خَلِيلَيَّ عُوجا ساعَةً وَتَهَجَّرا

خَلِيلَيَّ عُوجا ساعَةً وَتَهَجَّرا

وَلُوما عَلى ما أَحدَثَ الدَهرُ أَو ذَرا

وَلُوما عَلى ما أَحدَثَ الدَهرُ أَو ذَرا

My two friends, turn aside a while and journey at midday.

My friends, turn away in anger for an hour, then blame

And blame what time has brought about, or leave it be.

What time has brought about or scattered.

وَلا تَجزَعا إِنَّ الحَيَاةَ ذَمِيمَةٌ

وَلا تَجزَعا إِنَّ الحَيَاةَ ذَمِيمَةٌ

فخِفّا لِروعَاتِ الحَوَادِثِ أَو قِرا

فخِفّا لِروعَاتِ الحَوَادِثِ أَو قِرا

Do not despair: life is wretched.

Do not despair - life is indeed miserable.

So stir at the terrors of calamity, or remain still.

So fear the terrors of events or accept them.

وَإِن جاءَ أَمرٌ لا تُطِيقانِ دَفعَهُ

وَإِن جاءَ أَمرٌ لا تُطِيقانِ دَفعَهُ

فَلا تَجزعَا مِمّا قَضى اللَهُ واِصبِرا

فَلا تَجزعَا مِمّا قَضى اللَهُ واِصبِرا

And if something comes that you two cannot repel,

If something comes that you cannot repel,

do not despair at what God has decreed; be patient.

Do not despair over what Allah has decreed - be patient.

أَلَم تَرَيا أَنَّ المَلاَمَةَ نَفعُها

أَلَم تَرَيا أَنَّ المَلاَمَةَ نَفعُها

قَلِيلٌ إِذا ما الشيءُ وَلّى وَأَدبَرا

قَلِيلٌ إِذا ما الشيءُ وَلّى وَأَدبَرا

Do you two not see that reproach brings

Do you not see that regret is of little use

little benefit once a thing has passed and gone?

When something is over and done?

تَهِيجُ البُكاءَ وَالنَدامَةَ ثمَّ لا

تَهِيجُ البُكاءَ وَالنَدامَةَ ثمَّ لا

تُغيِّرُ شَيئاً غَيرَ ما كانَ قُدِّرا

تُغيِّرُ شَيئاً غَيرَ ما كانَ قُدِّرا

It stirs weeping and regret, yet does not

Tears and remorse will not change a thing

change anything beyond what was decreed.

Other than what was predestined.

أَتَيتُ رَسُولَ اللَهِ إِذ جاءَ بالهُدى

أَتَيتُ رَسُولَ اللَهِ إِذ جاءَ بالهُدى

وَيَتلُو كِتاباً كالمجرَّةِ نَيِّرا

وَيَتلُو كِتاباً كالمجرَّةِ نَيِّرا

I came to God's Messenger when he brought guidance,

I came to the Messenger of Allah when he brought guidance

reciting a book radiant as the Milky Way.

And recited a scripture like a shining star.

خَلِيلَيَّ قَد لاَقَيتُ ما لَم تُلاَقِيا

خَلِيلَيَّ قَد لاَقَيتُ ما لَم تُلاَقِيا

وَسَيَّرتُ في الأَحياءِ مَا لَم تُسِيِّرا

وَسَيَّرتُ في الأَحياءِ مَا لَم تُسِيِّرا

My two friends, I have encountered what you have not encountered,

My friends, I have encountered what you have not,

and sent abroad among the tribes what you have never sent.

And journeyed in life as you have not.

تَذَكَّرتُ والذِّكرى تَهِيجُ لِذي الهَوى

تَذَكَّرتُ والذِّكرى تَهِيجُ لِذي الهَوى

وَمِن حاجَةِ المَحزونِ أَن يَتَذَكَّرا

وَمِن حاجَةِ المَحزونِ أَن يَتَذَكَّرا

I remembered—and remembrance stirs the lover—

I am reminded, and yearning stirs the lover,

and the sorrowful have need to remember—

And the sorrowful need to remember.

نَدَامايَ عِندَ المُنذِرِ بنِ مُحَرِّقٍ

نَدَامايَ عِندَ المُنذِرِ بنِ مُحَرِّقٍ

أَرَى اليَومَ مِنهُمُ ظَاهِرَ الأَرضِ مُقفِرا

أَرَى اليَومَ مِنهُمُ ظَاهِرَ الأَرضِ مُقفِرا

my drinking companions at al-Mundhir ibn Muharriq's.

I regret it now with al-Munzir ibn Muharraq -

Today I see the earth's surface empty of them:

I see their land today laid barren.

كُهولاً وَشُبّاناً كأَنَّ وُجُوهَهُم

كُهولاً وَشُبّاناً كأَنَّ وُجُوهَهُم

دَنَانِيُر مِمّا شِيفَ فِي أَرضِ قَيصَرا

دَنَانِيُر مِمّا شِيفَ فِي أَرضِ قَيصَرا

mature men and youths, whose faces were like

Elders and youths alike, their faces

dinars polished in Caesar's land.

Like golden dinars from Caesar's land.

