إِلىuntil مَwhat point اِنتِظاريmy waiting أَنجُمَthe stars النَحسِof ill fortune وَالسَعدِand good fortune
إِلى مَ اِنتِظاري أَنجُمَ النَحسِ وَالسَعدِ
وَحَتّامَand until when صَمتيmy silence لاnot أُعيدُI repeat وَلاand not أُبديI begin
وَحَتّامَ صَمتي لا أُعيدُ وَلا أُبدي
How long shall I wait upon the stars of ill luck and good fortune?
And how long shall I keep silent, neither repeating a word nor beginning one?
لَقَدindeed مَلَّgrew weary جَنبيmy side مَضجَعيmy bed مِنfrom إِقامَتيmy staying
لَقَد مَلَّ جَنبي مَضجَعي مِن إِقامَتي
وَمَلَّand grew weary حُساميmy sword مِنof مُجاوَرَةِnearness to الغِمدِthe sheath
وَمَلَّ حُسامي مِن مُجاوَرَةِ الغِمدِ
My side has grown weary of my bed from my lingering,
and my sword has wearied of the sheath's company.
وَلَجَّand persisted نَجيبيmy noble riding camel فيin الحَنينِyearning تَشَوُّقاًlongingly
وَلَجَّ نَجيبي في الحَنينِ تَشَوُّقاً
إِلىfor الرَحلِthe saddle وَالأَنساعِand the girths وَالبِيدِand the deserts وَالوَخدِand swift pacing
إِلى الرَحلِ وَالأَنساعِ وَالبِيدِ وَالوَخدِ
My noble riding camel persists in yearning, longing
for the saddle, the girths, the deserts, and the swift pace.
وَأَقبلَand approached بِالتِصهالِwith neighing مُهريmy colt يَقولُsaying لِيto me
وَأَقبلَ بِالتِصهالِ مُهري يَقولُ لِي
أَأَبقىshall I remain كَذاlike this لاnot فيin طِرادٍcombat وَلاnor طَردِthe chase
أَأَبقى كَذا لا في طِرادٍ وَلا طَردِ
My colt approaches, neighing, saying to me:
Shall I remain like this, neither in combat nor in the chase?
لَقدindeed طالَhas lasted long إِغضائيmy closing جُفونيmy eyelids عَلىupon القَذىgrit
لَقد طالَ إِغضائي جُفوني عَلى القَذى
وَطالَand has lasted long اِمتِرائيmy extracting الدُرَّpearls مِنfrom بُحُرٍseas جُدِّbarren
وَطالَ اِمتِرائي الدُرَّ مِن بُحُرٍ جُدِّ
Long have I closed my eyelids upon grit,
and long have I sought pearls from barren seas.
عذولَيَّmy two reprovers جُوزاyou two, pass on بيpast me فَلَيسَfor it is not عَلَيكُماupon you two
عذولَيَّ جُوزا بي فَلَيسَ عَلَيكُما
غَوايَmy straying الَّذيin which أَغوىI stray وَلاnor لَكُماfor you two رُشديmy right guidance
غَوايَ الَّذي أَغوى وَلا لَكُما رُشدي
My two reprovers, leave me be: you bear no burden
for the error in which I stray, nor is my right guidance yours.
أَجِدَّكُماtruly, you two لاnot أَبرَحُI cease الدَهرَforever تابِعاًa follower
أَجِدَّكُما لا أَبرَحُ الدَهرَ تابِعاً
وَعِنديand I possess مِنof العَزمِresolve الهُمامِيِّheroic ماwhat عِنديI possess
وَعِندي مِن العَزمِ الهُمامِيِّ ما عِندي
In all seriousness, must I remain forever a follower,
when I possess the heroic resolve I possess?
