أجابَهُanswered him مُذْas soon as دَعَاhe called بُتْرٌkeen swords ومُرَّانُand ashwood spears
أجابَهُ مُذْ دَعَا بُتْرٌ ومُرَّانُ
والسَّعْدُand good fortune والنَّصْرُand victory بالأفراسِupon the steeds تِيْجَانُcrowns
والسَّعْدُ والنَّصْرُ بالأفراسِ تِيْجَانُ
Keen swords and ashwood spears answered him as soon as he called;
Butr and Murran answered his call,
And good fortune and victory are crowns upon the steeds.
Victory and success adorn their steeds like crowns.
قدindeed جاءَhe came يَسْحبُdragging أذيالَthe skirts of الدُروعِthe coats of mail ضحىat midmorning
قد جاءَ يَسْحبُ أذيالَ الدُروعِ ضحى
إلىto الوغىbattle وهوand he عَنْدَat الطَعْنِspear-thrusting غَضْبانُenraged
إلى الوغى وهو عَنْدَ الطَعْنِ غَضْبانُ
He came dragging the skirts of his coats of mail at midmorning
He came at dawn, dragging the trains of armor,
To battle, enraged when thrusting with the spear.
Angry for battle and the thrust of lances.
هذاthis is سعيدُSa'id بنson of سلطانSultan الذيwho سَجَدَتْbowed down
هذا سعيدُ بن سلطان الذي سَجَدَتْ
لهُbefore him منَfrom الخَصْمِthe enemy هاماتٌheads وأذْقَانُand chins
لهُ منَ الخَصْمِ هاماتٌ وأذْقَانُ
This is Sa'id ibn Sultan, before whom bowed down
This is Sa'eed bin Sultan, before whom
The heads and chins of the enemy.
The skulls of foes bowed down in surrender.
ذَمْرٌa valiant warrior تَخَافُfear العِداthe foes منfrom فَتْكِthe deadly assault of صارِمهhis keen sword
ذَمْرٌ تَخَافُ العِدا من فَتْكِ صارِمه
كماas يَخَافْfears شِهابَa meteor القَذْفِhurling شَيْطانُa devil
كما يَخَافْ شِهابَ القَذْفِ شَيْطانُ
A valiant warrior: the foes fear the havoc of his keen sword,
A piercing blade the enemies feared so,
As a devil fears a hurled meteor.
As devils fear the falling stars up yonder.
إنْif هَزَّhe shakes فوقَabove المذاكيthe mature steeds كَعْبَthe joint of حَرْبَتِهِhis lance
إنْ هَزَّ فوقَ المذاكي كَعْبَ حَرْبَتِهِ
تَنَافَرَتْscattered منْهُfrom him شُجْعانٌbrave warriors وأقْرَانُand worthy opponents
تَنَافَرَتْ منْهُ شُجْعانٌ وأقْرَانُ
If he shakes his lance's jointed shaft above the mature steeds,
When he shook his sword above the fray,
Brave warriors and worthy opponents scatter before him.
Brave warriors trembled and fell asunder.
قَنَاتهhis spear تَنْثَنِيbends سَكْرانةًdrunken عَلَقَاwith clotted blood
قَنَاته تَنْثَنِي سَكْرانةً عَلَقَا
كماas تَمَايَلswayed فيin بُرْدَيْهِhis two mantles نَشْوانُa drunken man
كما تَمَايَل في بُرْدَيْهِ نَشْوانُ
His spear bends, drunken with clotted blood,
His spear made drunk, bent over in its scabbard,
As a drunken man sways in his two mantles.
As date palms sway when the wine makes them blunder.
خافتْfeared نجومُthe stars of السَماthe heavens مِنهُof him وبانَand became apparent لهاto them
خافتْ نجومُ السَما مِنهُ وبانَ لها
نَحْوَtoward المَغَاربِthe western horizons إخْفَاءٌconcealment وطَيْرَانُand flight
نَحْوَ المَغَاربِ إخْفَاءٌ وطَيْرَانُ
The stars of heaven feared him; there appeared to them
The stars of heaven feared him and it seemed
Concealment and flight toward the western horizons.
Westward they fled to hide in wonder.
تَهَزْهَزَتْtrembled مِنْهُbefore him أرضُthe earth of اللهِGod خائِفَةًin fear
تَهَزْهَزَتْ مِنْهُ أرضُ اللهِ خائِفَةً
إذاwhen اعتلىrose مِنْهُfrom him فيin الهَيْجاءِbattle هَيْجانُa frenzy
إذا اعتلى مِنْهُ في الهَيْجاءِ هَيْجانُ
God's earth trembled before him in fear
Allah's earth shook in fear under his tread,
Whenever his frenzy rose amid the battle.
