ياO مَنyou who بِمَغدىat the rising-place of الشَّمسِthe sun أَوor بِمَراحِهاat its setting-place
يا مَن بِمَغدى الشَّمسِ أَو بِمَراحِها
أَوor مَنyou who يَكونَis بِقرنِهاat its rim المُتنازِحِfar distant
أَو مَن يَكونَ بِقرنِها المُتنازِحِ
O you at the sun's rising-place or its setting-place,
O you who were at the sunset of the sun or in its resting place
or you who dwell beside its far-distant rim,
Or you who would be at its tossing horn
قُلsay لِلقَوافِلto the returning caravans وَالغزيِّand the raiders إِذاwhen غَزَواthey raid
قُل لِلقَوافِل وَالغزيِّ إِذا غَزَوا
وَالباكِرينَand those departing at dawn وَلِلمُجِدِّand to the diligent الرَّائِحِevening traveler
وَالباكِرينَ وَلِلمُجِدِّ الرَّائِحِ
tell the returning caravans and the raiders, when they raid,
Tell the caravans and the raider when they raid
and those departing at dawn, and the diligent evening traveler:
And the early risers and the gentle wind
إِنَّindeed السَّماحَةَgenerosity وَالمُروءَةَand noble virtue ضُمِّناwere both enclosed
إِنَّ السَّماحَةَ وَالمُروءَةَ ضُمِّنا
قَبراًa grave بمَروat Merv عَلىon الطَّريقِthe road الواضِحِclearly marked
قَبراً بمَرو عَلى الطَّريقِ الواضِحِ
generosity and noble virtue have been laid
That chivalry and manliness were buried
in a grave at Merv beside the clearly marked road.
A grave in Marw on the clear road
فَإِذاso when مَرَرتَyou pass بِقَبرِهِby his grave فَاعقِرthen hamstring بِهِbeside it
فَإِذا مَرَرتَ بِقَبرِهِ فَاعقِر بِهِ
كُومَhigh-humped الهِجانِpurebred white camels وَكُلَّand every طِرفٍfine steed سابِحِswimming in its gallop
كُومَ الهِجانِ وَكُلَّ طِرفٍ سابِحِ
So when you pass his grave, hamstring beside it
So if you pass by his grave, then with it
high-humped white camels and every swimming-gait steed.
Drag the mountains of calumny and every flowing side
وَاِنضَحand sprinkle جَوانِبَthe sides of قَبرِهِhis grave بِدِمائِهاwith their blood
وَاِنضَح جَوانِبَ قَبرِهِ بِدِمائِها
فَلَقَدfor indeed يَكونُhe used to be أَخاa man of دَمٍbloodshed وَذَبائِحِand sacrifices
فَلَقَد يَكونُ أَخا دَمٍ وَذَبائِحِ
And sprinkle the sides of his grave with their blood,
And sprinkle the sides of his grave with their blood
for he was indeed a man of bloodshed and sacrifices.
For he may be a brother to blood and sacrifices
وَاظهَرand come forth بِبِزَّتهِin his armor وَعَقدِand the binding of لوائِهِhis banner
وَاظهَر بِبِزَّتهِ وَعَقدِ لوائِهِ
وَاِهتِفand shout بدَعوةwith the battle-cry of مُصلتينَsword-drawing men شَرامِحِtall, strapping men
وَاِهتِف بدَعوة مُصلتينَ شَرامِحِ
Come forth in his armor, with his banner tied,
And expose with his standard and tie his banner
and shout the battle-cry of tall men with drawn swords.
And shout the call to prayer of two bold worshippers
آبَreturned الجُنودَthe troops مُعقِّباًrenewing military service أَوor قافِلاًreturning home
آبَ الجُنودَ مُعقِّباً أَو قافِلاً
وَأَقامَand he remained رَهنَhostage to حفيرَةٍa little grave-pit وَضَرائِحِand burial chambers
وَأَقامَ رَهنَ حفيرَةٍ وَضَرائِحِ
The troops returned, renewing service or heading home,
Returning the troops, pursuing or traveling
while he remained hostage to a little grave-pit and burial chambers.
