بُشْراكَgood tidings to you قَدْindeed ظَفِرَsucceeded الرّاعيthe shepherd بِماin what ارْتاداhe sought
بُشْراكَ قَدْ ظَفِرَ الرّاعي بِما ارْتادا
وبَثَّand scattered فيin جَنَباتِthe sides of الرَّوضِthe meadow أذْواداsmall camel herds
وبَثَّ في جَنَباتِ الرَّوضِ أذْوادا
Good tidings to you: the shepherd has found what he sought,
Good tidings, the shepherd has gained what he sought
and scattered small camel herds along the meadow's edges.
And scattered flocks in the meadow’s expanse
فاسْتَبْدَلَتْso they exchanged بمُجاجِfor the spittle of الغَيْمِthe clouds أذْنِبَةًfull buckets
فاسْتَبْدَلَتْ بمُجاجِ الغَيْمِ أذْنِبَةً
مِنْfrom ماءِthe water of لِيْنَةَLinah لاnot يُخْلِفْنَthey disappoint وُرَّاداthose coming to drink
مِنْ ماءِ لِيْنَةَ لا يُخْلِفْنَ وُرَّادا
So they exchanged the clouds' spittle for full buckets
So the clouds' downpour was replaced with a drizzle
from Linah's water, never failing those who come to drink.
Of gentle rain that won't fail to come again
يُرْويquenches the thirst of بعَقْوَتِهِwithin his grounds العَبسيُّthe man of Abs جِيرَتَهُhis neighbors
يُرْوي بعَقْوَتِهِ العَبسيُّ جِيرَتَهُ
إذاwhen الفَزاريُّthe man of Fazara عنْfrom أحواضِهِhis watering troughs ذاداdrove away
إذا الفَزاريُّ عنْ أحواضِهِ ذادا
The man of Abs gives his neighbors their fill within his grounds,
It waters the neighbor’s orchard generously
when the man of Fazara drives them from his troughs.
When the stingy one bars access to his own
أورَدْتُهُI brought to it العِيسَthe pale camels والظَّلْماءُand the darkness وارِسَةٌyellow-tinged
أورَدْتُهُ العِيسَ والظَّلْماءُ وارِسَةٌ
يَحمِلْنَthey carry مِنfrom سَرَواتِthe nobility of العُرْبِthe Arabs أمجاداmen of glory
يَحمِلْنَ مِن سَرَواتِ العُرْبِ أمجادا
I brought the pale camels to it while the darkness was yellow-tinged,
I brought it to Al-‘Is at night's first gleam
bearing glorious men from the Arab nobility.
Bearing glories of the best Arab steeds
فَماso not حُرِمْنَwere they deprived بهِat it والماءُand the water مُقْتَسَمٌapportioned
فَما حُرِمْنَ بهِ والماءُ مُقْتَسَمٌ
رِيّاًa full drink ولاnor مُنعَتْwere denied رُكْبانُهاtheir riders الزّاداprovisions
رِيّاً ولا مُنعَتْ رُكْبانُها الزّادا
There they were not deprived, though the water was shared,
None were deprived of it though the water was rationed
of their fill, nor were their riders denied provisions.
Nor were their mounts forbidden their provisions
بحيثُwhere تَمْريmilks أفاوِيقَsuccessive gushes of الغَمامِthe clouds صَباًan east wind
بحيثُ تَمْري أفاوِيقَ الغَمامِ صَباً
إذاwhen أبَسَّتْmade a coaxing call بشُؤْبوبِwith a downpour of الحَياrain جاداpoured generously
إذا أبَسَّتْ بشُؤْبوبِ الحَيا جادا
Where an east wind milks the clouds in successive gushes,
So that banks of clouds passed in the morning
when it coaxes them, they yield a downpour of rain.
When the tents were struck and the abode folded
كَمْhow many قَعْقَعَتْrattled لانْتِجاعِto seek pasture after الغَيثِrain مِنْof عَمَدٍtent poles
كَمْ قَعْقَعَتْ لانْتِجاعِ الغَيثِ مِنْ عَمَدٍ
أرْسَتْset firmly لَهنَّfor them جَواريthe maidens of الحَيِّthe tribe أوْتاداstakes
أرْسَتْ لَهنَّ جَواري الحَيِّ أوْتادا
How many tent poles rattled in seeking rain-fed pasture,
How many tent poles moaned when rain was drawn
whose stakes the tribe's maidens had set firm!
