نُفوسُsouls الصيدِthe proud nobles أَثمانُthe prices المَعاليhigh honors
نُفوسُ الصيدِ أَثمانُ المَعالي
إِذاwhen هَزَّتshook مَعاطِفَهاtheir flanks العَواليthe tall spears
إِذا هَزَّت مَعاطِفَها العَوالي
The souls of proud nobles are the price of high honors
The souls of prey are the prices of glories,
when tall spears shake their flanks,
When their cloaks are shaken by calamities.
وَأَبدَتand revealed أَوجُهُthe faces البيضِof white swords اِبتِساماًa smile
وَأَبدَت أَوجُهُ البيضِ اِبتِساماً
يُطيلُprolongs بُكاءَthe weeping آجالِthe appointed deaths الرِجالِof men
يُطيلُ بُكاءَ آجالِ الرِجالِ
and the faces of white swords reveal a smile
And the faces of the swords smile,
that prolongs the weeping over men's deaths.
Prolonging the weeping of men's lives.
وَمَنand whoever عَشِقَloved العَلاءَlofty glory وَخافَand feared حَتفاًdeath
وَمَن عَشِقَ العَلاءَ وَخافَ حَتفاً
غَداbecame عِندَat الكَريهَةِbattle وَهوَwhile he was ساليforgetful
غَدا عِندَ الكَريهَةِ وَهوَ سالي
Whoever loves lofty glory yet fears death
He who loved glory and feared death,
comes to battle with that love forgotten.
Became, when disaster struck, downcast.
وَلَمand did not يَحُزِattain العُلىhigh rank إِلّاexcept كَمِيٌّan armored warrior
وَلَم يَحُزِ العُلى إِلّا كَمِيٌّ
رَحيبُbroad الصَدرِof breast فيin ضيقِthe narrowness المَجالِof the battlefield
رَحيبُ الصَدرِ في ضيقِ المَجالِ
None attains high rank except an armored warrior,
None won glory but the intrepid,
broad of breast amid the battlefield's straits,
Broad of chest in narrow straits.
تَيَقَّنَbecame certain أَنَّthat طيبَthe goodness of الذِكرِrepute يَبقىendures
تَيَقَّنَ أَنَّ طيبَ الذِكرِ يَبقى
وَكُلَّand all نَعيمِthe bliss مُلكٍof kingship فيin زَوالِpassing away
وَكُلَّ نَعيمِ مُلكٍ في زَوالِ
certain that a good name endures
He who was sure good repute endures,
and all the bliss of kingship passes away.
While all rule's pleasures pass away.
لِذاكَfor that reason سَمَتrose high بِرُكنِwith Rukn الدينِal-Din نَفسٌa soul
لِذاكَ سَمَت بِرُكنِ الدينِ نَفسٌ
تَعَلَّمَlearned رَبُّهاits master طَلَبَthe pursuit of الكَمالِperfection
تَعَلَّمَ رَبُّها طَلَبَ الكَمالِ
For that reason a soul bore Rukn al-Din aloft,
Therefore a soul aspired to religion's pillar,
whose master had learned the pursuit of perfection.
Having learned from its Lord to seek perfection.
سَمَتrose high فَأَرَتهُand showed him حَرَّthe heat of الكَرَّcharging بَرداًcoolness
سَمَت فَأَرَتهُ حَرَّ الكَرَّ بَرداً
وَيَحمومَand the black smoke المَنِيَّةِof death كَالزَلالِlike limpid water
وَيَحمومَ المَنِيَّةِ كَالزَلالِ
It soared and showed him the heat of charging as coolness,
It aspired and found Him coolness for passions,
and death's black smoke as limpid water.
And fever's anguish like pure drink.
فَأَلبَسَso he clothed عِرضَهُhis honor دِرعاًarmor حَصيناًimpregnable
فَأَلبَسَ عِرضَهُ دِرعاً حَصيناً
وَصَيَّرَand made جِسمَهُhis body غَرَضَa target for النِبالِarrows
وَصَيَّرَ جِسمَهُ غَرَضَ النِبالِ
So he clothed his honor in impregnable armor
He clothed its honor in sturdy mail,
and made his body a target for arrows.