And remains hostage to a dug pit and tombs
وَأَرىand I see المَكارِمَnoble deeds يَومَthe day زيلَhe was carried away بِنَعشِهِon his bier
وَأَرى المَكارِمَ يَومَ زيلَ بِنَعشِهِ
زالَتdeparted بِفَضلِwith a wealth of فَضائِلٍvirtues وَمَدائِحِand praises
زالَت بِفَضلِ فَضائِلٍ وَمَدائِحِ
And I saw noble deeds, the day he was borne off on his bier,
And I see chivalry when the bier of Zayl departed with it
depart with a wealth of virtues and praises.
Vanished by the grace of superior merits and eulogies
وَخَلَتand became empty مَنابِرُهُhis pulpits وَحُطَّand were taken down سُروجُهُhis saddles
وَخَلَت مَنابِرُهُ وَحُطَّ سُروجُهُ
عَنfrom كُلِّevery سَلهَبَةٍtall mare وَطِرفٍand fine steed طامِحِhigh-headed
عَن كُلِّ سَلهَبَةٍ وَطِرفٍ طامِحِ
His pulpits stood empty, and his saddles were taken down
And his pulpits became empty and his saddle was lowered
from every tall mare and high-headed steed.
From every rising flame and aspiring side
وَكَفىand it suffices لَناfor us حَزَناًas grief بِبَيتٍbecause of a dwelling حَلَّهُhe entered it
وَكَفى لَنا حَزَناً بِبَيتٍ حَلَّهُ
أُخرىthe last stroke of المنونَdeath فَلَيسَso he is not عَنهُfrom it بِبارِحِever departing
أُخرى المنونَ فَلَيسَ عَنهُ بِبارِحِ
And sorrow enough for us is the dwelling he entered
And it is enough sadness for us, a house which death entered
at death's final stroke, never to depart from it.
Another time, so it does not depart from it last night
رَجَفَتtrembled لِمَصرَعِهat his fall البِلادُthe lands فَأَصبَحَتso became
رَجَفَت لِمَصرَعِه البِلادُ فَأَصبَحَت
مِنّاamong us القُلوبُthe hearts لِذاكَbecause of that غَيرَnot صَحائِحِsound
مِنّا القُلوبُ لِذاكَ غَيرَ صَحائِحِ
The lands trembled at his fall, and thus
The countries trembled at his death so our hearts became
our hearts, because of it, were no longer whole.
From us toward that different, not calm
وِإِذاand when يُناحُmourning is raised عَلىfor اِمرئٍa man فَتَعلَّمنthen know for certain
وِإِذا يُناحُ عَلى اِمرئٍ فَتَعلَّمن
أَنَّthat المُغيرَةَal-Mughira فَوقَbeyond نَوحِthe lament of النائِحِthe mourner
أَنَّ المُغيرَةَ فَوقَ نَوحِ النائِحِ
And when a man is mourned, know for certain
And when one laments over a man, then learn
that al-Mughira is beyond the mourner's lament.
That Al-Mughira is above the wailing of the wailer
يَبكيweeps for المُغيرَةَal-Mughira دينُناour faith وَزَمانُناand our age
يَبكي المُغيرَةَ دينُنا وَزَمانُنا
وُالمُعوِلاتُand the wailing women بِرَنَّةٍwith keening وَتَصايُحِand answering cries
وُالمُعوِلاتُ بِرَنَّةٍ وَتَصايُحِ
Our faith and our age weep for al-Mughira,
Al-Mughira is mourned by our religion and our time
and the wailing women, with keening and answering cries.
And the heavily pregnant women with ringing and screaming
ماتَdied المُغيرَةُal-Mughira بَعدَafter طولِa long period of تَعَرُّضٍexposure
ماتَ المُغيرَةُ بَعدَ طولِ تَعَرُّضٍ
لِلقَتلِto being killed بَينَamong أَسنَّةٍspearheads وَصفائِحِand sword-blades
لِلقَتلِ بَينَ أَسنَّةٍ وَصفائِحِ
Al-Mughira died after long exposure
Al Mughira died after long exposure
to death among spearheads and sword-blades.
