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ولم يزل تلك حالة الخراساني وحال العيار حتى أنفذ الخراساني سهامه، ثم حمل على العيار ليضربه بسيفه، فأخرج من مخلاته حجرا، فجعله في مقلاع ورماه فما أخطأ به عينه، ثم ثناه بآخر، فكاد يصرعه عن فرسه لولا تحاميه، وكر راجعا وهو يقول ليس هؤلاء بإنس | The Khurasanian and the vagrant continued at this until the Khurasanian exhausted his arrows. He then rushed at the vagrant to strike him with his sword. The latter took a stone out of his bag, put it into a sling, hurled it, and did not miss the man's eye. Then he hurled another and would have knocked the man off his horse, had he not dodged it. The man wheeled round and retreated, saying, These people are not human beings |
وجعل كلما وقع سهم أخذه، وصاح دانق، أي ثمن النشابة دانق قد أحرزه | Whenever an arrow fell, he would take it and cry out, A daniq!—that is to say, he had obtained the value of the arrow, which was a daniq |
فجعل الخراساني كلما رمى بسهم استتر منه العيار، فوقع في باريته أو قريبا منه، فيأخذه فيجعله في موضع من باريته، قد هيأه لذلك، وجعله شبيها بالجعبة | Whenever the Khurasanian shot an arrow, the vagrant (ayyar) covered himself, and the arrow fell on his mat or near him. He would then take it and put it into a part of his reed mat he had prepared for that purpose and had fashioned like a quiver |
وابصره بعضهم فقصد نحوه وفي يده بارية مقيرة، وتحت إبطه مخلاة فيها حجارة | One of the men (on the other side saw him and went toward him with a pitch-covered reed mat in his hand and a horse's nose bag full of stones under his arm |
فأوتر قوسه وتقدم | So he strung his bow and went forward |
فنظر إلى قوم عراة، لا سلاح معهم، فقال لأصحابه ما يقاتلنا إلا من أرى، استهانة بأمرهم واحتقارا لهم، فقيل له نعم هؤلاء الذين ترى هم الآفة، فقال أف لكم حين تنكصون عن هؤلاء وتخيمون عنهم، وأنتم في السلاح الظاهر، والعده والقوه، ولكم ما لكم من الشجاعة والنجدة! وما عسى أن يبلغ كيد من أرى من هؤلاء ولا سلاح معهم ولا عدة لهم ولا جنة تقيهم | Seeing some unclothed men without weapons, he said to his companions in scorn and contempt, Are only these whom I see fighting us? Yes, he was told, these whom you see are the plague! Fie on you, he said, shrinking from them and holding back, when you have splendid weapons, equipment, and strength, as well as your bravery and courage! What could the devices of these I see accomplish, when they have no weapons, no equipment, and no armor to protect them |
وذكر أن قائدا من قواد أهل خراسان ممن كان مع طاهر من أهل النجدة والبأس، خرج يوما إلى القتال | It has been mentioned One of Tahir's Khurasanian commanders, a man of courage and strength, went out one day to fight |
ومهما أنس من شيء تولى *** فإني ذاكر دار الرقيق | Whatever I may forget of the past, I will always remember the battle of Dar al-Raqiq |
فلا ولد يقيم على أبيه *** وقد هرب الصديق بلا صديق | Child does not remain to care for his father, and friend has fled without friend |
وقوم أخرجوا من ظل دنيا *** متاعهم يباع بكل سوق ومغترب قريب الدار ملقى *** بلا رأس بقارعة الطريق توسط من قتالهم جميعا *** فما يدرون من أي الفريق | Here are people who have been expelled from the shade of this world their property is being sold in every market. Here a stranger, whose home is close, lies headless in the middle of the road. He was caught in the middle of all their fighting, and people do not know to which party he belonged |
وسالبة الغزالة مقلتيها *** مضاحكها كلالاة البروق حيارى كالهدايا مفكرات *** عليهن القلائد في الحلوق ينادين الشفيق ولا شفيق *** وقد فقد الشقيق من الشقيق | One who stole the beauty of her eyes from the gazelle, and whose teeth are like the flash of lightning—All these, as bewildered as beasts being led to the sacrifice, pensive, wearing necklaces around their throats, Call on someone to take pity, but there is none to take pity brother has lost brother |
وحوراء المدامع ذات دل *** مضمخة المجاسد بالخلوق تفر من الحريق إلى انتهاب *** ووالدها يفر إلى الحريق | Here a dark-eyed woman, pleasing of mien, in a shift anointed with perfume, Is fleeing from the fire into the looting, while her father is fleeing from the looting into the fire |
