أَلاAh هَلwill فُؤاديmy heart إِذwhen صَباgrew love-struck اليَومَtoday نازِعُturning away
أَلا هَل فُؤادي إِذ صَبا اليَومَ نازِعُ
وَهَلand will عَيشُناour life الماضيpast الَّذيwhich زالَvanished رايِعُreturning
وَهَل عَيشُنا الماضي الَّذي زالَ رايِعُ
Ah, will my heart, love-struck today, turn away?
Alas! Does my heart aspire today to what is past and gone?
And will our vanished former life return?
Does the life we led return which fled away?
وَهَلand are مِثلُlike أَيّامٍdays تَسَلَّفنَpassed long ago بِالحِمىin al-Hima
وَهَل مِثلُ أَيّامٍ تَسَلَّفنَ بِالحِمى
عَوايِدُreturning ones أَوor عَيشُlife السِتارَينِal-Sitarayn راجِعُreturning
عَوايِدُ أَو عَيشُ السِتارَينِ راجِعُ
And are days like those long past in al-Hima
Will days like those we spent in luxury come back to us,
to come again, or will life at al-Sitarayn return?
Or the life of tents return again?
كَأَنas though لَمnot تُجاوِرناshe lived beside us رَميمٌRamim وَلَمnor نَقُمwe dwelt
كَأَن لَم تُجاوِرنا رَميمٌ وَلَم نَقُم
بِفَيضِat Fayd الحِمىal-Hima إِذwhen أَنتَyou بِالعَيشِwith life قانِعُcontent
بِفَيضِ الحِمى إِذ أَنتَ بِالعَيشِ قانِعُ
As though Ramim had never lived beside us, nor we dwelt
As though no poverty had been our neighbor, nor had we endured
at Fayd al-Hima, when you were content with life.
By grace of luxury when you enjoyed life.
وَبُدِّلتُand I was given instead بَعدَafter القُربِcloseness سُخطاًdispleasure وَأَصبَحَتand she became
وَبُدِّلتُ بَعدَ القُربِ سُخطاً وَأَصبَحَت
مُضابِعَةًrunning with hyenas وَاِستَشرَفَتكَand craned toward you الأَضابِعُthe hyenas
مُضابِعَةً وَاِستَشرَفَتكَ الأَضابِعُ
After closeness, I was given displeasure instead, and she became
After intimacy I was changed into displeasure,
one running with hyenas, while the hyenas craned toward you.
And became an embrace, and fingers reached out to you.
وَكُلُّand every قَرينٍcompanion ذيhaving قَرينٍa companion يَوَدَّهُhe loves him
وَكُلُّ قَرينٍ ذي قَرينٍ يَوَدَّهُ
سَيُفجِعَهُwill bereave him يَوماًone day مِنَfrom البَينِseparation فاجِعُa bereaving blow
سَيُفجِعَهُ يَوماً مِنَ البَينِ فاجِعُ
Every companion who has a companion he loves
And every pair of friends will be separated one day
will one day be bereaved by a blow of separation.
By absence, and will be distressed by parting.
لَعَمريby my life لَقَدindeed هاجَتstirred لَكَfor you الشَوقَlonging عَرصَةٌa campsite
لَعَمري لَقَد هاجَت لَكَ الشَوقَ عَرصَةٌ
بِمَرّانَat Marran تَعفوهاefface it الرِياحُthe winds الزَعازِعُthe blustering ones
بِمَرّانَ تَعفوها الرِياحُ الزَعازِعُ
By my life, a campsite has stirred longing in you
By my life, passion has stirred tumult in me
at Marran, where blustering winds efface it.
With a wind that eats away rocks and uproots trees.
بِهاin it رَسمُa trace of أَطلالٍruined dwellings وَخَيمٌand tents خَواشِعٌsagging
بِها رَسمُ أَطلالٍ وَخَيمٌ خَواشِعٌ
عَلىon أَلِهِنَّtheir poles الهاتِفاتُthe calling birds السَواجِعُthe cooing ones
عَلى أَلِهِنَّ الهاتِفاتُ السَواجِعُ
There lie traces of ruined dwellings and sagging tents;
In it are traces of homes in ruins and humble tents
upon their poles are calling, cooing birds.
