بدولةthrough the rule of التُّركِthe Turks عزَّتgrew mighty ملَّةُthe faith of العربِthe Arabs
بدولة التُّركِ عزَّت ملَّةُ العربِ
وبابنand through the son of أَيّوبَAyyub ذلَّتwas humbled شيعةُthe followers of الصُّلبthe crosses
وبابن أَيّوبَ ذلَّت شيعةُ الصُّلب
Under the Turks' rule, the Arabs' faith grew mighty;
The glory of the Arabs revived in the land of the Turks,
through Ibn Ayyub, the followers of the crosses were humbled.
And the followers of the Cross were humiliated by the son of Ayyub,
وفيand in زمانِthe time of ابنthe son of أَيوبٍAyyub غَدتْbecame حلبٌAleppo
وفي زمانِ ابن أَيوبٍ غَدتْ حلبٌ
منpart of أَرضthe land of مصرَEgypt وعادتand became مصرُEgypt منpart of حلبِAleppo
من أَرض مصرَ وعادت مصرُ من حلبِ
In Ibn Ayyub's time, Aleppo became
In the time of the son of Ayyub, Aleppo attained
part of Egypt's land, and Egypt, in turn, became part of Aleppo.
The status of Egypt, and Egypt attained that of Aleppo,
ولابنand to the son of أَيّوبٍAyyub دانتsubmitted كُلُّevery مملكةٍkingdom
ولابن أَيّوبٍ دانت كُلُّ مملكةٍ
بالصَّفْحthrough clemency والصُّلحِand peace أَوor بالْحربِthrough war والحَرَبِand plunder
بالصَّفْح والصُّلحِ أَو بالْحربِ والحَرَبِ
Every kingdom submitted to Ibn Ayyub,
To the son of Ayyub submitted every kingdom
through clemency and peace, or through war and plunder.
Either willingly or through war and fighting,
مظفَّرُvictory-blessed النَّصرِvictory منعوتٌdistinguished بهمتهby his ambition
مظفَّرُ النَّصرِ منعوتٌ بهمته
إلىtoward العزائِمgreat undertakings مدلولٌmarked out علىfor الغلَبِsupremacy
إلى العزائِم مدلولٌ على الغلَبِ
Blessed with victory, distinguished by his ambition
Victorious, aided by his resolve,
for great undertakings, marked out for supremacy.
His determination leading him to triumph,
والدَّهرُand Time بالقَدرِthrough destiny المحتومِthe inevitable يَخْدُمُهserves him
والدَّهرُ بالقَدرِ المحتومِ يَخْدُمُه
والأَرضُand the earth بالخلقِِwith creatures والأَفلاكُand the celestial spheres بالشُّهبwith shooting stars
والأَرضُ بالخلقِِ والأَفلاكُ بالشُّهب
Time serves him through inevitable destiny,
While fate in its prescribed course serves him
the earth with its creatures, and the celestial spheres with shooting stars.
And the earth with its creatures and the stars with their orbits,
ويَجتليand behold الخلقُthe people منfrom راياتهِhis banners أَبداًalways
ويَجتلي الخلقُ من راياتهِ أَبداً
مبيضةَwhitened النَّصرِvictory منfrom مصفَّرةyellowed العَذَبthe banner-fringes
مبيضةَ النَّصرِ من مصفَّرة العَذَب
People ever behold in his banners
Before his banners creation perpetually appears
victory's white radiance from their yellow fringes.
White with victory, yellow with ripened fruit.
إِنَّindeed العواصمَal-ʿAwasim (strongholds) كانتwas أيّwhat a عاصمةٍstronghold
إِنَّ العواصمَ كانت أيّ عاصمةٍ
معصومةًinviolate بتعاليهاthrough its elevation عنabove الرُّتَبِthe ranks
معصومةً بتعاليها عن الرُّتَبِ
Indeed, al-ʿAwasim was a stronghold without peer,
The citadels - which citadel ever
inviolate through its elevation above all ranks.
Was immune in its loftiness from all change?
