ياO دارَdwelling جيرتناour neighbors والحيّand the clan حُيّيتmay you be greeted
يا دارَ جيرتنا والحيّ حُيّيت
واخْتالand may it preen مغناكِyour abode فيin زيِّfinery وتَبْييتِand lodging by night
واخْتال مغناكِ في زيِّ وتَبْييتِ
O dwelling of our neighbors and the clan, greetings to you!
O home of our neighbor and lively quarter, I bid you farewell,
And may your abode preen in finery and lodging by night.
As your songs have changed in attire and spent the night awake.
أَينwhere الذينthose who حَلَلْناwe dwelt فيin جوارِهمtheir neighborhood
أَين الذين حَلَلْنا في جوارِهم
شَطَّgrew distant الحِمىthe protected abode قبلَbefore توْديعfarewell وتَشْتيتِand dispersal
شَطَّ الحِمى قبلَ توْديع وتَشْتيتِ
Where are those beside whom we once dwelt?
Where are those with whom we were neighbors,
The protected abode grew distant before farewell and dispersal.
Before the fever separated us with farewells and scattering?
لاnot غيْرother than أنَّthat الهَوىlove ممّاamong what يهُجَّهُstirs it
لا غيْر أنَّ الهَوى ممّا يهُجَّهُ
جَرْيُthe coursing of النَّسسمthe breezes وتغْريدُand the cooing of الأفاخيتِthe ring-doves
جَرْيُ النَّسسم وتغْريدُ الأفاخيتِ
Only this: love is stirred by
Save that passion from what enflames it,
The coursing breezes and the cooing of ring-doves.
Is the scent of breeze and chirping of birds.
أَومَاor what تَنوّرَتyou espied from afar منof نارٍa fire مُشَيَّعَةِkept burning
أَومَا تَنوّرَت من نارٍ مُشَيَّعَةِ
بالمندلwith sandalwood الرَّطِبmoist لمnot يُقْبسwas kindled بكبريتِwith sulfur
بالمندل الرَّطِب لم يُقْبس بكبريتِ
Or what you glimpsed of a fire, kept burning
Or has it not been kindled by lingering fires,
With moist sandalwood, not kindled with sulfur.
With damp kindling that sparked not with flint?
ياحُسنَhow lovely! أَيّامِناour days والدَّارُand the dwelling جامعةٌgathering together
ياحُسنَ أَيّامِنا والدَّارُ جامعةٌ
للأصْفياءfor dear friends بحَلّat the abode of المَرحmerriment منfrom; in هيتِHit
للأصْفياء بحَلّ المَرح من هيتِ
How lovely were our days, with the dwelling a gathering place
O beautiful days of ours, and home once gathered
For dear friends at the abode of merriment in Hit.
The sincere with loosened collar and jest.
والرَّبعand the encampment للحيّfor the clan فيin رَوْضاتِهits gardens سُبلٌpaths
والرَّبع للحيّ في رَوْضاتِه سُبلٌ
ومرتعand a grazing ground بينamong تلْعاتٍhillocks وتصْويتِand ringing calls
ومرتع بين تلْعاتٍ وتصْويتِ
And the clan had paths through the encampment's gardens,
And the quarter for the lively in its meadows has paths
And pasture among hillocks and ringing calls.
And pasture between hills and valleys.
والمُزنُand the rainclouds هازجَةsinging والأرضُand the earth واشجَةٌthick with intertwined growth
والمُزنُ هازجَة والأرضُ واشجَةٌ
والشَّمْسُand the sun خارجةٌemerging منfrom آخرthe end of الحُوتِPisces, the Fish
والشَّمْسُ خارجةٌ من آخر الحُوتِ
And the rainclouds sang, and the earth was tangled with growth,
The full moons are intimate and the land is verdant,
And the sun was emerging from the end of Pisces.
The sun rises from the tail of the fish.
والأُنَّسُand the companionable women الغيدُthe graceful, supple ones بينَamid الوَشيembroidered cloth راتعةfrolicking
والأُنَّسُ الغيدُ بينَ الوَشي راتعة
دُعُجُdark النَّواظِرof eyes كالعُفرlike pale tawny gazelles المَباهيتِthe startled ones
دُعُجُ النَّواظِر كالعُفر المَباهيتِ
And the graceful companions reveled amid embroidered finery,
Pleasant company amid the vegetation lying down
Dark-eyed, like startled tawny gazelles.
