كَفىsuffices بِالَّذيby what تولينَهُyou bestow on him لَوif تَجَنَّباhe kept away
كَفى بِالَّذي تولينَهُ لَو تَجَنَّبا
شِفاءًa cure لِسُقمٍfor sickness بَعدَماafter عادَhe became أَشيَباgray-haired
شِفاءً لِسُقمٍ بَعدَما عادَ أَشيَبا
What you bestow on him would suffice, if he kept away,
to cure his sickness, now that he has grown gray.
عَلىalthough أَنَّهاthat she كانَتshe used to تَأَوَّلُnurture حُبَّهاlove for her
عَلى أَنَّها كانَت تَأَوَّلُ حُبَّها
تَأَوُّلَthe tending of رِبعِيِّan early-born one السِقابِthe male camel calves فَأَصحَباso he grew docile
تَأَوُّلَ رِبعِيِّ السِقابِ فَأَصحَبا
Though she had nurtured his love for her,
as one rears an early-born male camel calf, until he grew docile.
فَتَمَّso he persisted عَلىwith مَعشوقَةٍa beloved woman لاnot يَزيدُهاincreases her
فَتَمَّ عَلى مَعشوقَةٍ لا يَزيدُها
إِلَيهِto him بَلاءُthe torment الشَوقِof longing إِلّاexcept تَحَبُّباin dearness
إِلَيهِ بَلاءُ الشَوقِ إِلّا تَحَبُّبا
He stayed devoted to a beloved whom
the torment of longing only made dearer to him.
وَإِنّيand I اِمرُؤٌa man قَدindeed باتَspent the night هَمّيmy care قَريبَتيmy kin
وَإِنّي اِمرُؤٌ قَد باتَ هَمّي قَريبَتي
تَأَوَّبَنيrevisited me at night عِندَat الفِراشِthe bed تَأَوُّباagain and again
تَأَوَّبَني عِندَ الفِراشِ تَأَوُّبا
I am a man whose nightly care is my kin;
it revisits me at bedtime, again and again.
سَأوصيI shall counsel بَصيراًBasir إِنif دَنَوتُI draw near مِنَto البِلىdecay
سَأوصي بَصيراً إِن دَنَوتُ مِنَ البِلى
وَصاةَthe counsel of اِمرِئٍa man قاسىendured الأُمورَlife's affairs وَجَرَّباand tested them
وَصاةَ اِمرِئٍ قاسى الأُمورَ وَجَرَّبا
I shall counsel Basir, if I draw near to decay,
with the counsel of a man who has endured life's affairs and tested them:
بِأَنthat لاnot تَبَغَّseek الوُدَّaffection مِنfrom مُتَباعِدٍsomeone aloof
بِأَن لا تَبَغَّ الوُدَّ مِن مُتَباعِدٍ
وَلاnor تَنأَkeep away عَنfrom ذيone bearing بِغضَةٍhatred إِنif تَقَرَّباhe draws near
وَلا تَنأَ عَن ذي بِغضَةٍ إِن تَقَرَّبا
do not seek affection from someone aloof,
nor shun an enemy if he draws near.
فَإِنَّfor indeed القَريبَa kinsman مَنone who يُقَرِّبُdraws near نَفسَهُhimself
فَإِنَّ القَريبَ مَن يُقَرِّبُ نَفسَهُ
لَعَمرُby the life of أَبيكَyour father الخَيرَthe noble لاnot مَنone who تَنَسَّباclaims kinship
لَعَمرُ أَبيكَ الخَيرَ لا مَن تَنَسَّبا
For a kinsman is one who draws himself close,
by your noble father's life—not one who merely claims descent.
مَتىwhenever يَغتَرِبhe lives abroad عَنfrom قَومِهِhis people لاnot يَجِدhe finds لَهُfor himself
مَتى يَغتَرِب عَن قَومِهِ لا يَجِد لَهُ
عَلىagainst مَنone who لَهُhas رَهطٌa clan حَوالَيهِaround him مُغضَباan angry champion
عَلى مَن لَهُ رَهطٌ حَوالَيهِ مُغضَبا
When he lives far from his people, he finds no one on his side
to rise in anger against a man whose clansmen surround him.
