ياoh هَلhas شجاكَgrieved you نَوىparting الخليطِthe companions الظاعنdeparting
يا هَل شجاكَ نَوى الخليطِ الظاعن
إذwhen بانَdeparted عنكَfrom you وكلُّand every إلفٍintimate companion بائنِdeparting
إذ بانَ عنكَ وكلُّ إلفٍ بائنِ
Oh, has the parting of your departing companions grieved you?
O the one whose heart was hurt by the disloyal camp's betrayal,
When they left you—and every intimate companion must depart.
When they turned away from you though every covenant has ended.
بانَdeparted الخليطُthe companions فبانso departed صبركَyour patience عندهwith them
بانَ الخليطُ فبان صبركَ عنده
ولقدand indeed يقيمremains معwith المقيمthe one staying القاطنthe resident
ولقد يقيم مع المقيم القاطن
The companions departed, and with them your patience departed.
The disloyal turned away, so your patience with them dissipated,
Yet it remains with the one who stays and dwells.
And the resident can handle staying with another resident.
ليتwould that الأحبَّةthe loved ones يومthe day زمّواthey haltered عيرهمtheir caravan
ليت الأحبَّة يوم زمّوا عيرهم
سمحواthey granted بنظرةِwith a glimpse ذيone possessing الشبابِyouth الفاتنِenchanting
سمحوا بنظرةِ ذي الشبابِ الفاتنِ
Would that the loved ones, the day they haltered their caravan,
If only the loved ones, when they loaded their camels,
Had granted a glimpse of the one with enchanting youth.
Had allowed a look from the charming youth.
شحطواthey went far away فظلتُso I kept أريقpouring out ماءwater مدامعٍtears
شحطوا فظلتُ أريق ماء مدامعٍ
بلَّتdrenched حمائلَthe sword-belts ذيDhu (possessor of) الرِّقابِal-Riqab (necks) هواتنِstreaming copiously
بلَّت حمائلَ ذي الرِّقابِ هواتنِ
They went far away, and I kept pouring streams of tears,
They went far away, so I shed the water of flowing tears
Whose torrents drenched the baldrics of Dhu al-Riqab.
That wet the braces of the slender-necked beauties.
وطفقتُand I began بعدهمafter them بَهمٍwith grief ظاهرٍoutward
وطفقتُ بعدهم بَهمٍ ظاهرٍ
بادٍmanifest عليكَto you بهمfor them وَهمٍand grief باطنِinward
بادٍ عليكَ بهم وَهمٍ باطنِ
And after them I was left with outward grief,
After them I remained in clear anxiety,
Plain to you for their sake, and grief concealed within.
Lost in worries about you, and hidden worries.
نَعَمِyes اشمعلَّsped away الظاعنونَthe departing travelers لطيَّةٍtoward a destination
نَعَمِ اشمعلَّ الظاعنونَ لطيَّةٍ
زوراءَfar off ليسis not منالُهاreaching it بالهَائنِat all easy
زوراءَ ليس منالُها بالهَائنِ
Yes, the departing travelers sped toward a destination
Indeed, the disloyal hoped for a soft touch,
Far off, not easily reached.
Falsehood whose attainment is not possible for the desperate.
هاجتstirred بكاىَmy weeping حُدوجُهمtheir camel-litters فكأنهاso as though they were
هاجت بكاىَ حُدوجُهم فكأنها
والآلُand the mirage مرتكمٌheaped up سفائنships يامِنِYamin
والآلُ مرتكمٌ سفائن يامِنِ
Their camel-litters stirred my weeping, as though they were
Their cheeks let loose a weeping that stirred, as if
Yamin's ships amid the heaped-up mirage.
They and the family were ships, O shelterer!
ياO منزلاdwelling جمحَbolted الزمانtime بأهلهwith its people
يا منزلا جمحَ الزمان بأهله
فرماهمُso it cast them بتشتُّتٍinto dispersal وتباينِand separation
فرماهمُ بتشتُّتٍ وتباينِ
O dwelling, time bolted away with your people,
O home that time has ruined its people,
Casting them into dispersal and separation.
