إِذاif اِفتَخَرَboasts الشَرقُthe East القَديمُancient بِسَيِّدٍof a lord
إِذا اِفتَخَرَ الشَرقُ القَديمُ بِسَيِّدٍ
تَميدُsway بِذِكراهُat his remembrance اِبتِهاجاًfor joy مَحافِلُهhis gatherings
تَميدُ بِذِكراهُ اِبتِهاجاً مَحافِلُه
If the ancient East boasts of a lord,
When the ancient East boasts of a master
whose gatherings sway for joy at his remembrance,
Whose mention fills its gatherings with joy,
وَنُصِتَand were raised مَوازينُthe scales الفِخارِof glory وَقَدand indeed أَتىhas come
وَنُصِتَ مَوازينُ الفِخارِ وَقَد أَتى
يُماتِنُvies in strength كُلُّevery خَصمِهِopponent of his وَيُساجِلُهand contends with him
يُماتِنُ كُلُّ خَصمِهِ وَيُساجِلُه
and the scales of glory are raised, while there comes
And the scales of glory are set right, as he comes
every rival to match his strength and contend with him,
To defeat all rivals and contend with them,
فَمَنthen who كَصَلاحِlike Salah الدينِal-Din (the Faith) تَعنوbow لِذِكرِهِat his mention
فَمَن كَصَلاحِ الدينِ تَعنو لِذِكرِهِ
رُؤوسَthe heads of أَعاديهِhis enemies وَمَنand who ذاthis one يُعادِلُهequals him
رُؤوسَ أَعاديهِ وَمَن ذا يُعادِلُه
then who is like Salah al-Din, at whose mention bow
Who but Saladin are heads bowed to recall?
his enemies' heads—and who can equal him?
Who can equal him?
يُخالِطُmingles with أَعماقَthe depths of القُلوبِhearts وَلاؤُهُdevotion to him
يُخالِطُ أَعماقَ القُلوبِ وَلاؤُهُ
وَتفعَلُand work أَفعالَthe effects of الشُمولِwine شَمائِلُهhis noble traits
وَتفعَلُ أَفعالَ الشُمولِ شَمائِلُه
Devotion to him mingles with the depths of hearts,
His loyalty dwells deep in hearts
and his noble traits work the effects of wine.
And his qualities enact all-encompassing deeds.
وَاُقسِمُand I swear لَوif فيin الحَيِّthe tribe نودِيَwere called بِاِسمِهِby his name
وَاُقسِمُ لَو في الحَيِّ نودِيَ بِاِسمِهِ
لَدىduring سَنَواتِyears of المَحلِdrought لاwould surely (apparent word split) خُضرُturn green ماحِلُهits barren ground
لَدى سَنَواتِ المَحلِ لا خُضرُ ماحِلُه
I swear: were his name called among the tribe
I swear if his name were called out today
in years of drought, its barren ground would turn green.
In the abode of empire, not a blossom in its gardens would stay green.
لَهُhe has عامِلاtwo agents of حَربٍwar وَسِلمٍand peace كِلاهُماboth of them
لَهُ عامِلا حَربٍ وَسِلمٍ كِلاهُما
كَفيلٌa guarantor بِإِذلالِof humbling العَدُوِّthe enemy وَقاتِلُهand his slayer
كَفيلٌ بِإِذلالِ العَدُوِّ وَقاتِلُه
He has two agents, of war and peace; both
He has agents of both war and peace, each
are sure to humble the enemy and slay him.
Able to humiliate the enemy and fight him.
مُهَنَّدُهُhis Indian-steel sword فيat عُنقِthe neck of قَرنٍa rival مُساوِرٌassailing
مُهَنَّدُهُ في عُنقِ قَرنٍ مُساوِرٌ
وَمِنَّتُهُand his favor فيon عُنقِthe neck of خَصمٍa foe يُجامِلُهhe treats graciously
وَمِنَّتُهُ في عُنقِ خَصمٍ يُجامِلُه
His Indian-steel sword assails a rival's neck,
His glory humbles the neck of every foe
and his favor binds the neck of a foe he treats graciously.
And his favor graces the neck of every rival appeasing him.
