أَتَعرِفُdo you recognize رَسماًa trace كَالرِداءِlike a cloak المُحَبَّرِthe embroidered
أَتَعرِفُ رَسماً كَالرِداءِ المُحَبَّرِ
بِرامَةَat Ramah بَينَbetween الهَضبِal-Hadb وَالمُتَغَمَّرِand al-Mutaghammar
بِرامَةَ بَينَ الهَضبِ وَالمُتَغَمَّرِ
Do you recognize a trace like an embroidered cloak,
Do you know a drawing like an embroidered cloak
at Ramah, between al-Hadb and al-Mutaghammar?
In Ramah between the hill and the muddy land?
جَرَتswept فيهِthrough it بَعدَafter الحَيِّthe tribe نَكباءُa cross-blowing wind زَعزَعٌviolent
جَرَت فيهِ بَعدَ الحَيِّ نَكباءُ زَعزَعٌ
بِهَبوَةِwith a dust-cloud جَيلانٍswirling مِنَof التُربِearth أَكدَرِdark
بِهَبوَةِ جَيلانٍ مِنَ التُربِ أَكدَرِ
A violent, cross-blowing wind swept through it after the tribe departed,
After life, the stumbling of the shaken passed through it
with a swirling dust-cloud of dark earth;
With the wantonness of two muddy generations.
وَمُرتَجِزٌand a thunder-rumbling cloud جَونٌdark كَأَنَّas though رَبابَهُits cloud-banks
وَمُرتَجِزٌ جَونٌ كَأَنَّ رَبابَهُ
إِذاwhen الريحُthe wind زَجَّتهُdrove it هِضابُthe hills المُشَقَّرِof al-Mushaqqar
إِذا الريحُ زَجَّتهُ هِضابُ المُشَقَّرِ
and a dark, thunder-rumbling cloud, whose cloud-banks seemed,
And a fearful, cowardly, as if his rebec,
when the wind drove it, like the hills of al-Mushaqqar.
When the wind shook it, the rugged peaks cracked it.
يَحُطُّsweeps down الوُعولَthe ibex العُصمَthe white-footed مِنfrom كُلِّevery شاهِقٍpeak
يَحُطُّ الوُعولَ العُصمَ مِن كُلِّ شاهِقٍ
وَيَقذِفُand hurls بِالثيرانِthe wild bulls فيinto المُتَحَيَّرِthe pooled floodwater
وَيَقذِفُ بِالثيرانِ في المُتَحَيَّرِ
It swept white-footed ibex down from every peak,
It took away the howls from every lofty summit
and hurled wild bulls into the pooled floodwater.
And cast them into the bewildered, shaken sands.
فَلَمso did not يَترُكاthe two leave إِلّاexcept رُسوماًtraces كَأَنَّهاas though they
فَلَم يَترُكا إِلّا رُسوماً كَأَنَّها
أَساطيرُlines وَحيٍof writing فيon قَراطيسِsheets مُقتَريof a reader
أَساطيرُ وَحيٍ في قَراطيسِ مُقتَري
The two left nothing but traces, as though they were
So they left only drawings as if they were
lines of writing on a reader's sheets.
Myths of revelation in borrowed books.
مَنازِلُdwellings قَومٍof a people دَمَّنواlong occupied تَلَعاتِهِits slopes
مَنازِلُ قَومٍ دَمَّنوا تَلَعاتِهِ
وَسَنّواand drove السَوامَthe grazing herds فيthrough الأَنيقِthe lovely pasture المُنَوَّرِthe flowering
وَسَنّوا السَوامَ في الأَنيقِ المُنَوَّرِ
Dwellings of a people who long occupied its slopes,
Homes of a people who built its slopes
and drove their grazing herds through lovely, flowering pasture,
And made the idols in the graceful plastered temple.
رَبيعُهُمُtheir spring وَand الصَيفَthe summer ثُمَّthen تَحَمَّلواthey departed
رَبيعُهُمُ وَ الصَيفَ ثُمَّ تَحَمَّلوا
عَلىon جِلَّةٍmature camels مِثلِlike الحَنِيّاتِcurved bows ضُمَّرِlean
عَلى جِلَّةٍ مِثلِ الحَنِيّاتِ ضُمَّرِ
through their spring and summer; then they departed
Their spring and summer, then they endured
on mature camels, lean as curved bows,
Patiently like the camel riders in shabby clothes.
