أيَاO رَاكِباًrider إمَّاif عَرَضْتَyou happen by فَبَلِّغَنْthen surely convey
أيَا رَاكِباً إمَّا عَرَضْتَ فَبَلِّغَنْ
تَمِيماًTamim وَهَذَاand this الْحَيَّthe clan مِنْof غَطَفَانِGhatafan
تَمِيماً وَهَذَا الْحَيَّ مِنْ غَطَفَانِ
O rider, if you happen to pass by, convey this
O rider, if you pass by Tamim and this clan of Ghatafan
to Tamim and this clan of Ghatafan:
Why didn’t you remain steadfast in attaining the noble goal?
فَمَاfor no لَكُمُfor you لَوْeven if لَمْnot تَكُونُواyou had been فَخَرْتُمُyou boasted
فَمَا لَكُمُ لَوْ لَمْ تَكُونُوا فَخَرْتُمُ
بإِدْرَاكِat attaining مَسْعَاةِthe endeavor of الْكِرَامِthe noble يدَانِtwo hands (power)
بإِدْرَاكِ مَسْعَاةِ الْكِرَامِ يدَانِ
For you—even had you not boasted—have no
I used to be like one with two legs, one sound
power to attain the noble men's achievements.
And one impaired, still in its infancy
وَكُنْتُand I was كَذِيlike one with رِجْلَيْنِtwo legs رِجْلِa leg سَوِيَّةٍsound
وَكُنْتُ كَذِي رِجْلَيْنِ رِجْلِ سَوِيَّةٍ
وَرِجلٍand a leg بهَاin it رَيْبٌan affliction مِنَfrom الْحَدَثَانِtime's vicissitudes
وَرِجلٍ بهَا رَيْبٌ مِنَ الْحَدَثَانِ
I was like someone with two legs: one sound,
As for the one that was paralyzed, I strengthened it
and one afflicted by the vicissitudes of time.
And as for the one that was sound, I strengthened Oman
فَأمَّاso as for الَّتِيthe one that شُلَّتْwas paralyzed فَأزْدُit was Azd شَنُوءَةٍShanu'a
فَأمَّا الَّتِي شُلَّتْ فَأزْدُ شَنُوءَةٍ
وَأَمَاand as for التِيthe one that صَحًّتْwas sound فأزْدُit was Azd عُمَانِOman
وَأَمَا التِي صَحًّتْ فأزْدُ عُمَانِ
The crippled one was Azd Shanu'a,
Ibn Harb escaped while swimming, his provisions depleted
and the sound one was Azd Oman.
Bleating, defeated, while the spears lunged again and again
وَنَجَّىand saved ابْنَthe son of حَربٍHarb سابِحٌa swimming-gaited steed ذُوpossessing عُلالَةٍreserve stamina
وَنَجَّى ابْنَ حَربٍ سابِحٌ ذُو عُلالَةٍ
أجَشُّhoarse-voiced هزِيمٌthunder-voiced والرّمَاحُand the spears دوَانِnear
أجَشُّ هزِيمٌ والرّمَاحُ دوَانِ
A swimming-gaited steed with staying power saved Ibn Harb,
Riding crooked-legged horses as if
hoarse and thunder-voiced, while the spears were close.
He were a shah of Persia at the height of his glory
مِنَamong الاعْوَجِيّاتِthe A'waji steeds الطِّوَالthe tall ones كَأنَّهُas though it were
مِنَ الاعْوَجِيّاتِ الطِّوَال كَأنَّهُ
عَلَىat شَرَفِthe height of التَّقْرِيبِthe canter شَاهُthe Shah of إيرَانِIran
عَلَى شَرَفِ التَّقْرِيبِ شَاهُ إيرَانِ
One of the tall A'waji steeds, as though it were,
His expert hand wielding the blacksmith’s hammer
at the height of its canter, the Shah of Iran.
