فَدَعَواso they prayed وَهَكطُورٌwhile Hector بِهِمamong them مُستَقسماًdrawing lots
فَدَعَوا وَهَكطُورٌ بِهِم مُستَقسماً
رَجَّshook السِّهامَthe lots مُحَوِّلاًturning aside نَظَرَاتِهِhis glances
رَجَّ السِّهامَ مُحَوِّلاً نَظَرَاتِهِ
So they prayed, while Hector, drawing lots among them,
They called for lots, drawing fateful tokens,
Shook the lots, turning his gaze aside.
The arrows shifted, their eyes averting,
فَبَداthen appeared لَدَيهمbefore them سَهمُthe lot of فارسَParis أَوَّلاًfirst
فَبَدا لَدَيهم سَهمُ فارسَ أَوَّلاً
لِيكُونَso he might be أَوَّلَthe first طاعِنٍone to thrust بِقَنَاتِهِwith his spear
لِيكُونَ أَوَّلَ طاعِنٍ بِقَنَاتِهِ
Paris's lot appeared before them first,
The lot of the Persian appeared first,
So he would be the first to strike with his spear.
To be the first to pierce with his spear.
جَلَسُواthey sat وَعُدَّتُهُمand their arms بِجانِبِbeside جَيشِهِمtheir army
جَلَسُوا وَعُدَّتُهُم بِجانِبِ جَيشِهِم
والخَيلُand the horses مُوقَفَةٌstationed علىalong جَنَبَاتهِits flanks
والخَيلُ مُوقَفَةٌ على جَنَبَاتهِ
They sat, their arms beside their army,
They sat, their weapons beside their army,
And the horses stood along its flanks.
The horses halted at their sides,
فأَعَدَّthen prepared شكَّتهُhis armor ابنُthe son of فريامٍPriam وفيand on
فأَعَدَّ شكَّتهُ ابنُ فريامٍ وفي
رِجلَيهِhis legs أَوثَقَfastened خِفَّهُhis footwear بِصِلاتِهِwith its fastenings
رِجلَيهِ أَوثَقَ خِفَّهُ بِصِلاتِهِ
Priam's son prepared his armor, and on
Ibn Firam prepared his bow,
His legs he secured his footwear with its fastenings.
Fastening his shoes tightly to his feet.
بِعُرَىwith loops of اللُّجَينِsilver أَناطَهُfastened it واعتَاضَand took instead دِرbreast- (word fragment)
بِعُرَى اللُّجَينِ أَناطَهُ واعتَاضَ دِر
عَplate (word fragment) أَخِيهِhis brother لِيقاوُونَLycaon عنin place of نَتَراتِهِhis armor
عَ أَخِيهِ لِيقاوُونَ عن نَتَراتِهِ
With silver loops he fastened it, and took the breastplate
With the straps of his stirrups he girded it
Of his brother Lycaon in place of his own armor.
And donned his brother's coat to guard his sides,
وتَقَلَّدَand girded on السَّيفَthe sword الصَّقِيلَpolished مُرَصَّعاًinlaid
وتَقَلَّدَ السَّيفَ الصَّقِيلَ مُرَصَّعاً
بِقَتِيرِهِwith its studs الفِضيِّof silver فيon صَفَحاتِهِits sides
بِقَتِيرِهِ الفِضيِّ في صَفَحاتِهِ
And girded on the polished sword, inlaid
He strapped on his ornate sword, studded
With silver studs along its sides.
With its silver plates across its surface.
وأضافَand added جُنَّتَهُhis shield ومِغفَرَهُand his helmet الذيwhose
وأضافَ جُنَّتَهُ ومِغفَرَهُ الذي
سَبَحَتfloated نَواصِيهِits plumes علىover حَلَقاتِهِits rings
سَبَحَت نَواصِيهِ على حَلَقاتِهِ
He added his shield and his helmet, whose
He added his coat of mail and his forgiving helmet
Plumes floated over its rings.
Whose rings flowed over its collar,
وأَجالَand whirled فيin يُمنَاهُhis right hand أَعظَمَthe mightiest عَاسِلٍquivering spear
وأَجالَ في يُمنَاهُ أَعظَمَ عَاسِلٍ
بِقُوىwith the strength of المَعَاصِمِthe wrists دَارَspun فيin راحاتِهِhis palms
بِقُوى المَعَاصِمِ دَارَ في راحاتِهِ
And whirled in his right hand the mightiest spear;
And in his right hand the greatest seasoned spear
With the strength of his wrists it spun in his palms.
