غَيريsomeone other than me بِأَكثَرِby most of هَذاthese الناسِpeople يَنخَدِعُis deceived
غَيري بِأَكثَرِ هَذا الناسِ يَنخَدِعُ
إِنif قاتَلواthey fight جَبُنواthey grow cowardly أَوor حَدَّثواthey talk شَجُعواthey grow brave
إِن قاتَلوا جَبُنوا أَو حَدَّثوا شَجُعوا
Someone other than me is deceived by most of these people;
Others are more easily deceived than most people
Others than I by this crowd are beguiled,
if they fight, they grow cowardly; if they talk, they grow brave.
If they fight, they are cowardly, or if they speak, they feign courage
Who cower in battle, though their speech be wild.
أَهلُmen of الحَفيظَةِprotective zeal إِلّاexcept أَنthat تُجَرِّبُهُمyou test them
أَهلُ الحَفيظَةِ إِلّا أَن تُجَرِّبُهُم
وَفيand in التَجارِبِtrials بَعدَafter الغَيِّerror ماwhat يَزَعُrestrains
وَفي التَجارِبِ بَعدَ الغَيِّ ما يَزَعُ
Men of protective zeal—until you put them to the test;
You cannot know people of self-restraint
They feign to be guardians of honor until put to the test,
and in trials, after error, is something that restrains.
Until you test them, and after confusion, what is revealed
And in trials, after error, lies the truth manifest.
وَماand what الحَياةُlife وَنَفسيand my soul بَعدَafter ماthat عَلِمَتhas learned
وَما الحَياةُ وَنَفسي بَعدَ ما عَلِمَت
أَنَّthat الحَياةَlife كَماas لاnot تَشتَهيit desires طَبَعُdishonor
أَنَّ الحَياةَ كَما لا تَشتَهي طَبَعُ
What is life worth, now that my soul has learned
What is life, and my soul after I learned
And what is life, when my soul has come to know,
that life contrary to its wishes is dishonor?
That life is not as my nature desires
That life lived against one's will is but a stain and a woe?
لَيسَis not الجَمالُbeauty لِوَجهٍfor a face صَحَّis intact مارِنُهُits soft nose-tip
لَيسَ الجَمالُ لِوَجهٍ صَحَّ مارِنُهُ
أَنفُthe nose of العَزيزِthe noble man بِقَطعِby severing العِزِّhonor يُجتَدَعُis lopped off
أَنفُ العَزيزِ بِقَطعِ العِزِّ يُجتَدَعُ
Beauty is not in a face whose nose-tip is intact;
Beauty is not in an unblemished face
Beauty dwells not in a face though its nose be whole,
the nobleman's nose is lopped off when his honor is severed.
The nose of the honorable is cut off when honor is cut off
For the pride of the mighty is severed when honor leaves the soul.
أَأَطرَحُshall I cast off المَجدَglory عَنfrom كِتفيmy shoulder وَأَطلُبُهُand seek it
أَأَطرَحُ المَجدَ عَن كِتفي وَأَطلُبُهُ
وَأَترُكُand leave الغَيثَrain فيin غِمديmy scabbard وَأَنتَجِعُand seek pasture
وَأَترُكُ الغَيثَ في غِمدي وَأَنتَجِعُ
Shall I cast glory from my shoulder, then seek it,
Shall I cast glory from my shoulder, though I seek it
Shall I cast glory from my shoulder, yet seek it afar?
and leave rain in my scabbard, then seek pasture?
And leave the rain in its sheath while I complain?
And leave the rain within my scabbard to graze on a barren scar?
وَالمَشرَفِيَّةُand the Mashrafi swords لاnot زالَتceased مُشَرَّفَةًhonored
وَالمَشرَفِيَّةُ لا زالَت مُشَرَّفَةً
دَواءُa remedy for كُلِّevery كَريمٍnoble man أَوهِيَmay be weakened الوَجَعُpain
دَواءُ كُلِّ كَريمٍ أَوهِيَ الوَجَعُ
And the Mashrafi swords—may they remain honored—
Al-Musharrafiyya remains always noble
The Mashrafi swords remain ever honored and high,
are a remedy for every noble man—may pain be weakened!
