أدِينُكِI reproach you أنfor تَذُمِّىyou disparage الخَيزُرَانَاthe bamboo
أدِينُكِ أن تَذُمِّى الخَيزُرَانَا
وأنand for تجريyou make flow المَدامِعَthe tears أُرجُوانَاcrimson
وأن تجري المَدامِعَ أُرجُوانَا
I hold you blameworthy for maligning Khayzuran,
I reproach you for putting bamboo to shame,
And for making tears flow crimson-purple,
and for making tears flow crimson,
وأنand for تَصِلِىyou join الخِلَىَّthe carefree man وأنand for تَبتِّىyou cut off
وأن تَصِلِى الخِلَىَّ وأن تَبتِّى
شَجِيًّاa sorrowful man لاَعجَthe searing anguish of الأشجَانَgriefs عَانَىhe suffered
شَجِيًّا لاَعجَ الأشجَانَ عَانَى
For embracing the carefree one while casting off
and for joining the carefree man while cutting off
A sorrowing captive, seared by grief.
a sorrowful man who has suffered searing grief,
وأنand that لاnot تُرسِلىyou loose سَهميكِyour two arrows إِلاَّunless
وأن لا تُرسِلى سَهميكِ إِلاَّ
أصَبتِyou struck مِنَof الحَلِيمِthe forbearing man الجُلجَلاَنَاthe heart's core
أصَبتِ مِنَ الحَلِيمِ الجُلجَلاَنَا
And for loosing your two arrows only
and for never loosing your two arrows unless
To strike even the forbearing until he rings.
you strike the forbearing man's heart's core.
أُمَامَةUmama مَاnot عدَانيkept me away عَنكِfrom you أنيthat I
أُمَامَة مَا عدَاني عَنكِ أني
غَدَرتُكِI betrayed you ِإنَّindeed عَهدَكِyour covenant لَنwill never يُخَانَاbe betrayed
غَدَرتُكِ ِإنَّ عَهدَكِ لَن يُخَانَا
Umama, nothing kept me away from you
Umama, what kept me from you was not that I
Because I betrayed you—your covenant shall not be betrayed.
betrayed you; your covenant shall never be betrayed.
وَلَكنيbut I أتَانيword reached me أنthat هَجَتنَاlampooned us
وَلَكني أتَاني أن هَجَتنَا
ولَمand did not تَستَعظِمِconsider grave العُقَلاَءُthe wise شَانَاa matter
ولَم تَستَعظِمِ العُقَلاَءُ شَانَا
But word reached me that a group had satirized us
But word reached me that we were lampooned—
And thought the people of wisdom of no account:
the wise did not consider it a grave affair—
قُبَيِّلَةٌa petty tribe بِألحَانٍwith faulty strains نَحَتaimed فيin
قُبَيِّلَةٌ بِألحَانٍ نَحَت في
مَعَانِيهَاtheir meanings مَعَانِينَاour meanings اللِّدَانَاthe supple ones
مَعَانِيهَا مَعَانِينَا اللِّدَانَا
A paltry tribe, with melodies in which it carved
by a petty tribe whose faulty strains aimed, in
Its own themes from our tender meanings;
their meanings, at our supple themes.
أُنَاسٌpeople فيin شَنَاشِنِهِمtheir innate traits جَفَاءٌharshness
أُنَاسٌ في شَنَاشِنِهِم جَفَاءٌ
جَدِيرٌfit أنto يَجُرَّdraw لَهُمupon them شَنَانَاhatred
جَدِيرٌ أن يَجُرَّ لَهُم شَنَانَا
People whose ingrained nature is coarseness,
People with harshness in their inborn ways,
Fit to draw hatred down upon them;
fit to draw hatred upon them.
أنَاسٌpeople تَحتَbeneath أخبِيَةٍtents صِغَارٍsmall
أنَاسٌ تَحتَ أخبِيَةٍ صِغَارٍ
خَوَاشِعَcrouching low مَاnot تَحَسَّyou perceive لَهَاfor them بَوانَاa tent pole
خَوَاشِعَ مَا تَحَسَّ لَهَا بَوانَا
People beneath small tents,
People beneath small tents,
So abject that their supports can scarcely be felt.
crouching low, whose poles you can scarcely discern.
تَغَشَّاهَاyou enter them وتَخرُجُand emerge مُسفِرَاتٍunveiled
تَغَشَّاهَا وتَخرُجُ مُسفِرَاتٍ
سَعَالٍshe-ghouls بالمَثَالِبِby disgraceful faults لَنwill never تُشَانَاbe disgraced
سَعَالٍ بالمَثَالِبِ لَن تُشَانَا
They go beneath them and emerge bare-faced,
You enter them, and out come unveiled
Coughing forth slanders, never free of shame.
she-ghouls whom faults will never disgrace.