شَواكِلُresembling عَجعاجٍa bellowing sire كَأَنَّas though زِمامَهُhis rein
شَواكِلُ عَجعاجٍ كَأَنَّ زِمامَهُ
بِذُكّارَةٍto a male palm عَيطاءَtowering مِنamong نَخلِthe palms خَيبَرِof Khaybar
بِذُكّارَةٍ عَيطاءَ مِن نَخلِ خَيبَرِ
resembling a bellowing sire, whose rein seemed attached
The camels of ‘Ajaaj are as if their bridle
to a towering male palm among Khaybar's palms.
Was from palm fronds of the thickets of Khaybar.
بِهِon him مِنfrom نِضاخِthe spray الشَولِof dry-uddered she-camels رَدعٌa stain كَأَنَّهُas though it
بِهِ مِن نِضاخِ الشَولِ رَدعٌ كَأَنَّهُ
نُقاعَةُan infusion حِنّاءٍof henna بِماءِin water الصَنَوبَرِof pine
نُقاعَةُ حِنّاءٍ بِماءِ الصَنَوبَرِ
He bore a stain from the dry-uddered she-camels' spray, like
With it the torrents of floods are held back as if it is
an infusion of henna in pine water.
Dye of henna with pine tree water.
كَسوهاthey clothed them سَخامَsoft fabric الرَيطِof fine cloth حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّهاas though they
كَسوها سَخامَ الرَيطِ حَتّى كَأَنَّها
حَدايِقُgardens نَخلٍof palms بِالبَرودَينِat al-Barudayn موقَرِladen with fruit
حَدايِقُ نَخلٍ بِالبَرودَينِ موقَرِ
They draped them in soft, fine cloth, until they seemed
They covered it with the coarseness of ruins as if it is
like palm gardens at al-Barudayn, laden with fruit.
Gardens of palms in the valley overgrown with vegetation.
وَقامَand rose إِلىtoward الأَحداجِthe howdahs بيضٌfair-skinned women خَرايِدٌshy maidens
وَقامَ إِلى الأَحداجِ بيضٌ خَرايِدٌ
نَواعِمُtender women لَمdid not يَلقينَexperience بُؤسىhardship لِمَقفَرِof a barren place
نَواعِمُ لَم يَلقينَ بُؤسى لِمَقفَرِ
And fair-skinned maidens rose toward the howdahs,
And white oryxes established, tender,
tender women who had never known a barren land's hardship,
Young girls who met no misery in the barren valley,
رَبايِبُgirls nurtured amid أَموالٍwealth تِلادٍancestral وَمَنصِبٌand a station
رَبايِبُ أَموالٍ تِلادٍ وَمَنصِبٌ
مِنَof الحَسَبِlineage المَرفوعِthe exalted غَيرِnot المُقَصِّرِfalling short
مِنَ الحَسَبِ المَرفوعِ غَيرِ المُقَصِّرِ
nurtured amid ancestral wealth, with a station
Spoiled by wealth, birth, and position
of exalted lineage, never falling short.
Of glorious origin that does not fall short.
هَدَينَthey led غَضيضَdowncast الطَرفِthe gaze خَمصانَةِslender الحَشاthe waist
هَدَينَ غَضيضَ الطَرفِ خَمصانَةِ الحَشا
قَطيعَhalting التَهاديthe swaying walk كاعِباًbudding-breasted غَيرُnot مُعصيرِfully mature
قَطيعَ التَهادي كاعِباً غَيرُ مُعصيرِ
They led a maiden of downcast gaze and slender waist,
They used to roam the valley, sneaky, dashing,
with halting, swaying steps, budding, not yet fully mature;
A flock of wild goats returning without a herdsman.
مُبَتَّلَةًwell-formed غُرّاًradiant كَأَنَّas though ثِيابَهاher garments
مُبَتَّلَةً غُرّاً كَأَنَّ ثِيابَها
عَلىupon الشَمسِthe sun غِبَّafter الأَبرَدِthe chill المُتَحَسِّرِthe receding
عَلى الشَمسِ غِبَّ الأَبرَدِ المُتَحَسِّرِ
shapely and radiant, as though her garments
Humming, passionate, as if their clothes
lay upon the sun after the receding chill.
Were drying in the sun on washed-out branches.
