للهِto God درُّexcellence (in praise) فَوارسٍhorsemen أَغمَارِuntried
للهِ درُّ فَوارسٍ أَغمَارِ
لاnot يرهبونَthey fear بوادرَsudden strokes الاقْدَارِof fate
لا يرهبونَ بوادرَ الاقْدَارِ
God bless the untried horsemen,
For God has valiant horsemen like surging floods,
who fear no sudden strokes of fate.
Who fear not the onset of destiny,
واذاand when همthey ركبواrode الىtoward حاجَاتِهمtheir aims
واذا هم ركبوا الى حاجَاتِهم
لبسواthey wore مضاربَstriking edges كلِّevery نَصْلblade عَارِunsheathed
لبسوا مضاربَ كلِّ نَصْل عَارِ
And when they ride to pursue their aims,
And when they ride for their needs,
they clothe themselves in the blows of every naked blade.
They don gauntlets that pierce every sharp blade,
وتحككواand they scratched themselves حكَّlike the scratching الجِرابِof mangy beasts وماand not بهمin them
وتحككوا حكَّ الجِرابِ وما بهم
الاexcept الارانُexuberance وصحةُand soundness الانْشَارِof renewed life
الا الارانُ وصحةُ الانْشَارِ
They scratch themselves like mangy beasts, yet they have
And they gird themselves tightly and carry only spears
only exuberance and the vigor of renewed life.
And skill in thrusting them home.
بقواطعٍwith cutting swords مأثورةٍrenowned آياتهاtheir signs
بقواطعٍ مأثورةٍ آياتها
فيon الدارعينَarmored men خفيةِfaint الآثارِthe traces
في الدارعينَ خفيةِ الآثارِ
With keen swords whose signs are renowned,
With famous tried blades whose strokes
leaving barely visible traces on armored men,
Are hidden in the cuirasses of the foe,
وبكلand with every مطرودِevenly arranged الكعوبِjoints سِنَانُهits point
وبكل مطرودِ الكعوبِ سِنَانُه
كالبرقُlike lightning ينبضُthrobs أَوor لِسَانِa tongue النَّارِof fire
كالبرقُ ينبضُ أَو لِسَانِ النَّارِ
and every even-jointed spear, whose point
And every seasoned warrior has a spear
throbs like lightning or a tongue of flame.
That flashes like lightning or the tongue of flame,
يحبوbestows upon الكميُّthe armored warrior اذاwhen احتداهُconfronted it (uncertain reading) مِرشَةًa spurting wound
يحبو الكميُّ اذا احتداهُ مِرشَةً
مجنونةَwild الاقبالِin surging forward والادبَارِand receding
مجنونةَ الاقبالِ والادبَارِ
It grants the armored warrior, when he confronts it, a spurting wound [reading uncertain],
They love the fight when the melee is joined
wild in its surging and retreating,
In its passionate advance and recoil,
نَعَّارةًa roaring gusher تَطغىrages اذاwhen هيit رُوغمتْis challenged
نَعَّارةً تَطغى اذا هي رُوغمتْ
بالفتكِwith slaughter رجعthe echo قَوافهاof its openings (uncertain reading) الهَدَّارِthundering
بالفتكِ رجع قَوافها الهَدَّارِ
a roaring gusher that rages when challenged,
A mare whom, when she is challenged,
with slaughter, its openings echoing thunderously [wording uncertain].
Her rage makes her rush into the midst of the foe.
قومٌa people اذاwhen غضبواthey grew angry فلمthen not يستعبواbe appeased (uncertain reading)
قومٌ اذا غضبوا فلم يستعبوا
سلواthey drew سُيوفَهمtheir swords علىagainst الأَعْمَارِlives
سلوا سُيوفَهم على الأَعْمَارِ
A people who, when angered and not appeased,
A people who, when they grow angry, do not recover themselves
draw their swords against lives.
