صَحاsobered القَلبُthe heart إِلّاexcept مِنfor ظَعائِنَwomen in howdahs فاتَنيoutstripped me
صَحا القَلبُ إِلّا مِن ظَعائِنَ فاتَني
بِهِنَّwith them أَميرٌa lord مُستَبِدٌّclaiming them exclusively فَأَصعَداthen went upcountry
بِهِنَّ أَميرٌ مُستَبِدٌّ فَأَصعَدا
The heart has sobered, save for women in howdahs; I was outstripped
My heart healed except from the sorrows of love,
by a lord who claimed them for himself and took them upcountry.
With which an obstinate prince afflicted me, and so we parted.
فَقَرَّبنَthen they brought up لِلبَينِfor departure الجِمالَthe camels وَزُيِّنَتand were adorned
فَقَرَّبنَ لِلبَينِ الجِمالَ وَزُيِّنَت
بِأَحمَرَwith red مِنfrom لَكِّlac العِراقِIraq وَأَسوَداand black
بِأَحمَرَ مِن لَكِّ العِراقِ وَأَسوَدا
They brought up the camels for departure, and they were adorned
They brought beauty and adornment closer to separation,
with red from Iraqi lac and with black.
With redness from the mud of Iraq and blackness.
وَطِرنَand they flew off بِوَحشٍwith wild creatures ماnot تُواتيكَwill yield to you بَعدَafter ماwhen
وَطِرنَ بِوَحشٍ ما تُواتيكَ بَعدَ ما
دَنَتdrew near نَهضَةُthe rising flight of البازيthe hawk لَأَنin order to يَتَصَيَّداhunt
دَنَت نَهضَةُ البازي لَأَن يَتَصَيَّدا
They flew off with wild creatures that will not yield to you once
They wandered with beasts that no longer visit you after
the hawk's leap to hunt has drawn near.
The rising of Al-Bazee to go hunting.
عَوامِدَheading لِلأَلجامِfor the marshes أَلجامِthe marshes of حامِزٍHamiz
عَوامِدَ لِلأَلجامِ أَلجامِ حامِزٍ
يُثِرنَthey stir up قَطاًsandgrouse لَولاbut for سُراهُنَّtheir night journey هَجَّداwould have slept
يُثِرنَ قَطاً لَولا سُراهُنَّ هَجَّدا
Heading for the marshes—the marshes of Hamiz—
Pillars for goblets, goblets held by Hameez,
they roused sandgrouse that, but for their night journey, would have slept.
That stir up cats, if not for their scratched gowns.
يَرِدنَthey enter الفَلاةَthe desert حينَwhen لاnot يَستَطيعُهاcan traverse it
يَرِدنَ الفَلاةَ حينَ لا يَستَطيعُها
ذَوُوowners of الشاءِsheep مِنfrom عَوفِAwf بنِson of بَكرٍBakr وَأَهوَداand Ahwad
ذَوُو الشاءِ مِن عَوفِ بنِ بَكرٍ وَأَهوَدا
They enter the desert when it cannot be traversed
They want the desert when the sheep herders of
by the sheep-keepers of Awf ibn Bakr and Ahwad.
Awf ibn Bakr and Ahoud cannot endure it.
إِذاwhenever قُلتُI said قَدalready حازَينَthey came alongside أَوor حانَdrew near نائِلٌa favor
إِذا قُلتُ قَد حازَينَ أَو حانَ نائِلٌ
تَقاذَفنَthey bounded away لِلرائيtoward the visible landmark الَّذيthat كانَwas أَبعَداfarthest
تَقاذَفنَ لِلرائي الَّذي كانَ أَبعَدا
Whenever I said, “They have drawn alongside, or a favor is near,”
If I say they have won or gained what they sought,
they bounded toward the farthest landmark in sight.
They throw it back to the farthest seer.
إِذاwhenever شِئتَyou wished أَنto تَلهوbe amused لِبَعضِby some of حَديثِهاtheir talk
إِذا شِئتَ أَن تَلهو لِبَعضِ حَديثِها
رَفَعنَthey raised وَأَنزَلنَand lowered القَطينَthe household attendants المُوَلَّداhomeborn
رَفَعنَ وَأَنزَلنَ القَطينَ المُوَلَّدا
Whenever you wished to be amused by some of their talk,
If you want to be amused by some of their talk,
they made their homeborn attendants mount and dismount.
