طاف هم القَلب واشتد البَلا

طاف هم القَلب واشتد البَلا

كُل ما قُلنا غَدا طال الأَمَد

كُل ما قُلنا غَدا طال الأَمَد

The heart's sorrow overflowed, and calamity grew severe.

My heart is restless, anguish intensifies

Whenever we said, 'Tomorrow,' the wait grew longer.

All our talk has stretched time out endlessly

لَو بيدي المَوت أَنا عُمري بِلا

لَو بيدي المَوت أَنا عُمري بِلا

وَآهنوا اللي مع الناوي يَمد

وَآهنوا اللي مع الناوي يَمد

If death were in my hands, I would end my life.

If I had power over death, my life would cease

How fortunate is he who reaches out alongside the willing one.

They sympathized, who's with the determined ally

انعطف دَمعي عَلى خَدي شَلا

انعطف دَمعي عَلى خَدي شَلا

وَأَشعَلت في ضامِري نار الوَجد

وَأَشعَلت في ضامِري نار الوَجد

My tears turned over my cheek, pouring down.

My tears turned aside upon my cheek distracted

And the fire of longing was kindled within me.

And kindled within my withering being the fire of passion

خانَني الدَهر المشقا وَيشلا

خانَني الدَهر المشقا وَيشلا

تاقطع جمارنا اجهد وَجد

تاقطع جمارنا اجهد وَجد

Cruel time betrayed me [unclear ending].

Fate betrayed me with hardship and weakness

[Unclear wording] scattered our embers; strive and be earnest.

Our landmarks collapsed, exerting and suffering

طاف هم القَلب عاروس العُلا

طاف هم القَلب عاروس العُلا

عاسماً سيناب مثل الغيم سَد

عاسماً سيناب مثل الغيم سَد

The heart's sorrow overflowed onto the tops of the heights,

My heart wandered, a doe of loftiness

Across Sinab's sky, like clouds forming a barrier.

Thirsty, like a rain cloud sealed off

ضاع عُمري بَينَ لا عل وَعُلا

ضاع عُمري بَينَ لا عل وَعُلا

وَالفَرج بوجوهنا بابو اِنسَد

وَالفَرج بوجوهنا بابو اِنسَد

My life was lost between 'no,' 'perhaps,' and 'perhaps again,'

My life was lost between having and not having

And relief's door was shut in our faces.

And salvation seems shut off from our faces

وَارزم الدلال من وَجدي وَغَلا

وَارزم الدلال من وَجدي وَغَلا

فَوق ملال العضا حط الفؤاد

فَوق ملال العضا حط الفؤاد

Bundle up the coffee pots of my anguish and its boiling heat;

And the guide clung from my passion and fervor

Set the heart upon the hot embers of the thornwood.

So the heart sat above the litter of bones

سُوم نَفسي بِفلس عِندي بالغَلا

سُوم نَفسي بِفلس عِندي بالغَلا

وَإِن شروها قلت أَنا فيها فواد

وَإِن شروها قلت أَنا فيها فواد

Price my soul at a fils, though it is dear to me;

I blamed my soul for being completely destitute

And if they buy it, I will say I have gained from it.

And if they buy it, I say “I have nothing in it”

هاج قَلبي وَماج مِن وَجدي وَمَلا

هاج قَلبي وَماج مِن وَجدي وَمَلا

وَطاف بَحر الفَن بِموجه زبد

وَطاف بَحر الفَن بِموجه زبد

My heart surged and seethed with anguish, and brimmed over;

My heart was turbulent and churned from my fervor and affliction

And the sea of art overflowed, foam upon its waves.

And the sea of art foamed with its waves

وَالقَلم مِن فُوق طَليحة مَلا

وَالقَلم مِن فُوق طَليحة مَلا

بُيوت اللي يفهموا ند وَزباد

بُيوت اللي يفهموا ند وَزباد

And, upon a little writing board, the pen filled out

And the pen flowed above the smooth paper

Verses: fragrant incense and civet for those who understand.

To homes of those who understand melody and discord

يا قَلب ما حل بالي يَنسلا

يا قَلب ما حل بالي يَنسلا

خلنا في همنا حِنا بعاد

خلنا في همنا حِنا بعاد

O heart, what has settled in my mind will be forgotten;

Oh heart, what has befallen me to slip away

Leave us in our sorrow; we are far away.