قَضواthey completed ماwhat قَضواthey completed مِنof رَحلَةٍa journey ثُمَّthen
قَضوا ما قَضوا مِن رَحلَةٍ ثُمَّ
وَجَّهواthey turned يَمامَةَtoward طَودٍa mountain ذيhaving حِماطٍwild fig trees وَعَرعَرِand juniper
وَجَّهوا يَمامَةَ طَودٍ ذي حِماطٍ وَعَرعَرِ
They completed what they completed of their journey, then
They spent what they spent of a journey, then
turned toward a mountain bearing wild figs and juniper.
They headed their mounts, bundles of firewood and juniper.
وَعاذِلَةٍand a reproaching woman فادَيتُهاI offered myself as her ransom أَنlest تَلومَنيshe blame me
وَعاذِلَةٍ فادَيتُها أَن تَلومَني
وَقَدand already عَلِمَتshe knew أَنّيthat I لَهاto her غَيرُnot موثِرِpreferring
وَقَد عَلِمَت أَنّي لَها غَيرُ موثِرِ
And a reproaching woman—I offered myself as her ransom, lest she blame me,
And she admonished me lest she blame me
though she knew I would not prefer her
And she knew I do not prefer her
عَلىover الجارِthe neighbor وَالأَضيافِand the guests وَالسايِلِand the beggar الَّذيwho
عَلى الجارِ وَالأَضيافِ وَالسايِلِ الَّذي
شَكاlamented مَعرَماًa crushing loss أَوor مَسَّهُafflicted him ضُرُhardship مُعسِرِof an impoverished man
شَكا مَعرَماً أَو مَسَّهُ ضُرُ مُعسِرِ
over my neighbor, my guests, or the beggar who
Over the neighbor, guest, and the asker
lamented a crushing loss, or suffered a poor man's hardship.
Who complained of distress or poverty touched him.
أَعاذِلَO reproacher إِنَّindeed الجودَgenerosity لايَنقَصُdoes not diminish الغِنىwealth
أَعاذِلَ إِنَّ الجودَ لايَنقَصُ الغِنى
وَلاnor يَدفَعُprotects الإِمساكُwithholding عَنfrom مالِthe wealth مُكثِرِof a rich man
وَلا يَدفَعُ الإِمساكُ عَن مالِ مُكثِرِ
Reproacher, generosity does not diminish wealth,
I admonish her, generosity does not detract from wealth
nor does withholding protect a wealthy man's property.
Nor does stinginess drive away ample riches.
أَلَمhave you not تَسأَليasked وَالعِلمُand knowledge يَشفيcures مِنَfrom العَمىblindness
أَلَم تَسأَلي وَالعِلمُ يَشفي مِنَ العَمى
ذَويthose possessing العِلمِknowledge عَنabout أَنباءِthe reports قَوميof my people فَتُخبَريso you may be told
ذَوي العِلمِ عَن أَنباءِ قَومي فَتُخبَري
Have you not asked—knowledge cures blindness—
Did you not ask—and knowledge heals blindness—
those who know about my people's deeds, and been informed?
The people of knowledge about the news of my people to inform you?
سَلامانَSalaman إِنَّindeed المَجدَglory فيناamong us عَمارَةٌan edifice
سَلامانَ إِنَّ المَجدَ فينا عَمارَةٌ
عَلىupon الخُلُقِcharacter الزاكيthe pure الَّذيwhich لَمhas not يُكَدِّرِbeen sullied
عَلى الخُلُقِ الزاكي الَّذي لَم يُكَدِّرِ
Salaman—glory among us is an edifice
Sulayman, glory amongst us is a legacy
built on pure character that has never been sullied:
Of virtuous character that is not corrupted.
بَقِيَّةُthe surviving legacy مَجدِof glory الأَوَّلِof the first الأَوَّلِthe first الَّذيwhich
بَقِيَّةُ مَجدِ الأَوَّلِ الأَوَّلِ الَّذي
بَنىbuilt مَيدَعانُMayda'an ثُمَّthen لَمdid not يَتَغَيَّرِchange
بَنى مَيدَعانُ ثُمَّ لَم يَتَغَيَّرِ
the surviving glory of the first, the very first forebear, which
The remainder of the glory of the first, the first that
Mayda'an built, and which never changed.
Maidan built then did not change.
