أَلاlisten! قُلsay لِتَيّاto Tayyā قَبلَbefore مِرَّتِهاher departure اِسلَميbe safe!
أَلا قُل لِتَيّا قَبلَ مِرَّتِها اِسلَمي
تَحِيَّةَa greeting مُشتاقٍof one yearning إِلَيهاfor her مُتَيَّمِenslaved by love
تَحِيَّةَ مُشتاقٍ إِلَيها مُتَيَّمِ
Come, tell Tayyā before she leaves: 'Farewell!'
A greeting from one who longs for her, enslaved by love.
عَلىdespite قيلِهاher words يَومَthe day اِلتَقَيناwe met وَمَنand whoever يَكُنis
عَلى قيلِها يَومَ اِلتَقَينا وَمَن يَكُن
عَلىguided by مَنطِقِthe speech الواشينَof slanderers يَصرِمsevers ties وَيُصرَمِand has ties severed
عَلى مَنطِقِ الواشينَ يَصرِم وَيُصرَمِ
Despite her words the day we met: 'Whoever follows
The talk of slanderers severs ties and has his own ties severed.
أَجِدَّكَare you serious? لَمdid not تَأخُذyou take لَيالِيَthe nights نَلتَقيwe met
أَجِدَّكَ لَم تَأخُذ لَيالِيَ نَلتَقي
شِفاءَكَyour satisfaction مِنover حَولٍa year جَديدٍnew مُجَرَّمِcompleted
شِفاءَكَ مِن حَولٍ جَديدٍ مُجَرَّمِ
Seriously, did you not, on the nights we met,
Take your fill of solace through a year newly completed?
تُسَرُّyou are delighted وَتُعطىand are given كُلَّevery شَيءٍthing سَأَلتَهُyou asked for it
تُسَرُّ وَتُعطى كُلَّ شَيءٍ سَأَلتَهُ
وَمَنand whoever يُكثِرِmultiplies التَسآلَrequests لاthere is no بُدَّescape يُحرَمِis denied
وَمَن يُكثِرِ التَسآلَ لا بُدَّ يُحرَمِ
You were delighted and given everything you asked;
But whoever asks too much must be denied.
فَماso there is no لَكَfor you عِنديwith me نائِلٌgift غَيرُexcept ماwhat مَضىhas passed
فَما لَكَ عِندي نائِلٌ غَيرُ ما مَضى
رَضيتَyou were content بِهِwith it فَاِصبِرso be patient لِذَلِكَwith that أَوor ذَمِblame
رَضيتَ بِهِ فَاِصبِر لِذَلِكَ أَو ذَمِ
I have no further gift for you beyond what is past;
You accepted it, so bear with that—or complain.'
فَلاso no بَأسَharm إِنّيindeed I قَدcan أُجَوِّزُaccomplish حاجَتيmy purpose
فَلا بَأسَ إِنّي قَد أُجَوِّزُ حاجَتي
بِمُستَحصِدٍwith something firmly knit باقٍenduring مِنَof الرَأيِresolve مُبرَمِsecurely bound
بِمُستَحصِدٍ باقٍ مِنَ الرَأيِ مُبرَمِ
No matter: I can still attain my aim
With enduring resolve, firmly twisted and well-knit,
وَكَورٍand a saddle-frame عِلافِيٍّʿIlāfī وَقِطعٍand a saddlecloth وَنُمرُقٍand a cushion
وَكَورٍ عِلافِيٍّ وَقِطعٍ وَنُمرُقٍ
وَوَجناءَand a stout-cheeked she-camel مِرقالِswift-striding through الهَواجِرِthe midday heats عَيهَمِpowerful
وَوَجناءَ مِرقالِ الهَواجِرِ عَيهَمِ
And an ʿIlāfī saddle-frame, a saddlecloth, and a cushion,
And a powerful, stout-cheeked she-camel, swift through midday heat.
كَأَنَّas though عَلىupon أَنسائِهاher haunches عِذقَa fruit-cluster حَصلَةٍof a date-palm
كَأَنَّ عَلى أَنسائِها عِذقَ حَصلَةٍ
تَدَلّىhung down مِنَfrom الكافورِthe palm-spathe غَيرَnot مُكَمَّمِenclosed in a sheath
تَدَلّى مِنَ الكافورِ غَيرَ مُكَمَّمِ
As though upon her haunches hung a palm's fruit-cluster,
Drooping from its spathe, no longer enclosed.
