خلت ساحة الحرب من كل رب — Suleyman Al Boustani

خَلَت ساحَةُ الحربِ مِن كُلِّ رَبِّ

فَعَجَّ العَجاجُ بِطَعنٍ وَضَرب

The battlefield was emptied of every god.

Then the dust roared with thrusts and blows.

فمِن سِمُوِيسٍ إِلى زَنثُسِ

قِراعُ السُّيُوفِ ومَدُّ القِسي

From Simois to Xanthus

came the clash of swords and the drawing of bows.

فَبَادَرَ بالقَومِ أَوَّلُ بادِ

أَياسُ يشُقُّ صُفُوفَ الأَعادي

The first to advance with the warriors was

Ajax, cleaving the enemy ranks.

فَفَرَّجَ أَوَّلَ هَمٍّ وَباسِ

بَصَرعِ ابنِ إِفسُورُسٍ أَكمَاسِ

He first relieved their distress and hardship

by felling Acamas, son of Eussorus,

أَشَدُّ الثِّراقَةِ بَأساً شدِيد

وَجَبَّارُ هَولٍ وقَرمٌ عَنيد

the fiercest of the Thracians in might,

a terrifying giant and stubborn champion.

لَوَاهُ أَياسُ بِطَعنتِهِ

فَغَارَت بِقَلبِ تَرِيكتِه

Ajax brought him down with his thrust,

which sank into the middle of his helmet

وَشَقَّت إِلى عَظمِ الجَبِينِ

فَجُندِلَ مَيتاً غَضِيضَ الجُفُونِ

and cleft through to his forehead bone.

He fell dead, his eyelids lowered.

تَلاهُ ابنُ تَثراكَسيلُ الأَغَرُّ

نَزِيلُ أَرِسبا الغَنِيُّ الأَبَرُّ

Next came noble Axylus, son of Teuthras,

the wealthy, kindly dweller in Arisbe.

فَفِى مَضرَبِ السُّبلِ كانَ يَطُوف

يُغِيثَ العِبادَ وَيَقرِي الضُّيُوف

He used to frequent the meeting of the roads,

helping people and entertaining guests.

وَفَوقَ الطَّرِيقِ بَنَى دَارَهُ

لِيُكرِمَ بالقُربِ زُوَّارَهُ

Beside the road he built his house

to welcome his visitors nearby.

أَعانَ وَلَم يُجدِهِ ما أَعانا

وَلم يَكُ مَن عَنهُ يَلقى الطِّعانا

He had helped others, but his help availed him nothing;

there was none to ward the thrusts from him.

بِسيَفٍ ابنِ تِيذِيُسِ صُرِعا

وَخادِمُهُ كَلسِيُوسُ مَعا

By the sword of Tydeus's son he was felled,

together with his servant Calesius.

وَخَرَّ أُفَلطُ كَذَاكَ ذَرِيس

بعَامِلِ فُريالَ صَدرَ الخَمِيس

Opheltius fell, and likewise Dresus,

by Euryalus's spear at the army's forefront.

فَراحَ وَأَبقَاهُما بالزَّفِير

على أَسفُوسَ وفيذَس يُغِير

Leaving those two gasping, he went

to charge against Aesepus and Pedasus,

حَفِيدَي حَلِيفِ العُلى لَومدُونا

وَفرعضينِ مِن بِكرِهِ بُقلِيُونا

grandsons of lofty Laomedon,

and two scions of his firstborn, Bucolion.

نَشا خِفيَةً بُقلِيونُ بِحِجرِ

فَتاَةٍ أَحَبَّ أَبُوهُ بِسرِّ

Bucolion grew up secretly in the lap

of a maiden his father had loved in secret.

وَلَمَّا تَرعرَعَ ساقَ الشِّياه

فَرامَتهُ إِحدى بَنَاتش المِيَاه

When he grew up, he herded sheep,

and one of the water-maidens desired him.

فَدانَ لِبَربارَةٍ قَلبُهُ

وَعن تَوأَمَينِ انجلى حُبُّهُ

His heart yielded to Abarbarea,

and his love brought forth twins.

فبأسَهُما ابنُ مِكستَ أَبَادا

وَنالَ سِلاحَهُما مُستفادا

The son of Mecisteus destroyed their might

and took their weapons as his spoil.

وفُولِيفِتيسُ رَمى أَستِيَالا

وأُوذِيسُ بالرُّمحِ مالَ وَصالا

Polypoetes struck down Astyalus,

and Odysseus turned and charged with his spear.