When to rouse his warriors was his thunder.
أسيافُهُhis swords الحُمْرُred فيin الهاماتِheads مُغْمَدَةٌsheathed
أسيافُهُ الحُمْرُ في الهاماتِ مُغْمَدَةٌ
لهاthey have فيin الضَرْبِstriking اسْجاعٌrhymed cadences وألْحانُand melodies
لها في الضَرْبِ اسْجاعٌ وألْحانُ
His red swords are sheathed in heads;
His red swords sheathed after the skulls they cleft,
Their blows have rhymed cadences and melodies.
Melodies of death their every blow did plunder.
وخَيْلُهُand his horses بِعَجَاجِin the dust of الحَرْبِwar مُدْرَعةٌarmored
وخَيْلُهُ بِعَجَاجِ الحَرْبِ مُدْرَعةٌ
كأنَّهُنَّas though they علىupon الآفاقِthe horizons عُقْبانُeagles
كأنَّهُنَّ على الآفاقِ عُقْبانُ
And his horses are armored in the dust of war,
His steeds armed for war, they flew like hawks,
As though they were eagles upon the horizons.
Wheeling through the skies in their red armor.
وللنجيعِand fresh blood has احمرارٌredness فيon سَنَابكِهاtheir hooves
وللنجيعِ احمرارٌ في سَنَابكِها
لهاthey have علىupon الفَلكِthe celestial sphere الدَوَّارِrevolving دَوْرَانُa circling
لها على الفَلكِ الدَوَّارِ دَوْرَانُ
And fresh blood glows crimson upon their hooves;
Their neighing at night shook the celestial spheres,
They wheel upon the revolving celestial sphere.
Set them spinning, whirling without number.
كأنas though رايتهُhis banner منfrom حِينِthe time ماwhen حُمِلَتْit was carried
كأن رايتهُ من حِينِ ما حُمِلَتْ
نَحْوَtoward القِتَالِbattle بهاin it للفَتْحِfor conquest عُنوانُan emblem
نَحْوَ القِتَالِ بها للفَتْحِ عُنوانُ
As though his banner, from the moment it was carried
When his banner rose, called his troops to ride
Toward battle, bore an emblem of conquest.
To victory, no power could it sunder.
تسيرُmarch منfrom تحتِهاbeneath it الجُلاّءُthe illustrious men حاسرةًuncovered
تسيرُ من تحتِها الجُلاّءُ حاسرةً
وُجُوهُهمtheir faces والمواضيand the keen swords فَهْيso it is سِيَّانُboth alike
وُجُوهُهم والمواضي فَهْي سِيَّانُ
Beneath it march the illustrious, with uncovered
Beneath it warriors marched, their faces bright,
Faces; they and the keen blades are alike.
Plain and mountain leveled, none asunder.
عِصَابَةٌa band رَقَلواthey hastened فيin المَجْدِglory واعْتَصِمُواand held fast
عِصَابَةٌ رَقَلوا في المَجْدِ واعْتَصِمُوا
بِحَبْلِto the rope of خَالقِهمtheir Creator طُرَّاًall together وماand did not خَانُواbetray
بِحَبْلِ خَالقِهم طُرَّاً وما خَانُوا
A band who hastened toward glory and held fast
Stalwarts, seasoned in glory, held to their faith
To their Creator's rope, all together, and never betrayed.
Fast as rope; they never wavered nor blundered.
أميرُهمtheir emir سيّدٌa lord فاقsurpassed الورىmankind شَرَفاًin honor
أميرُهم سيّدٌ فاق الورى شَرَفاً
قدindeed ماتdied منat اسمِهhis name شِرْكٌpolytheism وطُغْيانُand tyranny
قد مات من اسمِه شِرْكٌ وطُغْيانُ
Their emir is a lord who surpassed mankind in honor;
Their prince excelled all in nobility,
At his name, polytheism and tyranny have died.
Dead to him were rivals, false gods a wonder.
ولوand if نَبِيّa prophet بهذاin this الدَّهْرِage قِيْلَit were said لناto us
ولو نَبِيّ بهذا الدَّهْرِ قِيْلَ لنا
يأتيwould come فَفِيْهِthen in him دَلالاتsigns وبُرهانُand proof
يأتي فَفِيْهِ دَلالات وبُرهانُ
And were we told that a prophet in this age
Had a prophet said, "One shall come to you
Would come, then in him are signs and proof.
Signs and proofs," it could be none but Sultan.
