عُجturn aside بِالدِيارِto the dwellings دَوارِسَeffaced الأَعلامِthe landmarks
عُج بِالدِيارِ دَوارِسَ الأَعلامِ
قَفراًdesolate وَحيِّand greet رُسومَهاtheir traces بِسَلامِwith peace
قَفراً وَحيِّ رُسومَها بِسَلامِ
Turn aside to the dwellings, their landmarks effaced,
The abodes of glorious flags became desolate,
desolate, and greet their traces with peace.
Their outlines left in peace and tranquility.
مَنwho فيin الرُصافَةِal-Rusafa وَالأَحَصِّand al-Ahass وَسِربِهِand its tract
مَن في الرُصافَةِ وَالأَحَصِّ وَسِربِهِ
وَالدَيرِand al-Dayr وَالزَرقاءِand al-Zarqa وَالحَمامِand al-Hamam
وَالدَيرِ وَالزَرقاءِ وَالحَمامِ
Who is in al-Rusafa, al-Ahass, and its tract,
Who were in Rusafah, Ahsas, Sirbah,
and al-Dayr, al-Zarqa, and al-Hamam,
Al-Dayr, Az-Zarqa and Al-Hamam.
وَمَلاعِبٍand playgrounds بَينَbetween المَعانِal-Ma'an وَماسِحٍand Masih
وَمَلاعِبٍ بَينَ المَعانِ وَماسِحٍ
لَعِبَتplayed بِهِنَّwith them حَوادِثُthe vicissitudes of الأَيّامِthe days
لَعِبَت بِهِنَّ حَوادِثُ الأَيّامِ
and the playgrounds between al-Ma'an and Masih?
And the playgrounds between Ma'an and Masih,
Time's vicissitudes have played with them;
Where the vicissitudes of time played with them.
وَخَلَتand became empty مِنَof النَفَرِthe company of men الكِرامِthe noble وَعُوِّضَتand were given in exchange
وَخَلَت مِنَ النَفَرِ الكِرامِ وَعُوِّضَت
مِنin place of أَهلِهاtheir people بِنَوافِرِwith skittish الآرامِgazelles
مِن أَهلِها بِنَوافِرِ الآرامِ
they were emptied of noble men, and given
They were emptied of the generous souls and compensated
skittish gazelles in place of their people.
With the riffraff of the Arameans.
سَقياًmay rain water لَهاfor it مِنas a دِمنَةٍruined campsite وَلِأَهلِهاand for its people
سَقياً لَها مِن دِمنَةٍ وَلِأَهلِها
مِنof مَعشَرٍa company غُرِّradiant الوُجوهِfaces كِرامِnoble
مِن مَعشَرٍ غُرِّ الوُجوهِ كِرامِ
May rain bless that old campsite and its people,
Who were given drink from Dimna and its people
a company of bright-faced, noble men.
From a vulgar mob with ignoble faces.
حَلُّواthey dwelt بِهاin it زَمَناًfor a time فَأَغنَواso they freed from need أَرضَهاits soil
حَلُّوا بِها زَمَناً فَأَغنَوا أَرضَها
بِنَداهُمُthrough their bounty عَنfrom needing صَوبِthe downpour of كُلِّevery غَمامِcloud
بِنَداهُمُ عَن صَوبِ كُلِّ غَمامِ
They dwelt there awhile and spared its soil the need,
They stayed there for a while and enriched the land
through their bounty, for any cloud's downpour.
With their munificence from every side of clouds.
وَتَنافَسُواand they competed فيin المَكرُماتِnoble deeds وَشَيَّدُواand they built
وَتَنافَسُوا في المَكرُماتِ وَشَيَّدُوا
أَبياتَhouses of عِزٍّglory لِلفَخُورِfor one who boasts سَواميlofty
أَبياتَ عِزٍّ لِلفَخُورِ سَوامي
They competed in noble deeds and built
And they competed in acts of generosity and built
lofty houses of glory for those who would boast.
Lofty abodes for the proud summits.
