أَياO دارَdwelling of سَلمىSalma بالحَرُورِيَّةِat al-Haruriyya اِسلَميbe safe
أَيا دارَ سَلمى بالحَرُورِيَّةِ اِسلَمي
إِلىto جانِبِthe side of الصَمّانِal-Samman فَالمُتَثَلَّمِthen al-Mutathallam
إِلى جانِبِ الصَمّانِ فَالمُتَثَلَّمِ
O dwelling of Salma at al-Haruriyya, be safe!
O my home in Salma in Harouriyyah become safe
Beside al-Samman, and on to al-Mutathallam.
Next to the rugged cliffs, cleft by ravines
عَفَتbecame effaced بَعدَafter حَيِّa clan مِنfrom سُلَيمٍSulaym وَعامِرٍand ʿAmir
عَفَت بَعدَ حَيِّ مِن سُلَيمٍ وَعامِرٍ
تَفانَواthey destroyed one another ودَقُّواand they ground بَينَهمamong themselves عِطرَperfume of مَنشِمِManshim
تَفانَوا ودَقُّوا بَينَهم عِطرَ مَنشِمِ
It faded after a clan of Sulaym and ʿAmir,
It remained chaste after the life of Sulaym and 'Amir
who destroyed one another and ground Manshim's perfume among themselves.
They perished and mingled, diffusing their sweet scent
وَمَسكُنهاand her dwelling بَينَbetween الغُروبِal-Ghurub إِلىto اللِوىal-Liwa
وَمَسكُنها بَينَ الغُروبِ إِلى اللِوى
إِلىto شُعَبٍravines تَرعىshe pastures her herds بِهنَّin them فَعَيهَمِthen ʿAyham
إِلى شُعَبٍ تَرعى بِهنَّ فَعَيهَمِ
And her dwelling lay between al-Ghurub and al-Liwa,
Its dwellings amid the setting suns to the twisting valleys
to ravines where she pastured her herds, then on to ʿAyham.
To ravines where sheep graze bleating
أَقامَتshe stayed بِهَِin it البَردَينِthe two cool periods ثُمَّthen تَذَكَّرَتshe remembered
أَقامَت بِهَِ البَردَينِ ثُمَّ تَذَكَّرَت
مَنازلَهاher dwellings بَينَbetween الجِواءِal-Jiwaʾ فَجُرثُمِthen Jurthum
مَنازلَها بَينَ الجِواءِ فَجُرثُمِ
She stayed there through the two cool periods, then recalled
It stayed there through two winters, then remembered
her dwellings between al-Jiwaʾ and Jurthum.
Its dwellings amid the freezing winds and Jerthum
لَياليnights when تَصطادُshe ensnares الرِجالَmen بِفاحِمٍwith coal-black hair
لَيالي تَصطادُ الرِجالَ بِفاحِمٍ
وَأَبيَضَand a white mouth كَالإِغرِيضِlike palm blossom لَمnot يتَثَّلمِbecome chipped
وَأَبيَضَ كَالإِغرِيضِ لَم يتَثَّلمِ
Those nights when she ensnared men with coal-black hair
Nights that hunt men in intense darkness
and white teeth like palm blossom, unchipped.
And whiteness like a polished sword, flawless
تَبَصَّرlook closely خَلِيلَيmy friend هَلdo تَرىyou see مِنany ظَعائِنٍwomen in howdahs
تَبَصَّر خَلِيلَي هَل تَرى مِن ظَعائِنٍ
رَحَلنَthey set out بِنصِفat the middle of الليلِthe night مِنfrom بَطنِthe valley of مُنعِمِMunʿim
رَحَلنَ بِنصِف الليلِ مِن بَطنِ مُنعِمِ
Look closely, my friend: do you see any women in howdahs
Look, my friend, can you see from among the maidens
who set off at midnight from Munʿim's valley?
Who departed at midnight from the tribe of Mun'im
وَأَصبَحنَand they became كالدَومِlike doum palms النَواعِمِluxuriant غُدوَةًat dawn
وَأَصبَحنَ كالدَومِ النَواعِمِ غُدوَةً
عَلىon وِجهَةٍa course مِنfrom ظاعِنٍa traveler يَتَوسَّمٍreading the signs
عَلى وِجهَةٍ مِن ظاعِنٍ يَتَوسَّمٍ
And at dawn they were like luxuriant doum palms,
And in the morning were like gentle, tender gazelles
on a course discerned by a traveler reading the signs.