وَمَا زِلتُ أَسعَى بَينَ بابٍ وَدارَةٍ

وَمَا زِلتُ أَسعَى بَينَ بابٍ وَدارَةٍ

بِنَجرانَ حَتّى خِفتُ أَن أَتَنَصَّرا

بِنَجرانَ حَتّى خِفتُ أَن أَتَنَصَّرا

I kept going between a gate and a courtyard

And I continued to roam between door and tent

at Najran, until I feared becoming Christian,

In Najran until I feared I would adopt Christianity,

لَدَى مَلِكٍ مِن آلِ جَفنَةَ خاَلُهُ

لَدَى مَلِكٍ مِن آلِ جَفنَةَ خاَلُهُ

وَجَدَّاهُ مِن آلِ اِمرىءِ القَيسِ أَزهَرا

وَجَدَّاهُ مِن آلِ اِمرىءِ القَيسِ أَزهَرا

with a king whose maternal uncle belonged to Jafna's house,

With a king of the Jafnah clan whose uncle

and whose two grandfathers, of Imru' al-Qays's house, shone.

And grandfather were of the line of Imru' al-Qays.

يُدِيرُ عَلَينا كَأسَهُ وشِواءَه

يُدِيرُ عَلَينا كَأسَهُ وشِواءَه

مَناصِفُهُ وَالحَضرَمِيَّ المحبَّرا

مَناصِفُهُ وَالحَضرَمِيَّ المحبَّرا

His cup and roast meat are passed around to us

He passes us the cup and roast meat,

by his servants, with embroidered Hadrami cloth,

Sharing equally with the Hadrami in his prestigious attire,

حَنِيفاً عِرَاقِيّاً وَرَيطاً شآمِياً

حَنِيفاً عِرَاقِيّاً وَرَيطاً شآمِياً

وَمُعتَصِراً مِن مِسكِ دارينَ أَذفَرا

وَمُعتَصِراً مِن مِسكِ دارينَ أَذفَرا

Iraqi hanif cloth and fine Syrian sheets,

A Hanif Iraqi and a Shami commoner,

and a pressed extract of strong-scented musk from Darin.

And a perfume merchant from Darin's musk.

وَتِيهٍ عَلَيها نَسجُ رِيحٍ مَرِيضَةٍ

وَتِيهٍ عَلَيها نَسجُ رِيحٍ مَرِيضَةٍ

قَطَعتُ بحُرجُوجٍ مُسانَدَةِ القَرا

قَطَعتُ بحُرجُوجٍ مُسانَدَةِ القَرا

A wilderness bearing the weaving of a feeble wind

Wandering over it is the weaving of a sick wind

I crossed on a tall, lean she-camel with a strong back,

That cuts through arid mountains.

خَنُوفٍ مَرُوحٍ تُعجِلُ الوُرقَ بَعدَما

خَنُوفٍ مَرُوحٍ تُعجِلُ الوُرقَ بَعدَما

تُعَرِّسُ تَشكُو آهةً وتذمُّرا

تُعَرِّسُ تَشكُو آهةً وتذمُّرا

swaying and swift, startling gray doves after

Withering, scorched, hastening the leaves to fall

they roost, lamenting with sighs and murmurs.

After adorning them, complaining in sighs and bitterness.

وَتَعبُرُ يَعفُورَ الصَرِيمِ كِنَاسَهُ

وَتَعبُرُ يَعفُورَ الصَرِيمِ كِنَاسَهُ

وَتُخرِجُهُ طَوراً وَإِن كانَ مُظهِرا

وَتُخرِجُهُ طَوراً وَإِن كانَ مُظهِرا

She startles the thicket's young antelope in its covert,

It crosses the valley of al-Sarim like an echo,

and sometimes drives it out, even at midday.

Bringing it out from time to time though it appears hidden.

كَمُرقَدَةٍ فَردٍ مِنَ الوَحشِ حُرَّةٍ

كَمُرقَدَةٍ فَردٍ مِنَ الوَحشِ حُرَّةٍ

أَنَامَت بِذِي الذِئبَينِ بِالصَيفِ جُؤذَرا

أَنَامَت بِذِي الذِئبَينِ بِالصَيفِ جُؤذَرا

Like a solitary, fine wild mother,

Like a lone panther's lair, of hot temper,

who laid her calf to sleep at Dhu al-Dhi'bayn in summer.

That slept at Dhi'l Dhibain in summer while pregnant.

فَأَمسى عَلَيهِ أَطلَسُ اللونِ شَاحِباً

فَأَمسى عَلَيهِ أَطلَسُ اللونِ شَاحِباً

شَحِيحاً يُسَمَّيهِ النَباطِيُّ نَهسَرا

شَحِيحاً يُسَمَّيهِ النَباطِيُّ نَهسَرا

At dusk a dust-gray, gaunt beast came upon him,

So the midnight blue Atlas robe turned pale on it,

greedy, whom the Nabataean calls Nahsar:

Stingy, as the Nabataeans call it Nahasir.

طَوِيلُ القَرا عارِي الأَشَاجعِ مارِدٌ

طَوِيلُ القَرا عارِي الأَشَاجعِ مارِدٌ

كَشَقِّ العَصا فُوه إِذا ما تَضَوَّرا

كَشَقِّ العَصا فُوه إِذا ما تَضَوَّرا

long-backed, bare at the paw-joints, savage,

Tall of build, smooth-sided, stubborn,

his mouth like a split stick when he writhes with hunger.

With jaws clenched tight and neck twisted back.