بِمَاbecause of what ألِفَتهُshe grew used to it مِنهاof them فيin الصِّباchildhood لَنwill not
بِمَا ألِفَتهُ مِنها في الصِّبا لَن
تَرَىyou see فِيهَاamong them وإِنeven if كَثَرَتthey are numerous حَصَانَاa chaste woman
تَرَى فِيهَا وإِن كَثَرَت حَصَانَا
From what they grew accustomed to in childhood, never
Because of the faults learned in childhood, you will not
Will you find chastity among them, however old they grow.
find among them, however many, a single chaste woman.
تَعَوَّدتِshe became accustomed to التَّبَرَّجَflaunting herself فَهىَso she عَمَّاfrom what
تَعَوَّدتِ التَّبَرَّجَ فَهىَ عَمَّا
نَهَتforbade عَنهُagainst it الشَّرِيعَةُreligious law لَنwill never تُصَانَاbe restrained
نَهَت عَنهُ الشَّرِيعَةُ لَن تُصَانَا
They have grown used to wanton display, and so from what
She grew accustomed to flaunting herself, and from what
The Sacred Law forbids they shall never be guarded.
religious law forbids she will never be restrained.
تَجَلَّلَتِshe cloaked herself in الوَقَاحَةَshamelessness وأرتَدَتهاand wore it
تَجَلَّلَتِ الوَقَاحَةَ وأرتَدَتها
تَوَدُّshe desires لِكُلِّfor everyone مِنwhom تَلقَىshe meets إِحتِضَانَاan embrace
تَوَدُّ لِكُلِّ مِن تَلقَى إِحتِضَانَا
They have wrapped themselves in insolence and worn it,
She cloaked herself in shamelessness and wore it,
Each wishing to embrace whoever she meets.
wishing to embrace everyone she meets.
تَبِيتُspends the night عَوَانُهَاits married woman لِلبِكرِfor the virgin عَوناًa helper
تَبِيتُ عَوَانُهَا لِلبِكرِ عَوناً
عَلَىin العِصيَانdisobedience تَكَتُّmurmurs (unclear reading) إِكتِنَانَاin concealment
عَلَى العِصيَان تَكَتُّ إِكتِنَانَا
Their mature women spend the night helping the virgin
Their married woman spends the night aiding the virgin
To devise hidden shelters for disobedience.
in disobedience, murmuring in concealment.
ومَهمَاand whatever تكتَسِبacquires يَفَناًan old man عَوَانٌa married woman
ومَهمَا تكتَسِب يَفَناً عَوَانٌ
تُزَاحِمcompetes with عِندَهُover him البِكرُthe virgin العَواَنَاthe married woman
تُزَاحِم عِندَهُ البِكرُ العَواَنَا
However much old age a mature woman gains,
And whatever old man a married woman acquires,
The virgin still competes with the matron beside her.
the virgin vies with the married woman for him.
نسِاءُهُنَّtheir women أوعِيَّةُvessels of المَخَازِىdisgraces
نسِاءُهُنَّ أوعِيَّةُ المَخَازِى
تَتُوقُyearn لَهَاfor them وتَفعَلُهَاand commit them عَلاَنَاopenly
تَتُوقُ لَهَا وتَفعَلُهَا عَلاَنَا
Their women are vessels of disgrace,
Their women are vessels of disgrace,
Yearning for it and committing it openly.
longing for it and committing it openly.
فَلَولاَهمbut for them لَمَاwould not have لاَقَينَthe women found كُفئاًan equal match
فَلَولاَهم لَمَا لاَقَينَ كُفئاً
ولَولاَهُنَّand but for those women مَاسَكُنَواthey would not have settled مَكَانَاin a place
ولَولاَهُنَّ مَاسَكُنَوا مَكَانَا
But for their men, the women would find no fitting mates;
But for their men, the women would have found no matches,
But for their women, the men would have no place.
and but for their women, the men would have settled nowhere.
كَأَنَّas though شَبَابَهُمtheir young men بَينَamong النَّوَادِىthe gatherings
كَأَنَّ شَبَابَهُم بَينَ النَّوَادِى
إِذَاwhen امتِحُنواthey are tested فيin الإِعرَابِgrammatical inflection امتِحَانَاa test
إِذَا امتِحُنوا في الإِعرَابِ امتِحَانَا
Their young men in the gathering places are as though,
Their young men among the assemblies seem,
When tested in grammar, they faced an ordeal:
when put to a test in grammatical inflection,
عِبِدَّانُslaves العَصَاof the stick خُلُقاًin character وخَلقاًand in bodily form
عِبِدَّانُ العَصَا خُلُقاً وخَلقاً
يَزِيدُهمُadds to them امتِحَانُهمtheir testing إمتِهَانَاhumiliation
يَزِيدُهمُ امتِحَانُهم إمتِهَانَا
Slaves of the stick in character and form,
slaves of the stick, in character and bodily form;
Whom every examination further debases.
their testing only adds to their humiliation.