To killing among sharp swords and blades
وَالقَتلُand killing لَيسَis not إِلىin the power of القِتالbattle وَلاnor أَرىI see
وَالقَتلُ لَيسَ إِلى القِتال وَلا أَرى
حَيّاًa living man يُؤَخِّرُdelays his end لِلشَّفيقِfor the caring one النّاصِحِthe counselor
حَيّاً يُؤَخِّرُ لِلشَّفيقِ النّاصِحِ
Death is not in battle's hands; nor do I see
And killing is not to fighting, and I do not see
a living man who can delay his end for a caring counselor.
A living person who delays the truthful advisor
لِلَّهِto God دَرُّthe wonder of مَنيَّةٍa death فاتَتescaped بِهِwith him
لِلَّهِ دَرُّ مَنيَّةٍ فاتَت بِهِ
فَلَقَدfor indeed أَراهُI see him يَرُدُّturning back غَربَthe fury of الجامِحِthe headstrong
فَلَقَد أَراهُ يَرُدُّ غَربَ الجامِحِ
How wondrous, by God, the death that stole him away!
To God belong the ways of death which came upon him
For I have seen him curb the fury of the headstrong.
For I saw him repelling the rushing flood
هَلاwhy not أَتَتهُit came to him وَفَوقَهُand upon him بِزّاتُهُhis armor
هَلا أَتَتهُ وَفَوقَهُ بِزّاتُهُ
يَغشىplunges among الأَسِنَّةَthe spearheads فَوقَupon نَهدٍa sturdy horse قارِحِfull-grown
يَغشى الأَسِنَّةَ فَوقَ نَهدٍ قارِحِ
Why did it not come to him with his armor upon him,
If only death had come to him while his banners were upon him
as he plunged among spearheads on a sturdy, full-grown horse,
Covering the sharp swords above a firm neck
فيin جَحفَلٍa great host لَجِبٍclamorous تَرىyou see أَعلامَهُits banners
في جَحفَلٍ لَجِبٍ تَرى أَعلامَهُ
مِنهُfrom it تُعَضِّلُcrowd بِالفَضاءِwithin the open plain الفاسِحِspacious
مِنهُ تُعَضِّلُ بِالفَضاءِ الفاسِحِ
in a clamorous host whose banners you would see
In a large crowd, you would see his banners
from its midst, crowding the wide-open plain?
Flying freely in the vast space
يَقصُtraverses السُّهولَةَlevel ground وَالحُزونَةَand rugged ground إِذاwhen غَداhe sets out at dawn
يَقصُ السُّهولَةَ وَالحُزونَةَ إِذا غَدا
بِزهاءِwith the mass of أَرعَنَa vast host مِثلِlike لَيلٍnight جانِحِdescending
بِزهاءِ أَرعَنَ مِثلِ لَيلٍ جانِحِ
He cuts through level and rugged ground when he rides out at dawn
Cutting through the plains and the grief when he marched
with the mass of a towering host, like night descending.
Like an aroused night during a dark night
وَلَقَدand indeed أَراهُI see him مُجَفِّفاًarmoring أَفراسُهُhis horses
وَلَقَد أَراهُ مُجَفِّفاً أَفراسُهُ
يَغشىassails مَراجِحَmighty warriors فيin الوَغاbattle بِمراجِحِwith mighty warriors
يَغشى مَراجِحَ في الوَغا بِمراجِحِ
And I have seen him armor his horses,
And I saw his horses covering the leaning places in Al-Wagha with leaners
assailing mighty warriors in battle with mighty warriors:
The youths of Adiya trained them in the ways of war
فِتيانُyoung men of عادِيَةٍa raiding force لَهُمُtheirs is مَرَسُexperience in الوَغىbattle
فِتيانُ عادِيَةٍ لَهُمُ مَرَسُ الوَغى
سَنّواthey followed بِسُنَّةٍthe custom of مُعلِمينَmarked warriors جَحاجِحِmighty chiefs
سَنّوا بِسُنَّةٍ مُعلِمينَ جَحاجِحِ
young men of a raiding band, seasoned in warfare,
Donning thick coats of mail in wars as if they are
following the way of marked, mighty chiefs.
