سَرَتْshe traveled by night وظَلامُand the darkness of اللّيلِthe night سِتْرٌa veil علىover السّاريthe night-traveler
سَرَتْ وظَلامُ اللّيلِ سِتْرٌ على السّاري
وقَدْand already عَرَّجَturned aside الحاديthe camel-driver بِبَطْحاءَat the flat plain ذيDhu قارِQar
وقَدْ عَرَّجَ الحادي بِبَطْحاءَ ذي قارِ
She journeyed by night, and night’s darkness was a veil for the traveler,
The night has spread and the dark of night is a veil upon the wanderer
And the camel-driver had turned aside at the flat plain of Dhu Qar,
As the guide marched through the plain of Dhi Qar
بحَيْثُwhere هَزيزُthe jolting of الأرْحَبيِّthe Arhabi camel أوِor الكَرىdrowsiness
بحَيْثُ هَزيزُ الأرْحَبيِّ أوِ الكَرى
يَميلُbends بأعناقٍnecks ويَهْفوand sways بأكْوارِcamel-saddles
يَميلُ بأعناقٍ ويَهْفو بأكْوارِ
Where the jolting of the Arhabi camel, or drowsiness,
Where the neighing of the wild ass or the mountain goat echoes
Bends necks and sets camel-saddles swaying.
Swaying their necks and bellowing in their pens
ألَمَّتْshe visited بِرَكْبٍamong a caravan منْfrom قُرَيشٍQuraysh تَطاوَحَتْtossed about
ألَمَّتْ بِرَكْبٍ منْ قُرَيشٍ تَطاوَحَتْ
بهمْthem عُقَبُsuccessive stages of المَسْرَىnight-travel وأنضاءُand worn-out mounts of أسْفارِjourneys
بهمْ عُقَبُ المَسْرَى وأنضاءُ أسْفارِ
She visited a caravan from Quraysh, tossed about
A caravan of Quraish was beset
By successive night-marches and mounts worn thin by travel.
By the heels of the departed and the wrists of journeys
فَقالَتْthen she said وقدْwhile already عَضَّتْshe bit عَلَيناat us تَعجُّباًin wonder
فَقالَتْ وقدْ عَضَّتْ عَلَينا تَعجُّباً
أنامِلَfingertips بَيْضاءَwhite التَّرائِبِof breastbones مِعْطارِrichly perfumed
أنامِلَ بَيْضاءَ التَّرائِبِ مِعْطارِ
She said, biting in amazement at us
So she said, having bitten us in wonder:
Her fingertips—she was white-breasted and richly perfumed:
White she-camels of fragrant saddlebags
سَقىmay water ورَعىand guard اللهُGod المُعاوِيَّal-Muʿawi إنهُindeed he
سَقى ورَعى اللهُ المُعاوِيَّ إنهُ
حُشاشةُthe last living remnant of مَجْدٍglory تالِدٍancestral بينَamid أطْمارِrags
حُشاشةُ مَجْدٍ تالِدٍ بينَ أطْمارِ
“May God water and guard al-Muʿawi; he is
May God water and pasture Muawiya
The last living remnant of ancestral glory amid rags.”
He is the raincloud of continual glory between ruins
وإنيand indeed I بِماwith what مَنَّىpromised الخَيالُthe dream-phantom لَقانِعٌam surely content
وإني بِما مَنَّى الخَيالُ لَقانِعٌ
وإنْand even if لَمnot يَكُنْthere be فيin ذاكَthat حَظٌّa share لمُخْتارِfor one who chooses
وإنْ لَم يَكُنْ في ذاكَ حَظٌّ لمُخْتارِ
And I am content with what the dream-phantom promised,
And I am content with what fancy has wished
Even if in that there is no share for one who chooses.
Even if the chosen one has no share in that
فعِفَّتيَso my chastity اليَقظَىwakeful سَجِيَّةُthe nature of ماجِدٍa noble man
فعِفَّتيَ اليَقظَى سَجِيَّةُ ماجِدٍ
وضَمَّتُهُand its embrace الوَسْنَىsleepy خَديعةُa deception of غَدَّارِa treacherous deceiver
وضَمَّتُهُ الوَسْنَى خَديعةُ غَدَّارِ
For my wakeful chastity is the nature of a noble man;
My chastity while awake is the trait of the glorious
And its sleepy embrace is a treacherous deceiver’s trick.
