khatt spears ابنَكَyour son هَارِباًfleeing
أتُسْلِمُ للخَطّيّةِ ابنَكَ هَارِباً
وَيَسْكُنَand feels secure فيin الدّنْياthe world إلَيكَwith you خَليلُa friend
وَيَسْكُنَ في الدّنْيا إلَيكَ خَليلُ
Do you abandon your son to al-Khatt spears as you flee,
Do you surrender your son to the spears as you flee?
and can any friend in this world feel secure with you?
Can you find any friend in the world after that?
بوَجْهِكَon your face ماwhat أنْساكَهُmade you forget him مِنْfrom مُرِشّةٍMurishsha
بوَجْهِكَ ما أنْساكَهُ مِنْ مُرِشّةٍ
نَصِيرُكَyour helper منهاfrom it رَنّةٌa moan وَعَوِيلُand wailing
نَصِيرُكَ منها رَنّةٌ وَعَوِيلُ
Your face bears what made you forget him at Murishsha;
Upon your face is a splashing I will not let you forget;
your help from it is a moan and a wail.
Your share of it is but wailing and lament.
أغَرّكُمُdid it deceive you? طولُthe length of الجُيوشِthe armies وَعَرْضُهَاand their breadth
أغَرّكُمُ طولُ الجُيوشِ وَعَرْضُهَا
عَليٌّAli شَرُوبٌa mighty drinker للجُيُوشِof armies أكُولُa mighty devourer
عَليٌّ شَرُوبٌ للجُيُوشِ أكُولُ
Did the length and breadth of the armies deceive you?
Did the length and breadth of your armies deceive you?
Ali is a mighty drinker and devourer of armies.
Ali is a drinker of armies, a devourer of hosts.
إذاif لمnot تَكُنْyou are للّيْثِfor the lion إلاّbut فَريسَةًprey
إذا لم تَكُنْ للّيْثِ إلاّ فَريسَةً
غَذاهُit fed him وَلمand not يَنْفَعْكَbenefits you أنّكَthat you are فِيلُan elephant
غَذاهُ وَلم يَنْفَعْكَ أنّكَ فِيلُ
If you are nothing but prey for the lion,
If you are naught but prey for the lion's feast,
being an elephant feeds him and does you no good.
It avails you nothing that you are as huge as an elephant.
إذاif الطّعْنُspear-thrusting لمnot تُدْخِلْكَbrings you فيهِinto it شَجاعةٌcourage
إذا الطّعْنُ لم تُدْخِلْكَ فيهِ شَجاعةٌ
هيَit is الطّعنُa thrust لمnot يُدخِلْكَbrings you فيهِinto it عَذولُa reproacher
هيَ الطّعنُ لم يُدخِلْكَ فيهِ عَذولُ
If courage does not draw you into the spear-thrusting—
If courage does not drive you into the heat of the thrust,
courage itself a thrust—no reproacher will draw you in.
Then the thrust itself will drive you into it, blamed and shamed.
وَإنْand if تَكُنِhave الأيّامُthe days أبْصَرْنَthey witnessed صَوْلَهُhis onslaught
وَإنْ تَكُنِ الأيّامُ أبْصَرْنَ صَوْلَهُ
فَقَدْthen indeed عَلّمَhe taught الأيّامَthe days كَيفَhow تَصُولُto assail
فَقَدْ عَلّمَ الأيّامَ كَيفَ تَصُولُ
If the days have witnessed his onslaught,
And if the days have witnessed his assault,
he has taught the days how to assail.
Then he has surely taught the days how to assault.
فَدَتْكَmay they ransom you مُلُوكٌkings لمnot تُسَمَّwere called مَوَاضِياًsharp blades
فَدَتْكَ مُلُوكٌ لم تُسَمَّ مَوَاضِياً
فإنّكَfor you are ماضِيsharp on الشّفْرَتَينِboth cutting edges صَقيلُpolished
فإنّكَ ماضِي الشّفْرَتَينِ صَقيلُ
May kings not named sharp blades be your ransom,
May kings who are not named "Swords" be your ransom,
for you are polished, sharp on both edges.