عَرَندَسَةٍmassive لاnot يَنفُضُloosens السَيرُtravel غَرضَهاher girth
عَرَندَسَةٍ لا يَنفُضُ السَيرُ غَرضَها
كَأَحقَبَlike a white-bellied wild ass بِالوَفراءِat al-Wafrāʾ جَأبَsturdy مُكَدَّمِscarred by bites
كَأَحقَبَ بِالوَفراءِ جَأبَ مُكَدَّمِ
A massive beast, whose girth travel never loosens,
Like a sturdy, bite-scarred, white-bellied wild ass at al-Wafrāʾ.
رَعىhe grazed الرَوضَthe meadows وَالوَسمِيَّand autumn-rain growth حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّماas though
رَعى الرَوضَ وَالوَسمِيَّ حَتّى كَأَنَّما
يَرىhe perceived بِيَبيسِin the dry grass الدَوِّof the open desert إِمرارَthe bitterness عَلقَمِof colocynth
يَرى بِيَبيسِ الدَوِّ إِمرارَ عَلقَمِ
He grazed the meadows and the autumn rain's growth until
He found in the desert's dry grass the bitterness of colocynth.
تَلاhe followed سَقبَةًa young she-ass قَوداءَlong-necked مَشكوكَةَfirmly joined القَراin the spine
تَلا سَقبَةً قَوداءَ مَشكوكَةَ القَرا
مَتىwhenever ماever تُخالِفهُshe strays from him عَنِfrom القَصدِthe direct course يَعذِمِhe bites
مَتى ما تُخالِفهُ عَنِ القَصدِ يَعذِمِ
He followed a long-necked young she-ass, her spine close-knit;
Whenever she strayed from his course, he bit her.
إِذاwhen ماever دَناhe drew near مِنهاto her اِلتَقَتهُshe met him بِحافِرٍwith a hoof
إِذا ما دَنا مِنها اِلتَقَتهُ بِحافِرٍ
كَأَنَّas though لَهُit had فيin الصَدرِthe chest تَأثيرَthe mark مِحجَمِof a cupping cup
كَأَنَّ لَهُ في الصَدرِ تَأثيرَ مِحجَمِ
Whenever he drew near, she met him with a hoof
That seemed to leave a cupping-cup's mark upon his chest.
إِذاwhen جاهَرَتهُshe challenged him openly بِالفَضاءِin the open اِنبَرىhe sprang forward لَهاafter her
إِذا جاهَرَتهُ بِالفَضاءِ اِنبَرى لَها
بِإِلهابِwith a blazing شَدِّrun كَالحَريقِlike a fire المُضَرَّمِfiercely kindled
بِإِلهابِ شَدِّ كَالحَريقِ المُضَرَّمِ
When she challenged him in the open, he sprang after her
With a blazing run, like a fiercely kindled fire.
وَإِنand if كانَthere was تَقريبٌa canter مِنَin الشَدِّthe running غالَهاhe overtook her
وَإِن كانَ تَقريبٌ مِنَ الشَدِّ غالَها
بِمَيعَةِwith the surge فَنّانِof one versatile الأَجارِيِّin running gaits مُجذِمِswift
بِمَيعَةِ فَنّانِ الأَجارِيِّ مُجذِمِ
And if she broke into a canter, he overtook her
With the surge of a swift runner, master of many gaits.
فَلَمّاthen when عَلَتهُrose above him الشَمسُthe sun وَاِستَوقَدَand blazed الحَصىthe pebbles
فَلَمّا عَلَتهُ الشَمسُ وَاِستَوقَدَ الحَصى
تَذَكَّرَhe recalled أَدنىthe nearest الشِربِdrinking-place لِلمُتَيَمِّمِfor one seeking it
تَذَكَّرَ أَدنى الشِربِ لِلمُتَيَمِّمِ
When the sun rose high above him and the pebbles blazed,
He recalled the nearest watering-place a seeker could reach.
