غالىbid high بِهاfor her الزائِدُthe bidder حَتّىuntil اِبتاعَهاhe bought her
غالى بِها الزائِدُ حَتّى اِبتاعَها
بادِنَةًstout قَدalready مَلَأَتshe had filled أَنساعَهاher girth-straps
بادِنَةً قَد مَلَأَت أَنساعَها
The bidder raised her price until he bought her,
a stout she-camel, filling out her girth-straps.
سَوَّغَهاgave her free enjoyment of الراعيthe herdsman رَبيعَthe spring pasture of ضارِجٍDarij
سَوَّغَها الراعي رَبيعَ ضارِجٍ
وَالأَرضُand the earth قَدalready عَمَّhad pervaded النَدىdew بِقاعَهاits tracts
وَالأَرضُ قَد عَمَّ النَدى بِقاعَها
The herdsman let her enjoy Darij's spring pasture,
while dew had spread across the earth's tracts.
يورِدُهاhe brings her to water بَينَbetween نِطاعٍNita‘ فَالنَقاthen al-Naqa
يورِدُها بَينَ نِطاعٍ فَالنَقا
زُرقَblue جِمامٍfull pools لَبِسَتthat have donned يراعَهاtheir reeds
زُرقَ جِمامٍ لَبِسَت يراعَها
He brings her, between Nita‘ and al-Naqa, to water—
blue pools that have donned their reeds.
طاعَyielded لَهاto her حَمضُthe saltbush of اللَوىal-Liwa وَنَشَّرَتand spread out
طاعَ لَها حَمضُ اللَوى وَنَشَّرَت
لَهاfor her رُبىthe hills of قَباقِبٍQabaqib أَقطاعَهاtheir patches
لَها رُبى قَباقِبٍ أَقطاعَها
Al-Liwa's saltbush yielded to her; spreading out
their patches for her were Qabaqib's hills.
رَعَتshe grazed حُلِيَّthe needlegrass of رامَةٍRama وَشاطَرَتand shared equally
رَعَت حُلِيَّ رامَةٍ وَشاطَرَت
جَوازِيَwater-shunning gazelles الرَملِof the sands بِهاthere لَعاعَهاits tender shoots
جَوازِيَ الرَملِ بِها لَعاعَها
She grazed Rama's needlegrass and shared
its tender shoots there with the water-shunning sand-gazelles.
تَلُسَّshe licks up آثارَthe traces of دَرورٍa freely raining cloud جَونَةٍdark
تَلُسَّ آثارَ دَرورٍ جَونَةٍ
أَلقَتit cast عَلىupon ذيDhu بَقَرٍBaqar بَعاعَهاits heavy rain
أَلقَت عَلى ذي بَقَرٍ بَعاعَها
She licks up the traces of a dark, rain-rich cloud
that cast its heavy rain on Dhu Baqar,
مُسيلَةًsetting flowing بَينَbetween العَقيقِal-‘Aqiq وَالحِمىand al-Hima
مُسيلَةً بَينَ العَقيقِ وَالحِمى
أَضواجَthe winding channels of بَطنِthe belly of الأَرضِthe earth أَوor أَجزاعَهاits valley-bends
أَضواجَ بَطنِ الأَرضِ أَو أَجزاعَها
setting flowing, between al-‘Aqiq and al-Hima,
the winding channels of the earth's belly, or its valley-bends.
تُطلِقُit releases عَقلَthe fetters of النَبتِthe plants إِمّاwhenever رَجَّعَتit echoes
تُطلِقُ عَقلَ النَبتِ إِمّا رَجَّعَت
جَلجالَهاits rumbling بِالرَعدِwith thunder أَوor قَعقاعَهاits rattling crash
جَلجالَها بِالرَعدِ أَو قَعقاعَها
It frees the plants from their fetters whenever it echoes
its rumbling in thunder, or its rattling crash.
يَستَنفِضُshakes out العُشبُthe grass لَهاbefore it رُؤوسَهُits heads
يَستَنفِضُ العُشبُ لَها رُؤوسَهُ
إِذاwhen البُروقُthe lightning flashes اِعتَصَرَتwring out دُفّاعَهاits surging torrents
إِذا البُروقُ اِعتَصَرَت دُفّاعَها
The grass shakes out its heads before it
when lightning wrings out its surging torrents,
حَتّىuntil بَنىbuilt النَيُّfat عَلىupon سَنامِهاher hump
حَتّى بَنى النَيُّ عَلى سَنامِها
مَبانِياًedifices ماnot بَطَنَتlined within سِياعَهاtheir plaster
مَبانِياً ما بَطَنَت سِياعَها
until fat builds upon her hump
edifices with no lining of plaster.