وَماand nothing قَتَلslays الحُرُّthe free man الأَبِيُّthe proud الَّذيwhose زَكَتare pure
وَما قَتَل الحُرُّ الأَبِيُّ الَّذي زَكَت
سَجاياهُhis traits كَالعَفوِlike the pardon الَّذيwhich هُوَit شامِلُهembraces him
سَجاياهُ كَالعَفوِ الَّذي هُوَ شامِلُه
Nothing slays the free, proud man—so pure are
The noble free man who purified
his traits—like the pardon that embraces him.
His nature never killed like the pardoning that included even him.
وَماand never كُلِّgrew dull يَوماًever عَضبُهُhis keen blade عَنbefore كَريهَةٍa dreadful battle
وَما كُلِّ يَوماً عَضبُهُ عَن كَريهَةٍ
وَلاnor مَلَّtired مِنof حِلمٍforbearance وَلَوeven if مَلَّgrew weary عامِلُهhis spear
وَلا مَلَّ مِن حِلمٍ وَلَو مَلَّ عامِلُه
His keen blade never dulled before a dreadful battle,
Not every day does his anger flare over an outrage,
nor did he tire of forbearance, even if his spear grew weary.
Nor does he ever tire of clemency, even if his agent did.
تَظَلُّremain طَوالَthroughout الوَقتِthe time تَندىdrip سُيوفُهُhis swords
تَظَلُّ طَوالَ الوَقتِ تَندى سُيوفُهُ
دِماءًblood وَتَندىand bedew جانِبَيهاtheir two sides فَواضِلُهhis bounties
دِماءً وَتَندى جانِبَيها فَواضِلُه
All the while his swords drip
His swords drip blood for ages
blood, while his bounties bedew both their sides.
As do their two edges, shedders of blood.
فَكَمso how many مِنof عَدُوٍّan enemy قَدindeed تَرَدّىhas fallen بِحَربِهِthrough his warfare
فَكَم مِن عَدُوٍّ قَد تَرَدّى بِحَربِهِ
قَتيلاًslain وَعاشَتand lived مِنon نَداهُhis bounty أَرامِلُهhis widows
قَتيلاً وَعاشَت مِن نَداهُ أَرامِلُه
How many an enemy has fallen through his warfare,
So many a hostile foe has rushed into war
slain, while the foe's widows lived upon his bounty!
Only to die, leaving widows to live on his fame.
وَفيand in الحَربِwar قَدmay تَخَطّىovershot مَراميهِhis targets مَرَّةًonce
وَفي الحَربِ قَد تَخَطّى مَراميهِ مَرَّةً
وَفيand in كُلِّevery حالٍcircumstance لَيسَdoes not يُخطِئُmiss نائِلُهhis bounty
وَفي كُلِّ حالٍ لَيسَ يُخطِئُ نائِلُه
In war he may once have overshot his targets,
In war, he once surpassed his aims
but in every circumstance his bounty never misses.
And always, his seeker attains his goal.
تَفيضُpour عَلىover بُؤسِthe misery of العِداةِenemies دُموعُهُhis tears
تَفيضُ عَلى بُؤسِ العِداةِ دُموعُهُ
وَلَمand never يُلفِwas found يَوماًever سائِلُshedding الدَمعِtears سائِلُهhis petitioner
وَلَم يُلفِ يَوماً سائِلُ الدَمعِ سائِلُه
His tears pour over his enemies' misery,
For the misery of enemies, his tears pour down
yet no petitioner of his was ever found shedding tears.
Never has the tearful one lacked a tearful companion.
كَأَنَّas though الوَرىhumankind كانواwere أَهاليهِhis family جُملَةًaltogether
كَأَنَّ الوَرى كانوا أَهاليهِ جُملَةً
فَمَهماso whoever يَكُنmay be مِنof بائِسٍa wretched person فَهوَthen he كافِلُهhis guardian
فَمَهما يَكُن مِن بائِسٍ فَهوَ كافِلُه
As though all humankind were his family,
It is as though all people together
whoever lives in misery finds in him a guardian.
Were his family, so whoever suffers, he aids.
وَمَنand whoever فَهِمَunderstood الإِنسانَhumanity فيamong الناسِpeople فَهمُهُhis understanding
وَمَن فَهِمَ الإِنسانَ في الناسِ فَهمُهُ
رَأىsaw أَنَّthat كُلَّall العامِلينَthose who labor عوائِلُهhis dependents
رَأى أَنَّ كُلَّ العامِلينَ عوائِلُه
Whoever understood humanity among people as he did
Whoever understands man among men understands him,
saw that all who labor were his dependents.
