طَلَلَO ruin الجَميعِof the gathered tribe لَقَدindeed عَفَوتَyou have faded حَميداpraised
طَلَلَ الجَميعِ لَقَد عَفَوتَ حَميدا
وَكَفىand suffices عَلىfor رُزئيmy loss بِذاكَby that شَهيداas witness
وَكَفى عَلى رُزئي بِذاكَ شَهيدا
O ruin of the gathered tribe, you have faded, still praised.
Everyone's vision deluded, for sure you've pardoned the praiseworthy Hamid
And that is witness enough to my loss.
And for denouncing Ruzayy, that suffices as witness.
دِمَنٌruined campsites كَأَنَّas though البَينَseparation أَصبَحَbecame طالِباًa pursuer
دِمَنٌ كَأَنَّ البَينَ أَصبَحَ طالِباً
دَمِناًresentful لَدىtoward آرامِهاtheir gazelles وَحُقوداand vindictive
دَمِناً لَدى آرامِها وَحُقودا
Ruins, as though separation had become a pursuer,
A blood-revenge as if separation became demanding
resentful toward their gazelles, full of spite.
Blood from her tranquility and grudges.
قَرَّبتَyou brought near نازِحَةَthe far-distant ones القُلوبِof the hearts مِنَto الجَوىanguish
قَرَّبتَ نازِحَةَ القُلوبِ مِنَ الجَوى
وَتَرَكتَand you left شَأوَthe course الدَمعِof tears فيكَover you بَعيداfar-reaching
وَتَرَكتَ شَأوَ الدَمعِ فيكَ بَعيدا
You brought far-distant hearts close to anguish,
You brought the wandering hearts closer through passion
and left the course of tears over you far-reaching,
And left the evil of tears in you distant.
خَضِلاًdrenched إِذاwhen العَبَراتُthe tears لَمnot تَبرَحforsake لَهاfor them
خَضِلاً إِذا العَبَراتُ لَم تَبرَح لَها
وَطَناًa home سَرىit traveled by night قَلِقَrestless المَحَلِّin abode طَريداdriven out
وَطَناً سَرى قَلِقَ المَحَلِّ طَريدا
drenched; when tears had not forsaken their
Degraded if the teardrops do not cease falling for her
home, it traveled by night, restless in its abode, driven out.
And homeland the restless sought expelled.
أَمَواقِفَO halting-places الفِتيانِof the youths تَطويyou fold away لَمnot تَزُرyou visit
أَمَواقِفَ الفِتيانِ تَطوي لَم تَزُر
شَرَفاًa height وَلَمnor تَندُبyou summon لَهُنَّfor them صَعيداa plain
شَرَفاً وَلَم تَندُب لَهُنَّ صَعيدا
O halting-places of the youths, you fold away, never visiting
The stances of gallants do not fold, did not visit
a height, nor summoning a plain for them.
Glory and did not eulogize for them a place.
أَذكَرتَناyou reminded us المَلِكَof the king المُضَلَّلَled astray فيin الهَوىlove
أَذكَرتَنا المَلِكَ المُضَلَّلَ في الهَوى
وَالأَعشَيَينِand the two A‘shas وَطَرفَةًand Tarafah وَلَبيداand Labid
وَالأَعشَيَينِ وَطَرفَةً وَلَبيدا
You reminded us of the king led astray by love,
You reminded us of the king gone astray in passion
and the two A‘shas, and Tarafah, and Labid.
And al-A'sha and Tarafa and Labid.
حَلّواthey loosened بِهاat them عُقَدَthe knots النَسيبِof love-poetry وَنَمنَمواand they embroidered
حَلّوا بِها عُقَدَ النَسيبِ وَنَمنَموا
مِنfrom وَشيِهاtheir brocade حُلَلاًrobes لَهاfor them وَقَصيداand odes
مِن وَشيِها حُلَلاً لَها وَقَصيدا
There they loosened the knots of love-poetry, and embroidered
They dissolved the ties of lineage and softly crooned
from their brocade robes for them, and odes.