فَهُمso they إِنif يَدعُcalls لِلعَورَاءِto a shameful deed دَاعٍa caller
فَهُم إِن يَدعُ لِلعَورَاءِ دَاعٍ
تَوَخَوهُthey seek him تَنآءَىhe is far away أوor تَدَانَىhe draws near
تَوَخَوهُ تَنآءَى أو تَدَانَى
If a caller summons them to some foul affair,
So, if someone calls them to a shameful deed,
They seek it out, whether distant or near;
they seek him out, whether far away or near.
وإنand if يُدعَواthey are summoned إِلَىto الجُلَّىa momentous affair تَرَاهُمyou see them
وإن يُدعَوا إِلَى الجُلَّى تَرَاهُم
بِطَاءًslow طُولَthroughout دَهرهُمُtheir lifetime بِطَانَاfat-bellied
بِطَاءً طُولَ دَهرهُمُ بِطَانَا
But if they are summoned to a momentous deed, you see them
But if summoned to a momentous cause, you see them
Slow, forever heavy-bellied.
sluggish all their lives, heavy-bellied.
كَأنَّas though الشِّيبَthe graybeards شِيبُهُمُtheir graybeards رُعَاةٌherdsmen
كَأنَّ الشِّيبَ شِيبُهُمُ رُعَاةٌ
يَسُوسُونَthey tend المَجَالِيحَthe winter-milking camels الهِجَانَاthe white, purebred ones
يَسُوسُونَ المَجَالِيحَ الهِجَانَا
Their white-haired elders are mere shepherds
The graybeards—their graybeards—seem to be herdsmen
Managing lean, high-bred camels.
tending the white, winter-milking camels.
فُكلٌّso each بِادِىَexposing العَورَاتِthe private parts آتٍcomes
فُكلٌّ بِادِىَ العَورَاتِ آتٍ
يُزَجِّيهَاhe drives them along ِإذَاwhen مَاever (emphasis) الفَجرُdawn بَانَاappeared
يُزَجِّيهَا ِإذَا مَا الفَجرُ بَانَا
Each comes with his nakedness exposed,
Each comes with his private parts exposed,
Driving them on whenever dawn appears.
driving them along when dawn appears.
تمُجُّthey spit out البَقلَgreens فَهوَso he لَهَاfor them ضَمِينٌa guarantor
تمُجُّ البَقلَ فَهوَ لَهَا ضَمِينٌ
بِأنthat تُروَىthey be watered وتَرعَىand graze الدَّيدَمَانَاdaydaman plants
بِأن تُروَى وتَرعَى الدَّيدَمَانَا
The camel spits out her greens, while he guarantees
They spit out greens, while he guarantees them
That she is watered and grazes on daydaman.
water to drink and daydaman plants to graze.
إِذَاwhen زَبَنَتهُshe kicks him away عَالَجهَاhe grapples with her فَألقَتso she casts
إِذَا زَبَنَتهُ عَالَجهَا فَألقَت
عَلَىupon أطمَارِهِhis rags القِطَعَthe lumps الذًُّنَانَاthe mucus-dripping ones
عَلَى أطمَارِهِ القِطَعَ الذًُّنَانَا
If she kicks him, he tends her until she casts
When one kicks him away, he grapples with her, and she drops
Foul-smelling lumps upon his rags.
mucus-dripping lumps upon his rags.
ترَىyou see بِذِرَاعِهِon his arm رِمَماًdecaying remnants بَوَالِىَworn out
ترَى بِذِرَاعِهِ رِمَماً بَوَالِىَ
وتُلفيand you find فَوقَover عَاتِقِهhis shoulder كَدَانَاa coarse covering (unclear term)
وتُلفي فَوقَ عَاتِقِه كَدَانَا
You see rotting tatters hanging from his arm,
You see decaying, worn-out remnants upon his arm,
And find a heap upon his shoulder.
and find a coarse covering over his shoulder.
تَرَدَّىhe donned دِرعَan armor of أوسَاخٍfilth تَرَبَّىthat grew
تَرَدَّى دِرعَ أوسَاخٍ تَرَبَّى
عَلَىupon جُثمَانِهِhis body حِقَباًfor ages ورَانَاand encrusted it
عَلَى جُثمَانِهِ حِقَباً ورَانَا
He has donned an armor of dirt that ripened
He dons an armor of filth that has grown
Upon his body through long ages and settled there.
upon his body for ages, encrusting it.
