قَدalready زَيَّلَتhas torn things apart عَظيمَةٌa mighty ordeal فَشَمِّريso gird yourself
قَد زَيَّلَت عَظيمَةٌ فَشَمِّري
وَاِرضيand be content بِماwith what جَرَّbrought القَضاءُfate وَاِصبِريand be patient
وَاِرضي بِما جَرَّ القَضاءُ وَاِصبِري
A great ordeal has scattered all—so gird yourself.
A mighty ordeal has torn things apart; gird yourself,
Accept what fate has brought, and be patient.
and be content with what fate has brought, and be patient.
ياO نَفسِsoul قَدalready عَنَّhas appeared المُرادُthe desired goal فَخُذيso seize it
يا نَفسِ قَد عَنَّ المُرادُ فَخُذي
إِنif كُنتِyou were يَوماًever تَأخُذينَyou would take أَوor ذَريleave it
إِن كُنتِ يَوماً تَأخُذينَ أَو ذَري
O soul, the desired end has offered itself—seize it,
O soul, the desired goal has appeared; seize it,
if ever you would seize it; otherwise, let it go.
if ever you mean to seize it—or leave it.
نُهزَةُan opportunity for مَجدٍglory كُنتُI was فيin طِلابِهاpursuit of it
نُهزَةُ مَجدٍ كُنتُ في طِلابِها
لِمِثلِهاfor its like يَنصُفُreaches halfway along ساقيmy shin مِئزَريmy waistcloth
لِمِثلِها يَنصُفُ ساقي مِئزَري
A prize of glory I have long pursued;
An opportunity for glory that I have pursued:
for its sake my waistcloth rides halfway up my shank.
for its like my waistcloth stops halfway down my shin.
عِشرونَtwenty years أَعجَلَنَthey hastened away الصِباyouth وَجُزنَand they passed بيwith me
عِشرونَ أَعجَلَنَ الصِبا وَجُزنَ بي
غاياتِهِits limits وَماand did not قَضَينَthey fulfilled وَطريmy desire
غاياتِهِ وَما قَضَينَ وَطري
Twenty years hurried youth away and carried me
Twenty years hurried youth away and carried me beyond
through its utmost bounds, yet never fulfilled my desire.
its bounds, yet did not fulfill my desire.
فَكَيفَso how بِالعَيشِwith life الرَطيبِsweet بَعدَماafter
فَكَيفَ بِالعَيشِ الرَطيبِ بَعدَما
حَطَّset down المَشيبُgraying رَحلَهُits pack فيin شَعَريmy hair
حَطَّ المَشيبُ رَحلَهُ في شَعَري
What sweetness can life hold after
How, then, can life be sweet, now that
gray age has set its baggage in my hair?
graying has set down its pack in my hair?
سَوادُthe blackness of رَأسٍa head أَمor سَوادُthe blackness of ناظِرٍan eye's pupil
سَوادُ رَأسٍ أَم سَوادُ ناظِرٍ
فَإِنَّهُfor it مُذsince زالَvanished أَقذىirritated بَصَريmy sight
فَإِنَّهُ مُذ زالَ أَقذى بَصَري
Is it the blackness of a head, or the blackness of an eye?
Was it the black of my head, or the black of my eye?
Since that blackness vanished, it has vexed my sight more sharply.
For since it vanished, it has troubled my sight.
ماhow كانَwas أَضوىradiant ذَلِكَthat اللَيلَnight عَلىdespite
ما كانَ أَضوى ذَلِكَ اللَيلَ عَلى
سَوادِthe darkness of عِطفَيهِits two flanks وَلَمّاand not yet يُقمِرِbecome moonlit
سَوادِ عِطفَيهِ وَلَمّا يُقمِرِ
How radiant that night once was upon
How radiant that night was, despite
the blackness of its flanks, though no moon had risen.
the darkness of its flanks, before it became moonlit!