And made its body arrows' target.
تَبَوَّأَtook as his abode جَنَّةَthe garden الفِردوسِof Paradise داراًa home
تَبَوَّأَ جَنَّةَ الفِردوسِ داراً
وَحَلَّand settled عَلىupon الأَرائِكِcouches فيin ظِلالِshade
وَحَلَّ عَلى الأَرائِكِ في ظِلالِ
He took the Garden of Paradise as his home
It won Paradise for an abode,
and settled upon couches in the shade.
And settled on its couches in its shades.
وَخَلَّفَand left behind كُلَّevery قَلبٍheart فيin اِشتِغالٍpreoccupation
وَخَلَّفَ كُلَّ قَلبٍ في اِشتِغالٍ
وَكُلَّand every لَهيبِflame صَدرٍof a breast فيin اِشتِعالِblazing
وَكُلَّ لَهيبِ صَدرٍ في اِشتِعالِ
He left every heart absorbed in sorrow
Leaving every heart preoccupied,
and every breast's flame ablaze.
Every ardent breast aflame.
بِروحيmy soul as ransom مَنthe one who أَذابَmelted نَواهُhis separation روحيmy soul
بِروحي مَن أَذابَ نَواهُ روحي
وَأَفقَدَand took away فَقدُهُhis loss عِزّيmy glory وَماليand my wealth
وَأَفقَدَ فَقدُهُ عِزّي وَمالي
My soul be ransom for him whose absence melted my soul,
My soul, who melted my soul away,
and whose loss bereft me of my glory and wealth.
And whose loss cost me wealth and means!
وَلَمand not أَكُwas I قَبلَbefore يَومِthe day of رَداهُhis death أَدريaware
وَلَم أَكُ قَبلَ يَومِ رَداهُ أَدري
بِأَنَّthat الطُربَrapture بُرجٌa celestial mansion لِلهِلالِfor the crescent moon
بِأَنَّ الطُربَ بُرجٌ لِلهِلالِ
Before the day of his death, I did not know
Before the day I regained it I did not know
that rapture is a mansion for the crescent moon.
That rapture is the new moon's sign.
وَقالَواand they said قَدindeed أُصِبتَyou have been struck فَقُلتُso I said كَلّاno
وَقالَوا قَد أُصِبتَ فَقُلتُ كَلّا
وَماand what is وَقَعُthe impact النِبالِof arrows عَلىupon الجِبالِmountains
وَما وَقَعُ النِبالِ عَلى الجِبالِ
They said, 'You have been struck'; I replied, 'No!'
They said, "You are smitten," but I said, "No!
What effect have arrows upon mountains?
Arrows do not fall upon mountains."
وَلَمand did not أَعلَمI know بِأَنَّthat الرَمسَthe grave يُمسيbecomes at evening
وَلَم أَعلَم بِأَنَّ الرَمسَ يُمسي
بِمَوجِamid the waves of الحَربِwar مِنamong صَدَفِthe shells of اللَآليpearls
بِمَوجِ الحَربِ مِن صَدَفِ اللَآلي
Nor did I know that the grave could become,
I did not know the firm spears turn to water
amid war's waves, one of the shells that hold pearls.
In battle's surge, made from pearl shells.
أَياO صَخرَSakhr; rock الجَنانِof the heart أَدَمتَyou prolonged نَوحيmy lament
أَيا صَخرَ الجَنانِ أَدَمتَ نَوحي
فَهاso behold أَناI فيكَfor you خَنساءُKhansa الرِجالِof men
فَها أَنا فيكَ خَنساءُ الرِجالِ
O Sakhr of the heart, you have prolonged my lament,
O rock of the groves, you prolonged my lament.
so here I am, the Khansa of men for you.
In you my sorrows and tears opened,
وَفَتkept faith ليwith me فيكَover you أَحزانيmy sorrows وَدَمعيand my tears
وَفَت لي فيكَ أَحزاني وَدَمعي
وَخانَand betrayed عَلَيكَover you صَبريmy patience وَاِحتِماليand my endurance
وَخانَ عَلَيكَ صَبري وَاِحتِمالي
My sorrows and tears have kept faith with me over you,
In you my patience and endurance failed.
but over you my patience and endurance have betrayed me.
