عفاwas effaced ضارجٌDarij منfrom آلthe people of ليلىLayla فعاقلُand Aqil
عفا ضارجٌ من آل ليلى فعاقلُ
وخفَّتand sped lightly بأعباءwith the burdens of القطينthe camp-folk الرَّواحلُthe riding camels
وخفَّت بأعباء القطين الرَّواحلُ
Darij has faded, abandoned by Layla's people, and so has Aqil;
The camel stride of Layla's tribe departed while the guide
and the riding camels sped off with the camp-folk's burdens.
Lightened the loads on the backs of the she-camels.
ونيطَand was suspended رقيمٌa patterned covering فوقabove زُهْرٍwhite mounts كأنهاas though they were
ونيطَ رقيمٌ فوق زُهْرٍ كأنها
نوارُskittish ones نَعامٍostriches أنكرshunning الإنْسِhumans جافِلُfleeing in alarm
نوارُ نَعامٍ أنكر الإنْسِ جافِلُ
A patterned canopy hung over white mounts, as though they were
A parchment was tied atop a flower as though it were
a shy ostrich flock, startled by humans and fleeing.
The plumage of an ostrich shunned by people.
وعاودand revisited قلبيmy heart راجعٌa returning surge منof صَبابةٍardent longing
وعاود قلبي راجعٌ من صَبابةٍ
فلاso neither اللومُblame يلهيهdistracts it ولاnor العذلُreproach شاغلُdistracting
فلا اللومُ يلهيه ولا العذلُ شاغلُ
A returning surge of longing revisited my heart;
And my heart returned from its youth
neither blame distracts it nor reproach occupies it.
So blame it not, nor keep it busy with reproach.
وهيَّجand stirred وجديmy yearning والدُّجىwhile the darkness مرجحنةٌheavy and dense
وهيَّج وجدي والدُّجى مرجحنةٌ
حمامٌdoves بأغصانِon the branches of الأراكَةthe arak tree هادلُcooing
حمامٌ بأغصانِ الأراكَة هادلُ
My yearning was stirred, while darkness lay heavy,
It stirred my passion while the darkness leaned
by doves cooing on the arak tree's branches.
Like doves in the branches of Arak trees cooing.
سجعنthey cooed وقلتُand I spoke الشعرverse لكنbut أدمُعيmy tears
سجعن وقلتُ الشعر لكن أدمُعي
سوافحُpouring منfrom حرِّthe burning heat of الفراقِseparation سوابلُstreaming
سوافحُ من حرِّ الفراقِ سوابلُ
They cooed, and I spoke verse; but my tears
I composed poetry but my tears
poured and streamed from separation's burning heat.
Poured down copiously from the heat of separation.
عداكُنَّmay he pass you all by راميthe marksman of الصبحdawn إنَّindeed صبابتيmy longing
عداكُنَّ رامي الصبح إنَّ صبابتي
تقاصرُfall short عنهاof it الفاقداتُthe bereaved women الثَّواكلُbereft of children
تقاصرُ عنها الفاقداتُ الثَّواكلُ
May dawn's hunter miss you! Indeed, my longing
The dawn’s travellers except for you
is beyond what bereaved, mourning mothers can match.
My yearning falls short of their forgetfulness.
كأنيas though I were غداةَon the morning of البينparting ذوone afflicted with خيْبريَّةٍa Khaybar fever
كأني غداةَ البين ذو خيْبريَّةٍ
تُرنحهُmake him sway تحتbeneath المُروطthe cloaks الأفاكلُthe shivering fits
تُرنحهُ تحت المُروط الأفاكلُ
On the morning of parting, I seemed a man with a Khaybar fever,
As though after the separation I possessed
whom shivering fits rocked beneath his cloaks.
A sword that swayed under the sheathed blades.
أقولُI say لصبريto my patience يومon the day of جَرْعاءِJar'a مالكٍMalik
أقولُ لصبري يوم جَرْعاءِ مالكٍ
وقدwhen already أسلمتهُhad surrendered it للغرامِto passion's torment الخواذلُthose who forsake
وقد أسلمتهُ للغرامِ الخواذلُ
I say to my patience on the day at Jar'a Malik,
I say to my patience the day Malik turned away
when those who forsake had surrendered it to passion's torment:
After I had surrendered it to passionate love:
أظَعْناًare you departing عنfrom الحيthe clan الجميعِthe assembled وتاركيand leaving me
أظَعْناً عن الحي الجميعِ وتاركي
وهلand does ينفعُbenefit المحزونَthe sorrowful one صبرٌpatience مُزايلُdeparting
وهل ينفعُ المحزونَ صبرٌ مُزايلُ
Are you departing from the assembled clan and leaving me?