From her tattoo bracelets for her and ode.
راحَتthey departed غَوانيthe beauties الحَيِّof the tribe عَنكَfrom you غَوانِياًfree of need
راحَت غَواني الحَيِّ عَنكَ غَوانِياً
يَلبَسنَthey wear نَأياًdistance تارَةًat one time وَصُدوداand aversion
يَلبَسنَ نَأياً تارَةً وَصُدودا
The tribe's beauties went away, content without you,
My passion of life went from you passionately
wearing distance at one time, and aversion at another.
Donning remoteness sometimes and aloofness other times.
مِنfrom كُلِّevery سابِغَةِone brimful of الشَبابِyouth إِذاwhen بَدَتshe appeared
مِن كُلِّ سابِغَةِ الشَبابِ إِذا بَدَت
تَرَكَتshe left عَميدَthe chief القَريَتَينِof the two towns عَميداlovesick
تَرَكَت عَميدَ القَريَتَينِ عَميدا
Each one brimful of youth, who, when she appeared,
Of every fully mature in youth, when she appeared
left the chief of the two towns lovesick.
She left the chief of both encampments, a chief.
أولِعنَthey became enamored بِالمُردِof beardless youths الغَطارِفِthe nobles بُدَّناfull-bodied
أولِعنَ بِالمُردِ الغَطارِفِ بُدَّنا
غيداًgraceful أَلِفنَهُمُthey cherished them لِداناًsupple غيداgraceful
غيداً أَلِفنَهُمُ لِداناً غيدا
They doted on beardless nobles, full-bodied,
They were infatuated with polished libertines
graceful; they cherished them, supple and graceful.
A herd they befriended gentle, a herd.
أَحلىsweetest الرِجالِof men مِنَwith النِساءِwomen مَواقِعاًin favor
أَحلى الرِجالِ مِنَ النِساءِ مَواقِعاً
مَنwhoever كانَwas أَشبَهَهُمthe most similar of them بِهِنَّto them خُدوداin cheeks
مَن كانَ أَشبَهَهُم بِهِنَّ خُدودا
The men sweetest in favor with women
Does and goats on hillocks for them
are those whose cheeks most resemble theirs.
Prey, their nights seeming to them amorous play.
فَاُطلُبso seek هُدوءاًcalm بِالتَقَلقُلِthrough restlessness وَاِستَثِرand rouse
فَاُطلُب هُدوءاً بِالتَقَلقُلِ وَاِستَثِر
بِالعيسِwith pale camels مِنfrom تَحتِbeneath السُهادِsleeplessness هُجوداslumber
بِالعيسِ مِن تَحتِ السُهادِ هُجودا
So seek calm through restlessness, and rouse
They inherited fatherliness and fortunes so they became
with pale camels slumber from beneath sleeplessness.
Bringers of ancestry on high and ancestry below.
مِنfrom كُلِّevery مُعطِيَةٍone giving عَلىdespite عَلَلِthe strains السُرىof night travel
مِن كُلِّ مُعطِيَةٍ عَلى عَلَلِ السُرى
وَخداًa swift pace يَبيتُspends the night النَومُsleep مِنهُfrom it شَريداfleeing
وَخداً يَبيتُ النَومُ مِنهُ شَريدا
Each one giving, despite the strains of night travel,
The souls' dens when the stars of Qa'adhab
a swift pace from which sleep spends the night fleeing.
Let loose the ghoul of chaos the accursed.
تَخديshe trots بِمُنصَلِتٍwith a resolute rider يَظَلُّhe remains إِذاwhen وَنىgrew weary
تَخدي بِمُنصَلِتٍ يَظَلُّ إِذا وَنى
ضُرَباؤُهُhis peers حِلساًa saddlecloth لَهاfor her وَقُتوداand saddle-pieces
ضُرَباؤُهُ حِلساً لَها وَقُتودا
She trots with a resolute rider who remains—when
Flowers when they rise over kidneys' veils
his fellows tire—her saddlecloth and saddle-frame.