وَيُحطَمand he is crushed بِظُلمٍby injustice لاnot يَزالُceases يَرىhe sees لَهُfor himself
وَيُحطَم بِظُلمٍ لا يَزالُ يَرى لَهُ
مَصارِعَplaces of falling مَظلومٍa wronged man مُجَرّاًdragging وَمَسحَباand hauling
مَصارِعَ مَظلومٍ مُجَرّاً وَمَسحَبا
He is crushed by injustice, always seeing before him
the places where a wronged man falls, dragged and hauled away.
وَتُدفَنُand are buried مِنهُof his الصالِحاتُthe good deeds وَإِنand if يُسِئhe does wrong
وَتُدفَنُ مِنهُ الصالِحاتُ وَإِن يُسِئ
يَكُنbecomes ماwhat أَساءَhe did wrong النارَthe fire فيon رَأسِthe summit of كَبكَباKabkab
يَكُن ما أَساءَ النارَ في رَأسِ كَبكَبا
His good deeds are buried; and if he does wrong,
his wrong becomes a fire on Kabkab's summit.
وَلَيسَand he is not مُجيراًa protector إِنif أَتىcomes to الحَيَّthe camp خائِفٌa frightened man
وَلَيسَ مُجيراً إِن أَتى الحَيَّ خائِفٌ
وَلاnor قائِلاًspeaking إِلّاexcept هُوَhe himself المُتَعَيَّباthe one reproached
وَلا قائِلاً إِلّا هُوَ المُتَعَيَّبا
He cannot give refuge if a frightened man comes to the camp,
nor speak without himself being reproached.
أَرىI see الناسَpeople هَرّونيsnarled at me وَشُهِّرَand was made notorious مَدخَليmy approach
أَرى الناسَ هَرّوني وَشُهِّرَ مَدخَلي
وَفيand on كُلِّevery مَمشىpath أَرصَدَset in ambush الناسُpeople عَقرَباa scorpion
وَفي كُلِّ مَمشى أَرصَدَ الناسُ عَقرَبا
I see people snarling at me, my approach made notorious;
on every path people have posted a scorpion.
فَأَبلِغso tell بَنيthe sons of سَعدِSa'd بنِson of قَيسٍQays بِأَنَّنيthat I
فَأَبلِغ بَني سَعدِ بنِ قَيسٍ بِأَنَّني
عَتَبتُI complained فَلَمّاand when لَمnot أَجِدI found لِيَfor myself مَعتَباredress
عَتَبتُ فَلَمّا لَم أَجِد لِيَ مَعتَبا
Tell the sons of Sa'd ibn Qays that I
complained; and when I found no redress,
صَرَمتُI broke away وَلَمyet did not أَصرِمكُمُI cut you off وَكَصارِمٍand like one severing ties
صَرَمتُ وَلَم أَصرِمكُمُ وَكَصارِمٍ
أَخٌa brother قَدalready طَوىhas turned away كَشحاًa flank وَأَبَّand readied himself لِيَذهَباto leave
أَخٌ قَد طَوى كَشحاً وَأَبَّ لِيَذهَبا
I broke away, yet did not cut you off; like one who severs ties
is a brother who has turned his flank and prepared to leave.
وَمِثلُand the like of الَّذيwhat تولونَنيyou accord me فيin بُيوتِكُمyour houses
وَمِثلُ الَّذي تولونَني في بُيوتِكُم
يُقَنّيmakes one acquire سِناناًa spearhead كَالقُدامىlike a leading wing-feather وَثَعلَباand a spear-shaft tip
يُقَنّي سِناناً كَالقُدامى وَثَعلَبا
Treatment like what you accord me in your houses
makes one acquire a spearhead like a leading wing-feather, and a shaft-tip.
وَيَبعُدُand grows distant بَيتُthe home of المَرءِa man عَنfrom دارِthe homeland of قَومِهِhis people
وَيَبعُدُ بَيتُ المَرءِ عَن دارِ قَومِهِ
فَلَنso will not يَعلَمواthey know مُمساهُhis evening lodging إِلّاexcept تَحَسُّباby guessing
فَلَن يَعلَموا مُمساهُ إِلّا تَحَسُّبا
A man's home moves far from his people's land,
so they can only guess where he spends his evening,
إِلىto مَعشَرٍa people لاnot يُعرَفُis known الوُدُّaffection بَينَهُمamong them
إِلى مَعشَرٍ لا يُعرَفُ الوُدُّ بَينَهُم
وَلاnor النَسَبُkinship المَعروفُrecognized إِلّاexcept تَنَسُّباclaiming lineage
وَلا النَسَبُ المَعروفُ إِلّا تَنَسُّبا
among a people who know no affection between them,
nor acknowledged kinship, save mere claims of lineage.