فقوم أحرقوا بالنار قسرا *** ونائحة تنوح على غريق وصائحه تنادى وا صباحا *** وباكية لفقدان الشفيق | Here are people who have been overcome and burned by the fire, and here a woman is mourning for a drowned man. Here a woman is shouting, Alas the day! and here one is crying over the loss of someone dear |
وفي ذلك يقول بعض فتيان بغداد بكيت دما على بغداد لما *** فقدت غضارة العيش الأنيق تبدلنا هموما من سرور *** ومن سعة تبدلنا بضيق أصابتها من الحساد عين *** فافنت أهلها بالمنجيق | Concerning this, one of the young men of Baghdad said I wept blood over Baghdad, when I lost the ease of a pleasant life. We have been given sorrow in exchange for joy, and in exchange for plenty we have been given scarcity. The evil eye of the envious has afflicted Baghdad, and has caused its people to perish by the manjaniq |
فلما طال على الناس ما بلوا به ساءت حالهم، وضاقوا به ذرعا | After the people's tribulation had gone on a long time, their condition became very bad and they were unable to endure it any longer |
حتى قيل إن مثل أصحاب طاهر ومثل أصحاب الهرش وذويه ومثل الناس إذا تخلصوا، مثل السور الذي قَالَ الله تعالى ذكره «فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِسُورٍ لَهُ بابٌ باطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظاهِرُهُ مِنْ قِبَلِهِ الْعَذابُ | People therefore said that (the situation of Tahir's forces, the forces and companions of al-Hirsh, and the people who had escaped was like the parable of the wall, concerning which God, whose Name is exalted, said And a wall shall be set up between them, having a door on whose inward side is mercy, and on whose outward side is chastisement |
وأظهرت المرأة ما معها من ذهب وفضة أو متاع أو بز | The woman would display whatever gold and silver, goods, or fine clothing she had |
فكان الرجل والمرأة إذا تخلص من أيدي أصحاب الهرش، وصار إلى أصحاب طاهر ذهب عنه الروع وأمن | When a man or a woman escaped from the hands of al-Hirsh's forces and reached Tahir's forces, their fear would depart and they would feel secure |
وامر محمد ابن أبي خالد بحفظ الضعفاء والنساء وتجويزهم وتسهيل أمرهم | He commanded Muhammad b. Abi Khalid to protect the weak and women and to give them gifts and relief |
فأخذ طاهر أصحابه بخلاف ذلك، واشتد فيه، وغلظ على اهل الريب | Tahir admonished his forces to behave quite differently he was strict in this and treated suspicious characters roughly |
فكان لصوصها وفساقها يسلبون من قدروا عليه من الرجال والنساء والضعفاء من اهل الملة والذمة، فكان منهم في ذلك ما لم يبلغنا أن مثله كان في شيء من سائر بلاد الحروب | The thieves and criminals of these areas despoiled anyone they were able to lay hands on—men, women, and infirm people from the (Muslim community and nonMuslims. They did things the likes of which we have never heard to have happened in any other countries at war |
قَالَ ولما كانت وقعة قصر صالح أقبل محمد على اللهو والشرب، ووكل الأمر إلى محمد بْن عيسى بْن نهيك وإلى الهرش، فوضعا مما يليهما من الدروب والأبواب وكلاءهما بأبواب المدينة والأرباض وسوق الكرخ وفرض دجلة وباب المحول والكناسة | After the battle of Qasr Salih, Muhammad turned to diversion and drink. He entrusted matters to Muhammad b. ‘Isa b. Nahik and al-Hirsh. From the streets and gates near them, the two of them placed their agents in the city gates, suburbs, al-Karkh market, the Tigris quays, al-Muhawwal Gate, and al-Kunasah |
وكاتبه قوم من القواد والهاشميين في السر، وصارت قلوبهم وأهواؤهم معه | Some of the commanders and Hashimites corresponded with him in secret, and their hearts and inclinations came to be on his side |
فلحق به جماعة، منهم عبد الله بْن حميد بْن قحطبة الطائي وإخوته، وولد الحسن بْن قحطبة ويحيى بْن علي بْن ماهان ومحمد بْن أبي العاص | A group went over to him, including ‘Abdallah b. Humayd b. Qahtabah al-Ta’i and his brothers, the children of al-Hasan b. Qahtabah, Yahya b. ‘Ali b. Mahan, and Muhammad b. Abi al-‘As |
فذكر عن بعض الأبناء أن طاهرا بث رسله، وكتب إلى القواد والهاشميين وغيرهم بعد أن حاز ضياعهم وغلاتهم يدعوهم إلى الأمان والدخول في خلع محمد والبيعة للمأمون | According to one of the Abna’ Tahir dispersed his messengers and wrote to the commanders, Hashimites, and others, after he had taken their estates and properties, inviting them to a promise of safety aman) and to join in repudiating Muhammad and in swearing allegiance to al-Ma’mun |
كذاك الحرب أحيانا *** علينا ولنا مره | Thus it is with war—sometimes it is against us, and sometimes for us |
