أَقْوَىbecame deserted الضَّلالُerror وأقْفَرَتْand became desolate عَرَصَاتُهُits courtyards
أَقْوَى الضَّلالُ وأقْفَرَتْ عَرَصَاتُهُ
وعَلاand rose الهدىguidance وتبلَّجَتْand shone قسماتُهُits features
وعَلا الهدى وتبلَّجَتْ قسماتُهُ
Error lies deserted, and its courtyards are desolate.
The darkness of misguidance grew dense, and its paths lay barren,
Guidance has risen, and its features shine.
While guidance rose high, and its traits shone bright.
واِنْتَاشَand rescued دينَthe faith of محمَّدٍMuhammad محمودُهُits Mahmud
واِنْتَاشَ دينَ محمَّدٍ محمودُهُ
منfrom بعدafter ماwhen عُلَّتْwere replenished دماًwith blood عَبَراتُهُits tears
من بعد ما عُلَّتْ دماً عَبَراتُهُ
Muhammad's faith was rescued by its Mahmud,
The religion of the Praiseworthy Muhammad revived
after its tears had been replenished with blood.
After his tears had flowed with blood.
رَدَّتْrestored علىto الإسلامIslam عصرَthe age of شبابِهِits youth
رَدَّتْ على الإسلام عصرَ شبابِهِ
وَثباتهhis charges مِنin دونِهِits defense وثباتُهُand his steadfastness
وَثباته مِن دونِهِ وثباتُهُ
Islam's youthful age was restored
It restored to Islam the prime of its youth,
by his charges in its defense and his steadfastness.
And its firmness, through its own firmness.
أَرسَىanchored قَواعِدَهُits foundations وَمَدَّand extended عِمادَهits pillar
أَرسَى قَواعِدَهُ وَمَدَّ عِمادَه
صُعُداًupward وشيَّدand built up سورَهits wall سوراتُهُhis fierce onsets
صُعُداً وشيَّد سورَه سوراتُهُ
He anchored its foundations and extended its pillar
It laid down its foundations and lengthened its pillars,
upward; his fierce onsets built up its wall.
Building its walls higher and higher.
وَأَعادَand restored وَجهَthe face of الحَقِّtruth أَبيضَwhite ناصِعاًspotless
وَأَعادَ وَجهَ الحَقِّ أَبيضَ ناصِعاً
إصْلاتُهُhis sword-drawing وصِلاتُهand his gifts وَصَلاتُهُand his prayer
إصْلاتُهُ وصِلاتُه وَصَلاتُهُ
Truth's face was made white and spotless again
And it returned the face of truth bright and gleaming
by his sword-drawing, his gifts, and his prayer.
Through its improvements, prayers, and connections.
لَمّاwhen تَواكَلَpassed responsibility among themselves حِزبُهُits followers وَتَخاذَلتand faltered
لَمّا تَواكَلَ حِزبُهُ وَتَخاذَلت
أَنصارُهُits supporters وَتَقاصَرَتand fell short خطواتُهُits steps
أَنصارُهُ وَتَقاصَرَت خطواتُهُ
When its followers passed the burden among themselves, and faltered
When his party grew complacent and his supporters lagged
its supporters, and its steps fell short,
And their steps slowed down,
رَفَعتraised لِنورِfor Nur الدّينِal-Din نارَa fire of عزيمَةٍresolve
رَفَعت لِنورِ الدّينِ نارَ عزيمَةٍ
رَجَعَتturned away لَهاbefore it عَنfrom طَبعِهاits nature ظُلُماتُهُhis darkness
رَجَعَت لَها عَن طَبعِها ظُلُماتُهُ
they raised for Nur al-Din a fire of resolve
The fire of a resolute will was lit for the light of religion,
before which his darkness forsook its nature.
And its darkness yielded before it.
مَلكٌa king مَجالسُthe gatherings of لهوهhis amusement شدَّاتُهhis assaults
مَلكٌ مَجالسُ لهوه شدَّاتُه
ومشُوقُهُand his musk بينamid الصُّفوفthe ranks شذاتُهُhis stinging blows
ومشُوقُهُ بين الصُّفوف شذاتُهُ
A king whose gatherings of pleasure are his assaults,
A king whose pastimes are wine cups and musical tones,
and whose musk amid the ranks is his stinging blows.