فَأَورَدَهاso he led her to water عَيناًa spring مِنَon السَيفِthe shore رِيَّةًabundant in water
فَأَورَدَها عَيناً مِنَ السَيفِ رِيَّةً
بِهاat it بُرَأٌhunters' hides مِثلُlike الفَسيلِyoung date-palms المُكَمَّمِenclosed in sheaths
بِها بُرَأٌ مِثلُ الفَسيلِ المُكَمَّمِ
He led her to a brimming spring on the shore,
Where hunters' hides stood like sheathed young palms.
بَناهُنَّbuilt them مِنfrom ذَلّانَDhallān رامٍan archer أَعَدَّهاhe prepared them
بَناهُنَّ مِن ذَلّانَ رامٍ أَعَدَّها
لَقَتلِto kill الهَواديthe leading beasts داجِنٌhabituated بِالتَوَقُّمِto taking prey
لَقَتلِ الهَوادي داجِنٌ بِالتَوَقُّمِ
An archer from Dhallān had built them, preparing them
To kill the leading beasts, practiced in taking prey.
فَلَمّاthen when عَفاهاhe reached it ظَنَّhe thought أَنthat لَيسَhe would not be شارِباًdrinking
فَلَمّا عَفاها ظَنَّ أَن لَيسَ شارِباً
مِنَof الماءِthe water إِلّاexcept بَعدَafter طولِa long spell تَحَرُّمِof deprivation
مِنَ الماءِ إِلّا بَعدَ طولِ تَحَرُّمِ
When he came to it, he thought he would not drink
Of its water without a long spell of deprivation.
وَصادَفَand he encountered مِثلَone like الذِئبِa wolf فيin جَوفِthe interior قُترَةَof a hunting pit
وَصادَفَ مِثلَ الذِئبِ في جَوفِ قُترَةَ
فَلَمّاthen when رَآهاhe saw her قالَhe said ياO خَيرَbest مَطعَمِmeal
فَلَمّا رَآها قالَ يا خَيرَ مَطعَمِ
He found a wolf-like man inside a hunting pit;
When the man saw her, he said, 'What a fine meal!'
وَيَسَّرَand he readied سَهماًan arrow ذاhaving غِرارٍa sharp edge يَسوقُهُpropelling it
وَيَسَّرَ سَهماً ذا غِرارٍ يَسوقُهُ
أَمينُa trusty bowstring القُوىin its strands فيin صُلبَةِthe hard wood المُتَرَنِّمِof the twanging bow
أَمينُ القُوى في صُلبَةِ المُتَرَنِّمِ
He readied a sharp-edged arrow, propelled
By a trusty, tightly stranded string in a hard, twanging bow.
فَمَرَّso passed نَضيءُthe shaft السَهمِof the arrow تَحتَbeneath لَبانِهِhis breast
فَمَرَّ نَضيءُ السَهمِ تَحتَ لَبانِهِ
وَجالَand he swerved عَلىonto وَحشِيِّهِhis outer side لَمnot يُثَمثِمِhesitate
وَجالَ عَلى وَحشِيِّهِ لَم يُثَمثِمِ
The arrow's shaft passed beneath his breast,
And he swerved onto his outer side without hesitating.
وَجالَand he wheeled وَجالَتand she wheeled يَنجَليclearing away التَربُthe dust عَنهاfrom her
وَجالَ وَجالَت يَنجَلي التَربُ عَنها
لَهُaround him رَهَجٌa dust cloud فيamid ساطِعِbillowing اللَونِcolor أَقتَمِdusky
لَهُ رَهَجٌ في ساطِعِ اللَونِ أَقتَمِ
He wheeled, and she wheeled, dust streaming away from her;
About him rose a billowing cloud, dusky in hue.
كَأَنَّas though اِحتِدامَthe fierce heat الجَوفِof the belly فيin حَميِthe intensity شَدِّهِof his running
كَأَنَّ اِحتِدامَ الجَوفِ في حَميِ شَدِّهِ
وَماand what بَعدَهُfollowed it مِنof شَدِّهِhis running غَليُthe boiling قُمقُمِof a cauldron
وَما بَعدَهُ مِن شَدِّهِ غَليُ قُمقُمِ
As though the heat within him in his fiercest running,
And in the running after, were a cauldron boiling.
