أَمِنكَis it from you? تَأَوُّبُnightly return الطَيفِof the phantom الطَروبِrapturous
أَمِنكَ تَأَوُّبُ الطَيفِ الطَروبِ
حَبيبٌa beloved جاءَcame يُهدىbeing sent as a gift مِنfrom حَبيبِa beloved
حَبيبٌ جاءَ يُهدى مِن حَبيبِ
Is it from you that the rapturous phantom returns by night—
From your shelter does the gentle breeze implore
a beloved sent as a gift from a beloved?
A beloved has come, gifted from a beloved
تَخَطّىit crossed beyond رِقبَةَthe watch of الوَشينَthe slanderers وَهناًlate at night
تَخَطّى رِقبَةَ الوَشينَ وَهناً
وَبُعدَand the remoteness مَسافَةُof the stretch الخَرقِof the desert المَجوبِtraversed
وَبُعدَ مَسافَةُ الخَرقِ المَجوبِ
It passed the slanderers' watch late at night,
He surmounted the haughty soul and its languor
and the far stretch of the desert it crossed.
And the distance of the desolate wilderness
يُكاذِبُنيit lies to me وَأَصدُقُهُand I am true to it وِداداًin love
يُكاذِبُني وَأَصدُقُهُ وِداداً
وَمِنand from كَلَفٍinfatuation مُصادَقَةُbefriending الكَذوبِthe habitual liar
وَمِن كَلَفٍ مُصادَقَةُ الكَذوبِ
It lies to me, while I am true to it in love;
He lies to me, and I believe him in affection
and befriending a liar comes from infatuation.
Feigned intimacy is the habit of liars
تُجيبُanswers الدارُthe dwelling سائِلَهاits questioner فَتُنبيand so tells
تُجيبُ الدارُ سائِلَها فَتُنبي
عَنِabout الحَيِّthe clan المُفارِقِdeparted مِنof تُجيبِTujib
عَنِ الحَيِّ المُفارِقِ مِن تُجيبِ
The dwelling answers its questioner and tells
The abode answers its questioner, making known
of the departed clan of Tujib.
Of the living who departed, the respondents
نَأَواthey went far away بِأَوانِسٍwith gentle maidens يَرجِعنَthey turn وَحشاًwild
نَأَوا بِأَوانِسٍ يَرجِعنَ وَحشاً
إِذاwhen فوجِئنَthey are startled بِالشَعَرِby the hair الخَضيبِdyed
إِذا فوجِئنَ بِالشَعَرِ الخَضيبِ
They went far away with gentle maidens who turn wild
They associated with loved ones, returning lonesome
when startled by dyed hair.
When suddenly met by hoary hair
أَقولُI say لِلِمَّتيto my locks إِذwhen أَسرَعَتthey hastened بيwith me
أَقولُ لِلِمَّتي إِذ أَسرَعَت بي
إِلىtoward الشَيبِgray hair اِخسَريsuffer loss! فيهِin it وَخيبيand be disappointed!
إِلى الشَيبِ اِخسَري فيهِ وَخيبي
I tell my locks, when they hastened me
I say to my life as it hastens me
toward grayness: "May you suffer loss and disappointment there!"
To old age, "Ruin me in it, and disappoint me!"
مُخالِفَةًvarying بِضَربٍwith one kind بَعدَafter ضَربٍanother kind
مُخالِفَةً بِضَربٍ بَعدَ ضَربٍ
وَماand what أَناI وَاِختِلافاتُand the variations الضُروبِof kinds
وَما أَنا وَاِختِلافاتُ الضُروبِ
Changing, one shade after another—
A difference of method after method
what have I to do with these differing shades?
Yet I and differences in methods are not of accord
وَكانَand was حَديثُهاits new growth فيهاwithin it غَريباًa stranger
وَكانَ حَديثُها فيها غَريباً
فَصارَso became قَديمُهاits old growth حَقَّtruly الغَريبِthe stranger
فَصارَ قَديمُها حَقَّ الغَريبِ
The new growth in my locks was once a stranger;
And her conversation in them was strange
now their old growth is the stranger indeed.
