سَلواAsk الأُسودَthe lions الضّواريthe savage ones إِذwhen تُعاديهِthey oppose him
سَلوا الأُسودَ الضّواري إِذ تُعاديهِ
فيin الحَربِbattle عمّاabout what رَأىsaw منهُof him مُلاقيهِhis challenger
في الحَربِ عمّا رَأى منهُ مُلاقيهِ
Ask the savage lions, when they oppose him
Ask the fierce lions when they are opposed in war,
In battle, what his challenger saw of him.
What they saw in their opponents who engaged them.
سَلواAsk الرِّماحَthe spears العَواليthe lofty ones ماwhat الَّذيthat which شَرِبَتthey drank
سَلوا الرِّماحَ العَوالي ما الَّذي شَرِبَت
فَقَدfor indeed سَقاهاhe gave them drink دَماًblood أَحشاthe entrails of معاديهِhis foes
فَقَد سَقاها دَماً أَحشا معاديهِ
Ask the lofty spears what they have drunk;
Ask the lofty spears what they drank,
For he gave them blood to drink from his foes' entrails.
For they were given to drink the blood of a vicious foe.
سَلواAsk السّيوفَthe swords المَواضيthe keen ones ماwhat الَّذيthat which طَعِمَتthey ate
سَلوا السّيوفَ المَواضي ما الَّذي طَعِمَت
فَقَدfor indeed قَراهاhe feasted them قُلوباًhearts مِنfrom أَعاديهِhis enemies
فَقَد قَراها قُلوباً مِن أَعاديهِ
Ask the keen swords what they have eaten;
Ask the sharpened swords what they tasted,
For he feasted them on hearts from his enemies.
For they devoured the hearts of enemies.
سَلواAsk الوَقائِعَthe battles عمّاabout what مِنهُof him شاهدهُwitnessed it
سَلوا الوَقائِعَ عمّا مِنهُ شاهدهُ
بَنوthe sons of النُّصَيْرِal-Nusayr بِهِمagainst them تَشهَدbear witness مَغازيهِhis campaigns
بَنو النُّصَيْرِ بِهِم تَشهَد مَغازيهِ
Ask the battles what was witnessed of him
Ask the battles what they witnessed,
By Banu al-Nusayr; his campaigns against them bear witness.
The sons of Nasir bore witness with their conquests.
لَيثُthe lion of العَرينِthe lair يَخوضُwades into الحَربَwar هائِجَةًraging
لَيثُ العَرينِ يَخوضُ الحَربَ هائِجَةً
عَلىin اِنبِساطٍease بِلاwithout قَبضٍshrinking يُدانيهِdraws near him
عَلى اِنبِساطٍ بِلا قَبضٍ يُدانيهِ
The lion of the lair wades into raging war,
The lion of the den wages raging war
At ease, with no shrinking drawing near him.
Charging forth fearlessly to meet his rivals.
يَصولُhe charges بَينَamong الأَعاديthe enemies لاnot يَهابُهمُhe fears them
يَصولُ بَينَ الأَعادي لا يَهابُهمُ
كَماas إِذاwhen صالَcharged بَينَamong العَنزِthe goats راعيهِtheir shepherd
كَما إِذا صالَ بَينَ العَنزِ راعيهِ
He charges among his enemies, unafraid of them,
He attacks the enemies without fear,
As their shepherd charges among goats.
As if grazing among the sheep with their shepherd.
وَلَمand not تَكُنwas كَثرَةُthe multitude of الأَغنامِthe sheep ترهِبُهُfrightens him
وَلَم تَكُن كَثرَةُ الأَغنامِ ترهِبُهُ
أَيُرهبdoes ... terrify? العنزَthe goats لَيثُthe lion of الغابِthe forest ضاريهِits fierce one
أَيُرهب العنزَ لَيثُ الغابِ ضاريهِ
No multitude of sheep ever frightened him;
The multitude of sheep does not frighten him,
Does the forest's fierce lion terrify goats?
Would a lion in the forest fear the bleating sheep?