Sedating gazes like scattered pearls.
منof كلevery فرعاءlong-tressed beauty معَلْولُwell moistened or anointed مرَّجلُهاher combed hair
من كل فرعاء معَلْولُ مرَّجلُها
بالطَّوقwith the necklace والقُرْطِand the earring بينbetween النّحْرِthe upper chest والّليتِand the side of the neck
بالطَّوق والقُرْطِ بين النّحْرِ والّليتِ
Each long-tressed beauty, her combed locks well anointed,
From every branch its pendant fruit is bent
With necklace and earring between her upper chest and the side of her neck.
With necklace and earring between neck and breast.
تكسوshe clothes الهوىlove وَردthe roses of خدّيهاher two cheeks وتبصرهُand she beholds it
تكسو الهوى وَرد خدّيها وتبصرهُ
منfrom ناظريهاher two eyes بهاwith her/it; here the opening of 'with Harut' روتٍ-rut, completing Harut وماروتِand Marut
من ناظريها بها روتٍ وماروتِ
She clothes love in the roses of her cheeks and beholds it
Passion adorns its rosy cheeks and gazes from its eyes
Through her two eyes, with Harut and Marut.
At it with a look of delight and affection.
تنصٌshe raises أَحسنَmore beautiful منthan جيدthe neck of الجَدايةa young gazelle فيwithin
تنصٌ أَحسنَ من جيد الجَداية في
سِمطْينtwo strands منof لؤلؤpearls حُفاًboth encircled بياقوتِwith rubies
سِمطْين من لؤلؤ حُفاً بياقوتِ
She raises a neck lovelier than a young gazelle's, within
It whispers softer than the neck of a lamb in
Two strands of pearls, both encircled with rubies.
Two braids of pearls in chokers of rubies.
وللفتىand for the young man بينamid رَيْعانِthe prime of الصَّباyouth سُبُلٌpaths
وللفتى بين رَيْعانِ الصَّبا سُبُلٌ
إلىto مِقَاتthe affections of الغوانيbeautiful women غيرnot ممقوتِdespised
إلى مِقَات الغواني غير ممقوتِ
And in the prime of youth, a young man has paths
And the youth amid the thickets of youth has paths
To beautiful women's affections, without being despised.
To battlefields of beauties never spurned.
فيستعيدso he draws back بهthrough it أهلُpeople of الحلومsound judgment إلىto
فيستعيد به أهلُ الحلوم إلى
غيّthe waywardness of الصّباyouthful passion ودواعيand the promptings of كلِّevery طاغوتِfalse idol
غيّ الصّبا ودواعي كلِّ طاغوتِ
Thus he draws people of sound judgment back through it to
So he restores to owners of cheek
Youth's waywardness and the promptings of every false idol.
The ignorance of youth and zeal for every tyrant.
يمتُّhe is connected فيin كلevery فنaspect منof شبيبتهhis youth
يمتُّ في كل فن من شبيبته
إلىto الحسانِbeautiful women بحَبلby a cord غيرnot مبتوتِsevered
إلى الحسانِ بحَبل غير مبتوتِ
In every aspect of his youth he is bound
He takes pride in every art of his boyhood
To beautiful women by a cord not severed.
To beauty with an unsevered rope.
مُرْخَيwith loosened العذارينboth bridle-straps مأواهhis dwelling ومَسرَحهُand his roaming-ground
مُرْخَي العذارين مأواه ومَسرَحهُ
بينَamong العَذارىmaidens وربّاتِand the mistresses of الحوانيتِthe taverns
بينَ العَذارى وربّاتِ الحوانيتِ
With both bridle-straps slack, his dwelling and his roaming-ground lie
Relaxed are the virgins, playground and theater,
Among maidens and the mistresses of taverns.
Among the virgins and adorers of songs.
صَباfell in love الفتىthe young man ماas long as صَباhe loved والبيضand the fair women وامقَةloving him
صَبا الفتى ما صَبا والبيض وامقَة
ولاand no تقابلopposition فيamid لهوmerriment وتيكيتِand an unclear word, possibly 'banter'
ولا تقابل في لهو وتيكيتِ
The youth loved as long as he loved, and fair women adored him,
The youth sported as youth does, while the white and rosy cheeks
And there was no opposition amid merriment and [unclear wording].
