فَقَالُوا:So they said:
So they said:
أَيُّهَاOالْمَلِكُKing,اتَّقِfearاللَّهَGodفِيconcerningنَفْسِكَyourselfوَفِيمَنْand concerning those whoمَعَكَ!are with you!
O King, fear God concerning yourself and concerning those who are with you!
فَقَالَ:He said:
He said:
أَتَوَكَّلُI put my trustعَلَىinاللَّهِGodالَّذِيwhoخَلَقَcreatedهَذَاthisالْبَحْرَsea,
I put my trust in God who created this sea,
وَهُوَand He,جَلَّmay He be glorifiedوَعَزَّ،and exalted,يُنْجِينَاwill save usمِنْfromدَرْدُورِهِits whirlpool,
and He, may He be glorified and exalted, will save us from its whirlpool,
وَلَاand I do notأَحْسَبُthinkأَنِّيthat Iأَمْسَحُshall traverseإِيرَانْIran-shahrشَهْرَshahrشَرْقَهُits eastوَغَرْبَهُand its west
and I do not think that I shall traverse Iran-shahr, its east and its west,
وَأَعْرِفُand knowعَدَدَthe numberجِبَالِهِof its mountainsوَأَوْدِيَتِهِand valleys
and know the number of its mountains and valleys,
إِلَّاexceptبَعْدَafterرُكُوبِridingهَذَاthisالْبَحْرِseaوَسُلُوكِهِand traveling upon itإِلَىtoالْبَرِّ.the land.
except after riding this sea and traveling upon it to the land.
فَهُيِّئَتْSo were preparedلَهُfor himالسُّفُنُthe ships,وَرَكِبَand there rodeمَعَهُwith himعِدَّةٌa numberمِنَofالنُّسَّاكِthe devotees
So the ships were prepared for him, and a number of devotees rode with him
حَتَّىuntilلَجَّجُواthey ventured deepفِيintoالْبَحْرِthe seaوَوَافَوْاand reachedذَلِكَthatالَّذِيwhichيُعْرَفُis knownبِدَهَانِas DihanشِيرَShir,
until they ventured deep into the sea and reached that which is known as Dihan Shir,
فَدَفَعُواso they driftedإِلَىintoدَرْدُورٍa terribleهَائِلٍwhirlpool,فَبَقُواand they remainedفِيهِthereinمُتَحَيِّرِينَconfused,
so they drifted into a terrible whirlpool, and they remained therein confused,
لَاnotيَرَوْنَseeingمَنَاراًa lighthouseيَجْعَلُونَهُwhich they might makeعَلَماًa landmarkلَهُمْfor them,وَلَاnorجَبَلاًa mountainيُقِيمُونَهُwhich they might establishأَمَارَةًas a signلِمُنْصَرِفِهِمْ،for their return,
seeing no lighthouse to make a landmark for them, nor any mountain to establish as a sign for their return,
فَرَجَعُواso they turnedعَلَىuponالْمَلِكِthe kingبِاللَّوْمِwith blameوَالْعَيْبِ.and reproach.
so they turned upon the king with blame and reproach.
فَقَالَ:He said:أَخْلِصُوا"Sincereنِيَّاتِكُمْmake your intentionsلِلَّهِfor God,جَلَّmay He be exaltedوَعَزَّ،and glorified,وَتَضَرَّعُواand imploreإِلَيْهِ،Him."
He said: "Make your intentions sincere for God, may He be exalted and glorified, and implore Him,"
فَفَعَلُوا،so they did,وَنَذَرَand Anushirwan vowedأُنُوشِرْوَانُAnushirwanإِنْthat ifنَجَّاهُHe saved himاللَّهُGod,جَلَّmay His mentionذِكْرُهُ،be exalted,لِيَصُدِّقَنَّhe would surely give in charityبِخَرَاجِthe taxسَبْعِof sevenسِنِينَ.years.
so they did, and Anushirwan vowed that if God, may His mention be exalted, saved him, he would surely give in charity the tax of seven years.