Relieving his camels’ distress with honey and date fruits
شَدِيدٌfirm عَلىagainst فَأسِthe blade of اللِّحَامthe metalwork (uncertain reading) شَكِيمُهُits bit
شَدِيدٌ عَلى فَأسِ اللِّحَام شَكِيمُهُ
يُفَرّجُit relieves عَنْهfrom it الرَّبْوَpanting بِالْعَسَلاَنِby loping
يُفَرّجُ عَنْه الرَّبْوَ بِالْعَسَلاَنِ
Its bit bears hard against the blade of the metalwork [unclear reading],
As if there were a vicious hawk under his saddle
relieving its panting with a loping gallop.
Attempting to reach its nest in full flight
كَأنَّas though عُقَاباًan eagle كَاسِراًswooping تَحْتَbeneath سَرْجِهِits saddle
كَأنَّ عُقَاباً كَاسِراً تَحْتَ سَرْجِهِ
تُحَاوِلit seeks قُرْبَnearness to الْوَكُرِthe eyrie بِالطَّيَرَانِby flying
تُحَاوِل قُرْبَ الْوَكُرِ بِالطَّيَرَانِ
As though a swooping eagle beneath its saddle
Salim, the lion, Abil, the fiery, Shunj, the intrepid
were trying to reach its eyrie by flight.
Agab, the bushy-haired, exploring the plateau
سَلِيمُsound in الشَّظَاthe splint-bones عَبْلُstout in الشَّوَىthe limbs شَنِجُtaut in النَّسَاthe hamstring
سَلِيمُ الشَّظَا عَبْلُ الشَّوَى شَنِجُ النَّسَا
أقَبُّlean in الْحَشَاthe belly مُسْتَطْلِعُeager for الرَّدَيَانِbounding
أقَبُّ الْحَشَا مُسْتَطْلِعُ الرَّدَيَانِ
Sound in its splint-bones, stout of limb, taut of hamstring,
When I said the summits of the lofty mountains bowed down to him
lean-bellied, eager to bound.
His legs and feet carried him up their slopes
إذاwhenever قُلْتُI said أطْرَافُthe tips of الْعَوالِيthe tall spears يَنَلْنَهُthey reach it
إذا قُلْتُ أطْرَافُ الْعَوالِي يَنَلْنَهُ
مَرَتْهurged it onward بِهِwith that السَّاقَانِthe two legs والقَدَمَانِand the two feet
مَرَتْه بِهِ السَّاقَانِ والقَدَمَانِ
Whenever I said, 'The tall spears' tips will reach it,'
So he became like the morning star at daybreak, as if
the legs and feet spurred it onward at that.
He and it were racing to enter the same hole
فأضْحَىso by morning it was ضُحىat midmorning منof ذِيone with صُبَاحٍa morning كأنَّهُas though it were
فأضْحَى ضُحى من ذِي صُبَاحٍ كأنَّهُ
وَإيَّاهُand him رَامَاthe two sought حُفْرَةًa pit قَلِقَانِtwo restless ones
وَإيَّاهُ رَامَا حُفْرَةً قَلِقَانِ
By midmorning that day, it was as though it
With mutual love, if they would reconcile
and he were two restless ones who had sought a pit,
And cease their discord, since both are kings
بِوِدّهِماwith their shared desire لَوْif only أصْبَحَاboth reached morning وَتَرَامَيَاand both cast themselves
بِوِدّهِما لَوْ أصْبَحَا وَتَرَامَيَا
بِتَرْكِinto abandoning التَّعَادِيmutual rivalry إذْsince هُمَاthey both مَلِكَانِwere two kings
بِتَرْكِ التَّعَادِي إذْ هُمَا مَلِكَانِ
both wishing to greet the morning and cast themselves
When tested with deep water, you would see him
into abandoning their rivalry, since both were kings.
