سَقاهاmay he water it وَإِنand though لَمdid not يَروَquench قَلبيmy heart بَيانُهاits telling
سَقاها وَإِن لَم يَروَ قَلبي بَيانُها
وَهَلand can تَنطِقُspeak العَجماءُthe mute one أَقوىlie deserted مَعانُهاits dwellings
وَهَل تَنطِقُ العَجماءُ أَقوى مَعانُها
May it be watered, though its tale has not slaked my heart.
Can the mute speak? Its dwellings lie deserted.
ضَمانٌan obligation عَلىupon قَلبيmy heart الوَفاءُfaithfulness لِأَهلِهاto its people
ضَمانٌ عَلى قَلبي الوَفاءُ لِأَهلِها
وَثَمَّand there ظِباءٌgazelles لايَصِحُّcannot be trusted ضَمانُهاtheir pledge
وَثَمَّ ظِباءٌ لايَصِحُّ ضَمانُها
Faithfulness to its people is a pledge upon my heart,
yet there are gazelles there whose pledges cannot be trusted.
عَرَضنَthey appeared بِماwith what رَوّىquenched الغَليلَthe burning thirst اِعتِراضُهاtheir appearance
عَرَضنَ بِما رَوّى الغَليلَ اِعتِراضُها
وَلاand not قَطَعَstopped الدَمعَthe tears اللَجوجَthe insistent اِعتِنانُهاtheir appearing
وَلا قَطَعَ الدَمعَ اللَجوجَ اِعتِنانُها
They came into view, their appearance slaking my burning thirst,
yet their emergence did not halt my insistent tears.
وَهَلand is it نافِعٌuseful أَنthat يَملَأَfill العَينَthe eye حُسنُهاtheir beauty
وَهَل نافِعٌ أَن يَملَأَ العَينَ حُسنُها
إِذاif هِيَthey لَمdid not تُحسِنshow kindness إِلَيناto us حِسانُهاtheir fair ones
إِذا هِيَ لَم تُحسِن إِلَينا حِسانُها
What use is it that their beauty fills the eye,
if their fair ones show us no kindness?
تَذَكَّرتُI remembered أَيّاماًdays بِذيat Dhu الأَثلِal-Athl بَعدَماafter
تَذَكَّرتُ أَيّاماً بِذي الأَثلِ بَعدَما
تَقَضّىpassed away أَوانيmy season فيin الصِباyouth وَأَوانُهاand their season
تَقَضّى أَواني في الصِبا وَأَوانُها
I recalled days at Dhu al-Athl, after
my season of youth and theirs had passed away.
يُطَيِّبُperfumes أَنفاسَthe breaths الرِياحِof the winds تُرابُهاits soil
يُطَيِّبُ أَنفاسَ الرِياحِ تُرابُها
وَيَخضَلُّand grow moist مِنfrom دَمعِthe tears الغَمائِمِof the clouds بِانُهاits ban trees
وَيَخضَلُّ مِن دَمعِ الغَمائِمِ بِانُها
Its soil perfumes the breaths of the winds,
and its ban trees grow moist with the clouds' tears.
وَلَمّاand when عَطَفتُI turned الناظِرَينِboth eyes بِلَفتَةٍwith a glance
وَلَمّا عَطَفتُ الناظِرَينِ بِلَفتَةٍ
إِلىtoward الدارِthe dwelling خَلّىreleased عَبرَةَthe tears العَينِof the eye شانُهاits plight
إِلى الدارِ خَلّى عَبرَةَ العَينِ شانُها
When I turned both eyes with a backward glance
toward the dwelling, its plight gave my tears free rein.
