Lament for the Fall of Seville

ÑËÇÁ ÅÔÈäêÉ

ÃÈè ÇäÈâÇÁ ÇäÑæÏê

 Translated from Arabic by James T. Monroe

1 äðãïäñð ÔîêòÁí ÅÐÇ åÇ Êîåñî æïâÕîÇæï * áäÇ êïÚîÑñî Èð×êÈð ÇäÙîêÔð ÅæÓÇæï

Everything declines after reaching perfection, therefore let no man be beguiled by the sweetness of a pleasant life.

2 çêî ÇäÃïåèÑï ãåÇ ÔÇçÏòÊïçÇ Ïïèîäì * åîæ ÓîÑñîçï Òåîæì ÓÇÁÊàòçï ÃÒåÇæï

As you have observed, these are the decrees that are inconstant, he whom a single moment has made happy, has been harmed by many other moments;

As I     have observed, these are the decrees that are inconstant

I attest [witnessed] that events are in shifts [revolving] he whom a single moment has made happy, has been harmed by many other moments;

3 èîçîÐðçð ÇäÏñîÇÑï äÇ ÊïÈâðê Ùäé ÃÍÏí * èäÇ êÏïèåï Ùîäîé ÍîÇäí äîçîÇ ÔÇæï

èêÌèÒ: ’äÇÊîÈòâîé‘

Fate irrevocably destroys every ample coat of mail when  Mashrifi  swords and spears glance off without effect;

4 ïêåîÒñðâï ÇäÏçÑï ÍÊòåÇë ãäñî ÓÇÈðÚîÉí * ÅÐÇ æîÈîÊò åîÔòÑðáðêñÇÊì èÎðÑòÕÇæï

Fate irrevocably destroys every ample coat of mail when Mashrifi swords and spears glance off  without effect

5 èêïæòÊîÖîé ãäñï Óêáí äðäáîæÇÁ èäè * ãÇæ ÇÈæî êÒòæí è[ãÇæ] ÇäÚåÏî ÚïåòÏÇæï

It unsheathes each sword it it be an Ibn Dhi Yazan and the scabbard Ghumdan

Swords are unsheathed only to be destroyed even if…etc

6 Ãêæ Çäåïäïèãï Ðîèïè ÇäÊñêÌÇæð åðæ êîåîæí * èÃêæ åæçåò ÃãÇäêäì èÊêÌÇæï

Where are the crowned kings of Yemen and where are their jewel-studded diadems and crowns?

7 èÃêæ åÇ ÔÇÏçï ’ÔîÏñÇÏï‘ áê ÅÑîåí * èÃêæ åÇ ÓÇÓîçï áê ÇäáïÑòÓð ’ÓÇÓÇæï‘

Where are [the buildings] Shaddad raised in Iram and where [the empire] the Sassanians ruled in Persia?

8 èÃêæ åÇ ÍÇÒîçï ’âÇÑèæï‘ åæ ÐîçîÈí * èÃêæ ’ÙÇÏì èÔÏÇÏì èâÍ×Çæï‘

Where is the gold Qarun once possessed; where are `Ad and Shaddad and Qahtan?

9 ÃÊé Ùäé Çäãä ÃåÑì äÇ åîÑîÏñî äçï * ÍÊé âÖîèòÇ áãÃæ Çäâèåî åÇ ãÇæïèÇ

An irrevocable decree overcame them all so that they passed away and the people came to be as though they had never existed.

An irrevocable calamity befallen on them all so that they passed away as though they had never existed.

10 èÕÇÑ åÇ ãÇæ åæ åïäòãí è åæ åîäðãí * ãåÇ Íãé Ùæ ÎêÇä Çä×êá èÓòæÇæï

The kingdoms and kings that had been came to be like what a sleeper has told about [his] dream vision.

What had been kingdoms and kings came to be [became] like what a sleeper has told about [his] dream visions.