And whose joy is in the lines of poetry.
يُغْرَىare drawn بِحَثحثةِto the brisk movement of اليَراعِthe reed-pen بَنانُهُhis fingers
يُغْرَى بِحَثحثةِ اليَراعِ بَنانُهُ
إِنْif لذّenjoyed حَثحَثةَthe bustling of الكُؤوسِcups لِداتُهُhis peers
إِنْ لذّ حَثحَثةَ الكُؤوسِ لِداتُهُ
His fingers are drawn to the brisk movement of the reed-pen,
He is enticed by the gurgling of drinking and the clinking of goblets
if his peers delight in the bustling of cups.
More than by the piercing of the foe with blood.
ويروقُهُand delights him ثَغْرُthe frontier العداءof the enemy قانٍcrimson دَماwith blood
ويروقُهُ ثَغْرُ العداء قانٍ دَما
لاnot الثّغْرthe mouth يَعبِقis fragrant فيwithin لَماهُits dark lips لثاتُهُits gums
لا الثّغْر يَعبِق في لَماهُ لثاتُهُ
He delights in the enemy's frontier, crimson with blood,
His mornings are the wine of dissolution and his evenings
not a mouth whose gums breathe fragrance within its dark lips.
Make souls melt and passions boil.
فصَبُوحُهُso his morning draught خمْرُthe wine الطَّلَىof throats وغُبُوقُهand his evening draught
فصَبُوحُهُ خمْرُ الطَّلَى وغُبُوقُه
تطفdrops (unclear reading) النّفوسof souls تديرهاcirculate them نشواتُهُhis raptures
تطف النّفوس تديرها نشواتُهُ
His morning draught is wine of throats, and his evening draught
A conquest whose pride filled the sky
drops of souls, set circulating by his raptures.
And whose sweetness dripped on its branches.
فتحٌa victory تعمَّمتِput on a turban السَّماءُthe sky بفخرهِwith its glory
فتحٌ تعمَّمتِ السَّماءُ بفخرهِ
وهَفَتْand fluttered علىupon أغصانهاits branches عَذَباتُهُits turban-tails
وهَفَتْ على أغصانها عَذَباتُهُ
A victory whose glory turbaned the sky,
It clothed Islam in shining white robes
and whose turban-tails fluttered upon its branches.
And its aspects gleamed in the daylight.
سَبَغَتْspread fully علىover الإسلامIslam بيضthe white markings حُجُولهof its fetlocks
سَبَغَتْ على الإسلام بيض حُجُوله
وَاِختالَand strutted فيin أَوضاحِهاtheir white blazes جبهاتُهُits brows
وَاِختالَ في أَوضاحِها جبهاتُهُ
Its white fetlock markings spread over Islam,
Its clouds poured over the horizons,
whose brows strutted in their bright blazes.
And its breeze blew gently through.
واِنْهَلَّand poured down فَوقَover الأَبطَحينِthe two Abtahs غَمامُهُits cloud
واِنْهَلَّ فَوقَ الأَبطَحينِ غَمامُهُ
وسَرَتْand spread إلىto سَكِينهاtheir inhabitants نَفَحَاتُهُits fragrant breaths
وسَرَتْ إلى سَكِينها نَفَحَاتُهُ
Its cloud poured down over the two Abtahs,
Praise God for a night that encompassed it
and its fragrant breaths spread to their inhabitants.
And a day that adorned its hours.
للَّهto God بَلجَةُthe brightness لَيلَةٍof a night مَحَصتgrew clear بِهِthrough it
للَّه بَلجَةُ لَيلَةٍ مَحَصت بِهِ
واليومand the day دَبَّجَembroidered وشْيَهُits brocade ساعاتُهُits hours
واليوم دَبَّجَ وشْيَهُ ساعاتُهُ
How wondrous the brightness of a night cleared by it,
It felled the enemy ranks,
and the day whose hours embroidered its brocade!
As lightning bolts pierce through clouds.