"Away from all the living and leaving behind
What use to the sorrowful is patience that departs?
Can patience benefit the grieved and departing?"
إذاwhen اضمرconcealed الركبthe caravan الدجىthe darkness أظهرتهمrevealed them
إذا اضمر الركب الدجى أظهرتهم
شموسsuns ضُحىًof forenoon أفلاكهنtheir celestial spheres المحاملُthe camel litters
شموس ضُحىً أفلاكهن المحاملُ
Whenever darkness concealed the caravan, it was revealed
When the people embarked in the darkness of night
by morning suns whose celestial spheres were the camel litters.
The dawns’ suns in their orbits gave them light.
وإنand if سلكواthey traveled بينbetween النكاسal-Nikas فوجْرةٍand Wajra
وإن سلكوا بين النكاس فوجْرةٍ
تشابهbecame alike حالٍan adorned one بالصَّريمِin the sand tract وعاطلُand an unadorned one
تشابه حالٍ بالصَّريمِ وعاطلُ
And when they traveled between al-Nikas and Wajra,
And if they journeyed between rugged terrain
the adorned and unadorned looked alike in the sand tract.
In a similar plight to the lame and inactive,
عجبتI marveled لهمat them روْدُseeking out الخمائلthe leafy groves منزلاًas lodging
عجبت لهم روْدُ الخمائل منزلاً
ونورُwhile the bloom of الثَّناياthe front teeth والعيونُand the eyes خمائلُleafy groves
ونورُ الثَّنايا والعيونُ خمائلُ
I marvel that they seek out groves for lodging,
I wondered at the softness of their resting place
when their teeth's bloom and their eyes are themselves groves;
And the light of the slopes and eyes of their maidens.
وإعناقُهُمand their swift riding إثْرَin pursuit of القنيصthe quarry وعندهُمْwhile they have
وإعناقُهُم إثْرَ القنيص وعندهُمْ
خواذلُdoes straying from the herd منْamong غِزلانهمٍtheir gazelles ومَطافلُand does with fawns
خواذلُ منْ غِزلانهمٍ ومَطافلُ
and that they speed after game, though among them
Their rubbing of necks after shedding their shirts
are stray does and mothers with fawns from their own gazelles.
While among them were flirts and cajolers.
وماand not زلْتI ceased أبْكيweeping والمَطيُّwhile the mounts دوالجٌjourneying through darkness
وما زلْت أبْكي والمَطيُّ دوالجٌ
بمخترقthrough the crossing of الدهناءِal-Dahna والصبحُwhile dawn دائلُtaking its turn
بمخترق الدهناءِ والصبحُ دائلُ
I went on weeping while the camels journeyed through darkness
I have not stopped crying while the rain poured
across al-Dahna, and dawn took its turn,
And the dawn called as darkness spread.
بدمعٍwith tears إذاwhenever ماever كفكفrestrained الحِلمثself-restraint (probable reading) غرْبهits torrent
بدمعٍ إذا ما كفكف الحِلمث غرْبه
مَراهُmilked it forth الأسىgrief واستحدرتهُand made it stream البلابلُanguish
مَراهُ الأسى واستحدرتهُ البلابلُ
with tears whose torrent, whenever self-restraint checked it,
With tears, when sadness subsided,
grief milked forth and anguish made stream down.
Sorrow saw it and swallows drew it out.
إلىuntil أنthat توارواthey vanished بالكثيبbehind the dune وخفَّضand hushed الthe
إلى أن تواروا بالكثيب وخفَّض ال
حداةُcamel-drivers وحالand intervened المُنحنىthe bend والجَلاجلُand the jingling bells
حداةُ وحال المُنحنى والجَلاجلُ
Until they vanished behind the dune, and hushed were the
Until they disappeared behind the sand dunes
camel-drivers; the bend and jingling bells came between us.
And stooped the short and the tall.
