أَجَدَّhas become earnest بَتِيّاًirrevocably هَجرُهاher desertion وَشَتاتُهاand her departure
أَجَدَّ بَتِيّاً هَجرُها وَشَتاتُها
وَحَبَّand how dear بِهاshe is لَوif only تُستَطاعُwere attainable طِياتُهاher destinations
وَحَبَّ بِها لَو تُستَطاعُ طِياتُها
Are her desertion and departure truly final?
How dear she is, if only her destinations were within reach!
وَماand not خِلتُI thought رَأيَa man of judgment السوءِof folly عَلَّقَhad fastened قَلبَهُhis heart
وَما خِلتُ رَأيَ السوءِ عَلَّقَ قَلبَهُ
بِوَهنانَةٍto a languid woman قَدalready أَوهَنَتهاhad weakened her سِناتُهاher drowsiness
بِوَهنانَةٍ قَد أَوهَنَتها سِناتُها
I never thought a man of poor judgment had fastened his heart
On a languid woman whom her drowsiness had weakened.
رَأَتshe saw عُجُزاًold women فيin الحَيِّthe tribe أَسنانَthe age-peers of أُمَّهاher mother
رَأَت عُجُزاً في الحَيِّ أَسنانَ أُمَّها
لِداتيmy age-mates وَشُبّانُand the youths الرِجالِamong men لِداتُهاher age-mates
لِداتي وَشُبّانُ الرِجالِ لِداتُها
She saw old women in the tribe, her mother's age,
Who were my peers, while the young men were hers.
فَشايَعَهاso supported her ماwhat أَبصَرَتshe saw تَحتَbeneath دِرعِهاher shift
فَشايَعَها ما أَبصَرَت تَحتَ دِرعِها
عَلىin صَومِناabstaining from us وَاِستَعجَلَتهاand urged her to hurry أَناتُهاher deliberation
عَلى صَومِنا وَاِستَعجَلَتها أَناتُها
What she saw beneath her shift encouraged her
To shun us, and her deliberation urged her to haste.
وَمِثلِكِand like you خَودٍa young beauty بادِنٍfull-bodied قَدalready طَلَبتُهاI have sought her
وَمِثلِكِ خَودٍ بادِنٍ قَد طَلَبتُها
وَساعَيتُand I wooed مَعصِيّاًignored لَدَيناamong us وُشاتُهاher tale-bearers
وَساعَيتُ مَعصِيّاً لَدَينا وُشاتُها
And a full-bodied young beauty like you I have sought,
And wooed her, while we paid her tale-bearers no heed.
مَتىwhenever تُسقَyou are given a drink مِنfrom أَنيابِهاher canine teeth بَعدَafter هَجعَةٍa slumber
مَتى تُسقَ مِن أَنيابِها بَعدَ هَجعَةٍ
مِنَof اللَيلِthe night شِرباًa draught حينَwhen مالَتinclined طُلاتُهاher female companions
مِنَ اللَيلِ شِرباً حينَ مالَت طُلاتُها
Whenever you are given a drink from her teeth after a slumber
In the night, a draught, when her companions have nodded off,
تَخَلهُyou would think it فِلَسطِيّاًPalestinian wine إِذاwhen ذُقتَyou tasted طَعمَهُits flavor
تَخَلهُ فِلَسطِيّاً إِذا ذُقتَ طَعمَهُ
عَلىupon رَبِذاتِlight النَيِّof flesh حُمشٍslender لِثاتُهاtheir gums
عَلى رَبِذاتِ النَيِّ حُمشٍ لِثاتُها
You would think it Palestinian wine when you tasted it,
Upon lightly fleshed teeth, with slender gums.
وَخَصمٍand an opponent تَمَنّىwished فَاِجتَنَيتُso I reaped بِهِthrough him المُنىwishes
وَخَصمٍ تَمَنّى فَاِجتَنَيتُ بِهِ المُنى
وَعَوجاءَand a curving she-camel حَرفٍlean and sturdy لَيِّنٍsupple عَذَباتُهاher extremities
وَعَوجاءَ حَرفٍ لَيِّنٍ عَذَباتُها
And an opponent had his wishes; through him I reaped mine,
And a curving, lean she-camel, her extremities supple,
تَعالَلتُهاI urged her on بِالسَوطِwith the whip بَعدَafter كَلالِهاher exhaustion
تَعالَلتُها بِالسَوطِ بَعدَ كَلالِها
عَلىacross صَحصَحٍa level waste تَدمىbleed بِهِon it بَخَصاتُهاthe pads of her feet
عَلى صَحصَحٍ تَدمى بِهِ بَخَصاتُها
I urged her on with the whip after her exhaustion,
Across a level waste where the pads of her feet bled.