جَرى يَطعَنُ الفَرقُسِيَّ فِذِيت

وطِفقيرُ آريتَوُونَ يُمِيت

He ran to pierce Pidytes of Percote,

while Teucer slew Aretaon.

وَأَصمى ابنُ نَسطُورَ أَنطِيلُخُس

بِنافِذِ عاسِلِهِ ابلِرُس

Antilochus, son of Nestor, killed

Ablerus with his piercing spear.

وَأَترِيذُ مَولى المَوَالي قَتَل

إِلاتُوسَ قَرمَ فِداسا البَطَل

And Atreus's son, lord of lords, killed

Elatus, the heroic champion of Pedasus.

وفِيلاقُ وَلَّى يَرُومُ الفِرارا

فَنَالَ بِطَعنِ لِطُوسَ البَوَارا

Phylacus turned, seeking flight,

but met destruction by Leitus's thrust.

وميلَنثُيوسَ رَخمى أُورِفِيل

وَأَذرَستُ حَيًّا دَهاهُ مَنِيل

Eurypylus struck down Melanthius,

and Menelaus caught Adrastus alive.

فَجَيشُ الطَّرَاوِدِ والفَتك دار

بِهِم قد تَرامَوا بِبَابِ الدِّيار

The Trojan army, with slaughter raging

among them, rushed toward the city's gate.

وأَذرَستُ شَبَّت تُغِيرُ الخُيُول

بهِ جامحاتٍ بِتِلكَ السُّهُول

Adrastus's horses reared and rushed

with him, unbridled across those plains.

بِغُصنٍ مِنَ الأَثلِ والكَبكَبَه

تُبَارِيهِ أُنشِبَتِ المَركَبه

Against a tamarisk bough, amid the turmoil,

his speeding chariot became entangled.

فَسُحِّقَ مِضمَدُها وَالجِيَاد

أَغارَت وَقد أَفلَتَت لِلبِلاد

Its yoke was shattered, and the horses

broke free and raced into the countryside.

وأَذرَستِ للأَرضِ مُذ صُرِعا

إِزاءَ مَحالاتِها وَقَعا

When Adrastus was hurled to the ground,

he fell beside its wheels.

فَأَدرَكَهُ وَهوَ يَجرِي مَنِيل

بِرُمحٍ طَوِيلٍ وَسَيفٍ صَقِيل

Menelaus overtook him as he ran,

with a long spear and a polished sword.

عَلى رُكبَتَيهِ تَراَمَى ذَلِيلا

وَقالَ أَلا فاعفُ وَارضَ بَدِيلا

He flung himself humbly upon his knees

and said, 'Spare me, and accept a ransom.

فَإنَّ كُنُوزَ أَبي بِادِّخارِ

حَدِيداً وصُفراَ وَصافي نُضارِ

My father has treasures stored away:

iron, bronze, and pure gold.

فَإِن تَعفُ عَنِّي فَأُقتَادَ حَيّا

لِفُلكِكَ يُولِكَ كَنزَاً مَهَيَّا

If you spare me and I am led alive

to your ships, he will give you treasure held ready.'

فَرَقَّ وَكادَ إِلى صَحبِهِ

يُشِيرُ إِلى الفُلكِ تَمضي بهِ

He softened and was about to signal his companions

to take him away to the ships,

إِذا بِأخيهِ يَشُقُّ الصُّفُوفا

لِيُولِيهِ عَذلا وَلَوماً عَنِيفا

when his brother came cleaving the ranks

to give him a harsh rebuke and reproach:

تَعِستَ مَنِيلا وَأَنتَ تُلاَم

عَلامَ رَحمِتَ أُولاءِ الِّلِئَام

'Shame on you, Menelaus! You deserve blame.

Why have you pitied these vile men?

بِأَيِّ خَنىً لَم يُسِيئُوا إِلَيكا

وَاَيَّ أَسىً لَم يهِيلُوا عَليكا

What vileness have they not inflicted upon you?

What sorrow have they not heaped upon you?

أَجَل فَليَبِيدُوا وَيَفَنَ الجَمِيعُ

فَتَاهُم وشَيخُهُمُ والرَّضيعُ

Yes, let them perish; let all be destroyed:

their young men, their elders, and their infants.

وَلاَ يَنجُ ناجٍ وَتَبلَ الجُسُومِ

وَلا يَعلُ قَبرٌ وتُمحَ الرُّسُومَ

Let no survivor escape; let their bodies decay.

Let no grave rise, and let their traces be erased.'

أَصاخَ مَنِيلاً لَهُ وَارعَوَى

وَأَذرَستَ صَدَّ بِكُلِّ القُوَى

Menelaus listened to him and relented,

and thrust Adrastus away with all his strength.

