وَكُلٌّand each رَمىhurled بِالزُّجِّwith the spear's iron butt يُحكِمُmakes precise رَشقَهُhis cast
وَكُلٌّ رَمى بِالزُّجِّ يُحكِمُ رَشقَهُ
فَبالعُنقِso in the neck مِزراقٌa javelin وبالفَخذِand in the thigh آخِرُanother
فَبالعُنقِ مِزراقٌ وبالفَخذِ آخِرُ
And each hurled his iron-shod spear with unerring aim.
And each one hurled with spears, aiming his throws,
A javelin struck the neck, another the thigh.
Some striking the neck and some the thigh.
فَمُزِّقَso was torn أَفطُوليمُTlepolemus بالنَّصلِby the spearhead عُنقُهُhis neck
فَمُزِّقَ أَفطُوليمُ بالنَّصلِ عُنقُهُ
فَعَضَّso he bit الثَّرىthe earth تَنغَضُّquiver النَّواطِرُthe eyes
فَعَضَّ الثَّرى تَنغَضُّ النَّواطِرُ
Tlepolemus's neck was torn by the spearhead;
And brave Aphrodilus had his neck pierced by the blade -
he bit the dust, his eyes quivering.
He bit the dust as the onlookers shuddered.
وَمُزِّقَand was torn سَرفِيدُونُSarpedon لِلعَظمِto the bone حُقُّهُhis hip socket
وَمُزِّقَ سَرفِيدُونُ لِلعَظمِ حُقُّهُ
وَلَولاand but for أًبُوهُhis father بادَرَتهُwould have overtaken him البَوادِرُsudden calamities
وَلَولا أًبُوهُ بادَرَتهُ البَوادِرُ
Sarpedon's hip socket was torn to the bone;
And Cervidon also had his due, his bones ripped apart,
but for his father, deadly blows would have overtaken him.
Were it not for his father, he would have met his end.
فأَصحَابُهُso his companions اجتَرُّوهُdragged him مِنfrom ساحةِthe field of الوغىbattle
فأَصحَابُهُ اجتَرُّوهُ مِن ساحةِ الوغى
لِساعَتِهِمat their very moment والنَّصلُwhile the spearhead فيin الجِسمِthe body غائِرُdeeply embedded
لِساعَتِهِم والنَّصلُ في الجِسمِ غائِرُ
His companions dragged him from the battlefield
So his comrades dragged him from the battlefield
at once, the spearhead deeply embedded in his body.
In their hastiness, with the spear still lodged in his body.
وقدand indeed شُغِلُواthey were distracted عَنfrom نَزعِهِdrawing it out لِذُهُولِهِمbecause of their bewilderment
وقد شُغِلُوا عَن نَزعِهِ لِذُهُولِهِم
فأُركِبَso he was made to ride بالآلامِin pain والعَزمُwhile resolve خائِرُfaltering
فأُركِبَ بالآلامِ والعَزمُ خائِرُ
In their bewilderment, they were distracted from drawing it out;
Preoccupied with pulling it out, they were in shock -
so he was made to ride in pain, his resolve faltering.
So he was carried off, weakened in his resolve.
كذَthus ارتَمىthrew themselves الإغرِيقُthe Greeks فَوقَupon قَتِيلهِمtheir slain man
كذَ ارتَمى الإغرِيقُ فَوقَ قَتِيلهِم
يَرُومُونَهُthey seek him فِيهِمamong them وَأُوذِسُwhile Odysseus ناظِرُwatching
يَرُومُونَهُ فِيهِم وَأُوذِسُ ناظِرُ
Thus the Greeks threw themselves upon their slain comrade,
Just so did the Greeks fling themselves over their corpse
seeking to take him among them, while Odysseus watched.
To protect it, as Ulysses looked on.