Their servant girls planted pegs into the sands
بِيضٌfair maidens سَلَبْنَthey robbed المَهاthe oryx لَحْظاًa glance تُمرِّضُهُthey make it languid
بِيضٌ سَلَبْنَ المَها لَحْظاً تُمرِّضُهُ
ثمّthen استَعرْنَthey borrowed منَfrom الغِزلانِthe gazelles أجْياداnecks
ثمّ استَعرْنَ منَ الغِزلانِ أجْيادا
Fair maidens who stole the oryx's glance and made it languid,
White camels robbed the dusk’s gaze for a while
then borrowed necks from gazelles.
Then borrowed the doe’s trot at dawn’s first light
مِنهُنَّamong them لَيلىLayla ولاand not أبغِيI seek بِهاin her stead بَدَلاًa substitute
مِنهُنَّ لَيلى ولا أبغِي بِها بَدَلاً
تَجْزيshe repays المُحبِّينَthe lovers بالتَّقريبِfor nearness إبْعاداestrangement
تَجْزي المُحبِّينَ بالتَّقريبِ إبْعادا
Among them is Layla, and I seek no one in her stead:
Of them is Layla, for whom I desire no substitute
she repays her lovers' nearness with estrangement.
Who rewards lovers by drawing them near, not pushing away
إنّيindeed I لأذكُرُهاsurely remember her بالظَّبْيِin the gazelle مُلْتَفِتاًturning around
إنّي لأذكُرُها بالظَّبْيِ مُلْتَفِتاً
والشّمسِand the sun طالِعَةًrising والغُصْنِand the branch مَيّاداswaying
والشّمسِ طالِعَةً والغُصْنِ مَيّادا
I surely recall her in a gazelle turning its head,
I remember her when the gazelle turns to look
in the rising sun and a swaying branch.
As the sun rises and the boughs sway gently
وقدand indeed رَضِيتُI am content منَof المَعْروفِthe kindness تَبذُلُهُshe offers it
وقد رَضِيتُ منَ المَعْروفِ تَبذُلُهُ
أنْthat يُنْجِزَfulfill الطَّيْفُthe dream-phantom فيon مَسْراهُits nightly journey مِيعاداa tryst
أنْ يُنْجِزَ الطَّيْفُ في مَسْراهُ مِيعادا
Of the kindness she offers, I have been content
And I am content with the kindness she shows
that her dream-phantom keep a tryst on its nightly journey.
That her phantom keeps its promised rendezvous
وَوَقْفَةٍand many a halt بجَنوبِon the south of القاعِthe plain مِنof إضَمٍIdam
وَوَقْفَةٍ بجَنوبِ القاعِ مِن إضَمٍ
تُجاذِبُtugs against الرَّكْبَthe caravan تأْويباًdaylong travel وإسْآداand nighttime travel
تُجاذِبُ الرَّكْبَ تأْويباً وإسْآدا
And many a halt on the south side of Idam's plain,
And a stop at the ruins in a valley of love
contending with the caravan's daytime and nighttime travel,
Where the caravan lingers, pitching camp and resting
رَدَّتْsent back عَذوليmy reprover بغَيظٍin anger وهْوَwhile he يُظْهِرُshows ليto me
رَدَّتْ عَذولي بغَيظٍ وهْوَ يُظْهِرُ لي
نُصْحاًadvice يظُنُّhe deems بهِthrough it الإغْواءَmisguidance إرْشاداguidance
نُصْحاً يظُنُّ بهِ الإغْواءَ إرْشادا
sent my reprover back in anger, as he offered me
She rejected my flirtation angrily though it showed
advice, mistaking misguidance for guidance.