وَفي خَصرِهِ آغَمَمنُونُ أَلقى

سِناناً يُشَقِّقُ أَخشاه شَقَّا

Agamemnon plunged into his flank

a spearhead that tore his entrails apart.

وَداسَ عَلى صَدرِهِ وَاسجَرَّهُ

وَنَسطُورُ صاحَ يُشَدِّدُ أَمرَه

He trod upon his chest and drew it out.

Nestor shouted, pressing his command:

أَيادَانَوِيُّونَ آلَ الطِّرادِ

مَوالي أَرِيسَ رَقِيبِ الجِلاَدِ

'O Danaans, men of battle,

servants of Ares, watcher over combat,

فَمنكُمُ لا يَتَخَلَّف كَمِي

عَلى السَلبِ وَالكَسبِ كَي يَرتَمِي

let no armored warrior among you linger

to throw himself upon plunder and gain,

فَيقفُلَ لِلقُلكِ فيما ادَّخَر

فَيلهُو وَذا اليَومُ يَومُ الظَّفَر

then return to the ships with what he has gathered

and take his ease: this day is victory's day.

أَبِيدوا الرِّجالَ بِدارِ النِّزِال

فَيَخلُو المَجالُ وَثَمَّ المَنال

Destroy the men upon the battlefield;

then the field will clear, and the spoils will be yours.'

فَهاجَت بِهِم نَفَثاتُ الحَمِيَّه

وَماجَت تَجِيشُ النُّفُوسُ الأَبِيَّه

His words stirred in them gusts of zeal,

and their proud spirits surged and seethed.

وَكادَ الطَّرَاوِدُ وَالعَزمُ خارا

يُوَلُّونَ نحوَ الدِّيارِ فِرارا

The Trojans, their resolve failing, nearly

turned toward their homes in flight.

وَلَولا أَخُو هَكطُرٍ هِيلنُوس

أَجَلِّ العَوارِفِ يَثنِي الرُّؤُوس

But for Hector's brother Helenus,

the greatest of seers, turning them back,

لَوَلَّوا وَلَكِن أَتَى هَكطُرا

وَأَنيَاسَ يَبغِيهِما مُنذِرا

they would have fled; but he came to Hector

and Aeneas, seeking them out with a warning:

أَلا مُذ تَحَمَّلتُما الفادِحاتِ

وَمُذ كُنتُما رَأسَ كُلِّ الكُمَاةِ

'Now that you have borne these crushing burdens,

and are the foremost of all the warriors,

بِسَلِّ القوَاضبِ بَأسٌ شدِيدُ

وَحَلِّ المصاعبِ رَأيٌ سدِيد

mighty in drawing keen-edged swords,

wise in resolving difficulties,

قِفا استَوقِفا الجُندَ عندَ الحُصونِ

لِئلأَ تُوَلِّي اتِقاءَ المَنُونِ

stand, and halt the troops beside the fortifications,

lest they turn away to escape death.

وَطُوفا بِهِم بِخَفِيفِ القَدَم

أَثِيرا القُوَى وَاستَحِثَّا الهِمَم

Move among them with swift feet;

rouse their strength and spur their resolve,

مَخَافَةَ أَن يُدفَعُوا بالأَسَى

مُوَلِّينَ حَتَّى حُجُورِ النِّسا

lest they be driven in misery,

fleeing into the women's laps.

فَإِمَّا التَّجَلُّدُ مِنَّا بَدا

أَمِنّا شَماتَةَ لُدِّ العِدى

If steadfastness appears among us,

we shall escape our bitter enemies' gloating.

وَنَحنَ إِذا الجَاشُ بِالجَيشِ ثارا

لَبِثنا نَذُودُ وَنحمِي الذِّمارا

And when fury rises through the army,

we shall remain, defending and guarding our honor.

فَلا نَجوَةٌ مِن دَوَاعِيَ الضَّرُورَه

وَإِن بَلَغَ العَيُّ مِنَّا أَخِيرَه

There is no escape from necessity's demands,

though our exhaustion reach its utmost limit.

وَإِن نَهَضَ العَزمُ بَينَ الجَمِيع

أَهكطُورُ فَاجرِي سَريعاً سَرِيع

Once resolve rises among them all,

O Hector, run swiftly, swiftly!

إِلى أُمِّنا طِر وَقُل تَذهَبُ

جَمِيعَ النَّبِيلاتِ تَصطَحِبُ

Fly to our mother and tell her to go,

taking all the noblewomen with her,

وتَمضي إِلى قُمَّةِ القَلعَةِ

لِهَيكَلِ فالاسَ بالسُّرعَةِ

and proceed to the citadel's summit,

quickly, to the temple of Pallas.