وللمراق أعدائك *** يوم السوء والدبره وكأس تلفظ الموت *** كريه طعمها مره سقينا وسقيناهم *** ولكن بهم الحره | Whereas for the renegades, your enemies, will come a day of evil and defeat. Many a cup that spews forth death, hateful its taste and bitter, Have we been made to drink, and we have made them drink of it; but the thirst was with them |
لنا النصر بعون الله *** والكرة لا الفره | Victory will be ours with God's help—the attack, and not the retreat |
وكان مما قيل في ذلك قول الخليع أمين الله ثق بالله *** تعط الصبر والنصره كل الأمر إلى الله *** كلاك الله ذو القدره | Among what was said about it were the verses of |al-fjusayn al-Khali' God's Amin, trust in God, and you shall be granted endurance and help. Entrust the matter to God, and God the Almighty will protect you |
فأكثرت الشعراء فيها القول من الشعر، وذكر ما كان فيها من شدة الحرب وقال فيها الغوغاء والرعاع | The factions composed a great deal of poetry about it, mentioning the intense fighting that occurred in the war. The mob (ghawghd’J and rabble (ri'd'J composed {poetry| about it |
وقاتل فراهمرد وأصحابه خارجا من القصر حتى فل وانحاز إلى طاهر، ولم تكن وقعة قبلها ولا بعدها أشد على طاهر وأصحابه منها، ولا أكثر قتيلا وجريحا معقورا من أصحاب طاهر من تلك الوقعة | Farahmard and his forces fought outside QasrSalih, until he was defeated and withdrew to Tahir. No battle before or after was more difficult for Tahir's forces than this one,- none resulted in more dead, injured, and disabled among Tahir's forces than this battle |
قَالَ فقتل في داخل القصر أبو العباس يوسف بْن يعقوب الباذغيسي ومن كان معه من القواد والرؤساء المعدودين | Abu al-’Abbas Yusuf b. Ya'qub al-Badhaghisi was killed inside Qasr (Salih|, along with the important commanders and chiefs who were with him |
وأقبلت الغواة من العيارين وباعة الطرق والأجناد، فاقتتلوا داخل قصر صالح وخارجه إلى ارتفاع النهار | Irregulars ghuwdt consisting of vagrants ('ayyarun), street vendors, and soldiers came, and the two sides fought each other inside and outside Qasr Salih until the day became advanced |
وكان يقاتل مع الأفارقة وأهل السجون والأوباش، وكان محمد بْن عيسى غير مداهن في أمر محمد، وكان مهيبا في الحرب، فلما استأمن هذان إلى طاهر، أشفى محمد على الهلاك، ودخله من ذلك ما أقامه وأقعده حتى استسلم، وصار على باب أم جعفر يتوقع ما يكون | He had been fighting along with the Africans (Afariqah), men from the prisons, and rabble (awbash). Muhammad b. 'Isa had not been in any way insincere in regard to Muhammad and was redoubtable in war. When these two went over to Tahir on a promise of safety, Muhammad was on the brink of destruction. So disquieted that he could not remain at rest, he resigned himself (to his fate and went to the gate of (the palace of Umm Ja'far to await what would happen |
فسلم إليه كل ما كان محمد وكله به من ذلك ليلة السبت للنصف من جمادى الآخرة سنة سبع وتسعين ومائة واستأمن إليه محمد بْن عيسى صاحب شرطه محمد | On the eve of Saturday, the middle day of Jumada II of the year 1971* (’Ali Farahmard) handed over everything that Muhammad had put him in charge of. Muhammad b. 'Isa |b. Nahik, Muhammad's chief of police, also asked for a promise of safety from (Tahir |
ووجه إليه أبا العباس يوسف بْن يعقوب الباذغيسي صاحب شرطه فيمن ضم إليه من قواده وذوي البأس من فرسانه ليلا | By night he sent to him Abu al-'Abbas Yusuf b. Ya'qub al-Badhaghisi, the commander of his police, along with those of his commanders and valiant horsemen whom he had joined to the latter |
وأن علي فراهمرد الموكل بقصري صالح وسليمان بْن أبي جعفر من قبل محمد، كتب إلى طاهر يسأله الأمان، ويضمن له أن يدفع ما في يده من تلك الأموال ومن الناحية إلى الجسور وما فيها من المجانيق والعرادات إليه، وأنه قبل ذلك منه، وأجابه إلى ما سأل | ’Ali Farahmard, who had been assigned to the Palaces of Salih and Sulayman b. Abi Ja'far by Muhammad Jal-Amin, wrote to Tahir, asking him for a promise of safety, and guaranteeing him that he would give him what was in his possession from that area to the bridges, including the manjaniqs and 'arradahs that were there. (Tahir) accepted this from him and responded favorably to his request |