Advice she mistook for tempting and misguidance
إذاwhen سَرىtraveled by night البَرْقُthe lightning مُجتازاًpassing through لطيَّتِهِtoward its destination
إذا سَرى البَرْقُ مُجتازاً لطيَّتِهِ
وهَزَّتِand shook الرِّيحُthe wind خُوطَa shoot of البانِthe moringa فَانآداso it bent
وهَزَّتِ الرِّيحُ خُوطَ البانِ فَانآدا
When lightning travels by night, passing toward its destination,
When lightning flashed, crossing its zigzag
and the wind shakes a moringa shoot so that it bends,
And the wind shook the ropes of the tent pegs
هاجَstirred الحَنينُyearning رِكاباًriding-camels كُلَّماwhenever غَرِضَتْthey grew restless
هاجَ الحَنينُ رِكاباً كُلَّما غَرِضَتْ
خَفَّتْgrew nimble مِنَfrom الشَّوقِlonging واستَثْقَلْنَand they found heavy أَقْياداfetters
خَفَّتْ مِنَ الشَّوقِ واستَثْقَلْنَ أَقْيادا
yearning stirs the riding-camels, which, whenever restless,
Yearning surged forth whenever she drew near
grow nimble with longing and find their fetters heavy.
Lightened by passion, yet weighed down by shackles
لاno وَضْعَremoval للرَّحْلِof the saddle عَنfrom أصْلابِthe backs of ناجيَةٍa swift she-camel
لا وَضْعَ للرَّحْلِ عَن أصْلابِ ناجيَةٍ
أوuntil تَشْتَكيshe complains of أضْلُعاًribs تَدْمَىthat bleed وأعْضاداand upper forelegs
أو تَشْتَكي أضْلُعاً تَدْمَى وأعْضادا
No saddle is lifted from a swift she-camel's back
The camel litter finds no rest on the camel’s back
until she complains of bleeding ribs and upper forelegs.
Nor does she complain of an aching, bruised side
إذاwhen بَلَغْناwe reach أباAbu (father of) مَرفوعَةَMarfuʿa ارْتَبَعَتْshe finds spring pasture
إذا بَلَغْنا أبا مَرفوعَةَ ارْتَبَعَتْ
بحيثُwhere لاnot يألَفُis accustomed to المَهْرِيُّthe Mahri camel أقْتاداsaddle-frames
بحيثُ لا يألَفُ المَهْرِيُّ أقْتادا
When we reach Abu Marfuʿa, she finds spring pasture
When we reached Abul Maroofa she followed
where the Mahri camel knows no saddle-frames.
Where the guide doesn’t venture and get lost
يُلقيcasts الزِّمامَthe rein إِلىinto كَفٍّa hand مُعَوَّدةٍaccustomed
يُلقي الزِّمامَ إِلى كَفٍّ مُعَوَّدةٍ
فيin نَدْوَةِthe assembly of الحيِّthe tribe تَقبيلاًkisses وإرْفاداand giving gifts
في نَدْوَةِ الحيِّ تَقبيلاً وإرْفادا
It casts its rein into a hand accustomed
Entrusting the reins to a hand well-versed
in the tribe's assembly to kisses and generous giving.
In the meadow’s softness, kissing and farewelling
مُحَسَّدُmuch envied for المَجْدِglory لمْnot تُطْلَعْhas been scaled ثَنيَّتُهُhis mountain pass
مُحَسَّدُ المَجْدِ لمْ تُطْلَعْ ثَنيَّتُهُ
إنَّindeed المكارِمَnoble deeds لاnot يَعْدَمْنَlack حُسّاداenvious people
إنَّ المكارِمَ لا يَعْدَمْنَ حُسّادا
Envied for his glory, his mountain pass has never been scaled;
She envied my glory but her hatred didn’t show
noble deeds are never without those who envy them.
Great deeds are never spared of envy’s pitfalls
ذُوpossessed of همّةٍambition بنَواصيby the forelocks of النّجْمِthe stars سافِعَةٍseizing
ذُو همّةٍ بنَواصي النّجْمِ سافِعَةٍ
بثَّتْposted علىon طُرُقِthe roads of العَلْياءِloftiness أرْصاداwatchers
بثَّتْ على طُرُقِ العَلْياءِ أرْصادا
A man whose ambition seizes the stars by their forelocks,
A man of ambition with meteors as his guide
and posts watchers on the roads to lofty heights.
