عَسىmay ممسكthe one who restrains الريحِthe wind القَبولthe easterly يُعيدُهاbring it back
عَسى ممسك الريحِ القَبول يُعيدُها
ويُنْقِصُand lessen منfrom أنفاسِناour breaths ويَزيدُهاand increase it
ويُنْقِصُ من أنفاسِنا ويَزيدُها
May the one who holds the east wind bring it back,
May he who holds the wind accept its return,
And lessen our breaths while increasing its own.
Lessening our breaths and increasing them.
أحِنI yearn إذاwhenever وافتْarrived منfrom البشرِal-Bishr رُفقةٌa company
أحِن إذا وافتْ من البشرِ رُفقةٌ
تنمُّreveal بأسرارِwith the secrets of الهنيِّal-Hani بُرودُهاtheir cloaks
تنمُّ بأسرارِ الهنيِّ بُرودُها
I yearn whenever a company arrives from al-Bishr,
When a gentle company of men approaches,
Whose cloaks reveal the secrets of al-Hani.
Their intimacy warms the secrets of affection.
وأسألُهاand I ask them عنabout نعمةٍbliss بعُريْعرٍat ʿUrayʿir
وأسألُها عن نعمةٍ بعُريْعرٍ
تشاغلَbusied himself elsewhere واشيهاits slanderer وغابَand was absent حسودُهاits envier
تشاغلَ واشيها وغابَ حسودُها
And I ask them about bliss at ʿUrayʿir,
I ask about a well at Uray'ir
Whose slanderer was distracted and whose envier was absent.
Whose bucket and pulley have gone.
وعنand about جَوْشَنٍJawshan ياoh حبّذاhow dear أرضُthe land of جَوشَنٍJawshan
وعن جَوْشَنٍ يا حبّذا أرضُ جَوشَنٍ
لوif only انّthat نُحوسيmy ill fortunes تلتقيmeet وسُعودُهاand its good fortunes
لو انّ نُحوسي تلتقي وسُعودُها
And about Jawshan—how dear is the land of Jawshan!
And about a Jawshan—how excellent is the land of Jawshan!
If only my ill fortunes could meet its good fortunes.
If only my ill-fortune would meet its good fortune.
أجارَgave refuge to زفيرَthe sighs of العاشقينَlovers نسيمُهاits breeze
أجارَ زفيرَ العاشقينَ نسيمُها
ولاand may not خابَbe deprived منof صوبِthe downpour of الغَمامِthe clouds صَعيدُهاits soil
ولا خابَ من صوبِ الغَمامِ صَعيدُها
May its breeze shelter lovers' sighs,
The breeze there has sheltered the sighs of lovers,
And may its soil never lack the clouds' downpour.
And none who turned toward its clouds was disappointed.
ألاcome علّلِلانيcomfort me, you two ياO خليليّmy two friends بالمُنىwith hopes
ألا علّلِلاني يا خليليّ بالمُنى
فإنّfor indeed المُنىhopes يُدْنيbring near هَوايَmy beloved بَعيدُهاtheir distant ones
فإنّ المُنى يُدْني هَوايَ بَعيدُها
Come, comfort me with hopes, my two friends,
O my friend, explain my longing with the wish
For even distant hopes bring my beloved near.
That longing will bring his distant abode nearer.
ولاand do not تأمَناfeel secure, you two ذِكرَmentioning الحِمىthe protected pastures إنْif طَربْتُماyou two are elated
ولا تأمَنا ذِكرَ الحِمى إنْ طَربْتُما
عليfor زَفرتيmy sigh أنْlest يستطيرَspread wildly وقودُهاits fire
علي زَفرتي أنْ يستطيرَ وقودُها
And if you are elated, beware mentioning the protected pastures,
Do not feel safe from the heat of passion if you are aroused
Lest the fire of my sigh spread wildly.
By my sighs, which may kindle their fuel.
وكمand how much بالحِمىin the protected pastures ودعتُI bade farewell to منof وصلِcommunion with خلَّةٍa beloved
وكم بالحِمى ودعتُ من وصلِ خلَّةٍ
وغانيةand a beauty بنأىat a distance منfrom القُرطِthe earring جيدُهاher neck
وغانية بنأى من القُرطِ جيدُها
How much communion with a beloved I left behind in the protected pastures,
How often have I bid farewell at the station of parting
And a beauty whose neck lay far from her earring.