فَباتَ يُذَكِّيهِ بِغَيرِ حَدِيدَةٍ

فَباتَ يُذَكِّيهِ بِغَيرِ حَدِيدَةٍ

أَخُو قَنَصٍ يُمسِي ويُصبحُ مُقفِرا

أَخُو قَنَصٍ يُمسِي ويُصبحُ مُقفِرا

Through the night he slaughtered it without an iron blade,

With a belly like a shield - if disemboweled it would reveal

a hunter who enters evening and morning hungry.

A yellow stomach however much you stirred its contents.

فَلاَقَت بَياناً عِندَ أَوَّلِ مَربضٍ

فَلاَقَت بَياناً عِندَ أَوَّلِ مَربضٍ

إِهاباً وَمَعبوطاً مِن الجَوفِ أَحمَرا

إِهاباً وَمَعبوطاً مِن الجَوفِ أَحمَرا

She found plain proof at its first resting place:

So it lasted three days, night and day,

a hide and fresh red blood from the entrails,

As if its stinginess were the folds of a cloak,

وَوَجهاً كبُرقُوعِ الفَتاةِ مُلَمَّعاً

وَوَجهاً كبُرقُوعِ الفَتاةِ مُلَمَّعاً

ورَوقَينِ لَمّا يَعدُوا أَن تَقَمَّرا

ورَوقَينِ لَمّا يَعدُوا أَن تَقَمَّرا

a face mottled like a girl's veil,

At the top of a hill in the outskirts of the sands,

and two horns that had scarcely taken a crescent shape.

Glittering like the shining Dog Star.

فَلَمّا سَقاها البأسُ واِرتَدَّ هَمُّها

فَلَمّا سَقاها البأسُ واِرتَدَّ هَمُّها

إِليها وَلَم يترُك لَها مُتأَخَّرا

إِليها وَلَم يترُك لَها مُتأَخَّرا

When suffering gave her its draught, and her grief returned

While darkness below it sank in distress.

upon her, leaving her no retreat,

The dew was flowing in its cheeks as if

أُتِيحَ لَها فَردُ خَلا بَينَ عالِجٍ

أُتِيحَ لَها فَردُ خَلا بَينَ عالِجٍ

وَبَينَ حِبالِ الرّملِ فِي الصَيفِ أَشهُرا

وَبَينَ حِبالِ الرّملِ فِي الصَيفِ أَشهُرا

a solitary bull was appointed for her, who had stayed between 'Alij

An escapee from its course came trickling down.

and the ridges of sand for months in summer.

And a doe, marked by locust bites, I saw it

كَسا دَفعُ رِجلَيها صَفيحةَ وَجهِهِ

كَسا دَفعُ رِجلَيها صَفيحةَ وَجهِهِ

إِذا اِنجَرَدَت نَبتَ الخُزامَي المُنَوَّرا

إِذا اِنجَرَدَت نَبتَ الخُزامَي المُنَوَّرا

The thrust of her hind legs covered the broad plane of his face,

Guarantee to a master who dismissed the police chief.

when she ran full speed, with flowering lavender:

With hooves split like a Yemeni sword, powerful-sided,

مُرُوجٌ كَسا القَريانُ ظَاهِرَ لَونِها

مُرُوجٌ كَسا القَريانُ ظَاهِرَ لَونِها

مِراراً مِنَ القُرَّاصٍ أَحوى وأَصفَرا

مِراراً مِنَ القُرَّاصٍ أَحوى وأَصفَرا

meadows whose outward hue the watercourses had clothed

Scraping the rib of a smooth-haired hyena if it straightened up.

with bitter qurras herbs, dark green and yellow.

Moving like Mars in its fury, stirred up by it

فَبَاهَى كَفَحلِ الحُوشِ يُنغِضُ رأسَهُ

فَبَاهَى كَفَحلِ الحُوشِ يُنغِضُ رأسَهُ

كَما يُنغِضُ الوَضعُ الفَنِيقَ المُجَفَّرا

كَما يُنغِضُ الوَضعُ الفَنِيقَ المُجَفَّرا

He showed off like a wild-camel stallion, tossing his head,

Was the left side of the Abadis in the wind, to the north.

as a brisk gait jolts a pampered, broad-bellied stallion.

It leaves the carcass of the black crow, its flesh

وَوَلَّت بِهِ روحٌ خِفافٌ كأَنَّها

وَوَلَّت بِهِ روحٌ خِفافٌ كأَنَّها

خَذاريفُ تُزجي ساطِعَ اللَونِ أَغبَرا

خَذاريفُ تُزجي ساطِعَ اللَونِ أَغبَرا

Light, splayed legs carried him away, as though they were

Built up like a coffin, tightly fastened.

spinning tops driving a rising gray cloud,

When the fodder was not enough to fill its flesh,

كَأَصدَافِ هِندِيَّين صُهبُ لِحاهُمُ

كَأَصدَافِ هِندِيَّين صُهبُ لِحاهُمُ

يَبيعُونُ في دارينَ مِسكاً وعَنبَرا

يَبيعُونُ في دارينَ مِسكاً وعَنبَرا

like the shells of Indians with reddish beards

I reduced the barley and hay to make it leaner.

who sell musk and ambergris in Darin.

I drove it on, calling it by name

فَباتَت ثَلاثاً بَينَ يَومٍ وَلَيلَةٍ

فَباتَت ثَلاثاً بَينَ يَومٍ وَلَيلَةٍ

وَكانَ النَكيرُ أَن تُضيفَ وَتجأرا

وَكانَ النَكيرُ أَن تُضيفَ وَتجأرا

She passed three days and nights,

And reining it in gently until it relaxed and saw clearly.

and her protest was to turn aside and bellow.