قَالَ:He said:فَرَفَعَتْThen there loomedلَهُfor himجَزِيرَةٌan islandتَعْلُوهَاsurmounted byالْأَمْوَاجُthe waves,
He said: Then there loomed for him an island surmounted by the waves,
وَفَوْقَand uponالْجَزِيرَةِthe islandأَسَدٌwas a lionفِيinعِظَمِthe size ofجَبَلٍa mountain,يَتَشَرَّبُabsorbingالْمَاءَthe waterمُؤَخَّرُهُat its rearوَيَنْحَطُّand pouringمِنْfromفِيهِits mouthإِلَىintoذَلِكَthatالدَّرْدُورِ،whirlpool.
and upon the island was a lion in the size of a mountain, its rear absorbing the water and pouring from its mouth into that whirlpool.
فَبَيْنَاWhileهُمْtheyكَذَلِكَwere thus,إِذْwhenبَعَثَsentاللَّهُGod,جَلَّmay His majestyجَلَالُهُ،be glorified,سَمَكَةًa hugeعَظِيمَةًfish,
While they were thus, when God, may His majesty be glorified, sent a huge fish,
فَطَفَرَتْso it leapedحَتَّىuntilصَارَتْit landedفِيinفِيthe mouthالْأَسَدِ،of the lion.
so it leaped until it landed in the mouth of the lion.
فَسَكَنَThen calmedالدَّرْدُورُthe whirlpoolوَنَفَذَتِand proceededالسَّفِينَةُthe shipحَتَّىuntilوَصَلَhe reachedإِلَىwhatمَاhe desired,أَرَادَhe wanted,ثُمَّthenانْصَرَفَhe returnedإِلَىtoدَارِthe seatمَمْلَكَتِهِ.of his kingdom.
Then the whirlpool calmed and the ship proceeded until he reached what he wanted, then he returned to the seat of his kingdom.
حَمَّادٌHammadقَالَ:said:حَدَّثَنِي"Related to meأَبِيmy father,قَالَ:who said:قَالَ"SaidالْأَعْشَىAl-A'shaفِيinمَدْحِهِpraise ofإِيَاسِIyasبْنِson ofقَبِيصَةَQabisa
Hammad said: My father related to me, saying: Al-A'sha said in praise of Iyas bin Qabisa
وَذِكْرِهِand mentioningمَسِيرَهُhis journeyإِلَىtoالرُّومِthe Byzantinesحَيْثُwhereلَقِيَهُmet himكِسْرَىChosroesأَبْرَوِيزَAparwezبِسَاتِيدْمَا،at Satidma,
and mentioning his journey to the Byzantines where Chosroes Aparwez met him at Satidma,
وَهُوَand it isجَبَلٌa mountainيَزْعُمُwhich claimأَهْلُthe peopleالْعِلْمِof knowledgeأَنَّهُthat it isدُونَbeneathالْجِبَالِthe mountainsوَأَنَّهُand thatلَاnotبُدَّcan it be avoidedمِنْthatأَنْtoيُرَاقَbe shedعَلَيْهِupon itدَمُbloodكُلِّeveryيَوْمٍ.day.
and it is a mountain which the people of knowledge claim is beneath the mountains and that blood must inevitably be shed upon it every day.
قَالَSaidالْوَاقِدِيُّ:Al-Waqidi:بَلْ"Nay,هُوَitمُحِيطٌsurroundsبِالدُّنْيَا،the world,"
Al-Waqidi said: "Nay, it surrounds the world,"
وَزَعَمُواand they claimedأَنَّهُthatلَيْسَthere is notفِيinالْأَرْضِthe earthيَوْمٌa dayإِلَّاexcept thatوَيُسْفَكُis shedعَلَيْهِupon itدَمٌ،blood.
and they claimed that there is not a day on earth except that blood is shed upon it,
وَإِنَّمَاand indeedسُمِّيَit was namedسَاتِيدْمَاSatidmaمَعْنَاهُmeaningسَيَأْتِيit will bringدَمَاً،blood.
and indeed it was named Satidma, meaning it will bring blood.
