لمعت كتلويح الرداء المُسبَل

لمعت كتلويح الرداء المُسبَل

والليل صبغ خضابه لم ينصل

والليل صبغ خضابه لم ينصل

It gleamed like the waving of a loosely hanging cloak,

Her veil fluttered like a waving sleeve,

while the color of night's dye had not yet faded—

And the night dyed its henna but did not settle.

نار كسَحْر العَوْد أرشد ضوؤها

نار كسَحْر العَوْد أرشد ضوؤها

بالبيد أعناق الركاب الضُّلل

بالبيد أعناق الركاب الضُّلل

a fire like an aged camel's lung, whose light guided

A fire like the magic of fragrant wood guided its light

through the deserts the necks of straying riding camels.

With the full moon over the necks of the lost riders.

طابت لمعتسف الظلام كأنما

طابت لمعتسف الظلام كأنما

شبت على قنن اليفاع بمندل

شبت على قنن اليفاع بمندل

It was welcome to the traveler groping through darkness, as though

The place where the darkness gathered gleamed as if

it blazed on high crests with sandalwood.

It slept at the peaks of Al-Yafa’ mountains in Mundel.

فعلمت أنَّ بني تميم عندها

فعلمت أنَّ بني تميم عندها

يتقارعون على الضيوف النُزَّل

يتقارعون على الضيوف النُزَّل

Then I knew that Banu Tamim were beside it,

So I knew that the clan of Tamim was there

vying for the guests who had alighted.

Competing there for the guests they hosted.

العاقرين الكومَ وهي منيفة

العاقرين الكومَ وهي منيفة

والضاربين الهام تحت القسطل

والضاربين الهام تحت القسطل

Slaughterers of high-humped she-camels while they stand tall,

The barren Al-Kawm and it was rainy

and strikers of heads beneath battle-dust,

And those hitting Al-Ham under Al-Qistal.

والسائسين الملك لا آراؤهم

والسائسين الملك لا آراؤهم

تهفو ولا معروفهم بمقلل

تهفو ولا معروفهم بمقلل

and governors of the realm: their judgments do not

And those governing the kingdom, their views

go astray, nor is their bounty diminished.

Were confused and their good deeds were few.

قومي وأين كمثل قومي والقنا

قومي وأين كمثل قومي والقنا

والبيض بين مقصَّدٍ ومفلل

والبيض بين مقصَّدٍ ومفلل

My people—where are any like my people, when spears

My people! Who can compare to my people and Al-Qinna

and bright swords lie shattered or notched?

And the white land between targeted and scattered?

نجلوا أخا وجدٍ بغير خريدةٍ

نجلوا أخا وجدٍ بغير خريدةٍ

جعل النسيب لذابل أو منصل

جعل النسيب لذابل أو منصل

They begot a man whose passion was not for a fair maiden,

They supported a brother and grandfather without buying him,

who addressed his love poetry to a slender lance or a sword.

Making the distant relative like one who is armed or dismantled.

شغلته عن وصف الهوى ذِكَرُ العلى

شغلته عن وصف الهوى ذِكَرُ العلى

فنضا شعار الشاعر المتغزل

فنضا شعار الشاعر المتغزل

Thoughts of glory kept him from describing love,

His preoccupation with describing love distracted him

so he shed the garb of the poet who sings of passion.

From describing the most high, so the mantra of the infatuated poet failed.

قضَّى شبيبته بمجد مشيبه

قضَّى شبيبته بمجد مشيبه

فإذا المشيب بدا له لم يوْجَل

فإذا المشيب بدا له لم يوْجَل

He spent his youth in the glory of his gray-haired years,

He spent his youth in glory until his old age,

so when gray hair appeared on him, he felt no fear.

So when his old age appeared, he was not hesitant.

لا عزَّ في سراة مُطهَّمٍ

لا عزَّ في سراة مُطهَّمٍ

ولباس سابغةٍ وهبَّة مقْصل

ولباس سابغةٍ وهبَّة مقْصل

No glory lies upon a well-built steed's back,

There is no honor in a fully armed knight

nor in wearing full mail and swinging a cleaving sword,

And abundant clothing and carved gift.

وطلوعها شعثاً كأنَّ عجاجَها

وطلوعها شعثاً كأنَّ عجاجَها

بالقاع أسنمةُ الغمام المُثقل

بالقاع أسنمةُ الغمام المُثقل

nor in their shaggy advance, as though their dust

And its emergence disheveled as if its clouds

over the plain were the humps of rain-laden clouds.

Were the edges of heavy laden clouds.

هيم إلى رود القلات فإن غزت

هيم إلى رود القلات فإن غزت

أغنى النجيع عن البرود السلسل

أغنى النجيع عن البرود السلسل

Thirsting for the water of rock pools; but when they raid,

It wandered to soften Al-Qalat, so if it raided,

blood makes cool, flowing water needless.

It made the slumber dispense with the chained coats of mail.

