فُتِقَتْwas perfumed لكمfor you ريحُthe wind الجِلادِof combat بعنبرِwith ambergris
فُتِقَتْ لكم ريحُ الجِلادِ بعنبرِ
وأمدَّكُمْand aided you فَلَقُthe breaking الصّباحِof morning المسْفِرِradiant
وأمدَّكُمْ فَلَقُ الصّباحِ المسْفِرِ
For you the wind of combat was perfumed with ambergris,
The breeze of victory blew for you with ambergris fragrance,
and the break of radiant morning lent you aid.
And dawn’s slit brought you to water the ripe fruit of events,
وجنَيْتُمُand you harvested ثَمَرَthe fruit الوقائِعِof battles يانِعاًripe
وجنَيْتُمُ ثَمَرَ الوقائِعِ يانِعاً
بالنصرthrough victory منfrom وَرَقthe leaves الحديدِof iron الأخضَرgreen
بالنصر من وَرَق الحديدِ الأخضَر
And you harvested the ripe fruit of battles,
With the green iron leaf’s victory you reaped,
through victory, from the green leaves of iron.
And you struck the necks of tyrants, while every fierce lion slept.
وضربتُمُand you struck هامَthe heads الكُماةِof armored champions ورُعْتُمُand you terrified
وضربتُمُ هامَ الكُماةِ ورُعْتُمُ
بِيضَfair women الخُدورِof secluded chambers بكلِّwith every ليثٍlion مُخدِرlair-dwelling
بِيضَ الخُدورِ بكلِّ ليثٍ مُخدِر
And you struck the heads of armored champions and terrified
O tall white palace youth, and most numerous in number,
the fair women of secluded chambers with every lair-dwelling lion.
Who of you is the obeyed king, as if under the canopy Tubba’ of Himyar?
أبَنيO sons of العَواليtall lances السَّمْهرِيّةِSamharite والسّيوand swords (first part)
أبَني العَوالي السَّمْهرِيّةِ والسّيو
فِcompletion of 'swords' المَشرَفيّةِMashrafite والعَديدِand the host الأكثرmost numerous
فِ المَشرَفيّةِ والعَديدِ الأكثر
O sons of tall Samharite lances and swords
All the kings of the saddles have fallen,
of Mashraf, and of the most numerous host!
Except the empowered one upon the back of the blond steed.
مَنْwho منكُمُamong you المَلِكُthe king المُطاعُobeyed كأنّهُas though he were
مَنْ منكُمُ المَلِكُ المُطاعُ كأنّهُ
تحتَbeneath السَّوابغِample coats of mail تُبّعٌTubbaʿ فيamong حِمْيَرHimyar
تحتَ السَّوابغِ تُبّعٌ في حِمْيَر
Who among you is the king obeyed, as though he were
The leader of the free horses, adorned with green pearls,
beneath ample mail, a Tubbaʿ among Himyar?
With forelocks that are vermin whose ears are the skulls of long-necked camels
كلُّall الملوكِthe kings منfrom السروجِthe saddles سواقِطٌfalling
كلُّ الملوكِ من السروجِ سواقِطٌ
إلاّexcept المُمَلَّكَthe crowned king فوقupon ظهرِthe back الأشقرof the chestnut horse
إلاّ المُمَلَّكَ فوق ظهرِ الأشقر
All kings fall from their saddles,
That bark about the yellow soil with their teeth,
except the crowned king upon the chestnut's back,
And gallop in the plain of the glorious and bold one.
القائدَwho leads الخيلِthe horses العِتاقِnoble شَوازباًlean
القائدَ الخيلِ العِتاقِ شَوازباً
خُزراًlooking askance إلىtoward لَحْظِthe glance السِّنانof the spearhead الأخزرsidelong-eyed
خُزراً إلى لَحْظِ السِّنان الأخزر
who leads noble, slender steeds,
An army led by the lions, above them billows
eyeing askance the spearhead's sidelong glance;
Like waves of crowded cane and bulrushes.
