ألاah! هَلis there? إلَىto مَاwhat أبتَغِيهِI seek سَبِيلُa way
ألا هَل إلَى مَا أبتَغِيهِ سَبِيلُ
فَيَذْهَبُso may vanish كَرْبٌanguish بِالفُؤادِwithin the heart دَخِيلُlodged deep
فَيَذْهَبُ كَرْبٌ بِالفُؤادِ دَخِيلُ
Ah, is there a way to what I seek,
Is there no way to attain my desire,
so that the anguish lodged in my heart may vanish?
So this anguish in my heart would disappear?
فَقَدْfor indeed طَالَgrew long لَيلِيmy night فيin انتِظَارِawaiting حُصُولِهِits attainment
فَقَدْ طَالَ لَيلِي في انتِظَارِ حُصُولِهِ
أمَاindeed أنَّthat لَيلَthe night of المُبتَلِينَthe afflicted طَوِيلُlong
أمَا أنَّ لَيلَ المُبتَلِينَ طَوِيلُ
My night has grown long as I await its attainment;
My night has been so long waiting for it,
indeed, the night of the afflicted is long.
The nights of the afflicted are surely long.
وَأتعَبَنِيand has wearied me تَدْبِيرُmanaging كُلِّevery مُهَوَّسٍcrazed man
وَأتعَبَنِي تَدْبِيرُ كُلِّ مُهَوَّسٍ
بَلِيدٍdull-witted إلَىtoward طَبعِthe nature of النِّساءِwomen يَمِيلُinclines
بَلِيدٍ إلَى طَبعِ النِّساءِ يَمِيلُ
And managing every crazed man has wearied me,
Managing the whims of a feeble-minded one,
a dullard inclined toward the nature of women.
Inclined to women's temperament, has wearied me.
فَمَاso not النَّاسُpeople فيin التَّحقِيقِtruth إلاَّexcept سَوَائِمُgrazing beasts
فَمَا النَّاسُ في التَّحقِيقِ إلاَّ سَوَائِمُ
وَذُوand one possessing العَقْلِreason مِنْهُمْamong them فيin الحِسابِthe reckoning قَلِيلُfew
وَذُو العَقْلِ مِنْهُمْ في الحِسابِ قَلِيلُ
In truth, people are nothing but grazing beasts,
For people are but cattle,
and the rational among them are few in number.
And those of reason among them are few.
وَأكْثَرُand most مَنْof those who يُنْبِيكَinform you بِالأمرِof the affair كَاذِبُa liar
وَأكْثَرُ مَنْ يُنْبِيكَ بِالأمرِ كَاذِبُ
وَجُلُّand most of حَدِيثِthe talk of الصَّادِقِينَthe truthful فُضُولُidle chatter
وَجُلُّ حَدِيثِ الصَّادِقِينَ فُضُولُ
Most who tell you of affairs are liars,
Most who alert you to something are lying,
and most of the truthful men's talk is idle chatter.
And most of the truthful's speech is excess.
تَقُولُsays التِيthe woman who بَكَّرْتُI set out early منfrom كِسرِthe corner of بَيتِهَاher house
تَقُولُ التِي بَكَّرْتُ من كِسرِ بَيتِهَا
أعَامَكَis it your year? هَذاthis وَالعُدَاةُand the enemies تَجُولُroam
أعَامَكَ هَذا وَالعُدَاةُ تَجُولُ
The woman from whose house-corner I set out at dawn says,
She whose house I visited early said,
'Is this your year, while the enemies roam?'
"May this protect you while foes roam about."
فَقُلْتُso I said لَهَاto her خَيراًgood لَعَلَّperhaps مَضائِقاًhardships
فَقُلْتُ لَهَا خَيراً لَعَلَّ مَضائِقاً
تَوَالَتْcame in succession ألَىtoward نَيْلِattaining المُرادِthe desired end تَؤولُwill lead
تَوَالَتْ ألَى نَيْلِ المُرادِ تَؤولُ
I told her, 'Good! Perhaps the hardships
I told her, perhaps hardships have piled up,
that have come in succession will lead to the desired end.'