It is the cure for every generous person, or it is the pain
The cure for every noble soul, or the pain by which they die.
وَفارِسُand the horseman of الخَيلِthe cavalry مَنhe who خَفَّتthey grew skittish فَوَقَّرَهاthen steadied them
وَفارِسُ الخَيلِ مَن خَفَّت فَوَقَّرَها
فيin الدَربِthe pass وَالدَمُwhile blood فيin أَعطافِهاtheir flanks دَفعُspurts
في الدَربِ وَالدَمُ في أَعطافِها دَفعُ
And the true horseman is he whose steeds grow skittish, yet he steadies them
The horseman is one who calms his horse
The true knight is he who steadies the steeds when they start,
in the pass, while blood spurts along their flanks;
In the road, while blood is on its sides, it flows
In the narrow pass, while blood gushes from every part.
وَأَوحَدَتهُand they left him alone وَماyet no فيin قَلبِهِhis heart قَلَقٌanxiety
وَأَوحَدَتهُ وَما في قَلبِهِ قَلَقٌ
وَأَغضَبَتهُand they angered him وَماyet no فيin لَفظِهِhis speech قَذَعُfoul abuse
وَأَغضَبَتهُ وَما في لَفظِهِ قَذَعُ
and they leave him alone, yet his heart has no anxiety;
It alone enraged him, though there is no anxiety in his heart
Battle left him solitary, yet his heart felt no fear,
and they anger him, yet his speech contains no abuse.
It provoked him, though there is no coarseness in his speech
And though enraged, no foulness upon his tongue appeared.
بِالجَيشِthrough the army تَمتَنِعُare protected الساداتُthe lords كُلُّهُمُall of them
بِالجَيشِ تَمتَنِعُ الساداتُ كُلُّهُمُ
وَالجَيشُand the army بِاِبنِthrough the son of أَبيAbi الهَيجاءِal-Hayja يَمتَنِعُis protected
وَالجَيشُ بِاِبنِ أَبي الهَيجاءِ يَمتَنِعُ
Through the army all lords find protection,
With the army, all the chiefs are defended
Through armies do all other chieftains find their might,
and through Ibn Abi al-Hayja the army finds protection.
And the army is defended by Ibn Abi al-Hayja
But the army itself finds safety in Ibn Abi al-Hayja’s sight.
قادَhe led المَقانِبَcavalry squadrons أَقصىthe utmost of شُربِهاtheir drinking نَهَلٌa first draught
قادَ المَقانِبَ أَقصى شُربِها نَهَلٌ
عَلىover الشَكيمِthe bits وَأَدنىand the slowest of سَيرِهاtheir movement سِرَعُswift
عَلى الشَكيمِ وَأَدنى سَيرِها سِرَعُ
He led cavalry squadrons whose utmost drink was a first draught
He led his thin horses to the furthest reaches of their drinking
He led the squadrons, their longest drink but a hasty sip,
over their bits; even their slowest pace was swift.
On the breast, and the softest part of their course is haste
Champing at the bit, while their slowest pace does strip.
لاdoes not يَعتَقيhold back بَلَدٌa land مَسراهُhis march عَنfrom بَلَدٍa land
لا يَعتَقي بَلَدٌ مَسراهُ عَن بَلَدٍ
كَالمَوتِlike death لَيسَthere is not لَهُfor him رِيٌّslaked thirst وَلاnor شِبَعُsatiety
كَالمَوتِ لَيسَ لَهُ رِيٌّ وَلا شِبَعُ
No land holds back his march from another;
The swords in their sheaths scatter dust in their nostrils
No land hinders his march towards another domain,
like death, he knows neither slaked thirst nor satiety.
And their throats contain death from striking
Like Death itself, knowing neither thirst nor hunger's wane.
حَتّىuntil أَقامَhe halted عَلىat أَرباضِthe outskirts of خَرشَنَةٍKharshana
حَتّى أَقامَ عَلى أَرباضِ خَرشَنَةٍ
تَشقىsuffer بِهِthrough him الرومُthe Byzantines وَالصُلبانُand the crosses وَالبِيَعُand the churches
تَشقى بِهِ الرومُ وَالصُلبانُ وَالبِيَعُ
Until he halted at the outskirts of Kharshana,
It is as if they anticipate them in order to destroy them
Until he halted at the very walls of Kharshanah's gate,
the Byzantines, the crosses, and the churches suffering through him.