شاغَبَهُharried him الهَمُّcare فَأَرضاهُso he appeased it بِهاwith her
شاغَبَهُ الهَمُّ فَأَرضاهُ بِها
تَشرَعُshe begins عَنaway from دارِthe abode of الأَذىharm نِزاعَهاher departure
تَشرَعُ عَن دارِ الأَذى نِزاعَها
Care harried him; he appeased it with her,
as she begins her departure from the abode of harm.
إِنif قَطَعَcuts off provision الراعيthe herdsman عَليهاfor her لَمnot تُبَلshe cares
إِن قَطَعَ الراعي عَليها لَم تُبَل
أَشبَعَهاfeeds her fully الخِذرافُthe fleet-footed one أَمor أَجاعَهاstarves her
أَشبَعَها الخِذرافُ أَم أَجاعَها
Should the herdsman stint her, she does not care
whether the fleet-footed one feeds her or starves her.
مَخيلَةٌsurmised مَبرَكُهاher kneeling-place مِنfrom شَخصِهاher outline
مَخيلَةٌ مَبرَكُها مِن شَخصِها
إِذاwhen المَطاياthe riding-camels عَمَرَتinhabit رِباعَهاtheir quarters
إِذا المَطايا عَمَرَت رِباعَها
Her kneeling-place is guessed from her outline
when riding-camels throng their quarters.
تَضبَعُshe stretches her forelegs عَنout of غِبِّthe aftermath of الوَنىweariness كَأَنَّهاas though she
تَضبَعُ عَن غِبِّ الوَنى كَأَنَّها
عائِمَةٌa swimmer قَدalready رَفَعَتshe has raised شِراعَهاher sail
عائِمَةٌ قَد رَفَعَت شِراعَها
After weariness she stretches into stride, as though
a swimmer who has raised her sail.
تَحسَبُهاyou think her الوَرهاءَa foolish woman ريعَتshe was startled فَنَجَتso she fled
تَحسَبُها الوَرهاءَ ريعَت فَنَجَت
مِنَfrom الأَذىharm طارِحَةًthrowing off قِناعَهاher veil
مِنَ الأَذى طارِحَةً قِناعَها
You would think her a foolish woman, startled into fleeing
from harm, throwing off her veil.
وَقَّرَهاmade her sedate السَيرُtravel وَكانَتand she had been حِقبَةًfor a time
وَقَّرَها السَيرُ وَكانَت حِقبَةً
لَوif سَمِعَتshe heard حِسُّthe faint stir of القُرادِa tick راعَهاit frightened her
لَو سَمِعَت حِسُّ القُرادِ راعَها
Travel has made her sedate; once, for a time,
if she had heard a tick stir, it would have frightened her.
كَأَنَّهاas though she were طاويa lean one المَصيرِin the gut هاجَهُroused him
كَأَنَّها طاوي المَصيرِ هاجَهُ
عَضُّthe bite of ضِراعِgaunt hounds قَدalready بَلاhe has tested مِصاعَهاtheir fighting
عَضُّ ضِراعِ قَد بَلا مِصاعَها
She is like a lean-bellied beast, roused by
the bite of gaunt hounds whose fighting he has tested.
إِذاwhen رَأىhe sees اِفتِراقَهاtheir scattering زاوَلَهاhe grapples with them
إِذا رَأى اِفتِراقَها زاوَلَها
ثُمَّthen يَنيhe slackens إِذاwhen رَأىhe sees اِجتِماعَهاtheir gathering
ثُمَّ يَني إِذا رَأى اِجتِماعَها
When he sees them scattered, he grapples with them,
then slackens when he sees them gathered.