فَكَانَNow, the storyمِنْofخَبَرِthe affair ofإِيَاسِIyasبْنِson ofقَبِيصَةَQabisaأَنَّwas thatكِسْرَىChosroesأَبْرَوِيزَAparwezكَانَwasرَجُلاًa manسَيِّءَevil ofالظَّنِّsuspicion
Now, the story of the affair of Iyas son of Qabisa was that Chosroes Aparwez was a man of evil suspicion
وَأَنَّهُand thatبَعَثَhe sentشَهْرَبْرَازَShahrbarazإِلَىtoالرُّومِthe Byzantinesفِيinجَيْشٍan armyعَظِيمٍimmense,
and that he sent Shahrbaraz to the Byzantines in an immense army,
فَأُعْطِيَso he was givenمِنَofالظَّفَرِvictoryمَاwhatلَمْwas notيُعْطَgivenأَحَدٌanyoneكَانَwho wasقَبْلَهُ،before him.
so he was given of victory what was not given anyone who was before him.
وَهُوَAnd heالَّذِيis the one whoأَصَابَcapturedخَزَائِنَthe treasuriesالْمَلِكِof the kingالَّتِيwhichكَانَتْwereتُسَمَّىcalledكَنْجْKanjبَادَآوَرْدَ،Badaward,
And he is the one who captured the treasuries of the king which were called Kanj Badaward,
أَيْthat isالْكَنْزَthe treasureالَّذِيwhichجَاءَتْcameمِنْهُwith itبِهِtheالرِّيحُ،wind.
that is, the treasure which the wind brought with it,
وَكَانُواAnd theyحَمَلُوهَاhad carried itلِيُحْرِزُوهَا،to secure it,فَضَرَبَتْهَاso struck itالرِّيحُthe windفِيinالْجُزُرِthe islandsمِنْofخَلِيجِthe gulfالْبَحْرِof the seaفَأَخَذَهَاso he took it
And they had carried it to secure it, so the wind struck it in the islands of the gulf of the sea, and he took it
وَبَعَثَand sentبِهَاitإِلَىtoكِسْرَى،Chosroes.
and sent it to Chosroes.
فَحَسَدَهُSo envied himكِسْرَىChosroesوَحَذِرَهُand feared himوَبَعَثَand sentإِلَيْهِto himبِرَجُلٍwith a manتَقَدَّمَwhom he instructedإِلَيْهِconcerningفِيhisقَتْلِهِ،murder.
So Chosroes envied him and feared him, and sent to him with a man whom he instructed to murder him.
وَكَانَAnd the oneالَّذِيwhoأَتَاهُcame to himرَجُلاًwas a manمِنْfromأَهْلِthe peopleأَذْرَبِيجَانَ،of Azerbaijan.
And the one who came to him was a man from the people of Azerbaijan.
فَلَمَّاWhenرَأَىhe sawجَمَالَهُhis beautyوَهَيْئَتَهُand his demeanorقَالَ:he said:
When he saw his beauty and his demeanor, he said:
لَاIt is notيَصْلُحُproperقَتْلُto killهَذَاthis manفِيwithoutغَيْرِother thanجُرْمٍcrimeوَلَاorحَقٍّ،right.
It is not proper to kill this man without crime or right.
فَأَخْبَرَهُSo he informed himبِمَاof whatأَمَرَهُhe had been orderedبِهِ،to do.
So he informed him of what he had been ordered to do.
فَأَرْسَلَSo sentشَهْرَبْرَازُShahrbarazإِلَىtoقَيْصَرَ:Caesar:إِنِّي"Verily, Iأُرِيدُwantأَنْtoأَلْقَاكَ.meet you."