عُمرُthe life of الفَتىa young man شَبابُهُhis youth وَإِنَّماand only
عُمرُ الفَتى شَبابُهُ وَإِنَّما
آوِنَةُthe seasons of الشَيبِgray hair اِنقِضاءُthe ending of العُمُرِlife
آوِنَةُ الشَيبِ اِنقِضاءُ العُمُرِ
A young man’s lifetime is his youth;
A man's life is his youth; indeed,
the season of gray hair is life’s ending.
the seasons of grayness are nothing but life's ending.
أَلاis there not صَديقٌa friend فيin الزَمانِthe times ماجِدٌnoble
أَلا صَديقٌ في الزَمانِ ماجِدٌ
أَشكوI lament إِلَيهِto him عُجَريmy cares وَبُجَريand my woes
أَشكو إِلَيهِ عُجَري وَبُجَري
Is there no noble friend in all this age
Is there no noble friend in these times
to whom I may disclose my every hidden trouble—
to whom I may lament my cares and woes,
يُعتِقُfrees مِنfrom رِقِّthe slavery of الهَوانِhumiliation عاتِقاًa freeborn man
يُعتِقُ مِن رِقِّ الهَوانِ عاتِقاً
عَجَّcried out مِنَfrom الضَيمِinjustice عَجيجَthe cry of الموقَرِan overladen beast
عَجَّ مِنَ الضَيمِ عَجيجَ الموقَرِ
one who would free from humiliation’s bondage a neck
who frees a freeborn man from humiliation's slavery,
groaning beneath oppression like a heavily burdened beast?
one crying under injustice like an overladen beast?
حَسبِيَenough for me مِنof رَعيِgrazing الهَشيمِdry stubble المُجتَوىsickening
حَسبِيَ مِن رَعيِ الهَشيمِ المُجتَوى
حَسبِيَenough for me مِنof وِردِdrinking الأُجاجِbitter water الكَدِرِmurky
حَسبِيَ مِن وِردِ الأُجاجِ الكَدِرِ
Enough of grazing on distasteful, withered scrub;
I have had enough of grazing on sickening stubble;
enough of drinking bitter, turbid water.
I have had enough of drinking bitter, murky water.
فَماfor not أَرىI see إِلّاexcept سَواماًgrazing livestock هُمَّلاًuntended
فَما أَرى إِلّا سَواماً هُمَّلاً
أَوor صَوَراًfigures مَذمومَةًcontemptible كَالصَوَرِlike images
أَو صَوَراً مَذمومَةً كَالصَوَرِ
I see nothing but neglected herds,
For I see only untended grazing beasts,
or shapes as contemptible as mere images.
or contemptible figures, like mere images.
ماnot أَناI إِلّاexcept النَصلُthe blade مَغموداًsheathed وَلَوand if
ما أَنا إِلّا النَصلُ مَغموداً وَلَو
جَرَّدَنيunsheathed me الرَوعُbattle's terror لَبانَthen would show جَوهَريmy true metal
جَرَّدَني الرَوعُ لَبانَ جَوهَري
I am nothing but a blade while sheathed; but if
I am only a blade kept sheathed; but if
terror unsheathes me, my true steel will show.
battle's terror unsheathed me, my true metal would show.
لاno بُدَّescape أَنthat يَظهَرَbe revealed مَعروفيmy merit فَقَدfor already
لا بُدَّ أَن يَظهَرَ مَعروفي فَقَد
طالَhas lasted too long عَلىthrough مَرِّthe passing of الزَمانِtime مُنكَريmy unrecognized state
طالَ عَلى مَرِّ الزَمانِ مُنكَري
My true worth must inevitably appear, for
My merit must come to light, for
the passing age has denied me far too long.
through the passing years I have gone unrecognized too long.
