دَبَّتcrept forward وَقَدand already أَرخىlowered الظَلامُdarkness سِتاراa curtain
دَبَّت وَقَد أَرخى الظَلامُ سِتارا
وَلَطالَماand how often كَتَمَconcealed الدُجىthe darkness الأَسراراthe secrets
وَلَطالَما كَتَمَ الدُجى الأَسرارا
They crept forward as darkness drew a curtain.
The ships sailed as darkness let down its veil,
They crept along as darkness lowered its curtain, for the night has long concealed secrets.
And how often has night concealed secrets!
And night has long concealed secrets.
Ships like mountains, were it not for their motion—have you ever known a mountain to walk or march?
سُفُنٌships هِيَthey الأَطوادُthe mountains لَولاwere it not for سَيرَهاtheir movement
سُفُنٌ هِيَ الأَطوادُ لَولا سَيرَها
أَعَهِدتُمُhave you ever known? جَبَلاًa mountain مَشىwalked أَوor ساراtraveled
أَعَهِدتُمُ جَبَلاً مَشى أَو سارا
Ships—mountains, were it not for their movement.
Ships are mounts, if not for their course,
Like flocks of birds, yet when they race, the winds lag behind and they outstrip the fowls.
Have you ever known a mountain to walk or travel?
Would you know a mountain to walk or travel?
Like planets in their order, and indeed, they are like planets sending forth beams of light.
كَالطَيرِlike birds أَسراباin flocks وَلَكِنand yet إِنif عَدَتthey raced
كَالطَيرِ أَسرابا وَلَكِن إِن عَدَت
تَنَتِunclear verb; perhaps 'outstrip' الرِياحthe winds وَتَسبَقُand outpace الأَطياراthe birds
تَنَتِ الرِياح وَتَسبَقُ الأَطيارا
Like birds in flocks; yet when they race,
Like flocks of birds, but if they return
They are like cities, save that their inhabitants within are forever anticipating perils.
They [outstrip?] the winds and outpace the birds.
The winds blow and the birds fly faster.
I deem they have lost a beloved or a brother, and for that reason have donned black as their emblem.
مِثلُlike الكَواكِبِthe stars فيin النِظامorder وَإِنَّهاand indeed they
مِثلُ الكَواكِبِ في النِظام وَإِنَّها
لَكَماindeed, just as الكَواكِبُthe stars تَبعَثُsend forth الأَنواراlights
لَكَما الكَواكِبُ تَبعَثُ الأَنوارا
Like the stars in their order, and indeed
Like planets in their system, and they
They plunge into the waters hoping to quench the fire in their hearts, yet their ribs only burn with greater heat.
They send forth lights just as the stars do.
Are like planets emitting light.
They sway until one doubts not they are drunk, though the ships have tasted no wine.
هِيَthey كَالمَدائِنِlike cities غَيرَexcept أَنthat نُزيلَهاtheir passenger
هِيَ كَالمَدائِنِ غَيرَ أَن نُزيلَها
أَبَداًalways بِهاaboard them يَتَوَقَّعُexpects الأَخطاراthe dangers
أَبَداً بِها يَتَوَقَّعُ الأَخطارا
They are like cities, except that their passenger
They are like cities, but their dweller
They rejoice upon seeing the ports, like a frozen traveler who, after struggle, spots a fire.
Always expects dangers aboard them.
Never expects dangers in them.
Battleships set in motion like a sweeping army, carrying within them a sweeping army.
وَأَظُنُّهاand I think they فَقَدَتhave lost حَبيباًa loved one أَوor أَخاًa brother
وَأَظُنُّها فَقَدَت حَبيباً أَو أَخاً
وَلِذَلِكَand therefore اِرتَدَتِdonned السَوادَblack شِعاراas their garb
وَلِذَلِكَ اِرتَدَتِ السَوادَ شِعارا
And I think they have lost a loved one or a brother,
I think it lost a loved one or brother,
They bore men with faces like apes, yellow of hue, resembling the color of dinars.
And therefore have donned black as their garb.
So it donned the black attire.
Flat-nosed and short of stature; nay, they seem hardly taller than a few hand-spans.
