أَجُبَيرُO Jubayr هَلis there لِأَسيرِكُمfor your captive مِنany فاديransomer
أَجُبَيرُ هَل لِأَسيرِكُم مِن فادي
أَمor هَلis there لِطالِبِfor one undertaking شِقَّةٍa long journey مِنany زادِprovisions
أَم هَل لِطالِبِ شِقَّةٍ مِن زادِ
O Jubayr, is there anyone to ransom your captive?
Oh Agbair, is there a ransomer for your captive?
Or are there provisions for one bound on a long journey?
Or provision for the seeker of companionship?
أَمor هَلcan تُنَهنَهُbe restrained عَبرَةٌa tear عَنfrom جارِكُمyour neighbor
أَم هَل تُنَهنَهُ عَبرَةٌ عَن جارِكُم
جادَpoured freely الشُؤونَthe tear-ducts بِهاwith it تَبُلُّsoaking نِجاديmy sword-belt
جادَ الشُؤونَ بِها تَبُلُّ نِجادي
Or can a tear be kept back from your neighbor,
Or does a neighbor's tear dissuade you
pouring from the tear-ducts and soaking my sword-belt?
When fate's decrees make the noble weep?
مِنfrom نَظرَةٍa glance نَظَرَتshe cast ضُحىًat midmorning فَرَأَيتُهاthen I saw her
مِن نَظرَةٍ نَظَرَت ضُحىً فَرَأَيتُها
وَلَمَنand for whoever يَحينُis doomed عَلىtoward المَنِيَّةِdeath هاديa guide
وَلَمَن يَحينُ عَلى المَنِيَّةِ هادي
From a glance she cast at midmorning, when I saw her—
From a glance I saw at dawn revealed
and whoever is doomed has a guide toward death—
That none can guide one fated to die.
بَينَbetween الرَواقِthe pavilion curtain وَجانِبٍand a side مِنof سَيرِهاher path
بَينَ الرَواقِ وَجانِبٍ مِن سَيرِها
مِنهاof her وَبَينَand between أَرائِكِcouches الأَنضادِpiled furnishings
مِنها وَبَينَ أَرائِكِ الأَنضادِ
between the pavilion curtain and the edge of her path,
Between the corridor and her gait
a glimpse of her, among couches of piled furnishings.
And between the litters' curtains drawn
تَجلوshe polishes بِقادِمَتَيwith the two leading feathers of حَمامَةِa dove أَيكَةٍa thicket
تَجلو بِقادِمَتَي حَمامَةِ أَيكَةٍ
بَرَداًhailstones أُسِفَّwere dusted لِثاتُهُtheir gums بِسَوادِwith black
بَرَداً أُسِفَّ لِثاتُهُ بِسَوادِ
She polishes, with the two leading feathers of a thicket dove,
Her dove-like steps were cooled
hailstones whose gums are dusted with black.
By the black hem of her trailing gown
عَزباءُunwed إِذwhen سُئِلَwas sought الخِلاسُa stolen kiss كَأَنَّماas though
عَزباءُ إِذ سُئِلَ الخِلاسُ كَأَنَّما
شَرِبَتshe drank عَلَيهِover it بَعدَafter كُلِّevery رُقادِsleep
شَرِبَت عَلَيهِ بَعدَ كُلِّ رُقادِ
Unwed, when a stolen kiss is sought, she seems
The maid asked about her health as though
to have drunk over them after every sleep,
She’d just risen from night’s repose
صَهباءَtawny wine صافِيَةًclear إِذاwhen ماindeed اِستَودِفَتit was poured
صَهباءَ صافِيَةً إِذا ما اِستَودِفَت
شُجَّتwere cleft غَوارِبُهاits crests بِماءِwith water from غَواديmorning rain-clouds
شُجَّت غَوارِبُها بِماءِ غَوادي
clear tawny wine, which, whenever it is poured,
A blond beauty, when she dons it
has its crests cleft with water from morning rain-clouds.