ماnot دارَturned قطُّever عليهاagainst it دورُthe turn of دائرةٍa calamity
ما دارَ قطُّ عليها دورُ دائرةٍ
كلاَّno indeed وَلاَnor وَاصَلَتْهاreached it نوبةُa visitation of النُّوبِcalamities
كلاَّ وَلاَ وَاصَلَتْها نوبةُ النُّوبِ
Never had the wheel of calamity turned against it;
Never did the cycle of vicissitudes revolve around it
no indeed, nor had any visitation of disaster reached it.
Nor did the stroke of fate reach it.
لوif رامَهاsought it الدَّهرُTime لمnot يظفَرْsucceed بِبُغْيَتهِin his desire
لو رامَها الدَّهرُ لم يظفَرْ بِبُغْيَتهِ
ولَوْand if رماهَاhe shot at it بِقوسِwith the bow of الأُفْقِِthe horizon لمnot يصُبhit
ولَوْ رماهَا بِقوسِ الأُفْقِِ لم يصُب
Had Time sought it, he would not have attained his desire;
Had time desired to vanquish it, it would not have succeeded,
had he shot at it with the horizon's bow, he would have missed.
Had it shot at it with the bow of the horizon, it would have missed.
ولوْand if أَتَىcame أَسدُthe Lion of الأَبْراجِthe zodiac مُنْتَصراًseeking victory
ولوْ أَتَى أَسدُ الأَبْراجِ مُنْتَصراً
خَارتْfailed قوائمهُhis legs عنهاbefore it ولمand did not يَثِبِleap
خَارتْ قوائمهُ عنها ولم يَثِبِ
Had the zodiac's Lion come seeking victory,
Had the lion of the zodiac attacked it victoriously,
his legs would have failed before it, and he would not have leapt.
Its feet would have slipped and it would not have pounced.
جَليسةُcompanion of النَّجْمِthe star فيin أَعْلَىthe highest of منازِلهits stations
جَليسةُ النَّجْمِ في أَعْلَى منازِله
وطَالماand often غَابَvanished عنْهاfrom it وهْيwhile it لَمْdid not تَغِبِvanish
وطَالما غَابَ عنْها وهْي لَمْ تَغِبِ
It sits beside the star in its highest station;
It sits with the stars in their highest mansions,
often the star has vanished from its sight, while the stronghold has never vanished.
Though they set, it does not set.
تُلقِيlowers إذاwhen عطشتit thirsts والبرقُand the lightning أَرشيةٌwell-ropes
تُلقِي إذا عطشت والبرقُ أَرشيةٌ
كواكبَthe stars of الدَّلوthe Bucket (Aquarius) فيinto بئرٍa well منof السُّحبclouds
كواكبَ الدَّلو في بئرٍ من السُّحب
When thirsty, it lowers—with lightning for ropes—
When thirsty, it draws the stars in the bucket of the clouds
the stars of the Bucket into a well of clouds.
As the water-carrier draws water from the well.
كُلُّall القلاعِfortresses ترومُseek السُّحبَthe clouds فيin صَعَدٍan ascent
كُلُّ القلاعِ ترومُ السُّحبَ في صَعَدٍ
إِلاَّexcept العواصمَal-ʿAwasim (strongholds) تَبْغِيseeks السُّحبَthe clouds فيin صَبَبa descent
إِلاَّ العواصمَ تَبْغِي السُّحبَ في صَبَب
All fortresses seek the clouds by ascending,
All fortresses seek clouds on high ground,
except al-ʿAwasim, which seeks the clouds by descending.
While the citadels seek clouds from low valleys.
حتَّىuntil أَتَىcame مَنْone whose مَنالُattainment of النَّجْمِthe star مَطْلبُهhis goal
حتَّى أَتَى مَنْ مَنالُ النَّجْمِ مَطْلبُه
ياO طالبَseeker of النَّجمthe star قَدْindeed أَوْغَلْتَyou ventured far فيin الطَّلَبthe quest
يا طالبَ النَّجم قَدْ أَوْغَلْتَ في الطَّلَب
Until there came one whose goal was to reach the star:
Until the one whose destiny was the stars came,
O seeker of the star, you have ventured far in your quest!