أولَئِكَthose قَومٌa people يَأمَنُfeels safe الجارُthe neighbor بَينَهُمamong them
أولَئِكَ قَومٌ يَأمَنُ الجارُ بَينَهُم
وَيُشفِقُand fears مِنof صَولاتِهِمtheir assaults كُلُّevery مُخفِرِbreaker of pledges
وَيُشفِقُ مِن صَولاتِهِم كُلُّ مُخفِرِ
Those are a people among whom the neighbor is safe,
Those are a people the neighbor feels safe amongst them
and every breaker of pledges fears their assaults.
And every coward fears their attacks.
مَرافيدُsupporters لِلمَولىfor the client مَحاشيدُthose who muster لِلقِرىfor hospitality
مَرافيدُ لِلمَولى مَحاشيدُ لِلقِرى
عَلىto الجارِthe neighbor وَالمُستَأنِسِand the company-seeker المُتَنَوِّرِseeking firelight
عَلى الجارِ وَالمُستَأنِسِ المُتَنَوِّرِ
Helpers of their clients, mustering to provide hospitality
Territories for the Master, praisings for the towns
to the neighbor and the stranger seeking company and firelight.
For the neighbor and the friendly well-mannered one.
إِذاif ظِلُّthe shelter قَومٍof a people كانَwas ظَلَّthe shade غَيايَةٍof a cloud
إِذا ظِلُّ قَومٍ كانَ ظَلَّ غَيايَةٍ
تُذَعذِعُهُscatter it الأَرواحُthe winds مِنfrom كُلِّevery مَفجَرِopening
تُذَعذِعُهُ الأَرواحُ مِن كُلِّ مَفجَرِ
If another people's shelter is a cloud's shade,
If the shade of a people was the shade of misguidance
scattered by winds from every opening,
The winds would shake it from every dug pit.
فَإِنَّthen indeed لَناwe have ظِلّاًa shelter تَكاثَفَgrew dense وَاِنطَوَتand closed around
فَإِنَّ لَنا ظِلّاً تَكاثَفَ وَاِنطَوَت
عَلَيهِaround it أَراعيلُtroops العَديدِof the multitude المُجَمهَرِthe massed
عَلَيهِ أَراعيلُ العَديدِ المُجَمهَرِ
ours is a dense shelter, around which have gathered
For we have a shade that gathered and folded over it
the cohorts of a massed multitude.
The pagans of the numerous gathered crowds.
لَناwe have سادَةٌchiefs لايَنقُصُdo not diminish الناسُthe people قَولَهُمtheir word
لَنا سادَةٌ لايَنقُصُ الناسُ قَولَهُم
وَرَجراجَةٌand a surging army ذَيّالَةٌtrailing its ranks فيin السَنَوَّرِarmor
وَرَجراجَةٌ ذَيّالَةٌ في السَنَوَّرِ
We have chiefs whose word no one belittles,
For us are masters whose words do not detract from people
and a surging host, trailing its ranks in armor.
And tumult like that of young camels in the pens.
تَجِنُّهُمُshield them مِنfrom نَسجِthe weaving داوُدَof David فيin الوَغىbattle
تَجِنُّهُمُ مِن نَسجِ داوُدَ في الوَغى
سَرابيلُcoats of armor حيصَتsewn together بِالقَتيرِwith mail-rings المُسَمَّرِthe riveted
سَرابيلُ حيصَت بِالقَتيرِ المُسَمَّرِ
Shielding them in battle, from David's weaving, are
Their clothes woven by David during calamity
coats of armor joined with riveted mail-rings.
Are robes of Hiyash bound with studded leather.
وَطِئناwe trampled هِلالاًHilal يَومَon the day of زاجٍZaj بِقُوَّةٍwith force
وَطِئنا هِلالاً يَومَ زاجٍ بِقُوَّةٍ
وَصَفناهُمُand we arrayed them كَرهاًagainst their will بِأَيدٍwith might مُؤَزَّرِreinforced
وَصَفناهُمُ كَرهاً بِأَيدٍ مُؤَزَّرِ
We crushed Hilal on the day of Zaj with force,
We trod on the crescent on a boiling day with strength
and arrayed them against their will, with bolstered might.
And we lined them up against their will with hands girded.
وَيَوماًand one day بِتَبلالٍat Tablal طَمَمناwe overwhelmed عَلَيهِمover them
وَيَوماً بِتَبلالٍ طَمَمنا عَلَيهِم
بِظَلماءَwith darkness بَأسٍof battle-fury لَيلُهاits night غَيرُnot مُسفِرِbrightening
بِظَلماءَ بَأسٍ لَيلُها غَيرُ مُسفِرِ
And one day at Tablal we swept over them
And a day in Tablala we crept up on them
with a darkness of battle whose night would not brighten.