Thus, her antiquity became truly strange
يَعيبُfind fault with الغانِياتُbeautiful women عَلَيَّin me شَيبيmy gray hair
يَعيبُ الغانِياتُ عَلَيَّ شَيبي
وَمَنand who ليfor me أَنthat أُمَتَّعَI may be allowed to enjoy بِالمَعيبِwith what is faulted
وَمَن لي أَن أُمَتَّعَ بِالمَعيبِ
Beautiful women reproach me for my gray hair,
The singers blame my grey hair on me
and who can assure me I shall enjoy what they fault?
But who can I be to enjoy what is blameworthy?
وَوَجديand my love بِالشَبابِfor youth وَإِنand though تَوَلّىit departed
وَوَجدي بِالشَبابِ وَإِن تَوَلّى
حَميداًpraiseworthy دُونَless than وَجديmy love بِالمَشيبِfor gray hair
حَميداً دُونَ وَجدي بِالمَشيبِ
And my love for youth, though it departed
I experienced my youth and though it turned away
with honor, is less than my love for gray hair.
Praiseworthy, without my experience of old age's dignity
أَماis there not لِرَبيعَةِfor Rabi'a الفَرَسِal-Faras اِنتِهاءٌa ceasing
أَما لِرَبيعَةِ الفَرَسِ اِنتِهاءٌ
عَنِfrom الزَلزالِthe turmoil فيهاwithin it وَالحُروبِand wars
عَنِ الزَلزالِ فيها وَالحُروبِ
Will Rabi'at al-Faras never desist
Is it not time for Taghlib's springtime to end
from the turmoil within it and from wars?
Of tremors within it and wars?
لِكُلِّfor every قَبيلَةٍtribe خَيلٌcavalry تَداعىrallies together
لِكُلِّ قَبيلَةٍ خَيلٌ تَداعى
إِلىagainst خَيلٍcavalry مُعاوِدَةِrepeatedly undertaking الرَكوبِmounting
إِلى خَيلٍ مُعاوِدَةِ الرَكوبِ
Each tribe has cavalry that rallies
For each tribe are horses that come forth
against cavalry that mounts again and again.
To horses rehearsing riding
كَدَأبِlike the way of بَنيthe sons of المُعَمِّرِal-Mu'ammir حينَwhen زارواthey visited
كَدَأبِ بَني المُعَمِّرِ حينَ زاروا
بَنيthe sons of عَمروٍ'Amr بِمُصمِيَةٍwith a deadly blow شَعوبِlife-sundering
بَني عَمروٍ بِمُصمِيَةٍ شَعوبِ
Such was the way of the sons of al-Mu'ammir when they visited
As was the habit of the sons of Mu'ammar when they visited
the sons of 'Amr with a deadly, life-sundering blow.
The sons of 'Amr at Musayyid amidst throngs
تَبالواthey tested one another صادِقَgenuine الأَحسابِancestral honors حَتّىuntil
تَبالوا صادِقَ الأَحسابِ حَتّى
نَفَواthey removed خَوَرَthe frailty الضَعيفِof the weakling عَنِfrom الصَليبِthe stalwart
نَفَوا خَوَرَ الضَعيفِ عَنِ الصَليبِ
They put genuine nobility to the test, until
They confronted the sincere in reckoning until
they purged the stalwart of the weakling's frailty.
They averted the loss of the weak against the cross
صَريحُpure stock الخَيلِof horses وَالأَبطالِand champions أَغنىsufficed
صَريحُ الخَيلِ وَالأَبطالِ أَغنى
عَنِwithout needing الهُجُناتِcrossbreeds وَالخِلطِand the mixture المَشوبِadulterated
عَنِ الهُجُناتِ وَالخِلطِ المَشوبِ
Purebred horses and true-born champions sufficed,
The openness of horses and heroes is richer
dispensing with crossbreeds and adulterated mixtures.
