لِمُهجَةِto the heart of هَكطُورَHector الحَدِيثُthe tidings مُؤَلِّماًcausing pain
لِمُهجَةِ هَكطُورَ الحَدِيثُ مُؤَلِّماً
جَرَىit sped جَرَىit sped جَريَlike the flight of سَهمٍan arrow بِالمَفَاصِلِin the joints يَنشَبُlodges
جَرَى جَرَى جَريَ سَهمٍ بِالمَفَاصِلِ يَنشَبُ
To Hector's heart the tidings, bringing pain,
For the beloved's cheek the conversation was painful
sped, sped like an arrow that lodges in the joints.
It flowed, it flowed like an arrow piercing the joints
تَرَجَّلَhe dismounted مُصطَكَّclanging السِّلاحِarms مُطَوِّفاًgoing about
تَرَجَّلَ مُصطَكَّ السِّلاحِ مُطَوِّفاً
وَفيand in يَدِهِhis hand سُمرُthe dusky shafts of القَناthe spears تَتَلَهَّبُblaze
وَفي يَدِهِ سُمرُ القَنا تَتَلَهَّبُ
He dismounted, his armor clanging, and went about,
The heavily armed warrior set out on foot
while the dusky spears blazed in his hand.
In his hand the spearhead blazing
يُشَدِّدُhe strengthens هِمَّاتِthe spirits of الفَوَارِسِthe horsemen مُنهِضاًrousing
يُشَدِّدُ هِمَّاتِ الفَوَارِسِ مُنهِضاً
عَزِيمَتَهُمtheir resolve حَتَّىuntil انثَنَواthey turned back وَتَصَلَّبُواand stood firm
عَزِيمَتَهُم حَتَّى انثَنَوا وَتَصَلَّبُوا
He strengthened the horsemen's spirits, rousing
Urging on the zeal of the horsemen
their resolve until they turned back and stood firm.
Steeling their resolve until they turned and stood firm
فَكَرُّواso they charged again وَلَكِنَّand yet الأَغارِقَthe Greeks جُملَةًall together
فَكَرُّوا وَلَكِنَّ الأَغارِقَ جُملَةً
عَلىfor صَدِّهِمِrepelling them بالعَزمِwith resolve طُرًّاall تَأَلَّبُواthey banded together
عَلى صَدِّهِمِ بالعَزمِ طُرًّا تَأَلَّبُوا
They charged again, but the Greeks, to a man,
They wheeled, but the men pressing on
joined forces, all resolved to repel them.
Were resolute in counter-attack, fiercely stubborn
فَلَمso not يَكُwas فيamong القَومَينِthe two hosts خَامِلُslack in هِمَّةٍspirit
فَلَم يَكُ في القَومَينِ خَامِلُ هِمَّةٍ
وَلَمand not يَكُwas فِيهِمamong them مَنanyone who يُرَاعُtakes fright فَيَهرُبand so flees
وَلَم يَكُ فِيهِم مَن يُرَاعُ فَيَهرُب
Neither host had anyone of flagging spirit,
In neither troop was there a faint heart
nor anyone among them who took fright and fled.
Nor was there one who feared and ran away
وعِندَand at اشتِباكِthe clashing of الجَيشِthe army بِالقُضبِwith swords وَالقَناand spears
وعِندَ اشتِباكِ الجَيشِ بِالقُضبِ وَالقَنا
جَرَتraced مُقرَباتُthe thoroughbred steeds of الحَملةِthe charge الأرضَthe earth تَنهَبُdevouring
جَرَت مُقرَباتُ الحَملةِ الأرضَ تَنهَبُ
As the army clashed with swords and spears,
When the two armies engaged with spear and lance
the charging thoroughbreds raced, devouring the earth.
The warriors' steeds trampled the ground and plundered
وَقَدand already كَسَتِhad clothed الإغريقَthe Greeks ثوبَa robe of عَجَاجةٍswirling dust
وَقَد كَسَتِ الإغريقَ ثوبَ عَجَاجةٍ
فَتَحتَso beneath الخُطَىthe footsteps وَقعٌa pounding وَمِنand from فَوقُabove غَيهَبُdeep gloom
فَتَحتَ الخُطَى وَقعٌ وَمِن فَوقُ غَيهَبُ
They clothed the Greeks in a robe of swirling dust,
The Greeks donned the raiment of turbulent flight
with pounding underfoot and deep gloom overhead.
