دُروعٌarmor لِمَلكِfor the king الرومِthe Romans هَذيthese الرَسائِلُthe letters
دُروعٌ لِمَلكِ الرومِ هَذي الرَسائِلُ
يَرُدُّhe repels بِهاwith them عَنfrom نَفسِهِhimself وَيُشاغِلُand plays for time
يَرُدُّ بِها عَن نَفسِهِ وَيُشاغِلُ
These letters are armor for the king of the Romans;
These letters serve as armor for the Byzantine King,
with them he shields himself and plays for time.
With them he shields himself and stalls for time.
هِيَthey الزَرَدُthe chain mail الضافيample عَلَيهِupon him وَلَفظُهاand their wording
هِيَ الزَرَدُ الضافي عَلَيهِ وَلَفظُها
عَلَيكَof you ثَناءٌpraise سابِغٌenveloping وَفَضائِلُand virtues
عَلَيكَ ثَناءٌ سابِغٌ وَفَضائِلُ
They are the ample mail that covers him, while their wording
They are the flowing chainmail draped upon him,
is praise that envelops you and a recital of your virtues.
While their words offer lavish praise and tributes to you.
وَأَنّىand how اِهتَدىfound his way هَذاthis الرَسولُenvoy بِأَرضِهِin his land
وَأَنّى اِهتَدى هَذا الرَسولُ بِأَرضِهِ
وَماand not سَكَنَتsettled مُذsince سِرتَyou marched فيهاin it القَساطِلُthe dust clouds
وَما سَكَنَت مُذ سِرتَ فيها القَساطِلُ
And how did this envoy find his way through his land,
How did this messenger find his way across his land,
when the dust clouds have not settled since you marched there?
When the dust of war has not settled since your march began?
وَمِنand from أَيِّwhich ماءٍwater كانَhe was يَسقيwatering جِيادَهُhis steeds
وَمِن أَيِّ ماءٍ كانَ يَسقي جِيادَهُ
وَلَمand did not تَصفُbecome clear مِنof مَزجِmingling الدِماءِblood المَناهِلُthe watering places
وَلَم تَصفُ مِن مَزجِ الدِماءِ المَناهِلُ
And from what water did he water his steeds,
And from what water did he quench his horses' thirst,
when the watering places have not cleared of mingled blood?
When the springs are not yet clear of mingled blood?
أَتاكَhe came to you يَكادُalmost الرَأسُthe head يَجحَدُdisowns عُنقَهُits neck
أَتاكَ يَكادُ الرَأسُ يَجحَدُ عُنقَهُ
وَتَنقَدُّand split apart تَحتَbeneath الذُعرِterror مِنهُof him المَفاصِلُthe joints
وَتَنقَدُّ تَحتَ الذُعرِ مِنهُ المَفاصِلُ
He came to you, his head almost disowning its neck,
He came to you, his head all but renouncing his neck,
and his joints splitting apart beneath his terror.
While beneath the terror, his very joints collapse.
يُقَوِّمُstraightens تَقويمُstraight alignment السَماطَينِthe two ranks مَشيَهُhis gait
يُقَوِّمُ تَقويمُ السَماطَينِ مَشيَهُ
إِلَيكَtoward you إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle عَوَّجَتهُhave bent him الأَفاكِلُthe tremors
إِلَيكَ إِذا ما عَوَّجَتهُ الأَفاكِلُ
The straightness of the two ranks steadies his walk
The rows of guards on either side hold straight his walk,
toward you whenever tremors twist him awry.
Pushing him toward you whenever tremors make him stumble.
فَقاسَمَكَso he shared with you العَينَينِthe two eyes مِنهُof him وَلَحظَهُand his gaze
فَقاسَمَكَ العَينَينِ مِنهُ وَلَحظَهُ
سَمِيُّكَyour namesake وَالخِلُّand the intimate friend الَّذيwho لاnot يُزايِلُdeparts
سَمِيُّكَ وَالخِلُّ الَّذي لا يُزايِلُ
So his two eyes and his gaze were shared between you
He divided his gaze and glancing eyes between you,
and your namesake, the friend who never leaves you.
And your namesake—the sword, that inseparable friend.