We were left in our worries completely distant

قال شَحمي من غَرامي اِنسلا

قال شَحمي من غَرامي اِنسلا

لَو وَطنا بَعد مضموني بعاد

لَو وَطنا بَعد مضموني بعاد

It said, 'My fat has melted away with longing;

My fat melted away from my passion

Even if our homeland were assured me, it would still be distant.'

If we stayed after what we'd agreed upon, distant

يا قَلب جَرحي غَفر عاشلشلا

يا قَلب جَرحي غَفر عاشلشلا

حاض ما نفع المَراهم وَالضماد

حاض ما نفع المَراهم وَالضماد

O heart, my wound is deep [unclear ending];

Oh heart, my wound almost healed entirely

It bled; ointments and bandages were of no use.

Potions didn't help, or bandages

كان أَبو المَضمود بَعدي شلشلا

كان أَبو المَضمود بَعدي شلشلا

مُت مِن وَجدي بِلا مَد وَضماد

مُت مِن وَجدي بِلا مَد وَضماد

If the bandaged one's father is far from me [unclear ending],

Abu al-Mudawwad after me was in tatters

I die of my anguish, without help or bandaging.

Dying from my passion without respite or bandages

يا مَهد لف ليش ضيقت الفَلا

يا مَهد لف ليش ضيقت الفَلا

طيع شوري وَجوز يكفانا نكاد

طيع شوري وَجوز يكفانا نكاد

O distraught one, why have you made the open desert narrow?

Oh shelter, why did you constrict opportunity

Heed my counsel and desist; we have had enough misery.

Obey my opinion and permit what we're scarcely able to

قال لي ما طُول أَنا غايب فَلا

قال لي ما طُول أَنا غايب فَلا

نَستَطيع الصَبر وَالسَلوى نكاد

نَستَطيع الصَبر وَالسَلوى نكاد

It told me, 'So long as I remain away, no:

He said to me, “I won't be absent long

We can scarcely find patience or consolation.'

We can't bear patience and solace, we're scarcely able”

يا قَلب لَو لآن صَوتي زَلزَلا

يا قَلب لَو لآن صَوتي زَلزَلا

ما فَزع عاصياً حِنا مِنهُم جِياد

ما فَزع عاصياً حِنا مِنهُم جِياد

O heart, even if my voice now became an earthquake,

Oh heart, if only now my voice would shake the earth

It would not frighten a rebel; we are noble steeds among them.

The disobedient among them wouldn't panic at all from us

لَو دُموعي فيض هُم الزَلزَلا

لَو دُموعي فيض هُم الزَلزَلا

ما يفكون التُرك مِنا جِياد

ما يفكون التُرك مِنا جِياد

Even if my tears were a flood of earthquake-like sorrow,

If only my tears were a torrential flood

The Turks would not release the noble steeds among us.

The Turks wouldn't be saved from us at all

طيعني ما غَير هُون وَأَقبَلا

طيعني ما غَير هُون وَأَقبَلا

وَاتعظ وَالصَبر للإِنسان زاد

وَاتعظ وَالصَبر للإِنسان زاد

Heed me; just take it gently and turn toward me;

Obey me, this is no more than an opportunity, draw near

Take heed; patience is a person's provision.

And be warned, patience for a man is provision

قال لي مَمدوح باشا أَقبَلا

قال لي مَمدوح باشا أَقبَلا

ذول شيل هُمومهم عَالكُل زاد

ذول شيل هُمومهم عَالكُل زاد

It told me, 'Mamdouh Pasha has arrived;

Al-Mamduh Pasha said to me, “Draw near

The burden of these people's worries has grown heavier for all.'

Take on their worries, for all is provision”

قُلت ذولي عجهم ملا الخَلا

قُلت ذولي عجهم ملا الخَلا

تَقارضوا وَمِن كيسنا صار السَداد

تَقارضوا وَمِن كيسنا صار السَداد

I said, 'These people's dust has filled the wilderness;

I said, “Their minds are full of hallucinations

They borrowed from one another, and our purse paid the debt.'

