أَثوىhe stayed وَقَصَّرَand shortened his stay لَيلَةًfor a night لِيُزَوَّداto be provisioned
أَثوى وَقَصَّرَ لَيلَةً لِيُزَوَّدا
وَمضىand went on وَأَخلَفَand missed مِنfrom قُتَيلَةَQutaylah مَوعِداa tryst
وَمضى وَأَخلَفَ مِن قُتَيلَةَ مَوعِدا
He stayed and cut short a night, to take on provisions.
He lodged, limiting his stay to one night, to be provisioned,
Then went on, having broken a promise to Qutayla.
and went on, with a tryst promised by Qutaylah unfulfilled.
وَمَضىand went on لِحاجَتِهِfor his business وَأَصبَحَand became حَبلُهاher cord of attachment
وَمَضى لِحاجَتِهِ وَأَصبَحَ حَبلُها
خَلَقاًthreadbare وَكانَand he was يَظُنُّthinking أَنthat لَنwould not يُنكَداbe distressed
خَلَقاً وَكانَ يَظُنُّ أَن لَن يُنكَدا
He went on to his errand, and by morning her cord was
He went about his business, and her cord became
frayed—though he had thought it would never be severed.
threadbare, though he had thought he would never be distressed.
وَأَرىand I see الغَوانِيَthe beautiful women حينَwhen شِبتُI went gray هَجَرنَنيforsook me
وَأَرى الغَوانِيَ حينَ شِبتُ هَجَرنَني
أَنbecause لاnot أَكونَI am لَهُنَّto them مِثلِيَlike my former self أَمرَداbeardless
أَن لا أَكونَ لَهُنَّ مِثلِيَ أَمرَدا
I see that the fair women, once I had gone gray, deserted me,
And I see that beautiful women forsook me when I went gray,
because I could no longer be for them as once I was: a beardless youth.
because I was not, to them, the beardless youth I once was.
إِنَّindeed الغَوانِيَthe beautiful women لاnot يُواصِلنَkeep company with اِمرَأًa man
إِنَّ الغَوانِيَ لا يُواصِلنَ اِمرَأً
فَقَدَhas lost الشَبابَyouth وَقَدand may يَصِلنَkeep company with الأَمرَداthe beardless youth
فَقَدَ الشَبابَ وَقَد يَصِلنَ الأَمرَدا
Fair women do not keep company with a man
Indeed, beautiful women do not keep company with a man
who has lost his youth, though they may favor a beardless boy.
who has lost his youth, though they may welcome the beardless.
بَلrather لَيتَwould that شِعريmy knowledge هَلwhether أَعودَنَّI shall return again ناشِئاًas a youth
بَل لَيتَ شِعري هَل أَعودَنَّ ناشِئاً
مِثليlike my former self زُمَينَin a brief time أَحُلُّI dwell at بُرقَةَBurqat أَنقَداAnqad
مِثلي زُمَينَ أَحُلُّ بُرقَةَ أَنقَدا
If only I knew: shall I ever return a youth,
Rather, would that I knew: shall I become a youth again,
as in the old days when I camped at Burqat Anqad,
as I was in those brief days, dwelling at Burqat Anqad,
إِذwhen لِمَّتيmy shoulder-length hair سَوداءُblack أَتبَعُI followed ظِلَّهاher shadow
إِذ لِمَّتي سَوداءُ أَتبَعُ ظِلَّها
دَدَناًin frolic قُعودَa young riding-camel غَوايَةٍof folly أَجريI ran دَداat play
دَدَناً قُعودَ غَوايَةٍ أَجري دَدا
when my locks were black and I followed their shade,
when my locks were black and I followed her shadow,
at play—sitting among carefree girls, pursuing play?
in frolic, a young riding-camel of folly, running at play?
يَلوينَنيthey put me off دَينيmy due النَهارَby day وَأَجتَزيand I collect
يَلوينَني دَيني النَهارَ وَأَجتَزي
دَينيmy due إِذاwhen وَقَذَoverpowered النُعاسُdrowsiness الرُقَّداthe sleepers
دَيني إِذا وَقَذَ النُعاسُ الرُقَّدا
By day they put me off from what they owed, and I collected
They put me off over my due by day, and I collect
my due when drowsiness had felled the sleepers.
my due when drowsiness has overcome the sleepers.