Wherein women wail loudly for their absent ones.
فَظَلتُso I remained وَلَمand not تَعلَمknew رَميمُRamim كَأَنَّنيas though I
فَظَلتُ وَلَم تَعلَم رَميمُ كَأَنَّني
مُهَمٌّcareworn أَلَثَّتهُbeset him الدُيونُthe debts الخَوالِعُthe ruinous ones
مُهَمٌّ أَلَثَّتهُ الدُيونُ الخَوالِعُ
I remained, though Ramim did not know, as though I were
And I remained patiently, though Remim did not know
a careworn man beset by ruinous debts,
That cares, like debts, were stifling me.
تَذَكَّرَremembered أَيّامَthe days of الشَبابِyouth الَّذيthat مَضىpassed
تَذَكَّرَ أَيّامَ الشَبابِ الَّذي مَضى
وَلَمّاand not yet تَرُعناfrightened us بِالفِراقِwith parting الرَوايِعُthe terrors
وَلَمّا تَرُعنا بِالفِراقِ الرَوايِعُ
remembering the days of youth that had passed,
I remember the days of youth that are gone,
before the terrors of parting had yet frightened us.
When we enjoyed ourselves and did not fear parting.
بِأَهليmy family as ransom خَليلٌa beloved إِنif تَحَمَّلتُI undertook the journey نَحوَهُtoward him
بِأَهلي خَليلٌ إِن تَحَمَّلتُ نَحوَهُ
عَصانيhe resisted me وَإِنand if هاجَرتُهُI forsook him فَهوَthen he جازِعُdistraught
عَصاني وَإِن هاجَرتُهُ فَهوَ جازِعُ
My family be ransom for a beloved: if I make my way to him,
My family is friendly even if I oppose them,
he resists me; yet if I forsake him, he is distraught.
And if I desert them they are compliant.
وَكَيفَand how التَعَزّيfinding consolation عَنfor رَميمَRamim وَحُبُّهاand love for her
وَكَيفَ التَعَزّي عَن رَميمَ وَحُبُّها
عَلىdespite النَأيِdistance وَالهِجرانِand estrangement فيin القَلبِthe heart نافِعُbeneficial
عَلى النَأيِ وَالهِجرانِ في القَلبِ نافِعُ
How can I find consolation for Ramim, when love for her,
How can I find solace from Remim and my love for her,
despite distance and estrangement, does the heart good?
When distance and estrangement cannot avail?
طَوَيتُI folded shut عَلَيهِover it فَهوَand it is فيin القَلبِthe heart شامَةٌa birthmark
طَوَيتُ عَلَيهِ فَهوَ في القَلبِ شامَةٌ
شَريكُa companion of المَناياdeath ضُمِّنَتهُwere made to contain it الأَضالِعُthe ribs
شَريكُ المَنايا ضُمِّنَتهُ الأَضالِعُ
I have folded it within me: in the heart it is a birthmark,
I have folded it in my heart where it remains like a defect,
death's companion, lodged within the ribs.
My fellow sufferer, impressed on my ribs.
وَبيضٍand fair women تَهادىsway gracefully فيin الرِياطِthe soft robes كَأَنَّهاas though they
وَبيضٍ تَهادى في الرِياطِ كَأَنَّها
نِهىwild cows (reading uncertain) لَسلَسٍof Laslas طابَتwere pleasant لَهُنَّfor them المَراتِعُthe pastures
نِهى لَسلَسٍ طابَت لَهُنَّ المَراتِعُ
And fair women, swaying gracefully in soft robes, as though they were
And white ostriches in the paddock, as though they are
wild cows of Laslas, for whom the pastures were pleasant.
Brooks diminished, their water flowing gently.