Heading toward a lover, hoping and watching wistfully
وَبَلِّغand tell عِقالاًʿIqal أَنَّthat خُطَّةَthe affair of داحِسٍDahis
وَبَلِّغ عِقالاً أَنَّ خُطَّةَ داحِسٍ
بِكفَّيكَin your two hands فَاِستَأخِرso draw back لَهاconcerning it أَوor تَقَدَّمِadvance
بِكفَّيكَ فَاِستَأخِر لَها أَو تَقَدَّمِ
And tell ʿIqal that the affair of Dahis
And convey to 'Iqal that the plot of Dahis
is in your hands: draw back from it, or advance.
Thwart it with your hands or confront it and go forth
تُجِيرُyou grant protection عَلَيناagainst us وائِلاًto Waʾil بِدِمائِناdespite our spilled blood
تُجِيرُ عَلَينا وائِلاً بِدِمائِنا
كَأَنَّكَas though you عَمّاto what نَابَbefell أشياعَناour allies عَمِare blind
كَأَنَّكَ عَمّا نَابَ أشياعَنا عَمِ
You shelter Waʾil against us, despite our spilled blood,
It will protect Wael against us with our blood
as though blind to what befell our allies.
As if you were unaware of what befell our tribe, blind man
كُليبُKulayb لَعَمرِيby my life كانَwas أَكثَرَmore numerous ناصِراًin supporters
كُليبُ لَعَمرِي كانَ أَكثَرَ ناصِراً
وَأَيسَرَand less جُرماًin guilt مِنكَthan you ضُرِّجَwas drenched بِالدَمِin blood
وَأَيسَرَ جُرماً مِنكَ ضُرِّجَ بِالدَمِ
Kulayb, by my life, had more supporters
Kulaib, by my life, was more of a helper
and less guilt than you, yet was drenched in blood.
And lighter of guilt than you, stained with blood
رَمىhe shot ضَرعَthe udder of نابٍan old she-camel فَاِستَمرَّthen he went on بِطَعنَةٍwith a spear-thrust
رَمى ضَرعَ نابٍ فَاِستَمرَّ بِطَعنَةٍ
كَحاشِيَةِlike the border of البُردِthe cloak اليَمانيYemeni المُسَهَّمِarrow-patterned
كَحاشِيَةِ البُردِ اليَماني المُسَهَّمِ
He shot an old she-camel's udder, then went on bearing a spear-thrust
He pierced the udder of Nab with a lasting stab
like the border of an arrow-patterned Yemeni cloak.
Like the ornamented edge of a Yemeni embossed sword
وَلاَand not يَشعُرُtakes heed الرُمحُthe spear الأَصَمُّsolid كُعوبُهُits joints
وَلاَ يَشعُرُ الرُمحُ الأَصَمُّ كُعوبُهُ
بَثروَةِof the numbers of رَهطthe clan of الأَعيَطِthe proud man المُتَظَلَّمِclaiming injustice
بَثروَةِ رَهط الأَعيَطِ المُتَظَلَّمِ
And the spear, solid in its joints, takes no heed
And the deaf spear shaft does not sense its hardness
of the numbers of the proud, aggrieved man's clan.
From the wealth of the loud-wailing, wronged family
فَقالَthen he said لِجسّاسٍto Jassas أَغثِنيrelieve me بَشَربَةِwith a drink
فَقالَ لِجسّاسٍ أَغثِني بَشَربَةِ
تَمُنَّbestow بِهاthrough it فَضلاًa favor عَليَّupon me وَأَنعِمِand be generous
تَمُنَّ بِها فَضلاً عَليَّ وَأَنعِمِ
Then he said to Jassas, "Relieve me with a drink;
So he said to Jassas, "Quench my thirst with a drink
bestow it on me as a favor, and be generous."
With which you oblige me and from which I will benefit."
فَقالَthen he said تَجاوَزتyou have passed الاحَصَّal-Ahass وَماءَهُand its water
فَقالَ تَجاوَزت الاحَصَّ وَماءَهُ
وَبطنَand the valley of شُبَيثٍShubayth وَهوَand it ذُوpossesses مُتَرَسَّمِdiscernible traces
وَبطنَ شُبَيثٍ وَهوَ ذُو مُتَرَسَّمِ
He replied, "You have passed al-Ahass and its water,
But he replied, "You went beyond the numbered wells
and Shubayth's valley, with its discernible traces."
And the belly of Shubayth, which holds abundant water."
