إِلىuntil كَمhow long مُدارَاةُplacating العِدىthe foes وَاِحتِرامُهاand honoring them
إِلى كَم مُدارَاةُ العِدى وَاِحتِرامُها
وَكَمand how often يَعتَريناassails us ضَيمُهاtheir oppression وَاِهتِضامُهاand their abuse
وَكَم يَعتَرينا ضَيمُها وَاِهتِضامُها
How long must we placate our foes and honor them?
How often must their oppression and abuse assail us?
أَماhas it not حانَbecome time ياO فَرعَيtwo branches of رَبيعَةَRabīʿa أَنthat أَرىI see
أَما حانَ يا فَرعَي رَبيعَةَ أَن أَرى
بَناتِdaughters of الوَغىwar يَعلُوrises above الرَوابيthe hills قَتامُهاtheir dust
بَناتِ الوَغى يَعلُو الرَوابي قَتامُها
Has the time not come, O two branches of Rabīʿa, for me to see
war's daughters, their dust rising above the hills?
رِدواenter الحَربَwar وِردَas the watering of الظامِئاتِthirsty she-camels حِياضَهاtheir pools
رِدوا الحَربَ وِردَ الظامِئاتِ حِياضَها
خَوامِسَwatering every fifth day يَغتالُkills الفِصالَthe weaned calves اِزدِحامُهاtheir crowding
خَوامِسَ يَغتالُ الفِصالَ اِزدِحامُها
Enter war as thirsty she-camels come to their pools,
on their fifth-day watering, their crush killing the calves.
وَخُوضُواand plunge into لَظاهاits blaze بِاِقتِحامٍwith bold assault فَإِنَّماfor only
وَخُوضُوا لَظاها بِاِقتِحامٍ فَإِنَّما
يُكَشِّفُdispels غَمّاءَthe dark ordeal of الحُروبِwars اِقتِحامُهاcharging into them
يُكَشِّفُ غَمّاءَ الحُروبِ اِقتِحامُها
Plunge boldly into its blaze, for only
charging into wars dispels their dark ordeal.
ولَوذواand seek refuge بِبيضِin the white blades of المَشرَفِيَّةِMashrafī swords إِنَّهاindeed they
ولَوذوا بِبيضِ المَشرَفِيَّةِ إِنَّها
لَهاthey possess عِزَّةٌmight قَعساءُunassailable وافٍfaithfully fulfilled ذِمامُهاtheir protection pledge
لَها عِزَّةٌ قَعساءُ وافٍ ذِمامُها
Seek refuge in white Mashrafī blades; indeed,
theirs is unassailable might, and their protection holds true.
وَلاand do not تَركَنُواlean for support يَوماًever إِلىon ذِيone possessing عَداوَةٍenmity
وَلا تَركَنُوا يَوماً إِلى ذِي عَداوَةٍ
وَإِنand even if قِيلَit is said هَذاthis عِقدُهاtheir binding knot وَنِظامُهاand their cord
وَإِن قِيلَ هَذا عِقدُها وَنِظامُها
Never lean for support upon an enemy,
even if told, “This is their binding knot and cord.”
فَإِنَّfor indeed عُرىthe bonds of الأَعداءِthe enemies قَدsurely تَعلَمونَهاyou know them
فَإِنَّ عُرى الأَعداءِ قَد تَعلَمونَها
سَريعٌquick بِأَيديin the hands of الماسِكينَthose holding اِنفِصامُهاtheir snapping
سَريعٌ بِأَيدي الماسِكينَ اِنفِصامُها
For you surely know the enemy's bonds:
how quickly they snap in the hands of those who hold them.
وَأُقسِمُand I swear ماnot عَزَّتrose to might مُلوكُthe kings of قَبيلَةٍa tribe
وَأُقسِمُ ما عَزَّت مُلوكُ قَبيلَةٍ
غَدَتit came to be وَبِأَسبابِwhile to the cords of العَدُوِّthe enemy اِعتِصامُهاits clinging for safety
غَدَت وَبِأَسبابِ العَدُوِّ اِعتِصامُها
I swear, no tribe's kings ever rose to might
while clinging for safety to an enemy's cords.
وَلاnor ظَفِرَتwon بِالنُجحِsuccess طُلّابُseekers of غايَةٍa goal
وَلا ظَفِرَت بِالنُجحِ طُلّابُ غايَةٍ
تَروحُthey go about وَفيwhile in كَفِّthe hand of المُعاديthe enemy زِمامُهاtheir reins
تَروحُ وَفي كَفِّ المُعادي زِمامُها
Nor did seekers of a goal ever win success
while going about with their reins in the enemy's hand.
سَلُواask عَنabout مُلوكٍkings مِنكُمُfrom among you هَلdid أَفادَهاbenefit them
سَلُوا عَن مُلوكٍ مِنكُمُ هَل أَفادَها
قُعُودُthe sitting idle of عُقَيلٍʿUqayl بَعدَهاafter them أَوor قِيامُهاtheir rising
قُعُودُ عُقَيلٍ بَعدَها أَو قِيامُها
Ask about kings from among you: did it help them
that ʿUqayl sat idle or rose up after them?