You sacrificed your soul in seeking glories,
بَذَلتَyou gave النَفسَlife فيin طَلَبِpursuit of المَعاليhigh honors
بَذَلتَ النَفسَ في طَلَبِ المَعالي
كَبَذلِكَlike your giving لِلُّهىof rich gifts يَومَon the day of النَوالِlargesse
كَبَذلِكَ لِلُّهى يَومَ النَوالِ
You gave your life in pursuit of high honors,
As you sacrificed it seeking pleasures.
as you gave rich gifts on the day of largesse.
You raced to battle ere the war-cry,
تُسابِقُyou race لِلوَغىto battle قَبلَbefore التَناديthe rallying cries
تُسابِقُ لِلوَغى قَبلَ التَنادي
كَسَبقِكَlike your hastening بِالعَطاwith generosity قَبلَbefore السُؤالِthe request
كَسَبقِكَ بِالعَطا قَبلَ السُؤالِ
You race to battle before the rallying cries,
As you raced with bounty before requests.
as you hasten to give before being asked.
You hardened your heart for death's fords,
شَدَدتَyou steeled القَلبَthe heart فيin خَوضِplunging into المَناياdeath's perils
شَدَدتَ القَلبَ في خَوضِ المَنايا
وَوَبلِand the downpour النُبلِof arrows مُنحَلَّunbound العَزاليthe water-spouts
وَوَبلِ النُبلِ مُنحَلَّ العَزالي
You steeled your heart while plunging into death
The testing of heroes unarmored.
and the arrow-downpour, its spouts unbound.
You wore over the garments of humiliation
لَبِستَyou wore عَلىover ثِيابِthe garments of الوَشيِbrocade قَلباًa heart
لَبِستَ عَلى ثِيابِ الوَشيِ قَلباً
غَنيتَyou had no need بِهِwith it عَنِof الدِرعِthe armor المُذالِlong-skirted
غَنيتَ بِهِ عَنِ الدِرعِ المُذالِ
You wore a heart over your brocade robes,
A heart that enriches you without mail.
with which you needed no long-skirted armor.
Your flank sways to meet the foe,
تَهُزُّyou sway لِمُلتَقىto meet الأَعداءِthe enemies عِطفاًa flank
تَهُزُّ لِمُلتَقى الأَعداءِ عِطفاً
يَهِزُّsways رَطيبَهُits suppleness مَرَحُthe frolic الدَلالِof coquetry
يَهِزُّ رَطيبَهُ مَرَحُ الدَلالِ
You sway a flank to meet your foes,
Swaying its redolence like the waving twig.
its suppleness stirred by playful coquetry.
So you lived praised for your rare qualities,
فَعِشتَso you lived وَأَنتَwhile you were مَمدوحُpraised السَجاياin innate character
فَعِشتَ وَأَنتَ مَمدوحُ السَجايا
وَمُتَّand you died وَأَنتَwhile you were مَحمودُpraised الخِلالِin virtues
وَمُتَّ وَأَنتَ مَحمودُ الخِلالِ
So you lived with your nature praised
And died praised for your fine traits.
and died with your virtues lauded.
O pillar of religion, how many pillars
أَرُكنَO Rukn الدينِal-Din كَمhow many رُكنٍa pillar مَشيدٍloftily built
أَرُكنَ الدينِ كَم رُكنٍ مَشيدٍ
هَدَدتَyou pulled down بِفَقدِthrough the loss of ذُيّاكَthat الجَمالِbeauty
هَدَدتَ بِفَقدِ ذُيّاكَ الجَمالِ
O Rukn al-Din, how many a lofty pillar
Were threatened by your beauty's loss!
have you pulled down by the loss of that beauty!
Your meadows after their joy are lonely;
رُبوعُكَyour dwellings بَعدَafter بَهجَتِهاtheir splendor طُلولٌruins
رُبوعُكَ بَعدَ بَهجَتِها طُلولٌ
وَحاليهاand their adorned places مِنَof الأَنوارِlights خالِempty
وَحاليها مِنَ الأَنوارِ خالِ
Your dwellings, after their splendor, are ruins,
Their current lights are now shadows.
and their adorned places are empty of light.
