أَلاAh! ياO لَقَومٍpeople called to help لِلجَديدِfor the new المُصَرَّمِcut short
أَلا يا لَقَومٍ لِلجَديدِ المُصَرَّمِ
وَلِلحِلمِand for wisdom بَعدَafter الزلةthe lapse المُتَوَهَّمِimagined
وَلِلحِلمِ بَعدَ الزلة المُتَوَهَّمِ
Ah, people! For freshness now cut short,
O people, be steadfast when misfortune strikes
and for the wisdom imagined after the lapse,
And be forgiving after an error has been made
وَلَلمَرءِand for the man يَعتادُreturns to الصَبابَةَyearning بَعدَماafter
وَلَلمَرءِ يَعتادُ الصَبابَةَ بَعدَما
أَتىcame دونَهاbetween him and it ماan emphatic particle فَرطُthe passage of حَولٍa year مُجَرَّمِfully elapsed
أَتى دونَها ما فَرطُ حَولٍ مُجَرَّمِ
and for a man who falls again into longing after
And let a man get used to patience after
the passage of a full year has intervened.
The passions of youth have passed their prime
فَياso O دارَdwelling of سَلمىSalma بِالصَريمَةِat al-Sarimah فَاللِوىthen al-Liwa
فَيا دارَ سَلمى بِالصَريمَةِ فَاللِوى
إِلىto مَدفَعِthe outlet of القيقاءِal-Qayqa' فَالمُتَثَلَّمِthen al-Mutathallam
إِلى مَدفَعِ القيقاءِ فَالمُتَثَلَّمِ
O Salma's dwelling, at al-Sarimah and al-Liwa,
O house of Salma in the stony plain and twisted valleys
as far as the outlet of al-Qayqa' and al-Mutathallam!
Near the thundering gorge and jagged ridges
ظَلِلتُI lingered عَلىwith عِرفانِهاrecognition of it ضَيفَa guest of قَفرَةٍa wilderness
ظَلِلتُ عَلى عِرفانِها ضَيفَ قَفرَةٍ
لِأَقضِيَto fulfill مِنهاfrom it حاجَةَthe need of المُتَلَوِّمِone who lingers
لِأَقضِيَ مِنها حاجَةَ المُتَلَوِّمِ
I lingered, recognizing it, a guest of the wilderness,
I took shade by your walls, a guest of the barren desert
to satisfy there the need of one who lingers.
To fulfill the need of the suffering soul
أَقامَتshe stayed بِهاin it بِالصَيفِin summer ثُمَّthen تَذَكَّرَتshe remembered
أَقامَت بِها بِالصَيفِ ثُمَّ تَذَكَّرَت
مَصايِرَهاher destinations بَينَbetween الجَواءِal-Jawa' فَعَيهَمِand 'Ayham
مَصايِرَها بَينَ الجَواءِ فَعَيهَمِ
She stayed there through summer, then remembered
You dwelled here in summer, then remembered
her destinations between al-Jawa' and 'Ayham.
Your fate amid the wastes, lost and confused
تُعَوِّجُshe twists رُهباًin fear فيagainst الزِمامِthe rein وَتَنثَنيand bends back
تُعَوِّجُ رُهباً في الزِمامِ وَتَنثَني
إِلىtoward مُهذِباتٍswift limbs فيin وَشيجٍjoined shafts مُقَوِّمِupright
إِلى مُهذِباتٍ في وَشيجٍ مُقَوِّمِ
She twists in fear against the rein and bends back
Twisting the reins, frightened, and drawing in
toward swift limbs in a frame of upright shafts.
Toward handlers in a narrow rugged land
أَنافَتshe rose high وَزافَتand strutted فيagainst الزِمامِthe rein كَأَنَّهاas though she were
أَنافَت وَزافَت في الزِمامِ كَأَنَّها
إِلىup to غَرضِهاher saddle-girth أَجلادُthe body of هِرٍّa cat مُؤَوَّمِbig-headed
إِلى غَرضِها أَجلادُ هِرٍّ مُؤَوَّمِ
She rose high and strutted against the rein, as though
Raising their noses in the reins as if
up to her girth she were the body of a big-headed cat.