وَهَلand did دَفَعَتthey defend عَنon behalf of ماجِدِMājid بنِson of مُحَمَّدٍMuḥammad
وَهَل دَفَعَت عَن ماجِدِ بنِ مُحَمَّدٍ
وَقَدand indeed كانَwas مِنهُfrom him حِلُّهاtheir lawful things وَحَرامُهاand their forbidden things
وَقَد كانَ مِنهُ حِلُّها وَحَرامُها
Did they defend Mājid ibn Muḥammad,
though their lawful and forbidden alike came from him?
وَهَلand did طَلَبَتthey seek ثارَvengeance for اِبنِthe son of شُكرٍShukr وَهَلand did didactic, anxious epic with syncretic ancestral offers. حَمىand did
وَهَل طَلَبَت ثارَ اِبنِ شُكرٍ وَهَل حَمى
أَباAbū ماجِدٍMājid خَطِّيُهاtheir Khaṭṭī spear وَحُسامُهاand their keen sword
أَبا ماجِدٍ خَطِّيُها وَحُسامُها
Did they seek vengeance for Ibn Shukr? And did
their Khaṭṭī spear and keen sword protect Abū Mājid?
وَهَلand did عَنfor غُرَيرٍGhurayr طاعَنَتthey fight with spears وَبِهِand through him اِحتَوَتthey attain
وَهَل عَن غُرَيرٍ طاعَنَت وَبِهِ اِحتَوَت
مُناهاtheir desires وَبِالبَحرَينِand in al-Baḥrayn جارَwas unjust اِحتِكامُهاtheir rule
مُناها وَبِالبَحرَينِ جارَ اِحتِكامُها
Did they fight for Ghurayr, through whom they gained
their desires, while their rule in al-Baḥrayn ran unjust?
وَهَلand did سالَمَتthey keep peace with مَنthe one who كانَused to يَحميguard جَنابَهاtheir domain
وَهَل سالَمَت مَن كانَ يَحمي جَنابَها
وَتَرعىand graze بِهِunder his protection فيin كُلِّevery أَرضٍland سَوامُهاtheir grazing herds
وَتَرعى بِهِ في كُلِّ أَرضٍ سَوامُها
Did they keep peace with the man who guarded their domain,
under whose protection their herds grazed in every land?
جَزاءُthe reward of سِنِمّارٍSinimmār جَزاءٌa recompense بِهِafter it اِقتَدَتthey patterned themselves
جَزاءُ سِنِمّارٍ جَزاءٌ بِهِ اِقتَدَت
وَمالَand inclined إِلَيهاtoward it كَهلُهاtheir mature men وَغُلامُهاand their youths
وَمالَ إِلَيها كَهلُها وَغُلامُها
Sinimmār's reward was the recompense they imitated,
and their mature men and youths inclined toward it.
بَنىhe built القَصرَthe palace حَتّىuntil اِستَحكَمَتgrew firm شُرُفاتُهُits battlements
بَنى القَصرَ حَتّى اِستَحكَمَت شُرُفاتُهُ
وَأَيَّدهاand strengthened them آجُرُّهاtheir bricks وَرُخامُهاand their marble
وَأَيَّدها آجُرُّها وَرُخامُها
He built the palace till its battlements stood firm,
strengthened by their bricks and marble.
وَغُودِرَand he was cast مِنfrom أَعلىthe highest of ذُراهاtheir summits مُنَكَّساًheadfirst
وَغُودِرَ مِن أَعلى ذُراها مُنَكَّساً
وَلاand no ذَنبَfault إِلّاexcept حُسنُهاtheir beauty وَاِنتِظامُهاand their harmonious arrangement
وَلا ذَنبَ إِلّا حُسنُها وَاِنتِظامُها
Then he was cast headfirst from their highest summit,
for no fault but their beauty and harmonious design.
بَذَلناwe gave لَهاto them مِنfrom مالِهاtheir wealth كُلَّevery صَهوَةٍhorse's back
بَذَلنا لَها مِن مالِها كُلَّ صَهوَةٍ
يُشَدَّis fastened عَلىaround مِثلِsomething like القَناةِa spear shaft حِزامُهاits girth
يُشَدَّ عَلى مِثلِ القَناةِ حِزامُها
We gave them, from their own wealth, every steed
whose girth was fastened around a body like a spear.
وَصُنّاand we protected بِأَنواعِwith varieties of الحَريرِsilk جُسُومَهاtheir bodies
وَصُنّا بِأَنواعِ الحَريرِ جُسُومَها
وَمَلبَسُناwhile our clothing صُوفُwool of الرُعَيناal-Ruʿaynā وَخامُهاand its coarse cloth
وَمَلبَسُنا صُوفُ الرُعَينا وَخامُها
We clothed their bodies in varieties of silk,
while we wore the wool of al-Ruʿaynā and its coarse cloth.
وَرُحناand we went about وَدُخنُwhile the millet of القَريَتَينِthe two towns طَعامُناour food
وَرُحنا وَدُخنُ القَريَتَينِ طَعامُنا
وَبُرُّهُماand their wheat المَحضُpure المُصَفّىsifted طَعامُهاtheir food
وَبُرُّهُما المَحضُ المُصَفّى طَعامُها
We went about with the two towns' millet as our food,
while their pure, sifted wheat was theirs.