The brave purebred steeds lament your loss,
تَنوحُlament لِفَقدِكَfor your loss الجُردُthe sleek steeds المَذاكيthe full-grown ones
تَنوحُ لِفَقدِكَ الجُردُ المَذاكي
وَتَبكيكَand weep for you الصَوارِمُthe sharp swords وَالعَواليand the tall spears
وَتَبكيكَ الصَوارِمُ وَالعَوالي
The sleek, full-grown steeds lament your loss,
The swords weep for you, and the blades.
and sharp swords and tall spears weep for you.
Every angry warrior yearns for your right hand,
يَحِنَّyearns إِلىfor يَمينِكَyour right hand كُلُّevery عَضبٍkeen sword
يَحِنَّ إِلى يَمينِكَ كُلُّ عَضبٍ
وَتَشتاقُand long الأَعِنَّةُthe reins لِلشَمالِfor the left hand
وَتَشتاقُ الأَعِنَّةُ لِلشَمالِ
Every keen blade yearns for your right hand,
The sharp swords long for your left.
and the reins long for your left.
Does death make off with you while a tower?
أَتَسلُبُكَdoes it snatch you المَنونُdeath وَأَنتَwhile you are طَودٌa mountain
أَتَسلُبُكَ المَنونُ وَأَنتَ طَودٌ
وَتَرخِصُكَand cheapen you الكُماةُthe armored warriors وَأَنتَwhile you are غالِprecious
وَتَرخِصُكَ الكُماةُ وَأَنتَ غالِ
Does death snatch you away, though you are a mountain,
Do the vile esteem you cheap when so dear?
and do warriors hold you cheap, though you are precious,
And the courage of the white swords weakens,
وَتَضعَفُand weakens عَزمَةُthe resolve البيضِof white swords المَواضيkeen-edged
وَتَضعَفُ عَزمَةُ البيضِ المَواضي
وَتَقصُرُand falls short هِمَّةُthe ambition الأَسَلِof lances الطِوالِlong
وَتَقصُرُ هِمَّةُ الأَسَلِ الطِوالِ
and does the resolve of keen white blades weaken,
And the resolve of long spears grows short.
and the ambition of long lances fall short—
No lance-butt was smashed in the charge,
وَلَمand was not تُحطَمshattered قَناةٌa spear-shaft فيin طِعانٍspear-fighting
وَلَم تُحطَم قَناةٌ في طِعانٍ
وَلَمand were not تُفلَلnotched صِفاحٌsword-blades فيin قِتالِcombat
وَلَم تُفلَل صِفاحٌ في قِتالِ
though no spear-shaft was shattered in thrusting,
No sword-edge blunted in the fight.
and no blades were notched in combat,
No steeds were roused in pursuit,
وَلاand did not اِضطَرَمَتblaze forth جِيادٌsteeds فيin طِرادٍa charge
وَلا اِضطَرَمَت جِيادٌ في طِرادٍ
وَلاand did not اِعتَرَكَتgrapple رِجالٌmen فيin مَجالِthe battlefield
وَلا اِعتَرَكَت رِجالٌ في مَجالِ
and no steeds blazed forth in a charge,
No men grappled in the fray.
and no men grappled on the battlefield,
The horses raised no din with their hooves,
وَلاand did not رَفَعواthey raise بِوَقعِwith the hoofbeats of الخَيلِhorses نَقعاًdust
وَلا رَفَعوا بِوَقعِ الخَيلِ نَقعاً
وَلاand was not نُسِجَwoven الغُبارُdust عَلىover الجِلالِsaddlecloths
وَلا نُسِجَ الغُبارُ عَلى الجِلالِ
and they raised no dust with the horses' hoofbeats,
No dust spun round the mountain-tops.