تَغشىply المِياهَthe waters لَعَلَّhoping that ماwhat فيin قَلبِهاtheir heart
تَغشى المِياهَ لَعَلَّ ما في قَلبِها
يُطفىis extinguished فَتَزدادُso increase الضُلوعُthe ribs أَواراin burning heat
يُطفى فَتَزدادُ الضُلوعُ أَوارا
They ply the waters, hoping the fire in their hearts
It covers the waters, perhaps what is in its heart
Togo led them, commanding a compliant vessel that loves hardship and adores distant journeys.
Will be quenched; yet their ribs burn hotter still.
Will be extinguished, so the ribs become more apparent.
In his heart is a fire, and in her bowels burns a flame like that which rages in his soul.
وَتَميدُand sway حَتّىuntil لاnot يُشَكُّit is doubted بِأَنَّهاthat they are
وَتَميدُ حَتّى لا يُشَكُّ بِأَنَّها
سَكرىdrunk وَلَمand have not تَذُقِtasted السَفينُthe ships عَقاراwine
سَكرى وَلَم تَذُقِ السَفينُ عَقارا
And they sway until no doubt remains that they
It sways until there is no doubt that it is
The steam ceased not to drive her, causing her to lunge forward like an arrow shot through the air.
Are drunk, though the ships have never tasted wine.
Intoxicated, and the ship never tasted wine.
At times you see her amidst the clouds, and at times in the trough, where her hull nearly vanishes.
وَتُسَرُّand rejoice إِنif رَأَتِthey see الثُغورَthe ports كَأَنَّهاas if they were
وَتُسَرُّ إِن رَأَتِ الثُغورَ كَأَنَّها
المَقرورُsomeone chilled أَبصَرَsaw بَعدَafter جُهدٍeffort ناراa fire
المَقرورُ أَبصَرَ بَعدَ جُهدٍ نارا
And they rejoice on seeing ports, as though they were
It rejoices when it sees the ports as if it is
Until she neared the port of Chemulpo, which had gathered those who knew what was to come.
Someone chilled who, after hardship, has found a fire.
A starved man who finally sees fire.
A band of Russians whose past deeds I have heard recounted in stories.
وَبَوارِجٌand battleships قَدalready سُيِّرَتwere sent forth كَالجَحفَلِlike a host
وَبَوارِجٌ قَد سُيِّرَت كَالجَحفَلِ
الجَرّارِvast تَحمِلُcarrying جَحفَلاًa host جَرّاراvast
الجَرّارِ تَحمِلُ جَحفَلاً جَرّارا
And battleships were sent forth like a host,
And battleships were sailed like an army
Each a daring warrior; whenever he visits the battlefield, death itself visits that daring knight.
Vast in its ranks, carrying a vast host.
Of giants carrying a giant load.
They had naught with them but the Variag, and another vessel of lighter armor.
حَمَلَتcarried أُناساًpeople كَالقُرودِlike monkeys وُجوهُهُمtheir faces
حَمَلَت أُناساً كَالقُرودِ وُجوهُهُم
صَفراءُyellow يَحكيresembles لَونَهاtheir color الديناراthe dinar
صَفراءُ يَحكي لَونَها الدينارا
They carried people like monkeys, whose faces
They carried people with yellow faces
The enemy spoke to them as he drew near, his very arrival serving as sufficient warning.
Were yellow, their color resembling a dinar.
The color of which tells of gold coins.
"Either fight and join those who have passed away, or submit gracefully and be taken as prisoners."
فُطسُflat الأُنوفِnoses قَصيرَةٌshort قاماتُهُمtheir statures
فُطسُ الأُنوفِ قَصيرَةٌ قاماتُهُم
هَيهاتِfar from it! لاnot تَتَجاوَزُexceed الأَشباراhandspans
هَيهاتِ لا تَتَجاوَزُ الأَشبارا
Flat-nosed, their statures short,
Flat noses, short stature,
The answer was fiery shells that love to strike their mark and hate to return.
No indeed—their heights do not exceed mere handspans.
Alas, they do not exceed cubits.