For he sees all people as his dependents.
كَذَلِكَsuch is مَنone who كانضwas (apparent typo) التَمَدُّنُcivilized conduct دَأبُهُhis habit
كَذَلِكَ مَن كانض التَمَدُّنُ دَأبُهُ
سَجِيَّةَa disposition of صِدقٍsincerity مَحضَةًpure لاnot تُزايِلُهleaves him
سَجِيَّةَ صِدقٍ مَحضَةً لا تُزايِلُه
Such is the man whose habit is civilized conduct,
Thus is he whose habit is civilization,
a pure, genuine disposition that never leaves him.
Of sheer honesty, nothing makes him swerve.
وَلَيسَand not كَمَنlike one who باتَcame to التَمَدُّنُcivilization يَدَّعيclaims
وَلَيسَ كَمَن باتَ التَمَدُّنُ يَدَّعي
مَقاوِلُهُhis words قَدindeed كَذَّبَتهاhave belied them مَفاعِلُهhis deeds
مَقاوِلُهُ قَد كَذَّبَتها مَفاعِلُه
Unlike one who takes to claiming civilization,
Not like one who falsely claims civilization,
whose words his deeds have belied.
Whose words his actions have proven false.
تَعَلَّمknow أَهلَthe people of الغَربِthe West طَراًaltogether قَضُّهُits lesser folk وَقَضيضُهُand its greater folk
تَعَلَّم أَهلَ الغَربِ طَراً قَضُّهُ وَقَضيضُهُ
وَفارِسُهُand its horseman رامَsought النِزالَcombat وَراجِلُهand its foot soldier
وَفارِسُهُ رامَ النِزالَ وَراجِلُه
Know the people of the West, every one, small and great:
He learned from the West an aim whose cutting sharpness
their horsemen sought combat, and their foot soldiers.
Wounds, and whose rider and footman have come to fight us,
مِئاتُhundreds of أُلوفٍthousands وَالفَرَنسيسُand the French وَحدَهُon its own
مِئاتُ أُلوفٍ وَالفَرَنسيسُ وَحدَهُ
غَداًbecame (contextual reading) أُمَّةًa nation فيon الأَرضِthe earth أَنwhen صالَits charging warrior come forth in attack under the command of a leader, صائِلُهcharged
غَداً أُمَّةً في الأَرضِ أَن صالَ صائِلُه
Hundreds of thousands—and the French alone
Hundreds of thousands, and the Frenchman alone,
became a nation on earth when their warrior charged.
Would tomorrow be a nation on earth if his seeker gained success.
وَريكارَدand Richard قَلبُthe heart of اللَيثِthe lion فيin كُلِّevery مَوقِفٍencounter
وَريكارَد قَلبُ اللَيثِ في كُلِّ مَوقِفٍ
يُؤازِرُهُsupports him فيin طولِهِhis might وَيُماثِلُهand matches him
يُؤازِرُهُ في طولِهِ وَيُماثِلُه
And Richard the Lionheart, in every encounter,
And Richard, the lionheart, in every stance,
supports them in might and matches them.
Backs him, equaling his height.
وَمِنand from أُمَّةِthe nation of الأَلمانِthe Germans جَيشٌan army عَرَمرَمٌimmense
وَمِن أُمَّةِ الأَلمانِ جَيشٌ عَرَمرَمٌ
يَسيرُmarches بِهِwith it مِنfrom أَبعَدِthe farthest part of الأَرضِthe earth عاهِلُهits sovereign
يَسيرُ بِهِ مِن أَبعَدِ الأَرضِ عاهِلُه
And from the German nation, an immense army,
And from the German nation, a horde
with which its sovereign marches from the earth's farthest reaches.
Led from the furthest end of earth by its ruler.
هِيَit الأَرضُthe land الكُبرىthe great وَماand no ثَمَّthere قَيصَرٌan emperor
هِيَ الأَرضُ الكُبرى وَما ثَمَّ قَيصَرٌ
سِواهاother than it وَلَمand have not تَزحَفadvanced إِلَيناtoward us جَحافِلُهhis hosts
سِواها وَلَم تَزحَف إِلَينا جَحافِلُه
It is the great land; there is no emperor
It is the great land, and there is no Caesar
elsewhere whose hosts have not marched upon us.