أَمِثليَis one like me مَنsomeone who يُعطيsurrenders مَقاليدَthe keys أَمرِهِto his affairs
أَمِثليَ مَن يُعطي مَقاليدَ أَمرِهِ
وَيَرضىand accepts بِأَنthat يُجدىbounty be bestowed عَلَيهِupon him وَلاand not يُجديhe bestows bounty
وَيَرضى بِأَن يُجدى عَلَيهِ وَلا يُجدي
Is a man like me one to surrender the keys to his affairs,
and consent to receive bounty while giving none?
إِذاthen لَمdid not تَلِدنيbear me حاصِنٌa chaste woman وائِليَّةٌof Wa'il
إِذا لَم تَلِدني حاصِنٌ وائِليَّةٌ
مُقابَلَةُnoble on both sides الآباءِin ancestry مُنجِبَةُbearing noble offspring الوُلدِthe children
مُقابَلَةُ الآباءِ مُنجِبَةُ الوُلدِ
Then no chaste Wa'ilite woman bore me—
noble in ancestry on both sides, bearing noble offspring,
خُؤولَتُهاher maternal kin لِلحَوفَزانِbelong to al-Hawfazan وَتَنتَميand she descends
خُؤولَتُها لِلحَوفَزانِ وَتَنتَمي
إِلىto المَلِكِthe king الوَهّابِthe bountiful مَسلَمَةَMaslama الجَعدِthe curly-haired
إِلى المَلِكِ الوَهّابِ مَسلَمَةَ الجَعدِ
whose maternal kin are al-Hawfazan's, and whose lineage reaches
to the bountiful king, Maslama the curly-haired.
يَظُنُّthinks نُحوليmy wasting ذوone possessing السَّفاهَةِfoolishness وَالغَباand ignorance
يَظُنُّ نُحولي ذو السَّفاهَةِ وَالغَبا
غَراماًpassion بِهِندٍfor Hind وَاِشتِياقاًand longing إِلىfor دَعدِDa'd
غَراماً بِهِندٍ وَاِشتِياقاً إِلى دَعدِ
The foolish, ignorant man thinks my wasting
is passion for Hind and longing for Da'd.
وَلَمand did not يَدرِknow أَنّيthat I ماجِدٌa noble man شَفَّwore thin جِسمهُhis body
وَلَم يَدرِ أَنّي ماجِدٌ شَفَّ جِسمهُ
لِقاءُencountering هُمومٍcares خَيلُهاtheir horses أَبَداًalways تُرديgallop
لِقاءُ هُمومٍ خَيلُها أَبَداً تُردي
He does not know that I am a noble man whose body is worn thin
by confronting cares whose horses gallop ceaselessly.
قَليلُlittle الكَرىsleep ماضٍpressing onward عَلىthrough الهَولِterror مُقدِمٌventuring
قَليلُ الكَرى ماضٍ عَلى الهَولِ مُقدِمٌ
عَلىinto اللَّيلِthe night وَالبَيداءِand the wilderness وَالحَرِّand heat وَالبَردِand cold
عَلى اللَّيلِ وَالبَيداءِ وَالحَرِّ وَالبَردِ
Sleeping little, I press through terror and venture
into night and wilderness, heat and cold.
عَدِمتُmay I lose فُؤاداًa heart لاnot يَبيتُspends the night وَهمُّهُwith its concern
عَدِمتُ فُؤاداً لا يَبيتُ وَهمُّهُ
كِرامُnoble المَساعيendeavors وَاِرتِقاءٌand ascent إِلىto المَجدِglory
كِرامُ المَساعي وَاِرتِقاءٌ إِلى المَجدِ
May I lose any heart whose nightly concern is not
noble endeavors and ascent to glory.
لعَمريby my life ماnot دَعدٌDa'd بِهَمّيmy concern وَإِنeven if دَنَتshe draws near
لعَمري ما دَعدٌ بِهَمّي وَإِن دَنَت
وَلاand not لِيfor me بِهِندٍfor Hind مِنany غَرامٍpassion وَلاnor وَجدِlove's anguish
وَلا لِي بِهِندٍ مِن غَرامٍ وَلا وَجدِ
By my life, Da'd is no concern of mine, even if she draws near,
and I have neither passion for Hind nor love's anguish.