أَوor أَحقَبٌa white-flanked wild ass أَعجَلَهُhurried him قِناصُهاits hunters
أَو أَحقَبٌ أَعجَلَهُ قِناصُها
مُشاوِراتِthe deliberations of النَفسِthe soul أَوor أَزماعَهاits resolutions
مُشاوِراتِ النَفسِ أَو أَزماعَها
Or a white-flanked wild ass, hurried by its hunters beyond
the soul's deliberations or its resolutions,
فيamong عانَةٍa herd of wild asses تُطيعُهُthat obeys him مُحامِياًas a defender
في عانَةٍ تُطيعُهُ مُحامِياً
فَإِنbut if رَآهاhe sees them شُرَّداًscattered in flight أَطاعَهاhe obeys them
فَإِن رَآها شُرَّداً أَطاعَها
among a herd that obeys him as its defender;
but when he sees them fleeing, he obeys them.
تَنتَصِبُthey stand upright اِنتِصابَهُas he stands upright لِنَبأَةٍat a faint sound
تَنتَصِبُ اِنتِصابَهُ لِنَبأَةٍ
ذُعراًin terror وَيَنصاعُand he swerves لَهاwith them اِنصِياعَهاas they swerve
ذُعراً وَيَنصاعُ لَها اِنصِياعَها
At a faint sound they stand upright as he does,
in terror, and he swerves as they swerve.
يَحفَظُهاhe guards them مَشايِحاًfiercely defending عَنaway from سِربِهاtheir herd
يَحفَظُها مَشايِحاً عَن سِربِها
فَإِنbut if رَأىhe sees جِدَّthe earnest onset of الرَدىdeath أَضاعَهاhe abandons them
فَإِن رَأى جِدَّ الرَدى أَضاعَها
He guards them, fiercely defending their herd;
but when he sees death in earnest, he abandons them.
أَقضىI fulfill عَليهاupon her أَرَباًa purpose مِنfrom هِمَّةٍan ambition
أَقضى عَليها أَرَباً مِن هِمَّةٍ
لَوif عَدَلَdealt justly الدَهرُTime ثَنىit would turn back زِماعَهاits firm resolve
لَو عَدَلَ الدَهرُ ثَنى زِماعَها
Upon her I fulfill a purpose born of an ambition
whose resolve Time would have turned back, had it been just.
مَطبوعَةٌfashioned عَلىfor العُلىthe heights لَوif رَضِيَتit accepted
مَطبوعَةٌ عَلى العُلى لَو رَضِيَت
بِالذُلِّwith humiliation يَوماًone day أَنكَرَتit would disown طِباعَهاits nature
بِالذُلِّ يَوماً أَنكَرَت طِباعَها
A spirit fashioned for the heights: if it accepted
humiliation one day, it would disown its nature.
ياoh حِفظَهاits preservation إِنif بَلَغَتit reaches مَرامَهاits goal
يا حِفظَها إِن بَلَغَت مَرامَها
وَإِنand if أَبىrefuses الدَهرُTime فَياthen alas for ضَياعَهاits loss
وَإِن أَبى الدَهرُ فَيا ضَياعَها
Oh, its salvation, should it reach its aim!
But if Time refuses—alas for its loss!
أَستَعجِلُI hasten الأَمرَthe matter وَحَظّيwhile my fortune رايِثٌlags
أَستَعجِلُ الأَمرَ وَحَظّي رايِثٌ
نَفسٌa soul أُرَجّيI hope for أَبَداًforever خِداعَهاdeceiving it
نَفسٌ أُرَجّي أَبَداً خِداعَها
I hurry the matter, while my fortune lags:
a soul I forever hope to beguile.
وَلَوand if قَنِعَتit were content بِالحُظوظِwith allotted shares لَمnot أُبَلI would care
وَلَو قَنِعَت بِالحُظوظِ لَم أُبَل
إِبطاءَهاtheir slowness بِالرِزقِin bringing sustenance أَمor إِسراعَهاtheir swiftness
إِبطاءَها بِالرِزقِ أَم إِسراعَها
If it were content with allotted shares, I would not care
whether they brought sustenance slowly or swiftly.
أُصارِعُI wrestle الأَقدارِfate's decrees عَنto ward off وُقوعِهاtheir falling
أُصارِعُ الأَقدارِ عَن وُقوعِها
بِمَنكِبٍwith a shoulder مُعَوَّدٍaccustomed to صِراعَهاwrestling them
بِمَنكِبٍ مُعَوَّدٍ صِراعَها
I wrestle with fate's decrees to ward off their fall,
with a shoulder accustomed to wrestling them.
