لَمdid not أَرَI see كالفِتيانِlike young men فيin غَبَنِbeing cheated by الthe (continued)
لَم أَرَ كالفِتيانِ في غَبَنِ ال
أيَّامِdays يَنسَونَthey forget ماwhat عَواقبُهَاtheir consequences
أيَّامِ يَنسَونَ ما عَواقبُهَا
I have seen none like young men, cheated by the
I have not seen the likes of youth in the days of ignorance
days, forgetting what their consequences are.
Forgetting what its consequences would be
ماso long as يَغفَلُواthey remain heedless لَمnot يكُنthere is لهمfor them يَتَمٌweariness
ما يَغفَلُوا لَم يكُن لهم يَتَمٌ
فيin كلِّevery صَرفٍturn of fortune تِسعَىpress on مآربُهِاtheir purposes
في كلِّ صَرفٍ تِسعَى مآربُهِا
While they remain heedless, they know no weariness;
Had they not been heedless they would not have become orphans
in every turn, the days' purposes press on.
In every condition, its purposes move about
يَروَنَthey see إخوانَهُمtheir brothers ومَصرَعَهمُand where they fell
يَروَنَ إخوانَهُم ومَصرَعَهمُ
وكيفَand how تَغتالُهُمkill them unawares مَخالِبُهاtheir claws
وكيفَ تَغتالُهُم مَخالِبُها
They see their brothers and where they fell,
They see their brothers and their place of death
and how the days' claws destroy them unawares.
And how its claws take them by surprise
ماذاwhat تُرَجِّيhope for النُّفوسُsouls مِنfrom طَلَبِseeking الthe (continued)
ماذا تُرَجِّي النُّفوسُ مِن طَلَبِ ال
خَيرِgood وحُبُّand love of الَحياةِlife كاذِبُهاtheir deceiver
خَيرِ وحُبُّ الَحياةِ كاذِبُها
What do souls hope to gain from seeking the
What do souls hope for from seeking good
good, when love of life deceives them?
And the love of life deceives them
تَظُنُّthey think أنthat لَنwill not يُصِيبَهاbefall them عَنَتُhardship of الthe (continued)
تَظُنُّ أن لَن يُصِيبَها عَنَتُ ال
دَّهرِtime ورَيبُand the vicissitudes of الَمنُونِdeath كارِبُهاbesetting them
دَّهرِ ورَيبُ الَمنُونِ كارِبُها
They think they will never suffer the hardship of
It thinks that the tyranny of fate will not afflict it
time, though death's vicissitudes beset them.
And the mishap of death will miss it
ماwhat بعدَafter صَنعاءَSana'a كانَused to يَعمُرُهاinhabit her
ما بعدَ صَنعاءَ كانَ يَعمُرُها
ساداُlords (unclear form) مُلكٍdominion جَزلٌabundant مَواهِبُهاher gifts
ساداُ مُلكٍ جَزلٌ مَواهِبُها
What remains after Sana'a? Once she was inhabited by
After Sana'a, which was inhabited
lords of dominion; abundant were her gifts.
By mighty kings, abundant were their gifts
يَرفَعُهاraises her مَنthe one who بَنىbuilt لَدَىbeside قَزَعِshreds of
يَرفَعُها مَن بَنى لَدَى قَزَعِ
الُمزنِrainclouds وتَندَىand grow moist مِسكاًwith musk مَحارِبُهاher lofty chambers
الُمزنِ وتَندَى مِسكاً مَحارِبُها
Her builder raises her beside the shreds
He who built it at the foot of al-Muzna
of raincloud, while her lofty chambers exude musk.
And its knights would ride forth perfumed
مَحفوفَةٌsurrounded بِالجبَالِby the mountains دونضbeyond (unclear form) عُرضىreach of (uncertain reading) الthe (continued)
مَحفوفَةٌ بِالجبَالِ دونض عُرضى ال
كَيدِguile فيهاwithin her تَرقَىrise غَواربُهاher high ridges
كَيدِ فيها تَرقَى غَواربُها
She is ringed by mountains, beyond the reach of
Surrounded by mountains, difficult for the enemy to access
guile; within her, her high ridges rise.