وَمَنand among يَعضِbites (apparently “some” intended) ماwhat يُهدىis presented لَهاto them مِنfrom عَطائِناour gifts
وَمَن يَعضِ ما يُهدى لَها مِن عَطائِنا
بَساتِينُorchards يَشدُوsing بِالأَغانيwith songs حَمامُهاtheir doves
بَساتِينُ يَشدُو بِالأَغاني حَمامُها
And among [some of] what is offered them from our gifts
are orchards whose doves sing songs.
وَكُلُّand every نَفيسٍprecious thing كانَwas حَشوَthe furnishings of قُصُورِناour palaces
وَكُلُّ نَفيسٍ كانَ حَشوَ قُصُورِنا
عَدَلناهُwe diverted it عَنّاaway from us فَاِحتَوَتهُso took it in خِيامُهاtheir tents
عَدَلناهُ عَنّا فَاِحتَوَتهُ خِيامُها
Every precious thing that furnished our palaces
we diverted from ourselves, and their tents took it in.
وَمِنّاand from us عَوالِيهاtheir tall spears وَمِنّاand from us دُرُوعُهاtheir armor
وَمِنّا عَوالِيها وَمِنّا دُرُوعُها
وَمِنّاand from us مَواضيهاtheir keen swords وَفيناand in us كِلامُهاtheir wounds
وَمِنّا مَواضيها وَفينا كِلامُها
From us came their tall spears and their armor;
from us their keen swords, yet in us are their wounds.
ذَلَلناwe humbled ourselves وَقُلناand said عَلَّperhaps فيin الذُلِّabasement راحَةًrest
ذَلَلنا وَقُلنا عَلَّ في الذُلِّ راحَةً
وَعَلَّand perhaps فُحُولَthe sires of الشَولِdry she-camels تُروىare quenched حِيامُهاtheir parched ones
وَعَلَّ فُحُولَ الشَولِ تُروى حِيامُها
We humbled ourselves, saying, “Perhaps abasement brings rest,
and perhaps the parched bulls of the dry herd will drink their fill.”
فَلَمyet did not يُغنِavail عَناus ذُلُّناour abasement وَخُضُوعُناand our submission
فَلَم يُغنِ عَنا ذُلُّنا وَخُضُوعُنا
غَناءًany use وَلاnor أَموالُناour wealth وَاِقتِسامُهاand its sharing out
غَناءً وَلا أَموالُنا وَاِقتِسامُها
Yet our abasement and submission availed us
nothing, nor did our wealth or its sharing out.
أَفيis there in كُلِّevery يَومٍday ياO لَقَوميmy people, to the rescue بَلِيَّةٌa calamity
أَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ يا لَقَومي بَلِيَّةٌ
وَخُطَّةُand a course of خَسفٍabasement مِنfrom عَدُوٍّan enemy تُسامُهاyou are made to endure it
وَخُطَّةُ خَسفٍ مِن عَدُوٍّ تُسامُها
Must every day bring a calamity—help, my people!—
and humiliating terms imposed on you by a foe?
أَماindeed وَأَبيكُمby your father إِنَّindeed قَلبيmy heart لَمُوجَعٌis truly pained
أَما وَأَبيكُم إِنَّ قَلبي لَمُوجَعٌ
لِذاكَbecause of that وَعَينيand my eye لاnever يَجِفُّdries اِنسِجامُهاits streaming
لِذاكَ وَعَيني لا يَجِفُّ اِنسِجامُها
By your father, my heart is indeed in pain
at this, and my eye's streaming never dries.
وَماand no عَبَرَتpassed بِيover me لَيلَةٌa night مُنذُfor مُدَّةٍsome time
وَما عَبَرَت بِي لَيلَةٌ مُنذُ مُدَّةٍ
كَماas قالَhe said إِلّاexcept لَيلَةٌa night لاnot أَنامُهاI sleep through it
كَما قالَ إِلّا لَيلَةٌ لا أَنامُها
For some time no night has passed over me
but—as he said—a night I do not sleep through.
وَماand not ذاكَthat ذُلّاًabasement بَلrather بَقاياremnants of حَمِيَّةٍproud zeal
وَما ذاكَ ذُلّاً بَل بَقايا حَمِيَّةٍ
عَلىdespite حَدَثانِthe upheavals of الدَهرِtime باقٍenduring عُرامُهاits vigor
عَلى حَدَثانِ الدَهرِ باقٍ عُرامُها
That is not abasement, but remnants of proud zeal
whose force survives the blows of time.
وَإِنّيand I indeed مِنَof القَومِthe people الَّذينَwho إِذاwhenever اِنتَدَتassembled
وَإِنّي مِنَ القَومِ الَّذينَ إِذا اِنتَدَت
رَبيعَةُRabīʿa يَوماًon any day كانَwas مِنهُمfrom among them هُمامُهاits champion
رَبيعَةُ يَوماً كانَ مِنهُم هُمامُها
I belong to the people who, whenever
Rabīʿa assembled, supplied its champion.
أَلاho ياO لَقَوميmy people, to the rescue مِنagainst عَلِيِّʿAlī بنِson of عَبدَلٍʿAbdal
أَلا يا لَقَومي مِن عَلِيِّ بنِ عَبدَلٍ
وَلِلخَطبِand for calamity يُدعىare summoned أُسدُهاits lions لاnot نعامُهاits ostriches
وَلِلخَطبِ يُدعى أُسدُها لا نعامُها
Ho, my people, help against ʿAlī ibn ʿAbdal!
