نِعمexcellent is المعينthe helper علىin facing الوغىbattle فيin مأزقٍa desperate strait
نِعم المعين على الوغى في مأزقٍ
لبِستwore بِهin it الأبطالُthe champions نَفْعَbenefit (likely intended: dust) القَسْطلِof battle-dust
لبِست بِه الأبطالُ نَفْعَ القَسْطلِ
What a fine helper in battle, in a desperate strait
where champions donned battle-dust [probable reading].
فرسa horse أشمlofty المنكِبينin both shoulders مقابلnobly bred on both sides
فرس أشم المنكِبين مقابل
يرميhe hurls الجنادلboulders مِنfrom يديهhis two forefeet بِجندلwith a rock
يرمي الجنادل مِن يديه بِجندل
A horse, high-shouldered, noble on both sides,
flinging boulders from his forefeet with a rock-hard hoof.
تُنبِيكtell you عنof أفعالهhis deeds أعضاؤهhis limbs
تُنبِيك عن أفعاله أعضاؤه
حُسْناthrough beauty وعنand of أخراهhis hindquarters عِتقُthe noble breeding of الأوّلِthe foreparts
حُسْنا وعن أخراه عِتقُ الأوّلِ
His limbs tell you of his deeds
through their beauty; his foreparts' breeding speaks for his hindparts.
عَجِرُstout الوظِيفِin the cannon bones كأنّas though لونَthe color of أدِيمهhis hide
عَجِرُ الوظِيفِ كأنّ لونَ أدِيمه
حُبُكُthe woven ripples of السحابِthe clouds بعارٍupon a bare expanse (uncertain) مُتَهَلِّلِgleaming
حُبُكُ السحابِ بعارٍ مُتَهَلِّلِ
Stout-shanked, the color of his hide is like
clouds' woven ripples upon a bare, gleaming expanse.
وترىand you see لهon him ذَنَباًa tail يَهُزُّhe shakes فضولَهُits trailing lengths
وترى له ذَنَباً يَهُزُّ فضولَهُ
ويَجرُّهُنَّand he drags them كَرَيْطَةlike the fine robe of المتغزّلِthe enamored gallant
ويَجرُّهُنَّ كَرَيْطَة المتغزّلِ
You see a tail whose trailing lengths he tosses,
and drags them like an enamored gallant's robe.
فيin حُسْنthe beauty of عُرْفٍa mane قدalready تكاملhas become complete نَبْتُهits growth
في حُسْن عُرْفٍ قد تكامل نَبْتُه
جَعْدٍcurled كحاشيةِlike the hem of الرداءِthe cloak المسبلِtrailing
جَعْدٍ كحاشيةِ الرداءِ المسبلِ
With a beautiful mane whose growth is full,
curled like the hem of a trailing cloak.
وكأنماand as though مبيضّthe whiteness of أعلىthe upper part of وجههhis face
وكأنما مبيضّ أعلى وجهه
وجبِينِهand his forehead ضوءُthe light of الصباحِthe dawn المقبِلِapproaching
وجبِينِه ضوءُ الصباحِ المقبِلِ
As though the whiteness high upon his face
and brow were the light of approaching dawn.
أَمْضَىswifter إذاwhen أرسلتهyou release him فيon حلبةa racecourse
أَمْضَى إذا أرسلته في حلبة
منthan قولsaying لاno ومنand than التفاتَةِthe glance of مُعْجَلِsomeone hurried
من قول لا ومن التفاتَةِ مُعْجَلِ
When you loose him on the racecourse, he is swifter
than saying 'no,' or a hurried man's glance.
وكأنّand as though دَفَّةَthe sidepiece of سَرجِهhis saddle ولجامِهand his bridle
وكأنّ دَفَّةَ سَرجِه ولجامِه
شُدَّاwere both fastened علىupon ظهرِthe back of السِّماكِal-Simak الأعزلِthe Unarmed
شُدَّا على ظهرِ السِّماكِ الأعزلِ
As though his saddle's sidepiece and his bridle
were strapped upon the back of al-Simak the Unarmed.
وكأنand as though حافِرهُhis hoof إذاwhen وطئit treads الحصىthe pebbles
وكأن حافِرهُ إذا وطئ الحصى
شَدّاًat a gallop يَخُطّhe writes بهwith it حسابreckoning in الجُمَّلِذabjad numerals (corrupt spelling)
شَدّاً يَخُطّ به حساب الجُمَّلِذ
As though his hoof, when it treads the pebbles
at a gallop, were tracing abjad numerals.
ويسابِقand he races البرقَthe lightning المثارَroused into flashing بخَطوِهwith his stride
ويسابِق البرقَ المثارَ بخَطوِه
وَيزيدand goes farther فيهin it علىthan الصَّباthe east wind والشَّمأَلِand the north wind
وَيزيد فيه على الصَّبا والشَّمأَلِ
His stride races the lightning when it flashes,
and outstrips the east wind and the north.