Do not deny play and banter.
حتَّىuntil إذاwhen الشَّيبgray hair أَجثىcrouched; settled فيin مفارقهhis hair-partings
حتَّى إذا الشَّيب أَجثى في مفارقه
فبغضهthen hatred of him فيamong الغوانيbeautiful women بعدafter تبكيتِrebuke
فبغضه في الغواني بعد تبكيتِ
Until, when gray hair crouched upon his hair-partings,
Until when old age kneels to bid him farewell,
He became hated among the beauties, after rebuke.
He detests in songs after lamenting.
أَمسىcame to الكبيرthe older man يُواريconceals شَيبَthe gray of لمَّتهِhis locks
أَمسى الكبير يُواري شَيبَ لمَّتهِ
خوفَfor fear of القلىrejection ويداريand manages قلَّةthe scarcity of القوتِsustenance
خوفَ القلى ويداري قلَّة القوتِ
The old man came to hide the gray in his locks,
The elder hides the shame of his white hair,
Fearing rejection, and making do with scant food.
Fearing poverty, and avoids scarce provisions.
يُزجيhe sends forth القوافيَthe rhymes منfrom أَشْعارِهhis poems مِدَحاًas praises
يُزجي القوافيَ من أَشْعارِه مِدَحاً
معَwith العُفاةpetitioners سراةًnight travelers فيthrough السّباريتِbarren wastes
معَ العُفاة سراةً في السّباريتِ
He sends forth the rhymes of his poems as praises,
He woos rhymes in his poems with praise
With petitioners, journeying by night through barren wastes,
Foolishly babbling in taverns.
حتَّىuntil تَؤمَّthey make for أَباAbu, father of عبدAbd, servant of الألهal-Ilah, God وقدand indeed
حتَّى تَؤمَّ أَبا عبد الأله وقد
آليتُI have sworn ماnot حَظُّناour share منهُfrom him بمألوتِat all diminished
آليتُ ما حَظُّنا منهُ بمألوتِ
Until they make for Abu Abd al-Ilah; and indeed
Until he accompanies Abu Abdullah and has attained
I have sworn our share from him is not diminished.
All we hoped from Him for reward.
محمّدMuhammad الأريحيُّthe generous-hearted ابْنُson of المُعَمَّرal-Muammar مَنْthe one who
محمّد الأريحيُّ ابْنُ المُعَمَّر مَنْ
قضىordained لهfor him اللهُGod فضْلَpreeminence in المجدِglory والصيتِand renown
قضى له اللهُ فضْلَ المجدِ والصيتِ
Muhammad, the generous-hearted son of al-Muammar, for whom
Muhammad al-Arihi ibn al-Mu'ammar who
God ordained preeminence in glory and renown.
God granted excellence of glory and fame.
تَرىyou see الوفودَthe delegations صُفوفاًin rows حولaround عرْصَتهhis courtyard
تَرى الوفودَ صُفوفاً حول عرْصَته
مثلَlike الحجيجُthe pilgrims عكوفاًabiding devotedly فيat المواقيتِthe appointed stations
مثلَ الحجيجُ عكوفاً في المواقيتِ
You see delegations in rows around his courtyard,
Delegations in rows around his porch
Like pilgrims abiding at the appointed stations.
Like pilgrims standing at appointed times.
لدَىbefore أَغرَّa radiant nobleman يمانٍa Yemeni منof بنيBanu, sons of عُمَرٍUmar
لدَى أَغرَّ يمانٍ من بني عُمَرٍ
مُباركٍblessed مشْرقِbright of العِرنّينthe nose-bridge إصْليتِbold and keen-witted
مُباركٍ مشْرقِ العِرنّين إصْليتِ
Before a radiant Yemeni of Banu Umar,
With the most eloquent of the clan of blessed Umar,
Blessed, with a shining nose-bridge, bold and keen.
Of glorious descent from Isly branch.
مهذبِrefined in الرايjudgment متطيقeloquent, probable reading بحجَّتهwith his argument
مهذبِ الراي متطيق بحجَّته
يومَon the day of الجدالdebate عنconcerning العورآءshameful speech سكيتِsilent
يومَ الجدال عن العورآء سكيتِ
Refined in judgment, eloquent in presenting his proof,
Refined in opinion, convincing in argument
On the day of debate, yet silent about disgraceful speech.