In it, their caravans ascend
يَأنَسُfinds comfort فيهاwithin her صَوتُvoice of النُّهَامِthe singer إذاwhen
يَأنَسُ فيها صَوتُ النُّهَامِ إذا
جاوَبَهاanswers her بالعَشِيِّin the evening قاصِبُهاher reed-player
جاوَبَها بالعَشِيِّ قاصِبُها
The singer's voice finds comfort there when
The voice of the ostrich can be heard answering
her piper answers her in the evening.
When the night bird calls out to it
ساقَتbrought إليهاtoward her الأسبابُthe turns of fortune جُندarmy of بنيsons of الal- (the; continued)
ساقَت إليها الأسبابُ جُند بني ال
أحرارِfreeborn men (Ahrar) فُرسانُهاits horsemen مَواكِبُهاits marching columns
أحرارِ فُرسانُها مَواكِبُها
The turns of fortune brought against her the army of Banu al-
Circumstances brought to it the army of the noble free men
Ahrar—its horsemen, its marching columns.
Its horsemen were its processions
وفَوَّزتand drove across the desert بالبغالِwith the mules تُوسَقُare laden بالwith the (continued)
وفَوَّزت بالبغالِ تُوسَقُ بال
حَتفِdeath وتَسعَىand hurry بهاwith them تَوالِبُهاtheir foals
حَتفِ وتَسعَى بها تَوالِبُها
And drove mules across the wastes, laden with
And it prevailed with camels taken as war booty
death, their foals hurrying along with them,
Killed with the sword as their necks were sought
حتىَّuntil رآهاsaw her الأقوالُthe chieftains مِنfrom طَرَفedge of الthe (continued)
حتىَّ رآها الأقوالُ مِن طَرَف ال
منِقَلِmountain pass مُخضرَّةٌgreen كَتائِبهُاher battalions
منِقَلِ مُخضرَّةٌ كَتائِبهُا
until the chieftains saw her from the edge of the
Until the emigrant saw it from afar
mountain pass, her battalions green,
Green were its battalions
يومَon the day يَقولُونَthey say يالَhelp, O بَربَرَBarbar وألand al- (continued)
يومَ يَقولُونَ يالَ بَربَرَ وأل
يَكسُوَمYaksum لاlet not يَفلِتنَescape at all هارِبُهاher fugitive
يَكسُوَم لا يَفلِتنَ هارِبُها
on the day they cry, 'O Barbar and al-
The day they said, O to the Berber! May their fugitive not escape!
Yaksum! Let none of her fugitives escape!'
And it was a day, the rest are tales
وكانَand it was يوماًa day باقيenduring in الحديثِthe telling وزاand passed away (first part)
وكانَ يوماً باقي الحديثِ وزا
لَتending of 'passed away' إمَّةٌa dominion ثابِتُfirmly established مَراتُبهاits ranks
لَت إمَّةٌ ثابِتُ مَراتُبها
It was a day whose story endures; and away
And a nation passed whose steps were firm
passed a dominion whose ranks were firmly set.
And neighing was replaced with the sound of bells
وبُدِّلَand was exchanged الفَيحُopen space (uncertain reading) بالزُّرافَةِfor a throng وألand the (continued)
وبُدِّلَ الفَيحُ بالزُّرافَةِ وأل
أيَّامُdays خُونٌtreacherous جَمٌّnumerous عَجائُبهاtheir wonders
أيَّامُ خُونٌ جَمٌّ عَجائُبها
Open space was exchanged for a throng; and the
And days of betrayal, amazing are their wonders
days are treacherous, their wonders many,
After the Tubba, contented were their abodes
بعدَafter بنيthe sons of تُبَّعٍTubbaʿ نَخَاورةَmighty lords
بعدَ بني تُبَّعٍ نَخَاورةَ
قَدِalready أطَمأَنًّتhad become secure بهِمthrough them مَرازِبُهاher governors
قَدِ أطَمأَنًّت بهِم مَرازِبُها
after the sons of Tubbaʿ, those mighty lords,
And Hadhar was hit with an affliction
through whom her governors had rested secure.