فَهَبَّthen surged بِهِwithin him الغَيظُanger العَنِيفُfierce فَهاجهُso it roused him
فَهَبَّ بِهِ الغَيظُ العَنِيفُ فَهاجهُ
وَرَدَّدand pondered فِكراًa thought رَدَّدَتهُkept turning it over الخَوَاطِرُthe musings
وَرَدَّد فِكراً رَدَّدَتهُ الخَوَاطِرُ
Fierce anger surged within him and roused him,
Rage filled him and troubled thoughts raced through his mind -
and he pondered a thought his musings kept returning to:
Should he pursue Cervidon or attack his people instead?
أيَطلُبُshould he seek سَرفِيدُونَSarpedon أَمor جُندَthe troops of قَومِهِhis people
أيَطلُبُ سَرفِيدُونَ أَم جُندَ قَومِهِ
لِتَفتُكَso that they might slay فِيهِمamong them مِنfrom يَدَيهِhis two hands البَوَاتِرُthe cleaving blades
لِتَفتُكَ فِيهِم مِن يَدَيهِ البَوَاتِرُ
should he seek Sarpedon, or his people's troops,
But Cervidon was now beyond his hands, claimed by fate,
so the cleaving blades in his hands might slaughter among them?
So he turned to where the masses were grouped.
فَعنso from سَرفِدونSarpedon أَشغَلَتهُdistracted him يَدُthe hand of القَضاfate
فَعن سَرفِدون أَشغَلَتهُ يَدُ القَضا
فَمالَso he turned إِلىtoward حَيثwhere التَقَتهُmet him العَشَائِرُthe clans
فَمالَ إِلى حَيث التَقَتهُ العَشَائِرُ
But fate's hand kept him from Sarpedon,
And recklessly charged the gathered foe -
and he turned where the clans met him.
Undaunted by their hurtling spears.
وَساقَتهُand led him فالاسٌPallas لِمُجَتَمَعِto the gathering of العِدىthe enemy
وَساقَتهُ فالاسٌ لِمُجَتَمَعِ العِدى
وَماand not راعَهُfrightened him مِنهُمfrom them نِصَالٌspearheads شَواجِرُbristling
وَما راعَهُ مِنهُم نِصَالٌ شَواجِرُ
Pallas led him to the enemy's gathering,
There he encountered the nobles - Iolcus, Ereuthalion,
and their bristling spearheads did not frighten him.
Alexandrus, Ifritenis - mighty warriors all.
فَجَندَلَthen he felled كِيرَانُسCoeranus أَلستُرَAlastor هليُساًHalius
فَجَندَلَ كِيرَانُس أَلستُرَ هليُساً
وإخرُومِيُوساًand Chromius وَهوَwhile he كاللَّيثِlike a lion كاسِرُmauling
وإخرُومِيُوساً وَهوَ كاللَّيثِ كاسِرُ
He felled Coeranus, Alastor, and Halius,
The slaughter would have increased had Hector not rushed
and Chromius, while he struck like a lion,
To the vanguard, raising alarms of impending doom.
وأَلكَندَراًand Alcander إِفرِيتَنِيسَPrytanis نَوِيمُناًNoemon
وأَلكَندَراً إِفرِيتَنِيسَ نَوِيمُناً
صَنادِيدُchampions لِبقِيُّونَLycians صِيدٌproud جَبابِرُmighty warriors
صَنادِيدُ لِبقِيُّونَ صِيدٌ جَبابِرُ
and Alcander, Prytanis, and Noemon—
Seeing him approach, bristling for battle,
Lycian champions, proud and mighty.
The passages were too narrow for their encounter.
وكادَand he almost يَزِيدُincrease الفَتكَthe slaughter لَوif لَمnot يَثِبleapt إِلىtoward
وكادَ يَزِيدُ الفَتكَ لَو لَم يَثِب إِلى
طَلاَئِعِهِمtheir vanguard هَكطُورُHector وَالنَّقعُwhile the dust فائِرُseething
طَلاَئِعِهِم هَكطُورُ وَالنَّقعُ فائِرُ
He would have wrought more slaughter, had there not leapt toward
And Cervidon's anguish was relieved -
their vanguard Hector, while the dust seethed.