Her braids flow like brooks between hills
إِنif كُنتِyou are لاnot تَشفينَquenching غُلَّةَthe thirst of عاشِقٍa lover
إِن كُنتِ لا تَشفينَ غُلَّةَ عاشِقٍ
صَبٍّyearning يُحِبُّكِwho loves you ياO جُبَيرَةُJubayra صاديparched
صَبٍّ يُحِبُّكِ يا جُبَيرَةُ صادي
If you do not quench a lover's thirst,
If you cannot heal a lover’s heartache-
a yearning, parched man who loves you, O Jubayra,
A passion-maddened man who loves you-
فَاِنهَيthen forbid خَيالَكِyour phantom أَنto يَزورَvisit فَإِنَّهُfor it
فَاِنهَي خَيالَكِ أَن يَزورَ فَإِنَّهُ
فيat كُلِّevery مَنزِلَةٍstopping-place يَعودُreturns to وِساديmy pillow
في كُلِّ مَنزِلَةٍ يَعودُ وِسادي
then forbid your phantom to visit, for it
Then end your image coming to visit
returns to my pillow at every stopping-place.
For at every halt he'll dwell on hopes of union.
تُمسيshe reaches evening فَيَصرِفُand creaks بابُهاher door مِنfrom دونِهاbefore her
تُمسي فَيَصرِفُ بابُها مِن دونِها
غَلَقاًshut صَريفَwith the creaking of مَحالَةِa pulley الأَمسادِtwisted ropes
غَلَقاً صَريفَ مَحالَةِ الأَمسادِ
She reaches evening; her door before her creaks,
You come at night but the door's barred against you
shut fast, with the creak of a twisted-rope pulley.
As if no visitors would enter in
أَحدِثoffer something new لَهاto her تُحدِثshe will renew لِوَصلِكَfor your union إِنَّهاfor she
أَحدِث لَها تُحدِث لِوَصلِكَ إِنَّها
كُندٌgrudging لِوَصلِtoward union with الزائِرِthe visitor المُعتادِhabitual
كُندٌ لِوَصلِ الزائِرِ المُعتادِ
Offer her something new: she will renew your union; she
Talk to her, your talk may allow you to meet
is grudging of union with the habitual visitor.
For she's a fortress, accustomed to guests.
وَأَخوand the companion of النِساءِwomen مَتىwhenever يَشَأhe desires يَصرِمنَهُthey forsake him
وَأَخو النِساءِ مَتى يَشَأ يَصرِمنَهُ
وَيَكُنُّand they become أَعداءًenemies بُعَيدَshortly after وِدادِaffection
وَيَكُنُّ أَعداءً بُعَيدَ وِدادِ
And women's companion, when he desires them, they forsake him,
Yet womankind, when they please, are estranged
and become enemies shortly after affection.
And act the part of distant foes.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَنالُI attain الوَصلَunion فيin مُتَمَنِّعٍan inaccessible place
وَلَقَد أَنالُ الوَصلَ في مُتَمَنِّعٍ
صَعبٍformidable بَناهُbuilt it الأَوَّلونَmen of old مَصادِMasad
صَعبٍ بَناهُ الأَوَّلونَ مَصادِ
And indeed I win union in an inaccessible
Indeed, I gained union with one who was aloof,
stronghold, Masad, built by the men of old.
A difficult conquest, built by men of old.
أَنّىhow تَذَكَّرُdo you recall وُدُّهاher love وَصَفاءَهاand her sincerity
أَنّى تَذَكَّرُ وُدُّها وَصَفاءَها
سَفَهاًfoolishly وَأَنتَwhile you are بِصُوَّةِat the cairn of الأَثمادِal-Athmad
سَفَهاً وَأَنتَ بِصُوَّةِ الأَثمادِ
How can you recall her love and her sincerity,
How can you recall her love and purity
foolishly, while you are at the cairn of al-Athmad,
Fool, while you dwell in sin's abode?
فَشِباكِthen the hollows of باعِجَةٍBa'ija فَجَنبَيthen the two sides of جائِرٍJa'ir
فَشِباكِ باعِجَةٍ فَجَنبَي جائِرٍ
وَتَحُلُّwhile she dwells شاطِنَةًfar away بِدارِin the land of إِيادِIyad
وَتَحُلُّ شاطِنَةً بِدارِ إِيادِ
then the hollows of Ba'ija, then the two sides of Ja'ir,
So, an unmanageable lattice and crooked side,
while she dwells far away in the land of Iyad?
And she descends to others' homes in Iyad,
مَنَعَتhave defended قِياسُbows الماسِخِيَّةِMasikhi-made رَأسَهُits summit
مَنَعَت قِياسُ الماسِخِيَّةِ رَأسَهُ
بِسِهامِwith arrows of يَترِبِYatrib أَوor سِهامِarrows of بِلادِBilad
بِسِهامِ يَترِبِ أَو سِهامِ بِلادِ
Masikhi bows have defended its summit,
Her headdress held her back by force
with arrows of Yatrib or arrows of Bilad.