And scattered them in separation and discord.
سَقياmay rain bless لعهدكyour bygone days معهداًO dwelling ظَلْناwe spent our days بهin it
سَقيا لعهدك معهداً ظَلْنا به
نلهوwe played ببيضٍwith fair maidens كالشُّموسlike suns فَواتنِbewitching
نلهو ببيضٍ كالشُّموس فَواتنِ
May rain bless your days, dwelling where we once lingered,
Give to your era an era we lived in,
Playing with fair, bewitching maidens like suns.
Playing with pearls like shining suns.
منamong كلِّeach رائعةِsplendid الجمالِbeauty خريدةٍsecluded maiden
من كلِّ رائعةِ الجمالِ خريدةٍ
رَيَّاfull الرَّوادفِhips كالوذيلةlike a silver ingot حاصِنِchaste
رَيَّا الرَّوادفِ كالوذيلة حاصِنِ
Each one a secluded maiden of dazzling beauty,
Of every elegant beauty an expensive purchase,
Full-hipped, like a silver ingot, chaste.
A doe marking the meadows, like an adorned filly.
خودtender maiden تسفّهmakes fools of كلَّevery حبرscholar عالمٍlearned
خود تسفّه كلَّ حبر عالمٍ
يهدىguides الأنامَmankind وكلَّand every طبْنٍshrewd man طابنِdiscerning
يهدى الأنامَ وكلَّ طبْنٍ طابنِ
A tender maiden who makes fools of every learned sage
Denounce every scholar who claims wisdom,
Who guides mankind, and every sharp, discerning man.
Guiding people, and every composer singing songs,
فإذاand when اتَّقتكَshe avoided you أرتكَshe showed you جيدneck غزالةٍgazelle
فإذا اتَّقتكَ أرتكَ جيد غزالةٍ
وإذاand when رنتكَshe gazed at you رَنتْshe gazed بعينيْwith the two eyes of شادِنِa fawn
وإذا رنتكَ رَنتْ بعينيْ شادِنِ
When she shies away from you, she shows you a gazelle's neck;
For when I meet you, I find the smooth cheek of a gazelle,
When she gazes at you, she gazes with a fawn's eyes.
And when I call you, you call me with enchanting eyes.
أترابage-mates رايةَRaya والزَّمانand time مساعدfavorable
أتراب رايةَ والزَّمان مساعد
والدهرand fate يرمقناwatches us بعينِwith the eye of مهادنِa peacemaker
والدهر يرمقنا بعينِ مهادنِ
Raya's age-mates, with time on our side,
I place the banner of the time that supports us,
And fate watching us with a peacemaker's eye,
And fate looks upon us with affectionate eyes,
حتىuntil إذاwhen عبثَtrifled الزمانtime بوصلناwith our union
حتى إذا عبثَ الزمان بوصلنا
فأبادهso it destroyed it والدهرand fate أغدرmost treacherous خائنِbetrayer
فأباده والدهر أغدر خائنِ
Until time trifled with our union
Until when time disrupts our union,
And destroyed it—fate, that most treacherous betrayer.
And fate, the traitor, destroys us most wickedly.
ياO رايَRaya قدَّfigure وجمالand the beauty of وجهكِyour face حِلْفةًan oath
يا رايَ قدَّ وجمال وجهكِ حِلْفةً
أيقظتِyou awakened راقدَthe sleeping كلِّevery حزنٍsorrow كامنِhidden
أيقظتِ راقدَ كلِّ حزنٍ كامنِ
O Raya, by your figure and your face's beauty, I swear:
O flag, your beauty and the beauty of your face pledged
You awakened every sleeping, hidden grief.
To awaken every dormant sorrow.