ذكر عن محمد بْن الحسين بْن مصعب، أن طاهرا لم يزل مصابرا محمدا وجنده على ما وصفت من أمره، حتى مل أهل بغداد من قتاله | According to Muhammad b. al-Husayn b. Mus'ab Tahir continued to vie in endurance with Muhammad and his army, as I have described, until the people of Baghdad grew weary of fighting him |
ذكر الخبر عن هذه الوقعة | The account of this battle follows |
وفي هذه السنة استأمن الموكلون بقصر صالح من قبل محمد ذكر خبر وقعه قصر صالح وفيها كانت الوقعة التي كانت على أصحاب طاهر بقصر صالح | The Battle at Qasr Salih In this year, those who had been put in charge of Qasr Salih (the Palace of Salih) by Muhammad al-Amin went over (to Tahir on a promise of safety. In this year the battle that went against Tahir's forces at Qasr Salih took place |
دونك غراء كالوذيلة لا *** تفقد في بلدة سوائرها لا طمعا قلتها ولا بطرا *** لكل نفس هوى يؤامرها سيرها الله بالنصيحة و *** الخشيه فاستدمجت مرائرها جاءتك تحكي لك الأمور كما *** ينشر بز التجار ناشرها حملتها صاحبا أخا ثقة *** يظل عجبا بها يحاضرها | Receive something (viz. a poem bright as a mirror as it travels it will not become lost in any country. I have not composed it from greed or insolence every soul is subject to the command of its ruling passion. God has caused it to travel bringing sincere advice and reverence; and its strands have been tightly woven. It has come to you to relate matters to you, as one might unroll a merchant's bolt of cloth. I have caused it to be conveyed by a friend who is trustworthy, one who, because of admiration for it, will continually recite it |
سعي رجال في العلم مطلبهم *** رائحها باكر وباكرها | Men's striving for knowledge causes them to make requests; both those of them who travel in the evening and those who travel in the morning hasten |
كم عندنا من نصيحة لك في الله *** وقربى عزت زوافرها وحرمه قربت اواصرها *** منك، وأخرى هل أنت ذاكرها | How many sincere counsels we have for you, for the sake of God and kinship whose props are strong!— And a claim whose bonds have drawn me close to you, and another one—do you remember it |
وأبصر الناس قصد وجههم *** وملكت أمة أخايرها تشرع أعناقها إليك إذ *** السادات يوما جمت عشائرها | People have seen that toward which their faces turn, and its best men have been made to rule the nation. Our necks are turned toward you, whenever the nobles of the tribes assemble |
أمكنك العدل إذ هممت به *** ووافقت مده مقادرها | You are in a position to act with justice, for that is your intent, and destiny agrees with its extension |
أدب رجالا رأيت سيرتهم *** خالف حكم الكتاب سائرها وامدد إلى الناس كف مرحمة *** تسد منهم بها مفاقرها | Chastise men whose behavior you have seen, who by their actions have violated the ordinance of the Book; And extend to the people the hand of mercy, thereby rendering them free from want |
أصبحت في أمة أوائلها *** قد فارقت هديها أواخرها وأنت سرسورها وسائسها *** فهل على الحق أنت قاسرها | You are now in a nation whose latter-day rulers have departed from the guidance of its earliest rulers. But you are its skilled manager and guide will you compel it to the right |
لا تردن غمرة بنفسك لا *** يصدر عنها بالرأي صادرها عليك ضحضاحها فلا تلج الغمرة *** ملتجة زواخرها والقصد أن الطريق ذو شعب *** أشأمها وعثها وجائرها | Do not bring yourself into deep waters from which no one can emerge by skill. Keep to the shallow water; do not embark upon the deep when its floods are in tumult. Moderation! The road is full of branchings the most unlucky of them are those where (feet sink into soft sand and that deviate |
واحذر فداء لك الرعية و *** الأجناد مأمورها وآمرها | Be on guard—ransom for you be your subjects and the armies, both those who are commanded in them and those who command |
وأنت سمع في العالمين له *** ومقلة ما يكل ناظرها فاشكر لذي العرش فضل نعمته *** اوجب فضل المزيد شاكرها | You Dhu al-Ri’asatayn are his ear among mankind, and an eye whose sight never weakens; So give thanks to Him who is Enthroned for the favor of His blessing whoever is thankful for favor becomes deserving of even more favor |
وأحمدوا منك سيرة جلت *** الشك وأخرى صحت معاذرها واستجمعت طاعة برفقك *** للمأمون نجديها وغائرها | They have praised policy on your part which has removed doubt, and other policy whose justifications are sound. They have joined together in obedience, through your gentleness, to al-Ma’mun, those in the highlands and those in the lowlands |