His tears were the heralds of salvation.
رَأَىhe saw فَجرىthen ran يَلقىto meet الصُّدُورَthe front ranks مُدَجَّجاًfully armed
رَأَى فَجرى يَلقى الصُّدُورَ مُدَجَّجاً
فَضاقتso grew narrow بِهِمaround them عَنfor مُلتَقاهُmeeting him المَعَابِرُthe passages
فَضاقت بِهِم عَن مُلتَقاهُ المَعَابِرُ
He saw and ran to meet their front ranks, fully armed;
He called out gently, "O Priam's son, do not let them
the passages grew too narrow for them to face him.
Vanquish me, for I feel the touch of death upon me.
وَعَنand from سَرفِدُونَSarpedon غُصَّةُthe choking lump of الكُرَبِanguish انجَلَتlifted
وَعَن سَرفِدُونَ غُصَّةُ الكُرَبِ انجَلَت
فَنادَىthen he called بِرِفقٍgently والدُّمُوعُwhile the tears بَوَادِرُwelling forth
فَنادَى بِرِفقٍ والدُّمُوعُ بَوَادِرُ
And the choking anguish lifted from Sarpedon;
I'll not see again my homeland's spacious plains,
he called softly, his tears welling forth:
My wife and child, and elders of high renown.
أَغِثنِيhelp me ابنضson of فِريَامٍPriam وَلاand do not تُوقِعِbring down العِدَىthe enemy
أَغِثنِي ابنض فِريَامٍ وَلا تُوقِعِ العِدَى
عَليَّupon me فإنِّيfor indeed I بالمَنيَّةِof death شاعِرُaware
عَليَّ فإنِّي بالمَنيَّةِ شاعِرُ
Help me, son of Priam; do not let the enemy fall
Let me die in Ilion, and keep my grave hidden there -
upon me, for I sense death.
Death's callers move quickly when swords are drawn."
وَلَنand will not يَتَلَقَّانيwelcome me علىwith الرُّحبٍhospitality مَوطِنيmy homeland
وَلَن يَتَلَقَّاني على الرُّحبٍ مَوطِني
وَزَوجيand my wife وَطِفليand my child وَالكِرَامُand the noble الأَكاَبِرُgrandees
وَزَوجي وَطِفلي وَالكِرَامُ الأَكاَبِرُ
Never will my homeland welcome me warmly,
And at once Cervidon's comrades sped
nor my wife, my child, nor the noble grandees.
To draw the spear embedded deep in his side.
فَدَعنِيso let me بإِليُونٍin Ilium أَمُتdie ذَاكَرامَةٍwith honor
فَدَعنِي بإِليُونٍ أَمُت ذَاكَرامَةٍ
وثَمَّةَand there ليfor me فيin لُجَّةِthe depths of القَبرِthe grave ساتِرُa covering
وثَمَّةَ لي في لُجَّةِ القَبرِ ساتِرُ
So let me die with honor in Ilium,
Brave Phelagon came to his friend's aid
and there let me have a covering in the grave's depths.
And pulled out the blade that all had overlooked.
تَسِيرُmarch دُعَاةُthe heralds of المَوتِdeath طَوعَat the command of حُسَامِهِhis sword
تَسِيرُ دُعَاةُ المَوتِ طَوعَ حُسَامِهِ
وَمِنand from كَفِّهِhis palm جَمرُembers of الرَّدَىdoom مُتناثِرُscattering
وَمِن كَفِّهِ جَمرُ الرَّدَى مُتناثِرُ
The heralds of death march at his sword's command,
Then darkness clouded his sight -
and from his palm the embers of doom scatter.
He felt his senses begin to leave him.