أَولادُsons of مِرداسٍوَأَيَّةُMirdas—and what a أُسرَةٍfamily
أَولادُ مِرداسٍوَأَيَّةُ أُسرَةٍ
رامُواthey sought مِنَof العَلياءِexalted rank كُلَّevery مَرامِgoal
رامُوا مِنَ العَلياءِ كُلَّ مَرامِ
The sons of Mirdas—and what a family!
The sons of Mirdas and the family of Ayyah
They sought every goal in the heights of glory.
Aspired for all glories from the most High.
شمُّhigh-raised الأُنوفِnoses كَريمَةٌnoble أَحسابُهُمtheir ancestral honors
شمُّ الأُنوفِ كَريمَةٌ أَحسابُهُم
لاnot يَلبَسُونَthey wear مَلابِسَthe garments of الآثامِsins
لا يَلبَسُونَ مَلابِسَ الآثامِ
Their noses held high, their ancestral honors noble,
Noble were their lineages, their reputations
they do not wear the garments of sin.
Wore no garments of sins and dishonor.
يَتَعَطَّفُونَthey show tenderness عَلىtoward المُجاوِرِthe neighbor بَينَهَمamong them
يَتَعَطَّفُونَ عَلى المُجاوِرِ بَينَهَم
وَيَرَونَand they regard كَسبَearning الحَمدِpraise غَيرَnot حَرامِforbidden
وَيَرَونَ كَسبَ الحَمدِ غَيرَ حَرامِ
They show tenderness to the neighbor in their midst,
They were gentle to their neighbors amongst them
and see no wrong in earning praise.
And saw acquiring praise as no disgrace.
يَتَوارَثُونَthey inherit مَكارِماًnoble virtues أَزَلِيَّةًimmemorial
يَتَوارَثُونَ مَكارِماً أَزَلِيَّةً
لَهُمُtheirs عَنfrom الأَخوالِmaternal uncles وَالأَعمامِand paternal uncles
لَهُمُ عَن الأَخوالِ وَالأَعمامِ
They inherit virtues of immemorial antiquity,
They inherited congenital nobilities
handed down to them by maternal and paternal uncles.
From their uncles and paternal uncles.
صاحَبتُهُمI kept their company فَصَحِبتُso I accompanied أَكبَرَthe greatest مَعشَرٍcompany
صاحَبتُهُم فَصَحِبتُ أَكبَرَ مَعشَرٍ
وَسَأَلتُهُمand I asked of them فَسَأَلتُso I asked of غَيرَnot لِئامِbase men
وَسَأَلتُهُم فَسَأَلتُ غَيرَ لِئامِ
I kept their company, and so joined the greatest fellowship;
I befriended them so I befriended the greatest of all people,
and I asked of them, and so asked men who were not base,
And asked of them so I asked with no shame.
مِنfrom كُلِّevery فَيّاضِoverflowing اليَدَينِboth hands كَأَنَّماas though
مِن كُلِّ فَيّاضِ اليَدَينِ كَأَنَّما
جادَتgave generously يَداهُhis two hands مَجادَthe giving of غَيثٍrain هامِpouring
جادَت يَداهُ مَجادَ غَيثٍ هامِ
each with hands overflowing, as though
From every open-handed one, as if
his hands gave as freely as a pouring rain.
His hands poured like heavy rains.
وَتَنائِفٍand desert wastes كَاليَمِّlike the sea يَترُكُleaves نَصُناour hard driving
وَتَنائِفٍ كَاليَمِّ يَترُكُ نَصُنا
فِيهِنَّin them أَخفافَthe footpads of المَطِيِّthe camels دَواميbleeding
فِيهِنَّ أَخفافَ المَطِيِّ دَوامي
And wastes like the sea: our hurried pace leaves
And smooth mounts as if the caravan
the camels' footpads bleeding within them.
In it had drafts from cups of wine.
قَفرٍbarren كَأَنَّas though الرَكبَthe riders مِنfrom سِنَةِthe drowsiness of الكَرىsleep
قَفرٍ كَأَنَّ الرَكبَ مِن سِنَةِ الكَرى
فِيهاin them نَشاوىdrunken مِنfrom كُؤُوسِcups of مُدامِwine
فِيها نَشاوى مِن كُؤُوسِ مُدامِ
Barren wastes, where the riders, drowsy with sleep,
They frequented the glory of Amer's state,
seem drunk there on cups of wine.