وفيand among الظعنthe departing travelers فتَّاكُa slayer with اللحاظglances إذاwhen رناhe gazed
وفي الظعن فتَّاكُ اللحاظ إذا رنا
فسيَّانِthen alike عنديto me لحظُهُhis glance والمَعابلُand broad-headed arrows
فسيَّانِ عندي لحظُهُ والمَعابلُ
Among the departing travelers is one whose glances kill; when he gazes,
In coquetry the killer of glances, when soft,
his glance and broad-headed arrows are alike to me.
To me, her glance and wink are equal.
يُظاهرreinforces سحرthe magic of العينthe eye خمرُthe wine of رُضابهhis saliva
يُظاهر سحر العين خمرُ رُضابه
كأنَّas though مُحيَّاهُhis face علىupon الغَوْرِal-Ghawr بابلُBabylon
كأنَّ مُحيَّاهُ على الغَوْرِ بابلُ
The wine of his saliva reinforces his eye's magic,
The wine of her cheek shows magic of eyes
as though his face were Babylon upon al-Ghawr.
As though its mark on the cheeks were Babylon.
منamong البيضِthe fair ones أماas for ودّهُhis affection فهوhe is قاطِعٌa severer
من البيضِ أما ودّهُ فهو قاطِعٌ
صَرومٌutterly cutting وأماand as for وعْدهhis promise فهوhe is ماطِلُa procrastinator
صَرومٌ وأما وعْده فهو ماطِلُ
One of the fair ones: as for his affection, he cuts it off,
As for her love it is severing
severing it utterly; as for his promise, he keeps postponing.
Unkept promises and procrastination.
تعلَّقْتهI fell in love with him والحلمwhile sound judgment منfrom مرحِthe exuberance of الصِّباyouth
تعلَّقْته والحلم من مرحِ الصِّبا
سفاهٌfolly وحقيand my claim فيin البطالةِidle pleasure باطلُvoid
سفاهٌ وحقي في البطالةِ باطلُ
I fell in love with him when, through youth's exuberance, sound judgment
I clung to it while the insanity of youth
was folly, and my claim amid idle pleasures was void.
Was frivolity and my right to playfulness was invalid.
وماand not زلتI ceased أعصيdefying فيin هواهُlove of him عواذليmy reproachers
وما زلت أعصي في هواهُ عواذلي
إلىuntil أنْthat تجافىkept away from مسمعيَّmy two ears العواذلُthe reproachers
إلى أنْ تجافى مسمعيَّ العواذلُ
I kept defying my reproachers for love of him,
And I have not stopped disobeying my confidants in his love
until the reproachers left my ears alone.
Until their advice to me grew distant.
وكمand how often زارنيhe visited me سَلْمَpeaceful in اللقاءِmeeting وأنهُalthough he
وكم زارني سَلْمَ اللقاءِ وأنهُ
منwith الحُسنbeauty شاكٍfully armed فيin السلاحarms مقاتلُa fighter
من الحُسن شاكٍ في السلاح مقاتلُ
How often he visited me, peaceful in meeting, although he
And how often have I visited the peace of meeting him
was fully armed with beauty, a weapon-bearing fighter.
But in beauty he doubts the adequacy of weapons.
إذاwhen ماever تثنىَّswayed قدُّهhis stature فهوhe was رامحٌa spearman
إذا ما تثنىَّ قدُّه فهو رامحٌ
وأنْand if كَرَّhe charged منwith ألحاظِهhis glances فهوhe was نابلُan archer
وأنْ كَرَّ من ألحاظِه فهو نابلُ
When his slender form swayed, he was a spearman;
When he walks proudly he is one who thrusts with a lance
when he charged with his glances, he was an archer.
And when he frowns with his glances he is one who shoots arrows.
وعهديand my recollection بناof us والنَّازحُwhen the far-dwelling one الدارَin abode رابعٌresiding
وعهدي بنا والنَّازحُ الدارَ رابعٌ
مُقيمٌsettled بهاthere والقاطعُand the severer of الحبْلَthe bond واصلُkeeping it joined
مُقيمٌ بها والقاطعُ الحبْلَ واصلُ
I remember us, when the one now far from home was dwelling
My promise to him while the separator settled in the house
there, settled, and the severer of bonds kept them joined,
Was continuance, while the cutter of ties was connection.
لياليَon nights ألْحاظُthe gazes of الوشاةِthe informers رواقِدٌsleeping
لياليَ ألْحاظُ الوشاةِ رواقِدٌ
لناtoward us وقولبُand the hearts (probable reading) الحادثاتِof calamities غوافِلُِheedless
لنا وقولبُ الحادثاتِ غوافِلُِ
on nights when informers' eyes slumbered,
The nights of the slanderous gazes slept
heedless of us, and calamities' hearts were oblivious.