وتراهand you see him يمرحprancing فيagainst العِنانِthe reins إذاwhen بداhe appears
وتراه يمرح في العِنانِ إذا بدا
مَرَحَthe frolicking of المحبِّthe lover التائهِswaggering المتدلِّلِcoquettish
مَرَحَ المحبِّ التائهِ المتدلِّلِ
You see him prance against the reins when he appears,
like a proud and coquettish lover at play.
سَلَبَhe stole from الغوانيَthe beautiful women حسنَهُنَّtheir beauty فجاءand so appeared فيin
سَلَبَ الغوانيَ حسنَهُنَّ فجاء في
أَبْهَىmore splendid مِنthan القمرthe moon المنيرshining وأَجْملand more beautiful
أَبْهَى مِن القمر المنير وأَجْمل
He stole fair women's beauty and appeared in a form
more splendid and more beautiful than the shining moon.
فكأنّماso as though لَبِسhe wore الخدودَthe cheeks ولاحand shone فيin
فكأنّما لَبِس الخدودَ ولاح في
جِلْدٍa hide برَيْعانin the prime radiance of الضّحىthe forenoon مُتَسَرْبِلِenrobed
جِلْدٍ برَيْعان الضّحى مُتَسَرْبِلِ
As though he wore their cheeks and gleamed within
a hide enrobed in the fresh radiance of forenoon.
يُخْفىhe conceals وراءَbehind قَذالهhis nape منbecause of طُولهhis height
يُخْفى وراءَ قَذاله من طُوله
فيin السَّرْجِthe saddle فارسَهhis rider عنfrom المستقبِلsomeone approaching
في السَّرْجِ فارسَه عن المستقبِل
So tall, he hides behind his nape
his rider in the saddle from anyone approaching.
صافيclear الصَّهِيلِin neighing كأنّas though فيin تَرْجِيعِهhis modulations
صافي الصَّهِيلِ كأنّ في تَرْجِيعِه
غَرِدٌa tuneful singer تَبَدَّىappeared فيin الثقيلthe Heavy rhythm الأَوّلthe First
غَرِدٌ تَبَدَّى في الثقيل الأَوّل
Clear-neighing, as though in his trilling
a tuneful singer appeared in the First Heavy rhythm.
ذوpossessing فَوْنسٍa crest (reading uncertain) مالَتdrooped نَواحِيthe sides of عُرْفِهِhis mane
ذو فَوْنسٍ مالَت نَواحِي عُرْفِهِ
مُسْتشْرفُlofty الأَعْلَىin the upper part رَحِيبُbroad الأسفلِin the lower part
مُسْتشْرفُ الأَعْلَى رَحِيبُ الأسفلِ
He has a crest, his mane's edges drooping,
lofty at the top and broad below.
فكأنّماso as though يَقَقُthe dazzling purity of البَياضِthe whiteness بوجهِهupon his face
فكأنّما يَقَقُ البَياضِ بوجهِه
ماءٌwater بَدَاappeared مُتَدافِعاًsurging فيin جَدْولِa channel
ماءٌ بَدَا مُتَدافِعاً في جَدْولِ
As though the pure white blaze upon his face
were water seen rushing through a channel.
مُتشاوسُfiercely sidelong العينينin both eyes يُربِيhe surpasses فيهماin them both
مُتشاوسُ العينين يُربِي فيهما
حُسْناًin beauty علىbeyond عَيْنِthe eye of الغزالthe gazelle الأَكْحلِdark-eyed
حُسْناً على عَيْنِ الغزال الأَكْحلِ
With proud, sidelong eyes, he surpasses
in beauty the eye of the dark-eyed gazelle.
يبدوhe appears فيَسْبِيand so captivates الناظرينthe onlookers ولاand not تَرىyou see
يبدو فيَسْبِي الناظرين ولا تَرى
للقَومfor the people عنfrom لَحَظاتهhis glances مِنany مَعْدِلِescape
للقَوم عن لَحَظاته مِن مَعْدِلِ
He appears and captivates onlookers; you see
no escape for them from his glances.
لَدْنsupple الأَعاليin the upper parts فيon ذُرَاهُhis crest تَمَوُّجٌa rippling
لَدْن الأَعالي في ذُرَاهُ تَمَوُّجٌ
مَوْجَlike the swaying of العَذارَىthe maidens فيon الكثيبthe sand dune الأهيلloose-sanded
مَوْجَ العَذارَى في الكثيب الأهيل
Supple above, his crest undulates
like maidens swaying on a loose-sanded dune.
فكانso it was هامَتَهُhis head هنالِكthere غازلتflirted with
فكان هامَتَهُ هنالِك غازلت
شَرْبَthe drinkers of المدامwine الخندريسwell-aged السَّلْسَلِsmooth to drink
شَرْبَ المدام الخندريس السَّلْسَلِ
So his head there seemed to flirt
with drinkers of smooth, well-aged wine.