لَيالِيَnights when تَثنينيdraw me back عَواطِفُthe stirrings صَبوَتيof my youthful passion
لَيالِيَ تَثنيني عَواطِفُ صَبوَتي
إِلىtoward بَدَوِيّاتٍBedouin women تَثَنّىswayed لِدانُهاtheir supple figures
إِلى بَدَوِيّاتٍ تَثَنّى لِدانُها
Nights when the stirrings of my youthful passion bent me
toward Bedouin women whose supple forms swayed,
وَلاand no لَذَّةٌpleasure إِلّاexcept الحَديثُconversation كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَلا لَذَّةٌ إِلّا الحَديثُ كَأَنَّهُ
لَآلٍpearls عَلىupon جَيداءَa long-necked beauty واهٍloose جُمانُهاher pearl-strand
لَآلٍ عَلى جَيداءَ واهٍ جُمانُها
with no delight but conversation, as though it were
pearls on a long-necked beauty, her pearl-string loose.
عَفافٌchastity كَماas شاءَwilled الإِلَهُGod يَسُرُّنيdelights me
عَفافٌ كَما شاءَ الإِلَهُ يَسُرُّني
وَإِنand though سيءَwere displeased مِنهُby it بِكرُهاtheir maidens وَعَرانُهاand their matrons (reading uncertain)
وَإِن سيءَ مِنهُ بِكرُها وَعَرانُها
Chastity, as God willed it, delights me,
though it displeases their maidens and their matrons.
أَأَلآنَis it now لَمّاwhen اِعتَمَّwas turbaned بِالشَيبِwith gray hair مَفرَقيmy parting
أَأَلآنَ لَمّا اِعتَمَّ بِالشَيبِ مَفرَقي
وَجَلّىand cleared الدُجىthe darkness عَنfrom لِمَّتيmy locks لَمَعانُهاits gleam
وَجَلّى الدُجى عَن لِمَّتي لَمَعانُها
Is it now, when my parting is turbaned with gray,
and its gleam has cleared the darkness from my locks,
وَنَجَّذَنيand seasoned me صَرفُthe vicissitudes الزَمانِof time وَوُقَّرَتand was made dignified
وَنَجَّذَني صَرفُ الزَمانِ وَوُقَّرَت
عَلىin الحِلمِforbearance نَفسيmy soul وَاِنقَضىand ended نَزَوانُهاits impetuousness
عَلى الحِلمِ نَفسي وَاِنقَضى نَزَوانُها
when time's vicissitudes have seasoned me, and my soul has grown grave
in forbearance, its impulsive leaps now ended,
تَرومُseek العِداthe enemies أَنthat تُستَلانَbe softened حَميَّتيmy fierce pride
تَرومُ العِدا أَن تُستَلانَ حَميَّتي
وَقَبلَهُمُand before them أَعدىwas hostile عَلَيَّto me حِرانُهاits obstinacy
وَقَبلَهُمُ أَعدى عَلَيَّ حِرانُها
that enemies seek to soften my fierce pride,
though its obstinacy was my enemy before they were?
أَناI الرَجُلُthe man الأَلوىunyielding الَّذيwhom تَعرِفونَهُyou know him
أَنا الرَجُلُ الأَلوى الَّذي تَعرِفونَهُ
إِذاwhen نُوَبُthe calamities الأَيّامِof the days أُلقيis laid down جِرانُهاtheir camel-neck
إِذا نُوَبُ الأَيّامِ أُلقي جِرانُها
I am the unyielding man you know,
when time's calamities lay their necks down.
إِذاif كانَis غَيريsomeone other than me مِنof قُرَيشٍQuraysh هَجينَهاits mixed-bred one
إِذا كانَ غَيري مِن قُرَيشٍ هَجينَها
فَإِنّيthen I عَلىagainst رَغمِthe will العَدُوِّof the enemy هِجانُهاits purebred one
فَإِنّي عَلى رَغمِ العَدُوِّ هِجانُها
If another of Quraysh is its mixed-bred son,
I, despite the enemy, am its purebred one.