Led to their goal, the hides of maimed beasts
إِذاwhenever زالَpassed away رَعنٌa ridge عَنbeyond يَدَيهاher forelegs وَنَحرِهاand her breast
إِذا زالَ رَعنٌ عَن يَدَيها وَنَحرِها
بَداappeared رَأسُthe crest of رَعنٍa ridge وَارِدٍapproaching مُتَقَدِّمِahead
بَدا رَأسُ رَعنٍ وَارِدٍ مُتَقَدِّمِ
Whenever a ridge passes beyond her forelegs and breast,
When the grunts cease from their hands and necks
the crest of an approaching ridge appears ahead.
The head of the next grunting train appears
وَصَدَّتand she turned away عَنِfrom الماءِthe water الرَواءِplentiful لِجَوفِهاwithin her belly
وَصَدَّت عَنِ الماءِ الرَواءِ لِجَوفِها
دَوِيٌّa rumble كَدُفِّlike the drum of القَينَةِthe singing girl المُتَهَزِّمِcracked
دَوِيٌّ كَدُفِّ القَينَةِ المُتَهَزِّمِ
She turned away from plentiful water; within her belly
And turns away from the watering place though its belly rumbles
was a rumble like a singing girl's cracked drum.
With a hollow sound like a bursting wineskin
تَصَعَّدُshe climbs فيacross بَطحاءِthe gravel flats of عِرقٍ'Irq كأَنَّهاas though she were
تَصَعَّدُ في بَطحاءِ عِرقٍ كأَنَّها
تَرَقّىclimbing إِذاwhen أَعلىthe heights of أَبيكٍAbik بِسُلَّمِby a ladder
تَرَقّى إِذا أَعلى أَبيكٍ بِسُلَّمِ
She climbs the gravel flats of 'Irq, as though
Rising above a plain of sweat as if ascending
she were climbing on a ladder when ascending Abik's heights.
A lofty peak by steps cut into the slope
لِتَغلِبَfor Taghlib أَبكيI weep إِذsince أَثارَتstirred up رِماحُهاits spears
لِتَغلِبَ أَبكي إِذ أَثارَت رِماحُها
غَوائِلَthe ravages of شَرٍّevil بَينَهاin its midst مُتَثَلِّمِbroken-edged
غَوائِلَ شَرٍّ بَينَها مُتَثَلِّمِ
For Taghlib I weep, since its spears stirred up
To overcome the peak when their spears were aroused
the ravages of a jagged evil in its midst.
Stirring deadly strife between them
وَكانواand they were هُمُthey themselves البانينَthe builders قَبلَbefore اِختِلافِهِمtheir discord
وَكانوا هُمُ البانينَ قَبلَ اِختِلافِهِم
وَمَنand whoever لاdoes not يَشِدstrengthen بُنيانَهُhis building يَتَهَدَّمِit collapses
وَمَن لا يَشِد بُنيانَهُ يَتَهَدَّمِ
They were the builders before their discord,
Though once they were the builders before their discord
and whoever does not reinforce his building will see it collapse.
He who does not shore up his building will collapse
بِحَيٍّfor a tribe كَكَوثَلِّlike the stern of السَفينَةِthe ship أَمرُهُمtheir command
بِحَيٍّ كَكَوثَلِّ السَفينَةِ أَمرُهُم
إِلىto سَلَفٍa vanguard عادٍcharging إِذاwhen اِحتَلَّencamped مُرزِمِa thunderer
إِلى سَلَفٍ عادٍ إِذا اِحتَلَّ مُرزِمِ
For a tribe like a ship's stern, whose command
Their situation is like the rotten planks of a ship
rests with a charging vanguard when a thunderer encamps.
Wrecked on a reef when the seams split
إِذاwhen نَزَلواthey settled on الثَغرَthe frontier المَخوفَdreaded تَواضَعَتbowed low
إِذا نَزَلوا الثَغرَ المَخوفَ تَواضَعَت
مَخارِمُهُits mountain passes وَاِحتَلَّهُand occupied it ذوthe man of المُقَدَّمِthe foremost rank
مَخارِمُهُ وَاِحتَلَّهُ ذو المُقَدَّمِ
When they settle on the dreaded frontier, low bow
When they descend on an oft-raided land
its mountain passes, and their foremost man occupies it.
