Sol 6.1

  1. فدى لك بعد رزئك من ينامُ

    ومن يصبو إذ سجع الحمامُ

    May whoever sleeps after your loss be your ransom,

    and whoever feels longing when the doves coo.

  2. ونفسي بالفداء عنيت لا من

    ينام عن الحقوق ولا يلام

    And by that ransom I meant my own soul, not one

    who sleeps through his duties and goes unblamed.

  3. ألا نفق الجواد فلا عجاج

    تقوم به الحروب ولا ضرام

    Alas, the noble steed has died: no swirling dust

    in which wars rage, and no blaze.

  4. وكان اذا طغت حرب عوان

    جرى ورسيله الموت الزؤام

    And whenever a renewed battle raged,

    he raced, with violent death his running mate.

  5. إذا رميت به الغايات صلت

    صفوف الخيل وهو لها إمام

    When you sent him toward the finish lines, they prayed—

    the ranks of horses, with him as their imam.

  6. تمهر في الوقائع وهو مهر

    ولا سرج عليه ولا لجام

    He grew skilled in battles while still a colt,

    with neither saddle upon him nor bridle.

  7. فلما لم يدع في الأرض قرناً

    تخوله فعاجله الحمام

    Then, when he had left no rival upon the earth,

    death sought him out and suddenly overtook him.

  8. وعود عافيات الطير طعماً

    وشرب دمٍ إذا حرم المدام

    And he had accustomed scavenging birds to food

    and draughts of blood when wine was denied.

  9. فلما لم يطق نهضاً أتته

    فقال لها أنا ذاك الطعام

    Then, when he could no longer rise, they came to him,

    and he told them, 'I am that food.'

  10. وجاد بنفسه إذا لم يجد ما

    يجود به كذا الخيل الكرام

    And he gave his life when he could find nothing

    to give; such are noble steeds.

  11. وكنت البدر عارضه كسوف

    ينحس حين تم له التمام

    And you were the full moon, overtaken by an eclipse

    that boded ill just as it attained its fullness.

  12. فلا تبعد وإن ابعدت عنا

    فهذا العيش ليس انتظام

    May you not be distant, though taken far from us;

    for this life has no order.

  13. إذا لم تكشف الأصدا همومي

    فليت الخيل أصداء وهام

    If echoes do not dispel my cares,

    would that horses were echoes and owls.

  14. طوى الحدثان طفرك يا ابن يحيى

    فطرفي ما يعاوده المنام

    Time's vicissitudes have folded away your steed, O son of Yahya;

    so sleep no longer revisits my eye.

  15. ولم أحضره يوم قضى فيشكو

    تحمحمه الذي صنع السقام

    Nor was I beside him the day he died, to hear his complaint—

    his low whinny telling what sickness had done.

  16. ولا خبرت ليلة جر جسم

    زكت عندي له نعم جسام

    Nor did I learn of the night a body was dragged away,

    whose mighty favors to me had multiplied.

  17. ألم أقسم عليك لتخبرني

    أمحمول على النعش الهمام

    Did I not adjure you to tell me:

    'Is the gallant one being carried on the bier?'

  18. مضوا يناقلون به خفافاً

    عليه من الضياع له قيام

    They went on, carrying him in turns, light-footed,

    those charged with guarding him against neglect.

  19. فبزوه وما عروه درعاً

    نبت عنه الصوارم والسهام

    They despoiled him, yet stripped no coat of mail away;

    swords and arrows had glanced off him.

  20. أيقتله الحمام أشدب قرن

    وأكرمه وتسلبه اللئام

    Does death slay him, the mightiest of rivals

    and the noblest, while base men plunder him?

  21. أبا عيسى تعز فدتك بنفسي

    فإن الموت قرن لا يضام

    Abu Isa, take comfort; may I ransom you with my life,

    for death is a rival none can overpower.

  22. أقم في ظل اسماعيل تضمن

    لك الدرك السلامة والدوام

    Remain in Ismail's shade, and you will be assured

    of recompense, safety, and continuance.

  23. إذا بقي الوزير لنا وفينا

    فقل للدهر يهلك والأنام

    If the vizier remains for us and among us,

    then tell Time to perish, and mankind with it.

  24. وعظت بها أخاً ورثيت مالا

    واديت الأمانة والسلام

    With this I admonished a brother and mourned a possession,

    and discharged the trust. Peace.