عَلِقَbecame caught الهَوىlove بِحِبائِلَin the snares of الشَعثاءَal-Sha'tha'
عَلِقَ الهَوى بِحِبائِلَ الشَعثاءَ
وَالمَوتُand death بَعضُone of حَبائِلِthe snares of الأَهواءِpassions
وَالمَوتُ بَعضُ حَبائِلِ الأَهواءِ
Love is caught in al-Sha'tha's snares,
Love clings to the tangled locks of the disheveled one,
and death is one of passion's snares.
And death to the snares of passions.
لَيتَwould that الحِسانَthe beautiful women إِذاwhen أَصَبنَthey afflicted قُلوبُناour hearts
لَيتَ الحِسانَ إِذا أَصَبنَ قُلوبُنا
بِالداءِwith sickness جُدنَthey bestowed generously بِنِعمَةٍwith kindness وَشِفاءِand healing
بِالداءِ جُدنَ بِنِعمَةٍ وَشِفاءِ
Would that the beauties, when they afflict our hearts
Would that virtue, when our hearts are afflicted with sickness,
with sickness, would bestow kindness and healing.
Were generous and brought healing!
لِلشَتمِthick lips have عِنديto me بَهجَةٌbeauty وَمَلاحَةٌand charm
لِلشَتمِ عِندي بَهجَةٌ وَمَلاحَةٌ
وَأَحِبُّand I love بَعضَsome of مَلاحَةِthe charm of الذَلفاءِthe snub-nosed woman
وَأَحِبُّ بَعضَ مَلاحَةِ الذَلفاءِ
Thick lips have beauty and charm for me,
For me insult has joy and charm,
and I love something of the snub-nosed woman's charm.
And I love some of the rudeness of the uncouth.
وَأَرىand I see البَياضَwhiteness عَلىon النِساءِwomen جَهارَةًoutward splendor
وَأَرى البَياضَ عَلى النِساءِ جَهارَةً
وَالعِتقُand noble breeding تَعرفُهُyou recognize it عَلىin الأَدماءِthe dark-skinned woman
وَالعِتقُ تَعرفُهُ عَلى الأَدماءِ
I see women's whiteness as outward splendor,
I see frankness in women as superior
and noble breeding you recognize in the dark-skinned woman.
And chastity makes itself known on highborn ladies.
وَالقَلبُand the heart فيهِin it لِكُلِّهِنَّfor them all مَوَدَّةٌaffection
وَالقَلبُ فيهِ لِكُلِّهِنَّ مَوَدَّةٌ
إِلّاexcept لِكُلِّfor every دَميمَةٍugly woman زَلّاءِflat-rumped
إِلّا لِكُلِّ دَميمَةٍ زَلّاءِ
The heart holds affection for them all,
My heart has affection for all of them
except every ugly, flat-rumped woman.
Except every despicable adulteress.
لَيسَتshe is not بَحَوشَبَةٍa coarse, hulking woman يَبيتُspends the night خِمارُهاher veil
لَيسَت بَحَوشَبَةٍ يَبيتُ خِمارُها
حَتّىuntil الصَباحُmorning مُثَبَّتاًfastened بِغِراءِwith glue
حَتّى الصَباحُ مُثَبَّتاً بِغِراءِ
She is no coarse, hulking woman whose veil stays
She is not chaste, her veil remains in place
fastened with glue until morning,
Until morning, fastened with kohl.
تَجِدُshe finds القِيامَstanding up كَأَنَّماas though هُوَit نَجدَةٌa feat of strength
تَجِدُ القِيامَ كَأَنَّما هُوَ نَجدَةٌ
حَتّىuntil تَقومُshe rises تَكَلُّفَwith the strained effort of الرَجزاءِa trembling-haunched she-camel
حَتّى تَقومُ تَكَلُّفَ الرَجزاءِ
who finds standing up a feat of strength,
You find her rising as if she were praying devoutly
until she rises with the strain of a trembling-haunched she-camel.
Until the adulterous whore gets up.
فَلَئِنso if indeed فَخَرتُI boast بِوائِلٍof Wa'il لَقَدindeed اِبتَنَتit has built
فَلَئِن فَخَرتُ بِوائِلٍ لَقَد اِبتَنَت
يَومَon the day of المَكارِمِnoble deeds فَوقَabove كُلِّevery بِناءِedifice
يَومَ المَكارِمِ فَوقَ كُلِّ بِناءِ
So if I boast of Wa'il, it has indeed built
So if I boast of the Wailers it is because they have built
on the day of noble deeds, above every edifice.
