أَبىrefused زَمَنيmy time مَذsince شِبتُI went gray أَلّاanything but تَعَوُّجاcrookedness
أَبى زَمَني مَذ شِبتُ أَلّا تَعَوُّجا
وَأَهلand the people of وِداديmy affection فيهِin it أَلّاanything but تبهرُجاfalseness
وَأَهل وِدادي فيهِ أَلّا تبهرُجا
Since I went gray, my time has offered nothing but crookedness,
My youth refused crookedness since I grew up
and those I loved in it have offered nothing but falseness.
And my loved ones in it refused turmoil
كَأَنas though لَمnot يَشِبgrew gray فيهِin it سِوايَanyone but me وَلَمand not يَكُنwas
كَأَن لَم يَشِب فيهِ سِوايَ وَلَم يَكُن
عِذاريmy cheek-down وَرَأسيand my head حالكdark اللَونthe color أَدعَجاjet-black
عِذاري وَرَأسي حالك اللَون أَدعَجا
As though none but me had grayed in it, and never had
As if I did not grow old in it but me alone
the down on my cheeks and my head been dark and jet-black;
My excuse and my grizzled head were bent
وَلَمand not أَكُI was كالخَطّيlike a Khatt lance أَوor غصنa bough بانَةٍa bān tree
وَلَم أَكُ كالخَطّي أَو غصن بانَةٍ
كَساهاclothed it بِهاin it فَصلthe season الرَبيعspring وَدَبَّجاand embroidered
كَساها بِها فَصل الرَبيع وَدَبَّجا
as though I had never been like a Khatt lance or a bān-tree bough,
And I was not like a worn garment or a flexuous branch
which spring's season clothed and embroidered there
Adorned by the spring blossoms and embroidered
بِنوّارwith blossoms نَورٍflowers يَطَّبيcaptivates أَعيُنeyes المَهاthe oryxes
بِنوّار نَورٍ يَطَّبي أَعيُن المَها
وَيَفتنand enchants ذاone possessing الأَلبابintellects بِالشَكلwith beauty وَالشَجاand poignancy
وَيَفتن ذا الأَلباب بِالشَكل وَالشَجا
with flower-blooms that captivate oryx eyes,
With the light of a light that pleases the eyes of the beholder
and enchant the discerning with beauty and poignancy.
And captivates the perceptive with its shape and delight
سَقىmay it water مَعهَداًan abode كُنّاwe were بِهِin it زَمَنthe time of الصِباyouth
سَقى مَعهَداً كُنّا بِهِ زَمَن الصِبا
مقربةa rain-laden cloud سَحاًpouring abundantly وَهاداًhollows وَأَمرَجاand meadows
مقربة سَحاً وَهاداً وَأَمرَجا
May the abode where we dwelt in youth be watered
It watered a pact we had made in our youth
by a rain-laden cloud, pouring over hollows and meadows.
Drawing near, docile, and gentle
وَعَهديand my recollection بِهِof it قَبلَbefore افتراقthe parting فَريقناof our company
وَعَهدي بِهِ قَبلَ افتراق فَريقنا
وَأَنداؤُهُand its gatherings كالبَحرِlike the sea لَمّاwhen تَموَّجاit surged
وَأَنداؤُهُ كالبَحرِ لَمّا تَموَّجا
I remember it before our company parted,
And my covenant with it before our troop parted
its gatherings like the sea when it surged,
Its call like the sea when it surged
بِأَقيالwith the princes of قَحطانQaḥṭān وَأسادand the lions of عامِرʿĀmir
بِأَقيال قَحطان وَأساد عامِر
وَفُرسانand the horsemen of كَلبKalb كالوَشيجlike spear-shafts الموشَّجاinterwoven
وَفُرسان كَلب كالوَشيج الموشَّجا
with the princes of Qaḥṭān and the lions of ʿĀmir,
With the chiefs of Qahtan and chieftains of Adnan
and Kalb's horsemen, like interwoven spear-shafts.
And the horsemen of Kalb like the adorned groom
خَفافswift إِذاwhen اِستَصرَختُهُمI summoned them for help عَنbecause of جِنايَةa wrong
خَفاف إِذا اِستَصرَختُهُم عَن جِنايَة
إِلىtoward النَقعbattle-dust لاnot يَلوونthey turn aside عَنهاaway from it تعرجاa detour
إِلى النَقع لا يَلوون عَنها تعرجا
Swift, when I called them for help against a wrong,
Valiant when I call upon them against aggression
to battle-dust, never turning aside from it.