So Shahrbaraz sent to Caesar: "Verily, I want to meet you."
فَالْتَقَيَا،So they met,فَقَالَand saidلَهُ:to him:إِنَّ"Verily,هَذَاthisالْخَبِيثَwicked oneقَدْhasأَرَادَwantedقَتْلِيto kill me,
So they met, and he said to him: "Verily, this wicked one has wanted to kill me,
وَإِنِّيand I,وَاللَّهِ،by God,لَأُرِيدَنَّcertainly wantمِنْهُfrom himمِثْلَthe like ofالَّذِيwhatأَرَادَhe wantedمِنِّي،from me.
and I, by God, certainly want to do to him the like of what he wanted to do to me.
فَاجْعَلْSo grantلِيmeمَاwhatأَطْمَئِنُّI may find restإِلَيْهِinوَأُعْطِيكَand I will give youمِثْلَthe like ofذَلِكَ،that.
So grant me what I may find rest in, and I will give you the like of that.
وَلَئِنْAnd ifقَتَلْتَهُyou kill himلَتَجْعَلَنَّyou will surely grantلِيmeمَاwhatأَغْلِبُI conquerعَلَيْهِoverمِنَofالْكُوَرِthe provinces,
And if you kill him, you will surely grant me whatever provinces I conquer,
وَأَجْعَلُand I pledgeلَكَto youأَنْthatلَاI will notأَغْزُوكَraid youأَبَداًeverوَلَاand I will notأَتَنَاوَلُtouchشَيْئاًanythingمِنْofأَرْضِكَyour land
and I pledge to you that I will never raid you and will not touch anything of your land
وَأَنْand thatأُعْطِيَكَI will give youمِنْfromبُيُوتِthe treasuriesأَمْوَالِof wealth ofكِسْرَىChosroesمِثْلَthe like ofمَاwhatتُنْفِقُyou spendفِيinمَسِيرِكَthis journeyهَذَا،of yours."
and that I will give you from the wealth treasuries of Chosroes the like of what you spend in this journey of yours."
فَأَعْطَاهُSo he gave himقَيْصَرُCaesarمَاwhatسَأَلَ،he asked,وَسَارَand marchedقَيْصَرُCaesarفِيinأَرْبَعِينَfortyأَلْفَthousandمُقَاتِلٍfighters
So Caesar gave him what he asked, and Caesar marched in forty thousand fighters
وَخَلَّفَand left behindشَهْرَبْرَازَShahrbarazفِيinأَرْضِthe landالرُّومِof the Byzantinesوَقَدْhavingأَخَذَtakenمِنْهُfrom himالْعُهُودَcovenantsوَالْمَوَاثِيقَ،and treaties.
and left Shahrbaraz behind in the land of the Byzantines, having taken covenants and treaties from him.
وَلَمْAnd did notيَعْلَمْknowكِسْرَىChosroesبِذَلِكَabout thatحَتَّىuntilدَنَاdrew nearمِنْهُto himقَيْصَرُ.Caesar.
And Chosroes did not know about that until Caesar drew near to him.
فَلَمَّاWhenبَلَغَهُthat reached himذَلِكَhe knewعَلِمَthatأَنَّShahrbarazشَهْرَبْرَازَknewعَلِمَaboutبِمَاwhatكَانَhe hadدَبَّرَهُplottedمِنْofقَتْلِهِ،killing him.
When that reached him, he knew that Shahrbaraz knew about what he had plotted of killing him.
وَكَانَتْAnd hisجُنُودُهُtroopsقَدْhadتَفَرَّقَتْscatteredفِيinالسَّوَادِAl-Sawadوَغَيْرِهَا،and elsewhere.
And his troops had scattered in Al-Sawad and elsewhere.