On the day of great deeds, atop every structure.
وَلَئِنand if indeed خَصَصتُI single out بَنيthe sons of لُجَيمٍLujaym إِنَّنيindeed I
وَلَئِن خَصَصتُ بَني لُجَيمٍ إِنَّني
لَأَخُصُّI surely single out مَكرَمَةًnoble excellence وَأَهلَand people of غَناءِprowess
لَأَخُصُّ مَكرَمَةً وَأَهلَ غَناءِ
And if I single out the sons of Lujaym, indeed
And if I specify the Banu Lujaym, it is because I
I single out noble excellence and men of prowess.
Choose the most generous people and folk of munificence.
قَومٌa people إِذاwhen نَزَلَdescends الفَظيعُa terrible calamity تَحَمَّلواthey bear
قَومٌ إِذا نَزَلَ الفَظيعُ تَحَمَّلوا
حُسنَfair الثَناءِpraise وَأَعظَمَand the greatest الأَعباءِburdens
حُسنَ الثَناءِ وَأَعظَمَ الأَعباءِ
A people who, when calamity descends, bear
A people who, when disaster strikes, endure
fair praise and the heaviest burdens.
Calmly the finest praise and the heaviest burdens.
لَيسَتdo not مَجالِسُناour assemblies تَقِرُّtolerate لِقائِلٍfrom a speaker
لَيسَت مَجالِسُنا تَقِرُّ لِقائِلٍ
زَيغَcrookedness of الحَديثِspeech وَلاnor نَثاthe spreading of الفَحشاءِobscenity
زَيغَ الحَديثِ وَلا نَثا الفَحشاءِ
Our assemblies do not tolerate from a speaker
Our assemblies do not settle for someone
crooked talk or the spreading of obscenity.
Who corrupts speech or spreads vulgarity.
عُدّواcount كَمَنone like him who رَبَعَtook a quarter-share from الجُيوشَthe armies لِصُلبِهِfrom his loins
عُدّوا كَمَن رَبَعَ الجُيوشَ لِصُلبِهِ
عُشرونَtwenty وَهوَwhile he يُعَدُّis counted فيamong الأَحياءِthe living
عُشرونَ وَهوَ يُعَدُّ في الأَحياءِ
Count one like him who claimed a quarter of the armies' spoils; from his loins sprang
They count whoever assembled armies by his firmness
twenty sons, and he is still counted among the living.
As twenty, while he is counted among the living.
وَالخَيلُand the horses تَسبَحُswim بِالكُماةِbearing armored warriors كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَالخَيلُ تَسبَحُ بِالكُماةِ كَأَنَّها
طَيرٌbirds تَمَطَّرَraining down مِنfrom ظِلالِthe shadows of عَماءِclouds
طَيرٌ تَمَطَّرَ مِن ظِلالِ عَماءِ
And the horses swim along bearing armored warriors, as though they were
Horses swim with the waves as if they are
birds raining down from the shadows of clouds.
Birds showered from the shadows of clouds.
يَخرُجنَthey emerge مِنfrom رَهَجٍdust دُوَينَjust beneath ظِلالَهُits shadows
يَخرُجنَ مِن رَهَجٍ دُوَينَ ظِلالَهُ
مِثلَlike الجَنادِبِgrasshoppers مِنfrom حَصىthe pebbles of المَعزاءِstony ground
مِثلَ الجَنادِبِ مِن حَصى المَعزاءِ
They emerge from dust, just beneath its shadows,
They emerge from resonant _rahij_ armor whose shadows
like grasshoppers from the pebbles of stony ground.
Are like locusts from the pebbles of Ma'zah.
يَلفُظنَthey spit out مِنfrom وَجعِthe pain of الشَكيمِthe bit وَعَجمِهِand champing it
يَلفُظنَ مِن وَجعِ الشَكيمِ وَعَجمِهِ
زَبداًfoam خَلَطنَthey have mixed بَياضَهُits whiteness بِدماءِwith blood
زَبداً خَلَطنَ بَياضَهُ بِدماءِ
From the bit's pain and their champing it, they spit
From the pain of their girths and bridles they discharge
foam whose whiteness they have mixed with blood.
Foam mixed with the whiteness of blood.