Till they lead to achieving what is desired.
فَكَمْfor how many مِحْنَةa trial يُبلَىis tried بهَاby it المرءُa man كارِهاًunwillingly
فَكَمْ مِحْنَة يُبلَى بهَا المرءُ كارِهاً
وَفِيهَاand within it إلَىto مَاwhat يَبتَغِيهِhe seeks سَبِيلُa way
وَفِيهَا إلَى مَا يَبتَغِيهِ سَبِيلُ
How many a trial afflicts a man against his will,
So through how many tribulations is one dragged unwillingly,
yet holds a path to what he seeks!
While they lead to what one seeks?
مَحَاmay wipe out اللهُGod أوبَاشَthe rabble of الجَزَائِرِAlgiers عُصْبَةًa band
مَحَا اللهُ أوبَاشَ الجَزَائِرِ عُصْبَةً
فَمَاso not مِنْهُمُamong them مَنْanyone whom يَرتَضِيهِapproves of him أصِيلُa noble-born man
فَمَا مِنْهُمُ مَنْ يَرتَضِيهِ أصِيلُ
May God wipe out the rabble of Algiers, that band,
May God erase the gangs of Algeria,
for none of them would win a noble man's approval.
Not one of them would a noble accept.
مَفَالِيسُbankrupt wretches أمَّاas for كَهْلُهُمْtheir middle-aged man فَمُحَمَّقٌthen a fool
مَفَالِيسُ أمَّا كَهْلُهُمْ فَمُحَمَّقٌ
سَفِيهٌfoolish وَأمَّاand as for شَيخُهُمْtheir old man فَرَذِيلُthen base
سَفِيهٌ وَأمَّا شَيخُهُمْ فَرَذِيلُ
Bankrupt wretches! Their middle-aged man is a fool,
Bankrupt are their youth and senile their elders,
an imbecile; and their old man is base.
Foolish, while their sheikhs are despicable.
إذاwhen مَاemphatic particle دُعُواthey are called يَومْاًone day إلىto فِعلِan act مُنكَرٍevil
إذا مَا دُعُوا يَومْاً إلى فِعلِ مُنكَرٍ
تَلاَحَقَrushed in succession مِنهُمْfrom among them بَازِلٌa mature camel وَفَصِيلُand a weaned camel calf
تَلاَحَقَ مِنهُمْ بَازِلٌ وَفَصِيلُ
Whenever they are called one day to an evil deed,
If called one day to do something immoral,
their full-grown camels and weanlings rush up in succession.
Cowardly deserters and rebels rush forth.
أرَادُواthey plotted بِنَاagainst us وَالسَّيفُand the sword وَالرَّمحُand the spear دُونَنَاbefore us in defense
أرَادُوا بِنَا وَالسَّيفُ وَالرَّمحُ دُونَنَا
وَنَارٌand fire لَهَاbefore it شُمَّlofty الجِبالِmountains تَزولُgive way
وَنَارٌ لَهَا شُمَّ الجِبالِ تَزولُ
They plotted against us, while sword and spear shield us,
They wanted us, while sword and spear are ours,
and fire before which the lofty mountains yield.
And a fire burning mountains away they wish undone.
وَغَرَّتهُمُand deceived them الآمَالُhopes أنْthat سَوفَwould يَظْفَرُواthey prevail
وَغَرَّتهُمُ الآمَالُ أنْ سَوفَ يَظْفَرُوا
إذاwhen بَانَappeared مِنْfrom أقصَىthe farthest reaches of البِلادِthe land طُلُولُruins
إذا بَانَ مِنْ أقصَى البِلادِ طُلُولُ
Hopes deceived them into believing they would triumph
Vain hopes deceived them that they would prevail,
when ruins appeared from the farthest reaches of the land.
When troops came from the land's farthest reach.