Like the coming violent storm with billowing waves
إذاwhen ابْتَلَit became drenched بالمَاءِwith water الْحَمِيمِhot رَأيْتَهُyou saw it
إذا ابْتَلَ بالمَاءِ الْحَمِيمِ رَأيْتَهُ
كَقَادِمَةِlike the forefront of الشُّؤْبُوبِthe downpour ذِيpossessing النَّفَيَانِwindblown spray
كَقَادِمَةِ الشُّؤْبُوبِ ذِي النَّفَيَانِ
When drenched in hot water, you see it
As if the shoulders of his saddle and his bridle
like the forefront of a downpour scattering spray.
When drenched were dyed with red and green paint
كأنَّas though جَنَابَيْthe two sides of سَرْجِهِits saddle وَلِجَامِهِand its bridle
كأنَّ جَنَابَيْ سَرْجِهِ وَلِجَامِهِ
إذاwhen ابْتَلَّit became wet ثَوْباtwo garments of مَاتِحٍa water-drawer خَضِلاَنِboth drenched
إذا ابْتَلَّ ثَوْبا مَاتِحٍ خَضِلاَنِ
As though the sides of its saddle and bridle,
Or henna, as if his horse blanket
when wet, were a water-drawer's two sodden garments.
Was recently embellished with paint
مِنَamong الوُرْدِthe chestnut horses أوْor أحْوَىdark bay كَأنَas though سَرَاتَهُits back
مِنَ الوُرْدِ أوْ أحْوَى كَأنَ سَرَاتَهُ
بُعَيْدَshortly after جَلاءِpolishing ضُرّجَتْwas daubed بِدِهَانِwith oil
بُعَيْدَ جَلاءِ ضُرّجَتْ بِدِهَانِ
A chestnut or a dark bay, as though its back,
May he reward him for the favor he had shown
just after polishing, had been daubed with oil.
When he was not disgraced at the royal court
جَزاهُit repaid him بِنُعْمَىfor a kindness كَانَhe had قَدَّمَهَاoffered it لَهُto it
جَزاهُ بِنُعْمَى كَانَ قَدَّمَهَا لَهُ
وَكَانَand it was لَدَىat الاسْطَبْلِthe stable غَيْرَnot مُهَانِmistreated
وَكَانَ لَدَى الاسْطَبْلِ غَيْرَ مُهَانِ
It repaid him for a kindness he had shown it,
Shrewd, decisive, deliberate and quick
and in the stable it had not been mistreated.
Like the black hyena, devourer of marrow and fat
مِكَرٌّever charging مِفَرٌّever fleeing مُدْبِرٌturning away مَعاًall at once
مِكَرٌّ مِفَرٌّ مُدْبِرٌ مَعاً
كَتِيسِlike a buck among ظِبَاءِthe gazelles of الْحُلَّبِhullab plants الْغَذَوَانِswift-moving
كَتِيسِ ظِبَاءِ الْحُلَّبِ الْغَذَوَانِ
Charging, fleeing, turning away—all at once,
We did not kill donkeys, pigs, or mules
like a swift buck among the gazelles of the hullab thickets.
Except on the day of the battle of Awan
كَأنَّas though بِمَنْهَىat the rear of سَرْجِهِits saddle وَقَطَاتِهِand its rump
كَأنَّ بِمَنْهَى سَرْجِهِ وَقَطَاتِهِ
مَلاَعِبَplaygrounds of وِلدانِchildren عَلىupon صَفَوَانِsmooth stone
مَلاَعِبَ وِلدانِ عَلى صَفَوَانِ
As though behind its saddle and upon its rump
Nor were the Quraysh and Aamir tribe slain
were children's playgrounds upon smooth stone.
Buried at Siffin until the arbitrators ruled
حَسِبْتُمْyou thought طِعَانَthe spear-fighting of الأشَعَرِينَthe Ash'aris وَمَذْحِجand Madhhij
حَسِبْتُمْ طِعَانَ الأشَعَرِينَ وَمَذْحِج
وَهَمْدَمَانَand Hamdaman أكْلَeating الزبْدِbutter بالصّرَفَانِwith sarafan dates
وَهَمْدَمَانَ أكْلَ الزبْدِ بالصّرَفَانِ
You thought the spear-fighting of the Ash'aris and Madhhij
We overwhelmed them at the battle of Harir with a
and Hamdaman was eating butter with sarafan dates.