It continued pursuing them as if its plunging

وَباتَت كأَنَّ كَشحَها طيُّ رَيطَةٍ

وَباتَت كأَنَّ كَشحَها طيُّ رَيطَةٍ

إِلى راجِحٍ مِن ظَاهِرِ الرَملِ أَعفرا

إِلى راجِحٍ مِن ظَاهِرِ الرَملِ أَعفرا

She lay as though her flank were the fold of a fine sheet,

Were a Nabataean bird diving steeply.

beside a heavy, dun mound of surface sand.

I prod its cheeks with the piercing spear, leading

تَلألأُ كالشِّعرى العبورِ تَوَقَّدَت

تَلألأُ كالشِّعرى العبورِ تَوَقَّدَت

وَكانَ عَماءُ دُونَها فتحسَّرا

وَكانَ عَماءُ دُونَها فتحسَّرا

She glittered like Sirius when it blazed,

The choicest steeds that Thursday brought together.

with a cloud before it that then lifted.

With a neck set in a shoulder not leaning sideways

يَمُورُ النَدَى في مِدرَيَيها كأَنَّهُ

يَمُورُ النَدَى في مِدرَيَيها كأَنَّهُ

فَرِيدٌ هَوى مِن سِلكِهِ فَتَحَدَّرا

فَرِيدٌ هَوى مِن سِلكِهِ فَتَحَدَّرا

Dew coursed over her two horns, as though it were

And cheeks sucked in, turning away in retreat.

a pearl that slipped from its thread and rolled down.

With a belly like an inverted shield - if disemboweled

وَعادِيةٍ سَوم الجرادِ شهِدتُها

وَعادِيةٍ سَوم الجرادِ شهِدتُها

فكفَّلتُها سيداً أَزَلَّ مُصدَّراً

فكفَّلتُها سيداً أَزَلَّ مُصدَّراً

Many a raiding band, roaming like locusts, I witnessed,

Its stomach would be left yellow however much it was stirred.

and set against it a wolf of a horse, lean-hipped and broad-chested,

So it stopped the first gray-haired mares, the lead horses,

أشقَّ قسامِيّاً رُبَاعيَّ جانِب

أشقَّ قسامِيّاً رُبَاعيَّ جانِب

وَقارحَ جَنبِ سُلَّ أَقرَحَ أشقَرا

وَقارحَ جَنبِ سُلَّ أَقرَحَ أشقَرا

long-limbed, handsome, with second incisors grown on one side

Driving them back from the front line.

and full-grown teeth on the other; drawn lean, white-blazed, chestnut.

It was loosed into deep gloom as if the snorting

شَديدُ قُلاتِ المِرفَقَين كَأَنَّما

شَديدُ قُلاتِ المِرفَقَين كَأَنَّما

بِهِ نفَسٌ أَو قَد أَرادَ لِيَزفِرا

بِهِ نفَسٌ أَو قَد أَرادَ لِيَزفِرا

Firm at the sockets of his elbows, as though

Of snakes were hastened into stonehood.

he were panting, or about to breathe out strongly.

With cheekbones hollow as sieves, its snorting

يَمُرُّ كَمَرّيخ المُغالي اِنتحَت بِهِ

يَمُرُّ كَمَرّيخ المُغالي اِنتحَت بِهِ

شِمالُ عُبَادِيِّ عَلى الريحِ أَعسَرا

شِمالُ عُبَادِيِّ عَلى الريحِ أَعسَرا

He passes like a long-range archer's arrow, aimed

When herded in summer was like a trumpet at dawn, buzzing.

into the wind by a left-handed 'Ibadi's left hand.

With fine manners - our enemies speak well of us,

وَيُبقي وَجيفُ الأَربَع السودِ لحمَهُ

وَيُبقي وَجيفُ الأَربَع السودِ لحمَهُ

كَما بُنِيَ التابوتُ أَحزَمَ مُجفَرا

كَما بُنِيَ التابوتُ أَحزَمَ مُجفَرا

The galloping of his four black legs preserves his flesh,

Then poorly, while we speak fairly.

like a stoutly built coffer, tight-girthed and deep-bellied.

Of all the Arab groups I have not found

فَلَمّا أَتَى لا ينقُصُ القَودُ لَحمَهُ

فَلَمّا أَتَى لا ينقُصُ القَودُ لَحمَهُ

نقَصتُ المَديدَ والشّعِيرَ ليَضمُرا

نقَصتُ المَديدَ والشّعِيرَ ليَضمُرا

When he came back, led exercise having reduced none of his flesh,

A tribe more protective, helpful, and supportive,

I cut back his gruel and barley so he would grow lean.

That marries foreign women taken captive

وَكانَ أَمامَ القَومِ مِنهُم طَليعةٌ

وَكانَ أَمامَ القَومِ مِنهُم طَليعةٌ

فَأَربَى يَفاعاً مِن بَعيدٍ فَبَشَّرا

فَأَربَى يَفاعاً مِن بَعيدٍ فَبَشَّرا

Ahead of the band was one of their scouts;

Or seeking selection, more than us,

he climbed a height far off, then gave glad news.