With the strength of forearms whirled in his palms.
وافىarrived مَنِيلاMenelaus بالسِّلاحِin arms مُكَفَّراًfully armored
وافى مَنِيلا بالسِّلاحِ مُكَفَّراً
واستَلأماand both donned armor كلٌّeach لدىfor لُحَمَاتهِhis combats
واستَلأما كلٌّ لدى لُحَمَاتهِ
Menelaus arrived, fully clad in arms,
They came fully armed, each to his adversary,
And both donned armor, each for his battle.
The coat of each dueler rippling with rage.
فَتَقَدَّماthen both advanced ولِحاظُand the glances of كُلِّeach مُبَارزٍduelist
فَتَقَدَّما ولِحاظُ كُلِّ مُبَارزٍ
شَفَّتrevealed بِوارِيthrough the blaze of الغَيظِwrath عَنconcerning غُصَّاتِهِhis choking bitterness
شَفَّت بِوارِي الغَيظِ عَن غُصَّاتِهِ
Then both advanced, and each duelist's glances
They stood where they had lined up, both
Revealed his choking bitterness through blazing wrath.
With spears burning the hearts of their foes.
وَقَفُواthey stood لَدىat ماwhat خَطَّطُواthey had marked out وكِلاهُماand both of them
وَقَفُوا لَدى ما خَطَّطُوا وكِلاهُما
بقَنَاwith the spear (stem) تِهِhis (suffix) يُضوِيmakes weak قُلُوبَthe hearts of قِلاتِهِhis foes
بقَنَا تِهِ يُضوِي قُلُوبَ قِلاتِهِ
They stood where they had marked the lines, and each
Ibn Firam, the cultured one, threw
Made his foes' hearts quail with his spear.
With a forked arrow toward his breast.
فَرمىthen hurled ابنُthe son of فِريامَPriam المُثَقَّفَthe straightened spear فالتَوىthen it bent
فَرمى ابنُ فِريامَ المُثَقَّفَ فالتَوى
بِمَجَنِّagainst the shield of أَترِيذٍAtreides علىupon نَبَوَاتِهِits rebounds
بِمَجَنِّ أَترِيذٍ على نَبَوَاتِهِ
Priam's son hurled the straightened spear, and it bent
Maniyla swiftly responded, launching
Against Atreides' shield, glancing away.
His casts accompanied by his prayers:
فيat الحالِthe moment بادَرَهُcountered him promptly مَنيلاMenelaus مُرسِلاًletting fly
في الحالِ بادَرَهُ مَنيلا مُرسِلاً
رَشَقَاتِهِhis volleys مَشفُوعةًaccompanied بِصَلاتِهِby his prayer
رَشَقَاتِهِ مَشفُوعةً بِصَلاتِهِ
At once Menelaus countered him, unleashing
"O Zafis take me by the hand to bestow honor on a knight
His volleys, accompanied by his prayer:
Whose virtue he taints by defaming him."
ياO زَفسُZeus خُذtake بيَدِيby my hand لأَنعمso I may find relief مِنfrom فَتًىa young man
يا زَفسُ خُذ بيَدِي لأَنعم مِن فَتًى
عِرضيmy honor يُدَنِّسُهُhe defiles it بِتَشوِيهَاتِهِwith his outrages
عِرضي يُدَنِّسُهُ بِتَشوِيهَاتِهِ
“O Zeus, take my hand, that I may find relief from a man
"Crush him for me, to be an example
Who defiles my honor with his outrages.
To the evil guest who denies his blessings."
واسحَقهُand crush him سَحقاًutterly فيin يديmy hand يَكُhe may be عِبرَةًa warning
واسحَقهُ سَحقاً في يدي يَكُ عِبرَةً
لِنَزِيلِfor a guest of سُوءٍevil عَقَّspurned فَضلَthe kindness of قُراتِهِhis hosts
لِنَزِيلِ سُوءٍ عَقَّ فَضلَ قُراتِهِ
Crush him utterly in my hand, that he may be a warning
He threw his seasoned spear and it pierced
To an evil guest who spurned his hosts' kindness.”