They raise and lower the trained cat.
وَقُلنَand they said لِحاديهِنَّto their camel-driver وَيحَكَpity on you غَنِّناsing to us
وَقُلنَ لِحاديهِنَّ وَيحَكَ غَنِّنا
بِحَدراءَabout Hadra أَوor بِنتِthe daughter of الكِنانِيِّal-Kinani فَدفَداa broad plain
بِحَدراءَ أَو بِنتِ الكِنانِيِّ فَدفَدا
They told their camel-driver, “For pity's sake, sing to us
And say to their singers, narrate to us,
of Hadra or al-Kinani's daughter, across the broad plain.”
About Al-Hadra or the daughter of Al-Kinani.
يَقِلنَthey rest at noon إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle اِستَقبَلَfaced الصَيفُsummer وَقدَةًa blaze of heat
يَقِلنَ إِذا ما اِستَقبَلَ الصَيفُ وَقدَةً
وَحَرَّand scorched عَلىupon الجُدِّthe well الظَنونِof doubtful yield فَأَنفَداthen drained it
وَحَرَّ عَلى الجُدِّ الظَنونِ فَأَنفَدا
They rest at noon when summer faces a blaze of heat,
They lessen, when summer confronts the cooking pot,
and scorches the scant-watered well until it runs dry.
And heat intensifies doubt, so it is wasted.
وَماand not عَلَقَتclung نَفسيmy soul بِأُمِّto Umm مُحَلِّمٍMuhallim
وَما عَلَقَت نَفسي بِأُمِّ مُحَلِّمٍ
وَدَهماءَand Dahma إِلّاexcept أَنto أَهيمَI wander love-mad وَأَكمَداand waste away in grief
وَدَهماءَ إِلّا أَن أَهيمَ وَأَكمَدا
My soul never clung to Umm Muhallim
I did not befriend Umm Muhalim
and Dahma except to wander love-mad and waste away in grief.
And Duhma except to rave and suppress my rage.
إِذاwhenever كادَnearly قَلبيmy heart يَستَبِلُّrecovers اِنبَرىrose up لَهُagainst it
إِذا كادَ قَلبي يَستَبِلُّ اِنبَرى لَهُ
بِهِنَّfor them تَكاليفُthe burdens of الصِباyouthful passion فَتَرَدَّداso it wavered
بِهِنَّ تَكاليفُ الصِبا فَتَرَدَّدا
Whenever my heart is close to recovery, there rise before it
When my heart nearly faces the eminent ones,
the burdens of youthful passion for them, and it wavers again.
On them rest the burdens of youth, so I wavered.
وَماand not إِنemphatic particle أَرىI see الفَزراءَal-Fazra إِلّاexcept تَطَلُّعاًby peering
وَما إِن أَرى الفَزراءَ إِلّا تَطَلُّعاً
وَخيفَةَand in fear يَحميهاguards her بَنوthe sons of أُمِّUmm عَجرَداAjrad
وَخيفَةَ يَحميها بَنو أُمِّ عَجرَدا
I see al-Fazra only by peering,
I do not see Al-Fazra except with anticipation
and in fear: the sons of Umm Ajrad guard her.
And Khaifa, protected by the clan of Umm Ajrad.
وَإِنّيand I indeed غَداةَon the morning when اِستَعبَرَتburst into tears أُمُّUmm مالِكٍMalik
وَإِنّي غَداةَ اِستَعبَرَت أُمُّ مالِكٍ
لِراضٍindeed content مِنَfrom السُلطانِthe ruler أَنthat يَتَهَدَّداhe should threaten
لِراضٍ مِنَ السُلطانِ أَن يَتَهَدَّدا
And I, on the morning when Umm Malik broke into tears,
And in the morning Umm Malik interpreted
was indeed content that the ruler should merely threaten.
For Al-Radi satisfaction from the Sultan, so he threatened.
