عُقبىthe outcome اليَمينِthe oath عَلىconcerning عُقبىthe outcome الوَغىbattle نَدَمُregret
عُقبى اليَمينِ عَلى عُقبى الوَغى نَدَمُ
ماذاwhat يَزيدُكَadds to you فيin إِقدامِكَyour bold advance القَسَمُthe oath
ماذا يَزيدُكَ في إِقدامِكَ القَسَمُ
The outcome of swearing on battle's outcome is regret.
My right foot regrets following my reckless left
The consequence of the oath, upon the consequence of war, is but regret,
What does an oath add to your bold advance?
What good does your oath do when you are accused of breaking your word?
What increase to your daring does a sworn vow bestow?
وَفيand in اليَمينِthe oath عَلىconcerning ماwhat أَنتَyou واعِدُهُpromising it
وَفي اليَمينِ عَلى ما أَنتَ واعِدُهُ
ماthat which دَلَّshows أَنَّكَthat you فيin الميعادِkeeping the promise مُتَّهَمُsuspected
ما دَلَّ أَنَّكَ في الميعادِ مُتَّهَمُ
And in swearing to what you promise
When you swear to something yet go back on it
And in the oath regarding that which you have promised,
Lies proof that your keeping your word is suspect.
It shows you cannot be trusted when the time comes
Lies proof that in your pledge you are suspect and accused.
آلىswore الفَتىthe young man اِبنُson of شُمُشقيقٍShumushqiq فَأَحنَثَهُthen made him forsworn
آلى الفَتى اِبنُ شُمُشقيقٍ فَأَحنَثَهُ
فَتىًa young man مِنَthrough الضَربِblows تُنسىare forgotten عِندَهُin his presence الكَلِمُwords
فَتىً مِنَ الضَربِ تُنسى عِندَهُ الكَلِمُ
Young Ibn Shumushqiq swore, then was made forsworn
The son of Shumushqiq failed his oath
The youth Ibn Shumushqiq swore a vow, yet you forced him to perjure,
By a youth at whose blows words are forgotten.
A man of battle forgets his words when enraged
A youth whose striking allows mere words to be forgotten.
وَفاعِلٌand one who does ماwhat اِشتَهىhe desires يُغنِهِmakes him independent عَنof حَلِفٍswearing
وَفاعِلٌ ما اِشتَهى يُغنِهِ عَن حَلِفٍ
عَلىto الفِعالِdeeds حُضورُreadiness of الفِعلِaction وَالكَرَمُand nobility
عَلى الفِعالِ حُضورُ الفِعلِ وَالكَرَمُ
And one who does as he wishes is spared any oath
One who does as he pleases needs no oaths
The doer of his own desire has no need for swearing oaths,
To deeds by ready action and nobility.
The doer's presence and nobility are his credentials
For in the acts themselves, presence and nobility suffice.
كُلُّall السُيوفِthe swords إِذاwhen طالَgrows long الضِرابُstriking بِهاwith them
كُلُّ السُيوفِ إِذا طالَ الضِرابُ بِها
يَمَسُهاtouches them غَيرَexcept سَيفِSword of الدَولَةِthe State السَأَمُweariness
يَمَسُها غَيرَ سَيفِ الدَولَةِ السَأَمُ
All swords, when wielded long in battle,
All swords blunt after long use
All swords, when the striking with them grows long and drawn out,
Are touched by weariness, except Sayf al-Dawla.
Except the enduring blade of the Dawla
Are touched by weariness, save for the Sword of the State alone.
لَوif كَلَّتِtired الخَيلُthe horses حَتّىuntil لاnot تَحَمَّلَهُcarry him
لَو كَلَّتِ الخَيلُ حَتّى لا تَحَمَّلَهُ
تَحَمَّلَتهُwould carry him إِلىto أَعدائِهِhis enemies الهِمَمُlofty resolves
تَحَمَّلَتهُ إِلى أَعدائِهِ الهِمَمُ
If the horses tired until they could not carry him,
If horses refused to carry him
If the steeds grew so weary they could no longer bear him,
Lofty resolves would bear him to his enemies.
His determination would bear him to his enemies
His soaring ambitions would carry him on to his foes.
أَينَwhere البَطاريقُthe patricians وَالحَلفُand the oath الَّذيwhich حَلَفواthey swore
أَينَ البَطاريقُ وَالحَلفُ الَّذي حَلَفوا
بِمَفرَقِby the crown of the head of المَلكِthe king وَالزَعمُand the claim الَّذيwhich زَعَمواthey made
بِمَفرَقِ المَلكِ وَالزَعمُ الَّذي زَعَموا
Where are the patricians and the oath they swore
Where are the patriarchs and their oath
Where now are the Patricians, and the solemn oath they swore,
By the crown of the king's head, and the claim they made?