That turns away sooner than us if we want to leave

وَنَهنَهتُهُ حَتّى لَبِستُ مُفَاضَةً

وَنَهنَهتُهُ حَتّى لَبِستُ مُفَاضَةً

مُضَاعَفَةً كالنِهيِ رِيحَ وَأُمطِرا

مُضَاعَفَةً كالنِهيِ رِيحَ وَأُمطِرا

I held him back until I put on a flowing coat of mail,

And is readier with breastplates and leather coats,

double-woven, like a pool stirred by wind and rain.

More deserving not to abandon a companion of theirs

وَجمَّعتُ بَزّي فَوقَهُ ودَفعتُهُ

وَجمَّعتُ بَزّي فَوقَهُ ودَفعتُهُ

وَنَأنَأتُ مِنهُ خَشيةَ أَن يُكَسَّرا

وَنَأنَأتُ مِنهُ خَشيةَ أَن يُكَسَّرا

I gathered my war gear over him and urged him forward,

To wander in irons, shackled,

then restrained him, fearing he would be broken.

More deserving not to abandon an ounce of dignity,

وَعرَّفتُه في شِدَّةِ الجَريِ باِسمِهِ

وَعرَّفتُه في شِدَّةِ الجَريِ باِسمِهِ

وَأَشلَيتُهُ حَتّى أَراحَ وَأَبصَرا

وَأَشلَيتُهُ حَتّى أَراحَ وَأَبصَرا

I called him by his name in the fiercest running,

Even if their cloak be greener,

and urged him on until he caught the scent and saw.

Quda'ah had recognized some features in us

فَظَلَّ يُجاريهم كَأَنَّ هُوِيَّهُ

فَظَلَّ يُجاريهم كَأَنَّ هُوِيَّهُ

هُويُّ قُطَامِيٍّ مِن الطيرِ أَمعَرا

هُويُّ قُطَامِيٍّ مِن الطيرِ أَمعَرا

He kept racing them, his headlong rush like

So they became the gatherers of pine in Busra.

the swoop of a sparsely feathered falcon among the birds.

While Kindah resided at al-Aqiq,

أَزُجُّ بِذِلقِ الرُمحِ لَحيَيهِ سابِقاً

أَزُجُّ بِذِلقِ الرُمحِ لَحيَيهِ سابِقاً

نَزَائِعَ ما ضَمَّ الخَميسُ وَضَمَّرا

نَزَائِعَ ما ضَمَّ الخَميسُ وَضَمَّرا

I thrust the spear's keen tip past his jaws, outstripping

And Nahd, so we thoroughly defeated them.

the imported steeds the host had gathered and made lean.

Kinanah was between mountain and sea, their abode,

لَهُ عُنُقٌ في كاهِلٍ غَيرُ جَأنبٍ

لَهُ عُنُقٌ في كاهِلٍ غَيرُ جَأنبٍ

وَلَجَّ بِلَحيَيهِ وَنُحِّيَ مُدبرا

وَلَجَّ بِلَحيَيهِ وَنُحِّيَ مُدبرا

His neck rises from withers that do not slope;

So it was confined when it found none remaining.

he strained with his jaws and was turned back.

As for us, we struck the clan of Darim

وَبَطنٌ كَظَهرِ التُرسِ لَو شُلَّ أَربَعاً

وَبَطنٌ كَظَهرِ التُرسِ لَو شُلَّ أَربَعاً

لأَصبَحَ صِفراً بَطنُهُ ما تَخَرخَرا

لأَصبَحَ صِفراً بَطنُهُ ما تَخَرخَرا

And a belly like a shield's back: were he driven for four days,

And Hassaan, and Ibn al-Jaun with a terrible blow.

his belly would remain empty, never rumbling.

On the way to Dhi'l-Nakhla we caught up with

فَكفَّ أُولي شُقرٍ جياداً ضَوامِرا

فَكفَّ أُولي شُقرٍ جياداً ضَوامِرا

فَزَحزَحَها عَن مِثِلها أَن تَصَدَّرا

فَزَحزَحَها عَن مِثِلها أَن تَصَدَّرا

He checked the riders of fine, lean chestnut steeds,

Alqamah al-Ja'fi when dawn broke its fast.

and kept those steeds back from their equals, lest they lead.

We struck the bellies of horses until they reached

فَأُرسِلَ في دُهمٍ كأَنَّ حَنِيَنها

فَأُرسِلَ في دُهمٍ كأَنَّ حَنِيَنها

فَحِيحُ الأَفاعِي أُعجِلَت أَن تَحجَّرا

فَحِيحُ الأَفاعِي أُعجِلَت أَن تَحجَّرا

Then he was loosed among black camels, whose moaning was like

The two chiefs of Bani Shayban, 'Amr and Munzir.

the hiss of snakes hurried before they could enter their holes.

We let Madhhij's steeds race back after

لَها حَجَلٌ قُرعُ الرؤوسِ تَحَلَّبَت

لَها حَجَلٌ قُرعُ الرؤوسِ تَحَلَّبَت

عَلى هامَةٍ بِالصيفِ حَتّى تَمَوَّرا

عَلى هامَةٍ بِالصيفِ حَتّى تَمَوَّرا

They bear bald-headed ticks that have sucked fluid

We showed it the morning star with the dawn.

upon a head in summer, until they writhe.

