1. No—by the camels, docile upon the earth,

    heading with the riders toward the Mother of Towns.

  2. Like bows, they have nocked as arrows

    each gallant man, disheveled and dust-covered.

  3. I mean the city so favored by its Lord

    that when he circles it, he is moved to tears.

  4. He circles it seven times and cries 'Here I am,' and cannot

    hold back the tears when they flow.

  5. How many a graceful maiden, defying custom,

    unveiled like the full moon when it shines forth,

  6. says, 'By God, look, and ask

    the Lord of this House to forgive.'

  7. She sways the dune's bough above a sandhill,

    vying with a dagger from her glance.

  8. So people are dumbfounded and bewildered when

    she reaches Mina, the Corner, and the Sacred Station.

  9. My eyes have seen nothing more splendid, nor

    more delightful than Egypt, nor more radiant.

  10. I yearn for the Two Palaces from the palace of

    Hajjaj, and for whoever traveled between them.

  11. From Jallaq I long for Egypt, and from

    Jawbar I yearn for Jawjar.

  12. Leave aside al-Nayrab and al-Rabwa,

    the lofty one, and the valley leading to Dummar.

  13. For I do not prefer Damascus over

    Egypt, nor its green field.

  14. The lands of Egypt are an adorned paradise,

    and the Nile was made to flow there as Kawthar.

  15. Yet after my beloved was gone, it put on

    a garb of humiliation about which there is no doubt.

  16. And after him it was shaken with its own earthquake,

    until its goodness became evil.

  17. Goodness has not dwelt there since it became empty

    of Asad al-Din Sara Sunqur.

  18. Damascus, when he settled there, found protection

    against enemies when the lion of al-Shara fled.

  19. He charges into their thousands alone

    and turns back rejoicing in victory.

  20. He is like a hawk looking down upon

    a flock of dusky sandgrouse, as the hawk screeches.

  21. He embraces his enemies as

    a lover embraces the beloved, madly infatuated.

  22. That embrace lays the opponent down, at

    the keen sword's breast, on the earth's back.

  23. He fells the fair and dark warriors when

    he bares the white sword and the brown spear.

  24. His enemies turn back crying 'There is no god but God'

    when they see him cry 'God is greatest' in battle.

  25. Thus, by his name, he routs the Romans and

    al-Andalus, the Franks, and the Berbers.

  26. And his fame, in east and west, surpassed

    Khaqan long ago, and surpassed Sanjar.

  27. His worldly life did not turn him from his faith,

    nor was he arrogant among people.

  28. He forsook earthly dominion in Egypt, so

    as not to neglect his pledge or act treacherously.

  29. This is pure loyalty—not that for which

    al-Samaw'al earned the right to boast.

  30. Thus the steed is a lion, and he a falcon; on the

    lance, an eagle embraces a brown shaft.

  31. He returns with the banners red, though

    they arrived yellow, lovely to behold.

  32. Nor have we heard of anything like his banners:

    pomegranate blossoms that once were water lilies.

  33. How many an armored warrior his sword has split

    in two, so that the sword-tip sniffed the soil,

  34. after he had cut through with it the mail coat and the

    helmet, the helmet's crown, and the mail coif.

  35. O sword of Saif al-Din on the day of battle,

    it is right that banners be unfurled for you.

  36. O you who exact vengeance from your foe,

    whether he snatches up the bow or strings it.

  37. Take her as a bride from my mouth, unveiled

    before you, O finest of all mankind.

  38. And be generous to your servant: I have indeed

    become destitute among mankind.

  39. So may God preserve you for all time, as long as

    the drivers of pale camels sing plaintively on night journeys.

Sol 6.1