From a gap with strong pillars
والَحضرُand Hatra صابَتfell عليهِupon it آسَيةٌa calamity
والَحضرُ صابَت عليهِ آسَيةٌ
منthrough ثُغرَةٍa breach أَيِّدٍmighty مَناكبُهاits shoulders
من ثُغرَةٍ أَيِّدٍ مَناكبُها
And Hatra—a calamity fell upon it
A maiden who did not awaken her father
through a breach whose shoulders were mighty.
Out of love for him when her watcher was absent
رَبيبَةٌa girl raised in care لَمdid not تُوَقِّprotect والدَهاher father
رَبيبَةٌ لَم تُوَقِّ والدَها
لِحُبِّهاbecause of her love إذwhen يُضاعُwas neglected راقبُهاher guardian
لِحُبِّها إذ يُضاعُ راقبُها
A daughter raised in his care did not protect her father,
Love blinded her for what she did
because of her love, when her guardian was neglected.
When he slept unaware of her wrongdoing
أَجَشمَهاmade her undertake حُبُّهاher love لِمَاto what فَعَلَتshe did
أَجَشمَها حُبُّها لِمَا فَعَلَت
إذwhen نامَslept عنهاneglecting her لِلغَيِّto waywardness حاجِبُهاher doorkeeper
إذ نامَ عنها لِلغَيِّ حاجِبُها
Her love drove her to what she did,
She seduced him with red wine
when her doorkeeper slept, leaving her open to sin,
While he was shy and intoxicated by its drinking
إذwhen غَبَّقَتهُshe gave him an evening drink حَمراَءred wine صافَيةَclear
إذ غَبَّقَتهُ حَمراَء صافَيةَ
وألخَمرَand wine وَهلٌbewilderment يهيمُwanders astray شارِبُهاits drinker
وألخَمرَ وَهلٌ يهيمُ شارِبُها
when she gave him clear red wine at evening—
And she handed over her lord in the night
and wine is bewilderment: its drinker wanders astray.
Thinking the leader was her suitor
وأَسلَمَتand she surrendered رَبَّهاher lord بِلَيلَتِهاon that night of hers
وأَسلَمَت رَبَّها بِلَيلَتِها
تَظُنُّthinking أنَّthat الرَّئيسَthe leader خاطِبُهاher suitor
تَظُنُّ أنَّ الرَّئيسَ خاطِبُها
And she surrendered her lord that very night,
So the lot of the bride was, when dawn gleamed
believing the leader would seek her hand.
Her blood flowing in streams
فكانَso was حَظُّportion of العَروسِthe bride إذwhen بَرقَflashed ألthe (continued)
فكانَ حَظُّ العَروسِ إذ بَرقَ أل
صُّبحُdawn دِماءًblood تَجريflow سَبائبُهاits streaks
صُّبحُ دِماءً تَجري سَبائبُها
So the bride's portion, when there flashed the
And Hadhar was ruined and violated
dawn, was blood in flowing streaks.
And burned within its walls were its dwellings
وحُوِّرَand was laid waste الَحضرُHatra وأستُبيحَand was plundered وقَدand already
وحُوِّرَ الَحضرُ وأستُبيحَ وقَد
أُحرِقَwere burned فيin خِدرِهاher private chamber مَشاجبُهاher garment-racks
أُحرِقَ في خِدرِها مَشاجبُها
And Hatra was laid waste and plundered; already
Nothing remained but the fallen leaves of grapevines
her garment-racks had been burned in her chamber.