وَلَكِنَّbut وَجديmy passion بِالعُلاfor high renown وَصَبابتيand my yearning
وَلَكِنَّ وَجدي بِالعُلا وَصَبابتي
لعارِفَةٍfor a kindness أسديI bestow وَمَكرُمَةٍand a noble gift أجديI grant
لعارِفَةٍ أسدي وَمَكرُمَةٍ أجدي
But my passion is for high renown, and my yearning
for a kindness I bestow and a noble gift I grant.
إِلىuntil كَمhow long تَقاضانيdemands from me العُلاhigh renown ماwhat وَعَدتُهاI promised it
إِلى كَم تَقاضاني العُلا ما وَعَدتُها
وَغَيرُand not رِضاًsatisfactory إِنجازُكَyour fulfilling الوَعدَthe promise بِالوَعدِwith a promise
وَغَيرُ رِضاً إِنجازُكَ الوَعدَ بِالوَعدِ
How long shall high renown demand what I promised it?
And fulfilling a promise with another promise gives no satisfaction.
وَكَمand how often أَندُبُI summon المَوتىthe dead وَأَستَرشِحُand seek moisture from الصَّفاhard rock
وَكَم أَندُبُ المَوتى وَأَستَرشِحُ الصَّفا
وَأَستَنهِضُand rouse الزَمنىthe infirm وَأَعتانُand seek sight بِالرُمدِthrough the sore-eyed
وَأَستَنهِضُ الزَمنى وَأَعتانُ بِالرُمدِ
How often do I summon the dead and seek moisture from rock,
rouse the infirm and take the sore-eyed for my eyes,
وَأَمنَحُand grant سَعييmy striving وَالمَوَدَّةَand affection مَعشَراًa people
وَأَمنَحُ سَعيي وَالمَوَدَّةَ مَعشَراً
أَحَقُّmore deserving بِمَقتٍof loathing مِنthan سُواعٍSuwa' وَمنand than ودِّWadd
أَحَقُّ بِمَقتٍ مِن سُواعٍ وَمن ودِّ
and give my striving and affection to a people
more deserving of loathing than Suwa' and Wadd?
إِلىto اللَّهِGod أَشكوI complain of عَثرَةًa misstep لَوif تُدُورِكَتit were remedied
إِلى اللَّهِ أَشكو عَثرَةً لَو تُدُورِكَت
بِتَمزيقِby tearing جِلديmy skin ماnot أَسِفتُI would grieve عَلىfor جِلديmy skin
بِتَمزيقِ جِلدي ما أَسِفتُ عَلى جِلدي
To God I lament a misstep which, could it be undone
by tearing my skin, would leave me grieving not for my skin:
مَديحيmy praising رِجالاًmen بَعضهُمsome of them أَتَّقيI guard against بِهِthrough it
مَديحي رِجالاً بَعضهُم أَتَّقي بِهِ
أَذاهُhis harm وَبَعضاًand some لِلمُراعاةِout of consideration وَالوُدِّand affection
أَذاهُ وَبَعضاً لِلمُراعاةِ وَالوُدِّ
my praising men—some to ward off through it
their harm, and others out of regard and affection.
فَلاyet neither الوُدُّaffection كافيsufficed for ذاthis one وَلاnor ذاthis one كَفىwithheld الأَذىharm
فَلا الوُدُّ كافي ذا وَلا ذا كَفى الأَذى
وَلاand not نَظَرواthey considered فيin بابِthe matter of ذَمٍّblame وَلاnor حَمدِpraise
وَلا نَظَروا في بابِ ذَمٍّ وَلا حَمدِ
Yet affection did not suffice for one, nor did the other withhold harm,
nor did they heed either blame or praise.