Its battlements are bowed down and taken
أَنِفتُI felt indignant لَهُمfor them مِنat عَقلِthe restraint of قَيسٍQays وَمَرثَدٍand Marthad
أَنِفتُ لَهُم مِن عَقلِ قَيسٍ وَمَرثَدٍ
إِذاwhen وَرَدواthey came to ماءًwater وَرَمحِand the spear of بنِson of هَرثَمِHartham
إِذا وَرَدوا ماءً وَرَمحِ بنِ هَرثَمِ
I was indignant for their sake at the restraints of Qays and Marthad,
I disdained the minds of Qais and Murthid
when they came to water, and at the spear of Ibn Hartham.
When they came to water and Rabi’s wells
وَيَوماًand a day لَدىbefore الحَشّارِthe tax collector مَنwhoever يَلوِdelays paying حَقَّهُhis due
وَيَوماً لَدى الحَشّارِ مَن يَلوِ حَقَّهُ
يُبَزبَزis stripped وَيُهزَعand is torn apart ثَوبُهُhis garment وَيُلَطَّمِand is slapped
يُبَزبَز وَيُهزَع ثَوبُهُ وَيُلَطَّمِ
And at a day before the tax collector, when whoever delays paying his due
One day in Hashshâr when a man claims his right
is stripped, his garment torn apart, and he is slapped.
He is shoved and stripped and his clothes torn
وَفيand in كُلِّall أَسواقِthe markets of العِراقِIraq إِتاوَةٌa levy
وَفي كُلِّ أَسواقِ العِراقِ إِتاوَةٌ
وَفيand on كُلِّall ماthat which باعَsold أَمرُؤٌa man مَكسُa tax of دِرهِمِa dirham
وَفي كُلِّ ما باعَ أَمرُؤٌ مَكسُ دِرهِمِ
In all the markets of Iraq there is a levy,
In all the markets of Iraq there are kickbacks
and on everything a man sells, a tax of a dirham.
On every deal the amirs take a few dirhams
وَقَيظُand the summer heat of العِراقِIraq مِنof أَفاعٍvipers وَغُدَّةٍand glandular disease
وَقَيظُ العِراقِ مِن أَفاعٍ وَغُدَّةٍ
وَرِعيٍand pasture إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle أَكلَأواthey found grazing مُتَوَخَّمِunwholesome
وَرِعيٍ إِذا ما أَكلَأوا مُتَوَخَّمِ
And Iraq's summer heat brings vipers and glandular disease,
The Iraqi summer is hot with ‘afâ and duhad
and unwholesome pasture whenever they find grazing.
And grazing cattle when glutted with sap
أَلاwill ... not? تَستَحيfeel shame مِنّاbefore us مُلوكٌkings وَتَتَّقيand beware of violating
أَلا تَستَحي مِنّا مُلوكٌ وَتَتَّقي
مَحارِمَناour inviolable rights لاnot يَبْوُءُis requited الدَمُّblood بِالدَمِwith blood
مَحارِمَنا لا يَبْوُءُ الدَمُّ بِالدَمِ
Will kings not feel shame before us and respect
O kings, are you not ashamed to fear violating
our inviolable rights? Blood is not requited with blood.
Our sanctities? Blood cannot wash away blood
نُعاطيwe offer المُلوكَthe kings السَلمَpeace ماas long as قَصَدواthey dealt fairly بِناwith us
نُعاطي المُلوكَ السَلمَ ما قَصَدوا بِنا
وَلَيسَand it is not عَلَيناfor us قَتلُهُمkilling them بِمُحَرَّمِforbidden
وَلَيسَ عَلَينا قَتلُهُم بِمُحَرَّمِ
We offer kings peace as long as they deal fairly with us,
We give the kings peace though they intended us harm
but killing them is not forbidden to us.
It is not permitted for us to kill them
وَكائِنand how many أَزَرناwe sent to visit المَوتَdeath مِنof ذيone entitled to تَحِيَّةٍhomage
وَكائِن أَزَرنا المَوتَ مِن ذي تَحِيَّةٍ
إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle اِزدَراناhe scorned us أَوor أَسَفَّhe stooped لِمَأثَمِto wrongdoing
إِذا ما اِزدَرانا أَو أَسَفَّ لِمَأثَمِ
And many a man accorded homage have we sent to visit death,
Death will come to us from civilized people
when he scorned us or stooped to wrongdoing.