إنيindeed I لآنفُtruly disdain أنto أدينsubmit لغاشمٍto a tyrant
إني لآنفُ أن أدين لغاشمٍ
ذلاًin abasement ودونand rather than الذُّلabasement جدعُcutting off المارنِthe soft part of the nose
ذلاً ودون الذُّل جدعُ المارنِ
I disdain to submit to a tyrant
I disdain to be indebted to an unjust aggressor
In abasement: better to have the soft tip of one's nose cut off.
With humiliation - without humiliation comes the resolve of the defiant.
بلrather رُبَّmany a يومٍday قدindeed لهوتI took pleasure وليلةٍand a night
بل رُبَّ يومٍ قد لهوت وليلةٍ
بمزامرٍwith flutes ومخامرٍand intoxicants وحواصنand chaste maidens
بمزامرٍ ومخامرٍ وحواصن
Rather, many a day and night I have spent in pleasure,
Rather, many a day I have sported, and many a night
With flutes, intoxicants, and chaste maidens.
With lutes, wine cups and viols.
وشربتand I drank منfrom كفthe palm of الحبيبِthe beloved مدامةwine
وشربت من كف الحبيبِ مدامة
صرفاًundiluted تحرّكstirs كلَّevery شوقٍlonging ساكنِdormant
صرفاً تحرّك كلَّ شوقٍ ساكنِ
And from my beloved's palm I drank wine,
And I have drunk from the palm of the beloved intoxicating wine
Undiluted, stirring every dormant longing.
That stirs every silent passion.
ولربَّand many a ماذيٍshimmering mirage غَلافقَvast آجنِstagnant
ولربَّ ماذيٍ غَلافقَ آجنِ
سابقتI raced أذؤبهits wolves سباقَthe racing of مُراهنِa wagerer
سابقت أذؤبه سباقَ مُراهنِ
And many a vast, shimmering, stagnant-looking mirage
And how often have I competed with a fleet start
I raced its wolves like a racer laying wagers.
Outrunning the betting horsemen.
ولقدand indeed أجوبI traverse اللاَّمعاتthe shimmering wastes بعرمَسٍon a hardy she-camel
ولقد أجوب اللاَّمعات بعرمَسٍ
منamong عيسِthe pale camels of مَهرةMahra عنتريسٍpowerful بادنِmassive-bodied
من عيسِ مَهرة عنتريسٍ بادنِ
And I cross the shimmering wastes on a hardy she-camel,
And I have roamed the brilliant nights in 'Armais,
One of Mahra's pale camels, powerful and massive.
From 'Isa and Mahra's - a place of sand dunes.
ياراىَO Raya لستُI am not بناكلٍat all craven هَيَّابةٍtimid
ياراىَ لستُ بناكلٍ هَيَّابةٍ
يومَon the day of الهياجِbattle ولاnor الجبانthe coward الواهِنِweak
يومَ الهياجِ ولا الجبان الواهِنِ
O Raya, I am no craven, timid soul
O flag, I am not one who panics and runs
On the day of battle, nor a weakling coward.
On the day of battle, nor am I a coward who flees.
إنيindeed I وحقكِand by your due أمنُthe safety of قلبٍa heart خائفٍfrightened
إني وحقكِ أمنُ قلبٍ خائفٍ
ألفَaccustomed to الهُمومَgriefs وخوفand the fear of قلبthe heart of الآمنِthe secure one
ألفَ الهُمومَ وخوف قلب الآمنِ
Indeed, by your claim upon me, I am a frightened heart's safety,
I swear by you, I am one whose fearful heart
A heart accustomed to grief, and the terror of a heart at ease.
Has known sorrows and the fear of the heart of the secure.
أسخوI give freely بماwith what أحويI possess ويخزنand hoards آخرanother
أسخو بما أحوي ويخزن آخر
ليسis not البذولُthe lavish giver لمالهof his wealth كالخازنِlike the hoarder
ليس البذولُ لماله كالخازنِ
I lavish what I possess, while another hoards;
I am generous with what I possess and another hoards,
One who lavishes his wealth is not like one who hoards it.
Not being generous with one's money like a hoarder.