Than the crossbreeds and the adulterated mixtures
وَكانواand they had رَقَّعواpatched together أَيّامَdays سِلمٍof peace
وَكانوا رَقَّعوا أَيّامَ سِلمٍ
عَلىover تِلكَthose القَوادِحِcauses of rancor وَالنُدوبِand scars
عَلى تِلكَ القَوادِحِ وَالنُدوبِ
And they had patched together days of peace
They would patch up the days of Sulaym
over those sources of rancor and scars.
Upon those cups and wounds
إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) الجُرحُthe wound رُمَّis closed عَلىover فَسادٍinfection
إِذا ما الجُرحُ رُمَّ عَلى فَسادٍ
تَبَيَّنَbecomes evident فيهِin it تَفريطُthe negligence الطَبيبِof the physician
تَبَيَّنَ فيهِ تَفريطُ الطَبيبِ
When a wound is closed over infection,
When the wound was bandaged over corruption
the physician's negligence shows through.
The healer's negligence was evident
رَزِيَّةُthe calamity هالِكٍof one who died جَلَبَتbrought رَزاياcalamities
رَزِيَّةُ هالِكٍ جَلَبَت رَزايا
وَخَطبٌand a disaster باتَcame to يَكشِفُdisclose عَنconcerning خُطوبِdisasters
وَخَطبٌ باتَ يَكشِفُ عَن خُطوبِ
The calamity of one death brought more calamities,
The pleasure of loss brought losses
and one disaster came to reveal more disasters.
And speech that revealed courtships
يُشَقُّis torn الجَيبُthe collar ثُمَّthen يَجيءُcomes أَمرٌan event
يُشَقُّ الجَيبُ ثُمَّ يَجيءُ أَمرٌ
يُصَغَّرُis belittled فيهِbeside it تَشقيقُthe tearing الجُيوبِof collars
يُصَغَّرُ فيهِ تَشقيقُ الجُيوبِ
A collar is torn; then an event arrives
The pocket is torn, then comes a matter
beside which the tearing of collars seems trifling.
In which tearing pockets is belittled
وَقَبرٌand a grave عَنto أَيامِنِthe right of بَرقَعيدٍBarqa'id
وَقَبرٌ عَن أَيامِنِ بَرقَعيدٍ
إِذاwhen هِيَshe ناحَرَتfaces directly أُفُقَthe horizon الجَنوبِof the south
إِذا هِيَ ناحَرَت أُفُقَ الجَنوبِ
And a grave lies to the right of Barqa'id,
And a grave, after my days of Barqa'id
when she faces the southern horizon—
When it slaughters the horizon of the south
يَسُحُّpours تُرابُهُits earth أَبَداًforever عَلَيهاupon her
يَسُحُّ تُرابُهُ أَبَداً عَلَيها
عِهاداًrecurring showers مِنof مُراقِspilt دَمٍblood صَبيبِstreaming
عِهاداً مِن مُراقِ دَمٍ صَبيبِ
its earth forever pours upon her
Its soil will forever sweep upon it
recurring showers of spilt, streaming blood.
A pledge from the pouring of youthful blood
إِذاwhen سَكَبَتpours سَماءٌa rain-cloud ثُمَّthen أَجلَتclears
إِذا سَكَبَت سَماءٌ ثُمَّ أَجلَت
ثَنَتfollows with another بِسَماءِwith a rain-cloud مُغدِقَةٍcopious سَكوبِpouring
ثَنَت بِسَماءِ مُغدِقَةٍ سَكوبِ
When one rain-cloud pours and then clears,
When a sky pours forth, then holds back
it follows with another cloud, copious and pouring.