Till they have sheathed their swords in men's breasts,
يَرمىhe hurls بهمwith them وبنفسهand with himself قُحَمَthe perils الوَغىof battle
يَرمى بهم وبنفسه قُحَمَ الوَغى
غَرِضُweary of المقامِstaying عَطَوَّدhardy in الأَسفَارِjourneys
غَرِضُ المقامِ عَطَوَّد الأَسفَارِ
He hurls them and himself into battle's perils,
And the leader plunges with his own life into the perils of war,
weary of staying, hardy in travel.
The goal of the sojourn lengthy campaigns.
لاnot تستريحُrest ولاnor تبيتُspend the night جيادُهhis steeds
لا تستريحُ ولا تبيتُ جيادُه
الاexcept علىamid خَطَرdanger منamong الأَخطَارِdangers
الا على خَطَر من الأَخطَارِ
His steeds neither rest nor spend the night
Their steeds find no rest or sleeping place
except amid one danger or another.
Save on the brink of dangers and alarms,
يقدَحْنَthey strike sparks منfrom عزماتِهhis resolves وهُمومِهand his cares
يقدَحْنَ من عزماتِه وهُمومِه
مثلlike الشَّرارِsparks تطيرُfly كلَّevery مَطَارِdirection of flight
مثل الشَّرارِ تطيرُ كلَّ مَطَارِ
They strike sparks from his resolves and cares,
From their resolves and anxieties strike sparks,
like sparks flying every which way.
Like those that fly from flint and steel.
تأبىrefuses بفخرِin Fakhr ('Glory') الملكِal-Mulk ('of the Realm') نفسٌa soul مُرَّةٌstern
تأبى بفخرِ الملكِ نفسٌ مُرَّةٌ
مشغوفةٌenamored بالنقضِwith undoing والامرَارِand binding tight
مشغوفةٌ بالنقضِ والامرَارِ
In Fakhr al-Mulk, a stern soul refuses,
A soul habituated to glory's pride
enamored of loosening and binding,
Is averse from truce or retreat.
انْthat يطمئنَّshould rest الىupon الحَشَاياcushions قلبُهhis heart
انْ يطمئنَّ الى الحَشَايا قلبُه
وعناقِand embracing جنبِthe side الطفلةِof the tender maiden المِعْطَارِheavily perfumed
وعناقِ جنبِ الطفلةِ المِعْطَارِ
to let his heart rest upon cushions
That his heart should find comfort leaning
and in embracing a tender, perfumed maiden's side.
On the bosom of a sweetly scented wife,
هَجَرَhe forsook اللذَاذَةَpleasure والكرىand sleep فجفونُهso his eyelids
هَجَرَ اللذَاذَةَ والكرى فجفونُه
لاnot ينطوينclose وهنthough they are غيرُnot قِصَارِshort
لا ينطوين وهن غيرُ قِصَارِ
He forsook pleasure and sleep, so his eyelids
He has abandoned all delights and dear ones, so his lids
never close, though they are not short.
No longer close - they are like the wings of ants.
ماwhat ضرَّharm would befall طرفَthe gaze العينِof the eye لوif داويتَهyou treated it
ما ضرَّ طرفَ العينِ لو داويتَه
بالغمضِwith closing the eyes أوor عللتَهyou soothed it بعَرَارِwith fragrant 'arar blossoms
بالغمضِ أو عللتَه بعَرَارِ
What harm would it do your eye if you treated it
It would not harm the eye if you healed it
with closed lids, or soothed it with fragrant 'arar blossoms?
By closing it or treating it with collyrium.
ومُحَجَّبand a secluded man يرجوhope for العفاةُpetitioners ببابهِat his gate
ومُحَجَّب يرجو العفاةُ ببابهِ
نَفْحاًa generous gift براحتهِfrom his palm علىto الزُّوَّارِthe visitors
نَفْحاً براحتهِ على الزُّوَّارِ
And a secluded man, at whose gate petitioners hope
And the commoners hope at his gate
for gifts from his palm to his visitors,
For a whiff of air from his gentle hand to the visitors,
حتىuntil اذاwhen رفعَraised الحجابُthe chamberlains ستورَهhis curtains
حتى اذا رفعَ الحجابُ ستورَه
شقتْweighed heavily مهابتُهhis majesty علىupon الأَبصَارِthe eyes
شقتْ مهابتُه على الأَبصَارِ
until, when the chamberlains raise his curtains,
Till when the curtain lifts its veils,
his majesty overwhelms the eyes.