أناI سيدlord of الأملاكِkings غيرnot مدافعِchallenged
أنا سيد الأملاكِ غير مدافعِ
وحِمامand the death of كلّevery ممارسٍcombatant ومطاعنand spear-fighter
وحِمام كلّ ممارسٍ ومطاعن
I am the lord of kings, unchallenged,
I am the master of kingdoms, not one who wards off,
And the death of every combatant and spear-fighter.
And the pigeon of every competitor and spearman.
أناI سعدgood fortune to كلِّevery مسالمٍpeaceful man بلrather نحسill fortune to كلِّevery
أنا سعد كلِّ مسالمٍ بل نحس كلِّ
مصارمٍone severing ties بلrather حتفthe death of كلِّevery مشاحنِquarrelsome enemy
مصارمٍ بل حتف كلِّ مشاحنِ
I am good fortune to every peaceful man, but ill fortune to every
I am the luck of every peacemaker - rather the bad luck of each
Foe who severs ties, indeed the death of every quarrelsome enemy.
Spearman - indeed the death of every stubborn quarreler.
أناI منthe one who تخرُّfall لهbefore him الجَبابرُthe tyrants سجَّداًprostrate
أنا من تخرُّ له الجَبابرُ سجَّداً
عندduring الوقائعِbattles والهَياجand the fighting الزَّابنِdriving men back
عند الوقائعِ والهَياج الزَّابنِ
I am he before whom tyrants fall prostrate
I am the one before whom the champions bow down
In battles and the clash that drives men back.
In times of trial and raging battle.
فمنازلso the dwellings of المُهدىthe one presenting المديحَpraise منازليmy dwellings
فمنازل المُهدى المديحَ منازلي
وخزائنand the treasuries of العافيthe supplicant الفقيرpoor خزائنيmy treasuries
وخزائن العافي الفقير خزائني
My dwellings are the dwellings of whoever brings praise,
My dwellings are dwellings of praise,
And my treasuries are the treasuries of the poor supplicant.
And my coffers are the coffers of plenty for the poor.
يَلقىfinds المعزَّةًhonor والغنيمةَand booty سائليmy petitioner
يَلقى المعزَّةً والغنيمةَ سائلي
فضلاًas a bounty كماjust as يلقىmeets الحمامَdeath مطاعنيthe one fighting me with spears
فضلاً كما يلقى الحمامَ مطاعني
My petitioner finds honor and booty,
Those who ask me receive grace and spoils,
As a bounty, just as my challenger finds death.
Just as my spears receive the pigeons.
ملكa king طَعونoften thrusting بالمثَّقفِwith the straightened spear ضاربstriking
ملك طَعون بالمثَّقفِ ضارب
فاسألْso ask عنabout الملكِthe king الضروبmighty in striking الطّاعنِthe spear-thruster
فاسألْ عن الملكِ الضروب الطّاعنِ
A king who thrusts with the straightened spear and strikes—
A king striking with cultured striking,
Ask about this king, mighty in striking and thrusting.
So ask about the king of strikes, the piercing one.
كتبwrote الإلهGod علىon ذُبابthe tip of مَهَّندىmy Indian sword
كتب الإله على ذُباب مَهَّندى
أنتَyou are الحمامُdeath وفيكَand in you حينthe death-time of الحائنِthe doomed one
أنتَ الحمامُ وفيكَ حين الحائنِ
God has written on the tip of my Indian blade:
God wrote on the fly of Muhanndan,
You are death, and in you lies the doomed man's end.
“You are the pigeon, and in you at the time of loss.”
إذْwhen جاءَhe came مُنتضياًdrawing حُساماًa cutting sword (husam) كاسمهlike his name
إذْ جاءَ مُنتضياً حُساماً كاسمه
عضباًsharp مُلامسُone touching حدِهits edge لمnot يأمَنِfeels safe
عضباً مُلامسُ حدِه لم يأمَنِ
When he came drawing a sword befitting his name, Husam,
When he came seeking, a sword like his name,
Sharp, its edge unsafe for anyone who touched it,
Angry, its sharp edge never feels safe.