أَرانيI see myself لَدُنever since أَنthat غابَwere absent قَوميmy people كَأَنَّماas though
أَراني لَدُن أَن غابَ قَومي كَأَنَّما
يَرانِيَsees me فيهِمamong them طالِبُa claimant to الحَقِّa right أَرنَباa hare
يَرانِيَ فيهِم طالِبُ الحَقِّ أَرنَبا
Ever since my people were absent, I see myself as though
a claimant among them sees me as a hare.
دَعاhe called قَومَهُhis people حَوليaround me فَجاؤواso they came لِنَصرِهِto his aid
دَعا قَومَهُ حَولي فَجاؤوا لِنَصرِهِ
وَنادَيتُand I called قَوماًa people بِالمُسَنّاةِat al-Musannah غُيَّباabsent
وَنادَيتُ قَوماً بِالمُسَنّاةِ غُيَّبا
He called his people around me, and they came to his aid;
I called to people at al-Musannah who were far away.
فَأَرضوهُso they pleased him أَنby أَعطوهُgiving him مِنّيfrom me ظُلامَةًa wrongful exaction
فَأَرضوهُ أَن أَعطوهُ مِنّي ظُلامَةً
وَماand not كُنتُI was قُلّاًinsignificant قَبلَbefore ذَلِكَthat أَزيَباcontemptible
وَما كُنتُ قُلّاً قَبلَ ذَلِكَ أَزيَبا
They pleased him by granting him an unjust gain at my expense,
though before that I was no insignificant, contemptible man.
وَرُبَّand many a بَقيعٍwooded clearing لَوif هَتَفتُI called out بِجَوِّهِin its expanse
وَرُبَّ بَقيعٍ لَو هَتَفتُ بِجَوِّهِ
أَتانيcame to me كَريمٌa noble man يَنفُضُshaking الرَأسَhis head مُغضَباin anger
أَتاني كَريمٌ يَنفُضُ الرَأسَ مُغضَبا
Many a wooded clearing, had I called across its expanse,
a noble man would have come to me, shaking his head in anger.
أَرىI see رَجُلاًa man مِنكُمamong you أَسيفاًdowncast كَأَنَّماas though
أَرى رَجُلاً مِنكُم أَسيفاً كَأَنَّما
يَضُمُّhe presses إِلىagainst كَشحَيهِhis two flanks كَفّاًa hand مُخَضَّباdyed
يَضُمُّ إِلى كَشحَيهِ كَفّاً مُخَضَّبا
I see a man among you, downcast, as though
he pressed a dye-stained hand against his flanks.
وَماand not عِندَهُhe has مَجدٌglory تَليدٌancestral وَلاnor لَهُdoes he have
وَما عِندَهُ مَجدٌ تَليدٌ وَلا لَهُ
مِنَof الريحِthe wind فَضلٌa share لاneither الجَنوبُthe south wind وَلاnor الصَباthe east wind
مِنَ الريحِ فَضلٌ لا الجَنوبُ وَلا الصَبا
He has no ancestral glory, nor does he have
a share of the wind—neither the south wind nor the east.
وَإِنّيand I وَماand what كَلَّفتُمونيyou imposed on me وَرَبِّكُمand by your Lord
وَإِنّي وَما كَلَّفتُموني وَرَبِّكُم
لَيَعلَمَsurely He knows مَنwho أَمسىhas become أَعَقَّmore disloyal وَأَحرَباand more hostile
لَيَعلَمَ مَن أَمسى أَعَقَّ وَأَحرَبا
I, with what you have imposed on me—by your Lord,
He surely knows who has proved more disloyal and hostile—
لَكَالثَورِindeed like the bull وَالجِنِّيُّwhile the jinni يَضرِبُstrikes ظَهرَهُhis back
لَكَالثَورِ وَالجِنِّيُّ يَضرِبُ ظَهرَهُ
وَماand what ذَنبَهُis his fault إِنif عافَتِrejected الماءَthe water مَشرَباas a drink
وَما ذَنبَهُ إِن عافَتِ الماءَ مَشرَبا
am like the bull, the jinni beating his back:
what fault is his if they reject the water as a drink?