Silent in debate protecting the vulnerable.
مشهّرٍrenowned لمdid not يزدْهadd to his النّعتُdescription معرفةًrecognition
مشهّرٍ لم يزدْه النّعتُ معرفةً
وهوand he الذيthe one who فاقsurpassed فضلاًin excellence كلَّevery منعوتِperson described
وهو الذي فاق فضلاً كلَّ منعوتِ
Famed—no description has made him better known,
Renowned whom titles increased not in renown,
And he surpasses in merit everyone so described.
For he surpassed all the titled in merit.
مُسْتمْسكٍholding fast بمتينto a stout strand منamong قْوىthe strands of سببٍa cord or kinship-bond
مُسْتمْسكٍ بمتين من قْوى سببٍ
إلىto الأَعزّةthe mighty nobles منof قحْطانَQahtan ممْتوتِlinked
إلى الأَعزّة من قحْطانَ ممْتوتِ
Holding fast to a stout strand of a cord
Clinging to the strong tie of a noble lineage
Linked to the mighty men of Qahtan.
To the Al Aziz from Qahtan severed.
أبقىleft; preserved أبوهُhis father لهُfor him بيتاًa noble house أبوAbu, father of عُمرٍUmar
أبقى أبوهُ لهُ بيتاً أبو عُمرٍ
يَنميtraces its lineage إلىto سبأSaba الصّيدthe proud nobles الصّناتيتِthe mighty chiefs
يَنمي إلى سبأ الصّيد الصّناتيتِ
His father, Abu Umar, left him a noble house
His father left him the house of Abu Umar
That traces its line to Saba's proud, mighty chiefs.
That brings increase to Sabian arrowsmiths.
بيتٌa house حمتهُdefended it كُماةarmored warriors of الأزدAzd منfrom يمنٍYemen
بيتٌ حمتهُ كُماة الأزد من يمنٍ
بكلwith every اجدلfalcon, figuratively a swift steed يهويswooping تحتbeneath عفريتِa demon-like rider
بكل اجدل يهوي تحت عفريتِ
A house defended by Yemen's armored warriors of Azd,
A house whose protection amongst Kuma's of Azd from Yemen
With every falcon-like steed swooping beneath a demon-like rider,
Against each audacious descending with jinn.
وكلand every أجردsleek steed ممسودtightly knit القَرىof back شنجٍtaut
وكل أجرد ممسود القَرى شنجٍ
أَنساؤهits hamstrings أشدَقbroad-mouthed اللَّحيينin both jaws مَهْرُوتِwide-gaping
أَنساؤه أشدَق اللَّحيين مَهْرُوتِ
And every sleek steed, tightly knit of back, with taut
And every dirty-clothed Hamdan charging with courage
Hamstrings, broad jaws, and a wide-open mouth.
Whose women are most chaste and veiled.
عَزُّواthey grew mighty ولاand not يأمنُfeel safe from الأعداءُthe enemies بأسهُمُtheir force
عَزُّوا ولا يأمنُ الأعداءُ بأسهُمُ
بغارةthrough a raid by الخيلthe cavalry صُبْحاًat dawn أوor بتَبْييتِthrough a night attack
بغارة الخيل صُبْحاً أو بتَبْييتِ
They grew mighty; their foes are not safe from their force,
They backed him so enemies dread their might
From cavalry raids at dawn or assaults by night.
In morning raid or by night.
هُمُthey أَحلُّواestablished أَباAbu, father of عبدAbd, servant of الالهِal-Ilah, God بهاthere; in it
هُمُ أَحلُّوا أَبا عبد الالهِ بها
فيon; in رأْسٍa summit أرْعَنَrugged بيتاًa house غيرَnot مَنْحوتِhewn; carved
في رأْسٍ أرْعَنَ بيتاً غيرَ مَنْحوتِ
They established Abu Abd al-Ilah there,
They settled Abu Abdullah within its
On a rugged summit, in a house not carved out.
Unhewn peak built of stone.