To divide the kingdom - mere boasts!
By the parting of the King’s hair, and the claims they dared to claim?
وَلّىhe entrusted صَوارِمَهُhis sharp swords إِكذابَwith disproving قَولِهِمِtheir words
وَلّى صَوارِمَهُ إِكذابَ قَولِهِمِ
فَهُنَّso they أَلسِنَةٌtongues أَفواهُهاtheir mouths القِمَمُhead-tops
فَهُنَّ أَلسِنَةٌ أَفواهُها القِمَمُ
He entrusted his sharp swords with disproving their words;
His blades prove their words a lie
He assigned his sharp blades the task of proving them liars,
For they are tongues whose mouths are the crowns of heads,
Their tongues like spearheads flipped backwards
For they are eloquent tongues whose mouths are the severed heads,
نَواطِقٌspeaking مُخيِراتٌinforming فيin جَماجِمِهِمtheir skulls
نَواطِقٌ مُخيِراتٌ في جَماجِمِهِم
عَنهُabout him بِماof what جَهِلواthey did not know مِنهُof him وَماand what عَلِمواthey knew
عَنهُ بِما جَهِلوا مِنهُ وَما عَلِموا
Speaking, telling through their skulls
Eloquent advisors, though ignorant
Speaking within their skulls, delivering news about him,
Of him—what they knew not of him, and what they knew.
They speak of what they know not and understand less
Of what they knew of him, and what they remained ignorant of.
الراجِعُhe who brings back الخَيلَthe horses مُحفاةًhoof-worn مُقَوَّدَةًled by reins
الراجِعُ الخَيلَ مُحفاةً مُقَوَّدَةً
مِنfrom كُلِّevery مِثلِplace like وَباريWabar أَهلُهاits people إِرَمُIram
مِن كُلِّ مِثلِ وَباري أَهلُها إِرَمُ
He who brings the horses back, hoof-worn and led by reins,
Horses return barefoot and hobbled
He returns the horses, hooves worn bare, led by the rein,
From every land like Wabar, whose people were Iram,
The elite and their tribesmen diminished
From lands like legendary Wabar, whose people are dust like Iram.
كَتَلِّlike Tall (Hill of) بِطريقٍBitriq المَغرورِdeluded ساكِنُهاits inhabitant
كَتَلِّ بِطريقٍ المَغرورِ ساكِنُها
بِأَنَّthat دارَكَyour home قِنَّسرينُQinnasrin وَالأَجَمُand the thickets
بِأَنَّ دارَكَ قِنَّسرينُ وَالأَجَمُ
Like Tall Bitriq, whose dwellers were deceived
Tell the deluded dweller of Qinnasrin
Like the Hill of the Patrician, whose dweller was deeply deluded,
Into thinking your home was Qinnasrin and the thickets,
That your abode is far in al-Ajam!
Believing your domain was but Qinnasrin and the marshy reeds;
وَظَنِّهِمand their belief أَنَّكَthat you المِصباحُthe lamp فيin حَلَبٍAleppo
وَظَنِّهِم أَنَّكَ المِصباحُ في حَلَبٍ
إِذاif قَصَدتَyou made for سِواهاelsewhere عادَهاreturned to it الظُلَمُdarkness
إِذا قَصَدتَ سِواها عادَها الظُلَمُ
And by their belief that you were a lamp in Aleppo:
They think you the lamp of Aleppo
And in their fancy that you were merely a lamp in Aleppo,
If you made for elsewhere, darkness returned to it.
Which would be darkened should you leave
That if you ventured elsewhere, darkness would return to claim it.
وَالشَمسُand the sun يَعنونَthey mean إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُمthat they جَهِلواdid not know
وَالشَمسُ يَعنونَ إِلّا أَنَّهُم جَهِلوا
وَالمَوتَand death يَدعونَthey invoke إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُمthat they وَهَمواwere mistaken
وَالمَوتَ يَدعونَ إِلّا أَنَّهُم وَهَموا
Yet the sun is what they mean, though they do not know;
The sun they mean - fools who know not
It was the Sun they meant, yet they were steeped in ignorance,
And death they invoke, though they are mistaken.
Death they invoke - ramblings of the crazed
And Death they summoned, yet they were lost in delusion.
فَلَمso not تُتِمَّfinished سَروجٌSaruj فَتحَopening ناظِرِهاits eye
فَلَم تُتِمَّ سَروجٌ فَتحَ ناظِرِها
إِلّاexcept that وَجَيشُكَand your army فيwithin جَفنَيهِits two eyelids مُزدَحِمُcrowding
إِلّا وَجَيشُكَ في جَفنَيهِ مُزدَحِمُ
Saruj had not finished opening its eye
No maiden's eyelids open at dawn
Saruj had barely finished opening its eyes to the light,
When your army was crowding between its lids.
