لِمَنto whom belongs طَلَلُّa ruin's trace عافٍfaded بِذاتِat Dhāt السَلاسِلِal-Salāsil
لِمَن طَلَلُّ عافٍ بِذاتِ السَلاسِلِ
كَرَجعِlike remnants of الوشومِtattoos فيon ظُهورِthe backs of الأَنامِلِthe fingers
كَرَجعِ الوشومِ في ظُهورِ الأَنامِلِ
Whose faded traces are these at Dhāt al-Salāsil,
like lingering tattoos on the backs of fingers?
تَبَدَّتappeared بِهِthere الريحُthe wind الصَّباthe east wind فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though
تَبَدَّت بِهِ الريحُ الصَّبا فَكَأَنَّما
عَلَيهِover it تُذَرِّيit sifts تربَهُits dust بِالمَناخِلِthrough sieves
عَلَيهِ تُذَرِّي تربَهُ بِالمَناخِلِ
The east wind appeared there, as though
it were sifting the place's dust over it through sieves.
وَجَرَّand dragged عَلَيهِover it السَيلُthe torrent ذَيلاًa trailing train كَأَنَّهُas though it
وَجَرَّ عَلَيهِ السَيلُ ذَيلاً كَأَنَّهُ
إِذاwhen اِلتَفَّit wound فيthrough المَيثاءِthe soft ground إِسفافُthe plaiting of ساحِلِa rope-maker
إِذا اِلتَفَّ في المَيثاءِ إِسفافُ ساحِلِ
The torrent dragged a train over it, resembling,
as it wound through soft ground, a rope-maker's plaiting.
وَقَفتُI stood بِهِthere حَتّىuntil تَعالىrose high لِيَfor me الضُحىthe forenoon
وَقَفتُ بِهِ حَتّى تَعالى لِيَ الضُحى
أَسائِلُهُI kept questioning it ماnot إِنat all (emphasis) يَبينُit answers clearly لِسائِلِto a questioner
أَسائِلُهُ ما إِن يَبينُ لِسائِلِ
I stood there until the forenoon rose high above me,
questioning it, though it gave no answer to a questioner.
وَلَمّاand when رَأَيتُI saw الشَوقَlonging مِنّيfrom me سَفاهَةًfolly
وَلَمّا رَأَيتُ الشَوقَ مِنّي سَفاهَةً
وَأَنَّand that بُكائيmy weeping عَنfrom سَبيلِيَmy path شاغِليwas distracting me
وَأَنَّ بُكائي عَن سَبيلِيَ شاغِلي
When I saw that my longing was folly on my part,
and that my weeping distracted me from my path,
صَرَفتُI turned away وَكانَand was اليَأسُdespair مِنّيin me خَليقَةًa natural trait
صَرَفتُ وَكانَ اليَأسُ مِنّي خَليقَةً
إِذاwhenever ماindeed (emphasis) عَرَفتُI recognized الصّرمَseverance مِنfrom غَيرnot واصِلِone renewing ties
إِذا ما عَرَفتُ الصّرمَ مِن غَير واصِلِ
I turned away; despair was my natural disposition
whenever I recognized severance from one who would not renew the bond.
بِكَالنابِئِon one like the wild bull الفَردِsolitary الأَرَحِّbroad-hoofed لِلَوفِهِfor his forage
بِكَالنابِئِ الفَردِ الأَرَحِّ لِلَوفِهِ
قَوانِئُdeep-crimson حُمرٌred مِنfrom خُزامىthe lavender of الخَمائِلِthe thickets
قَوانِئُ حُمرٌ مِن خُزامى الخَمائِلِ
On one like a lone, broad-hoofed wild bull, whose forage was
deep-red lavender from the thickets.
تهادىhe swayed along عَلىon نِيٍّfat flesh فَجالَthen wheeled كَأَنَّهُas though he
تهادى عَلى نِيٍّ فَجالَ كَأَنَّهُ
حُسامٌa sword جَلاcleared عَنهُfrom it مِسَنُّthe whetstone of الصياقِلِthe polishers
حُسامٌ جَلا عَنهُ مِسَنُّ الصياقِلِ
He swayed along, full-fleshed, then wheeled as though he were
a sword polished bright by the polishers' whetstone.
فَفاجَأَهُthen surprised him غُضفٌfloppy-eared hounds ضَوارٍtrained hunters ذَوابِلُlean
فَفاجَأَهُ غُضفٌ ضَوارٍ ذَوابِلُ
ضَوارِعُgaunt وُرقٌgray كَالخِطارِlike spears الذَوابِلِslender
ضَوارِعُ وُرقٌ كَالخِطارِ الذَوابِلِ
Then floppy-eared, trained, lean hunting hounds surprised him,
gaunt and gray, like slender spears.