شُعْثُtousled النَّواصيforelocks حَشرةًslender and pointed آذانُهاtheir ears
شُعْثُ النَّواصي حَشرةً آذانُها
قُبَّhollow الأياطلِflanks ظامِياتِparched الأنْسُرhoof-frogs
قُبَّ الأياطلِ ظامِياتِ الأنْسُر
tousled of forelock, their ears slender and pointed,
As if they had plucked the feathers of vultures
hollow-flanked, with parched hoof-frogs.
That flow from the mud of every dirty and gloomy one.
تَنبوspring clear سنابكُهُنَّtheir hooves عنof عَفْرthe dust الثَّرىof the earth
تَنبو سنابكُهُنَّ عن عَفْر الثَّرى
فيطَأنَso they tread فيon خدِّthe cheek العزيزِof the mighty man الأصعرhaughtily turning away
فيطَأنَ في خدِّ العزيزِ الأصعر
Their hooves spring clear of the earth's dust,
As if their spears were embraced by lightning,
so they tread on the cheek of the mighty man who turns it in pride.
Radiating or a flagging furbished blade.
جيشٌan army تَقَدَّمَهُpreceded it اللُّيوثُthe lions وفوقهاand above them
جيشٌ تَقَدَّمَهُ اللُّيوثُ وفوقها
كالغِيلِlike a thicket منof قصَبِcanes الوشيجof spear-shafts الأسمرbrown
كالغِيلِ من قصَبِ الوشيج الأسمر
An army with lions marching before it, and above them
The tongues of lightning bolts extend above them
a thicket, as it were, of brown spear-canes.
Beyond the shade of threatening clouds like eagles.
وكأنّماand as though سَلَبَit stripped القَشاعِمَthe aged vultures رِيشَهاtheir feathers
وكأنّما سَلَبَ القَشاعِمَ رِيشَها
مماfrom all that يَشُقُّit cleaves منof العَجاجswirling dust الأكدرmurky
مما يَشُقُّ من العَجاج الأكدر
And as though it had stripped old vultures of their feathers,
Led by the fierce and angry lion who is marked
from all the murky dust it cleaves.
From every rugged pass between the two meadows.
وكأنّماand as though اشتَمَلتْwere wrapped قناهُits lances ببارقٍin lightning
وكأنّما اشتَمَلتْ قناهُ ببارقٍ
مُتألِّقٍbrilliantly flashing أوor عارِضٍa raincloud مُثعَنْجِرpouring torrents
مُتألِّقٍ أو عارِضٍ مُثعَنْجِر
And as though its lances were cloaked in lightning,
He tore the acceptance from the fleeing one, and marched in
flashing brightly, or in a cloud pouring torrents.
The army of Heraclius and determination of Alexander.
تمتَدُّstretch out ألسِنَةُtongues الصَّواعقِof thunderbolts فوقَهُabove it
تمتَدُّ ألسِنَةُ الصَّواعقِ فوقَهُ
عنfrom ظُلَّتَيْtwo canopies مُزْنٍof raincloud عليهover it كنَهْوَرheaped high
عن ظُلَّتَيْ مُزْنٍ عليه كنَهْوَر
Tongues of thunderbolts stretch above it,
In youth whose armors’ trace is their perfume
from two canopies of raincloud heaped high over it.
And their nature is the red sheep barn fragrance.
ويقودهand leads it اللَّيْثُthe lion الغَضَنْفَرُmighty مُعْلَماًmarked for battle
ويقوده اللَّيْثُ الغَضَنْفَرُ مُعْلَماً
منamong كلِّevery شثنcoarse-haired اللِّبْدَتينِof the two manes غضَنفرmighty lion
من كلِّ شثن اللِّبْدَتينِ غضَنفر
And the mighty lion leads it, marked for battle,
The wolf cannot enjoy their weary carcasses,
among all the mighty lions with shaggy twin manes.
Due to the broken spear tips covering them.