تُصادِفُmeets الخَرقاءُthe clumsy woman مِنfrom زَمانِهاher times
تُصادِفُ الخَرقاءُ مِن زَمانِها
سِجالَbrimming buckets of رِزقٍsustenance أَخطَأَتthat missed صَناعَهاher skilled counterpart
سِجالَ رِزقٍ أَخطَأَت صَناعَها
The clumsy woman receives from her times
buckets of bounty that miss her skilled counterpart.
قَوميmy people الأُولىthose who إِمّاwhenever جَرَواthey race لِغايَةٍtoward a goal
قَومي الأُولى إِمّا جَرَوا لِغايَةٍ
بَذّواthey outstrip بِطاءَthe slow runners الغايِtoward the goal أَوor سِراعَهاits swift runners
بَذّوا بِطاءَ الغايِ أَو سِراعَها
My people are those who, whenever they race toward a goal,
outstrip its slow runners or its swift.
هُمُthey المَلاجيare the refuges وَالمَناجيand the havens وَالحِمىand the sanctuary
هُمُ المَلاجي وَالمَناجي وَالحِمى
إِذاwhen المَناياdeaths وَقَعَتstrike وِقاعَهاtheir blows
إِذا المَنايا وَقَعَت وِقاعَها
They are the refuges, the havens, and the sanctuary
when deaths strike their blows.
هُمُthey المَعاذُare shelter وَالمَلاذُand refuge وَالذُرىand the heights
هُمُ المَعاذُ وَالمَلاذُ وَالذُرى
إِذاwhen السُيولُtorrents رَكِبَتoverrun تِلاعَهاtheir gullies
إِذا السُيولُ رَكِبَت تِلاعَها
They are shelter, refuge, and the heights
when torrents overrun their gullies.
هُمُthey المُقيلونَare the rescuers المُنيلونَthe givers إِذاwhenever
هُمُ المُقيلونَ المُنيلونَ إِذا
ماindeed اللَزبَةُfamine اللَزباءُrelentless أَلقَتstretches out باعَهاits armspan
ما اللَزبَةُ اللَزباءُ أَلقَت باعَها
They are the rescuers, the givers, whenever
dire, relentless famine stretches out its arm.
أَزوالُwonders أَيّامِon the days of الطِعانِspear-fighting إِنif طَغَتit overreaches
أَزوالُ أَيّامِ الطِعانِ إِن طَغَت
يَدُthe hand of الزَمانِTime أَحسَنواthey perform well دِفاعَهاrepelling it
يَدُ الزَمانِ أَحسَنوا دِفاعَها
Wonders on days of spear-fighting; should it overreach—
the hand of Time—they skillfully repel it.
فيin حَيثُa place where لاnot تَنظُرُyou see تَحتَbeneath نَقعِهاits dust
في حَيثُ لا تَنظُرُ تَحتَ نَقعِها
إِلّاexcept عَصيَّthe staves of المَوتِdeath أَوor قِراعَهاtheir clashing
إِلّا عَصيَّ المَوتِ أَو قِراعَها
Where, beneath its dust, you see nothing
but death's staves or their clashing.
لَمnot يَغنَمواthey win as spoils الأَموالَwealth إِلّاexcept that أَخَذواthey take
لَم يَغنَموا الأَموالَ إِلّا أَخَذوا
صَفيِّهاits choicest portion وَقَبَضواand they receive مِرباعَهاits quarter-share
صَفيِّها وَقَبَضوا مِرباعَها
Whenever they win wealth as spoils, they take
its choicest portion and receive its quarter-share.
تَلقىyou find بِهِمin them مَرسىthe anchorage of الوَقارِdignity وَالحِجىand reason
تَلقى بِهِم مَرسى الوَقارِ وَالحِجى
وَضِئضِئَand the stock of العَلياءِloftiness أَوor جُمّاعَهاits gathered sum
وَضِئضِئَ العَلياءِ أَو جُمّاعَها
In them you find the anchorage of dignity and reason,
the very stock of loftiness, or its gathered sum.
إِنif نَزَلواthey alight in الجَوَّthe open tract أَماتواthey extinguish شَمسَهُits sun
إِن نَزَلوا الجَوَّ أَماتوا شَمسَهُ
وَالأَرضُand the earth كانواthey were أَبَداًever طِلاعَهاits fill
وَالأَرضُ كانوا أَبَداً طِلاعَها
If they alight in a tract, they extinguish its sun;
as for the earth, they ever fill its expanse.