In crises its lions are called, not its ostriches.
أَلَستُمare you not بَنيsons of الغُرِّthe illustrious الأُلىthose who عُرِفَتwere known لَهُمto have
أَلَستُم بَني الغُرِّ الأُلى عُرِفَت لَهُم
نُفوسٌsouls نَفيساتُprecious المَعاليlofty deeds مَرامُهاtheir aim
نُفوسٌ نَفيساتُ المَعالي مَرامُها
Are you not sons of the illustrious men, known for
precious souls whose aim was exalted deeds?
فَإِنso if نَزَلُواthey settle أَرضاًa land فَمِنهُمthen among them مَلِيكهاits king
فَإِن نَزَلُوا أَرضاً فَمِنهُم مَلِيكها
وَإِنand if جَمَحَتruns wild قَومٌa people فَمِنهُمthen among them شَكامُهاits restraining bit
وَإِن جَمَحَت قَومٌ فَمِنهُم شَكامُها
If they settled in a land, its king was one of them;
if a people ran wild, its restraining bit was one of them.
أَتَرضونَwill you accept ذاthis النَقصَabasement الَّذيwhich ماnothing وَراءَهُbeyond it
أَتَرضونَ ذا النَقصَ الَّذي ما وَراءَهُ
وَأَنتُمwhile you إِذاwhenever صالَتcharges مَعَدٌّMaʿadd سِطامُهاits cutting edge
وَأَنتُم إِذا صالَت مَعَدٌّ سِطامُها
Will you accept this degradation, beyond which nothing lies,
when you are Maʿadd's cutting edge whenever it charges?
وَيُودىand blood money is paid for قَتيلٌa slain man كانَwas فيin كُلِّevery ساعَةٍmoment
وَيُودى قَتيلٌ كانَ في كُلِّ ساعَةٍ
يُجَمِّعُgathering أَوباشاًriffraff كَثيرٌnumerous طَغامُهاtheir rabble
يُجَمِّعُ أَوباشاً كَثيرٌ طَغامُها
Shall blood money be paid for a slain man who, at every moment,
gathered riffraff, with rabble abundant among them,
وَيَقطَعُand waylays طُرقَthe roads of المُسلِمينَMuslims نَهارَهُthroughout his day
وَيَقطَعُ طُرقَ المُسلِمينَ نَهارَهُ
عِلاناًopenly وَلاand not يَثنِيهِturns him back عَنهاfrom them ظَلامُهاtheir darkness
عِلاناً وَلا يَثنِيهِ عَنها ظَلامُها
and waylaid Muslims on their roads throughout his day,
openly, nor did their darkness turn him back?
فَكَمso how many مِنof حِمارٍa donkey خَرَّfell عَقراًslaughtered بِسَيفِهِby his sword
فَكَم مِن حِمارٍ خَرَّ عَقراً بِسَيفِهِ
وَدَوخَلَّةٍand a date-basket قَدindeed فُضَّwas broken عَنهاoff it خِتامُهاits seal
وَدَوخَلَّةٍ قَد فُضَّ عَنها خِتامُها
How many a donkey fell slaughtered by his sword,
and how many a date-basket had its seal broken!
فَإِنso if غَضِبَتgrows angry فيهاover it عُقَيلٌʿUqayl فَأَنتُمُthen you
فَإِن غَضِبَت فيها عُقَيلٌ فَأَنتُمُ
بَنوsons of الحَربِwar إِذwhen يُذكيkindles لَظاهاits blaze ضِرامُهاits fuel
بَنو الحَربِ إِذ يُذكي لَظاها ضِرامُها
If ʿUqayl grows angry over this, you are
sons of war when its kindling fans its blaze.
وَماand not نِيلَwas struck down غَدراًtreacherously بَلrather أَتىhe came فيwith عِصابَةٍa band
وَما نِيلَ غَدراً بَل أَتى في عِصابَةٍ
قَليلٌscant مِنَregarding الغَدرِtreachery الشَنيعِvile اِحتِشامُهاtheir scruples
قَليلٌ مِنَ الغَدرِ الشَنيعِ اِحتِشامُها
He was not struck down treacherously; he came with a band
whose scruples about vile treachery were few.
فَأُوجِرَهاso he was made to swallow it نَجلاءَgaping طَعنَةَa thrust of ثائِرٍan avenger
فَأُوجِرَها نَجلاءَ طَعنَةَ ثائِرٍ
كَجَيبِlike the neckline of قَميصٍa shirt لاnot يُرَجّىis hoped for اِلتِئامُهاits closing
كَجَيبِ قَميصٍ لا يُرَجّى اِلتِئامُها
He was made to swallow a gaping wound, an avenger's thrust,
like a shirt's neckline, with no hope of closing.
أَراحَhe relieved بِهاwith it مِنهُof him الحَميرَthe donkeys فَأَصبَحَتso they began
أَراحَ بِها مِنهُ الحَميرَ فَأَصبَحَت
تَناهَقُbraying to one another فيin المَرعىthe pasture وَيَعلُوand rises رُدامُهاtheir farting
تَناهَقُ في المَرعى وَيَعلُو رُدامُها
With it he freed the donkeys from him, and they began
braying in the pasture, their farting rising loud.