فَكَيفَthen how بِهِمwith them لَوif جِئتُهُمI came to them مُتَشَكّياًcomplaining
فَكَيفَ بِهِم لَو جِئتُهُم مُتَشَكّياً
خَصاصَةَthe poverty أَيّاميof my days وَسمتُهُمُand asked them for رِفديsupport for me
خَصاصَةَ أَيّامي وَسمتُهُمُ رِفدي
How would they act if I came to them complaining
of the poverty of my days and asked them to support me?
فَكُنتُso I was وَإِهدائيwhile my offering المَديحَpraise إِلَيهِمُto them
فَكُنتُ وَإِهدائي المَديحَ إِلَيهِمُ
كَغابِطِlike one envying أَذنابِthe tails المُهَلَّبَةِof shorn-tailed beasts العُقدِthe knotted
كَغابِطِ أَذنابِ المُهَلَّبَةِ العُقدِ
Thus I, in offering them my praise,
was like one envying the knotted tails of shorn-tailed beasts.
وَقائِلَةٍand a woman saying هَوِّنmake light عَلَيكَfor yourself فَإِنَّهاfor it is
وَقائِلَةٍ هَوِّن عَلَيكَ فَإِنَّها
متاعٌenjoyment قَليلٌlittle وَالسَلامَةُand safety فيin الزُهدِrenunciation
متاعٌ قَليلٌ وَالسَلامَةُ في الزُهدِ
And a woman says: Take it lightly, for it is
a little enjoyment, and safety lies in renunciation.
فَإِنand if عَلَتِrose above الرُوسَthe heads الذُنابىthe tail لِسَكرَةٍfrom a drunken fit
فَإِن عَلَتِ الرُوسَ الذُنابى لِسَكرَةٍ
مِنَof الدَهرِtime فَاِصبِرthen be patient فَهوَfor it is سُكرٌdrunkenness إِلىup to حَدِّa limit
مِنَ الدَهرِ فَاِصبِر فَهوَ سُكرٌ إِلى حَدِّ
If the tail rises above the heads in a drunken fit
of time, be patient: its drunkenness has a limit.
فَقَدfor indeed تَملِكُmay reign الأُنثىthe female وَقَدand indeed يلثمُmay be kissed الحَصىthe pebbles
فَقَد تَملِكُ الأُنثى وَقَد يلثمُ الحَصى
وَيُتَّبَعُand is followed الأَغوىthe most misguided وَيُسجَدand prostration is made لِلقِردِto the monkey
وَيُتَّبَعُ الأَغوى وَيُسجَد لِلقِردِ
For a female may reign, and pebbles may be kissed,
the most misguided followed, and a monkey prostrated to.
وَيَعلوand rises عَلىover البَحرِthe sea الغُثاءُthe scum وَيَلتَقيand gather
وَيَعلو عَلى البَحرِ الغُثاءُ وَيَلتَقي
عَلىover الدُرِّthe pearls أَمواجٌwaves تَزيدُexceed عَلىbeyond العَدِّcounting
عَلى الدُرِّ أَمواجٌ تَزيدُ عَلى العَدِّ
Scum rises over the sea, while there gather
over the pearls waves beyond counting.
وَكَمand how many سَيِّدٍa lord أَمسىhas come to يُكَفِّرُbow low طاعَةًin obedience
وَكَم سَيِّدٍ أَمسى يُكَفِّرُ طاعَةً
لِأَسوَدَto a black man لاnot يُرجىis hoped from لِشُكمٍfor recompense وَلاnor شُكدِgifts
لِأَسوَدَ لا يُرجى لِشُكمٍ وَلا شُكدِ
How many a lord has come to bow in obedience
to a black man from whom neither recompense nor gifts are hoped!
وَلاand there is no بُدَّescape هَذاthis الدَهرage مِنfrom صَحوِsobriety ساعَةٍfor an hour
وَلا بُدَّ هَذا الدَهر مِن صَحوِ ساعَةٍ
يَبينُbecomes distinct لَناfor us فيهاduring it الضَلالُerror مِنfrom القَصدِthe right course
يَبينُ لَنا فيها الضَلالُ مِن القَصدِ
Yet this age must have an hour of sobriety
in which error becomes distinct from the right course.
فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her عَنّيaway from me إِلَيكِbe off فَقَلَّماfor scarcely
فَقُلتُ لَها عَنّي إِلَيكِ فَقَلَّما
يَعيشُlives الفَتىthe young man حَتّىuntil يُوَسَّدَis pillowed فيin اللَحدِthe grave-niche
يَعيشُ الفَتى حَتّى يُوَسَّدَ في اللَحدِ
I told her: Away from me! For all too briefly
does a man live before he is pillowed in the grave.
أَبىforbade اللَّهُGod ليfor me وَالسُؤدَدانِand twofold nobility بِأَنthat أُرىI be seen
أَبى اللَّهُ لي وَالسُؤدَدانِ بِأَن أُرى
بِأَرضٍin a land بِهاin which تَعدوattack الكِلابُthe dogs عَلىagainst الأُسدِthe lions
بِأَرضٍ بِها تَعدو الكِلابُ عَلى الأُسدِ
God and my twofold nobility forbid that I be seen
in a land where dogs attack lions.
أَلَمhave you not تَعلَميknown أَنَّthat العُتوَّdefiance نَباهَةٌdistinction
أَلَم تَعلَمي أَنَّ العُتوَّ نَباهَةٌ
وَأَنَّand that الرِّضاacceptance بِالذُلِّof humiliation مِنof شِيمَةِthe habit الوَغدِof the base man
وَأَنَّ الرِّضا بِالذُلِّ مِن شِيمَةِ الوَغدِ
Do you not know that defiance is distinction,
and accepting humiliation is the base man's habit,
وَأَنَّand that مُداراةَappeasing العَدُوِّthe enemy مَهانَةٌabasement
وَأَنَّ مُداراةَ العَدُوِّ مَهانَةٌ
إِذاwhen لَمnot يَكُنthere is مِنfrom سَكرَةِthe stupor المَوتِof death مِنany بُدِّescape
إِذا لَم يَكُن مِن سَكرَةِ المَوتِ مِن بُدِّ
and appeasing an enemy is abasement,
when there is no escape from death's stupor?
أَأَرضىshall I accept بِماwhat يُرضيcontents الدَّنِيَّthe lowly man وَصارِميwhile my sword
أَأَرضى بِما يُرضي الدَّنِيَّ وَصارِمي
حُسامٌa keen blade وَعَزميand my resolve عَزمُthe resolve ذِيof one possessing لِبدَةٍa mane وَردِtawny
حُسامٌ وَعَزمي عَزمُ ذِي لِبدَةٍ وَردِ
Shall I accept what contents the lowly, when my blade
is keen, and my resolve that of a tawny, maned lion?
سَأَمضيI shall press on عَلىagainst الأَيّامِthe days عَزمَwith the resolve اِبنَof a son حُرَّةٍof a freeborn woman
سَأَمضي عَلى الأَيّامِ عَزمَ اِبنَ حُرَّةٍ
يُفَدّىis ransomed بِآباءِwith the fathers الرِّجالِof men وَلاand does not يُفديransom others
يُفَدّى بِآباءِ الرِّجالِ وَلا يُفدي
I shall press on against time with a freeborn man's resolve,
one ransomed with men's fathers, who ransoms none.
فَإِنthen if أُدرِكِI attain الأَمرَthe goal الَّذيwhich أَناI طالِبٌam seeking
فَإِن أُدرِكِ الأَمرَ الَّذي أَنا طالِبٌ
فَياthen oh جَدَّfortune مُستَجدٍof a supplicant وَياand oh سَعدَgood luck مُستَعدِof one seeking aid
فَيا جَدَّ مُستَجدٍ وَيا سَعدَ مُستَعدِ
If I attain the goal I seek,
what fortune for the supplicant, what luck for the seeker of aid!