Deceits that confuse in the innards of camels
لَبِسواthey wore سَوابِغَfull-length mail فيin الحُروبِwars كَأَنَّهاas though they were
لَبِسوا سَوابِغَ في الحُروبِ كَأَنَّها
غُدُرٌpools تحَيِّرُlie still فيin بُطونِthe hollows of أَباطِحِgravelly valleys
غُدُرٌ تحَيِّرُ في بُطونِ أَباطِحِ
They wore full-length coats of mail in war, as though they were
And when the striking of the spears appeared to them
pools lying still in the hollows of gravelly valleys.
They would strike with the breasts of the chests, the organs
وَإِذاand when الضِّرابُswordplay عَنِin place of الطعانِspear-thrusting بَداappeared لَهُمto them
وَإِذا الضِّرابُ عَنِ الطعانِ بَدا لَهُم
ضَرَبواthey struck بمُرهَفَةِwith sharpened الصُّدورِpoints جَوارِحِwounding blades
ضَرَبوا بمُرهَفَةِ الصُّدورِ جَوارِحِ
And when swordplay replaced spear-thrusting for them,
If at that time fate had opposed him with death
they struck with keen-pointed, wounding blades.
He would protect the sanctuary and herd the herder
لَوif عِندَat ذَلِكَthat moment قارَعَتهُhad challenged him منيّةٌdeath
لَو عِندَ ذَلِكَ قارَعَتهُ منيّةٌ
لحمىhe would have protected الحِواءَthe encampment وَضَمَّand gathered سَرحَthe grazing herd of السّارِحِthe herdsman
لحمى الحِواءَ وَضَمَّ سَرحَ السّارِحِ
Had death challenged him at that moment,
You were the savior of our land, so you left us
he would have protected the camp and gathered the herdsman's stock.
So today we are patient with the arid time
كَنتَyou were الغياثَthe succor لِأَرضِناfor our land فَتَرَكتَناthen you left us
كَنتَ الغياثَ لِأَرضِنا فَتَرَكتَنا
فَاليَومَso today نَصبِرُwe endure لِلزَّمانِunder time الكالِحِgrim-faced
فَاليَومَ نَصبِرُ لِلزَّمانِ الكالِحِ
You were succor to our land, then you left us;
Now when you were more perfect than anyone who walked
so today we bear with grim-faced time.
And your outstanding merit surpassed the outstanding merit of the outstanding
الآنَnow لَمّاjust when كُنتَyou were أكملَthe most complete منof those who مَشىwalked
الآنَ لَمّا كُنتَ أكملَ من مَشى
وَاِفتَرَّand bared itself نابُكَyour fang عَنrevealing شَباةِthe sharp point of القارِحِa full-grown steed
وَاِفتَرَّ نابُكَ عَن شَباةِ القارِحِ
Now, just when you were the most complete of all who walked,
And manliness was completed in you, all of it
and your fang had shown a full-grown steed's sharpness,
And you supported that with righteous deeds
وَتكامَلَتand became complete فيكَin you المُروءَةُnoble virtue كُلُّهاall of it
وَتكامَلَت فيكَ المُروءَةُ كُلُّها
وَأَعَنتَand you reinforced ذَلِكَthat بِالفَعالِwith deeds الصّالِحِrighteous
وَأَعَنتَ ذَلِكَ بِالفَعالِ الصّالِحِ
and all noble virtue had become complete in you,
So deny Al-Mughira to Al-Mughira when it came
and you had reinforced it with righteous deeds!
Barking confusedly at the howling of the howler
فَاِنعَso announce the death of المُغيرَةَal-Mughira لِلمُغيرَةِto the raiding force إِذwhen غَدَتit set out
فَاِنعَ المُغيرَةَ لِلمُغيرَةِ إِذ غَدَت
شَعواءَraging مُجحِرَةًdriving into hiding لِنَبحِagainst the barking of النّابِحِthe barker
شَعواءَ مُجحِرَةً لِنَبحِ النّابِحِ
So announce al-Mughira's death to the raiding force when it sets out,
Two ranks differing when they met
raging and driving the barker's bark into hiding.