وَقَاسُواand they compared عَلَىwith نَاسٍpeople ضِعَافٍweak تَقَدَّمُواcame before
وَقَاسُوا عَلَى نَاسٍ ضِعَافٍ تَقَدَّمُوا
وَهَاتِيكَand those bygone أعوَامٌyears مَضَتْpassed وَفُصُولُand seasons
وَهَاتِيكَ أعوَامٌ مَضَتْ وَفُصُولُ
They drew their comparison with weak men who came before,
They compared us to weak past folk,
but those are years and seasons now gone by.
While those are years gone by, their seasons passed.
أمَاwas it not? كَانَthere was فيin تَغِييِرِchanging أسْلُوبِthe manner of قُطرِنَاour country
أمَا كَانَ في تَغِييِرِ أسْلُوبِ قُطرِنَا
عَلىfor القَدْحِdiscrediting فيof ذاكَthat القِياسِcomparison دَلِيلُevidence
عَلى القَدْحِ في ذاكَ القِياسِ دَلِيلُ
Was there not, in the change in our country's ways,
Did not the change in our country's ways
proof enough to discredit that comparison?
Argue against their faulty reasoning?
مَتَىwhen دَارَcircled حَولَaround الكَافِal-Kaf سورٌa wall عَلاَrose high بهِupon it
مَتَى دَارَ حَولَ الكَافِ سورٌ عَلاَ بهِ
عَلَىupon كُلّevery رُكنٍcorner بِالمَدَافِعِwith cannon غُولُan ogre
عَلَى كُلّ رُكنٍ بِالمَدَافِعِ غُولُ
When did a wall encircle al-Kaf, upon which rose
When the citadel was surrounded by a wall,
at every corner an ogre armed with cannon?
With cannons at each corner snarling,
يَحُفُّsurrounds بهِaround it كَالبَدْرِlike the full moon حَفَّتُهُsurrounded it هَالَةٌa halo
يَحُفُّ بهِ كَالبَدْرِ حَفَّتُهُ هَالَةٌ
وَلَكِنَّهُbut it لِلمُفسِدينَto the corrupters يَهُولُis terrifying
وَلَكِنَّهُ لِلمُفسِدينَ يَهُولُ
It encircles it like a full moon encircled by a halo,
It shone like the moon, a halo around it,
but it fills the corrupters with terror.
But it terrifies corruptors, they cower.
إذاwhen رَجَعَتْreturned لِلفَتْكِfor slaughter فِيهِin it كَتِيبَةٌa battalion
إذا رَجَعَتْ لِلفَتْكِ فِيهِ كَتِيبَةٌ
تَقُولُsay لهُمْto them تِلكَthose الصَّواعِقُthunderbolts زُولُواbegone!
تَقُولُ لهُمْ تِلكَ الصَّواعِقُ زُولُوا
Whenever a battalion returns to wreak havoc there,
When a battalion returns to ravage them,
those thunderbolts tell them, 'Begone!'
Lightning tells them: "Begone, you insolent ones!"
أتَوهُthey came to it خِفَافاًlightly equipped مُسرِعِينَhastening يَسوُقُهُمْdrives them
أتَوهُ خِفَافاً مُسرِعِينَ يَسوُقُهُمْ
إلَىto الحَتفِdeath قَالُthe talk of المُفتَرِينَthe fabricators وَقِيلُand hearsay
إلَى الحَتفِ قَالُ المُفتَرِينَ وَقِيلُ
They came to it lightly equipped, hurrying, driven
They came to it hastily rushing, driven
to death by the fabricators' talk and rumor.
To doom, by order of those who lie.
فَصَادَفَthen encountered بِالهَوانَBilhawan (name) أوَّلَthe foremost of جَيشِهِمْtheir army
فَصَادَفَ بِالهَوانَ أوَّلَ جَيشِهِمْ
هَوَانٌhumiliation عَلَىupon مَنْthose who قَدَّمُوهُsent him forward ثَقِيلُheavy
هَوَانٌ عَلَى مَنْ قَدَّمُوهُ ثَقِيلُ
Then Bilhawan, foremost in their army, encountered
So their first army met disgrace,
a humiliation heavy upon those who had sent him forward.
A burden on those who went ahead.