فَجالَthen he wheeled وَلَمand did not يَعكُفlinger وَهُنَّwhile they دَوالِفٌadvanced
فَجالَ وَلَم يَعكُف وَهُنَّ دَوالِفٌ
دَوانٍclose حِثاثُswift in الرَّكضِrunning غَيرُnot نَواكِلِhanging back
دَوانٍ حِثاثُ الرَّكضِ غَيرُ نَواكِلِ
He wheeled without lingering, while they advanced,
close, swift-running, never hanging back.
فَكَرَّthen he charged back وَقَدand already أَرهقنَهُthey had pressed him بِسِلاحِهِwith his weapon
فَكَرَّ وَقَد أَرهقنَهُ بِسِلاحِهِ
وَلِلَّهِand God be praised for حاميa defender of سَوءةٍvulnerable parts لَمdid not يُقاتِلِfight
وَلِلَّهِ حامي سَوءةٍ لَم يُقاتِلِ
He charged back with his weapon, for they had pressed him hard;
God be praised for a defender of his vulnerable flank, who fought not
بِأَسمَرَwith a brown spear لَدنٍsupple حارِداتٍcontracted كُعوبُهُits nodes
بِأَسمَرَ لَدنٍ حارِداتٍ كُعوبُهُ
يَشُكُّhe pierces بِهاwith them الأَعضادthe upper forelegs شُظفَthin staves of الرَحائِلِsaddle-frames
يَشُكُّ بِها الأَعضاد شُظفَ الرَحائِلِ
with a supple brown spear, its nodes drawn tight:
with his horns he pierces their forelegs, thin as saddle-staves.
فَماand what بانَappeared مِنof كَدحٍa gash وَمِنand of سَبقِthe advance of سابِقٍa front-runner
فَما بانَ مِن كَدحٍ وَمِن سَبقِ سابِقٍ
فَهابَso feared التَواليthose behind ماwhat تَرىyou see بِالأَوائِلِamong the foremost
فَهابَ التَوالي ما تَرى بِالأَوائِلِ
The wounds that showed, and the foremost one's advance,
made those behind fear what you see among those ahead.
فَأنقَذَهُso saved him اِستِبسالُهُhis dauntless courage وَقِتالُهُand his fighting
فَأنقَذَهُ اِستِبسالُهُ وَقِتالُهُ
وَشَدٌّand a headlong run إِذاwhen واكَلتَهُyou left him unaided لَمdid not يُواكِلِrely on others
وَشَدٌّ إِذا واكَلتَهُ لَم يُواكِلِ
His dauntless courage and his fighting saved him,
and a rush: when you left him unaided, he never shirked.
فَجالَthen he wheeled كَمِشحاجِlike a loud-cawing raven of الجَهامِrainless clouds عَشِيَّةًat evening
فَجالَ كَمِشحاجِ الجَهامِ عَشِيَّةً
يَفِرُّfleeing بِلَحمٍwith flesh خالُهُhe thought it غَيرُnot وائِلِescaping
يَفِرُّ بِلَحمٍ خالُهُ غَيرُ وائِلِ
He wheeled like a loud-cawing raven of rainless clouds at evening,
fleeing with flesh one had thought would never escape.
أَذلكَis it that أَمor جَأبُa sturdy wild ass of النُّسالَةِal-Nusālah قارِحٌfull-grown
أَذلكَ أَم جَأبُ النُّسالَةِ قارِحٌ
يَطوفُcircling عَلىamong وُرقٍgray females خِفافٍnimble حَوائِلِbarren
يَطوفُ عَلى وُرقٍ خِفافٍ حَوائِلِ
Is it that, or a sturdy, full-grown wild ass of al-Nusālah,
circling gray, nimble, barren females?
تَخَيَّرَهُنَّhe chose them العونُthe mature male إِذwhen هُوَhe راتِعٌwas grazing
تَخَيَّرَهُنَّ العونُ إِذ هُوَ راتِعٌ
كَماas طافَcircled سروthe noblest of الخَيلِhorses مُذكيthe mature leader of القَنابِلِherds
كَما طافَ سرو الخَيلِ مُذكي القَنابِلِ
The mature male chose them while he was grazing,
as a noble, seasoned stallion circles his herds.