And drowsiness has drawn him in, the guile of the treacherous
يَجوبُit traverses إليَّtoward me البيدَthe deserts والليلُwhile the night ناشِرٌspreading
يَجوبُ إليَّ البيدَ والليلُ ناشِرٌ
علىover مُنحَنىthe bend of الواديthe valley ذَوائِبَtresses أنوارِof light
على مُنحَنى الوادي ذَوائِبَ أنوارِ
It crosses the deserts toward me, while night spreads
The full moon and the night spread out
Tresses of light over the valley’s bend.
Over the bend of the valley, the lights of fires
وأفْديهِand I would ransom it منْas a سارٍnight-traveler علىdespite الأيْنِweariness طارِقٍa night-visitor
وأفْديهِ منْ سارٍ على الأيْنِ طارِقٍ
وأهْواهُand I love it منْas a طَيفٍphantom علىdespite النّأْيِdistance زَوَّارِa frequent visitor
وأهْواهُ منْ طَيفٍ على النّأْيِ زَوَّارِ
And I would ransom it, a night-traveler arriving despite weariness,
I ransom him from one who travels by night as a raider
And I love it, a phantom visiting often despite distance.
And I lull him from a specter wandering in the distance
فَحيَّاهُso may ... greet it عَنِّيon my behalf كلَّevery مُمْسَىevening ومُصبَحٍand morning
فَحيَّاهُ عَنِّي كلَّ مُمْسَى ومُصبَحٍ
تَهَزُّمُthe rumbling of وَطْفاءِa thick-fringed cloud الرَّبابَيْنَthe two cloud-layers مِدْرارِpouring abundant rain
تَهَزُّمُ وَطْفاءِ الرَّبابَيْنَ مِدْرارِ
May it be greeted on my behalf each evening and morning
So greet him for me every evening and dawn
By the rumble of a thick-fringed, two-layered cloud pouring rain.
As the singing women flow with melodies
إذاwhen ضَجَّroared فيهاwithin it الرَّعْدُthe thunder أُلْبِسَتِwere clothed الرُّباthe hills
إذا ضَجَّ فيها الرَّعْدُ أُلْبِسَتِ الرُّبا
حَياًwith life-giving rain وألاحَand brandished البَرْقُthe lightning بالمِنْصَلِwith the blade العاريnaked
حَياً وألاحَ البَرْقُ بالمِنْصَلِ العاري
When thunder roars within it, the hills are clothed
When thunder roars through it, clothing is worn
In life-giving rain, and lightning brandishes a naked blade.
And lightning flashes with the bare spear
علىdespite أنّthe fact that سَلمىSalma حالَstood as a barrier دونَbefore لِقائِهاmeeting her
على أنّ سَلمى حالَ دونَ لِقائِها
رِجالٌmen يخوضونَplunge into الرَّدىdeath خَشيَةَfor fear of العارِdisgrace
رِجالٌ يخوضونَ الرَّدى خَشيَةَ العارِ
Yet between me and meeting Salma stand
Yet Salma's people barred her meeting
Men who plunge into death for fear of disgrace.
Men who fear dishonor wade into evil
مَتىwhen ماever أزُرْهاI visit her ألْقَI encounter عِندَbeside خِبائِهاher tent
مَتى ما أزُرْها ألْقَ عِندَ خِبائِها
أُشَيْعِثَa little tousle-haired man يَحميguards بالقَناwith spears حَوزَةَthe precinct of الدّارِthe dwelling
أُشَيْعِثَ يَحمي بالقَنا حَوزَةَ الدّارِ
Whenever I visit her, I find beside her tent
Whenever I visit her, I find near her tent
A tousle-haired little man guarding the dwelling’s bounds with spears.
A disheveled guard protecting the household with a spear
وكمْand how often طَرَقَتْناshe visited us by night وهْيَwhile she تَدَّرِعُarmors herself in الدُّجىdarkness
وكمْ طَرَقَتْنا وهْيَ تَدَّرِعُ الدُّجى
وتَمشيand walks الهُوَيْنىgently بينَamong عُونٍmatrons وأبْكارِand maidens
وتَمشي الهُوَيْنى بينَ عُونٍ وأبْكارِ
How often she visited us by night, armoring herself in darkness,
How often she crept up on us, walking stealthily
And walking softly among matrons and maidens.
Between help and virgins in the darkness of night
ولمَّاand when رأيْنَthey saw اللَّيلَthe night شابَتْturned gray فُروعُهُits branches
ولمَّا رأيْنَ اللَّيلَ شابَتْ فُروعُهُ
رجَعْنَthey returned ولمْand did not يَدْنَسْbecome stained رِداءٌa robe بأوزارِwith sins
رجَعْنَ ولمْ يَدْنَسْ رِداءٌ بأوزارِ
And when they saw the night’s branches turning gray,
When they saw the night had blackened its branches
They returned, with no robe stained by sins.