فَهُمso they بِمَوَدَّةِin love of الإِبلِthe camels استَبَدُّواmonopolized
فَهُم بِمَوَدَّةِ الإِبلِ استَبَدُّوا
إِذَاwhen حَبَّتshe shows love تُمَلِّؤُهُمshe fills them حَنَانَاwith tenderness
إِذَا حَبَّت تُمَلِّؤُهُم حَنَانَا
They have reserved all their affection for camels;
They alone monopolize love of camels;
When one shows fondness, it fills them with tenderness.
when a camel shows love, she fills them with tenderness.
وتُلفيand you find الشَّيخَthe shaykh أُمِياًilliterate غَبِيًّاdull-witted
وتُلفي الشَّيخَ أُمِياً غَبِيًّا
خَئوناًtreacherous عَنregarding فَرَائِضِهhis prescribed duties تَوَانَىhe was neglectful
خَئوناً عَن فَرَائِضِه تَوَانَى
You find their elder illiterate and stupid,
You find the shaykh illiterate and dull-witted,
Faithless to his obligations and negligent.
treacherous, neglectful of his prescribed duties.
يُربيhe trains others وَهوَwhile he لَمhas not يَبلُغreached مَقَاماًa spiritual station
يُربي وَهوَ لَم يَبلُغ مَقَاماً
ولَمand has not تَسكُنsettled لَهُfor him حِكَمٌwisdom جَنَانَاa heart
ولَم تَسكُن لَهُ حِكَمٌ جَنَانَا
He plays the master though he has attained no station,
He trains others, though he has reached no spiritual station,
And no wisdom has settled in his heart.
and no wisdom has settled in his heart.
ولَمand has not تُصقَلbeen polished لَهُfor him مِرآةُa mirror of قَلبٍa heart
ولَم تُصقَل لَهُ مِرآةُ قَلبٍ
ولَمand has not يَنفِhe banished الخَواطِرَpassing thoughts عَنهُfrom it آنَاfor a moment
ولَم يَنفِ الخَواطِرَ عَنهُ آنَا
No mirror of the heart has been polished for him,
No mirror of his heart has been polished,
Nor has he ever banished distracting thoughts.
nor has he banished passing thoughts from it for a moment.
ولَمand has not تُقرِعknocked upon لَهُfor him أُذُناًan ear عُلُومٌlearning
ولَم تُقرِع لَهُ أُذُناً عُلُومٌ
ولمand has not يَمَسسtouched لَهُfor him قَلبٌa heart بَنَاناfingertips
ولم يَمَسس لَهُ قَلبٌ بَنَانا
No branch of learning has knocked upon his ear,
No learning has knocked upon his ear,
Nor have a heart’s fingers ever touched him.
nor has his heart touched his fingertips.
ولَمand has not يَكُbeen مُفنِياًwholly exhausting فيin اللهِGod فِكراًthought
ولَم يَكُ مُفنِياً في اللهِ فِكراً
ولَمand has not يُشغِلoccupied بِهwith Him آناًfor a moment لِسَانَاa tongue
ولَم يُشغِل بِه آناً لِسَانَا
He has never spent his thought in devotion to God,
He has not devoted his thought wholly to God,
Nor occupied his tongue with Him for an hour.
nor occupied his tongue with Him for a moment.
ولَمand you have not تَرَseen مَسجِداًa mosque لِلهِfor God فِيهُمamong them
ولَم تَرَ مَسجِداً لِلهِ فِيهُم
ولَمand you have not تَسمَعheard بِسَاحِتِهِمin their courtyard آذانَاa call to prayer
ولَم تَسمَع بِسَاحِتِهِم آذانَا
You will see no mosque of God among them,
You have seen no mosque of God among them,
And hear no call to prayer in their precinct.
nor heard a call to prayer in their courtyard.
ولَمand you have not تَسمَعheard بمَجلِسِهمin their gathering حَدِيثاًa prophetic tradition
ولَم تَسمَع بمَجلِسِهم حَدِيثاً
رَوَوهُthey narrated it مِنَfrom الصِّحاحِthe authentic collections ولاَقُرَانَاnor any Quran
رَوَوهُ مِنَ الصِّحاحِ ولاَقُرَانَا
At their gathering you will hear no tradition
Nor have you heard in their gathering a tradition
Narrated from the sound collections, nor any Qur’an.
they narrated from the authentic collections, or any Quran.