فَإِنso if رَأَوهُthey saw him وَلَوeven if فَرّواthey fled فَإِنّهمُthen indeed they
فَإِن رَأَوهُ وَلَو فَرّوا فَإِنّهمُ
جَيشُan army of العَصافيرِthe sparrows إِذwhen يَلقاهُencounters it بازيهِits hawk
جَيشُ العَصافيرِ إِذ يَلقاهُ بازيهِ
If they see him, even should they flee, they are
If they see him, though they may flee, they are but
A host of sparrows when its hawk encounters it.
An army of sparrows when they encounter a falcon.
شِبْلُa cub of الشّجاعَةِcourage رَضّاعاًever suckling أَصائِلهاits noble stock
شِبْلُ الشّجاعَةِ رَضّاعاً أَصائِلها
وَلَيسَand not عَنهاfrom it فَطيماًweaned إِذwhile تربّيهِit rears him
وَلَيسَ عَنها فَطيماً إِذ تربّيهِ
A cub of courage, ever suckling its noble stock,
A cub nourished on the milk of bravery,
And never weaned from it, while it rears him.
Never weaned from it as he was raised on it.
لَوif أَظلَمتgrew dark بِمُثارِwith the rising of النَّقعِdust معركةٌa battlefield
لَو أَظلَمت بِمُثارِ النَّقعِ معركةٌ
فَنورُthen the light of أَسيافِهِhis swords فيin النَّقعِthe dust يَهديهِguides him
فَنورُ أَسيافِهِ في النَّقعِ يَهديهِ
Should a battlefield darken with the rising dust,
If darkness descends during fierce combat,
The light of his swords guides him through the dust.
The light of his sword illuminates the darkness.
لاnot يتبعُhe pursues الفَشَلُthe fainthearted man المِفرارُthe habitual fugitive يِقتلهُkills him
لا يتبعُ الفَشَلُ المِفرارُ يِقتلهُ
إِنّindeed الفرارَflight لَعارٌsurely a disgrace فيهِin it يَكفيهِsuffices him
إِنّ الفرارَ لَعارٌ فيهِ يَكفيهِ
He does not pursue the fainthearted fugitive to kill him;
Failure and retreat do not follow him,
Indeed, the shame inherent in flight is enough for him.
Retreat is disgraceful, it does not suit him.
وَالقَتلُand being killed عِندَin the view of ذَويthose possessing الإِقدامِdaring أَهونُeasier مِنthan
وَالقَتلُ عِندَ ذَوي الإِقدامِ أَهونُ مِن
عارِthe disgrace of الفِرارِflight وَماand what أَضحىhas become يُضاهيهِresembles it
عارِ الفِرارِ وَما أَضحى يُضاهيهِ
For men of daring, being killed is easier than
To the brave, death is easier
The shame of flight and anything akin to it.
Than the disgrace of retreat, nothing equals it.
ماnot نازَلَتهchallenged him ضَراغيمٌfierce lions وَبارَزَهاand he dueled them
ما نازَلَته ضَراغيمٌ وَبارَزَها
إِلّاexcept وَأَقواهمُand their strongest أَضحىbecame يُناديهِcalls to him
إِلّا وَأَقواهمُ أَضحى يُناديهِ
Whenever lions challenged him and he dueled them,
Whenever he engaged the evildoers in combat,
Their strongest would begin calling out to him:
Their mightiest ended up crying out to him.
ياO أَيّهاyou الضّيغَمُthe lion الصّمصامِthe keen sword أَعْطِgrant لَناto us
يا أَيّها الضّيغَمُ الصّمصامِ أَعْطِ لَنا
أَمْناًsafety فَحربكfor war with you مِثليone like me لاnot يكافيهِcan match it
أَمْناً فَحربك مِثلي لا يكافيهِ
O lion, O keen sword, grant us
“O lion, stop your ferocious attacks,
Safety, for one like me cannot match your warfare.
For your war is too much for one like me.
قَدindeed كِدتُI nearly أَهلكُperish مِنfrom خَوفٍfear وَمِنand from رعبterror
قَد كِدتُ أَهلكُ مِن خَوفٍ وَمِن رعب
مِنَfrom الوَقارِthe dignity الَّذيthat يَعلوكَcrowns you زاهيهِits splendor
مِنَ الوَقارِ الَّذي يَعلوكَ زاهيهِ
I nearly perished of fear and terror
I almost died of fright and dread
At the dignity that crowns you in its splendor.