They turned back, with no garment dirtied by hems
مَضىit passed وحَواشيهand its edges لِدانٌsupple كأنَّماas though
مَضى وحَواشيه لِدانٌ كأنَّما
كَساهُclothed it النّسيمُthe breeze الرَّطْبُmoist رِقَّةَthe softness of أسْحارِpredawn hours
كَساهُ النّسيمُ الرَّطْبُ رِقَّةَ أسْحارِ
It passed, its edges supple, as though
He walked away, his skirts sagging as if
The moist breeze had clothed it in the softness of predawn hours.
The moist breeze had clothed him in the softness of dawn
وهُنَّand they يُجَرِّرْنَtrail الذُّيولَthe hems علىover الثَّرىthe earth
وهُنَّ يُجَرِّرْنَ الذُّيولَ على الثَّرى
مَخافَةَfor fear أنthat يَستَوضِحَmight discern الحَيُّthe tribe آثاريmy tracks
مَخافَةَ أن يَستَوضِحَ الحَيُّ آثاري
And they trailed their hems over the earth,
While they dragged their trains on the ground
For fear the tribe might discern my tracks.
Fearing the living would notice their tracks
ومِمَّاand among what أذاعَdivulged السِّرَthe secret وَرْقاءُa gray dove كلَّماwhenever
ومِمَّا أذاعَ السِّرَ وَرْقاءُ كلَّما
أمَلْتُI inclined إلَيهاtoward her السَّمْعَhearing نَمَّتْtattled بأسْراريof my secrets
أمَلْتُ إلَيها السَّمْعَ نَمَّتْ بأسْراري
Among those who divulged the secret was a gray dove; whenever
Of what the leaves have spread in secret, whenever
I inclined my ear toward her, she betrayed my secrets.
I inclined my ear, it whispered my mysteries
إذاwhen هيَshe ناحَتْlamented جاوَبَتْهاanswered her حَمائِمٌdoves
إذا هيَ ناحَتْ جاوَبَتْها حَمائِمٌ
كَماas حَنَّmoaned longingly وَلْهَىa bereft mother فيamong رَوائِمِtenderly nursing أظْآرِfoster-mothers
كَما حَنَّ وَلْهَى في رَوائِمِ أظْآرِ
When she lamented, doves answered her,
When she sighed, doves responded
As a bereft mother moans among tender foster-mothers.
As passion moaned through the thickets
كأنّas though رُواتيmy reciters عَلَّموهُنَّtaught them مَنطِقيmy speech
كأنّ رُواتي عَلَّموهُنَّ مَنطِقي
فهُنَّso they إذاwhen غَرَّدْنَwarble أنشَدْنَrecite أشعاريmy poems
فهُنَّ إذا غَرَّدْنَ أنشَدْنَ أشعاري
As though my reciters had taught them my speech,
As if my messengers had taught them my words
For whenever they warble, they recite my poems.
So when they cooed, they recited my verses
أتَتْكَcame to you القَوافيthe rhymes ياO بْنَson of عَمْرٍوAmr ولمْand did not تَرِدْreach
أتَتْكَ القَوافي يا بْنَ عَمْرٍو ولمْ تَرِدْ
مُعَرَّسَthe night-resting place of نُوَّامٍsleepers عنِheedless of الحَمدِpraise أغْمارِignorant men
مُعَرَّسَ نُوَّامٍ عنِ الحَمدِ أغْمارِ
The rhymes have come to you, O son of Amr, and have not reached
The rhymes came to you, O son of ‘Amr, though you never
The night-camp of ignorant sleepers, heedless of praise.
Rejected the praise of the heavy with slumber
وقلَّدْتَناand you garlanded us with نَعماءَbounty كالرَّوضlike a meadow عانَقَتْembraced
وقلَّدْتَنا نَعماءَ كالرَّوض عانَقَتْ
أزاهيرَهُits blossoms ريحُwind الصَّباthe east wind غِبَّafter أمْطارِrains
أزاهيرَهُ ريحُ الصَّبا غِبَّ أمْطارِ
And you garlanded us with bounty, like a meadow whose
And you gave us blessings, like a garden embraced
Blossoms the east wind embraced after rains.