تَخَيَّرنَthey chose مِنّاwith us مَوعِداًa rendezvous بَعدَafter رِقبَةٍwatchfulness
تَخَيَّرنَ مِنّا مَوعِداً بَعدَ رِقبَةٍ
بِأَعفَرَat Aʿfar تَعلوهُflow over it الشُروجُthe watercourses الدَوافِعُthe rushing ones
بِأَعفَرَ تَعلوهُ الشُروجُ الدَوافِعُ
They chose a rendezvous with us after watchful waiting,
They chose a rendezvous with us after interval,
at Aʿfar, overrun by rushing watercourses.
Their blonde hair bound with fillets.
فَجُنَّthen were concealed (reading uncertain) هُدُوّاًin night's stillness وَالثِيابُand the garments كَأَنَّهاas though they
فَجُنَّ هُدُوّاً وَالثِيابُ كَأَنَّها
مِنَfrom الطَلِّdew بَلَّتهاmoistened them الرِهامُthe light rains النَواشِعُthe sprinkling ones
مِنَ الطَلِّ بَلَّتها الرِهامُ النَواشِعُ
Then they were veiled in the night's stillness, their garments as though
They came in howdahs, their clothes as though
light, sprinkling showers had moistened them with dew.
Woven of pearls, adorned with embroideries.
جَرىpassed بَينَناbetween us مِنهُمfrom them رَسيسٌa faint murmur يَزيدُناincreases our
جَرى بَينَنا مِنهُم رَسيسٌ يَزيدُنا
سَقاماًlovesickness إِذاwhen ماindeed اِستَيقَنَتهُbecame certain of it المَسامِعُthe ears
سَقاماً إِذا ما اِستَيقَنَتهُ المَسامِعُ
A faint murmur from them passed between us, increasing our
Some of their party passed by us, increasing
lovesickness whenever the ears became certain of it.
Our sickness, when heard by pricked-up ears.
قَليلاًbriefly وَكانَand was اللَيلُthe night فيin ذاكَthat ساعَةًan hour
قَليلاً وَكانَ اللَيلُ في ذاكَ ساعَةً
فَقُمنَthen they rose وَمَعروفٌand a recognizable sign مِنَof الصُبحِdawn صادِعُbreaking through
فَقُمنَ وَمَعروفٌ مِنَ الصُبحِ صادِعُ
For a little while—the night then was but an hour.
Before long it was night then, an hour
Then they rose, as dawn's unmistakable light broke through.
When dawn gleamed and it was time to depart.
وَأَدبَرنَand they turned away مِنfrom وَجهٍa direction بِمِثلِwith the like of الَّذيthat which بِناwas in us
وَأَدبَرنَ مِن وَجهٍ بِمِثلِ الَّذي بِنا
فَسالَتthen flowed عَلىover آثارِهِنَّtheir tracks المَدامِعُthe tears
فَسالَت عَلى آثارِهِنَّ المَدامِعُ
They turned away in one direction, with feelings like ours,
They left from a side, as we did,
and tears flowed over their tracks.
And tears flowed along their tracks.
يُزَجّينَthey usher along بِكراًa maiden يَنهَزُstirs الرَيطُthe robe مَشيَهاher gait
يُزَجّينَ بِكراً يَنهَزُ الرَيطُ مَشيَها
كَماas مارَswayed ثُعبانُa serpent of الفَضاthe open waste المُتَدافِعُsurging onward
كَما مارَ ثُعبانُ الفَضا المُتَدافِعُ
They ushered a maiden onward, her robe stirring with her gait,
At dawn, the caravan moves briskly as though
as a serpent in the open waste sways, surging onward.
A gliding serpent in the desert storming on.
تُبادِرُshe hastens toward عَينَيهاher two eyes بِكُحلٍwith kohl كَأَنَّهُas though it
تُبادِرُ عَينَيها بِكُحلٍ كَأَنَّهُ
جُمانٌpearls هَوىfell مِنfrom سِلكِهِits string مُتَتابِعُin succession
جُمانٌ هَوى مِن سِلكِهِ مُتَتابِعُ
She hastens to kohl her eyes, as though it were
Their eyes hasten to line themselves with kohl that seems
pearls that fell from their string, one after another.
To be a train fallen from its wire in succession.