فَكَانَso was لَنَاfor us بَاكُورَةَthe first fruit of الفَتحِvictory رَأسُهُhis head
فَكَانَ لَنَا بَاكُورَةَ الفَتحِ رَأسُهُ
وَفيand in البَدءِthe beginning مِنْsome of عِلمِknowledge of الخِتامِthe end حصولُattainment
وَفي البَدءِ مِنْ عِلمِ الخِتامِ حصولُ
His head became our first fruit of victory,
Thus their leader's head was our first victory,
and the beginning affords some knowledge of the end.
In the beginning is knowledge of the ending.
وَقَدْand indeed حَدَّثُواthey reported مِنْfrom قَبلُbefore أنْthat لاَno مَشَقَّةَhardship
وَقَدْ حَدَّثُوا مِنْ قَبلُ أنْ لاَ مَشَقَّةَ
وَلاَnor يَعصِهِمْwould defy them مِنْfrom ذِيthis البِلاَدِland قَبِيلُa tribe
وَلاَ يَعصِهِمْ مِنْ ذِي البِلاَدِ قَبِيلُ
They had said before that there would be no hardship,
Though they claimed there'd be no trouble,
and no tribe from this land would defy them.
No tribe of the land would defy them,
فَمَاso not كَذَبُواthey lied أنَّthat المْحَدّثَthe tale-teller كَاذِبٌa liar
فَمَا كَذَبُوا أنَّ المْحَدّثَ كَاذِبٌ
وَأنَّand that زَعِيمَthe leader of الكَاذِبِينَthe liars ذَلِيلُabased
وَأنَّ زَعِيمَ الكَاذِبِينَ ذَلِيلُ
They did not lie: the tale-teller is a liar,
They did not lie that the speaker of lies is lying,
and the leader of the liars is abased,
And the chief of liars is despicable.
وَأنَّand that رَئِيسُthe chief of الكَافِal-Kaf أوَّلُthe first مُسعِفٍhelper
وَأنَّ رَئِيسُ الكَافِ أوَّلُ مُسعِفٍ
وَيَلقَاهُمُand meets them ظِلٌّshade هُنَاكَthere ظَلِيلُdeep
وَيَلقَاهُمُ ظِلٌّ هُنَاكَ ظَلِيلُ
and al-Kaf's chief is the first to offer help,
The chief of the citadel is the first supporter,
and a deep shade awaits them there.
And he will meet them with meager shade.
فَصَبَّحَهُمْthen attacked them at dawn فِيamong النَّازِعَاتِthe snatchers مُدَبِّرٌa commander
فَصَبَّحَهُمْ فِي النَّازِعَاتِ مُدَبِّرٌ
وَكُورٌswift-moving بِأمرِat the command of المُرسَلاَتِthose sent forth عَجُولُhasty
وَكُورٌ بِأمرِ المُرسَلاَتِ عَجُولُ
A commander among the snatchers struck them at dawn,
When an army fears war once,
swift-moving, prompt at the command of those sent forth.
Repeated fear does not make them recoil.
فَمَالُواso they turned لِغِيرانِto burrows الثَّرىthe earth يَحفِرونَهَاdigging them
فَمَالُوا لِغِيرانِ الثَّرى يَحفِرونَهَا
وَلاحَتْand appeared عَلَيهِمْupon them ذلَّةٌabasement وَخُمولُand torpor
وَلاحَتْ عَلَيهِمْ ذلَّةٌ وَخُمولُ
So they turned to burrows in the earth, digging them out,
His reputation reached the Maghrebis with the breeze,
and abasement and torpor became plain upon them.
And news of him blew to the Easterners.
كَأنَّهُمُas though they were فِيرَانُmice of قَاعٍa plain تَنَاهَشَتْbit one another
كَأنَّهُمُ فِيرَانُ قَاعٍ تَنَاهَشَتْ
وَبَاقِيهِمُand their remainder حَولَaround الحُصُونِthe fortresses وُعُولُibexes
وَبَاقِيهِمُ حَولَ الحُصُونِ وُعُولُ
They were like mice on a plain, biting one another,
He is a treasure for us ever flourishing,
and the rest were ibexes around the fortresses.