فَذَلِكَso to that beast بَعدَafter الجَهدِexertion شَبَّهتُI likened ناقَتيmy she-camel
فَذَلِكَ بَعدَ الجَهدِ شَبَّهتُ ناقَتي
إِذاwhen ماever وَنىflags حَدُّthe vigor المَطِيِّof the riding-camels المُخَرَّمِnose-pierced
إِذا ما وَنى حَدُّ المَطِيِّ المُخَرَّمِ
To that beast, after hard exertion, I likened my she-camel,
When the vigor of the nose-pierced riding-camels flags.
فَدَعso leave ذاthat وَلَكِنbut ماwhat تَرىdo you think رَأيَof the judgment كاشِحٍof a spiteful man
فَدَع ذا وَلَكِن ما تَرى رَأيَ كاشِحٍ
يَرىhe seeks بَينَناbetween us مِنfrom جَهلِهِhis ignorance دَقَّthe pounding مَنشِمِof Manshim
يَرى بَينَنا مِن جَهلِهِ دَقَّ مَنشِمِ
But leave that. What do you think of a spiteful man's judgment,
Who, in his folly, seeks Manshim's fatal pounding between us?
أَرانيI consider myself بَريئاًfree مِنof عُمَيرٍʿUmayr وَرَهطِهِand his clan
أَراني بَريئاً مِن عُمَيرٍ وَرَهطِهِ
إِذاif أَنتَyou لَمdo not تَبرَأrecover مِنَfrom الشَرِّwickedness فَاِسقَمِthen sicken
إِذا أَنتَ لَم تَبرَأ مِنَ الشَرِّ فَاِسقَمِ
I consider myself clear of ʿUmayr and his clan;
If you will not recover from wickedness, then sicken!
إِذاwhen ماever رَآنيhe sees me مُقبِلاًapproaching شامَhe puts away نُبلَهُhis arrows
إِذا ما رَآني مُقبِلاً شامَ نُبلَهُ
وَيَرميand he shoots إِذاwhen أَدبَرتُI turn away ظَهريmy back بِأَسهُمِwith arrows
وَيَرمي إِذا أَدبَرتُ ظَهري بِأَسهُمِ
Whenever he sees me approaching, he puts away his arrows;
But shoots arrows at my back when I turn away,
عَلىfor غَيرِno ذَنبٍfault غَيرَexcept أَنَّthat عَداوَةًenmity
عَلى غَيرِ ذَنبٍ غَيرَ أَنَّ عَداوَةً
طَمَتhas surged بِكَover you فَاِستَأخِرso fall back لَهاbefore it أَوor تَقَدَّمِadvance
طَمَت بِكَ فَاِستَأخِر لَها أَو تَقَدَّمِ
For no fault, except that enmity
Has surged over you—so fall back before it, or advance.
وَكُنتُand I used to إِذاwhen نَفسُthe spirit الغَويِّof a fool نَوَتwent astray بِهِwith him
وَكُنتُ إِذا نَفسُ الغَويِّ نَوَت بِهِ
صَقَعتُI struck عَلىupon العِرنينِthe nose-bridge مِنهُof him بِمَيسَمِwith a branding iron
صَقَعتُ عَلى العِرنينِ مِنهُ بِمَيسَمِ
Whenever a fool's own spirit carried him astray,
I would strike his nose-bridge with a branding iron.