Are inauspicious, and if hidden, bring bliss.
جَعَلَhe made الدُجىthe darkness جَمَلاًa camel وَوَدَّعَand he left راضِياًone content
جَعَلَ الدُجى جَمَلاً وَوَدَّعَ راضِياً
بِالهونِwith abasement يَتَّخِذُhe takes القُعودَsitting still قَعوداas a riding-camel
بِالهونِ يَتَّخِذُ القُعودَ قَعودا
He made the darkness a camel, and left one content
You see none but a purposeful leader
with abasement, who takes sitting still as his riding-camel.
Under the standard, and an agent with purpose.
طَبَلَتshe hastened toward رَبيعَthe spring رَبيعَةَof Rabi‘ah المُهميpouring rain لَهاfor her
طَبَلَت رَبيعَ رَبيعَةَ المُهمي لَها
فَوَرَدنَso they reached ظِلَّthe shade رَبيعَةَof Rabi‘ah المَمدوداoutstretched
فَوَرَدنَ ظِلَّ رَبيعَةَ المَمدودا
She sped to Rabi‘ah's spring, showering rain upon her,
So they rushed to the dense, multiplied troop, and donned
and they reached the outstretched shade of Rabi‘ah:
Among them iron, in affairs iron.
بَكرِيِّهاher Bakri عَلَوِيَّهاher ‘Alawi صَعبِيَّهاher Sa‘bi الthe
بَكرِيِّها عَلَوِيَّها صَعبِيَّها ال
حِصنِيِّHisni شَيبانِيَّهاher Shaybani الصِنديداthe dauntless
حِصنِيِّ شَيبانِيَّها الصِنديدا
her Bakri, her ‘Alawi, her Sa‘bi, the
And they walked before Abu Yazid and behind him
Hisni, her Shaybani, the dauntless;
A walk that shakes the crumbling mountains.
ذَهلِيَّهاher Dhuhli مُرِّيَّهاher Murri مَطَرِيَّهاher Matari
ذَهلِيَّها مُرِّيَّها مَطَرِيَّها
يُمنىthe right one يَدَيهاof her two hands خالِدَKhalid بنَson of يَزيداYazid
يُمنى يَدَيها خالِدَ بنَ يَزيدا
her Dhuhli, her Murri, her Matari,
Their lower flanks they shield with the flank of a stab
the right of her two hands, Khalid ibn Yazid.
Of spear and uglier blow of thick-clubbed one.
نَسَبٌa lineage كَأَنَّas though عَلَيهِupon it مِنfrom شَمسِthe sun الضُحىof forenoon
نَسَبٌ كَأَنَّ عَلَيهِ مِن شَمسِ الضُحى
نوراًlight وَمِنand from فَلَقِthe breaking الصَباحِof dawn عَموداa shaft
نوراً وَمِن فَلَقِ الصَباحِ عَمودا
A lineage as though upon it, from the forenoon sun,
You do not see the pedigrees white and pure
lay light, and from daybreak a shaft.
Except where you see the deaths black.
عُريانُlaid bare لاnot يَكبوstumbles دَليلٌa guide مِنfrom عَمىًblindness
عُريانُ لا يَكبو دَليلٌ مِن عَمىً
فيهِin it وَلاnor يَبغيseeks عَلَيهِconcerning it شُهوداwitnesses
فيهِ وَلا يَبغي عَلَيهِ شُهودا
Laid bare: no guide stumbles from blindness
He wore courage, it was for him
within it, nor seeks witnesses to attest it.
A foot accustomed early in boyhood to wound.