While for us the shaper of events was inattentive.
فياso ah ليتَwould that شعريmy knowledge والأمانيُّthough wishes ضِلَّةٌa delusion
فيا ليتَ شعري والأمانيُّ ضِلَّةٌ
منfrom النفسthe soul والأيامُand the days مُعْطٍa giver وباخِلُand a withholder
من النفس والأيامُ مُعْطٍ وباخِلُ
Ah, would that I knew—though wishes are a delusion
If only I knew – though wishes mislead –
of the soul, and the days both give and withhold—
Against the self and days being stingy and ungenerous,
هلwhether الدارthe dwelling تدنوdraws near بالأحبَّةِwith the loved ones بعدماafter
هل الدار تدنو بالأحبَّةِ بعدما
تفرَّقscattered مجموعٌwhat was gathered وأقفرand became deserted آهِلُwhat was inhabited
تفرَّق مجموعٌ وأقفر آهِلُ
whether home will bring the loved ones near, after
Will the house draw near with loved ones after
the gathered have scattered and the inhabited lies deserted.
A group dispersed and inhabitants emptied?
عدمتُI lost اصطباريmy endurance والنوىwhile separation مطمئنةٌat rest
عدمتُ اصطباري والنوى مطمئنةٌ
فكيفso how أُطيقcan I bear الصبرpatience والحيُّwhile the clan راحلُdeparting
فكيف أُطيق الصبر والحيُّ راحلُ
I lost my endurance even while separation lay at rest;
I lost my patience while determination was reassured
how can I bear patience when the clan is departing?
So how can I endure patience while the living departed?
فإنso if كنتI was مضعوفweakened in البسالةcourage فيin الهوىlove
فإن كنت مضعوف البسالة في الهوى
فإنيthen indeed I إذاwhen ماever صرَّحshowed itself openly الروْعُterror باسلُvaliant
فإني إذا ما صرَّح الروْعُ باسلُ
If my courage is weakened in love,
If I was described as weak in passionate love
I am valiant when terror shows itself openly.
Then I am brave when fears are proclaimed.
أناI ابنa son of النواصيthe chiefs (forelocks) منof تميمTamim بنson of خندفKhindif
أنا ابن النواصي من تميم بن خندف
بحيثwhere التقتmet علياؤُهاtheir high nobility والفواضلُand noble qualities
بحيث التقت علياؤُها والفواضلُ
I am a son of the foremost men of Tamim ibn Khindif,
I am the son of chivalry from the Tamim clan
where their high nobility and noble qualities meet.
Where its glorious ones and virtues have met.
يَفُونَthey keep faith وأقوالُthough the pronouncements of اللياليthe nights غَوادِرٌtreacherous
يَفُونَ وأقوالُ الليالي غَوادِرٌ
ويعْدونَand they charge forth والأيامُwhile the days شُوسٌhostile خواذلُforsaking
ويعْدونَ والأيامُ شُوسٌ خواذلُ
They keep faith, though the nights' pronouncements betray;
They excel while the nights’ words are deceptive,
and they charge forth, though the days are hostile and forsaking.
And they fulfill while the days are tempting tricksters.
ويحتملونَand they bear الغُرْمَthe liabilities لوif نهضتْrose بهwith it
ويحتملونَ الغُرْمَ لو نهضتْ به
جبالُِthe mountains of شروريSharura ضعضعتهاwould shake them المحاملُthe burdens
جبالُِ شروري ضعضعتها المحاملُ
They shoulder liabilities which, if borne
They undertake passion even if mydark character
by the mountains of Sharura, would shake them under the load.
Shook mountains that litters demolished.
إذاwhen عرسواthey camped for the night بالفدفدon the open plain الخرقvast and trackless اغزرتgrew abundant
إذا عرسوا بالفدفد الخرق اغزرت
بمعرفهمthrough their bounty غُدرانهُits pools والمناهِلُand watering places
بمعرفهم غُدرانهُ والمناهِلُ
When they camp in a vast, trackless waste, fullness comes
When they celebrate with rich coarse cloth their hatred
through their bounty to its pools and watering places.
Increases along with their malice and water-holes.