يهدىleads أزَبَّa bristling host كذىlike one possessing عبُابٍsurging waves زاخرٍoverflowing
يهدى أزَبَّ كذى عبُابٍ زاخرٍ
متكاثفٍdense مترادفٍrank following rank متراطِنِclamoring in mingled tongues
متكاثفٍ مترادفٍ متراطِنِ
Leading a bristling host like a sea with swelling waves,
It guides the humps of camels overflowing
Dense, rank following rank, clamoring in mingled tongues,
Crowded, proceeding, aligned together.
بصوارمٍwith cutting swords مضريَّةٍMudari ولَهاذمٍand broad spearheads
بصوارمٍ مضريَّةٍ ولَهاذمٍ
بدرَّيةٍBadri وصوافنٍand poised steeds فصوافنِthen more poised steeds
بدرَّيةٍ وصوافنٍ فصوافنِ
With Mudari blades and broad spearheads,
With deadly swords and crushing,
Badri ones, and rank upon rank of poised steeds,
Shining, bared, and bared again.
وفوارسٍand horsemen كأسودِlike the lions of بيشةBisha فيهمamong them
وفوارسٍ كأسودِ بيشة فيهم
ضربblows يبِّلدnumbs بالشجاعِthe brave warrior الدَّافنlurking
ضرب يبِّلد بالشجاعِ الدَّافن
And horsemen like the lions of Bisha, among whom
And horsemen like the lions of Bisha among them
Were blows that stunned even the lurking champion.
A blow that removes with courage that buries.
فلبستso I donned لامتيَmy armor المُفاضةَample واثقاًtrusting
فلبست لامتيَ المُفاضةَ واثقاً
بالظاهرِin the Manifest المحيىthe Life-Giver المميتِthe Death-Giver الباطنِthe Hidden
بالظاهرِ المحيى المميتِ الباطنِ
I donned my ample armor, trusting
So I donned the impenetrable armor confident
In the Manifest, the Life-Giver, the Death-Giver, the Hidden.
In the apparent reviver and hidden killer.
وركبتand I mounted جفلةَJafla والرماحُand the spears شوارعleveled
وركبت جفلةَ والرماحُ شوارع
والخيلُand the horses بينamid تضاربmutual striking وتطاعنِand mutual spear-thrusting
والخيلُ بين تضارب وتطاعنِ
And mounted Jafla while spears were leveled,
And I rode the short spear, and the spears are streets,
And the horses mingled in striking and thrusting.
And the horses between striking and piercing.
والشُّوسand fierce warriors تَهتفcall out بالرجالِto the men حماسةًto rouse courage
والشُّوس تَهتف بالرجالِ حماسةً
والجوُّand the air مدَّرِعarmored بنقعٍin dust شاحنِthickly filling
والجوُّ مدَّرِع بنقعٍ شاحنِ
Fierce warriors cried to the men to rouse their courage,
And the bows shout to the men passionately,
And the air was armored in thick, billowing dust.
While the atmosphere is clad in roaring clamor.
فيamid صارخٍa clamorous host حَرِجٍtightly crowded كأنَّas though قَتامهits dust
في صارخٍ حَرِجٍ كأنَّ قَتامه
والبيضand the bright swords غيهبdarkness ذيpossessing كواكبstars داجنِovercast
والبيض غيهب ذي كواكب داجنِ
Within a clamorous, crowded host, whose dust seemed—
With a shrieking like the darkness and the whites
With the bright blades—a starry, overcast night.
Are a fog with extinguished stars.
فسقيتso I made drink أولهمtheir foremost بكأسٍwith a cup مُرَّةٍbitter
فسقيت أولهم بكأسٍ مُرَّةٍ
منof حرِّموتٍdeath's scorching heat فيin سِنانيmy spearpoint كامنِhidden
من حرِّموتٍ في سِناني كامنِ
I made their foremost drink a bitter cup
So I gave the first of them a bitter cup
Of death's scorching heat, hidden in my spearpoint.