وَأَبصَرَand he saw مِنكَfrom you الرِزقَsustenance وَالرِزقُand sustenance مُطمِعٌtempts
وَأَبصَرَ مِنكَ الرِزقَ وَالرِزقُ مُطمِعٌ
وَأَبصَرَand he saw مِنهُfrom him المَوتَdeath وَالمَوتُand death هائِلُis terrifying
وَأَبصَرَ مِنهُ المَوتَ وَالمَوتُ هائِلُ
He saw sustenance in you, and sustenance tempts;
In you he saw life's provision—a tempting prize,
and death in him, and death is terrifying.
In it he saw death—and death is truly terrible.
وَقَبَّلَand he kissed كُمّاًa sleeve قَبِّلَkissed التُربَthe dust قَبلَهُbefore it
وَقَبَّلَ كُمّاً قَبِّلَ التُربَ قَبلَهُ
وَكُلُّand every كَمِيٍّarmored warrior واقِفٌstanding مُتَضائِلُshrinking
وَكُلُّ كَمِيٍّ واقِفٌ مُتَضائِلُ
He kissed a sleeve, having kissed the dust before it,
He kissed a royal sleeve the dust had kissed before,
while every armored warrior stood shrinking in awe.
While every standing warrior felt himself grow small.
وَأَسعَدُand the happiest مُشتاقٍyearning one وَأَظفَرُand the most successful طالِبٍseeker
وَأَسعَدُ مُشتاقٍ وَأَظفَرُ طالِبٍ
هُمامٌa noble man إِلىto تَقبيلِkissing كُمِّكَyour sleeve واصِلُreaching
هُمامٌ إِلى تَقبيلِ كُمِّكَ واصِلُ
The happiest of yearning souls, the most successful seeker,
The happiest of yearners and most successful seeker
is a noble man who reaches your sleeve to kiss it.
Is the hero who succeeds in reaching to kiss your sleeve.
مَكانٌa place تَمَنّاهُlonged for it الشِفاهُthe lips وَدونَهُand before it
مَكانٌ تَمَنّاهُ الشِفاهُ وَدونَهُ
صُدورُthe chests المَذاكيthe full-grown steeds وَالرِماحُand the spears الذَوابِلُslender
صُدورُ المَذاكي وَالرِماحُ الذَوابِلُ
A place that lips desire, but barring the way to it
It is a spot the lips desire, yet standing in the way
are the chests of full-grown steeds and slender spears.
Are the chests of warhorses and slender spears.
فَماso not بَلَّغَتهُbrought him to ماwhat أَرادَhe desired كَرامَةٌhonor
فَما بَلَّغَتهُ ما أَرادَ كَرامَةٌ
عَلَيكَwith you وَلَكِنbut لَمdid not يَخِبgo disappointed لَكَto you سائِلُa petitioner
عَلَيكَ وَلَكِن لَم يَخِب لَكَ سائِلُ
He did not gain his wish through any special standing
It was not honor that let him reach the goal he sought,
with you; rather, no petitioner to you goes disappointed.
But simply that no petitioner of yours is ever turned away.
وَأَكبَرَand he marveled at مِنهُin him هِمَّةًresolve بَعَثَتsent بِهِhim
وَأَكبَرَ مِنهُ هِمَّةً بَعَثَت بِهِ
إِلَيكَto you العِدىthe enemies وَاِستَنظَرَتهُand asked him for respite الجَحافِلُthe armies
إِلَيكَ العِدى وَاِستَنظَرَتهُ الجَحافِلُ
He marveled at your resolve, which made the enemies send him
Far greater than the man is the ambition that sent him
to you, and the armies beg you for respite.
From the enemy to you, while armies waited on his word.
فَأَقبَلَso he came مِنfrom أَصحابِهِhis companions وَهوَwhile he was مُرسَلٌan envoy
فَأَقبَلَ مِن أَصحابِهِ وَهوَ مُرسَلٌ
وَعادَand he returned إِلىto أَصحابِهِhis companions وَهوَwhile he was عاذِلُa reprover
وَعادَ إِلى أَصحابِهِ وَهوَ عاذِلُ
He came from his companions as an envoy,
He came forth from his people as a messenger,
and returned to his companions as a reprover.
And returned to his people as a clear warner.
