بانَتdeparted سُعادُSu'ad فَفيso in العَينَينِboth eyes مَلمولُa kohl-needle
بانَت سُعادُ فَفي العَينَينِ مَلمولُ
مِنfrom حُبِّهاlove of her وَصَحيحُand the healthy الجِسمِbody مَخبولُstricken
مِن حُبِّها وَصَحيحُ الجِسمِ مَخبولُ
Su'ad has departed; a kohl-needle pricks both my eyes,
Joy has appeared, so my eyes are tearful
from love of her, and my once-sound body is stricken.
With love for her, though my body's healthful.
فَالقَلبُso the heart مِنfrom حُبِّهاlove of her يَعتادُهُrepeatedly assails it سَقَمٌsickness
فَالقَلبُ مِن حُبِّها يَعتادُهُ سَقَمٌ
إِذاwhenever تَذَكَّرتُهاI remember her وَالجِسمُand the body مَسلولُconsumptively wasted
إِذا تَذَكَّرتُها وَالجِسمُ مَسلولُ
So love of her brings recurring sickness to my heart,
When I remember her, sickness haunts my heart,
whenever I remember her, and my body wastes away.
And my frame grows limp, though vigorous at the start.
وَإِنand if تَناسَيتُهاI pretend to forget her أَوor قُلتُI say قَدalready شَحَطَتshe has gone far
وَإِن تَناسَيتُها أَو قُلتُ قَد شَحَطَت
عادَتreturned نَواشِطُbinding cords مِنهاfrom her فَهوَso it is مَكبولُshackled
عادَت نَواشِطُ مِنها فَهوَ مَكبولُ
And if I pretend to forget her, or say she has gone far,
If I forget her or claim she's fled far away,
bonds from her return, and it is shackled.
Her allure comes back, and I'm bound as her prey.
مَرفوعَةٌkept high عَنaway from عُيونِthe eyes of الناسِpeople فيin غُرَفٍupper chambers
مَرفوعَةٌ عَن عُيونِ الناسِ في غُرَفٍ
لاnot يَطمَعُaspires الشُمطُthe gray-haired men فيهاto her وَالتَنابيلُand the short men
لا يَطمَعُ الشُمطُ فيها وَالتَنابيلُ
She is kept high, beyond people's eyes, in upper chambers;
She's kept safe in chambers, out of people's sight,
neither gray-haired men nor short men can hope to win her.
Where the spy can't hope to peer, or slip inside at night.
يُخالِطُmingles with القَلبَthe heart بَعدَafter النَومِsleep لَذَّتُهاher delight
يُخالِطُ القَلبَ بَعدَ النَومِ لَذَّتُها
إِذَwhen تَنَبَّهَit awakens وَاِعتَلَّand plead indisposition المَتافيلُthe unperfumed women
إِذَ تَنَبَّهَ وَاِعتَلَّ المَتافيلُ
Her delight mingles with the heart after sleep,
When I wake from sleep, the heart she rules with delight
when it awakens, while unperfumed women plead indisposition.
Stirs as the eyelids lift at first morning's light.
يُرويquenches العِطاشَthe thirsty لَهاshe has عَذبٌsweet مُقَبَّلُهُits kissing-place
يُروي العِطاشَ لَها عَذبٌ مُقَبَّلُهُ
فيon جيدِthe neck of آدَمَa tawny gazelle زانَتهُadorned it التَهاويلُsplendid ornaments
في جيدِ آدَمَ زانَتهُ التَهاويلُ
She has a sweet mouth whose kiss quenches the thirsty.
Her sweet lips quench the thirst which her necklace instills
On a tawny gazelle's neck, adorned with splendid ornaments,
As it adorns the soft skin where her braid spills.