بُيوتُهُمtheir houses مَرهوبَةٌare dreaded تَخالُهاyou would think them
بُيوتُهُم مَرهوبَةٌ تَخالُها
أَولاجَthe lairs of غيلٍa thicket رَشَّحَتthat has reared سِباعَهاits beasts of prey
أَولاجَ غيلٍ رَشَّحَت سِباعَها
Their houses inspire dread; you would think them
the lairs of a thicket that has reared its beasts of prey.
المانِعونَthose warding off الضَيمَoppression بِاللُدنِwith supple spears تَرىyou see
المانِعونَ الضَيمَ بِاللُدنِ تَرى
هِبابَهاtheir surging لِلطَعنِinto the thrust أَوor زَعزاعَهاtheir quivering
هِبابَها لِلطَعنِ أَو زَعزاعَها
They ward off oppression with supple shafts; you see
their spring into the thrust, or their quivering.
كَأَنَّas though فيin الأَيمانِthe right hands حَيّاتِthe snakes of النَقاthe dunes
كَأَنَّ في الأَيمانِ حَيّاتِ النَقا
أَرقَمَهاtheir speckled snake النَضناضَthe tongue-flicking أَوor شُجاعَهاtheir mighty serpent
أَرقَمَها النَضناضَ أَو شُجاعَها
As though in their right hands were snakes of the dunes:
their tongue-flicking speckled snake, or their mighty serpent.
مِنfrom كُلِّevery سَوّارٍassailant إِذاwhen رامَhe seeks العُلىthe heights
مِن كُلِّ سَوّارٍ إِذا رامَ العُلى
حازَhe wins عُقابَthe eagle of الجَوِّthe sky أَوor مَلاعَهاits lofty haunts
حازَ عُقابَ الجَوِّ أَو مَلاعَها
Each is an assailant who, when he seeks the heights,
wins the sky's eagle, or its lofty haunts,
مُحَلِّقاًsoaring يَبلُغُhe attains مِنهاamong them غايَةًa summit
مُحَلِّقاً يَبلُغُ مِنها غايَةً
لَوif رامَهاit sought it العَيّوقُal-‘Ayyuq ماnot اِستَطاعَهاit could reach it
لَو رامَها العَيّوقُ ما اِستَطاعَها
soaring to attain among those heights a summit
that even al-‘Ayyuq could not reach, were it to try.
حاصواthey stitched خَصاصاتِthe breaches of قُرَيشٍQuraysh بِالقَناwith spears
حاصوا خَصاصاتِ قُرَيشٍ بِالقَنا
شَوارِعاًheld level وَجَمَّعواand they gathered شَعاعَهاits scattered ranks
شَوارِعاً وَجَمَّعوا شَعاعَها
They stitched Quraysh's breaches with spears
held level, and gathered its scattered ranks.
رَدّواthey restored عَلىto ساداتِهاits lords إِحضارَهاits swift advance
رَدّوا عَلى ساداتِها إِحضارَها
وَضَمَّنواand they pledged بيضَwhite الطُلىthroats اِرتِجاعَهاto its recovery
وَضَمَّنوا بيضَ الطُلى اِرتِجاعَها
They restored its swift advance to its lords,
and pledged white throats to its recovery.
وَتَوَّجواand they crowned بِمَجدِهِمwith their glory مَفرَقَهاits parted hair
وَتَوَّجوا بِمَجدِهِم مَفرَقَها
عَنfrom عَطَلٍbareness وَسَوَّرواand braceleted ذِراعَهاits arm
عَن عَطَلٍ وَسَوَّروا ذِراعَها
They crowned its parted hair with their glory,
relieving its bareness, and braceleted its arm.
كانواthey were صَياصيهاits strongholds وَكانواand they were دونَهاbefore it
كانوا صَياصيها وَكانوا دونَها
فُرّاطَهاits pioneers فيin المَجدِglory أَوor نُزّاعَهاits strenuous seekers
فُرّاطَها في المَجدِ أَو نُزّاعَها
They were its strongholds, and before it they were
its pioneers in glory, or its strenuous seekers.
وَالزاحِمينَand those pressing بِالقَناwith spears أَعداءَهاits enemies
وَالزاحِمينَ بِالقَنا أَعداءَها
عَلىat الثَناياthe mountain passes مَنَعواthey barred طَلّاعَهاthose ascending them
عَلى الثَنايا مَنَعوا طَلّاعَها
And those who pressed its enemies hard with spears
at the mountain passes barred those who would ascend.