يَغْدُوrides out in the morning بهupon him الملِكُthe king العزيزُal-Aziz (the Mighty) كأنهas though he were
يَغْدُو به الملِكُ العزيزُ كأنه
قمرa moon علىupon نجمa star of السماءِthe sky المعتليlofty
قمر على نجم السماءِ المعتلي
King al-Aziz rides out upon him, as though he were
a moon upon heaven's lofty star.
تتأمّلcontemplate الأبصارthe eyes منهin him إذاwhen بداhe appears
تتأمّل الأبصار منه إذا بدا
مَلكاًa king أَغَرّradiant علىupon أَغَرَّa white-blazed horse مُحَجَّلِwhite-stockinged
مَلكاً أَغَرّ على أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلِ
When he appears, eyes behold in him
a radiant king on a white-blazed, white-stockinged steed.
ياO بنson of الوصِيthe Legatee المرتضَىal-Murtada (the Favored) ياO بنson of الإِماthe Ima- (word continues)
يا بن الوصِي المرتضَى يا بن الإِما
مِ-m (completes 'Imam') المجتبىal-Mujtaba (the Chosen) يابنَO son of النبيthe Prophet المرسَلِsent forth
مِ المجتبى يابنَ النبي المرسَلِ
O son of the Legatee, al-Murtada, O son of the Imam,
al-Mujtaba, O son of the Prophet sent forth!
ماwhat بالis the matter with مالِكَyour wealth ليسdoes not يرمِيهshoot at it الندىgenerosity
ما بال مالِكَ ليس يرمِيه الندى
إلاexcept that يُوافِقit strikes منهin it مَوْضِعَa spot of مَقْتلِmortal injury
إلا يُوافِق منه مَوْضِعَ مَقْتلِ
How is it that generosity never shoots at your wealth
without striking it in a mortal spot?
كرمgenerosity يباريthat rivals الريحthe wind غيرnot مقصّرٍfalling short
كرم يباري الريح غير مقصّرٍ
وجَداًand bounty يزيدincreases علىbeyond الغَمامِthe clouds المُسْبِلِrain-shedding
وجَداً يزيد على الغَمامِ المُسْبِلِ
Generosity that vies with the wind, never falling short,
and bounty surpassing the rain-shedding cloud;
ومواهبand gifts تسرِيtravel by night لمنto whoever لمdid not يسرِtravel by night فِيin
ومواهب تسرِي لمن لم يسرِ فِي
طلبseeking الغنىriches وتُنيلand bestow on منwhoever لمdid not يسألask
طلب الغنى وتُنيل من لم يسأل
and gifts that travel by night to those who never set out
in search of riches, and enrich those who never asked.
هذيthese فضائِلكare your virtues التيwhich قدindeed نزّلتwere sent down
هذي فضائِلك التي قد نزّلت
بالنصّin explicit wording فيin آيِthe verses of الكتابthe Book المنزلrevealed
بالنصّ في آيِ الكتاب المنزل
These are your virtues, which were sent down
expressly in the verses of the revealed Book.
أنتyou are المحصّلthe man of substance فيin زمانٍan age أصبحتhave become
أنت المحصّل في زمانٍ أصبحت
أملاكهits kings كالقولlike speech غيرnot محصّلِwell-founded
أملاكه كالقول غير محصّلِ
You are the man of substance in an age when
its kings have become like words without substance.
لوif لمnot تكنyou were ذاpossessed of جَحْفَلٍa mighty host لَغَدَوْتَyou would surely be منthrough
لو لم تكن ذا جَحْفَلٍ لَغَدَوْتَ من
عَزَماتِthe firm resolves of رأيكyour judgment وَحْدَهalone فيamid جَحْفَلِa mighty host
عَزَماتِ رأيك وَحْدَه في جَحْفَلِ
Had you no great host, you would still stand, through
your resolute judgment alone, amid a mighty host.
عجباًwonder لأبصارٍat eyes تراكthat see you ولوand if درتthey knew
عجباً لأبصارٍ تراك ولو درت
مِقدارَthe measure of فَضْلِكyour excellence كُنَّthey would be عنكfrom you بِمَعْزِلِat a distance
مِقدارَ فَضْلِك كُنَّ عنك بِمَعْزِلِ
How strange that eyes can see you! If they knew
the measure of your excellence, they would keep far from you.
لوif وازنweighed against الأطوادَthe mountains فضلُكyour excellence فاقهاit would surpass them
لو وازن الأطوادَ فضلُك فاقها
عظماًin greatness ومالand tipped the scales بعالِجagainst ʿAlij وبيَذْبُلِand against Yadhbul
عظماً ومال بعالِج وبيَذْبُلِ
Were your excellence weighed against mountains, it would surpass them
in greatness, and tip the scales against ʿAlij and Yadhbul.
Sol 6.1