His awesomeness dazzles all who look.
وافيتهI came to him يومon the day السُرادقِof the pavilion خالياًalone
وافيته يوم السُرادقِ خالياً
فاختصَّنىso he singled me out بالاذْنِwith admission والايثَارِand preferential favor
فاختصَّنى بالاذْنِ والايثَارِ
I met him privately on the day of the pavilion,
And I came to him one day in his pavilion empty,
and he singled me out for admission and favor.
And he favored me with permission and precedence.
وَهَبَhe bestowed الكرامةَhonor أَنَّهاfor it is صِلةُthe gift العُلاof nobility
وَهَبَ الكرامةَ أَنَّها صِلةُ العُلا
وتحيةُand the greeting الاحرارِof free men للاحْرَارِto free men
وتحيةُ الاحرارِ للاحْرَارِ
He bestowed honor, for it is nobility's gift
And generously bestowed honor, saying it is
and the greeting of free men to free men.
The link with the exalted and greeting of freeman to freeman.
انَّindeed الاكاريدَthe Kurds الذينَwho تمنعواfortified themselves
انَّ الاكاريدَ الذينَ تمنعوا
بمعاقلِin strongholds الهضباتِof the plateaus والاوعَارِand rugged ground
بمعاقلِ الهضباتِ والاوعَارِ
Indeed, the Kurds who fortified themselves
Those Akharids whom you imprisoned
in strongholds on plateaus and rugged ground,
In the fortresses of the hills and rugged places,
وطويتَand you crossed كورةَthe district اصفهانَof Isfahan اليهمto reach them
وطويتَ كورةَ اصفهانَ اليهم
حتىuntil صَبْحتَyou attacked at dawn جموعَهمtheir hosts ببوَارِwith destruction
حتى صَبْحتَ جموعَهم ببوَارِ
and you crossed the district of Isfahan to reach them,
And whom you folded up in the land of Isfahan
until you struck their hosts at dawn with destruction,
Till dawn shone upon their gathered forces,
فيon ليلةٍa night سرقَstole المُحَاقُthe moon's dark phase هِلالَهاits crescent
في ليلةٍ سرقَ المُحَاقُ هِلالَها
فكأَنَّهُso it seemed فيon الأُفقِthe horizon نصفُhalf سِوَارِa bracelet
فكأَنَّهُ في الأُفقِ نصفُ سِوَارِ
on a night whose crescent the moon's dark phase had stolen,
In a night whose crescent the darkness stole away
so it seemed half a bracelet on the horizon.
As if it were a bracelet in the horizon,
رَهَجٌa dust cloud ينمbetrays علىabout الطِلابِthe pursuit عمودُهُits column
رَهَجٌ ينم على الطِلابِ عمودُهُ
وسُرىand a night march علىagainst الاعداءِthe enemies غيرُnot سِرَارِsecret
وسُرى على الاعداءِ غيرُ سِرَارِ
A cloud of dust, its column betraying the pursuit,
A pillar of fire that slumbers over the seekers
and a night march against the enemy, no secret.
And progresses over the enemy without their knowledge,
وبنوand the sons خَفَاجةَof Khafaja منfrom عقابكَyour punishment عالجواendured
وبنو خَفَاجةَ من عقابكَ عالجوا
يوماًa day طويلَlong الشرِin evil بالأَنبَارِat al-Anbar
يوماً طويلَ الشرِ بالأَنبَارِ
And Banu Khafaja endured, under your punishment,
And the Banu Khafaja whom you punished
a day long in its evil at al-Anbar.