It curves with a generous downpour
وَلَمand not أَرَI have seen لِلتِراتِfor blood-feuds بَعُدنَgrown distant عَهداًin time
وَلَم أَرَ لِلتِراتِ بَعُدنَ عَهداً
كَسَلِّlike unsheathing المَشرَفِيَّةِMashrafi swords مِنfrom قَريبِnearby
كَسَلِّ المَشرَفِيَّةِ مِن قَريبِ
For blood-feuds grown distant in time, I have seen nothing
And I have not seen for the Pleiades after our era
like drawing Mashrafi swords at close quarters.
An ascent like that of Al-Musharrafiyyah's nearby
تُصَوَّبُare lowered فَوقَهُمabove them حِزَقُclusters العَواليof tall spears
تُصَوَّبُ فَوقَهُم حِزَقُ العَوالي
وَغابُand forests الخَطِّof al-Khatt مَهزوزَshaken الكُعوبِat the joints
وَغابُ الخَطِّ مَهزوزَ الكُعوبِ
Clusters of tall spears are lowered above them,
The arrows of loftiness are aimed over them
and forests of al-Khatt spears, their joints shaking.
And the line of trembling knees disappeared
كَنَخلِlike the palms of سُمَيحَةَSumayha اِستَعلىrises high رَكيبٌa stand of palms
كَنَخلِ سُمَيحَةَ اِستَعلى رَكيبٌ
تُكَفّيهِtilt it الرِياحُthe winds عَلىover رَكيبِanother stand
تُكَفّيهِ الرِياحُ عَلى رَكيبِ
Like Sumayha's palms, one stand rises high,
Like the date palms of Sumayhah, a hill ascended
the winds bending it over another stand.
Shielded by the winds atop a hill
فَمَنso whoever يَسمَعhears وَغىthe battle-clamor الأَخَوَينِof the two brothers يُذعَرis terrified
فَمَن يَسمَع وَغى الأَخَوَينِ يُذعَر
بِصَكٍّby a crash مِنfrom قِراعِهِماtheir clashing blows عَجيبِastonishing
بِصَكٍّ مِن قِراعِهِما عَجيبِ
So whoever hears the two brothers' battle-clamor is terrified
Who then can hear the clamor of the two brothers and not be terrified
by an astonishing crash from their clashing blows.
By a clash from their combat, wondrous
تَخَمُّطَthe raging تَغلِبَof Taghlib الغَلباءِthe mighty أَلقَتit laid
تَخَمُّطَ تَغلِبَ الغَلباءِ أَلقَت
عَلىupon الثَرثارِal-Tharthar بَركاًa breast وَالرَحوبِand al-Rahub
عَلى الثَرثارِ بَركاً وَالرَحوبِ
Such is the rage of mighty Taghlib, which has laid
The struggle of Taghlib cast down upon Tharthar
its breast upon al-Tharthar and al-Rahub.
Spate and meadows
زَعيماًtwo champions خُطَّةٍof a cause وَرَداthey both approached حِماماًdeath
زَعيماً خُطَّةٍ وَرَدا حِماماً
وُرودَهُماtheir approach جَباthe basin الماءِof water الشَروبِdrinkable
وُرودَهُما جَبا الماءِ الشَروبِ
Two champions of a cause approached death
A chieftain of a plot, and a wild pigeon
as they approach a basin of drinking water.
Whose return was to drink from the waters
إِذاwhen آدَweighs heavily البَلاءُaffliction تَحَمَّلاهُthey both bear it
إِذا آدَ البَلاءُ تَحَمَّلاهُ
عَلىon دَفَّيthe two flanks of مُوَقَّعَةٍa scarred beast رَكوبِused for riding
عَلى دَفَّي مُوَقَّعَةٍ رَكوبِ
When affliction weighs heavily, they bear it
When adversity came, they bore it
on the two flanks of a scarred riding beast.
