عَفَتwere effaced أَربُعُdwellings الحِلّاتِof the encampments لِلأَربُعِfor the four المُلدِof the distant past
عَفَت أَربُعُ الحِلّاتِ لِلأَربُعِ المُلدِ
لِكُلِّfor each هَضيمِslender الكَشحِof waist مَجدولَةِwell-formed القَدِّof stature
لِكُلِّ هَضيمِ الكَشحِ مَجدولَةِ القَدِّ
The four dwellings of the beloved women have vanished with the passing years,
Each once home to a slender waist and a finely shaped figure:
لِسَلمىfor Salma سَلامانٍof Salaman وَعَمرَةِand Amra عامِرٍof Amir
لِسَلمى سَلامانٍ وَعَمرَةِ عامِرٍ
وَهِندِand Hind بَنيsons of هِندٍHind وَسُعدىand Suda بَنيsons of سَعدِSad
وَهِندِ بَني هِندٍ وَسُعدى بَني سَعدِ
To Salma of Salaman and Amra of Amir,
And Hind of Banu Hind and Suda of Banu Sad.
دِيارٌdwellings هَراقَتmade pour كُلَّevery عَينٍeye شَحيحَةٍreluctant
دِيارٌ هَراقَت كُلَّ عَينٍ شَحيحَةٍ
وَأَوطَأَتِand made tread الأَحزانَsorrows كُلَّevery حَشاًheart صَلدِhard
وَأَوطَأَتِ الأَحزانَ كُلَّ حَشاً صَلدِ
Dwellings that drew tears from every reluctant eye
And made grief tread upon every hardened heart.
فَعوجاso turn, you two صُدورَthe chests الأَرحَبِيِّof the Arhabi camel وَأَسهِلاand descend, you two
فَعوجا صُدورَ الأَرحَبِيِّ وَأَسهِلا
بِذاكَby that الكَثيبِdune السَهلِgentle وَالعَلَمِand landmark الفَردِsolitary
بِذاكَ الكَثيبِ السَهلِ وَالعَلَمِ الفَردِ
So turn the chests of the Arhabi camels, and descend
By that gentle dune and that solitary landmark.
وَلاand do not تَسأَلانيask me, you two عَنabout هَوىًlove قَدindeed طَعِمتُماyou two have tasted
وَلا تَسأَلاني عَن هَوىً قَد طَعِمتُما
جَواهُits anguish فَلَيسَfor is not الوَجدُlonging إِلّاexcept مِنَfrom الوَجدِlove's experience
جَواهُ فَلَيسَ الوَجدُ إِلّا مِنَ الوَجدِ
Do not ask me about a love whose anguish you have tasted;
Longing comes only from having known love.
حَطَطتُI set down إِلىin أَرضِthe land of الجُدَيدِيِّal-Judaydi أَرحُليmy saddles
حَطَطتُ إِلى أَرضِ الجُدَيدِيِّ أَرحُلي
بِمَهرِيَّةٍon a Mahri camel تَنباعُstretches into a run فيin السَيرِtravel أَوor تَخديmoves briskly
بِمَهرِيَّةٍ تَنباعُ في السَيرِ أَو تَخدي
I set down my baggage in the land of al-Judaydi,
Upon a Mahri camel that stretches into a run or moves at a brisk pace.
تَؤُمُّshe heads toward شِهابَthe flame of الحَربِwar حَفصاًHafs وَرَهطُهُand his kin
تَؤُمُّ شِهابَ الحَربِ حَفصاً وَرَهطُهُ
بَنوsons of الحَربِwar لاdoes not يَنبوyield ثَراهُمtheir ground وَلاnor يُكديrun barren
بَنو الحَربِ لا يَنبو ثَراهُم وَلا يُكدي
She heads for Hafs, the flame of war, and for his kin,
Sons of war, whose ground neither yields nor runs barren.
وَمَنand whoever شَكَّdoubts أَنَّthat الجودَgenerosity وَالبَأسَand courage فيهِمُare in them
وَمَن شَكَّ أَنَّ الجودَ وَالبَأسَ فيهِمُ
كَمَنis like one who شَكَّdoubts فيabout أَنَّthat الفَصاحَةَeloquence فيis in نَجدِNajd
كَمَن شَكَّ في أَنَّ الفَصاحَةَ في نَجدِ
Whoever doubts that generosity and courage dwell among them
Might as well doubt that eloquence dwells in Najd.