With dark afflictions, its night not brightened.
وَأَفناءُand the clans قَيسٍof Qays قَدindeed أَبَدناwe annihilated سَراتَهُمtheir chiefs
وَأَفناءُ قَيسٍ قَد أَبَدنا سَراتَهُم
وَعَبساًand 'Abs سَقَيناwe made drink بِالأُجاجِwith brine المُعَوَّرِthe blinding
وَعَبساً سَقَينا بِالأُجاجِ المُعَوَّرِ
And Qays's clans—we destroyed their chiefs,
And we destroyed the courtyards of Qais and we quenched
and made 'Abs drink bitter, blinding brine.
‘Abs with bitter deadly drinks.
وَأَصرامُand the bands فَهمٍof Fahm قَدindeed قَتَلناwe slew فَلَمso we did not نَدَعleave
وَأَصرامُ فَهمٍ قَد قَتَلنا فَلَم نَدَع
سِوىexcept نِسوَةٍwomen مِثلِlike البَلِيّاتِgrave-tethered camels حُسَّرِbareheaded
سِوى نِسوَةٍ مِثلِ البَلِيّاتِ حُسَّرِ
And Fahm's bands we slew, leaving none
And we killed the protectors of Fahm and did not leave
but bareheaded women, like camels tethered beside graves.
Except women wailing like bereaved old women.
وَنَحنُand we قَتَلناslew فيamong ثَقيفٍThaqif وَجَوَّسَتand ranged through
وَنَحنُ قَتَلنا في ثَقيفٍ وَجَوَّسَت
فَوارِسُناour horsemen نَصراًNasr عَلىat كُلِّevery مَحضَرِencampment
فَوارِسُنا نَصراً عَلى كُلِّ مَحضَرِ
We slew men among Thaqif; and roaming
And we were the ones who killed in Thuqif and our horsemen
through Nasr at every encampment were our horsemen.
Galloped to victory in every dwelling.
وَنَحنُand we صَبِرناpinned down غارَةًa raid مُفرَجِيَّةًMufarriji
وَنَحنُ صَبِرنا غارَةً مُفرَجِيَّةً
فُقَيماًFuqaym فَماso it did not أَبقَتleave لَهُمfor them مِنany مُخَبَّرِtale-bearer
فُقَيماً فَما أَبقَت لَهُم مِن مُخَبَّرِ
We pinned down, in a Mufarriji raid,
And we endured a surprise night raid
Fuqaym; it left them no one to tell the tale.
Poor immigrants, and did not leave a single scout for them.
وَدُسناهُمُand we trampled them بِالخَيلِwith horses وَالبيضِand bright swords وَالقَناand spears
وَدُسناهُمُ بِالخَيلِ وَالبيضِ وَالقَنا
وَضَربٍand blows يَفُضُّthat split الهامَskulls فيinside كُلِّevery مِغفَرِhelmet
وَضَربٍ يَفُضُّ الهامَ في كُلِّ مِغفَرِ
And we trampled them with horses, bright swords, and spears,
And we overcame them with horses, white swords, and spears
and blows that split skulls inside every helmet.
And a strike that pours blood in every wide plain.
وَرُحناand we returned بِبيضٍwith fair women كَالظِباءِlike gazelles وَجامِلٍand a camel herd
وَرُحنا بِبيضٍ كَالظِباءِ وَجامِلٍ
طِوالِlong الهَواديthe necks كَالسَفينِlike ships المَقَيَّرِthe tar-coated
طِوالِ الهَوادي كَالسَفينِ المَقَيَّرِ
And we returned with fair women like gazelles, and herds of camels
And we came with white like oryxes and thoroughbreds
long-necked as tar-coated ships.
Tall, of long distance, like ships sailing downstream.
وَنَحنُand we صَبَحناattacked at dawn غَيرَwithout عُذرٍan excuse بِذِمَّةٍunder a pledge
وَنَحنُ صَبَحنا غَيرَ عُذرٍ بِذِمَّةٍ
سَليمَSulaym اِبنِson of مَنصورٍMansur بِصَلعاءَwith a stark assault مُذكِرِfierce
سَليمَ اِبنِ مَنصورٍ بِصَلعاءَ مُذكِرِ
We attacked at dawn, with no plea of pledged protection,
And we were in the morning void of excuses or pacts
Sulaym ibn Mansur, with a stark, fierce assault.