Toward the battlefield they do not deviate
يَمدونthey extend بِالخُطِّwith Khatt spears الذَوابِلslender أَيدياًhands
يَمدون بِالخُطِّ الذَوابِل أَيدياً
مَعودةaccustomed to طَعنpiercing الكميِّthe warrior المدجَّجاfully armored
مَعودة طَعن الكميِّ المدجَّجا
They extend hands bearing slender Khatt lances,
They extend with the polished Indian swords their hands
accustomed to piercing the fully armored warrior,
Used to stabbing the thickly armored warrior
عَلىupon كُلِّevery خَنذيذٍsplendid steed طِمَرِّhigh-leaping نخالهwe imagine it
عَلى كُلِّ خَنذيذٍ طِمَرِّ نخاله
إِذاwhen مزعتthey dash يَومthe day of الكَريهةbattle أَعوَجاAʿwaj
إِذا مزعت يَوم الكَريهة أَعوَجا
on every splendid, high-leaping steed we take,
At every scornful, stealthy, cowardly enemy
when they race on battle-day, for Aʿwaj.
Who turns away twisting on the day of hatred
يَعفُّونَthey refrain عَنfrom أَسلابthe spoils of مَنwhoever رامsought حربهمwar against them
يَعفُّونَ عَن أَسلاب مَن رام حربهم
وَيَقتَسِمواand they divide الأَرواحlives قَسماًan allotment مَلهوجاhasty
وَيَقتَسِموا الأَرواح قَسماً مَلهوجا
They abstain from the spoils of those who sought war against them,
They pardon the belongings of those who sought war with them
and divide up lives in a hasty allotment.
And share the souls equally, scattered about
أَسائلتيO woman asking me عَنabout مَشهَدٍa battle جَلَّwas great ذِكرِهِits renown
أَسائلتي عَن مَشهَدٍ جَلَّ ذِكرِهِ
قَضىfulfilled كُلَّevery نَيلdesired gain أَوor ذِمامٍpledge فَأَثلَجاand brought heart's ease
قَضى كُلَّ نَيل أَو ذِمامٍ فَأَثلَجا
O woman asking me about a battle great in renown,
I asked about a glorious scene, mentioning which
which fulfilled every hope or pledge and brought heart's ease:
Fulfilled every wish or purpose and thrilled
أَتَتناcame to us كِلابٌKilāb فيamong تَميمTamīm وَتَغلِبand Taghlib
أَتَتنا كِلابٌ في تَميم وَتَغلِب
وَأَحياand roused نميراًNumayr وَالقشيريَّand al-Qushayrī عَرفَجاءʿArfajāʾ
وَأَحيا نميراً وَالقشيريَّ عَرفَجاء
Kilāb came against us amid Tamīm and Taghlib,
There came to us dogs from Tameem and Taghlib
and ʿArfajāʾ roused Numayr and al-Qushayrī.
And revived Numayr and Qushayri discerned
يؤمهمleads them عطّافʿAṭṭāf يَطلُبseeking ثأرُهُhis vengeance
يؤمهم عطّاف يَطلُب ثأرُهُ
فَأَوردهمso he brought them to water وَرداًa watering-place وَبيّاpestilent موهَّجاblazing
فَأَوردهم وَرداً وَبيّا موهَّجا
ʿAṭṭāf led them, seeking his vengeance,
Led by Ataaf seeking his revenge
and brought them to a pestilent, blazing watering-place.
So he brought them to a terrible, confused onslaught
سَقاهُمmade them drink حياضthe pools of المَوتdeath بدرBadr عَلىin ظَماًthirst
سَقاهُم حياض المَوت بدر عَلى ظَماً
بِهندِيَّةwith an Indian blade تَفريrends الحَديدiron المنسَّجاwoven
بِهندِيَّة تَفري الحَديد المنسَّجا
Badr made them drink from death's pools in their thirst,
He quenched their thirst with the cup of death at Badr
with an Indian blade that rends woven iron.
With an Indian sword that splits polished armor
إِذاwhen أَغمَدَتit was sheathed عَنafter مَعشَرa company عادreturned مِنهُماfrom them both (unclear here)
إِذا أَغمَدَت عَن مَعشَر عاد مِنهُما
وَإِنand if جرِّدَتit was unsheathed فيamid جَحفَلa great army عادbecame منفجاsplit apart
وَإِن جرِّدَت في جَحفَل عاد منفجا
When sheathed after a company, it returned from them both [wording unclear];
When it's sheathed it spares the people of Ad
and when drawn amid a great army, the army was rent apart,
And when unsheathed it returns to Ad, unsheathed
بِأَيديin the hands of كِرامٍnoble men مِنfrom ذَؤابةthe finest stock of طيىءṬayyiʾ
بِأَيدي كِرامٍ مِن ذَؤابة طيىء
وَبحترand Buḥtur مَعwith رَهطthe kinsmen of الوَليدal-Walīd وَدعلجاand Daʿlaj
وَبحتر مَع رَهط الوَليد وَدعلجا
in noble hands from the finest stock of Ṭayyiʾ,
By the hands of generous men of Thu'al and the Bahr
and Buḥtur, with the kinsmen of al-Walīd and Daʿlaj.