أَنَختُI made kneel إِلىat ساحاتِهِمtheir courtyards وَجَنابِهِمand their precincts
أَنَختُ إِلى ساحاتِهِم وَجَنابِهِم
رِكابيmy riding camels وَأَضحىand came to rest فيin دِيارِهِمtheir lands وَفديmy delegation
رِكابي وَأَضحى في دِيارِهِم وَفدي
I brought my riding camels to their courtyards and precincts,
And my delegation came to rest in their lands,
إِلىtoward سَيفِهِمtheir sword حَفصٍHafs وَمازالَand still يُنتَضىis drawn
إِلى سَيفِهِم حَفصٍ وَمازالَ يُنتَضى
لَهُمfor them مِثلُthe like of ذاكَthat السَيفِsword مِنfrom تِلكَthat الغِمدِsheath
لَهُم مِثلُ ذاكَ السَيفِ مِن تِلكَ الغِمدِ
Seeking Hafs, their sword, while a sword like him
Is still drawn for them from that same sheath.
فَلَمso I did not أَغشَapproach باباًa gate أَنكَرَتنيwhose dogs failed to know me كِلابُهُits dogs
فَلَم أَغشَ باباً أَنكَرَتني كِلابُهُ
وَلَمand I did not أَتَشَبَّثcling بِالوَسيلَةِto an intermediary مِنfrom بُعدِafar
وَلَم أَتَشَبَّث بِالوَسيلَةِ مِن بُعدِ
I approached no gate where the dogs failed to know me,
And I needed no distant intermediary to gain entry.
فَأَصبَحتُso I became لاwithout ذُلُّthe humiliation of السُؤالِasking أَصابَنيtouching me
فَأَصبَحتُ لا ذُلُّ السُؤالِ أَصابَني
وَلاnor قَدَحَتstruck فيin خاطِريmy mind رَوعَةُthe fear of الرَدِّrefusal
وَلا قَدَحَت في خاطِري رَوعَةُ الرَدِّ
Thus the humiliation of asking did not touch me,
Nor did fear of refusal strike my mind.
يَرىhe sees الوَعدَa promise أَخزىas the most shameful العارِdisgrace إِنif هُوَhe لَمdoes not تَكُنbe
يَرى الوَعدَ أَخزى العارِ إِن هُوَ لَم تَكُن
مَواهِبُهُhis gifts تَأتيarrive مُقَدَّمَةَahead of الوَعدِthe promise
مَواهِبُهُ تَأتي مُقَدَّمَةَ الوَعدِ
He sees a promise as the deepest shame if his gifts
Do not arrive before the promise itself.
فَلَوso if كانَwere ماwhat يُعطيهِhe gives غَيثاًrain لَأَمطَرَتit would pour
فَلَو كانَ ما يُعطيهِ غَيثاً لَأَمطَرَت
سَحائِبُهُits clouds مِنwithout غَيرِany بَرقٍlightning وَلاor رَعدِthunder
سَحائِبُهُ مِن غَيرِ بَرقٍ وَلا رَعدِ
If what he gives were rain, its clouds would pour
Without either lightning or thunder.
دَرِيَّةُa cavalry target خَيلٍof horsemen ماstill يَزالُhe remains لَدىamid الوَغىbattle
دَرِيَّةُ خَيلٍ ما يَزالُ لَدى الوَغى
لَهُhe has مِخلَبٌa claw وَردٌred مِنَof الأَسَدِthe lion الوَردِtawny
لَهُ مِخلَبٌ وَردٌ مِنَ الأَسَدِ الوَردِ
A target for cavalry, he still has in battle
The red claw of a tawny lion.
مِنَamong القَومِthe people جَعدٌcurly-haired أَبيَضُbright الوَجهِof face وَالنَدىand of gifts
مِنَ القَومِ جَعدٌ أَبيَضُ الوَجهِ وَالنَدى
وَلَيسَand is not بَنانٌa finger يُجتَدىfrom which gifts are sought مِنهُfrom him بِالجَعدِclenched
وَلَيسَ بَنانٌ يُجتَدى مِنهُ بِالجَعدِ
Among his people, he is curly-haired, bright of face and generous in gifts;
Yet the fingers from which gifts are sought are never clenched.