شَرَفٌnobility عَلىabove أولىthe earliest part الزَمانِof time وَإِنَّماand only
شَرَفٌ عَلى أولى الزَمانِ وَإِنَّما
خَلَقُthe threadbareness المَناسِبَof lineages أَنthat يَكونَit be جَديداnew
خَلَقُ المَناسِبَ أَن يَكونَ جَديدا
A nobility above time's earliest ages; indeed,
Scarce valor and the valor of generosity
a lineage's threadbareness lies in being new.
Compact, and the valor of innate disposition.
لَوif لَمnot تَكُنyou were مِنfrom نَبعَةٍa nab‘ tree نَجدِيَّةٍof Najd
لَو لَم تَكُن مِن نَبعَةٍ نَجدِيَّةٍ
عَلوِيَّةٍlofty لَظَنَنتُI would have thought عودَكَyour wood عوداaloeswood
عَلوِيَّةٍ لَظَنَنتُ عودَكَ عودا
Were you not from a nab‘ tree of Najd,
And if you see Abu Yazid in softness
lofty, I would have thought your wood aloeswood.
And fervor the starter of a raid and repeat raider
مَطَرٌMatar أَبوكَyour father أَبوfather of أَهِلَّةِthe crescent moons وائِلِof Wa’il
مَطَرٌ أَبوكَ أَبو أَهِلَّةِ وائِلِ
مَلَأَhe filled البَسيطَةَthe earth عُدَّةًwith armament وَعَديداand numbers
مَلَأَ البَسيطَةَ عُدَّةً وَعَديدا
Matar, your father, father of Wa’il's crescent moons,
He feeds his pursuer the possessions of his wealth
filled the earth with armament and numbers.
And the lips of the swords a wound and vein.
أَكفاءَهُhis equals تَلِدُbeget الرِجالُmen وَإِنَّماbut rather
أَكفاءَهُ تَلِدُ الرِجالُ وَإِنَّما
وَلَدَhe begot الحُتوفُdeaths أَساوِداًblack serpents وَأُسوداand lions
وَلَدَ الحُتوفُ أَساوِداً وَأُسودا
Men beget his equals; he, however,
You'd be certain that from generosity is courage
begot deaths—black serpents and lions,
That makes bloody, and that from courage is openhandedness.
رُبداًdusky وَمَأسَدَةًand a pride of lions عَلىupon أَكتادِهاtheir shoulders
رُبداً وَمَأسَدَةً عَلى أَكتادِها
لِبَدٌmanes تَخالُyou imagine فَليلَهُنَّtheir tousled strands لُبوداfelted mats
لِبَدٌ تَخالُ فَليلَهُنَّ لُبودا
dusky, and a pride of lions upon whose shoulders
And if you let your eyes roam about his abodes
are manes, their tousled strands seeming felt.
You find none but bounty and envious.
وَرِثواthey inherited الأُبُوَّةَancestry وَالحُظوظَand fortunes فَأَصبَحواso they came to
وَرِثوا الأُبُوَّةَ وَالحُظوظَ فَأَصبَحوا
جَمَعواthey gathered جُدوداًforefathers فيin العُلىglory وَجُدوداand good fortunes
جَمَعوا جُدوداً في العُلى وَجُدودا
They inherited ancestry and fortune, and thus
And noble deeds the emancipation of craftsmen multiplied
combined forefathers in glory with good fortunes.
If the plateau of the two Amayat is long lasting
وُقُرُsteady النُفوسِof soul إِذاwhen كَواكِبُthe stars قَعضَبٍof Qa‘dab
وُقُرُ النُفوسِ إِذا كَواكِبُ قَعضَبٍ
أَردَينَthey felled عِفريتَthe demon الوَغىof battle المَرّيداthe rebellious
أَردَينَ عِفريتَ الوَغى المَرّيدا
Steady of soul, when the stars of Qa‘dab
And whenever you resort to him, you attain his effort
felled the unruly demon of battle.
And after the effort find in him increase.