تَراعفُbleed بالقانيwith crimson صدورُthe heads of رماحهمْtheir spears
تَراعفُ بالقاني صدورُ رماحهمْ
وتفْهَقُand brim بالنيِّwith raw meat الغَريضِfresh المراجلُthe cauldrons
وتفْهَقُ بالنيِّ الغَريضِ المراجلُ
Their spearheads bleed crimson,
Their chests are masked with armor when the spears collide
and their cauldrons brim with fresh, raw meat.
And their sharp swords in the fights are unleashed.
يلوثونthey drape بالصِّيدaround the proud chiefs الرزانthe dignified إذاwhen انْتدواthey gather in council
يلوثون بالصِّيد الرزان إذا انْتدوا
مطارفَmantles of وشْيٍembroidery زيَّنتهاadorned them السَّرابلُthe tunics
مطارفَ وشْيٍ زيَّنتها السَّرابلُ
At council, they drape their proud, dignified figures
They make the well-bred horses messy when they stampede
in embroidered mantles enhanced by their tunics.
Adorning them are saddle bags and equipments.
قَرواthey gathered فيin حياضthe pools of المجدglory عِدَّa perennial spring of مكارمٍnoble deeds
قَروا في حياض المجد عِدَّ مكارمٍ
فأصبحتso became الآمالُthe hopes وهيwhile they were نواهلُdrinking their fill
فأصبحت الآمالُ وهي نواهلُ
They gathered in glory's pools a perennial spring of noble deeds,
They took residence in the glory’s courtyard with pride
so hopes became drinkers, taking their fill.
So hopes became attainable and youthful.
وألقواand cast down بجعجاعat a constricted المُناخhalting place رحالهُمْtheir saddles
وألقوا بجعجاع المُناخ رحالهُمْ
فماso not الموتdeath مرهوبٌfeared ولاnor البأسbattle صائلُassailing
فما الموت مرهوبٌ ولا البأس صائلُ
They laid down their saddles in a constricted camp,
They pitched their traveling saddlebags
with death unfeared and battle unable to assail.
With no fear of death or might of evils.
شَفَعْتُI coupled قديميmy ancient glory بالحديثwith the new وإننيand indeed I
شَفَعْتُ قديمي بالحديث وإنني
بإدراكfor attaining ماwhat نالattained الأوائلُthe forebears كافِلُa guarantor
بإدراك ما نال الأوائلُ كافِلُ
I coupled my ancient glory with the new, and I
I matched my old with the new, though I
pledge to attain what the forebears attained.
Cannot equal what the early ones attained.
وللصبحand for dawn عنديI have بردةٌa cloak منof عَجاجةٍdust
وللصبح عندي بردةٌ من عَجاجةٍ
زجاجِthe butt-spikes of العَواليthe tall spears طَرْزهاits embroidery والمناصلand the blades
زجاجِ العَوالي طَرْزها والمناصل
For dawn I have a cloak of battle dust,
For the dawn I have a colorful fine garment
whose embroidery is tall spears' butt-spikes and blades:
Whose embroidery by accomplished hands was made.
جيادٌfine steeds كعقبانlike the eagles of الشُّريفal-Shurayf مُغيرَةٌcharging
جيادٌ كعقبان الشُّريف مُغيرَةٌ
ولُدْنٌand supple spears كأشُطانِlike the ropes of البِئارِwells عواسلُswaying
ولُدْنٌ كأشُطانِ البِئارِ عواسلُ
fine steeds charging like the eagles of al-Shurayf,
Steeds like noble hawks brought up for raiding
and supple spears swaying like the ropes of wells,
And camels like water-drawing buckets from wells pulling.
وباسand the valor of حسامHusam الدينal-Din إذْwhen حدُّthe edge of بأسهhis valor
وباس حسام الدين إذْ حدُّ بأسه
جريءٌbold إذاwhen تنْبوglance off الصَّوارمُthe keen swords قاصلُcleaving
جريءٌ إذا تنْبو الصَّوارمُ قاصلُ
and Husam al-Din's valor: the edge of his might
By the sharpness of the faith’s sword when its sharpness is unleashed Fierce, when the swords for execution are unsheathed.
is bold and cleaving when keen swords glance off.
Sating thirst with spears while today his bow is thirsty
مُروِّيquencher of القناthe spears واليومwhile the day تَظْمىgrow thirsty كمانهits warriors (probable reading)
مُروِّي القنا واليوم تَظْمى كمانه
وهاميand pouring down النَّدىbounty والعامُwhile the year أشهبُgray ماحلُbarren
وهامي النَّدى والعامُ أشهبُ ماحلُ
He quenches the spears while the day's warriors thirst,
And raining generosity while the year is arid and fruitless.
and pours down bounty when the year is gray and barren.