حَليٌjewels يَشُبُّkindles بَياضَthe whiteness of النَحرِthe upper chest واقِدُهُits blazing glow
حَليٌ يَشُبُّ بَياضَ النَحرِ واقِدُهُ
كَماas تُصَوَّرُare depicted فيin الدَيرِthe monastery التَماثيلُfigures
كَما تُصَوَّرُ في الدَيرِ التَماثيلُ
lie jewels whose glow kindles her breast's whiteness,
Like a carving it shines on her breast snowy white
like the figures painted in the monastery.
As figures shine in churches, bestrewn with sunlight.
أَوor كَالعَسيبِlike a palm frond نَماهُnurtured it جَدوَلٌa stream غَدِقٌcopious
أَو كَالعَسيبِ نَماهُ جَدوَلٌ غَدِقٌ
وَكَنَّهُand sheltered it from وَهَجَthe blaze of القَيظِhigh summer الأَظاليلُthe shades
وَكَنَّهُ وَهَجَ القَيظِ الأَظاليلُ
Or like a palm frond nurtured by a copious stream,
It sprouted like a sapling nourished by a brook
and sheltered by shade from the blaze of high summer.
Sheltered from the noon blaze under a shady nook.
غَرّاءُradiant فَرعاءُlong-haired مَصقولٌpolished عَوارِضُهاher side-teeth
غَرّاءُ فَرعاءُ مَصقولٌ عَوارِضُها
كَأَنَّهاas though she were أَحوَرُdark-eyed العَينَينِin both eyes مَكحولُkohl-rimmed
كَأَنَّها أَحوَرُ العَينَينِ مَكحولُ
Radiant and long-haired, her teeth polished bright,
Smooth and bright are her cheeks, slit with laughing flashes
as though she were a kohl-rimmed, dark-eyed gazelle,
As if her eyes were kohled by unerring pens' slashes.
أَخرَقَهُbewildered it وَهوَwhile it was فيin أَكنافِthe shelter of سِدرَتِهِits lote-tree
أَخرَقَهُ وَهوَ في أَكنافِ سِدرَتِهِ
يَومٌa day تُضَرِّمُهُsets it ablaze الجَوزاءُal-Jawza constellation مَشمولُnorth-wind-swept
يَومٌ تُضَرِّمُهُ الجَوزاءُ مَشمولُ
bewildered, while in the shelter of its lote-tree,
One day the hot season set it ablaze in its niche
by a north-wind day that al-Jawza sets ablaze.
Though sheltered in the lotus tree's leafy reach.
فَسَلِّهاso forget her بِأَمونِwith a dependable camel اللَيلِby night ناجِيَةٍa swift she-camel
فَسَلِّها بِأَمونِ اللَيلِ ناجِيَةٍ
فيهاin her هِبابٌlively vigor إِذاwhen كَلَّgrow weary المَراسيلُthe fleet camels
فيها هِبابٌ إِذا كَلَّ المَراسيلُ
Forget her, then, with a swift she-camel dependable by night,
Ask her quietly in the night's secrecy
with lively vigor when the fleet camels weary.
When the messengers are still and all is husky.
قَنواءَhook-nosed نَضّاخَةِstreaming with sweat الذِفرىthe area behind the ear مُفَرَّجَةٍwide-set
قَنواءَ نَضّاخَةِ الذِفرى مُفَرَّجَةٍ
مِرفَقُهاher elbow عَنaway from ضُلوعِthe ribs of الزَورِthe chest مَفتولُtightly corded
مِرفَقُها عَن ضُلوعِ الزَورِ مَفتولُ
Hook-nosed, sweat streaming behind her ears, wide-set,
With knees spread wide and prominent hips jumping free
her corded elbow held clear of her chest-ribs.
While her thighs and waist bend lithely as a willow tree.
تَسموshe bounds كَأَنَّas though شَراراًsparks بَينَbetween أَذرُعِهاher forelegs
تَسمو كَأَنَّ شَراراً بَينَ أَذرُعِها
مِنfrom ناسِفِa scatterer of المَروِflint مَرضوحٌcrushed وَمَنجولُand flung aside
مِن ناسِفِ المَروِ مَرضوحٌ وَمَنجولُ
She bounds as though sparks between her forelegs
As if the sparks in her arms were set there for me
were crushed and flung by a hoof that scatters flint.