Except it, and never did its armies crawl towards us,
فَصادَمَهُمso he clashed with them مِنfrom نَجلِthe offspring of أَيّوبَAyyub وَحدَهُby himself
فَصادَمَهُم مِن نَجلِ أَيّوبَ وَحدَهُ
فَتىًa youth بِهِمunder them جَمعاًall together تَميلُsway مَوائِلُهhis refuges
فَتىً بِهِم جَمعاً تَميلُ مَوائِلُه
So a scion of Ayyub clashed with them alone,
Until one youth of the Ayyubid line faced them alone,
a youth whose refuges swayed beneath their combined force.
A man whose inclinations are swaying.
حَليفُan ally of وَفاءٍloyalty لاnot يُضامُis wronged نَزيلُهُhis guest
حَليفُ وَفاءٍ لا يُضامُ نَزيلُهُ
وَلَكِنَّهُbut he أَمسىhas come to يُضامُis humbled مُنازِلُهhis challenger
وَلَكِنَّهُ أَمسى يُضامُ مُنازِلُه
An ally of loyalty, whose guest is never wronged,
Ally of unwavering loyalty, he gives shelter to the guest
yet the man who fights him comes to be humbled.
But now he finds his own dwellings threatened.
لَهُhe has ثِقَةُtrust in اللَهِGod لَيسَتis not بِغَيرِهِin anyone else
لَهُ ثِقَةُ اللَهِ لَيسَت بِغَيرِهِ
وَمَنand whoever يَرجُhopes in غَيرَanyone other than اللَهِGod فَاللَهُthen God خاذِلُهforsakes him
وَمَن يَرجُ غَيرَ اللَهِ فَاللَهُ خاذِلُه
His trust is in God, and in no one else;
He trusts in God, none other,
whoever hopes in anyone but God, God forsakes him.
And whoever entrusts other than God, He will forsake him.
وَقالَand he said وَقَدwhile indeed تَعيىexhaust الجِبالُthe mountains جُموعُهُمtheir hosts
وَقالَ وَقَد تَعيى الجِبالُ جُموعُهُم
لِيَفعَلَlet Him do إِلَهيmy God اليَومَtoday ماwhat هُوَHe فاعِلُهwill do it
لِيَفعَلَ إِلَهي اليَومَ ما هُوَ فاعِلُه
He said, though their hosts could weary mountains:
He said, though their crowds made the mountains weary,
“Let my God do today what He will do.”
"My God shall do today what He will do!"
وَيَصطَدِمُand clash الجَمعانِthe two hosts حَولَينِfor two years كُلَّماwhenever
وَيَصطَدِمُ الجَمعانِ حَولَينِ كُلَّما
خَبتَdies down نارُthe fire of حَربٍwar أَوقَدَتهاkindled it مَشاعِلُهhis torches
خَبتَ نارُ حَربٍ أَوقَدَتها مَشاعِلُه
The two hosts clash for two years; whenever
The two groups clash around whenever
the fire of war dies down, his torches kindle it.
The fires of a war are kindled by those who lit its flames.
ذَراwinnowed بِرِجالِwith the men of الشامِal-Sham شُمَّthe proud ranks of جُيوشِهِمtheir armies
ذَرا بِرِجالِ الشامِ شُمَّ جُيوشِهِم
فَعادواso they became كَعَصفٍlike chaff بَدَّدَتهُscattered it مَآكِلُهits feeding places
فَعادوا كَعَصفٍ بَدَّدَتهُ مَآكِلُه
With the men of al-Sham he winnowed their proud armies,
He scattered the Syrian army, smell their troops!
and they became like chaff scattered at its feeding places.
They returned like gusts scattered by the east wind.
وَسَخَّرَand subdued هاتيكَthose المَعاقِلُfortresses كُلَّهاall of them
وَسَخَّرَ هاتيكَ المَعاقِلُ كُلَّها
وَلَيسَتand are not سِوىother than آيَthe verses of الكِتابِthe Book مَعاقِلُهhis fortresses
وَلَيسَت سِوى آيَ الكِتابِ مَعاقِلُه
He subdued all those fortresses,
He subjected all those citadels
while his own fortresses were only the verses of the Book.