The forked arrow, rupturing its loose bindings,
ورَمىand hurled بِعَاسِلهِwith his spear فأُنفِذَso it was driven through خارِقاًpiercing
ورَمى بِعَاسِلهِ فأُنفِذَ خارِقاً
ظَهرَthe outer face of المِجَنِّthe shield وبَطنَand the belly of فَضفاضَاتِهِhis ample armor
ظَهرَ المِجَنِّ وبَطنَ فَضفاضَاتِهِ
He hurled his spear, which drove through, piercing
Until it penetrated through his coat
The shield's face and the belly of his ample mail,
And he twisted his shoulders, saved by his armor.
حتَّىuntil تَخَلَّلَpassed through نافِذاًpenetrating بِدِثارِهِthrough his outer garment
حتَّى تَخَلَّلَ نافِذاً بِدِثارِهِ
فَلَوَىso he twisted المَناكِبَthe shoulders فائزاًwinning بِنَجاتِهِhis escape
فَلَوَى المَناكِبَ فائزاً بِنَجاتِهِ
Until it passed right through his outer garment.
The Persian drew his sharp sword
But he twisted his shoulders, securing his escape.
Above the saddle, expecting his death.
فاستَلَّthen unsheathed أَتريذٌAtreides صَقِيلَthe polished blade of حُسَامهِhis sword
فاستَلَّ أَتريذٌ صَقِيلَ حُسَامهِ
فوقabove التَّرِيكَةِthe helmet مُوقِناًcertain بِمَماتِهِof his death
فوق التَّرِيكَةِ مُوقِناً بِمَماتِهِ
Then Atreides drew his polished sword
The blade snapped at its hilt amidst his right hand
Above the helmet, certain of his opponent's death.
And its shards flew above his forehead.
فَتَكَسَّرَbut shattered الصَّمصامُthe keen sword وَسطَin the midst of يَمِينِهِhis right hand
فَتَكَسَّرَ الصَّمصامُ وَسطَ يَمِينِهِ
وأَطارَand sent flying فَوقَabove جبِينِهِhis brow شَذَرَاتِهِits shards
وأَطارَ فَوقَ جبِينِهِ شَذَرَاتِهِ
But the keen blade shattered in his right hand,
Turning aside, he gestured to the sky, addressing
And sent its shards flying above his brow.
Zafis, chiding him for his failings:
حَنَفاًinclining aside أَشارَgestured إِلىtoward السَّماءِthe sky مُخَاطِباًaddressing
حَنَفاً أَشارَ إِلى السَّماءِ مُخَاطِباً
زَفساًZeus يُؤَنِّبُهُreproaching him علىfor عَثَراتِهِhis setbacks
زَفساً يُؤَنِّبُهُ على عَثَراتِهِ
Turning aside, he gestured toward the sky, addressing
"None of the immortal kind were like you,
Zeus, reproaching him for his setbacks:
O Zafis, confident in his abilities!
مِنamong كُلِّall آلِthe kin of الخُلدِimmortality مِثلَكَlike you لَمnot يكُنbeen
مِن كُلِّ آلِ الخُلدِ مِثلَكَ لَم يكُن
ياO زَفسُZeus مُعتَسِفٌone so unjust بِمَقدُوراتِهِin his decrees
يا زَفسُ مُعتَسِفٌ بِمَقدُوراتِهِ
“Among all the immortal kin, none has been like you,
I almost gained victory over my wretched brother,
O Zeus, so unjust in his decrees.
When my wrath took flight in pieces.
قدindeed كِدتُI nearly أَفتُكَslay ظافراًvictoriously بأَخِيagainst the brother of الخَناdebauchery
قد كِدتُ أَفتُكَ ظافراً بأَخِي الخَنا
فإذاbut behold بِعَضبيmy keen sword طارَflew apart فيin كَسَراتِهِits fragments
فإذا بِعَضبي طارَ في كَسَراتِهِ
I nearly slew that brother of debauchery in triumph,
And when I stabbed with my spear but did not
When behold, my keen sword flew apart in fragments!
Reach him with my spear or my stabbing!"