Like the cave for the fugitive and executioner of death.
يَتَأَمَّمُونَthey make for مُعِزَّthe exalter of دَولَةِthe rule of عامِرٍAmir
يَتَأَمَّمُونَ مُعِزَّ دَولَةِ عامِرٍ
كَهفَthe refuge of الطَريدِthe fugitive وَطارِدَand the banisher of الإِعدامِdestitution
كَهفَ الطَريدِ وَطارِدَ الإِعدامِ
They make for the exalter of Amir's rule,
I saw a king, his right hand and forehead,
the fugitive's refuge, the banisher of destitution.
So I saw a sea of generosity and a full moon.
مَلِكاًa king رَأَيتُI saw يَمينَهُhis right hand وَجَبِينَهُand his brow
مَلِكاً رَأَيتُ يَمينَهُ وَجَبِينَهُ
فَرَأَيتُand so I saw بَحرَa sea of نَدىbounty وَبَدرَand a full moon تَمامِfullness
فَرَأَيتُ بَحرَ نَدى وَبَدرَ تَمامِ
A king whose right hand and brow I saw,
He surpassed all people, and his munificence increased
and so saw a sea of bounty and a full moon.
Beyond Hatem Al-Ta’i and the son of Omaymah.
فاقَhe surpassed الأَنامَmankind وَزَادَand exceeded جُودُthe generosity of يَمينِهِhis right hand
فاقَ الأَنامَ وَزَادَ جُودُ يَمينِهِ
عَنbeyond حاتِمِHatim الطائِيِّal-Ta'i وَابنِand the son of أُمامِUmam
عَن حاتِمِ الطائِيِّ وَابنِ أُمامِ
He surpassed mankind, and his right hand's generosity exceeded
Ask of him but beware of his palm’s fingers
that of Hatim al-Ta'i and Ibn Umam.
Or you will drown, for his munificence is a high sea.
سَلهُask him وَحاذِرand beware مِنfrom أَنامِلِthe fingertips of كَفِّهِhis palm
سَلهُ وَحاذِر مِن أَنامِلِ كَفِّهِ
غَرَقاًdrowning فَإِنَّfor indeed نَداهُhis bounty بَحرٌa sea طاميswelling
غَرَقاً فَإِنَّ نَداهُ بَحرٌ طامي
Ask him, but beware his hand's fingertips,
O descendants of the generous, the game unwary of you,
lest you drown, for his bounty is a swelling sea.
Showed no resistance to reverence and glorification.
ياO بنَson of الكِرامِthe noble الصِيدِproud lords غَيرَnot مُدافَعٍdenied
يا بنَ الكِرامِ الصِيدِ غَيرَ مُدافَعٍ
فِيهِمamong them عَنِof الإِجلالِreverence وَالإِعظامِand high esteem
فِيهِم عَنِ الإِجلالِ وَالإِعظامِ
O son of noble, proud lords, never denied
You were a blessing to a people who denied you
reverence and high esteem among them.
And rose in the most abject of positions.
كُنتُمyou were لِقَومٍto a people نِعمَةًa blessing كَفَرُوكُمُthey were ungrateful to you
كُنتُم لِقَومٍ نِعمَةً كَفَرُوكُمُ
فِيهاfor it فَقامُواso they stood فيin أَذَلِّthe lowliest مَقامِstation
فِيها فَقامُوا في أَذَلِّ مَقامِ
You were a blessing to a people who were ungrateful to you
Had they been grateful, it would have lasted among them
for it, and so stood in the lowliest station.
But they were not given permanence.
كَفَرَواthey were ungrateful وَلَوand if شَكَرواthey had given thanks لَدَامَتit would have endured فِيهِمُamong them
كَفَرَوا وَلَو شَكَروا لَدَامَت فِيهِمُ
لَكِنَّهُمbut they ماnot مُتِّعُواthey were granted enjoyment بِدَوامِof continuance
لَكِنَّهُم ما مُتِّعُوا بِدَوامِ
They were ungrateful; had they given thanks, it would have endured among them,
And by your grace they rode steeds and harvested
but they were not granted lasting enjoyment.