Though they are nothing but verses of the Book.
وَسَلand ask عَنهُabout him فيat حِطينِHattin يَوماًa day عَقَبقَباًterrible
وَسَل عَنهُ في حِطينِ يَوماً عَقَبقَباً
غَداةَon the morning لِواءِthe banner of الحَقِّtruth عُزِّزَwas strengthened حامِلُهits bearer
غَداةَ لِواءِ الحَقِّ عُزِّزَ حامِلُه
Ask of him at Hattin on a terrible day,
Some asked about him at Hittin, chains jangling,
on the morning when the bearer of truth's banner was strengthened;
The morning after the banner of truth was raised by its bearer,
وَعَنand about مَلِكِthe king of الإِفرِنجِthe Franks وَهوَwhile he was أَسيرُهُhis captive
وَعَن مَلِكِ الإِفرِنجِ وَهوَ أَسيرُهُ
وَلِرناطِand for Renaud إِذwhen تَبكيweep عَلَيهِover him حَلائِلُهhis wives
وَلِرناطِ إِذ تَبكي عَلَيهِ حَلائِلُه
and of the king of the Franks, who was his captive,
And about the King of the Franks as his captive,
and of Renaud, as his wives weep over him.
As Lanat wept for him, her ornaments jingling.
هُناhere اِنتَصَفَgained redress الشَرقُthe East الأَصيلُthe noble مِنَfrom الَّذيthe one who
هُنا اِنتَصَفَ الشَرقُ الأَصيلُ مِنَ الَّذي
أَغارَraided عَلَيهِagainst it وَاِستَطالَتand grew excessive طَوائِلُهhis outrages
أَغارَ عَلَيهِ وَاِستَطالَت طَوائِلُه
Here the noble East won redress from the one
Who had raided it and whose ropes had grown long.
who raided it and whose outrages had gone too far.
Was there ever a fortress for a nation like Syria,
فَهَلthen, is it so? كانَwas مِثلُlike الشامِal-Sham حِصناًa fortress لِأُمَّةٍfor a nation
فَهَل كانَ مِثلُ الشامِ حِصناً لِأُمَّةٍ
تَمَشّىadvanced إِلَيهاtoward it الغَربُthe West تَغليboil مَراجِلُهits cauldrons
تَمَشّى إِلَيها الغَربُ تَغلي مَراجِلُه
Was there a fortress like al-Sham for a nation
Towards which the West crawled, its cauldrons boiling?
toward which the West marched, its cauldrons boiling?
Whoever aims for noble Syria
وَمِنand whoever قَصدِaimed at الشامِal-Sham الشَريفِthe noble فَإِنَّهُthen indeed he
وَمِن قَصدِ الشامِ الشَريفِ فَإِنَّهُ
لِيَعرِفهُlet it know him قَبلَbefore التَوَغَّلِpenetrating inland ساحِلُهits coast
لِيَعرِفهُ قَبلَ التَوَغَّلِ ساحِلُه
And whoever targets noble al-Sham—
Must know its coast before penetrating deep.
let its coast know him before he presses inland.
My homeland! We must not neglect prudence for a moment
فَياso O وَطَنيmy homeland لاnot نَترُكِwe abandon الحَزمَresolve لَحظَةًfor an instant
فَيا وَطَني لا نَترُكِ الحَزمَ لَحظَةً
بِعَصرٍin an age أُحيطَتare surrounded بِالزِحامِby crowds مَناهِلُهits watering places
بِعَصرٍ أُحيطَت بِالزِحامِ مَناهِلُه
O my homeland, let us not abandon resolve for an instant,
In an age whose rivers are choked with crowds.
in an age whose watering places are beset by crowds.
Be vigilant, do not slumber at any trickery
وَكُنand be يَقِظاًvigilant لاdo not تَستَنِمrepose trust لِمَكيدَةٍin a plot
وَكُن يَقِظاً لا تَستَنِم لِمَكيدَةٍ
وَلاnor لِكَلامٍin words يُشبِهُresembles الحَقَّtruth باطِلُهits falsehood
وَلا لِكَلامٍ يُشبِهُ الحَقَّ باطِلُه
Be vigilant; do not repose trust in a plot,
Or words that resemble truth but are false.
nor in words whose falsehood resembles truth.
