مِنof أُسودٍlions تَسَربَلَتclothed themselves بِالحَديدِin iron
مِن أُسودٍ تَسَربَلَت بِالحَديدِ
وَمِنَand of الجِنِّthe jinn فيin رَواءِthe outward appearance الجُنودِof soldiers
وَمِنَ الجِنِّ في رَواءِ الجُنودِ
Of lions clad in iron,
Of lions clad in coats of iron,
and of jinn in the guise of soldiers,
And Jinn within the guise of soldiers.
يُنشِدونَseek الوَغىbattle وَماand not يُنشِدُseeks
يُنشِدونَ الوَغى وَما يُنشِدُ
الحَسناءَthe beautiful woman غَيرُexcept المُتَيَّمِthe love-enslaved lover المَعمودِthe tormented
الحَسناءَ غَيرُ المُتَيَّمِ المَعمودِ
they seek battle, and none seeks
They seek the tumult of war, and none seeks
the fair maiden but a lover enthralled and tormented.
The fair beauty, save the lovesick and enthralled.
كُلُّevery قِرمٍchampion عَلَيهِupon him دِرعٌarmor مِنَof الصَبرِendurance
كُلُّ قِرمٍ عَلَيهِ دِرعٌ مِنَ الصَبرِ
وَدِرعٌand armor مَسرودَةٌinterlinked مِنof حَديدِiron
وَدِرعٌ مَسرودَةٌ مِن حَديدِ
Every champion wears armor of endurance,
Every hero wears a shield of patience,
and a coat of interlinked iron mail.
Alongside woven armor made of iron.
تَحتَهُbeneath him أَجرَدُa sleek-coated steed أَشَدُّmore intense حنيناًin yearning
تَحتَهُ أَجرَدُ أَشَدُّ حنيناً
وَاِشتِياقاًand in longing إِلىfor الوَغىbattle مِنthan نَجيدِa valiant warrior
وَاِشتِياقاً إِلى الوَغى مِن نَجيدِ
Beneath him is a sleek steed, more ardent in longing
Beneath him is a steed, more fierce in longing
and yearning for battle than a valiant warrior.
And yearning for the fray than the brave knight.
سابِحٌa swimming steed عِندَهُfor him العَسيرُthe difficult يَسيرٌeasy
سابِحٌ عِندَهُ العَسيرُ يَسيرٌ
وَالقَصِيُّand the far-off القَصِيُّthe far-off غَيرُnot بَعيدِdistant
وَالقَصِيُّ القَصِيُّ غَيرُ بَعيدِ
A swimming steed, for whom the hard is easy,
A gliding charger to whom the difficult is easy,
and the far, far away is not far.
And the farthest reaches are not far at all.
وَصَباand yearned لِلنُجومِfor the stars مَنwhoever قَدalready عَلاهُmounted him
وَصَبا لِلنُجومِ مَن قَد عَلاهُ
أَصبَحَbecame الجَوُّthe air تَحتَهُbeneath him كَالصَعيدِlike the ground
أَصبَحَ الجَوُّ تَحتَهُ كَالصَعيدِ
And whoever mounted him yearned for the stars;
The one who mounted him aspired to the stars,
the air beneath him became like the ground.
Until the very sky beneath him seemed like solid ground.
تَحسَبُyou think الأَرضُthe earth قَدindeed جَرَتhas run حينَwhen يَجرhe runs
تَحسَبُ الأَرضُ قَد جَرَت حينَ يَجر
وَتَراهُand you see him كَأَنَّهُas though he were فيin رُكودِstillness
وَتَراهُ كَأَنَّهُ في رُكودِ
You think the earth has begun to run when he runs,
You deem the earth itself is running when he runs,
and see him as though he were at rest.
While he appears to you as if standing still.
إِنَّماonly يَركَبُrides الجَوادُthe noble steed جَوادٌa noble, generous man
إِنَّما يَركَبُ الجَوادُ جَوادٌ
وَيَصونُand safeguards الذَمّارَwhat must be defended غَيرُone who is not بَليدِa dullard
وَيَصونُ الذَمّارَ غَيرُ بَليدِ
Only a noble man rides the noble steed,
Indeed, only the noble rides the noble steed,
and he who guards honor is no dullard.