Along with the band of Al-Walid and Du'alj
يؤمهمleads them البَدرBadr الفَتىthe young man ابنson of رَبيعةRabīʿa
يؤمهم البَدر الفَتى ابن رَبيعة
وَقَدand already صَمَّمَdrove home الرمحthe spear الأَصمsolid وَأَرهَجاand raised dust
وَقَد صَمَّمَ الرمح الأَصم وَأَرهَجا
The young Badr, son of Rabīʿa, led them,
Led by the young full moon son of Rabee'ah
driving home the solid spear and raising dust,
Who had determined to hurl the deafening spear
عَلىupon هَيكَلٍa massive steed وَردٍchestnut كَأقطمlike a hawk تَلَّةٍa hill
عَلى هَيكَلٍ وَردٍ كَأقطم تَلَّةٍ
سَليمsound of الشَظاleg-bone لاnot ذيpossessing نَساءٍsciatica وَلاnor وَجاhoof-soreness
سَليم الشَظا لا ذي نَساءٍ وَلا وَجا
on a massive chestnut steed, like a hawk upon a hill,
Upon the rosy mound like a barren hill
sound of leg-bone, free of sciatica and sore hooves.
Safe from women and free of burden
يُناديcalls to كِلاباًKilāb وَالقَبائِلand the tribes كُلهاall of them
يُنادي كِلاباً وَالقَبائِل كُلها
وَهُمand they سامِعوهhearing him مفصحاًspeaking clearly ماnot تلجلجاstammered
وَهُم سامِعوه مفصحاً ما تلجلجا
He called to Kilāb and all the tribes,
Calling out to the dogs and all the tribes
as they listened, speaking clearly, without a stammer:
And they listen to him speaking clearly without stuttering
أَناI ابنthe son of الَّذيhim who لاnot يَخمِدquenches الدَهرtime نارهhis fire
أَنا ابن الَّذي لا يَخمِد الدَهر ناره
ولاand not أَوقَدتwas kindled إِلّاexcept لِتَهديto guide إِلىtoward النَجاsafety
ولا أَوقَدت إِلّا لِتَهدي إِلى النَجا
“I am the son of him whose fire time never quenches,
I am the son of him whose fire time does not extinguish
kindled only to guide toward safety,
And was lit only to guide to salvation
إِلىtoward راسِياتfirmly set cauldrons ماnot تَنامsleep طُهاتُهاtheir cooks
إِلى راسِيات ما تَنام طُهاتُها
وَمقراةand a guest-feast نُبلٍfor noble guests ماnot تَغِبgoes a day without المودَّجاthe slaughtered beast
وَمقراة نُبلٍ ما تَغِب المودَّجا
to great, firmly set cauldrons whose cooks never sleep,
To the lofty principles whose bases do not sleep
and noble hospitality never lacking slaughtered livestock.
And a prepared host of glory that does not disappear
ملكناwe ruled جَميعall الأَرضthe earth مِنfrom بَعدِafter جُرهمJurhum
ملكنا جَميع الأَرض مِن بَعدِ جُرهم
وَكانَand was لَناours مِنwhoever غارentered the lowlands فيهاin it وَهملجاand paced along
وَكانَ لَنا مِن غار فيها وَهملجا
We ruled all the earth after Jurhum,
We ruled all the land after their running away
and all who entered its lowlands and paced upon it were ours.
And we had control over every cave and sanctuary in it
وَجاءُواand they came إِلَيناto us يَطلُبونseeking ذِمامَناour protection
وَجاءُوا إِلَينا يَطلُبون ذِمامَنا
مِنَfrom الشَرقِthe east وَالغَربِand the west المُمَنَّعِinaccessible وَالنَجاand the uplands
مِنَ الشَرقِ وَالغَربِ المُمَنَّعِ وَالنَجا
They came to us seeking our protection,
And they came to us seeking our protection
from the east, the inaccessible west, and the uplands.