Charting the path of highest celestial spheres
تَتْلوfollow الكَواكِبُthe stars فيon المَسْرىthe journey وماand not عَلِقَتْhas it clung
تَتْلو الكَواكِبُ في المَسْرى وما عَلِقَتْ
إلاexcept بأبْعَدِهاto the farthest of them فيin الجوِّthe sky إصْعاداin ascent
إلا بأبْعَدِها في الجوِّ إصْعادا
The stars follow it on its course, and it clings
The stars keep to their orbits but none reached
only to the one that ascends farthest into the sky.
The farthest limit into the heavens’ climb
منْfrom مَعْشَرٍa people يُلْبِسونَthey clothe الجارَthe neighbor فَضْلَهُمُtheir bounty
منْ مَعْشَرٍ يُلْبِسونَ الجارَ فَضْلَهُمُ
ويُحْسِنونَand they excel علىdespite اللأواءِhardship إسْعاداin giving aid
ويُحْسِنونَ على اللأواءِ إسْعادا
From a people who clothe their neighbor in their bounty,
Of a people who dress their neighbor in their merit
and excel in offering aid despite hardship,
And do well by the most wretched and destitute
ويوقِدونَand they kindle غَداةَon the morning of المَحْلِdrought نارَa fire of قِرًىhospitality
ويوقِدونَ غَداةَ المَحْلِ نارَ قِرًى
لاnot يستطيعُcan manage لهاfor it الأيْسارُthe arrow-lottery players إيقاداkindling
لا يستطيعُ لها الأيْسارُ إيقادا
who light a fire of hospitality on the morning of drought,
Kindling fires in the darkness before first light
which the arrow-lottery players cannot kindle,
That even the wealthy cannot afford to ignite
ويَنحَرونَand they slaughter مَكانَinstead of القَعْبِthe wooden bowl مِنْof لَبَنٍmilk
ويَنحَرونَ مَكانَ القَعْبِ مِنْ لَبَنٍ
للطّارِقِfor the night-guest المُعْترِيseeking aid وَجْناءَa sturdy she-camel مِقْحاداlarge-humped
للطّارِقِ المُعْترِي وَجْناءَ مِقْحادا
and slaughter, instead of offering a bowl of milk,
Slaughtering udders’ milk where no settlements stand
a sturdy, high-humped she-camel for the visiting night-guest.
For the traveling visitor, a feast is made ready
بَنوthe sons of تَميمٍTamim إذاwhen ماever الدّهْرُfortune رابَهُمُtroubles them
بَنو تَميمٍ إذا ما الدّهْرُ رابَهُمُ
لمْnot تُلْفِهِمْwill you find them لنَجيِّto the private counsel of القَومِthe tribe أشْهاداwitnesses
لمْ تُلْفِهِمْ لنَجيِّ القَومِ أشْهادا
The sons of Tamim, whenever fortune troubles them,
Children of Tameem, when fate deals harshly with them
you will not find them onlookers at the tribe's whispered counsel;
Don’t seek others’ aid when ruin looms ahead
لكنّهُمbut they يَستَثيرونَrouse الظُّباthe sword-edges غَضَباًin anger
لكنّهُم يَستَثيرونَ الظُّبا غَضَباً
ويَجعَلونَand they make لهاfor them الهاماتِheads أغْمَاداsheaths
ويَجعَلونَ لها الهاماتِ أغْمَادا
rather, in anger they rouse their sword-edges
Rather, they provoke the beasts’ rage
and make heads into sheaths for them.
And make their own skulls the sheaths of swords
تُكْسىare clothed إذاwhen النَّقْعُthe battle-dust أرْخىlet down مِنْfrom مُلاءَتِهِits mantle
تُكْسى إذا النَّقْعُ أرْخى مِنْ مُلاءَتِهِ
فيin باحَةِthe courtyard of المَوْتِdeath أرْوحاًsouls وأجْساداand bodies
في باحَةِ المَوْتِ أرْوحاً وأجْسادا
Those blades are clothed, when battle-dust lowers its mantle,
When the armor is worn in the field of death
with souls and bodies in the courtyard of death.