So the stab opens in their insides that which expands
Where Byzantines, crosses, and churches met their wretched fate.
لِلسَبيِfor captivity ماthose whom نَكَحواthey married وَالقَتلِand for slaughter ماthose whom وَلَدواthey begot
لِلسَبيِ ما نَكَحوا وَالقَتلِ ما وَلَدوا
وَالنَهبِand for plunder ماwhat جَمَعواthey amassed وَالنارِand for fire ماwhat زَرَعواthey sowed
وَالنَهبِ ما جَمَعوا وَالنارِ ما زَرَعوا
Those they married are for captivity, those they begot for slaughter;
Their glances flashed though war is dark
They wed but for captivity, and bore sons but for the sword,
what they amassed for plunder, what they sowed for fire.
From the swords, fire, and the spears, candles
Gathered wealth for plunder, and planted crops for the fire's hoard.
مُخلىًcleared لَهُfor him المَرجُal-Marj (the meadow) مَنصوباًerected بِصارِخَةٍat Sarikha
مُخلىً لَهُ المَرجُ مَنصوباً بِصارِخَةٍ
لَهُfor him المَنابِرُthe pulpits مَشهوداًattended بِهاin it الجُمَعُFriday congregations
لَهُ المَنابِرُ مَشهوداً بِها الجُمَعُ
Al-Marj lay open to him; at Sarikha were raised
Gushing over their shattered souls
The meadow is abandoned to him, save for a wailing cry,
pulpits for him, with Friday congregations assembled there.
Other than the arrows and the distance of the bows
His are the pulpits now, where the Friday prayers rise high.
يُطَمِّعُmakes eager الطَيرَthe birds فيهِمfor them طولُthe length of أَكلِهِمُeating them
يُطَمِّعُ الطَيرَ فيهِم طولُ أَكلِهِمُ
حَتّىuntil تَكادَthey almost عَلىon أَحيائِهِمtheir living تَقَعُalight
حَتّى تَكادَ عَلى أَحيائِهِم تَقَعُ
Long feasting on them makes the birds covet them,
When one wounded calls another wounded, the closest rib parts from its sister
His slaughter makes the vultures greedy for their flesh,
until they almost alight on their living.
More beautiful than the chicks of the ostrich taken by surprise
Till they almost descend upon the living in the mesh.
وَلَوand if رَآهُhad seen him حَوارِيّوهُمُtheir apostles لَبَنواthey would have founded
وَلَو رَآهُ حَوارِيّوهُمُ لَبَنوا
عَلىupon مَحَبَّتِهِlove of him الشَرعَthe law الَّذيwhich شَرَعواthey ordained
عَلى مَحَبَّتِهِ الشَرعَ الَّذي شَرَعوا
And had their apostles seen him, they would have founded
When they missed them and the fallen from them passed away
Had their Apostles beheld him, they would have surely framed,
the law they ordained upon love of him.
And no escaping one from the edges of the white swords
Upon his love, the very faith that they proclaimed.
ذَمَّblamed الدُمُستُقُthe Domestikos عَينَيهِhis eyes وَقَدwhen already طَلَعَتhad appeared
ذَمَّ الدُمُستُقُ عَينَيهِ وَقَد طَلَعَت
سودُblack الغَمامِclouds فَظَنّواso they thought أَنَّهاthat they were قَزَعُscattered wisps
سودُ الغَمامِ فَظَنّوا أَنَّها قَزَعُ
The Domestikos blamed his eyes when there appeared
Escaped while in their insides there was dread
The Domesticus cursed his eyes when there came into view,
black clouds they mistook for scattered wisps.
He undertakes security for a time while stupefied
Black clouds of war, which he deemed but a scattered few.
فيهاin them الكُماةُarmored warriors الَّتيwhose مَفطومُهُاtheir weanling رَجُلُa grown man
فيها الكُماةُ الَّتي مَفطومُهُا رَجُلُ
عَلىupon الجِيادِthe steeds الَّتيwhose حَولِيُّهاtheir yearling جَذَعُa mature colt
عَلى الجِيادِ الَّتي حَولِيُّها جَذَعُ
Within them were armored warriors whose weanlings were grown men,
And he drinks wine for a period while vomiting
Within them are warriors—even their weanlings are fully grown,
riding steeds whose yearlings were mature colts.