Without your troops crowding their rim
Before your army was thronging between its very lids.
وَالنَقعُand the dust يَأخُذُengulfs حَرّاناًHarran وَبَقعَتَهاand its region
وَالنَقعُ يَأخُذُ حَرّاناً وَبَقعَتَها
وَالشَمسُand the sun تَسفِرُunveils itself أَحياناًat times وَتَلتَثِمُand veils itself
وَالشَمسُ تَسفِرُ أَحياناً وَتَلتَثِمُ
And the dust engulfs Harran and its region,
Storm clouds take Harran and its plains
And the dust of battle seized Harran and all its grounds,
And the sun unveils itself at times and veils itself.
Sunshine alternately shines then veils
While the sun unveiled its face at times, and at times was veiled.
سُحبٌclouds تَمُرُّpass بِحِصنِby the fortress of الرانِal-Ran مُمسِكَةًwithholding rain
سُحبٌ تَمُرُّ بِحِصنِ الرانِ مُمسِكَةً
وَماand not بِهاin them البُخلُmiserliness لَولاbut for أَنَّهاthat they نِقَمُvengeance
وَما بِها البُخلُ لَولا أَنَّها نِقَمُ
Clouds pass the fortress of al-Ran, withholding their rain,
Clouds pass by Hisn al-Ran leaving it be
Clouds pass by the fortress of al-Ran, withholding their rain,
Not from stinginess, but because they are vengeance.
Not out of thrift but as a sign of grievance
Not out of miserliness, but because they are clouds of vengeance.
جَيشٌan army كَأَنَّكَas though you فيin أَرضٍa land تُطاوِلُهُrivals it in extent
جَيشٌ كَأَنَّكَ في أَرضٍ تُطاوِلُهُ
فَالأَرضُso the land لاnot أُمَمٌshort in extent وَالجَيشُand the army لاnot أَمَمُshort in extent
فَالأَرضُ لا أُمَمٌ وَالجَيشُ لا أَمَمُ
An army: you seem to be in a land that rivals it in reach;
Your army spans the land indefinitely
An army so vast, as if you were in a land trying to outmatch it,
The land has no near limit, and neither does the army.
The earth not nations, your troops not tribes
Where the earth seems to have no nations, and the army has no end.
إِذاwhen مَضىpasses عَلَمُa hill مِنهاof it بَداappears عَلَمٌa hill
إِذا مَضى عَلَمُ مِنها بَدا عَلَمٌ
وَإِنand if مَضىpasses عَلَمٌa banner مِنهُof it بَداappears عَلَمُa banner
وَإِن مَضى عَلَمٌ مِنهُ بَدا عَلَمُ
When one of the land's hills is passed, another hill appears;
One flag passes and another appears
When one banner passes by, another banner appears,
And when one army banner passes, another appears.
One standard moves on, replaced by another
And if one mountain fades, another rises to view.
وَشُزَّبٌand lean steeds أَحمَتِheated الشِعرىSirius شَكائِمَهاtheir bits
وَشُزَّبٌ أَحمَتِ الشِعرى شَكائِمَها
وَوَسَّمَتهاand branded them عَلىon آنافِهاtheir noses الحَكَمُthe bridle nosebands
وَوَسَّمَتها عَلى آنافِها الحَكَمُ
And lean steeds, whose bits Sirius has heated,
Brave horses, decked with armor
Lean steeds, whose bridles the star of Sirius made burn,
And whose nosebands have branded their noses,
Stampeded and labeled by the wise
And the bits branded marks upon their noses like scars.
حَتّىuntil وَرَدنَthey came to water بِسِمنينٍat Simnin بُحَيرَتِهاits lake
حَتّى وَرَدنَ بِسِمنينٍ بُحَيرَتِها
تَنِشُّhiss بِالماءِagainst the water فيin أَشداقِهاtheir mouths اللُجُمُthe bits
تَنِشُّ بِالماءِ في أَشداقِها اللُجُمُ
Until they came to drink at Simnin's lake,
To Semenye, its lake they surged
Until they arrived at the waters of Lake Simnin,
Their bits hissing in their mouths against the water.
Plunging in the waters up to their chests
And the hot bits sizzled in their mouths as they touched the water.
وَأَصبَحَتand by morning they were بِقَرىin the villages of هِنزيطَHinzit جائِلَةًroaming
وَأَصبَحَت بِقَرى هِنزيطَ جائِلَةً
تَرعىgraze الظُبىthe sword-edges فيin خَصيبٍfertile ground نَبتُهُits growth اللِمَمُlocks of hair
تَرعى الظُبى في خَصيبٍ نَبتُهُ اللِمَمُ
And by morning they roamed the villages of Hinzit;
At Qarah Hinazit they raided
They came to roam through the villages of Hinzit,
Sword-edges graze fertile ground whose growth is locks of hair.