وَقُمناand we rose إِلىtoward خَوصٍnarrow-eyed camels كَأَنَّas though عُيونَهاtheir eyes
وَقُمنا إِلى خَوصٍ كَأَنَّ عُيونَها
قِلاتٌrock pools تَراخىreceded مائُهاtheir water فَهوَand it is واضِعُlow
قِلاتٌ تَراخى مائُها فَهوَ واضِعُ
We rose and went to narrow-eyed camels, whose eyes seemed
And we stood up toward the Khoz trees which appeared
rock pools whose water had receded and lay low.
As though their springs had slackened and diminished.
فَوَلَّتthen turned away بِناwith us تَغشىtraversing الخَبارَthe soft ground مُلِحَّةًunflagging
فَوَلَّت بِنا تَغشى الخَبارَ مُلِحَّةً
مَعاًtogether حولُهاtheir barren ones وَاللاقِحاتُand the pregnant ones المَلامِعُthe gleaming ones
مَعاً حولُها وَاللاقِحاتُ المَلامِعُ
They carried us away, persistently crossing the soft ground,
So they inclined toward us, covering the ruins,
all together—their barren ones and gleaming pregnant ones.
Together around them, shining brilliantly.
وَإِنّيand I لَصَرّامٌsurely a firm breaker of ties وَلَمand has not يُخلِقِworn thin الهَوىlove
وَإِنّي لَصَرّامٌ وَلَم يُخلِقِ الهَوى
جَميلٌgracious فِراقيmy parting حينَwhen تَبدوappear الشَرايِعُthe paths
جَميلٌ فِراقي حينَ تَبدو الشَرايِعُ
I am indeed resolute in breaking off, though love has not worn thin;
And I am strong, though love does not create
my parting is gracious when the paths become clear.
A beauty in parting when the ways are desolate.
وَإِنّيand I لَأَستَبقيsurely preserve إِذاwhen العُسرُhardship مَسَّنيtouches me
وَإِنّي لَأَستَبقي إِذا العُسرُ مَسَّني
بَشاشَةَthe cheerfulness of نَفسيmy soul حينَwhen تُبلىare worn away المَنافِعُbenefits
بَشاشَةَ نَفسي حينَ تُبلى المَنافِعُ
And I preserve, when hardship touches me,
And I maintain my happy temper when hardship strikes me,
my soul's cheerfulness, when comforts are worn away.
Though profit is worn out by time.
وَأَعفيand I refrain عَنfrom asking قَوميmy people وَلَوeven if شِئتُI wished نَوَّلواthey would give
وَأَعفي عَن قَومي وَلَو شِئتُ نَوَّلوا
إِذاwhen ماتَشَكّىever complains المُلحِفُthe importunate beggar المُتَضارِعُthe pleading one
إِذا ماتَشَكّى المُلحِفُ المُتَضارِعُ
I refrain from asking my people, though they would give if I wished,
I turn away from my people, though if I wished they would be guided,
when the importunate, pleading beggar voices complaint,
When the supplicant groans and pleads.
مَخافَةَfor fear أَنthat أَقلىI am hated إِذاif شِئتُI wished سائِلاًas a beggar
مَخافَةَ أَن أَقلى إِذا شِئتُ سائِلاً
وَتُرجِعَنيand turn me back نَحوَtoward الرِجالِmen المَطامِعُdesires
وَتُرجِعَني نَحوَ الرِجالِ المَطامِعُ
for fear of being hated if I chose to beg,
Fearing that I will be abased if I beg
and cravings turned me toward other men,
And people will make me again one of the greedy.
فَأَسمَعَso I hear مِنّاa reproach for favors أَوor أُشَرِّفَI exalt مُنعِماًa benefactor
فَأَسمَعَ مِنّا أَو أُشَرِّفَ مُنعِماً
وَكُلُّand every مُصاديone courting نِعمَةٍa favor مُتَواضِعُhumble
وَكُلُّ مُصادي نِعمَةٍ مُتَواضِعُ
so that I heard reminders of favors, or extolled a benefactor;
So I hear from them or receive a favor and am grateful,
whoever courts a favor must humble himself.