Violent Yemeni army like the torrents of ‘Iran
فَمَاfor not قُتِلَتْwere slain عَكٌّ'Akk وَلَخْمٌand Lakhm وَحِمْيَرٌand Himyar
فَمَا قُتِلَتْ عَكٌّ وَلَخْمٌ وَحِمْيَرٌ
وَعْيلاَنُand 'Aylan إلاَّexcept يَوْمَon a day of حَرْبِwar عَوَانِrenewed
وَعْيلاَنُ إلاَّ يَوْمَ حَرْبِ عَوَانِ
For 'Akk, Lakhm, and Himyar were not slain,
So the people of Sham raised the banners
nor 'Aylan, except on a day of renewed warfare.
Above which is the word of God, the best recitation
وَمَاand not دُفِنَتْwere buried قَتْلَىthe slain of قُرَيشٍQuraysh وَعَامِرٍand 'Amir
وَمَا دُفِنَتْ قَتْلَى قُرَيشٍ وَعَامِرٍ
بِصِفّينَat Siffin حَتَّىuntil حُكِّمَwere appointed to judge الْحَكَمَانِthe two arbitrators
بِصِفّينَ حَتَّى حُكِّمَ الْحَكَمَانِ
And the slain of Quraysh and 'Amir were not buried
And called: “O son of the Prophet's uncle ‘Ali
at Siffin until the two arbitrators were appointed.
Do you not fear the destruction of the two weighty ones?”
غَشِيْنَاهُمُwe swept over them يَوْمَon the day of الْهَرِيرِthe growling بِعُصْبَةٍwith a band
غَشِيْنَاهُمُ يَوْمَ الْهَرِيرِ بِعُصْبَةٍ
يَمَانِيَّةٍYemeni كالسَّيْلِlike a torrent سَيْلِthe torrent of عِرَانِ'Iran
يَمَانِيَّةٍ كالسَّيْلِ سَيْلِ عِرَانِ
We swept over them on the Day of Growling with a band
“Who will remain for our children and wives
Yemeni, like a torrent—the torrent of 'Iran.
And who will protect our sanctity, O youths?”
فأصْبَحَso by morning أهْلُthe people of الشَّامِSyria قدalready رَفَعُواthey raised الْقَنَاthe spears
فأصْبَحَ أهْلُ الشَّامِ قد رَفَعُوا الْقَنَا
عَلَيْهَاupon them كِتَابُthe Book of اللهِGod خَيْرُthe finest قُرَانِrecitation
عَلَيْهَا كِتَابُ اللهِ خَيْرُ قُرَانِ
By morning the people of Syria had raised their spears,
I weep for Ubayd when he stoops with his chest
with God's Book upon them, the finest recitation.
The morning after battle, when the two mountains collided
وَنَادَوْاand they called عَلِيَّا'Ali ياO ابْنَson of عَمّthe paternal uncle of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
وَنَادَوْا عَلِيَّا يا ابْنَ عَمّ مُحَمَّدٍ
أمَاdo you not تَتَّقِيfear أنْthat يَهْلِكَperish الثَّقَلاَنِthe two races (humans and jinn)
أمَا تَتَّقِي أنْ يَهْلِكَ الثَّقَلاَنِ
And they called to 'Ali: 'O cousin of Muhammad,
And we continued to weep for Dhi’l Kila and Hawshab
do you not fear that humankind and jinn will perish?
Whenever the two moons were mentioned
فَمَنْso who للذَّرَارِيfor the children بَعْدَهاafter it ونِسَائِنَاand our women
فَمَنْ للذَّرَارِي بَعْدَها ونِسَائِنَا
وَمَنْand who لِلْحَرِيمِfor the womenfolk أيُّهَاO you الْفَتَيَانِtwo young men
وَمَنْ لِلْحَرِيمِ أيُّهَا الْفَتَيَانِ
So who will care for the children afterward, and our women?