وَإِنand if يَكُthere is فَخرٌboasting أَوor نِضالٌcombat فَإِنَّنيthen I
وَإِن يَكُ فَخرٌ أَو نِضالٌ فَإِنَّني
لَهاfor it يَدُهاits hand طَوراًat times وَطَوراًand at times لِسانُهاits tongue
لَها يَدُها طَوراً وَطَوراً لِسانُها
Whether it is boasting or combat, I am
at times its hand, and at times its tongue.
وَإِنَّيand I مِنَof القَومِthe people الَّذينَwho بِبَأسِهِمthrough their might
وَإِنَّي مِنَ القَومِ الَّذينَ بِبَأسِهِم
يُذَلِّلُsubdues مِنfrom أَيّامِهِمtheir days حَدَثانُهاtheir calamities
يُذَلِّلُ مِن أَيّامِهِم حَدَثانُها
I am of the people whose might
brings the calamities of their days to heel.
إِذاwhen غَبَّرواthey raise dust فيin الجَوِّthe air ضاقَnarrows فَضاؤُهُits expanse
إِذا غَبَّروا في الجَوِّ ضاقَ فَضاؤُهُ
وَإِنand if نَزَلواthey encamp in البَيداءَthe wilderness عُمَّتare covered رِعانُهاits ridges
وَإِن نَزَلوا البَيداءَ عُمَّت رِعانُها
When they raise dust in the air, its expanse grows narrow;
if they camp in the wilderness, its ridges are covered.
فَوارِسُhorsemen تَجريrun بِالدِماءِwith blood رِماحُهاtheir spears
فَوارِسُ تَجري بِالدِماءِ رِماحُها
وَتَفهَقُand brim بِالنَيِّwith fat meat الغَريضِfresh جِفانُهاtheir bowls
وَتَفهَقُ بِالنَيِّ الغَريضِ جِفانُها
Horsemen whose spears run with blood,
and whose bowls brim with fresh, rich meat.
يَثورُrises إِذاwhen أَوفىarrives الصَباحُthe morning عِجاجُهاtheir dust
يَثورُ إِذا أَوفى الصَباحُ عِجاجُها
وَيَعلوand rises إِذاwhen جَنَّfalls الظَلامُthe darkness دُخانُهاtheir smoke
وَيَعلو إِذا جَنَّ الظَلامُ دُخانُها
Their dust rises when morning arrives,
and their smoke ascends when darkness falls.
وَإِنّيand I لَوَثّابٌsurely a leaper عَلىupon كُلِّevery فُرصَةٍopportunity
وَإِنّي لَوَثّابٌ عَلى كُلِّ فُرصَةٍ
تَخَيلُis elusive عَلىto الرائيthe beholder وَيَخفىand is hidden مَكانُهاits location
تَخَيلُ عَلى الرائي وَيَخفى مَكانُها
I leap at every opportunity
that eludes the beholder, its whereabouts concealed.
سَبَقتُI went ahead وَقَفَّيتُمand you followed بِكُلِّwith every طَليعَةٍvanguard
سَبَقتُ وَقَفَّيتُم بِكُلِّ طَليعَةٍ
عَلىupon عَقِبيmy heels يَلويturns aside بِهاwith them هَدَجانُهاtheir shuffling gait
عَلى عَقِبي يَلوي بِها هَدَجانُها
I outstripped you, and you followed with every vanguard,
upon my heels, their shuffling gait holding them back.
وَماand not كُنتُwas I إِلّاexcept كَالثُرَيّاlike the Pleiades تَحَلُّقاًin soaring
وَما كُنتُ إِلّا كَالثُرَيّا تَحَلُّقاً
يَدِفُّflutters عَلىupon آثارِهاits tracks دَبَرانُهاits Aldebaran
يَدِفُّ عَلى آثارِها دَبَرانُها
In soaring, I was none other than the Pleiades,
with its Aldebaran fluttering in its wake.