وَماand what ذَنبُهُis his fault أَنthat عافَتِrejected الماءَthe water باقِرٌa herd of cattle
وَما ذَنبُهُ أَن عافَتِ الماءَ باقِرٌ
وَماand not إِنindeed تَعافُrefuse الماءَthe water إِلّاexcept لِيُضرَباso that he is beaten
وَما إِن تَعافُ الماءَ إِلّا لِيُضرَبا
What fault is his that the cattle reject the water?
They refuse the water only so that he may be beaten.
فَإِنso if أَنأَI keep away عَنكُمfrom you لاnot أُصالِحI make peace with عَدوَّكُمyour enemy
فَإِن أَنأَ عَنكُم لا أُصالِح عَدوَّكُم
وَلاnor أُعطِهِgive him إِلّاexcept جِدالاًstrife وَمِحرَباand warfare
وَلا أُعطِهِ إِلّا جِدالاً وَمِحرَبا
If I keep away from you, I will not make peace with your enemy,
nor offer him anything but strife and warfare.
وَإِنand if أَدنُI draw near مِنكُمto you لاnot أَكُنI shall be ذاa bearer of تَميمَةٍan amulet
وَإِن أَدنُ مِنكُم لا أَكُن ذا تَميمَةٍ
يُرىis seen بَينَكُمamong you مِنهاfrom it الأَجالِدُthe tough hides مُثقَباpierced
يُرى بَينَكُم مِنها الأَجالِدُ مُثقَبا
If I draw near you, I shall not be a wearer of an amulet,
with its tough leather seen pierced among you.
سَيَنبَحُwill bark كَلبيmy dog جَهدَهُwith all his effort مِنfrom وَرائِكُمbehind you
سَيَنبَحُ كَلبي جَهدَهُ مِن وَرائِكُم
وَأُغنيand I shall provide for عِياليmy dependents عَنكُمُindependently of you أَنlest أُؤَنَّباI be reproached
وَأُغني عِيالي عَنكُمُ أَن أُؤَنَّبا
My dog will bark his utmost from behind you;
I shall provide for my family without you, lest I be reproached.
وَأَدفَعُand I ward off attacks عَنfrom أَعراضِكُمyour reputations وَأُعيرُكُمand I lend you
وَأَدفَعُ عَن أَعراضِكُم وَأُعيرُكُم
لِساناًa tongue كَمِقراضِlike the shears of الخَفاجِيِّal-Khafaji مِلحَباkeen-cutting
لِساناً كَمِقراضِ الخَفاجِيِّ مِلحَبا
I shall defend your honor and lend you
a keen-cutting tongue like al-Khafaji's shears.
هُنالِكَthere لاnot تَجزونَنيyou reward me عِندَat ذاكُمُthat time
هُنالِكَ لا تَجزونَني عِندَ ذاكُمُ
وَلَكِنbut سَيَجزينيwill reward me الإِلَهُGod فَيُعقِباand give recompense
وَلَكِن سَيَجزيني الإِلَهُ فَيُعقِبا
At such a time you will give me no reward,
but God will reward me, repaying
ثَنائيmy praise عَلَيكُمof you بِالمَغيبِin absence وَإِنَّنيand indeed I
ثَنائي عَلَيكُم بِالمَغيبِ وَإِنَّني
أَرانيI see myself إِذاwhen صارَbecomes الوَلاءُallegiance تَحَزُّباtaking sides
أَراني إِذا صارَ الوَلاءُ تَحَزُّبا
my praise of you in your absence; and I
see myself, when allegiance becomes taking sides,
أَكونُI shall be اِمرَءًa man مِنكُمof you عَلىin the face of ماwhatever يَنوبُكُمbefalls you
أَكونُ اِمرَءً مِنكُم عَلى ما يَنوبُكُم
وَلَنand will not يَرَنيsee me أَعداؤكُمyour enemies قَرنَa horn أَعضَباbroken
وَلَن يَرَني أَعداؤكُم قَرنَ أَعضَبا
as one of you, whatever befalls you;
your enemies will not see me as a broken horn.
أَرانيI see myself وَعَمرواًand Amr بَينَناbetween us دَقُّthe grinding of مَنشِمٍManshim
أَراني وَعَمرواً بَينَنا دَقُّ مَنشِمٍ
فَلَمso not يَبقَremains إِلّاexcept أَنthat أُجَنَّI am driven mad وَيَكلَباand he turns rabid
فَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا أَن أُجَنَّ وَيَكلَبا
I see myself and Amr, with Manshim's grinding between us;
nothing remains but for me to go mad and him to turn rabid.