And none guards honor save the sharp of wit.
وَخَميسٍand an army يَحكيresembles النُجومَthe stars اِنتِظاماًin orderliness
وَخَميسٍ يَحكي النُجومَ اِنتِظاماً
عَجَباًhow wondrous مِنat كَواكِبٍstars فيin بيدِdeserts
عَجَباً مِن كَواكِبٍ في بيدِ
And an army, resembling the stars in its ordered ranks—
And a vast army mimicking the stars in alignment,
what a wonder: stars in the deserts!
A wonder of celestial bodies in the desert waste.
أَوقَعَcast الرُعبَterror فيinto قُلوبِthe hearts الضَواريof predatory beasts
أَوقَعَ الرُعبَ في قُلوبِ الضَواري
فَاِستَكانَتso they cowered كَأَنَّهاas though they were فيin قُيودِchains
فَاِستَكانَت كَأَنَّها في قُيودِ
It cast terror into the hearts of beasts of prey,
It cast terror into the hearts of predatory beasts,
so they cowered as though in chains.
So they submitted as though bound in chains.
أَصبَحَتthey came to تَهجُرُshun المِياهthe waters وَكانَتand formerly they were
أَصبَحَت تَهجُرُ المِياه وَكانَت
لاnot تَرىthey saw الماءَwater غَيرَother than ماءِthe water الوَريدِof the vein
لا تَرى الماءَ غَيرَ ماءِ الوَريدِ
They came to shun the waters, though once
They came to shun the waters, though before,
they knew no water but the water of veins.
They saw no water save the blood of veins.
خافِقاتٍfluttering أَعلامُهُits banners أَرَأَيتُمhave you seen?
خافِقاتٍ أَعلامُهُ أَرَأَيتُم
كَقُلوبِlike the hearts العُشّاقِof lovers عِندَat الصُدودِrejection
كَقُلوبِ العُشّاقِ عِندَ الصُدودِ
Have you seen its banners fluttering
Its banners fluttering—have you ever seen
like lovers' hearts when spurned?
The likeness of lovers' hearts when facing rejection?
قادَهُhe led it ذَلِكَthat الغَضَنفَرُthe lion نوجيNogi
قادَهُ ذَلِكَ الغَضَنفَرُ نوجي
وَيُناطُand is entrusted الحُسامُthe keen sword بِالصِنديدِto the valiant champion
وَيُناطُ الحُسامُ بِالصِنديدِ
That lion, Nogi, led it,
That lion, General Nogi, led the charge,
and the keen sword is entrusted to the valiant.
For the sharp sword befits the valiant chief.
رَجُلٌa man دونَهُbelow him الرِجالُthe men مَقاماًin rank
رَجُلٌ دونَهُ الرِجالُ مَقاماً
مُشبِهٌresembling فيamong الأَنامِhumankind بَيتَthe choicest verse القَصيدِof the poem
مُشبِهٌ في الأَنامِ بَيتَ القَصيدِ
A man above other men in stature,
A man beneath whose station all men stand,
among mankind, like the crowning verse of a poem.
Like the crowning verse of a poem amidst mankind.
كُلُّevery سَيفٍsword فيin غَيرِother than قَبضَةِthe grasp نوجيof Nogi
كُلُّ سَيفٍ في غَيرِ قَبضَةِ نوجي
فَهوَthen it is عِندَamong السُيوفِthe swords غَيرُnot سَعيدِhappy
فَهوَ عِندَ السُيوفِ غَيرُ سَعيدِ
Every sword outside Nogi's grasp
Every sword held in a hand other than Nogi's,
is an unhappy one among swords.
Is deemed unfortunate among all blades.