حَدِيثُthe talk of شُيُوخِهِمtheir elders لِلشَّيخِto the shaykh أمسَتshe was by evening
حَدِيثُ شُيُوخِهِم لِلشَّيخِ أمسَت
فُلاَنَةٌsuch-and-such a woman وهىَwhile she عَاشِقَةٌin love with فُلاَنَاsuch-and-such a man
فُلاَنَةٌ وهىَ عَاشِقَةٌ فُلاَنَا
Their elders’ conversation is: ‘For the sheikh,
Their elders tell the shaykh: “By evening,
So-and-so became the lover of so-and-so.’
such-and-such a woman was in love with such-and-such a man;
وَكانُand was فُلاَنُsuch-and-such a man أحسَنُfiner قَبلُformerly صَوتاًin voice
وَكانُ فُلاَنُ أحسَنُ قَبلُ صَوتاً
منthan القَينَاتِthe singing girls تَجتَذِبُplucking الكِرَانَاthe lute
من القَينَاتِ تَجتَذِبُ الكِرَانَا
And: ‘So-and-so once had a voice more beautiful
and so-and-so once had a finer voice
Than the singing girls who draw the lyres.’
than the singing girls plucking the lute;
ونَاقَتُهُand his she-camel التىwhich أُخِذَتwas taken ورِيضَتand trained
ونَاقَتُهُ التى أُخِذَت ورِيضَت
تَبُذُّshe outstrips عَلَىin وفيsound-footedness (unclear spelling) وَوَجًىand sore-footedness حِصَانَاa stallion
تَبُذُّ عَلَى وفي وَوَجًى حِصَانَا
And of his she-camel that was captured and trained,
and his she-camel, which was taken and trained,
How it outstrips even a footsore, well-bred mare;
outstrips a stallion, whether her hooves are sound or sore;
وطُوبَتُهُand his gun مُحَلاَّةٌadorned لُجَيناًwith silver
وطُوبَتُهُ مُحَلاَّةٌ لُجَيناً
ولِمَّتُهُand his locks مُمُلأةٌfilled دِهَانَاwith oils
ولِمَّتُهُ مُمُلأةٌ دِهَانَا
And how his staff is ornamented with silver,
and his gun is adorned with silver,
And his locks are saturated with oil.
and his locks are filled with oils.”
تَظَلُّspend the day نِسَاؤُهُمtheir women والشَّيخُwhile the shaykh مُصغٍis listening
تَظَلُّ نِسَاؤُهُم والشَّيخُ مُصغٍ
حَوَالِيهِaround him تُكِّررُrepeats دَانَ“dan” (refrain) دَانَا“dana” (refrain)
حَوَالِيهِ تُكِّررُ دَانَ دَانَا
Their women remain while the sheikh listens,
Their women spend the day, with the shaykh listening,
Gathered around him, repeating ‘dān, dānā.’
all around him, repeating “dan, dana.”
وكُنتُand I was مُخَبَّراًinformed عَنهُمabout them بِهَذَاof this
وكُنتُ مُخَبَّراً عَنهُم بِهَذَا
إِلَىuntil أنthat جِئتَyou came نَادِيَهُمto their assembly زَمَانَاfor a time
إِلَى أن جِئتَ نَادِيَهُم زَمَانَا
I had long been told this about them,
I had been told this about them,
Until one day I came to their assembly.
until you came to their assembly for a time.
فَعَانَينتُthen I witnessed (irregular spelling) الذيwhat خُبِّرتُI was told عَنهُمabout them
فَعَانَينتُ الذي خُبِّرتُ عَنهُم
فَوَافَقَso matched فِيهُمُin them الخَبرُthe report العِيَانَاeyewitness observation
فَوَافَقَ فِيهُمُ الخَبرُ العِيَانَا
Then I witnessed what I had been told of them,
Then I witnessed what I had been told about them,
And among them report agreed with sight.
and in them report matched what my eyes saw.
فَكَمhow many أهدَواthey presented بِلاَwithout سَبَبٍa cause صَرِيحٍclear
فَكَم أهدَوا بِلاَ سَبَبٍ صَرِيحٍ
لِمَنto those whom خَضَعَbowed القَرِيضُpoetry لَهُمto them ودَانَاand submitted
لِمَن خَضَعَ القَرِيضُ لَهُم ودَانَا
How many verses they presented, for no plain cause,
How many rhymes they offered, with no clear cause,
To those before whom poetry had yielded and submitted—
to those before whom poetry bows and submits—
قَوافيrhymes مَاnot اُقِيمَwas established لَهُنَّfor them وَزنٌa meter
قَوافي مَا اُقِيمَ لَهُنَّ وَزنٌ
ولاnor مَعنًىmeaning فَكُنَّso they were لَهُمfor them وِزَانَاan equal measure
ولا مَعنًى فَكُنَّ لَهُم وِزَانَا
Rhymes for which no meter had been established,
rhymes for which neither meter
And no meaning: they alone served as their measure.
nor meaning was established: a fitting measure of them.
هَجَانَاlampooned us مِنfrom أسَافِلِهِمtheir lowest ranks عَيِّىٌan inarticulate man
هَجَانَا مِن أسَافِلِهِم عَيِّىٌ
تَيَقَّنَhe was certain أَنthat يُشَرِّفَهُwould ennoble him هِجَانَاlampooning us
تَيَقَّنَ أَن يُشَرِّفَهُ هِجَانَا
A tongue-tied wretch from their lowest ranks satirized us,
An inarticulate man from their lowest ranks lampooned us,
Certain that his satire would ennoble him.
sure that lampooning us would ennoble him.