By the breeze of morning, before the rains
أيادِيكَyour benefactions نُهْبَىplunder for الحَمْدِpraise فيin كُلِّevery مَوطِنٍplace
أيادِيكَ نُهْبَى الحَمْدِ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ
تَميلُturn بأسْماعٍears إليْكَtoward you وأبْصارِand eyes
تَميلُ بأسْماعٍ إليْكَ وأبْصارِ
Your benefactions are praise’s plunder in every place,
Your hands reap the praise in every abode
Turning ears and eyes toward you.
Leaning with ears and sights toward you
وأنتَand you الذيthe one who قلَّمْتَclipped أظْفارَthe claws of فِتْنَةٍstrife
وأنتَ الذي قلَّمْتَ أظْفارَ فِتْنَةٍ
ألَحَّتْbeset relentlessly بأنْيابٍwith fangs علَيناagainst us وأظْفارِand claws
ألَحَّتْ بأنْيابٍ علَينا وأظْفارِ
And you are the one who clipped the claws of strife,
You who trimmed the claws of sedition
Which beset us relentlessly with fangs and claws.
That scraped at us with fangs and claws
ومَلْحَمةٍand a fierce battle دونَin defense of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate خُضْتَهاyou plunged into it
ومَلْحَمةٍ دونَ الخِلافَةِ خُضْتَها
بعَزْمَةِwith the resolve of أبَّاءٍone who rejects abasement علىagainst القِرْنِthe opponent كَرَّارِrepeatedly charging
بعَزْمَةِ أبَّاءٍ على القِرْنِ كَرَّارِ
And you plunged into fierce battle in defense of the caliphate,
And the battle beneath the caliphate you joined
With the resolve of a defiant man who repeatedly charges his opponent.
With the resolve of unyielding warriors
إذاwhen الحَرْبُwar حَكَّتْrubbed بَرْكَهاits breast بِابْنِagainst a son of حُرَّةٍa freeborn woman
إذا الحَرْبُ حَكَّتْ بَرْكَها بِابْنِ حُرَّةٍ
مُهيبٍawe-inspiring بأولىat the first كُبَّةِsurging mass of الخَيْلِthe cavalry مِغْوارِa daring raider
مُهيبٍ بأولى كُبَّةِ الخَيْلِ مِغْوارِ
When war grinds its breast against a freeborn woman’s son,
When war adorns its arena with the son of Hurrah
Awe-inspiring at the cavalry’s first charge, a daring raider.
Awe-inspiring, foremost with the cheekpieces shaking
تأَلَّىhe swore يَميناًan oath لاnot يُفرِّجُdispels غَمْرَةًa peril
تأَلَّى يَميناً لا يُفرِّجُ غَمْرَةً
بهِfor him السَّيفُthe sword إلاexcept عَنْon account of ذُحولٍblood-feuds وأوتارِand blood-debts
بهِ السَّيفُ إلا عَنْ ذُحولٍ وأوتارِ
He swore an oath: no peril would be dispelled
Brandishing to the right, unfurling no darkness
For him by the sword, save to avenge feuds and blood-debts.
With his sword but that of entrails and veins
سَيعلَمُwill learn راعيthe herder of الذَّوْدِthe small camel-herd أنَّكَthat you قادِحٌstriking fire
سَيعلَمُ راعي الذَّوْدِ أنَّكَ قادِحٌ
بزَنْدٍwith a fire-stick تَفَرَّىburst open عَنْto reveal شَرارَتِهِits spark وارِblazing
بزَنْدٍ تَفَرَّى عَنْ شَرارَتِهِ وارِ
The herder of a small camel-herd will learn that you strike fire
The shepherd of hostility will know you strike
With a blazing fire-stick that bursts open to reveal its spark.
With a flint that sparks off its embers
ودُونand barring الذيwhat يَبْغيهِhe seeks it أرْوَعُa formidable man ساحِبٌdragging
ودُون الذي يَبْغيهِ أرْوَعُ ساحِبٌ
أنابيبَshaft-segments of رُمْحٍa spear فيin الكَريهَةِthe fearful battle أكْسارِbroken fragments
أنابيبَ رُمْحٍ في الكَريهَةِ أكْسارِ
And barring what he seeks stands a formidable man, dragging
Better than he desires is the withdrawer
Sections of a spear, splintered in the fearful fray.