and no dust was woven over the saddlecloths,
The non-fighters sleep in repose,
وَتُمسيand passes the evening اللاذِخِيَّةُal-Ladhikhiyya فيin رُقادٍslumber
وَتُمسي اللاذِخِيَّةُ في رُقادٍ
تَوَهَّمُimagines فِعلَهاher deed طَيفَa phantom الخَيالِof fancy
تَوَهَّمُ فِعلَها طَيفَ الخَيالِ
and al-Ladhikhiyya passes the evening asleep,
Imagining their actions dreams.
imagining her deed a phantom of fancy,
For their fortress no nests were plucked,
وَلَمand were not تُقلَعuprooted لِقَلعَتِهِمfor their fortress عُروشٌthrones
وَلَم تُقلَع لِقَلعَتِهِم عُروشٌ
إِذاwhen اِستَوَتِbecame level الأَسافِلُthe lower parts وَالأَعاليand the upper parts
إِذا اِستَوَتِ الأَسافِلُ وَالأَعالي
and no thrones were uprooted for their fortress,
Though the low and high were leveled.
when the low and the high became level,
The valley of Hell, when they descended it,
وَلاnor واديthe valley of جَهَنَّمَJahannam حينَwhen حَلَّواthey encamped
وَلا وادي جَهَنَّمَ حينَ حَلَّوا
بِهِin it أَمسىbecame عَليهِمfor them شَرَّthe worst فالِomen
بِهِ أَمسى عَليهِم شَرَّ فالِ
nor did the Valley of Jahannam, when they encamped
Did not at evening prove their worst mischance.
in it, become for them the worst of omens?
I will weep, while I live, nor forget
سَأَبكيI shall weep ماas long as حَييتُI live وَلَستُand I do not أَنسىforget
سَأَبكي ما حَييتُ وَلَستُ أَنسى
صَنائِعَكَyour kindnesses الأَواخِرَthe later ones وَالأَواليand the earlier ones
صَنائِعَكَ الأَواخِرَ وَالأَوالي
I shall weep as long as I live, and never forget
Your early and recent deeds.
your kindnesses, both the later and the earlier.
Had I been given my wish regarding you,
وَلَوand if أَنّيthat I أُبَلَّغُam granted فيكَconcerning you سُؤليmy wish
وَلَو أَنّي أُبَلَّغُ فيكَ سُؤلي
بَكَيتُكَI would mourn you بِالصَوارِمِwith sharp swords وَالعَواليand tall spears
بَكَيتُكَ بِالصَوارِمِ وَالعَوالي
And if I were granted my wish concerning you,
I would weep for you with blades and swords,
I would mourn you with sharp swords and tall spears,
With every Indian scimitar
بِكُلِّwith every مُهَنَّدِIndian-steel sword الحَدَّينِthe two edges ماضٍkeen
بِكُلِّ مُهَنَّدِ الحَدَّينِ ماضٍ
تَدُبُّcreeps بِهِthrough it المَنِيَّةِdeath كَالنَمالِlike ants
تَدُبُّ بِهِ المَنِيَّةِ كَالنَمالِ
with every keen, double-edged sword of Indian steel,
Dragging death like a file.
through which death creeps like ants,
It would show you waves of death's flood,
يُريكَshows you بِهِthrough it رُكامُthe heaped mass المَوتِof death مَوجاًa wave
يُريكَ بِهِ رُكامُ المَوتِ مَوجاً
وَتَمنَعُهُand prevents it الدِماءُblood مِنَfrom الصِقالِpolishing
وَتَمنَعُهُ الدِماءُ مِنَ الصِقالِ
with which death's heaped mass shows you a wave,
While blood keeps it from rusting away.
and which blood keeps from being polished,
A twenty year old reddish-brown steed,
وَأَسمَرَand a brown spear ناهَزَapproached العِشرينَtwenty لَدنٍsupple
وَأَسمَرَ ناهَزَ العِشرينَ لَدنٍ
رُدَينيِّRudayni المَناسِبِin lineage ذيpossessing اِعتِدالِstraightness
رُدَينيِّ المَناسِبِ ذي اِعتِدالِ
and a supple brown spear nearing twenty in length,
Balanced in build, of excellent stock,
Rudayni in lineage, straight and true.