Since every receiver of bounty should be humble.
وَأُعرِضُand I turn away عَنfrom أَشياءَthings لَوif شِئتُI wished نِلتُهاI would attain them
وَأُعرِضُ عَن أَشياءَ لَو شِئتُ نِلتُها
حَياءًout of modesty إِذاwhen ماكانَthere are indeed فيهاin them مَقاذِعُgrounds for reproach
حَياءً إِذا ماكانَ فيها مَقاذِعُ
I turn away from things I could attain if I wished,
And I refrain from things which, if I wanted, I could obtain
out of modesty, whenever they involve grounds for reproach.
Out of shame, if there is meanness in them.
وَلاand not أَدفَعُI thrust away اِبنَthe son of العَمِّthe paternal uncle يَمشيwalking عَلىon شَفاa brink
وَلا أَدفَعُ اِبنَ العَمِّ يَمشي عَلى شَفا
وَلَوeven if بَلَغَتنيreach me مِنfrom أَذاهُhis harm الجَنادِعُthe creeping evils
وَلَو بَلَغَتني مِن أَذاهُ الجَنادِعُ
Nor do I thrust my cousin away as he walks on a brink,
I do not cast off the son of my uncle walking on the edge
though the creeping evils of his malice reach me.
Even if his hurts reach me constantly.
وَلَكِنbut أُواسيهِI share his burdens وَأَنسىand I forget ذُنوبَهُhis offenses
وَلَكِن أُواسيهِ وَأَنسى ذُنوبَهُ
لِتُرجِعَهُso they may return him يَوماًone day إِلَيَّto me الرَواجِعُturns of fortune
لِتُرجِعَهُ يَوماً إِلَيَّ الرَواجِعُ
Rather, I share his burdens and forget his offenses,
But I console him and forget his sins
so that changing fortunes may one day return him to me.
So he may return repentant one day.
وَأُفرِشُهُand I spread out for him ماليmy wealth وَأَحفَظُand I conceal عَيبَهُhis fault
وَأُفرِشُهُ مالي وَأَحفَظُ عَيبَهُ
لِيَسمَعَso may hear إِنّيthat I لاأُجازِهِdo not retaliate against him سامِعُa listener
لِيَسمَعَ إِنّي لاأُجازِهِ سامِعُ
I spread my wealth before him and keep his fault hidden,
I furnish him with my money and conceal his vice
so that a listener may hear that I do not retaliate.
So he may hear I do not reproach him.
وَحَسبُكَand enough for you مِنof جَهلٍignorance وَسورِand rashness صَنيعَةٍin conduct
وَحَسبُكَ مِن جَهلٍ وَسورِ صَنيعَةٍ
مُعاداةَenmity toward ذيone of القُربىkinship وَإِنeven if قيلَhe is called قاطِعُa breaker of ties
مُعاداةَ ذي القُربى وَإِن قيلَ قاطِعُ
It is ignorance and rash conduct enough for you
It is enough foolishness and evil habit
to make an enemy of a kinsman, even if he is called a breaker of ties.
To oppose a close relative, even if called a breaker.
فَأَسلِمso spare عَناكَyour trouble الأَهلَyour family تَسلَمmay be safe صُدورُهُمtheir hearts
فَأَسلِم عَناكَ الأَهلَ تَسلَم صُدورُهُم
وَلاand no بُدَّescape يَوماًone day أَنthat يَروعَكَshould frighten you رايِعُa terrifying event
وَلا بُدَّ يَوماً أَن يَروعَكَ رايِعُ
Spare your family your trouble, and their hearts will be safe.
So leave your family safely and their hearts will be safe,
Yet one day some terrifying event must frighten you.
Though one day something will frighten you.
فَتَبلوهُthen you test him ماwhat سَلَّفتَyou gave beforehand حَتّىuntil يَرُدَّهُreturns it
فَتَبلوهُ ما سَلَّفتَ حَتّى يَرُدَّهُ
إِلَيكَto you الجَوازيrecompenses وافِراًin full وَالصَنايِعُand kind deeds
إِلَيكَ الجَوازي وافِراً وَالصَنايِعُ
Then you test him with what you gave before, until it is returned
You will experience what you have stored up until
to you in full by recompense and deeds of kindness.