“O seeker of stars, you have plunged deep into seeking!”
مَنْone who لوif أَبىrefused الفلكُthe heavenly sphere الدَّوارُthe revolving طاعتَهobedience to him
مَنْ لو أَبى الفلكُ الدَّوارُ طاعتَه
لصيَّرwould make الرأْسَthe head منهof it موضعَthe place of الذَّنَبthe tail
لصيَّر الرأْسَ منه موضعَ الذَّنَب
One who, if the revolving sphere refused to obey him,
One who, had the revolving sphere refused him obedience,
would put its head where its tail belongs.
Would have reversed it, making its head its tail.
أَتَىhe came إِليهاto it يقودُleading البحرَthe sea مُلتَطِماًsurging
أَتَى إِليها يقودُ البحرَ مُلتَطِماً
والبِيضُand the white blades كالمَوْجِlike waves والبَيْضَاتُand the helmets كالْحبَبِlike bubbles
والبِيضُ كالمَوْجِ والبَيْضَاتُ كالْحبَبِ
He came to it leading a surging sea,
He came to it, leading the roaring sea,
with white blades like waves and helmets like bubbles.
With his whites like waves and his tents like pearls.
تبدوappear الفوارسُthe horsemen منهfrom it فيin سَوابِغِهاtheir ample coats of mail
تبدو الفوارسُ منه في سَوابِغِها
بينbetween النقيضينthe two opposites منof ماءٍwater ومنand of لهبِflame
بين النقيضين من ماءٍ ومن لهبِ
From it the horsemen appear in their ample coats of mail,
The horsemen in their armours appear
between two opposites: water and flame.
Between the opposites of water and flame.
مُسْتَلْئِمينclad in armor ولولاand were it not أَنَّهمthat they حَفِظُواobserved
مُسْتَلْئِمين ولولا أَنَّهم حَفِظُوا
عوائدَthe customs of الحْربِwar لاسْتَغْنَواthey would have dispensed عنwith اليَلَبِarmor
عوائدَ الحْربِ لاسْتَغْنَوا عن اليَلَبِ
Armored—and had they not observed
Their beauty as they return from their raids,
war's customs, they would have had no need of armor.
Not carrying firewood but leading captives.
جِمَالُهمtheir camels منfrom مَغازيهمtheir campaigns إِذاwhen قَفَلواthey returned
جِمَالُهم من مَغازيهم إِذا قَفَلوا
حَمَّالةُbearers of السَّبْيِcaptives لاnot حمُّالةُbearers of الحَطبِfirewood
حَمَّالةُ السَّبْيِ لا حمُّالةُ الحَطبِ
When returning from their campaigns, their camels
He circled a sanctuary which no tongue touches
carry captives, not firewood.
Except the tips of canes made slender by peeling.
فطافَthen he circled منهاof it بركنٍaround a corner لاnot يقبِّلهُkisses it
فطافَ منها بركنٍ لا يقبِّلهُ
إِلاexcept أَسنَّةُspearheads أَطرافِthe tips of القَناthe lances السُّلُبِthe long, slender
إِلا أَسنَّةُ أَطرافِ القَنا السُّلُبِ
Then he circled a corner of it, kissed
He descended around it on a revolving sphere
only by spearheads at the tips of long, slender lances.
And circled its highest tower on an axis.
وحلَّand he encamped منfrom حولِهاits perimeter الأَقْصىthe outermost علىupon فلكٍan orbit
وحلَّ من حولِها الأَقْصى على فلكٍ
ودَارَand revolved منfrom بُرجِهاits tower الأَعلىthe highest علىaround قُطُبِa pole
ودَارَ من بُرجِها الأَعلى على قُطُبِ
He encamped on an orbit at its outermost perimeter,
It denied him access like a reluctant beloved,
and revolved around a pole by its loftiest tower.
Sweeter to him than honey or sweetest wine.