سَيُقرِعُhe will strike سِنَّهُhis tooth أسَفاًin regret ويَشكُوand complain
سَيُقرِعُ سِنَّهُ أسَفاً ويَشكُو
منfrom الهَجوِsatire المُلِمِّdescending بِهِupon him سِنَانَاa spearpoint
من الهَجوِ المُلِمِّ بِهِ سِنَانَا
He will grind his teeth in grief and complain
He will strike his tooth in regret and complain
Of the piercing satire that has descended on him.
of the spearpoint of satire descending upon him.
فَإنَّfor indeed فتًىa youth تَيَمُّمَهُtargeting him وتُملَىand are recited
فَإنَّ فتًى تَيَمُّمَهُ وتُملَى
عَلَيهِto him وهوَwhile he مُختَضِعٌlowering submissively جِرَانَاa camel's throat
عَلَيهِ وهوَ مُختَضِعٌ جِرَانَا
For a young man has made them his chosen target, and verses are dictated
For a youth at whom you aim, to whom are recited,
To him while they lower their necks in submission:
while he lowers his throat in submission,
قَوافٍrhymes لُكتُهَاI chewed them over لَمئِنَّةٌa sure indication أنthat
قَوافٍ لُكتُهَا لَمئِنَّةٌ أن
يَكُونَhe will be لِلَذعشfrom the sting (unclear spelling) جَذوَتِهَاof their live coal أُنَانَاa groaner
يَكُونَ لِلَذعش جَذوَتِهَا أُنَانَا
Poems I have pondered well, sure to make
rhymes I have chewed over, is surely bound
The sting of their kindled spark bring groans.
to groan at the sting of their live coal.
سَتأتِيهُمthey will reach them وإِنeven if دَانُواthey submit وكانُواand become
سَتأتِيهُم وإِن دَانُوا وكانُوا
ولاَand (word fragment) نُواsoftened (word fragment) بَعدafter قَسوَتهِمtheir hardness لَيَانَاin softness
ولاَ نُوا بَعد قَسوَتهِم لَيَانَا
They shall reach them, whether they draw near and remain
They will reach them, even if they submit and become
Or soften after all their hardness.
soft, yielding after their hardness:
قًصَائِدُpoems لَمdid not تَهِجstir تَعَباًweariness لفكرىin my thought
قًصَائِدُ لَم تَهِج تَعَباً لفكرى
ولَمand did not تَكسِبهُbring it مَنقَصَةًa deficiency وذَانَاand disgrace
ولَم تَكسِبهُ مَنقَصَةً وذَانَا
Poems that cost my thought no weariness
poems that have stirred no weariness in my thought,
And earned it neither defect nor stain.
nor brought it any deficiency or disgrace.
بهاwith them يَتَقَاذَفُtoss back and forth الجِنَّانُthe jinn نَحويtoward me
بها يَتَقَاذَفُ الجِنَّانُ نَحوي
مُهَذَّبَةًpolished فًَأُصدِرَهَاso I bring them forth عِيَانَاopenly
مُهَذَّبَةً فًَأُصدِرَهَا عِيَانَا
The depths of my mind hurl them toward me,
The jinn toss them toward me,
Polished, and I send them forth openly.
polished, and I bring them forth openly.
فَآخُذُهُنَّso I take them أشتَاتاًscattered أوَاناًat one time
فَآخُذُهُنَّ أشتَاتاً أوَاناً
وآخُذُهُنَّand I take them آوِنَةًat times قِرَانَاpaired
وآخُذُهُنَّ آوِنَةً قِرَانَا
Sometimes I take them scattered,
I take them scattered, at one time,
And sometimes I take them joined in pairs.
and take them paired at other times.
فَتَسقِيهَاso waters them القَرِيحَةُpoetic inspiration لِىfor me بَدِيعاًwith rhetorical ornament
فَتَسقِيهَا القَرِيحَةُ لِى بَدِيعاً
وتَسقِيهَاand waters them المَعَانيwith meanings والبَيَانَاand eloquence
وتَسقِيهَا المَعَاني والبَيَانَا
My poetic gift gives them an exquisite draught,
My poetic gift waters them for me with rhetorical ornament,
And meanings and eloquence give them another.
and waters them with meanings and eloquence.