وَتُفتَحُ في الحالِ أَبوَابَهُ

وَتَدخُلُ بالذُّلِّ أَعتابَهُ

Let its doors be opened at once,

and let her enter its threshold humbly.

وتَحمِلُ أَبهى نِقَابٍ لَدَيها

لِيُسبَلَ فِيهِ عَلى رُكبَتَيها

Let her bring her most splendid veil

to be draped there upon the goddess's knees.

وَتَنذُرُ عِندَ اندِفاعِ البَلِيَّه

تَقُودُ اثنَتَي عَشرَةً لِلضَّحِيه

Let her vow, if the calamity is averted,

to lead twelve for sacrifice:

تَبَائِعَ ما قُرِنَت تَحتَ نِير

إِذا هِي مَنَّت بِدَرءِ الشُّرُورِ

young heifers never joined beneath a yoke,

if the goddess grants the averting of evils,

وَحَنَّت لِدَمعِ النِّسا وَالبَنِين

وَمَنَّت عَلَينا بِحِرزٍ أَمِين

takes pity on the tears of women and sons,

and grants us secure protection,

وَصَدَّت ذِيُومِيذَ رَوعَ البِلادِ

نَذِيرَ البَلا واندِكاكِ العِمادِ

turning away Diomedes, the terror of the land,

the herald of disaster and collapsing pillars.

نَعَم هُوَ ظَنِّي أَشَدُّ العدى

وَأَطوَلُهُم صَولةً وَيَدا

Yes, I believe him the fiercest of our enemies,

the greatest in onslaught and reach.

وَلَستُاحاشي كَذَاكَ أَخِيلا

وَإِن كان لِلرَّبَّةِ ابناً جَلِيلا

Nor do I except Achilles in this,

though he is a goddess's noble son.

فَهاكَ تَراهُ تَحَدَّمَ نارا

وَاأذكى الأُوَار فَلَيسَ يُجَارى

Look: you see him blazing like fire,

kindling the flames beyond all rivalry.'

فَما كادَ يُحمِلُ قَولاً وَقَع

لِمُهجَةِ هَكطُورَ حَتَّى اندَفع

Scarcely had he conveyed words that struck

Hector's heart before Hector surged forth.

وَهَبَّ يُغِيرُ مِنَ العَجَلَه

وَعُدَّتُهُ تُرسِلُ الصَّلصَلَه

He sprang to attack in haste,

his armor sending out its clatter.

يَهِزُّ القَنا وَبخوضُ الصُّفُوف

يَهِيجُ النُّفُوسَ لِقَرعِ الحُتُوف

He shook his spear and plunged through the ranks,

rousing their spirits to contend with death.

فَهاجَ الطَّراوِدُ بَأساً وماجُوا

وَتحتَ خُطاهُمُ عَجَّ العَجاجُ

The Trojans rose in might and surged;

beneath their footsteps the dust roared.

فَصُدَّ الاَغارِقُ قَتلاً وَزَحفا

وَكَفُّوا عَن الطَّعنِ والضَّربِ كَفَّا

The Greeks were checked in slaughter and advance,

and ceased their thrusts and blows.

وَخالُوا وَقد بَلَغَ البَأسُ حَدَّه

بَني الخُلدِ قد رَفَدُوهُم بِنَجدَه

They imagined, as the fighting reached its height,

that the immortals had reinforced the Trojans.

وَهَكطُورُ وَالقَرعُ يَعلُو صَدِيدُه

بِهِم صاحَ كالرَّعدِ يَدوِي هَدِيدُه

And Hector, as the din of blows rose,

shouted to them, his voice booming like thunder:

أَقَومَ الطَّرَاوِدِ جُندَ البُؤوس

وَنُجَّادَهُم مُسجِيشي النُّفُوسِ

'O Trojan people, warriors of might,

and their champions, rousers of spirits,

فَها أَنا أَقصُدُ أَبراجَنا

لأَلقى الشُّيوخَ وأَزواجَنا

I now make for our towers

to meet the elders and our wives,

لِكَي يَنهَضُوا وَبِنَذرِ الضَّحيَّه

يُآلُوا ادِّراءً لِهذي البَلِيَّه

so that they may rise and, vowing sacrifice,

swear oaths to avert this calamity.

فَلا تبرَحُنَّ كَعَهدي بِكُم

بِتَصعِيدِكُم وَبِتَصوِيبِكُم

Do not cease, as I have always known you,

your upward charges and your downward rushes.'