Of arrows, whether well-aimed or stray.
وَلَقَدand indeed أُرَجِّلُI comb جُمَّتيmy flowing hair بِعَشِيَّةٍof an evening
وَلَقَد أُرَجِّلُ جُمَّتي بِعَشِيَّةٍ
لِلشَربِfor the drinking companions قَبلَbefore سَنابِكِthe hooves of المُرتادِthe scout
لِلشَربِ قَبلَ سَنابِكِ المُرتادِ
And I would comb my flowing hair of an evening,
I hobble my mount in the evening
for the drinking companions, before the scout's hoofbeats,
To drink before the frequented tavern.
وَالبيضِand the fair women قَدalready عَنَسَتremained unmarried وَطالَand grew long جِراؤهاtheir frolicking
وَالبيضِ قَد عَنَسَت وَطالَ جِراؤها
وَنَشَأنَand they grew up فيamong قِنٍّslaves وَفيand among أَذوادِsmall camel-herds
وَنَشَأنَ في قِنٍّ وَفي أَذوادِ
and the fair women, long unmarried, whose frolicking had lasted long,
The white camels bellow and wander far,
reared among slaves and small herds of camels.
Growing up in meadows and sand dunes.
وَلَقَدand indeed أُخالِسُهُنَّI snatch from them ماwhat يَمنَعنَنيthey deny me
وَلَقَد أُخالِسُهُنَّ ما يَمنَعنَني
عُصُراًat times يَمِلنَthey lean عَلَيَّtoward me بِالأَجيادِwith their necks
عُصُراً يَمِلنَ عَلَيَّ بِالأَجيادِ
And I would snatch from them what they withheld from me,
I draw them near when they try to avoid me
at times, as they leaned toward me with their necks.
In the afternoon, weary of my goad.
وَلَقَدand indeed غَدَوتُI went at dawn لِعازِبٍto a far-off man مُستَحلِسِconstantly keeping company with الthe
وَلَقَد غَدَوتُ لِعازِبٍ مُستَحلِسِ ال
قَربانِintimates مُقتاداًleading عِنانَthe rein of جَوادِa noble steed
قَربانِ مُقتاداً عِنانَ جَوادِ
And I went out at dawn to a far-off man, ever keeping company with the
Often I rode out to a fair maid, not fearing
intimates, leading a noble steed by its rein.
To sacrifice a steed's leading rein.
فَالدَهرُso time غَيَّرَchanged ذاكَthat ياO اِبنَةَdaughter of مالِكٍMalik
فَالدَهرُ غَيَّرَ ذاكَ يا اِبنَةَ مالِكٍ
وَالدَهرُand time يُعقِبُfollows صالِحاًgood بِفَسادِwith ruin
وَالدَهرُ يُعقِبُ صالِحاً بِفَسادِ
So time has changed all that, O daughter of Malik,
But time has changed that, O Malik's daughter,
and time follows good with ruin.
And time follows righteousness with corruption.
إِنّيI am indeed اِمرُؤٌa man مِنfrom عُصبَةٍa band قَيسِيَّةٍQaysi
إِنّي اِمرُؤٌ مِن عُصبَةٍ قَيسِيَّةٍ
شُمِّhigh الأُنوفِof nose غَرانِقٍhandsome youths أَحشادِquick to rally
شُمِّ الأُنوفِ غَرانِقٍ أَحشادِ
I am a man from a Qaysi band,
I am a man of the noble Qais tribe,
proud of nose, handsome youths, quick to rally,
Prominent-nosed and pure stock.
الواطِئينَthose treading عَلىon صُدورِthe foreparts of نِعالِهِمtheir sandals
الواطِئينَ عَلى صُدورِ نِعالِهِم
يَمشونَthey walk فيin الدَفَنِيِّDafani cloth وَالأَبرادِand striped robes
يَمشونَ في الدَفَنِيِّ وَالأَبرادِ
who tread on the foreparts of their sandals,
Who walk on the sandals' straps
walking in Dafani cloth and striped robes,
Through al-Dafani and al-Abrad,
وَالشارِبينَand those drinking إِذاwhen الذَوارِعُswift she-camels غولِيَتare bid up in price
وَالشارِبينَ إِذا الذَوارِعُ غولِيَت
صَفوَthe choicest of الفِضالِthe remaining drink بِطارِفٍwith newly acquired wealth وَتِلادِand inherited wealth
صَفوَ الفِضالِ بِطارِفٍ وَتِلادِ
and drink, when swift she-camels are bid up in price,
Who, when the wine cups are passed around,
the choicest remaining drink, with new wealth and inherited wealth,
Drink pure wine from clear goblets,
وَالضامِنينَand those standing surety بِقَومِهِمfor their people يَومَon the day of الوَغىbattle
وَالضامِنينَ بِقَومِهِم يَومَ الوَغى
لِلحَمدِfor honor يَومَon a day of تَنازُلٍclose fighting وَطِرادِand pursuit
لِلحَمدِ يَومَ تَنازُلٍ وَطِرادِ
and stand surety for their people on battle-day,
Who vouch for their tribe on the day of battle,
for honor, on a day of close fighting and pursuit.