He defends the helpless from the unjust ruler
ودافعand warding off ضيْمthe oppression of الخطبcalamity عنfrom نفسthe life of جارهhis neighbor
ودافع ضيْم الخطب عن نفس جاره
وشيكاًswiftly إذاwhen ماever أسلمتْهُabandoned him القبائلُthe tribes
وشيكاً إذا ما أسلمتْهُ القبائلُ
He drives calamity's oppression away from his neighbor's life,
Though soon, if given over to the tribes.
swiftly, when the tribes have abandoned him.
The compensations for blood-money are suspended by his generosity
تُعَلَّقare hung اشناقُpartial assessments of الدِّياتِblood-money بجودهِupon his generosity
تُعَلَّق اشناقُ الدِّياتِ بجودهِ
إذاwhen رهبتْfeared حملbearing الدِّياتِblood-money العواقلُthe liable kin groups
إذا رهبتْ حمل الدِّياتِ العواقلُ
The blood-money assessments hang upon his generosity
When the sensible shrink from carrying blood-money.
when the liable kin dread bearing the payments.
Blows, when the clamor of war wraps around him,
ضَروبٌa mighty striker إذاwhen ماever لفَّهwrapped him رهَجُthe dust of الوغىbattle
ضَروبٌ إذا ما لفَّه رهَجُ الوغى
وَهُوبٌa lavish giver إذاwhen التفَّتcrowded عليهaround him الوسائلُthe petitions
وَهُوبٌ إذا التفَّت عليه الوسائلُ
A mighty striker when battle's dust wraps him,
And attacks when adversities befall him.
a lavish giver when petitions crowd around him.
He almost perceives things before they occur
يكادhe almost يصيبdiscerns correctly الشيءthe thing منfrom قبلbefore كونهِits existence
يكاد يصيب الشيء من قبل كونهِ
ويخبرُand tells عنfrom علمٍknowledge بماof what الغيبُthe unseen فاعلُwill do
ويخبرُ عن علمٍ بما الغيبُ فاعلُ
He almost discerns a thing before it comes to be,
And informs of knowledge what the unseen will do.
and speaks knowingly of what the unseen will do.
He is cautious of the fool’s criticism
يحاذرfears فهمthe understanding of اللَّوذعيِّthe keen-witted انتقادهُhis scrutiny
يحاذر فهم اللَّوذعيِّ انتقادهُ
وترهَبهُand dread him عندduring المقالِspeech المَقاولُthe eloquent speakers
وترهَبهُ عند المقالِ المَقاولُ
Even the keen-witted man's understanding fears his scrutiny,
And the impudent are wary of him.
and eloquent speakers dread him when speaking.
His arrow, when determination accompanies it, is unfailing
وسهمٌand an arrow إذاwhen ماever صاحبaccompanied العزمresolve نافذٌpiercing through
وسهمٌ إذا ما صاحب العزم نافذٌ
ورضوىand Radwa إذاwhen ماever ساورتهُassailed him الزلازلُthe earthquakes
ورضوى إذا ما ساورتهُ الزلازلُ
An arrow that pierces through when joined to resolve,
And his wrath, when tremors accompany it, is resolute.
and Radwa when earthquakes assail him.
A man who does not care whom his violence kills
فتىًa youth لاnot يُباليcares منwhom يُبيدُhe destroys بفتْكهِwith his deadly assault
فتىً لا يُبالي من يُبيدُ بفتْكهِ
ولكنهbut he بالعدلِby justice فيin الفتْكdeadly assault عاملُacting
ولكنه بالعدلِ في الفتْك عاملُ
A youth who cares not whom his deadly assault destroys,
But with justice he commits violence.
yet he acts justly in his deadly assault.
He does not desire justice in his happy times
ولاand not يستحضُّcalls for العدلjustice وقتat the time of سُرورهhis happiness
ولا يستحضُّ العدل وقت سُروره
ولكنهbut he عندin الحفيظةindignation عادلُjust
ولكنه عند الحفيظة عادلُ
He does not invoke justice only when happy,
But with anger, he is just.
but is just in the heat of indignation.