For you are indeed a sword, sharp-edged and polished bright.
إذاif كانَis بَعضُsome of النّاسِthe people سَيفاًa sword لدَوْلَةٍfor a state
إذا كانَ بَعضُ النّاسِ سَيفاً لدَوْلَةٍ
فَفيthen among النّاسِthe people بُوقاتٌtrumpets لهَاfor it وطُبُولُand drums
فَفي النّاسِ بُوقاتٌ لهَا وطُبُولُ
If some men are a sword for a state,
If some men are but a sword for the state,
among men are also its trumpets and drums.
Others among men are merely its trumpets and drums.
أنَاI السّابِقُthe forerunner الهاديthe guide إلىto ماwhat أقُولُهُI utter it
أنَا السّابِقُ الهادي إلى ما أقُولُهُ
إذِwhile القَوْلُspeech قَبْلَbefore القائِلِينَthe speakers مَقُولُalready spoken
إذِ القَوْلُ قَبْلَ القائِلِينَ مَقُولُ
I am the forerunner, the guide to what I say,
I am the forerunner, the guide to the words I speak,
while others' words have been said before their speakers.
For the saying exists before the speakers give it voice.
وَماand not لكَلامِfor the words of النّاسِpeople فيمَاin what يُريبُنيtroubles me
وَما لكَلامِ النّاسِ فيمَا يُريبُني
أُصُولٌroots ولاnor للقائِليهِfor those who utter it أُصُولُroots
أُصُولٌ ولا للقائِليهِ أُصُولُ
The people's talk in matters that trouble me has
The talk of men regarding what troubles me has no root,
no roots, nor do its speakers have roots.
Just as those who speak it have no root of nobility.
أُعَادَىI am treated as an enemy علىfor ماwhat يُوجبُmerits الحُبَّlove للفَتىfor a young man
أُعَادَى على ما يُوجبُ الحُبَّ للفَتى
وَأهْدَأُand I stay calm وَالأفكارُand thoughts فيّwithin me تَجُولُroam
وَأهْدَأُ وَالأفكارُ فيّ تَجُولُ
I am hated for what should win a young man love,
I am envied for the very traits that should command love,
and stay calm while thoughts roam within me.
Yet I remain calm while thoughts wander deep within me.
سِوَىexcept وَجَعِthe pain of الحُسّادِthe envious داوِtreat فإنّهُfor it
سِوَى وَجَعِ الحُسّادِ داوِ فإنّهُ
إذاwhen حلّsettles فيin قَلْبٍa heart فَلَيسَthen not يحُولُdeparts
إذا حلّ في قَلْبٍ فَلَيسَ يحُولُ
Treat all but the pain of the envious, for it,
Treat any sickness but the pain of those who envy;
once lodged in a heart, never departs.
For once it settles in a heart, it never departs.
وَلاand do not تَطْمَعَنْever hope منfrom حاسِدٍan envious person فيfor مَوَدّةٍaffection
وَلا تَطْمَعَنْ من حاسِدٍ في مَوَدّةٍ
وَإنْeven if كُنْتَyou are تُبْديهَاshowing it لَهُto him وَتُنيلُand giving
وَإنْ كُنْتَ تُبْديهَا لَهُ وَتُنيلُ
Never hope for affection from an envious man,
Do not hope for affection from one who envies,
even if you show him affection and give generously.
Even if you show him love and shower him with gifts.
وَإنّاand indeed we لَنَلْقَىcertainly face الحادِثاتِcalamities بأنْفُسٍwith souls
وَإنّا لَنَلْقَى الحادِثاتِ بأنْفُسٍ
كَثيرُa multitude of الرّزاياmisfortunes عندَهنّto them قَليلُlittle
كَثيرُ الرّزايا عندَهنّ قَليلُ
We face calamities with souls
Verily, we confront the accidents of fate with souls
to whom many misfortunes seem few.