لاno بُدَّescape أَنthat أَصدُرَI depart from water بَعدَafter مَورِديmy arrival at water
لا بُدَّ أَن أَصدُرَ بَعدَ مَورِدي
فَرُبَّfor many a قَومٍpeople يَرقُبونَawait صَدريmy return from water
فَرُبَّ قَومٍ يَرقُبونَ صَدري
I must come forth again after reaching my watering place;
I must leave the water after coming to drink,
many a people are watching for my emergence.
for many a people await my return.
لاno بُدَّescape أَنthat أُشعِرَI clothe وَجهيmy face جُرأَةًin boldness
لا بُدَّ أَن أُشعِرَ وَجهي جُرأَةً
فَطالَماfor so long ذَلَّلَbowed عُنقيmy neck خَفَريmy modesty
فَطالَما ذَلَّلَ عُنقي خَفَري
I must clothe my face in boldness;
I must clothe my face in boldness,
long enough has modesty bowed my neck.
for too long my modesty has bowed my neck.
لاno بُدَّescape أَنthat أَحمِلَI mount أَبناءَthe sons of الوَغىbattle
لا بُدَّ أَن أَحمِلَ أَبناءَ الوَغى
عَلىupon خِفافٍlight steeds فيin الطِرادِthe chase ضُمَّرِlean
عَلى خِفافٍ في الطِرادِ ضُمَّرِ
I must carry the sons of battle
I must mount the sons of battle
upon swift, lean horses in the charge.
on steeds light in the chase and lean.
يَطلُعُrises لِلناظِرِto the watcher هاديthe leading edge of نَقعِهاtheir dust
يَطلُعُ لِلناظِرِ هادي نَقعِها
طُلوعَlike the rising of قَيدومِthe forefront of السَحابِclouds الأَغبَرِgray
طُلوعَ قَيدومِ السَحابِ الأَغبَرِ
Before the watcher rises the leading edge of their dust,
To the watcher the leading edge of their dust rises
like the prow of a gray cloud.
like the rising forefront of a gray cloud,
حَوامِلاًbearing إِلىtoward العِدىthe foes خَطِّيَّةًKhatt-made spears
حَوامِلاً إِلى العِدى خَطِّيَّةً
تُعيرُput out طَرفَthe eye of البَطَلِthe champion المُقَطَّرِhurled down
تُعيرُ طَرفَ البَطَلِ المُقَطَّرِ
They bear against the foe Khattian lances
bearing Khatt-made spears toward the foes,
that lend the felled champion a sidelong gaze—
that put out the fallen champion's eye:
مِنfrom كُلِّevery أَظمىdark, slender spear ناهِلٍdrinking its fill سِنانُهُits point
مِن كُلِّ أَظمى ناهِلٍ سِنانُهُ
أَوor حَسَنِbeautiful in الإِثرِthe blade's pattern قَبيحِugly in الأَثَرِthe marks it leaves
أَو حَسَنِ الإِثرِ قَبيحِ الأَثَرِ
each a thirsting lance whose point drinks deep,
each a dark, slender spear whose point drinks deep,
handsome in its course, hideous in its effect.
or a blade fair in its pattern, ugly in the wounds it leaves.
يَنطَحنَthey butt بِالأَقرانِagainst their peers بَينَamong مُعلَمٍone marked
يَنطَحنَ بِالأَقرانِ بَينَ مُعلَمٍ
بِالدَمِwith blood أَوor مُعَلَّمٍone marked بِالعِثيَرِwith dust
بِالدَمِ أَو مُعَلَّمٍ بِالعِثيَرِ
They crash against their peers, some marked
They strike against their peers, some marked
with blood and others marked with dust.
with blood, others marked with dust.
كُلُّeach جَرِيِّbold of القَلبِheart فيin مُقتَحَمٍa place of assault
كُلُّ جَرِيِّ القَلبِ في مُقتَحَمٍ
لِلرَوعِof terror مَغرورٍbeguiled بِهِby it مُغَرِّرِrisk-taking
لِلرَوعِ مَغرورٍ بِهِ مُغَرِّرِ
Each one bold of heart, charging into
Each bold of heart in an arena
terror—heedless of it and courting peril.
of terror, beguiled by it and risking all.