تَحَيَّرَhe was bewildered فيby سَيفٍa sword رَبيعَةُRabi'ah أَصلُهُits origin
تَحَيَّرَ في سَيفٍ رَبيعَةُ أَصلُهُ
وَطابِعُهُand its forger الرَحمَنُthe All-Merciful وَالمَجدُand glory صاقِلُa polisher
وَطابِعُهُ الرَحمَنُ وَالمَجدُ صاقِلُ
He was bewildered by a sword whose stock is Rabi'ah,
He stood bewildered by a Sword whose root is Rabia,
whose forger is the All-Merciful and whose polisher is glory.
Tempered by the Merciful, and polished by Glory.
وَماand not لَونُهُits color مِمّاof what تُحَصِّلُdiscerns مُقلَةٌan eye
وَما لَونُهُ مِمّا تُحَصِّلُ مُقلَةٌ
وَلاnor حَدُّهُits edge مِمّاof what تَجُسُّfeel الأَنامِلُthe fingertips
وَلا حَدُّهُ مِمّا تَجُسُّ الأَنامِلُ
Its color is not something an eye can grasp,
Its color is not something the eye can fully grasp,
nor its edge something fingertips can feel.
Nor is its edge something for fingertips to test.
إِذاwhen عايَنَتكَbeheld you الرُسلُthe envoys هانَتbecame insignificant نُفوسُهاtheir lives
إِذا عايَنَتكَ الرُسلُ هانَت نُفوسُها
عَلَيهاto them وَماand what جاءَتthey came بِهِwith it وَالمُراسِلُand the sender
عَلَيها وَما جاءَت بِهِ وَالمُراسِلُ
When envoys behold you, their own lives seem insignificant
When messengers behold you, their own lives seem cheap
to them, as do what they bring and the one who sent them.
To them—as do their messages and those who sent them.
رَجاhoped in الرومُthe Romans مَنthe one whom تُرجىare hoped for النَوافِلُthe favors كُلُّهاall of them
رَجا الرومُ مَن تُرجى النَوافِلُ كُلُّها
لَدَيهِfrom him وَلاand not تُرجىare expected لَدَيهِfrom him الطَوائِلُreprisals
لَدَيهِ وَلا تُرجى لَدَيهِ الطَوائِلُ
The Romans placed their hopes in one from whom all favors
The Byzantines placed hope in him from whom all gifts are hoped,
are hoped for, and from whom no reprisals are expected.
Yet none may hope to gain revenge against him.
فَإِنso if كانَwas خَوفُfear القَتلِkilling وَالأَسرِand captivity ساقَهُمdrove them
فَإِن كانَ خَوفُ القَتلِ وَالأَسرِ ساقَهُم
فَقَدthen indeed فَعَلواthey did ماwhat القَتلُkilling وَالأَسرُand captivity فاعِلُdoes
فَقَد فَعَلوا ما القَتلُ وَالأَسرُ فاعِلُ
If fear of death and captivity drove them,
If fear of death and captivity is what drove them here,
they have already done what killing and captivity would do.
They have already suffered what death and chains would do.
فَخافوكَso they feared you حَتّىuntil ماnot لِقَتلٍfor killing زِيادَةٌany addition
فَخافوكَ حَتّى ما لِقَتلٍ زِيادَةٌ
وَجاؤوكَand they came to you حَتّىuntil ماnot تُرادُare needed السَلاسِلُthe chains
وَجاؤوكَ حَتّى ما تُرادُ السَلاسِلُ
They feared you so much that killing could add nothing,
They feared you till death itself could add no pain,
and came to you so that chains were no longer needed.
And came to you until chains were no longer needed.
أَرىI see كُلَّevery ذيpossessor of مُلكٍa kingdom إِلَيكَto you مَصيرُهُhis destination
أَرى كُلَّ ذي مُلكٍ إِلَيكَ مَصيرُهُ
كَأَنَّكَas though you بَحرٌa sea وَالمُلوكُand the kings جَداوِلُstreams
كَأَنَّكَ بَحرٌ وَالمُلوكُ جَداوِلُ
I see every sovereign's final destination as you,
I see that every king is destined to come to you,
as though you were a sea and kings were streams.
As if you were the ocean, and all other kings mere streams.
إِذاwhen مَطَرَتrained مِنهُمfrom them وَمِنكَand from you سَحائِبٌclouds
إِذا مَطَرَت مِنهُم وَمِنكَ سَحائِبٌ
فَوابِلُهُمthen their downpour طَلٌّdrizzle وَطَلُّكَand your drizzle وابِلُa downpour
فَوابِلُهُم طَلٌّ وَطَلُّكَ وابِلُ
When clouds rain down from them and from you,
If rain-clouds were to pour from them and you alike,
their downpour is drizzle, and your drizzle a downpour.