By the flint that loves to spark the blaze angrily.
كَأَنَّهاas though she were واضِحُwhite الأَقرابِin the flanks فيamong لِقَحٍpregnant she-asses
كَأَنَّها واضِحُ الأَقرابِ في لِقَحٍ
أَسمىwent upward بِهِنَّwith them وَعِزَّتهُand his strength الأَناصيلُgrass tufts
أَسمى بِهِنَّ وَعِزَّتهُ الأَناصيلُ
As though she were a white-flanked wild ass among pregnant mares,
She is like a mare of purest stock, proudly prancing,
that led them uphill, his strength drawn from tufts of grass.
While mares and fillies nobly circle her dancing.
تَذَكَّرَhe remembered الشِربَdrinking إِذwhen هاجَتhad withered مَراتِعُهُhis pastures
تَذَكَّرَ الشِربَ إِذ هاجَت مَراتِعُهُ
وَذوand that with الأَشاءِpalm trees طَريقُthe path to الماءِwater مَشغولُoccupied
وَذو الأَشاءِ طَريقُ الماءِ مَشغولُ
He remembered drinking when his pastures withered,
When thirst came to mind and the watering pools looked far,
and the palm-grown path to water was occupied.
And finding the water source seemed a hopeless star,
فَظَلَّso he remained مُرتَبِئاًkeeping watch عَطشانَthirsty فيin أَمرٍa matter
فَظَلَّ مُرتَبِئاً عَطشانَ في أَمرٍ
كَأَنَّas though ماwhat مَسَّtouched مِنهُof him الشَمسُthe sun مَملولُroasted in hot ashes
كَأَنَّ ما مَسَّ مِنهُ الشَمسُ مَملولُ
So he remained watchful and thirsty, pondering a matter,
He gathered resolve and led the mares onward,
as though the parts of him touched by the sun were roasted in hot ashes.
Though seawater can't slake a thirst left smoldering.
يَقسِمُhe weighs أَمراًa decision أَبَطنَwhether to the floor of الغَيلِthe thicket يورِدُهاhe should bring them to water
يَقسِمُ أَمراً أَبَطنَ الغَيلِ يورِدُها
أَمor بَحرَthe river of عانَةَ'Ana إِذwhen نَشفَhad dried up البَراغيلُthe little pools
أَم بَحرَ عانَةَ إِذ نَشفَ البَراغيلُ
He weighs a decision: should he water them in the thicket's hollow,
Then down the slopes they plunged helter skelter
or at 'Ana's river, now that the little pools have dried?
His hooves striking the ground - no strength left to welter.
فَأَجمَعَso he resolved الأَمرَthe matter أُصلاًin late afternoon ثُمَّthen أَورَدَهاbrought them to water
فَأَجمَعَ الأَمرَ أُصلاً ثُمَّ أَورَدَها
وَلَيسَand no ماءٌwater بِشُربِto a draught from البَحرِthe river مَعدولُis comparable
وَلَيسَ ماءٌ بِشُربِ البَحرِ مَعدولُ
He resolved the matter in late afternoon, then brought them to water,
A two year old whose first youth was flying fast
and no water compares with a draught from the river.
His forelock dangling loose from his galloping past.
فَهاجَهُنَّso he urged them عَلىalong الأَهواءِthe desired courses مُنحَدِرٌdescending
فَهاجَهُنَّ عَلى الأَهواءِ مُنحَدِرٌ
وَقعُthe footfall of قَوائِمِهِhis legs فيon الأَرضِthe ground تَحليلُa slight touch
وَقعُ قَوائِمِهِ في الأَرضِ تَحليلُ
Descending, he urged them along their desired courses,
He raced like a prize stud's hasty gait I know
his hooves scarcely touching the ground.
When the mares he's served discipline him with their blow.