For the safety of Sulaym son of Mansur in ruined Sala’.
قَتَلناهُمُwe slew them ثُمَّthen اِصطَحَبناwe took along دِيارَهُمtheir dwellings
قَتَلناهُمُ ثُمَّ اِصطَحَبنا دِيارَهُم
بِخُمرَةَat Khumrah فيin جَمعٍa host كَثيفٍdense مُخَمَّرِhelmeted
بِخُمرَةَ في جَمعٍ كَثيفٍ مُخَمَّرِ
We slew them, then took their dwellings with us
We killed them then took over their homes
at Khumrah, in a dense, helmeted host.
Forcibly in a large drunken assembly.
تَرَكناwe left عَوافيscavenging flocks الرُخمِof vultures تَنشُرُscatter مِنهُمُsome of them
تَرَكنا عَوافي الرُخمِ تَنشُرُ مِنهُمُ
عَفارِيَmighty warriors صَرعىfallen dead فيamong الوَشيجِthe spearshafts المُكَسَّرِthe shattered
عَفارِيَ صَرعى في الوَشيجِ المُكَسَّرِ
We left scavenging vultures scattering some of them—
We left their elite strewn, their dead bodies
mighty men lying dead among the shattered spearshafts.
Spread out in the valley in broken parts.
وَبِالغَورِand in the lowland نُطناwe strung up مِنfrom عَلِيٍّ'Ali عُصابَةًa band
وَبِالغَورِ نُطنا مِن عَلِيٍّ عُصابَةً
وَرُحناand we departed بِذاكَwith that القَيرَوانِcaravan المُقَطَّرِbound in a train
وَرُحنا بِذاكَ القَيرَوانِ المُقَطَّرِ
And in the lowland we strung up a band of 'Ali,
And in al-Gawr, we growled against a gang of ‘Ali
and departed with that caravan bound in a train.
And we left with only that tattered shroud.
وَخَثعَمَand Khath'am فيin أَيّامِthe battle-days ناسٍof peoples كَثيرَةٍmany
وَخَثعَمَ في أَيّامِ ناسٍ كَثيرَةٍ
هَمَطناهُمُwe plundered them هَمطَthe plundering العَزيزِof the mighty المُؤَسَّرِthe strong-limbed
هَمَطناهُمُ هَمطَ العَزيزِ المُؤَسَّرِ
And Khath'am, in many peoples' battle-days,
And Khatam frothed in the days of many people
we plundered them as the mighty and strong-limbed plunder.
We tore them apart, tearings of the mighty noble one.
سَبَيناwe captured نِساءًwomen مِنfrom جَليحَةَJalihah أَسلَمَتsurrendered
سَبَينا نِساءً مِن جَليحَةَ أَسلَمَت
وَمِنand from راهِبٍRahib فَوضىscattered لَدىamong كُلِّevery عَسكَرِcamp
وَمِن راهِبٍ فَوضى لَدى كُلِّ عَسكَرِ
We captured women from Jalihah, which surrendered,
We took captive women of Jalhiha who converted
and from Rahib, dispersed among all the camps.
And from a monk unrestrained in every army camp.
وَنَحنُand we قَتَلناslew بِالنَواصِفِat al-Nawasif شَنفَرىShanfara
وَنَحنُ قَتَلنا بِالنَواصِفِ شَنفَرى
حَديدَsharp السِلاحِthe weaponry مُقبِلاًadvancing غَيرَnot مُدبِرِretreating
حَديدَ السِلاحِ مُقبِلاً غَيرَ مُدبِرِ
We slew Shanfara at al-Nawasif,
And we were the ones who killed with the swords in battle
keenly armed, advancing, not retreating.
The steel weapons coming without retreating.
وَمِنand among سائِرِall of الحَيَّينِthe two tribes سَعدٍSa'd وَعامِرٍand 'Amir
وَمِن سائِرِ الحَيَّينِ سَعدٍ وَعامِرٍ
أَبَحناwe laid open حِمىthe protected ground جَبّارِهاof its tyrant المُتَكَبِّرِthe arrogant
أَبَحنا حِمى جَبّارِها المُتَكَبِّرِ
And among all of the two tribes, Sa'd and 'Amir,
And from the rest of the tribes of Sa’d and ‘Amir
we laid open the protected ground of their arrogant tyrant.