To a singing-girl with a neck free of necklaces!
ألَذُّsweeter منthan النَّيلِattainment المُعَجَّلِthe immediate وعدُهاher promise
ألَذُّ من النَّيلِ المُعَجَّلِ وعدُها
وأنفعُand more beneficial منthan وصلِunion with الغَوانيbeauties صدودُهاher refusal
وأنفعُ من وصلِ الغَواني صدودُها
Her promise is sweeter than immediate fulfillment,
Sweeter than attained union is the promise of her tryst,
Her refusal more rewarding than union with other beauties.
More profitable than the union of singing-girls are their refusals.
مُنعَّمةٌdelicately nurtured يَرويdrinks its fill منof الدمعِtears جَفنُهاher eyelid
مُنعَّمةٌ يَروي من الدمعِ جَفنُها
ولمand did not يروَdrink its fill منof ماءِthe water of الشّبيبةِyouth عودُهاher stem
ولم يروَ من ماءِ الشّبيبةِ عودُها
Delicately nurtured, her eyelid drinks its fill of tears,
She is luxuriant, and her eyelids water with tears,
Though her stem has not drunk its fill of youth's water.
While the water of youth did not moisten her tent-poles.
ومنand of فتيةٍyoung men مثلِlike الصقورِfalcons وصبيةٍand boys
ومن فتيةٍ مثلِ الصقورِ وصبيةٍ
علىon الخيلِhorses أعوادُthe wooden frames of السّروجِsaddles مهودُهاtheir cradles
على الخيلِ أعوادُ السّروجِ مهودُها
And young men like falcons, and boys
And there are youths like hawks and girls
Whose cradles on horseback are the wooden frames of saddles.
Whose cradles are litters slung over the saddle-cloths.
أقولُI say لمرّاقِto the renegades of العراقِIraq تمتّعواenjoy yourselves
أقولُ لمرّاقِ العراقِ تمتّعوا
ولمand has not تغشكُمengulfed you حربٌa war يشيبُturns gray وليدُهاits newborn
ولم تغشكُم حربٌ يشيبُ وليدُها
I say to Iraq's renegades: Enjoy yourselves,
I say to the horsemen of Iraq: enjoy yourselves,
While no war whose newborn turns gray has yet engulfed you.
And do not let war in which the son grows old afflict you!
سرىtraveled by night نحوَكمtoward you منfrom أرضِthe land of كَرْمانَKarman ماجدٌa noble man
سرى نحوَكم من أرضِ كَرْمانَ ماجدٌ
لهhe has راحةٌa palm يستضحِكُmakes laugh المحلَdrought جودَهاits bounty
له راحةٌ يستضحِكُ المحلَ جودَها
A noble man has traveled by night toward you from Karman's land,
Toward you from the land of Kirman there came a warrior
With a palm whose bounty makes drought laugh.
Whose restlessness laughs at the millstone.
ومنسوبةِand a pedigreed host الأدراعِmail coats والبيضِand bright swords والقَناand lances
ومنسوبةِ الأدراعِ والبيضِ والقَنا
يقادُare led إلىto سوقِthe marketplace of المنيةِdeath قودُهاits long-necked steeds
يقادُ إلى سوقِ المنيةِ قودُها
And a host whose pedigree is mail, bright swords, and lances,
A mounted warrior with coats of mail and shining white swords,
Its long-necked steeds are led to the marketplace of death.
Led to the market of death with a halter.
مضمرةٌmade lean أحشاؤُهاtheir bellies وشفاهُهاand their lips
مضمرةٌ أحشاؤُها وشفاهُها
يُضمرُmakes lean أحشاءَthe bellies of البحارِthe seas وُرودُهاtheir coming to drink
يُضمرُ أحشاءَ البحارِ وُرودُها
Their bellies are lean, and their lips,
Their interiors seethe and their lips are silent,
When they come to drink, make the seas' bellies lean.
Boiling the interiors of oceans, their flowers still buds.