They divided up and our purse paid the debts”

قال سَعدك بِالقَدر يَوم إِن خَلا

قال سَعدك بِالقَدر يَوم إِن خَلا

صار بر الشام في وَجهك سَداد

صار بر الشام في وَجهك سَداد

It said, 'When your luck deserted you by fate's decree,

He said, “May your happiness in fate be when worries cease

The land of al-Sham became a barrier before you.'

The land of Syria will show goodwill to your face”

قُلت سَعدي قفل شال وَحملا

قُلت سَعدي قفل شال وَحملا

يَوم نخنا عِندَما شب الطراد

يَوم نخنا عِندَما شب الطراد

I said, 'My luck departed, shouldered its load, and went laden,

I said, “My happiness is to strap on my sword belt

The day we made our camels kneel, when mounted combat flared.

When we were at Uthman's, the hunting dog grew up”

لَو صوافنا عليهم حَملا

لَو صوافنا عليهم حَملا

كان أَحلى مِن شُرب شَهد الطراد

كان أَحلى مِن شُرب شَهد الطراد

Had our choice mounts charged against them,

If I had attacked them, it would have been sweeter

The combat would have been sweeter than drinking honey.'

Than drinking the honey of hunting dogs

قال لَوم النفس ما يَجني حَلا

قال لَوم النفس ما يَجني حَلا

ذوق طَعم الترك يا عفن الولاد

ذوق طَعم الترك يا عفن الولاد

It said, 'Blaming yourself yields no sweetness;

He said, “Blaming the self brings no solutions

Taste the Turks' flavor, you rotten offspring!

Taste the flavor of the Turks, O rotten boy”

لَو تشوبش يُوم غَنوا ما حَلا

لَو تشوبش يُوم غَنوا ما حَلا

كان ما جابوا الحَراير وَالولاد

كان ما جابوا الحَراير وَالولاد

Had you made trouble when they sang, it would not have been sweet;

If they were chopped up the day they wailed, no problems

They would not have brought the freeborn women and the children.'

Would have brought the silk clothes or children

قُلت ربعي اللي حدوني عالبلا

قُلت ربعي اللي حدوني عالبلا

العامية شيوخهم كثر الجَراد

العامية شيوخهم كثر الجَراد

I said, 'My own people were the ones who drove me into calamity;

I said, “My quarter that drove me to misery

The common people's sheikhs are as numerous as locusts.'

—Their chiefs—locusts multiplied”

قال خير مِن المَقابر وَالبَلا

قال خير مِن المَقابر وَالبَلا

وَاهنوا اللي مع العانة جرد

وَاهنوا اللي مع العانة جرد

It said, 'Better than graves and calamity;

He said, “Better than graves and problems

And lucky is he who ran away with the herd,

They're with the weakling, stripped naked”

كان ما صاد الشبك يُوم اِنصَلا

كان ما صاد الشبك يُوم اِنصَلا

وَلو اتثق بالأَيمان خوان العهاد

وَلو اتثق بالأَيمان خوان العهاد

If the net did not catch him the day it was cast,

The net wouldn't have caught any fish the day it was cast

Even though he trusted the sworn oaths of a covenant-breaker.'

If those oath-swearers were trusted

قُلت شاخوا بالشَباب الهملا

قُلت شاخوا بالشَباب الهملا

وَالوباش تقلطوا فُوق الشداد

وَالوباش تقلطوا فُوق الشداد

I said, 'The worthless ones became sheikhs in their youth;

I said, “They grew old in their prime, worrying

And the rabble climbed onto the saddles.

The rabble played above the dams”

ضيعوا حوران مثل الهملا

ضيعوا حوران مثل الهملا

وَحسبوا مِن غير مرساهم شداد

وَحسبوا مِن غير مرساهم شداد

They squandered Hauran like wastrels,

They lost maidens like worrying old men

And thought themselves strong without their moorings.

And reckoned without any marked roads

يا قَلب مَن كانَ يَمشي أَولا

يا قَلب مَن كانَ يَمشي أَولا

لَو بحوران العدية أَلف جاد

لَو بحوران العدية أَلف جاد

O heart, who would have marched first,

Oh heart, whoever walked foremost

Had proud Hauran possessed a thousand valiant men?