أَيّامَin the days حَطّواthey stripped away بِالظُبىwith sword-edges أَغمادَهاtheir sheaths
أَيّامَ حَطّوا بِالظُبى أَغمادَها
عَنِfrom العُلىthe heights وَغَمَزواand they flexed نِباعَهاtheir nab‘-wood bows
عَنِ العُلى وَغَمَزوا نِباعَها
When, with sword-edges, they stripped the sheaths
off the heights, and flexed their nab‘-wood bows,
بِالخَيلِwith horses لاnot تُعلَفُfed إِلّاexcept شَدَّهاtheir racing
بِالخَيلِ لا تُعلَفُ إِلّا شَدَّها
أَوor مَلقَهاtheir swift coursing بِالبيدِthrough the wastes وَاِندَراعَهاand their hurtling on
أَو مَلقَها بِالبيدِ وَاِندَراعَها
with horses fed on nothing but their racing,
their coursing through wastes, and their hurtling on.
مِثلِlike الرِماحِlances هُزهِزَتwere shaken كُعوبُهاtheir joints
مِثلِ الرِماحِ هُزهِزَت كُعوبُها
أَوor كَالذُبابِlike flies اِتَّبَعَتthat follow أَطماعَهاtheir cravings
أَو كَالذُبابِ اِتَّبَعَت أَطماعَها
Like lances with their joints shaken,
or like flies following their cravings.
كَأَنَّas though عِقبانَthe eagles of الشُرَيفِal-Shurayf فَوقَهاabove them
كَأَنَّ عِقبانَ الشُرَيفِ فَوقَها
تَعلوmount قِنانَthe peaks of الأَرضِthe earth أَوor جِزاعَهاits valley-bends
تَعلو قِنانَ الأَرضِ أَو جِزاعَها
As though the eagles of al-Shurayf, above them,
were mounting the earth's peaks or its valley-bends,
تَلمَحُglimpse ماwhatever عارَضَهاcrosses them بِأَعيُنٍwith eyes
تَلمَحُ ما عارَضَها بِأَعيُنٍ
مِثلِlike الجُذىfirebrands طارِحَةًcasting out شُعاعَهاtheir rays
مِثلِ الجُذى طارِحَةً شُعاعَها
glimpsing whatever crossed them with eyes
like firebrands casting out their rays.
هُمthey رَفَعواraised بِمَجدِهِمwith their glory قِبابَهاits domes
هُم رَفَعوا بِمَجدِهِم قِبابَها
وَضَوَّأواand they lit مِنfrom نارِهِمtheir fire يَفاعَهاits high ground
وَضَوَّأوا مِن نارِهِم يَفاعَها
They raised its domes through their glory,
and lit its high ground with their fire.
حَمواthey guarded بِأَطرافِwith the points of القَناspears سَوامَهاits grazing herds
حَموا بِأَطرافِ القَنا سَوامَها
مِنَfrom العِدىenemies وَآمَنواand they made secure رِتاعَهاits pasturing flocks
مِنَ العِدى وَآمَنوا رِتاعَها
With spear-points they guarded its grazing herds
from enemies, and made its pasturing flocks secure.
وَأَلصَقواand they pressed بِالرَغمِinto abasement دونَbarring نَيلِهاaccess to it
وَأَلصَقوا بِالرَغمِ دونَ نَيلِها
مَوارِناًnoses قَدalready أَوعَبواthey completed اِجتِداعَهاcutting them off
مَوارِناً قَد أَوعَبوا اِجتِداعَها
They rubbed in the dust, barring access to it,
noses they had utterly lopped off.
إِنif كانَthere was رَوعٌterror عاقَدواthey bound by a pact شُجاعَهاits brave
إِن كانَ رَوعٌ عاقَدوا شُجاعَها
عَلىto الرَدىdeath وَأَمَّنواand gave safety مِجزاعَهاto its fearful
عَلى الرَدى وَأَمَّنوا مِجزاعَها
In times of terror, they pledged its brave
to face death, and gave its fearful safety.
كَبّواthey toppled عَلىupon أَذقانِهاtheir chins أَصنامَهاits idols
كَبّوا عَلى أَذقانِها أَصنامَها
لاnot وَدَّهاits Wadd أَبقواthey spared وَلاnor سُواعَهاits Suwa‘
لا وَدَّها أَبقوا وَلا سُواعَها
They toppled its idols upon their chins,
sparing neither its Wadd nor its Suwa‘.