Cattle wealth for them and she-camels.
وَبِفَضلِهِمand through their bounty رَكِبُواthey rode الجِيادَfine steeds وَثَمَّرُواand they multiplied
وَبِفَضلِهِم رَكِبُوا الجِيادَ وَثَمَّرُوا
أَموالَholdings of ماشِيَةٍlivestock لَهُمbelonging to them وَسَوامُand grazing herds
أَموالَ ماشِيَةٍ لَهُم وَسَوامُ
Through their bounty they rode fine steeds and multiplied
And they controlled Greater Syria and Salih
their holdings of livestock and grazing herds.
Let for them the springs of that Syria flow.
وَتَمَلَّكُواand they possessed الشامَal-Sham الأَغَرَّthe radiant وَصالِحٌand Salih
وَتَمَلَّكُوا الشامَ الأَغَرَّ وَصالِحٌ
أَجرىhe made flow لَهُمfor them يَنبُوعَthe wellspring of ذاكَthat الشامِal-Sham
أَجرى لَهُم يَنبُوعَ ذاكَ الشامِ
They possessed radiant al-Sham, and Salih
Until when time turned against you
set the wellspring of that al-Sham flowing for them.
And showed you realities like dreams.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen دارَturned الزَمانُfortune عَلَيكُمُagainst you
حَتّى إِذا دارَ الزَمانُ عَلَيكُمُ
وَأَراكُمُand showed you اليَقَظاتِwaking realities كَالأَحلامِlike dreams
وَأَراكُمُ اليَقَظاتِ كَالأَحلامِ
Until, when fortune turned against you,
The friend became few and your favor was lost
and made waking realities seem like dreams to you,
Among both distant and near relations.
قَلَّgrew few الصَديقُfriends لَكُمُfor you وَضاعَand was wasted جَميلَكُمُyour kindness
قَلَّ الصَديقُ لَكُمُ وَضاعَ جَميلَكُمُ
فيamong الأَبعَدِينَdistant folk وَفيand among ذَويthose with الأَرحامِkinship ties
في الأَبعَدِينَ وَفي ذَوي الأَرحامِ
friends grew few for you, and your kindness was wasted
You were patient, so you were destined,
among distant folk and among your own kin.
And you were fortunate, so you regained souls in bodies.
وَصَبَرتُمُand you were patient فَقَدِرتُمُso you gained power وَسُعِدتُمُand you were favored by fortune
وَصَبَرتُمُ فَقَدِرتُمُ وَسُعِدتُمُ
فَرَدَدتُمُso you restored الأَرواحَsouls فيinto الأَجسامِbodies
فَرَدَدتُمُ الأَرواحَ في الأَجسامِ
You remained patient, gained power, and were blessed with good fortune;
The Kings of Tay were evicted from their reign
so you brought souls back into bodies.
To the desert, resorting to Bahram.
وَمُلوكُand the kings of طَيٍّTayy زُحزِحُواwere dislodged عَنfrom مُلكِهِمtheir dominion
وَمُلوكُ طَيٍّ زُحزِحُوا عَن مُلكِهِم
فيamong البَدوِthe nomads وَاستَنَدُواand they relied إِلىon بَهرامِBahram
في البَدوِ وَاستَنَدُوا إِلى بَهرامِ
The kings of Tayy were driven from their dominion
And they are the Kings, sons of Kings,
among the nomads, and sought support from Bahram.
But the world shot them without arrows.
وَهُمُand they المُلوكُthe kings بَنُوُsons of المُلوكِkings رَمَتهُمُstruck them
وَهُمُ المُلوكُ بَنُوُ المُلوكِ رَمَتهُمُ
عَنfrom قَوسِهاits bow الدُنياthe world بِغَيرِwithout سِهامِarrows
عَن قَوسِها الدُنيا بِغَيرِ سِهامِ
Though kings themselves, sons of kings, they were struck
Then they inclined and built houses of nobility
by the world from its bow, without arrows.
Healed by them of sickness, back to glory.