سمت إليه آمال أمته *** منقادة برها وفاجرها شاموا حيا العدل من مخايله *** وأصحرت بالتقى بصائرها | Toward him have aspired the hopes of his nation submissively, both the righteous and the sinner. They expect an abundant rain of justice from his indications, and the evidences of them reveal godliness |
بأن خير الولاة قد علم *** الناس إذا عددت مآثرها خليفة الله في بريته *** المأمون منتاشها وجابرها | That the best of rulers men have ever known, when their noble qualities are enumerated, Is God's caliph among mankind, al-Ma’mun, their rescuer and restorer |
هل ترجعن أرضنا كما غنيت *** وقد تناهت بنا مصايرها من مبلغ ذا الرياستين رسا *** لات تأتى للنصح شاعرها | Will our land ever again be rich as once it was, now that its events have brought us to this end? Who will deliver to Dhu al-Ri’asatayn messages whose author has occupied himself with good counsel |
يا ليت شعرى والدهر ذو دول *** يرجى وأخرى تخشى بوادرها | Would that I knew—for fortune is full of changes, some desirable, and others whose occurrence is to be feared |
وذات عيش ضنك ومقعسة *** تشدخها صخرة تعاورها تسأل عن أهلها وقد سلبت *** وابتز عن راسها غفائرها | Both she who lived in poverty and she who was wealthy a stone crushes the head now of one, now of the other. One asks about her family, having been despoiled; even the rag on her head has been stripped away |
أما رأيت النساء تحت المجانيق *** تعادي شعثا ضفائرها عقائل القوم والعجائز و *** العنس لم تحتبر معاصرها يحملن قوتا من الطحين على *** الأكتاف معصوبه مهاجرها | Have you not seen the women under the manjaniqs, striving with each other in running, their hair dissheveled Noble women, aged women, and middle-aged spinsters; the young girls among them have had no experience? They carry food made of flour on their shoulders, their headcloths bound tightly |
أما رأيت الخيول جائلة *** بالقوم منكوبة دوائرها تعثر بالأوجه الحسان من *** القتلى وغلت دما أشاعرها يطأن أكباد فتية نجد *** يفلق هاماتهم حوافرها | Have you not seen the horses wheeling round with the men, their hindquarters wounded? The horses trip over the handsome faces of the dead, and the skin around their hooves is smeared with blood. They trample the livers of courageous young men, and their hooves split their skulls |
وقد رأيت الفتيان في عرصة *** المعرك معفوره مناخرها كل فتى مانع حقيقته *** تشقى به في الوغى مساعرها باتت عليه الكلاب تنهشه *** مخضوبة من دم أظافرها | I have seen the young men on the field of battle, their noses defiled in the dust. Each was a young man who defended those he was honor-bound to protect kindlers of strife experienced distress in the fray because of him. The dogs have spent the night by him, mangling him, their claws stained with blood |
يا هل رأيت الثكلى مولولة *** في الطرق تسعى والجهد باهرها! في إثر نعش عليه واحدها *** في صدره طعنه يساورها فرغاء ينقى الشنار مربدها *** يهزها بالسنان شاجرها تنظر في وجهه وتهتف بالثكل *** وجارى الدموع حادرها غرغر بالنفس ثم أسلمها *** مطلولة لا يخاف ثائرها | Have you seen the woman bereft of her child, wailing in the streets, running, overcome by fatigue, Following a bier on which her only son, in his breast a spear wound, assails her with grief? Wide the wound its spacious place purges away dishonor; he that pierced it shook it with the head of the spear. She looks at his face and cries of bereavement, while a flood of tears covers her. The breath rattled in his throat, then he gave up the ghost, slain for naught, with no avenger to be feared |
تسأل أين الطريق والهة *** والنار من خلفها تبادرها لم تجتل الشمس حسن بهجتها *** حتى اجتلتها حرب تباشرها | Distraught, she asks where the way is? behind her the flames strive to reach her. The sun has never unveiled her fair beauty, but now war has unveiled her to touch her |
بيضة خدر مكنونة برزت *** للناس منشورة غدائرها تعثر في ثوبها وتعجلها *** كبه خيل ريعت حوافرها | The hidden damsel of the curtained chamber has emerged into public with her hair loose. She trips over her gown,- urging her to haste is a charge of horses whose hooves are being spurred on |
كل رقود الضحى مخبأة *** لم تبد في أهلها محاجرها | Each is a woman who used to lie abed until midmoming, concealed from view, her visage not visible among her family |