And dunes roaring with their peaks
لَمnot يَبقَremained فيهin it إلاَّexcept مَراوِحُwind-swept places طاrocky ledges (first part)
لَم يَبقَ فيه إلاَّ مَراوِحُ طا
ياتٍending of 'rocky ledges' وَبُورٌand wasteland تَضغُوyelp ثَعالِبُهاits foxes
ياتٍ وَبُورٌ تَضغُو ثَعالِبُها
Nothing remained there but wind-swept rocky
And I was not unaware of the events and days
ledges and wasteland where foxes yelp.
What they would bring if their lover wished
ولمand not أَكُنI was أَجهَلُignorant of ألَحوادثَthe misfortunes وألand the (continued)
ولم أَكُن أَجهَلُ ألَحوادثَ وأل
أيَّامَdays ماnot أنemphasis after negation يَعِفَّabstains راغِبُهاone who covets them
أيَّامَ ما أن يَعِفَّ راغِبُها
Nor was I ignorant of misfortunes and the
My share of beauty would be that I not take
days: one who covets them does not abstain.
A path of wantonness, its gains inauspicious
يكونُshall be حَظِّيmy portion مِنَof ألَجمَالِhonorable conduct فلاso not
يكونُ حَظِّي مِنَ ألَجمَالِ فلا
أَغشَىI tread سبيلاًa path وَعراًarduous مكاسِبُهاits gains
أَغشَى سبيلاً وَعراً مكاسِبُها
My portion shall be honorable conduct, so I will not
I befriend prudence with good implied
tread a path whose gains are hard to win.
While some turn away from it
وآلفُand I cleave to ألخُطَّةَthe course ألُضمَّنَةَassured of (unclear form) ألthe (continued)
وآلفُ ألخُطَّةَ ألُضمَّنَةَ أل
خَيرِgood إذwhile بَعُضُهمsome of them مُجانِبُهاshunning it
خَيرِ إذ بَعُضُهم مُجانِبُها
And I cleave to the course assured of
And I seek noble manners with strength
good, while some of them shun it.
When its seeker is guided
وأَطلُبُand I seek ألُخطَّةَthe course النَّبيلَةَnoble بالwith the (continued)
وأَطلُبُ ألُخطَّةَ النَّبيلَةَ بال
قُوَّةِstrength إذwhen يُستَهَدُّis worn down طالبُهاits seeker
قُوَّةِ إذ يُستَهَدُّ طالبُها
And I seek the noble course with
O Lord of a people I did favors for
strength, when its seeker is worn down.
But am I today their molder?
ياah رُبَّmany a قَومٍpeople أَبلَيتُهُمI bestowed on them نِعَماًblessings
يا رُبَّ قَومٍ أَبلَيتُهُم نِعَماً
فَهَلso, is ...? أَنَاI أليَومَtoday عَمُروAmr قالِبُهاone who overturns them
فَهَل أَنَا أليَومَ عَمُرو قالِبُها
Ah, many a people have I showered with blessings!
They did not advise when her visitor
So am I today, Amr, the one to reverse them?
Sought to find fault, while my heart argues with it
ماnot نَصَحُواthey gave honest counsel إذwhen يَرُومُseeks رائمُهاthe one pursuing them
ما نَصَحُوا إذ يَرُومُ رائمُها
رَيبَتَهُhis treacherous intent والفُؤادُand the heart هايِبهُاfearing it
رَيبَتَهُ والفُؤادُ هايِبهُا
They gave no honest counsel when the one pursuing them sought
The fetters of imprisonment prevent me
his sinister aim, while the heart feared it.
From strife, and life remains for me to blame it
تَمنَعُنيkeeps me أُربَةُthe knot of الوِثَاقِthe bonds مِنَfrom الthe (continued)
تَمنَعُني أُربَةُ الوِثَاقِ مِنَ ال
جُهدِstriving وبُقيَاand sparing نَفسٍa soul أُعاتُبِهاI reproach it
جُهدِ وبُقيَا نَفسٍ أُعاتُبِها
The knot of my bonds prevents me from
striving—as does pity for a soul I reproach.
Partial English translation: 60 of 62 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1