عَمائِمٌturbans مِنَof التَريكِhelmets وُضَّحٌgleaming
عَمائِمٌ مِنَ التَريكِ وُضَّحٌ
عَلىover جَلابيبٍrobes مِنَof السَنَوَّرِmail armor
عَلى جَلابيبٍ مِنَ السَنَوَّرِ
White Turkish turbans
Gleaming turbans of helmets,
over tunics of chain mail.
over robes of mail armor.
كَأَنَّماas though فَوقَupon قَطاthe croups of جِيادِهاtheir steeds
كَأَنَّما فَوقَ قَطا جِيادِها
أُسودُthe lions of خَفّانٍKhaffan وَجِنُّand the jinn of عَبقَرِAbqar
أُسودُ خَفّانٍ وَجِنُّ عَبقَرِ
As though upon the backs of their steeds rode
As though upon their steeds' croups
lions of Khuffan and the jinn of Abqar—
were the lions of Khaffan and the jinn of Abqar.
مِنof كُلِّevery مَمشوقٍslender steed يُجاريraces ظِلَّهُits shadow
مِن كُلِّ مَمشوقٍ يُجاري ظِلَّهُ
كَالطائِرِlike a bird الزائِفِfluttering فيin التَمَطُّرِswift motion
كَالطائِرِ الزائِفِ في التَمَطُّرِ
each a long-limbed horse racing its own shadow,
Each slender steed races its own shadow,
like a bird sweeping through the rain,
like a fluttering bird in swift motion,
مُرَوَّعٍstartled مِنby حَولِهِits surroundings كَأَنَّهُas though it were
مُرَوَّعٍ مِن حَولِهِ كَأَنَّهُ
صالٍone at a fire يَقيprotecting البُردَthe cloak نَوازيleaping الشَرَرِsparks
صالٍ يَقي البُردَ نَوازي الشَرَرِ
startled by everything around it, as though
startled by all around it, as though it were
it were one warming at a fire, fending off the cold from leaping sparks.
one at a fire, shielding his cloak from leaping sparks.
دونَكَhere before you فَانظُرنيso look at me فَإِنand if جَهِلتَنيyou do not know me
دونَكَ فَانظُرني فَإِن جَهِلتَني
فَرُبَّماthen perhaps دَلَّpointed عَلَيَّto me مَنظَريmy appearance
فَرُبَّما دَلَّ عَلَيَّ مَنظَري
Here I am—look at me, if you do not know me;
Here I am—look at me; if you do not know me,
often my appearance alone has made me known.
perhaps my appearance will reveal who I am.
كَيفَhow وَقَدwhen already طابَتwere good أُصولُthe roots of دَوحَتيmy great tree
كَيفَ وَقَد طابَت أُصولُ دَوحَتي
تُمِرُّturn bitter لِلجانينَfor the gatherers يَوماًever ثَمَريmy fruit
تُمِرُّ لِلجانينَ يَوماً ثَمَري
How could it not, when the roots of my great tree are sound
How, when the roots of my great tree are good,
and one day will offer their fruit to those who gather?
could my fruit ever turn bitter to its gatherers?
أَوائِليmy forebears مَنthose whom قَدalready عَلِمتَyou know فيin العُلىglory
أَوائِلي مَن قَد عَلِمتَ في العُلى
وَمَعشَريand my clan عَلىas القَديمِof old مَعشَريmy clan
وَمَعشَري عَلى القَديمِ مَعشَري
My forebears are those whose eminence you know,
My forebears are those you know in glory,
and from of old my clan has been the clan you know as mine:
and my clan remains my clan as of old.