Bodies and souls are shrouded in its folds
لاnot يَخْضَعونَthey submit لخَطْبٍto a calamity إنif ألمَّit befalls بِهمْupon them
لا يَخْضَعونَ لخَطْبٍ إن ألمَّ بِهمْ
وهَلْand can تَهُزُّshake الرِّياحُthe winds الهُوجُraging أطْواداmighty mountains
وهَلْ تَهُزُّ الرِّياحُ الهُوجُ أطْوادا
They do not submit to calamity when it befalls them;
They do not yield when disaster strikes
can raging winds shake mighty mountains?
Can the gales ever shake the towering peaks?
يَجلوreveals النَّدِيُّthe assembly بِهمْin them أقمارَmoons of داجِيَةٍa dark night
يَجلو النَّدِيُّ بِهمْ أقمارَ داجِيَةٍ
والحَرْبُand war تحتَbeneath ظِلالِthe shade of السُّمْرِthe brown spears آساداlions
والحَرْبُ تحتَ ظِلالِ السُّمْرِ آسادا
The assembly reveals them as moons of a dark night,
Their glittering moons outshine the brilliant stars
and war reveals them as lions beneath the shade of brown spears.
And wars, in the summers’ shade, lie defeated
إذاwhen الرَّدىdeath حَكَّpressed بالأبْطالِagainst the champions كَلْكَلَهُits chest
إذا الرَّدى حَكَّ بالأبْطالِ كَلْكَلَهُ
فيin مأْقِطٍa battlefield لَفَّentwined بالأنجادِwith heroes أنْجاداheroes
في مأْقِطٍ لَفَّ بالأنجادِ أنْجادا
When death presses its chest against the champions
When havoc wreaked heroes with its tumult
on a battlefield that entwines heroes with heroes,
Their twisted locks were tied in warrior braids
جَرُّواthey dragged الذُّيولَthe skirts منَof الأدْراعِthe coats of mail فيthrough عَلَقِblood
جَرُّوا الذُّيولَ منَ الأدْراعِ في عَلَقِ
لاnot يَسْحَبُdrags المَرِحُthe swaggering man الذَّيَّالُtrailing his hems أبْراداmantles
لا يَسْحَبُ المَرِحُ الذَّيَّالُ أبْرادا
they drag their mailcoats' skirts through blood,
They dragged the hems of their robes in the battle
not as a swaggering, train-trailing dandy drags his robes.
As the deluge cannot carry off the mountains
وكاشِحٍand a spiteful foe رامَsought منْهُمْagainst them فُرصَةًan opening ضَرَبَتْraised
وكاشِحٍ رامَ منْهُمْ فُرصَةً ضَرَبَتْ
مِنْfrom دونِهاin front of it شَفَراتُthe edges of البيضِthe gleaming swords أسْداداbarriers
مِنْ دونِها شَفَراتُ البيضِ أسْدادا
And many a spiteful foe sought an opening against them, but
A warrior of them seized the chance and struck
gleaming sword-blades raised barriers before it.
Beyond him, the white blades fell short of reach
ينامُhe sleeps والثَّائِرُwhile the avenger الحَرَّانُburning with rage يُقْلِقُهُkeeps him restless
ينامُ والثَّائِرُ الحَرَّانُ يُقْلِقُهُ
سَحابَةَthe whole span of الليلِthe night رَعْيُwatching النَّجْمِthe stars إسْهاداkeeping awake
سَحابَةَ الليلِ رَعْيُ النَّجْمِ إسْهادا
He sleeps, while the burning avenger is kept restless
He sleeps while fevered restlessness disturbs him
all night by sleepless watching of the stars,
The clouds of night shepherd the stars’ gaze
حتّىuntil انْتَضَتْstripped away يَقَظاتِwakeful moments of العَيْنِthe eye جائِفَةٌa deep body wound
حتّى انْتَضَتْ يَقَظاتِ العَيْنِ جائِفَةٌ
كطُرَّةِlike the border of البُرْدِa striped cloak لاnot تأْلوهُit stints him إزْباداfrothing
كطُرَّةِ البُرْدِ لا تأْلوهُ إزْبادا
until a deep wound strips the eye of its wakefulness,
Until the vigilant eyes were rudely awakened
like a cloak's border, unstinting in the foam it gives him.