Grazing gazelles in fertile thickets
Their swords grazing in a fertile pasture where the grass is human hair.
فَماso not تَرَكنَthey left بِهاthere خُلداًa mole لَهُit has بَصَرٌsight
فَما تَرَكنَ بِها خُلداً لَهُ بَصَرٌ
تَحتَunder التُرابِthe soil وَلاnor بازاًa hawk لَهُit has قَدَمُa foot
تَحتَ التُرابِ وَلا بازاً لَهُ قَدَمُ
So they left there no mole with sight
Leaving no ruins visible to the eye
They left no mole there possessing sight,
Beneath the soil, nor a hawk that had a foot,
Nor chicks abled to take wing
Beneath the dust, nor a hawk possessing a foot,
وَلاnor هِزَبراًa lion لَهُhe has مِنfrom دِرعِهِhis armor لِبَدٌa mane
وَلا هِزَبراً لَهُ مِن دِرعِهِ لِبَدٌ
وَلاnor مَهاةًan oryx-doe لَهاshe has مِنfrom among شِبهِهاthose resembling her حَشَمُa retinue
وَلا مَهاةً لَها مِن شِبهِها حَشَمُ
Nor a lion with a mane made of his armor,
No armor could protect its wearer
Nor a lion clad in the mane of his own armor,
Nor an oryx-doe with a retinue of her own kind.
No maiden's veil shelter her modesty
Nor a doe-eyed beauty attended by her kin.
تَرميhurl عَلىonto شَفَراتِthe edges of الباتِراتِthe cleaving swords بِهِمthem
تَرمي عَلى شَفَراتِ الباتِراتِ بِهِم
مَكامِنُthe hiding-places of الأَرضِthe earth وَالغيطانُand the hollows وَالأَكَمُand the hills
مَكامِنُ الأَرضِ وَالغيطانُ وَالأَكَمُ
They are hurled onto the edges of the cleaving swords
Throwing them into the blades of swords
The hiding places of the earth, the valleys and hills,
By the earth's hiding-places, hollows, and hills.
The earth's hollows, marshes, and ditches
Cast them out upon the edges of the cutting blades.
وَجاوَزواand they crossed أَرسَناساًthe Arsanas مُعصِمينَseeking protection بِهِin it
وَجاوَزوا أَرسَناساً مُعصِمينَ بِهِ
وَكَيفَand how يَعصِمُهُمcan protect them ماwhat لَيسَnot يَنعَصِمُcan protect itself
وَكَيفَ يَعصِمُهُم ما لَيسَ يَنعَصِمُ
And they crossed the Arsanas, trusting in its protection;
Bypassing Arsanas unharmed
They crossed the Arsanas river, clinging to it for refuge,
And how can what cannot protect itself protect them?
What protection when there is none against you?
But how can that which cannot save itself save them?
وَماand not يَصُدُّكَdeters you عَنfrom بَحرٍa sea لَهُمof theirs سَعَةٌbreadth
وَما يَصُدُّكَ عَن بَحرٍ لَهُم سَعَةٌ
وَماand not يَرُدُّكَturns you back عَنfrom طَودٍa mountain لَهُمof theirs شَمَمُheight
وَما يَرُدُّكَ عَن طَودٍ لَهُم شَمَمُ
No sea of theirs can stop you by its breadth,
No sea too vast nor hill too high
Their vastness does not bar you from their sea,
And no mountain of theirs can turn you back by its height.
To hinder you or thwart your zeal
Nor does their loftiness repel you from their mountain.
ضَرَبتَهُyou struck it بِصُدورِwith the breasts of الخَيلِthe horses حامِلَةًbearing
ضَرَبتَهُ بِصُدورِ الخَيلِ حامِلَةً
قَوماًmen إِذاif تَلِفواthey perish قُدماًadvancing فَقَدthen indeed سَلِمواthey are safe
قَوماً إِذا تَلِفوا قُدماً فَقَد سَلِموا
You struck it with the breasts of horses bearing
Breaking through them with mailed horses
You struck the water with the chests of steeds bearing
Men who, if they perish advancing, have come through safe.
Men whose ruin was sealed if their feet but slipped
Men who, if they perish advancing, count themselves safe.
تَجَفَّلُscatter in fright المَوجُthe waves عَنfrom لَبّاتِthe chests of خَيلِهِمِtheir horses
تَجَفَّلُ المَوجُ عَن لَبّاتِ خَيلِهِمِ
كَماas تَجَفَّلُscatter in fright تَحتَunder الغارَةِthe raid النَعَمُlivestock
كَما تَجَفَّلُ تَحتَ الغارَةِ النَعَمُ
The waves scatter in fright from their horses' chests,
Waves recoil from the pounding of their hooves
The waves recoil in fear from their chargers' chests,
As livestock scatter before a raid.