وَإِنand if أُختَرمI am snatched away مِنfrom دونِshort of ماwhat أَناI آمِلٌhope for
وَإِن أُختَرم مِن دونِ ما أَنا آمِلٌ
فَياthen oh خَيبَةَdisappointment الراجيof the hopeful وَياand oh ضَيعَةَloss الوَفدِof the delegation
فَيا خَيبَةَ الراجي وَيا ضَيعَةَ الوَفدِ
And if I am snatched away before attaining what I hope,
what disappointment for the hopeful, what loss for the delegations!
وَإِنّيَand I مِنfrom قَومٍa people يَبينُis apparent بِطِفلِهمin their infant
وَإِنّيَ مِن قَومٍ يَبينُ بِطِفلِهم
لِذيto one possessing الحَدسِdiscernment عُنوانُthe sign السِّيادَةِof lordship فيin المَهدِthe cradle
لِذي الحَدسِ عُنوانُ السِّيادَةِ في المَهدِ
I come from a people whose infant reveals
to the discerning signs of lordship in the cradle.
فَإِنthen if لَمnot يَكُنthere is ليfor me ناصِرٌa helper مِنamong بَنيthe sons أَبيof my father
فَإِن لَم يَكُن لي ناصِرٌ مِن بَني أَبي
فَحَزميthen my prudence وَعَزميand my resolve يُغنِيانيboth suffice me عَنِin place of الحَشدِthe gathered host
فَحَزمي وَعَزمي يُغنِياني عَنِ الحَشدِ
If none of my father's sons comes to my aid,
my prudence and resolve will suffice me instead of a host.
وَإِنand though يُدرِكِattains العَلياthe heights هُمامٌa valiant man بِقَومِهِthrough his people
وَإِن يُدرِكِ العَليا هُمامٌ بِقَومِهِ
فَنَفسيthen my soul تُناجينيwhispers to me بِإِدراكِهاof attaining them وَحديby myself
فَنَفسي تُناجيني بِإِدراكِها وَحدي
Though a hero reaches the heights through his people,
my soul whispers that I shall reach them alone.
وَإِنّيand I لَبَدرٌsurely a full moon ريعَwas startled بِالنَقصِby waning فَاِستَوىthen became complete
وَإِنّي لَبَدرٌ ريعَ بِالنَقصِ فَاِستَوى
كَمالاًin fullness وَبَحرٌand a sea يُعقِبُfollows الجَزرَthe ebb بِالمَدِّwith the flood
كَمالاً وَبَحرٌ يُعقِبُ الجَزرَ بِالمَدِّ
I am a full moon startled by waning, then restored
to fullness, and a sea that follows ebb with flood.
إِذاwhen رَجَّفَتmakes tremble دارَthe home العَدُوِّof the enemy مَخافَتيdread of me
إِذا رَجَّفَت دارَ العَدُوِّ مَخافَتي
فَلاthen do not تَسأَلانيyou two ask me عَنabout سَعيدٍSa'id وَلاnor سَعدِSa'd
فَلا تَسأَلاني عَن سَعيدٍ وَلا سَعدِ
When dread of me shakes the enemy's home,
ask me not, you two, about Sa'id or Sa'd.
فَآهٍthen alas لِقَوميfor my people يَومَthe day أُصبِحُI become ثاوِياًlying dead
فَآهٍ لِقَومي يَومَ أُصبِحُ ثاوِياً
عَلىfor ماجِدٍa noble man يُحييwho revives مَكارِمَهُمtheir noble deeds بَعديafter me
عَلى ماجِدٍ يُحيي مَكارِمَهُم بَعدي
Ah for my people on the day I lie dead—
for a noble man to keep their noble deeds alive after me!