Beneath their feet the sound of steps, above a cloud of dust
كأَنَّas though مَذاريthe winnowing fans of ذِيمتِيرَDemeter بِبَيدَرٍon a threshing floor
كأَنَّ مَذاري ذِيمتِيرَ بِبَيدَرٍ
تُثِيرُstir up سَحِيقَthe fine dust of التِّبنِthe straw والحَبُّwhile the grain يَرسُبُsinks
تُثِيرُ سَحِيقَ التِّبنِ والحَبُّ يَرسُبُ
As though Demeter's winnowing fans on a threshing floor
As if the threshing floors of Demeter in the valley
were stirring fine straw-dust while the grain sank down,
Raise up the chaff of straw, while the grain sinks down,
فَتَذرِيso scatters السَّحِيقَthe powder الرِّيحُthe wind ثُمَّthen تَهِيلُهُheaps it up
فَتَذرِي السَّحِيقَ الرِّيحُ ثُمَّ تَهِيلُهُ
غُبَاراًas dust كَثِيفاًthick وَهوَand it is أَبيَضُwhite أَشهَبُash-gray
غُبَاراً كَثِيفاً وَهوَ أَبيَضُ أَشهَبُ
the wind scattered the powder, then heaped it up
The wind winnows the chaff then makes it
as thick dust, white and ash-gray.
Swirl thickly, white and grey
كذاthus اندَفَعَsurged forward الإِغرِيقُthe Greeks مِنfrom تَحتِbeneath قَسطَلٍa dust cloud
كذا اندَفَعَ الإِغرِيقُ مِن تَحتِ قَسطَلٍ
عضلاهمunclear; probably 'covered them' وآرِسand Ares لِلعدَىfor the enemy يَتَعَصَّبُtakes sides
عضلاهم وآرِس لِلعدَى يَتَعَصَّبُ
Thus the Greeks surged forward beneath a cloud of dust
Thus did the Greeks rush out from under their helmets
[that covered them], while Ares sided with their foes.
Brawny-armed, equipped for the foe, girt for battle
أَطاعَhe obeyed أَفُلُّوناًApollo وَشَدَّدَand strengthened عَزمَهُhis resolve احwithdrawal (first fragment)
أَطاعَ أَفُلُّوناً وَشَدَّدَ عَزمَهُ اح
تِجابُwithdrawal (final fragment) أَثِيناAthena فَاستَقَرَّso he settled يُكَوكِبُmustering the ranks
تِجابُ أَثِينا فَاستَقَرَّ يُكَوكِبُ
He obeyed Apollo, his resolve strengthened by the withdrawal
Apollo obeyed and hardened his resolve
of Athena; he settled to marshalling the ranks.
Athena stood over them, blazing like stars
وَأَرسَلَand he sent مِنfrom فَوقِabove الجُيُوشِthe armies غَمامَةًa cloud
وَأَرسَلَ مِن فَوقِ الجُيُوشِ غَمامَةً
تُظَلِّلُshades دُرَّاعَthose clad in الحَدِيدِiron وَتَحجُبُand conceals
تُظَلِّلُ دُرَّاعَ الحَدِيدِ وَتَحجُبُ
He cast a cloud above the armies,
And sent down from above the armies a cloud
to shade and hide the warriors clad in iron.
Shading the iron mail and veiling
ولَمَّاand when علاrose وَقعُthe din of القَناthe spears انقَضَّhe swooped down عائِثاًwreaking havoc
ولَمَّا علا وَقعُ القَنا انقَضَّ عائِثاً
إِلَىinto ساحةِthe field of الهَيجاءِbattle أَنياسُAeneas يَلجَبُclamoring
إِلَى ساحةِ الهَيجاءِ أَنياسُ يَلجَبُ
And when the din of spears rose, down he swooped, wreaking havoc,
And when the clash of spears rang out, plunging wildly
into the battlefield—Aeneas, clamoring aloud.
Into the arena of turmoil came swift-footed Ajax
بِهِwith him جَاءَcame فِيبُوسٌPhoebus سَلَيماَsafe مِنَfrom الأَذَىharm
بِهِ جَاءَ فِيبُوسٌ سَلَيماَ مِنَ الأَذَى
شَدِيداًstrong حَدِيداًfierce يَستَجِيشُsummoning troops وَيَلغَبُand growing weary
شَدِيداً حَدِيداً يَستَجِيشُ وَيَلغَبُ
Phoebus had brought him, safe from harm,
With him came Phebios, unscathed,
strong and fierce, summoning troops and growing weary.
Mighty of will, iron of heart, seething and raging
فَخَفَّso he hastened وَأَحيَاand revived خَفقَthe beating of أَكبادِhearts (literally, livers) قَومِهِhis people
فَخَفَّ وَأَحيَا خَفقَ أَكبادِ قَومِهِ
وَحَفَّand clustered بِهِaround him مِنfrom among صَفوَةِthe choicest of الصِّيدِthe proud chieftains مَوكِبُa company
وَحَفَّ بِهِ مِن صَفوَةِ الصِّيدِ مَوكِبُ
He hastened, reviving the beating hearts of his people,
His courage revived and hearts of his folk throbbed
and a band of the choicest proud chieftains gathered around him.