And lofty glory none can attain.
وَقَالُواand they said لَنَاto us فيin اللُّغمِthe mine أيُّwhat great كِفَايَةٍefficacy
وَقَالُوا لَنَا في اللُّغمِ أيُّ كِفَايَةٍ
سَيَقْلَعُwill uproot مَبنىthe structure of سُورِهِمْtheir wall وَيَزِيلُand remove
سَيَقْلَعُ مَبنى سُورِهِمْ وَيَزِيلُ
They said to us, 'What efficacy there is in the mine!
Would fortified Tunis fear attacks,
It will uproot their wall's structure and sweep it away.'
After what he made its bulwark? That would be absurd!
فَمَاso not رَاعَهُمْstartled them إلاَّexcept مُجَمجِمُthe skull of رأسِهِhis head
فَمَا رَاعَهُمْ إلاَّ مُجَمجِمُ رأسِهِ
تُدَحرِجُهُrolls it about أيْدِيthe hands of الصَّباthe east wind وَشَمُولُand the north wind
تُدَحرِجُهُ أيْدِي الصَّبا وَشَمُولُ
But nothing startled them except his skull,
Who will tell the Algerians that they
rolled about by the hands of the east wind and the north wind.
Are wretched, while we are fortunate, as time shows?
نَتِيجَةُthe result of تَدْبِيرِthe planning of الأمِيرِthe prince الذيwho لَهُhe has
نَتِيجَةُ تَدْبِيرِ الأمِيرِ الذي لَهُ
مَزَايِاdistinctions وبَاعٌand a reach فِيin العُلُومِthe sciences طَويلُlong
مَزَايِا وبَاعٌ فِي العُلُومِ طَويلُ
The fruit of the prince's planning—he who has
O castrated people of Algiers and Oran, awake!
distinctions and a long reach in the sciences.
You are rebels, while we are valiant Muslims.
أبوُAbu (father of) الحَسَنْal-Hasan البَاشَاPasha الذيwho عَزَّwas rare أنْthat يُرَىbe seen
أبوُ الحَسَنْ البَاشَا الذي عَزَّ أنْ يُرَى
لَهُfor him فِيin اكْتِسَابِacquiring المَكْرُماتِnoble honors كَفِيلُa guarantor
لَهُ فِي اكْتِسَابِ المَكْرُماتِ كَفِيلُ
Abu al-Hasan Pasha, for whom one scarcely finds
Tabarka and Oran's events bear witness for us against you,
a guarantor in the earning of noble honors.
Upright witnesses.
إذاif خَافَfeared سُلْطَانٌa sultan منof الحَربِwar مَرَّةًonce
إذا خَافَ سُلْطَانٌ من الحَربِ مَرَّةً
أبَىhe refused أنْto يُعِيدَreawaken الخَوفَfear فِيهِin him عَذُولُa faultfinder
أبَى أنْ يُعِيدَ الخَوفَ فِيهِ عَذُولُ
If a sultan once felt fear of war,
You will suffer great distress, if you do not desist,
he would refuse to let a faultfinder reawaken fear in him.
And departure then will be difficult.
مَضَىwent صِيتُهُhis fame لِلمَغْرِبَينِto the two wests معَwith الصِّباthe east wind (contextual reading)
مَضَى صِيتُهُ لِلمَغْرِبَينِ معَ الصِّبا
وَهَبَّتْand blew بِهِwith it لِلمَشرِقَينِto the two easts شَمُولُa north wind
وَهَبَّتْ بِهِ لِلمَشرِقَينِ شَمُولُ
His fame went to the two wests with the east wind,
Sudden armies will raid you amid darkness,
and a north wind wafted it to the two easts.
With warriors between Al-Qarna and Al-Hajar.