حَطَّchecked القَوامِصthe bucking steeds فيهِwithin it قِماصهاtheir bucking
حَطَّ القَوامِص فيهِ قِماصها
ضَربٌa blow يُصلصلُrings فيthrough الطّلىthe throats صعقاتُهُits thunderclaps
ضَربٌ يُصلصلُ في الطّلى صعقاتُهُ
Within it, the bucking steeds had their capers checked
They cast down their arms in surrender,
by blows whose thunderclaps rang through throats.
The steeds and spears of the knights.
نَبذواthey discarded السّلاحَthe weapons لِضَيْغَمٍbefore a lion عاداتُهhis habits
نَبذوا السّلاحَ لِضَيْغَمٍ عاداتُه
فَرْسُtearing apart الفوارسِhorsemen والقَناand the spears غاباتُهُhis forests
فَرْسُ الفوارسِ والقَنا غاباتُهُ
They cast their weapons aside before a lion whose habit
To the seasoned Mureed, wrathful in battle,
is tearing horsemen apart, and whose forests are spears.
To the God-supported Murtazi, valorous in conquest.
لِمُجرّبbefore a battle-tested man عُمَرِيَّةUmar-like غضباتُهhis fits of wrath
لِمُجرّب عُمَرِيَّة غضباتُه
للَّهby God مُعْتَصِمِيَّةٌMu'tasim-like غَزَواتُهُhis campaigns
للَّه مُعْتَصِمِيَّةٌ غَزَواتُهُ
Before a battle-tested man whose wrath is Umar-like,
His enemies live straitened in their shackles,
and—by God—whose campaigns are Mu'tasim-like.
While their grievances against him burn.
تَحياare ashamed لِضِيقat the tightness صفادهof his fetters أُسَراؤهhis captives
تَحيا لِضِيق صفاده أُسَراؤه
وَتغيضand drain ماءًof water شؤونهاtheir tear-ducts نقماتُهُhis punishments
وَتغيض ماءً شؤونها نقماتُهُ
His captives blush at the tightness of his fetters,
Their necks bowed submissively between the mountains
and his punishments drain their tear-ducts of water.
As his sharp blades sprouted from the bare rock.
بَينَbetween الجَبالِthe mountains خَواضِعاًbowed low أَعناقُهاtheir necks
بَينَ الجَبالِ خَواضِعاً أَعناقُها
كَالذَّوْدlike a camel-herd نابَتstood in عنfor براهits nose-rings حداتُهُhis camel-drivers
كَالذَّوْد نابَت عن براه حداتُهُ
Between the mountains, their necks bowed low,
Their tribes spread their tents around Aleppo
like a camel-herd, his drivers serving as its nose-rings.
Like the adornments of spring scattered around.
نَشَرتunfurled عَلىover حَلبٍAleppo عقودُstrings of بُنُودهمtheir banners
نَشَرت عَلى حَلبٍ عقودُ بُنُودهم
حُلَلthe robes of الربيعِspring تَناسَقَتwere harmoniously arrayed زهراتُهُits blossoms
حُلَل الربيعِ تَناسَقَت زهراتُهُ
Strings of their banners unfurled over Aleppo
A meadow whose flowers were sown by his charging steeds
spring's robes, with its blossoms arrayed in harmony.
And grew lush from the seeds they scattered.
رَوضٌa garden جَناهُits fruit لهاfor it مكرُّthe charges of جيادِهhis chargers
رَوضٌ جَناهُ لها مكرُّ جيادِه
وَاِستَوأَرَتْand made bolt حمّالهits bearers حملاتُهُhis assaults
وَاِستَوأَرَتْ حمّاله حملاتُهُ
A garden whose fruit his chargers' charges gathered for it,
Packed close on their saddles as dawn broke,
and his assaults made its bearers bolt.
Their determination inspired by their morning draught.
مُتَسانِدينleaning against one another علىon الرّحالِthe saddles كَماas اِنتَشىbecame intoxicated
مُتَسانِدين على الرّحالِ كَما اِنتَشى
شرْبdrinkers أمالتtilted هامَهtheir heads قهواتُهُtheir wines
شرْب أمالت هامَه قهواتُهُ
Leaning against one another on saddles, like intoxicated
Their spears did not let thorns grow
drinkers whose wines have tilted their heads.
Before their tips bore fruit.