A band of the elite of warriors escorted him
فَلَمso not يَسأَلُواthey asked عِلماًfor knowledge وَلَمand not يَتسَاءَلُواthey questioned one another
فَلَم يَسأَلُوا عِلماً وَلَم يَتسَاءَلُوا
وَدُونَand barring التَّحَرِّيinquiry مِنof لَظَىthe blaze of الحَربِwar أَضرُبvarieties
وَدُونَ التَّحَرِّي مِن لَظَى الحَربِ أَضرُب
They sought no information, nor questioned one another,
Without asking they joined the fierce blaze of war
for manifold flames of war barred all inquiry:
Tempests of Phebios and lightning of turmoil
عَوَاصِفُthe tempests of فِيبُوسٍPhoebus وَصعقَةُand a thunderstroke of فِتنَةٍstrife
عَوَاصِفُ فِيبُوسٍ وَصعقَةُ فِتنَةٍ
وَآرسand Ares وَوَبلٌand a heavy shower بالذَّوَابِلِof slender spears صَيِّبُpouring down
وَآرس وَوَبلٌ بالذَّوَابِلِ صَيِّبُ
Phoebus's tempests, a thunderstroke of strife,
Ares and Hephaestus with showers of missiles
and Ares, and a pelting downpour of slender spears.
Ajax, Ajax and Idomeneus the rouser
وَآياسُand Ajax آياسٌAjax وَأُوذِسand Odysseus ذِيُومِذٌDiomedes
وَآياسُ آياسٌ وَأُوذِس ذِيُومِذٌ
يَهُزُّهُمُstirs them دَاعيthe call to الكِفَاحِcombat وَيَطرِبُand thrills
يَهُزُّهُمُ دَاعي الكِفَاحِ وَيَطرِبُ
And Ajax and Ajax, Odysseus and Diomedes—
Calling the Greeks to battle, forming ranks
the call to combat stirred and thrilled them.
Whenever there was tactical retreat or steadfast defence
يُنَادُونَthey call out بِالإِغرِيقِto the Greeks لَلحَربِfor war نَهضَةًa rally
يُنَادُونَ بِالإِغرِيقِ لَلحَربِ نَهضَةً
إِذاwhenever هُمthey لِكَرٍّfor a charge أَوor لِصَدٍّfor defense تَكَتَّبُواformed ranks
إِذا هُم لِكَرٍّ أَو لِصَدٍّ تَكَتَّبُوا
They called upon the Greeks to rise for battle,
For steadfast defence the troops’ chieftains stood firm
whenever they formed ranks for attack or defense.
Undaunted heroes who neither feared nor retreated
فَلِلصَّدِّso, for defense دُفَّاعُthe staunch defenders of الجُنُودِthe armies تَثَبَّتُواstood firm
فَلِلصَّدِّ دُفَّاعُ الجُنُودِ تَثَبَّتُوا
صَنَادِيدَstalwart champions لَمnot يَخشَواthey feared وَلمand not يَتَهَيَّبُواthey quailed
صَنَادِيدَ لَم يَخشَوا وَلم يَتَهَيَّبُوا
So the armies' defenders stood firm in resistance,
Though the battle raged they were like
stalwart champions who neither feared nor quailed.
Clouds above the high peaks clustered
كَاَنَّهُمُas though they were وَالجَرُّwhile the sky (text uncertain) صافٍclear رَقِيعُهُits vault
كَاَنَّهُمُ وَالجَرُّ صافٍ رَقِيعُهُ
غَمَائِمُclouds مِنfrom فَوقِabove الشَّوامِخِthe towering peaks تَقطِبُfrown
غَمَائِمُ مِن فَوقِ الشَّوامِخِ تَقطِبُ
As though, with the [sky's] vault clear, they were
The winds had laid down to rest, no more playing
clouds frowning above the towering peaks,
Raging, while the winds above them gambol
وَقدand already هَجَعَhad fallen asleep الأَنواءُthe storms لاno ثَمَّthere شمأَلٌa north wind
وَقد هَجَعَ الأَنواءُ لا ثَمَّ شمأَلٌ
تَثُورُrises وَلاnor الأَنوَاءُthe storm-winds فِيهنَّamong them تَلعَبُplay
تَثُورُ وَلا الأَنوَاءُ فِيهنَّ تَلعَبُ
while the storms slept, and no north wind
Agamemnon ranged between their ranks
rose, nor did storm-winds play among them.
Shouting, tracking the steps behind
يَجُوبُranges أَغامَمنُونُAgamemnon بَينَbetween صُفُوفِهِمtheir ranks
يَجُوبُ أَغامَمنُونُ بَينَ صُفُوفِهِم
يَصيحُshouting وَأَعقَابَand the tracks of الخُطَىthe footsteps يَتَعَقَّبُhe follows
يَصيحُ وَأَعقَابَ الخُطَى يَتَعَقَّبُ
Agamemnon ranged between their ranks,
shouting and following close upon their footsteps.
Partial English translation: 44 of 46 Arabic lines translated.