His terrible tyranny does not ride his capability
ولاand not يركبrides البغْيoppression الشَّنيعvile اقْتدارهhis power
ولا يركب البغْي الشَّنيع اقْتداره
ولكنهbut he تَخْزىare humiliated لديهbefore him النَّوازلُthe calamities
ولكنه تَخْزى لديه النَّوازلُ
His power does not ride into vile oppression,
But degradation is disdained by him.
but calamities stand humiliated before him.
The days do not soften his wooden disposition
ولاand not يستلينُfinds soft الدهرtime معْجَمthe tested hardness of عودهِhis wood
ولا يستلينُ الدهر معْجَم عودهِ
ولكنهbut he عافٍpardoning عنfor الجُرْمِwrongdoing حاملُforbearing
ولكنه عافٍ عن الجُرْمِ حاملُ
Time finds no softness in his tested wood,
But he is free from wrongdoing and forbearing.
yet he pardons wrongdoing and bears with it.
He comforts the guest and does not complain of meager provisions
هنيُّpleasant القِرىhospitality لاnot يشتكيis complained of بطؤُthe delay of زادهhis provisions
هنيُّ القِرى لا يشتكي بطؤُ زاده
إذاwhen أخْلفتfailed to yield درَّthe milk for العِصابِthe gathered bands الحوافلُthe full-uddered beasts
إذا أخْلفت درَّ العِصابِ الحوافلُ
Pleasant in hospitality, his food is never faulted for delay,
If the cooking pots of the raiders are delayed.
when full-uddered beasts fail to give the gathered bands their milk.
And driven by travels tosses them about
وغُريٍand men devoted بإدمانِto constant السِّفارِtravel تقاذفتtossed about
وغُريٍ بإدمانِ السِّفارِ تقاذفت
بهمwith them هِممٌambitions وخَّادةٌswift-striding ومراسلُand smooth-paced mounts
بهم هِممٌ وخَّادةٌ ومراسلُ
And men devoted to ceaseless travel, flung about
Ambitions, and letters exchanged between them.
by swift-striding ambitions and smooth-paced mounts:
Their dawn was darkened by their fortune and they saw
دجاdarkened صُبحهمtheir morning منfrom حظهمtheir fortune فرأواand they saw بهby it
دجا صُبحهم من حظهم فرأوا به
تجاذُبهمtugged them onward آمالُهمtheir hopes وتناقُلand paced onward
تجاذُبهم آمالُهم وتناقُل
their morning darkened with their lot, and by it they saw;
Their hopes and transfers pulling them.
their hopes tugged them onward, while stepping along were
The dust of the hills, as though their vigilance
جدايلlong, corded camels منof عرقِthe sinew of الطَّوىhunger وكأنهمand as though they
جدايل من عرقِ الطَّوى وكأنهم
ليقظتهمbecause of their wakefulness فوقabove الركابِthe mounts الأجادلُfalcons
ليقظتهم فوق الركابِ الأجادلُ
corded camels, sinews of hunger; and they seemed,
Above the riders were unyielding sentinels.
through their wakefulness atop the mounts, like falcons.
They set out against the fog and doubted it
أنافواthey exceeded علىbeyond عِشْرِthe ten-day watering interval of المطيthe mounts وشاكَهواand resembled
أنافوا على عِشْرِ المطي وشاكَهوا
الضبابthe desert lizards وللشعرىwhile Sirius had العبورthe Crossing Star مشاعلُtorches
الضباب وللشعرى العبور مشاعلُ
They exceeded the mounts' ten-day thirst and resembled
While the morning star had passage of traversal.
the desert lizards, while Sirius the Crossing Star had torches.
They continued the lively night journey until
وأدمواand bloodied خفافthe footpads of العيسthe pale camels حتىuntil تناهبتtore at
وأدموا خفاف العيس حتى تناهبت
مناسمهاtheir footpads تثرْبُthe soil of (unclear form) الفَلاthe wilderness الجَراولُthe rugged, stony ones
مناسمها تثرْبُ الفَلا الجَراولُ
They bloodied the pale camels' feet until
Its pleasures were shared by the terrain’s valleys.
the waste's rough, stony ground snatched at their footpads.