زُهراًgleaming إِذاwhen طَلَعَتthey rose عَلىover حُجُبِthe membranes الكُلىof the kidneys
زُهراً إِذا طَلَعَت عَلى حُجُبِ الكُلى
نَحَسَتthey brought ill fortune وَإِنand if غابَتthey set تَكونُthey become سُعوداlucky stars
نَحَسَت وَإِن غابَت تَكونُ سُعودا
Gleaming—when they rise over the kidneys' membranes,
Ablaze from it the times, and perhaps
they bring ill fortune; if they set, they become lucky stars.
The times with others were stagnant.
ماnot إِنat all تَرىyou see إِلّاexcept رَئيساًa chieftain مُقصَداًslain
ما إِن تَرى إِلّا رَئيساً مُقصَداً
تَحتَbeneath العَجاجِthe dust-cloud وَعامِلاًand a spearshaft مَقصوداbroken
تَحتَ العَجاجِ وَعامِلاً مَقصودا
You see nothing but a chieftain slain
May Yazid and Mazid and their father
beneath the dust-cloud, and a broken spearshaft.
And your father, your pillar in glory, endure
فَزِعواthey resorted إِلىto الحَلَقِthe mail-rings المُضاعَفِdouble-linked وَاِرتَدواand they donned
فَزِعوا إِلى الحَلَقِ المُضاعَفِ وَاِرتَدوا
فيهاwithin them حَديداًiron فيin الشُؤونِaffairs حَديداkeen
فيها حَديداً في الشُؤونِ حَديدا
They resorted to double-linked mail-rings, and donned
They preceded, seeing mention a righteous sequel
within them iron, keen as iron in all affairs.
And passed esteeming praise eternity.
وَمَشَواand they marched أَمامَbefore أَبيAbu (father of) يَزيدَYazid وَخَلفَهُand behind him
وَمَشَوا أَمامَ أَبي يَزيدَ وَخَلفَهُ
مَشياًa tread يَهُدُّthat topples الراسِياتِthe firm-set mountains وَئيداdeliberate
مَشياً يَهُدُّ الراسِياتِ وَئيدا
They marched before Abu Yazid and behind him,
Verily the rhymes and endeavors never ceased
with a deliberate tread that brings the firm-set mountains down.
To be like order if it meets unmatched.
يَغشَونَthey surround أَسفَحَهُمtheir most profuse blood-shedder مَذانِبَthe channels طَعنَةٍof a thrust
يَغشَونَ أَسفَحَهُم مَذانِبَ طَعنَةٍ
سَيحٍfree-flowing وَأَشنَعَand most gruesome ضَربَةٍin a blow أُخدوداa trench
سَيحٍ وَأَشنَعَ ضَربَةٍ أُخدودا
They surround their champion, whose thrust pours the fullest streams,
It is essence, prose, so if you compile it
flowing freely, whose blow cuts the most gruesome trench.
Into verse, it becomes necklaces and covenants.
ماnot إِنat all تَرىyou see الأَحسابَancestral honors بيضاًwhite وُضَّحاًradiant
ما إِن تَرى الأَحسابَ بيضاً وُضَّحاً
إِلّاexcept بِحَيثُwhere تَرىyou see المَناياdeaths سوداblack
إِلّا بِحَيثُ تَرى المَنايا سودا
You never see ancestral honors white and radiant
In every battlefield and every stand
save where you see black deaths.
They take from it obligation and covenants.
لَبِسَhe donned الشَجاعَةَcourage إِنَّهاindeed it كانَتwas لَهُfor him
لَبِسَ الشَجاعَةَ إِنَّها كانَت لَهُ
قِدماًlong ago نَشوغاًa nasal medicine فيin الصِباchildhood وَلَدوداand an oral medicine
قِدماً نَشوغاً في الصِبا وَلَدودا
He donned courage; indeed it had been for him
So when the odes were not its sentinels
long ago, in childhood, a nasal medicine and an oral draught.
It was not pleased with it a witnessed scene.