And Malik, Laljlaj, Sakhr and the young man
And who will protect the womenfolk, O you two young men?'
Muhammad, for whom the two seas overflowed
أبَكِّيI lament عُبَيْداً'Ubayd إذْas يَنُوءُhe heaves upward بِصَدْرِهِwith his chest
أبَكِّي عُبَيْداً إذْ يَنُوءُ بِصَدْرِهِ
غَدَاةَon the morning of الْوَغَىbattle يَوْمَthe day التَقَىmet الْجَبَلانِthe two mountains
غَدَاةَ الْوَغَى يَوْمَ التَقَى الْجَبَلانِ
I lament 'Ubayd as he heaves up his chest
So do not let your confusion lead you astray
on the morning of battle, the day the two mountains met.
And He has given you glad tidings of His victory in Paradise
وَبِتْنَاand we spent the night نُبَكِّيlamenting ذَاDhu (holder of) الكُلاَعِal-Kula' وَحَوْشَبَاand Hawshab
وَبِتْنَا نُبَكِّي ذَا الكُلاَعِ وَحَوْشَبَا
إذاwhen مَاever (emphasis) أنَىthe time came أنْthat يُذْكَرَbe mentioned الْقَمَرَانِthe two moons
إذا مَا أنَى أنْ يُذْكَرَ الْقَمَرَانِ
And we spent the night mourning Dhu al-Kula' and Hawshab,
The cavalry of Hamdan never stopped trampling them
whenever the time came to mention the two moons.
Chestnut and others, their origins unclear
وَمَالِكَand Malik واللَّجْلاَجَand al-Lajlaj والصَّخْرَand al-Sakhr والفَتَىand the young man
وَمَالِكَ واللَّجْلاَجَ والصَّخْرَ والفَتَى
مُحَمَّداًMuhammad قَدْindeed دَلَّتْpointed (unclear reading) لَهُto him الصَّدَفَانِthe two mountain-sides
مُحَمَّداً قَدْ دَلَّتْ لَهُ الصَّدَفَانِ
And Malik, al-Lajlaj, al-Sakhr, and the young man
So they stood up three times, while the birds
Muhammad, to whom the two mountain-sides had pointed [unclear reading].
Ate from them, leaving only half their faces
فَلاَso do not تَبْعُُواfollow (unclear form) لَقَّاكُمْmay He bring you اللهُGod حَيْرَةًbewilderment
فَلاَ تَبْعُُوا لَقَّاكُمْ اللهُ حَيْرَةً
وَبَشَّرَكُمْand may He give you tidings مِنْthrough نَصْرِهِHis aid بِجِنَانِof gardens
وَبَشَّرَكُمْ مِنْ نَصْرِهِ بِجِنَانِ
So do not follow [unclear reading]; may God bring you bewilderment,
The low-born sons of slave women did not expect
and give you tidings, through His aid, of gardens.
Any noble, easy going Yemeni youth
وَمَاand not زَالَceased مِنْfrom هَمْدَانَHamdan خَيْلٌhorses تَدُوسُهُمْtrampling them
وَمَا زَالَ مِنْ هَمْدَانَ خَيْلٌ تَدُوسُهُمْ
سِمَانٌfat وَأُخْرَىand others غَيْرُnot جِدّvery سِمَانِfat
سِمَانٌ وَأُخْرَى غَيْرُ جِدّ سِمَانِ
And Hamdan's horses never ceased trampling them,
Whoever sees our two cavalry meet at dawn would say
fat ones, and others not especially fat.