لَنَاfor us مِنْهُfrom him كَنزٌa treasure لاَnot يُكَدَّرُis sullied زاخِرٌoverflowing
لَنَا مِنْهُ كَنزٌ لاَ يُكَدَّرُ زاخِرٌ
وَشَامِخُand lofty عِزّglory لاَnot يُنَالُis reached طَويلُtowering
وَشَامِخُ عِزّ لاَ يُنَالُ طَويلُ
From him we have an overflowing treasure, never sullied,
They will meet you with each resolute one
and lofty, towering glory that cannot be reached.
Whose hands long to spill dissidents' blood.
أتَخْشَىdoes fear? مِنَof الأكدَارِtroubles تونسُTunis بَعدمَاafter
أتَخْشَى مِنَ الأكدَارِ تونسُ بَعدمَا
كَسَاهَاhe clothed her حُصُوناًin fortresses إنَّindeed ذاthis لَجَلِيلُtruly momentous
كَسَاهَا حُصُوناً إنَّ ذا لَجَلِيلُ
Does Tunis fear troubles after
A seasoned warrior will strike your foreheads and drive you back,
he clothed her in fortresses? Indeed, this is momentous!
Skilled in all sorts of combat and esteemed.
فَمَنْso who مُبْلِغٌwill tell أهلَthe people of الجَزَائِرِAlgiers أنَّهُمْthat they
فَمَنْ مُبْلِغٌ أهلَ الجَزَائِرِ أنَّهُمْ
شَقَواthey suffered وَسَعِدنَاand we prospered وَالزَّمِانُand time يُدِيلُturns fortunes
شَقَوا وَسَعِدنَا وَالزَّمِانُ يُدِيلُ
Who will tell the people of Algiers that they
Abu Al-Hazm, killer of sultans, Yunus,
have suffered while we have prospered—and time shifts fortunes?
And Yunus is a lion, devourer of lions.
أخِصَيانَO eunuchs of وَهْرَانOran أفِيقُواcome to your senses فَإنّكُمْfor you are
أخِصَيانَ وَهْرَان أفِيقُوا فَإنّكُمْ
بُغَاةٌrebels وَأنَّاwhile we are مُسلِمُونَMuslims فُحُولُvirile men
بُغَاةٌ وَأنَّا مُسلِمُونَ فُحُولُ
O eunuchs of Oran, come to your senses, for you are
He is the warrior you know,
rebels, while we are virile Muslim men.
When noble heroes speak, their words bear fruit.
لَنَاfor us وَعَلَيْكُمْand against you مِنْfrom حَدِيثِthe story of طبرقةTabarka
لَنَا وَعَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ حَدِيثِ طبرقة
وَأخْبَارِand the accounts of وهْرانOran شهودٌwitnesses عُدُولُupright
وَأخْبَارِ وهْران شهودٌ عُدُولُ
For us and against you, in the tale of Tabarka
Clement to those who wrong him, unless
and the accounts of Oran, there are upright witnesses.
An ignoramus acts in ignorance, then he too is ignorant.
سَتَبلونَyou will be tried إنْif لَمْnot تَنْتَهُواyou desist بِمَشَقَّةًwith hardship
سَتَبلونَ إنْ لَمْ تَنْتَهُوا بِمَشَقَّةً
يَشُقُّis difficult مُقَامٌstaying عِندَهَاamid it وَرَحِيلُand departing
يَشُقُّ مُقَامٌ عِندَهَا وَرَحِيلُ
You will be tried, if you do not desist, by a hardship
He will gather you in one grip and hack you down,
that makes both staying and departing difficult.
As the harvester hacks the crop plantings.
وَتَفْجَؤكُمْand surprise you تحتbeneath القَتَامِbattle-dust جَحافِلُgreat hosts
وَتَفْجَؤكُمْ تحت القَتَامِ جَحافِلُ
لَهَاthey have غُرَرٌwhite forehead-blazes بَينَamong القَنَاspears وحجُولُand white leg-marks
لَهَا غُرَرٌ بَينَ القَنَا وحجُولُ
Great hosts will surprise you beneath the battle-dust,
And he will strike you down violently with each
bearing forehead-blazes and white leg-marks amid the spears.
Tested sword that has endured much war.