وَكَأسٍand a cup كَماءِlike the juice of النَيِّraw meat باكَرتُI approached at dawn حَدَّهاits sharpness
وَكَأسٍ كَماءِ النَيِّ باكَرتُ حَدَّها
بِغِرَّتِهاtaking it unawares إِذwhen غابَwere absent عَنّيfrom me بُغاتُهاits seekers
بِغِرَّتِها إِذ غابَ عَنّي بُغاتُها
And a cup like raw meat's juice—I met its bite at dawn,
Taking it unawares, when its seekers were absent from me.
كُمَيتٍdark-red عَلَيهاupon it حُمرَةٌredness فَوقَabove كُمتَةٍdusky brown
كُمَيتٍ عَلَيها حُمرَةٌ فَوقَ كُمتَةٍ
يَكادُalmost يُفَرّيrends المَسكَthe leather مِنهاfrom it حَماتُهاits heat
يَكادُ يُفَرّي المَسكَ مِنها حَماتُها
Dark-red, with redness overlying a dusky brown,
Its heat almost rends the leather wineskin.
وَرَدتُI reached عَلَيهاriding her الريفَthe fertile country حَتّىuntil شَرِبتُهاI drank it
وَرَدتُ عَلَيها الريفَ حَتّى شَرِبتُها
بِماءِwith the water of الفُراتِthe Euphrates حَولَناaround us قَصَباتُهاits reeds
بِماءِ الفُراتِ حَولَنا قَصَباتُها
I reached the fertile country on her, until I drank it,
With Euphrates water, its reeds all around us.
لَعَمرُكَby your life إِنَّindeed الراحَwine إِنif كُنتَyou are سائِلاًasking
لَعَمرُكَ إِنَّ الراحَ إِن كُنتَ سائِلاً
لَمُختَلِفٌsurely different غُدِيُّهاits morning draughts وَعَشاتُهاand its evening draughts
لَمُختَلِفٌ غُدِيُّها وَعَشاتُها
By your life, wine—if you are asking—
Has markedly different morning and evening draughts.
لَناfor us مِنfrom ضُحاهاits forenoon خُبثُsickness نَفسٍof spirit وَكَأبَةٌand dejection
لَنا مِن ضُحاها خُبثُ نَفسٍ وَكَأبَةٌ
وَذِكرىand remembrance of هُمومٍworries ماnever تَغِبُّabates أَذاتُهاtheir torment
وَذِكرى هُمومٍ ما تَغِبُّ أَذاتُها
Its forenoon brings us queasiness and dejection,
And memories of worries whose torment never abates.
وَعِندَand at العَشيِّevening طيبُwell-being نَفسٍof spirit وَلَذَّةٌand pleasure
وَعِندَ العَشيِّ طيبُ نَفسٍ وَلَذَّةٌ
وَمالٌand wealth كَثيرٌabundant غُدوَةًat dawn نَشَواتُهاits intoxications
وَمالٌ كَثيرٌ غُدوَةً نَشَواتُها
But at evening there is cheerfulness and pleasure,
And its intoxications are abundant wealth at dawn.
عَلىin كُلِّevery أَحوالِcondition of الفَتىa young man قَدalready شَرِبتُهاI have drunk it
عَلى كُلِّ أَحوالِ الفَتى قَد شَرِبتُها
غَنِيّاًrich وَصُعلوكاًand destitute وَماand not إِنat all أَقاتُهاI loathe it
غَنِيّاً وَصُعلوكاً وَما إِن أَقاتُها
In every condition of a man's life I have drunk it,
Rich and destitute, and never have I loathed it.
أَتاناcame to us بِهاwith it الساقيthe cupbearer فَأَسنَدَthen propped up زِقَّهُhis wineskin
أَتانا بِها الساقي فَأَسنَدَ زِقَّهُ
إِلىbeside نُطفَةٍa little pool زَلَّتgrew slippery بِهاwith it رَصَفاتُهاits paving stones
إِلى نُطفَةٍ زَلَّت بِها رَصَفاتُها
The cupbearer brought it to us, then propped his wineskin
Beside a little pool, its paving stones slick with water.
وُقوفاًstanding فَلَمّاthen when حانَthe time came مِنّاfor us إِناخَةٌmaking the camel kneel
وُقوفاً فَلَمّا حانَ مِنّا إِناخَةٌ
شَرِبناwe drank قُعوداًsitting خَلفَناbehind us رُكَباتُهاher knees
شَرِبنا قُعوداً خَلفَنا رُكَباتُها
Standing; then, when it was time for us to make the camel kneel,
We drank sitting, with her knees behind us.
وَفَيناwe came إِلىto قَومٍa people عَلَيهِمupon them مَهابَةٌawe
وَفَينا إِلى قَومٍ عَلَيهِم مَهابَةٌ
إِذاwhen ماever مَعَدٌّMa'add أَحلَبَتjoined forces حَلَباتُهاits contingents
إِذا ما مَعَدٌّ أَحلَبَت حَلَباتُها
We reached a people inspiring awe,
When Ma'add's contingents joined forces.