Two mountains, Jailan and Jailan, collide
فَقَامُواso they remained ثَلاثاًthree days يأكُلُfeed الطيْرُthe birds مِنْهُمُupon them
فَقَامُوا ثَلاثاً يأكُلُ الطيْرُ مِنْهُمُ
عَلَىon غَيْرِwithout نَصْفِfair terms والأنُوفand the noses دَوَانِnear the ground
عَلَى غَيْرِ نَصْفِ والأنُوف دَوَانِ
They remained three days, with birds feeding upon them,
As if they were two fires inside a coal-black darkness
without fair terms, their noses near the ground.
With no wood, blazing till dawn
وَمَاand what ظَنَّdid think أوْلاَدthe sons of الإمَاءslave women بَنُوsons of استْهَاher arse
وَمَا ظَنَّ أوْلاَد الإمَاء بَنُو استْهَا
بِكُلّof every فَتّىyoung man رِخْوِloose-hanging النِّجَادِthe sword-belt يَمَانِYemeni
بِكُلّ فَتّى رِخْوِ النِّجَادِ يَمَانِ
What did the sons of slave women—sons of her arse—think
A lightning-like stallion stained with blood
of each Yemeni youth with his loose-hanging baldric?
Whose direction is revealed by a flash lighting the horizons
فَمَنْso whoever يَرَىsees خَيْلَيْنَاour two cavalry forces غَدَاةًone morning تَلاقَيَاthe two met
فَمَنْ يَرَى خَيْلَيْنَا غَدَاةً تَلاقَيَا
يَقُلْwill say جَبَلاَthe two mountains of جَيْلاَنَJilan يَنْتَطِحَانِbutting one another
يَقُلْ جَبَلاَ جَيْلاَنَ يَنْتَطِحَانِ
Whoever sees our two cavalry forces meeting one morning
It gives generously when it gallops and flows gracefully when it glides
will say, 'The two mountains of Jilan are butting one another.'
Wearing a coat no fleas can penetrate
كَأنَّهُمَاas though both were نَارَانِtwo fires فيin جَوْفِthe depths of غَمْرَةٍbattle's turmoil
كَأنَّهُمَا نَارَانِ في جَوْفِ غَمْرَةٍ
بِلاَwithout حَطَبٍfirewood حَدَّthe height of الضحَىmidmorning تَقِدَانِboth burn
بِلاَ حَطَبٍ حَدَّ الضحَى تَقِدَانِ
As though they were two fires in the depths of battle,
We killed and spared lives, and not everything you see
burning without firewood at the height of midmorning.
Results from the power of the scatterer who enjoys basil
وَعَارِضَةٍand a storm-cloud برَّاقَةٍflashing صَوْبُهَاits rainfall دَمٌblood
وَعَارِضَةٍ برَّاقَةٍ صَوْبُهَا دَمٌ
تَكَشَّفَparted عَنْto reveal بَرْقٍlightning لَهَاbelonging to it الأفُقَانِthe two horizons
تَكَشَّفَ عَنْ بَرْقٍ لَهَا الأفُقَانِ
And a flashing storm-cloud whose downpour is blood:
The Thaqif tribe fled, so God scattered them
the two horizons parted to reveal its lightning.
To the Mount of Olives and the Tar Hills
تَجُودُit pours freely إذَاwhen جَادَتْit poured freely وَتَجْلَوand it gleams إذَاwhen انْجَلتْit cleared
تَجُودُ إذَا جَادَتْ وَتَجْلَو إذَا انْجَلتْ
بِلُبْسٍthrough obscurity وَلاَand not يَحْمَىgrow hot لَهَاfor it كَرَبَانِtwo palm-frond bases
بِلُبْسٍ وَلاَ يَحْمَى لَهَا كَرَبَانِ
It pours when it pours, and gleams when it clears,
It was as if I saw them throwing off their clothes
through obscurity; no two palm-stalks grow hot for it.