If we had a thousand horsemen from the Edeyyat

شُوف كيف الربع خلونا أَولا

شُوف كيف الربع خلونا أَولا

وَبات من ضيم الرفاقا بي وَجاد

وَبات من ضيم الرفاقا بي وَجاد

See how our people were the first to abandon us;

See how the quarter left me walking first

And anguish from our companions' wrongs stayed with me through the night.'

And I spent the night, my friend, from the oppression of comrades

قال أَخير وَمية آية منَزِلا

قال أَخير وَمية آية منَزِلا

وَحَق خلاق الكَواكب وَالشداد

وَحَق خلاق الكَواكب وَالشداد

It said, 'Better so—by a hundred revealed verses,

He said, “Finally, a revelation sent down

And by the Creator of the stars and the mighty heavens—

By the right of the Creator of stars and thickets

مَن الَّذي جاب الرَجل مِن منزلا

مَن الَّذي جاب الرَجل مِن منزلا

ببوق ما هوَ عانِقاً وَعدو شداد

ببوق ما هوَ عانِقاً وَعدو شداد

Who brought the man from his home,

Who was it brought man from his home

By treachery, though he was not [unclear], with his enemy so strong?'

With a trumpet, not embracing and a friend to thickets

قَلتلو يا قَلب بلكي ينجلا

قَلتلو يا قَلب بلكي ينجلا

هَمنا وَنعود عا بلاد الجَواد

هَمنا وَنعود عا بلاد الجَواد

I told it, 'O heart, perhaps it will clear—

I said to him, “Oh heart, maybe our worries will disappear

Our sorrow—and we shall return to the land of the generous.'

And we'll return to the land of steeds”

قال بحر اللي عن وَطانو جَلا

قال بحر اللي عن وَطانو جَلا

وَعاد أَما جرحنا معضم جَواد

وَعاد أَما جرحنا معضم جَواد

It said, 'A sea of people left their homeland

He said, “More distant than the sea from his homeland

And returned; but our wound is grave and deep.'

Yet still our wound festers, bound tight”

قلتلو أَيوب من قبلي اِبتَلا

قلتلو أَيوب من قبلي اِبتَلا

وَيوسف الصديق عايعقوب عاد

وَيوسف الصديق عايعقوب عاد

I told it, 'Ayyub was afflicted before me,

I said to him, “Ayyub before me was tested

And Yusuf the truthful returned to Yaqub.'

And Joseph the truthful returned to Jacob”

قال ذولي عزمهم ما يبتلا

قال ذولي عزمهم ما يبتلا

مثل عزمك لابتلى الحواب عاد

مثل عزمك لابتلى الحواب عاد

It said, 'Their resolve is not afflicted

He said, “They were unshakable in purpose

Like yours, when tribulations strike again.

Not like your purpose—the foolish are confused”

ذول من أَهل العَزايم وَالوَلا

ذول من أَهل العَزايم وَالوَلا

ذو من أَهل الخصاصة وَالرَشاد

ذو من أَهل الخصاصة وَالرَشاد

Those are people of resolve and loyalty,

They are people of determination and loyalty

People of privation and right guidance.

While you are people of inadequacy and integrity

ما يقاسوا للذي زَينوا وَلا

ما يقاسوا للذي زَينوا وَلا

ذوقوا بَعد الحَلا زوم الرَشاد

ذوقوا بَعد الحَلا زوم الرَشاد

They cannot be compared with those who dressed in finery and never

They don't compare to what they decorated and elevated

Tasted cress juice after sweetness.'

Nor tasted after sweetness harsh integrity

قال مثلك أَنتَ سُكان الفَلا

قال مثلك أَنتَ سُكان الفَلا

العشاير شوف خلوها رَماد

العشاير شوف خلوها رَماد

It said, 'You and those like you dwell in the desert;

He said, “You're like yourself, people of the opportunity

Look at the tribes: they have left it ashes.

The Bedouins, see how they left you as ashes”

كَم صَدر الحُكم بالخونة فَلا

كَم صَدر الحُكم بالخونة فَلا

وَالَّذي ما يشوف بعيونو رَمد

وَالَّذي ما يشوف بعيونو رَمد

How often judgment was passed upon traitors [unclear ending];

How often the unjust judge ruled against opportunity

And whoever fails to see has inflamed eyes.