أَبِينُI make clear بِهَاthrough them مَخَارِيهَمtheir disgraces (unclear spelling) فَتُضحِىso they become
أَبِينُ بِهَا مَخَارِيهَم فَتُضحِى
كَنِيرَانٍlike fires عَلَىupon عِلمٍa mountain (contextual reading) بَيَانَاin clarity
كَنِيرَانٍ عَلَى عِلمٍ بَيَانَا
Through them I expose their filthy secrets, until they become
Through them I expose their disgraces, which become
Like fires upon a landmark, plainly seen.
plain as fires upon a mountain.
وإِنَّاand we indeed تَعلَمُknow الاَقوَامُthe peoples أنَّاthat we
وإِنَّا تَعلَمُ الاَقوَامُ أنَّا
مَنَاحِيرٌlavish camel-slaughterers بَوَائِكَهَاits fine she-camels السِّمَانَاthe fat ones
مَنَاحِيرٌ بَوَائِكَهَا السِّمَانَا
Indeed, the peoples know that we are
And as for us, the peoples know that we
Slaughterers of fat, hump-backed camels;
are lavish slaughterers of the herds' fat she-camels,
وأنَّand that لَنَاwe have وإِنeven if نَاويopposes المَنَاويthe adversary
وأنَّ لَنَا وإِن نَاوي المَنَاوي
قَنَاةًa spear لَنwill never تُفَضَّbe broken ولَنand will never تُلاَنَاbe softened
قَنَاةً لَن تُفَضَّ ولَن تُلاَنَا
And that, should an adversary oppose us, we possess
and that we possess, however the adversary opposes us,
A lance that will neither be shattered nor bent.
a spear that will never be broken or bent.
عُرفنَاwe are known بِالمَحَامِدِfor praiseworthy deeds فيamong البَرَايَاmankind
عُرفنَا بِالمَحَامِدِ في البَرَايَا
فَمَاso not تَخفيis hidden عَلَىfrom أَحدٍanyone عُلاَنَاour eminence
فَمَا تَخفي عَلَى أَحدٍ عُلاَنَا
We are known throughout creation for our virtues;
We are known among mankind for praiseworthy deeds;
Our eminence is hidden from no one.
our lofty standing is hidden from no one.
نُهَلِّلُwe brighten لِلوُفُودِfor visiting delegations إِذَاwhen أَلَمُّواthey arrive
نُهَلِّلُ لِلوُفُودِ إِذَا أَلَمُّوا
مَعَwith التَّرحِيبِwelcome أوجهنَاour faces الحِسَانَاthe handsome ones
مَعَ التَّرحِيبِ أوجهنَا الحِسَانَا
We greet delegations joyfully when they arrive,
For delegations, when they arrive, we brighten
Our handsome faces radiant with welcome.
our fair faces, along with a warm welcome.
ونُكرِمُهُمand we honor them ونُعلِيهُمand raise them مَقَاماًin standing
ونُكرِمُهُم ونُعلِيهُم مَقَاماً
وِإنeven if أَلِفُواthey are accustomed to الحَقارَةَcontempt والهَوَانَاand humiliation
وِإن أَلِفُوا الحَقارَةَ والهَوَانَا
We honor them and raise their station,
We honor them and raise their standing,
Even if they are accustomed to contempt and abasement.
even if they are accustomed to contempt and humiliation.
ونُسكِنُهُمand we lodge them أمَاكِنَin places مُرتَضَاةًpleasing
ونُسكِنُهُم أمَاكِنَ مُرتَضَاةً
ولَمand did not نَجعَلmake قِرىًguest-fare لَهُمfor them اللِّبانَاmilk
ولَم نَجعَل قِرىً لَهُم اللِّبانَا
We lodge them in pleasing quarters,
We lodge them in pleasing places,
And do not make milk their sole guest-meal.
and do not make milk their guest-fare.
ولَكِنَّاbut we نُسَقِّيهِمgive them drink بِهَاin them فيin
ولَكِنَّا نُسَقِّيهِم بِهَا في
أوَانٍvessels لاَnot تَكُونُbelong لِمَنto anyone سِوَانَاbesides us
أوَانٍ لاَ تَكُونُ لِمَن سِوَانَا
Rather, we give it to them to drink in vessels
But we give them drink there, in
Possessed by none besides us.
vessels belonging to none besides ourselves.
نُعَلِّلُهُمwe give them repeated draughts علىdespite العِلاَّتِthe hindrances صِرفاًunmixed
نُعَلِّلُهُم على العِلاَّتِ صِرفاً
أوَاناًat times ثُمَّthen نَمزِجُهاwe mix it أوَانَاat other times
أوَاناً ثُمَّ نَمزِجُها أوَانَا
We keep serving them pure drink despite all hindrances,
We give them repeated draughts despite all hindrances—pure
Then sometimes mix it, and sometimes leave it pure.
at times, then mixed at other times.