وَلَمَّا انتَهى راحَ تَوّأً يَسِيرُ

عَلى قَدَمَيهِ وَكادَ يَطِيرُ

When he finished, he immediately went

on foot, almost flying.

وأَهدَابُ مِجوَبِهِ الأَسحَمِ

مِنَ الرَّأسِ تَضرِبُ لِلقَدَمِ

The fringes of his black shield

swung from his head down to his feet.

فَشَقَّ غُلُوكُسُ صَفَّ الرِّجال

كَذاك ذِيُومِيذُ يَبغي القِتال

Glaucus cleft the ranks of men,

and likewise Diomedes sought battle.

وَعِندَ التَّلاقي وَقَد بَلَغا

خِلالَ الجُيُوشِ مَرامي الوَغى

When they met, having reached

the places of combat amid the armies,

ذِيُومِيذُ بادَرَهُ بالسُّؤال

فَمَن أَنتَ قُل يا أَشَدَّ الرِّجالِ

Diomedes first addressed him with a question:

'Who are you? Tell me, mightiest of men.

فَإِنَّكَ ما لُحتَ لي قَطُّ قَبلا

وَسُمرُ العَوَامِلِ تَفتَلُّ فَلاَّ

You have never appeared before me before,

while brown spear-shafts were wreaking wounds.

وَإِنّي إِخالُكَ فُقتَ الجَمِيعا

لأَنَّك لَم تَخشَ فَتكي الدَّرِيعا

I think you have surpassed them all,

since you do not fear my swift destruction.

فَوَيلَ أَبٍ لَم يَهَبَني ابنُهُ

فَلا شَكَّ يُهلِكُهُ حُزنُهُ

Woe to the father whose son does not fear me:

surely his grief will destroy him.

فَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَومِ آل الخُلُود

فَقُل وَاصدُقَنِّيَ حَتَّى أَعُود

If you belong to the race of immortals,

say so, and tell me truly, that I may withdraw.

فَلِيكُرغُ قاوَمَ آلَ السَّما

فَما قامَ قائِمُهُ بَعَد ما

Lycurgus resisted the heavenly ones,

and never stood firm again after he

تَقَفَّى مَرَاضِعَ رَبِّ الخُمُورِ

عَلى طَودِ نِيسا خِلالَ الصُّخُورِ

pursued the nurses of the god of wine

among the rocks upon Mount Nysa.

فَرَوَّعَهُنَّ بسَوطِ الفَنا

فَأَسقَطنَ من يَدِهنَّ القَنا

He terrified them with his deadly whip,

and they dropped the spears from their hands.

وَرِيعَ ذِيُونِيسُ مِنهُ وَغاصا

إِلى لُجَّةِ البَحرِ يَبغِي الخَلاصا

Dionysus feared him and plunged

into the sea's depths, seeking escape.

فَضَمَّتهُ ثِيتِس إِلى صَدرِها

تُخَوِّلُهُ الأَمنَ في بَحرِها

Thetis clasped him to her breast,

granting him safety in her sea.

وَلِيكُرغُ مِن ثَمَّ كُلُّ إِلاه

يَعيشُ بدارِ النَّعِيمِ قَلاه

From then on, every god

dwelling in bliss hated Lycurgus.

وزَفسُ بَلاهُ بِكَفِّ البَصَر

وَأَهلَكَهُ عِبرَةً لِلبَشَر

Zeus afflicted him with blindness

and destroyed him as a warning to mankind.

أَنا لَستُ أَبغِي لِقاءَ الأُولى

أُنِيلُوا الصَّفا في الدِّيَارِ العُلى

I do not seek to meet those

granted bliss in the dwellings on high.

فإِن كُنتَ تُغذَى نِتاجَ التُّرَاب

فَأَقبِل وَذُق مِن ذِرَاعي العَذَاب

But if you are nourished by the earth's produce,

come forward and taste torment from my arm.'

فَقالَ عَلامَ اقتَصَصت الخَبَر

وَنَحنُ كَأَوراقِ هَذِي الشَّجَر

He replied, 'Why inquire into my story?

We are like the leaves of these trees:

فَبَعضاً يُبِيدُ الهَواءُ وَبَعضُ

عَلى مَنبِتٍ بائِدِ النَّبتِ غَضُّ

the wind destroys some, while others

grow fresh where earlier growth has died.

فَفِي كُلِّ عامٍ نَباتٌ أُبِيدا

بِهِ الغَابُ تُنمِي رَبِيعاً جَدِيدا

Each year a growth is destroyed,

and the woodland brings forth a new spring.