فَواسوأَتاoh, the shame إِنif كانَit were يُودىblood money were paid for قَتيلُهاtheir slain man
فَواسوأَتا إِن كانَ يُودى قَتيلُها
عَلىdespite ذاthis وَيُدنىand is brought near فيwithin حِماناour sanctuary مَقامُهاtheir camp
عَلى ذا وَيُدنى في حِمانا مَقامُها
What shame if blood money is paid for their slain
despite this, and their camp is brought near within our sanctuary,
وَيُقتَلُand are killed بِالغَدرِby treachery الصَريحِoutright كِرامُناour noble men
وَيُقتَلُ بِالغَدرِ الصَريحِ كِرامُنا
فَتُلغىso they are disregarded لَقَدindeed خِبناwe have failed وَفازَتand won سِهامُهاtheir arrows
فَتُلغى لَقَد خِبنا وَفازَت سِهامُها
while our nobles are killed by outright treachery
and their deaths count for nothing! We have failed; their arrows have won.
أُعِيذُكُمُI seek protection for you أَنfrom تَقبَلُواaccepting ذاthis وَأَنتُمُwhile you are
أُعِيذُكُمُ أَن تَقبَلُوا ذا وَأَنتُمُ
ذُؤابَةُthe crest of أَفصىAfṣā كُلِّهاall of it وَسِنامُهاand its hump
ذُؤابَةُ أَفصى كُلِّها وَسِنامُها
I seek protection for you from accepting this, when you are
the crest of all Afṣā and its highest hump.
فَياباso, O Abū سِنانٍSinān قُمrise فَأَنتَfor you are زَعيمُهاits leader
فَيابا سِنانٍ قُم فَأَنتَ زَعيمُها
وَأَنتَand you are مُرَجّاهاits hope وَأَنتَand you are هُمامُهاits champion
وَأَنتَ مُرَجّاها وَأَنتَ هُمامُها
Rise, Abū Sinān, for you are its leader,
its hope and its champion.
وَفيand in كَفِّكَyour hand السَيفُthe sword الَّذيwhich لَوif سَلَلتُهُI drew it
وَفي كَفِّكَ السَيفُ الَّذي لَو سَلَلتُهُ
لقِيلَit would surely be said أَرىI see الأَعرابَthe nomads خَصَّبَhas grown fertile عامُهاtheir year
لقِيلَ أَرى الأَعرابَ خَصَّبَ عامُها
In your hand is the sword which, were I to draw it,
one would say, “I see the nomads' year has grown fertile.”
وَخالَand would deem سَناهُits gleam مَنwhoever بِنَجدٍin Najd عَقيقَةًa lightning flash
وَخالَ سَناهُ مَن بِنَجدٍ عَقيقَةً
يُشَقَّقُis split open عَنهاto reveal it يَومَon a day of دَجنٍgloom غَمامُهاits clouds
يُشَقَّقُ عَنها يَومَ دَجنٍ غَمامُها
Those in Najd would mistake its gleam for lightning
revealed by clouds splitting on a day of gloom.
وَحَولَكَand around you مِنamong أَبنائِكَyour sons الصِيدِproud فِتيَةٌyoung men
وَحَولَكَ مِن أَبنائِكَ الصِيدِ فِتيَةٌ
كَثيرٌfrequent لِأَرواحِof the souls of العَدُوِّthe enemy اِختِرامُهاtheir cutting short
كَثيرٌ لِأَرواحِ العَدُوِّ اِختِرامُها
Around you, among your proud sons, are young men
who often cut short the enemy's lives.
وَمِنand from نَسلِthe offspring of جَدَّيكَyour two grandfathers العَلِيَّينِthe exalted two غِلمَةٌyouths
وَمِن نَسلِ جَدَّيكَ العَلِيَّينِ غِلمَةٌ
نَشَتgrew up وَبِأَبكارِand for the virgins of المَعاليlofty deeds غَرامُهاtheir ardent love
نَشَت وَبِأَبكارِ المَعالي غَرامُها
From your two exalted grandfathers' offspring come youths
who grew up enamored of virgin glories.
وَمَنand from صُلبِthe loins of إِبراهيمَIbrāhīm جَدِّكَyour grandfather عُصبَةٌa band
وَمَن صُلبِ إِبراهيمَ جَدِّكَ عُصبَةٌ
يَسُرُّكَdelights you فيon يَومِthe day of التَلاقيencounter مُقامُهاtheir stand
يَسُرُّكَ في يَومِ التَلاقي مُقامُها
From the loins of your grandfather Ibrāhīm comes a band
whose stand on the day of encounter will delight you.
أَناI الضامِنُthe guarantor الراعيthe guardian عَلَيهاover them وَإِنand if شَكَتthey complain
أَنا الضامِنُ الراعي عَلَيها وَإِن شَكَت
مِنof الغَبنِinjustice فَهيَthen they are الأُسدُlions يُخشىis feared رِجامُهاtheir onslaught
مِن الغَبنِ فَهيَ الأُسدُ يُخشى رِجامُها
I am their guarantor and watchful guardian; should they complain
of injustice, they are lions whose onslaught is feared.
وَماand not زالَceased to be فيamong أَبناءِthe sons of مُرَّةَMurra سَيِّدٌa chief
وَما زالَ في أَبناءِ مُرَّةَ سَيِّدٌ
بِهِafter him فيin جَسيماتِmomentous الأُمورِaffairs اِئتِمامُهاtheir following
بِهِ في جَسيماتِ الأُمورِ اِئتِمامُها
Among Murra's sons there has always been a chief
whom they follow in affairs of great consequence.