11 ÏÇÑî ÇäÒåÇæï Ùäé ’ÏÇÑÇ‘ èâÇÊðäðçð * èÃåñî ’ãðÓÑîé‘ áåÇ ÂèÇçï ÅêèÇæï

Ãåñî: âÕîÏî ÇÓÊçÏîáî» ÔÌñî

Fate turned against Darius as well as his slayer, and as for Chosroes, no vaulted palace offered him protection.

Time revolved Darius [who is literally the revolver] (down-turned him) as his slayer; and targeted Chosroes (chased him) so that no vaulted palace offered him protection.

12 ãÃæåÇ ÇäÕÙÈï äå êÓòçïäò äç ÓÈÈì * êèåÇë èäÇ åäîãî ÇäÏæêÇ ’ÓäêåÇæï‘

ÇäÓÈÈ çæÇ Çä×Ñêâï. èÇäÕÙÈï èÇäÓçä ÕáÇÊì äÊÖÇÑêÓ ÇäÃÑÖ

It is as if no cause had ever made the hard easy to bear, and as if Solomon had never ruled the world.

It is as if there were no easy ways in harsh terrains …, and Solomon had never ruled the world

13 áÌÇÆÙï ÇäÏçòÑð ÃæèÇÙì åïæîèñîÙÉì * èäðäÒåÇæ åÓîÑñÇÊì èÃÍÒÇæï

The misfortunes brought on by Fate are of many different kinds, while Time has causes of joy and of sorrow.

14 èäðäÍèÇÏË ÓïäèÇæì êïÓçñðäïçÇ * èåÇ äðåÇ Íîäñî ÈÇäÅÓäÇå ÓïäèÇæï

For the accidents [of fortune] there is a consolation that makes them easy to bear, yet there is no consolation for what has befallen Islam.

15 Ïîçîé ÇäÌÒêÑÉî ÃåÑì äÇ ÙÒÇÁ äçï * çîèîé äç ÃïÍïÏì èÇæòçîÏñî ÔçòäÇæï

An event which cannot be endured has overtaken the peninsula; one such that Uhud has collapsed because of it and Thahlan has crumbled!

16 ÃÕÇÈçÇ ÇäÙêæï áê ÇäÅÓäÇå áÇÑòÊïÒðÃÊï * ÍÊé ÎîäîÊò åæç Ãâ×ÇÑì èÈäÏÇæï

The evil eye has struck [the peninsula] in its Islam so that [the land] decreased until whole regions and districts were despoiled of [the faith]

17 áÇÓÃä (ÈäîæòÓðêñîÉë) åÇ ÔÃæï (åïÑòÓðêîÉí) * èÃêæ (ÔÇ×ðÈÉì) Ãå Ãêæ (ÌîêñÇæï)

Therefore ask Valencia what is the state of Murcia; and where is Jativa, and where is Jaén?

18 èÃêæ (âïÑò×ïÈîÉì) ÏÇÑï ÇäÙäèå áãå * åðæ ÙÇäðå âÏ ÓåÇ áêçÇ äç ÔÇæï

Where is Cordoba, the home of the sciences, and many a scholar whose rank was once lofty in it?

19 èÃêæ (ÍðåòÕì) èåÇ ÊÍèêç åæ æïÒîçí * èæçÑïçÇ ÇäÙÐòÈï áêñÇÖì èåîäÂæï

Where is Seville and the pleasures it contains, as well as its sweet river overflowing and brimming ful?

20 âèÇÙÏì ãïæñî ÃÑãÇæî ÇäÈäÇÏð, áåÇ * ÙÓé ÇäÈâÇÁï  ÅÐÇ äå ÊÈâî ÃÑãÇæï!

[They are] capitals which were the pillars of the land, yet when the pillars are gone, it may no longer endure!