وكُلٌّ عَلى إِثرِ كُلِّ مَشَى

فَجِيلٌ تَلاشَى وَجِيلٌ نَشا

Each follows in another's footsteps:

one generation vanishes, and another arises.

وَلَكن إِذا شِئتَ مِنِّي الحَسَب

فَإِنِّيَ مِمَّن سَما وَانتَسَب

But if you wish to know my lineage,

I belong to those of lofty descent.

فَغِيفيرِيا بَلَدٌ مِن بِلادِ

بأطرافِ أَرغُوسَ أَرضِ الجِيادِ

Ephyra is a city among the towns

on the borders of Argos, the land of horses.

بِها كَانَ سيسيفُ أَدهَى الأَنامِ

سَلَيلُ أَيُولا عَزِيزَ المَقامِ

There lived Sisyphus, craftiest of mortals,

a descendant of Aeolus, exalted in standing.

وكانَ غُلُوكُس لَهُ ابناً كَما

لِهَذا بَلِيرُوفُنٌ قَد نَما

Glaucus was his son, just as

Bellerophon sprang from Glaucus.

فَفاق بَلِيرُوفُنٌ بالجَمالِ

وَمَمُتَدَحِ البَأسِ كُلَّ الرِّجالِ

Bellerophon surpassed all men in beauty

and in praiseworthy might.

وَقَد كانَ قَيَّضَ زَفسُ انتِصارا

لإِفرِيطَ فاحتل تِلكَ الدِّيارا

Zeus had granted victory

to Proetus, who took possession of that land.

وَدانَت لَهُ كُلُّ تِلك الأُمَم

كَذَاكَ بَلِيرُوفُنٌ ذُو العِظم

All those peoples submitted to him,

and so did mighty Bellerophon.

وَلكِنَّ إِفرِيطَ أَضمَرَ شَرَّا

لَهُ إِذ رآه تَرَفع قَدرا

But Proetus harbored evil

against him, seeing his standing rise.

فَبَادَرَ يَطرُدُهُ مُستَبِدَّا

وَزَوجةُ إِفرِيطَ رَامتَهُ وَجدا

He hastened to expel him tyrannically,

while Proetus's wife desired him passionately.

وعَن نَفسِهِ رَاوَدَتهُ فَأَعرَض

عَفافاً وَلِلعرضِ لم يَتَعَرَّض

She tried to seduce him, but he turned away

in chastity, doing no injury to her honor.

لَهُ أَضمَرَت أَنتِيَا كُلَّ شَر

وَقالَت لإِفرِيطَ تُهمِي العِبَر

Anteia harbored every evil against him

and said to Proetus, shedding tears:

فمُوتَنَّ أَو فَليَمُت مَن أَراد

بِأَهلِكَ سُواً سَحيقَ الفُؤَاد

'Die yourself, or let him die who sought

evil against your wife, that vile-hearted man.'

تَحَدَّمَ أِفرِيطُ لِكِن خَشِي

نَذِيراً خَفِيًّا وَلم يَبطُشِ

Proetus burned with rage, but feared

a hidden warning and did not strike.

وَخَطَّ عَلى رُقعَةٍ مَهَرا

رُسُومَ الحِمامِ كما أَضمَرا

He skillfully inscribed upon a tablet

the signs of death he secretly intended,

وَسَيَّرَهُ لِحِمِيهِ المُبَجَّل

بِلِيقِيَةٍ بالكِتابِ لِيُقتَل

and sent him to his honored father-in-law

in Lycia, carrying the letter, to be killed.

فَسارَ وَآلُ العُلى حَرَسُ

عَلَيهِ لِحيثُ جَرَى زَنثُسُ

He journeyed, with the heavenly ones keeping watch

over him, to where Xanthus flowed.

تَلَقَّاهُ بالِبِشرِ مَولى البِلاد

وَأًكرَمَ مَثواهُ ضَيفاً وَزَاد

The lord of the land received him cheerfully

and honored his stay as a guest with lavish kindness.

فَتِسعُ لَيَالٍ كَذَا عَبَرَت

عُجُولٌ بِعِدَّتها نُحِرَت

Thus nine nights passed,

and an equal number of calves were slaughtered.

وَلَمَّا انجَلى عاشِرُ العَشَرَه

بِوَردِيِّ أَنمُلِهِ النَّضِرَه

When the tenth of the ten dawned

with its fresh, rosy fingers,

بَدا مُلكُ لِيقِيةٍ بالخِطاب

فَأَلقى الرَّسُولُ إِلَيهِ الكِتاب

the king of Lycia began to speak,

and the messenger handed him the letter.