تُلاَقِيكُمُmeet you شُعْشاًtall and slender بِكُلّwith every مُصَمَّمٍcleaving sword
تُلاَقِيكُمُ شُعْشاً بِكُلّ مُصَمَّمٍ
بِهِwithin it لِدِمَاءِfor the blood of المَارِقِينَrenegades غَلِيلُa burning thirst
بِهِ لِدِمَاءِ المَارِقِينَ غَلِيلُ
They will face you, tall and slender, with every cleaving sword
As if victory's army has come to you,
thirsting for the blood of renegades.
With divine favor and kindness.
فَيَضْرِبُthen strikes مِنْat هَامَاتِكُمْyour heads وَيَصُدُّكُمْand repels you
فَيَضْرِبُ مِنْ هَامَاتِكُمْ وَيَصُدُّكُمْ
خَبِيرٌan expert بِأنْوَاعِin the kinds of الحُرُوبِwarfare جَلِيلُmighty
خَبِيرٌ بِأنْوَاعِ الحُرُوبِ جَلِيلُ
Then he will strike at your heads and drive you back—
There the vast heavens will not diminish you,
a mighty expert in every kind of warfare:
Nor will you have rest below the sky.
أبُوAbu (father of) الحَزْمِresolve قَتَّالُslayer of السَّلاَطِينِsultans يونِسُYunus
أبُو الحَزْمِ قَتَّالُ السَّلاَطِينِ يونِسُ
وَيُونِسُand Yunus لَيْثٌa lion لِلأسُودِof lions أكُولُa devourer
وَيُونِسُ لَيْثٌ لِلأسُودِ أكُولُ
Abu al-Hazm, slayer of sultans—Yunus.
If he does not hasten to come to you,
And Yunus is a lion that devours other lions.
It is not because the matter frightens him.
هُوَhe البَطَلُthe hero الغَازِيthe raider الذِيwhom قَدْalready عَلِمتُمُyou have known
هُوَ البَطَلُ الغَازِي الذِي قَدْ عَلِمتُمُ
قَؤُولٌready in speech لَمَاof what قَالَsaid الكِرَامُthe noble فَعُولُactive in deeds
قَؤُولٌ لَمَا قَالَ الكِرَامُ فَعُولُ
He is the raiding hero whom you have known,
Since you are no match for a lord
he says what noble men have said, and acts upon it.
With a sword of mighty destiny that slashes prey.
حَلِيمٌforbearing عَلَىtoward قُصَّادِهِthose who seek him غَيْرَexcept أنَهُthat he
حَلِيمٌ عَلَى قُصَّادِهِ غَيْرَ أنَهُ
إذاwhen جَهِلَact rashly الجُهَّالُthe fools فَهوَthen he is جَهُولُimpetuous
إذا جَهِلَ الجُهَّالُ فَهوَ جَهُولُ
Forbearing toward those who seek him out, except that,
One detachment at the land's edge will suffice,
when fools act rashly, he too is fierce.
While the citadel alone foils multitudes.
سَيَجْمَعُكُمْhe will gather you فِيin قَبْضَةٍa fist وَيَجُزُّكُمْand shear you
سَيَجْمَعُكُمْ فِي قَبْضَةٍ وَيَجُزُّكُمْ
كَمَاas جُزَّwas shorn مِنْfrom أصْلِthe root of النَّبَاتِplants فَصِيلُgreen fodder
كَمَا جُزَّ مِنْ أصْلِ النَّبَاتِ فَصِيلُ
He will gather you in a fist and shear you away,
Saving hands and preventing hands within suffice,
as green fodder is cut at the roots of plants.
And hands that drive back aggressors.
وَيَضْرِبْكُمُand he strikes you هَبراًhacking بِكُلّwith every مُهَنَّدٍIndian-forged sword
وَيَضْرِبْكُمُ هَبراً بِكُلّ مُهَنَّدٍ
بِهِin it مِنْfrom مُعَانَاةِenduring القِرَاعِthe clash of battle فُلُولُnotches
بِهِ مِنْ مُعَانَاةِ القِرَاعِ فُلُولُ
He will hack you apart with every Indian-forged blade,
None reward but He who erected its structure,
bearing notches from enduring the clash of swords.