أَباO father of مِسمَعٍMisma' إِنّيindeed I اِمرُؤٌa man مِنfrom قَبيلَةٍa tribe
أَبا مِسمَعٍ إِنّي اِمرُؤٌ مِن قَبيلَةٍ
بَنىbuilt لِيَfor me مَجداًglory مَوتُهاits death وَحَياتُهاand its life
بَنى لِيَ مَجداً مَوتُها وَحَياتُها
Abu Misma', I am a man from a tribe
Whose death and life have built me glory.
فَلَسناso we are not لِباغيto a seeker of المُهمَلاتِuntended camels بِقِرفَةٍan object of suspicion
فَلَسنا لِباغي المُهمَلاتِ بِقِرفَةٍ
إِذاwhen ماever طَهاhe searched بِاللَيلِat night مُنتَشِراتُهاtheir scattered strays
إِذا ما طَها بِاللَيلِ مُنتَشِراتُها
So we are not suspected by one seeking untended camels,
When he searches by night for their scattered strays.
فَلاso do not تَلمَسِtouch الأَفعىthe viper يَداكَyour two hands تُريدُهاyou seek it
فَلا تَلمَسِ الأَفعى يَداكَ تُريدُها
وَدَعهاand leave it إِذاwhen ماever غَيَّبَتهاhave hidden it سَفاتُهاits sand drifts
وَدَعها إِذا ما غَيَّبَتها سَفاتُها
So let your hands not touch the viper you are seeking,
And leave it when its sand drifts have hidden it.
أَباO father of مِسمَعٍMisma' أَقصِرdesist فَإِنَّfor indeed قَصيدَةًa poem
أَبا مِسمَعٍ أَقصِر فَإِنَّ قَصيدَةً
مَتىwhenever تَأتِكُمcomes to you all تَلحَقfollow بِهاafter it أَخَواتُهاits sisters
مَتى تَأتِكُم تَلحَق بِها أَخَواتُها
Abu Misma', desist, for a poem,
Whenever it reaches you, is followed by its sisters.
أَعَيَّرتَنيhave you reproached me فَخريmy pride وَكُلُّand every قَبيلَةٍtribe
أَعَيَّرتَني فَخري وَكُلُّ قَبيلَةٍ
مُحَدِّثَةٌrecounting ماwhat أَورَثَتهاbequeathed to it سُعاتُهاits striving men
مُحَدِّثَةٌ ما أَورَثَتها سُعاتُها
Have you reproached me for my pride, when every tribe
Recounts what its striving men have bequeathed it?
وَمِنّاand among us الَّذيthe one who أَسرىjourneyed by night إِلَيهِto him قَريبُهُhis kinsman
وَمِنّا الَّذي أَسرى إِلَيهِ قَريبُهُ
حَريباًdespoiled وَمَنand who ذاis there أَخطَأَتhave missed نَكَباتُهاits calamities
حَريباً وَمَن ذا أَخطَأَت نَكَباتُها
And among us is the man whose kinsman journeyed to him by night,
Despoiled—and whom have calamities ever missed?
فَقالَso he said لَهُto him أَهلاًwelcome among family وَسَهلاًand ease وَمَرحَباًand a warm welcome
فَقالَ لَهُ أَهلاً وَسَهلاً وَمَرحَباً
أَرىI see رَحِماًa kinship bond قَدalready وافَقَتهاhave suited it صِلاتُهاits gifts
أَرى رَحِماً قَد وافَقَتها صِلاتُها
So he said to him, "Welcome; be at home and at ease!"
I see a bond of kinship met by its fitting gifts.
أَثارَhe roused لَهُfor him مِنfrom جانِبِthe side of البَركِthe kneeling camel herd غُدوَةًat dawn
أَثارَ لَهُ مِن جانِبِ البَركِ غُدوَةً
هُنَيدَةَa hundred camels يَحدوهاdrive them إِلَيهِto him رُعاتُهاtheir herdsmen
هُنَيدَةَ يَحدوها إِلَيهِ رُعاتُها
He roused for him at dawn, from the side of the kneeling herd,
A hundred camels, their herdsmen driving them toward him.
وَمِنّاand among us اِبنُthe son of عَمروٍ'Amr يَومَon the day أَسفَلِthe lower part of شاحِبٍShahib
وَمِنّا اِبنُ عَمروٍ يَومَ أَسفَلِ شاحِبٍ
يَزيدُYazid وَأَلهَتand distracted خَيلَهُhis cavalry عُذَراتُهاtheir excuses
يَزيدُ وَأَلهَت خَيلَهُ عُذَراتُها
And among us is Ibn 'Amr, on the day in lower Shahib,
Yazid, while his cavalry were distracted by their excuses.