How many times has a pilgrim on the road guaranteed
Astride steeds where the yearling’s strength is already known.
تَذريscatters اللُقانُLuqan غُباراًdust فيinto مَناخِرِهاtheir nostrils
تَذري اللُقانُ غُباراً في مَناخِرِها
وَفيand in حَناجِرِهاtheir throats مِنfrom آلِسٍAlis جُرَعُdraughts
وَفي حَناجِرِها مِن آلِسٍ جُرَعُ
Luqan scatters dust into their nostrils,
For singing girls, one with no piety or restraint
The pass of Luqan scatters dust deep into their nose,
and in their throats are draughts from Alis.
He fights sleep from himself when he wants it
While their throats hold gulps from the Alis as it flows.
كَأَنَّهاas though they تَتَلَقّاهُمmeet them لِتَسلُكَهُمto pass through them
كَأَنَّها تَتَلَقّاهُم لِتَسلُكَهُم
فَالطَعنُso spear-thrusts يَفتَحُopen فيin الأَجوافِthe bellies ماwhat تَسَعُcan fit into
فَالطَعنُ يَفتَحُ في الأَجوافِ ما تَسَعُ
It is as though the horses meet them to pass through them;
And expels sleep from himself when he lies down
As if they rush to meet the foe to thread them through,
so spear-thrusts open their bellies wide enough to admit the horses.
Deaths approach and do not cease standing
For the lance opens wide a path in the chest to pursue.
تَهديguides نَواظِرَهاtheir eyes وَالحَربُwhile battle مُظلِمَةٌdark
تَهدي نَواظِرَها وَالحَربُ مُظلِمَةٌ
مِنَfrom الأَسِنَّةِthe spearheads نارٌfire وَالقَناand the spear-shafts شَمَعُcandles
مِنَ الأَسِنَّةِ نارٌ وَالقَنا شَمَعُ
Their eyes are guided, while the battle is dark,
Until he tells them “return” and they rush off
They guide their sight though the battle is dark as night,
by fire from spearheads, with spear-shafts for candles.
Say to Al-Dumustuq that the Muslims towards you
For the spear-points are fire, and the lances afford them light.
دونَagainst السِهامِthe arrows وَدونَand against القُرِّthe cold طافِحَةًfloating
دونَ السِهامِ وَدونَ القُرِّ طافِحَةً
عَلىover نُفوسِهِمِtheir souls المُقوَرَّةُcut with round openings المُزُعُpieces
عَلى نُفوسِهِمِ المُقوَرَّةُ المُزُعُ
Against arrows, and against cold, float
Have betrayed the Emir, so he punished them for what they did
Spilled forth before the arrows or the quiver could fly,
the cut-out pieces of armor over their souls.
You found them asleep in your blood
Are their tattered souls, leaving the bodies wherein they lie.
إِذاwhen دَعاcalls العِلجُthe barbarian عِلجاًanother barbarian حالَintervenes بَينَهُماbetween them
إِذا دَعا العِلجُ عِلجاً حالَ بَينَهُما
أَظمىa dusky spear تُفارِقُparts from مِنهُbecause of it أُختَهاits sister الضِلَعُthe rib
أَظمى تُفارِقُ مِنهُ أُختَها الضِلَعُ
When one barbarian calls to another, between them comes
As if their killing of you made them weary
If one barbarian calls to another in the fray,
a dusky spear that parts one rib from its sister.
The weak hands refrain from their example
A thirsty blade intervenes, tearing rib from rib away.
أَجَلُّnobler مِنthan وَلَدِthe son of الفُقّاسِPhocas مُنكَتِفٌa bound captive
أَجَلُّ مِن وَلَدِ الفُقّاسِ مُنكَتِفٌ
إِذsince فاتَهُنَّhe escaped them وَأَمضىand more resolute مِنهُthan him مُنصَرِعُone struck down
إِذ فاتَهُنَّ وَأَمضى مِنهُ مُنصَرِعُ
A bound captive is nobler than the son of Phocas,
From the enemies, though they intended them evil
One greater than Phokas's son is bound in chains,
since he escaped them; one struck down is more resolute than he.