The destriers raced there after their bellies

إِذا هِيَ سيقَت دافَعَت ثَفِناتُها

إِذا هِيَ سيقَت دافَعَت ثَفِناتُها

إِلى سُرَرٍ بُجرٍ مَزاداً مُقيَّرا

إِلى سُرَرٍ بُجرٍ مَزاداً مُقيَّرا

When driven, their calloused knees push

Had been irrigated by the red blood of the insides.

tarred waterskins against bulging navels.

And after a lion led many old ones astray

وَتَغمِسُ في الماءِ الَّذي باتَ آجِنا

وَتَغمِسُ في الماءِ الَّذي باتَ آجِنا

إِذا أَورَدَ الراعِي نَضيحاً مُجَيَّرا

إِذا أَورَدَ الراعِي نَضيحاً مُجَيَّرا

They dip into water that lay stagnant overnight—

At the call of a raven one day he strayed.

when the herdsman brings them to a lime-plastered trough—

On the day of the raid, the colors of our horses change

حَناجِرَ كالأَقماعِ فَحَّ حَنَينُها

حَناجِرَ كالأَقماعِ فَحَّ حَنَينُها

كَما نَفَخ الزَمّارُ في الصُبحِ زَمخَرا

كَما نَفَخ الزَمّارُ في الصُبحِ زَمخَرا

throats like funnels; their moaning hisses

From the stabbing until you would think the bay was blond.

as the piper blows into a reed at dawn.

We are a people who do not train our horses

وَمَهاما يَقُل فينا العَدُوُّ فَإِنَّهُم

وَمَهاما يَقُل فينا العَدُوُّ فَإِنَّهُم

يَقولونَ مَعروفاً وَآخَرَ مُنكِرا

يَقولونَ مَعروفاً وَآخَرَ مُنكِرا

Whatever the enemy says of us, they

When we meet to shy away and take fright.

say some things true, and others to be denied.

Nor was it known for us to turn them back

فَما وَجدَتُ مِن فِرقَةٍ عَرَبِيَّةٍ

فَما وَجدَتُ مِن فِرقَةٍ عَرَبِيَّةٍ

كَفيلاً دَنا مِنّا أَعَزَّ وَأَنصَرا

كَفيلاً دَنا مِنّا أَعَزَّ وَأَنصَرا

Among no Arab band have I found

Unharmed or strange for them to be lamed.

a protector drawing near us, mightier or more helpful,

But we reached high glory, generosity and elevation

وَأَكثَرَ مِنّا ناكِحاً لِغَريبَةٍ

وَأَكثَرَ مِنّا ناكِحاً لِغَريبَةٍ

أُصيبَت سِباءً أَو أَرادت تَخَيُّرا

أُصيبَت سِباءً أَو أَرادت تَخَيُّرا

or more men than we who marry a foreign woman

And we still hope for more prominence.

taken captive, or wishing to choose a husband,

Every stretch of sea has seen our swords

وَأَسرَعَ مَّنا إِن أَرَدنا اِنصِرافةً

وَأَسرَعَ مَّنا إِن أَرَدنا اِنصِرافةً

وَأَكثَرَ مِنّا دَارِعينَ وحُسَّرا

وَأَكثَرَ مِنّا دَارِعينَ وحُسَّرا

or quicker than us when we wish to withdraw,

Strike its shores that have green depth.

or more than us in armored and unarmored warriors,

By my life, I warned Azd's settlements

وَأَجدرَ أَن لاَ يَترُكُوا عَانِياً لَهُم

وَأَجدرَ أَن لاَ يَترُكُوا عَانِياً لَهُم

فَيَغبُرُ حَولاً في الحَديدِ مُكفَّرا

فَيَغبُرُ حَولاً في الحَديدِ مُكفَّرا

or likelier never to abandon a captive of their own

To reflect on my dreams and consider:

to languish a year in iron, shut away,

I ignored them for a period and left them

وَأَجدَرَ أَن لاَ يَترُكُوا مِن كَرَامةٍ

وَأَجدَرَ أَن لاَ يَترُكُوا مِن كَرَامةٍ

ثوِبّاً وَإِن كانَ الثوايَةُ أغضرا

ثوِبّاً وَإِن كانَ الثوايَةُ أغضرا

or more certain, out of generosity, never to abandon

To find excuse with my Lord and be excused.

a guest, even if his sojourn is more pleasant.

I did not speak until insult reached my clan -

وَقَد آنَسَت مِنّا قُضَاعَةُ كَالِئاً

وَقَد آنَسَت مِنّا قُضَاعَةُ كَالِئاً

فَأَضحَوا بِبُصرَى يَعصِرونَ الصَنوبرا

فَأَضحَوا بِبُصرَى يَعصِرونَ الصَنوبرا

Quda'a has recognized a watchful guardian among us,

Nufayl bin ‘Amr, al-Wahid, and Ja’far.

so they came to be at Busra, pressing pine.

Far from Abu Bakr’s life! None can match him

وَكِندةُ كانت بِالعَقِيقِ مُقيمَةً

وَكِندةُ كانت بِالعَقِيقِ مُقيمَةً

وَنَهدٌ فَكُلاًّ قَد طَحَرناهُ مَطحَرا

وَنَهدٌ فَكُلاًّ قَد طَحَرناهُ مَطحَرا

Kinda had been dwelling at al-'Aqiq,

When matters reach a serious impasse.

and Nahd; each we drove far away.