By one who doesn't see with his eyes—he has cataracts

غَير رَبك بالخفية من علا

غَير رَبك بالخفية من علا

يحلها من فوق حَلال العقد

يحلها من فوق حَلال العقد

Only your Lord, unseen, from on high,

Except your Lord in secret supreme

Can unravel it from above, the Untier of knots.

Who permits it from above lawful accord

يرحم اللي طاح يدوي من علا

يرحم اللي طاح يدوي من علا

وَشاف عج المَوت مِن فوقو عقد

وَشاف عج المَوت مِن فوقو عقد

He has mercy on the one who fell, crying out from a height,

May He have mercy on one who falls, calling from the height

And saw death's dust-cloud gathering above him.'

And sees before him the terror of death knotted

بَعد ذا شديت هجنا حيلا

بَعد ذا شديت هجنا حيلا

نيتي لنهم يَقضوا لي مَراد

نيتي لنهم يَقضوا لي مَراد

After that I saddled strong riding camels,

After this, I roused my indignation intensely

Intending that they should fulfill my wish.

My intention, to fulfill my wish

فَوقَهم طَقم البريسم كللا

فَوقَهم طَقم البريسم كللا

وَالكَوار مرصعة مثل البَرد

وَالكَوار مرصعة مثل البَرد

A silk harness crowned them,

Against them the brass stirrups all

And the camel saddles were studded like hailstones.

And the helmets studded like hailstones

وَانحرون المير حيث الكُل أَلا

وَانحرون المير حيث الكُل أَلا

اسجدوا عالأرض وَاعطوه البَرد

اسجدوا عالأرض وَاعطوه البَرد

Make for the emir, where all have sworn allegiance;

And they bow down to the ground and give him hailstones

Bow to the ground and give him the cloak.

Make them prostrate on the ground of our misery

سهجوهم بِأَرض نشحين المَلا

سهجوهم بِأَرض نشحين المَلا

وَزملون الدَرب مِن عِندي طراد

وَزملون الدَرب مِن عِندي طراد

Drive them swiftly over the land from which the people have departed,

And block their road from me with barricades

And load them for the road; send them racing on my behalf.

Take your taxes and take your property

تَزهبوا وَخراجكم خذوا مَلا

تَزهبوا وَخراجكم خذوا مَلا

الضَيف عِندَ التُرك لاجا يَنطرد

الضَيف عِندَ التُرك لاجا يَنطرد

Make ready, and take your saddlebags filled;

The guest with the Turks isn't driven away

A guest among the Turks is driven off when he arrives.

In the morning, from the cedars, rise for me

الصُبح مِن سيناب قوموا لي عَلى

الصُبح مِن سيناب قوموا لي عَلى

هجن ضمر مثل غُزلان الحَماد

هجن ضمر مثل غُزلان الحَماد

In the morning, set off for me from Sinab upon

Indignation suppressed like the pigeons

Lean riding camels, like the gazelles of al-Hamad.

And cut down the mounts there where all

وَانحروا هك الرَوابي وَالعُلا

وَانحروا هك الرَوابي وَالعُلا

الدَرب عالقيصر وَضيفوا بِهِ حماد

الدَرب عالقيصر وَضيفوا بِهِ حماد

And head toward those hills and heights;

Bow down to the ground and host him pigeons

The road leads to al-Qaysar; stay there as Hammad's guests.

From dawn when the caller declares “God is great”

مِن الفَجر يَوم المؤذن هَللا

مِن الفَجر يَوم المؤذن هَللا

ثُوروا من عند أَخو شيخا حَمَد

ثُوروا من عند أَخو شيخا حَمَد

At dawn, when the muezzin proclaims God's oneness,

Rebel from among Brother Shaykh's pillars

Set off from Hamad, Shaykha's brother.

They have no sanctuaries in the land of the Turks

ما لَهم بِأَرض التُرك مهللا

ما لَهم بِأَرض التُرك مهللا

نحروهم أَدنا قبلي حَماد

نحروهم أَدنا قبلي حَماد

They have no stopping place in the Turks' land;

Slaughter them, draw near before pigeons

Direct them nearer, southward toward al-Hamad.