وَمَانَعَتْهand it resisted him كمعشوقٍlike a beloved تمنُّعُهhis coy refusal
وَمَانَعَتْه كمعشوقٍ تمنُّعُه
أَحلىsweeter منthan الشَّهدِhoneycomb أَوor أَحْلَىsweeter منthan الضَّرَبِthick white honey
أَحلى من الشَّهدِ أَو أَحْلَى من الضَّرَبِ
It resisted him like a beloved whose coy refusal
So he passed it by neither angry nor annoyed
is sweeter than honeycomb, or sweeter than thick white honey.
And marched on neither spiteful nor wrathful.
فمرَّso he passed عنهاaway from it بلاwithout غيظٍrage ولاnor حَنَقٍfury
فمرَّ عنها بلا غيظٍ ولا حَنَقٍ
وسارand marched عنهاaway from it بلاwithout حِقْدٍrancor ولاnor غَضَبanger
وسار عنها بلا حِقْدٍ ولا غَضَب
He passed it by without rage or fury,
His battalions folded up the lands and their inhabitants
and marched away without rancor or anger.
As books are folded by their binders.
تطوىfold up البلادَthe lands وأَهليهاand their people كتائبُهhis battalions
تطوى البلادَ وأَهليها كتائبُه
طيَّاًa folding كماas طَوتِfolded الكتَّابُthe scribes للكُتُبِof scrolls
طيَّاً كما طَوتِ الكتَّابُ للكُتُبِ
His battalions fold up the lands and their people,
He reached the Euphrates and found in it a ferocious lion
folding them as scribes fold up scrolls.
Who sat mocking its flowing waters.
وافىhe reached الفراتَthe Euphrates فأَلفىand found فيهthere ذاone full of لَجَبٍclamor
وافى الفراتَ فأَلفى فيه ذا لَجَبٍ
يظلُّkeeps يهزأُmocking مِنْat تَيَّارِهits current اللَّجِبِthe roaring
يظلُّ يهزأُ مِنْ تَيَّارِه اللَّجِبِ
He reached the Euphrates and found there a clamorous host
His troops plunged into the waves, throwing themselves in,
that kept mocking its roaring current.
Floating in it like straws and scraps of paper.
رمَتflung بهwith him الجُرْدُthe sleek steeds فيinto التَّيارِthe current أَنْفسَهاthemselves
رمَت به الجُرْدُ في التَّيارِ أَنْفسَها
فعومهاso their swimming فيهin it كالتقريبlike cantering والخببand trotting
فعومها فيه كالتقريب والخبب
The sleek steeds flung themselves with him into the current;
They scorned to cross it in boats and carry them,
their swimming there was like cantering and trotting.
For their glory scorned the ignominy of wood.
لمdid not ترضَconsent بالسُّفنِto ships أَنto تَغْدوbecome حواملَهاtheir bearers
لم ترضَ بالسُّفنِ أَن تَغْدو حواملَها
فعزُّهاfor their pride ليسdoes not يَرْضىaccept ذِلَّةthe humiliation of الخَشبwood
فعزُّها ليس يَرْضى ذِلَّة الخَشب
They would not accept ships as their bearers,
He had taught them to cut across the Euphrates with him,
for their pride would not endure the humiliation of wood.
Learning to swim in a sea of blood.
وكانand had علَّمهاtaught them قطعَthe crossing of الفراتِthe Euphrates بهwith him
وكان علَّمها قطعَ الفراتِ به
تعلُّمُlearning العومِswimming فيin بحرa sea of الدَّمblood السَّربthe flowing
تعلُّمُ العومِ في بحر الدَّم السَّرب
What had taught them to cross the Euphrates with him
They crossed it and left behind them in its twists and turns
was learning to swim in a sea of flowing blood.
Scattered pearls atop ridge and dune.
وجاوزتْهand they crossed it وأَبْقَىand it left منfrom فواقِعهits bubbles
وجاوزتْه وأَبْقَى من فواقِعه
درّاًpearls ترصَّعَset like jewels فوقupon العُرفthe manes واللَّبَبِand the chests
درّاً ترصَّعَ فوق العُرف واللَّبَبِ
They crossed it, and it left, from its bubbles,
To lands that had responded ere called
pearls set upon their manes and chests.