At your awe-inspiring grandeur and glory."
وَالعَفوand pardon يُمدَحُis praised حقّاًtruly عِندَin the presence of مَقدِرةًpower
وَالعَفو يُمدَحُ حقّاً عِندَ مَقدِرةً
إِذfor تِلكَthat تُثبِتُهُconfirms it وَالعَجزُand helplessness يَنفيهِnegates it
إِذ تِلكَ تُثبِتُهُ وَالعَجزُ يَنفيهِ
Pardon is truly praiseworthy when one has power,
Mercy is rightly praised when one is mighty,
For such power confirms it, while helplessness negates it.
For that affirms it, while weakness negates it.
نَجلُa son of المُروءَةِnoble virtue فيin مَهدِthe cradle of الفتوّةِchivalry قَدindeed
نَجلُ المُروءَةِ في مَهدِ الفتوّةِ قَد
أَنشاهُraised him مَولاهُhis Lord رَبُّthe Lord of الخَلْقِcreation باريهِhis Maker
أَنشاهُ مَولاهُ رَبُّ الخَلْقِ باريهِ
A son of noble virtue, in the cradle of chivalry,
The progeny of chivalry was raised in the cradle of heroism
His Lord raised him—the Lord of creation, his Maker.
By his Creator, the Lord of all beings.
شَمسُthe sun of العُلىeminence مُصطَفىMustafa العَلياءِlofty glory مَنْwho وَقَفَتstood
شَمسُ العُلى مُصطَفى العَلياءِ مَنْ وَقَفَت
كُلُّall الأماجِدِthe nobles طُرّاًaltogether عندat ناديهِhis assembly
كُلُّ الأماجِدِ طُرّاً عند ناديهِ
The sun of eminence, Mustafa of lofty glory, before whom stood
The sun of glory, Mustafa the most high, wherever he went
All the nobles, every one, at his assembly.
All glory stood aside before his eminence.
بَنىhe built مِنَfrom المَجدِglory وَالعَلياءِand eminence مَنزِلَهُhis dwelling
بَنى مِنَ المَجدِ وَالعَلياءِ مَنزِلَهُ
وَكانَand he was فَوقَabove سِماكِSimak العزِّglory يبنيهِbuilding it
وَكانَ فَوقَ سِماكِ العزِّ يبنيهِ
He built his dwelling out of glory and eminence,
He built his abode with glory and supremacy
And was building it above glory's Simak star.
And ascended above the sky of honor to construct it.
وَبِالرِّماحِand with the spears العَواليthe lofty ones وَالسّيوفِand the swords عَلىupon
وَبِالرِّماحِ العَوالي وَالسّيوفِ عَلى
مَناكبِthe shoulders of الفَخرِpride تَبنيهِbuild it مَعاليهِhis lofty deeds
مَناكبِ الفَخرِ تَبنيهِ مَعاليهِ
And with lofty spears and swords, upon
With lofty spears and swords atop the shoulders of pride
The shoulders of pride, his lofty deeds build it.
He built his glories.
فَأَصبَحَso became الفلَكُthe celestial sphere العاليthe lofty عَلىin شَغَفٍardent love
فَأَصبَحَ الفلَكُ العالي عَلى شَغَفٍ
يَودُّwishes لَوif only بُنِيَتwere built فيهwithin it مَغانيهِhis dwellings
يَودُّ لَو بُنِيَت فيه مَغانيهِ
So the lofty celestial sphere grew ardently enamored,
Thus the vault of heaven zealously wished
Wishing his dwellings were built within it.
That his melodies would be composed within it.
بَحرُa sea of النّدىbounty مَنْone whose نَداهُhis bounty عَمَّencompassed قاصِدَهhis seeker
بَحرُ النّدى مَنْ نَداهُ عَمَّ قاصِدَه
فَكانَso he was يغرقdrowning حقّاًtruly فيin مَجاريهِits currents
فَكانَ يغرق حقّاً في مَجاريهِ
A sea of bounty, whose bounty encompassed whoever sought him,
The sea of genius, whoever calls to it,
So that his seeker truly drowned in its currents.