From east and west, forbidden and free
فَنَحنُso we رؤوسٌleaders وَالخَلائِقُand created beings كُلَّهاall of them
فَنَحنُ رؤوسٌ وَالخَلائِقُ كُلَّها
لَناto us تبعٌfollowers إِلّاexcept النَبيَّthe Prophet المُتَوَّجاcrowned
لَنا تبعٌ إِلّا النَبيَّ المُتَوَّجا
We are the leaders, and all created folk
For we are the leaders and all people
are our followers, except the crowned Prophet,
Are our followers, except the crowned Prophet
وَأَبناؤُهُand his descendants مِنthrough فاطِمFāṭim وَعَليّةand ʿAliyya
وَأَبناؤُهُ مِن فاطِم وَعَليّة
أَئمتناour imams الهادونَwho guide أَوضَحthe clearest مَنهَجاpath
أَئمتنا الهادونَ أَوضَح مَنهَجا
and his descendants through Fāṭim and ʿAliyya,
And his children from Fatima and Aliya
our imams, who guide along the clearest path.”
Our guiding Imams, the clearest method
وَكَرَّand he charged عَلَيهِمupon them كَرَّةa charge حميريةḤimyarite
وَكَرَّ عَلَيهِم كَرَّة حميرية
أَبادهمُhe annihilated them بالسَيفِwith the sword طراًall together فَأَزعَجاand routed them
أَبادهمُ بالسَيفِ طراً فَأَزعَجا
Then he charged them with a Ḥimyarite charge,
And the donkey raid befell them
annihilating them all with the sword and routing them.
Destroying them by the sword, scattered about
فَكُنّاso we were كَبازيِّlike a falcon هَوىplunged نَحوَtoward دَردَقٍa brood
فَكُنّا كَبازيِّ هَوى نَحوَ دَردَقٍ
مِنَof الطَيرbirds مُنقضٍdiving فَكُلٌso each one تَثَبَّجاfloundered in confusion
مِنَ الطَير مُنقضٍ فَكُلٌ تَثَبَّجا
We were like a falcon plunging toward a brood
So we were like hunting hawks swooping
of birds, diving as each floundered in confusion.
Toward prey, each vying to tear apart
وَخَلَّفهمand he left them بِالقاعِon the plain صَرعىslain تنوشهمprey upon them
وَخَلَّفهم بِالقاعِ صَرعى تنوشهم
وَحوشwild beasts الفَيافيof the deserts ماnot لَهُمfor them مِنهُfrom him مُلتَجاa refuge
وَحوش الفَيافي ما لَهُم مِنهُ مُلتَجا
He left them slain upon the plain, preyed upon
And he left them in the plain as corpses
by desert beasts, with no refuge from him.
For the wolves of the deserts, they had no refuge
وَأَشبَعand he sated ذِئباًa wolf جائِعاًhungry مِنon جُسومِهِمtheir bodies
وَأَشبَع ذِئباً جائِعاً مِن جُسومِهِم
وَضَبعاًand a hyena وَنِسراًand a vulture قَشعَمياًhuge and old وَزَمَّجاand a zummāj raptor
وَضَبعاً وَنِسراً قَشعَمياً وَزَمَّجا
He filled a hungry wolf with their bodies,
And satiated the hungry wolf with their bodies
and a hyena, a huge old vulture, and a zummāj raptor.
And the hyena, lynx, and snarling leopard
حَكَمَتyou judged عَلَيهمagainst them بَدرBadr أَعدَلthe most just حاكِمjudge
حَكَمَت عَلَيهم بَدر أَعدَل حاكِم
بِقَتلِكَby your killing مِنthose who زَمَّhaltered المَطيّthe mounts وَأَسرَجاand saddled up
بِقَتلِكَ مِن زَمَّ المَطيّ وَأَسرَجا
You judged them, Badr, as the most just of judges,
Badr judged them, the most just of rulers
by killing those who haltered mounts and saddled up.
By your killing them, from the saddle firmly seated
جَعلتَyou set رَحاthe millstone of الحَربِwar العَوانrenewed عَلَيهِمover them
جَعلتَ رَحا الحَربِ العَوان عَلَيهِم
تَدورturning فَماso not فيamong القَومِthe people مِنanyone فيهِin him مُرتَجىhope
تَدور فَما في القَومِ مِن فيهِ مُرتَجى
You set the millstone of renewed war over them,
You made the spheres of war align against them
turning, so none among them offered any hope.