والنهب تعدو به الرجال وقد *** أبدت خلاخيلها حرائرها معصوصبات وسط الأزقة قد *** أبرزها للعيون ساترها | Men run carrying plunder, while the city's wellborn women have exposed their ankle bracelets, Having gathered in the lanes their Concealer has caused them to emerge into view |
بل هل رأيت السيوف مصلتة *** أشهرها في الأسواق شاهرها والخيل تستن في أزقتها *** بالترك مسنونة خناجرها والنفط والنار في طرائقها *** وهابيا للدخان عامرها | Have you seen the unsheathed swords that men are brandishing in the markets? Horses are prancing in its lanes, carrying Turks with sharpened daggers. Naphtha and fire are in its roads? its inhabitants are fleeing because of the smoke |
في كل درب وكل ناحية *** خطارة يستهل خاطرها بمثل هام الرجال من فلق *** الصخر يزود المقلاع بائرها. كأنما فوق هامها فرق *** من القطا الكدر هاج نافرها والقوم من تحتها لهم زجل *** وهي ترامي بها خواطرها | In every gated street and on every side there is a siege engine whose moving beam raises its voice. With (projectiles like men's heads (taken from pieces of stone the evil man loads the sling. It is as if over their heads there were flocks of dusky sand grouse taking flight in commotion. The shouts of the men come from beneath them, while the swinging beams hurl (their missiles |
كتائب الهرش تحت رايته *** ساعد طرارها مقامرها لا الرزق تبغي ولا العطاء ولا *** يحشرها للقاء حاشرها | Go the battalions of al-Hirsh, under whose banner the cutpurse aids the gambler. They get neither pay (rizq) nor salary fiafd’), nor does their gatherer assemble them for the encounter |
أخرجت الحرب من سواقطها *** آساد غيل غلبا تساورها من البواري تراسها ومن *** الخوص إذا استلأمت مغافرها تغدو إلى الحرب في جواشنها *** الصوف إذا ما عدت أساورها | From the vilest of her men war has brought forth mighty lions from their lairs to assail them. Their shields are of reed mats; their neck protectors,’ when they put them on, are of palm leaves. Early to the battle in their coats of mail made of wool, when their horsemen are numbered |
والكرخ أسواقها معطلة *** يستن عيارها وعائرها | The markets of al-Karkh are deserted; its vagrant ('ayyar) and wayward prance about |
ما بين شط الفرات منه الى *** دجلة حيث انتهت معابرها بارك هادي الشقراء نافره *** تركض من حولها أشاقرها يحرقها ذا وذاك يهدمها *** ويشتفي بالنهاب شاطرها | From the shore of the Euphrates up to the Tigris, where its ferries have stopped, Fire, like the neck of a red-maned horse, stampedes, while its ruddy ones gallop around it. This one bums (the city, and that one demolishes it; and the scoundrel (shdpr) sates himself with plunder |
فتلك بغداد ما يبنى من *** الذلة في دورها عصافرها محفوفة بالردى منطقة *** بالصغر محصورة جبابرها | Behold Baghdad! No nest is built in its houses by its sparrows from bewilderment. Behold it surrounded by destruction, encircled with humiliation, its proud men besieged |
كتائب الموت تحت ألوية *** أبرح منصورها وناصرها يعلم أن الأقدار واقعة *** وقعا على ما أحب قادرها | Squadrons of death, under banners whose victor and helpers bring trouble He who has seen these things knows that things foreordained must surely take place as their Ordainer desires |
والشيخ يعدو حزما كتائبه *** يقدم اعجازها يعاورها ولزهير بالفرك مأسدة *** مرقومة صلبة مكاسرها | With the shaykh passing with his troops collected, sending forward their rear, attacking by turns, While Zuhayr at al-Firk has a band of lions— distinguished ones, who bear up under adversity |
من ير بغداد والجنود بها *** قد ربقت حولها عساكرها كل طحون شهباء باسلة *** تسقط أحبالها زماجرها تلقي بغي الردى أوانسها *** يرهقها للقاء طاهرها | He who has seen Baghdad, with the armies by it, with the soldiers having thrown a cordon around it, With many a numerous troop, well armed and courageous, their shrieks causing unborn babes to be aborted, Throwing its gentle girls into the perdition of death, with Tahir bearing down to attack it |
وخطم العبد أنف سيده *** بالرغم واستعبدت حرائرها. وصار رب الجيران فاسقهم *** وابتز أمر الدروب ذاعرها | The slave humiliated his master, and her freeborn were enslaved. He who was most wicked became lord of his neighbors, and robbers gained control over the gates of the streets |