From the death stored in my spearhead.
فصرعتهso I felled him وشرعتand I leveled رُمحيmy spear خالجاًjerking
فصرعته وشرعت رُمحي خالجاً
لمدَّججٍat an armored warrior لذويmen possessing الشجاعةِcourage غابنِoutmatching
لمدَّججٍ لذوي الشجاعةِ غابنِ
I felled him and leveled my spear, jerking it
I threw him down and thrust my spear churning
At an armored warrior who outmatched men of valor.
For the armed with courage that destroys.
فطعنتهso I pierced him فهوىso he fell لحُرّجبينهonto the smooth front of his brow
فطعنته فهوى لحُرّجبينه
متسربلاًclothed بنجيعِin gore جوفٍentrails ساخنِhot
متسربلاً بنجيعِ جوفٍ ساخنِ
I pierced him; he fell upon the smooth front of his brow,
I stabbed him so he fell with his guts spilled out
Clothed in hot blood from his entrails.
Enwrapped in the boiling entrails’ heat.
فشككتso I transfixed آخرهhis rear فجلجلَso he clattered down رابعاًfourth
فشككت آخره فجلجلَ رابعاً
فهوىso he fell ورُبَّةand many a مصْلتٍsword-drawer كالحاقنِlike one holding in urine
فهوى ورُبَّة مصْلتٍ كالحاقنِ
Then I pierced his rear; he clattered down, fourth,
I made the fourth one clatter after I broke another,
And fell; many a sword-drawer was like a man holding in urine.
And he fell while a fragment of my sword was the injector.
وفتىand a youth عزيزٍmighty قدindeed هَتكتُI rent بضربةٍwith a blow
وفتى عزيزٍ قد هَتكتُ بضربةٍ
جلبتbrought لهto him قَدَرَthe appointed fate of القضاءdoom الكائنِinevitable
جلبت له قَدَرَ القضاء الكائنِ
And many a mighty youth I laid open with a blow
And a dear man whom I had struck with a blow
That brought him his appointed, inevitable doom.
That brought him the ordained fate.
وافىarrived إليّat me بشأنِwith the bearing of شانٍa proud man جاسرٍdaring
وافى إليّ بشأنِ شانٍ جاسرٍ
ثمthen انثنىturned back عنيaway from me بشأنٍwith a bearing شائنِshameful
ثم انثنى عني بشأنٍ شائنِ
He came at me with a proud, audacious bearing,
And he approached me boldly then recoiled
Then turned away from me with a shameful bearing.
From me with changed purpose.
وأخاand a kinsman of قُضاعةَQuda'a قدindeed أطرتُI scattered فراخهhis fledglings
وأخا قُضاعةَ قد أطرتُ فراخه
بالقرنِwith the blade حتىuntil خرَّhe fell أهونَmost abject هائنِabased one
بالقرنِ حتى خرَّ أهونَ هائنِ
And a man of Quda'a—I scattered his fledglings
And a brother of Quda'a whose chicks
With the blade, until he fell, the most abject of the abased.
I clipped with the horn until the slightest fell.
فربحتso I won حمدَthe praise of الجَحفليْنthe two armies بنجدتيthrough my valor
فربحت حمدَ الجَحفليْن بنجدتي
إنindeed المحامدَpraises خيرthe best ربحprofit of الثَّامنِthe trader
إن المحامدَ خير ربح الثَّامنِ
I won the praise of both armies through my valor:
So I gained the praised of the two tribes with my help -
Indeed, praise is a trader's finest profit.
Praise is the best profit of the protector.
فتضعضعتْso recoiled عنيaway from me الفوارسُthe horsemen إذwhen رأتْthey saw
فتضعضعتْ عني الفوارسُ إذ رأتْ
حملاتِthe charges of حيدرَHaydar فيin غزاةthe campaign against هوازنHawazin
حملاتِ حيدرَ في غزاة هوازن
The horsemen shrank back from me when they saw
The horsemen were shaken from me when they saw
Haydar's charges in the campaign against Hawazin.