بَأساًvalor قَليلِيّاًQalili وَبَأسَand the valor تَكَرُّمٍof generosity
بَأساً قَليلِيّاً وَبَأسَ تَكَرُّمٍ
جَمٍّabundant وَبَأسَand the valor قَريحَةِof innate nature مَولوداinborn
جَمٍّ وَبَأسَ قَريحَةِ مَولودا
Qalili valor, and the valor of generosity
For that reason the first Arabs
abundant, and valor born of innate spirit.
Called this firmly constructed, delineated.
وَإِذاand when رَأَيتَyou see أَباAbu (father of) يَزيدٍYazid فيin نَدىًgenerosity
وَإِذا رَأَيتَ أَبا يَزيدٍ في نَدىً
وَوَغىًand battle وَمُبدِئَand initiating غارَةٍa raid وَمُعيداand renewing
وَوَغىً وَمُبدِئَ غارَةٍ وَمُعيدا
And when you see Abu Yazid in generosity,
And with them glory rises only a glory
and battle, beginning a raid and renewing it,
For which the purpose of the ode was fettered.
يَقريhe hospitably serves مُرَجّيهِthose hoping in him مُشاشَةَthe marrow مالِهِof his wealth
يَقري مُرَجّيهِ مُشاشَةَ مالِهِ
وَشَباand the points الأَسِنَّةِof spears ثُغرَةًa throat-hollow وَوَريداand a jugular vein
وَشَبا الأَسِنَّةِ ثُغرَةً وَوَريدا
serving those who hope in him the marrow of his wealth,
So when the odes were not its guards
and spear-points a throat-hollow and a jugular vein,
It was not pleased from it a scene witnessed.
أَيقَنتَyou became certain أَنَّthat مِنَamong السَماحِgenerosity شَجاعَةًcourage
أَيقَنتَ أَنَّ مِنَ السَماحِ شَجاعَةً
تُدميdraws blood وَأَنَّand that مِنَamong الشَجاعَةِcourage جوداgenerosity
تُدمي وَأَنَّ مِنَ الشَجاعَةِ جودا
you know for certain that some generosity is courage
For that the first Arabs
that draws blood, and some courage generosity.
Called this firmly constructed, delineated.
وَإِذاand when سَرَحتَyou let roam الطَرفَyour gaze حَولَaround قِبابِهِhis pavilions
وَإِذا سَرَحتَ الطَرفَ حَولَ قِبابِهِ
لَمnot تَلقَyou encounter إِلّاexcept نِعمَةًbounty وَحَسوداand an envier
لَم تَلقَ إِلّا نِعمَةً وَحَسودا
And when you let your gaze roam round his pavilions,
And glory rises with them only a glory
you encounter nothing but bounty and an envier,
That had the bitterness of the ode fettered.
وَمَكارِماًand noble deeds عُتُقَpure النِجارِin stock تَليدَةًancient
وَمَكارِماً عُتُقَ النِجارِ تَليدَةً
إِنif كانَwere هَضبُthe hills عَمايَتَينِof ‘Amayatayn تَليداancient
إِن كانَ هَضبُ عَمايَتَينِ تَليدا
and noble deeds of pure stock, ancient,
if the hills of ‘Amayatayn are ancient.
وَمَتىand whenever حَلَلتَyou alighted بِهِwith him أَنالَكhe granted you جُهدَهُhis utmost
وَمَتى حَلَلتَ بِهِ أَنالَك جُهدَهُ
وَوَجَدتَand you found بَعدَbeyond الجُهدِthe utmost فيهِin him مَزيداmore
وَوَجَدتَ بَعدَ الجُهدِ فيهِ مَزيدا
Whenever you alight with him, he grants you his utmost,
and beyond his utmost you find still more in him.
مُتَوَقِّدٌablaze مِنهُbecause of him الزَمانُtime وَرُبَّماand sometimes
مُتَوَقِّدٌ مِنهُ الزَمانُ وَرُبَّما
كانَwas الزَمانُtime بآخَرينَthrough others بَليداdull
كانَ الزَمانُ بآخَرينَ بَليدا
Time is fired by him, though at times
time has been dull through others.