Of spear shafts into the hateful shattered
إذاwhen الشّرَفُglory الوضّاحُradiant أظْلَمَdarkened أُفْقُهُits horizon
إذا الشّرَفُ الوضّاحُ أظْلَمَ أُفْقُهُ
تَوشّحَgirded itself منْfrom فَرعَيْthe two branches of تَميمٍTamim بأقْمارِwith moons
تَوشّحَ منْ فَرعَيْ تَميمٍ بأقْمارِ
When radiant glory’s horizon darkens,
When the glorious light darkens its horizon
It girds itself with moons from Tamim’s two branches.
It is clothed by the Tamim branch with moons
يُراعُare terrified العِداthe enemies مِنهُمْof them إذاwhen ماever تحدَّبُواthey bent
يُراعُ العِدا مِنهُمْ إذا ما تحدَّبُوا
علىover كُلِّevery رَقّاصِdancing الأنابيبِthe shaft-segments خَطّارِswaying
على كُلِّ رَقّاصِ الأنابيبِ خَطّارِ
Their enemies are terrified of them when they bend
The enemy dreads them when they appear
Over every lance whose shaft-segments dance and sway—
Upon every clashing coat of mail
بِكُلِّby every طَويلِlong of الباعِreach فَرَّاجِa reliever of كُرْبَةٍdistress
بِكُلِّ طَويلِ الباعِ فَرَّاجِ كُرْبَةٍ
ووَهَّابِand a lavish giver of أموالٍwealth ونَهَّابِand a plunderer of أعْمارِlives
ووَهَّابِ أموالٍ ونَهَّابِ أعْمارِ
Each man of long reach, a reliever of distress,
With every tall far reaching
And lavish giver of wealth and plunderer of lives.
Squanderer of wealth and plunderer of lives
يُدِرُّونthey make flow أخْلافَthe udders of الغَمامِthe clouds بأوْجُهٍwith faces
يُدِرُّون أخْلافَ الغَمامِ بأوْجُهٍ
شَرِقْنَbrimming بسَلْسالِwith the limpid stream of النَّضارَةِfreshness أحْرارِnoble
شَرِقْنَ بسَلْسالِ النَّضارَةِ أحْرارِ
They make the clouds’ udders flow with faces
They repel the rear of clouds with faces
Noble, brimming with the limpid stream of freshness.
That rise with the chains of youth, free
وأنتَand you إذاwhen ماever خالَفَdiffered from الفَرْعُthe branch أصْلَهُits root
وأنتَ إذا ما خالَفَ الفَرْعُ أصْلَهُ
شَبيهُresembling أبيكَyour father القَرْمِthe great chief عَمْروAmr بنِson of سَوَّارِSawwar
شَبيهُ أبيكَ القَرْمِ عَمْرو بنِ سَوَّارِ
And you, when a branch differs from its root,
While you, if the branch differs from its origin
Resemble your father, the great chief, Amr ibn Sawwar.
Resemble your father, Qaram, son of Suwar
تُلاثُare bound عُراthe bonds of الأحداثِevents منكَin you بماجِدٍto a noble man
تُلاثُ عُرا الأحداثِ منكَ بماجِدٍ
لَدىin السِّلْمِpeace نَفَّاعٍgreatly beneficent وفيand in الحَرْبِwar ضَرّارِdevastating
لَدى السِّلْمِ نَفَّاعٍ وفي الحَرْبِ ضَرّارِ
The bonds of events are fastened to the noble man in you,
Three times the flowers of youth are culled by you
Beneficent in peace and devastating in war.
With glories, in peace high reaching, in war hurtful
إذاwhen ماever انْتَضيتَyou unsheathed الرّأيَjudgment أغمَدَsheathed كَيْدُهُits cunning
إذا ما انْتَضيتَ الرّأيَ أغمَدَ كَيْدُهُ
ظُباthe blades of كُلِّevery مَعْصوبٍwreathed بهِaround him النّقْعُthe dust جَرّارِa leader of great armies
ظُبا كُلِّ مَعْصوبٍ بهِ النّقْعُ جَرّارِ
When you unsheathe judgment, its cunning sheathes
When you determine opinion, its ruse sheathes
The blades of every dust-wreathed leader of great armies.
The prey, every creature bound by its fetter pulls
وأصْدَرْتَand you brought out ماwhat أوْرَدْتَyou brought in والحَزْمُwhile prudence باسِطٌextending
وأصْدَرْتَ ما أوْرَدْتَ والحَزْمُ باسِطٌ
يَدَيْكَyour two hands ولاand no إيرادَbringing in إلاexcept بإصْدارِwith bringing out
يَدَيْكَ ولا إيرادَ إلا بإصْدارِ
And you brought out what you brought in, while prudence extends
You issue what you import, and judgment extends
Your hands: no bringing in without bringing out.