There is no good in ignorance if it has no

كِنانُة بينَ الصّخرِ وَالبَحرِ دارُهُم

كِنانُة بينَ الصّخرِ وَالبَحرِ دارُهُم

فَأَحجَرَها أَن لَم تَجِد مُتَأَخّرا

فَأَحجَرَها أَن لَم تَجِد مُتَأَخّرا

Kinana's home lies between rock and sea;

Forbearing one when matters worsen.

it confined them, since they could find no further retreat.

There is no good in forbearance if it has no

وَنَحنُ ضَرَبنا بِالصَفَا آلَ دارمٍ

وَنَحنُ ضَرَبنا بِالصَفَا آلَ دارمٍ

وَحَسّانَ وَاِبنَ الجَون ضَرباً مُنكَّرا

وَحَسّانَ وَاِبنَ الجَون ضَرباً مُنكَّرا

At al-Safa we struck the house of Darim,

Initiatives to guard its purity from murk.

Hassan and Ibn al-Jawn, with a dreadful blow.

So forbearance is better than many things,

وَعَلقمَةَ الجعفيَّ أَدرَكَ رَكضُنا

وَعَلقمَةَ الجعفيَّ أَدرَكَ رَكضُنا

بِذِي النَخلِ إِذ صامَ النَهارُ وَهَجَّرا

بِذِي النَخلِ إِذ صامَ النَهارُ وَهَجَّرا

'Alqama al-Ju'fi was overtaken by our charge

And ignorance is sometimes better when it is unavoidable.

at Dhu al-Nakhl, when the day stood still in noon's heat.

Thus is life - one day or another - so recognize

ضَرَبنا بُطونَ الخيلِ حَتّى تَناوَلَت

ضَرَبنا بُطونَ الخيلِ حَتّى تَناوَلَت

عميدَي بَني شيبانَ عَمروًا وَمُنذرا

عميدَي بَني شيبانَ عَمروًا وَمُنذرا

We struck our horses' bellies until they reached

The bad and the good - no, the bad is more.

the two chiefs of Banu Shayban, 'Amr and Mundhir.

If the Azdi boasts one day, say to him:

أَرَحنا مَعدّاً مِن شَراحيلَ بَعدَما

أَرَحنا مَعدّاً مِن شَراحيلَ بَعدَما

أَرَاها مَعَ الصُبحِ الكَواكِبَ مُظهِرا

أَرَاها مَعَ الصُبحِ الكَواكِبَ مُظهِرا

We freed Ma'add from Sharahil after

Hold back, for Allah will not let you boast.

he showed them stars at dawn, even in the midday light.

If you seek the heights, you are not worthy of them.

تَمَرَّنَ فيهِ المَضرَحِيَّةُ بَعدَما

تَمَرَّنَ فيهِ المَضرَحِيَّةُ بَعدَما

رَوَينَ نَجيعاً مِن دَمِ الجَوفِ أَحمَرا

رَوَينَ نَجيعاً مِن دَمِ الجَوفِ أَحمَرا

The great-winged eagles busied themselves with him after

If you extend your hands in glory, you fall short.

drinking their fill of fresh red blood from his entrails.

When the Azdi plots, he plots like a thief,

وَمِن أَسَدٍ أَغوى كُهُولاً كَثيرَةً

وَمِن أَسَدٍ أَغوى كُهُولاً كَثيرَةً

بِنَهي غُرابٍ يَومَ ما عَوَّجَ الذُرا

بِنَهي غُرابٍ يَومَ ما عَوَّجَ الذُرا

And from Asad he brought many mature men to ruin

So he wakes up blamed with an excusable blame.

at Nahy Ghurab, on the day he bent the crests.

If you want the heights, you are not suited for them,

وَتُنكُر يَومَ الرَوعِ أَلوانُ خيلِنا

وَتُنكُر يَومَ الرَوعِ أَلوانُ خيلِنا

مِن الطَعنِ حَتّى تَحسِبَ الجونَ أشقَرا

مِن الطَعنِ حَتّى تَحسِبَ الجونَ أشقَرا

On the day of terror, our horses' colors become unrecognizable

And if you stretch out your hands in glory, you are inadequate.

from spear-thrusts, until you think the black one chestnut.

When the Azdi acts crafty, he acts like a thief,

وَنَحنُ أُناسٌ لا نَعَوِّدُ خَيلَنا

وَنَحنُ أُناسٌ لا نَعَوِّدُ خَيلَنا

إِذا ما التقينا أَن تَحيدَ وَتَنفِرا

إِذا ما التقينا أَن تَحيدَ وَتَنفِرا

We are a people who do not accustom our horses,

So he wakes as one blamed, with an excusable blame.

when we meet in battle, to swerve or shy away.

وَما كانَ مَعروفاً لَنا أَن نَرُدَّها

وَما كانَ مَعروفاً لَنا أَن نَرُدَّها

صِحاحاً وَلا مِستَنكراً أَن تُعقَّرا

صِحاحاً وَلا مِستَنكراً أَن تُعقَّرا

It has never been our custom to bring them back

unwounded; nor is it strange for them to be hamstrung.

بَلَغنَا السّما مَجداً وَجوداً وَسُؤدَداً

بَلَغنَا السّما مَجداً وَجوداً وَسُؤدَداً

وَإِنّا لَنرجُو فَوقَ ذَلِكَ مَظهَرا

وَإِنّا لَنرجُو فَوقَ ذَلِكَ مَظهَرا

We reached the sky in glory, generosity, and lordship,

and we hope for a height beyond that.