In panic and fear, chased away
قَتَلْنَاwe killed وَأبْقَيْنَاand we spared وَمَاand not كُلall مَاthat تَرَىyou see
قَتَلْنَا وَأبْقَيْنَا وَمَا كُل مَا تَرَى
بِكَفّin the hand of المُذَرّيthe winnower يأكُلُconsume الرَّحَيَانِthe two millstones
بِكَفّ المُذَرّي يأكُلُ الرَّحَيَانِ
We killed and spared; not everything you see
Oh what sorrow that I could not witness them
in the winnower's hand is consumed by the two millstones.
To bite their flesh with my teeth
وَفَرَّتْand fled ثَقِيفٌThaqif فَرَّقmay He scatter اللهُGod جَمْعَهاits host
وَفَرَّتْ ثَقِيفٌ فَرَّق اللهُ جَمْعَها
إلىto جَبَلِthe mountain of الزَّيْتُونِolives والْقَطَرَانِand tar
إلى جَبَلِ الزَّيْتُونِ والْقَطَرَانِ
And Thaqif fled—may God scatter its host—
As for the Bani Nasr tribe, their refugees fled
to the mountain of olives and tar.
To the Salatan marshes and the Ajlan valley
كَأنِّيas though I أرَاهُمْsee them يَطْرَحُونَthey cast off ثِيَابَهُمْtheir clothes
كَأنِّي أرَاهُمْ يَطْرَحُونَ ثِيَابَهُمْ
مِنَfrom الرَّوْعِterror والْخَيْلاَنِand the two cavalry forces يطَّرِدَانِchase one another
مِنَ الرَّوْعِ والْخَيْلاَنِ يطَّرِدَانِ
I seem to see them throwing off their clothes
The Tamim tribe fled them, Sa’d and Rabab
in terror, while the two cavalry forces chase one another.
To where the sour and the jujube trees grow
فَيَاso, O حَزَناًgrief ألاَّthat not أكُونَI should be شَهِدتُهُمْI witnessed them
فَيَا حَزَناً ألاَّ أكُونَ شَهِدتُهُمْ
فأدْهُنَso I might grease مِنْwith شَحْمِthe fat of العبيدthe slaves سِنَانيmy spearhead
فأدْهُنَ مِنْ شَحْمِ العبيد سِنَاني
O grief, that I was not there to witness them,
The Bani Widd tribe stubbornly resisted the banners
and grease my spearhead with the slaves' fat!
To Abil in humiliation and disgrace
وأَمَّاand as for بَنُوthe sons of نَصْرٍNasr فَفَرَّthen fled شَرِيدُهُمْtheir fugitive
وأَمَّا بَنُو نَصْرٍ فَفَرَّ شَرِيدُهُمْ
إلىto الصَّلَتَانِal-Salatan الخُورِthe feeble والعَجلاَنِand al-'Ajlan
إلى الصَّلَتَانِ الخُورِ والعَجلاَنِ
As for Banu Nasr, their fugitive fled
to al-Salatan the feeble and al-'Ajlan.
وَفَرَّتْand fled تَمِيمٌTamim سَعْدُهاits Sa'd وَرَبَابُهَاand its Rabab
وَفَرَّتْ تَمِيمٌ سَعْدُها وَرَبَابُهَا
إلىto حَيْثُwhere يَضْفُوgrows luxuriantly الْحِمْضُsaltwort والشَّبَهَانِand shabahan shrubs
إلى حَيْثُ يَضْفُو الْحِمْضُ والشَّبَهَانِ
And Tamim fled—its Sa'd and its Rabab—
to where saltwort and shabahan shrubs grow thick.
وَصَدَّتْand turned away بَنُوthe sons of وِدّWidd صُدُوداًutterly away عَنِfrom القَنَاthe spears
وَصَدَّتْ بَنُو وِدّ صُدُوداً عَنِ القَنَا
إلىto آبِلٍAbil فِيin ذِلَّةٍabasement وَهَوَانِand disgrace
إلى آبِلٍ فِي ذِلَّةٍ وَهَوَانِ
Banu Widd turned utterly away from the spears,
toward Abil, in abasement and disgrace.
Partial English translation: 80 of 86 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1