ونَجعَلُand we place حَليَهَاits ornaments فِيهَاwithin it فَتُمسِىso it becomes
ونَجعَلُ حَليَهَا فِيهَا فَتُمسِى
تَذُمَّputs to shame لَهَاbeside it اللآلِىءَthe pearls والجُمَانَاand pearl-beads
تَذُمَّ لَهَا اللآلِىءَ والجُمَانَا
We place its ornaments within it, until
We set its ornaments within it, so that it
Pearls and coral seem contemptible beside them.
puts pearls and pearl-beads to shame.
وَرِثنَاwe inherited العِلمَlearning عَنfrom آبَاءِforefathers صِدقٍof truth
وَرِثنَا العِلمَ عَن آبَاءِ صِدقٍ
تَجَاوَزَsurpassed صِيتُthe renown of عِلمُهُمtheir learning العَنَانَاthe clouds
تَجَاوَزَ صِيتُ عِلمُهُم العَنَانَا
We inherited knowledge from honorable forefathers,
We inherited learning from truthful forefathers,
Whose scholarly fame passed beyond the clouds.
whose learning's renown surpassed the clouds.
فَيَاصِلُdecisive arbiters إِنif يُمِّمِّهمseeks them عَوِيصٌa knotty problem
فَيَاصِلُ إِن يُمِّمِّهم عَوِيصٌ
عَزِيزٌformidable أتعَبhas wearied الأَذهَانَminds هَانَاit became easy
عَزِيزٌ أتعَب الأَذهَانَ هَانَا
How hard it is to fathom what they handed down—
Decisive arbiters—if a knotty problem seeks them,
Rare knowledge that has wearied minds here.
formidable, one that has wearied minds—it becomes easy.
وقَدand indeed نَفَضُواthey emptied عِيَابَthe store-bags of العِلمِlearning فِينَاinto us
وقَد نَفَضُوا عِيَابَ العِلمِ فِينَا
فَكُلُّso every دُرَّpearl of لُجَّتِهِits depths حَيَانَاgreeted us
فَكُلُّ دُرَّ لُجَّتِهِ حَيَانَا
They emptied the satchels of learning into us,
They have emptied the store-bags of learning into us,
So every pearl within its abyss became ours.
and every pearl from its depths has greeted us.
فَلَمso we did not نَأتِgo to القَبَائِلَthe tribes طَالِبِيهِseeking it
فَلَم نَأتِ القَبَائِلَ طَالِبِيهِ
وَمنand whoever عَلِقتهُclung to it هِمتُهُhis ambition أتَانَاcame to us
وَمن عَلِقتهُ هِمتُهُ أتَانَا
We did not go among the tribes seeking it;
So we did not go to the tribes seeking it;
Whoever set his aspiration upon it came to us.
whoever set his ambition on it came to us.
أفقَعَO truffles القَاعِof the plain إِنَّاwe indeed قَدhave ضَربنَاlaid
أفقَعَ القَاعِ إِنَّا قَد ضَربنَا
عَلَيكُمupon you فيin مَجَاثِمِكُمyour lairs عِنَانَاa rein
عَلَيكُم في مَجَاثِمِكُم عِنَانَا
O flatland sand-lizard, we have now cast
O truffles of the plain, we have laid
Our reins across your very roosts.
a rein upon you in your lairs.
ظَنَنتُمyou thought أنَّthat شَاعِرَكَمyour poet مُجِيدٌaccomplished
ظَنَنتُم أنَّ شَاعِرَكَم مُجِيدٌ
وَغَرَّكُمand he deceived you فَهِجتُمso you roused اُفعُوانَاa great serpent
وَغَرَّكُم فَهِجتُم اُفعُوانَا
You thought your poet accomplished,
You thought your poet was accomplished,
And, deceived, you stirred a viper.
and he deceived you, so you roused a great serpent.
ولَوand had نَثَرتُمyou emptied كنَائِنَاour quivers عَلِمتُمyou would have known
ولَو نَثَرتُم كنَائِنَا عَلِمتُم
يَقِيناًwith certainty أنَّthat قَيدَكُمyour fetters مُدَانَىbrought near
يَقِيناً أنَّ قَيدَكُم مُدَانَى
Had you emptied out our quivers, you would know
Had you emptied our quivers, you would have known
With certainty that your fetter lies close at hand;
for certain that your fetters were close at hand,
وأنَّand that الهُونَhumiliation كُلَّall الهُونِhumiliation يُعزَىis ascribed
وأنَّ الهُونَ كُلَّ الهُونِ يُعزَى
إلَيكُمto you فيat المَوَاسِمِthe seasonal gatherings لاَnot إِلىto نَاus
إلَيكُم في المَوَاسِمِ لاَ إِلى نَا
And that ignominy—all ignominy—is ascribed
and that humiliation—all humiliation—is ascribed
To you at the public seasons, never to us.
to you at the seasonal gatherings, not to us.
Sol 6.1