ثَمَّthere اِنثَنَواthey turned again فَبَنَواso they built بُيُوتَhouses of مَكارِمِnoble deeds
ثَمَّ اِنثَنَوا فَبَنَوا بُيُوتَ مَكارِمِ
صَحُّواthey recovered بِهاthrough them فيin المَجدِglory بَعدَafter سَقامِsickness
صَحُّوا بِها في المَجدِ بَعدَ سَقامِ
There they turned again and built houses of noble deeds;
And Muhammad praised the stay in Yathrib,
through them they recovered in glory after sickness.
A neighbor, leaving the Holy Kaaba of Islam
وَمُحَمَّدٌand Muhammad حَمِدَpraised المُقامَthe stay بِيَثرِبٍin Yathrib
وَمُحَمَّدٌ حَمِدَ المُقامَ بِيَثرِبٍ
جاراًas a neighbor وَخَلّىand left كَعبَةَthe Kaaba of الإِسلامِIslam
جاراً وَخَلّى كَعبَةَ الإِسلامِ
And Muhammad praised his stay in Yathrib,
For a time, then returned to Quraysh as victor
as a neighbor there, and left Islam's Kaaba
In the power of God, the All-knowing.
زَمَناًfor a time وَعادَand returned إِلىto قُرَيشٍQuraysh عَودَةًa return
زَمَناً وَعادَ إِلى قُرَيشٍ عَودَةً
عَزتbecame mighty بِقُدرَةِthrough the power of خالِقٍa Creator عَلّامِall-knowing
عَزت بِقُدرَةِ خالِقٍ عَلّامِ
for a time, then returned to Quraysh—a return
And Abu Ali’s steeds were unsaddled
made mighty by an all-knowing Creator's power.
For a time, from saddles and reins.
وَأَبُوand Abu عَلّيٍAli عُطِّلَتwere left idle أَفراسُهُhis horses
وَأَبُو عَلّيٍ عُطِّلَت أَفراسُهُ
زَمَناًfor a time مِنَfrom الإِسراجِsaddling وَالإِلجامِand bridling
زَمَناً مِنَ الإِسراجِ وَالإِلجامِ
And Abu Ali's horses were left idle
On the back of a towering wall, at the bottom of which
for a time, unsaddled and unbridled,
Was darkness as the brightness of dawn.
فيon ظَهرِthe crest of شاهِقَةٍa towering height تَساوىwere alike عِندَهُto him
في ظَهرِ شاهِقَةٍ تَساوى عِندَهُ
فيin قَعرِهاits depths الإِصباحُdaybreak بِالأَضلامِwith darkness
في قَعرِها الإِصباحُ بِالأَضلامِ
on a towering height's crest, where he found alike
Until victory came to him, its good omen fluttering
in its depths the daybreak and the darkness,
From under the fringes of the banners.
حَتّىuntil أَتاهُcame to him النَصرُvictory يَخفِقfluttered سَعدُهُhis good fortune
حَتّى أَتاهُ النَصرُ يَخفِق سَعدُهُ
مِنfrom تَحتِbeneath ظِلِّthe shade of ذَوائِبِthe streamers of الأَعلامِthe banners
مِن تَحتِ ظِلِّ ذَوائِبِ الأَعلامِ
until victory came to him, his good fortune fluttering
He controlled the lands of Syria by force then retired
from beneath the shade of the banners' streamers.
Leading each opponent by the bridle.
وَحَوىand he seized بِلادَthe lands of الشامِal-Sham غَصباًby force وَاِنثَنىand returned
وَحَوى بِلادَ الشامِ غَصباً وَاِنثَنى
يَقتادُhe leads كُلَّevery مُعانِدٍopponent بِزِمامِby a halter
يَقتادُ كُلَّ مُعانِدٍ بِزِمامِ
And he seized al-Sham's lands by force and returned,
Despair not, for not every cloud
leading every opponent by a halter.
Was created to enjoy lasting permanence.