وَكَانَAnd Chosroesكِسْرَىhad beenقَدْhated byأَبْغَضَهُthe peopleأَهْلُof his kingdomمَمْلَكَتِهِand they grewوَمَلُّوهُweary of himوَعَرَفَand he knewحَالََهُhis stateعِنْدَamongالنَّاسِ،the people.
And Chosroes had been hated by the people of his kingdom and they grew weary of him, and he knew his state among the people.
فَاحْتَالَSo he resortedبِحِيَلِto the rusesالرِّجَالِof menوَاسْتَعْمَلَand employedالْمَكْرَcraftinessوَالدَّهَاءَand cunning.
So he resorted to the ruses of men and employed craftiness and cunning.
فَبَعَثَSo he sentإِلَىtoقِسٍّa greatعَظِيمٍpriestمِنَofالنَّصَارَىthe Christiansيَثِقُwhom trustedمَلِكُthe kingالرُّومِof the Byzantinesبِقَوْلِهِin his word
So he sent to a great priest of the Christians whom the king of the Byzantines trusted in his word,
فَقَالَ:and said:إِنِّي"Verily, Iأَكْتُبُwill writeمَعَكَwith youكِتَاباًa letterلَطِيفاًsubtleفِيonحَرِيرٍsilkوَأَجْعَلُهُand I will place itفِيinsideقَنَاةٍa reedإِلَىtoشَهْرَبْرَازَShahrbaraz
and said: "Verily, I will write with you a subtle letter on silk and I will place it inside a reed to Shahrbaraz,
وَجَائِزَتُكَand your rewardعَلَيَّupon meأَلْفُis a thousandدِينَارٍ.dinars."
and your reward upon me is a thousand dinars."
وَقَدْAndعَرَفَknewكِسْرَىChosroesأَنَّthatالْقِسَّthe priestيَذْهَبُwould goبِالْكِتَابِwith the letterإِلَىtoمَلِكِthe kingالرُّومِ،of the Byzantines.
And Chosroes knew that the priest would go with the letter to the king of the Byzantines.
فَكَتَبَSo he wroteإِلَىtoشَهْرَبْرَازَ:Shahrbaraz:إِنِّي"Verily, Iكَتَبْتُhave writtenإِلَيْكَto youوَقَدْwhileدَنَاhas drawn nearقَيْصَرُCaesarمِنِّيto me,
So he wrote to Shahrbaraz: "Verily, I have written to you while Caesar has drawn near to me,
وَقَدْand hasأَحْسَنَfavoredاللَّهُGodجَلَّmay He be exaltedوَعَزَّand glorifiedإِلَيَّmeبِصَنِيعِكَthrough your deedوَنُفُوذِand executionتَدْبِيرِكَ،of your plan.
and God, may He be exalted and glorified, has favored me through your deed and execution of your plan.
وَقَدْAndفَرَّقْتُI have scatteredلَهُمُfor themالْجُيُوشَthe armies,وَأَنَاand Iتَارِكُهُam leaving himحَتَّىuntilيَدْنُوَhe draws nearمِنِّيto meوَأَثِبَand I pounceعَلَيْهِupon himوَثْبَةًwith a pounceأَسْتَأْصِلُthat eradicatesشَأْفَتَهُhis rootبِهَا،thereby.
And I have scattered the armies for them, and I am leaving him until he draws near to me and I pounce upon him with a pounce that eradicates his root thereby.
وَإِذَاAnd whenكَانَit isذَلِكَthatالْيَوْمُdayوَهُوَand it isيَوْمُthe day ofكَذَاsuchوَكَذَا،and such,فَأَغِرْthen raidأَنْتَyouعَلَيَّfromمِنْyourقِبَلِكَsideمِنْهُمْagainst them
And when it is that day, which is the day of such and such, then raid you from your side against them
فَإِنَّكَfor verily youتُبِيدُهُمْwill annihilate themوَتُهْلِكُهُمْ،and destroy them.
for verily you will annihilate them and destroy them.