فَلَمّاthen when اِرعَوَتshe slackened فِيin السيرِthe march قَضَّينَthey completed سَيرَهاher journey
فَلَمّا اِرعَوَت فِي السيرِ قَضَّينَ سَيرَها
تَحُّدرَthe downward rush of أَحوىa dark-hued one يَركَبُriding across الدَوَّthe open wilderness مُظلِمِentering the darkness
تَحُّدرَ أَحوى يَركَبُ الدَوَّ مُظلِمِ
When she slackened on the march, they completed her journey,
When the she-camels strode on through the journey, they finished their course
like a dark one's downward rush across the waste at night.
Flowing down the valley, riding the darkness
تَرىyou see المَعشَرَthe company الكُلفَdusky الوُجُوهِof face إِذاwhen انَتَدواthey gather
تَرى المَعشَرَ الكُلفَ الوُجُوهِ إِذا انَتَدوا
لَهُمthey have ثائِبُa gathering throng كَالبَحرِlike the sea لَمnot يَتَصرَّمِdwindle
لَهُم ثائِبُ كَالبَحرِ لَم يَتَصرَّمِ
You see the dusky-faced company, when they gather,
You see the grim-faced company - when they set forth
their throng like a sea that never dwindles.
They have mounts like the sea that never stumbles
وَحُلِّئتَand you were driven away أَيّامَduring the days of الحَرُورِscorching heat بحموَةٍat Hamwa
وَحُلِّئتَ أَيّامَ الحَرُورِ بحموَةٍ
عَنِfrom الماءِthe water حَتّىuntil يَعصِبَclings الرِيقُsaliva بِالفَمِto the mouth
عَنِ الماءِ حَتّى يَعصِبَ الرِيقُ بِالفَمِ
And at Hamwa you were barred, in the days of scorching heat,
And you made miserable the days of Harour with worry
from water, until saliva caked in your mouth.
About water until the spittle dried up in the mouth
أَبلِغtell قُشَيراQushayr وَالحَرِيشَand al-Harish فَماthen what
أَبلِغ قُشَيرا وَالحَرِيشَ فَما
ذاthat رَدَّbrought back فيinto أَيدِكُمُyour hands شَتميinsulting me
ذا رَدَّ في أَيدِكُمُ شَتمي
Tell Qushayr and al-Harish: what
Convey to Qushayr and al-Harrish, what
has insulting me brought into your hands?
Has parrying my insult returned in your hands?
سَقَطُواthey fell عَلىupon أَسَدa lion بلَحظَةَat Lahza مَشout- (word fragment)
سَقَطُوا عَلى أَسَد بلَحظَةَ مَش
بوحِ-stretched (word fragment) السَواعِدِof forelegs بِاسِلٍfierce جَهمِgrim
بوحِ السَواعِدِ بِاسِلٍ جَهمِ
They fell upon a lion at Lahza,
They fell upon a lion at the instance of an eye's blink
with outstretched forelegs, fierce and grim.
With the slashing of sinewy arms, resolute, unflinching
لَولاwere it not for اِبنُson of حارِثَةَHaritha الأَمِيرُthe prince لَقَدsurely
لَولا اِبنُ حارِثَةَ الأَمِيرُ لَقَد
أَغضَيتَyou would have refrained مِنfrom شَتميinsulting me عَلىunder رَغمِcompulsion
أَغضَيتَ مِن شَتمي عَلى رَغمِ
Were it not for Ibn Haritha, the prince, you would surely
Were it not for Ibn Harithah, the prince
have refrained from insulting me, against your will.
You would have shrunk from my insult despite yourself
إِلاَّexcept كَمُعرِضٍlike Muʿrid المُحسِّرِthe one exhausting بَكرَهُhis young camel
إِلاَّ كَمُعرِضٍ المُحسِّرِ بَكرَهُ
عَمداًdeliberately يُسَبَّبُنيsubjecting me to abuse عَلىin الظُّلمِinjustice
عَمداً يُسَبَّبُني عَلى الظُّلمِ
Except like Muʿrid, who exhausts his young camel,
Except like one averse, frowning, who deliberately
deliberately subjecting me to unjust abuse.
Provokes me unjustly with blame
وَدَعَوتَand you would cry لَهفَكَyour anguish بَعدَafter فاقِرةٍa crushing blow
وَدَعَوتَ لَهفَكَ بَعدَ فاقِرةٍ
تُبدِيlay bare مَحارِفُهاits surgical probes عَنِfrom العَظمِthe bone
تُبدِي مَحارِفُها عَنِ العَظمِ
And you would cry out in anguish after a crushing blow
You unleashed your passion after an impoverished woman
whose probes lay bare the bone.