Fates send it back to you fully.
فَإِنso if تُبلِyou bestow عَفواًpardon يُعفَpardon is granted عَنكَto you وَإِنand if تَكُنyou are
فَإِن تُبلِ عَفواً يُعفَ عَنكَ وَإِن تَكُن
تُقارِعُtrade blows بِالأُخرىin the opposite way تُصِبكَstrike you القَوارِعُthe calamities
تُقارِعُ بِالأُخرى تُصِبكَ القَوارِعُ
If you bestow pardon, you will be pardoned; but if you
If you pardon, you will be pardoned, but if you
trade blows in the opposite way, calamities will strike you.
Oppose with the like, misfortunes will strike you.
وَلاand not تَبتَدِعinitiate حَرباًa war تُطيقُyou can اِجتِنابَهاavoid it
وَلا تَبتَدِع حَرباً تُطيقُ اِجتِنابَها
فَيَلحَمَكَthen make you meat الناسَfor people الحُروبُthe wars البَدايِعُnewly begun
فَيَلحَمَكَ الناسَ الحُروبُ البَدايِعُ
Do not start a war you have the power to avoid,
Do not initiate a war you can avoid,
lest newly begun wars make you meat for men.
Else war unforeseen will afflict you.
لَعَمريby my life لِنِعمَtruly excellent الحَيُّthe tribe إِنif كُنتَyou are مادِحاًpraising
لَعَمري لِنِعمَ الحَيُّ إِن كُنتَ مادِحاً
هُمُthey الأَزدُthe Azd إِنَّindeed القَولَspeech بِالصِدقِwith truth شايِعُwidespread
هُمُ الأَزدُ إِنَّ القَولَ بِالصِدقِ شايِعُ
By my life, what an excellent tribe, if you mean to praise,
By my life - the best life - if you praise,
are the Azd! Truthful speech is spread abroad.
It is the Azd; truly the word of truth spreads.
كِرامٌnoble مَساعيهِمtheir endeavors جِسامٌgreat سَماعُهُمtheir renown
كِرامٌ مَساعيهِم جِسامٌ سَماعُهُم
إِذاwhen أَلغَتِrender ineffectual الناسُpeople الأُمورُaffairs الشَرايِعُthe manifest ones
إِذا أَلغَتِ الناسُ الأُمورُ الشَرايِعُ
Noble are their endeavors, great their renown,
Noble their efforts, majestic their renown,
when manifest affairs render people powerless.
When people forsake noble ways.
لَناours الغُرَفُthe chambers العُلياthe highest مِنَof المَجدِglory وَالعُلىand eminence
لَنا الغُرَفُ العُليا مِنَ المَجدِ وَالعُلى
ظَفِرناwe won بِهاthem وَالناسُand people بَعدُstill تَوابِعُfollowers
ظَفِرنا بِها وَالناسُ بَعدُ تَوابِعُ
Ours are the highest chambers of glory and eminence;
To us belong the highest chambers of glory and sublimity.
we have won them, while others still follow behind.
We attained them while others follow.
لَناours جَبَلاtwo mountains of عِزٍّmight قَديمٌancient بَناهُماbuilt them both
لَنا جَبَلا عِزٍّ قَديمٌ بَناهُما
تَليعانِtwo towering men لاnot يَألوهُماcan rival them مَنwhoever يُتالِعُvies in stature
تَليعانِ لا يَألوهُما مَن يُتالِعُ
Ours are two mountains of ancient might, built by
To us belong two mountains of ancient glory
two towering men whom no rival in stature can reach.
Radiant, which no climber can ascend.