Their torrent would be drizzle; your drizzle, a torrential flood.
كَريمٌgenerous مَتىwhenever اِستوهِبتَyou are asked to give ماwhat أَنتَyou راكِبٌare riding
كَريمٌ مَتى اِستوهِبتَ ما أَنتَ راكِبٌ
وَقَدand already لَقِحَتhas conceived حَربٌwar فَإِنَّكَthen indeed you باذِلُa giver
وَقَد لَقِحَت حَربٌ فَإِنَّكَ باذِلُ
You are generous: whenever asked for the mount you ride,
Most noble one, if asked to give the very mount you ride,
even when war has conceived, you give it freely.
Even as the war ignites, you would give it freely.
أَذاO possessor of الجودِgenerosity أَعطِgive الناسِthe people ماwhat أَنتَyou مالِكٌpossess
أَذا الجودِ أَعطِ الناسِ ما أَنتَ مالِكٌ
وَلاand do not تُعطِيَنَّever give الناسَthe people ماwhat أَناI قائِلُam saying
وَلا تُعطِيَنَّ الناسَ ما أَنا قائِلُ
O man of generosity, give people what you possess,
O Paragon of Generosity, give people what you own,
but never give people what I say.
But do not grant them the words that I compose.
أَفيis it in كُلِّevery يَومٍday تَحتَbeneath ضِبنيmy underarm شُوَيعِرٌa petty poet
أَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ تَحتَ ضِبني شُوَيعِرٌ
ضَعيفٌweak يُقاوينيchallenges my strength قَصيرٌshort يُطاوِلُvies in height
ضَعيفٌ يُقاويني قَصيرٌ يُطاوِلُ
Must there be every day, beneath my arm, a petty poet—
Must I find every day, nestled beneath my arm, some petty poet,
weak, vying with my strength; short, vying with my height?
A weakling trying to grapple, a dwarf trying to tower?
لِسانيmy tongue بِنُطقيthrough my speaking صامِتٌsilent عَنهُabout him عادِلٌturning away
لِساني بِنُطقي صامِتٌ عَنهُ عادِلٌ
وَقَلبيand my heart بِصَمتيthrough my silence ضاحِكٌlaughing مِنهُat him هازِلُmocking
وَقَلبي بِصَمتي ضاحِكٌ مِنهُ هازِلُ
My tongue, though I speak, is silent about him, turning away;
My tongue, despite its power, falls silent, ignoring him,
and my heart, though I am silent, laughs at him in mockery.
While in that silence, my heart laughs and mocks.
وَأَتعَبُand the most wearied مَنone who ناداكَcalled you مَنone whom لاnot تُجيبُهُyou answer him
وَأَتعَبُ مَن ناداكَ مَن لا تُجيبُهُ
وَأَغيَظُand the most enraged مَنone who عاداكَopposed you مَنone whom لاnot تُشاكِلُyou resemble
وَأَغيَظُ مَن عاداكَ مَن لا تُشاكِلُ
The most wearied of those who call you is the one you do not answer,
The most weary caller is the one you do not answer,
and your most enraged enemy is one who is no peer of yours.
And the most furious foe is the one you deign not to fight.
وَماand not التيهُarrogance طِبّيmy habit فيهِمُamong them غَيرَexcept أَنَّنيthat I
وَما التيهُ طِبّي فيهِمُ غَيرَ أَنَّني
بَغيضٌhateful إِلَيَّto me الجاهِلُthe ignorant man المُتَعاقِلُthe pretender to intelligence
بَغيضٌ إِلَيَّ الجاهِلُ المُتَعاقِلُ
Arrogance is not my way with them; it is only that
Arrogance is not my nature among them, save that I
the ignorant man who pretends to wisdom is hateful to me.
Detest the ignorant man who feigns wisdom.
وَأَكبَرُand the greatest تيهيmy pride أَنَّنيthat I بِكَin you واثِقٌconfident
وَأَكبَرُ تيهي أَنَّني بِكَ واثِقٌ
وَأَكثَرُand most of ماليmy wealth أَنَّنيthat I لَكَin you آمِلُhopeful
وَأَكثَرُ مالي أَنَّني لَكَ آمِلُ
My greatest pride is my confidence in you,
My greatest pride is that I place my trust in you,
and the greater part of my wealth is my hope in you.