By their suitors, else, fearing ruin, they would not have consented.
إِلىtoward بلادٍlands أَجابتresponded قبلماbefore دُعيتwere summoned
إِلى بلادٍ أَجابت قبلما دُعيت
للخاطبينto the suitors ولولاand but for الخوفُfear لمnot تُجبrespond
للخاطبين ولولا الخوفُ لم تُجب
Toward lands that, before being called, responded
Had they not answered Joseph's call,
to the suitors; but for fear, they would not have answered.
Their lands would have become like a desolate valley.
لوif لمnot تُجِبanswered يُوسفاًYusuf منfrom قبلِbefore دعْوَتَهhis summons
لو لم تُجِب يُوسفاً من قبلِ دعْوَتَه
لَعادَwould have become عامِرُهاtheir flourishing dwellings كالجوسقlike the palace الخَرِبِthe ruined
لَعادَ عامِرُها كالجوسق الخَرِبِ
Had they not answered Yusuf before his summons,
Their kings feared and fled, the cities panic-stricken,
their flourishing dwellings would have become like a ruined palace.
The people scattered and lands deserted.
خَافَتْthey feared وخافَand feared وفرَّand fled المالكونthe rulers لَهاof them
خَافَتْ وخافَ وفرَّ المالكون لَها
فالْمُدْنُso the cities فيin رَهَبdread والقومُand the people فيin هَربflight
فالْمُدْنُ في رَهَب والقومُ في هَرب
The lands feared; their rulers feared and fled:
Then they consented, and no fortress remained inaccessible,
the cities in dread, their people in flight.
No kingdom unviolated.
ثمthen استجابَتْthey submitted فلاso no حصنٌfortress بممتنعٍwas resistant
ثم استجابَتْ فلا حصنٌ بممتنعٍ
مِنْهاamong them عليهِagainst him ولاnor مُلْكrealm بِمُحتَجِبِwas concealed
مِنْها عليهِ ولا مُلْك بِمُحتَجِبِ
Then they submitted, so no fortress
Dawn overtook them anxious and dusk left them drunk
among them could resist him, and no realm remained concealed.
With revelry, play, and musical pipes.
وأَصبَحواand they awoke مِنْهbecause of him فيin هَمٍّdistress وصبَّحهمand he came upon them at dawn
وأَصبَحوا مِنْه في هَمٍّ وصبَّحهم
وهُمْwhile they سُكَارَىwere drunk بكأْسِon the cup of اللَّهوِpleasure والطَّربِand revelry
وهُمْ سُكَارَى بكأْسِ اللَّهوِ والطَّربِ
They awoke distressed because of him; he came upon them at dawn,
Free of all cares, they indulged in the pleasures of life
while they were drunk on the cup of pleasure and revelry.
And neglected their frontiers for kisses and youths.
تفرَّغُواthey devoted themselves لنعيمto the delights of العيشِlife واشْتغلواand were distracted
تفرَّغُوا لنعيم العيشِ واشْتغلوا
عنfrom الثُّغورِthe frontiers بلثمِby kissing الثَّغْرِthe mouth والشَّنَبِand pearly teeth
عن الثُّغورِ بلثمِ الثَّغْرِ والشَّنَبِ
They devoted themselves to life's delights, distracted
The lands of Syria attained no clever ruler
from the frontiers by kisses on mouths and pearly teeth.
Or wise counselor to guide them aright.
أَرضُthe land of الجزيرةِal-Jazira لمdid not تظفَرْfind ممالِكُهاits kingdoms
أَرضُ الجزيرةِ لم تظفَرْ ممالِكُها
بمالكٍwith a ruler فطِنٍastute أَوor سَائِسٍa governor دَرِبِexperienced
بمالكٍ فطِنٍ أَو سَائِسٍ دَرِبِ
The kingdoms in the land of al-Jazira had never found
Kingdoms ruled not by their appointed ruler
an astute ruler or an experienced governor.