تَدارَكَrescued اللَهُGod بِجَدّيthrough my grandfather عِزَّهاits honor
تَدارَكَ اللَهُ بِجَدّي عِزَّها
وَقَدwhen already شَراهاhad bought it ذُلُّهاits humiliation وَباعَهاand sold it
وَقَد شَراها ذُلُّها وَباعَها
Through my grandfather, God rescued its honor,
when humiliation had bought it and sold it.
جازَتit passed بِهِthrough him حَدَّthe limit of العُلىthe heights وَقَدand already رَأَتit had seen
جازَت بِهِ حَدَّ العُلى وَقَد رَأَت
تَقارُعَthe clashing of الجُدودِfortunes وَاِطِراعَهاand their mutual toppling
تَقارُعَ الجُدودِ وَاِطِراعَها
Through him it passed beyond the limit of the heights, having seen
the clash of fortunes and their mutual toppling.
بِمَجدِهِthrough his glory وَالعِزِّand the might مِنfrom أَيّامِهِhis days
بِمَجدِهِ وَالعِزِّ مِن أَيّامِهِ
مَدَّتit stretched إِلىtoward نَيلِattaining العُلىthe heights أَضباعَهاits arms
مَدَّت إِلى نَيلِ العُلى أَضباعَها
Through his glory and the might born of his days,
it stretched its arms to attain the heights.
واah عَجَباwhat wonder لِعُصبَةٍat a band مَغرورَةٍdeluded
وا عَجَبا لِعُصبَةٍ مَغرورَةٍ
تُريدُit wants أَنto تُلصِقَfasten بيupon me قِذاعَهاits foul abuse
تُريدُ أَن تُلصِقَ بي قِذاعَها
Ah, wonder at a deluded band
that wishes to fasten its foul abuse upon me!
أَذهَلَنيbewildered me اِستِواؤُهاtheir uniformity فيin غَيِّهاtheir error
أَذهَلَني اِستِواؤُها في غَيِّها
مُطيعَهاits followers أَعذُلُdo I blame أَوor مُطاعَهاits leaders
مُطيعَها أَعذُلُ أَو مُطاعَها
Their uniformity in error has bewildered me:
am I to blame their followers or their leaders?
تَقودُنيit leads me إِلىtoward الهَوانِhumiliation ضِلَّةًin error
تَقودُني إِلى الهَوانِ ضِلَّةً
وَقَدalthough already أَبىhas forbidden العِزُّhonor لِيَto me اِتِباعَهاfollowing it
وَقَد أَبى العِزُّ لِيَ اِتِباعَها
It leads me, in error, toward humiliation,
though honor has forbidden me to follow it.
تَسومُنيit demands of me وِردَa draught of القَذىpolluted water وَقَدalthough already رَأَتit has seen
تَسومُني وِردَ القَذى وَقَد رَأَت
عِزَّةَthe pride of هَذيthis النَفسِsoul وَاِمتِناعَهاand its refusal to yield
عِزَّةَ هَذي النَفسِ وَاِمتِناعَها
It bids me drink polluted water, though it has seen
this soul's pride and its refusal to yield.
تُريدُit wants أَنthat أَلقىI meet الخَناobscenity لِقاءَهاas it meets it
تُريدُ أَن أَلقى الخَنا لِقاءَها
وَأَنand that أُنيخَI kneel لِلأَذىfor harm جَعجاعَهاon its harsh ground
وَأَن أُنيخَ لِلأَذى جَعجاعَها
It wants me to meet obscenity as it does,
and kneel for harm upon its harsh ground,
وَأَلبَسَand I wear العارَdisgrace الطَويلَenduring لِبسَهاas it wears it
وَأَلبَسَ العارَ الطَويلَ لِبسَها
وَأَرضَعَand I suck الذُلَّhumiliation لَهاfor it رَضاعَهاas it sucks
وَأَرضَعَ الذُلَّ لَها رَضاعَها
and wear enduring disgrace as it wears it,
and suck at humiliation, for its sake, as it does.