Circling, so there was no hope for any among them
مَلأتyou filled بروجthe towers of الحَربِwar مِنهُمwith them معalong with الرُبىthe hills
مَلأت بروج الحَربِ مِنهُم مع الرُبى
فَلَستَso you do not تَرىsee إِلّاexcept قَتيلاًa slain man مُضَرَّجاblood-drenched
فَلَستَ تَرى إِلّا قَتيلاً مُضَرَّجا
You filled war's towers and the hills with them,
You filled the celestial towers with them and captives
so you see nothing but slain men drenched in blood.
So you see none but the slain, blood-stained
وَأَلحَقتand you sent in pursuit مِنَthose whom أَلفَيتَyou found مِنهُمamong them نَزاهَةkeeping aloof
وَأَلحَقت مِنَ أَلفَيتَ مِنهُم نَزاهَة
كَتائِبbattalions رَوعٍof terror أَلحَقَتهُمdrove them to join بِمَنwith those who نَجاescaped
كَتائِب رَوعٍ أَلحَقَتهُم بِمَن نَجا
After those you found among them keeping aloof, you sent
And you joined two thousand of their elite
terrifying battalions that drove them after those who escaped.
To the terrorized troops whom you drove to flee
فَمَنso whoever كانَhad حليthe adornment of السَيفthe sword مِنهُمamong them مآبَهُhis recourse
فَمَن كانَ حلي السَيف مِنهُم مآبَهُ
كَأنّas though حَليَّthe adornment of السَيفَthe sword قُلباًa wrist-bangle وَدُملجاand an armlet
كَأنّ حَليَّ السَيفَ قُلباً وَدُملجا
Whoever among them had the sword's adornment as his recourse,
So whoever's sole resort was the sword among them
as though that adornment were a wrist-bangle and an armlet,
The sword seemed to him like a heart and breast
فَيَلبِسso he wears مَصبوغdyed garments الغَوانيof lovely women وَيَبتَغيand seeks
فَيَلبِس مَصبوغ الغَواني وَيَبتَغي
مِنَfrom التِبرraw gold خَلخالan anklet يَروقdelights مدملجاan armlet-wearer
مِنَ التِبر خَلخال يَروق مدملجا
now wears the dyed garments of lovely women and seeks
So he wears the blood-dyed garments and seeks
an anklet of gold to delight an armlet-wearer.
Ankle bracelets to please, red and black
أَباO father of النِجمِal-Najm (the Star) ياO بَدِرBadr (full moon) الدُجىdarkness ابنson of رَبيعَةRabīʿa
أَبا النِجمِ يا بَدِر الدُجى ابن رَبيعَة
ليهنكmay it gladden you فَتحa victory فيover الكِلابينَthe two Kilābs أَفلَجاdecisive
ليهنك فَتح في الكِلابينَ أَفلَجا
Abū al-Najm—O Badr, full moon of the dark, son of Rabīʿa—
O father of the star, O Badr of darkness, son of Rabee'ah
may a decisive victory over the two Kilābs gladden you!
Congratulations on the victory over the two dogs
فَماso not بَعدَafter هَذاthis الحَربwar لِلحَربِfor war عَودةa return
فَما بَعدَ هَذا الحَرب لِلحَربِ عَودة
فَمَنso whoever عادَreturns عُدناهُwe revisit him إِلىto الحيِّthe clan أَعرَجاlimping
فَمَن عادَ عُدناهُ إِلى الحيِّ أَعرَجا
After this war, war shall not return;
After this war no war will recur
whoever returns, we meet him again and send him limping back to his clan.
And whoever returns we will return to the war, limping
إِلَيكَtoward you رَماهاcast it الصدقtruth مِنfrom قَبلthe agency of مادِحٍa praising poet
إِلَيكَ رَماها الصدق مِن قَبل مادِحٍ
غَدافيةa raven-dark ode يَضحىbecomes بِهاthrough it الشعرpoetry مدرجاfolded away
غَدافية يَضحى بِها الشعر مدرجا
Truth has cast it toward you through a praising poet:
To you truthfulness has tossed it from a praising poet
a raven-dark ode before which poetry lies folded away.
It is free, with which poetry becomes credentialed
إِذاwhen أَنشَدَتit is recited فيin نادِthe assembly of قَومٍa people تَضَوَّعَتit wafts fragrance
إِذا أَنشَدَت في نادِ قَومٍ تَضَوَّعَت
بيومهمwith their battle-day نَدّاًincense وَفاحَتand wafts fragrance بنفسَجاviolets
بيومهم نَدّاً وَفاحَت بنفسَجا
When recited in a people's gathering, it perfumes the air
If you recite it in a people's club it will draw them near
with the incense of their battle-day, and wafts the fragrance of violets.
On their day fresh and diffusing fragrance
Sol 6.1