حلت ببغداد وهي آمنة *** داهية لم تكن تحاذرها طالعها السوء من مطالعه *** وأدركت أهلها جرائرها رق بها الدين واستخف بذي *** الفضل وعز النساك فاجرها | Upon Baghdad, while she was at peace, descended a disaster she had not anticipated. Evil rose over her from its places of rising, and her people were overtaken by their offenses. Religion was weak in her there was no respect for the virtuous, and her unrighteous overpowered the devout |
يا بؤس بغداد دار مملكة *** دارت على أهلها دوائرها أمهلها الله ثم عاقبها *** لما أحاطت بها كبائرها بالخسف والقذف والحريق و *** بالحرب التي أصبحت تساورها كم قد رأينا من المعاصي ببغداد *** فهل ذو الجلال غافرها | Oh the misfortune of Baghdad, the capital of a kingdom whose calamities have fallen on its people! God granted her a respite; then he punished her, when her grievous sins encompassed her, With leveling to the ground, bombardment, and fire, and with war that came to assail her. How many transgressions have we seen in Baghdad! Will the Lord of Majesty forgive her |
لا تعلم النفس ما يبايتها *** من حادث الدهر أو يباكرها تضحي وتمسي درية غرضا *** حيث استقرت بها شراشرها لأسهم الدهر وهو يرشقها *** محنطها مرة وباقرها | No soul knows what will assail it by night— what accident of Fortune—or what will come upon it in the morning. Morning and evening it is a target and a butt, wherever its inclination leads it, For the arrows that Fortune shoots— those that draw blood and those that rip open |
كأنما أصبحت بساحتهم *** عاد ومستهم صراصرها | One would think that in their courts had dwelt the people of *Ad, and that roaring winds had smitten them |
تكاد اسماعهم تسك إذا *** عارض عيدانها مزاهرها أمست كجوف الحمار خالية *** يسعرها بالجحيم ساعرها | People's ears were utterly captivated, when their flutes vied with their lutes. Now it has become as empty as the belly of a wild ass, and he who bums it bums it with blazing fire |
بالمسك والعنبر اليمان و *** اليلنجوج مشبوبه مجامرها يرفلن في الخز والمجاسد و *** الموشى محطومه مزامرها فأين رقاصها وزامرها *** يجبن حيث انتهت حناجرها | With musk, Yemeni ambergris, and aloes wood their censers were kindled. They glided in silk, in garments saffron-colored and embroidered, with their lyres strung. Where is their dancer and their piper, to whom they responded until their throats were tired |
أين الظباء الأبكار في روضة الملك *** تهادى بها غرائرها! أين غضاراتها ولذتها *** وأين محبورها وحابرها | Where are the virgin gazelles in the garden of the kingdom—the young ones who walked so gracefully? Where are their comforts and their pleasures? Where are they who were adorned, and he who adorned them |
بالسند والهند والصقالب و *** النوبه شيبت بها برابرها طيرا أبابيل أرسلت عبثا *** يقدم سودانها أحامرها | Carrying men from Sind and India, Slavs, and Nubians with whom Berbers have been mixed— Like birds in flights, they have been sent forth to no avail, their fair-skinned troops preceding their blacks |
أين الجرادية الصقالب والأحبش *** تعدو هدلا مشافرها ينصدع الجند عن مواكبها *** تعدو بها سربا ضوامرها | Where have the Slavic al-Jaradiyyah guards gone, and the Abyssinians, with their pendulous lips? The army disperses from its parades; its lean (horses run there at random |
فأين حراسها وحارسها *** وأين مجبورها وجابرها! وأين خصيانها وحشوتها *** وأين سكانها وعامرها | Where are their guards, and where is their guardian? Where is he upon whom benefits were bestowed, and where is their bestower? Where are their eunuchs and their servants? Where are their inhabitants and their builder |
بزندورد والياسرية والشطين *** حيث انتهت معابرها ويا ترلحى والخيزرانية العليا *** التي أشرفت قناطرها وقصر عبدويه عبره وهدى *** لكل نفس زكت سرائرها | At Zandaward and al-Yasiriyyah, and on the two river banks, where the ferries have ceased, At the mills and Upper al-Khayzuraniyyah, whose bridges were lofty, And at the Palace of 'Abduyah, there is a lesson and guidance for every soul whose inner thoughts have become pure |
وأصبح البؤس ما يفارقها *** إلفا لها والسرور هاجرها | Now misery never leaves them; it is their companion, while joy has forsaken them |