نَحَرَhe faced القَبولَthe east wind منfrom الدَّبورِthe west wind وسارand marched فيwith
نَحَرَ القَبولَ من الدَّبورِ وسار في
جَمْعِthe host الهِرَقْلof Heraclius وعزمةِand the resolve الاسكندرof Alexander
جَمْعِ الهِرَقْل وعزمةِ الاسكندر
He faced the east wind from the west wind, and marched with
They forgot the separation of the dear one, as if
Heraclius's host and Alexander's resolve,
In the wilderness of Abqar they were the gardens of Abqar.
فيamong فِتيةٍyoung warriors صَدَأُthe rust الدروعof armor عبيرُهْمtheir perfume
في فِتيةٍ صَدَأُ الدروع عبيرُهْم
وخَلوقُهمand their saffron perfume عَلَقُclots النجيعِof blood الأحمرred
وخَلوقُهم عَلَقُ النجيعِ الأحمر
among young warriors whose perfume is the rust of armor,
They cover the barren deserts, and yet
and whose saffron perfume is clotted crimson blood.
Only the mountain goats are born in the desolate valley.
لاnot يأكُلُeats السِّرحانُthe wolf شِلوَthe remains طعينهمof their spear-struck victim
لا يأكُلُ السِّرحانُ شِلوَ طعينهم
مماbecause of what عليهis upon him منof القناthe spears المتكسِّرshattered
مما عليه من القنا المتكسِّر
The wolf does not eat the remains of the man they spear,
They stayed close to the roaring beasts, so when
for the shattered spears lying upon him.
They roared, the beasts did not return their roar.
أنِسواthey found comfort بهجرانِin forsaking الأنيسِcompanionship كأنّهُمْas though they were
أنِسوا بهجرانِ الأنيسِ كأنّهُمْ
فيin عبقريِّʿAbqar-like البِيدِdeserts جِنّةُjinn عَبْقَرof ʿAbqar
في عبقريِّ البِيدِ جِنّةُ عَبْقَر
They found comfort in shunning companions, as though they were
And they walked upon the murdered souls as if
in the ʿAbqar-like wastes, the jinn of ʿAbqar.
Their horses' hooves walked on marble.
يَغشَوْنَthey range بالبِيدِthrough the deserts القِفارِbarren وإنّمَاand only
يَغشَوْنَ بالبِيدِ القِفارِ وإنّمَا
تَلِدُgives birth السَّبَنْتَىthe lioness فيin اليَبابwasteland المُقفرdesolate
تَلِدُ السَّبَنْتَى في اليَباب المُقفر
They range across barren deserts; and only
A people who spend the night on the ground while others
in desolate wasteland does the lioness give birth.
Spend theirs on saddled horses.
قدalready جاورواthey dwelt beside أجَمَthickets الضّواريof beasts of prey حولهمaround them
قد جاوروا أجَمَ الضّواري حولهم
فإذاand when همُthey زأرواthey roared بهاin them لمdid not تَزأرِroar
فإذا همُ زأروا بها لم تَزأرِ
They have dwelt beside the thickets of beasts of prey around them,
And their domes float in blood, as if they were
and when they roar there, those beasts do not roar.
Ships sailing in seas.
ومَشَوْاand they walked علىon قِطَعِfragments النفوسِof souls كأنّماas though
ومَشَوْا على قِطَعِ النفوسِ كأنّما
تمشيtread سنابكُthe hooves خيلهمof their horses فيon مَرمَرmarble
تمشي سنابكُ خيلهم في مَرمَر
And they walked over fragments of souls, as though
Their courtyards are made from the skin of every stripped slain enemy,
their horses' hooves were treading marble.
And their tents are made from the skin of every muscular lion.
قوْمٌa people يبِيتُspends the night علىon الحَشاياmattresses غيرُهُمْothers than them
قوْمٌ يبِيتُ على الحَشايا غيرُهُمْ
ومبيتهُمand their night's lodging فوقupon الجيادthe steeds الضُّمَّرlean
ومبيتهُم فوق الجياد الضُّمَّر
A people—others spend their nights upon mattresses,
From the skin of every muscular and large-skinned camel,
while their nights are spent upon lean steeds.