يلحظن مخترق الرماح كأنما

يلحظن مخترق الرماح كأنما

في لبَّة الغطريف مجرى جدول

في لبَّة الغطريف مجرى جدول

They eye the spears' entry-point, as though

They watch the piercing of spears as if

a rivulet had its channel in the noble warrior's upper chest.

In the folds of the quiver there is a stream.

من كل مقلاق العنان طِمِرَّةٍ

من كل مقلاق العنان طِمِرَّةٍ

تنزو بهفهاف القميص شمردل

تنزو بهفهاف القميص شمردل

Each a fleet mare, restless at the rein,

From every short rein a swift mare

leaping with a slender-waisted, long-limbed rider.

Galloping with the fluttering of a ragged shirt.

يحملن فرساناً كأنَّ دروعهم

يحملن فرساناً كأنَّ دروعهم

سُنَّت على مثل الجبال المُثَّل

سُنَّت على مثل الجبال المُثَّل

They bear horsemen whose coats of mail seem

They carry horsemen as if their armors

molded over the likeness of looming mountains.

Were made in the image of mountain peaks.

صُبراً تلاقوا حاسراً لمدججٍ

صُبراً تلاقوا حاسراً لمدججٍ

منهم ويطرد ذو السلاح بأعزل

منهم ويطرد ذو السلاح بأعزل

Steadfast, they meet—one bareheaded against one fully armored—

With patience they met a destructive armed force

among them; an armed man is put to flight by one unarmed.

And the armed man expels the unarmed.

قوماً إذا طبعت نصول سيوفهم

قوماً إذا طبعت نصول سيوفهم

قام النجيعُ لها مقام الصَّيقل

قام النجيعُ لها مقام الصَّيقل

A people whose sword-blades, when they rust,

A people, if the tips of their swords imprinted,

have blood serve them in the sword-polisher's place.

The slumber would stand up for it like a polisher.

يتفارطون إلى مساورة الرَّدى

يتفارطون إلى مساورة الرَّدى

كمتفارط الكدري نحو المنهل

كمتفارط الكدري نحو المنهل

They race one another to grapple with death,

They rush into engaging adversity

like dun sandgrouse racing toward the watering place.

Like the muddy in galloping to the watering place.

وتقارب الأبطال حتى استمسكوا

وتقارب الأبطال حتى استمسكوا

بالمشرفي عن الوشيج الذُّبَلّ

بالمشرفي عن الوشيج الذُّبَلّ

The champions closed together until they took hold

And the heroes drew so close they clung

of Mashrafi swords instead of slender spear-shafts.

To the eminent, apart from the withered.

فكأن حربهم أوارُ ضريمةٍ

فكأن حربهم أوارُ ضريمةٍ

بالقاع أو بأس الوزير أبي علي

بالقاع أو بأس الوزير أبي علي

So their battle seemed the scorching heat of a blaze

It was as if their war was the threshing of flocks

on the plain—or the might of the vizier Abu Ali.

In the lowlands, or the might of Minister Abu Ali

ندب إذا ذلَّ الخميسُ عن العدا

ندب إذا ذلَّ الخميسُ عن العدا

قام الكتاب له مقام الجحفل

قام الكتاب له مقام الجحفل

A resourceful man: when the army is humbled before the foes,

If Thursday declined from justice,

his written word serves him in a great army's stead.

The writers would stand up for it like soldiers.

غمر الرداء كأن سح بنانه

غمر الرداء كأن سح بنانه

بالجود شؤبوب الحيا المتهلل

بالجود شؤبوب الحيا المتهلل

Of ample cloak, as though the outpouring of his fingers

The gown flooded as if its prominent features

in generosity were a downpour of radiant rain.

Were dyed by the generosity of the adorned life.

هتنٌ إذا سئل الغمامُ بأزمةٍ

هتنٌ إذا سئل الغمامُ بأزمةٍ

أعطى ذوي الحاجات ما لم يسئل

أعطى ذوي الحاجات ما لم يسئل

An unceasing rain: when clouds are petitioned in drought,

Yielding when asked by the cloud in crisis,

he gives the needy what was never requested of him.

Giving the needy what they did not request.

فيبيت هو مؤمل إحسانه

فيبيت هو مؤمل إحسانه

وعظيمُ ما يوليه غير مؤمل

وعظيمُ ما يوليه غير مؤمل

So he passes the night hoping for his kindness,

So he spends the night hopeful of his favor

while the greatness of what he grants him is beyond expectation.

And the tremendous things he grants without hope.

عفُّ الإزار يظلُّ من شعف العُلى

عفُّ الإزار يظلُّ من شعف العُلى

خلو الفؤاد عن الغزال الأغزل

خلو الفؤاد عن الغزال الأغزل

Chaste of loincloth, through his passion for glory he remains

He is chaste of heart free of the most amorous gazelle,

with a heart free of longing for the coquettish gazelle.