مِنْfrom عَدْلِهِhis justice فيtoward الرَّعاياhis subjects تَرْقُصَنَّwould surely dance علىupon
مِنْ عَدْلِهِ في الرَّعايا تَرْقُصَنَّ على
أيديthe hands of الأجنةِunborn children حَيّاتٌserpents وَغِيلانُand ghouls
أيدي الأجنةِ حَيّاتٌ وَغِيلانُ
Through his justice toward his subjects, there would surely dance upon
For his grace, serpents danced in infants' hands,
The hands of unborn children serpents and ghouls.
All creation thrived on his care and thunder.
هذاthis is فتىa youth منfrom ميادينthe fields of العُلاglory رقلتsped
هذا فتى من ميادين العُلا رقلت
بهbearing him الرماكُthe mares ولمand did not يَغْلِبْهاovercome them مَيْدانُa course
به الرماكُ ولم يَغْلِبْها مَيْدانُ
This is a youth; from the fields of glory sped
But for him no virtue had been known,
The mares bearing him, and no course ever bested them.
Glory unnamed for Tayy or Khatan.
قالَsaid القوابلُthe midwives قولاًwords عندَat مولدِهِhis birth
قالَ القوابلُ قولاً عندَ مولدِهِ
هذاthis is أميرٌan emir ومِطْعَامٌand a lavish feeder ومِطْعانُand a fierce spear-thruster
هذا أميرٌ ومِطْعَامٌ ومِطْعانُ
The midwives spoke these words at his birth:
Had Zuhair in this age raised his lyre,
This is an emir, generous with food and fierce with the spear.
He'd praise none but Abs and Dhubyan in his numbers.
هذاthis هوhe المَدْرَةُthe chieftain الساميlofty الذيwho اجتمعتgathered together
هذا هو المَدْرَةُ السامي الذي اجتمعت
ببطنin the interior
ببطن
This is he, the lofty chieftain, in whom were gathered...
Most eloquent his speech, none can match his tongue,
In the interior...
Not the finest words of Kuss or Sahan.
مَلْكa king تَكَفَّلguaranteed أرزاقَthe sustenance of العيالِhouseholds وقَدْand indeed
مَلْك تَكَفَّل أرزاقَ العيالِ وقَدْ
عَمَّembraced الخلائِقَall creatures منfrom كَفَّيهhis two palms إحسانُkindness
عَمَّ الخلائِقَ من كَفَّيه إحسانُ
A king who guaranteed the sustenance of households; indeed,
Had he lived before in ancient days,
Kindness from his two palms has embraced all creatures.
None would boast of former times nor their wonders.
لولاهwere it not for him ماnot عُرِفَwas known الجدوىbounty ولاand not ذُكِرتْwas mentioned
لولاه ما عُرِفَ الجدوى ولا ذُكِرتْ
بالجودfor generosity طيّTayy ولاand not بالفخْرِfor pride قَحْطانُQahtan
بالجود طيّ ولا بالفخْرِ قَحْطانُ
Without him, bounty would not be known, nor would there be mention
Fortune sides with him, the stars his allies
Of Tayy for generosity, or Qahtan for pride.
In his every endeavor and adventure.
ولوand if زُهَيْرٌZuhayr بِهذاin this العَصْرِage ماnot مُدِحَتْwere praised
ولو زُهَيْرٌ بِهذا العَصْرِ ما مُدِحَتْ
بنَظْمِin the composition of أشْعارِهِhis poems عَبْسٌAbs وذُبْيانُand Dhubyan
بنَظْمِ أشْعارِهِ عَبْسٌ وذُبْيانُ
And were Zuhayr in this age, no praise would be given
Whenever foes connived and broke allegiance,
In his composed verses to Abs and Dhubyan.
His swords pierced them, held fast in every encounter.
فَصيحُeloquent قَوْلٍin speech ولاand neither فيin النُطقِutterance شاكلَهُmatched him
فَصيحُ قَوْلٍ ولا في النُطقِ شاكلَهُ
بماin what يَفُوهُutters بهwith it قُسّQuss وسَحْبَانُand Sahban
بما يَفُوهُ به قُسّ وسَحْبَانُ
Eloquent in speech; in utterance he was not matched
Scattered like sheep a shepherd with his crook
By the words that Quss and Sahban uttered.
Drives across the desert sands asunder.
لوif كانَhe were فيin سالفِthe bygone الاعصارِages مستوياًestablished in power
لو كانَ في سالفِ الاعصارِ مستوياً
فلمthen not يكنthere was للأولىfor the ancients اسمٌa name ولاand not كانواthey existed
فلم يكن للأولى اسمٌ ولا كانوا
Had he held sway in ages past,
Prey for beasts and birds their bodies lay,
The ancients would have had no name, nor even existed.