هَلdo تَذكُرينَyou remember العَهدَthe covenant ياO اِبنَةَdaughter of مالِكٍMalik
هَل تَذكُرينَ العَهدَ يا اِبنَةَ مالِكٍ
أَيّامَthe days when نَرتَبِعُwe camped in spring السِتارَal-Sitar فَثَهمَداthen Thahmad
أَيّامَ نَرتَبِعُ السِتارَ فَثَهمَدا
Do you remember the old covenant, daughter of Malik,
Do you remember our covenant, O daughter of Malik,
the days we took spring pasture at al-Sitar, then Thahmad;
the days we camped in spring at al-Sitar, then Thahmad,
أَيّامَthe days when أَمنَحُكِI gave you المَوَدَّةَaffection كُلَّهاall of it
أَيّامَ أَمنَحُكِ المَوَدَّةَ كُلَّها
مِنّيfrom me وَأَرعىand I kept بِالمَغيبِin absence المَأحَداthe covenant
مِنّي وَأَرعى بِالمَغيبِ المَأحَدا
the days I gave you all my love
the days I gave you all the affection
and watched your garments at night as they lay still?
that was mine, and kept our covenant in your absence?
قالَتshe said قُتَيلَةُQutaylah ماwhat is wrong لِجِسمِكَwith your body سايِئاًwasted
قالَت قُتَيلَةُ ما لِجِسمِكَ سايِئاً
وَأَرىand I see ثِيابَكَyour clothes بالِياتٍworn out هُمَّداtattered
وَأَرى ثِيابَكَ بالِياتٍ هُمَّدا
Qutayla said, “Why does your body look so wretched?
Qutaylah said, “What ails your wasted body?
And I see your clothes worn out and threadbare.
I see your clothes worn out and tattered.
أَذلَلتَyou abased نَفسَكَyourself بَعدَafter تَكرِمَةٍhonor لَهاfor it
أَذلَلتَ نَفسَكَ بَعدَ تَكرِمَةٍ لَها
أَوor كُنتَyou were ذاpossessed of عَوَزٍwant وَمُنتَظِرٍand awaiting غَداtomorrow
أَو كُنتَ ذا عَوَزٍ وَمُنتَظِرٍ غَدا
Have you humbled yourself after the honor you once enjoyed,
Have you abased yourself after being honored,
or did poverty leave you waiting upon tomorrow?
or are you in want, awaiting tomorrow?
أَمor غابَhas gone away رَبُّكَyour lord فَاِعتَرَتكَso overtook you خَصاصَةٌpoverty
أَم غابَ رَبُّكَ فَاِعتَرَتكَ خَصاصَةٌ
فَلَعَلَّso perhaps رَبُّكَyour lord أَنto يَعودَreturn مُؤَيَّداstrengthened
فَلَعَلَّ رَبُّكَ أَن يَعودَ مُؤَيَّدا
Or has your lord gone away, so hardship overtook you?
Or has your lord gone away, so poverty has overtaken you?
Perhaps your lord will return in strength.”
Perhaps your lord will return strengthened.”
رَبّيmy lord كَريمٌgenerous لاnot يُكَدِّرُspoils نِعمَةًa favor
رَبّي كَريمٌ لا يُكَدِّرُ نِعمَةً
وَإِذاand when يُناشَدُhe is petitioned بِالمَهارِقِthrough written scrolls أَنشَداhe answers
وَإِذا يُناشَدُ بِالمَهارِقِ أَنشَدا
“My lord is generous; he never clouds a favor,
My lord is generous; he does not spoil a favor,
and when appealed to through written petitions, he answers.
and when petitioned through written scrolls, he answers.