Whose ribs show through her skin
كانَتit was فَرِيضَةَthe prescribed requital for ماwhat أَتَيتَyou did كَماjust as
كانَت فَرِيضَةَ ما أَتَيتَ كَما
كانَwas الزِناءُadultery فَرِيضَةَthe prescribed cause of الرَجمِstoning
كانَ الزِناءُ فَرِيضَةَ الرَجمِ
That was the prescribed requital for what you did, just as
What you did was a duty just as
adultery calls for the prescribed penalty of stoning.
Adultery is the duty of being stoned
نَحنُwe الفَوارِسُthe horsemen يَومَon the day of دَيسَقَةَDaysaqa الthe (continued next line)
نَحنُ الفَوارِسُ يَومَ دَيسَقَةَ ال
مَغشُوthose sending warriors over الكُماةِthe armored warriors غَوارِبِthe crests of الأَكمِthe hills
مَغشُو الكُماةِ غَوارِبِ الأَكمِ
We are the horsemen on the day of Daysaqa,
We are horsemen on the day of Daysaqah
who sent armored warriors over the crests of the hills.
No coward's reaching for the shield's handle
وَسُيُوفُناand our swords بِنِساحَat Nisah عِندَكُمُwith you
وَسُيُوفُنا بِنِساحَ عِندَكُمُ
مِنهاfrom them بَلاءٌa trial صادِقٌtrue العِلمِin knowledge
مِنها بَلاءٌ صادِقٌ العِلمِ
And of our swords at Nisah, you have
Our swords in your environs are, for you
knowledge of a true ordeal.
A sincere, knowing affliction and trial
وَهُوَand he الَّذيthe one who رَدَّdrove back القَبائِلَthe tribes بِالat the (continued next line)
وَهُوَ الَّذي رَدَّ القَبائِلَ بِال
يَنسُوعَتَينِYansuʿatayn بِكُوكَبٍwith a massed host فَخمِmighty
يَنسُوعَتَينِ بِكُوكَبٍ فَخمِ
And he is the one who drove back the tribes at
It is He who repelled the tribes with the
al-Yansuʿatayn with a mighty host.
Two campaigns with a planet, bright and brilliant
يَمشُونَthey march وَالماذِيُّand shining chain mail فَوقَهُمُabove them
يَمشُونَ وَالماذِيُّ فَوقَهُمُ
يَتَوَقَّدُونَthey blaze تَوَقدُّwith the blaze of النَجمِthe star
يَتَوَقَّدُونَ تَوَقدُّ النَجمِ
They march with shining mail upon them,
They walk while the Great Bear rises above them
blazing with the blaze of a star.
Glowing with the glow of a star
وَاِسأَلand ask بِهِمabout them أَسَداًAsad إِذاwhen جُعَلَتbegins
وَاِسأَل بِهِم أَسَداً إِذا جُعَلَت
حَربُwar with العَدُوِّthe enemy تَشُولُraises its tail عَنin عُقمِbarrenness
حَربُ العَدُوِّ تَشُولُ عَن عُقمِ
And ask Asad about them, whenever
Ask about them a lion, if the war of an enemy is set
war with the foe raises its tail, barren.
Inciting and enraging without purpose
شُمُّhigh الأُنُوفِof nose طِوالُlong أَنضِيَةِin the shafts of الthe (continued next line)
شُمُّ الأُنُوفِ طِوالُ أَنضِيَةِ ال
أَعناقِnecks غَيرِnot تَنابِلٍshort men كُزمِsquat
أَعناقِ غَيرِ تَنابِلٍ كُزمِ
High-nosed, long in the shafts of
Scenting with long noses, the necks of tall, proud
their necks—not short, squat men.
Stallions, no short and stumpy steeds
مُتَخَمِّطاًswelling with rage فِيماover what أُصيبَwas lost مِنfrom الthe (continued next line)
مُتَخَمِّطاً فِيما أُصيبَ مِن ال
دَرواءِDarwaʾ مِثلَlike تَخَمطُِّthe fury of القَرمِthe breeding bull camel
دَرواءِ مِثلَ تَخَمطُِّ القَرمِ
swelling with rage over what was lost at
Chewing in affliction what was inflicted
al-Darwaʾ, like a breeding camel's fury.
Like the chewing of a mangy camel
Sol 6.1