A long day with evil in Anbar,
يَنزونَthey leap منfrom وقعِthe blows الحِرابِof lances كأَنهمas though they were
يَنزونَ من وقعِ الحِرابِ كأَنهم
عطبُcotton القسيof bows تُثارُstirred up بالاوتَارِby the bowstrings
عطبُ القسي تُثارُ بالاوتَارِ
They leap at the blows of lances, as though they were
Who come down from the impact of battle as if they are
cotton stirred by the strings of bows.
The flight of arrows stirred by bowstrings,
أَزرىdisgraced بهمthem عندduring الكريهةِbattle أَنهمthat they
أَزرى بهم عند الكريهةِ أَنهم
لاnot يَخطرونَadvance proudly الىtoward القَناthe spears الخَطَّارِswaying
لا يَخطرونَ الى القَنا الخَطَّارِ
What disgraced them in battle was that they
In time of woe, I find them steadfast
did not advance toward the swaying spears.
Not inclining to the fatal wells,
وَمُجَلَّؤُونَand driven away عنfrom المناهلِthe watering places طالماhow often
وَمُجَلَّؤُونَ عن المناهلِ طالما
عُقِرتْwere hamstrung مطيهمtheir riding beasts علىat الاعقارِthe homesteads
عُقِرتْ مطيهم على الاعقارِ
And, driven from the watering places, how often
Though you left the loyalty of their alliance and faithfulness
their mounts were hamstrung at their homesteads!
And they came to you clad in robes of shame,
تركتit left لجوثةَto Jawtha صدقَهاits truthfulness ووفاءَهاand its loyalty
تركت لجوثةَ صدقَها ووفاءَها
وأَتتكَand it came to you ترفلُtrailing فيin ثيابgarments العَارِof shame
وأَتتكَ ترفلُ في ثياب العَارِ
It left its truthfulness and loyalty to Jawtha,
And I see that in adversity worship is hard
and came to you trailing garments of shame.
Its direction never increases save reluctance,
وأَرىand I see عُبَادَةَUbada فيin المقادةِbeing led صعبةًdifficult
وأَرى عُبَادَةَ في المقادةِ صعبةً
مُسِحَتْwas stroked فماyet not تزدادُit increases غيرexcept نِفَارِskittishness
مُسِحَتْ فما تزدادُ غير نِفَارِ
And I find Ubada difficult to lead,
They felt secure from misfortunes as if they had not seen
stroked, yet growing only more skittish.
Traces of city folk and those who chatter idly,
أَمنواthey felt safe from الخطوبَcalamities كأَنهمas though they لمhad not يبصرواseen
أَمنوا الخطوبَ كأَنهم لم يبصروا
آثارَthe traces أَهلِof the people الحضرِof al-Hadr والثرثارِand al-Tharthar
آثارَ أَهلِ الحضرِ والثرثارِ
They felt safe from calamities, as though they had never seen
And your good fortune which preceded them
the traces of the people of al-Hadr and al-Tharthar,
Was bounties Udad had given, and Rabi'ah ibn Nizam,
وَمَبَارِكاًand camel-resting grounds ملاتْfilled ايادٌIyad قبلَهُمbefore them
وَمَبَارِكاً ملاتْ ايادٌ قبلَهُم
اعطانَهاtheir watering enclosures وربيعةُand Rabi'a بنson of نزارِNizar
اعطانَها وربيعةُ بن نزارِ
and camel-rests where, before them, Iyad had filled
By the life of their ancestor, I warned them
their watering enclosures, and Rabi'a ibn Nizar likewise.
If only they had listened to the warning,
ولعمرُand by the life جدهمof their forefather لقدindeed أَنذرتهمyou warned them
ولعمرُ جدهم لقد أَنذرتهم
لوif only أَنهمthey أَصغواlistened الىto الانذارِthe warning
لو أَنهم أَصغوا الى الانذارِ
By their forefather's life, you surely warned them,
If autumn has deceived us, and the clouds
if only they had listened to the warning.