وَلَولاand were it not for يَزيدُYazid اِبنُson of المُلوكِkings وَسَيبُهُand his bounty
وَلَولا يَزيدُ اِبنُ المُلوكِ وَسَيبُهُ
تَجَلَّلتُI would have been cloaked حِدباراًa gaunt calamity مِنَof الشَرِّevil أَنكَداgrievous
تَجَلَّلتُ حِدباراً مِنَ الشَرِّ أَنكَدا
Had it not been for Yazid, son of kings, and his bounty,
If not for Yazid the son of kings and his generosity,
I would have been shrouded in a gaunt, grievous calamity.
I would have donned the hide of great harm and enmity.
وَكَمand how often أَنقَذَتنيsaved me مِنfrom جَرورٍa deep well حِبالُكُمyour ropes
وَكَم أَنقَذَتني مِن جَرورٍ حِبالُكُم
وَخَرساءَand a mute calamity لَوif يُرمىwere hurled بِهاwith it الفيلُthe elephant بَلَّداwould be stunned
وَخَرساءَ لَو يُرمى بِها الفيلُ بَلَّدا
How often your ropes have saved me from a deep well
How many ropes of yours saved me from oppression,
and a mute calamity that would stun an elephant if hurled at it!
Although if an elephant were struck by them it would rip apart.
وَدافَعَand he warded off عَنّيfrom me يَومَon the day of جِلَّقَJillaq غَمرَةًan overwhelming peril
وَدافَعَ عَنّي يَومَ جِلَّقَ غَمرَةً
وَهَمّاًand a sorrow يُنَسّينيmakes me forget السُلافَpure, first-pressed wine المُهَوَّداmellowed
وَهَمّاً يُنَسّيني السُلافَ المُهَوَّدا
On the day at Jillaq he warded off from me an overwhelming peril
It defended me the day Ghamra was pitch black
and a sorrow that made me forget the mellowed, pure wine.
And worries that make me forget the trimmed beard.
وَباتَand he spent the night نَجِيّاًin secret counsel فيin دِمَشقَDamascus لِحَيَّةٍwith a serpent
وَباتَ نَجِيّاً في دِمَشقَ لِحَيَّةٍ
إِذاwhen عَضَّit bites لَمnot يَنمِlinger alive السَليمُthe snake-bitten victim وَأَقصَداand kills outright
إِذا عَضَّ لَم يَنمِ السَليمُ وَأَقصَدا
He spent the night in Damascus in secret counsel with a serpent
It remained loyal in Damascus to the bite of a snake
whose bite lets no victim linger alive, but kills outright.
That does not let the healthy sleep if it bites, and aims straight.
يُخَفِّتُهُhe soothes him طَوراًat times وَطَوراًand at times إِذاwhen رَأىhe saw
يُخَفِّتُهُ طَوراً وَطَوراً إِذا رَأى
مِنَfrom الوَجهِthe face إِقبالاًreceptiveness أَلَحَّhe pressed وَأَجهَداand strove hard
مِنَ الوَجهِ إِقبالاً أَلَحَّ وَأَجهَدا
He would soothe him at times, and at others, when he saw
It weakens him at times when it sees
a receptive look upon his face, he pressed his plea and strove hard.
A radiant face, insisting and exhausting him.
أَباO Abu خالِدٍKhalid دافَعتَyou warded off عَنّيfrom me عَظيمَةًa great calamity
أَبا خالِدٍ دافَعتَ عَنّي عَظيمَةً
وَأَدرَكتَand you rescued لَحميmy flesh قَبلَbefore أَنthat يَتَبَدَّداit be scattered
وَأَدرَكتَ لَحمي قَبلَ أَن يَتَبَدَّدا
Abu Khalid, you warded off a great calamity from me,
Abu Khalid, you defended my dignity
and rescued my flesh before it could be scattered.
And reached my flesh before it could disintegrate.
وَأَطفَأتَand you quenched عَنّيfrom me نارَthe fire of نُعمانَNu'man بَعدَماafter
وَأَطفَأتَ عَنّي نارَ نُعمانَ بَعدَما
أَغَذَّhe hurried لِأَمرٍtoward an undertaking عاجِزٍfutile وَتَجَرَّداand devoted himself
أَغَذَّ لِأَمرٍ عاجِزٍ وَتَجَرَّدا
You quenched Nu'man's fire against me after
You extinguished for me Numaan's fire after
he had hurried toward a futile undertaking and devoted himself to it.