Upon the shoulders of the firmly mounted
إِذاwhen قُسِمَis allotted التَقَدُّمُprecedence لَمnot يُرَجَّحis favored
إِذا قُسِمَ التَقَدُّمُ لَم يُرَجَّح
نَصيبٌone share فيamong الرِجالِthe men عَلىover نَصيبِanother share
نَصيبٌ في الرِجالِ عَلى نَصيبِ
When precedence is allotted, no advantage is given
When precedence is divided, no share amongst men
to one man's share over another's,
Is weighted over any share
خَلاexcept أَنَّthat الكَبيرَthe elder يُزادُis given more فَضلاًdistinction
خَلا أَنَّ الكَبيرَ يُزادُ فَضلاً
كَفَضلِlike the extra length of الرُمحِthe spear زيدَincreased مِنَby الكُعوبِthe joints
كَفَضلِ الرُمحِ زيدَ مِنَ الكُعوبِ
except that the elder is given added distinction,
Except that the elder is given excellence
like a spear's extra length from added joints.
As the excellence of a spear over spears
فَهَلso is there لِاِبنىfor the two sons of عَدِيٍّ'Adi مِنany رَشيدٍwise man
فَهَل لِاِبنى عَدِيٍّ مِن رَشيدٍ
يَرُدُّwho brings back شَريدَthe stray حِلمِهِماof their good sense الغَريبِfar from home
يَرُدُّ شَريدَ حِلمِهِما الغَريبِ
Is there, then, a wise man for the two sons of 'Adi
Is there anyone rational of the sons of 'Adiyy
to bring back their wandering, estranged good sense?
To restore the wanderer of their forbearing wisdom?
أَخافُI fear عَلَيهُماfor them both إِمرارَthe turning bitter مَرعىًof a pasture
أَخافُ عَلَيهُما إِمرارَ مَرعىً
مِنَof الكَلَإِthe herbage الَّذيwhich عُلِقاهُthey both loved موبيplague-bearing
مِنَ الكَلَإِ الَّذي عُلِقاهُ موبي
I fear for them a pasture turning bitter,
I fear for them the passage of a pasture
of plague-bearing herbage they have come to love.
From the fodder that they suspended, withering
وَأَعلَمُand I know أَنَّthat حَربَهُماtheir war خَبالٌruin
وَأَعلَمُ أَنَّ حَربَهُما خَبالٌ
عَلىfor الداعيthe summoner إِلَيهاto it وَالمُجيبِand the respondent
عَلى الداعي إِلَيها وَالمُجيبِ
And I know their war is ruin
And I know that their war is but caprice
for whoever calls for it and whoever answers.
Upon the inviter to it and the respondent
كَماjust as أَسرىtraveled by night القَطاthe sandgrouse لِبَياتِfor the night attack on عَمروٍ'Amr
كَما أَسرى القَطا لِبَياتِ عَمروٍ
وَسالَand flowed لِهُلكِهِto his destruction واديthe valley of قَضيبِQadib
وَسالَ لِهُلكِهِ وادي قَضيبِ
As the sandgrouse flew by night for the night attack on 'Amr,
As the war prisoner of ‘Amr was led
and the valley of Qadib flowed to his doom.
To his demise, and the valley of Qadhib overflowed
وَفيand in حَربِwar العَشيرَةِof the clan مُؤيِداتٌcrushing calamities
وَفي حَربِ العَشيرَةِ مُؤيِداتٌ
تُضَعضِعُundermine تالِدَthe inherited العِزِّglory المَهيبِawe-inspiring
تُضَعضِعُ تالِدَ العِزِّ المَهيبِ
And war within the clan holds crushing calamities
And in the war of the clan, there are supporters
that undermine its inherited, awe-inspiring glory.
That shake the ancient glories, revered
لَعَلَّperhaps أَباAbu المُعَمَّرِal-Mu'ammar يَتَّليهاwill see to it
لَعَلَّ أَبا المُعَمَّرِ يَتَّليها
بِبُعدِwith far reach الهَمِّof purpose وَالصَدرِand a breast الرَحيبِspacious
بِبُعدِ الهَمِّ وَالصَدرِ الرَحيبِ
Perhaps Abu al-Mu'ammar will take it in hand
Perhaps Abu Al-Mu'ammar recites them
with far-reaching resolve and an ample breast.