وَإِنّيَand I فيamong قَوميmy people كَعَمرِوlike 'Amr بنِson of عامِرٍ'Amir
وَإِنّيَ في قَومي كَعَمرِو بنِ عامِرٍ
لَياليَduring the days يُعصىhe was disobeyed فيamong قَبائِلِهِhis tribes الأَزدِthe Azd
لَياليَ يُعصى في قَبائِلِهِ الأَزدِ
Among my people I am like 'Amr ibn 'Amir
in the days when his tribes, the Azd, disobeyed him.
أَراهُمhe showed them أَماراتِthe signs الخَرابِof ruin وَماand what بَداappeared
أَراهُم أَماراتِ الخَرابِ وَما بَدا
مِنَfrom الجُرَذِthe rat العَيّاثِthe ravaging فيin صَخرِهاits rock الصَّلدِthe solid
مِنَ الجُرَذِ العَيّاثِ في صَخرِها الصَّلدِ
He showed them signs of ruin and what had appeared
from the ravaging rat in its solid rock.
فَلَمand did not يَرعوواdesist مَعdespite ماwhat لَقواthey encountered فَتَمَزَّقواso they scattered
فَلَم يَرعووا مَع ما لَقوا فَتَمَزَّقوا
أَياديhands سَباof Saba فيin الغَورِthe lowlands مِنهاof it وَفيand in النَجدِthe uplands
أَيادي سَبا في الغَورِ مِنها وَفي النَجدِ
Yet they did not desist, despite what they suffered, and were scattered,
like Saba's scattered hands, in its lowlands and uplands.
وَكَمand how many جُرَذٍa rat فيin أَرضِناour land تَقلَعُuproots الصَّفاhard rock
وَكَم جُرَذٍ في أَرضِنا تَقلَعُ الصَّفا
وَتقذفُand hurls بِالشُمِّwith the lofty الرِعانِpeaks عَلىonto الصَمدِhard upland
وَتقذفُ بِالشُمِّ الرِعانِ عَلى الصَمدِ
How many a rat in our land uproots the rock
and hurls lofty peaks onto hard upland!
خَليليَّmy two friends ماnot دارُthe abode المَذَلَّةِof humiliation فَاِعلَماso know, you two
خَليليَّ ما دارُ المَذَلَّةِ فَاِعلَما
بِداريmy abode وَلاand not مِنfrom ماءِthe water أَعدادِهاof its perennial wells وِرديmy drink
بِداري وَلا مِن ماءِ أَعدادِها وِردي
My two friends, know that the abode of humiliation is not
my abode, nor do I drink from its perennial wells.
وَلاand not لِيَfor me فيin أَنthat أَصحَبَI accompany النَذلَthe knave حاجَةٌany need
وَلا لِيَ في أَن أَصحَبَ النَذلَ حاجَةٌ
لِصِحَّةِbecause of the certainty عِلميof my knowledge أَنَّهُthat he جَرِبٌmangy يُعديinfects others
لِصِحَّةِ عِلمي أَنَّهُ جَرِبٌ يُعدي
Nor have I any need to keep a knave's company,
for I know for certain that he is mangy and contagious.
أَيَذهَبُshall it go عُمريmy lifetime ضَلَّةًto waste فيamong مَعاشِرٍgroups of people
أَيَذهَبُ عُمري ضَلَّةً في مَعاشِرٍ
مَشائِيمَill-omened لاnot تُهدىare guided لِخَيرٍtoward good وَلاand not تَهديguide others
مَشائِيمَ لا تُهدى لِخَيرٍ وَلا تَهدي
Shall my life go to waste among groups
of ill-omened men, neither guided to good nor guiding others?
سُهادُهُمُtheir sleeplessness فيماover what يَسوءُharms صَديقَهُمtheir friend
سُهادُهُمُ فيما يَسوءُ صَديقَهُم
وَأَنوَمُand sleepier عَنas regards غَمِّdistressing العَدُوِّthe enemy مِنَthan الفَهدِthe cheetah
وَأَنوَمُ عَن غَمِّ العَدُوِّ مِنَ الفَهدِ
They stay awake over whatever harms their friend,
but sleep sounder than a cheetah at troubling an enemy.