As goats scatter before the looter
As cattle scatter in panic beneath a sudden raid.
عَبَرتَyou crossed تَقدُمُهُمleading them فيهِthrough it وَفيand through بَلَدٍa land
عَبَرتَ تَقدُمُهُم فيهِ وَفي بَلَدٍ
سُكّانُهُits inhabitants رِمَمٌdecaying corpses مَسكونُهاtheir dwellings حُمَمُcharcoal
سُكّانُهُ رِمَمٌ مَسكونُها حُمَمُ
You crossed, leading them through it and through a land
Crossing the waters into their land
You crossed, leading them through the flood and through a land
Whose inhabitants are corpses, their dwellings charcoal.
Whose people are vermin, their abodes rubbish
Whose dwellers are rotting bones, whose dwellings are coal.
وَفيand in أَكُفِّهِمِtheir palms النارُthe fire الَّتيwhich عُبِدَتwas worshipped
وَفي أَكُفِّهِمِ النارُ الَّتي عُبِدَت
قَبلَbefore المَجوسِthe Magians إِلىuntil ذاthis اليَومِday تَضطَرِمُblazes
قَبلَ المَجوسِ إِلى ذا اليَومِ تَضطَرِمُ
And in their palms is the fire that was worshipped
Fire worshipped before the Magians
And in their hands they hold the fire that was worshipped
Before the Magians; it blazes to this day.
Still burns in their hands to this day
Before the Magians, which burns fiercely to this day.
هِندِيَّةٌan Indian blade إِنif تُصَغِّرit diminishes مَعشَراًa people صَغُرواthey grow small
هِندِيَّةٌ إِن تُصَغِّر مَعشَراً صَغُروا
بِحَدِّهاwith its edge أَوor تُعَظِّمit magnifies مَعشَراًa people عَظَمواthey grow great
بِحَدِّها أَو تُعَظِّم مَعشَراً عَظَموا
An Indian blade: if it diminishes a people, they grow small
An Indian blade - it shrinks the brave
Indian blades—if they belittle a tribe, that tribe is humbled,
By its edge; or if it magnifies a people, they grow great.
It emboldens the meek. You turned it away
By their edge; or if they exalt a tribe, they grow great.
قاسَمتَهاyou shared with it تَلَّTall (Hill of) بِطريقٍBitriq فَكانَso there were لَهاfor it
قاسَمتَها تَلَّ بِطريقٍ فَكانَ لَها
أَبطالُهاits champions وَلَكَand to you الأَطفالُthe children وَالحُرَمُand the women
أَبطالُها وَلَكَ الأَطفالُ وَالحُرَمُ
You shared Tall Bitriq with it: to it fell
Keeping the warriors, leaving children and women
You divided the Patrician's Hill between yourself and them;
The town's champions, and to you the children and women.
The scum met your surging torrent
The swords took the heroes; you took the children and the harems.
تَلقىmeet بِهِمwith them aboard زَبَدَthe foam of التَيّارِthe current مُقرَبَةٌchoice steeds
تَلقى بِهِم زَبَدَ التَيّارِ مُقرَبَةٌ
عَلىon جَحافِلِهاtheir muzzles مِنfrom نَضحِهِits spray رَثَمُwhite muzzle-marks
عَلى جَحافِلِها مِن نَضحِهِ رَثَمُ
Choice steeds meet the current's foam with them aboard,
Bold riders mounted on burdened steeds
Noble mares meet the foam of the current carrying them,
White marks upon their muzzles from its spray.
Unfeeling beasts useless in battle
Upon their lips are white markings from the river's spray.
دُهمٌblack steeds فَوارِسُهاtheir horsemen رُكّابُriders in أَبطُنِهاtheir bellies
دُهمٌ فَوارِسُها رُكّابُ أَبطُنِها
مَكدودَةٌhard-driven بِقَومٍby men لاnot بِهاin them الأَلَمُthe pain
مَكدودَةٌ بِقَومٍ لا بِها الأَلَمُ
Black steeds, their horsemen riding within their bellies,
Brood of your wisdom in pressing times
Dark steeds whose riders must ride upon their bellies,
Hard-driven by men, though the pain is not the steeds'.
Like phrases the listening mind understands
Wearied by the men, though the pain is not in the steeds.