قارِحُfully toothed عامَينِfor two years قَدalready طارَتhas flown off نَسيلَتُهُhis shedding hair
قارِحُ عامَينِ قَد طارَت نَسيلَتُهُ
سُنبُكُهُhis hoof-edge مِنfrom رُضاضِsplinters of المَروِflint مَفلولُchipped
سُنبُكُهُ مِن رُضاضِ المَروِ مَفلولُ
Fully toothed for two years, his shedding hair blown away,
He brought them to a blue-hued meadow drinking pool
his hoof-edge chipped by splintered flint.
Where the female deer and fawns could refresh when they're full.
يَحدوhe drives خِماصاًlean mares كَأَعطالِlike unstrung القَسِيِّbows لَهُfor him
يَحدو خِماصاً كَأَعطالِ القَسِيِّ لَهُ
مِنfrom وَقعِهِنَّtheir hoofbeats إِذاwhen عاقَبنَthey alternate تَخبيلُa faltering gait
مِن وَقعِهِنَّ إِذا عاقَبنَ تَخبيلُ
He drives lean mares like unstrung bows; he suffers
Drinking the fresh, cool water, their eyes still dart
a faltering gait from their alternating hoofbeats.
Fearing the hunter who'll aim for their soft part.
أَورَدَهاhe brought them to water مَنهَلاًa watering-place زُرقاًblue شَرائِعُهُits water-access paths
أَورَدَها مَنهَلاً زُرقاً شَرائِعُهُ
وَقَدand already تَعَطَّشَتِhad grown thirsty الجِحشانُthe ass-foals وَالحولُand the yearlings
وَقَد تَعَطَّشَتِ الجِحشانُ وَالحولُ
He brought them to a watering-place with blue approaches,
They drank but little, then shied in sudden alarm
the ass-foals and yearlings already grown thirsty.
At a hunter wearing congealed blood upon his arm.
يَشرَبنَthey drink مِنfrom بارِدٍcool عَذبٍsweet وَأَعيُنُهاand their eyes
يَشرَبنَ مِن بارِدٍ عَذبٍ وَأَعيُنُها
مِنtoward حَيثُwhere تَخشىthey fear danger وَوارىand concealed الرامِيَthe archer الغيلُthe thicket
مِن حَيثُ تَخشى وَوارى الرامِيَ الغيلُ
They drink cool, sweet water, their eyes
They bolted like birds flushed by a noisy yell
turned toward the quarter they fear; the thicket conceals the archer.
As if ropes entwined them under the hunter's spell.
نالَتthey took قَليلاًa little وَخاضَتand waded ثُمَّthen أَفزَعَهاfrightened them
نالَت قَليلاً وَخاضَت ثُمَّ أَفزَعَها
مُرَمَّلٌblood-smeared مِنwith دِماءِthe blood of الوَحشِwild beasts مَعلولُrepeatedly steeped
مُرَمَّلٌ مِن دِماءِ الوَحشِ مَعلولُ
They drank a little and waded in; then they were frightened
Facing the sun's blaze he rushed to scatter them,
by an arrow smeared and repeatedly steeped in wild beasts' blood.
Throwing the does into panicked mayhem.
فَاِنصَعنَso they darted away كَالطَيرِlike birds يَحدوهُنَّdrives them ذوone with زَجَلٍa loud cry
فَاِنصَعنَ كَالطَيرِ يَحدوهُنَّ ذو زَجَلٍ
كَأَنَّهُas though he were فيamong تَواليهِنَّtheir rear ranks مَشكولُhobbled
كَأَنَّهُ في تَواليهِنَّ مَشكولُ
They darted away like birds, driven by a loud-voiced brayer,
If one revealed her rear, his attention stirred
as though he were hobbled at their rear.
A shaggy beast, raking her flesh, fangs bared.