فَلَمَّا تَنَاوَلَهُ وَتَلاهُ

لِقَتلِ الخَمِيرَةِ حالاً دَعاهُ

When he took it and read it,

he immediately bade him kill the Chimera:

مُرَوِّعَةٌ مِن بَناتِ الخُلُود

على قُمَمِ الشُّمِّ قَسراً تَسُود

a terrifying creature of immortal birth,

ruling by force upon the lofty peaks.

لَها رَأسُ لَيثٍ على ذَيلِ أَفعى

عَلى جِسمِ تَيسٍ مِنَ المَعزِ يَرعى

She had a lion's head above a serpent's tail,

upon the body of a grazing he-goat.

وَمن فَمِها نَفَثاتُ الأُوَار

تَقَاذَفُ ناراً تُثيرُ الشِّرار

From her mouth came blasts of flame,

hurling fire and scattering sparks.

ولكِن بآلِ العُلى وَثِقا

وكُلَّ وُجُودٍ لَها مَحَقا

But he trusted in the heavenly ones

and utterly erased her existence.

وَثَنَّى بِقَتلِ رِجالِ البُؤُوسِ

عِظامِ السُّليمَةِ شُمِّ الرُّؤُوسِ

Second, he killed the mighty warriors,

the great Solymi, proud of bearing.

وَثَلَّثَ يَفتُكُ وَالمُرهِبات

أَمازُونَةَ الهَولِ حَتفاً أَمات

Third, he wrought slaughter among the fearsome

Amazons, putting those terrors to death.

وَما كادَ يَفرَغُ حَتَّى أُقِيم

لَهُ ذلك اليَومَ مِن أَثَرِ

And scarcely had he finished when there was set up

for him that day, in his wake—

فَريعَ المَليكُ وَكفَّ الاأَذِيَّه

وأَيقَنَ عِزوَتُهُ عَلَوِيَّه

The king was frightened and ceased his harm,

convinced that his lineage was divine.

وَأَعلاهُ مُستبقِياً بالجَلالِ

وَأَنكَحَهُ ابنَتَهُ بِاحتِفالِ

He exalted him, keeping him there in honor,

and married him to his daughter in celebration.

وَشاطَرَهُ الحُكمَ والشَّعبُ رام

يُقِيمُ لَدَيهِم عَزِيزَ المَقام

He shared his rule with him, and the people wished

him to dwell among them in high standing.

لِذَا أَقطَعُوهُ هِباتٍ غَزِيرَه

جَناناً حِساناً وَأَرضاً وَفِيره

So they granted him abundant gifts:

beautiful gardens and plentiful land.

وَقد وَلَدَ ابنَينِ إِيسَندَرا

كَذَاهِفِلُوخَ الرَّفيعِ الذُّرى

He fathered two sons: Isander

and Hippolochus, lofty in eminence,

ولَوذَميَةَ المُجتَباةَ وَمَن

بِها هامَ زَفسُ شَجاً وَاقتَرَن

and favored Laodamia, whom

Zeus passionately loved and joined.

وَمِنها نَشا سَرفِدُونُ المُعَلَّى

وَلَكِن بَلِيرُوفُنٌ سِيمَ ذُلاَّ

From her arose exalted Sarpedon.

But Bellerophon was subjected to humiliation.

فَراحَ يَهيمُ على آلِسِ

بَعيداً عَنِ النَّاسِ وَالمُؤنِسِ

He went wandering across Aleis,

far from people and companionship.

فَحُطَّ لَدى ساكِني الخُلدِ قَدرا

وَسامُوهُ بَعدَ التَّرَفُّع قَهرا

His standing fell among the immortals,

who oppressed him after his exaltation.

فإِيسَندَراً آرِسٌ قَتَلا

بِحَربِ السُّلِيمَةِ رَوعِ المَلا

Ares killed Isander

in war against the Solymi, the terror of men.

ولَو ذَميَةٌ أَرطَمِيسُ قَلَتها

وَلضم تَعدُ مِن بَعدُ أَن جَندَلَتها

Artemis hated Laodamia,

and she did not return after Artemis laid her low.

وَظَلَّ هِفُولُوخُ حَيًّا لَنا

فَذاكَ أَبي وَهوَ أَرسَلَنا

Hippolochus remained alive for us:

he is my father, and he sent us here.

فَقَد حَثَّني أَن أَخُوضَ المَجالا

وَأَلقَى بِصَدرِ الجُيُوشِ الرِّجالا

He urged me to enter the field

and face men at the forefront of armies,

وَأُعلي مَنارَ جُدُودِي الأُولى

أُنِيلُوا الفَخارَ وَشادُوا العُلى

raising the beacon of my ancestors, who

were granted renown and built up glory.

