لَم يَبقَ مِن خَبَرِ الجُعفِيِّ باقِيَةٌ

لَم يَبقَ مِن خَبَرِ الجُعفِيِّ باقِيَةٌ

إِلّا الأَمائِرُ وَالأَنطاعُ وَالدُرُسُ

إِلّا الأَمائِرُ وَالأَنطاعُ وَالدُرُسُ

No remnant of the Juʿfī's story remains,

Nothing remains of the news of Ju`fi except leadership, obedience, and lessons

Save the signs, the leather mats, and the worn-out garments.

Give me back the beauty of the living one, so bear patiently

رُدّي إِلَيك جَمالَ الحَيِّ فَاِحتَمِلي

رُدّي إِلَيك جَمالَ الحَيِّ فَاِحتَمِلي

فَإِنَّهُم مِن نُفوسِ القَومِ قَد يَئِسوا

فَإِنَّهُم مِن نُفوسِ القَومِ قَد يَئِسوا

Gather the tribe's camels back to you, then depart,

For they have despaired of their own souls when they saw us walking in their abodes

For they have already despaired of the tribesmen's lives.

Like camels walking in the blazing sun

لَمّا رَأَونا نُمَشّي في دِيارِهِمُ

لَمّا رَأَونا نُمَشّي في دِيارِهِمُ

كَما تُمَشّي الجمالُ الجِلَّةُ الشُمُسُ

كَما تُمَشّي الجمالُ الجِلَّةُ الشُمُسُ

When they saw us striding through their lands,

They were like lions one day at the battleground, but when the encounter occurred and the spears were directed, they fell silent

As huge, unruly camels stride,

No sound is heard from us except mumbling

مِثل اللُيوثِ عَدَت يَوماً لِمُعتَرَكٍ

مِثل اللُيوثِ عَدَت يَوماً لِمُعتَرَكٍ

عِندَ اللِقاءِ وَتَقصيدِ القَنا خَرِسوا

عِندَ اللِقاءِ وَتَقصيدِ القَنا خَرِسوا

Like lions that charged one day toward a battlefield,

With the white swords we strike a blow above which are helmets

At the clash and the shattering of spears, they fell silent.

As for the protection of the armored coats, they have been generous

لا يُسمَعُ الصَوتُ مِنّا غَيرَ غَمغَمَةٍ

لا يُسمَعُ الصَوتُ مِنّا غَيرَ غَمغَمَةٍ

بِالبيضِ نَضرِبُ هاماً فَوقَها القُنُسُ

بِالبيضِ نَضرِبُ هاماً فَوقَها القُنُسُ

No sound is heard from us except a low murmur;

In action, and did not become polluted as they became polluted

With gleaming swords we strike heads topped with helmets.

She gave generously when she saw my anguish

أَمّا حَليلَة ُذُبيانٍ فَقَد كَرُمَت

أَمّا حَليلَة ُذُبيانٍ فَقَد كَرُمَت

في الفِعلِ مِنها فَلَم تَدنَس كَما دَنَسوا

في الفِعلِ مِنها فَلَم تَدنَس كَما دَنَسوا

As for Dhubyān's wife, she indeed proved noble

Above the wailing she glanced in her moments angrily

In her conduct, and was not sullied as they were.

I gave the breastplate of Ju`fi sharpened

جادَت بِما سُئِلَت لَمّا رَأَت جَزَعي

جادَت بِما سُئِلَت لَمّا رَأَت جَزَعي

مِن فَوقِ أَعيَطَ في لَحَظاتِهِ شَوَسُ

مِن فَوقِ أَعيَطَ في لَحَظاتِهِ شَوَسُ

She gave generously what was asked of her when she saw my anguish,

As if it were a spark when it passed over his chest

From atop a long-necked mount with fierceness in its glances.

The virtues of Ju`fi continued hovering over it

مَنَحتُ مَشجَعَةَ الجُعفِيَّ مُرهَفَةً

مَنَحتُ مَشجَعَةَ الجُعفِيَّ مُرهَفَةً

كَأَنَّها حينَ جازَت صَدرَهُ قَبَسُ

كَأَنَّها حينَ جازَت صَدرَهُ قَبَسُ

I bestowed on Mashjaʿa the Juʿfī a keen spear,

Far from its seekers is that which they sought!

As though it were a firebrand when it passed through his chest.

ظَلَّت كَرائِمُ جُعفي تَطيفُ بِها

ظَلَّت كَرائِمُ جُعفي تَطيفُ بِها

هَيهاتَ مِن طالِبيهِ ذاكَ ما التَمَسوا

هَيهاتَ مِن طالِبيهِ ذاكَ ما التَمَسوا

The noblewomen of Juʿfī kept circling it;

Far beyond those seeking him lies that which they sought.