Have created doubts, harbingers of rain,
انif كانhad قدalready خَدَعَdeceived الخريفautumn وأَخلقتْand wore threadbare
ان كان قد خَدَعَ الخريف وأَخلقتْ
فيهin it الظنونَthe hopes مخائلُportents الامطارِof rain
فيه الظنونَ مخائلُ الامطارِ
If autumn has deceived you, and hopes have been worn threadbare
And the diseased eyelid whose sight is impaired
by its portents of rain,
Beware lest Spring prove true - beware!
وتعللَand made do with الثمدُthe scant pool المُعلِلُgiving scant water طرفُهhis steed
وتعللَ الثمدُ المُعلِلُ طرفُه
فَحَذَارِthen beware انْif صدقَproves true الربيعُspring حذارِbeware
فَحَذَارِ انْ صدقَ الربيعُ حذارِ
and his steed has made do with a meager pool offering little water,
Till when the meadows and pastures shine,
then beware, if spring proves true—beware!
They look to you with eyes of fire,
حتىuntil اذاwhen بهرdazzled الاباطحَthe broad valleys والرُّبىand the hills
حتى اذا بهر الاباطحَ والرُّبى
نظرتْthey looked اليكَat you بأَعينِwith eyes النُّوارِof blossoms
نظرتْ اليكَ بأَعينِ النُّوارِ
Until, when it dazzles the valleys and hills,
And Wasim has entrusted his domain to you, so its impact
they look at you with eyes of blossoms,
Comes from your outcry and every near and distant spot.
واستودعَand deposited الوسمىthe autumn rain كانwas (unclear here) وقيعهits fall of rain
واستودعَ الوسمى كان وقيعه
منfrom فضلِthe bounty صَيِّبهِof its downpour وكلand every قَرارِhollow
من فضلِ صَيِّبهِ وكل قَرارِ
and the autumn rain has laid up, where it fell [text uncertain],
Then you will hear the bells of columns
the bounty of its downpour in every hollow,
In which the saddles surge with warriors,
فهناكَthen there تستَمعونَyou will hear جَرسَthe clamor كتائبٍof battalions
فهناكَ تستَمعونَ جَرسَ كتائبٍ
فيهاin them السروجُhorse saddles تموجsurge بالأكوَارِwith camel saddles
فيها السروجُ تموج بالأكوَارِ
then you will hear the clamor of battalions,
Their palms have hurried to grasp the spears,
in which horse saddles surge with camel saddles.
Their cuirasses with unbuttoned straps,
عَجِلَتْhastened الىtoward فِرصِopenings الطِّعانِfor spear-thrusts أَكفُّهَاtheir hands
عَجِلَتْ الى فِرصِ الطِّعانِ أَكفُّهَا
فدروعهاso their coats of mail محلولةُunfastened الأزرَارِat the clasps
فدروعها محلولةُ الأزرَارِ
Their hands hasten toward openings for spear-thrusts,
Raiment whose train sweeps the ground when it is donned
so their coats of mail have unfastened clasps.
After overflowing over the fingernails.
حللrobes تحنفتِbent askew (uncertain reading) الظنىwasting (uncertain reading) حافاتهاtheir hems
حلل تحنفتِ الظنى حافاتها
منfrom بعدِafter ماthat طفحتoverflowed علىover الأَظفَارِthe fingernails
من بعدِ ما طفحت على الأَظفَارِ
Robes whose hems have bent askew with wasting [text uncertain],
They sought the death-shrouds and breasts
after overflowing beyond the fingernails.
In which to rest their wounded, broken frames,
طلبواthey sought الترائبَbreastbones والنحورَand throats وأَسندواand lodged
طلبوا الترائبَ والنحورَ وأَسندوا
فيهاin them صدورَthe fronts ذوابلِof slender spears اِكسَارِsplintering (uncertain reading)
فيها صدورَ ذوابلِ اِكسَارِ
They sought breastbones and throats, and lodged
You knew the passes, and the lands obeyed
within them the fronts of slender, splintering spears.
