هَلwas? رَيعَstartled قَلبُكَyour heart لِلخَليطِfor the companions المُنجِدِbound for Najd
هَل رَيعَ قَلبُكَ لِلخَليطِ المُنجِدِ
بِلَوىat the sandy bend of البُراقِal-Buraq تَزايَلواthey departed عَنfrom مَوعِديmy tryst
بِلَوى البُراقِ تَزايَلوا عَن مَوعِدي
Was your heart startled by the companions bound for Najd?
Does your heart rejoice in this charming mix
At the sandy bend of al-Buraq, they departed from my tryst.
Of shining cheeks that missed my tryst?
قالواthey said غَداًtomorrow يَومُthe day of النَوىseparation فَتَسَلَّفواso they took in advance
قالوا غَداً يَومُ النَوى فَتَسَلَّفوا
عَضّاًbiting لِأَطرافِof the tips of البَنانِthe fingers عَلىover غَدِtomorrow
عَضّاً لِأَطرافِ البَنانِ عَلى غَدِ
They said, 'Tomorrow is parting day,' and already began
They said tomorrow is the day of intent, so they borrowed
biting their fingertips over that tomorrow.
Some bites on the fingertips of the young women for tomorrow
رَفَعواthey lifted القِبابَthe tent-pavilions وَبَينَهُنَّand among them لُبانَةٌa longing
رَفَعوا القِبابَ وَبَينَهُنَّ لُبانَةٌ
لَمnot تَقضِهاfulfilled it عِدَةُthe promise of الغَزالِthe gazelle الأَغيَدِsupple
لَم تَقضِها عِدَةُ الغَزالِ الأَغيَدِ
They lifted the tent-pavilions, and among them was a longing
They set up the tents, and between them was a wide expanse
the supple gazelle's promise had not fulfilled.
That the gazelle’s limited number could not traverse
وَغَدواand they set out at dawn غُدوَّthe morning departure of الرَوضِthe meadow أَلبَسَهُclothed it الحَياthe rain
وَغَدوا غُدوَّ الرَوضِ أَلبَسَهُ الحَيا
نَسجَينِtwo woven robes بَينَbetween مُسَرَّدٍmail-linked وَمُعَضَّدِand striped
نَسجَينِ بَينَ مُسَرَّدٍ وَمُعَضَّدِ
They set out at dawn like a meadow clothed by rain
And they went early to the garden, adorned with life
in two woven robes, one mail-linked, the other striped.
Embroidered between outstretched and supported
وَوَراهُمُand behind them قَلبٌa heart يُشاقُstirred to longing وَمُهجَةٌand a soul
وَوَراهُمُ قَلبٌ يُشاقُ وَمُهجَةٌ
بَرَدَتgrew cold رَدىًin death وَغَليلُهاand its burning thirst لَمnot يَبرُدِcooled
بَرَدَت رَدىً وَغَليلُها لَم يَبرُدِ
Behind them remain a heart stirred to longing and a soul
And behind them a heart that suffers and an intellect
grown cold in death, though its burning thirst has not cooled.
That has cooled but its turmoil did not chill
لاfirst fragment of 'they veiled' ثواcompletion of 'they veiled' خُدودَهُمُtheir cheeks عَلىat عَينِthe spring of النَقاthe sand dunes
لا ثوا خُدودَهُمُ عَلى عَينِ النَقا
وَدُمىand dolls of النَمارِقِthe cushions وَالغُصونِand the branches المُيَّدِswaying
وَدُمى النَمارِقِ وَالغُصونِ المُيَّدِ
They veiled their cheeks at the spring of the dunes—
They did not rub their cheeks on the brilliant stars
those cushion-dolls and swaying boughs,
And the moons and the bending branches
وَأَهِلَّةٍand crescent moons بِتناwe spent the night نَضَلُّgoing astray بِضَوئِهاby their light
وَأَهِلَّةٍ بِتنا نَضَلُّ بِضَوئِها
وَلَقَدand indeed تَراناyou see us بِالأَهِلَّةِby the crescent moons نَهتَديfinding our way
وَلَقَد تَرانا بِالأَهِلَّةِ نَهتَدي
and crescent moons by whose light we spent the night astray,
And crescents that we seek illumination from
though you see us finding our way by crescent moons.