وهل رأيت القرى التي غرس *** الأملاك مخضرة دساكرها محفوفة بالكروم والنخل و *** الريحان ما يستغل طائرها فإنها اصبحت خلايا من *** الإنسان قد ادميت محاجرها قفرا خلاء تعوي الكلاب بها *** ينكر منها الرسوم زائرها | Have you seen the villages the kings have planted, when their fields are green, Surrounded by vineyards, palm trees, and fragrant herbs from which their birds take seeds? Now they have become devoid of people. Their gardens have been defiled with blood— Desolate and empty! Dogs howl in them. He who visits them does not recognize the vestiges of them |
يا هل رأيت الجنان زاهرة *** يروق عين البصير زاهرها! وهل رأيت القصور شارعة *** تكن مثل الدمى مقاصرها | Have you seen the gardens in flower, when their blossoms delight the eye of the beholder? Have you seen the palaces rising into view, their chambers concealing women like statues |
ما زال حوض الاملاك يحفره *** مسجورها بالهوى وساجرها تبغى فضول الدنيا مكاثرة *** حتى أبيحت كرها ذخائرها تبيع ما جمع الأبوة *** للأبناء لا أربحت متاجرها | The pool of the kings—they kept digging it, those of them who were filled with desire and those who filled them with it. They kept desiring the luxuries of this world, seeking to surpass each other, until their treasures were plundered by force. They kept selling what the fathers had gathered for the sons—may their traffickings bring no profit |
ما ضرها لو وفت بموثقها *** واستحكمت في التقى بصائرها ولم تسافك دماء شيعتها *** وتبتعث فتية تكابرها وأقنعتها الدنيا التي جمعت *** لها ورعب النفوس ضائرها | How would it have harmed them if they had fulfilled their pact, and if their zeal for righteousness had been strong; If they had not competed to shed the blood of their partisans, and sent out warriors to contend for superiority against each other; And if the goods of this world that had been gathered for them had satisfied them? But the soul's voraciousness harms the soul |
أورد أملاكنا نفوسهم *** هوة غي اعيت مصادرها | Our kings made themselves fall into a pit of perdition from which they could not emerge |
وافترقت بعد ألفة شيعا *** مقطوعه بينها اواصرها يا هل رأيت الأملاك ما صنعت *** إذ لم يرعها بالنصح زاجرها | Once there had been fellowship, but now they separated into parties, with the bonds between them severed. Have you seen the kings, what they did when no rebuker restrained them with counsel |
فلم يزل والزمان ذو غير *** يقدح في ملكها أصاغرها حتى تساقت كأسا مثملة *** من فتنة لا يقال عاثرها | But then—time is full of change— their younger successors kept injuring their kingdom, Until they gave each other an intoxicating cup to drink of strife whose destructiveness cannot be told |
اهل العلا والندى وأندية الفخر *** إذا عددت مفاخرها أفراخ نعمى في إرث مملكة *** شد عراها لها أكابرها | People of eminence and wealth, epitomes of glory, if one were to count their exploits; Fortune's favorites, in the inheritance of a kingdom whose stays were tied firmly by its elders |
من غره العيش في بلهنية *** لو أن دنيا يدوم عامرها دار ملوك رست قواعدها *** فيها وقرت بها منابرها | (They were people whom a life in pleasure and ease beguiled— if only the prosperous places of this world endured! It was the abode of kings whose foundations were anchored there, and whose pulpits were established in it |
وانفرجت بالنعيم وانتجعت *** فيها بلذاتها حواضرها فالقوم منها في روضه انف *** اشرق غب القطار زاهرها | Her residents enjoyed a life of ease; they pastured there on her pleasures. Her people were in a pleasing garden, whose flowers shone brightly after the raindrops |
جنه خلد ودار مغبطه *** قل من النائبات واترها درت خلوف الدنيا لساكنها *** وقل معسورها وعاسرها | A paradise on earth! The abode of happiness! Of distressing calamities there were few. The world's breasts yielded abundantly to her inhabitants; there were few of them who were debtors or creditors |
فقال الخريمى يذكر بغداد، ويصف ما كان فيها قالوا ولم يلعب الزمان ببغداد *** وتعثر بها عواثرها إذ هي مثل العروس باطنها *** مشوق للفتى وظاهرها | Mentioning Baghdad, and describing what took place in it, al-Khuraymi said They said, when Time had not yet made sport with Baghdad, when her misfortunes had not yet caused her to fall; When she was like a bride, whose hidden part was as enticing to the young man as her visible part |
وخرج الهرش والأفارقة، فكان طاهر يقاتلهم لا يفتر عن ذلك ولا يمله، ولا ينى فيه | Al-Hirsh and the Africans (Afdriqah) went forth; Tahir fought them without letup, without wearying, and without tiring |
Subsets and Splits