حَلَفتُI swore بِرَبِّby the Lord الراقِصاتِof the dancing camels إِلىtoward مِنىًMinā
حَلَفتُ بِرَبِّ الراقِصاتِ إِلى مِنىً
إِذاwhen مَخرَمٌa mountain pass جاوَزتُهُI crossed it بَعدَafter مَخرَمِa mountain pass
إِذا مَخرَمٌ جاوَزتُهُ بَعدَ مَخرَمِ
I swore by the Lord of the camels dancing toward Minā,
As I crossed one mountain pass after another,
ضَوامِرَlean خوصاًsunken-eyed قَدindeed أَضَرَّhas worn down بِهاthem السُرىnight travel
ضَوامِرَ خوصاً قَد أَضَرَّ بِها السُرى
وَطابَقنَand they matched their footsteps مَشياًin walking فيin السَريحِleather sandals المُخَدَّمِankle-strapped
وَطابَقنَ مَشياً في السَريحِ المُخَدَّمِ
Lean, sunken-eyed beasts, worn down by night travel,
Matching their footsteps in ankle-strapped leather sandals:
لَئِنeven if كُنتَyou were فيin جُبٍّa well ثَمانينَeighty قامَةًman-heights
لَئِن كُنتَ في جُبٍّ ثَمانينَ قامَةً
وَرُقّيتَand were raised أَسبابَthe pathways السَماءِof heaven بِسُلَّمِby a ladder
وَرُقّيتَ أَسبابَ السَماءِ بِسُلَّمِ
Even if you were in a well eighty man-heights deep,
And were raised by a ladder to the pathways of heaven,
لَيَستَدرِجَنكَwill surely draw you out القَولُthe verse حَتّىuntil تَهِرُّهُyou snarl at it
لَيَستَدرِجَنكَ القَولُ حَتّى تَهِرُّهُ
وَتَعلَمَand you know أَنّيthat I عَنكَconcerning you لَستُam not بِمُلجَمِbridled
وَتَعلَمَ أَنّي عَنكَ لَستُ بِمُلجَمِ
My verse will surely draw you out until you snarl at it,
And know I am not bridled into silence about you.
وَتَشرَقَand you choke بِالقولِon the words الَّذيwhich قَدindeed أَذَعتَهُyou broadcast it
وَتَشرَقَ بِالقولِ الَّذي قَد أَذَعتَهُ
كَماas شَرِقَتchoked صَدرُthe point القَناةِof the spear مِنَwith الدَمِblood
كَما شَرِقَت صَدرُ القَناةِ مِنَ الدَمِ
You shall choke on the words you have broadcast,
As a spear's head chokes on blood.
فَماfor not أَنتَyou مِنamong أَهلِthe people الحُجونِof al-Ḥajūn وَلاnor الصَفاal-Ṣafā
فَما أَنتَ مِن أَهلِ الحُجونِ وَلا الصَفا
وَلاnor لَكَhave you حَقَّthe right الشُربِto drink مِنfrom ماءِthe water زَمزَمِof Zamzam
وَلا لَكَ حَقَّ الشُربِ مِن ماءِ زَمزَمِ
You are not of the people of al-Ḥajūn or al-Ṣafā,
Nor have you the right to drink Zamzam's water.
وَماand not جَعَلَset الرَحمَنُthe Merciful بَيتَكَyour house فيin العُلىthe heights
وَما جَعَلَ الرَحمَنُ بَيتَكَ في العُلى
بِأَجيادِat Ajyād غَربِيِّwest of الصَفاal-Ṣafā وَالمُحَرَّمِand the sanctuary
بِأَجيادِ غَربِيِّ الصَفا وَالمُحَرَّمِ
The Merciful did not set your house on high,
At Ajyād, west of al-Ṣafā and the sanctuary.
فَلاso do not توعِدَنّيthreaten me بِالفَخارِwith boasts of lineage فَإِنَّنيfor indeed I
فَلا توعِدَنّي بِالفَخارِ فَإِنَّني
بَنىbuilt اللَهِGod بَيتيmy house فيamid الدَخيسِthe dense multitude العَرَمرَمِvast and mighty
بَنى اللَهِ بَيتي في الدَخيسِ العَرَمرَمِ
So do not threaten me with boasts of lineage, for
God built my house amid a mighty, close-packed host.
عَجِبتُI marveled لَآلِat the clan الحُرقَتَينِof al-Ḥurqatayn كَأَنَّماas though
عَجِبتُ لَآلِ الحُرقَتَينِ كَأَنَّما
رَأونيthey saw me نَفِيّاًan outcast مِنfrom إِيادٍIyād وَتُرخُمِand Turkhum
رَأوني نَفِيّاً مِن إِيادٍ وَتُرخُمِ
I marvel at the clan of al-Ḥurqatayn, as though
They saw me as an outcast from Iyād and Turkhum.