Retreated with a face clearly surrendering or marrying
صَفّانِtwo ranks مُختَلِفانِopposing حينَwhen تَلاقَياthey met
صَفّانِ مُختَلِفانِ حينَ تَلاقَيا
آبواthey returned بوَجهwith the face of مُطَلِّقٍa divorcing man أَوor ناكِحِa bridegroom
آبوا بوَجه مُطَلِّقٍ أَو ناكِحِ
Two opposing ranks, when they met,
And heavily armored, the elite disliked his fighting
returned with a divorcer's face or a bridegroom's.
Complaining of weapons, stabbing or spearing
وَمُدَحّجٍand an armored warrior كَرِهَdreaded الكُماةُthe champions نِزالَهُhis combat
وَمُدَحّجٍ كَرِهَ الكُماةُ نِزالَهُ
شاكِيَbristling with السِّلاحarms مُسايفٍa sword-fighter أَوor رامِحِa spearman
شاكِيَ السِّلاح مُسايفٍ أَو رامِحِ
And an armored warrior whose combat the champions dreaded,
A ram toured a battalion with a battalion
bristling with arms, a sword-fighter or a spearman—
Repelling its star with a head butting
قَدindeed زارَvisited كَبشٌa ram-like champion كَتيبَةًa battalion بِكَتيبَةٍwith a battalion
قَد زارَ كَبشٌ كَتيبَةً بِكَتيبَةٍ
يرديcharges لِكَوكَبِهاtoward its massed center بِرأَسٍwith a head ناطِحِbutting
يردي لِكَوكَبِها بِرأَسٍ ناطِحِ
a ram had come against a battalion with a battalion,
Defensive, without protecting his sanctuary and birthplace
charging its massed center with a butting head,
Protecting the truth from an enemy, struggling
غَيرانَprotectively jealous دونَin defense of حَريمهhis household وَتِلادهand his inherited wealth
غَيرانَ دونَ حَريمه وَتِلاده
حاميdefending الحَقيقَةِhonor لِلعدوّagainst the enemy مُكافِحِconfronting face-to-face
حامي الحَقيقَةِ لِلعدوّ مُكافِحِ
jealous in defense of his household and inherited wealth,
Your hands preceded his with a quick stab
a defender of honor, confronting the enemy face to face.
That gasped as it penetrated roots and organs
سَبَقَتforestalled يَداكَyour two hands لَهُfor him بِعاجِلٍwith a swift طَعنَةٍspear-thrust
سَبَقَت يَداكَ لَهُ بِعاجِلٍ طَعنَةٍ
شَهَقَتgasped لمنفذهاat its passage أصولٌroots of جوانِحِribs
شَهَقَت لمنفذها أصولٌ جوانِحِ
Your hands forestalled him with a swift spear-thrust;
And the horses stumbling in the blood which had flowed
the ribs' roots gasped at its passage.
Over the necks, their blood in streams
وَالخَيلُand the horses تَعثُرstumble فيin الدِّماءِblood وقَدand already جَرىflowed
وَالخَيلُ تَعثُر في الدِّماءِ وقَد جَرى
فَوقَover النُّحورthe breasts دِماؤُهاtheir blood بِسرائِحِin long streaks
فَوقَ النُّحور دِماؤُها بِسرائِحِ
And the horses stumbled in blood, while there streamed
So I crave cravingly for him whenever
over their breasts their blood in long streaks.
The armor clanked on the wiper the wiper
فَتَلهَفيoh, my lament لَهفيmy grief عَلَيهِfor him كُلَّماwhenever
فَتَلهَفي لَهفي عَلَيهِ كُلَّما
خيفَwas feared الغِرارa scant milk-yield عَلىfor المُدَرِّthe milk-drawer الماسِحِudder-stroking
خيفَ الغِرار عَلى المُدَرِّ الماسِحِ
Oh, my grief, my grief for him, whenever
Your patience with your cousin's ignorance consoles him
a scant milk-flow is feared for the udder-stroking milker!
And you turn away the struggle of every struggler
تَشفيyou cure بِحلمِكَwith your forbearance لابنِfor the son of عَمُكَyour paternal uncle جَهلَهُhis rashness
تَشفي بِحلمِكَ لابنِ عَمُكَ جَهلَهُ
وَتُرُدُّand you repel عَنهُfrom him كِفاحَthe assault of كُلِّevery مُكافِحِassailant
وَتُرُدُّ عَنهُ كِفاحَ كُلِّ مُكافِحِ
You cure your cousin's rashness through your forbearance,
And when your cousin rages against you, he did not
and ward off from him every assailant's attack.