Like the stab of cold, impervious to fleece
لمّاwhen طوىhe folded الكَشْحَthe flank منْout of حِقْدٍrancor علىaround إِحَنٍold grudges
لمّا طوى الكَشْحَ منْ حِقْدٍ على إِحَنٍ
وظلَّand kept يَهْرِفُtalking wildly إبْراقاًflashing lightning وإرْعاداand thundering
وظلَّ يَهْرِفُ إبْراقاً وإرْعادا
When, out of rancor, he folded his flank around old grudges
When bitterness bent over a grudge
and kept blustering with lightning and thunder,
It kept shedding tears and rumbling threats
مَشىadvanced لهُagainst him عَضُدُAdud (arm of) المُلْكِal-Mulk (the realm) الضَّراءَunder cover وقدْwhile already
مَشى لهُ عَضُدُ المُلْكِ الضَّراءَ وقدْ
أرخَىloosened بهِfor him اللَّبَبَthe breast-strap المِقْدارُfate أوor كاداnearly did
أرخَى بهِ اللَّبَبَ المِقْدارُ أو كادا
Adud al-Mulk advanced against him under cover, while
The pillar of sovereignty came to his aid
fate had loosened his breast-strap, or nearly so.
Destiny almost cast him into ruin
فأوْهَنَso weakened البَغْيُwrongdoing كفّاًa hand كانhe used to يُلْمِسُهاmake it touch
فأوْهَنَ البَغْيُ كفّاً كان يُلْمِسُها
قلباًa heart يُرَشِّحُexuding أضْغاناًrancors وأحْقاداand hatreds
قلباً يُرَشِّحُ أضْغاناً وأحْقادا
Thus wrongdoing weakened the hand he used to lay against
So the hatred weakened the hand it grasped
a heart oozing rancors and hatreds.
And the heart it poisoned with grudges and malice
ياO خَيْرَbest of مَنْthose whom وَخَدَتstrode swiftly أيديthe forelegs of المَطِيِّthe riding-camels بهِbearing him
يا خَيْرَ مَنْ وَخَدَت أيدي المَطِيِّ بهِ
مِنfrom فرْعِthe branch of خِنْدِفَKhindif آباءًfathers وأجْداداand forefathers
مِن فرْعِ خِنْدِفَ آباءً وأجْدادا
O best of those whom camels' forelegs bore at a swift pace,
O best of those whose hands the riding camel kneaded
from Khindif's branch, through fathers and forefathers!
Of a lofty lineage, forefathers and ancestors
رَحَلْتَyou departed فالمَجدُso glory لمْnot تَرْقَأْhave ceased مَدامِعُهُits tears
رَحَلْتَ فالمَجدُ لمْ تَرْقَأْ مَدامِعُهُ
ولَمْand not تَرِقَّgrow tender عَلَيْناtoward us المُزْنُthe rainclouds أكْباداhearts (literally livers)
ولَمْ تَرِقَّ عَلَيْنا المُزْنُ أكْبادا
You departed, so Glory's tears have not ceased,
You have gone and glory’s tears are unwept
nor have the rainclouds' hearts grown tender toward us.
Nor did the tragedies make our livers bleed
وضاعَand was wasted شِعْرٌpoetry يضِيقُare distressed الحاسِدونَthe envious بِهِby it
وضاعَ شِعْرٌ يضِيقُ الحاسِدونَ بِهِ
ذَرعاًin endurance وتُوسِعُهُand spread it widely الأيَّامُthe days إنشاداin recitation
ذَرعاً وتُوسِعُهُ الأيَّامُ إنشادا
And poetry has gone to waste, which the envious find
Poetry was lost that rivals envied
unbearable, while the days spread its recitation far and wide.
Yet days unfold and expand its recital
فَلمْso not أُهِبْI called بالقَوافيupon rhymes بعدَafter بينِكُمُyour departure
فَلمْ أُهِبْ بالقَوافي بعدَ بينِكُمُ
ولاnor حَمِدْتُI praised وقَدْand indeed جَرَّبْتُI have tested أجْواداgenerous men
ولا حَمِدْتُ وقَدْ جَرَّبْتُ أجْوادا
I have not called upon rhymes since your departure,
So I cannot match rhymes among you now
nor offered praise, though I have tested generous men.
Or praise, however much I tried, the best horses
Sol 6.1