Do not think whoever you captured had any strength left
Though he escaped, a sharper warrior dead remains.
وَماand not نَجاescaped مِنfrom شِفارِthe edges of البيضِthe bright swords مُنفَلِتٌa fugitive
وَما نَجا مِن شِفارِ البيضِ مُنفَلِتٌ
نَجاhe escaped وَمِنهُنَّyet from them فيin أَحشائِهِhis entrails فَزَعُterror
نَجا وَمِنهُنَّ في أَحشائِهِ فَزَعُ
No fugitive from the edges of bright swords truly escaped:
For none eat of them but the hyena of the corpses
No fugitive truly escaped the white sword's edge,
he escaped, yet dread of them remains within his entrails.
Why not on the back of the valley when
He fled, but carries in his gut a terror like a wedge.
يُباشِرُhe experiences الأَمنَsafety دَهراًfor an age وَهوَwhile he is مُختَبَلٌderanged
يُباشِرُ الأَمنَ دَهراً وَهوَ مُختَبَلٌ
وَيَشرَبُand he drinks الخَمرَwine حَولاًfor a year وَهوَwhile he is مُمتَقَعُpale
وَيَشرَبُ الخَمرَ حَولاً وَهوَ مُمتَقَعُ
He experiences safety for an age, yet remains deranged,
A lion climbed up, they pass one by one, not gathered
He may know safety for years, yet remains distinctive and crazed,
and drinks wine for a year, yet remains pale.
Every hissing serpent tears you with its young
Drinking wine for a year, yet his pale face stays dazed.
كَمhow many مِنof حُشاشَةِa remnant of life بِطريقٍa patrician تَضَمَّنَهاheld it in trust
كَم مِن حُشاشَةِ بِطريقٍ تَضَمَّنَها
لِلباتِراتِfor the cleaving swords أَمينٌa trustee مالَهُhe has no وَرَعُscruples
لِلباتِراتِ أَمينٌ مالَهُ وَرَعُ
How many a patrician's lingering life is held in trust
And the blow takes from you more than it leaves
How many a patrician’s last breath did the blade enclose,
for the cleaving swords by a guardian without scruples,
Rather, God presented the armies to you
In a sharp trustee that no mercy or piety knows.
يُقاتِلُbattles الخَطوَthe footsteps عَنهُon his behalf حينَwhen يَطلُبُهُhe pursues him
يُقاتِلُ الخَطوَ عَنهُ حينَ يَطلُبُهُ
وَيَطرُدُand drives away النَومَsleep عَنهُfrom him حينَwhen يَضطَجِعُhe lies down
وَيَطرُدُ النَومَ عَنهُ حينَ يَضطَجِعُ
who battles his footsteps for the one pursuing him,
So they would be without corruption when they return
He fights his own steps when the sword seeks his side,
and drives sleep from him whenever he lies down.
So every raid against you after this, for it
And it chases sleep from him when he seeks to hide.
تَغدوcome in the morning المَناياthe deaths فَلاso never تَنفَكُّcease واقِفَةًstanding
تَغدو المَنايا فَلا تَنفَكُّ واقِفَةً
حَتّىuntil يَقولَhe says لَهاto them عوديreturn فَتَندَفِعُthen they rush away
حَتّى يَقولَ لَها عودي فَتَندَفِعُ
Deaths come each morning and remain standing,
And every raider to the Sword of the State follows
Destinies march forth and stand waiting for the word,
until he tells them, 'Return,' and they rush away.
The generous walk in the footsteps of others
Until he commands them 'Return!', and they rush like a herd.
قُلsay لِلدُمُستُقِto the Domestikos إِنَّindeed المُسلَمينَthe Muslims لَكُمbelong to you
قُل لِلدُمُستُقِ إِنَّ المُسلَمينَ لَكُم
خانواthey betrayed الأَميرَthe emir فَجازاهُمso he repaid them بِماfor what صَنَعواthey did
خانوا الأَميرَ فَجازاهُم بِما صَنَعوا
Tell the Domestikos: the Muslims are yours;
While you create what you do and innovate
Tell the Domesticus: The Muslims you thought to smite,
they betrayed the emir, and he repaid them for what they did.