To Aleppo they go through wasteland and plain

عا حلب يَمشوا بقفار وَسَهلا

عا حلب يَمشوا بقفار وَسَهلا

وَظَنتي يَلفون جلق عَالبراد

وَظَنتي يَلفون جلق عَالبراد

They head for Aleppo through wastelands and plains,

And I thought they'd find a frozen body on the threshold

And I think they will reach Jilliq in the cool.

Satisfied, settled, hello and welcome

ريضوا ميتين أَهلاً وَسَهلا

ريضوا ميتين أَهلاً وَسَهلا

وَريحوا بِالشام موردها براد

وَريحوا بِالشام موردها براد

Pause—two hundred welcomes!

And relieved in Syria, their destination is coolness

And rest in Damascus; its watering place is cool.

The next day when night and shadows mixed

يوم تالي الليل وَالضَو اِنجَلا

يوم تالي الليل وَالضَو اِنجَلا

تَقهقروني فَوق عمدان الشداد

تَقهقروني فَوق عمدان الشداد

When night draws to its end and the light appears,

They turned me back atop the columns

Carry me back upon the uprights of the riding saddles.

And they cut down the beauty of our minaret and it leaned over

وِاِنحَروا زبن المجنا وَإِن جَلا

وِاِنحَروا زبن المجنا وَإِن جَلا

أَمير قَيس اللَيث خواض الشداد

أَمير قَيس اللَيث خواض الشداد

And make for the refuge of the shield-bearers, even if he has departed—

Prince Qais the lion, wader in thickets

The Emir of Qays, the lion who plunges into hardships,

Residing in Lebanon, crown of loftiness

مقيم في لُبنان تاج أَم العلا

مقيم في لُبنان تاج أَم العلا

خاص من عالي الرُتب أَباً وجد

خاص من عالي الرُتب أَباً وجد

Residing in Lebanon, crown of the mother of glory,

Special privilege of highest rank, father and grandfather

Distinguished by lofty rank through father and grandfather.

After they brought the coins, even if to

بَعد ما جابوا الدَراهم لَو عَلى

بَعد ما جابوا الدَراهم لَو عَلى

وَعا الَّذي من حوكنا مالو وَجد

وَعا الَّذي من حوكنا مالو وَجد

After they brought him the money [unclear ending],

The one from our rulers who has money and fervor

And to the one who feels no anguish over our entanglement [unclear wording],

Take comfort and return my mounts

نُوخوا وَأَردوا صَوافي منهلا

نُوخوا وَأَردوا صَوافي منهلا

وَاشرحولو كيف خَلونا بداد

وَاشرحولو كيف خَلونا بداد

Make the camels kneel, and bring the choice mounts to a watering place;

And explain to him how we were left uncivilized

And explain to him how they left us scattered.

And manliness they inherited from those

وَالمُروءة قَد ورثها من هلا

وَالمُروءة قَد ورثها من هلا

خاص من عالي الرُتب بين البداد

خاص من عالي الرُتب بين البداد

He has inherited chivalry from his family,

Special privilege of highest rank among the uncivilized

Distinguished by lofty rank among his peers.

Cry out and call the magnificent prince

إِصرَخوا وَانخوا الأَمير الهايلا

إِصرَخوا وَانخوا الأَمير الهايلا

مصطَفى من آل رَسلان الطَواد

مصطَفى من آل رَسلان الطَواد

Cry out and appeal to the awe-inspiring emir,

Mustafa from the family of Raslan, the noble horses

Mustafa of the house of Raslan, towering as mountains.

Unraveling hardships from grievances, ah!

المعضلات من النَوايب هاي لا

المعضلات من النَوايب هاي لا

ما اِندرق عَن مثلنا في طواد

ما اِندرق عَن مثلنا في طواد

These intractable calamities are dreadful;

None like us falters among horses

He has not hidden from people like us in the mountains.

The knight of knights, shepherd of loftiness

عَنتر الفُرسان راعي الأَولا

عَنتر الفُرسان راعي الأَولا

حاتمي الأَخلاق من طبعو جَواد

حاتمي الأَخلاق من طبعو جَواد

The Antar of horsemen, champion of the foremost,

Nature's most noble, from a lineage of horses

Hatim-like in character, generous by nature.