مِنَamong الجِيادِthe fine steeds الَّتيwhich كِدتَyou outwitted العَدُوَّthe enemy بِهاwith them
مِنَ الجِيادِ الَّتي كِدتَ العَدُوَّ بِها
وَماyet not لَهاthey have خِلَقٌbodily forms مِنهاfrom them وَلاnor شِيَمُtemperaments
وَما لَها خِلَقٌ مِنها وَلا شِيَمُ
Among the steeds with which you outwitted the enemy,
Yearning to see you the morning after - blinded!
Of the thoroughbreds with which you outwitted the foe,
Yet they share none of those steeds' forms or traits.
You met them with the Khamis, your double-edged sword.
Though they possess neither the nature nor the intent of plots.
نِتاجُthe offspring of رَأيِكَyour thought فيin وَقتٍa moment عَلىin عَجَلٍhaste
نِتاجُ رَأيِكَ في وَقتٍ عَلى عَجَلٍ
كَلَفظِlike the utterance of حَرفٍa word وَعاهُgrasped it سامِعٌa listener فَهِمُdiscerning
كَلَفظِ حَرفٍ وَعاهُ سامِعٌ فَهِمُ
The offspring of your thought, made in a moment and in haste,
Their corpses fell around you
The offspring of your judgment, formed in a moment of haste,
Like an uttered word grasped by a discerning listener.
As souls fled and sought refuge
Perfect as a spoken letter grasped by a wise listener.
وَقَدand indeed تَمَنَّواthey wished غَداةَon the morning of الدَربِthe pass فيamid لَجَبٍa din
وَقَد تَمَنَّوا غَداةَ الدَربِ في لَجَبٍ
أَنto يُبصِروكَsee you فَلَمّاbut when أَبصَروكَthey saw you عَمواthey went blind
أَن يُبصِروكَ فَلَمّا أَبصَروكَ عَموا
And they had wished, on the morning at the pass amid the din,
Bent blades filled the roads behind them
In the clamor of the pass, they had wished to see you,
To see you; but when they saw you, they went blind.
Erect on the battlefield above them
But when they finally saw you, they were struck blind.
صَدَمتَهُمyou struck them بِخَميسٍwith a fivefold army أَنتَyou غُرَّتُهُits shining brow
صَدَمتَهُم بِخَميسٍ أَنتَ غُرَّتُهُ
وَسَمهَرِيَّتُهُand its Samhari spears فيon وَجهِهِits face غَمَمُthick forehead-hair
وَسَمهَرِيَّتُهُ في وَجهِهِ غَمَمُ
You crashed into them with a fivefold host, you its shining brow,
When blows met in ascent
You struck them with a mighty army, yourself its shining blaze,
Its Samhari spears a fringe of thick hair across its face.
Mountain peaks collided in the sky
While the thicket of spears was the hair upon its face.
فَكانَso was أَثبَتَthe steadiest ماwhat فيهِمin them جُسومُهُمُtheir bodies
فَكانَ أَثبَتَ ما فيهِم جُسومُهُمُ
يَسقُطنَfall حَولَكَaround you وَالأَرواحُwhile the souls تَنهَزِمُflee
يَسقُطنَ حَولَكَ وَالأَرواحُ تَنهَزِمُ
So the steadiest part of them was their bodies,
Ibn Shumushqiq surrendered his wife
So the only steadfast things among them were their bodies,
Falling around you while their spirits fled.
Though he recoiled, she kept smiling
Falling around you, while their souls turned to flee.
وَالأَعوَجِيَّةُand the A'waji steeds مِلءَfilling الطُرقِthe roads خَلفَهُمُbehind them
وَالأَعوَجِيَّةُ مِلءَ الطُرقِ خَلفَهُمُ
وَالمَشرَفِيَّةُand the Mashrafi swords مِلءَfilling اليَومِthe day فَوقَهُمُabove them
وَالمَشرَفِيَّةُ مِلءَ اليَومِ فَوقَهُمُ
And A'waji steeds filled the roads behind them,
One who seeks the most forfeits the least
The Awwaji steeds filled the roads behind their backs,
And Mashrafi blades filled the day above them.
Settling for less, a profit is made
And the Mashrafi blades filled the sky above them.
إِذاwhen تَوافَقَتِcoincide الضَرباتُthe blows صاعِدَةًrising
إِذا تَوافَقَتِ الضَرباتُ صاعِدَةً
تَوافَقَتmeet together قُلَلٌhead-tops فيin الجَوِّthe air تَصطَدِمُcolliding
تَوافَقَت قُلَلٌ في الجَوِّ تَصطَدِمُ
When the blows strike together, rising upward,
The cavalry turns away their blades sheathed
When the rising strokes of the swords met in unison,
Head-tops meet in the air and collide.
The hilts between them speaking volumes
Severed heads met, colliding in the air.