And my vastest wealth is the hope I place in you.
لَعَلَّperhaps لِسَيفِfor Sayf (Sword) الدَولَةِal-Dawla (the State) القَرمِthe mighty chief هَبَّةًa stirring
لَعَلَّ لِسَيفِ الدَولَةِ القَرمِ هَبَّةً
يَعيشُlives بِهاthrough it حَقٌّtruth وَيَهلِكُand perishes باطِلُfalsehood
يَعيشُ بِها حَقٌّ وَيَهلِكُ باطِلُ
Perhaps the mighty chief Sayf al-Dawla will rouse himself,
Perhaps Sayf al-Dawla, the noble chief, will rise,
and by that stirring truth will live and falsehood perish.
Giving life to the truth, while falsehood perishes.
رَمَيتُI pelted عِداهُhis enemies بِالقَوافيwith rhymes وَفَضلِهِand his excellence
رَمَيتُ عِداهُ بِالقَوافي وَفَضلِهِ
وَهُنَّand they الغَوازيthe raiders السالِباتُthe plunderers القَواتِلُthe killers
وَهُنَّ الغَوازي السالِباتُ القَواتِلُ
I pelted his enemies with rhymes and his excellence,
I struck his enemies with rhymes and with his grace,
and they are raiders, plunderers, killers.
For these verses are the raiders, the plunderers, the killers.
وَقَدand indeed زَعَمواthey claimed أَنَّthat النُجومَthe stars خَوالِدٌimmortal
وَقَد زَعَموا أَنَّ النُجومَ خَوالِدٌ
وَلَوand if حارَبَتهُthey fought him ناحَwailed فيهاamong them الثَواكِلُthe bereaved mothers
وَلَو حارَبَتهُ ناحَ فيها الثَواكِلُ
They have claimed that the stars are immortal;
They have claimed that the stars are eternal,
yet, if they fought him, bereaved mothers would wail among them.
Yet were they to fight him, mourning mothers would wail among them.
وَماand how كانَwould be أَدناهاhow near they are لَهُto him لَوif أَرادَهاhe wanted them
وَما كانَ أَدناها لَهُ لَو أَرادَها
وَأَلطَفَهاand how slight they are لَوif أَنَّهُthat he المُتَناوِلُthe one reaching
وَأَلطَفَها لَو أَنَّهُ المُتَناوِلُ
How near they would be to him if he wanted them,
How close they would be to him, had he desired them,
and how slight if he were the one reaching for them!
How easily grasped, if he reached out his hand.
قَريبٌnear عَلَيهِto him كُلُّevery ناءٍdistant thing عَلىto الوَرىmankind
قَريبٌ عَلَيهِ كُلُّ ناءٍ عَلى الوَرى
إِذاwhen لَثَّمَتهُveiled him بِالغُبارِwith dust القَنابِلُthe cavalry squadrons
إِذا لَثَّمَتهُ بِالغُبارِ القَنابِلُ
Everything distant to mankind is near for him,
Close to him is all that is distant to mankind,
when the cavalry squadrons veil him with dust.
When the squadrons veil him in clouds of dust.
تُدَبِّرُgoverns شَرقَthe east الأَرضِthe earth وَالغَربِand the west كَفُّهُhis hand
تُدَبِّرُ شَرقَ الأَرضِ وَالغَربِ كَفُّهُ
وَلَيسَand there is no لَهاfor it وَقتاًfor a moment عَنِfrom الجودِgenerosity شاغِلُdistraction
وَلَيسَ لَها وَقتاً عَنِ الجودِ شاغِلُ
His hand governs the earth's east and west,
His hand governs the Earth's East and its West,
yet nothing distracts it from generosity for a moment.
Yet finds no moment's rest from generosity.
يُتَبِّعُpursues هُرّابَthe fugitives الرِجالِthe men مُرادُهُhis will
يُتَبِّعُ هُرّابَ الرِجالِ مُرادُهُ
فَمَنso whoever فَرَّfled حَرباًin war عارَضَتهُconfronted him الغَوائِلُdeadly perils
فَمَن فَرَّ حَرباً عارَضَتهُ الغَوائِلُ
His will pursues the men who flee;
His will pursues the men who flee from him;
whoever flees in war is met by deadly perils.