وَأَنتَand you وَقَدwhen مَجَّتspewed خُراسانُKhurasan داءَهاits sickness
وَأَنتَ وَقَد مَجَّت خُراسانُ داءَها
وَقَدand had نَغِلَتfestered أَطرافُهاits borders نَغَلَlike the festering of الجِلدِskin
وَقَد نَغِلَت أَطرافُها نَغَلَ الجِلدِ
And you, when Khurasan had spewed forth its sickness
And its borders had festered like infected skin,
وَأَوباشُهاand its rabble خُزرٌlooking askance إِلىtoward العَرَبِthe Arabs الأُلىthe noble ones
وَأَوباشُها خُزرٌ إِلى العَرَبِ الأُلى
لِكَيماso that يَكونَmight become الحُرُّthe free man مِنamong خَوَلِthe servants of العَبدِthe slave
لِكَيما يَكونَ الحُرُّ مِن خَوَلِ العَبدِ
While its rabble looked askance at the noble Arabs,
Wishing to make the free man a servant of the slave,
لَيالِيَin the nights when باتَslept العِزُّhonor فيin غَيرِother than بَيتِهِits house
لَيالِيَ باتَ العِزُّ في غَيرِ بَيتِهِ
وَعُظِّمَand was exalted وَغدُthe scoundrel of القَومِthe people فيin الزَمَنِthe age الوَغدِbase
وَعُظِّمَ وَغدُ القَومِ في الزَمَنِ الوَغدِ
In nights when honor slept outside its own house
And the people's scoundrel was exalted in a scoundrel age,
وَماand they did not قَصَدواaim إِذwhen يَسحَبونَthey drag عَلىover المُنىhopes
وَما قَصَدوا إِذ يَسحَبونَ عَلى المُنى
بُرودَهُمُtheir robes إِلّاexcept إِلىtoward وارِثِthe heir to البُردِthe mantle
بُرودَهُمُ إِلّا إِلى وارِثِ البُردِ
Their hopes, as they trailed their robes over them,
Were aimed only at the heir to the mantle.
وَرامواand they sought دَمَthe blood of الإِسلامِIslam لاnot مِنfrom جَهالَةٍignorance
وَراموا دَمَ الإِسلامِ لا مِن جَهالَةٍ
وَلاnor خَطَإٍmistake بَلbut حاوَلوهُthey attempted it عَلىwith عَمدِintent
وَلا خَطَإٍ بَل حاوَلوهُ عَلى عَمدِ
They sought Islam's blood, neither in ignorance
Nor by mistake: they attempted it deliberately.
فَمَجّواso they spat بِهِinto it سَمّاًvenom وَصاباًand bitter poison وَلَوand if نَأَتhad stayed away
فَمَجّوا بِهِ سَمّاً وَصاباً وَلَو نَأَت
سُيوفُكَyour swords عَنهُمfrom them كانَit would have been أَحلىsweeter مِنَthan الشَهدِhoney
سُيوفُكَ عَنهُم كانَ أَحلى مِنَ الشَهدِ
They spat venom and bitter poison into it; had your swords
Kept away from them, it would have been sweeter than honey to them.
ضَمَمتَyou joined إِلىto قَحطانَQahtan عَدنانَAdnan كُلَّهاentirely
ضَمَمتَ إِلى قَحطانَ عَدنانَ كُلَّها
وَلَمand they did not يَجِدواfind إِذthen ذاكَthat مِنfrom ذاكَthat مِنany بُدِّescape
وَلَم يَجِدوا إِذ ذاكَ مِن ذاكَ مِن بُدِّ
You joined all of Adnan to Qahtan,
And then they could find no way to avoid it.
فَأَضحَتso became بِكَthrough you الأَحياءُthe tribes أَجمَعُaltogether أُلفَةًmore united
فَأَضحَت بِكَ الأَحياءُ أَجمَعُ أُلفَةً
كَماas أُحكِمَتwas secured فيin النَظمِthe stringing واسِطَةُthe central gem of العِقدِthe necklace
كَما أُحكِمَت في النَظمِ واسِطَةُ العِقدِ
Through you, all the tribes became more closely united,
Like the central gem secured in a necklace's string.
وَكُنتَand you were هُناكَthere الأَحنَفَal-Ahnaf الطِبَّthe discerning فيamong بَنيthe sons of
وَكُنتَ هُناكَ الأَحنَفَ الطِبَّ في بَني
تَميمٍTamim جَميعاًall وَالمُهَلَّبَand al-Muhallab فيamong الأَزدِthe Azd
تَميمٍ جَميعاً وَالمُهَلَّبَ في الأَزدِ
There you were the discerning al-Ahnaf among all
The Banu Tamim, and al-Muhallab among the Azd.