Will verily drown in its currents.
عَفُّchaste of الإِزارِthe girdle وَإنَّand indeed العَدلَjustice يَملأهُfills him
عَفُّ الإِزارِ وَإنَّ العَدلَ يَملأهُ
فيin حُسنِfine حِلمٍforbearance بِتَدبيرٍwith judgment يُوافيهِbefits him
في حُسنِ حِلمٍ بِتَدبيرٍ يُوافيهِ
Chaste of girdle, and filled with justice,
Lower your robe, and justice will fill it
With fine forbearance and judgment befitting him.
With the beauty of forbearance and wise governance.
ياO سَعدَthe happiness of ذيthe possessor of العَقلِreason إِذْwhen صافاهُhe befriended him sincerely مُصطحِباًas a companion
يا سَعدَ ذي العَقلِ إِذْ صافاهُ مُصطحِباً
إِنّindeed السّعيدَthe fortunate man سَعيدٌhappy مَنwhoever يُصافيهِbefriends him sincerely
إِنّ السّعيدَ سَعيدٌ مَن يُصافيهِ
How fortunate the wise man who is his sincere companion!
O Saad, blest is the man of reason when befriended,
Truly happy is the fortunate man who sincerely befriends him.
For the fortunate one is he who befriends him.
ياO وَيلَwoe to ذيthe possessor of الجهّارloud speech إِذاwhen عاداهُhe opposed him منout of سَفهٍfoolishness
يا وَيلَ ذي الجهّار إِذا عاداهُ من سَفهٍ
إِنّindeed السّعيدthe fortunate man شَقيٌّwretched مَنwhoever يعاديهِopposes him
إِنّ السّعيد شَقيٌّ مَن يعاديهِ
Woe to the loudmouth who foolishly makes him his enemy!
But woe to the foolish one who makes an enemy of him,
Truly, the fortunate man who opposes him is wretched.
For the fortunate one is wretched who opposes him.
بَنوthe sons of نُصَيرٍNusayr لَقَدindeed تاهواwent astray وَقَدand indeed رَكِبواmounted
بَنو نُصَيرٍ لَقَد تاهوا وَقَد رَكِبوا
مَطِيّةَthe mount of الغيِّerror تَسريtravels by night فيin فيافيهِits deserts
مَطِيّةَ الغيِّ تَسري في فيافيهِ
Banu Nusayr indeed went astray and mounted
The sons of Nasir have gone astray and ridden
The mount of error, journeying by night through its deserts.
The mare of error running in its wilderness.
وَكَحّلواand they applied kohl to قَلبَهمtheir heart فيin قُبحِthe ugliness of جَهلهمِtheir ignorance
وَكَحّلوا قَلبَهم في قُبحِ جَهلهمِ
فَكَحّلوهُso they applied kohl to it بِماwith what لاno شَكَّdoubt يُعميهِblinds it
فَكَحّلوهُ بِما لا شَكَّ يُعميهِ
And in their hideous ignorance they lined their heart with kohl,
They blinded their hearts with the ugliness of ignorance,
So they lined it with what surely blinds it.
Blinded with what will undoubtedly make them blind.
ظَنّواthey conjectured ظُنوناًconjectures وَظَنُّand the conjecture of المَرءِa person يُكذبُهُbelies him
ظَنّوا ظُنوناً وَظَنُّ المَرءِ يُكذبُهُ
كَماjust as تُكذّبهbelie him خُلْفاًby failing أَمانيهِhis hopes
كَما تُكذّبه خُلْفاً أَمانيهِ
They formed conjectures, but a man's conjecture belies him,
They harbored assumptions, but a man's assumptions belie him,
Just as his hopes belie him when they go unfulfilled.
Just as his fantasies belie him afterwards.
وَصَمَّمواand they fixed عَزمَهُمtheir resolve فيon حَربِهِمtheir fighting بَطلاًa hero
وَصَمَّموا عَزمَهُم في حَربِهِم بَطلاً
ظَلَّتkept أُسودُthe lions of الشّرىal-Shara خَوفاًout of fear تُراضيهِappeasing him
ظَلَّت أُسودُ الشّرى خَوفاً تُراضيهِ
And they fixed their resolve on fighting a hero
They resolved in their war to make him a fallen hero,
Whom the lions of al-Shara kept appeasing out of fear.