Falling like meteors from the sky, yet distinguishing not between the righteous and the wicked.
قَدindeed قادَهاled them طوغوTōgō فَقادَand so led ذُلولَةًa docile one
قَد قادَها طوغو فَقادَ ذُلولَةً
تَهوىloves الصِعابhardships وَتَعشَقُand adores الأَسفاراvoyages
تَهوى الصِعاب وَتَعشَقُ الأَسفارا
Tōgō led them—a docile fleet he led,
A warlord led them, leading the submissive
Even the least of them—let alone the greatest—would cause a towering mountain to crumble if struck.
Loving hardships and adoring voyages.
Who love difficulties and passionate about travel.
The enemy ships surrounded and encircled them, until I imagined the whole scene a closing wall.
فيin قَلبِهِhis heart نارfire وَفيand in أَحشائِهاtheir entrails
في قَلبِهِ نار وَفي أَحشائِها
مِثلُthe like of الَّذيthat which فيin نَفسِهِhis soul قَدhad indeed ثاراflared up
مِثلُ الَّذي في نَفسِهِ قَد ثارا
In his heart was fire, and in their entrails
In his heart is fire, and in its belly is
Ranging from battleships and cruisers to destroyers, all hurling fire.
A fire like that within his soul had flared.
The same as the one in his soul arose.
Smoke filled the heavens and the sun was veiled, though the day remained day.
ماnot زالَceased يَدفَعُهاdriving them البُخارُsteam فَتَرتَميso they dart forward
ما زالَ يَدفَعُها البُخارُ فَتَرتَمي
كَالسَهمِlike an arrow أُطلِقَwas released فيinto الفَضاءِthe air فَساراand then sped onward
كَالسَهمِ أُطلِقَ في الفَضاءِ فَسارا
Steam kept driving them, and they darted forward
The steam keeps pushing it to plunge
The air grew dark and the sky's face scowled, as though a curtain were drawn across the heavens.
Like an arrow released into the air and speeding onward.
Like an arrow released in space and traveled.
The sea was dyed with blood, and its waves, once liquid silver, turned to red gold.
طَوراًat times تَراهاyou see them فيin السَحابthe clouds وَتارَةًand sometimes
طَوراً تَراها في السَحاب وَتارَةً
فيin القاعِthe depths يوشِكُalmost جُرمُهاtheir hull يَتَوارىdisappears
في القاعِ يوشِكُ جُرمُها يَتَوارى
At times you see them in the clouds, and at others
At times you see it in the clouds, at others
Through all this, the bombs ceased not their downpour, resembling a torrential rain.
In the depths, their hulls almost disappearing.
At the bottom, its body about to disappear.
The two vessels, the Variag and her sister, stood in proud defiance, knowing no surrender.
حَتّىuntil دَنَتthey drew near مِنto ثَغرِthe port of شِمولبوChemulpo الَّذيwhich
حَتّى دَنَت مِن ثَغرِ شِمولبو الَّذي
جَمَعَgathered الأُلىthose who يَعرِفواknow ماwhat صاراcame to pass
جَمَعَ الأُلى يَعرِفوا ما صارا
Until they neared the port of Chemulpo, which
Until it came near the mouth of Schimolbu which
One of them was caught by a projectile, as though a thunderbolt had struck a dwelling.
Had gathered those who knew what had come to pass:
Gathered the brave who know what happened.
She sank with all aboard, as the waves opened a bosom to conceal her secrets.
نَفَرٌa group مِنَof الرُؤوسِthe leaders الَّذينَwhom سَمِعتُI heard عَنabout
نَفَرٌ مِنَ الرُؤوسِ الَّذينَ سَمِعتُ عَن
أَفعالِهِمtheir deeds فيماin what مَضىhad passed الأَخباراreports
أَفعالِهِم فيما مَضى الأَخبارا
A band of leaders about whom I had heard
Some of the chiefs whom I heard
She went down, yet her sinking only increased the fighters' resolve to continue the fray.
Reports of their deeds in days gone by.
Stories of their deeds in the past.
But the other vessel was so ravaged by damage that she could no longer sail.