وَشِمِلَّةٍand a swift she-camel حَرفٍlean and strong كَأَنَّas though قُتودَهاher saddle-frames
وَشِمِلَّةٍ حَرفٍ كَأَنَّ قُتودَها
جَلَّلتُهُI draped it جَونَdark-colored السَراةِthe back خَفَيدَداa swift, long-legged ostrich
جَلَّلتُهُ جَونَ السَراةِ خَفَيدَدا
Many a lean, high-bred, slender she-camel, whose saddle-frame
And a swift, lean she-camel, whose saddle-frames seemed
I draped with a dark-backed, thickly padded covering;
laid by me upon a dark-backed, long-legged ostrich.
وَكَأَنَّهاand as though she ذوone with جُدَّةٍa stripe غِبَّafter السُرىnight travel
وَكَأَنَّها ذو جُدَّةٍ غِبَّ السُرى
أَوor قارِحٌa mature wild ass يَتلوfollowing نَحائِصَlean she-asses جُدَّداbarren
أَو قارِحٌ يَتلو نَحائِصَ جُدَّدا
she seemed a creature of force after a night’s travel,
After the night's journey she seemed a striped wild ass,
or a mature stallion following fresh, lean mares;
or a mature wild ass following lean, barren she-asses,
أَوor صَعلَةٌa small-headed ostrich hen بِالقارَتَينِat al-Qaratayn تَرَوَّحَتwent out at evening
أَو صَعلَةٌ بِالقارَتَينِ تَرَوَّحَت
رَبداءَdust-gray تَتَّبِعُfollowing الظَليمَthe male ostrich الأَربَداthe dusky one
رَبداءَ تَتَّبِعُ الظَليمَ الأَربَدا
or an ostrich hen at al-Qaratayn, returning at evening,
or a small-headed ostrich hen at al-Qaratayn, out at evening,
dust-gray, following the dark male ostrich.
dust-gray, following the dusky male ostrich.
يَتَجارَيانِthe two race each other وَيَحسَبانِand the two consider إِضاعَةًa waste
يَتَجارَيانِ وَيَحسَبانِ إِضاعَةً
مُكثَlingering العِشاءِat dusk وَإِنand if يُغيماthe two grow thirsty يَفقِداthe two suffer loss
مُكثَ العِشاءِ وَإِن يُغيما يَفقِدا
The two race on, each thinking it wasteful
The two race each other, counting it a waste
to linger for an evening meal; if hidden from sight, each loses the other.
to linger at dusk; if they grow thirsty, they suffer loss.
طَوراًat times تَكونُshe is أَمامَهُahead of him فَتَفوتُهُand so outstrips him
طَوراً تَكونُ أَمامَهُ فَتَفوتُهُ
وَيَفوتُهاand he outstrips her طَوراًat times إِذاwhen ماindeed خَوَّداhe strides swiftly
وَيَفوتُها طَوراً إِذا ما خَوَّدا
At times she races ahead of him and escapes him;
At times she is ahead of him and outstrips him,
at times he escapes her when they plunge into speed.
and at times he outstrips her when he strides swiftly.
وَعُذافِرٍand a mighty camel سَدَسٍsix-toothed تَخالُyou would think مَحالَهُhis backbone
وَعُذافِرٍ سَدَسٍ تَخالُ مَحالَهُ
بُرجاًa tower تُشَيِّدُهُthey build it high النَبيطُthe Nabataeans القَرمَداbaked brick
بُرجاً تُشَيِّدُهُ النَبيطُ القَرمَدا
And many a mighty six-year-old camel—you would think his bulk
And a mighty, six-toothed camel, whose backbone you would take
a tower raised by the Nabataeans in brick.
for a tower the Nabataeans build high with baked bricks.
وَإِذاand when يَلوثُhe smears لُغامَهُhis froth بِسَديسِهِon his sixth incisor
وَإِذا يَلوثُ لُغامَهُ بِسَديسِهِ
ثَنّىhe turns فَهَبَّthen he bounds هِبابَهُhis vigorous rush وَتَزَيَّداand quickens further
ثَنّى فَهَبَّ هِبابَهُ وَتَزَيَّدا
When he smears his slaver with his sixth tooth,
When he smears his foam upon his sixth incisor,
he doubles his stride, surges forward, and increases his pace.
he turns, bounds with vigor, and quickens further.