كِلاناboth of us يُرائيpretends أَنَّهُthat he غَيرُnot ظالِمٍa wrongdoer
كِلانا يُرائي أَنَّهُ غَيرُ ظالِمٍ
فَأَعزَبتُso I banished حِلميmy forbearance أَوor هُوَhe اليَومَtoday أَعزَباhas banished it
فَأَعزَبتُ حِلمي أَو هُوَ اليَومَ أَعزَبا
Each of us pretends that he is no wrongdoer;
I have banished my forbearance—or he has done so today.
وَمَنand whoever يُطِعِobeys الواشينَthe slanderers لاnot يَترُكواthey leave لَهُfor him
وَمَن يُطِعِ الواشينَ لا يَترُكوا لَهُ
صَديقاًa friend وَإِنeven if كانَhe were الحَبيبَthe beloved المُقَرَّباheld close
صَديقاً وَإِن كانَ الحَبيبَ المُقَرَّبا
Whoever heeds slanderers, they will leave him no
friend, even one dearly loved and held close.
وَكُنتُand I used to إِذاwhen ماever القِرنُthe adversary رامَsought ظُلامَتيwronging me
وَكُنتُ إِذا ما القِرنُ رامَ ظُلامَتي
غَلِقتُI locked fast فَلَمand did not أَغفِرgrant pardon لِخَصميto my opponent فَيَدرَباso he might grow bold
غَلِقتُ فَلَم أَغفِر لِخَصمي فَيَدرَبا
When an adversary sought to wrong me,
I locked fast, withholding pardon lest my foe grow emboldened.
كَماjust as اِلتَمَسَsought الرومِيُّthe Roman مِنشَبَthe catch of قُفلِهِhis lock
كَما اِلتَمَسَ الرومِيُّ مِنشَبَ قُفلِهِ
إِذاwhen اِجتَسَّهُprobed it مِفتاحُهُhis key أَخطَأَmissed الشَباthe teeth
إِذا اِجتَسَّهُ مِفتاحُهُ أَخطَأَ الشَبا
Like the Roman who sought the catch of his lock,
when his key probed it but missed the teeth.
فَماso what ظَنُّكُمyour opinion بِاللَيثِof the lion يَحميguarding عَرينَهُhis lair
فَما ظَنُّكُم بِاللَيثِ يَحمي عَرينَهُ
نَفىdrove away الأُسدَthe lions عَنfrom أَوطانِهِhis territories فَتُهُيِّباand so was feared
نَفى الأُسدَ عَن أَوطانِهِ فَتُهُيِّبا
What, then, do you think of the lion guarding his lair?
He drove lions from his territories, and so was feared.
يُكِنُّhe hides حِداداًsharp claws مَوجَداتٍpain-inflicting إِذاwhen مَشىhe walks
يُكِنُّ حِداداً مَوجَداتٍ إِذا مَشى
وَيُخرِجُهاand he brings them out يَوماًone day إِذاwhen ماever تَحَرَّباhe readies for war
وَيُخرِجُها يَوماً إِذا ما تَحَرَّبا
He hides sharp, pain-inflicting claws as he walks,
and brings them out one day when he readies for war.
لَهُhis is السَورَةُthe fierce charge الأولىthe first عَلىagainst القِرنِthe adversary إِذwhen غَداhe goes forth
لَهُ السَورَةُ الأولى عَلى القِرنِ إِذ غَدا
وَلاand not يَستَطيعُcan القِرنُthe adversary مِنهُfrom him تَغَيُّباhiding
وَلا يَستَطيعُ القِرنُ مِنهُ تَغَيُّبا
His is the first charge against the adversary when he advances;
the adversary cannot hide from him.
عَلَوتُكُمُI rose above you وَالشَيبُwhile gray hair لَمhad not يَعلُrisen on مَفرِقيmy hair-parting
عَلَوتُكُمُ وَالشَيبُ لَم يَعلُ مَفرِقي
وَهادَيتُمونيand you exchanged with me الشِعرَverse كَهلاًmiddle-aged مُجَرَّباseasoned
وَهادَيتُموني الشِعرَ كَهلاً مُجَرَّبا
I rose above you when gray hair had not yet risen on my crown,
and you traded verse with me, a seasoned man in middle age.
Sol 6.1