وَغَرَّبَنيand excluded me سَعدُSaʿd بنُson of قَيسٍQays عَنِfrom العُلىhigh rank
وَغَرَّبَني سَعدُ بنُ قَيسٍ عَنِ العُلى
وَأَحسابِهِمand their ancestral honors يَومَon the day النَدىof generosity وَالتَكَرُّمِand munificence
وَأَحسابِهِم يَومَ النَدى وَالتَكَرُّمِ
Saʿd ibn Qays has excluded me from high rank
And their ancestral honors when bounty and largesse are shown:
مَقامَthe station هَجينٍof a half-breed ساعَةًfor an hour بِلِوائِهِbeneath his banner
مَقامَ هَجينٍ ساعَةً بِلِوائِهِ
فَقُلso speak فيof هَجينٍa half-breed بَينَbetween حامٍḤām وَسِلهِمِand Silhim
فَقُل في هَجينٍ بَينَ حامٍ وَسِلهِمِ
A half-breed's station for an hour beneath his banner—
Say what you will of a half-breed between Ḥām and Silhim!
فَلَمّاthen when رَأَيتُI saw الناسَthe people لِلشَرِّfor mischief أَقبَلواcoming forward
فَلَمّا رَأَيتُ الناسَ لِلشَرِّ أَقبَلوا
وَثابواand thronging إِلَينامِنto us, from among فَصيحٍArabic-speakers وَأَعجَمِand foreign-speakers
وَثابوا إِلَينامِن فَصيحٍ وَأَعجَمِ
When I saw the people coming forward for mischief,
And thronging toward us, Arabic-speaking and foreign-tongued,
وَصيحَand cries were raised عَلَيناagainst us بِالسِياطِwith whips وَبِالقَناand with spears
وَصيحَ عَلَينا بِالسِياطِ وَبِالقَنا
إِلىtoward غايَةٍa finish-marker مَرفوعَةٍraised high عِندَat مَوسِمِa festival
إِلى غايَةٍ مَرفوعَةٍ عِندَ مَوسِمِ
And cries raised against us, with whips and spears,
Toward a finish-marker raised at a festival,
دَعَوتُI summoned خَليليmy companion مِسحَلاًMisḥal وَدَعواand they summoned لَهُfor him
دَعَوتُ خَليلي مِسحَلاً وَدَعوا لَهُ
جَهَنّامَJahannām جَدعاًa severed nose! لِلهَجينِfor the half-breed المُذَمَّمِreviled
جَهَنّامَ جَدعاً لِلهَجينِ المُذَمَّمِ
I called my companion Misḥal, and they summoned for him
Jahannām—may the reviled half-breed's nose be cut off!
فَإِنّيfor indeed I وَثَوبيby the two robes راهِبِof the monk اللُجِّof al-Lujj وَالَّتيand by that which
فَإِنّي وَثَوبي راهِبِ اللُجِّ وَالَّتي
بَناهاbuilt it قُصَيٌّQuṣayy وَالمُضاضُand al-Muḍāḍ بنُson of جُرهَمِJurhum
بَناها قُصَيٌّ وَالمُضاضُ بنُ جُرهَمِ
For I swear by the two robes of the monk of al-Lujj, and by the house
That Quṣayy and al-Muḍāḍ ibn Jurhum built:
لَئِنif indeed جَدَّgrow strong أَسبابُthe bonds العَداوَةِof enmity بَينَناbetween us
لَئِن جَدَّ أَسبابُ العَداوَةِ بَينَنا
لَتَرتَحِلَنyou will surely ride away مِنّيfrom me عَلىupon ظَهرِthe back شَيهَمِof a porcupine
لَتَرتَحِلَن مِنّي عَلى ظَهرِ شَيهَمِ
If the bonds of enmity between us grow strong,
You shall ride away from me upon a porcupine's back.
وَتَركَبُand you will mount مِنّيfrom me إِنif بَلَوتَyou test نَكيثَتيmy mettle
وَتَركَبُ مِنّي إِن بَلَوتَ نَكيثَتي
عَلىupon نَشَزٍan unruly mount قَدalready شابَgrown gray لَيسَnot بِتَوأَمِa twin
عَلى نَشَزٍ قَد شابَ لَيسَ بِتَوأَمِ
And, if you test my mettle, you will mount from me
An unruly beast, grown gray, not born a twin.