وَكَأَنَّهُand as though he هِقلٌa male ostrich يُباريracing هِقلَهُhis ostrich hen
وَكَأَنَّهُ هِقلٌ يُباري هِقلَهُ
رَمداءَash-gray فيin خيطٍa flock نَقانِقَof ostriches أَرمَداdusky
رَمداءَ في خيطٍ نَقانِقَ أَرمَدا
He seems a male ostrich racing his mate,
He seems a male ostrich racing his hen,
an ash-gray hen amid a file of clamorous, dusky birds.
ash-gray, in a dusky flock of ostriches.
أَمسىhe spent the evening بِذيat Dhu العَجلانِal-'Ajlan يَقروranging over رَوضَةًa meadow
أَمسى بِذي العَجلانِ يَقرو رَوضَةً
خَضراءَgreen أَنضَرَgrew lush نَبتُهاits plants فَتَرَأَّداthen swayed
خَضراءَ أَنضَرَ نَبتُها فَتَرَأَّدا
At evening, at Dhu al-Ajlan, he grazes through a meadow,
At Dhu al-'Ajlan he spent the evening ranging over a meadow,
green, its freshest growth luxuriant and bending.
green, its plants grown lush and swaying.
أَذهَبتُهُI took him بِمَهامِهٍthrough desert wastes مَجهولَةٍunknown
أَذهَبتُهُ بِمَهامِهٍ مَجهولَةٍ
لاnot يَهتَديfinds the way بُرتٌa skilled guide بِهاin them أَنto يَقصِداgo straight
لا يَهتَدي بُرتٌ بِها أَن يَقصِدا
I drove him across unknown, trackless wastes
I took him across unknown desert wastes,
where even Burt could find no course to follow.
where no skilled guide can find a direct course.
مَنwho مُبلِغٌwill convey to كِسرىKisra إِذاwhen ماindeed جاءَهُhe reaches him
مَن مُبلِغٌ كِسرى إِذا ما جاءَهُ
عَنّيfrom me مَآلِكَmessages مُخمِشاتٍstinging شُرَّداfar-ranging
عَنّي مَآلِكَ مُخمِشاتٍ شُرَّدا
Who will convey word to Khosrow, when he comes before him,
Who will convey to Kisra, on reaching him,
from me—a far-ranging message, sent abroad:
from me far-ranging messages that sting?
آلَيتُI have sworn لاnot نُعطيهِwe give him مِنfrom أَبنائِناour sons
آلَيتُ لا نُعطيهِ مِن أَبنائِنا
رُهناًas hostages فَيُفسِدَهُمso he ruins them كَمَنlike those whom قَدalready أَفسَداhe ruined
رُهناً فَيُفسِدَهُم كَمَن قَد أَفسَدا
I swore we would give him none of our sons
I have sworn we shall give him none of our sons
as hostages for him to corrupt, as he corrupted others,
as hostages, for him to ruin as he has ruined others,
حَتّىuntil يُفيدَكَhe gives you مِنfrom بَنيهِhis sons رَهينَةًa hostage
حَتّى يُفيدَكَ مِن بَنيهِ رَهينَةً
نَعشٌNa'sh وَيَرهَنَكَand pledges to you السَماكُal-Simak الفَرقَداal-Farqad
نَعشٌ وَيَرهَنَكَ السَماكُ الفَرقَدا
until Na‘sh delivers one of its sons to you as hostage
until a hostage from his sons is given you
and al-Simak pledges al-Farqad to you as security.
by Na'sh, and al-Simak pledges al-Farqad to you.
إِلّاexcept كَخارِجَةَlike Kharijah المُكَلِّفِwho burdens نَفسَهُhimself
إِلّا كَخارِجَةَ المُكَلِّفِ نَفسَهُ
وَاِبنَيand the two sons of قَبيصَةَQabisah أَنthat أَغيبَI be absent وَيَشهَداand the two be present
وَاِبنَي قَبيصَةَ أَن أَغيبَ وَيَشهَدا
Unless Kharijah, who has taken the burden upon himself,
Save the likes of Kharijah, who takes the burden upon himself,
and the two sons of Qabisa—while I am absent and they bear witness—
and Qabisah's two sons: I am to be absent, and they present,
أَنto يَأتِياكَthe two come to you بِرُهنِهِمwith their hostages فَهُماso the two of them إِذاًthen
أَن يَأتِياكَ بِرُهنِهِم فَهُما إِذاً
جُهِداthe two were hard pressed وَحُقَّand it is right لَخائِفٍfor a fearful man أَنto يُجهَداbe hard pressed
جُهِدا وَحُقَّ لَخائِفٍ أَن يُجهَدا
should come to you with their people’s pledges; then indeed
to bring you their hostages; then those two
they have been hard-pressed—and one who fears may rightly be pressed hard.
are hard pressed—and a fearful man is rightly hard pressed.