He kindled it for a helpless matter and became detached.
وَلَمّاand when رَأىsaw النُعمانُal-Nu'man دونيstanding before me اِبنَthe son of حُرَّةٍa freeborn woman
وَلَمّا رَأى النُعمانُ دوني اِبنَ حُرَّةٍ
طَوىturned الكَشحَhis flank إِذsince لَمnot يَستَطِعنيcould overpower me وَعَرَّداand fled
طَوى الكَشحَ إِذ لَم يَستَطِعني وَعَرَّدا
When al-Nu'man saw before me the son of a freeborn woman,
When Numaan saw beneath me the son of Hurra,
he turned away, since he could not overpower me, and fled.
He folded the leather for he could not reach me and turned away.
وَلاقىand he met اِمرَأًa man لاnot يَنقُضُbreak القَومُthe people عَهدَهُhis covenant
وَلاقى اِمرَأً لا يَنقُضُ القَومُ عَهدَهُ
أَمَرَّtwisted tightly القُوىthe rope-strands دونَagainst الوُشاةِthe slanderers فَأَحصَداthen made them firm
أَمَرَّ القُوى دونَ الوُشاةِ فَأَحصَدا
And he met a man whose covenant no people break,
He met a man whose covenant the people do not break,
who twisted the strands tight against slanderers and bound them fast.
He commanded the strong, not the weak, so he reaped.
أَخاa man of ثِقَةٍtrust لاnot يَجتَويهِfinds him distasteful ثَوِيُّهُhis guest
أَخا ثِقَةٍ لا يَجتَويهِ ثَوِيُّهُ
وَلاnor نائِياًaloof عَنهُfrom him إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle تَوَدَّداhe offers friendship
وَلا نائِياً عَنهُ إِذا ما تَوَدَّدا
A man of trust whom his guest never finds distasteful,
A brother of loyalty, his people's betrayal does not tempt him
nor aloof from him when he offers friendship.
Nor absence from him if he is reunited.
كَأَنَّas though ذَويthose with الحاجاتِneeds يَغشَونَapproach مُصعَباًan unbroken camel
كَأَنَّ ذَوي الحاجاتِ يَغشَونَ مُصعَباً
أَزَبَّshaggy الجِرانِthe underside of the neck ذاhaving سَنامَينِtwo humps أَحرَداstiff-legged
أَزَبَّ الجِرانِ ذا سَنامَينِ أَحرَدا
It is as though those in need approach an unbroken camel,
It is as if the needy throng around Mu'ab
shaggy beneath the neck, two-humped, and stiff-legged.
The choicest of the neighing two-year old horses.
تَخَمَّطَhe raged proudly فَحلَthe stallion of الحَربِwar حَتّىuntil تَواضَعَتit humbled itself
تَخَمَّطَ فَحلَ الحَربِ حَتّى تَواضَعَت
لَهُbefore him وَاِعتَلاهاand he mounted it ذاhaving مَشيبٍgray hair وَأَمرَداand beardless
لَهُ وَاِعتَلاها ذا مَشيبٍ وَأَمرَدا
He raged as war's stallion until it bowed
He writhed and resolved war until it submitted
before him; he mounted it in gray-haired age and beardless youth.
To him in his gray hair and reddish complexion.
وَماand not وَجَدَتfound فيهاin it قُرَيشٌQuraysh لِأَمرِهاfor its affairs
وَما وَجَدَت فيها قُرَيشٌ لِأَمرِها
أَعَفَّmore self-restrained وَأَوفىand more faithful مِنthan أَبيكَyour father وَأَمجَداand more glorious
أَعَفَّ وَأَوفى مِن أَبيكَ وَأَمجَدا
In war, Quraysh found no one to serve its cause
The Quraish did not find in their affairs after him
more upright, more faithful, or more glorious than your father,
One more chaste, loyal, and glorious.