وَأَسلَمَand abandoned اِبنُson of شُمُشقيقٍShumushqiq أَلِيَّتَهُhis oath
وَأَسلَمَ اِبنُ شُمُشقيقٍ أَلِيَّتَهُ
أَلّاnot to اِنثَنىturn back فَهوَso he يَنأىdraws away وَهيَwhile it تَبتَسِمُsmiles
أَلّا اِنثَنى فَهوَ يَنأى وَهيَ تَبتَسِمُ
And Ibn Shumushqiq abandoned his oath
Furrowing channels too narrow to pierce
Ibn Shumushqiq surrendered his solemn oath;
Not to turn back: he retreats while it smiles.
As if each tip above was a pen
Groaning as he turned back—he flees, while the oath smiles.
لاnot يَأمُلُhopes for النَفَسَthe breath الأَقصىthe farthest لِمُهجَتِهِfor his life
لا يَأمُلُ النَفَسَ الأَقصى لِمُهجَتِهِ
فَيَسرِقُso he steals النَفَسَthe breath الأَدنىthe nearest وَيَغتَنِمُand seizes the opportunity
فَيَسرِقُ النَفَسَ الأَدنى وَيَغتَنِمُ
He hopes for no far-off breath to sustain his life,
No rain could nourish the trees it concealed
He dares not hope to draw a full, deep breath,
So steals the nearest breath and makes the most of it.
If it departed, their branches would wither
But steals the shallowest gasp, snatching it like loot.
تَرُدُّwards off عَنهُfrom him قَناthe lances of الفُرسانِthe horsemen سابِغَةٌa full coat of mail
تَرُدُّ عَنهُ قَنا الفُرسانِ سابِغَةٌ
صَوبُthe downpour of الأَسِنَّةِthe spearheads فيin أَثنائِهاits folds دِيَمُsteady showers
صَوبُ الأَسِنَّةِ في أَثنائِها دِيَمُ
A full coat of mail wards the horsemen's lances away from him;
You left kings too busy to boast
A long coat of mail repels the knights' lances from him,
Spearheads pour in steady showers into its folds.
Lost in wine, music, and song
Where the pouring of spear-points is a relentless rain.
تَخُطُّtrace lines فيهاon it العَواليthe long spears لَيسَnot تَنفُذُهاpierce it
تَخُطُّ فيها العَوالي لَيسَ تَنفُذُها
كَأَنَّas though كُلَّevery سِنانٍspear-point فَوقَهاupon it قَلَمُa pen
كَأَنَّ كُلَّ سِنانٍ فَوقَها قَلَمُ
The long lances trace lines upon it without piercing it,
Wearing gratitude to God like a necklace
The spear-shafts write upon it, yet do not pierce,
As though each spear-point upon it were a pen.
No blessing is kept fresher than it
As though every lance-tip upon it were a pen.
فَلاso may not سَقىwater الغَيثُthe rain ماwhat واراهُhid him مِنof شَجَرٍtrees
فَلا سَقى الغَيثُ ما واراهُ مِن شَجَرٍ
لَوif زَلَّslipped away عَنهُfrom him لَوارَتwould have covered شَخصَهُhis body الرَخَمُthe vultures
لَو زَلَّ عَنهُ لَوارَت شَخصَهُ الرَخَمُ
May no rain water the trees that hid him!
The blood of Romans throws itself at your feet
May the rain not water the trees that gave him cover;
Had they slipped away from him, vultures would have covered his body.
One drop would suffice if you called, not struck
For had they failed him, vultures would have covered his corpse.
أَلهىdistracted المَمالِكَthe kingdoms عَنfrom فَخرٍa glory قَفَلتَyou returned بِهِwith it
أَلهى المَمالِكَ عَن فَخرٍ قَفَلتَ بِهِ
شُربُdrinking المُدامَةِwine وَالأَوتارُand strings وَالنَغَمُand melodies
شُربُ المُدامَةِ وَالأَوتارُ وَالنَغَمُ
The kingdoms were distracted from the glory you brought home
Death outpaces them in every battle
The kingdoms were distracted from the glory you brought home
By drinking wine, by strings, and by melodies.
They know not death nor old age
By the drinking of wine, by lute-strings and melodies.
مُقَلَّداًwearing at your neck فَوقَbesides شُكرِgratitude to اللَهِGod ذاone bearing شُطَبٍblade-grooves
مُقَلَّداً فَوقَ شُكرِ اللَهِ ذا شُطَبٍ
لاnot تُستَدامُare perpetuated بِأَمضىby anything sharper مِنهُماthan those two النِعَمُblessings
لا تُستَدامُ بِأَمضى مِنهُما النِعَمُ
Girt, besides your gratitude to God, with a grooved sword;
The slumber left Ali's eyes
Bearing, above your gratitude to God, a ridged sword,
No sharper means than these two preserve blessings.