21 ÊÈãê ÇäÍîæêáêÉï ÇäÈêÖÇÁï åæ ÃÓáí * ãåÇ Èãé äðáðÑÇâð ÇäÅðäòáð çîêòåÇæï

ÇäÍæêáêÉ ÇäÈêÖÇÁ êåãæ Ãæ ÊÑåÒ áê ÇäÑËÇÁ Åäé ÇäêåÇåÉ dove Ãè Åäé ÇäæÇáèÑÉ – ãåÇ áçåçÇ ÇäåÊÑÌå Åäé ÇäÅæãäêÒêÉ – Ãè Åäé ÇäåÏæ ÇäÊê ÙÏñÏçÇ ÂæðáÇë, Ãè Åäé ÌÒêÑÉ ÇäÃæÏäÓ ãäçÇ» áÇäÍæêáêÉ çê ÇäåÓäåÉ.

The tap of the white ablution fount weeps in despair, like a passionate lover weeping at the departure of the beloved,

22 Ùäé ÏêÇÑí åæ ÇäÅÓäÇåð ÎÇäêÉí * âÏ ÃâòáîÑîÊò èäçÇ ÈÇäãáÑ ÙïåÑÇæï

Over dwellings emptied of Islam that were first vacated and are now inhabited by unbelief;

23 ÍêË ÇäåÓÇÌÏï [âÏ] ÕÇÑÊ ãæÇÆÓî åÇ * áêçðæñî ÅäÇñ æèÇâêÓì èÕïäÈÇæï

In which the mosques have become churches wherein only bells and crosses may be found.

24 ÍÊé ÇäåÍÇÑêÈ ÊÈãê èçê ÌÇåÏÉì * ÍÊé ÇäåæÇÈÑï ÊÈãê èçê ÙêÏÇæï

Even the mihrabs weep though they are solid; even the pulpits mourn though they are wooden!

25 êÇÚÇáðäÇë èäîçï áê ÇäÏçòÑð åîèòÙðØÉì * Åæ ãæÊî áê ÓðæîÉí áÇäÏçÑï êâØÇæï

O you who remain heedless though you have a warning in Fate: if you are asleep, Fate is always awake!

26 èåÇÔêÇë åîÑîÍÇë êïäçêç åè×ðæïçï * ÃÈîÙòÏî (ÍðåòÕí) ÊîÚïÑñï ÇäåÑÁî Ãè×Çæï

âÇä ÊÙÇäé ’èäÇ ÊåÔð áê ÇäÃÑÖð åîÑîÍÇë‘ áê åèÖÙêæ: ÇäÅÓÑÇÁ37 èäâåÇæ18

And you who walk forth cheerfully while your homeland diverts you [from cares], can a homeland beguile any man after [the loss of] Seville?

27 Êäã ÇäåïÕêÈÉï ÃæòÓîÊò åÇÊîâîÏñîåîçÇ * èåÇäîçÇ åÙî ×ïèäð ÇäÏçÑð æðÓêÇæï

This misfortune has caused those that preceded it to be forgotten, nor can it ever be forgotten for the length of all time!

28 êÇ ÃêñçÇ Çäåäðãï ÇäÈêÖÇÁï ÑÇêîÊïçï * ÃÏòÑðãò ÈðÓêáðãî Ãçäë ÇäãïáÑð¬ äÇ ãÇæèÇ!

29 êÇÑÇãÈêæ ÙÊÇâî ÇäÎêäð ÖÇåÑÉë * ãÃæçÇ áê åÌÇä ÇäÓÈòâð ÙïâÈÇæï

you who ride lean, thoroughbred steeds which seem like eagles in the racecourse;

30 èÍÇåðäêæ Óïêèáî ÇäçæÏ åïÑçîáÉë * ãÃæçÇ áê ØäÇå ÇäæâòÙ æêÑÇæï

And you who carry slender, Indian blades which seem like fires in the darkness caused by the dust cloud [of war]

31 èîÑîÇÊðÙðêæ èÑÇÁ ÇäÈÍÑ áê ÏîÙîÉí * äîçïå ÈðÃè×Çæçå ÙðÒñì èÓä×Çæï

And you who are living in luxury beyond the sea enjoying life, you who have strength and power in your homelands,

32 ÃÙðæÏîãïå æîÈîÃì åæ Ãçäð ÃæÏäïÓí * áâÏ ÓîÑîé ÈðÍÏêËð Çäâèåð ÑïãòÈÇæï

Have you no news of the people of Andalus, for riders have carried forth what men have said [about them]?