When the fearful rider insisted on a journey
إذاwhen اخْروَّطَsurged onward السَّيرَthe march العنيفharsh برحلةٍon a journey
إذا اخْروَّطَ السَّيرَ العنيف برحلةٍ
هوىfell ابنa son of لبونٍa milk-giving camel واقتضىand demanded الحتفdeath بازلُa full-grown camel
هوى ابن لبونٍ واقتضى الحتف بازلُ
When the harsh march surged onward on a journey,
Where Death demanded the forfeit of Bazil.
a two-year-old camel fell, and a full-grown one called for death.
They pitched camp prosperously so their palms poured
أناخواthey halted their camels بإقْبالٍat Iqbal فَجادَso rained upon أكفُّهمْtheir palms
أناخوا بإقْبالٍ فَجادَ أكفُّهمْ
نوالٌbounty إذاwhen ماever أمسكwithheld الغيثُthe rain هاطِلُpouring down
نوالٌ إذا ما أمسك الغيثُ هاطِلُ
They halted at Iqbal, and into their palms there rained
When the rain withheld the torrential downpour.
bounty that pours down when the rain holds back.
I am not pleased to limit its pride to a day
ولستand I am not براضٍcontent أنْto أخُصَّconfine فخارهhis glory
ولست براضٍ أنْ أخُصَّ فخاره
بيومto a day of رماحٍspears ماnot المساعيthe endeavors قلائلُfew
بيوم رماحٍ ما المساعي قلائلُ
I am not content to confine his glory
Of spears while brave exploits are few.
to one day of spears—his endeavors are not few.
And many a day of fearful tumult abundant in perils
وكمand how many يومa day of روْعٍterror زاخرsurging ذيpossessing غواربhigh crests
وكم يوم روْعٍ زاخر ذي غوارب
لهfor it الموتُdeath لُجٌّa deep sea والمخافةُand fear ساحلُa shore
له الموتُ لُجٌّ والمخافةُ ساحلُ
How many a day of terror, surging and high-crested,
For it, death is a refuge and fear a coast.
whose deep sea is death and whose shore is fear,
It spent the night amongst corpses, their blood pouring
طماoverflowed بالقَناwith spears العسَّاrigid يتلوfollowed طِعانهُits spear-thrusts
طما بالقَنا العسَّا يتلو طِعانهُ
علىin سغبٍhunger مُعْطُthe mangy ones of الذئابthe wolves العواسلُthe loping ones
على سغبٍ مُعْطُ الذئاب العواسلُ
swelled with rigid spears, its thrusts followed
Until the wolves had their fill.
in hunger by mangy, loping wolves.
As though its steeds in its enclosure
كأنَّas though جيادَthe noble steeds of الخيلِthe horses فيin حَجَراتهِits quarters
كأنَّ جيادَ الخيلِ في حَجَراتهِ
كواسرُraptors of نيقٍa mountain peak هيَّجتْهاroused them المَآكلُfood
كواسرُ نيقٍ هيَّجتْها المَآكلُ
The noble horses in its quarters seemed
Were wild predators roused by meals.
raptors upon a peak, roused by food.
When the blood there boiled, it was deemed
إذاwhen اثعنجرتْgushed forth فيهاamong them الدماءblood حسبتهاyou would think them
إذا اثعنجرتْ فيها الدماء حسبتها
دوارجَrolling surges of سيلٍa flood أسلمتهاreleased them المَسايلُthe watercourses
دوارجَ سيلٍ أسلمتها المَسايلُ
When blood gushed among them, you would think them
To be the overflowing of a torrent on waterways.
coursing floods let loose by the watercourses.
And if the tongues bit sharply there
وإنْand if نكحتْwedded فيهاwithin it الأسنةthe spearheads لَبَّةًa breast
وإنْ نكحتْ فيها الأسنة لَبَّةً
جَلاcleared نقْعهاits dust والمُبْعلاتُand the married women أرامِلُwidows
جَلا نقْعها والمُبْعلاتُ أرامِلُ
And when spearheads wedded a breast within it,
It dyed it while the she-camels were bereaved.
its dust cleared, and the married women were widows.
You weakened and separated the large army with one attack,
شددتَyou charged ففرقتand scattered العديدthe multitude بحملةٍwith an assault
شددتَ ففرقت العديد بحملةٍ
تَخفُّmoving lightly وأنتwhile you are الحازمُthe resolute one المُتثاقلُthe deliberate, weighty one
تَخفُّ وأنت الحازمُ المُتثاقلُ
You charged and scattered the multitude with an assault
Though you are prudent and composed.
swift and light, though you are resolute and unhurried.
Partial English translation: 133 of 134 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1