كَمhow many مِنof كَريمَةِa noblewoman of مَعشَرٍa tribe أَيَّمنَهاthey made her a widow
كَم مِن كَريمَةِ مَعشَرٍ أَيَّمنَها
وَتَرَكنَand they left صاحِبَهاher husband بِدارِin an abode of ثَواءِlasting stay
وَتَرَكنَ صاحِبَها بِدارِ ثَواءِ
How many a tribe's noblewoman have they widowed,
How many a noble lady of a tribe has been widowed
and left her husband in an abode of lasting rest!
And her companion left in the abode of ruin!
إِنَّindeed الأَعاديthe enemies لَنwill never تَنالَreach قَديمَناour ancient glory
إِنَّ الأَعادي لَن تَنالَ قَديمَنا
حَتّىuntil تَنالَthey reach كَواكِبَthe stars of الجَوزاءِal-Jawza'
حَتّى تَنالَ كَواكِبَ الجَوزاءِ
Indeed, our enemies will never reach our ancient glory
Verily enemies will never reach our ancient glories
until they reach the stars of al-Jawza'.
Until they reach the stars of Gemini.
كَمhow many فيin لُجَيمٍLujaym مِنof أَغَرِّan illustrious man كَأَنَّهُas though he were
كَم في لُجَيمٍ مِن أَغَرِّ كَأَنَّهُ
صُبحٌdawn يَشُقُّcleaves طَيالِسَthe cloaks of الظَلماءِdarkness
صُبحٌ يَشُقُّ طَيالِسَ الظَلماءِ
How many a radiant man in Lujaym is like
In Lujaym, how many a young knight who is like
dawn cleaving the cloaks of darkness!
Dawn cleaving through the darknesses of night!
أَوor كَالمُكَسَّرِlike al-Mukassar لاnot تَؤوبُreturn جِيادُهُhis fine steeds
أَو كَالمُكَسَّرِ لا تَؤوبُ جِيادُهُ
إِلّاexcept غَوانِمَbearing spoils وَهِيَwhile they غَيرُnot نَواءِfat
إِلّا غَوانِمَ وَهِيَ غَيرُ نَواءِ
Or one like al-Mukassar, whose fine steeds never return
Or like a trained steed whose stallions return
except with spoils, though they themselves are lean.
Only with spoils and never without prey.
بَحرٌa sea يُكَلِّلُhe crowns بِالسَديفِwith hump-fat جِفانَهُhis great bowls
بَحرٌ يُكَلِّلُ بِالسَديفِ جِفانَهُ
حَتّىuntil يَموتُdies شَمالُthe north wind of كُلِّevery شِتاءِwinter
حَتّى يَموتُ شَمالُ كُلِّ شِتاءِ
A sea of bounty, he crowns his bowls with hump-fat
A sea encircled with armor until the north winds die
until every winter's north wind dies away.
In every winter.
وَمُجَرِّباًand a seasoned warrior خَضِلَwet السِنانِof spearhead إِذاwhen التَقىhe meets in battle
وَمُجَرِّباً خَضِلَ السِنانِ إِذا التَقى
رَجَعَتturned back بِخاطِرِهِbefore his swaying spear الصُدورُthe spearheads ظِماءِthirsty
رَجَعَت بِخاطِرِهِ الصُدورُ ظِماءِ
And a seasoned warrior, his spearhead wet when battle joins,
And a tried one whose grinding teeth, when they meet,
other spearheads recoil thirsty before his swaying spear.
Leave chests thirsting.
صَدئَrust-stained القِباءِthe coat مِنَof الحَديدِiron كَأَنَّهُas though he were
صَدئَ القِباءِ مِنَ الحَديدِ كَأَنَّهُ
جَمَلٌa camel تَغَمَّدَهُenveloped him عَصيمُa dried crust of هَناءِtar dressing
جَمَلٌ تَغَمَّدَهُ عَصيمُ هَناءِ
Rust-stained in his coat of iron, as though he were
The links of mail are rusted as if they are
a camel enveloped in a dried crust of tar.
A camel clad in the thick wool of sheep.
إِنّاindeed we وَجَدِّكَby your fortune ماnot يَكونُare سِلاحُناour weapons
إِنّا وَجَدِّكَ ما يَكونُ سِلاحُنا
حَجرُstones الأَكامِthe hills وَلاnor عَصاa staff of الطَرفاءِtamarisk
حَجرُ الأَكامِ وَلا عَصا الطَرفاءِ
Indeed, by your fortune, our weapons are not
We have found you to be our weapons, nothing else -
stones from the hills or a tamarisk staff.
Not slingstones or staffs of the weak.