لمnever تُنْبِتِgrew الآجامthe thickets قبلbefore رماحِهِhis spears
لم تُنْبِتِ الآجام قبل رماحِهِ
شجراًtrees أصولُthe roots فروعِهof their branches ثمراتُهُtheir fruits
شجراً أصولُ فروعِه ثمراتُهُ
Before his spears, the thickets had never grown
So let Islam praise what its ingrates reviled -
trees whose branches' roots were their fruits.
The orphaned sprouts nurtured by their lifeblood.
فلْيَحْمَدِso let give thanks الإسلامُIslam ماnot جَحَدتwithheld لهfrom it
فلْيَحْمَدِ الإسلامُ ما جَحَدت له
شرباتdraughts غَرسfor planting هَذِهِthese مَجناتُهُhis shields
شربات غَرس هَذِهِ مَجناتُهُ
Let Islam give thanks: not withheld from it
And that battle cry watered the best land -
were draughts for planting these, by his shields.
You were its crop.
وَسَقىand may water صَدىthe dead remains ذاكَof that الحَياlife-giving rain صَوبَthe downpour الحَياof rain
وَسَقى صَدى ذاكَ الحَيا صَوبَ الحَيا
خَيرُthe best الثَرىsoil ماthat of which كنتَyou were أَنتَyou yourself نباتُهُits growth
خَيرُ الثَرى ما كنتَ أَنتَ نباتُهُ
May rain's downpour water the remains of that rain-giver;
He assumed the throne but turned away from it,
best is the soil whose growth is you.
While his curtains veiled his noble station.
نَصَبَhe erected السّريرَthe throne ومالَand turned aside عَنهُfrom it وَمَهّدَتand prepared
نَصَبَ السّريرَ ومالَ عَنهُ وَمَهّدَت
لِمَقَرِّfor the seat مَنصِبكof your station السّريّthe noble سراتُهُhis nobles
لِمَقَرِّ مَنصِبك السّريّ سراتُهُ
He raised the throne and turned from it; a place was prepared
The full moon suffers no loss though stars
for your noble station by his nobles.
Lie as dust beneath its orbit.
ماnot ضَرّhas harmed هَذاthis البدرَfull moon وهوwhile it is محلّقٌsoaring
ما ضَرّ هَذا البدرَ وهو محلّقٌ
أَنَّthat الكواكبَthe stars فيupon الذُّراthe heights ضرّاتُهُits rival wives
أَنَّ الكواكبَ في الذُّرا ضرّاتُهُ
It harms not this full moon, as it soars,
Each day his glory rises high in the sky
that the stars on the heights are its rival wives.
And climbs the ranks above.
فيin كُلِّevery يَومٍday تَستطيلُgrows longer قَناتُهُhis spear
في كُلِّ يَومٍ تَستطيلُ قَناتُهُ
فَوقَabove السّماءِthe sky وتعْتَليand rise higher دَرَجاتُهُhis ranks
فَوقَ السّماءِ وتعْتَلي دَرَجاتُهُ
Each day his spear grows longer
His deeds shine in the morning light
above the sky, and his ranks rise higher.
As time narrates his story.
وَتَظلّand keep ترقمinscribing فيin الضُّحَىthe forenoon آثارُهُhis deeds
وَتَظلّ ترقم في الضُّحَى آثارُهُ
مَجداًglory وَأَلسِنَةُand the tongues الزَّمانِof time رُواتُهُits narrators
مَجداً وَأَلسِنَةُ الزَّمانِ رُواتُهُ
In the forenoon his deeds keep inscribing
Where are those gone by who filled books with their ornamentations
glory, and the tongues of time are its narrators.
Compared to the drops of this endless sea?
أَينwhere الأُلَىthose who ملأواfilled الطُّرُوسَthe pages زَخارِفاًwith embellishments
أَين الأُلَى ملأوا الطُّرُوسَ زَخارِفاً
عَنfrom نَزفِdraining بَحرٍan ocean هَذِهِthese قَطَراتُهُits drops
عَن نَزفِ بَحرٍ هَذِهِ قَطَراتُهُ
How far are those who filled pages with embellishments
They exhausted themselves praising the ruins,
from draining an ocean whose drops are these!
Which lacked any essence for them to capture.