A deceit against the Turks, it is said, is aimed,
وَكَيدٌand a plot عَلىagainst الأَتراكِthe Turks قيلَwas said مُصَوَّبٌaimed
وَكَيدٌ عَلى الأَتراكِ قيلَ مُصَوَّبٌ
وَلَكِنbut لِصَيدِto catch الأُمَّتَينِthe two nations حَبائِلُهits snares
وَلَكِن لِصَيدِ الأُمَّتَينِ حَبائِلُه
A plot is said to be aimed at the Turks,
But its ropes are to trap both our nations.
but its snares are set to catch both nations.
Remember the old times, and you will know the new:
تَذَكَّرremember قَديمَthe former course of الأَمرِthe affair تَعلَمyou will know حَديثُهُُits recent course
تَذَكَّر قَديمَ الأَمرِ تَعلَم حَديثُهُُ
فَكُلٌّfor every أَخيَرُlater outcome قَدindeed نَمَتهُhave nurtured it أَوائِلُهits beginnings
فَكُلٌّ أَخيَرُ قَد نَمَتهُ أَوائِلُه
Remember the affair of old, and you will know its new turn;
For each latter stage grew out of its first steps.
for every later outcome has been nurtured by its beginnings.
If your brother has wronged you, surely
إِذاif غالَتِstrikes down الجَلِيَّgrave calamity (contextual reading) أَخاكَyour brother فَإِنَّهُthen indeed it
إِذا غالَتِ الجَلِيَّ أَخاكَ فَإِنَّهُ
لَقَدsurely غالَكَhas struck you down الأَمرُthe thing الَّذيthat هُوَit غائِلُهstrikes him down
لَقَد غالَكَ الأَمرُ الَّذي هُوَ غائِلُه
If grave calamity strikes down your brother, then
It is the matter causing it that misled him.
the very thing that destroys him has surely struck you down.
There is no way but unity for one who dreads
فَلَيسَتso there is no بِغَيرِother than by الاتِّحادِunion وَسيلَةٌmeans
فَلَيسَت بِغَيرِ الاتِّحادِ وَسيلَةٌ
لِمَنfor whoever عافَabhors أَنthat تَغشىbe overrun عَلَيهِupon him مَنازِلُهhis homes
لِمَن عافَ أَن تَغشى عَلَيهِ مَنازِلُه
There is no means except through union
His home being shrouded by what crowds it.
for whoever abhors having his homes overrun.
We have no refuge but the crescent
وَلَيسَand there is no لَناfor us غَيرَother than الهِلالِthe crescent مَظَلَّةًa canopy
وَلَيسَ لَنا غَيرَ الهِلالِ مَظَلَّةً
يَنالُattains لَدَيهاbeneath it العِزُّglory مَنwhoever هُوَhe آمِلُهhopes for it
يَنالُ لَدَيها العِزُّ مَن هُوَ آمِلُه
We have no sheltering canopy but the crescent,
Where glory is obtained by one who hopes in it.
beneath which whoever hopes for glory attains it.
Even if the fate of others does not caution us
وَلَوand if لَمdid not يَفدِناgive us عِبرَةًa lesson خَطَبَthe calamity of غَيرَناpeople other than us
وَلَو لَم يَفدِنا عِبرَةً خَطَبَ غَيرَنا
لَهانَit would be a light matter وَلَكِنbut عِندَناamong us مَنsomeone نُسائِلُهwe question him
لَهانَ وَلَكِن عِندَنا مَن نُسائِلُه
If others' calamity had taught us no lesson,
We have one we can ask, so we are not devoid.
it would be a light matter; yet we have someone to ask.
My people will know I do not cheat them,
سَيَعلَمُwill know قَوميmy people أَنَّنيthat I لاdo not أَغشَهُمdeceive them
سَيَعلَمُ قَومي أَنَّني لا أَغشَهُم
وَمَهماand however اِستَطالَgrows long اللَيلُthe night فَالصُبحُthen dawn واصِلُهwill reach it
وَمَهما اِستَطالَ اللَيلُ فَالصُبحُ واصِلُه
My people will know that I do not deceive them,
And however long the night drags on, dawn will join it.
however long the night stretches, dawn will reach it.
Partial English translation: 85 of 86 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1