إِذاwhen وَعَدواthey promise الأَعداءَthe enemies خَيراًgood وَفَواthey fulfill بِهِit
إِذا وَعَدوا الأَعداءَ خَيراً وَفَوا بِهِ
وَفاءَthe fulfillment طَعامِof food-offerings الهِندِof India بِالنّذرِof the vow لِلّبدِto the idol
وَفاءَ طَعامِ الهِندِ بِالنّذرِ لِلّبدِ
When they promise their enemies good, they fulfill it
as India's food-offerings fulfill a vow to the idol.
وَشَرُّهُمُand their evil حَقُّthe due الصَديقِof the friend فَإِنso if هَذَواthey babble
وَشَرُّهُمُ حَقُّ الصَديقِ فَإِن هَذَوا
بِخَيرٍof good لَهُfor him فَليَنتَظِرthen let him await فَتحَةَthe breach السَدِّof the dam
بِخَيرٍ لَهُ فَليَنتَظِر فَتحَةَ السَدِّ
Their evil is their friend's due; if they babble
of good for him, let him await the dam's breach.
سَتَعلَمُshall know هِندٌHind أَنَّنيthat I خَيرُthe best قَومِهاof her people
سَتَعلَمُ هِندٌ أَنَّني خَيرُ قَومِها
وَأَنّيand that I الفَتىthe man المَرجُوُّrelied upon لِلحَلِّto loosen وَالعَقدِand bind
وَأَنّي الفَتى المَرجُوُّ لِلحَلِّ وَالعَقدِ
Hind shall know that I am the best of her people,
the man relied upon to loose and bind,
وَأَنّيand that I إِذاwhenever ماindeed جَلَّgrows grave خَطبٌa crisis وَرَدتُهُI confront it
وَأَنّي إِذا ما جَلَّ خَطبٌ وَرَدتُهُ
بِعَزمَةِwith the resolve ذيof one possessing جِدٍّearnestness وَإِقدامِand the daring ذيof one possessing جَدِّgood fortune
بِعَزمَةِ ذي جِدٍّ وَإِقدامِ ذي جَدِّ
and that, whenever a crisis grows grave, I meet it
with an earnest man's resolve and a fortunate man's daring,
وَأَنَّand that أَياديthe hands القَومِof the people أَبسَطُهاmost outstretched of them يَديmy hand
وَأَنَّ أَيادي القَومِ أَبسَطُها يَدي
وَإِنَّand indeed زِنادَthe fire-sticks الحَيِّof the tribe أَثقَبُهاquickest-sparking of them زَنديmy fire-stick
وَإِنَّ زِنادَ الحَيِّ أَثقَبُها زَندي
and that, of all the people's hands, mine is most outstretched,
and of the tribe's fire-sticks, mine sparks most readily,
وَأَنّيand that I مَتىwhenever يُدعىa call is made إِلىto البَأسِbattle وَالنَدىand generosity
وَأَنّي مَتى يُدعى إِلى البَأسِ وَالنَدى
فَأَحضَرُهاthen the promptest of them نَصريmy aid وَأَجزَلُهاand the most abundant of them ورديmy contribution
فَأَحضَرُها نَصري وَأَجزَلُها وردي
and that, whenever the call is to battle or generosity,
my aid arrives most promptly and my contribution is greatest,
وَأَنَّand that كِرامَthe nobles القَومِof the people لاnot نُهُزَeasy prey العِدىof the enemies
وَأَنَّ كِرامَ القَومِ لا نُهُزَ العِدى
لَيُوجِعُهاsurely pains them عَتبيmy reproach وَيُؤلِمُهاand hurts them فَقديlosing me
لَيُوجِعُها عَتبي وَيُؤلِمُها فَقدي
and that the people's nobles—not the enemies' easy prey—
are sorely pained by my reproach and hurt by losing me.
Sol 6.1