فَهُم دَوَّخُوا كُلَّ قَرنٍ عَتا

بِليقِيَةٍ وَبإِيفِيرِيا

They subdued every defiant rival

in Lycia and in Ephyra.

فَذا نَسبٌ فيهِ يعتزُّ مِثلي

وَهذا إِذَا شئتَ أَصلي وفَصلي

Such is the lineage in which one like me takes pride;

this, if you wish, is my origin and descent.'

فَكَفَّ ذِيُومِيذُ مُستَبشِرا

وأَركَزَ عاسِلَهُ في الثَّرى

Diomedes stopped, rejoicing,

and planted his spear in the earth.

وَقالَ إِذاً لَكَ حَقُّ الإِخاءِ

عَلَيَّ وَإِنِّي حَلِيفُ الوَلاءِ

He said, 'Then you have a claim of brotherhood

upon me, and I am bound in loyalty.

أَتَدرِي لأُونَفَسَ جَدِّي قَدِيما

بَلِيرُوفُنٌ كانَ ضَيفاً كَرِيما

Do you know that long ago, with Oeneus, my grandfather,

Bellerophon was an honored guest?

وَعشِرينَ يَوماً لَهُ خَلَتِ

أَقامَ على الرُّحبِ والسَّعَةِ

Twenty days passed for him,

lodged in generous hospitality.

وَقد أَحكما لِلوِفاقِ الوِثاق

قُبَيلَ حُلولِ أَوَانِ الفِراق

They made firm their bond of friendship

just before the time of parting.

فَجَدِّيَ أَهدَاهُ أَبهَى نِجادِ

تَوَشَّت بِبِرفِيرِها المُستَفادِ

My grandfather gave him a splendid sword-baldric,

adorned with its precious purple.

وَجَدًُّكَ كأسَ نُضَارٍ أَغَر

إِلى الآنَ في مَنزِلي تُدَّخَر

Your grandfather gave a gleaming golden cup,

which is still kept in my home.

وَإِنّي أَبي تِيذِيُس ما رَأَيتُ

وَلكِنَّني عَنهُ هذا رَوَيتُ

I never saw my father Tydeus,

but this is what I have related about him.

فَقَد كُنتُ في المَهدِ لِمَّا الأَخاءَه

بِثِيبةَ بادَت وَمِنها الإساءَه

I was in the cradle when the Achaeans

perished at Thebes, whence came the harm.

فَإِنَّا تَرَانا حَلِيفَي وَدَاد

وَما بَيننا لا يَحِلُّ الجِلاد

Thus you see us as allies in affection;

combat between us is forbidden.

فَأَنتَ بِأَرغُوسَ ضَيفي الجَلِيلُ

وَفي لِيقيا لَكَ إِنّي نَزِيلُ

In Argos you are my honored guest,

and in Lycia I am your guest.

كَفَانِيَ ما فِي العِدى مِن رِجال

أَصُولُ عَلَيها فَتَلقى الوَبال

There are enough men among the enemy for me

to assail and bring to ruin,

سَوَاءٌ بَنُو الخلدِ ساقَت لِباسي

أَوِ احتَحتُها مُستَطِيلاً بِنَفسي

whether the immortals drive them to my might

or I sweep them down by my own strength.

وَأَنتَ كَفَاكَ بِقَرعِ البَلا

رِجالٌ تَرُومُ لَها مَقتَلا

And you have enough, in the clash of war,

of men whose deaths you seek.

وَخُذ لِلوِفاقِ سِلاحي دَليلا

وَهاتِ سِلاحَكَ عَنهُ بَدِيلا

Take my armor as a sign of friendship,

and give me yours in exchange,

لِيُعلَمَ أَنَّا نُرَاعي العُهُود

وَحُرمةِ آَبائنا والجُدُود

so that it may be known we uphold our covenants

and the honor of our fathers and forefathers.'

هُنَاكَ تَرَجَّلَ كُلُّ فَرِيق

وَبَعدَ التَّصَافُحِ عَهدٌ وَثِيق

There each man dismounted,

and after clasping hands, a firm pledge was made.

وَزَفسُ غُلُوكُس رُشداً سَلَب

فَنَالَ نُحاساً وَأَعطى ذَهَب

Zeus robbed Glaucus of his judgment:

he received bronze and gave gold.

فَشِكَتُهُ مئَةٌ عُجُول

تُساوِي وَذِي تِسعَةٌ لا تَعُول

His armor was worth a hundred calves,

and the other nine, no more.