Reconcile in the morning after contention
وإِذاand when يَصولُattacks بِكwith your aid ابنُthe son of عَمِّكَyour paternal uncle لَمnot يَصُلhe attacks
وإِذا يَصولُ بِك ابنُ عَمِّكَ لَم يَصُل
بِمواكِلٍwith a shirker وَكَلٍa weakling غَداةَon the morning of تَجايُحِmutual destruction
بِمواكِلٍ وَكَلٍ غَداةَ تَجايُحِ
And when your cousin attacks with your aid, he does not attack
A reconciler dies while his peace is intact
with a shirking weakling on a morning of mutual destruction.
And a fighter of his enemy with a handshake
صِلٌّa viper يَموتُdies سليمهُits bitten victim قَبلbefore الرُّقىhealing charms
صِلٌّ يَموتُ سليمهُ قَبل الرُّقى
وَمخاتِلٌand a deceiver لِعَدوّهِof his enemy بِتَصافُحِthrough handshakes
وَمخاتِلٌ لِعَدوّهِ بِتَصافُحِ
A viper whose bitten victim dies before the healing charms,
And when matters become similar to men
and a deceiver of his enemy through handshakes.
Then they are distributed with locks and keys
وَإِذاand when الأُمورُaffairs عَلىto الرِّجالِmen تَشابَهَتseemed alike
وَإِذا الأُمورُ عَلى الرِّجالِ تَشابَهَت
فَتَوَزَّعَتthen became scattered بِمَغالِقٍamong locks وَمَفاتِحِand keys
فَتَوَزَّعَت بِمَغالِقٍ وَمَفاتِحِ
And when affairs seemed alike to men,
So Al-Suhayl cut with a decisive, bitter sword
then became scattered among locks and keys,
Without the men, with the merit of a discerning mind
فَتَلَhe twined السَّحيلَthe single-strand cord بِمُبرَمٍwith a tightly twisted cord ذيpossessing مرَّةٍstrength
فَتَلَ السَّحيلَ بِمُبرَمٍ ذي مرَّةٍ
دونَbeyond الرِّجالِother men بِفَضلِthrough the excellence of عَقلٍjudgment راجِحِsound
دونَ الرِّجالِ بِفَضلِ عَقلٍ راجِحِ
he twined the single strand with a strong, tightly twisted cord,
And I see the gallants with Al-Mughira have become
beyond other men, through the excellence of sound judgment.
Weeping over the release of the two hands, forgiving
وَأَرىand I see الصَّعالِكَthe destitute بِالمُغيرَةِfor al-Mughira أَصبَحَتhave become
وَأَرى الصَّعالِكَ بِالمُغيرَةِ أَصبَحَت
تَبكيweeping عَلىover طَلقِopen اليَدينِboth hands مُسامِحِgenerous
تَبكي عَلى طَلقِ اليَدينِ مُسامِحِ
And I see the destitute, at al-Mughira's loss, now
Spring was for them when they enjoyed the dew
weeping for an open-handed, generous man.
And the flashes of lightning faded, glimpsing
كانَhe was الرَّبيعspringtime لَهُمfor them إِذاwhen انتَجَعواthey sought sustenance النَّدىbounty
كانَ الرَّبيع لَهُم إِذا انتَجَعوا النَّدى
وَخَبَتand faded لَوامِعُthe gleams of كُلِّevery بَرقٍlightning-bolt لامِحِflashing
وَخَبَت لَوامِعُ كُلِّ بَرقٍ لامِحِ
He was their spring when they sought the pastures of bounty,
A king, a young crowned one, exalted for him
and the gleams of every flashing lightning-bolt had faded.
The eye of the friend and the eye of the resentful lowered
مَلكٌa king أَغَرُّradiant مُتَوَّجٌcrowned يَسموrises لَهُtoward him
مَلكٌ أَغَرُّ مُتَوَّجٌ يَسمو لَهُ
طَرفُthe gaze of الصَّديقِthe friend وَغُضَّand was lowered طَرفthe gaze of الكاشِحِthe hater
طَرفُ الصَّديقِ وَغُضَّ طَرف الكاشِحِ
A radiant, crowned king, to whom rises
Repelling the flags of wars against the enemy
the friend's gaze, while the hater's gaze is lowered.