While the evildoers cowered in fear to placate him.
ساموهُthey pressed upon him حَرباًwar وَظَنُّواand they thought رِبحَthe profit of صَفقَتِهمtheir bargain
ساموهُ حَرباً وَظَنُّوا رِبحَ صَفقَتِهم
فَكانَso was قَتلُهمُtheir slaughter ربحاًa profit لهمfor them فيهِin it
فَكانَ قَتلُهمُ ربحاً لهم فيهِ
They pressed war upon him and expected profit from their bargain,
They named it war and thought their deal was profitable,
So their slaughter was the profit they gained from it.
Yet their killing was profitable for them therein.
ماwhat بالهُمis the matter with them قاتَلوهُthey fought him وَهوَwhile he is نَجلُthe son of عليAli
ما بالهُم قاتَلوهُ وَهوَ نَجلُ علي
نَسواthey forgot عَليّاًAli وَمالواand turned away عَنfrom تَولّيهِallegiance to him
نَسوا عَليّاً وَمالوا عَن تَولّيهِ
What possessed them to fight him, when he is Ali's son?
Why did they fight him, he the son of Ali?
They forgot Ali and turned away from allegiance to him.
They forgot Ali and turned away from befriending him.
خابواthey failed وَقَدand indeed خَسِرواlost أَرواحَهُمtheir lives وَكَذاand likewise
خابوا وَقَد خَسِروا أَرواحَهُم وَكَذا
أَموالَهمtheir wealth وَسَرواand traveled by night فيin مَهْمَهِthe trackless desert of التّيهِbewilderment
أَموالَهم وَسَروا في مَهْمَهِ التّيهِ
They failed, and lost their lives, and likewise
They were denied and lost their souls and wealth,
Their wealth, and roamed by night through the trackless waste of bewilderment.
Journeying into the labyrinth of confusion.
وَالحَمدُand praise للَّهِto God ذيpossessor of الإِنعامِbeneficence سيّدناour Lord
وَالحَمدُ للَّهِ ذي الإِنعامِ سيّدنا
حَمداًpraise نُكرّرهُwe repeat it حَمداًpraise نُواليهِwe continue it
حَمداً نُكرّرهُ حَمداً نُواليهِ
And praise be to God, the Bestower, our Lord,
And praise be to Allah, Lord of Bounty, our Master,
Praise we repeat, praise we offer without cease.
Praises we repeat as praises we render to Him.
قَدindeed مَنَّHe bestowed بِالنّصرِwith victory وَالتّأييدِand support معalong with ظفَرٍtriumph
قَد مَنَّ بِالنّصرِ وَالتّأييدِ مع ظفَرٍ
بِفِتيَةٍover young men قَدmay تَبدوappear مِنamong أَعاديهِhis enemies
بِفِتيَةٍ قَد تَبدو مِن أَعاديهِ
He has granted victory and support, together with triumph
He blessed with victory and support, as well as conquest,
Over young men who may appear among his enemies.
Against youths who appeared as enemies.
وَرَدَّand He returned بَدرَthe full moon of العُلىeminence فَضلاًby grace لِمَنزِلهto his home
وَرَدَّ بَدرَ العُلى فَضلاً لِمَنزِله
بِآيةِwith the sign of النَّصرِvictory حَيثُwhere الفَتحُconquest تاليهِfollowing it
بِآيةِ النَّصرِ حَيثُ الفَتحُ تاليهِ
And graciously restored the full moon of eminence to his home,
He restored the full moon to its abode with blessings,
With victory's sign, where conquest follows in its wake.
Where the signs of victory follow one another.
إِنّيindeed I أُهَنّيهِcongratulate him فيon عَودٍa return إِلىto وَطنٍa homeland
إِنّي أُهَنّيهِ في عَودٍ إِلى وَطنٍ
وَبِالَّذيand on what نالَهُhe gained مِنof قَهرِsubduing شانِيهِthe one who hates him
وَبِالَّذي نالَهُ مِن قَهرِ شانِيهِ
I congratulate him on his return to his homeland,
I congratulate him on a return to his homeland,
And on what he gained by subduing the one who hates him.