مِنof كُلِّevery مِغوارٍfearless warrior إِذاwhen زارَvisited الوَغىthe battlefield
مِن كُلِّ مِغوارٍ إِذا زارَ الوَغى
زارَvisited الحِمامُdeath الفارِسَthe horseman المُغواراthe fearless one
زارَ الحِمامُ الفارِسَ المُغوارا
Each a fearless warrior who, whenever he entered battle,
From every den of vice, whenever havoc came
Her captain, a gallant youth, decided to save his noble soldiers from death by means of retreat.
Was visited by death, that fearless horseman.
The pigeons visited the valiant horseman.
Some fled, but the greater part chose to flee from flight itself as their choice.
ماnot كانَthere was غَيرَanything but الفارِياجِthe Varyag لَدَيهِمwith them
ما كانَ غَيرَ الفارِياجِ لَدَيهِم
وَسَفينَةًand a ship أُخرىanother أَخَفُّlighter دِثاراin covering
وَسَفينَةً أُخرى أَخَفُّ دِثارا
They had nothing but the Varyag
They had nothing but boats, and another lighter boat.
They blew her apart and died beside her, drowning—for the brave refuse to suffer shame.
And another vessel, more lightly armored.
The enemy said to them and had approached them:
This is their story I pen for you; I seek neither dirham nor dinar for it.
قالَsaid العَدُوُّthe enemy لَهُمto them وَقَدwhile already داناهُمُhe had drawn near them
قالَ العَدُوُّ لَهُم وَقَد داناهُمُ
وَكَفىand sufficed بِماwith what وافىhe arrived بِهِwith it إِنذاراas a warning
وَكَفى بِما وافى بِهِ إِنذارا
The enemy said to them, having drawn near—
It is enough what I came with as a warning.
If it benefits you, then good has come from evil; if not, then let it simply be a remembrance.
And what he brought was warning enough—
Either you join those who passed away
أَمّاas for القِتالُfighting فَتَلحَقونَthen you will join بِمَنwith those who مَضَواpassed away
أَمّا القِتالُ فَتَلحَقونَ بِمَن مَضَوا
أَوor تُحسِنونَyou act wisely فَتُؤخَذونَthen you will be taken أُسارىas captives
أَو تُحسِنونَ فَتُؤخَذونَ أُسارى
"Fight, and you will join those who have passed away,
Or you surrender and be taken as captives.
Or act wisely, and be taken captive."
The answer was fiery bombs
كانَwas الجَوابُthe answer قَذائِفاًshells نارِيَّةًfiery
كانَ الجَوابُ قَذائِفاً نارِيَّةً
تَهوىlove الوُرودarrival وَتَكرَهُand hate الإِصداراbeing sent back
تَهوى الوُرود وَتَكرَهُ الإِصدارا
The answer was fiery shells,
Falling on flowers and hating blossoms.
Loving arrival and hating being sent back.
Like stoned, but they
مِثلُlike الرُجومِmeteors إِذاwhen هَوَتthey fall لَكِنَّهاbut they
مِثلُ الرُجومِ إِذا هَوَت لَكِنَّها
لاnot تَعرِفُdistinguish الأَخيارthe good وَالأَشراراand the wicked
لا تَعرِفُ الأَخيار وَالأَشرارا
Like meteors when they fall, except that these
Do not know the good and the bad.
Do not distinguish the righteous from the wicked.
The lighter of them, so what of the harsher?
وَأَقَلُّهاand the least of them خَطباًin harm فَكيفَthen what of أَشَدُّهاthe fiercest of them
وَأَقَلُّها خَطباً فَكيفَ أَشَدُّها
لَوif نالَتِstruck الجَبَلَthe mountain الأَشَمَّthe lofty أَنهاراwould collapse (apparently انهار)
لَو نالَتِ الجَبَلَ الأَشَمَّ أَنهارا
Even the least destructive—what then of the fiercest?—
If it hit the solid mountain, it would make rivers flow.
If it struck a lofty mountain, the mountain would collapse.