سَماhe advanced لِاِبنِagainst the son of هِرٍّHirr فيin الغُبارِthe dust بِطَعنَةٍwith a spear-thrust
سَما لِاِبنِ هِرٍّ في الغُبارِ بِطَعنَةٍ
يَفورُseethe عَلىover حَيزومِهِhis chest نَعَراتُهاits spurts of blood
يَفورُ عَلى حَيزومِهِ نَعَراتُها
He advanced on Ibn Hirr amid the dust with a spear-thrust,
Its spurts of blood seething over his chest.
وَمِنّاand among us اِمرُؤٌa man يَومَon the day of الهَمامَينِal-Hamamayn ماجِدٌnoble
وَمِنّا اِمرُؤٌ يَومَ الهَمامَينِ ماجِدٌ
بِجَوٍّon the plain of نَطاعٍNata' يَومَon the day تَجنيcommit wrongdoing جُناتُهاits wrongdoers
بِجَوٍّ نَطاعٍ يَومَ تَجني جُناتُها
And among us is a noble man on the day of al-Hamamayn,
On the plain of Nata', the day its wrongdoers wrought their wrongs.
فَقالَso he said لَهُto him ماذاwhat تُريدُyou want وَسُخطُهُand his anger
فَقالَ لَهُ ماذا تُريدُ وَسُخطُهُ
عَلىover ماءَةٍa hundred قَدalready كَمَّلَتهاhad completed it وُفاتُهاthose who supplied it in full
عَلى ماءَةٍ قَد كَمَّلَتها وُفاتُها
So he said to him, "What do you want?" while his anger
Was over a hundred, already completed by those who supplied it.
وَمِنّاand among us الَّذيthe one whom أَعطاهُgave him فيin الجَمعِthe assembly رَبُّهُhis lord
وَمِنّا الَّذي أَعطاهُ في الجَمعِ رَبُّهُ
عَلىin فاقَةٍneed وَلِلمُلوكِand to kings belong هِباتُهاtheir gifts
عَلى فاقَةٍ وَلِلمُلوكِ هِباتُها
And among us is the man whose lord gave him, in the assembly,
In a time of need—and kings have their gifts—
سَباياcaptives بَنيof the sons of شَيبانَShayban يَومَon the day of أُوارَةٍUwara
سَبايا بَني شَيبانَ يَومَ أُوارَةٍ
عَلىat النارِthe fire إِذwhen تُجلىwere unveiled لَهُbefore him فَتَياتُهاits maidens
عَلى النارِ إِذ تُجلى لَهُ فَتَياتُها
The captives of Banu Shayban on the day of Uwara,
At the fire, when their maidens were unveiled before him.
كَفىsufficed قَومَهُhis people شَيبانَShayban أَنَّthat عَظيمَةًa grave calamity
كَفى قَومَهُ شَيبانَ أَنَّ عَظيمَةً
مَتىwhenever تَأتِهِcomes upon him تُؤخَذare taken لَهاfor it أُهُباتُهاits preparations
مَتى تَأتِهِ تُؤخَذ لَها أُهُباتُها
It suffices his people, Shayban, that a great calamity,
Whenever it reaches him, is met with its due preparations.
إِذاwhen رَوَّحَbrings in at evening الراعيthe herdsman اللَقاحَthe milch-camels مُعَزِّباًpasturing far afield
إِذا رَوَّحَ الراعي اللَقاحَ مُعَزِّباً
وَأَمسَتand lingered at dusk عَلىalong آفاقِهاits horizons غَبَراتُهاits dust clouds
وَأَمسَت عَلى آفاقِها غَبَراتُها
When the herdsman brings the milch-camels in at dusk, far afield,
And their dust clouds hang at evening along their horizons,
أَهَنّاwe held cheap لَهاfor it أَموالَناour wealth عِندَat حَقِّهاits due claim
أَهَنّا لَها أَموالَنا عِندَ حَقِّها
وَعَزَّتand grew precious بِهاthrough it أَعراضُناour honor لاnot نُفاتُهاits refuse
وَعَزَّت بِها أَعراضُنا لا نُفاتُها
We held our wealth cheap for it when its claim fell due,
And our honor grew dear thereby, not the dregs of our wealth.
وَدارَand an abode for حِفاظٍdefending honor قَدalready حَلَلناwe have entered مَخوفَةٍfearsome
وَدارَ حِفاظٍ قَد حَلَلنا مَخوفَةٍ
سُراةًas chieftains قَليلٍscant رِعيُهاits pasture وَنَباتُهاand its vegetation
سُراةً قَليلٍ رِعيُها وَنَباتُها
And we have entered a fearsome abode for defending honor,
As chieftains, with its pasture and vegetation scant.
Sol 6.1