وَكُنتَand you were أَباAbu غَسّانَGhassan مالِكَMalik وائِلٍof Wail
وَكُنتَ أَبا غَسّانَ مالِكَ وائِلٍ
عَشِيَّةَon the evening دانىdrew near حَلفَهُhis pact الحِلفُthe alliance بِالعَقدِby the bond
عَشِيَّةَ دانى حَلفَهُ الحِلفُ بِالعَقدِ
And you were Abu Ghassan, Malik of Wail,
On the evening when an alliance drew his pact close by its bond.
وَلَمّاand when أَماتَتextinguished أَنجُمُthe stars of العَرَبِthe Arabs الدُجىthe darkness
وَلَمّا أَماتَت أَنجُمُ العَرَبِ الدُجى
سَرَتthey traveled وَهيَwhile they were أَتباعٌfollowers لِكَوكَبِكَof your star السَعدِfortunate
سَرَت وَهيَ أَتباعٌ لِكَوكَبِكَ السَعدِ
And when the stars of the Arabs extinguished the darkness,
They traveled as followers of your fortunate star.
وَهَلand is أَسَدُthe lion of العِرّيسِthe thicket إِلّاanything but الَّذيthe one who لَهُhas
وَهَل أَسَدُ العِرّيسِ إِلّا الَّذي لَهُ
فَضيلَتُهُhis excellence فيin حَيثُwhere مُجتَمَعُthe gathering of الأُسدِlions
فَضيلَتُهُ في حَيثُ مُجتَمَعُ الأُسدِ
And what is the lion of the thicket but the one whose
Excellence shows where lions gather?
فَهُمso they مِنكَthrough you فيin جَيشٍan army قَريبٍnear قُدومُهُis its arrival
فَهُم مِنكَ في جَيشٍ قَريبٍ قُدومُهُ
عَلَيهِمُagainst them وَهُمand they مِنthrough يُمنِthe good fortune of رَأيِكَyour judgment فيamong جُندِtroops
عَلَيهِمُ وَهُم مِن يُمنِ رَأيِكَ في جُندِ
Through you they are an army whose arrival against them is near;
And by the good fortune of your judgment they stand among the troops.
وَوَقَّرتَand you guarded يافوخَthe crown of the head of الجَبانِthe coward عَلىagainst الرَدىdeath
وَوَقَّرتَ يافوخَ الجَبانِ عَلى الرَدى
وَزِدتَand you increased غَداةَon the day of الرَوعِfear فيin نَجدَةِthe courage of النَجدِthe brave
وَزِدتَ غَداةَ الرَوعِ في نَجدَةِ النَجدِ
You guarded the coward's head against death
And increased the brave man's courage on the day of fear.
رَأَيتَyou saw حُروبَthe wars of الناسِpeople هَزلاًas play وَإِنeven if عَلاrose
رَأَيتَ حُروبَ الناسِ هَزلاً وَإِن عَلا
سَناهاtheir blaze وَتِلكَwhile that الحَربُwar مُعتَمَدُthe measure of الجِدِّearnestness
سَناها وَتِلكَ الحَربُ مُعتَمَدُ الجِدِّ
You saw other people's wars as play, however high
Their blaze rose; that war was the true test of earnestness.
فَياso how sweet طيبَits harvest مَجناهاand how cooling وَياits impact بَردَit is a coolness to touch it; but this word means 'coolness' in the line's image وَقعِهاits fall
فَيا طيبَ مَجناها وَيا بَردَ وَقعِها
عَلىupon الكَبِدِthe liver الحَرّىburning وَزادَand it surpassed عَلىeven البَردِcoolness
عَلى الكَبِدِ الحَرّى وَزادَ عَلى البَردِ
How sweet its harvest, how cooling its impact
On the burning heart, surpassing even coolness.
وَرَفَّعتَand you raised طَرفاًan eye كانَthat was لَولاكَwithout you خاشِعاًdowncast
وَرَفَّعتَ طَرفاً كانَ لَولاكَ خاشِعاً
وَأَورَدتَand you brought to water ذَودَthe herd of العِزِّhonor فيat أَوَّلِthe first of الوِردِthe watering
وَأَورَدتَ ذَودَ العِزِّ في أَوَّلِ الوِردِ
You raised an eye that, without you, would have remained downcast,
And brought the herd of honor first to the watering place.