With the good fortune of the birds of Suhub and organs
دَفّاعُa mighty driver of أَلويَةِthe banners of الحُروبِwars إِلىtoward العِدىthe enemies
دَفّاعُ أَلويَةِ الحُروبِ إِلى العِدى
بِسُعودِwith the lucky omens of طَيرِbirds سَوانِحٍpassing rightward وَبَوارِحِand passing leftward
بِسُعودِ طَيرِ سَوانِحٍ وَبَوارِحِ
A mighty driver of war-banners against the enemies,
Al-Muhallab with Al-Mughira was like one who
with the lucky omens of birds passing rightward and leftward.
Cast buckets into a reservoir pouring
كانَwas المُهَلّبُal-Muhallab بِالمُغيرَةِwith al-Mughira كَالَّذيlike one who
كانَ المُهَلّبُ بِالمُغيرَةِ كَالَّذي
أَلقىlowered الدِّلاءَthe buckets إِلىto كفيتٍa capable worker مائِحِa scooper inside a well
أَلقى الدِّلاءَ إِلى كفيتٍ مائِحِ
Al-Muhallab, with al-Mughira, was like one
So he reached a group getting water, so it watered for him
who lowered the buckets to a deft well-scooper,
In its basin with directives and keys
فَأَصابَthen found جُمّةa plentiful pool of مُستَقىwater to draw فَسَقىthen poured لَهُfor him
فَأَصابَ جُمّة مُستَقى فَسَقى لَهُ
فيinto حَوضِهِhis basin بِنَوازِعٍwith bucket-pullers وَمَواتِحِand rope-haulers
في حَوضِهِ بِنَوازِعٍ وَمَواتِحِ
then found plentiful water to draw and poured for him
Days, if only he took the middle of a wilderness
into his basin, with bucket-pullers and rope-haulers,
Whose thirsty ones overflowed with streaming drink
أَيامin days when لَوif يَحتَلُّhe camped وَسطَin the midst of مَفازَةٍa desert
أَيام لَو يَحتَلُّ وَسطَ مَفازَةٍ
فاضَتoverflowed معاطِشُهاits thirsty places بِشربٍwith drinking-water سائِحِflowing
فاضَت معاطِشُها بِشربٍ سائِحِ
in days when, had he camped in the heart of a desert,
The Muhallab still has for them a young man
its thirsty stretches would have overflowed with running drinking-water.
Who flows the newcomers of every burning war
إِنَّindeed المهالِبَthe Muhallab family لاnot يَزالُceases لَهُمُfor them فَتىًa young warrior
إِنَّ المهالِبَ لا يَزالُ لَهُمُ فَتىً
يَمريcoaxes into action قَوادِمَthe vanguards of كُلِّevery حَربٍwar لاقِحِpregnant
يَمري قَوادِمَ كُلِّ حَربٍ لاقِحِ
Indeed, the Muhallabs still have a young warrior
With relatives, following their relations
who stirs the vanguard of every pregnant war,
Plundering the honor of Sababis and old women
بِالمُقرَباتِwith well-kept steeds لَواحِقاًdrawn tight أَقرابُهاtheir flanks
بِالمُقرَباتِ لَواحِقاً أَقرابُها
تَجتابُtraverse عَرضَthe breadth of سَباسِبٍdesert plains وَصَحاصِحِand bare flats
تَجتابُ عَرضَ سَباسِبٍ وَصَحاصِحِ
with well-kept steeds, their flanks drawn tight,
It would ruin every heavily armed eminent one
traversing the breadth of desert plains and bare flats,
Like a lion between its growling lair
تُرديgallop بِكُلِّwith every مُدَجّجٍarmored warrior ذيpossessing نَجدةٍvalor
تُردي بِكُلِّ مُدَجّجٍ ذي نَجدةٍ
كَالأُسدِlike lions بَينَamid عَرينِهاtheir lairs المُتناوِحِfacing one another
كَالأُسدِ بَينَ عَرينِها المُتناوِحِ
galloping with every armored man of valor,
Bent over, the battalions swarm around him
like lions amid their lairs facing one another.