فلمso did not يبقَremain بينَbetween الكَرّكانَal-Karrakan وبرقةٍand Barqa
فلم يبقَ بينَ الكَرّكانَ وبرقةٍ
أخوa bearer of رايةٍa banner إلاّexcept شجاهُdistressed him وئيدُهاits ponderous tread
أخو رايةٍ إلاّ شجاهُ وئيدُها
Between al-Karrakan and Barqa there remained
So there was left between Qarqūn and Barqa
No banner-bearer untroubled by its ponderous tread.
No brother of the banner whose fibers were not grey.
وفيand among حشراتِthe vermin of الأرضِthe earth والليثُwhile the lion ساغبٌis hungry
وفي حشراتِ الأرضِ والليثُ ساغبٌ
مطاعمُmorsels لوif only أنّthat الهِزَبرَthe great lion يصيدُهاwould hunt them
مطاعمُ لو أنّ الهِزَبرَ يصيدُها
Among the earth's vermin, while the lion hungers,
Among the small insects and beasts of prey of the earth
Are morsels, if only the great lion would hunt them.
Are morsels which, if the hyena could hunt them, it would.
مُجَلْجِلُهاits thunderous roar بينbetween السُّكَيرِal-Sukayr وواسِطٍand Wasit
مُجَلْجِلُها بين السُّكَيرِ وواسِطٍ
تُصارعُwrestle with هوجَthe fury of العاصفاتِstorm winds بنودُهاits banners
تُصارعُ هوجَ العاصفاتِ بنودُها
Its thunderous roar resounds between al-Sukayr and Wasit;
Their weapons clash between Sukhayr and Wasit,
Its banners wrestle with the fury of storm winds.
Contesting with the violence of gales with their poles.
وفيand on أفقِthe horizon of الدبرينِal-Dabrayn منهاof it غَمامةٌa cloud
وفي أفقِ الدبرينِ منها غَمامةٌ
بوارِقُهاits lightning flashes مشبوبةٌablaze ورعودُهاand its thunderclaps
بوارِقُها مشبوبةٌ ورعودُها
On al-Dabrayn's horizon is a cloud of it,
Among them in the horizon of evening is a cloud
Its lightning flashes and thunderclaps ablaze.
Whose lightnings are kindled and which rumbles.
يرجمُcasts فيهاat it ظنَّهhis conjecture كلُّevery راكدٍidler
يرجمُ فيها ظنَّه كلُّ راكدٍ
وهيهاتَand how far away منfrom رَجمِالظنونِcasting conjectures ركودُهاits stillness
وهيهاتَ من رَجمِالظنونِ ركودُها
Every idler casts his guesses at it,
Every sedentary man casts his conjectures toward it,
But its coming to rest is far beyond conjecture.
But those conjectures never catch up with its stillness.
ودونand before التفافِthe entwining of النقعِbattle-dust ثُلمةa breach
ودون التفافِ النقعِ ثُلمة
تُقامُare established بحدِّby the edge of المرهَفاتِkeen swords حُدودُهاits boundaries
تُقامُ بحدِّ المرهَفاتِ حُدودُها
Before the battle-dust entwines, there is a breach
Below the bend of anacathartic medicine is a cure
Whose bounds are set by the edges of keen swords:
Which, at the edge of keen weapons, sets its limits.
رويةُthe deliberation of غواصٍa deep diver يحككُhones هَمَّهُhis resolve
رويةُ غواصٍ يحككُ هَمَّهُ
لمكرُمَةٍfor a noble deed يَسعىhe strives لهاfor it أوor يفيدُهاbestows it
لمكرُمَةٍ يَسعى لها أو يفيدُها
A deep diver's deliberation, honing his resolve
The insight of a diver who pounds his sorrow
For a noble deed he seeks or bestows.
For some noble deed to which he aspires or which will benefit him.
فَماand not ذابَmelted away شطرُhalf of اليومِthe day حتىbefore تصافَحتْclasped hands
فَما ذابَ شطرُ اليومِ حتى تصافَحتْ
أسنّةthe points of أرماحِthe lances of العِدىthe enemy وخدودُهاand their cheeks
أسنّة أرماحِ العِدى وخدودُها
Not half the day had melted away before
So the morning did not dissolve before the spearheads
The enemy's lance-points shook hands with their cheeks.