وَأَصلَبَand tougher عوداًin timber حينَwhen ضاقَتgrew straitened أُمورُهاits affairs
وَأَصلَبَ عوداً حينَ ضاقَت أُمورُها
وَهَمَّتand was about مَعَدٌّMa'add أَنto تَخيمَshrink back وَتَخمُداand be extinguished
وَهَمَّت مَعَدٌّ أَن تَخيمَ وَتَخمُدا
or tougher of timber when its affairs grew straitened
The firmest pillar when their affairs narrowed
and Ma'add was about to shrink back and be extinguished.
And Mu'add intended to plot and smother them.
وَأَورىand better at kindling بِزَندَيهِwith his two fire-sticks وَلَوand had كانَit been غَيرُهُsomeone other than him
وَأَورى بِزَندَيهِ وَلَو كانَ غَيرُهُ
غَداةَon the morning of اِختِلافِdiscord in الأَمرِthe affair أَكبىwould have failed to spark وَأَصلَداand yielded no fire
غَداةَ اِختِلافِ الأَمرِ أَكبى وَأَصلَدا
Or better at kindling his two fire-sticks; had it been another,
He struck with his blade even if another than him
on the morning of discord, he would have struck in vain, without a spark.
Was the day after discord, greater and more steadfast.
فَأَصبَحتَso you became مَولاهاits patron مِنَamong الناسِpeople بَعدَهُafter him
فَأَصبَحتَ مَولاها مِنَ الناسِ بَعدَهُ
وَأَحرىand the worthiest of قُرَيشٍQuraysh أَنto يُهابَbe feared وَيُحمَداand be praised
وَأَحرى قُرَيشٍ أَن يُهابَ وَيُحمَدا
So after him you became its patron among men,
So you became their master among the people after him
and of Quraysh the worthiest to be feared and praised.
And the Quraish rightly feared and praised him.
وَفيand in كُلِّevery أُفقٍhorizon قَدindeed رَمَيتَyou hurled بِكَوكَبٍwith a star
وَفي كُلِّ أُفقٍ قَد رَمَيتَ بِكَوكَبٍ
مِنَof الحَربِwar مَخشِيٍّdreaded إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle تَوَقَّداit blazes
مِنَ الحَربِ مَخشِيٍّ إِذا ما تَوَقَّدا
In every horizon you have hurled a star
In every horizon you have cast a star
of war, dreaded whenever it blazes.
From war, feared when ignited.
وَتُشرِقُand shine أَجبالُthe mountains of العَويرِal-Awayr بِفاعِلٍwith a man of deeds
وَتُشرِقُ أَجبالُ العَويرِ بِفاعِلٍ
إِذاwhen خَبَتِdied down النيرانُthe fires بِاللَيلِat night أَوقَداhe kindled fire
إِذا خَبَتِ النيرانُ بِاللَيلِ أَوقَدا
And the mountains of al-Awayr shine with a man of deeds
The mountains of Al-Awair shine with a doer
who kindles fire when the fires die down at night,
Who lights fires when night falls.
وَمُنتَقِمٍand an avenger لاnot يَأمَنُfeel safe from الناسُpeople فَجعَهُhis devastating blow
وَمُنتَقِمٍ لا يَأمَنُ الناسُ فَجعَهُ
وَلاnor سَورَةَthe fury of العاديthe assailant إِذاwhen هُوَhe أَوعَداthreatens
وَلا سَورَةَ العادي إِذا هُوَ أَوعَدا
and an avenger whose devastating blows no one feels safe from,
An avenger whom the people do not feel safe from his wrath,
nor from the assailant's fury when he threatens.
Nor the condition of an enemy if he has promised it.
وَماand no مُزبِدٌfoaming flood يَعلوrises over جَزائِرَthe islands of حامِزٍHamiz
وَما مُزبِدٌ يَعلو جَزائِرَ حامِزٍ
يَشُقُّcuts through إِلَيهاtoward them خَيزُراناًreeds وَغَرقَداand boxthorn
يَشُقُّ إِلَيها خَيزُراناً وَغَرقَدا
No foaming flood rising over the islands of Hamiz,
Muzzabid does not rise above the islands of Hameez,
cutting its way toward them through reeds and boxthorn,
Cleaving towards them a hollow ship that drowned.