The enemy ships surrounded them and stared closely
حَفَّتsurrounded بِهِمaround them سُفُنُships العُداةof the enemies وَأَحدَقَتand encircled
حَفَّت بِهِم سُفُنُ العُداة وَأَحدَقَت
حَتّىuntil وَالكُلُّand all of them إِخالَهاI imagine them أَسواراwalls
حَتّى وَالكُلُّ إِخالَها أَسوارا
The enemy's ships surrounded them and closed in,
Until they all deemed it walls.
Until I imagined them all to be walls.
From battleship to warship to
ماwhat lies بَينَbetween بارِجَةa battleship وَطَرّادٍand a cruiser إِلىto
ما بَينَ بارِجَة وَطَرّادٍ إِلى
نَسّافَةa torpedo boat وَالكُلُّand all يَقذِفُhurl ناراfire
نَسّافَة وَالكُلُّ يَقذِفُ نارا
From battleship and cruiser down to
Corvette, all bombarding.
Torpedo boat, all of them hurling fire.
Their smoke filled the sky, and the light
مَلَأَfilled الفَضاءَthe sky دُخانُهاtheir smoke وَذَكاءُand the sun
مَلَأَ الفَضاءَ دُخانُها وَذَكاءُ
اِحتَجَبَتwas veiled وَماand not بَرَحَceased to be النَهارُthe day نَهاراday
اِحتَجَبَت وَما بَرَحَ النَهارُ نَهارا
Their smoke filled the sky, and the sun
Was obscured, yet daylight remained daylight.
Was veiled, though the day was still day.
The weather darkened, and its horizon frowned
وَالجَوُّand the air أَظلَمdarkened وَاِكفَهَرَّand grew grim أَديمُهُits face
وَالجَوُّ أَظلَم وَاِكفَهَرَّ أَديمُهُ
حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّas if عَلىover السَماءِthe sky سِتاراa curtain
حَتّى كَأَنَّ عَلى السَماءِ سِتارا
And the air darkened, its face growing grim,
As if there was a veil upon the sky.
As though a curtain hung over the sky.
And the sea was dyed with blood, and its
وَالبَحرُand the sea خُضِّبَwas dyed بِالدِماءwith blood وَأَصبَحَتand became
وَالبَحرُ خُضِّبَ بِالدِماء وَأَصبَحَت
أَمواجُهits waves وَهيَthough they were اللُجَينُsilver نُضاراgold
أَمواجُه وَهيَ اللُجَينُ نُضارا
And the sea was dyed with blood, and
Waves became brilliant red.
Its waves, though silver, became gold.
And the bombs kept pouring
ذاall this وَالقَنابِلُwhile the shells لَمnot تَزَلceased مُنهَلَّةًpouring down
ذا وَالقَنابِلُ لَم تَزَل مُنهَلَّةً
مِنهاfrom them تُحاكيimitating الصَيبَthe rain المِدراراtorrential
مِنها تُحاكي الصَيبَ المِدرارا
All this while shells kept pouring down
Some mimicking constant rain.
From them, like torrential rain.
And the two ships, the leading one and its sister
وَالمَركِبانُand the two vessels الفارِياجthe Varyag وَأُختُهاand her sister
وَالمَركِبانُ الفارِياج وَأُختُها
فيin ابوَةٍunclear; perhaps 'proud defiance' لاnot يَعرِفانِthe two know قَراراrest
في ابوَةٍ لا يَعرِفانِ قَرارا
And the two vessels—the Varyag and her sister—
Showing courage, not knowing rest.
In [proud defiance?], knew no rest.
One was hit by a projectile
إِحداهُماone of the two ظَفِرَتgot hold بِهاof her مَقذوفَةٌa shell
إِحداهُما ظَفِرَت بِها مَقذوفَةٌ
فَكَأَنَّso it was as if صاعِقَةًa thunderbolt أَصابَتstruck داراa house
فَكَأَنَّ صاعِقَةً أَصابَت دارا
One of them was caught by a shell,
As if lightning struck a house.
As though a thunderbolt had struck a house.