With the best reward in Heaven they obtain.
كَأنْas though قَدْalready أتَاكُمْhe has come to you يَقدُمُleads النَّصرُvictory جَيشَهُhis army
كَأنْ قَدْ أتَاكُمْ يَقدُمُ النَّصرُ جَيشَهُ
وَلُطْفٌand gracious favor وَظَنٌand an expectation فِيin الإلهGod جَمِيلُgood
وَلُطْفٌ وَظَنٌ فِي الإله جَمِيلُ
It is as though he has come to you, victory leading his army,
along with gracious favor and a good hope in God.
هُنَالِكَthere لاَnot رَحْبُthe vastness of القَضَاءِopen space (apparent textual error) يُقِلّكُمُwill hold you
هُنَالِكَ لاَ رَحْبُ القَضَاءِ يُقِلّكُمُ
وَلاَnor لَكُمُfor you تَحْتَbeneath السَّمَاءِthe sky مَقِيلُa midday resting place
وَلاَ لَكُمُ تَحْتَ السَّمَاءِ مَقِيلُ
There, the wide expanse will not hold you,
nor will you have a midday resting place beneath the sky.
وَإنْand if لَمْnot يُسَارِعْhe hastens فِيin القُدُومِcoming إلَيكُمُto you
وَإنْ لَمْ يُسَارِعْ فِي القُدُومِ إلَيكُمُ
فَلَيسَthen it is not لأنَّbecause الخَطْبَthe affair فِيهِto him مَهُولُfearsome
فَلَيسَ لأنَّ الخَطْبَ فِيهِ مَهُولُ
If he does not hasten to come to you,
it is not because the affair is fearsome to him.
عَلَىbesides أنَّكُمْthat you لَسْتُمْare not بِكُفءٍa match لِسَيِّدٍfor a lord
عَلَى أنَّكُمْ لَسْتُمْ بِكُفءٍ لِسَيِّدٍ
بِسَيْفٍwith a sword منَof السَّعْدِgood fortune القَوِيِّpowerful يَصُولُcharges
بِسَيْفٍ منَ السَّعْدِ القَوِيِّ يَصُولُ
Besides, you are no match for a lord
who charges with a sword of powerful good fortune.
عَلَىbesides أنَّهُthat he يَكْفِيهِsuffices him فِيكُمْagainst you مُقَدَّمٌa commander
عَلَى أنَّهُ يَكْفِيهِ فِيكُمْ مُقَدَّمٌ
وَجَمْعٌand a force بِأطرَافِat the edges of البِلاَدِthe land قَلِيلُsmall
وَجَمْعٌ بِأطرَافِ البِلاَدِ قَلِيلُ
Besides, against you he needs only a commander
and a small force at the edges of the land.
وَفِيand in الكَافِal-Kaf منْof مَعْنىthe meaning of الكِفَايَةِsufficiency كَاليءٌa guardian
وَفِي الكَافِ منْ مَعْنى الكِفَايَةِ كَاليءٌ
وَمِنْand of كَفّrestraining أيدِيthe hands of العَادِياتِaggressors كَفِيلُa guarantor
وَمِنْ كَفّ أيدِي العَادِياتِ كَفِيلُ
In al-Kaf is a guardian embodying sufficiency,
and a guarantor of restraining the hands of aggressors.
وَجَازِيand reward إلاَO God (split form) هِيmy (split form) مَنْthe one who أشادَraised بِنَاءَهُits structure
وَجَازِي إلاَ هِي مَنْ أشادَ بِنَاءَهُ
بِخَيرِwith the finest جَزَاءٍreward فيin الجِنَانِthe gardens of Paradise تُنِيلُYou bestow
بِخَيرِ جَزَاءٍ في الجِنَانِ تُنِيلُ
And, my God, reward the one who raised its structure
with the finest reward You bestow in the gardens of Paradise.
Partial English translation: 94 of 108 Arabic lines translated.