One soul relieving another of worry
For by nothing sharper than these two are blessings sustained.
أَلقَتyielded إِلَيكَto you دِماءُthe blood of الرومِthe Romans طاعَتَهاits obedience
أَلقَت إِلَيكَ دِماءُ الرومِ طاعَتَها
فَلَوso if دَعَوتَyou called بِلاwithout ضَربٍstriking أَجابَwould answer دَمُblood
فَلَو دَعَوتَ بِلا ضَربٍ أَجابَ دَمُ
The Romans' blood has yielded its obedience to you;
The Righteous King, the Guide
The blood of the Romans surrendered its obedience to you;
So, if you called without striking, blood would answer.
Whose leadership Arabs and non-Arabs witnessed
Had you called without striking, the blood would have answered.
يُسابِقُoutruns القَتلُkilling فيهِمamong them كُلَّevery حادِثَةٍcalamity
يُسابِقُ القَتلُ فيهِم كُلَّ حادِثَةٍ
فَماso not يُصيبُهُمُbefalls them مَوتٌdeath وَلاnor هَرَمُold age
فَما يُصيبُهُمُ مَوتٌ وَلا هَرَمُ
Slaying outruns every calamity among them,
Son of the Musky in Nejd, its champion
Slaughter races ahead of every calamity among them,
So neither natural death nor old age reaches them.
His sword, his Kufa, and the Sacred Mosque
So that neither natural death nor old age overtakes them.
نَفَتdrove away رُقادَthe slumber of عَلِيٍّAli عَنfrom مَحاجِرِهِhis eye-sockets
نَفَت رُقادَ عَلِيٍّ عَن مَحاجِرِهِ
نَفسٌa soul يُفَرِّجُrelieves نَفساًa soul غَيرَهاother than it الحُلُمُdreams
نَفسٌ يُفَرِّجُ نَفساً غَيرَها الحُلُمُ
Ali's slumber has been driven from his eye-sockets
Seek no other noble after seeing him
A spirit banished sleep from Ali's eyes,
By a soul; dreams bring relief to other souls, not his.
The best men seal nobility with open hands
A spirit that soothes the soul, while others find peace in dreams.
القائِمُthe steadfast المَلِكُthe king الهاديthe guide الَّذيwhose شَهِدَتhave witnessed
القائِمُ المَلِكُ الهادي الَّذي شَهِدَت
قِيامَهُhis steadfastness وَهُداهُand his guidance العُربُthe Arabs وَالعَجَمُand non-Arabs
قِيامَهُ وَهُداهُ العُربُ وَالعَجَمُ
The steadfast king, the guide, whose
Do not heed verse after its poet
The Upholder, the King, the Guide, for whom
Steadfastness and guidance Arabs and non-Arabs have witnessed.
Words are spoiled, silence praised
Both Arab and Persian bear witness to his rise and his light.
اِبنُson of المُعَفِّرِhe who cast into dust فيin نَجدٍNajd فَوارِسَهاits horsemen
اِبنُ المُعَفِّرِ في نَجدٍ فَوارِسَها
بِسَيفِهِwith his sword وَلَهُand his are كوفانُKufan وَالحَرَمُand the Sanctuary
بِسَيفِهِ وَلَهُ كوفانُ وَالحَرَمُ
Son of him who laid Najd's horsemen in the dust
Son of the one who humbled the horsemen of Najd in the dust
With his sword, while Kufan and the Sanctuary were his.
With his sword, when Kufa and the Holy Sanctuary were his.
لاnot تَطلُبَنَّever seek كَريماًa generous man بَعدَafter رُؤيَتِهِseeing him
لا تَطلُبَنَّ كَريماً بَعدَ رُؤيَتِهِ
إِنَّindeed الكِرامَthe generous بِأَسخاهُمwith their most generous يَداًin hand خُتِمواwere sealed
إِنَّ الكِرامَ بِأَسخاهُم يَداً خُتِموا
Seek no generous man after seeing him;
Seek no noble man after you have beheld him,
For the generous culminated in their most open-handed.
For the line of the noble ends with the most generous hand.
وَلاand not تُبالِpay heed بِشِعرٍto poetry بَعدَafter شاعِرِهِits poet
وَلا تُبالِ بِشِعرٍ بَعدَ شاعِرِهِ
قَدindeed أُفسِدَhas been corrupted القَولُspeech حَتّىuntil أُحمِدَwas praised الصَمَمُdeafness
قَد أُفسِدَ القَولُ حَتّى أُحمِدَ الصَمَمُ
And pay no heed to poetry after this poet;
And heed no poetry after his own poet has spoken;
Speech has been so spoiled that deafness is praised.
Speech is so spoiled that deafness is now praised.
Partial English translation: 104 of 110 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1