It fell with all its passengers, and the
فَهَوَتso she plunged بِمَنwith those who فيهاwere aboard her وَقَدand already فَتَحَتhad opened لَاnot; apparently a typo for 'to her'
فَهَوَت بِمَن فيها وَقَد فَتَحَت لَا
الأَمواجُthe waves صَدراًa breast يَكتُمُconceals الأَسراراthe secrets
الأَمواجُ صَدراً يَكتُمُ الأَسرارا
So she plunged with all aboard, while there opened to her
Waves opened a chest that hides secrets.
The waves' breast, which keeps secrets hidden.
It fell while the collision increased insistence
هَبَطَتshe sank وَزادَand increased هُبوطَهاher sinking المُتَقاتِthe combatants (first part)
هَبَطَت وَزادَ هُبوطَها المُتَقاتِ
لينَcompletion of 'combatants' عَلىon مُداوَمَةِcontinuing الوَغىthe battle إِصراراdetermination
لينَ عَلى مُداوَمَةِ الوَغى إِصرارا
She sank, and her sinking made the combatants
On continuing the fight.
More determined to keep the battle going.
But the other was damaged
لَكِنَّماbut الأُخرىthe other أُصيبَتwas afflicted بِالأَذىwith damage
لَكِنَّما الأُخرى أُصيبَت بِالأَذى
حَتّىuntil غَدَتshe became لاnot تَملِكُpossessed التَسياراthe ability to sail
حَتّى غَدَت لا تَملِكُ التَسيارا
But the other vessel suffered damage,
Until it lost control of sailing.
Until she could no longer sail.
So the young captain saw to redeem
فَرَأىso decided الفَتىthe young man رُبّانُهاher captain أَنto يَفتَديrescue
فَرَأى الفَتى رُبّانُها أَن يَفتَدي
الجُندَthe soldiers الكِرامَthe noble مِنَfrom المَماتِdeath فِراراby fleeing
الجُندَ الكِرامَ مِنَ المَماتِ فِرارا
So the young man, her captain, resolved to rescue
The brave soldiers from death's escape.
The noble soldiers from death by fleeing.
Some of them fled, but most
قَدindeed فَرَّfled بَعضُهُمsome of them وَلَكِنand yet جُلَّهُمmost of them
قَد فَرَّ بَعضُهُم وَلَكِن جُلَّهُم
طَلَبواsought الفِرارَescape مِنَfrom الفِرارِflight خَياراas their choice
طَلَبوا الفِرارَ مِنَ الفِرارِ خَيارا
Some of them fled, but most
Sought escape from escape, preferring the good.
Preferred to flee from flight itself.
They blew her up and died by her
أَودواbrought ruin بِهاupon her نَسفاby blowing up وَماتواand died عِندَهاbeside her
أَودوا بِها نَسفا وَماتوا عِندَها
غَرَقاby drowning وَيَأبىand refuse الباسِلونَthe brave العاراdisgrace
غَرَقا وَيَأبى الباسِلونَ العارا
They blew her up and died beside her,
Drowning, while the valiant refuse disgrace.
Drowning; brave men refuse disgrace.
This is their story I relate to you
هَذيthis حِكايَتُهُمtheir tale أُسَطِّرُهاI write it لَكُمfor you
هَذي حِكايَتُهُم أُسَطِّرُها لَكُم
لاnot دِرهَماًa dirham أَبغيI seek وَلاnor ديناراa dinar
لا دِرهَماً أَبغي وَلا دينارا
This is their tale, which I write for you,
Not seeking a dirham or dinar.
Seeking neither a dirham nor a dinar.
If it benefits you, good came from
فَلَئِنso if indeed أَفادَتكُمit has benefited you فَخَيرٌthen good اءَcame (apparently جاء) مَنfrom (read مِن)
فَلَئِن أَفادَتكُم فَخَيرٌ اءَ مَن
شَرevil وَإِلّاand if not فَلتَكُنthen let it be تَذكاراa remembrance
شَر وَإِلّا فَلتَكُن تَذكارا
If it has benefited you, then good has come from
Evil, otherwise let it be a reminder.
Evil; otherwise, let it be a remembrance.
Partial English translation: 81 of 82 Arabic lines translated.
Partial English translation: 41 of 82 Arabic lines translated.