And does time shame you when you were its knight?
Betrayed the Prince, and he repaid them for their slight.
وَجَدتُموهُمyou found them نِياماًasleep فيin دِمائِكُمُyour blood
وَجَدتُموهُم نِياماً في دِمائِكُمُ
كَأَنَّas though قَتلاكُمُyour slain إِيّاهُمُthem فَجَعواbereaved
كَأَنَّ قَتلاكُمُ إِيّاهُمُ فَجَعوا
You found them asleep amid your blood,
While others in it were helpless and weak
You found them sleeping amidst the blood you shed,
as though your slain had bereaved them.
Whoever's position is above the sun's position
As if they were kin to your own fallen dead.
ضَعفىweaklings تَعِفُّrefrain الأَياديhands عَنfrom مِثالِهِمِtheir like
ضَعفى تَعِفُّ الأَيادي عَن مِثالِهِمِ
مِنَamong الأَعاديthe enemies وَإِنand if هَمّواthey intended بِهِمagainst them نَزَعواthey drew back
مِنَ الأَعادي وَإِن هَمّوا بِهِم نَزَعوا
Weaklings: hands disdain to strike their like
Nothing can raise him nor bring him down
Weaklings—noble hands refrain from touching such as these,
among enemies; even if men intend to strike them, they draw back.
Regret did not submit its purpose in consequences
Even enemies withdraw when such a target they seize.
لاdo not تَحسَبواthink مَنthose whom أَسَرتُمyou captured كانَwere ذاpossessed of رَمَقٍa spark of life
لا تَحسَبوا مَن أَسَرتُم كانَ ذا رَمَقٍ
فَلَيسَfor not يَأكُلُeats إِلّاexcept المَيِّتَthe dead الضَبُعُthe hyena
فَلَيسَ يَأكُلُ إِلّا المَيِّتَ الضَبُعُ
Do not think those you captured had a spark of life;
If the companions and followers submitted it
Think not that those you captured possessed a living breath,
for a hyena eats only the dead.
If only kings were providers over fates
For the hyena feeds only on carrion and death.
هَلّاwhy not عَلىon عَقَبِthe ascent of الواديthe valley وَقَدwhen already صَعِدَتhad climbed
هَلّا عَلى عَقَبِ الوادي وَقَد صَعِدَت
أُسدٌlions تَمُرُّpass فُرادىsingly لَيسَnot تَجتَمِعُgather together
أُسدٌ تَمُرُّ فُرادى لَيسَ تَجتَمِعُ
Why not fight on the valley's ascent, when there climbed
Then no lowly one would have hope in them
Why did you not stand at the valley's steep rise,
lions, passing singly, not massed together?
I was pleased with them when you visited tumult, and they saw
When lions climbed singly, beneath your very eyes?
تَشُقُّكُمcuts through you بِفَتاهاwith her young rider كُلُّevery سَلهَبَةٍlong-limbed mare
تَشُقُّكُم بِفَتاها كُلُّ سَلهَبَةٍ
وَالضَربُand the blows يَأخُذُtake مِنكُمfrom you فَوقَmore than ماwhat يَدَعُthey leave
وَالضَربُ يَأخُذُ مِنكُم فَوقَ ما يَدَعُ
Each long-limbed mare cuts through you with her young rider,
And when you struck your white swords, and they listened
Every tall steed splits your ranks with its knight,
while blows take from you more than they leave.
Deceit in dealings permitted you
And the sword takes more of you than it leaves in the fight.
وَإِنَّماand only عَرَّضَexposed اللَهُGod الجُنودَthe troops بِكُمto you
وَإِنَّما عَرَّضَ اللَهُ الجُنودَ بِكُم
لِكَيso that يَكونواthey might be بِلاwithout فَسلٍa weakling إِذاwhen رَجَعواthey returned
لِكَي يَكونوا بِلا فَسلٍ إِذا رَجَعوا
God only exposed the troops to you
From one you benefitted not with sincerity
God but exposed those soldiers to your blow,
so that when they returned, no weakling would remain among them.
Time makes excuses while the sword waits
That the army might return pure, with no coward in tow.