And for what he attained in vanquishing his detractor.
وَقَدand indeed أَنبتI deputed بِذاfor this عنّيin my stead مُهفهفةًa slender maiden
وَقَد أَنبت بِذا عنّي مُهفهفةً
حَسناءَbeautiful ميّادةًswaying تَختالُstruts مِنfrom تيهِpride
حَسناءَ ميّادةً تَختالُ مِن تيهِ
And for this I have deputed, in my stead, a slender maiden,
This inspired in me an ode, beautiful and graceful,
A swaying beauty, strutting with pride,
Swaying in the mind of its composer.
حَوراءَdark-eyed مَقصورةًsecluded فيin فِكرِthe thought of ناظِمهاher composer
حَوراءَ مَقصورةً في فِكرِ ناظِمها
وَغادةًand a tender maiden فيin نِظاميmy verse مِنamong غَوانيهِits beauties
وَغادةً في نِظامي مِن غَوانيهِ
Dark-eyed, secluded in the thought of her composer,
She came to you, O Father of the Lofty, as a slave girl
And a tender maiden among the beauties of my verse.
Kissing the ground in reverence of the One within it.
جاءَتshe came إِلَيكَto you أَباO father of العَلياءِhigh glory جاريةًas a slave girl
جاءَت إِلَيكَ أَبا العَلياءِ جاريةً
تُقبِّلkisses الأرضَthe ground بِالتعظيمِwith reverence مِنfrom فيهِits mouth
تُقبِّل الأرضَ بِالتعظيمِ مِن فيهِ
She came to you, O father of high glory, as a slave girl,
She hopes for acceptance and hopes to attain thereby,
Kissing the ground in reverence, mouth to earth.
A dish from the generous kitchen of his slave girls.
تَرجوhopes for القَبولَacceptance وَتَرجوand hopes أَنto تَنالَgain بهthrough it
تَرجو القَبولَ وَتَرجو أَن تَنالَ به
مِنfrom مَطبَخِthe kitchen of الشّهمِthe noble man عَدّاًbeing counted فيamong جواريهِhis maidservants
مِن مَطبَخِ الشّهمِ عَدّاً في جواريهِ
She hopes for acceptance, and hopes thereby to gain
Greetings and happiness upon you in an honor
From the noble man's kitchen, a place among his maidservants.
At the pinnacle of glory in its highest buildings.
وَاِسلَمْand stay safe وَدُمْand endure بِالهناin happiness وَالسعدِand good fortune فيin شرفٍhonor
وَاِسلَمْ وَدُمْ بِالهنا وَالسعدِ في شرفٍ
مِنfrom ذَروَةِthe summit of المَجدِglory فيin أَعلىthe loftiest مَبانيهِof its edifices
مِن ذَروَةِ المَجدِ في أَعلى مَبانيهِ
Stay safe, and endure in happiness, good fortune, and honor,
Contented in life, comfortable in living,
At glory's summit, in the loftiest of its edifices,
Achieving his aims both near and far.
مُنعَّمcomforted البالِin mind رَغدَabundant العَيشِin livelihood ناعمَهenjoying its ease
مُنعَّم البالِ رَغدَ العَيشِ ناعمَه
وَنائِلُand attaining القَصدِthe aim دانيهِits near part وَقاصيهِand its far part
وَنائِلُ القَصدِ دانيهِ وَقاصيهِ
At ease in mind, with an abundant, comfortable life,
No branch has swayed, nor has the breeze blown,
And attaining your aims, both near and far,
Nor has the warbler trilled with melody in his odes.
ماas long as مالَswayed غُصنٌa bough وَماand as long as هَبَّblew النّسيمُthe breeze وماand as long as
ما مالَ غُصنٌ وَما هَبَّ النّسيمُ وما
شَداsang الهزارُthe nightingale بِسَجعٍin rhyming trills مِنfrom أَغانيهِits songs
شَدا الهزارُ بِسَجعٍ مِن أَغانيهِ
As long as a bough sways, the breeze blows, and
The nightingale chants rhyming strains from its songs.
Partial English translation: 84 of 86 Arabic lines translated.