Sharp of innards from the gushing stab
مُتَلَبِّبَاًgirded for battle تَهفوflutter الكَتائِبُthe battalions حَولَهُaround him
مُتَلَبِّبَاً تَهفو الكَتائِبُ حَولَهُ
مُلحَsalt-streaked البُطونِthe bellies مِنfrom النَّضيحِsweat الرَّاشِحِseeping
مُلحَ البُطونِ مِن النَّضيحِ الرَّاشِحِ
Girded for battle, the battalions flutter around him,
O eye, so cry for this one of action and this dew
their bellies salt-streaked from the sweat that seeps.
With pouring tears coming cascading
ياO عينُeye فَاِبكيthen weep ذاthe man of الفِعالِdeeds وَذاand the man of النَّدىgenerosity
يا عينُ فَاِبكي ذا الفِعالِ وَذا النَّدى
بِمَدامِعٍwith tears سَكبٍpouring تَجيءُcoming سَوافِحِstreaming
بِمَدامِعٍ سَكبٍ تَجيءُ سَوافِحِ
O eye, then weep for the man of deeds and the man of bounty,
And cry for him in the stumbling time for all of us
with pouring tears that come streaming down.
And for every widow and traveling companion
وَابكيهِand weep for him فيin الزَّمَنِtime العُثورstumbling لكلِّناfor all of us
وَابكيهِ في الزَّمَنِ العُثور لكلِّنا
وَلِكُلِّand for every أَرمَلَةٍwidow وَرَهبٍand a fearful man رازِحِweighed down
وَلِكُلِّ أَرمَلَةٍ وَرَهبٍ رازِحِ
And weep for him in stumbling time, for all of us,
For you have lost a helper, like the full moon
and for every widow and fearful man weighed down.
Which blossomed, of high birth and cascades
فَلَقَدfor indeed فَقَدتِyou have lost مُسَوِّداًone who ennobles ذاpossessing نجدَةٍvalor
فَلَقَد فَقَدتِ مُسَوِّداً ذا نجدَةٍ
كَالبَدرِlike the full moon أَزهَرَradiant ذاpossessing جَداًbounty وَنوافِحِand lavish gifts
كَالبَدرِ أَزهَرَ ذا جَداً وَنوافِحِ
For you have lost one who ennobled others, a man of valor,
He was the refuge for our religion and hopes
radiant as the full moon, possessed of bounty and lavish gifts.
And our asylum in every grave misfortune
كانَhe was المَلاكَthe mainstay لدينِناof our faith وَرَجائِناand our hope
كانَ المَلاكَ لدينِنا وَرَجائِنا
وَملاذَناand our refuge فيin كُلِّevery خَطبٍcalamity فادِحِcrushing
وَملاذَنا في كُلِّ خَطبٍ فادِحِ
He was the mainstay of our faith and our hope,
So he passed away, leaving us for every great one
and our refuge in every crushing calamity.
And every matter of tremors, rushing
فَمَضىthen he departed وَخَلَّفناand left us لِكُلِّto every عَظيمَةٍgreat affliction
فَمَضى وَخَلَّفنا لِكُلِّ عَظيمَةٍ
وَلِكُلِّand to every أَمرٍaffair ذيpossessing زَلازِلَearthquakes جامِحِunbridled
وَلِكُلِّ أَمرٍ ذي زَلازِلَ جامِحِ
Then he departed and left us to every great affliction,
I have not said about you, but you are worthy of my words
and every unbridled crisis with its earthquakes.
Rather, the praise of the praiser falls short of you
ماwhatever قُلتُI said فيكَof you فَأَنتَso you are أَهلُworthy of مَقالَتيmy words
ما قُلتُ فيكَ فَأَنتَ أَهلُ مَقالَتي
بَلrather قدmay يُقصِّرُfall short عَنكَof you مَدحُthe praise of المادِحِthe praiser
بَل قد يُقصِّرُ عَنكَ مَدحُ المادِحِ
Whatever I have said of you, you deserve my words;
rather, the praiser's praise may fall short of you.
Partial English translation: 112 of 114 Arabic lines translated.