أَقفَرَbecame deserted منof سَلمىSalma يَناضيبُYanadib
أَقفَرَ من سَلمى يَناضيبُ
فَبَطنُthen the valley-floor ذيDhu (place-name element) قارٍQar فَعُرقُوبُthen ʿUrqub
فَبَطنُ ذي قارٍ فَعُرقُوبُ
Yanadib stands deserted of Salma,
How empty of Salma, the haunts!
then the valley-floor of Dhu Qar, then ʿUrqub;
Within is Dhi Qar, so very ruinous,
فَواسِطٌand Wasit أَقفَرَbecame deserted منof أَهلِهِits people
فَواسِطٌ أَقفَرَ من أَهلِهِ
فَذاتُthen Dhat (place-name element) قرقَينِQarqayn فَمَلحوبُthen Malhub
فَذاتُ قرقَينِ فَمَلحوبُ
and Wasit stands deserted of its people,
And Wasit how bare of people!
then Dhat Qarqayn, then Malhub.
And Zat Irqiyen, swept so clean!
مَنازِلُdwellings الحَيِّof the tribe إِذاwhen الحَيُّthe tribe لَمhad not
مَنازِلُ الحَيِّ إِذا الحَيُّ لَم
تَشعَبهمُscatter them عَنكَaway from you الأَشاعيبُthe branching paths
تَشعَبهمُ عَنكَ الأَشاعيبُ
The tribe's dwellings, when the tribe had not
Homes of the living, when no living
been scattered from you by branching paths.
Course through you, no throng,
وَقَدand once أَرىI would see الحَيَّthe tribe بهاthere فيهمُamong them
وَقَد أَرى الحَيَّ بها فيهمُ
كَهمِّكَas you would wish الشُبانُthe young men وَالشيبُand the graybeards
كَهمِّكَ الشُبانُ وَالشيبُ
And I once saw the tribe there, among them
And I see living there among them
young men and graybeards such as you would wish.
Both graybeard and youth like you,
وَالجامِلُand the camel herd الحومُvast and thronging لَهُit has رَجَّةٌa rumbling din
وَالجامِلُ الحومُ لَهُ رَجَّةٌ
كَأَنَّهُas though it were للناظِرِto the beholder اللوبُblack rocks
كَأَنَّهُ للناظِرِ اللوبُ
And the vast camel herd had a rumbling din,
The sleek camel with pride has a look
like black rocks to the beholder.
As if to the onlooker a slice of the moon,
وَالصافِناتُand the poised horses الجُردُsleek-coated كُلٌّeach one إِلىto
وَالصافِناتُ الجُردُ كُلٌّ إِلى
صالحِa noble عِرقِbloodline الخَيلِof horses مَنسوبُtraced
صالحِ عِرقِ الخَيلِ مَنسوبُ
And the sleek horses standing poised, each
And smooth she-camels, every bare one
traced to a noble strain of horses;
Traced to goodly steed stock.
وَقُضُبُand rods الهنديِّof Indian cane مجلوزةًtightly bound
وَقُضُبُ الهنديِّ مجلوزةً
قَدalready قوِّمَتwere straightened منهاof them الأَنابيبُthe cane-sections
قَد قوِّمَت منها الأَنابيبُ
and rods of Indian cane, tightly bound,
Bamboo rods of the India make,
their sections already straightened.
Perfected here into flutes.
يُسمَعُare heard للسامِرِfrom the evening company فيهمamong them إِذاwhen
يُسمَعُ للسامِرِ فيهم إِذا
أَمسواthey enter evening أَغانيٌّsongs وَتَطريبُand tuneful singing
أَمسوا أَغانيٌّ وَتَطريبُ
From their evening company were heard, when
One hears, as they while away their eve,
evening came, songs and tuneful singing.
Song and the sound of strings.
هَلwill...? تُبلِغَنّيbring me حَرَجٌa lean she-camel رَسلَةٌeasy-gaited
هَل تُبلِغَنّي حَرَجٌ رَسلَةٌ
قَوميmy people كِنازُcompact اللَحمِof flesh شُنخوبُtall and powerful
قَومي كِنازُ اللَحمِ شُنخوبُ
Will a lean, easy-gaited she-camel bring me
Will a messenger come my way from the folk
to my people—a solid-fleshed, towering one?
Whose flesh dainty morsels waylay?
يَغولُeats up عَنّيfor me البيدَthe deserts إِرقاصُهاher bounding gait
يَغولُ عَنّي البيدَ إِرقاصُها
إِذاwhen احزألَّتloomed high بيaround me الصَياهيبُthe vast wastes
إِذا احزألَّت بي الصَياهيبُ
Her bounding gait eats up the deserts for me
The distance makes off with them from me
when vast wastes loom up around me.