None survived, none buried, none to mourn or wonder.
وقدand indeed تُساعِدهassist him الأقدارُthe fates راغبةًwillingly
وقد تُساعِده الأقدارُ راغبةً
فيماin what يحاولُhe attempts والأفلاكُand the celestial spheres أعْوانُhelpers
فيما يحاولُ والأفلاكُ أعْوانُ
And the fates willingly assist him
No steed or plunder could avail them now,
In what he attempts; the celestial spheres are helpers.
No fortress left to shield them from his thunder.
يُدَبِّرُhe governs المُلْكَthe kingdom تَدْبيراًwith planning متىwhenever ظَهَرَتْappeared
يُدَبِّرُ المُلْكَ تَدْبيراً متى ظَهَرَتْ
منfrom الأعاديthe enemies مكيداتٌplots وعِصيْانُand rebellion
من الأعادي مكيداتٌ وعِصيْانُ
He governs the realm with forethought whenever there appear
When their deeds were wicked, ruin befell them,
From the enemies plots and rebellion.
Loss and shame enveloped them in numbers.
أذاقَهمhe made them taste ضَرْبُthe blows of أسيافٍswords يَدِبُّcreeps علىupon
أذاقَهم ضَرْبُ أسيافٍ يَدِبُّ على
مُتُونِهاtheir spines النَّمْلُants لمdid not تُمْسِكْهاhold them أجفانُscabbards
مُتُونِها النَّمْلُ لم تُمْسِكْها أجفانُ
He made them taste the blows of swords; along
Little did they know a king ruled over them,
Their spines ants creep; no scabbards held them.
Holding in his grasp their fate asunder.
تَفَرَّقُواthey scattered مِثْلَlike أغْنامٍsheep يَذُودُdrives away بهاwith them
تَفَرَّقُوا مِثْلَ أغْنامٍ يَذُودُ بها
فيin سَرْحِهاtheir grazing بفَيافيthrough the expanses of القَفْرِthe wilderness سِرْحانُa wolf
في سَرْحِها بفَيافي القَفْرِ سِرْحانُ
They scattered like sheep driven
Live forever mighty Sultan, unique in glory!
At pasture in the desert wastes by a wolf.
Through all time you reign, our shield and thunder.
صارواthey became طعامَfood for سباعٍbeasts of prey والطيورِand birds معاًtogether
صاروا طعامَ سباعٍ والطيورِ معاً
ولمand did not تَبِنْbecome visible لَهُمُof theirs أمْعَاentrails وجُثْمَانُand a body
ولم تَبِنْ لَهُمُ أمْعَا وجُثْمَانُ
They became food for beasts of prey and birds alike;
And no entrails or bodies of theirs were visible.
وليسَand not يَنْفَعُهمavail them خيلٌhorses ولاand not سَلَبٌspoils
وليسَ يَنْفَعُهم خيلٌ ولا سَلَبٌ
عَنْهُagainst him ولمand did not يحْمِهمprotect them حِصْنa fortress وبُنْيانُand a building
عَنْهُ ولم يحْمِهم حِصْن وبُنْيانُ
Neither horses nor spoils avail them
Against him; no fortress or building protected them.
وهمand they مُحِقُّونrightfully deserving إذاwhen أفْعالهمtheir deeds قَبُحتْbecame vile
وهم مُحِقُّون إذا أفْعالهم قَبُحتْ
وقدand indeed أحاطَsurrounded بهمthem ذُلّhumiliation ونُقْصانُand loss
وقد أحاطَ بهم ذُلّ ونُقْصانُ
And they have their due, when their deeds have become vile,
And humiliation and loss have surrounded them.
وماand not دَرَواthey knew أنthat هاذthis فَوْقَهمabove them مَلِكٌa king
وما دَرَوا أن هاذ فَوْقَهم مَلِكٌ
فيin كَفِّهِhis palm الدَّهْرُTime مَقْبوضٌgripped وحَيْرانُand bewildered
في كَفِّهِ الدَّهْرُ مَقْبوضٌ وحَيْرانُ
And they did not know that above them stood this king,
In whose palm Time is gripped and bewildered.
دُمْremain ياO أميرَemir of الورىmankind بالعزِّin glory مُنفَرِداًunrivaled
دُمْ يا أميرَ الورى بالعزِّ مُنفَرِداً
وأنتَand you فيناamong us مدىthroughout الأزمانِthe ages سُلْطانُa sultan
وأنتَ فينا مدى الأزمانِ سُلْطانُ
Endure, O emir of mankind, unrivaled in glory,
And you are our sultan throughout all ages.
Partial English translation: 58 of 68 Arabic lines translated.