And we are certainly guided by the crescent
فَسَقىso may it water ثَرىthe soil of تِلكَthose الغُصونِbranches نَباتِهِits growth
فَسَقى ثَرى تِلكَ الغُصونِ نَباتِهِ
ماشاءَwhatever is wished مِنof سَبَلِthe streaming rain of الغَمامِthe clouds المُزبِدِfoaming
ماشاءَ مِن سَبَلِ الغَمامِ المُزبِدِ
May the soil where those branches grow be watered
So it watered the ground of those branches
with all one could wish of rain from the foaming clouds.
As much as desired from the paths of abundant clouds
وَلَقَدand indeed مَرَرتُI passed عَلىby الدِيارِthe dwellings فَعَزَّنيand proved beyond me
وَلَقَد مَرَرتُ عَلى الدِيارِ فَعَزَّني
جَلَديmy endurance وَكانَand was أَعَزَّharder to attain مِنهُthan it تَجَلُّديmy forced composure
جَلَدي وَكانَ أَعَزَّ مِنهُ تَجَلُّدي
Indeed, I passed by the dwellings, but I could not muster
And I certainly passed by the homes, so it pained me
my endurance; forced endurance was harder still.
My skin, though my endurance was more painful
لَولاwere it not for مُكاثَرَةُthe overwhelming profusion of الدُموعِtears عَشِيَّةًone evening
لَولا مُكاثَرَةُ الدُموعِ عَشِيَّةً
لَعَرَفتُI would have recognized رَسمَthe traces of المَنزِلِthe dwelling المُتَأَبِّدِlong-deserted
لَعَرَفتُ رَسمَ المَنزِلِ المُتَأَبِّدِ
Had tears not overwhelmed me that evening,
If not for the competeing tears in the evening
I would have recognized the traces of the long-deserted dwelling.
I would have known the abode’s eternal imprint
لَهفيmy grief! لِأَيّامِfor the days of الشَبابِyouth عَلىover نَدىthe dew
لَهفي لِأَيّامِ الشَبابِ عَلى نَدى
أَطرافِهِنَّtheir edges وَظِلِّهِنَّand their shade الأَبرَدِcoolest
أَطرافِهِنَّ وَظِلِّهِنَّ الأَبرَدِ
Alas for the days of youth, for the dew
My craving is for the days of youth at
on their edges and their coolest shade!
The dew of their fingertips and their cooler shade
أَيّامَin the days when أَنفُضُI shook لِلمِراحِin merriment ذَوائِبيmy locks
أَيّامَ أَنفُضُ لِلمِراحِ ذَوائِبي
وَأَروحُand I went about بَينَbetween مُعَذِّلٍa reprover وَمُفَنِّدِand a fault-finder
وَأَروحُ بَينَ مُعَذِّلٍ وَمُفَنِّدِ
Days when I shook my locks in merriment
Days when I fling to the breeze my flowing hair
and went about between a reprover and a fault-finder.
And roam between plaited and unplaited
وَمُرَجِّلينَand coiffed مِنَfrom الحِمامِthe bath غَرانِقٍslender youths
وَمُرَجِّلينَ مِنَ الحِمامِ غَرانِقٍ
مِثلِlike الغُصونِbranches ثِيابُهاtheir garments الوَرَقُthe leaves النَديdew-moistened
مِثلِ الغُصونِ ثِيابُها الوَرَقُ النَدي
And graceful youths, their hair combed after the bath,
And those who curl their ringlet-like clothes
like branches whose garments are dewy leaves,
Are like branches whose clothes are soft leaves
مُتَمَلِّيينَfully enjoying مِنَof الشَبابِyouth كَأَنَّهُمas though they
مُتَمَلِّيينَ مِنَ الشَبابِ كَأَنَّهُم
أَقمارُmoons of غاشِيَةِthe shroud of الظَلامِdarkness الأَربَدِdusky
أَقمارُ غاشِيَةِ الظَلامِ الأَربَدِ
fully enjoying youth, as though they were
Swaying in their youth as if they are
moons in the shroud of dusky darkness.
Moons veiling the darkest gloom
صُقِلَتwere polished نُصولُthe blades of خُدودِهِمtheir cheeks بيدِby the hand of الصِباyouth
صُقِلَت نُصولُ خُدودِهِم بيدِ الصِبا
مُردُbeardless العَوارِضِalong the jaws فيin زَمانٍan age أَمرَدِbeardless
مُردُ العَوارِضِ في زَمانٍ أَمرَدِ
Youth's hand had polished the blades of their cheeks,
Their cheeks were polished by the hand of youth
their jaws beardless in a beardless age.