وأَصحابُand the companions of سَرفِيدُونَSarpedon فيin الحالِthe present moment أَسرَعُواhurried
وأَصحابُ سَرفِيدُونَ في الحالِ أَسرَعُوا
لِزَانَةِto the beech tree of زَفسٍZeus فيهtherein والزَّانُwhile the beech ناضِرُlush
لِزَانَةِ زَفسٍ فيه والزَّانُ ناضِرُ
Sarpedon's companions hastened at once
But a breeze blew, reviving Burius -
to Zeus's beech tree there, lush and green.
The danger passed as the shadows dispersed.
فَبَادَرَthen hurried فِيلاغُونُPelagon إِلفُthe companion of وَدادِهِhis affection
فَبَادَرَ فِيلاغُونُ إِلفُ وَدادِهِ
وأخرَجَand drew out نَصلاًa spearhead أَغفلَتُهُhad overlooked it البَصائِرُperception
وأخرَجَ نَصلاً أَغفلَتُهُ البَصائِرُ
Then Pelagon, his beloved companion, hurried
And Ares and Hector whirled among the Greeks,
and drew out the spearhead that had escaped their notice.
Their spears dealing carnage and death.
فَغَشَّتthen veiled علىover أَبصارِهِhis eyes ظُلمُthe shadows of الرَّدىdeath
فَغَشَّت على أَبصارِهِ ظُلمُ الرَّدى
وخُيِّلَand it seemed أنthat قَدalready فارَقتهُhad deserted him المَشاعِرُthe senses
وخُيِّلَ أن قَد فارَقتهُ المَشاعِرُ
Death's shadows veiled his eyes,
Yet the Greeks held fast, shielding themselves,
and it seemed his senses had already deserted him.
Each focused on fending off the foe.
فَهَبَّتthen blew لِبُرياسٍof Boreas مِنfrom الرِّيحِthe wind نَسمَةٌa breath
فَهَبَّت لِبُرياسٍ مِن الرِّيحِ نَسمَةٌ
فأُنعِشَso he was revived وَارفَضَّتand dispersed تَزُولُvanishing المَخَاطِرthe perils
فأُنعِشَ وَارفَضَّت تَزُولُ المَخَاطِر
Then a breath of Boreas's wind blew;
None retreated to their ships, nor advanced
he revived, and the perils scattered and vanished.
To meet the enemy - they stood firm in defense.
وَدَارَتand swept round عَلىupon الإِغرِيقِthe Greeks فيin دارَةِthe circle of الوَغىbattle
وَدَارَت عَلى الإِغرِيقِ في دارَةِ الوَغى
بآرِسthrough Ares وَهَكطُورَand Hector الدَّوَاهيthe calamities الدَّوَاثِرُdevastating
بآرِس وَهَكطُورَ الدَّوَاهي الدَّوَاثِرُ
And round the Greeks, in the circle of battle, swept
Gradually they withdrew under their guarded wall,
the devastating calamities brought by Ares and Hector.
Fearing the coming destruction.
وَلَكِنَّهُمyet they بالصَّبرِin endurance طُرًّاall تَدَرَّعُواarmored themselves
وَلَكِنَّهُم بالصَّبرِ طُرًّا تَدَرَّعُوا
وَكُلٌّand each علىin دَفعِrepelling العَدُوِّthe enemy مُثَابِرُpersevering
وَكُلٌّ على دَفعِ العَدُوِّ مُثَابِرُ
Yet all of them armored themselves in endurance,
And Ares and Hector grievously wounded many -
and each persevered in driving back the foe.
Who died first and who died last?
فَلَمso not يَكُwas فيهِمamong them ناكِصٌone retreating نَحوtoward فُلكهِhis ship
فَلَم يَكُ فيهِم ناكِصٌ نَحو فُلكهِ
ولاnor لِلِقاto face الأَعدَاءِthe enemies بالصَّدِّby repelling جاسِرُone daring
ولا لِلِقا الأَعدَاءِ بالصَّدِّ جاسِرُ
None among them turned back toward his ship,
First was Sthenelaus, a chief of great stock,
nor did any dare face the enemy and drive them back.
Then Euteiches, Iamenus, and all were laid low.