فَكُلُّso every غَزوٍraid إِلَيكُمagainst you بَعدَafter ذاthis فَلَهُis his
فَكُلُّ غَزوٍ إِلَيكُم بَعدَ ذا فَلَهُ
وَكُلُّand every غازٍraider لِسَيفِof Sayf الدَولَةِal-Dawla التَبَعُthe followers
وَكُلُّ غازٍ لِسَيفِ الدَولَةِ التَبَعُ
So every raid against you after this belongs to him,
And their land for you is a dwelling and an abode
So every raid against you henceforth is his alone,
and every raider is a follower of Sayf al-Dawla.
The mountains are no protection for a Christian
And every raider a follower of Saif al-Dawla's throne.
يَمشيwalk الكِرامُthe noble men عَلىin آثارِthe footsteps of غَيرِهِمِothers besides them
يَمشي الكِرامُ عَلى آثارِ غَيرِهِمِ
وَأَنتَand you تَخلُقُcreate ماwhat تَأتيyou undertake وَتَبتَدِعُand invent
وَأَنتَ تَخلُقُ ما تَأتي وَتَبتَدِعُ
Noble men walk in others' footsteps,
Even if the strongest summit became Christian
Noble men walk in the footsteps others have laid,
while you create what you undertake and invent anew.
I did not praise you in dreadful times
But you create your own path, and the future you have made.
وَهَلand can يَشينُكَdisgrace you وَقتٌa time كُنتَyou were فارِسَهُits knight
وَهَل يَشينُكَ وَقتٌ كُنتَ فارِسَهُ
وَكانَand was غَيرَكَsomeone other than you فيهِin it العاجِزُthe helpless one الضَرَعُthe feeble one
وَكانَ غَيرَكَ فيهِ العاجِزُ الضَرَعُ
Can a time disgrace you when you were its knight,
Until I tested you, while the heroes recoiled
Can a time disgrace you, when you were its glorious knight,
and its helpless, feeble man was someone else?
One in whom there is a tear may be thought brave
And another therein was the weakling in flight?
مَنwhoever كانَhas فَوقَabove مَحَلِّthe station of الشَمسِthe sun مَوضِعَهُhis place
مَن كانَ فَوقَ مَحَلِّ الشَمسِ مَوضِعَهُ
فَلَيسَso not يَرفَعُهُraises him شَيءٌanything وَلاnor يَضَعُlowers
فَلَيسَ يَرفَعُهُ شَيءٌ وَلا يَضَعُ
Whoever has his place above the sun's station,
While one in whom there is weakness may be thought a coward
He whose station is set above the sun's own sphere,
nothing can raise him or bring him down.
Weapons, all people carry them
Is raised by nothing, nor can he be brought near.
لَمdid not يُسلِمِsurrender الكَرُّthe countercharge فيamid الأَعقابِthe retreat مُهجَتَهُhis lifeblood
لَم يُسلِمِ الكَرُّ في الأَعقابِ مُهجَتَهُ
إِنeven if كانَhad أَسلَمَهاsurrendered it الأَصحابُthe companions وَالشِيَعُand the followers
إِن كانَ أَسلَمَها الأَصحابُ وَالشِيَعُ
Countercharging in retreat did not surrender his lifeblood,
Yet not all wildcats are lions
The charge at his heels did not yield up his soul,
even if his companions and followers surrendered it.
Though his comrades and followers lost all control.
لَيتَwould that المُلوكَkings عَلىaccording to الأَقدارِworth مُعطِيَةٌgave
لَيتَ المُلوكَ عَلى الأَقدارِ مُعطِيَةٌ
فَلَمthen not يَكُنthere would be لِدَنيءٍfor a base man عِندَهاwith them طَمَعُhope
فَلَم يَكُن لِدَنيءٍ عِندَها طَمَعُ
Would that kings gave according to men's worth;
Would that kings gave gifts by measure of true worth,
then no base man would entertain hopes with them.
That no base man might covet what is clearly not his birth.