غَدَقواthey lavished بِأَعناقِupon the necks العَواطِلِof unadorned women ماwhat لهُit possessed
غَدَقوا بِأَعناقِ العَواطِلِ ما لهُ
مِنof جوهرٍjewels فَأَتتهمthen came to them فذاتُهُits unmatched gems
مِن جوهرٍ فَأَتتهم فذاتُهُ
They lavished upon unadorned necks what it possessed
Had they recounted some of his conquests,
of jewels; then its unmatched gems came to them.
His deeds would have mocked their efforts.
لَوhad فَصّلواthey fashioned سِمطاًa necklace بِبَعضِfrom some of فتوحِهِhis victories
لَو فَصّلوا سِمطاً بِبَعضِ فتوحِهِ
سَخِرتwould have mocked بماwhat اِفتَعلواthey contrived لهمfor themselves فِعلاتُهُhis deeds
سَخِرت بما اِفتَعلوا لهم فِعلاتُهُ
Had they fashioned a necklace from some of his victories,
His spears stand over the lamps and candles
his deeds would have mocked what they contrived for themselves.
While the Pleiades circle below their tips.
يُمْسِيat evening become قَنانيهhis flasks بَناتُthe daughters قيونهof his smiths
يُمْسِي قَنانيه بَناتُ قيونه
فَوقَabove القَوانِسِthe helmets والقيناand the spears (unclear spelling) قيناتُهُhis singing-girls
فَوقَ القَوانِسِ والقينا قيناتُهُ
At evening his flasks are the daughters of his smiths,
Two lines of verse that kings cannot equal -
above the helmets, and spears are his singing-girls.
His actions inspire them and his vigilance animates them.
صِلَتانa spirited charger منfrom دونِbelow المُلوكِthe kings تُقرّهاstill them
صِلَتان من دونِ المُلوكِ تُقرّها
حرَكاتهُhis movements وتُنيمُهاand lull them to sleep يقظاتُهُhis vigils
حرَكاتهُ وتُنيمُها يقظاتُهُ
A spirited charger: the kings beneath him are stilled
Their ambitions kept them from his path,
by his movements, and lulled to sleep by his vigils.
While his ambitions surpassed theirs.
قَعَدَتheld back بهمthem عَنfrom خَطوِهِhis stride هِمّاتُهمtheir ambitions
قَعَدَت بهم عَن خَطوِهِ هِمّاتُهم
وَسَمَتand raised بِهhim عنabove قَطوِهمtheir short steps همّاتُهُhis ambitions
وَسَمَت بِه عن قَطوِهم همّاتُهُ
Their ambitions held them back from matching his stride,
They settled for home while he settled new lands,
while his ambitions raised him above their short steps.
Matching the stars with his encampments.
سَكَنواthey dwelt مُسجَّفةcurtained الحجالِthe chambers وأسكنَتand lodged
سَكَنوا مُسجَّفة الحجالِ وأسكنَت
زُحَلSaturn الرّحالthe saddles معbeside السُّهاal-Suha عزماتُهُhis resolves
زُحَل الرّحال مع السُّها عزماتُهُ
They dwelt in curtained chambers, while there were lodged
Had the dawn of his conquest shone on Al-Tabari,
on Saturn, beside al-Suha, his saddles—by his resolves.
His chronicles would have swelled with its narrations.
لوhad لاحَshone لِلطّائِيّto al-Ta'i غُرَّةُthe radiance فتْحِهِof his victory
لو لاحَ لِلطّائِيّ غُرَّةُ فتْحِهِ
باءَتwould have returned بِحَملِwith a burden تَأوّهof sighing باءاتُهُhis B-rhymes
باءَت بِحَملِ تَأوّه باءاتُهُ
Had the radiance of his victory appeared to al-Ta'i,
The cross was smashed by the strength of his resolve
his B-rhymes would have returned burdened with sighs.
As its wooden hands were severed.
أوor هَبَّblew للطَّبَرِيّupon al-Tabari طِيبُthe sweetness نسيمِهof its breeze
أو هَبَّ للطَّبَرِيّ طِيبُ نسيمِه
لَاِحْتَشَّwould have cut away منfrom تاريخهِhis history حَشواتُهُits padding
لَاِحْتَشَّ من تاريخهِ حَشواتُهُ
Or had the sweetness of its breeze blown upon al-Tabari,
And the Prince drank the humiliation of exile
he would have cut the padding from his history.