ياO يَراعيmy reed pen سَلask بورتَPort آرثورArthur عَنهُabout him
يا يَراعي سَل بورتَ آرثور عَنهُ
إِنَّindeed تِلكَthose الحُصونِthe fortresses خَيرُthe best شَهيدِwitness
إِنَّ تِلكَ الحُصونِ خَيرُ شَهيدِ
O my pen, ask Port Arthur about him;
O my pen, ask Port Arthur of his deeds,
indeed, those fortresses are the best witness.
For those strongholds are the greatest witness.
مَعقِلٌa stronghold أَصبَحَتcame to be جَحافِلُthe legions هيتوof Hito
مَعقِلٌ أَصبَحَت جَحافِلُ هيتو
حَولَهُaround it كَالعُقودِlike necklaces حَولَaround الجيدِthe neck
حَولَهُ كَالعُقودِ حَولَ الجيدِ
A stronghold: Hito's legions came to stand
A citadel where the legions of Hito became,
around it like necklaces around a neck.
Encircled like necklaces adorning a neck.
هَجَمواthey charged هَجمَةَa charge الضَراغِمِof lions لَمّاwhen
هَجَموا هَجمَةَ الضَراغِمِ لَمّا
هَسَبوهاdeemed it (apparent typo) فَريسَةًprey لِلأُسودِfor the lions
هَسَبوها فَريسَةً لِلأُسودِ
They charged like lions when
They struck with the onslaught of lions when
they deemed it prey for lions.
They deemed the fort a prey meant for the pride.
وَتَعالىand rose الضَجيجُthe uproar لِلأُفقِto the horizon حَتّىuntil
وَتَعالى الضَجيجُ لِلأُفقِ حَتّى
كادَnearly ذاكَthat الضَجيجُuproar بِالأُفقِupon the horizon يوديbrings ruin
كادَ ذاكَ الضَجيجُ بِالأُفقِ يودي
And the uproar rose to the horizon until
The clamor rose high to the horizon, until
that uproar almost brought the horizon to ruin.
That very clamor nearly shattered the sky.
وَتَوالىand came in succession هُجومُهُمtheir assaults وَالمَناياand deaths
وَتَوالى هُجومُهُم وَالمَنايا
ضاحِكاتٌlaughing فَياso, oh لَهاfor it (exclamatory) مِنof صُيودِprey
ضاحِكاتٌ فَيا لَها مِن صُيودِ
And their assaults came one after another, while Death
Their assaults came wave upon wave, while Death
laughed—oh, what prey!
Stood laughing—oh, what a bountiful hunt!
كَمhow many جَريحٍa wounded man مُضَرَّجٍdrenched بِدِماهُin his blood
كَم جَريحٍ مُضَرَّجٍ بِدِماهُ
وَقَتيلٍand a slain man عَلىupon الثَرىthe earth مَمدودِstretched out
وَقَتيلٍ عَلى الثَرى مَمدودِ
How many a wounded man, drenched in his blood,
How many a wounded man, stained in his own blood,
and a slain man stretched upon the earth,
And how many a slain soldier laid upon the dust.
وَأَسيرٍand a captive إِلىto أَسيرٍanother captive يُساقونَthey are driven
وَأَسيرٍ إِلى أَسيرٍ يُساقونَ
تِباعاًin succession إِلىtoward الشَقاءِmisery العَتيدِin store
تِباعاً إِلى الشَقاءِ العَتيدِ
and captive after captive, driven
Prisoner joined to prisoner, they are driven
in succession to the misery in store.
In succession toward a destined misery.
أَسطَرَتهُمshowered them (probable reading) مَدافِعُthe cannons الروسِof the Russians ناراًfire
أَسطَرَتهُم مَدافِعُ الروسِ ناراً
أَصبَحواthey became بَعدَهاafter it بِغَيرِwithout جُلودِskins
أَصبَحوا بَعدَها بِغَيرِ جُلودِ
The Russian cannons showered them with fire;
The Russian cannons inscribed them with fire,
afterward, they were left without skins.
Leaving them thereafter stripped of their very skin.