33 ãå êÓÊÚêËï ÈæÇ ÇäåïÓÊÖÙáïèæî èçå * âîÊòäîé èÃÓòÑîé áåÇ êçÊÒñï ÅæÓÇæï

How often have the weak, who were being killed and captured while no man stirred, asked our help?

34 åÇÐÇ ÇäÊâÇ×ïÙï áê ÇäÅÓäÇåð Èêòæîãïåï * èÃæÊïåï êÇ ÙðÈÇÏî Çääçð ÅÎèÇæï

What means this severing of the bonds of Islam on your behalf, when you, 0 worshipers of God, are [our] brethren?

35 ÃäÇî æïáèÓì ÃÈðêñÇÊì äîçÇ çðåîåì¿ * ÃåîÇ Ùäé ÇäÎêÑð ÃæÕÇÑì èÃÙèÇæï¿

Are there no heroic souls with lofty ambitions; are there no helpers and defenders of righteousness?

36 êÇ åîæò äðÐðäñîÉð âèåí ÈÙÏî ÙðÒñðçðåï! * ÃÍÇäî ÍÇäîçïåï ãïáÑì è×ïÚêÇæï

0, who will redress the humiliation of a people who were once powerful, a people whose condition injustice and tyrants have changed?

37 ÈÇäÃåÓ ãÇæèÇ åïäèãÇë áê åæÇÒäðçðåò * èÇäêèòåî çïåò áê ÈäÇÏð ÇäãïáòÑð ÙïÈòÏÇæï

Yesterday they were kings in their own homes, but today they are slaves in the land of the infidel!

38 áäèò ÊîÑÇçïåò ÍîêÇÑîé äÇ Ïîäêäî äîçïåò * Ùäêçðåï åæ ËêÇÈð ÇäÐñïäñð ÃäòèÇæï

Thus, were you to see them perplexed, with no one to guide them, wearing the cloth of shame in its different shades,

39 èäè ÑÃêÊî ÈïãÇçïåò ÙæÏî ÈêÙðçðåï * äîçÇäîãî ÇäÃåÑï èÇÓòÊîçòèîÊòãî ÃÍÒÇæï

And were you to behold their weeping when they are sold, the matter would strike fear into your heart, and sorrow would seize you.

40 êÇ ÑïÈñî Ãïåñí è×ðáòäí Íðêäî ÈêæîçïåÇ * ãåÇ ÊïáîÑñîâï ÃÑèÇÍì èÃÈÏÇæï

èêÌèÒ: ãåÇ ÊîáîÑñîâî

Alas, many a mother and child have been parted as souls and bodies are separated!

41 è×ðáòäîÉí åÇ ÑîÃîÊòçÇ ÇäÔåÓï ÅÐò ÈÑÒîÊò * ãÃæñîåÇ çê êÇâèÊì èåîÑÌÇæï

And many a maiden fair as the sun when it rises, as though she were rubies and pearls,

42 êâèÏïçÇ ÇäÙðäòÌï äðäòåîãÑèçï åïãÑîçîÉë * èÇäÙêæï ÈÇãêîÉì èÇäâäÈï ÍîêòÑÇæï

Is led off to abomination by a barbarian against her will, while her eye is in tears and her heart is stunned.

42 – äåËäð çÐÇ êÐèÈï ÇäâäÈ åæ ãîåîÏí * - Åæ ãÇæ áê ÇäâäÈð ÅÓäÇåì èÅêåÇæï

The heart melts with sorrow at such [sights], if there is any Islam or belief in that heart!

 


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