In the dew that his betrayals drew.
صَدَمَstruck الصَّليبthe Cross علىdespite صلابَةِthe hardness عُودِهِof its timber
صَدَمَ الصَّليب على صلابَةِ عُودِهِ
فتفرَّقَتْso scattered أيديthe hands of سَباSaba خَشَباتُهُits timbers
فتفرَّقَتْ أيدي سَبا خَشَباتُهُ
He struck the Cross, hard though its timber was,
So his nose was led by fate to death's halter
and its timbers scattered like the people of Saba.
On the day his fortune ran out.
وَسَقىand made drink البِرِنْسthe prince وقدthough he had تَبَرْنَسَdonned a burnous ذِلَّةًin humiliation
وَسَقى البِرِنْس وقد تَبَرْنَسَ ذِلَّةً
بالرُّوجat al-Ruj ممقرthe bitter draught ماwhat جَنَتْearned غَدَراتُهُhis treacheries
بالرُّوج ممقر ما جَنَتْ غَدَراتُهُ
He made the prince drink, wrapped in humiliation's burnous,
And he went moaning under the moans of regret
at al-Ruj, the bitter draught his treacheries had earned.
As the sighs of his anguish gasped their last.
فَاِنقادَso yielded فيto خِطَمِthe nose-halters المَنِيَّةof death أنفُهُhis nose
فَاِنقادَ في خِطَمِ المَنِيَّة أنفُهُ
يَومَon the day الخَطيمِof al-Khatim وأقطرتand were cast down نزواتُهُhis leaps
يَومَ الخَطيمِ وأقطرت نزواتُهُ
His nose yielded to death's halters
A lion who seized his prey like a swooping eagle,
on the day of al-Khatim, and his wild leaps were cast down.
As the blades of his teeth sunk in.
وَمَضىand went on يُؤنِّبrebuking تَحتَbeneath إِنِّبّInnibb همَّةًan ambition
وَمَضى يُؤنِّب تَحتَ إِنِّبّ همَّةً
أمْسَتْhad become زوافرthe supports غيّهاof its error زفراتُهُhis sighs
أمْسَتْ زوافر غيّها زفراتُهُ
He went on rebuking, beneath Innibb, an ambition
He slept under the stars many a night,
whose wayward supports had become his sighs.
Veiling his eyes though they shined for him.
أسدٌa lion تَبوأhad taken his station كالغرنفِlike a mighty lion فجأتهُyou surprised him
أسدٌ تَبوأ كالغرنفِ فجأتهُ
فتبوّأتْso came to rest طرفَat the tip السِّنانof the spearhead شواتُهُhis scalp
فتبوّأتْ طرفَ السِّنان شواتُهُ
A lion, stationed like a mighty lion—you caught him unawares;
While the sincere weep for him beneath,
and his scalp came to rest upon the spearpoint,
When his jesters laugh, their tears flow.
دونَbelow النُّجُومِthe stars مغمضاًeyes closed ولَطالَماthough so often
دونَ النُّجُومِ مغمضاً ولَطالَما
أَغضَتthey lowered their gaze وَقَدwhen كَرَّتcharged لهاat them لحظاتُهُhis glances
أَغضَت وَقَد كَرَّت لها لحظاتُهُ
below the stars, eyes shut—though so often
The Nile walks with his head, though it was he
they had lowered their gaze when his glances charged at them.
Who set the course of the two Niles.
فَجَلَوتهso you displayed him تَبكيweeping الأَصادِقthe friends تَحتَهُbeneath him
فَجَلَوته تَبكي الأَصادِق تَحتَهُ
بِدَمٍwith blood إِذاwhen ضَحِكَتlaughed لَهat him شُمَّاتُهُthose gloating over him
بِدَمٍ إِذا ضَحِكَت لَه شُمَّاتُهُ
You displayed him, with friends beneath him weeping
Had he embraced the Giant on the day you raised him,
blood, when those gloating over him laughed.
You'd have seen it bow down in submission.
