خَليلَيَّ خُوضَا غَمْرَةَ اللَّيلِ إِنَّني

خَليلَيَّ خُوضَا غَمْرَةَ اللَّيلِ إِنَّني

لَبِسْتُ الدُّجَى وَالخَيْلُ تَنْضو مِراحَها

لَبِسْتُ الدُّجَى وَالخَيْلُ تَنْضو مِراحَها

My two friends, plunge into the depths of night, for I

My friend, plunge into the darkness of night, for I

have donned darkness while the horses shed their high spirits.

Have donned obscurity while the horses flutter their wings.

فَرُبَّ نهارٍ قاتِمٍ كُنْتُ شَمْسَهُ

فَرُبَّ نهارٍ قاتِمٍ كُنْتُ شَمْسَهُ

وَكَمْ ليلةٍ لَيْلاءَ كنْتُ صَباحَها

وَكَمْ ليلةٍ لَيْلاءَ كنْتُ صَباحَها

For many a gloomy day, I was its sun,

How many a gloomy day have I been its sun,

and many a pitch-dark night, I was its dawn.

And how many a dark night have I been its dawn.

وَتَحْتِيَ طَيّارُ العِنانِ كَأَنَّهُ

وَتَحْتِيَ طَيّارُ العِنانِ كَأَنَّهُ

خُدارِيَّةٌ هَزَّتْ لِصَيْدٍ جَناحَها

خُدارِيَّةٌ هَزَّتْ لِصَيْدٍ جَناحَها

And beneath me is a steed flying at the rein, as though he were

Beneath me is a bird loosening its reins as though

a black eagle that shook her wing for the hunt.

It were a wild dove that fluttered its wings to hunt.

وَإِنّي لَتَسْمو بِي إِلى المَجْدِ هِمَّةٌ

وَإِنّي لَتَسْمو بِي إِلى المَجْدِ هِمَّةٌ

تَوَدُّ الثُّرَيّا أَنْ تَكون وشاحَها

تَوَدُّ الثُّرَيّا أَنْ تَكون وشاحَها

And indeed an ambition lifts me toward glory,

And lofty ambition carries me to glory,

whose sash the Pleiades long to become.

As if it would make its robe an ornament.

فَلي مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ أَطْيَبوها وَغامِدٌ

فَلي مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ أَطْيَبوها وَغامِدٌ

تُعاوِنُ مِنْ يَرْبوعَ فيَّ رِياحَها

تُعاوِنُ مِنْ يَرْبوعَ فيَّ رِياحَها

For mine are the noblest of Quraysh, and Ghamid

I have the finest of Quraysh, sheathed and stored,

joins forces within me with Riyah of Yarbuʿ.

To help the winds blow fiercely within me.

كِرامٌ يُهينُونَ العِشارَ إِذا شَتَوْا

كِرامٌ يُهينُونَ العِشارَ إِذا شَتَوْا

وَقَدْ أَخَذَتْ كُومُ المَطايا سِلاحَها

وَقَدْ أَخَذَتْ كُومُ المَطايا سِلاحَها

Noble men who hold ten-month-pregnant she-camels cheap in winter,

Noble ones who humiliate the riffraff when they desire,

while the high-humped riding camels have taken up their arms,

And the steeds have taken up their weapons.

بِأَيْدٍ إِذَا ما أَنْكَرَ الكَلْبُ أَهْلَه

بِأَيْدٍ إِذَا ما أَنْكَرَ الكَلْبُ أَهْلَه

عَرَفْتُ لَها طَعْناً يُشَظِّى رِماحَها

عَرَفْتُ لَها طَعْناً يُشَظِّى رِماحَها

with hands that, when the dog fails to recognize its own household,

With hands that, when the dog disowns its people,

I have known to deliver thrusts that splinter their spears.

I know how to thrust a piercing lance.

وَها أَنا أَسْعَى لِلْمعالي فَطالَما

وَها أَنا أَسْعَى لِلْمعالي فَطالَما

أَجَالَتْ جُدودِي في مَعَدٍّ قِداحَها

أَجَالَتْ جُدودِي في مَعَدٍّ قِداحَها

And here I am, striving for high honors, for long have

And here I strive for the heights, for my ancestors

my ancestors cast their lot-arrows among Maʿadd.

Have always toasted victory in the mead-cups.

فَإِنْ نِلْتُها اسْتَخْلَصْتُ حَقِّي وَإِنْ أَخِبْ

فَإِنْ نِلْتُها اسْتَخْلَصْتُ حَقِّي وَإِنْ أَخِبْ

فَخُطْوَةُ سَاعٍ لَمْ تُصادِفْ نجاحَها

فَخُطْوَةُ سَاعٍ لَمْ تُصادِفْ نجاحَها

So if I attain them, I reclaim my right; and if I fail,

If I attain it, I will have gained my right, but if I fail,

then it is a striver's step that failed to find success.

The steps of one who strives have not led to success.