وَتَحتَand under الدِّفاعِthe defense الثَّبتِsteadfast مَهلاًslowly تَقهَقرُواthey fell back
وَتَحتَ الدِّفاعِ الثَّبتِ مَهلاً تَقهَقرُوا
يَروعُهُمterrifies them أَنَّthat المَهدِّمَthe destroyer حاِضِرُpresent
يَروعُهُم أَنَّ المَهدِّمَ حاِضِرُ
Under cover of steadfast defense, they slowly fell back,
But Eubius had not amassed great wealth -
terrified that the destroyer was there.
A petty king on the shores of Cephis was he.
فَاَثخنَthen inflicted heavy losses آريسٌAres وَهَكطُورُand Hector فِيهمِamong them
فَاَثخنَ آريسٌ وَهَكطُورُ فِيهمِ
فَمنthen who أوَّلُthe first of القتلىthe slain وَمنand who هُوَhe آخَرُlast
فَمن أوَّلُ القتلى وَمن هُوَ آخَرُ
Then Ares and Hector wrought carnage among them.
He had lived in comfort where riches abounded
Who was the first of the slain, and who the last?
And the sea of Baeotia flourished with wealth.
فَأَوَّلُهُمso the first of them تُثرَاسُTeuthras نِدُّpeer of ذَويthose possessing البَقاimmortality
فَأَوَّلُهُم تُثرَاسُ نِدُّ ذَوي البَقا
فأُورستُthen Orestes رَوَّاضُtamer of الجِيادِthe steeds المُكابِرُthe haughty
فأُورستُ رَوَّاضُ الجِيادِ المُكابِرُ
The first was Teuthras, a peer of the deathless,
There circling cups of wine freely flowed -
then Orestes, the haughty tamer of steeds,
And spears circled in battle around him.
فإِترِيخُthen Trechus أُونُومٌOenomaus هِلينُHelenus أُرسبُسٌOresbius
فإِترِيخُ أُونُومٌ هِلينُ أُرسبُسٌ
وَكُلُّهُمُand each of them ذاقَtasted الرَّدىdoom وَهوَwhile he صاغِرُabased
وَكُلُّهُمُ ذاقَ الرَّدى وَهوَ صاغِرُ
then Trechus, Oenomaus, Helenus, and Oresbius.
Each of them tasted doom, brought low.
فأُورسبُساًso, as for Oresbius لَمnot يُجدِavailed وافرُthe abundance of مالهِhis wealth
فأُورسبُساً لَم يُجدِ وافرُ مالهِ
وَمِلكٌand holdings علىin أَكنافِthe environs of كِيفِسَCephissus وافِرُample
وَمِلكٌ على أَكنافِ كِيفِسَ وافِرُ
As for Oresbius, his ample wealth availed him nothing,
nor his vast holdings around Cephissus.
فَفيfor in هِيلَةٍHyle قَدindeed كانَhe lived حيثُwhere ثَوَىdwelt الغِناwealth
فَفي هِيلَةٍ قَد كانَ حيثُ ثَوَى الغِنا
وَبَحرُand the sea of البِيُوتيِّينَthe Boeotians بالمالِwith wealth زاخرُbrimming
وَبَحرُ البِيُوتيِّينَ بالمالِ زاخرُ
For he had lived in Hyle, where wealth dwelt,
and the Boeotians' sea brimmed with riches.
فَدَارَتthen circled عَلَيهِto him عِندَهُمamong them أَكؤُسُthe cups of الصَّفاdelight
فَدَارَت عَلَيهِ عِندَهُم أَكؤُسُ الصَّفا
ودارَتand circled عَلَيهِagainst him بالنِّزالِin combat الدَّوائِرُmisfortunes
ودارَت عَلَيهِ بالنِّزالِ الدَّوائِرُ
Among them the cups of delight had circled to him,
and in battle the turns of fate turned against him.
Partial English translation: 58 of 66 Arabic lines translated.