فَماfor not حَسَبيmy lineage إِنif قِستَهُyou measure it بِمُقَصِّرٍfalling short
فَما حَسَبي إِن قِستَهُ بِمُقَصِّرٍ
وَلاnor أَناI إِنif جَدَّgrows earnest الهِجاءُsatire بِمُفحَمِstruck dumb
وَلا أَنا إِن جَدَّ الهِجاءُ بِمُفحَمِ
My lineage, if you measure it, does not fall short,
Nor, when satire grows earnest, am I struck dumb.
وَماand not زالَceased إِهداءُthe exchange الهَواجِرِof scorching insults بَينَناbetween us
وَما زالَ إِهداءُ الهَواجِرِ بَينَنا
وَتَرقيقُand coaxing أَقوامٍof men لِحَينٍtoward doom وَمَأثَمِand sin
وَتَرقيقُ أَقوامٍ لِحَينٍ وَمَأثَمِ
The trading of scorching insults between us went on,
And the coaxing of men toward doom and sin,
وَأَمرُand the urging السَفىof folly حَتّىuntil اِلتَقَيناwe met غُدَيَّةًone morning
وَأَمرُ السَفى حَتّى اِلتَقَينا غُدَيَّةً
كِلاناeach of us يُحاميdefends عَنon behalf of ذِمارٍhis honor وَيَحتَميand guards himself
كِلانا يُحامي عَن ذِمارٍ وَيَحتَمي
And folly's urging, until we met one morning,
Each defending his honor and guarding himself.
تُرِكناwe were left وَخَلّىand left unimpeded ذوthe man الهَوادَةِof conciliation بَينَناbetween us
تُرِكنا وَخَلّى ذو الهَوادَةِ بَينَنا
بِأَثقَبِwith the fiercest-blazing نيرانِfires العَداوَةِof enmity تَرتَميflying between us
بِأَثقَبِ نيرانِ العَداوَةِ تَرتَمي
We were left alone; the peacemaker left us to each other,
With the fiercest fires of enmity flying between us.
حَبانيbestowed on me أَخيmy brother الجِنِّيُّthe jinn نَفسيmy life فِدائُهُis his ransom
حَباني أَخي الجِنِّيُّ نَفسي فِدائُهُ
بِأَفيَحَwith a wide-striding steed جَيّاشِsurging العَشِيّاتِat evening times خِضرِمِboundless in speed
بِأَفيَحَ جَيّاشِ العَشِيّاتِ خِضرِمِ
My jinn brother—may my life ransom him—bestowed on me
A wide-striding steed, surging at evening, boundless in speed.
فَقالَthen he said أَلاcome! فَاِنزِلthen alight عَلىupon المَجدِglory سابِقاًas victor
فَقالَ أَلا فَاِنزِل عَلى المَجدِ سابِقاً
لَكَto you الخَيرُgood fortune قُلِّدbe garlanded إِذsince سَبَقتَyou came first وَأَنعِمِand prosper
لَكَ الخَيرُ قُلِّد إِذ سَبَقتَ وَأَنعِمِ
He said: 'Come, alight upon glory as the victor!
Good fortune to you! Be garlanded, since you have won, and prosper.'
وَوَلّىand turned away عُمَيرٌʿUmayr وَهوَwhile he was كابٍstumbling كَأَنَّماas though
وَوَلّى عُمَيرٌ وَهوَ كابٍ كَأَنَّما
يُطَلّىhe were smeared بِحُصٍّwith saffron dye أَوor يُغَشّىcovered بِعِظلِمِwith indigo
يُطَلّى بِحُصٍّ أَو يُغَشّى بِعِظلِمِ
ʿUmayr turned away, stumbling, as though
He were smeared with saffron or cloaked in indigo.
وَنَحنُand we غَداةَon the morning العَينِat al-ʿAyn يَومَthe day فُطَيمَةٍof Fuṭayma
وَنَحنُ غَداةَ العَينِ يَومَ فُطَيمَةٍ
مَنَعناwe denied بَنيthe sons شَيبانَof Shaybān شِربَthe drinking-water مُحَلِّمِof Muḥallim
مَنَعنا بَني شَيبانَ شِربَ مُحَلِّمِ
And we, on the morning at al-ʿAyn, the day of Fuṭayma,
Denied Banū Shaybān the drinking-water of Muḥallim.