His upper parts shining with spearheads
يُضيءُshines عَلىupon أَعاليهِits upper reaches سِنانٌa spearhead
يُضيءُ عَلى أَعاليهِ سِنانٌ
ضِياءَthe radiance of النارِfire فيat طَرَفِthe tip of الذُبالِwicks
ضِياءَ النارِ في طَرَفِ الذُبالِ
A spearhead shines upon its summit
Like fire at the edge of the helmets.
with fire's brilliance at the tip of a wick.
I abhor the soul that equals your bloodshed
وَأَشقيand I make wretched مِنfrom دِماءِthe blood of عِداكَyour foes نَفساًa soul
وَأَشقي مِن دِماءِ عِداكَ نَفساً
تَنوطُbinds القَولَspeech مِنهاfrom itself بِالفِعالِto deeds
تَنوطُ القَولَ مِنها بِالفِعالِ
And I would torment a soul with your foes' blood,
Matching word with deed.
a soul that binds the words it utters to deeds.
May the virtuous sultan wipe out
لَعَلَّmay الصالِحَal-Salih السُلطانَthe Sultan يَجلوdispel
لَعَلَّ الصالِحَ السُلطانَ يَجلو
بِغُرَّةِwith the radiance of وَجهِهِhis face ظُلمَthe darkness الضَلالِof error
بِغُرَّةِ وَجهِهِ ظُلمَ الضَلالِ
May al-Salih, the Sultan, dispel
Misguidance's darkness with his face's light,
with the radiance of his face the darkness of error,
And make them flow, of the two clans,
وَيُجريهاand send them galloping مِنَfrom الشِعبَينِthe two ravines قُبّاًlean-bellied
وَيُجريها مِنَ الشِعبَينِ قُبّاً
إِلىtoward الهَيجاءِbattle تَسعىthey race كَالسَعاليlike she-ghouls
إِلى الهَيجاءِ تَسعى كَالسَعالي
and send them galloping, lean-bellied, from the two ravines
To al-Hayjah, running like the herd.
toward battle, racing like she-ghouls.
The cavalry rouses them against the foe,
يُحَرِّضُهاincites them الطَرادُthe chase عَلىagainst الأَعاديthe enemies
يُحَرِّضُها الطَرادُ عَلى الأَعادي
كَأَنَّas though الكَرَّthe charge يُذكِرُهاreminds them of المَخاليfeedbags
كَأَنَّ الكَرَّ يُذكِرُها المَخالي
The chase spurs them against the foes,
As if the ball were reminding them of the maidens.
as though charging reminded them of their feedbags.
In them is all the resolve of the angry heroes,
عَلَيهاupon them كُلُّevery ماضيfirm العَزمِin resolve ذِمرٍvaliant man
عَلَيها كُلُّ ماضي العَزمِ ذِمرٍ
كَمِيٍّan armored warrior فيin الجِلادِcombat وَفيand in الجِدالِdebate
كَمِيٍّ في الجِلادِ وَفي الجِدالِ
Upon them rides every resolute, valiant man,
Pushing and fighting.
a champion in battle and in debate.
And when taking vengeance on them he heals
وَيَشفيand heals عِندَwhen أَخذِtaking الثَأرِvengeance مِنهُمon them
وَيَشفي عِندَ أَخذِ الثَأرِ مِنهُم
نُفوساًsouls لَيسَthat do not تَقنَعُbecome content بِالمَطالِwith delay
نُفوساً لَيسَ تَقنَعُ بِالمَطالِ
And, in taking vengeance on them, may he heal
Souls not content with recompense.
souls that will not be content with delay.
And I know his resolve is a sharp sword,
وَأَعلَمُand I know أَنَّthat عَزمَتَهُhis resolve حُسامٌa cutting sword
وَأَعلَمُ أَنَّ عَزمَتَهُ حُسامٌ
وَلَكِنَّand yet التَقاضيpressing a claim كَالصِقالِlike polishing
وَلَكِنَّ التَقاضي كَالصِقالِ
And I know that his resolve is a cutting sword,
Though requital is like the whetstone.
and yet pressing the claim is like polishing it.
Partial English translation: 93 of 94 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1