The onslaughts of Haydar among the Hawazin warriors.
ورجعتand I returned بالقرنwith the blade الخِشيبunpolished مثلمّاnotched
ورجعت بالقرن الخِشيب مثلمّا
ودمٌand blood علىupon ثوبيَّmy two garments هامٍpouring هاتنِstreaming
ودمٌ على ثوبيَّ هامٍ هاتنِ
I returned with my unpolished blade notched,
And I returned with the wooden horn just as I had,
And blood pouring, streaming over my two garments.
While blood on my clothes is forbidden and passionate.
فغداso began يقولsaying شريفُهمtheir noble one ووضيعُهمand their lowly one
فغدا يقول شريفُهم ووضيعُهم
قولاًwords يهيَّجُstirs كلَّevery ثاوٍsettled one كامنِhidden
قولاً يهيَّجُ كلَّ ثاوٍ كامنِ
Then their noble and their lowly began to say
So in the morning their nobility and lowly
Words that stirred every hidden, settled soul:
Spoke words that stir every complacent sleeper:
للهto God belongs دَرُّthe excellence of أبيAbu (father of) علّيٍAli إنهindeed he
لله دَرُّ أبي علّيٍ إنه
أحياrevived النّدىgenerosity وأماتand killed كلَّevery مشاحنquarrelsome foe
أحيا النّدى وأمات كلَّ مشاحن
God bless Abu Ali! He
“Praise be to Ali's father, he
Revived generosity and slew every quarrelsome foe.
Revived chivalry and killed every quarreler.
بذلَgave freely الطريفnewly acquired wealth وصانand guarded عرضاًhonor طاهراًpure
بذلَ الطريف وصان عرضاً طاهراً
للهِto God belongs منsuch a ملكٍking بَذولٍlavish giver صائنِguardian of honor
للهِ من ملكٍ بَذولٍ صائنِ
He lavished newly acquired wealth and guarded a spotless honor.
He gave graciously and protected a pure honor,
What a lavish, honor-guarding king!
By God, from a generous, helping king.”
إنيindeed I لأُقسمtruly swear بالإلِهby God أليَّةًan oath
إني لأُقسم بالإلِه أليَّةً
واللهُand God يكسوclothes الخزىdisgrace وجهَthe face of الخائنِthe traitor
واللهُ يكسو الخزى وجهَ الخائنِ
I swear a solemn oath by God,
I swear by God truly,
And God clothes the traitor's face in shame:
And God clothes the shame of the traitor’s face.
لوif كانwere غيرsomeone other than أخيmy brother المحاولُthe one attempting عثرتىmy downfall
لو كان غير أخي المحاولُ عثرتى
لسقيتهI would surely make him drink كأسَthe cup of الحَمامِdeath الآسنِfetid
لسقيته كأسَ الحَمامِ الآسنِ
Had the man seeking my downfall been anyone but my brother,
If another besides my attempting brother were my stumbling,
I would have made him drink the fetid cup of death.
I would have given him the bitter cup of the spearhead.
إذsince كنتI was أعلمknowing ماno مُعادٍenemy مُقِلعٌdesisting
إذ كنت أعلم ما مُعادٍ مُقِلعٌ
عماfrom what يحاولhe attempts كالمُعاديlike the enemy العادِنِpersistent
عما يحاول كالمُعادي العادِنِ
For I know that no enemy who desists
Since I knew the consequence of what he attempts
From what he attempts is like an enemy who persists.
Is far from what the transgressing enemy does.
أبلغْconvey to حُساماًHusam والحوادثand calamities جمَّةplentiful
أبلغْ حُساماً والحوادث جمَّة
منfrom ذيone possessing حشىًan inner heart يَغليboils بنارwith the fire of ضغائنِgrudges
من ذي حشىً يَغلي بنار ضغائنِ
Convey to Husam—calamities being many—
Inform Husam while events are all around
From one whose heart boils with the fire of grudges:
Of one who boils with the fires of grudges.