When the looming mirage mocks.
يَبريappears لَهاbefore her مُستَعمَلٌmuch-used لاحِبٌa broad, clear track
يَبري لَها مُستَعمَلٌ لاحِبٌ
موطّأُbeaten flat المَتنَينِthe two flanks مَركوبُmuch ridden
موطّأُ المَتنَينِ مَركوبُ
A broad, much-used track appears before her,
A rider tries them, lover untried,
its two flanks beaten flat, much ridden.
On the smooth back astride.
كَأَنَّهاas though she were أَسفَعُa dark-faced wild bull ذوwith جُدَّةٍa stripe
كَأَنَّها أَسفَعُ ذو جُدَّةٍ
آوىsought shelter إِلىbeside غَضباءُa hard rock مَهضوبُrain-drenched
آوى إِلى غَضباءُ مَهضوبُ
She is like a dark-faced, stripe-marked wild bull,
As though it were Asfa’ straight standing there
rain-drenched, sheltering beside a rock.
Taking cover in wrathful Muhaddab.
تَلُفُّهُwraps him ريحٌa wind خَريقٌfierce وَلَيand night (word continues)
تَلُفُّهُ ريحٌ خَريقٌ وَلَي
لٌcompletion of 'night' حالِكُblack النُقبَةِin its outer covering غَربيبُpitch-dark
لٌ حالِكُ النُقبَةِ غَربيبُ
A fierce wind wraps him, and a night
The wind of dawn gusts round him, and night
black in its mantle, pitch-dark.
Resolved becomes in starless pall,
فَباتَso he spent the night مقررواchilled (apparent misspelling) مُكِباًbent down عَلىover
فَباتَ مقرروا مُكِباً عَلى
روقَيهِhis two horns وَالماءُand the water شآبيبُshowers
روقَيهِ وَالماءُ شآبيبُ
So he spent the night chilled, bent down over
And he slept bent over his ribs, while the water
his two horns, while water fell in showers.
Was rippling in sheets.
كَأَنَّماas though الماءُthe water عَلىupon مَتنِهِhis back
كَأَنَّما الماءُ عَلى مَتنِهِ
لؤلؤُpearls مَتنٍfirm (uncertain reading) جالَrolled about مَثقوبُpierced
لؤلؤُ مَتنٍ جالَ مَثقوبُ
As though the water upon his back
As though the water upon his back
were firm, pierced pearls rolling loose.
Were necklace-pearls closely strung,
حَتّىuntil غَداhe went out at dawn يَكلأُhe watches أَقطارَهُhis surroundings
حَتّى غَدا يَكلأُ أَقطارَهُ
منfrom كُلِّevery وَجهٍdirection وَهوَwhile he مَرعوبُis terrified
من كُلِّ وَجهٍ وَهوَ مَرعوبُ
Until at dawn he watched his surroundings
Until at the rise of morn he brushes
from every direction, while he was terrified.
Each region about, still filled with fright,
فَنالَthen he took شَيئاًa little forage ثمthen هاجَتrushed بِهِat him
فَنالَ شَيئاً ثم هاجَت بِهِ
مؤسَدَةٌa fierce pack of hounds فيهِنَّamong them تَدريبُtraining
مؤسَدَةٌ فيهِنَّ تَدريبُ
Then he took a little forage; then there rushed at him
And gained something, then it provoked him,
a fierce pack of hounds, trained to hunt.
A cushion-mate, well trained was she.
غُضفٌlop-eared ضِراءٌtrained to hunt طويَتwere made lean فاِنطَوَتso they grew lean
غُضفٌ ضِراءٌ طويَت فاِنطَوَت
كَأَنَّهاas though they were ضُمراًlean يعاسيبُdragonflies
كَأَنَّها ضُمراً يعاسيبُ
Lop-eared hunters, made lean until they grew lean,
A chestnut filly tightly wound, as though
like slender dragonflies.
She were an ostrich in Swayib.
فَجالَthen he wheeled فيon وَحشيِّهِhis outer flank نافِراًtaking flight
فَجالَ في وَحشيِّهِ نافِراً
رَهبَتهاfearing it وَالشَرُّand danger مَرهوبُis dreaded
رَهبَتها وَالشَرُّ مَرهوبُ
Then he wheeled on his outer flank, taking flight
So he frolicked wildly in his lonesomeness,
in fear of the pack—for danger is dreaded.