But by the whims of eunuchs or minds of boys.
ممالكٌkingdoms لمnot يُدَبِّرهاgoverned them مدبرهاtheir governor
ممالكٌ لم يُدَبِّرها مدبرها
إِلاexcept برأْيby the counsel of خَصِيٍّa eunuch أَوor بعَقلِby the mind of صَبِيa child
إِلا برأْي خَصِيٍّ أَو بعَقلِ صَبِي
Kingdoms their governor had ruled
Until Salah al-Din came and reformed them,
only by a eunuch's counsel or a child's mind.
Saving them from corruption as a body is cured of disease.
حتَّىuntil أَتاهاcame to them صلاحُSalah (rectitude) الدِّينِal-Din (the faith) فانْصَلَحَتْand they were set right
حتَّى أَتاها صلاحُ الدِّينِ فانْصَلَحَتْ
منfrom الفسادِcorruption كَماas صحَّتْthey recovered مِنَfrom الوَصَبِsickness
من الفسادِ كَما صحَّتْ مِنَ الوَصَبِ
Until Salah al-Din came to them, and they were set right
He took governance seriously, heedless of frivolity,
from corruption, as they recovered from sickness.
As if it were in earnest rather than a game.
واستعملَand he applied الجِدَّearnest effort فيهاthere غيرَnot مكترثٍconcerned
واستعملَ الجِدَّ فيها غيرَ مكترثٍ
بالجَدِّwith luck حتىuntil كأَنَّas though الجِدَّearnest effort كاللَّعِبlike play
بالجَدِّ حتى كأَنَّ الجِدَّ كاللَّعِب
He applied earnest effort there, unconcerned
He embraced it all and freely granted some of it,
with luck, until earnest effort seemed like play.
For he is the one who grants dominion, and did not receive it as a gift.
وقدand indeed حَواهاpossessed them وأَعْطىand gave بعضَهاsome of them هِبةًas a gift
وقد حَواها وأَعْطى بعضَها هِبةً
فهوَso he الَّذِيis the one who يَهَبُgives الدُّنْيَاthe world ولمand never يَهَبfeared
فهوَ الَّذِي يَهَبُ الدُّنْيَا ولم يَهَب
He possessed them and gave some away as a gift;
He gave to him from whom kingdoms had been seized
he is the one who gives the world away and has never feared.
And would bestow on the despoiled the spoils themselves.
يُعطيِhe gives to الذيthe one whose أُخِذتwere taken منهfrom him ممالكُهhis kingdoms
يُعطيِ الذي أُخِذت منه ممالكُه
وقدand may يَمُنُّbestow a favor علىupon المسلوبِthe dispossessed بالسَّلبwith the spoils
وقد يَمُنُّ على المسلوبِ بالسَّلب
He gives to those whose kingdoms were taken from them,
He gifted cities to those who asked of him,
and may favor the dispossessed with the spoils.
While he himself remained aloof from wealth.
ويمنحُand grants المدنَthe cities فيas الجَدْوىlargesse لسائِلهto his petitioner
ويمنحُ المدنَ في الجَدْوى لسائِله
كمَاas ترفَّعَhe rose above فيin الجدْوىgenerosity عنabove الذَّهبgold
كمَا ترفَّعَ في الجدْوى عن الذَّهب
He grants cities as largesse to his petitioner,
Since Aleppo saw him deny it his presence,
as he has risen above gold in his generosity.
While joining it to the lands of sweetest aleppine.
ومذand when رأَتْsaw صدَّهhis turning away عنfrom رَبْعهاits abode حلبٌAleppo
ومذ رأَتْ صدَّه عن رَبْعها حلبٌ
ووصلَهand his attachment ببلادِto lands حُلْوةِsweet in الحَلَبmilk yield
ووصلَه ببلادِ حُلْوةِ الحَلَب
When Aleppo saw his turning away from its abode,
It turned on him, hands outstretched in need,
and his closeness to lands whose milk was sweet,
Beseeching him, face gloomy and sad.