إِذاwhenever ماindeed (emphasis) شَحاgaped فيهِنَّamong them فُوهُhis mouth لمسحَجٍfor a scraping bite
إِذا ما شَحا فيهِنَّ فُوهُ لمسحَجٍ
ليَعدِلَهاto set her straight كَأَنَّهُas though he فَرخُزاجِلِan ostrich chick
ليَعدِلَها كَأَنَّهُ فَرخُزاجِلِ
Whenever his mouth gaped among them for a scraping bite,
to set her straight, he looked like an ostrich chick.
رَصَفنَthey lined up رِصافاًin close ranks تَهتَديheading لِلَبانِهِtoward his breast
رَصَفنَ رِصافاً تَهتَدي لِلَبانِهِ
كَماas يَهتَديfinds its way لِلكَيدِto the design نَبلُthe arrows of المُناضِلِthe competing archer
كَما يَهتَدي لِلكَيدِ نَبلُ المُناضِلِ
They drew together in close ranks, heading toward his breast,
as a competing archer's arrows follow his design.
تَرَبَّعَhe grazed in spring أَعلىthe upper reaches of عَرعَرٍʿArʿar فَنَهاءةًthen Nahāʾah
تَرَبَّعَ أَعلى عَرعَرٍ فَنَهاءةً
فَأَصرابَthen the patches of مَوليِّwatered by later rain الأَلِدَّةِal-Aliddah باقِلِsprouting
فَأَصرابَ مَوليِّ الأَلِدَّةِ باقِلِ
He grazed in spring in upper ʿArʿar, then Nahāʾah,
then the plots of al-Aliddah, green after later rain.
بِهِthere اِحتجَباthe two sheltered حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen الحَرُّthe heat مَسَّهُtouched him
بِهِ اِحتجَبا حَتّى إِذا الحَرُّ مَسَّهُ
وَحُبّand longing for السَّفاawned grass أَوor جَفَّdried up ماwhat فيin الشَمائِلِthe northern hollows
وَحُبّ السَّفا أَو جَفَّ ما في الشَمائِلِ
There the pair sheltered until the heat touched him
and longing for awned grass—or what lay in the northern hollows dried up—
وَلَمand did not يَبقَremain إِلّاexcept نُطفَةًa little water فيin مَطِيطَةٍa shallow hollow
وَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا نُطفَةً في مَطِيطَةٍ
مَعَwith الطينِthe mud فَاِستَقصَينَهاso they drained it بِالجَحافِلِwith their thick lips
مَعَ الطينِ فَاِستَقصَينَها بِالجَحافِلِ
and only a little water remained in a shallow hollow,
mixed with mud, which they drained with their lips.
فَهاجَso he stirred مُشيعاتِswift followers of الهَوىthe headlong rush بِحَفيظَةٍwith fierce resolve
فَهاجَ مُشيعاتِ الهَوى بِحَفيظَةٍ
صَوادِقَsure لَدناتٍsupple ظِماءِlean at المَفاصِلِthe joints
صَوادِقَ لَدناتٍ ظِماءِ المَفاصِلِ
With fierce resolve he roused those eager for flight,
sure and supple, with lean joints.
فَأَورَدَهُso brought him to water الظَنُّguesswork المُرَجِّمُuncertain فُرصَةًan opening
فَأَورَدَهُ الظَنُّ المُرَجِّمُ فُرصَةً
رَقيعَةَa small patch of شِربٍdrinking-water بَينَbetween هيبٍHayb وَكاثِلِand Kāthil
رَقيعَةَ شِربٍ بَينَ هيبٍ وَكاثِلِ
Uncertain guesswork brought him to an opening,
a small patch of drinking-water between Hayb and Kāthil.
تَراءىappeared نُجومُthe stars of الأَخذِthe pools فيwithin حجراتِهِits recesses
تَراءى نُجومُ الأَخذِ في حجراتِهِ
وَتَفهَقُand overflowed فيin إِتراعِهاtheir fullness فيthrough الجَداوِلِthe channels
وَتَفهَقُ في إِتراعِها في الجَداوِلِ
The pools gleamed like stars within its recesses,
and brimmed, spilling through the channels.
لَهاthey have مَشرَعٌa drinking-place غَمرٌdeep وَخَلقاءُand smooth growth رخصَةٌtender
لَها مَشرَعٌ غَمرٌ وَخَلقاءُ رخصَةٌ
مَنابِتُهاits growing-places لَمnot تَختَرِقwere cut through بِالمَناجِلِwith sickles
مَنابِتُها لَم تَختَرِق بِالمَناجِلِ
They had a deep drinking-place and smooth, tender growth
whose beds had never been cut through with sickles.