تَمشيwalks القَناةُthe spear بِرَأسِهِwith his head وَهوَand he is الّذيthe one whose
تَمشي القَناةُ بِرَأسِهِ وَهوَ الّذي
نَظَمتْstrung مدارthe orbit النَّيِّرَيْنof the two luminaries قناتُهُhis spear
نَظَمتْ مدار النَّيِّرَيْن قناتُهُ
The spear walks with his head—he whose
Never before was its nose led by its ring,
spear once strung the orbit of the two luminaries.
Nor did its pride attempt to resist.
لَوhad عانَقَembraced العَيُّوقَal-Ayyuq يومon the day رفعتَهُyou raised him
لَو عانَقَ العَيُّوقَ يوم رفعتَهُ
لأَراكَwould have shown you شاهِدَa witness to خفضهhis abasement إخْبَاتُهُhis submission
لأَراكَ شاهِدَ خفضه إخْبَاتُهُ
Had he embraced al-Ayyuq on the day you raised him,
A beast who bellowed, so you silenced its roar,
his submission would have shown you proof of his abasement.
And it surrendered beneath your swords.
ماnever اِنْقادَyielded قَبلَكَbefore you أَنفُهُhis nose بِخُزَامِهِto his nose-ring
ما اِنْقادَ قَبلَكَ أَنفُهُ بِخُزَامِهِ
كلّاno indeed وَلاnor هَمَّتhad contemplated لهاit هدراتُهُhis roars
كلّا وَلا هَمَّت لها هدراتُهُ
Before you, his nose had never yielded to its nose-ring;
When your black banner appeared above it
no, nor had his roars even contemplated it.
Your white victory reversed its banners.
طيّانhollow-bellied خفّswift السَّرْحin roaming طالَlasted long زَئيرهُhis roaring
طيّان خفّ السَّرْح طالَ زَئيرهُ
نَطَقَتspoke سُطاكَyour might لَهُto him فَطالَso grew long صُماتُهُhis silence
نَطَقَت سُطاكَ لَهُ فَطالَ صُماتُهُ
Hollow-bellied, swift-roaming, he had roared long;
And it saw your swords slicing like lightning bolts
your might spoke to him, and his silence grew long.
As its ranks recoiled like curling worms.
لَمّاwhen بداappeared مُسْوَدُّthe blackness رايكَof your banner فَوقهُabove him
لَمّا بدا مُسْوَدُّ رايكَ فَوقهُ
مُبْيَضُّbright white نصْركwith your victory نُكسَتْwere inverted راياتُهُhis banners
مُبْيَضُّ نصْرك نُكسَتْ راياتُهُ
When the black of your banner appeared above him,
It fled after drinking deep of your pond
white with your victory, his banners were inverted.
And surrendered its protection money.
وَرَأَىand saw سُيوفَكyour swords كَالصَّوالِجِlike polo-sticks طاوَحتtossing
وَرَأَى سُيوفَك كَالصَّوالِجِ طاوَحت
مِثلlike الكرينthe balls تَقَلَّصتdwindled كرّاتُهُhis charges
مِثل الكرين تَقَلَّصت كرّاتُهُ
He saw your swords, like polo-sticks, hurling
It left its churches and sextons to a looter
as if tossing balls; his charges dwindled.
Who steals their chaste treasures.
ولّىhe fled وقَدwhile شَرِبَتhad drunk ظُباكyour blades كُمَاتَهhis mailed champions
ولّى وقَد شَرِبَت ظُباك كُمَاتَه
تحتbeneath العَجاجthe dust-cloud وأَسْلَمَتْهand abandoned him حُمَاتُهُhis defenders
تحت العَجاج وأَسْلَمَتْه حُمَاتُهُ
He fled, your blades having drunk his mailed champions,
A victor made invincible by God, his allies undying
beneath the dust-cloud, while his defenders abandoned him.
And his enemies unable to survive.
تَرَكَleft الكَنائِسَthe churches وَالكناسand the lair لِناهِبٍto a plunderer
تَرَكَ الكَنائِسَ وَالكناس لِناهِبٍ
بِالبيضِwith bright swords يَنهبُplunder ماwhat حَواهُhe gathered عُفاتُهُhis petitioners
بِالبيضِ يَنهبُ ما حَواهُ عُفاتُهُ
He left the churches and the lair to a plunderer
Cast into the wilds, now beasts tear at his flesh,
with bright swords; his petitioners plunder what he gathers.