تَأويyou take refuge إِلىin حَلَقِrings of الحَديدِiron وَقُرَّحٍand full-grown steeds
تَأوي إِلى حَلَقِ الحَديدِ وَقُرَّحٍ
قُبٍّlean-bellied تَشَوَّفُstraining eagerly نَحوَtoward كُلِّevery دُعاءِcall
قُبٍّ تَشَوَّفُ نَحوَ كُلِّ دُعاءِ
You take refuge in rings of iron and full-grown steeds,
They cling to the throats of swords and open gashes,
lean-bellied, straining toward every call.
Necks yearning toward every prayer.
وَلَقَدand indeed غَدَونَthey rode at dawn عَلىagainst طُهيَّةِTuhayyah غَدوَةٍone morning
وَلَقَد غَدَونَ عَلى طُهيَّةِ غَدوَةٍ
حَتّىuntil طَرَقنَthey came by night to نِساءَناour women بِنِساءِwith women
حَتّى طَرَقنَ نِساءَنا بِنِساءِ
They did indeed ride against Tuhayyah one morning,
And we certainly raided at dawn a raid
until they came by night to our women, bringing women.
Until we reached our women with women.
تِلكُمُthose (addressing you all) مَراكِبُناour mounts وَفَوقَand above حَياتِناour lives
تِلكُمُ مَراكِبُنا وَفَوقَ حَياتِنا
بيضُbright الغُضونِin their creases سَوابِغُample الأَثناءِin their folds
بيضُ الغُضونِ سَوابِغُ الأَثناءِ
Those are our mounts; over our lives lie
Those are our steeds, and above our lives
bright-creased coats of mail, ample in their folds.
Are the white forearms, fully extended.
قُدِّدنَthey were fashioned مِنfrom حَلَقٍrings كَأَنَّas though شُعاعَهاtheir radiance
قُدِّدنَ مِن حَلَقٍ كَأَنَّ شُعاعَها
فَلَجٌa stream يَطُنُّtinkles عَلىover مُتونِthe surfaces of نِهاءِpools
فَلَجٌ يَطُنُّ عَلى مُتونِ نِهاءِ
Fashioned from rings, their radiance is like
They are strung from a throbbing vein as if its brilliance
a stream tinkling over the surfaces of pools.
Were a gulf rumbling atop the backs of ostriches.
تَحميdefend الرِماحُthe spears لناfor us حِماناour protected ground كُلَّهُall of it
تَحمي الرِماحُ لنا حِمانا كُلَّهُ
وَتُبيحُand open up بَعدَafterward مَسارِحِthe grazing grounds of الأَحماءِprotected ranges
وَتُبيحُ بَعدَ مَسارِحِ الأَحماءِ
The spears defend our entire protected ground for us,
The lances protect us, all together,
and afterward lay other guarded pastures open.
And make lawful after the sanctuaries of the inviolable.
إِنَّindeed السُيوفَthe swords تُجيرُناprotect us وَنُجيرُهاand we protect them
إِنَّ السُيوفَ تُجيرُنا وَنُجيرُها
كُلٌّeach يَجيرُprotects بِعِزَّةٍwith might وَوَقاءِand shielding
كُلٌّ يَجيرُ بِعِزَّةٍ وَوَقاءِ
Indeed, the swords protect us, and we protect them,
Verily, swords give us refuge and we give them refuge,
each protecting with might and shielding.
Each gives refuge with glory and protection.
لاnot يَنثَنِينَthey bend وَلاnor نَرُدُّwe turn back حُدودَهاtheir edges
لا يَنثَنِينَ وَلا نَرُدُّ حُدودَها
عَنfrom حَدِّthe front of كُلِّevery كَتيبَةٍbattalion خَرساءِsilent
عَن حَدِّ كُلِّ كَتيبَةٍ خَرساءِ
They never bend, nor do we turn their edges
They do not waver nor do we drive back their edges
from the front of any silent battalion.
From the limit of every silent battalion.
إِنّاindeed we لَتَعمَلُsurely work بِالصُفوفِamong the ranks سُيوفُناour swords
إِنّا لَتَعمَلُ بِالصُفوفِ سُيوفُنا
عَمَلَlike the work of الحَريقِfire بِيابِسِthrough the dry stalks of الحَلفاءِhalfa grass
عَمَلَ الحَريقِ بِيابِسِ الحَلفاءِ
Truly, our swords work among the ranks
Our swords function in the ranks by their edges
as fire works through dry halfa grass.
As fire functions on dry tinder.
Sol 6.1