غارَتْgrew jealous عليهover him ومدَّتْand stretched out كفَّthe palm of مفْتقِرa needy person
غارَتْ عليه ومدَّتْ كفَّ مفْتقِر
مِنْهاfrom it إِليهtoward him وأَبْدَتand showed وجهَthe face of مُكْتَئِبa sorrowful one
مِنْها إِليه وأَبْدَت وجهَ مُكْتَئِب
it grew jealous over him and stretched out a beggar's palm
He was merciful to its pleas,
from itself toward him, and showed a sorrowful face.
Solidly concluding a peace it had urgently sought.
واستعطفَتْهand sought his compassion فَوافَتْهاso reached it عواطفُهhis affections
واستعطفَتْه فَوافَتْها عواطفُه
وأَكثبَand brought near الصُّلْحَpeace إِذwhen نادَتْهit called him عنfrom كَثبِclose by
وأَكثبَ الصُّلْحَ إِذ نادَتْه عن كَثبِ
It sought his compassion, and his tenderness reached it;
He entered it with unwavering resolve
he brought peace close when it called him from close by.
For those who rise up, and unshakable stronghold.
وحلَّand he settled مِنْهاwithin it بأُفْقٍat a horizon غيرِnot منخفضٍlow
وحلَّ مِنْها بأُفْقٍ غيرِ منخفضٍ
للصَّاعدينto those ascending وبُرجٍand a tower غيرِnot مُنقلِبoverturned
للصَّاعدين وبُرجٍ غيرِ مُنقلِب
He settled within it on a horizon not low
The openings of victory without obstacles, and its hero
for those ascending, and in a tower never overturned.
The sovereign of sovereigns, its master without falsehood.
فتحُthe conquest of الفتوحِconquests بلاwithout مَيْنٍfalsehood وصاحبُهand its master
فتحُ الفتوحِ بلا مَيْنٍ وصاحبُه
مَلْكُthe king of الملوكِkings ومَوْلاهاand their lord بِلاwithout كَذِبِa lie
مَلْكُ الملوكِ ومَوْلاها بِلا كَذِبِ
The conquest of conquests, without falsehood; its master
The marvels that came to us from him are many,
is the king of kings and their lord, without a lie.
His wondrous talents turned the marvelous into the unmarvelous.
ومعجزٍand a miracle كَمْhow many أَتاناcame to us منهfrom him مُشْبِهُهits like
ومعجزٍ كَمْ أَتانا منه مُشْبِهُه
فصارَso became لاnot عجباًa wonder منthrough فَضْلهِhis excellence العَجَبِthe wondrous
فصارَ لا عجباً من فَضْلهِ العَجَبِ
And a miracle—how often its like has come to us from him!
Rejoice at the conquest, O greatest of all people,
So, through his wondrous excellence, it ceased to be a wonder.
For it is your heritage from your noble forefathers.
تَهنَّrejoice بالفتحِin the conquest ياO أَوْلَىmost deserving among الأَنامِmankind بهof it
تَهنَّ بالفتحِ يا أَوْلَى الأَنامِ به
فالفتحُfor conquest إِرْثُكis your inheritance عَنْfrom آبائِكyour forefathers النُّجُبِthe noble
فالفتحُ إِرْثُك عَنْ آبائِك النُّجُبِ
Rejoice in the conquest, O most deserving of it among mankind;
So glory in your conquest, for yours is a glory for the glorious,
conquest is your inheritance from your noble forefathers.
A treasure for the treasurer, gain for the gainer.
وافخَرْand take pride فَفَتْحُكfor your conquest ذاthis فخرٌis pride لمفتخرٍfor one who takes pride
وافخَرْ فَفَتْحُك ذا فخرٌ لمفتخرٍ
ذُخْرٌa treasure لمدَّخِرٍfor one who stores كسبٌa gain لمكتَسبِfor one who acquires
ذُخْرٌ لمدَّخِرٍ كسبٌ لمكتَسبِ
Take pride: this conquest of yours is pride for the proud,
Through you the citadels were set right after rotting
a treasure for those who store, a gain for those who acquire.
Under their rulers. Without you, they would not have prospered.