كَلّاno يَمينَby the oath of اللَهِGod حَتّىuntil تُنزِلواyou bring down
كَلّا يَمينَ اللَهِ حَتّى تُنزِلوا
مِنfrom رَأسِthe summit of شاهِقَةٍa towering peak إِلَيناto us الأَسوَداal-Aswad (the Black One)
مِن رَأسِ شاهِقَةٍ إِلَينا الأَسوَدا
Never! By God’s oath—not until you bring down
No, by God—not until you bring down
al-Aswad from the summit of a towering peak to us.
from the summit of a lofty peak to us, al-Aswad.
لَنُقاتِلَنَّكُمُwe shall surely fight you عَلىregardless of ماwhat خَيَّلَتappears likely
لَنُقاتِلَنَّكُمُ عَلى ما خَيَّلَت
وَلَنَجعَلَنَّand we shall surely make لِمَنfor whoever بَغىattacks وَتَمَرَّداand rebels
وَلَنَجعَلَنَّ لِمَن بَغى وَتَمَرَّدا
We shall surely fight you over what you have conjured,
We shall surely fight you, whatever may come,
and for every aggressor and rebel we shall make
and for whoever attacks and rebels we shall surely make
ماwhat lies بَينَbetween عانَةَ'Anah وَالفُراتِand the Euphrates كَأَنَّماas though
ما بَينَ عانَةَ وَالفُراتِ كَأَنَّما
حَشَّstoked الغُواةُthe misguided بِهاin it حَريقاًa fire موقَداkindled
حَشَّ الغُواةُ بِها حَريقاً موقَدا
the land between Anah and the Euphrates as though
the land between 'Anah and the Euphrates as though
the deluded had packed it with a blazing, kindled fire.
the misguided had stoked a blazing fire there.
خُرِبَتwere ruined بُيوتُthe houses of نَبيطَةٍthe Nabataeans فَكَأَنَّماand so it is as though
خُرِبَت بُيوتُ نَبيطَةٍ فَكَأَنَّما
لَمnot تَلقَthey encountered بَعدَكَafter you عامِراًan inhabitant مُتَعَهِّداwho tended them
لَم تَلقَ بَعدَكَ عامِراً مُتَعَهِّدا
The houses of Nabita were laid waste, as though
The Nabataeans' houses lie ruined, as though
after you they had found no settled keeper to tend them.
they had found no inhabitant to tend them since you left.
لَسناwe are not كَمَنlike those who جَعَلَتmade إِيادٌIyad دارَهاits home
لَسنا كَمَن جَعَلَت إِيادٌ دارَها
تَكريتَTikrit تَمنَعُprotecting حَبَّهاits grain أَنfrom يُحصَداbeing harvested
تَكريتَ تَمنَعُ حَبَّها أَن يُحصَدا
We are not like Iyad, who made its home
We are not like Iyad, who made its home
at Tikrit, keeping its grain from being harvested:
at Tikrit, keeping its grain from being reaped—
قَوماًa people يُعالِجُcontend with قُمَّلاًlice أَبناؤُهُمtheir sons
قَوماً يُعالِجُ قُمَّلاً أَبناؤُهُم
وَسَلاسِلاًand chains أُجُداًstrongly wrought وَباباًand a door مُؤصَداbolted shut
وَسَلاسِلاً أُجُداً وَباباً مُؤصَدا
a people whose sons busy themselves with lice,
a people whose sons contend with lice,
and with stout chains and a barred gate.
and sturdy chains and a bolted gate.