وَمنand who ذاis it that يُساميrivals مُرَّةًMurra وَبِهِand through him سَمَتrose
وَمن ذا يُسامي مُرَّةً وَبِهِ سَمَت
بَنُوsons of عامِرٍʿĀmir عِزّاًin might وَجازَand prevailed اِغِتشامُهاtheir daring assault
بَنُو عامِرٍ عِزّاً وَجازَ اِغِتشامُها
Who can rival Murra, through whom rose
Banū ʿĀmir in might, their daring triumphant?
وَكَمand how many سَيِّدٍa chief فيin مالِكٍMālik ذِيpossessing نَباهَةٍdistinction
وَكَم سَيِّدٍ في مالِكٍ ذِي نَباهَةٍ
إِذاif فَقَدَتهُmisses him الحَربُwar طالَgrow long أَيامُهاits days
إِذا فَقَدَتهُ الحَربُ طالَ أَيامُها
How many a distinguished chief there is in Mālik,
whose absence from war makes its days drag on.
وَماand not مالِكٌMālik إِلّاbut الحُماةُthe defenders وَإِنand if أَبَتdeny
وَما مالِكٌ إِلّا الحُماةُ وَإِن أَبَت
رِجالٌmen فَبالآنافِthen upon the noses مِنهاfrom it رَغامُهاits dust
رِجالٌ فَبالآنافِ مِنها رَغامُها
Mālik are none but defenders; if some
men deny it, let its dust lie upon their noses.
وَفيand in حارِثٍḤārith وَاللَيثِand al-Layth غُرٌّillustrious men غَطارِفٌnoble chiefs
وَفي حارِثٍ وَاللَيثِ غُرٌّ غَطارِفٌ
يُبِرُّprevails عَلىover الخَصمِthe opponent الأَلَدِّmost obstinate خِصامُهاtheir contention
يُبِرُّ عَلى الخَصمِ الأَلَدِّ خِصامُها
In Ḥārith and al-Layth are illustrious, noble men
whose contention overcomes the most obstinate foe.
وَإِنَّand indeed لَعَمريby my life فيamong بَقاياthe remnants of مُحارِبٍMuḥārib
وَإِنَّ لَعَمري في بَقايا مُحارِبٍ
سُيُوفُswords of ضِرابٍstriking لاnot يُخافُis feared اِنثِلامُهاtheir chipping
سُيُوفُ ضِرابٍ لا يُخافُ اِنثِلامُها
By my life, among the remnants of Muḥārib
are swords of battle with no fear of chipping.
وَشَيبانُand Shaybān شَيبانُShaybān of الفَخارِglory فَإِنَّهاfor they are
وَشَيبانُ شَيبانُ الفَخارِ فَإِنَّها
أُسُودُlions of شَرىًSharā سُمرُbrown shafts of العَواليtall lances إِجامُهاtheir thickets
أُسُودُ شَرىً سُمرُ العَوالي إِجامُها
Shaybān—Shaybān of glory—are indeed
lions of Sharā, their thickets the brown shafts of spears.
وَمَنand whoever كانَis مِنّاof us مِنfrom جَماهيرِthe multitudes of خِندِفٍKhindif
وَمَن كانَ مِنّا مِن جَماهيرِ خِندِفٍ
وَقَيسٍand Qays فَأَترابُthen age-mates of الوَغىwar وَنِدامُهاand its boon companions
وَقَيسٍ فَأَترابُ الوَغى وَنِدامُها
Those of us from the multitudes of Khindif
and Qays are war's age-mates and boon companions.
وَماand no فيamong بَنيthe sons of قَحطانَQaḥṭān إِنif شُنَّتِis unleashed الوَغىwar
وَما في بَني قَحطانَ إِن شُنَّتِ الوَغى
تَوانٍslackness وَلاand not يَنبُوfails to bite لَدَيناfor us حُسامُهاtheir keen sword
تَوانٍ وَلا يَنبُو لَدَينا حُسامُها
Among Banū Qaḥṭān, when war is unleashed, there is
no slackness, nor does their blade fail us.
وَإِنَّand indeed لَهاthey have لَلسابِقاتِsurely the foremost deeds وَإِنَّهاand indeed they
وَإِنَّ لَها لَلسابِقاتِ وَإِنَّها
ليُطرِبُهاsurely delights them طَعنُstabbing of العِدىthe foes وَاِلتِزامُهاand grappling with them
ليُطرِبُها طَعنُ العِدى وَاِلتِزامُها
Theirs indeed are the foremost exploits, and surely
they thrill to stabbing enemies and grappling with them.
فَيالكِرامٍso, to the rescue, nobles مِنof نِزارٍNizār وَيَعرُبٍand Yaʿrub
فَيالكِرامٍ مِن نِزارٍ وَيَعرُبٍ
وَلَيسَand not يُجيبُanswers الصَوتَthe call إِلّاexcept كِرامُهاtheir nobles
وَلَيسَ يُجيبُ الصَوتَ إِلّا كِرامُها
To the rescue, nobles of Nizār and Yaʿrub!
None but their nobles answers the call.