If we are slighted or they are saddened by sin
وَقَدand indeed زَعَمَتclaimed بِهراءُBahra' أَنَّthat رِماحَناour spears
وَقَد زَعَمَت بِهراءُ أَنَّ رِماحَنا
رِماحُthe spears of نَصارىChristians لاdo not تَخوضُplunge إِلىinto الدَمِblood
رِماحُ نَصارى لا تَخوضُ إِلى الدَمِ
Bahra' has claimed that our spears
Bahira claimed our spears are the spears of Christians
are Christians' spears that do not plunge into blood.
That never plunge into blood
فَيَومَyet on the day of الكُلابِal-Kulab قَدindeed أَزالَتunseated رِماحُناour spears
فَيَومَ الكُلابِ قَد أَزالَت رِماحُنا
شُرَحبيلَShurahbil إِذwhen آلىhe swore آلِيَّةَan oath مُقسِمِof an oath-taker
شُرَحبيلَ إِذ آلى آلِيَّةَ مُقسِمِ
Yet on the day of al-Kulab, our spears unseated
But the spears of our army on the day of dogs
Shurahbil, when he swore a solemn oath
Removed Shurahbil when he swore oaths
لَيَنتَزِعَنhe would surely seize أَرماحَناour spears فَأَزالَهُso he unseated him
لَيَنتَزِعَن أَرماحَنا فَأَزالَهُ
أَبوfather of حَنَشٍHanash عَنfrom ظَهرِthe back of شَقّاءَa long-bodied mare صِلدِمِhard-hoofed
أَبو حَنَشٍ عَن ظَهرِ شَقّاءَ صِلدِمِ
that he would surely seize our spears; but he was unseated
Abu Hanash tore it out from the back
by Abu Hanash, from the back of a long-bodied, hard-hoofed mare.
Of wretched Shiqâ’ with thrust and twist
تَناوَلَهُhe struck him بِالرُمحِwith the spear ثُمَّthen اِتَّنىturned back لَهُtoward him
تَناوَلَهُ بِالرُمحِ ثُمَّ اِتَّنى لَهُ
فَخَرَّso he fell صَريعاًstruck down لِليَدَينِupon his hands وَلِلفَمِand upon his mouth
فَخَرَّ صَريعاً لِليَدَينِ وَلِلفَمِ
He struck him with the spear, then turned back toward him,
He took him with the spear, then pulled him close
and he fell, struck down, upon his hands and mouth.
And he fell dead, mouth and hands filled
وَكانَand was مُعاديناour enemy تَهِرُّgrowl كِلابُهُhis dogs
وَكانَ مُعادينا تَهِرُّ كِلابُهُ
مَخافَةَin fear of جَيشٍan army ذيhaving زُهاءٍvast numbers عَرَمرَمِimmense
مَخافَةَ جَيشٍ ذي زُهاءٍ عَرَمرَمِ
And our enemy's dogs would growl
Their dogs used to snarl at our army, frightened
in fear of a mighty army, vast in numbers.
By the sight of a horde with thick neck armor
يَرىsee الناسُpeople مِنّاin us جِلدَthe skin of أَسوَدَa black serpent سالِخٍshedding its skin
يَرى الناسُ مِنّا جِلدَ أَسوَدَ سالِخٍ
وَفَروَةَand the pelt of ضِرغامٍa fierce lion مِنَamong الأُسدِlions ضَيغَمِa biting lion
وَفَروَةَ ضِرغامٍ مِنَ الأُسدِ ضَيغَمِ
People see in us the skin of a sloughing black serpent,
People see in us black tanned hides
and the pelt of a fierce lion, a biting lion among lions.
And rough shaggy heads of lions, growling
وَعَمرَand 'Amr بنَson of هَمَّامٍHammam صَفَقناwe struck جَبينَهُhis forehead
وَعَمرَ بنَ هَمَّامٍ صَفَقنا جَبينَهُ
بِشَنعاءَwith a dreadful blow تَشفيheals صَورَةَthe fury of المُتَظَلِّمِthe man seeking redress
بِشَنعاءَ تَشفي صَورَةَ المُتَظَلِّمِ
And 'Amr ibn Hammam—we struck his forehead
As for ‘Amr ibn Hammam we cracked his skull
with a dreadful blow that soothes the wronged man's fury.
With an ugly tree that erased the wrongdoer
Sol 6.1