When glory and ruin shift and alternate.
كَمhow many فيهِمُamong them مِنa فارِسٍhorseman يَومَon the day of الوَغىbattle
كَم فيهِمُ مِن فارِسٍ يَومَ الوَغى
ثَقفِdeft اليَدَينِwith both hands يَهِلُّraises a cry بِالإِقصادِwith a killing thrust
ثَقفِ اليَدَينِ يَهِلُّ بِالإِقصادِ
How many a horseman among them on battle-day,
Among them are horsemen on the day of war
deft with both hands, shouts with a killing thrust!
Who pounce with hands practiced in thrusting spears,
وَإِذاand when اللُقاحُthe milk-camels تَرَوَّحَتcome home بِأَصيلَةٍat dusk
وَإِذا اللُقاحُ تَرَوَّحَت بِأَصيلَةٍ
رَتَكَthe trot of النِعامِostriches عَشِيَّةَon the evening of الصُرّادِbitter cold
رَتَكَ النِعامِ عَشِيَّةَ الصُرّادِ
And when the milk-camels come home at dusk,
And when the drove-beasts are terrified
trotting like ostriches on a bitter-cold evening,
By a high-bred mare on an evening of hobbling,
جَرياًrunning يَلوذُseek refuge رِباعُهاtheir spring-born calves مِنfrom ضُرِّهاits harm
جَرياً يَلوذُ رِباعُها مِن ضُرِّها
بِالخَيمِin the tents بَينَbetween طَوارِفٍoutlying beasts وَهَواديand leading beasts
بِالخَيمِ بَينَ طَوارِفٍ وَهَوادي
at a run, their spring-born calves seeking refuge from its harm
Her colts take refuge with the tents
in the tents, between the outliers and the leaders,
Between the flaps and valleys.
حَجَرواthey sheltered عَلىaround أَضيافِهِمtheir guests وَشَوَواand roasted لَهُمfor them
حَجَروا عَلى أَضيافِهِم وَشَوَوا لَهُم
مِنfrom شَطِّthe side of مُنقِيَةٍa marrow-rich she-camel وَمِنand from أَكبادِlivers
مِن شَطِّ مُنقِيَةٍ وَمِن أَكبادِ
they shelter their guests and roast for them
They roasted meat for their guests and heated wine,
meat from a marrow-rich she-camel's side, and livers.
Clarified butter and seasoned fat.
وَإِذاand when القِيانُthe serving-girls حَسِبتَهاyou would think them حَبَشِيَّةًAbyssinian
وَإِذا القِيانُ حَسِبتَها حَبَشِيَّةً
غُبراًdust-gray وَقَلَّand became few حَلائِبُmilk-yielding beasts for الأَرفادِguest-gifts
غُبراً وَقَلَّ حَلائِبُ الأَرفادِ
And when you would take the serving-girls for Abyssinians,
When the cooking pots seemed like Abyssinians
dust-gray, and milk-beasts for guest-gifts are scarce,
Covered in dust, though few sheep remained,
وَيَقولُand says مَنone who يَبقيهِمُwould spare them بِنَصيحَةٍwith counsel
وَيَقولُ مَن يَبقيهِمُ بِنَصيحَةٍ
هَلis it غَيرُanything but فِعلِthe conduct of قَبيلَةٍa tribe مِنof عادِ'Ad
هَل غَيرُ فِعلِ قَبيلَةٍ مِن عادِ
and one who would spare them says in counsel,
One counseling them would say: Is this not the deed
Is this anything but the conduct of a tribe of 'Ad?
Of a tribe, rather than the people of ‘Ad?