ذَوائِبُthe forelocks of المَجدِglory المُنيفاتُtowering عَلىupon
ذَوائِبُ المَجدِ المُنيفاتُ عَلى
جَماجِمٍheads مُنيفَةٍlofty فيamong مُضَرِMudar
جَماجِمٍ مُنيفَةٍ في مُضَرِ
the lofty forelocks of glory resting upon
Glory's towering forelocks upon
lofty heads among Mudar;
lofty heads among Mudar.
ذَوُوpossessors of البِطاحِvalley floors الفيحِspacious وَالبَيتِand the House الَّذيthat
ذَوُو البِطاحِ الفيحِ وَالبَيتِ الَّذي
يَعلوrises above الوَرىmankind وَالعَدَدِand the multitude المُجَمهَرِmassed together
يَعلو الوَرى وَالعَدَدِ المُجَمهَرِ
lords of the broad valley floors and of the House that
Lords of broad valleys, and of the House that
rises above mankind and the massed multitude;
rises above mankind, and of massed multitudes.
كُلُّeach عُذَيقٍlittle palm فيin العُلىthe heights مُرَجَّبٍpropped up
كُلُّ عُذَيقٍ في العُلى مُرَجَّبٍ
عِزاًin honor وَعودٍand an old camel فيin العُلىthe heights مُجَرجِرِrumbling
عِزاً وَعودٍ في العُلى مُجَرجِرِ
every little palm in glory propped and honored,
Each a little palm propped aloft,
and every seasoned trunk rumbling in the heights.
in honor, and an old camel rumbling in the heights.
كَمhow many a يَومِday of مَجدٍglory ظاهِرٍmanifest فَخارُهُits pride
كَم يَومِ مَجدٍ ظاهِرٍ فَخارُهُ
عَنهُمthrough them ظُهورَas conspicuous as الأَبلَقِthe piebald horse المُشَهَّرِboldly marked
عَنهُم ظُهورَ الأَبلَقِ المُشَهَّرِ
How many a day of glory, its pride manifest,
How many a day of glory, its pride made manifest
rose through them like a famous piebald charger!
through them, plain as a boldly marked piebald horse!
ياO قَدَميmy foot دونَكِtake up مَسعاةَthe pursuit of العُلىgreatness
يا قَدَمي دونَكِ مَسعاةَ العُلى
قَدalready ضَمِنَguaranteed الإِقبالُgood fortune أَنthat لاnot تَعثِريyou stumble
قَد ضَمِنَ الإِقبالُ أَن لا تَعثِري
O my foot, before you lies the pursuit of eminence;
O my foot, take up the pursuit of greatness;
success has pledged that you shall never stumble.
good fortune has pledged that you shall not stumble.
لِيَكثُرَنmust surely multiply خَطوُكِyour steps أَوuntil تَنتَعِليyou wear as sandals
لِيَكثُرَن خَطوُكِ أَو تَنتَعِلي
سَريرَthe throne of مُلكٍkingship أَوor مَراقيthe steps of مِنبَرِa pulpit
سَريرَ مُلكٍ أَو مَراقي مِنبَرِ
Your steps shall surely multiply, until you tread
Your steps must multiply until you wear as sandals
a royal throne or the stairs of a pulpit.
a royal throne or the steps of a pulpit.
لاno بُدَّescape مِنfrom يَومٍa day أُعِزَّwas made mighty نَصرُهُits victory
لا بُدَّ مِن يَومٍ أُعِزَّ نَصرُهُ
يُقِرُّgladdens عَينَthe eye of الواجِدِthe sorrowing one المُستَعبِرِweeping
يُقِرُّ عَينَ الواجِدِ المُستَعبِرِ
There must be a day whose victory I make glorious,
There must come a day whose victory is made mighty,
delighting the grieving, tearful eye.
gladdening the eye of the grieving, tearful one.