أَبقىkept يَزيدُYazid وَمَزيَدُand Mazyad وَأَبوهُماand the father of both
أَبقى يَزيدُ وَمَزيَدُ وَأَبوهُما
وَأَبوكَand your father رُكنَكَyour pillar فيin الفَخارِglory شَديداstrong
وَأَبوكَ رُكنَكَ في الفَخارِ شَديدا
Yazid, Mazyad, and their father have kept,
along with your father, your pillar strong in glory.
سَلَفواthey went before يَرَونَthey regard الذِكرَrenown عَقباًas offspring صالِحاًworthy
سَلَفوا يَرَونَ الذِكرَ عَقباً صالِحاً
وَمَضَواand they passed away يَعُدّونَthey count الثَناءَpraise خُلوداas immortality
وَمَضَوا يَعُدّونَ الثَناءَ خُلودا
They went before, seeing renown as worthy offspring,
and passed away, counting praise as immortality.
إِنَّindeed القَوافِيَrhymes وَالمَساعِيَand noble deeds لَمnot تَزَلceased
إِنَّ القَوافِيَ وَالمَساعِيَ لَم تَزَل
مِثلَlike النِظامِthe necklace-string إِذاwhen أَصابَit found فَريداa choice pearl
مِثلَ النِظامِ إِذا أَصابَ فَريدا
Rhymes and noble deeds have ever been
like a necklace-string when it meets a choice pearl.
هِيَthey جَوهَرٌjewels نَثرٌscattered فَإِنand if أَلَّفتَهُyou assemble it
هِيَ جَوهَرٌ نَثرٌ فَإِن أَلَّفتَهُ
بِالشِعرِthrough poetry صارَit became قَلائِداًnecklaces وَعُقوداand jeweled strands
بِالشِعرِ صارَ قَلائِداً وَعُقودا
They are scattered jewels; if you gather them
through poetry, they become necklaces and jeweled strands.
فيin كُلِّevery مُعتَرَكٍbattlefield وَكُلِّand every مَقامَةٍassembly
في كُلِّ مُعتَرَكٍ وَكُلِّ مَقامَةٍ
يَأخُذنَthey take مِنهُfrom it ذِمَّةًprotection وَعُهوداand pledges
يَأخُذنَ مِنهُ ذِمَّةً وَعُهودا
In every battlefield and every assembly,
they gain from it protection and pledges.
فَإِذاso if القَصائِدُodes لَمnot تَكُنwere خُفَراءَهاtheir guardians
فَإِذا القَصائِدُ لَم تَكُن خُفَراءَها
لَمnot تَرضَyou approve مِنهاof them مَشهَداًa display مَشهوداwitnessed
لَم تَرضَ مِنها مَشهَداً مَشهودا
Thus, if odes are not their guardians,
no witnessed display of them will satisfy you.
مِنfor أَجلِthe sake of ذَلِكَthat كانَتِused to be العَرَبُthe Arabs الأُلىof old
مِن أَجلِ ذَلِكَ كانَتِ العَرَبُ الأُلى
يَدعونَthey call هَذاthis سُؤدُداًnobility مَحدوداlimited
يَدعونَ هَذا سُؤدُداً مَحدودا
For that reason the Arabs of old
would call this a limited nobility.
وَتَنَدُّand runs loose عِندَهُمُin their eyes العُلىgreatness إِلّاexcept عُلىًgreatness
وَتَنَدُّ عِندَهُمُ العُلى إِلّا عُلىً
جُعِلَتwere made لَهاfor it مُرَرُthe twisted cords القَصيدِof verse قُيوداfetters
جُعِلَت لَها مُرَرُ القَصيدِ قُيودا
And greatness, in their eyes, runs loose, except greatness
for which the twisted cords of verse have been made fetters.
Partial English translation: 78 of 100 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1