عَصائِبُbands ماnever اِستامَbid for الفَخارَglory وَضيعُهاtheir lowborn
عَصائِبُ ما اِستامَ الفَخارَ وَضيعُها
وَلاnor اِستَأنَفَbegan anew العِزَّhonor الجَديدَnew مُهانُهاtheir abased
وَلا اِستَأنَفَ العِزَّ الجَديدَ مُهانُها
Bands whose lowborn have never bid for glory,
nor whose abased have ever gained fresh honor.
إِذاwhen لَحَظَتنيthey glanced at me أَمسَكَتthey clutched بِأَكُفِّهاwith their palms
إِذا لَحَظَتني أَمسَكَت بِأَكُفِّها
عَلَيَّin fear of me قُلوباًhearts دائِماًunceasing خَفَقانُهاtheir pounding
عَلَيَّ قُلوباً دائِماً خَفَقانُها
When they catch sight of me, they clutch in their palms
hearts forever fluttering in dread of me.
فَلاso not هِيَthey يَوماًever فِيَّagainst me يَنفُذُtakes effect كَيدُهاtheir plotting
فَلا هِيَ يَوماً فِيَّ يَنفُذُ كَيدُها
وَلاnor يَنجَليclears away مِنfrom غَيِّهاtheir waywardness شَنَآنُهاtheir hatred
وَلا يَنجَلي مِن غَيِّها شَنَآنُها
Their scheming never once takes effect against me,
nor, in their waywardness, does their hatred clear.
يُريدُdesires المَعاليhigh rank عاطِلٌone bereft مِنof أَداتِهاits equipment
يُريدُ المَعالي عاطِلٌ مِن أَداتِها
وَهَيهاتَand how far مِنfrom مَحصوصَةٍa plucked bird طَيَرانُهاits flight
وَهَيهاتَ مِن مَحصوصَةٍ طَيَرانُها
One without its equipment aspires to high rank,
but how far a plucked bird is from flight!
دَعوهاleave it لِمَنto one whom رَبّاهُreared him مُذsince كانَhe first existed حِجرُهاits lap
دَعوها لِمَن رَبّاهُ مُذ كانَ حِجرُها
وَأَرضَعَهُand suckled him حَتّىuntil اِستَقَلَّhe stood alone لِبانُهاits milk
وَأَرضَعَهُ حَتّى اِستَقَلَّ لِبانُها
Leave it to him whom its lap has reared since he first was,
and whom its milk suckled until he stood alone.
وَلاand do not تَخطُبوهاwoo it بِالرَجاءِwith hope فَماfor not أَرىI see
وَلا تَخطُبوها بِالرَجاءِ فَما أَرى
تُدَنَّسُis defiled بِالبَعلِby a husband الدَنِيِّlowly حَصانُهاits chaste lady
تُدَنَّسُ بِالبَعلِ الدَنِيِّ حَصانُها
Do not woo it with hope, for I cannot imagine
its chaste lady defiled by a lowly husband.
رَآنيhe saw me بَهاءُBaha' المُلكِal-Mulk سَيفاًa sword عَلَيكُمُagainst you
رَآني بَهاءُ المُلكِ سَيفاً عَلَيكُمُ
جَرِيءَbold الظُبىof cutting edges لاnot يَنثَنيbends صَلَتانُهاits keen blade
جَرِيءَ الظُبى لا يَنثَني صَلَتانُها
Baha' al-Mulk saw in me a sword against you,
daring of edge, its keen blade never bending.
فَجَرَّدَنيso he unsheathed me مِنfrom بَعدِafter طولِa long period of صِيانَةٍsafekeeping
فَجَرَّدَني مِن بَعدِ طولِ صِيانَةٍ
وَإِنَّand indeed مُضِرّاًharmful بِالسُيوفِto swords صِيانُهاtheir safekeeping
وَإِنَّ مُضِرّاً بِالسُيوفِ صِيانُها
So he unsheathed me after long keeping me safe;
indeed, keeping swords safe does them harm.