دامَتِlasted الحَربُthe war أَشهُراًmonths كُلَّماwhenever قيلَit was said
دامَتِ الحَربُ أَشهُراً كُلَّما قيلَ
خَبَتdied down نارُهاits fire ذَكَتblazed مِنfrom جَديدِnew
خَبَت نارُها ذَكَت مِن جَديدِ
The war lasted months; whenever it was said
The war raged for months; whenever it was said,
that its fire had died down, it flared anew.
"Its fire has faded," it blazed forth anew.
وَالمَناياand deaths تَحومُhover حَولَaround الَراياthe mortals (probable reading)
وَالمَنايا تَحومُ حَولَ الَرايا
حَومَةَthe circling العاشِقينَof lovers حَولَaround الغيدِgraceful beauties
حَومَةَ العاشِقينَ حَولَ الغيدِ
And Death hovers around mortals,
And the Fates hovered 'round the banners,
as lovers circle graceful beauties,
As lovers hover around graceful beauties.
حَيثُwhere حَظُّthe lot المِقدامِof the bold warrior مِثلُlike سِواهُothers besides him
حَيثُ حَظُّ المِقدامِ مِثلُ سِواهُ
وَكَحَظِّand like the lot الكَبيرِof the elder حَظُّthe lot الوَليدِof the newborn
وَكَحَظِّ الكَبيرِ حَظُّ الوَليدِ
where the brave man's lot is like another's,
Where the fortune of the bold matches that of the rest,
and the newborn's lot is like the elder's.
And the fate of the elder is that of the child.
صَبَرَendured الروسُthe Russians صَبرَthe patience أَيّوبٍof Job لِلبَلوىunder affliction
صَبَرَ الروسُ صَبرَ أَيّوبٍ لِلبَلوى
وَعَلىand against ذَلِكَthat العَدُوِّenemy العَنيدِobstinate
وَعَلى ذَلِكَ العَدُوِّ العَنيدِ
The Russians endured affliction with Job's patience,
The Russians endured the trial with the patience of Job,
and held firm against that obstinate enemy.
Standing firm against that obstinate foe.
غَيرَbut أَنَّthat الأَيّامَthe days طالَتgrew long وِستوسَلand Stoessel
غَيرَ أَنَّ الأَيّامَ طالَت وِستوسَل
يُمنيholds out hope to أَجفانَهُhis eyelids بِالهُجودِof slumber
يُمني أَجفانَهُ بِالهُجودِ
But the days grew long, and Stoessel
Yet the days grew long, and General Stessel
held out to his eyelids the hope of slumber.
Began to promise his eyelids the gift of sleep.
فَتَوَلّاهُمُso it seized them القُنوطُdespair مِنَof النَصرِvictory
فَتَوَلّاهُمُ القُنوطُ مِنَ النَصرِ
فَرَدّواso they returned أَسيافَهُمtheir swords لِلغُمودِto the sheaths
فَرَدّوا أَسيافَهُم لِلغُمودِ
So despair of victory seized them,
So despair of victory overtook them,
so they returned their swords to their sheaths.
And they returned their swords to the scabbards.
كانَwas هَذاthis لِلصُفرِfor the yellow-skinned عيداa feast day وَعِندَand for
كانَ هَذا لِلصُفرِ عيدا وَعِندَ
الروسِthe Russians ضَرباًa kind مِنَof اللَياليthe nights السودِblack
الروسِ ضَرباً مِنَ اللَيالي السودِ
This was a feast day for the yellow-skinned, and for
This was a day of festival for the Yellow race,
the Russians, one of the black nights.
And for the Russians, a stroke of the darkest nights.
قَلعَةٌa fortress صانَهاguarded it الزَمانُTime فَلَولاso, were it not for
قَلعَةٌ صانَها الزَمانُ فَلَولا
كَيدُthe cunning نوجيof Nogi لَبَشَّرتُI would have heralded بَِلخُلودِof immortality
كَيدُ نوجي لَبَشَّرتُ بَِلخُلودِ
A fortress that Time had guarded—were it not for
A citadel guarded by Time itself—and were it not
Nogi's cunning, I would have proclaimed its immortality.
For Nogi's stratagem, I would have heralded its immortality.
Gemini 3.5 Flash is a user-supplied attribution. The original record does not identify its model.