The images of glory to him

فرسوم منزلةٍ إلى أسماعه

فرسوم منزلةٍ إلى أسماعه

أحلى وأعذب من رسوم المنزل

أحلى وأعذب من رسوم المنزل

So the marks of high station are, to his ears,

Are sweeter and more delicious than images of home,

sweeter and more pleasing than the traces of a dwelling.

Going to war with the enemies, so if he is called

جارٍ إلى حرب العدا فإذا انتدى

جارٍ إلى حرب العدا فإذا انتدى

لقي الصعاب بحبوة لم تحلل

لقي الصعاب بحبوة لم تحلل

He hastens to war against the foes; when he joins the council,

He meets difficulties with unshakable determination,

he meets hard matters with his knee-binding unloosened.

The feet of a hero and the resolve of one firm,

أقدام ذي لبدٍ وهمةُ أَعْصَمٍ

أقدام ذي لبدٍ وهمةُ أَعْصَمٍ

وإباءُ بازي ويقظة أجْدل

وإباءُ بازي ويقظة أجْدل

A maned lion's boldness, a white-footed ibex's ambition,

And the refusal of a champion and the vigilance of a protector,

a hawk's proud disdain, and a falcon's vigilance.

And the train of his gown fluttering as if

وأغر فضفاض الرداء كأنما

وأغر فضفاض الرداء كأنما

نيطت عمامته بقُنَّة يذبل

نيطت عمامته بقُنَّة يذبل

And a radiant man, ample of cloak, as though

His turban was tied with a withering band.

his turban were tied to the summit of Yadhbul.

A formidable man whose enemy spends the night in blindness

شهمٌ يبيتُ عدوهُ في غمرةٍ

شهمٌ يبيتُ عدوهُ في غمرةٍ

من خوفه ونزيله في معقل

من خوفه ونزيله في معقل

A valiant man: his enemy spends the night submerged

From fear of him while his guest is in an impregnable refuge.

in fear of him, while his guest rests in a stronghold.

The protection of the Glory of the Faith that cannot be breached

نعمى جلال الدين غير منيعةٍ

نعمى جلال الدين غير منيعةٍ

وحمى جلال غيرُ مبذَّل

وحمى جلال غيرُ مبذَّل

Jalal al-Din's bounty is never inaccessible,

And the protection of the Glorious that cannot be violated.

and Jalal's sanctuary is never exposed to violation.

O you who rise above all adversity

يا فارعاً بالعزم كل منيفةٍ

يا فارعاً بالعزم كل منيفةٍ

وعرٍ تزلُّ بأخمص المتوقِّلِ

وعرٍ تزلُّ بأخمص المتوقِّلِ

O you who by resolve surmount every towering height,

And naked hard ground that makes the shod stumble.

rugged, making the climber's sole slip,

Look to the garments of chiefs preceded by

أنظر إلى حلل القريض يَفوفُها

أنظر إلى حلل القريض يَفوفُها

نشوان من غاير العُلى لم ينهل

نشوان من غاير العُلى لم ينهل

look at the robes of verse, patterned

A vanguard of the eminent who did not draw water.

by one drunk on the depths of glory, though he has taken no draught.

They meet opponents, dwelling and arguing,

يلقى الخصوم مُنازلاً ومجادلاً

يلقى الخصوم مُنازلاً ومجادلاً

ثبت الجنان بصارمٍ وبمقول

ثبت الجنان بصارمٍ وبمقول

He meets his adversaries in combat and debate,

Confirming the soul with a sharp sword and speech.

steadfast of heart, with a sharp blade and an eloquent tongue.

The latter outdid the former in his knowledge

سبقَ الأخير إلى معاني علمه

سبقَ الأخير إلى معاني علمه

طبعاً وزاد على معاني الأول

طبعاً وزاد على معاني الأول

He outstripped the later ones in the insights of his learning,

Naturally, and surpassed the meanings of the first.

by native gift, and surpassed the insights of the earlier ones.

Had my words not included the most high

لولا تضمُّن ما أقول من العُلى

لولا تضمُّن ما أقول من العُلى

وثناك كنتُ عن المديح بمعزل

وثناك كنتُ عن المديح بمعزل

Were it not that my words contain lofty deeds

And your praise, I would have shunned praise.

and praise of you, I would stand apart from panegyric.

A kingdom faded in pre-Islamic times but

ملكٌ ثوى بالجاهلية رمسُهُ

ملكٌ ثوى بالجاهلية رمسُهُ

فبعثته مني ببركة زلزل

فبعثته مني ببركة زلزل

A king whose grave lay in the Age of Ignorance:

I revived it through you by the grace of the earthquake.

you raised him from within me through the blessing of 'Zulzil.'

And after the dark night is the dawn of good fortune,

ووراء ليل الحظ صبحُ سعادةٍ

ووراء ليل الحظ صبحُ سعادةٍ

فارغب بنفسك عن خليقة مهمل

فارغب بنفسك عن خليقة مهمل

And beyond fortune's night lies a dawn of happiness;

So turn yourself away from the habits of the neglectful.

so keep yourself above the disposition of a negligent man.