سادsurpassed المُلوكِthe kings أَبوAbu, father of عبدAbd, servant of الإلهِal-Ilah, God بماthrough what
ساد المُلوكِ أَبو عبد الإلهِ بما
أولادهُhis children, probably a corruption of 'bestowed on him' منof; from غيْرwithout تَشْريفٍennoblement وتثْبيتِand confirmation
أولادهُ من غيْر تَشْريفٍ وتثْبيتِ
Abu Abd al-Ilah surpassed kings through what
Abu Abdullah led kings though his sons
Was bestowed on him (reading uncertain), without ennoblement or confirmation.
Got no advancement or confirmation.
فمَاso not استطاعواthey could attain لفضلٍin excellence ماwhat اسْتَطَاعَhe attained ولمand not
فمَا استطاعوا لفضلٍ ما اسْتَطَاعَ ولم
يُؤتواwere they granted منof الفضلِexcellence والعلياءِand eminence ماwhat أُوتيhe was granted
يُؤتوا من الفضلِ والعلياءِ ما أُوتي
They could not achieve in excellence what he achieved, nor
For they could not attain the merit he attained
Were they granted the merit and eminence granted to him.
And were not granted of merit and nobility what he was granted.
إذاwhen مَعاشرُgroups of people عنfrom طرقthe paths of العُلىeminence لُفِتواare turned away
إذا مَعاشرُ عن طرق العُلى لُفِتوا
أُلفيتَهyou find him شمَّرياًenergetic and resolute غيْرnot مَلْفُوتِturned aside
أُلفيتَه شمَّرياً غيْر مَلْفُوتِ
When groups of men are turned from the paths of eminence,
If bands deviated from the path of glory,
You find him resolute, not turned aside.
His band was resolute, undivided.
ماhow أَبعدَfar الْحَمدَpraise ممنfrom one who مالَهhis wealth حُرَمٌinviolate
ما أَبعدَ الْحَمدَ ممن مالَه حُرَمٌ
بينamong الحُصونِthe fortresses وأَجوافِand the bellies of التَّوابيتِthe coffers
بين الحُصونِ وأَجوافِ التَّوابيتِ
How far is praise from one whose wealth lies sacrosanct
How far from praise is one whose possessions are castles
Among fortresses and the bellies of coffers!
Among fortresses and caverns of coffins!
والْحَمْدُand praise حقُّthe due of أُبيAbu, father of عبدAbd, servant of الإلهal-Ilah, God فتىًa young man
والْحَمْدُ حقُّ أُبي عبد الإله فتىً
يُفيدكhe gives you الجَزلabundant gifts سهلاَreadily غَيْرَnot مَعْتوتِforced or wrung out
يُفيدك الجَزل سهلاَ غَيْرَ مَعْتوتِ
And praise is the due of Abu Abd al-Ilah, a young man
But praise is truly due to Abu Abdullah, a youth
Who gives you lavishly and readily, without being pressed.
Who benefits you with plenty, not stingy.
فزّادهُso may He increase him اللهGod بينamid المُكْرماتnoble deeds هدىًguidance
فزّادهُ الله بين المُكْرمات هدىً
إلىtoward سبيلٍa path عنfrom الحُسّادِthe envious عِمّيتِhidden
إلى سبيلٍ عن الحُسّادِ عِمّيتِ
So may God increase him in guidance amid noble deeds,
So God increased him with guidance
Toward a path hidden from the envious,
To a path safe from envious blindness.
ونقْمَةًand vengeance لوليfor an ally منهُfrom him مُنْتفعٍbenefiting
ونقْمَةً لولي منهُ مُنْتفعٍ
ونقمَةand vengeance لعدوٍّagainst an enemy عنهُaway from him مكْبوتِrepulsed
ونقمَة لعدوٍّ عنهُ مكْبوتِ
And vengeance on behalf of an ally who benefits from him,
And vengeance against a rebel benefited by him
And vengeance upon an enemy kept at bay from him.
And vengeance against a foe repressed by him.
ودَامَand may it remain ربعُthe dwelling of أبيAbu, father of عبدAbd, servant of الإلهal-Ilah, God حِمىًa sanctuary
ودَامَ ربعُ أبي عبد الإله حِمىً
للْخَائفينfor the fearful ومأوىand a refuge for كلّevery سُبْروتِdestitute person
للْخَائفين ومأوى كلّ سُبْروتِ
And may Abu Abd al-Ilah's dwelling remain a sanctuary
And the quarter of Abu Abdullah remains a refuge
For the fearful, and a refuge for every destitute person.
For the fearful and shelter of all outcasts.
Sol 6.1