أَفاضَhe lavished بِلاwithout مَنٍّreminders of favors عَلَيَّupon me كَرامَةًhonor
أَفاضَ بِلا مَنٍّ عَلَيَّ كَرامَةً
وَنَقصُand the diminution الأَياديof favors أَنthat يَزيدَincrease اِمتِنانُهاreminders of them
وَنَقصُ الأَيادي أَن يَزيدَ اِمتِنانُها
He lavished honor upon me without reminders of his favor,
for favors are diminished when reminders of them increase.
خَرَجتُI went out أَجُرُّdragging الذَيلَthe hem مِنهاof it وَقَدand already نَزَتhad leapt
خَرَجتُ أَجُرُّ الذَيلَ مِنها وَقَد نَزَت
قُلوبُthe hearts العِداof the enemies مِنّيbecause of me وَجُنَّand was maddened جَنانُهاtheir inner heart
قُلوبُ العِدا مِنّي وَجُنَّ جَنانُها
I went forth trailing its hem, while already
my foes' hearts leapt in fear of me, their souls driven mad.
وَلَيسَand there is not عَلىupon زُهرِthe shining الكَواكِبِstars سُبَّةٌa disgrace
وَلَيسَ عَلى زُهرِ الكَواكِبِ سُبَّةٌ
إِذاif غَضَّdimmed مِنof أَنوارِهاtheir lights زِبرِقانُهاtheir full moon
إِذا غَضَّ مِن أَنوارِها زِبرِقانُها
It is no disgrace to the shining stars
if their full moon dims their lights.
وَقَرَّبَand he brought near ليfor me وافيfull العِذارِof bridle تَلَبَّسَتclothed itself
وَقَرَّبَ لي وافي العِذارِ تَلَبَّسَت
بِهِin it خُيَلاءٌpride ماnever يَزولُceases اِفتِنانُهاits varied display
بِهِ خُيَلاءٌ ما يَزولُ اِفتِنانُها
He brought me a well-bridled steed, enveloped
in pride whose varied displays never cease.
أَلاtake heed إِنَّindeed أَصنافَthe kinds السُيوفِof swords كَثيرَةٌare many
أَلا إِنَّ أَصنافَ السُيوفِ كَثيرَةٌ
وَأَقطَعُهاand their sharpest هِندِيُّهاtheir Indian ones وَيَمانُهاand their Yemeni ones
وَأَقطَعُها هِندِيُّها وَيَمانُها
Indeed, swords are of many kinds,
and their sharpest are the Indian and the Yemeni.
وَكُلُّand all أَنابيبِthe joints القَناةِof the spear شَريفَةٌare noble
وَكُلُّ أَنابيبِ القَناةِ شَريفَةٌ
وَأَشرَفُهاand their noblest لَوif تَعلَمونَyou knew سِنانُهاits spearhead
وَأَشرَفُها لَو تَعلَمونَ سِنانُها
Every joint of the spear is noble,
but its noblest, if you knew, is its point.
فَكَيفَso how وَأَنتِمand you وَثبَةُthe leap اللَيثِof the lion إِذwhen رَمىhurled
فَكَيفَ وَأَنتِم وَثبَةُ اللَيثِ إِذ رَمى
تَخَمُّطُهاits fury فيinto جَمعِكُمyour host وَاِستِنانُهاand its headlong charge
تَخَمُّطُها في جَمعِكُم وَاِستِنانُها
How will you fare against the lion's leap, when
its fury and headlong charge strike into your host?
وَكانَand was يَسوءُdistressing السامِعينَthe hearers سَماعُهاhearing of it
وَكانَ يَسوءُ السامِعينَ سَماعُها
فَصارَso became يَهولُterrifying الناظِرينَthe beholders عِيانُهاseeing it directly
فَصارَ يَهولُ الناظِرينَ عِيانُها
Hearing of it once distressed those who heard;
now its very sight appalls those who look.