وَكُلَّ مَعدٍّ قَد أَحَلَّت سُيوفُنا

وَكُلَّ مَعدٍّ قَد أَحَلَّت سُيوفُنا

جَوانِبَ بَحرٍ ذِي غَوَارِبَ أَخضَرا

جَوانِبَ بَحرٍ ذِي غَوَارِبَ أَخضَرا

All Ma'add our swords have made dwell

beside a green sea with towering waves.

لَعَمري لَقَد أَنذَرتُ أَزداً أُناتَها

لَعَمري لَقَد أَنذَرتُ أَزداً أُناتَها

لِتَنظُرَ في أَحلامِها وَتُفكِّرا

لِتَنظُرَ في أَحلامِها وَتُفكِّرا

By my life, I warned Azd, giving them respite,

to examine their judgment and reflect.

وَأَعرضَتُ عَنّها حِقبةً وَتَرَكتُها

وَأَعرضَتُ عَنّها حِقبةً وَتَرَكتُها

لأَبلُغَ عُذراً عِندَ رَبِّي فَأُعذَرا

لأَبلُغَ عُذراً عِندَ رَبِّي فَأُعذَرا

I turned away from them for a stretch and left them alone,

to establish my excuse before my Lord and be excused.

وَما قُلتُ حَتّى نالَ شَتمُ عَشيرَتي

وَما قُلتُ حَتّى نالَ شَتمُ عَشيرَتي

نُفَيلَ بِنَ عَمرٍو وَالوَحيدَ وَجَعفَرا

نُفَيلَ بِنَ عَمرٍو وَالوَحيدَ وَجَعفَرا

I did not speak until abuse of my clan reached

Nufayl ibn 'Amr, al-Wahid, and Ja'far,

وَحَيَّ أَبي بَكرٍ وَلا حَيَّ مِثلُهُم

وَحَيَّ أَبي بَكرٍ وَلا حَيَّ مِثلُهُم

إِذا بَلَغَ الأَمرُ العَماسَ المُذَمَّرا

إِذا بَلَغَ الأَمرُ العَماسَ المُذَمَّرا

and the clan of Abu Bakr—no clan is like them

when matters reach a dark and fearsome crisis.

وَلا خَيرَ فِي جَهلٍ إِذَا لَم يَكُن لَهُ

وَلا خَيرَ فِي جَهلٍ إِذَا لَم يَكُن لَهُ

حَلِيمٌ إِذَا ما أَورَدَ الأَمرَ أَصدَرا

حَلِيمٌ إِذَا ما أَورَدَ الأَمرَ أَصدَرا

There is no good in rashness unless it has

a forbearing man who sees through whatever affair he begins.

وَلا خيرَ فِي حِلمٍ إِذَا لَم تَكُن لَهُ

وَلا خيرَ فِي حِلمٍ إِذَا لَم تَكُن لَهُ

بَوَادِرُ تَحمي صَفوَهُ أَن يُكَدَّرا

بَوَادِرُ تَحمي صَفوَهُ أَن يُكَدَّرا

And there is no good in forbearance unless it has

swift outbursts guarding its purity from being clouded.

فَفِي الحِلمِ خَيرٌ مِن أُمورٍ كَثيرةٍ

فَفِي الحِلمِ خَيرٌ مِن أُمورٍ كَثيرةٍ

وفِي الجَهلِ أَحياناً إِذا ما تَعَذَّرا

وفِي الجَهلِ أَحياناً إِذا ما تَعَذَّرا

For forbearance offers good beyond many courses of action,

and rashness sometimes does, when forbearance proves impossible.

كَذاكَ لعمرِي الدَهرُ يَومانِ فاعرِفوا

كَذاكَ لعمرِي الدَهرُ يَومانِ فاعرِفوا

شُرورٌ وَخيرٌ لا بَلِ الشَرُّ أَكثَرا

شُرورٌ وَخيرٌ لا بَلِ الشَرُّ أَكثَرا

Such, by my life, is time: two days—so know it—

evil and good; no, rather evil is more plentiful.

إِذَا اِفتَخَرَ الأَزدِيُّ يوماً فَقُل لَهُ

إِذَا اِفتَخَرَ الأَزدِيُّ يوماً فَقُل لَهُ

تأَخّر فَلَن يَجعَل لَكَ اللَهُ مَفخرا

تأَخّر فَلَن يَجعَل لَكَ اللَهُ مَفخرا

When an Azdi boasts one day, say to him:

'Stand back: God will grant you no cause for pride.'

فَإِن تَرِد العَليا فَلَستَ بِأَهلِها

فَإِن تَرِد العَليا فَلَستَ بِأَهلِها

وَإِن تَبسُطِ الكفَّينِ بِالمَجدِ تُقصَرا

وَإِن تَبسُطِ الكفَّينِ بِالمَجدِ تُقصَرا

If you seek the heights, you are not fit for them;

and if you stretch both hands toward glory, you will fall short.

إِذَا أَدلَجَ الأَزدِيُّ أَدلَجَ سارِقاً

إِذَا أَدلَجَ الأَزدِيُّ أَدلَجَ سارِقاً

فَأَصبَحَ مَخطُوماً بِلَومٍ مُعَذَّرا

فَأَصبَحَ مَخطُوماً بِلَومٍ مُعَذَّرا

When the Azdi journeys at night, he journeys as a thief,

and dawn finds him nose-roped and cheek-strapped with blame.