ماwhat بالُthe condition of دولتكyour dominion التيwhich أمَّلتهاyou hoped for
ما بالُ دولتك التي أمَّلتها
حادتْswerved away ولمand did not تُقدِمْadvance حيادَthe swerving of الحارنِa balking mount
حادتْ ولم تُقدِمْ حيادَ الحارنِ
What has become of the dominion you hoped for?
Why has your state that I wished for
It swerved and would not advance, like a balking mount.
Deviated, and not taken the path of the cautioned?
طارتcarried away بعقلكَyour wits فيin قتاليَfighting me عُصبةٌa faction
طارت بعقلكَ في قتاليَ عُصبةٌ
لمdid not يأسdespair إذwhen يمشيhe walks بجّدٍwith fortune واهنِfeeble
لم يأس إذ يمشي بجّدٍ واهنِ
A faction stole your wits in urging you to fight me,
Passion for fighting me has flown off with your reason,
Not despairing, though proceeding with feeble fortune.
One who does not despair when he walks with weakness.
لاnot زلتyou ceased تدعونيyou summon me نزالَa duel مجاهدٍa warrior
لا زلت تدعوني نزالَ مجاهدٍ
دعوىthe challenge of امرئٍa man لدُهاهof his cunning غيرnot الحاقنِrestraining
دعوى امرئٍ لدُهاه غير الحاقنِ
You never ceased to call me to a warrior's duel,
You still call me to the struggle of a warrior,
With the challenge of a man who would not hold back his wiles,
The claim of a fool, not the truth-teller.
حتىuntil إذاwhen ماindeed الحربُwar شبَّblazed لهيبُهاits flame
حتى إذا ما الحربُ شبَّ لهيبُها
وعلتand rose high كرهتُI loathed مُطاعِنيmy spear-thrusts ومعاينيand my encounters
وعلت كرهتُ مُطاعِني ومعايني
Until, when war's flames blazed
Until when war flared up intensely,
And rose high, I loathed my thrusts and encounters.
And I disliked my spears and their facing me,
فعليكَso attend to نفسكyourself ألزْمنَهاbind it firmly to رُشدهاits sound judgment
فعليكَ نفسك ألزْمنَها رُشدها
وأقمْand take up مَقامَthe stance of العاقلِthe sensible man المتطامِنِhumble
وأقمْ مَقامَ العاقلِ المتطامِنِ
So attend to yourself; bind yourself to sound judgment,
Upon yourself, make it keep to righteousness,
And take the stance of a sensible, humble man.
And take the stand of the composed wise one.
إنيindeed I أناI am الموتُdeath الذيthat لاno بدَّescape منfrom
إني أنا الموتُ الذي لا بدَّ من
لقِيانهmeeting it والموتُand death ليسis not ببائنِever departing
لقِيانه والموتُ ليس ببائنِ
I am the death that must be
I am death which is inevitable
Encountered; death will not depart.
To meet, and death does not disappear.
قسماًby an oath لانَّhas yielded لجانبيto my might لمواثبٌindeed a pouncing attacker
قسماً لانَّ لجانبي لمواثبٌ
لاmay not عادَvisit ربكyour Lord أيَّany ثاوٍdweller ماكنِfirmly settled
لا عادَ ربك أيَّ ثاوٍ ماكنِ
I swear, a pouncing attacker has yielded to my might;
I swear the attackers on my side do not cease,
May your Lord never visit any settled, rooted dweller.
Your Lord has not returned any complacent sleeper.
والنصرُand victory منfrom عندِthe presence of الإلهِGod قضىordained بهit
والنصرُ من عندِ الإلهِ قضى به
ليfor me فيin الوقائعbattles فيin قضاهHis decree الكائنِcoming to pass
لي في الوقائع في قضاه الكائنِ
Victory comes from God; He has ordained it
And victory is from God, He decided it
For me in battles, in His decree that comes to pass.
For me in the tribulations, in His decided fate.
Sol 6.1