يُسَلسِلنَthey let flow بَرداًcoolness خالِصاًpure وَعُذوبَةًand sweetness
يُسَلسِلنَ بَرداً خالِصاً وَعُذوبَةً
شِفاءَa cure for الغَليلِburning thirst وَالعُيونِand the eyes الحَواجِلِsunken
شِفاءَ الغَليلِ وَالعُيونِ الحَواجِلِ
They let flow pure coolness and sweetness,
a cure for burning thirst and sunken eyes.
أَربhe kept close عَلَيهاto them قارِبُthe water-seeker الماءِafter بعدَماafter
أَرب عَلَيها قارِبُ الماءِ بعدَما
رَأىhe saw الشَّمسَthe sun قَدalready كانَتwas مَدىwithin reach of المُتَناوِلِone stretching a hand
رَأى الشَّمسَ قَد كانَت مَدى المُتَناوِلِ
The water-seeker kept close to them, after
he saw the sun already within reach of an outstretched hand.
وَأَنشَأنَand they raised نَقعاًdust ساطِعاًrising high مُتَواتِراًin successive clouds
وَأَنشَأنَ نَقعاً ساطِعاً مُتَواتِراً
وَأَتلَعنَand they stretched out بِالأَعناقِtheir necks بَلهَnot to mention الكَواهِلِthe withers
وَأَتلَعنَ بِالأَعناقِ بَلهَ الكَواهِلِ
They raised high dust in successive clouds,
and stretched out their necks, to say nothing of their withers.
وَأَردَفَand he followed أَدنىthe nearest نَقعِهِنَّtheir dust بِمِثلِهِwith its like
وَأَردَفَ أَدنى نَقعِهِنَّ بِمِثلِهِ
وَهاجَand stirred it up بِإضرامٍwith a fiery surge مِنَof الشَدِّrunning وابِلِtorrential
وَهاجَ بِإضرامٍ مِنَ الشَدِّ وابِلِ
He followed their nearest dust-cloud with one like it,
and whipped it up with a blazing, torrential burst of speed.
وَأَلصَقنَand they pressed بِالأَكفالِagainst the haunches جُبَّةَthe hollow of نَحرِهِhis throat
وَأَلصَقنَ بِالأَكفالِ جُبَّةَ نَحرِهِ
لُصوقَlike the clinging of المَنيحِthe blank gaming-arrow بِالأَريبِto the skilled player المُناقِلِwho shifts the lots
لُصوقَ المَنيحِ بِالأَريبِ المُناقِلِ
Their haunches pressed against the hollow of his throat,
as a blank gaming-arrow clings to the skilled shuffler.
تَفادَينَthey dodged مِنfrom إِنفادِهِhis exhausting them وَكَأَنَّهُand as though he
تَفادَينَ مِن إِنفادِهِ وَكَأَنَّهُ
رَقيبُa keeper of قِداحٍgaming-arrows مُسمِحٌyielding readily غَيرُnot ناكِلِholding back
رَقيبُ قِداحٍ مُسمِحٌ غَيرُ ناكِلِ
They dodged his driving them to exhaustion, and he seemed
a keeper of gaming-arrows, yielding readily, never hanging back.
أَلَمّاis it not yet يَئِنtime ليfor me أَنthat تُهابَbe feared جَريرَتيmy harmful deed
أَلَمّا يَئِن لي أَن تُهابَ جَريرَتي
فَيَقصُرَso should desist عَنّيfrom me حَيثُwherever يَمَّمتُI turned عاذِليmy reproacher
فَيَقصُرَ عَنّي حَيثُ يَمَّمتُ عاذِلي
Is it not yet time that the harm I do be feared,
so my reproacher leaves me alone wherever I turn?
دَنَتis near حَفظَتيmy anger وَنَصَّفَand covered half of الشَيبُgray hair لِمَّتيmy head of hair
دَنَت حَفظَتي وَنَصَّفَ الشَيبُ لِمَّتي
وَخَلَّيتُand I freed باليmy mind لِلأُمورِfor the matters الأَثاقِلِweightiest
وَخَلَّيتُ بالي لِلأُمورِ الأَثاقِلِ
My anger is near at hand, and gray has covered half my hair;
I have freed my mind for the weightiest matters.
وَبَيضاءand a fair woman مِثلِlike الريمِa gazelle قَدindeed كُنتُI was خِدنَهاher lover
وَبَيضاء مِثلِ الريمِ قَد كُنتُ خِدنَها
رَبَتshe grew up فيin نَعيمٍluxury جيدُهاher neck غَيرُnot عاطِلِunadorned
رَبَت في نَعيمٍ جيدُها غَيرُ عاطِلِ
Many a fair woman, like a gazelle, I have been lover to,
reared in luxury, her neck never unadorned.