Fearing evil, filled with fright,
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen قُلنَthey reckoned تَلافَينَهُthey had overtaken him
حَتّى إِذا قُلنَ تَلافَينَهُ
وَالحَينُand death للحاينِto the doomed one مَجلوبُis brought
وَالحَينُ للحاينِ مَجلوبُ
Until, when they thought they had caught him—
Till when she said she was his ally
and death is brought to the doomed—
And time for the lecher was ripe –
ثَنىhe turned back لَهاupon it يَهتِكُtearing open أَستارَهاits coverings
ثَنى لَها يَهتِكُ أَستارَها
بِمُستَمِرٍّwith a stout horn فيهِin it تَجريبُproven use
بِمُستَمِرٍّ فيهِ تَجريبُ
he turned upon the pack, tearing open its coverings,
He addressed himself to rend her veil
with a stout horn, tried and proven.
With unremitting and learned urge,
حَتّىuntil تَساقَطنَthey fell وَخَلَّينَهُand left him
حَتّى تَساقَطنَ وَخَلَّينَهُ
وَرَوقُهand his horn بالدَمِwith blood مَخضوبُis dyed
وَرَوقُه بالدَمِ مَخضوبُ
Until they fell and left him alone,
Till she went limp and let him take her
and his horn was dyed with blood.
While his flanks were stained with red,
كَأَنَّهُas though he were حينwhen نَجاhe escaped كَوكَبٌa star
كَأَنَّهُ حين نَجا كَوكَبٌ
أَوor قَبَسٌa firebrand بالكَفِّin the hand مَشبوبُkindled
أَو قَبَسٌ بالكَفِّ مَشبوبُ
As though, when he escaped, he were a star,
As though when he had won clear he were a star
or a blazing firebrand in a hand.
Or a hidden coal grasped in the palm.
إِنَّindeed بَنيthe sons of ضَبَّةDabbah قَوميmy people فَلَنso never
إِنَّ بَني ضَبَّة قَومي فَلَن
أَشرِبَهُمspeak ill of them ماas long as حَنَّتِmoan النيبُthe old she-camels
أَشرِبَهُم ما حَنَّتِ النيبُ
Indeed, the sons of Dabbah are my people; so never
The clan of Dabba – no more will I
shall I speak ill of them while old she-camels moan.
Give them to drink what the Prophet prohibited.
قَولهُمtheir speech بِرٌuprightness وَجارَتهمand their female neighbor
قَولهُم بِرٌ وَجارَتهم
حِجرٌinviolate فَلاso no هُجرٌfoul speech وَلاand no حوبُsin
حِجرٌ فَلا هُجرٌ وَلا حوبُ
Their speech is uprightness, and their woman-neighbor
Their word is righteous, and their neighbor
is inviolate: no foul speech, no sin.
A rock – no estrangement, no enmity!
يَنميraise upward بهمthem آباؤهُمtheir fathers لِلعُلىtoward eminence
يَنمي بهم آباؤهُم لِلعُلى
وَنِسوَةٌand women بيضٌfair-skinned مَناجيبُbearing noble offspring
وَنِسوَةٌ بيضٌ مَناجيبُ
Their fathers raise them toward eminence,
Their fathers exalt them to high place,
and fair-skinned women who bear noble offspring.
And women fair of visage modest.
وَيَحمَدُand praises العافيthe needy visitor قِراهُمtheir hospitality إِذاwhen
وَيَحمَدُ العافي قِراهُم إِذا
ماemphatic particle لَمnot يَكُنthere is فيin الحَيِّthe tribe مَحلوبُa milk-giving animal
ما لَم يَكُن في الحَيِّ مَحلوبُ
And the needy visitor praises their hospitality when
When no adulterer is among the clan,
there is no milk-giving animal in the tribe.
The quarters of health are praised.
ياO! شَيءُa marvel ماhow همthey حينَwhen يَدعوهُمُhe calls them
يا شَيءُ ما هم حينَ يَدعوهُمُ
داعٍa summoner ليومِfor a day of الرَوعِterror مَكروبُdistressed
داعٍ ليومِ الرَوعِ مَكروبُ
What men they are, when there calls them
Oh thing, they are not – when a caller to the day
a distressed summoner for a day of terror!
Of commotion calls them – troubled!
شُمhigh-nosed and proud يَغارونَguard honor jealously إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle بَداappear
شُم يَغارونَ إِذا ما بَدا
منof الحَيياتِthe modest women العَراقيبُthe heels
من الحَيياتِ العَراقيبُ
High-nosed, protective of honor whenever
They snort with rage if there saunter into view
the heels of modest women show.
Some serpents from Iraq.
كَأَنَّهمas though they were يَوماًon a day إِذاwhen استلأمواthey don armor
كَأَنَّهم يَوماً إِذا استلأموا
فيin الحَلَقِmail-rings البُزلmature camels المَصاعيبُthe unbroken ones
في الحَلَقِ البُزل المَصاعيبُ
On a day when they don their armor, they are
As though, when they arm themselves
like full-grown, unbroken camels within ring-mail.