تَحَرَّزَtook shelter مِنهُfrom it أَهلُthe people of عانَةَAna بَعدَafter ماwhen
تَحَرَّزَ مِنهُ أَهلُ عانَةَ بَعدَ ما
كَساit clothed سورَهاits wall الأَعلىupper غُثاءًflood debris مُنَضَّداpiled up
كَسا سورَها الأَعلى غُثاءً مُنَضَّدا
from which the people of Ana took shelter after
The people of Aanah took precautions against him after
it clothed their upper wall in piled-up debris,
He covered their highest wall with piled rubbish.
يُقَمِّصُit bucks بِالمَلّاحِwith the sailor حَتّىuntil يَشُفُّهُwears him down الthe
يُقَمِّصُ بِالمَلّاحِ حَتّى يَشُفُّهُ ال
حِذارُfear وَإِنand though كانَhe was المُشيحُthe vigilant one المُعَوِّداthe seasoned one
حِذارُ وَإِن كانَ المُشيحُ المُعَوِّدا
bucking beneath the sailor until he is worn down by the
He torments with salt until fear makes him
fear, though he is vigilant and seasoned,
Desist, though the accustomed is daring.
بِمُطَّرِدِwith unceasing الآذِيِّwaves جَونٍdark كَأَنَّماas though
بِمُطَّرِدِ الآذِيِّ جَونٍ كَأَنَّما
زَفىsped along بِالقَراقيرِwith the great ships النَعامَthe ostriches المُطَرَّداdriven onward
زَفى بِالقَراقيرِ النَعامَ المُطَرَّدا
with dark, unceasing waves, as though
With the continuous pain of injury, as if
it sped the great ships along like ostriches driven onward,
He brought ostriches driven wildly to An-Na'm.
كَأَنَّas though بَناتِdaughters of الماءِthe water فيin حَجَراتِهِits margins
كَأَنَّ بَناتِ الماءِ في حَجَراتِهِ
أَباريقُewers أَهدَتهاpresented them دِيافُDiyaf لِصَرخَداto Sarkhad
أَباريقُ أَهدَتها دِيافُ لِصَرخَدا
as though the water's daughters along its margins
It is as if the daughters of water in his encampments
were ewers Diyaf had sent as gifts to Sarkhad,
Are jugs gifted by Diyaf to Sarakhad.
بِأَجوَدَmore generous سَيباًin bounty مِنthan يَزيدَYazid إِذاwhen غَدَتwent forth at dawn
بِأَجوَدَ سَيباً مِن يَزيدَ إِذا غَدَت
بِهِwith him بُختُهُhis Bactrian camels يَحمِلنَthey carry مُلكاًkingship وَسُؤدَداand lordship
بِهِ بُختُهُ يَحمِلنَ مُلكاً وَسُؤدَدا
is more lavish in bounty than Yazid, when at dawn
With the finest horses from Yazeed, if fate
his Bactrian camels bear him, carrying kingship and lordship.
Carries him on them bearing a kingdom and gifts.
يُقَلِّصُhe lifts بِالسَيفِwith the sword الطَويلِlong نِجادُهُits baldric
يُقَلِّصُ بِالسَيفِ الطَويلِ نِجادُهُ
خَميصٌslender-bellied إِذاwhen السِربالُthe tunic عَنهُoff him تَقَدَّداis torn to shreds
خَميصٌ إِذا السِربالُ عَنهُ تَقَدَّدا
He lifts the sword whose baldric is long,
He shortens with the long sword his garment
slim-bellied when his tunic is torn away from him.
A shirt if the robe on him is ripped.
فَأَقسَمتُso I swore لاnot أَنسىI forget يَدَthe whole span of الدَهرِtime سَيبَهُhis bounty
فَأَقسَمتُ لا أَنسى يَدَ الدَهرِ سَيبَهُ
غَداةَon the morning of السَيالىal-Sayala ماwhat أَساغَhe made palatable وَزَوَّداand supplied provisions
غَداةَ السَيالى ما أَساغَ وَزَوَّدا
So I swore never, through all time, to forget his bounty
I swore to never forget the hand of fate or his sword
on the morning at al-Sayala: what he gave me to savor and take as provision.
The morning of torrents however much it provisioned and prepared.
Sol 6.1