Throughout the long sojourn in the abode.
علمتَyou taught كعباًKa'b والبلادُwhile the lands مريعةٌlush
علمتَ كعباً والبلادُ مريعةٌ
طولَlong duration المقامِof staying علىamid دَرِينِwithered grass الدَّارِof the homestead
طولَ المقامِ على دَرِينِ الدَّارِ
You taught Ka'b, though the lands were lush,
How can the way to Syria now be hers
long residence amid the homestead's withered grass.
After the world's regions have seized her?
كيفhow السبيلُthe way الىto الاشامَةِgoing to Syria بعدماafter
كيف السبيلُ الى الاشامَةِ بعدما
أخذتhemmed in عليهاagainst it الأرضُthe land بالاقطَارِon every side
أخذت عليها الأرضُ بالاقطَارِ
How could it find a way toward Syria, after
She is content if a rider brings her news,
the land had hemmed it in on every side?
Even if it be a trifle of reports,
ترتاحit longs أَنto يُهديbring as a gift اليهاto it راكبٌa rider
ترتاح أَن يُهدي اليها راكبٌ
خَبَراًnews ولوeven if منamong رائعِalarming الأخْبَارِreports
خَبَراً ولو من رائعِ الأخْبَارِ
It longs for a rider to bring it
Till when they sought your pardon for themselves,
news, even the most alarming news.
They sought the pardon of the mighty, forgiving Lord.
حتىuntil اذاwhen عاذواthey sought refuge بعفوكَin your pardon عنهمfor them
حتى اذا عاذوا بعفوكَ عنهم
عاذواthey sought refuge بعفوِin the pardon المنعمِof the benefactor الجَبَّارِthe mighty
عاذوا بعفوِ المنعمِ الجَبَّارِ
Then, when they sought refuge in your pardon for them,
They sought the one whose patience's composure
they sought refuge in the pardon of the mighty benefactor.
Bore the heavy burdens they carried of sins.
عاذواthey sought refuge بمنin one who حَمَلَتْbore رزانَةُthe weightiness حلمهِof his forbearance
عاذوا بمن حَمَلَتْ رزانَةُ حلمهِ
أَثقالَthe burdens ماof what حملواthey carried منof الأوزَارِsins
أَثقالَ ما حملوا من الأوزَارِ
They sought refuge in one whose weighty forbearance bore
You still rise to the highest degrees,
the burdens of the sins they carried.
While the light of lights envies your shining,
لاmay you not زلتَcease فيon درجِthe steps المعاليof greatness صَاعداًascending
لا زلتَ في درجِ المعالي صَاعداً
يغتالُeclipses نورَكَyour radiance ساطعُthe brightest الأَنوَارِof lights
يغتالُ نورَكَ ساطعُ الأَنوَارِ
May you ever ascend the steps of greatness,
And through your perfect son endowed with glory,
your radiance eclipsing the brightest lights.
You have attained in the highest sphere.
وبلغتَand may you attain فيin ابنِكَyour son ذىpossessing المفاخرِglories منيةًa wish
وبلغتَ في ابنِكَ ذى المفاخرِ منيةً
بلغتhas reached بكَthrough you الغاياتُthe utmost bounds فيin الأوطَارِdesires
بلغت بكَ الغاياتُ في الأوطَارِ
And may you attain, in your illustrious son, a wish
How excellent the caliph succeeding you,
that has reached, through you, the furthest bounds of desire.
When the earth brings forth and the neighbor raids the neighbor!
نِعْمَexcellent is الخليفةُthe successor منكfrom you انif نَضَبَdries up الثَّرىthe earth's moisture
نِعْمَ الخليفةُ منك ان نَضَبَ الثَّرى
وغزىand is raided المجيرُthe protector علىover سَوامِthe grazing livestock الجَارِof the neighbor
وغزى المجيرُ على سَوامِ الجَارِ
What a fine successor from you, should the earth's moisture fail
And we will offer him poems that soar
and the protector be raided for his neighbor's grazing herds!