They seek the water of safety without making it murky.
وتظَلُّand keep تسبَحُswimming فيin الدماءblood قِبابُهُمْtheir domed tents
وتظَلُّ تسبَحُ في الدماء قِبابُهُمْ
فكأنّهُنَّso they seem like سفائنٌships فيon أبحرseas
فكأنّهُنَّ سفائنٌ في أبحر
And their domed tents keep swimming in blood,
In the evening they went to Umm Al-Reyal (the mother of meadows),
as though they were ships upon seas.
And in the morning they went to the gazelle of the white sand dune.
فحياضُهمso their pools منfrom كلِّevery مهجةِlifeblood خالعٍof a rebel
فحياضُهم من كلِّ مهجةِ خالعٍ
وخيامُهمand their tents منfrom كلِّevery لِبدَةmane قَسْوَرof a lion
وخيامُهم من كلِّ لِبدَة قَسْوَر
So their pools are made of every rebel's lifeblood,
They chased away the monks into the zigzag path
and their tents of every lion's mane.
To the ravines in the open area of Al-‘Uthayr.
منfrom كلِّevery أهرتَwide-jawed كالحٍbaring its teeth ذيpossessing لِبْدةٍa mane
من كلِّ أهرتَ كالحٍ ذي لِبْدةٍ
يَرِدونَthey come to drink ماءَthe water الأمنِof safety غيرnot مكدَّرmuddied
يَرِدونَ ماءَ الأمنِ غير مكدَّر
From every wide-jawed, snarling beast with a mane
On the eve of Thursday they rode wearing their decorated costumes,
they reach the water of safety, unmuddied.
Saying, “We gather and these are the good old tribes whose lineage was not lost”.
راحواthey went at evening إلىto أُمِّthe mother الرِّئالِof ostrich chicks عشيَّةًat evening
راحوا إلى أُمِّ الرِّئالِ عشيَّةً
وغَدَوْاand they went at morning إلىto ظبْيthe gazelle الكثيبِof the dune الأعفرtawny
وغَدَوْا إلى ظبْي الكثيبِ الأعفر
They went at evening to the mother of ostrich chicks,
Our alliances are as though we are from one lineage,
and at morning to the dune's tawny gazelle.
And our births are as though we are from one ancestry.
طَردواthey chased الأوابِدَwild beasts فيacross الفدافِدthe open wastes طَردَهمtheir pursuit
طَردوا الأوابِدَ في الفدافِد طَردَهم
للأعْوَجِيَّةِof the Aʿwaj-bred horses فيin مجالِthe field العِثْيَرof flying dust
للأعْوَجِيَّةِ في مجالِ العِثْيَر
They chased wild beasts across the open wastes as they chased
Those wearing the ferocious iron skin armor,
the Aʿwaj-bred horses in the field of flying dust.
It did not make them forget compassion and kindness.
رَكِبواthey rode إليهاtoward them يومَon the day لَهْوِof sport قنيصهمْof their hunt
رَكِبوا إليها يومَ لَهْوِ قنيصهمْ
فيin زِيِّهِمْtheir attire يومَon the day الخميسof the army المُصْحِرtaking the open field
في زِيِّهِمْ يومَ الخميس المُصْحِر
They rode toward them on the day of their sporting hunt,
I have among them a sword, if I unsheathe it one day,
in their array for the day the army takes the open field.
I would strike with it the necks of the times.
إنّاindeed we لتجمعُناsurely unite us وهذاand this الحيَّclan منof
إنّا لتجمعُنا وهذا الحيَّ من
بَكْرٍBakr أذِمَّةُcovenants سالِفٍancient لمnot تُخْفَرwere violated
بَكْرٍ أذِمَّةُ سالِفٍ لم تُخْفَر
Indeed, we are united with this clan of
And I would destroy the armed era with the destruction of
Bakr by ancient covenants never broken.
Al-Barras on the day of Hajian Ibn Al-Munthir.