We sought violations of their arrogant tyrant.
مَنَعناwe defended سَراةَthe highlands الأَرضِof the land بِالخَيلِwith horses وَالقَناand spears
مَنَعنا سَراةَ الأَرضِ بِالخَيلِ وَالقَنا
وَأَيأَسَand made despair مِنّاof us بَأسُناour might كُلَّevery مَعشَرِpeople
وَأَيأَسَ مِنّا بَأسُنا كُلَّ مَعشَرِ
We held the highlands with horses and spears,
We prevented the noble horses and spears from roaming the land
and our might made every clan despair of overcoming us.
And our affliction made every group despair.
إِذاwhen ماever نَزَلناwe descended بَلدَةًon a town دُوِّخَتit was subdued لَناfor us
إِذا ما نَزَلنا بَلدَةً دُوِّخَت لَنا
فَكُنّاso we were عَلىover أَربابِهاits masters بِالمُخَيَّرِfree to choose
فَكُنّا عَلى أَربابِها بِالمُخَيَّرِ
Whenever we descended on a town, it was subdued for us,
Whenever we descended upon a town, it would be shaken for us
and we could deal with its masters as we chose.
And we had the choice with its people.
بَنوthe sons of مُفرِجٍMufarrij أَهلُthe people of المَكارِمِnoble deeds وَالعُلىand eminence
بَنو مُفرِجٍ أَهلُ المَكارِمِ وَالعُلى
وَأَهلُand owners of القِبابِdomed tents وَالسَوامِand grazing herds المُعَكَّرِthe abundant
وَأَهلُ القِبابِ وَالسَوامِ المُعَكَّرِ
The sons of Mufarrij, men of generosity and eminence,
The clan of Mufraj, people of nobility and highness
owners of domed tents and great masses of grazing herds.
And people of domed houses and carved idols,
فَمَنso who لِلمَعاليfor lofty deeds بَعدَafter عُثمانَ'Uthman وَالنَدىand generosity
فَمَن لِلمَعالي بَعدَ عُثمانَ وَالنَدى
وَفَصلِand decisiveness الخِطابِof speech وَالجَوابِand the answer المُيَسَّرِthe ready
وَفَصلِ الخِطابِ وَالجَوابِ المُيَسَّرِ
Who, after 'Uthman, is there for lofty deeds and generosity,
So who can compare to their sublime deeds after ‘Uthman
for decisive speech and ready answers,
And the dew of Fasl and the gentle speech?
وَحَملِand bearing المُلَمّاتِthe calamities العِظامِthe great وَنَقضِهاand unraveling them
وَحَملِ المُلَمّاتِ العِظامِ وَنَقضِها
وَإِمرارِهاand binding them firmly وَالأَأيُand [judgment?] فيهاin them المُصَدِّرُtaking the lead
وَإِمرارِها وَالأَأيُ فيها المُصَدِّرُ
for bearing great calamities and unraveling them,
And bearing the great responsibilities and undoing them
for tying them fast, with [judgment?] taking the lead in them?
And resolving them, with wisdom to guide them,
كَأَنَّas though الوُفودَthe delegations المُبتَغينَseeking حِبائَهُمtheir gifts
كَأَنَّ الوُفودَ المُبتَغينَ حِبائَهُم
عَلىupon فَيضِa flood مَدّادٍever-replenishing مِنَfrom البَحرِthe sea أَخضَرِgreen
عَلى فَيضِ مَدّادٍ مِنَ البَحرِ أَخضَرِ
As though the delegations seeking their gifts
It is as if the delegations seeking their gifts
stood upon an ever-replenishing flood from the green sea.
Were from a downpour of ink from the green sea,
فَكَمso how many فيهِمُamong them مِنof مُستَبيحٍone who overruns حِمىthe protected ground العِدىof the enemies
فَكَم فيهِمُ مِن مُستَبيحٍ حِمى العِدى
سَبوقٍfirst to race إِلىto الغاياتِthe goals غَيرِnot عَذَوَّرِrough-tempered
سَبوقٍ إِلى الغاياتِ غَيرِ عَذَوَّرِ
How many among them overrun the enemy's protected ground,
So how many of them freely took sanctuaries
race first to the goals, never rough-tempered,
And raced to the ends without stumbling,
وَهَوبٍlavish giver لِطَوعاتِof obedient she-camels الأَزِمَّةِthe reins فيin البُرىthe nose-rings
وَهَوبٍ لِطَوعاتِ الأَزِمَّةِ في البُرى
وَلِلأُفُقِand of the noble horse النَهدِthe stout الأَسيلِthe smooth-cheeked المُعَذَّرِthe bridled
وَلِلأُفُقِ النَهدِ الأَسيلِ المُعَذَّرِ
lavish givers of camels obedient to reins in their nose-rings,
And inspired plunges into crises in the lands
and of the noble, stout, smooth-cheeked, bridled horse!