بكَthrough you العواصمُal-ʿAwasim (strongholds) طَبَتbecame wholesome بعدماafter خَبُثَتْbecame corrupt
بكَ العواصمُ طَبَت بعدما خَبُثَتْ
بِمَالِكِيهاby its rulers ولولاَand but for أَنْتَyou لمnot تَطِبِbecome wholesome
بِمَالِكِيها ولولاَ أَنْتَ لم تَطِبِ
Through you al-ʿAwasim became wholesome after being corrupted
Would that each dawn whose radiance breaks
by its rulers; without you it would not have become wholesome.
Were a ransom for the knight of knights in Aleppo!
فليتwould that كلَّevery صباحmorning ذرَّrose شَارقُهits sun
فليت كلَّ صباح ذرَّ شَارقُه
فداءُa ransom for ليلِthe night of فَتَىthe youth of الفتيانِyouths فيin حَلَبِAleppo
فداءُ ليلِ فَتَى الفتيانِ في حَلَبِ
Would that every morning whose sun rises
I love a land in which you dwell,
were ransom for the night of the finest of youths in Aleppo.
And its dwellers, though they are not my kinfolk,
إنِّيindeed I أُحِبُّlove بِلاداًlands أَنتyou ساكنُهاtheir inhabitant
إنِّي أُحِبُّ بِلاداً أَنت ساكنُها
وساكنِيهاand their inhabitants وليسُواand they are not مِنْamong ذَوِيthose sharing نَسَبيmy lineage
وساكنِيها وليسُوا مِنْ ذَوِي نَسَبي
I love lands where you dwell,
Only because you have become its master,
and their inhabitants, though they are not of my lineage,
Beyond all other men. Is love without cause?
إِلاَّonly لأَنَّكَbecause you قدindeed أَصبحتَhave become مالكَهاtheir master
إِلاَّ لأَنَّكَ قد أَصبحتَ مالكَها
دونrather than الأَنامِmankind وهلand is there حُبٌّlove بلاwithout سَبَبa cause
دون الأَنامِ وهل حُبٌّ بلا سَبَب
only because you have become their master
So the bounty of your hand is my treasure and my hand’s,
rather than anyone else—and is there love without a cause?
And love of your abode my inheritance from my father and his father.
فجودfor the bounty of كفِّكَyour palm ذُخْرٌa treasure فيin يَدِيmy hand ويديand my strength
فجود كفِّكَ ذُخْرٌ في يَدِي ويدي
وحُبُّand love of بيتكِyour house إِرْثِيmy inheritance عنfrom أَبِيmy father فَأَبِيthen my forefather
وحُبُّ بيتكِ إِرْثِي عن أَبِي فَأَبِي
Your palm's bounty is a treasure in my hand, and my strength;
For the praise of you has diverted my poetry from amorous verse,
love of your house is my inheritance from father after father.
Making it concise after diffuseness.
ألهىdistracted مديحُكpraise of you شِعْريmy poetry عنfrom تَغَزُّلِهits love-poetry
ألهى مديحُك شِعْري عن تَغَزُّلِه
فجاءَso it came مقتضَباًwithout a prelude فيin إِثرِthe wake of مُقْتَضَبِanother prelude-less poem
فجاءَ مقتضَباً في إِثرِ مُقْتَضَبِ
Praise of you has distracted my poetry from its love songs,
I have not said in it, "My youth was the day I departed,"
so one poem without a prelude followed another.
Nor "The beautiful one is with me."
فلمso I did not أَقُلْsay فيهin it لاَneither أَنَّthat الصبابةَlovesickness لِيwas mine
فلم أَقُلْ فيه لاَ أَنَّ الصبابةَ لِي
يومَon the day of الرَّحيلِdeparture ولاnor أَنَّthat المليحةَthe beautiful woman بِيfor me
يومَ الرَّحيلِ ولا أَنَّ المليحةَ بِي
So I said in it neither that lovesickness was mine
on departure day, nor that the lovely woman pined for me.
Partial English translation: 112 of 114 Arabic lines translated.