To whom a multitude of disasters seems but few.
يَهُونُis easy عَلَيْنَاfor us أنْthat تُصابَbe harmed جُسُومُنَاour bodies
يَهُونُ عَلَيْنَا أنْ تُصابَ جُسُومُنَا
وَتَسْلَمَand remain safe أعْراضٌhonor لَنَاbelonging to us وَعُقُولُand minds
وَتَسْلَمَ أعْراضٌ لَنَا وَعُقُولُ
We deem it easy for our bodies to be harmed
We hold it light that our bodies should be struck,
while our honor and minds remain safe.
So long as our honor and our minds remain unharmed.
فَتيهاًso be proud وَفَخْراًand boast تَغْلِبَTaghlib ابْنَةَdaughter of وَائِلٍWa'il
فَتيهاً وَفَخْراً تَغْلِبَ ابْنَةَ وَائِلٍ
فَأنْتِfor you لخَيرِof the finest of الفاخِرِينَthe proud قَبيلُare the tribe
فَأنْتِ لخَيرِ الفاخِرِينَ قَبيلُ
So glory and boast, Taghlib, daughter of Wa'il,
So walk in pride and glory, O Taghlib daughter of Wa'il,
for you are the tribe of the finest of the proud.
For you are the kin of the greatest man who boasts.
يَغُمُّsaddens عَلِيّاًAli أنْthat يَمُوتَdies عَدُوُّهُhis enemy
يَغُمُّ عَلِيّاً أنْ يَمُوتَ عَدُوُّهُ
إذاif لمnot تَغُلْهُsnatches him بالأسِنّةِwith spearheads غُولُa ghoul
إذا لم تَغُلْهُ بالأسِنّةِ غُولُ
It saddens Ali that his enemy should die
It grieves Ali that his enemy should die
unless a ghoul snatches him with spearheads.
By any hand but his, with the piercing of spears.
شَريكُa partner of المَنَايَاthe fates وَالنّفُوسُand souls غَنيمَةٌbooty
شَريكُ المَنَايَا وَالنّفُوسُ غَنيمَةٌ
فَكُلُّso every مَمَاتٍdeath لمnot يُمِتْهُhe causes it غُلُولُstolen spoils
فَكُلُّ مَمَاتٍ لم يُمِتْهُ غُلُولُ
He is a partner of the fates, and souls are booty,
He is the partner of death, and souls are his spoil;
so every death he does not cause is stolen spoils.
Any death not caused by him is a theft of his due.
فإنْso if تَكُنِare الدّوْلاتُturns of power قِسْماًallotted shares فإنّهَاthen they
فإنْ تَكُنِ الدّوْلاتُ قِسْماً فإنّهَا
لِمَنْto whoever وَرَدَconfronted المَوْتَdeath الزّؤامَviolent and deadly تَدُولُpass in turn
لِمَنْ وَرَدَ المَوْتَ الزّؤامَ تَدُولُ
If turns of power are allotted shares, then they
If empires are allotted by fate's decree,
pass to those who confront violent death,
Then they turn to him who braves sudden death.
لِمَنْto whoever هَوّنَheld cheap الدّنْياthe world علىto النّفسِthe soul ساعَةًfor a moment
لِمَنْ هَوّنَ الدّنْيا على النّفسِ ساعَةً
وَللبِيضِand the bright swords have فيon هامِthe skulls of الكُماةِarmored warriors صَليلُa ringing
وَللبِيضِ في هامِ الكُماةِ صَليلُ
to those who for a moment hold the world cheap in their souls,
To him who holds the world cheap for a moment's glory,
while bright swords ring on armored warriors' skulls.
While swords clamor loudly in the skulls of the brave.
Sol 6.1