While once his prey fled from him.
غَلّابa conqueror أَروعsplendid and bold لاnot يُميتُkills عِداتهhis promises
غَلّاب أَروع لا يُميتُ عِداته
داءُthe sickness المطالof delay ولاnor تعيشُsurvive عُداتُهُhis enemies
داءُ المطال ولا تعيشُ عُداتُهُ
A conquering, splendid man: his promises are never killed
Today the castle granted you its keeps,
by the sickness of delay, nor do his enemies survive.
Surrendering its towering heights.
لِلوَحشِfor wild beasts مُلْقىًcast out بالعراin the open يقتاتُهُdevours him
لِلوَحشِ مُلْقىً بالعرا يقتاتُهُ
ماwhat كانhe used to قبلُformerly بصيدِهِthrough hunting it يقتاتُهُeat it
ما كان قبلُ بصيدِهِ يقتاتُهُ
Cast into the open for beasts, he is devoured
Tomorrow the beauties will be yours to enjoy,
by what he once fed upon through his hunting.
Your daughters dividing his wives.
اليَّومَtoday مَلّككَgave you possession of القراعُcombat قِلاعَهُhis fortresses
اليَّومَ مَلّككَ القراعُ قِلاعَهُ
مُتسنِّماًscaling the summits ماwhat اِستَشرَقَتrose high شرفاتُهُits battlements
مُتسنِّماً ما اِستَشرَقَت شرفاتُهُ
Today the clash of arms has given you his fortresses,
Your ambition trod the balconies underfoot
as you scale the heights where their battlements rise.
As their antiquities were tossed down.
وَغَداًand tomorrow تحلّwill make lawful لَكَfor you الحلائلthe wives أَسهُمshares
وَغَداً تحلّ لَكَ الحلائل أَسهُم
مُتَوزّعاتapportioned بَينَهنّamong them بناتُهُhis daughters
مُتَوزّعات بَينَهنّ بناتُهُ
Tomorrow allotted shares will make wives lawful for you,
Still this kingdom rises sublime,
his daughters apportioned among them.
Its fragments forever beyond reach.
أَوطَأتَyou made tread أَطرافَthe tips السَّنابكِof the hooves هامَهُhis summits
أَوطَأتَ أَطرافَ السَّنابكِ هامَهُ
فَتَقاذَفَتso tossed about بعتيقهاtheir noble steed قذفاتُهُhis crags
فَتَقاذَفَت بعتيقها قذفاتُهُ
You made the hoof-tips tread upon his summits,
Time's hand cannot fail you, so seek it below you,
and his crags tossed their noble steed about.
Rushing or slow, as you desire.
لاnot زالَcease هَذاthis الملكkingdom يَشمَخُrises high شأنهits stature
لا زالَ هَذا الملك يَشمَخُ شأنه
أبداًforever ويكفتand sweeps away فيinto الحضيضthe depths شتاتُهُits disarray
أبداً ويكفت في الحضيض شتاتُهُ
May this kingdom's stature never cease to soar,
You give life its life
forever, while its disarray is swept into the depths.
And the spirits of verse their inspiration.
ماso long as أَخطأتكَmisses you يَدُthe hand الزّمانِof time فَدونهُthen before it
ما أَخطأتكَ يَدُ الزّمانِ فَدونهُ
مَنwhoever شاءَwishes فلتُسْرعso let hasten إليهtoward him هناتُهُits afflictions
مَن شاءَ فلتُسْرع إليه هناتُهُ
So long as time's hand spares you, before it may stand
whoever wishes; let its afflictions hasten toward him.
أَنتَyou الَّذيthe one whose تُحليsweetens الحياةَlife حياتُهُhis life
أَنتَ الَّذي تُحلي الحياةَ حياتُهُ
وَتَهبُand bestow أَرواحsouls القصيدِof poetry هِباتُهُhis gifts
وَتَهبُ أَرواح القصيدِ هِباتُهُ
You are the one whose life sweetens life,
and whose gifts bestow souls upon poetry.
Partial English translation: 120 of 124 Arabic lines translated.