مُستَقبِلٌfacing وَهَجَthe blaze of الجَوزاءِal-Jawza constellation يَهجِمُهاhe drives them headlong
مُستَقبِلٌ وَهَجَ الجَوزاءِ يَهجِمُها
سَحَّpouring الشَآبيبِrain-showers شَدٌّa gallop فيهِin it تَعجيلُhaste
سَحَّ الشَآبيبِ شَدٌّ فيهِ تَعجيلُ
Facing al-Jawza's blaze, he drives them headlong,
He hounded them like storm winds blowing free
his gallop pouring like rain-showers, full of haste.
Gusts alternating, some strong and some fleeting.
إِذاwhenever بَدَتappears عَورَةٌa gap مِنهاamong them أَضَرَّhe draws close بِهاto it
إِذا بَدَت عَورَةٌ مِنها أَضَرَّ بِها
باديshowing الكَراديسِthe major joints خاظيthick in اللَحمِflesh زُغلولُsleek
بادي الكَراديسِ خاظي اللَحمِ زُغلولُ
Whenever a gap appears among them, he closes upon it,
Oh you who'd ride out! Rush, do not delay!
prominent-jointed, firm-fleshed and sleek.
Unless you hurry, dead you'll be this day.
يَتبَعُهُfollows him مِثلُsomething like هُدّابِthe fringes of المُلاءِmantles لَهُhe has
يَتبَعُهُ مِثلُ هُدّابِ المُلاءِ لَهُ
مِنهاfrom it أَعاصيرُwhirling clouds مَقطوعٌbroken وَمَوصولُand continuous
مِنها أَعاصيرُ مَقطوعٌ وَمَوصولُ
Dust follows him like the fringes of mantles,
Put no trust in his oath or vow to spare you
its eddies trailing, some broken, some continuous.
When the brigand reaches you, nothing can spare you.
ياO أَيُّهاyou الراكِبُrider المُزجيurging onward مَطِيَّتَهُhis mount
يا أَيُّها الراكِبُ المُزجي مَطِيَّتَهُ
أَسرِعhurry فَإِنَّكَfor indeed you إِنif أُدرِكتَyou are overtaken مَقتولُslain
أَسرِع فَإِنَّكَ إِن أُدرِكتَ مَقتولُ
O rider urging on your mount,
How often we charged them with drawn swords flashing white
hurry, for if you are overtaken, you will be slain.
Our steeds frothing, riders pressing the fight.
لاlet not يَخدَعَنَّكَever deceive you كَلبِيٌّa man of Kalb بِذِمَّتِهِwith his protection-pledge
لا يَخدَعَنَّكَ كَلبِيٌّ بِذِمَّتِهِ
إِنَّindeed القُضاعِيَّa man of Quda'a إِنif جاوَزتَهُyou pass him غولُa ghoul
إِنَّ القُضاعِيَّ إِن جاوَزتَهُ غولُ
Let no man of Kalb deceive you with his pledge of protection.
When their women wail, they only redouble their cries
A man of Quda'a, once you pass him, is a ghoul.
Their robes hitched up high, nothing left to disguise.
كَمhow many قَدalready هَجَمناwe have stormed عَلَيهِمagainst them مِنof مُسَوَّمَةٍmarked steeds
كَم قَد هَجَمنا عَلَيهِم مِن مُسَوَّمَةٍ
شُعثٍshaggy فَوارِسُهاtheir horsemen البيضُfair-faced البَهاليلُgenerous lords
شُعثٍ فَوارِسُها البيضُ البَهاليلُ
How many marked steeds we have brought storming upon them,
shaggy, their riders fair-faced, generous lords.
نَسبيwe take captive النِساءَthe women فَماso never تَنفَكُّcease to be مُردَفَةًriding pillion
نَسبي النِساءَ فَما تَنفَكُّ مُردَفَةً
قَدalready أَنهَجَتhave worn through عَنaway from مَعاريهاtheir exposed limbs السَرابيلُthe tunics
قَد أَنهَجَت عَن مَعاريها السَرابيلُ
We take the women captive; they remain riding pillion,
their tunics already worn through, exposing their limbs.
Partial English translation: 60 of 64 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1