جَبَهناهُمُwe confronted them بِالطَعنِwith spear-thrusts حَتّىuntil تَوَجَّهواthey turned away
جَبَهناهُمُ بِالطَعنِ حَتّى تَوَجَّهوا
وَهَزّواand shook صُدورَthe points السَمهَرِيِّof Samharī spears المُقَوَّمِstraightened
وَهَزّوا صُدورَ السَمهَرِيِّ المُقَوَّمِ
We met them head-on with lance-thrusts until they turned away
And shook the points of straightened Samharī spears.
وَأَيّامَand the days حَجرٍof Ḥajr إِذwhen يُحَرَّقُwere being burned نَخلُهُits palms
وَأَيّامَ حَجرٍ إِذ يُحَرَّقُ نَخلُهُ
ثَأَرناكُمُwe avenged you يَوماًone day بِتَحريقِby burning أَرقَمِArqam
ثَأَرناكُمُ يَوماً بِتَحريقِ أَرقَمِ
And in the days of Ḥajr, when its palms were burned,
We avenged you one day by setting Arqam ablaze.
كَأَنَّas though نَخيلَthe date-palms الشَطِّof the riverbank غِبَّafter حَريقِهِits burning
كَأَنَّ نَخيلَ الشَطِّ غِبَّ حَريقِهِ
مَآتِمُgatherings of mourning women سودٌblack سَلَّبَتdonned mourning clothes عِندَat مَأتَمِa funeral
مَآتِمُ سودٌ سَلَّبَت عِندَ مَأتَمِ
As though the riverbank's palms, after the burning,
Were black-clad mourners, robed for a funeral.
وَنَحنُand we فَكَكناfreed سَيِّدَيكُمyour two chiefs فَأُرسِلاso they were released
وَنَحنُ فَكَكنا سَيِّدَيكُم فَأُرسِلا
مِنَfrom المَوتِdeath لَمّاwhen أُسلِماthey were surrendered شَرَّin the worst مُسلَمِsurrender
مِنَ المَوتِ لَمّا أُسلِما شَرَّ مُسلَمِ
And we freed your two chiefs, and they were released
From death, when they had been most cruelly abandoned.
تَلافاهُماrescued them both بِشرٌBishr مِنَfrom المَوتِdeath بَعدَماafter
تَلافاهُما بِشرٌ مِنَ المَوتِ بَعدَما
جَرَتhad flown لَهُماfor them both طَيرُthe birds النُحوسِof ill fortune بِأَشأَمِwith the darkest omen
جَرَت لَهُما طَيرُ النُحوسِ بِأَشأَمِ
Bishr rescued them from death, after
The birds of ill fortune had flown for them with the darkest omen.
فَذَلِكَso that مِنis among أَيّامِناour battle-days وَبَلائِناand our valor
فَذَلِكَ مِن أَيّامِنا وَبَلائِنا
وَنُعمىand a favor عَلَيكُمto you إِنif شَكَرتُمyou give thanks لَأُنعُمِfor favors
وَنُعمى عَلَيكُم إِن شَكَرتُم لَأُنعُمِ
Such are some of our battle-days and our valor,
And favors to you, if you give thanks for favors.
فَإِنso if أَنتُمُyou لَمdo not تَعرِفواrecognize ذاكَthat فَاِسأَلواthen ask
فَإِن أَنتُمُ لَم تَعرِفوا ذاكَ فَاِسأَلوا
أَباfather of مالِكٍMālik أَوor سائِلواquestion رَهطَthe clan أَشيَمِof Ashyam
أَبا مالِكٍ أَو سائِلوا رَهطَ أَشيَمِ
If you do not recognize that, then ask
Abū Mālik, or question the clan of Ashyam.
وَكائِنand how often لَناon our part فَضلاًa favor عَلَيكُمto you وَمِنَّةًand a kindness
وَكائِن لَنا فَضلاً عَلَيكُم وَمِنَّةً
قَديماًlong ago فَماyet not تَدرونَyou know ماwhat مَنُّthe bounty مُنعِمِof a benefactor
قَديماً فَما تَدرونَ ما مَنُّ مُنعِمِ
How often we have shown you favor and kindness
In days of old! Yet you know nothing of a benefactor's bounty.
Sol 6.1