وَأَرْجُوAnd I hopeأَنْtoتَكُونَbeلِمُلْكِfor the kingdom ofقَيْصَرَCaesarمُصْطَلِماً."an exterminator."
And I hope to be an exterminator for the kingdom of Caesar."
فَخَرَجَSo went forthالْقِسُّthe priestبِالْكِتَابِwith the letterحَتَّىuntilلَقِيَhe metقَيْصَرَ،Caesar.
So the priest went forth with the letter until he met Caesar.
وَقَدْAndكَانَتْthere had beenصُوِّرَتْdepictedلِقَيْصَرَfor Caesarأَرْضُthe land ofالْعَرَبِthe Arabsوَالْعِرَاقِand Iraq,
And the land of the Arabs and Iraq had been depicted for Caesar,
وَصُوِّرَتْand depictedلَهُfor himالنَّهْرَوَانُwas the Nahrawanبِغَيْرِother thanحِينِthe time ofالْمَدِّ.the flood.
and the Nahrawan was depicted for him other than at the time of the flood.
فَلَمَّاWhenانْتَهَىhe reachedإِلَيْهِitفِيatالْمَدِّthe time of floodوَلَيْسَwhile there wasعَلَيْهِupon itجِسْرٌno bridge,
When he reached it at the time of flood while there was no bridge upon it,
وَقَرَأَand he readالْكِتَابَthe letterمِنْfromيَدِthe hand ofالْقِسِّthe priest,
and he read the letter from the hand of the priest,
وَقَالَ:and said:هَذَا"Thisهُوَisالْحَقُّ،the truth,"
and said: "This is the truth,"
وَرَجَعَand he returnedمُنْهَزِماًdefeatedمَفْلُولاًand routed,
and he returned defeated and routed,
وَاتَّبَعَهُand pursued himكِسْرَىChosroesبِإِيَاسِwith Iyasبْنِson ofقَبِيصَةَQabisaالطَّائِيِّthe Tai'ite.
and Chosroes pursued him with Iyas son of Qabisa the Tai'ite.
فَأَدْرَكَهُمْSo they overtook themبِسَاتِيدْمَاat Satidmaمَرْعُوبِينَterrifiedمَفْلُولِينَand routedمِنْwithoutغَيْرِanyلِقَاءٍencounterوَلَاorقِتَالٍ،combat.
So they overtook them at Satidma terrified and routed without any encounter or combat.
فَقُتِلُواSo they were killedقَتْلَlike the killingالْكِلَابِof dogs,وَنَجَاand escapedقَيْصَرُCaesarفِيamongخَوَاصٍّa select fewمِنْofأَصْحَابِهِ،his companions.
So they were killed like the killing of dogs, and Caesar escaped among a select few of his companions.
فَمَدَحَSo praisedالْأَعْشَىAl-A'shaإِيَاسَIyasبْنَson ofقَبِيصَةَQabisaوَكَانَwhileقَدْhe hadأَصَابَهُbeen struck byمَرَضٌan illnessفَقَالَ:and said:
So Al-A'sha praised Iyas son of Qabisa while he had been struck by an illness and said:
مَاWhatتُعِيفُdo you augurالْيَوْمَtodayفِيfromالطَّيْرِthe birdsالرَّوَحِflying home
What do you augur today from the birds flying home
مِنْofغُرَابِthe ravenالْبَيْنِof partingأَوْorتَيْسِthe wild buckبَرْحِfleeing to the right
of the raven of parting or the wild buck fleeing to the right
جَالِساًSittingفِيamongنَفَرٍa companyقَدْwho haveأَيْسُواdespaired
Sitting among a company who have despaired
فِيinمَقِيلِthe resting placeالْقِدِّof the leather-thong makerمِنْfromصَحْبِthe companions ofقَزَحِQazah
in the resting place of the leather-thong maker from the companions of Qazah