وإِذاand behold برُمحِيwith my spear قدalready طَعَنتُI thrust بهِwith it ولمand did not
وإِذا برُمحِي قد طَعَنتُ بهِ ولم
ادرِكهُreach him فيwith رُمحيmy spear وفيand with طَعَناتِهِits thrusts
ادرِكهُ في رُمحي وفي طَعَناتِهِ
And behold, I thrust with my spear, yet did not
And he lunged, seizing his helmet, and with
Reach him with my spear and its thrusts.”
Violence, he hurriedly quickened his steps.
وانقَضَّand lunged يَجذِبُهُdragging him بِخُوذَتِهِby his helmet وفيand with
وانقَضَّ يَجذِبُهُ بِخُوذَتِهِ وفي
عُنفٍviolence تَقَهقَرَbacked away مُسرِعاًhastening خَطَواتِهِhis steps
عُنفٍ تَقَهقَرَ مُسرِعاً خَطَواتِهِ
He lunged, dragging him by his helmet, and with
He dragged him while the halter held his jaw
Violence backed away, hastening his steps.
Until his breath was stifled by exhaustion.
واجتَرَّهُand dragged him والسَّيرُwhile the strap يُمسِكُheld ذَقنَهُhis chin
واجتَرَّهُ والسَّيرُ يُمسِكُ ذَقنَهُ
فاستُمسِكَتso were arrested أَنفَاسُهُhis breaths بِلَهَاتهِat his uvula
فاستُمسِكَت أَنفَاسُهُ بِلَهَاتهِ
And dragged him, while the strap held his chin,
He almost pounced on him had not
So his breath caught at the back of his throat.
Faris intervened, severing the straps of his bridle.
قَدindeed كادَwas about to يَبطُشُattack violently فيهagainst him لَوif لَمnot تَبتَدِرhasten
قَد كادَ يَبطُشُ فيه لَو لَم تَبتَدِر
فِبرِيسُCypris تَقطَعُcutting بالخِفاin secret قِدَّاتِهِhis leather straps
فِبرِيسُ تَقطَعُ بالخِفا قِدَّاتِهِ
He would have overpowered him, had not
He was left with a severed helmet
Cypris hastened to cut his straps in secret.
Which he threw and it tumbled to the ground.
فخَلتso remained لَدَيهِwith him خُوذَةٌa helmet مَقطُوعَةٌcut loose
فخَلت لَدَيهِ خُوذَةٌ مَقطُوعَةٌ
فَرَمىthen he threw بهاit فَتَدَحرَجَتand it rolled لِسراتهِto his chieftains
فَرَمى بها فَتَدَحرَجَت لِسراتهِ
So the helmet, its straps cut, was left with him;
His companions deserted him and he recoiled
He threw it, and it rolled toward his chieftains.
With the stump of his slim spear to his leaps.
فخَلتso remained لدَيهِwith him خُوذَةٌa helmet مَقطوعَةٌcut loose
فخَلت لدَيهِ خُوذَةٌ مَقطوعَةٌ
فَرَخمىthen he threw (apparent typo) بهاit فَتَدَحرَجَتand it rolled لِسَراتهِto his chieftains
فَرَخمى بها فَتَدَحرَجَت لِسَراتهِ
So the helmet, its straps cut, was left with him;
But Afriditiya, capable and swift,
He threw it, and it rolled toward his chieftains.
Reached from her abode the ropes of his life.
فَخَلاthen were alone بهاwith it أَصحابُهُhis companions وَهُوَwhile he انثَنىturned back
فَخَلا بها أَصحابُهُ وَهُوَ انثَنى
بشَحِيذِwith the sharpened نَيزَكهِhis javelin ِإلىto وَثَباتِهِhis lunges
بشَحِيذِ نَيزَكهِ ِإلى وَثَباتِهِ
His companions had it to themselves, while he turned back
She veiled him in the fog’s haze, carrying
To his lunges with his sharpened javelin.
Him with perfumes into his chambers.
لكِنَّbut عَفرُوذِيتَAphrodite وَهيَand she قَدِيرَةٌmighty
لكِنَّ عَفرُوذِيتَ وَهيَ قَدِيرَةٌ
مِنfrom فَورِهاher haste وَصَلَتjoined حِبالَthe cords of حَيَاتِهِhis life
مِن فَورِها وَصَلَت حِبالَ حَيَاتِهِ
But Aphrodite, mighty as she was,
And she went to Helana, there atop
At once bound together the cords of his life.