لاdo not تَيَأسَنَّever despair فَلَيسَfor it is not كُلُّevery غَمامَةٍcloud
لا تَيَأسَنَّ فَلَيسَ كُلُّ غَمامَةٍ
نَشَأَتarose مُمَتَّعَةًgranted enjoyment بِطُولِof long دَوامِduration
نَشَأَت مُمَتَّعَةً بِطُولِ دَوامِ
Do not despair, for not every cloud
O descendants of Mirdas! You have raised
that rises is granted long continuance.
My name with your sublime name.
ياO آلَhouse of مِرداسٍMirdas لَقَدindeed أَعلَيتُمُyou raised
يا آلَ مِرداسٍ لَقَد أَعلَيتُمُ
ذِكرِيmy fame بِذِكرِكُمthrough your fame الرَفيعِlofty الساميsoaring
ذِكرِي بِذِكرِكُم الرَفيعِ السامي
O house of Mirdas, you have indeed raised
You made me attain what was not attained
my fame through your lofty, soaring fame.
By Al-Buhturi or Abu Tammam.
نَوَّلتُمُونيyou bestowed on me نائِلاًa bounty ماnot نالَهُattained it
نَوَّلتُمُوني نائِلاً ما نالَهُ
لاneither البُحتُرِيُّal-Buhturi وَلاnor أَبُوAbu تَمّامِTammam
لا البُحتُرِيُّ وَلا أَبُو تَمّامِ
You bestowed on me a bounty never attained
I will dress you in robes of finer beauty
by al-Buhturi or Abu Tammam.
And whiter than the robes of censurers.
فَلألبِسَنَّكُمُso I shall surely clothe you بُرُودَmantles of محاسِنٍbeauty
فَلألبِسَنَّكُمُ بُرُودَ محاسِنٍ
أَبهىmore splendid وَأَسنىand more radiant مِنthan بُرُودthe mantles of رئامRi'am
أَبهى وَأَسنى مِن بُرُود رئام
For I shall surely clothe you in mantles of beauty,
And I will thank you for what I gained
more splendid and more radiant than the mantles of Ri'am.
From your grace until my worries disappear.
وَلَأَشكُرَنَّكُمُand I shall surely thank you عَلىfor ماwhat نِلتُهُI received it
وَلَأَشكُرَنَّكُمُ عَلى ما نِلتُهُ
مِنfrom فَضلِكُمyour bounty حَتّىuntil يُحَمَّis decreed حِماميmy death
مِن فَضلِكُم حَتّى يُحَمَّ حِمامي
And I shall surely thank you for what I received
Do not hoard anything but words forged for you
from your bounty, until my death is decreed.
For there is no treasure like my words.
لاdo not تَكنِزُواhoard إِلّاexcept كَلاماًwords صُغتُهُI fashioned them
لا تَكنِزُوا إِلّا كَلاماً صُغتُهُ
لَكُمُfor you فَلَيسَfor there is no الكَنزُtreasure غَيرَother than كَلامِيmy words
لَكُمُ فَلَيسَ الكَنزُ غَيرَ كَلامِي
Treasure nothing but words I have fashioned
Remaining like the two shining lights, immortalized for you,
for you: there is no treasure but my words.
Over eras and years.
يَبقىit endures بَقاءَas long as النَيِّرَينِthe sun and moon مُخَلَّداًimmortalized
يَبقى بَقاءَ النَيِّرَينِ مُخَلَّداً
لَكُمُfor you عَلىthroughout الأَحقابِthe ages وَالأَعوامِand the years
لَكُمُ عَلى الأَحقابِ وَالأَعوامِ
It will endure as long as the sun and moon, immortal
You always were deceits of time and joys of the world,
for you throughout the ages and the years.
And adornment of the gatherings of all peoples.
لاmay not زِلتُمُyou cease to be غُرَرَthe glories of الزَمانِtime وَبَهجَةَand the joy of
لا زِلتُمُ غُرَرَ الزَمانِ وَبَهجَةَ
الدُنياthe world وَزَينَand the adornment of مَجالِسِgatherings of الأَقوامِpeoples
الدُنيا وَزَينَ مَجالِسِ الأَقوامِ
May you ever remain time's glories and the joy
of the world, and the adornment of peoples' gatherings.
Partial English translation: 86 of 88 Arabic lines translated.