فَمَنso who مُبلِغٌwill convey عَنّيfrom me الجَبانَto the coward بِأَنَّنيthat I
فَمَن مُبلِغٌ عَنّي الجَبانَ بِأَنَّني
أَناI المُورِدُthe one leading into battle الشَقراءَthe chestnut mare يَدمىbleeds لَبانُهاher breast
أَنا المُورِدُ الشَقراءَ يَدمى لَبانُها
Who will tell the coward on my behalf that I
am he who leads the chestnut mare into battle, her breast bleeding?
وَلَوand even if لَمdid not تُعِنaid كَفّيmy hand قَناةٌa spear قَويمَةٌstraight
وَلَو لَم تُعِن كَفّي قَناةٌ قَويمَةٌ
لِأَجرىwould make flow يَنابيعَfountains الدِماءِof blood بَنانُهاits fingers
لِأَجرى يَنابيعَ الدِماءِ بَنانُها
Even if no straight spear aided my hand,
its fingers would set fountains of blood flowing.
بَليناwe were afflicted وَنَحنُwhile we الناهِضونَare those rising إِلىtoward العُلىthe heights
بَلينا وَنَحنُ الناهِضونَ إِلى العُلى
بِزَمنىwith cripples يُمَنّيهاpromises them الغُرورَdelusion زَمانُهاtheir age
بِزَمنى يُمَنّيها الغُرورَ زَمانُها
We, who rise toward the heights, have been afflicted
with cripples whose age feeds them delusions.
ذِئابٌwolves أَرادَتwished أَنto تُعازِزَvie in strength with ضَيغَماًa lion
ذِئابٌ أَرادَت أَن تُعازِزَ ضَيغَماً
فَطالَso lasted long عَلىthrough مَرِّthe passage الزَمانِof time هَوانُهاtheir humiliation
فَطالَ عَلى مَرِّ الزَمانِ هَوانُها
Wolves that wished to rival a lion,
so their humiliation endured through passing time.
رَأواthey saw فَترَةًa lull مِنّاin us فَظَنّواso they supposed ضَراعَةًweakness
رَأوا فَترَةً مِنّا فَظَنّوا ضَراعَةً
وَتِلكَand that بُروقٌa camel falsely showing pregnancy غَرَّهُمdeceived them شَوَلانُهاits tail-raising
وَتِلكَ بُروقٌ غَرَّهُم شَوَلانُها
They saw a lull in us and mistook it for weakness;
that was a camel seeming pregnant, whose lifted tail deceived them.
فَكَيفَso how تَعَرَّضتُمdid you challenge بِغَيرِwithout نَباهَةٍdiscernment
فَكَيفَ تَعَرَّضتُم بِغَيرِ نَباهَةٍ
لِصَعبَةِto a restive mount عِزٍّof glory فيin يَدَيَّmy hands عِنانُهاits reins
لِصَعبَةِ عِزٍّ في يَدَيَّ عِنانُها
How then did you, without discernment, challenge
a restive mount of glory whose reins are in my hands?
فَإِنthen if تَعتَطِلstands idle يَوماًone day مِنَof الدَهرِtime صَعدَتيmy spear
فَإِن تَعتَطِل يَوماً مِنَ الدَهرِ صَعدَتي
فَقَدthen indeed طالَhas lasted long فيin نَحرِthe breast العَدُوِّof the enemy طِعانُهاits thrusting
فَقَد طالَ في نَحرِ العَدُوِّ طِعانُها
If ever my spear stands idle for a day,
long has it thrust at the enemy's breast.
وَإِنand if تَستَجِمُّgive rest to النائِباتُthe calamities سَوابِقيmy leading steeds
وَإِن تَستَجِمُّ النائِباتُ سَوابِقي
فَمِنthen from قَبلِbefore ماindeed بَذَّoutstripped الجِيادَthe fine horses رِهانُهاtheir racing
فَمِن قَبلِ ما بَذَّ الجِيادَ رِهانُها
If calamities now give my foremost steeds a rest,
their racing outstripped the finest horses long before.
Sol 6.1