The tower sitting on its balcony.
حَجَبَتهُshe concealed him فيin رَكَمpiled masses of الضَّبَابِmist مُحِلَّةًlodging
حَجَبَتهُ في رَكَم الضَّبَابِ مُحِلَّةً
إِيَّاهُhim بالأَطيَابِamid perfumes فيin حُجُراتِهِhis chambers
إِيَّاهُ بالأَطيَابِ في حُجُراتِهِ
She hid him in piled-up mist, lodging
She approached her while the girls were vigilant
Him amid perfumes in his chambers.
In the dress of handmaidens over her.
وَمَضَتand went الىto هيلانةٍHelen فإِذاand behold بهاthere she was
وَمَضَت الى هيلانةٍ فإِذا بها
بالبُرجِin the tower جالسةًseated عَلىupon شَرَفَاتِهِits battlements
بالبُرجِ جالسةً عَلى شَرَفَاتِهِ
And went to Helen—and there she was,
She pretended an old woman brought near her people,
Seated in the tower upon its battlements.
Pretending to knit wool in her hands.
فَدَنَتthen approached إِليهاher والبَناتُwhile the girls شَوَاخِصٌgazed intently
فَدَنَت إِليها والبَناتُ شَوَاخِصٌ
فيin زِيِّthe guise of خادِمَةٍa maidservant علىdespite عِلاَّتِهِits flaws
في زِيِّ خادِمَةٍ على عِلاَّتِهِ
While the girls gazed, she drew near to her,
In her fragrant clothes she pulled her, and
In a maidservant's guise, with all its flaws.
Faris called to her in his privacy:
حاكَتimitated عَجُوزاًan old woman قُرِّبَتwas favored مِنfrom قَومِهاher people
حاكَت عَجُوزاً قُرِّبَت مِن قَومِها
حاكَتwove بِنَسجِby weaving الصُّوفِwool مَحبُوكاتِهِits woven fabrics
حاكَت بِنَسجِ الصُّوفِ مَحبُوكاتِهِ
She mimicked a favored old woman from her people,
"He calls you, though you see him in a room
Who wove wool into its tightly worked fabrics.
That joins you, in the beauty of his qualities,
وبِثَوبِهاand by her robe العُطرِيِّfragrant جَرَّتهاpulled her وقدand had
وبِثَوبِها العُطرِيِّ جَرَّتها وقد
صاحتcalled out بهاto her فاريسُParis فيin خَلَواتِهِhis private retreats
صاحت بها فاريسُ في خَلَواتِهِ
And tugged her by her fragrant robe, and
As if he had not been in war with
Cried to her: “Paris, in his private retreat,
The fiercest of his enemies.
يَدعُوكِcalls you وَهوَand he تَرَينَهُyou see him فيin غُرفَةٍa chamber
يَدعُوكِ وَهوَ تَرَينَهُ في غُرفَةٍ
ضَمَّتكُماembraced you both بِبَدِيعِwith the wondrous حُسنِbeauty of صِفاتهِhis features
ضَمَّتكُما بِبَدِيعِ حُسنِ صِفاتهِ
Calls you; you see him in a chamber
Rather he is in a dance hall, preparing
That embraced you both; so wondrously fair is his form,
To dance, or has returned from his field."
حَتَّىso that تَخَالِىyou would imagine أَنَّهُthat he ماnot كانَhad been فيin
حَتَّى تَخَالِى أَنَّهُ ما كانَ في
حربٍa battle بهاin it يَلقىmeets أَِشدَّthe fiercest of عُدَاتهِhis foes
حربٍ بها يَلقى أَِشدَّ عُدَاتهِ
That you would imagine he had not been in
A battle where he faced his fiercest foes,
لكِنَّهُbut he فيin مَرقَصِa dancing-place مُتأَهِّبٌready
لكِنَّهُ في مَرقَصِ مُتأَهِّبٌ
لِلرَّقصِto dance أَوقدor had عادَreturned منfrom ساحَاتِهِits grounds
لِلرَّقصِ أَوقد عادَ من ساحَاتِهِ
But was at a dancing-place, ready
To dance, or had returned from its dancing grounds.”
Partial English translation: 72 of 76 Arabic lines translated.