Of the enemy's cavalry lined up and kissed their cheeks.
وأقدمَand advanced وثّابٌa bold leaper علىinto الهولِterror خيلُهُhis horses
وأقدمَ وثّابٌ على الهولِ خيلُهُ
إذاwhen كُلِّلَتْare enveloped لاdo not تَقشَعِرُّshudder جلودُهاtheir skins
إذا كُلِّلَتْ لا تَقشَعِرُّ جلودُها
And a bold leaper advanced into terror; his horses,
A rewarding horseman boldly advanced his steeds,
When enveloped, do not shudder in their skins.
Which, when the saddle-girths were tightened, did not shudder.
يُعيدhe turns back إلىto حَدِّthe edge of الطعانِlance-combat صدورَهاtheir breasts
يُعيد إلى حَدِّ الطعانِ صدورَها
ولاand not يُدرِكُattains الغاياتِthe goals إلاexcept مُعيدُهاone who sends them back
ولا يُدرِكُ الغاياتِ إلا مُعيدُها
He turns their breasts back to the edge of lance-combat,
He returns their breasts to the point of the spear
And only one who sends them back attains the goals.
And none attains his goal but he who repeats it.
رميتَyou struck جباهَthe foreheads of التركِthe Turks يومَthe day لقيتَهُمyou met them
رميتَ جباهَ التركِ يومَ لقيتَهُم
بشهباءَwith a steel-gray host منfrom شَرِّthe worst of النّزالِclose combat قُيودُهاits fetters
بشهباءَ من شَرِّ النّزالِ قُيودُها
You struck the Turks' foreheads the day you met them
You cast the foreheads of the Turks, when you met them,
With a steel-gray host whose fetters were the worst of close combat.
With meteors of the worst battle, their fibers intertwined.
وكلُّand every فتىًyoung man تحتَbeneath العَجاجَةِthe dust cloud وكدُهُhis aim
وكلُّ فتىً تحتَ العَجاجَةِ وكدُهُ
إذاwhen الخيلُthe horses جالتْwheeled ميتَةًa death يستجيدُهاhe judges it worthy
إذا الخيلُ جالتْ ميتَةً يستجيدُها
Every young man beneath the dust cloud has one aim:
Whenever his exertion wore out a brave lad
When the horses wheel, a death he judges worthy.
Beneath the quivering heat, the horse would pity him.
أبىrefused الملِكُthe king المنصورُthe victorious أنْthat يتملّكواthey become rulers
أبى الملِكُ المنصورُ أنْ يتملّكوا
فيملِكُso would rule أحرارَthe free among الرجالِmen عبيدُهاtheir slaves
فيملِكُ أحرارَ الرجالِ عبيدُها
The victorious king refused to let them rule,
The Prince al-Mansur refused that they rule,
Lest their slaves become masters of free men.
So he might empower the freemen, their slaves.
تقاضيتُمyou demanded ميسورهُhis available bounty فقضاكُمso he paid you
تقاضيتُم ميسورهُ فقضاكُم
مُقوَّمةًa straightened force شَزْرُthe obliqueness of الطعانِlance-combat يقودُهاleads it
مُقوَّمةً شَزْرُ الطعانِ يقودُها
You demanded his available bounty, so he paid you
You demanded compensation for their ease, and your judgment
With a straightened force led by oblique spear-thrusts.
Straightened the spearheads which led them.
وإلاّand otherwise فطَرّدْهاthen drive it onward إلىto كلِّevery بلدةٍtown
وإلاّ فطَرّدْها إلى كلِّ بلدةٍ
يُعالجُstruggles with أغلالَthe shackles of الهَوانِhumiliation طَريدُهاits fugitive
يُعالجُ أغلالَ الهَوانِ طَريدُها
Otherwise, drive it onward into every town,
Otherwise, drive it away to every town
Where its fugitive struggles with the shackles of humiliation.
Where the fetters of humiliation rub its joints raw.
أقِمْstraighten أوَدَيْهاits two bends بالثِّقافِwith the shaft-straightener ولاand do not تَرِدْarrive
أقِمْ أوَدَيْها بالثِّقافِ ولا تَرِدْ
بهاwith it غايةًat a goal كلُّall العبيدِthe slaves تُريدُهاdesire it
بها غايةً كلُّ العبيدِ تُريدُها
Straighten its two bends with the shaft-straightener, and do not bring
Aim its two long bands at the commanders, and do not repel
It to a goal that all slaves desire.