Your hands, no issue but by export
ولمَّاand when انْزَوَتْturned away عَنَّاfrom us وُجوهُthe faces of مَعاشِرٍcertain folk
ولمَّا انْزَوَتْ عَنَّا وُجوهُ مَعاشِرٍ
يَصُدُّونَthey turn away فيin المَشْتىwinter عنِfrom الضَّيْفِthe guest والجارِand the neighbor
يَصُدُّونَ في المَشْتى عنِ الضَّيْفِ والجارِ
And when the faces of certain folk turned away from us,
And when faces of tribes turned from us
Shunning guest and neighbor in the winter,
Who bar the buyer from guest and neighbor
رَفَعْتَyou raised لناfor us نارَthe fire of القِرىhospitality بعدَماafter خَبَتْit died down
رَفَعْتَ لنا نارَ القِرى بعدَما خَبَتْ
عَداكَmay it pass you by الرَّدىdeath أُكْرِمْتَmay you be honored ياO مُوقِدَkindler of النَّارِthe fire
عَداكَ الرَّدى أُكْرِمْتَ يا مُوقِدَ النَّارِ
You raised for us the fire of hospitality after it had died down.
You raised for us the fire of villages after
May death pass you by; may you be honored, O kindler of the fire!
Others besides you failed, honored lighter of flames
علىat حينِa time when أخْفىhushed صَوتَهُits voice كُلُّevery نابِحٍbarking dog
على حينِ أخْفى صَوتَهُ كُلُّ نابِحٍ
وبَرَّحَand sorely afflicted تَعطيلُthe disuse of القِداحِlot-arrows بأيْسارِthe lot-casters
وبَرَّحَ تَعطيلُ القِداحِ بأيْسارِ
At a time when every barking dog hushed its voice,
While others hushed their voices in the dark
And the disuse of lot-arrows sorely afflicted their casters.
And the guests felt shame in asking for bounty
فَلاso no مَجْدَglory إلاexcept ماwhat حَوَيْتَyou amassed وقدand indeed بَنىbuilt
فَلا مَجْدَ إلا ما حَوَيْتَ وقد بَنى
سِواكَsomeone other than you عُلاًeminence لكنْbut علىon جُرُفٍa bank هارِcrumbling
سِواكَ عُلاً لكنْ على جُرُفٍ هارِ
No glory but what you have won; others have indeed built
So no glory but what you contained, and others built
Eminence, but upon a crumbling bank.
High, yet upon crumbling ruin
وواللهِand by God ماnot ضَمَّjoined انتِقادُكَyour discerning choice نَبْعةًa bow-wood tree
وواللهِ ما ضَمَّ انتِقادُكَ نَبْعةً
إِلىto غَرَبٍa willow تُلْويtwists بهِit الرّيحُthe wind خَوّارِweak
إِلى غَرَبٍ تُلْوي بهِ الرّيحُ خَوّارِ
By God, your discerning choice has never coupled a bow-wood tree
By God, your selection let no spring flow
With a weak willow that the wind twists about.
To a west where the wind twists the hollow
وفيand among الخَيْلِhorses ماas long as لَمْnot تَخْتَبرْهُنَّyou test them مَغْمَزٌroom for fault-finding
وفي الخَيْلِ ما لَمْ تَخْتَبرْهُنَّ مَغْمَزٌ
أبَىrefuses العِتْقُnoble breeding أنto يَخفَىstay hidden لدىon كُلِّevery مِضْمارِracecourse
أبَى العِتْقُ أن يَخفَى لدى كُلِّ مِضْمارِ
And in horses, until you test them, there is room for fault-finding;
In horses what a winker has not tried
Noble breeding refuses to stay hidden on any racecourse.
Refuses cover by any racecourse
فعَدِّso turn away عنِfrom الذِّئْبِthe wolf الذيthat شاعَbecame notorious غَدرُهُits treachery
فعَدِّ عنِ الذِّئْبِ الذي شاعَ غَدرُهُ
ولاand do not تَسْتَنِمْtrust إلاexcept إِلىin الضّيغَمِthe lion الضّاريravening
ولا تَسْتَنِمْ إلا إِلى الضّيغَمِ الضّاري
So turn away from the wolf whose treachery is notorious,
So turn from the treacherous wolf whose betrayal spread
And put your trust only in the ravening lion.
And feel secure only near the biting wolf
Sol 6.1