صِلُواmake up for بِالخُطاwith strides قُصرَthe shortness of السُيوفِthe swords فَإِنَّهاfor they
صِلُوا بِالخُطا قُصرَ السُيوفِ فَإِنَّها
تَطُولُgrow long وَلاand not يُغنيavails غَناءًany use كَهامُهاtheir blunt ones
تَطُولُ وَلا يُغني غَناءً كَهامُها
Make up with your strides for the swords' short reach: they
grow long; their blunt ones are of no use.
فَلَمso not يَبقَremains يُرضيsatisfies القَومَthe people إِلّاexcept حُدودُهاtheir edges
فَلَم يَبقَ يُرضي القَومَ إِلّا حُدودُها
وَقدand indeed طالَhas lasted long فَاِسقُوهاso give them drink بِرِيٍّto full quenching أُوامُهاtheir thirst
وَقد طالَ فَاِسقُوها بِرِيٍّ أُوامُها
Nothing remains to satisfy those people but their edges.
Long has their thirst endured; give them drink to the full.
فَضَرباًso strike وَطَعناًand thrust بِالصَوارِمِwith keen swords وَالقَناand spears
فَضَرباً وَطَعناً بِالصَوارِمِ وَالقَنا
فَلاand no عُذرَexcuse حَتّىuntil يَخضِبَdyes السَيفَthe sword هامُهاtheir heads
فَلا عُذرَ حَتّى يَخضِبَ السَيفَ هامُها
So strike and thrust with keen blades and spears!
There is no excuse until their heads stain the sword.
وَلاand do not تَهِنُواweaken وَاِستَشعِرُواand wear close الصَبرَpatience جُنَّةًas a shield
وَلا تَهِنُوا وَاِستَشعِرُوا الصَبرَ جُنَّةً
وَعَزماًand resolve فَماfor nothing لِلحَربِfor war إِلّاbut اِعتِرامُهاassailing it fiercely
وَعَزماً فَما لِلحَربِ إِلّا اِعتِرامُها
Do not weaken; put on patience as a shield,
and resolve: war must be met with fierce assault.
فَإِنَّكُمُfor you indeed إِنif تَألَمُواsuffer pain فَعَدُوُّكُمthen your enemy
فَإِنَّكُمُ إِن تَألَمُوا فَعَدُوُّكُم
كَذاكَlikewise وَلِلأَمرِand for the matter العَظيمِgreat عِظامُهاits great men
كَذاكَ وَلِلأَمرِ العَظيمِ عِظامُها
If you suffer pain, your enemy
does likewise; great affairs have their great men.
وَقدand indeed طالَhas lasted long هَذاthis الذُلُّabasement وَالمَوتُwhile death رائِحٌgoes at evening
وَقد طالَ هَذا الذُلُّ وَالمَوتُ رائِحٌ
وَغادٍand goes at dawn وَيَأتيand comes to كُلَّevery نَفسٍsoul حِمامُهاits appointed death
وَغادٍ وَيَأتي كُلَّ نَفسٍ حِمامُها
Long has this abasement lasted; death passes in the evening
and at dawn, and every soul's appointed end comes to it.
وَإِنَّand indeed حَياةًa life هَكَذاlike this لَذَمِيمَةٌtruly contemptible
وَإِنَّ حَياةً هَكَذا لَذَمِيمَةٌ
يُسِرُّdelights المُعاديthe enemy لِلمُعاديfor the foe دَوامُهاits continuance
يُسِرُّ المُعادي لِلمُعادي دَوامُها
A life like this is surely contemptible,
its continuance for his foe delighting the enemy.
وَمِنand among أَعجَبِthe strangest of الأَشياءِthings وَالدَهرُwhile time كُلُّهُall of it
وَمِن أَعجَبِ الأَشياءِ وَالدَهرُ كُلُّهُ
عَجائِبwonders يَأتيcome فَذُّهاtheir single ones وَتَوامُهاand their paired ones
عَجائِب يَأتي فَذُّها وَتَوامُها
Among the strangest things—and time is nothing but
wonders, coming singly and in pairs—
إِذاwhenever نَحنُwe زِدناincrease فيin عَطاياgifts to قَبيلَةٍa tribe
إِذا نَحنُ زِدنا في عَطايا قَبيلَةٍ
لِكَفِّto curb أَذاهاits harm زادَincreases مِنّاagainst us اِنتقامُهاits vengeance
لِكَفِّ أَذاها زادَ مِنّا اِنتقامُها
is that whenever we increase a tribe's gifts
to curb its harm, its vengeance against us grows.
هِيَit is النارُfire إِنif شَبَّهتَهاyou liken it وَعَطاؤُناand our gifts
هِيَ النارُ إِن شَبَّهتَها وَعَطاؤُنا
لَهاfor it حَطَبٌfirewood ماthe more زادَit increases زادَincreases اِضطِرامُهاits blazing
لَها حَطَبٌ ما زادَ زادَ اِضطِرامُها
It is fire, if you would liken it, and our gifts
are wood for it: the more they grow, the fiercer it blazes.
فَياoh ضَيعَةَthe waste of المَسعىstriving وَكَمand how many مِنof صَنيعَةٍa favor
فَيا ضَيعَةَ المَسعى وَكَم مِن صَنيعَةٍ
غَدَتbecame ضَلَّةًwasted لَمnot يَبقَremains إِلّاexcept مَلامُهاblame for it
غَدَت ضَلَّةً لَم يَبقَ إِلّا مَلامُها
Oh, what wasted striving! How many a favor
has been squandered, leaving nothing but blame!