With them any goal which all the slaves desire.
فإنّfor indeed الثغورَthe mouths البيضَthe white خلفَbehind ابتسامِهاtheir smiles
فإنّ الثغورَ البيضَ خلفَ ابتسامِها
حَنادِسُpitch-dark depths أكبادٍof livers تَفورُseethe حُقودُهاtheir rancors
حَنادِسُ أكبادٍ تَفورُ حُقودُها
For behind the smiles of those white mouths
For the white frontier fortresses behind his smile
Lie darkened livers, their rancors seething.
Are caches of livers that seethe with burning rage.
رأيتُكَI saw you إذْwhen عمّspread everywhere البلاءُcalamity وأقبلتْand advanced
رأيتُكَ إذْ عمّ البلاءُ وأقبلتْ
مَسيرةُa procession of وِرْدٍa water-seeking troop لمdid not تَجدْfind مَنْanyone who يذودُهاwould drive it away
مَسيرةُ وِرْدٍ لم تَجدْ مَنْ يذودُها
I saw you when calamity spread and there advanced
I saw you when the affliction was general and the march
A water-seeking procession that found none to drive it away.
Of troops arrived whom none could repel.
صَليتَyou endured burning بهاin it دونَin place of الجُناةِthe culprits ونارُهاand its fire
صَليتَ بها دونَ الجُناةِ ونارُها
يُنالُis attained بمهراقِby the outpouring of الدّماءِblood جمودُهاits cooling
يُنالُ بمهراقِ الدّماءِ جمودُها
You bore its fire in place of the culprits; its flame
You prayed against them without the wicked, and their fire
Can be cooled by the pouring out of blood.
Could be reached with the ladle of blood to soften it.
تداركتَyou rescued أطْنابَthe tent-ropes of الخلافةِthe caliphate بعدَماafter
تداركتَ أطْنابَ الخلافةِ بعدَما
وهىweakened سمكُهاits roof العاليthe lofty ومالَand leaned عمودُهاits pole
وهى سمكُها العالي ومالَ عمودُها
You saved the caliphate's tent-ropes after
You took over the fringes of the Caliphate after
Its lofty roof had weakened and its pole had tilted.
Its pillar had inclined and the beams of its columns weakened.
وأعفيتَand you relieved منfrom تدبيرهاgoverning it متكلِّفاًan overreaching pretender
وأعفيتَ من تدبيرها متكلِّفاً
تُحَلُّcome undone بهthrough him يومَon the day of الحفاظِdefense عقودُهاits bonds
تُحَلُّ به يومَ الحفاظِ عقودُها
And relieved an overreaching pretender of governing it,
You were excused from managing it, binding thereby
Through whom its bonds unravel on the day of defense.
The pacts which protect it on the day they are guarded.
رأىhe saw للمعاليfor lofty deeds والمكارمِand noble virtues هضبةًa high hill
رأى للمعالي والمكارمِ هضبةً
يُقَطِّعُcuts off أنفاسَthe breaths of الرجالِmen صُعودُهاits ascent
يُقَطِّعُ أنفاسَ الرجالِ صُعودُها
He saw a high hill of lofty deeds and noble virtues,
He saw for glories and virtues a high ground
Whose ascent cuts off men's breath.
Whose ascent takes men's breath away.
لمنfor whoever حلَّsettled منهاon it باليَفاعِon the heights حَرورُهاits scorching heat
لمن حلَّ منها باليَفاعِ حَرورُها
ولكنهbut indeed للمستظلِّfor the shade-seeker بَرودُهاits coolness
ولكنه للمستظلِّ بَرودُها
Its scorching heat is for whoever settles on its heights,
A burning wind blows over it toward him who ascends it boldly,
But its coolness is for whoever seeks shade.
But to him who seeks its shade, it is cool.