أحلافُنَاour allies فكأنّنَاso we are as though منْof نِسْبَةٍone lineage
أحلافُنَا فكأنّنَا منْ نِسْبَةٍ
ولِداتُناour age-mates فكأنّنَاso we are as though منْof عُنصُرone stock
ولِداتُنا فكأنّنَا منْ عُنصُر
Our allies, as though we shared one lineage;
It is difficult when fate becomes difficult, things become arduous,
our age-mates, as though we sprang from one stock.
A growling lion for every growling incident.
اللاّبِسينَthose wearing منfrom الجِلادcombat الهَبْوَdust ماthat which
اللاّبِسينَ من الجِلاد الهَبْوَ ما
أغناهُمُhas sufficed them عنinstead of لأمَةٍarmor وسَنَوَّرand mail
أغناهُمُ عن لأمَةٍ وسَنَوَّر
Those who clothe themselves in the dust of combat, which
So if it reconciles, you will not find anyone but the empowered king
has made armor and mail needless for them.
And if it extends, you will not find anyone but the crowned one.
ليI have منْهُمُamong them سيْفٌa sword إذاif جَرَّدْتُهُI unsheathe it
لي منْهُمُ سيْفٌ إذا جَرَّدْتُهُ
يوماًone day ضرَبْتُI struck بهwith it رِقابَthe necks الأعصُرof the ages
يوماً ضرَبْتُ به رِقابَ الأعصُر
Among them I have a sword that, if I unsheathe it
It is enough that generosity's love is
one day, I strike the necks of the ages with it,
In a small space from his notches.
وفتكتُand I struck down بالزَّمَنِagainst Time المُدجَّجِfully armored فتْكَةَthe deadly stroke الthe (al-)
وفتكتُ بالزَّمَنِ المُدجَّجِ فتْكَةَ ال
بَرّاضِBarrad يومَon the day of هجائنthoroughbred camels ابنِIbn (son of) المُنذرal-Mundhir
بَرّاضِ يومَ هجائن ابنِ المُنذر
and slay armored Time with the deadly stroke of
So his clouds are of mercy, and his family
al-Barrad on the day of Ibn al-Mundhir's thoroughbred camels.
From Heaven, and his right hand from Kawthar.
صَعْبٌunyielding إذاwhen نُوَبُthe misfortunes الزمانof Time استصعبتْgrew harsh
صَعْبٌ إذا نُوَبُ الزمان استصعبتْ
مُتَنَمِّرٌleopard-fierce للحادثِagainst calamity المُتَنَمِّرleopard-fierce
مُتَنَمِّرٌ للحادثِ المُتَنَمِّر
Unyielding when Time's misfortunes grow harsh,
leopard-fierce against leopard-fierce calamity.
فإذاso when عَفَاhe pardons لمdo not تَلْقَyou meet غيرَany but مُمَلَّكٍone made king
فإذا عَفَا لم تَلْقَ غيرَ مُمَلَّكٍ
وإذاand when سطاhe attacks لمdo not تَلْقَyou meet غيرَany but مُعفَّرone cast into dust
وإذا سطا لم تَلْقَ غيرَ مُعفَّر
So when he pardons, you meet none but one raised to kingship;
and when he strikes, you meet none but one cast into dust.
وكفاكَand it suffices you منof حُبِّlove السماحَةِof generosity أنّهَاthat it
وكفاكَ من حُبِّ السماحَةِ أنّهَا
منهin him بموضعin the position of مُقلةٍan eyeball منwithin مَحْجِرan eye socket
منه بموضع مُقلةٍ من مَحْجِر
And proof enough for you of his love of generosity is that it
holds in him the place of an eyeball within its socket.
فغمامُهُso his raincloud منof رحمَةٍmercy وعِراصُهُand his courtyards
فغمامُهُ من رحمَةٍ وعِراصُهُ
منof جَنّةٍParadise ويمينُهُand his right hand منof كوثرKawthar
من جَنّةٍ ويمينُهُ من كوثر
So his raincloud is made of mercy, and his courtyards
of Paradise, and his right hand of Kawthar.
Partial English translation: 66 of 74 Arabic lines translated.