فَحامُواso defend عَنِon behalf of البِيضِthe fair-skinned women الحِسانِthe beautiful فَأَنتُمُfor you are
فَحامُوا عَنِ البِيضِ الحِسانِ فَأَنتُمُ
كَتائِبُbattalions يَغشىoverwhelms ناظِرَthe pupil of الطَرفِthe eye لامُهاtheir armor
كَتائِبُ يَغشى ناظِرَ الطَرفِ لامُها
Defend the fair beauties, for you are
battalions whose armor blinds the gazing eye.
فَكَمfor how many قَدindeed رَأيتُمyou have seen مِنof عَقيلَةِa noble lady of مَعشَرٍa people
فَكَم قَد رَأيتُم مِن عَقيلَةِ مَعشَرٍ
يَرُوقُdelights عُيُوناًeyes فَرعُهاher hair وَقَوامُهاand her figure
يَرُوقُ عُيُوناً فَرعُها وَقَوامُها
How many a noble lady of her people have you seen,
her hair and figure delighting the eyes,
تُباعُis sold وَتُشرىand bought بِالكَسادِat a low price ذَليلَةًabased
تُباعُ وَتُشرى بِالكَسادِ ذَليلَةً
وَقَدthough كانَwas لاnot يَبدُوbecame apparent لِخَلقٍto any creature كَلامُهاher speech
وَقَد كانَ لا يَبدُو لِخَلقٍ كَلامُها
sold and bought for little, in humiliation,
though no creature had formerly heard her speech!
فَإِنso if أَنتُمُyou لَمnot تَمنَعُوهُنَّprotect them فَاِصبِرُواthen endure
فَإِن أَنتُمُ لَم تَمنَعُوهُنَّ فَاِصبِرُوا
لِآبِدَةٍin the face of a calamity يَبقىremains عَلىthroughout الدَهرِtime ذامُهاits disgrace
لِآبِدَةٍ يَبقى عَلى الدَهرِ ذامُها
If you do not defend them, then endure
a calamity whose shame will last forever.
وَمَنand whoever ذَلَّsubmits لَمnot يَعدَمlacks غَشُوماًa ruthless oppressor يَسُومُهُwho makes him suffer
وَمَن ذَلَّ لَم يَعدَم غَشُوماً يَسُومُهُ
أَذىًharm فَيُرِيهِso makes him see النَبعَnabʿ hardwood خَوفاًthrough fear ثُمامُهاits thumām grass
أَذىً فَيُرِيهِ النَبعَ خَوفاً ثُمامُها
Whoever submits will never lack a ruthless man to deal him
harm, till fear makes its thumām grass seem to him like nabʿ wood.
وَهَلand have مَنَعتprotected يَوماًever فَتاةًa maiden كَريمَةًnoble
وَهَل مَنَعت يَوماً فَتاةً كَريمَةً
قلائِدُهاher necklaces أَوor وُشحُهاher sashes أَوor خِدامُهاher anklets
قلائِدُها أَو وُشحُها أَو خِدامُها
Has a noble maiden ever been defended by
her necklaces, her sashes, or her anklets?
وَهَلand is هُوَit إِلّاanything but المَوتُdeath وَالمَوتُand death فَاِعلَمُواso know
وَهَل هُوَ إِلّا المَوتُ وَالمَوتُ فَاِعلَمُوا
يَهُونُis bearable وَلاbut not تَحكِيمُهاletting them rule وَاِصطِلامُهاand their annihilating us
يَهُونُ وَلا تَحكِيمُها وَاِصطِلامُها
Is it anything but death? And death, know this,
is easier than letting them rule and annihilate us.
وَإِلّاand otherwise فَشدُّواthen make ready لِلجَلاءِfor exile فَلَمfor no longer يَعُدremains
وَإِلّا فَشدُّوا لِلجَلاءِ فَلَم يَعُد
سِواهُother than it فَعِندَfor at الضَيمِoppression تُجلىare driven out كِرامُهاits noble ones
سِواهُ فَعِندَ الضَيمِ تُجلى كِرامُها
Otherwise, make ready for exile; nothing remains
but that: when oppressed, the noble are driven out.
فَإِنso if كانَthere is فيin البَحرَينِal-Baḥrayn ضيقٌconstriction فلمyet not تَضِقhave become narrow
فَإِن كانَ في البَحرَينِ ضيقٌ فلم تَضِق
مَنازِلُthe dwellings of بَكرٍBakr عَنكُمُfor you وَشَآمهاand its lands in al-Shām
مَنازِلُ بَكرٍ عَنكُمُ وَشَآمها
If al-Baḥrayn is cramped, there is no lack of space
for you in Bakr's dwellings and its lands in al-Shām.
وَلاand no خَيرَgood فيin دارٍa land يَعيشُlives بِهاin it الفَتىa man
وَلا خَيرَ في دارٍ يَعيشُ بِها الفَتى
مَهيناًabased وَلَوeven if جادَتهُshowered him with دُرّاًpearls غَمامُهاits clouds
مَهيناً وَلَو جادَتهُ دُرّاً غَمامُها
There is no good in a land where a man lives
abased, though its clouds rain pearls upon him.
Sol 6.1