وسربلتَand you clothed أبوابَthe gates of المدائنِthe cities بهجةًsplendor
وسربلتَ أبوابَ المدائنِ بهجةً
أنافhe rose high بهاthrough it والحاسدونand the envious شهودهاits witnesses
أناف بها والحاسدون شهودها
You clothed the gates of cities in splendor;
You clothed the doors of the cities with delight
He rose high through it, with the envious as its witnesses.
While the envious were witnesses.
رأىsaw فارسFars الأملاكof the kings يومthe day حللتهyou settled in it
رأى فارس الأملاك يوم حللته
منظّمةan ordered host فوتbeyond the reach of العيونِthe eyes جنودُهاits soldiers
منظّمة فوت العيونِ جنودُها
Fars, land of kings, saw, the day you settled there,
The Knight of Kingdoms saw when you put it on
An ordered host whose soldiers stretched beyond sight.
Arrayed, stunning the eyes of armies.
يُراعare frightened بتحريكِby moving البنانِthe fingertips وَقورُهاits dignified men
يُراع بتحريكِ البنانِ وَقورُها
ويُجلدُand are whipped باللّحظِby a glance الحقيرِthe slight جَليدُهاits stalwart men
ويُجلدُ باللّحظِ الحقيرِ جَليدُها
Its dignified men are frightened by a movement of fingertips,
He admired its stately sail and its wake
Its stalwart men are lashed by a mere glance.
And chastised with glance the vile and frigid.
مَنازلُthe dwellings of كسرىKisra لمdid not يشدهاbuild them لنفْسِهfor himself
مَنازلُ كسرى لم يشدها لنفْسِه
ولكنْbut لفنّاخُسْرَfor Fannakhusr كانhe was يَشيدُهاbuilding them
ولكنْ لفنّاخُسْرَ كان يَشيدُها
Kisra did not build those dwellings for himself,
The stations of Chosroes did not attract him for himself
But was building them for Fannakhusr.
Rather, for the heirs of Chosroes he built them.
هوhe الملكُthe king المخلوقُcreated منfrom خَطراتِهِhis passing thoughts
هو الملكُ المخلوقُ من خَطراتِهِ
طريفُthe newly won المعاليlofty honors كُلهاall of them وتليدُهاand their inherited ones
طريفُ المعالي كُلها وتليدُها
He is the king from whose passing thoughts were created
He is the king created from his imaginings,
All lofty honors, newly won and inherited.
Refined of all glories and their essence.
ملوكُthe kings of بنيthe house of ساسَانَSasan تزعمُclaim أنّهthat he
ملوكُ بني ساسَانَ تزعمُ أنّه
لهfor him حُفظتْwere preserved أسرارُهاtheir secrets وعهودُهاand their covenants
له حُفظتْ أسرارُها وعهودُها
The kings of the house of Sasan claim that
The kings of the House of Sasan claimed that
Their secrets and covenants were preserved for him:
Its mysteries and pacts were kept safe for him.
فتاهاtheir young champion ومولاهاand their lord ووارثُand heir to مجدَهاtheir glory
فتاها ومولاها ووارثُ مجدَها
وسيدُهاand their master إنْif كانthere is ربٌّa lord يسودُهاwho rules them
وسيدُها إنْ كان ربٌّ يسودُها
Their young champion, their lord, and heir to their glory,
He disciplined, ruled over it, and inherited its glory,
Their master, if any lord can rule them.
Was its master, if one is its lord.
وإنّكَand indeed you منfrom قومٍa people فَلَوْاcombed هامةَthe head of العُلاglory
وإنّكَ من قومٍ فَلَوْا هامةَ العُلا
بضربِby striking الطُلىnecks والخيلُand the horses تُدمىare bloodied لبُودُهاtheir saddle-felts
بضربِ الطُلى والخيلُ تُدمى لبُودُها
And you belong to a people who combed the head of glory
You are from a people who carried the zeal of glory
By striking necks, while their horses' saddle-felts were bloodied.
With blows of the sword, while the horse runs red with its blood.
رَعَوْاthey grazed روضةَthe garden of الدهرِTime العظيمِthe mighty ونفّرتْand scattered
رَعَوْا روضةَ الدهرِ العظيمِ ونفّرتْ
رماحُهمtheir lances الأيامَthe days وهيand they برودُهاits cloaks
رماحُهم الأيامَ وهي برودُها
They pastured in the garden of mighty Time, and
They pastured in the garden of fate the magnificent
Their lances scattered the days, though those days were its cloaks.