رَضيتُI am content مِنهُمfrom them بِأَنwith the fact that زُرتَyou visited الوَغىbattle فَرَأواand they saw
رَضيتُ مِنهُم بِأَن زُرتَ الوَغى فَرَأوا
وَأَنand that قَرَعتَyou struck حَبيكَthe close-wrought work of البيضِthe helmets فَاِستَمِعواso they listened
وَأَن قَرَعتَ حَبيكَ البيضِ فَاِستَمِعوا
I am content with this from them: you went to battle, and they saw,
I am content that you sought war while they merely gazed,
and you struck the well-wrought helmets, and they listened.
That you struck the helm of battle while they listened, amazed.
لَقَدindeed أَباحَكَhas permitted you غِشّاًdeceit فيin مُعامَلَةٍa transaction
لَقَد أَباحَكَ غِشّاً في مُعامَلَةٍ
مَنwhoever كُنتَyou were مِنهُfrom him بِغَيرِwithout الصِدقِtruth تَنتَفِعُbenefiting
مَن كُنتَ مِنهُ بِغَيرِ الصِدقِ تَنتَفِعُ
He has surely licensed you to deceive in your dealings—
He allowed you to see the fraud in their dealing plain,
the man from whom you profit without truth.
He from whom you profited, though his truth was vain.
الدَهرُTime مُعتَذِرٌis apologizing وَالسَيفُand the sword مُنتَظِرٌis waiting
الدَهرُ مُعتَذِرٌ وَالسَيفُ مُنتَظِرٌ
وَأَرضُهُمand their land لَكَfor you مُصطافٌa summer retreat وَمُرتَبَعُand a spring pasture
وَأَرضُهُم لَكَ مُصطافٌ وَمُرتَبَعُ
Time is apologizing, and the sword is waiting,
Time offers excuses, and the sword waits for your call,
and their land is your summer retreat and spring pasture.
And their land is your summer ground and spring hall.
وَماand not الجِبالُthe mountains لِنَصرانٍfor a Christian بِحامِيَةٍprotective at all
وَما الجِبالُ لِنَصرانٍ بِحامِيَةٍ
وَلَوeven if تَنَصَّرَbecame Christian فيهاthere الأَعصَمُthe white-forelegged one الصَدَعُthe ibex
وَلَو تَنَصَّرَ فيها الأَعصَمُ الصَدَعُ
And mountains cannot protect a Christian,
The mountains offer the Christian no shield nor keep,
even if the white-forelegged ibex there became Christian.
Even if the mountain goat took the cross on the steep.
وَماand not حَمِدتُكَI praised you فيin هَولٍa terror ثَبَتَّyou stood firm لَهُbefore it
وَما حَمِدتُكَ في هَولٍ ثَبَتَّ لَهُ
حَتّىuntil بَلَوتُكَI tested you وَالأَبطالُwhile champions تَمتَصِعُtraded blows
حَتّى بَلَوتُكَ وَالأَبطالُ تَمتَصِعُ
I did not praise you for standing firm before terror
I praised you not for standing firm in terror's face,
until I had tested you while champions traded blows.
Until I saw you tested while heroes fell from grace.
فَقَدfor sometimes يُظَنُّis thought شُجاعاًbrave مَنone who بِهِhas within him خَرَقٌbewilderment
فَقَد يُظَنُّ شُجاعاً مَن بِهِ خَرَقٌ
وَقَدand sometimes يُظَنُّis thought جَباناًa coward مَنone who بِهِhas within him زَمَعُtrembling
وَقَد يُظَنُّ جَباناً مَن بِهِ زَمَعُ
For one who is bewildered may be taken for brave,
For the reckless fool may be deemed brave by the sight,
and one who trembles may be taken for a coward.
And the prudent man deemed a coward in his fright.
إِنَّindeed السِلاحَweapons جَميعُall الناسِpeople تَحمِلُهُcarry them
إِنَّ السِلاحَ جَميعُ الناسِ تَحمِلُهُ
وَلَيسَbut not كُلُّevery ذَواتِcreatures possessing المِخلَبِclaws السَبُعُa beast of prey
وَلَيسَ كُلُّ ذَواتِ المِخلَبِ السَبُعُ
Indeed, all mankind carries weapons,
Weapons are borne by all men, everywhere found,
but not every clawed creature is a beast of prey.
But not every clawed beast is the Lion on the ground.
Partial English translation: 81 of 98 Arabic lines translated.