Whoever flees his war meets certain doom,
وَمَنand whoever فَرَّfled مِنfrom إِحسانِهِhis kindness حَسَداًout of envy لَهُof him
وَمَن فَرَّ مِن إِحسانِهِ حَسَداً لَهُ
تَلَقّاهُmet him مِنهُfrom him حَيثُماwherever سارَhe went نائِلُa gift
تَلَقّاهُ مِنهُ حَيثُما سارَ نائِلُ
And whoever flees his kindness out of envy of him
And whoever flees his bounty out of jealous spite
is met by a gift from him wherever he goes.
Will meet his gifts wherever he may roam.
فَتىًa young hero لاnot يَرىconsiders إِحسانَهُhis kindness وَهوَwhile it is كامِلٌcomplete
فَتىً لا يَرى إِحسانَهُ وَهوَ كامِلٌ
لَهُto him كامِلاًcomplete حَتّىuntil يُرىis seen وَهوَwhile it is شامِلُall-embracing
لَهُ كامِلاً حَتّى يُرى وَهوَ شامِلُ
A young hero who does not deem his kindness, though perfect,
A knight who deems his bounty incomplete, though it is perfect,
perfect in his own eyes until it is seen to embrace all.
Until he sees it encompass everyone.
إِذاwhen العَرَبُthe Arabs العَرباءُof pure Arab stock رازَتtested نُفوسَهاthemselves
إِذا العَرَبُ العَرباءُ رازَت نُفوسَها
فَأَنتَthen you فَتاهاtheir champion وَالمَليكُand the king الحَلاحِلُthe mighty one
فَأَنتَ فَتاها وَالمَليكُ الحَلاحِلُ
When the Arabs of pure stock put themselves to the test,
If the purest Arabs were to test their souls,
you are their champion and the mighty king.
They would find you their hero, their magnificent king.
أَطاعَتكَobeyed you فيin أَرواحِهاtheir lives وَتَصَرَّفَتand acted
أَطاعَتكَ في أَرواحِها وَتَصَرَّفَت
بِأَمرِكَat your command وَاِلتَفَّتand rallied عَلَيكَaround you القَبائِلُthe tribes
بِأَمرِكَ وَاِلتَفَّت عَلَيكَ القَبائِلُ
They obeyed you with their lives and acted
They have obeyed you with their very lives, moving
at your command, and the tribes rallied around you.
At your command, as tribes rally around you.
وَكُلُّand all أَنابيبِthe segments القَناthe lances مَدَدٌreinforcements لَهُfor him
وَكُلُّ أَنابيبِ القَنا مَدَدٌ لَهُ
وَماand not يَنكُتُstrikes down الفُرسانَthe horsemen إِلّاexcept العَوامِلُthe spearheads
وَما يَنكُتُ الفُرسانَ إِلّا العَوامِلُ
All the joints of the lances lend him support,
Every spear-shaft serves as an extension of his arm,
but only the spearheads strike the horsemen down.
Though only the spearpoints pierce the knights.
رَأَيتُكَI saw you لَوif لَمdid not يَقتَضِcompel الطَعنُspear-thrusting فيin الوَغىbattle
رَأَيتُكَ لَو لَم يَقتَضِ الطَعنُ في الوَغى
إِلَيكَto you اِنقِياداًsubmission لَاِقتَضَتهُwould surely have compelled it الشَمائِلُthe noble qualities
إِلَيكَ اِنقِياداً لَاِقتَضَتهُ الشَمائِلُ
I have seen you: if spear-thrusts in battle did not compel
I see that even if the thrust of battle did not demand
submission to you, your noble character would compel it.
Submission to you, your noble nature would command it.
وَمَنand whoever لَمdid not تُعَلِّمهُteach him لَكَbefore you الذُلَّabasement نَفسُهُhis own soul
وَمَن لَم تُعَلِّمهُ لَكَ الذُلَّ نَفسُهُ
مِنَamong الناسَthe people طُرّاًall together عَلَّمَتهُtaught him المَناصِلُthe sword-blades
مِنَ الناسَ طُرّاً عَلَّمَتهُ المَناصِلُ
And whoever's own soul has not taught him abasement before you,
And he whose own soul does not teach him to yield to you,
among all mankind, has been taught it by the sword-blades.
Will learn that lesson from the edge of the sword.
Sol 6.1