And their spears startled the days while they were tranquil.
قبيلةُthe tribe of بَهْرامٍBahram وأُسْرَةُand the family of بَهْمَنٍBahman
قبيلةُ بَهْرامٍ وأُسْرَةُ بَهْمَنٍ
يُميتُdeals death ويُحييand gives life وعدُهاits promise ووعيدُهاand its threat
يُميتُ ويُحيي وعدُها ووعيدُها
The tribe of Bahram and the family of Bahman,
Their souls compete in love of praise
Whose promise and threat bring death and life.
Since they know that praise is their eternity.
علىin زمنِthe time of الضحّاكِal-Dahhak كانتthere was عصابةٌa band
على زمنِ الضحّاكِ كانت عصابةٌ
ولوعاًeager بهاماتِfor the heads of الملوكِkings حديدُهاits steel
ولوعاً بهاماتِ الملوكِ حديدُها
In the time of al-Dahhak there was a band
I did not know that its bowmen were the Qanā
Whose steel was eager for the heads of kings.
And that the Oryx were its fathers and ancestors.
إذاwhen سُبِرتْwere probed غِبَّafter الحروبِwars جِراحُهاits wounds
إذا سُبِرتْ غِبَّ الحروبِ جِراحُها
أتتهاcame to it العواليthe tall lances والسيوفُand the swords تعودُهاvisit it in sickness
أتتها العوالي والسيوفُ تعودُها
When its wounds were probed after wars,
So do not make destinies like its swords.
Tall lances came to it, and swords paid it a sickbed visit.
Destinies may rinse off those who scheme against them.
تفارقُdepart فيfor حُبِّlove of الثّناءِpraise نفوسُهاtheir souls
تفارقُ في حُبِّ الثّناءِ نفوسُها
وقدand already علِمَتْthey knew أنّthat الثّناءَpraise خُلودُهاtheir immortality
وقد علِمَتْ أنّ الثّناءَ خُلودُها
Their souls depart for love of praise,
I say this after the enemy was repelled in the evening
Knowing already that praise is their immortality.
And sheathed its blades to draw them again.
ولمand did not أكُI was أدريknow أنّthat أُخوتَهاtheir brothers القَناthe lances
ولم أكُ أدري أنّ أُخوتَها القَنا
وأنّand that الظُّباthe sharp blades آباؤُهاtheir fathers وجدودُهاand their forefathers
وأنّ الظُّبا آباؤُها وجدودُها
I had not known that lances were their brothers,
Are those necks which lost their heads
And sharp blades their fathers and forefathers.
Cast down, or are those swords that lost their sharp edges?
فلاso do not تجعَلواmake الأقدارَfate's decrees مثلَthe equal of سيوفِهاtheir swords
فلا تجعَلوا الأقدارَ مثلَ سيوفِها
فقدfor indeed تَبسقُsurpass الأقدارَfate's decrees فيمنagainst whoever يَكيدُهاplots against them
فقد تَبسقُ الأقدارَ فيمن يَكيدُها
So do not make fate the equal of their swords,
For they surpass fate against whoever plots against them.
أقولI say وقدwhen already سُلَّتْthey were drawn عشيةَon the evening of جازِرٍJazir
أقول وقد سُلَّتْ عشيةَ جازِرٍ
ولاذتْand sought refuge بِهاin them أغمادُهاtheir scabbards تَستَعيدُهاseek to reclaim them
ولاذتْ بِها أغمادُها تَستَعيدُها
I say, as they were drawn on the evening of Jazir,
And their scabbards sought refuge in them, asking them back:
أتلكَare those رقابٌnecks زايلتْهاhave parted from them رؤوسُهاtheir heads
أتلكَ رقابٌ زايلتْها رؤوسُها
لِقاًcast away أمor سيوفٌswords زايلتهاhave parted from them غُمودُهاtheir sheaths
لِقاً أم سيوفٌ زايلتها غُمودُها
Are those necks abandoned by their heads,
Cast away—or swords abandoned by their sheaths?
Partial English translation: 104 of 110 Arabic lines translated.