وَمُطنِبَةٍand a long-drawn troop رَهوٍmoving gently وَزَعتُI restrained رَعيلَهاits vanguard
وَمُطنِبَةٍ رَهوٍ وَزَعتُ رَعيلَها
عَلىon مُشرِفِone towering at القَطرَينِboth ends نَهدِstout at المَراكِلِthe heel-striking places
عَلى مُشرِفِ القَطرَينِ نَهدِ المَراكِلِ
And many a long-drawn, easy-moving troop—its vanguard I restrained
on a mount towering fore and aft, stout where the heels strike,
جَليدِhardy through البَئيسِhardship وَالنَعيمِand ease يَصونُهُkeeps it sound
جَليدِ البَئيسِ وَالنَعيمِ يَصونُهُ
أَمينsound in العَراقيthe joint-bones غَيرَnot واهيweak in الأَباجِلِthe leg-veins
أَمين العَراقي غَيرَ واهي الأَباجِلِ
hardy in hardship and ease, kept sound
by firm joint-bones, its leg-veins never slack.
إِذاwhen آنَسَتit spotted أَدنىthe nearest السَوامِgrazing herd كَأَنَّهاas though it
إِذا آنَسَت أَدنى السَوامِ كَأَنَّها
سَعالٍshe-ghouls وَشِبهُand likenesses of الجِنِّthe jinn فَوقَupon الرَحائِلِthe saddles
سَعالٍ وَشِبهُ الجِنِّ فَوقَ الرَحائِلِ
Whenever the troop spied the nearest grazing herd, they seemed
she-ghouls and jinn-like beings above the saddles.
وَأَهلَةِand a company of وُدٍّaffection قَدindeed تَبَرَّيتُI sought وُدَّهُمtheir friendship
وَأَهلَةِ وُدٍّ قَد تَبَرَّيتُ وُدَّهُم
وَأَبلَيتُهمand I proved to them فيin الجَهدِhardship بَذليmy generosity وَنائِليand my gifts
وَأَبلَيتُهم في الجَهدِ بَذلي وَنائِلي
And many a circle of friends whose affection I sought,
I showed them, in hardship, my generosity and gifts.
وَقِدماًand long ago غَلَبتُI overcame الدَّهرَTime لَوif كُنتُI were غالِباa victor
وَقِدماً غَلَبتُ الدَّهرَ لَو كُنتُ غالِبا
وَقَضَّيتُand I discharged مِنsome of حَقٍّa rightful claim أَلَمَّthat befell وَباطِلِand a wrongful claim
وَقَضَّيتُ مِن حَقٍّ أَلَمَّ وَباطِلِ
Long ago I mastered Time—if ever I could master it—
and discharged pressing claims, both rightful and wrongful.
وَإِنّيand I رَأَيتُhave seen الدَّهرَTime إِنif تَكرَyou doze لاnot يَنَمsleeps
وَإِنّي رَأَيتُ الدَّهرَ إِن تَكرَ لا يَنَم
وَإِنand if أَنتَyou تَغفُلgrow heedless تَلقَهُyou find it غَيرَnot غافِلِheedless
وَإِن أَنتَ تَغفُل تَلقَهُ غَيرَ غافِلِ
I have seen that Time, even if you doze, never sleeps;
if you grow heedless, you find it never heedless.
إِذاwhen هُوَit أَفنىhas exhausted بَرزَخاًa span of time زيدَwas added مِثلُهُits like
إِذا هُوَ أَفنى بَرزَخاً زيدَ مِثلُهُ
يزادُis added عَلىupon المنوالِthe loom كَالمُتَطاوِلِlike something ever-lengthening
يزادُ عَلى المنوالِ كَالمُتَطاوِلِ
Whenever it exhausts one span of time, another like it is added,
added upon the loom, as though forever lengthening.
فَمَنso who يَأمَنُfeels safe from الأَيّامَthe days بَعدَafter اِبنِIbn هُرمُزٍHurmuz
فَمَن يَأمَنُ الأَيّامَ بَعدَ اِبنِ هُرمُزٍ
وَبَعدَand after أَبيAbū قابوسَQābūs مُذكيthe rouser of القَنابِلِsquadrons
وَبَعدَ أَبي قابوسَ مُذكي القَنابِلِ
Who can trust the days after Ibn Hurmuz,
and after Abū Qābūs, the rouser of squadrons?
Sol 6.1