If he scolds you, it satisfies you, if he says no or yes

إِن نادبك يرضيك إِن قلك وَلا

إِن نادبك يرضيك إِن قلك وَلا

وَبِالكَرَم ينطي الدَراهم وَالجَواد

وَبِالكَرَم ينطي الدَراهم وَالجَواد

If he calls you, he satisfies you, even if he tells you 'no';

With nobility, he scatters coins and horses

In his generosity he gives money and fine steeds.

The champion of the age, eminent prince

بهلوان الدهر أَمير مبجلا

بهلوان الدهر أَمير مبجلا

صاحب الرايات إِن ضاقَ النَفاد

صاحب الرايات إِن ضاقَ النَفاد

A champion of the age, a revered emir,

Master of banners, when supplies run out

Bearer of banners when escape grows narrow.

Cut down cypress branches, their luster is in splendor

زبن غطروفاً زَها لَهُ بِالجَلا

زبن غطروفاً زَها لَهُ بِالجَلا

مخدراً عارنكها خشف النفاد

مخدراً عارنكها خشف النفاد

A refuge for a gallant youth who shone before him in exile,

Stupefying the enemy, very thick branches

A secluded beauty, like a fawn of the desert sands.

The noble one doesn't ask when you need

الكَريم بحاجتك لا تَسألا

الكَريم بحاجتك لا تَسألا

لَو نظركم وَالتفت يَقضي المراد

لَو نظركم وَالتفت يَقضي المراد

Do not ask the generous man for what you need;

Only your glance and he fulfills wishes

If he sees you and turns toward you, he fulfills your wish.

I thought you weren't preoccupied with our matter

ظنتي عَن شغلنا ماله سَلا

ظنتي عَن شغلنا ماله سَلا

أَم ببر الترك بَعد النا مراد

أَم ببر الترك بَعد النا مراد

I think he has not forgotten our affair,

Or in the land of the Turks, after us, wishes

Or do we still have something to seek in the Turks' land?

Respond, oh lord of the mountain, to one who stumbled

رد يا مير الجبل عااللي اِنشلا

رد يا مير الجبل عااللي اِنشلا

وَالفَتى لا رَد عاضن بِالشراد

وَالفَتى لا رَد عاضن بِالشراد

Answer, O Emir of the Mountain, the one who has been carried away;

The gallant doesn't refuse one fallen in thickets

And the brave man, when he answers, [unclear] the fugitives.

He relieves the drowning, a foot slips

يفرج الغرقان رجلا ينشلا

يفرج الغرقان رجلا ينشلا

وَغير بي فكو للمسر كل ايش راد

وَغير بي فكو للمسر كل ايش راد

A man who lifts him out brings relief to the drowning one;

Others understand the captive's every wish

[Unclear wording] freeing the captive—with all that he wished.

If your call didn't let us taste sweetness

إِن كانَ من ناديك ماذُقنا حلا

إِن كانَ من ناديك ماذُقنا حلا

لازم أَنا ننشر الراية سَواد

لازم أَنا ننشر الراية سَواد

If we have tasted no sweetness from your assembly,

I must spread the banner, blackness

I must unfurl the banner in black.

The captive, his body melted and collapsed

المسركل ذاب جسمو وَاِنحَلا

المسركل ذاب جسمو وَاِنحَلا

تاه رَأيه وَضاع ما بين السَواد

تاه رَأيه وَضاع ما بين السَواد

The shackled man's body has wasted away and dissolved;

His mind wandered, lost amid the blackness

His judgment wandered and was lost amid the darkness.

Then pray for the Messenger, the chosen

ثُمَ صَلوا عالنبي المُرسَلا

ثُمَ صَلوا عالنبي المُرسَلا

المُصطَفى المَبعوث مِن قبل وَبَعد

المُصطَفى المَبعوث مِن قبل وَبَعد

Then send blessings upon the Prophet, the messenger,

Mustafa, sent before and after

The Chosen One, sent before and after.

To inspire the sultan with a chosen order

يلهم السُلطان بِأَمر مُرسَلا

يلهم السُلطان بِأَمر مُرسَلا

يَرجع المثلي عَن وَطانو بَعد

يَرجع المثلي عَن وَطانو بَعد

May he inspire the Sultan with an order to be sent,

To return the likes of me to his homeland

To bring back one like me, far from his homeland.