With slender swords in the battle,
يَسعىstrives لهمfor them جَيرindeed بأوتارِهمover their blood-feuds
يَسعى لهم جَير بأوتارِهم
طَلّابُan ardent seeker of أَوتارٍblood vengeance وَمَطلوبُand one pursued
طَلّابُ أَوتارٍ وَمَطلوبُ
For them, indeed, in their blood-feuds, strive
Some horse-doctor runs to tend their steeds,
an ardent avenger and one pursued for vengeance.
Seeking payment, commissioned.
كَأَنَّهمas though they were عادٌʿAd حُلوماًin forbearance إِذاwhen
كَأَنَّهم عادٌ حُلوماً إِذا
طاشَgrow reckless منthrough الجَهلِignorance القَطاريبُthe restless fools
طاشَ من الجَهلِ القَطاريبُ
They are like ʿAd in forbearance when
As though they were ‘Ad when the ignorant
restless fools grow reckless through ignorance.
Set the close-ranked squadrons to milling,
وَالمالُand wealth لاnot يُمنَعُis withheld منfrom حَقِّهِits rightful due
وَالمالُ لا يُمنَعُ من حَقِّهِ
وَالآلُّand the kinship bond فيin ذيone possessing الألِّkinship مَرقوبُis honored
وَالآلُّ في ذي الألِّ مَرقوبُ
And wealth is not withheld from its rightful due,
While wealth is not refused its rights
and kinship is honored in those who share its bond.
And the Family their share measured.
بَلbut لَيتَwould that شِعريmy knowledge وَالمُنىand wishes ضَلَّةُa delusion
بَل لَيتَ شِعري وَالمُنى ضَلَّةُ
وَالمَرءُand a man إِذwhen يأمُلُhe hopes مَكذوبُis deceived
وَالمَرءُ إِذ يأمُلُ مَكذوبُ
But would that I knew—and wishes are delusion,
Would that I knew – while wishes mislead
and a man, when he hopes, is deceived—
And man hopes for the impossible –
هَلwill...? تَذعَرنَّshe will startle الوحشَthe wild beasts بيbearing me فيin الضُحىthe forenoon
هَل تَذعَرنَّ الوحشَ بي في الضُحى
كَبداءُa broad-bellied mare كالصَعدَةِlike a spear-shaft سُرحوبُlong-bodied
كَبداءُ كالصَعدَةِ سُرحوبُ
will she, bearing me, startle wild beasts at forenoon—
Will the wildlife start at me in the forenoon
a broad-bellied, long-bodied mare, like a spear-shaft?
Like smallpox skin in Sarhub?
مُدفَقَةُample المَتنَينِon both sides of the back يُنميraises بهاher
مُدفَقَةُ المَتنَينِ يُنمي بها
هادٍa neck كجِذعِlike a trunk of النخلِa palm-tree يَعبوبُlong and powerful
هادٍ كجِذعِ النخلِ يَعبوبُ
Full on both sides of her back, borne high by
She mounts me, makes them envious – a smooth
a long, strong neck like the trunk of a palm.
Back like a palm-trunk growing leaves,
وَكاهِلٌand withers أُفرِعraised high فيهِin them مَعwith الthe (article continues)
وَكاهِلٌ أُفرِع فيهِ مَع ال
إِفراعِheight إِشرافٌloftiness وَتَقبيبُand a rounded arch
إِفراعِ إِشرافٌ وَتَقبيبُ
And withers raised high, combining with their
A shoulder widely spanned where twigs sprout
height a lofty rise and a rounded arch.
Amidst branches in built-up layers,
مَيمونَةُfortunate الطائِرِin omen محبوبةُbeloved
مَيمونَةُ الطائِرِ محبوبةُ
وَالفَرَسُand the horse الصالِحُthe good محبوبُis beloved
وَالفَرَسُ الصالِحُ محبوبُ
Fortunate in omen, beloved;
Auspicious, beloved, the bird on the right;
and a good horse is beloved.
And the excellent steed, beloved!
تَعسِلُshe lopes تَحتيbeneath me عَسلاناًa loping gait كَماjust as
تَعسِلُ تَحتي عَسلاناً كَما
يَعسِلُlopes نحوَtoward الغَنَمِthe sheep الذيبُthe wolf
يَعسِلُ نحوَ الغَنَمِ الذيبُ
She lopes beneath me, loping just as
She makes honey flow under me as
a wolf lopes toward the sheep.
The wolf makes honey flow toward the sheep!
Sol 6.1