And the smooth flowing horizon clear of fault!
نَمَتهُbrought him forth بَنوthe sons of الأَربابِlords فيamong الفَرعِthe high branch وَالذُرىand summits
نَمَتهُ بَنو الأَربابِ في الفَرعِ وَالذُرى
وَمِنand from مَيدَعانِMayda'an فيamong ذُبابٍDhubab وَجَوهَرِand Jawhar
وَمِن مَيدَعانِ في ذُبابٍ وَجَوهَرِ
Sons of lords brought him forth among high branches and summits,
The distinguished ones nurtured it in branches and roots
and from Mayda'an, among Dhubab and Jawhar.
And from Maidan in flies and gems.
لُبابُthe choicest essence لُبابٍof choicest essence فيin أُرومٍancestral roots تَمَكَّنَتtook firm hold
لُبابُ لُبابٍ في أُرومٍ تَمَكَّنَت
كَريمَgenerous غَداةِon the morning of المَيسِرِthe game of chance المُتَحَضِّرِthe convened
كَريمَ غَداةِ المَيسِرِ المُتَحَضِّرِ
The choicest of the choicest, in firmly rooted ancestral stocks,
The cream of cream in fertile lands that triumphed
generous on the morning when the game of chance is convened.
Nobly in the morning of ease and preparedness.
فَأَكرِمhow noble, then بِمَولودٍis a son وَأَكرِمand how noble بِوالِدٍis a father
فَأَكرِم بِمَولودٍ وَأَكرِم بِوالِدٍ
وَبِالعَمِّand the paternal uncle وَالأَخوالِand the maternal uncles وَالمُتَهَصَّرِand the affectionate protector
وَبِالعَمِّ وَالأَخوالِ وَالمُتَهَصَّرِ
How noble, then, a son, and how noble a father,
So honor with a newborn, and honor with a parent
and the paternal uncle, the maternal uncles, and the affectionate protector!
And the uncle and in-laws and the humble ones.
مُلوكٌkings وَأَربابٌand lords وَفُرسانُand horsemen of غارَةٍa raid
مُلوكٌ وَأَربابٌ وَفُرسانُ غارَةٍ
يَحوزونَهاthey win it بِالطَعنِwith spear-thrusts فيin كُلِّevery مَحجَرِstronghold
يَحوزونَها بِالطَعنِ في كُلِّ مَحجَرِ
Kings and lords and horsemen of raids,
Kings and lords and horsemen of raids
who win it with spear-thrusts in every stronghold.
Who possess it by stabbing in every battlefield.
إِذاwhen نالَهُمtouches them حَمشٌwrath فَإِنَّthen indeed دَوائَهُits remedy
إِذا نالَهُم حَمشٌ فَإِنَّ دَوائَهُ
دَمٌblood زَلَّtrickled عَنfrom فَودَيthe two temples of كَمِيِّan armored warrior مُعَفَّرِdust-covered
دَمٌ زَلَّ عَن فَودَي كَمِيِّ مُعَفَّرِ
When wrath touches them, its remedy is
When loss afflicts them, its remedy is blood
blood trickling from both temples of an armored warrior cast in the dust,
That flows from the side of a red death.
مُدانِحِمِ[unclear reading] يُعطيhe yields الدَنِيَّةَabasement راغِماًagainst his will
مُدانِحِمِ يُعطي الدَنِيَّةَ راغِماً
وَإِنand if دايَنواthey settle accounts باؤواthey return بَريمٍwith a surplus مُوَفَّرِample
وَإِن دايَنوا باؤوا بَريمٍ مُوَفَّرِ
[Unclear epithet], yielding to abasement against his will.
They give the lowly against their will
And if they settle accounts, they return with an ample surplus.
And if they are wronged they come back with ample compensation.
Sol 6.1