Whose wild geese are guided to all lands.
ولنهدينَّand we shall surely offer الىto علاهhis eminence قصائداًpoems
ولنهدينَّ الى علاه قصائداً
تُهدىare carried شواردُهاtheir far-ranging verses الىto الأمصَارِthe cities
تُهدى شواردُها الى الأمصَارِ
And we shall surely offer his eminence poems,
You have disciplined your army and subjects, taking
whose far-ranging verses are carried to the cities.
Custom by hand to spread it and forbid evil.
هذبتَyou disciplined جندكَyour army والرعيةَand the subjects آخذاًemploying
هذبتَ جندكَ والرعيةَ آخذاً
بالعُرفِwith right conduct تنشُرهُyou spread it وبالانكَارِand with censure
بالعُرفِ تنشُرهُ وبالانكَارِ
You disciplined your army and subjects, employing
And you distributed God's wealth when you collected it
right conduct, which you spread, and censure.
Among them without delay or favoritism.
وقسمتَand you distributed مالَthe wealth اللهِof God حينَwhen جبيتَهyou collected it
وقسمتَ مالَ اللهِ حينَ جبيتَه
فيهمamong them بلاwithout مَطَلٍdelay ولاnor استيثَارِkeeping it for oneself
فيهم بلا مَطَلٍ ولا استيثَارِ
And you distributed God's wealth, when you collected it,
And you have chosen a band after testing them,
among them, without delay or keeping it for yourself.
Sharing with them in benefits and injuries alike,
وجمعتُand I gathered بالكَyour thoughts فاصطفيتَso you chose عصابةًa band
وجمعتُ بالكَ فاصطفيتَ عصابةً
شاركتهمyou shared with them فيin النفعِbenefit والاضرَارِand harm
شاركتهم في النفعِ والاضرَارِ
And I gathered your thoughts, so you chose a band
After fully examining them and trying them
with whom you shared benefit and harm,
And gathering them in the arena of trial,
منfrom بعدماafter استقصيتَهمyou examined them thoroughly وبلوتَهمand tested them
من بعدما استقصيتَهم وبلوتَهم
وضممتَهمand you gathered them فيin حَلبةِthe arena المضمَارِof the racecourse
وضممتَهم في حَلبةِ المضمَارِ
after thoroughly examining and testing them,
Your night remains wakeful and watchful,
and gathering them on the racecourse.
Taking precautions and privy to secrets,
وتبيتُand you spend the night ليلكَyour night دائباًtirelessly مستظهراًseeking support
وتبيتُ ليلكَ دائباً مستظهراً
بالحزمthrough resolve مطَّلعاًkeeping watch علىover الاسرَارِsecrets
بالحزم مطَّلعاً على الاسرَارِ
And you spend your night tirelessly, seeking support
Devising stratagems no cunning beast with cycles
in resolve, keeping watch over secrets,
Could scheme by his wiles or experience.
كيداًdevising stratagems حثيثاًurgently لمnot يكنwould be ليكيدَهable to devise it
كيداً حثيثاً لم يكن ليكيدَه
بأَناتِهِwith his deliberation كيوانُKaywan (Saturn) ذوpossessor of الأَدوَارِthe cycles
بأَناتِهِ كيوانُ ذو الأَدوَارِ
devising urgent stratagems that could not have been devised
And praise is not fitting, but for one
by Kaywan, with all his deliberation, lord of the cycles.
Whose leadership is over the noble ones.
والمدحُand praise ليسis not خيارُهits choicest اِلاَّexcept لمنْfor one who
والمدحُ ليس خيارُه اِلاَّ لمنْ
كانتْwas رئاستُهhis leadership علىover الأحرَارِfree men
كانتْ رئاستُه على الأحرَارِ
And the choicest praise belongs only to one
whose leadership is over free men.
Partial English translation: 110 of 112 Arabic lines translated.