فَتىًa young man بَرَّحَتpressed hard هِمّاتُهُhis ambitions وَفِعالُهُand his deeds
فَتىً بَرَّحَت هِمّاتُهُ وَفِعالُهُ
بِهِupon him فَهوَso he is فيin جُهدٍeffort وَماyet he is not هُوَhe فيin جَهدِhardship
بِهِ فَهوَ في جُهدٍ وَما هُوَ في جَهدِ
A young man whose ambitions and deeds press hard upon him:
He labors with effort, though he suffers no hardship.
مَتَتُّI claimed connection إِلَيهِto him بِالقَرابَةِthrough kinship بَينَناbetween us
مَتَتُّ إِلَيهِ بِالقَرابَةِ بَينَنا
وَبِالرَحِمِand through the blood tie الدُنياclose فَأَغنَتso it sufficed عَنِin place of الوُدِّaffection
وَبِالرَحِمِ الدُنيا فَأَغنَت عَنِ الوُدِّ
I claimed kinship with him through the bond between us,
And through close blood ties, which made affection unnecessary.
رَأىhe saw سالِفَthe ancient standing of الدُنياthe world وَشابِكَand the intertwined ties of آلِهِhis family
رَأى سالِفَ الدُنيا وَشابِكَ آلِهِ
أَحَقَّmore deserving بِأَنof being يَرعاهُcared for by him فيfor سالِفِthe ancient bond of العَهدِthe covenant
أَحَقَّ بِأَن يَرعاهُ في سالِفِ العَهدِ
He deemed the old standing and interwoven ties of his house
Most worthy of his care for the sake of an ancient bond.
فَياso how fine حُسنَthat ذاكَkindness البِرِّwhile إِذI أَناam present حاضِرٌand how sweet
فَيا حُسنَ ذاكَ البِرِّ إِذ أَنا حاضِرٌ
وَياand how sweet طيبَthat ذاكَspeech القَولِand remembrance وَالذِكرِafter مِنme بَعديand its mention
وَيا طيبَ ذاكَ القَولِ وَالذِكرِ مِن بَعدي
How fine that kindness while I am present,
And how sweet those words and that remembrance after me.
وَماand I was not كُنتُI was ذاa man of فَقرٍneed إِلىfor صُلبِthe substance of مالِهِhis wealth
وَما كُنتُ ذا فَقرٍ إِلى صُلبِ مالِهِ
وَماand was not كانَhe was حَفصٌHafs بِالفَقيرِin need إِلىof حَمديmy praise
وَما كانَ حَفصٌ بِالفَقيرِ إِلى حَمدي
I had no need of the substance of his wealth,
Nor did Hafs need my praise.
وَلَكِنbut رَأىhe saw شُكريmy thanks قِلادَةَas a necklace of سُؤدُدٍeminence
وَلَكِن رَأى شُكري قِلادَةَ سُؤدُدٍ
فَصاغَso he fashioned لَهاfor it سِلكاًa cord بَهِيّاًsplendid مِنَfrom الرِفدِgifts
فَصاغَ لَها سِلكاً بَهِيّاً مِنَ الرِفدِ
But he saw my thanks as a necklace of eminence
And fashioned for it a splendid cord of gifts.
فَماso did not فاتَنيescape me ماwhat عِندَهُhe has مِنof حِبائِهِhis gifts
فَما فاتَني ما عِندَهُ مِن حِبائِهِ
وَلاnor فاتَهُescaped him مِنof فاخِرِsplendid الشِعرِpoetry ماwhat عِنديI have
وَلا فاتَهُ مِن فاخِرِ الشِعرِ ما عِندي
So none of the gifts he held escaped me,
And none of the proud poetry I hold escaped him.
وَكَمand how many مِنof كَريمٍa generous man قَدindeed تَخَضَّرَhas grown green قَلبُهُhis heart
وَكَم مِن كَريمٍ قَد تَخَضَّرَ قَلبُهُ
بِذاكَwith that الثَناءِpraise الغَضِّfresh فيon طُرُقِthe paths of المَجدِglory
بِذاكَ الثَناءِ الغَضِّ في طُرُقِ المَجدِ
How many a generous man's heart has grown green
With that fresh praise along the paths of glory.
Sol 6