In distant anxiety and a vast chest
وَكَمand how much مِنof سُؤدُدٍnobility قَدindeed باتَhas come to يُعطيhe bestows
وَكَم مِن سُؤدُدٍ قَد باتَ يُعطي
عَطِيَّةَthe gift مُكثِرِof one rich فيهِin it مُطيبِgiving gladly
عَطِيَّةَ مُكثِرِ فيهِ مُطيبِ
And how much nobility he has been bestowing,
How many necklaces has the night given
with the bounty of one rich in it and glad to give.
The gift of the perfumer within it
أَهَيثَمُO Haytham ياO اِبنَson of عَبدِservant of اللَهِAllah دَعوىa call
أَهَيثَمُ يا اِبنَ عَبدِ اللَهِ دَعوى
مُشيدٍone raising his voice بِالنَصيحَةِin counsel أَوor مُهيبِone making an appeal
مُشيدٍ بِالنَصيحَةِ أَو مُهيبِ
O Haytham, son of 'Abd Allah, here is a call
O Haytham son of ‘Abdullah, a claim
from one raising his voice in counsel or making an appeal.
Of one praising advice or deterring
وَماand no one يُدعىis summoned لِماto what تُدعىyou are summoned إِلَيهِto it
وَما يُدعى لِما تُدعى إِلَيهِ
سِواكَexcept you اِبنَson of النَجيبَةِthe noble woman وَالنَجيبِand the noble man
سِواكَ اِبنَ النَجيبَةِ وَالنَجيبِ
And no one is summoned to what you are summoned to
And none are called to what you are called to
except you, son of a noble mother and a noble father.
Other than you, son of the honorable and the noble
تَناسَdeliberately forget ذُنوبَthe offenses قَومِكَof your people إِنَّindeed حِفظَremembering الthe
تَناسَ ذُنوبَ قَومِكَ إِنَّ حِفظَ ال
ذُنوبِoffenses إِذاwhen قَدُمنَthey have grown old مِنَamong الذُنوبِthe offenses
ذُنوبِ إِذا قَدُمنَ مِنَ الذُنوبِ
Forget your people's offenses; remembering the
Overlook your people's sins, for keeping
offenses, once long past, is itself an offense.
Sins when they arrive from sins
فَلَلسَهمُfor indeed the arrow السَديدُrightly aimed أَحَبُّdearer غِبّاًin the aftermath
فَلَلسَهمُ السَديدُ أَحَبُّ غِبّاً
إِلىto الراميthe archer مِنَthan السَهمِthe arrow المُصيبِthat hits its mark
إِلى الرامي مِنَ السَهمِ المُصيبِ
For the rightly aimed arrow is dearer in the end
For the straight arrow is more beloved errant
to the archer than the arrow that hits its mark.
To the archer than the arrow that hits
مَتىwhen أَحرَزتَyou secure نَصرَthe support بَنيof the sons of عُبَيدٍ'Ubayd
مَتى أَحرَزتَ نَصرَ بَني عُبَيدٍ
إِلىalong with إِخلاصِthe sincerity وُدِّof the affection بَنيof the sons of حَبيبِHabib
إِلى إِخلاصِ وُدِّ بَني حَبيبِ
When you secure the support of the sons of 'Ubayd,
When you have attained victory for the clan of ‘Ubayd
together with the sincere affection of the sons of Habib,
To the sincerity of affection for the clan of Habib
فَقَدthen indeed أَصبَحتَyou have become أَغلَبَthe mightiest تَغلِبِيٍّman of Taghlib
فَقَد أَصبَحتَ أَغلَبَ تَغلِبِيٍّ
عَلىover أَيديthe hands العَشيرَةِof the clan وَالقُلوبِand hearts
عَلى أَيدي العَشيرَةِ وَالقُلوبِ
then you will have become the mightiest man of Taghlib,
You will have become the strongest of Taghlib
master of the clan's hands and hearts.
At the hands of the clan and their hearts
Sol 6.1