قَبيلَةٌa tribe أَغلَطَهاmade it mistake نَهجَthe road to العُلىthe heights
قَبيلَةٌ أَغلَطَها نَهجَ العُلى
لُؤمُthe baseness of عُروقٍroots جَرَّتِthat brought اِتَّضاعَهاits abasement
لُؤمُ عُروقٍ جَرَّتِ اِتَّضاعَها
A tribe misled on the road to the heights
by base roots that brought its downfall.
قَومٌa people هَوَتhave fallen أَنفُسُهُمtheir souls مِنfrom دِلَّةٍconceit
قَومٌ هَوَت أَنفُسُهُم مِن دِلَّةٍ
وَأَشرَفَتwhile have ascended حُظوظُهُمtheir fortunes أَيفاعَهاtheir peaks
وَأَشرَفَت حُظوظُهُم أَيفاعَها
A people whose souls have fallen through conceit,
while their fortunes have climbed to their peaks.
يالَيتَهُمwould that they غَطّواhad covered اِنحِطاطَthe lowness of قَدرِهِمtheir worth
يالَيتَهُم غَطّوا اِنحِطاطَ قَدرِهِم
أَوor رَفَعَتنيhad raised me هِمَّتيmy ambition اِرتِفاعَهاas high as they rose
أَو رَفَعَتني هِمَّتي اِرتِفاعَها
Would that they had concealed their lowly worth,
or that my ambition had raised me as high as their fortunes.
أَمّاas for المَعاليhigh honors فَأَخَذناso we took أَوَّلاًfirst
أَمّا المَعالي فَأَخَذنا أَوَّلاً
طولَthe length of سِنيهاtheir years وَأَخَذتُمand you took ساعَهاtheir hour
طولَ سِنيها وَأَخَذتُم ساعَها
As for high honors, we took them first
for all their long years; you have taken but their hour.
أَسمَحَتِyielded generously الدُنياthe world لَكُمto you وَأَعرَضَتand came within reach
أَسمَحَتِ الدُنيا لَكُم وَأَعرَضَت
صَنائِعٌgood works لَمnot تُحسِنواyou knew well اِصطِناعَهاundertaking them
صَنائِعٌ لَم تُحسِنوا اِصطِناعَها
The world has yielded to you, and within reach lay
good works you did not know how to undertake.
رُدَّتwere restored عَليكُمto you نِعَمٌblessings مَظلومَةwronged
رُدَّت عَليكُم نِعَمٌ مَظلومَة
لَمnot تَشكُروهاyou thanked them فَاِنظُرواso watch اِنقِطاعَهاtheir cessation
لَم تَشكُروها فَاِنظُروا اِنقِطاعَها
Blessings were restored to you, wronged blessings;
you gave no thanks for them—now watch them cease.
ياoh بِئسَhow wretched ماwhat جَرَّتit brought عَليكَupon you عامِداًdeliberately
يا بِئسَ ما جَرَّت عَليكَ عامِداً
مِنof رائِعاتٍterrors تُكثِرُyou multiply اِرتِياعَهاtheir fright
مِن رائِعاتٍ تُكثِرُ اِرتِياعَها
Ah, how wretched what was deliberately brought upon you—
terrors whose fright you only multiply!
نَفحَةُa blast of عارٍshame لَذَّعَتhas scorched أَعراضَهاtheir reputations
نَفحَةُ عارٍ لَذَّعَت أَعراضَها
لَذعَthe scorching of اللَظىflame وَوَقَّرَتand deafened أَسماعَهاtheir ears
لَذعَ اللَظى وَوَقَّرَت أَسماعَها
A blast of shame has scorched their honor,
as flame scorches, and deafened their ears,
وَغادَرَتand left صِفاحَهاtheir flanks دامِيَةًbleeding
وَغادَرَت صِفاحَها دامِيَةً
عَقرَthe galling of المَطاياriding-camels أَلَّمَتcaused pain إيضاعَهاtheir fast trotting
عَقرَ المَطايا أَلَّمَت إيضاعَها
and left their flanks bleeding,
like riding-camels galled by their fast trotting.
وَأَمِنَتand felt safe مِنهاfrom it نِزارٌNizar أَنَّهاthat it was
وَأَمِنَت مِنها نِزارٌ أَنَّها
سَوءَةُa disgrace قَولِof speech كُفِيَتthey were spared سَماعَهاhearing it
سَوءَةُ قَولِ كُفِيَت سَماعَها
And Nizar felt safe from it, knowing it was
a shameful utterance they were spared from hearing.
Sol 6.1