فَكَمso how many وافِدٍan envoy مِناof us شَريفٌhonored مَقامَهُhis standing
فَكَم وافِدٍ مِنا شَريفٌ مَقامَهُ
وَكَمand how many حافِظٍa watcher لِلقِرنِof the adversary وَالقِرنُwhile the adversary وادِعُat ease
وَكَم حافِظٍ لِلقِرنِ وَالقِرنُ وادِعُ
How many an envoy among us has an honored station,
So many of noble place have come from us
and how many a watcher of a foe, while that foe rests at ease!
And so many preservers of generations past.
وَمِنand many a مُطعِمٍfeeder of others يَومَa day of الصَباthe east wind غَيرَnot جامِدٍwithholding
وَمِن مُطعِمٍ يَومَ الصَبا غَيرَ جامِدٍ
إِذاwhen شَصَّran dry عَنfor أَبنائِهِنَّtheir children المَراضِعُthe nursing mothers
إِذا شَصَّ عَن أَبنائِهِنَّ المَراضِعُ
And many a feeder, unstinting on a day of the east wind,
From us are feeders in days of youth, not niggardly
when nursing mothers run dry for their children.
When infants cried to be suckled.
يُشَرِّفُennoble أَقواماًpeoples سِواناother than us ثِيابُناour garments
يُشَرِّفُ أَقواماً سِوانا ثِيابُنا
وَتَبقىand remain لَهُمfor them أَنthat يَلبَسوهاthey wear them سَمايِعُrenown
وَتَبقى لَهُم أَن يَلبَسوها سَمايِعُ
Our garments ennoble peoples besides ourselves,
Our clothes ennoble groups like us then they
and renown stays with them when they wear them.
Remain for them to wear afterwards.
إِذاif نَحنُwe ذارَعناwe competed إِلىfor المَجدِglory وَالعُلىand eminence
إِذا نَحنُ ذارَعنا إِلى المَجدِ وَالعُلى
قَبيلاًa tribe فَماthen not يَسطيعُناcan surpass us مَنwhoever يُذارِعُcompetes
قَبيلاً فَما يَسطيعُنا مَن يُذارِعُ
If we compete for glory and eminence with
When we strive for glory and nobility
a tribe, no one who competes can surpass us.
As a tribe, then none can rival us.
وَمِنّاand among us بَنوthe sons of ماءِMaʾ (Water) السَماءِal-Samaʾ (the Sky) وَمُنذِرٌand Mundhir
وَمِنّا بَنو ماءِ السَماءِ وَمُنذِرٌ
وَجَفنَةُand Jafna مِنّاamong us وَالقُرومُand the chieftains النَزايِعُthe far-ranging ones
وَجَفنَةُ مِنّا وَالقُرومُ النَزايِعُ
Among us are the sons of Maʾ al-Samaʾ and Mundhir,
From us are the Bani Ma as-Sama, and Munzir,
and Jafna is of us, and the far-ranging chieftains,
And Jafnah, and the Qurum who attack constantly,
قَبائِلُtribes مِنof غَسّانَGhassan تَسموrise in honor بِعامِرٍthrough ʿAmir
قَبائِلُ مِن غَسّانَ تَسمو بِعامِرٍ
إِذاwhen اِنتَسَبَتthey trace their lineage وَالأُزدُand the Azd بَعدُstill الجَوامِعُthe encompassing ones
إِذا اِنتَسَبَت وَالأُزدُ بَعدُ الجَوامِعُ
tribes of Ghassan, tracing their exalted descent to ʿAmir
Tribes of Ghassan ascribing themselves to ‘Amir
when they name their lineage; the Azd encompass them all.
While the Azd are those of perfect pedigree.
أَدانَsubjected لَناto us النُعمانُal-Nuʿman قَيساًQays وَخِندَقاًand Khindaq
أَدانَ لَنا النُعمانُ قَيساً وَخِندَقاً
أَدانَsubjected وَلَمand not يَمنَعprotected رَبيعَةَRabiʿa مانِعُany defender
أَدانَ وَلَم يَمنَع رَبيعَةَ مانِعُ
Al-Nuʿman subjected Qays and Khindaq to us;
An-Nu‘man made Qais and Khandaq subjects,
he subdued them, and no defender protected Rabiʿa.
He did so, none prevented Rabi‘ah.
Sol 6.1