جَعَلَplaced الإِلَهُGod طَعامَناour food فيin مالِناour livestock
جَعَلَ الإِلَهُ طَعامَنا في مالِنا
رِزقاًas sustenance تَضَمَّنَهُHe guaranteed it لَناfor us لَنwill not يَنفَداrun out
رِزقاً تَضَمَّنَهُ لَنا لَن يَنفَدا
God has placed our food within our wealth,
God has placed our food in our livestock,
a provision guaranteed to us, never to run out:
a sustenance He has guaranteed us, never to run out.
مِثلَlike الهِضابِhills جَزارَةًbeasts for slaughter لِسُيوفِناfor our swords
مِثلَ الهِضابِ جَزارَةً لِسُيوفِنا
فَإِذاso when تُراعُthey are frightened فَإِنَّهاthen surely they لَنwill not تُطرَداbe driven off
فَإِذا تُراعُ فَإِنَّها لَن تُطرَدا
beasts like hills, fit for slaughter by our swords;
Hill-like beasts for our swords to slaughter:
when alarm comes, they will not be driven away.
when alarmed, they will not be driven off.
ضَمِنَتguaranteed لَناfor us أَعجازُهُنَّtheir hindquarters قُدورَناour cooking pots
ضَمِنَت لَنا أَعجازُهُنَّ قُدورَنا
وَضُروعُهُنَّand their udders لَناfor us الصَريحَpure milk الأَجرَداfoamless
وَضُروعُهُنَّ لَنا الصَريحَ الأَجرَدا
Their haunches guarantee our cooking pots,
Their hindquarters assure us of full cooking pots,
and their udders give us pure, unmixed milk.
and their udders of pure, foamless milk.
فَاِقعُدso stay seated عَلَيكَupon you التاجُthe crown مُعتَصِباًwith your head bound بِهِwith it
فَاِقعُد عَلَيكَ التاجُ مُعتَصِباً بِهِ
لاdo not تَطلُبَنَّever seek سَوامَناour grazing herds فَتَعَبَّداand so subjugate them
لا تَطلُبَنَّ سَوامَنا فَتَعَبَّدا
So sit with the crown bound upon your head;
So stay seated, the crown upon you, your head bound with it;
do not demand our grazing herds and seek to enslave us.
do not seek our grazing herds to subjugate them.
فَلَعَمرُfor, by the life of جَدِّكَyour grandfather لَوif رَأَيتَyou saw مَقامَناour stand
فَلَعَمرُ جَدِّكَ لَو رَأَيتَ مَقامَنا
لَرَأَيتَyou would surely see مِنّاamong us مَنظَراًa spectacle وَمُؤَيَّداand a mighty force
لَرَأَيتَ مِنّا مَنظَراً وَمُؤَيَّدا
By the life of your forefather, had you seen our station,
For, by your grandfather's life, if you saw our stand,
you would have seen among us a formidable, reinforced array:
you would see among us a spectacle and a mighty force,
فيin عارِضٍa cloudlike host مِنof وائِلٍWa'il إِنif تَلقَهُyou meet it
في عارِضٍ مِن وائِلٍ إِن تَلقَهُ
يَومَthe day of الهِياجِbattle يَكُنwill be مَسيرُكَyour advance أَنكَداill-fated
يَومَ الهِياجِ يَكُن مَسيرُكَ أَنكَدا
a storm cloud of Wa’il; if you meet it
in a cloudlike host of Wa'il; if you meet it
on the day of battle, your road will grow most bitter.
on the day of battle, your advance will be ill-fated.
وَتَرىand you see الجِيادَthe fine horses الجُردَthe sleek ones حَولَaround بُيوتِناour tents
وَتَرى الجِيادَ الجُردَ حَولَ بُيوتِنا
مَوقوفَةًstationed وَتَرىand you see الوَشيجَthe spear-shafts مُسَنَّداpropped up
مَوقوفَةً وَتَرى الوَشيجَ مُسَنَّدا
You would see sleek, unmarked horses around our tents,
And you would see the fine, sleek horses around our tents
standing ready, and the spears set upright in ranks.
stationed there, and see the spear-shafts propped up.
Sol 6.1