فَإِنand if نُصِرتِyou are aided to victory فَالنَعيمُthen bliss مُدَّةًfor a time
فَإِن نُصِرتِ فَالنَعيمُ مُدَّةً
وَالمَضجَعُand the resting-place العاذِرُthat grants excuse إِنif لَمnot تُنصَريyou are aided to victory
وَالمَضجَعُ العاذِرُ إِن لَم تُنصَري
If you are victorious, there will be bliss for a time;
If you prevail, then bliss for a time;
if not, the final resting place will excuse you.
and a resting-place that vindicates you, if you do not.
كَمhow many a مَطلَبٍgoal مُنتَظَرٍawaited خَدَمتُهُI labored for it
كَم مَطلَبٍ مُنتَظَرٍ خَدَمتُهُ
وَمَطلَبٍand a goal جاءَcame وَلَمand did not أَنتَظِرِI await
وَمَطلَبٍ جاءَ وَلَم أَنتَظِرِ
How many a long-awaited aim have I served,
How many an awaited goal I have labored for,
and how many an aim arrived though I never waited!
and many a goal came without my awaiting it.
عِلَّةُthe ailment of مِثليone like me السَيفُthe sword لاnot مُمرِضَةٌa debilitating illness
عِلَّةُ مِثلي السَيفُ لا مُمرِضَةٌ
أَضُجُّI cry out مِنهاfrom it كَضَجيجِlike the cry of الأَدبَرِa saddle-sore camel
أَضُجُّ مِنها كَضَجيجِ الأَدبَرِ
The fitting malady for one like me is the sword—not an illness
The ailment for one like me is the sword, not a debilitating illness
that makes me cry out like a sore-backed beast.
at which I cry out like a saddle-sore camel.
لاno بُدَّescape مِنfrom تَعفيرِهِcovering him in dust فيin تُربِهاits soil
لا بُدَّ مِن تَعفيرِهِ في تُربِها
بِالداءِby disease أَوor بِالقاطِعِby the cleaving blade المُذَكَّرِof hard steel
بِالداءِ أَو بِالقاطِعِ المُذَكَّرِ
One like me must at last be laid in the earth,
He must be laid dust-covered in its soil,
whether by disease or by the keen, manly blade.
by disease or the cleaving blade of hard steel.
فَبِالسَقامِfor by sickness ذِلَّةٌhumiliation لِمَنfor whoever قَضىdied
فَبِالسَقامِ ذِلَّةٌ لِمَن قَضى
وَبِالظُبىand by sword-edges أَعَزُّmore honorable لِلمُغَفَّرِfor the dust-covered one
وَبِالظُبى أَعَزُّ لِلمُغَفَّرِ
In sickness there is humiliation for whoever dies;
Death by sickness is humiliation for the one who dies;
death by blades better honors the helmeted warrior.
and death by sword-edges is nobler for the dust-covered fallen.
فَإِنso if أَمُتI die مِنfrom دونِهاshort of it يَمضيcarries away الرَدىdeath
فَإِن أَمُت مِن دونِها يَمضي الرَدى
بِمُعذِرٍwith one who did his utmost فيin السَعيِstriving لاnot بِمُعذَرِwith one merely excused
بِمُعذِرٍ في السَعيِ لا بِمُعذَرِ
If I die in pursuit of it, death will depart
So if I die short of it, death will carry away
with one whose striving is a valid excuse—not one merely excused.
one who did his utmost in striving, not one merely excused.
وَإِنand if أَعِشI live هُنَيهَةًa little while فَرُبَّماthen perhaps
وَإِن أَعِش هُنَيهَةً فَرُبَّما
شَقَّwas painful عَلىto أُذنِthe ear of العَدُوِّthe enemy خَبَريnews of me
شَقَّ عَلى أُذنِ العَدُوِّ خَبَري
But if I live a little while, perhaps
And if I live a little while, perhaps
the news of me will split my enemy’s ear.
news of me will grate upon my enemy's ear.