وَإِذاand when العَشيرَةُthe clan أَعرَضَتturn aside سُلّافُهاits foremost men
وَإِذا العَشيرَةُ أَعرَضَت سُلّافُها
جَنِفينَswerving مِنfrom ثَغرٍa frontier بِغَيرِwithout سِدادِprotection
جَنِفينَ مِن ثَغرٍ بِغَيرِ سِدادِ
And when the clan's leading men turn aside,
When their clan turns away the pots
swerving from a frontier left unguarded,
Obliquely, unevenly placed,
فَلَقَدthen indeed نَحُلُّwe settle بِهِthere وَنَرعىand graze رِعيَهُits pasture
فَلَقَد نَحُلُّ بِهِ وَنَرعى رِعيَهُ
وَلَقَدand indeed نَليهِwe hold it بِقُوَّةٍwith strength وَعَتادِand equipment
وَلَقَد نَليهِ بِقُوَّةٍ وَعَتادِ
then indeed we settle there and graze its pasture,
We indeed endow them with gifts and heed their pledge
and indeed we hold it with strength and equipment.
And requite them with might and equipment.
نَبقيwe keep الغِبابَalternate-day watering herds بِجانِبَيهِon both its sides وَجامِلاًand a camel-herd
نَبقي الغِبابَ بِجانِبَيهِ وَجامِلاً
عَكَراًnumerous مَراتِعُهُits pastures بِغَيرِwithout جَهادِbarren terrain
عَكَراً مَراتِعُهُ بِغَيرِ جَهادِ
We keep the alternate-day watering herds on both its sides, and a camel-herd,
We leave their shameful side and treat them kindly
a great one, whose pastures are no barren waste.
Though their pastures have gone wild through neglect.
لَمnot يَزوِهِhas driven it away طِرَدٌpursuit فَيُذعَرَso that is frightened دَرؤُهُits vanguard
لَم يَزوِهِ طِرَدٌ فَيُذعَرَ دَرؤُهُ
فَيُلِجَّand then persists فيin وَهَلٍpanic وَفيand in تَشرادِflight
فَيُلِجَّ في وَهَلٍ وَفي تَشرادِ
No pursuit has driven it off, alarming its vanguard,
No driven beast was he, to be startled and flee,
and making it persist in panic and flight.
Plunging into a hollow or waste.
وَإِذاand when يُثَوِّبُrepeats the alarm صارِخٌa caller مُتَلَهِّفٌdistressed
وَإِذا يُثَوِّبُ صارِخٌ مُتَلَهِّفٌ
وَعَلاand rose غُبارٌdust ساطِعٌrising high بِعِمادِin a column
وَعَلا غُبارٌ ساطِعٌ بِعِمادِ
And when a distressed caller repeats the alarm,
When a frantic caller shouts and dust rises high
and rising dust towers in a column,
With tent poles as columns from the earth,
رَكِبَتset out mounted إِلَيكَtoward you نَزائِعٌfar-bred steeds مَلبونَةٌmilk-fed
رَكِبَت إِلَيكَ نَزائِعٌ مَلبونَةٌ
قُبُّlean البُطونِof belly يَجُلنَthey course about فيin الأَلبادِthe saddle-felts
قُبُّ البُطونِ يَجُلنَ في الأَلبادِ
far-bred, milk-fed steeds set out toward you,
Smooth-sided she-camels hasten to you
lean-bellied, coursing beneath their saddle-felts,
With lions in their brisk, sure tread.
مِنfrom كُلِّevery سابِحَةٍswimming-gaited mare وَأَجرَدَand a sleek stallion سابِحٍswimming-gaited
مِن كُلِّ سابِحَةٍ وَأَجرَدَ سابِحٍ
تَرديgalloping بِأُسدِbearing lions of خَفِيَّةٍKhafiyya وَصِعادِand spears
تَردي بِأُسدِ خَفِيَّةٍ وَصِعادِ
from every swimming-gaited mare and sleek, swimming stallion,
From each swimmer and naked swimmer
galloping with lions of Khafiyya and spears;
Fearing a charging, angry lion.
إِذfor لاnot يُرىis seen قَيسٌQays يَكونُto be كَقَيسِناlike our Qays
إِذ لا يُرى قَيسٌ يَكونُ كَقَيسِنا
حَسَباًin lineage وَلاnor كَبَنيهِlike his sons فيamong الأَولادِoffspring
حَسَباً وَلا كَبَنيهِ في الأَولادِ
for no Qays is seen to be like our Qays
When Qais cannot be seen acting like our Qais
in lineage, nor any offspring like his sons.
In lineage or sons, scions of nobility.
Sol 6.1