Flexible in an unbending time
تَستَنبِطُdraw out الأَلحاظُglances ماءَthe water of وُجوهِهِمtheir faces
تَستَنبِطُ الأَلحاظُ ماءَ وُجوهِهِم
فَيَكادُso almost يَنقَعُslakes his thirst مِنfrom غَضارَتِهاtheir freshness الصَديthe thirsty one
فَيَكادُ يَنقَعُ مِن غَضارَتِها الصَدي
Glances draw out the water of their faces,
Eyes draw water from their faces
so their freshness almost quenches the thirsty.
Almost dripping from their brilliance
لاnot تَنفُرُshrinks away الحَسناءُthe beautiful woman مِنfrom مَسّيmy touch وَلاand not
لا تَنفُرُ الحَسناءُ مِن مَسّي وَلا
تُثنىis turned back إِذاwhen مُدَّتwas extended إِلىtoward أَرَبٍa desire يَديmy hand
تُثنى إِذا مُدَّت إِلى أَرَبٍ يَدي
The fair woman would not shrink from my touch, nor
The beautiful one does not shy from my touch
would my hand be turned back when stretched toward a desire.
Nor recoil if I extend a hand to a companion
وَبَياضُand the brightness of ماwhat بَينيis between me وَبَينَand between أَحِبَّتيmy beloveds
وَبَياضُ ما بَيني وَبَينَ أَحِبَّتي
يَومَon the day of اللِقاءِmeeting مِنَcomes from الغُرابِthe raven الأَسوَدِblack
يَومَ اللِقاءِ مِنَ الغُرابِ الأَسوَدِ
And the brightness between me and my beloveds
And the distance between me and my loved ones
on the day we met came from the black raven.
On the day we meet is darker than a raven
فَالآنَbut now إِذwhen قَرَعَbattered النَوائِبُcalamities مَروَتيmy flint
فَالآنَ إِذ قَرَعَ النَوائِبُ مَروَتي
وَأَلَنَّand they softened مَعجِمَthe tested hardness of عودِيَmy wood المُتَشَدِّدِunyielding
وَأَلَنَّ مَعجِمَ عودِيَ المُتَشَدِّدِ
But now, when calamities have battered my flint
So now when misfortunes have cracked my dignity
and softened the tested hardness of my unyielding wood,
And weakened the rigidity of my twisted rod
وَقَصَرنَand they shortened خَطويmy stride عَنfrom مُراهَنَةِracing with الصِباyouth
وَقَصَرنَ خَطوي عَن مُراهَنَةِ الصِبا
فَخَطَوتُso I stepped لِلَّذاتِtoward pleasures خَطوَwith the gait of مُقَيَّدِa shackled man
فَخَطَوتُ لِلَّذاتِ خَطوَ مُقَيَّدِ
and shortened my stride, keeping it from racing with youth,
And my strides fell short of competing with youth
I stepped toward pleasures with a shackled man's gait.
I walked with restricted strides
أَلبَسنَنيthey clothed me بُردَin the mantle of الوَقارِdignity ضَرورَةًperforce
أَلبَسنَني بُردَ الوَقارِ ضَرورَةً
وَأَرَينَنيand showed me جَدَدَthe firm level course of الطَريقِthe road الأَقصَدِmost direct
وَأَرَينَني جَدَدَ الطَريقِ الأَقصَدِ
They clothed me perforce in the mantle of dignity
Necessity clothed me in the cloak of dignity
and showed me the level course of the most direct road.
And showed me the straightest path anew
فَاليَومَso today أَسلَسُI yield more easily فيunder القِيادِthe reins وَطالَماthough often before
فَاليَومَ أَسلَسُ في القِيادِ وَطالَما
مَنَعَتkept away فُضولُthe excesses of عَزامَتيmy resolve مِنfrom مِقوَديmy rein
مَنَعَت فُضولُ عَزامَتي مِن مِقوَدي
Today I am pliant under the reins, though often before
So today I gently hold the reins though long ago
the excess of my resolve kept my bridle beyond reach.
My excessive valor prevented me from the rod
ماwhy ليshould I أَذِلُّbe abased وَصارِميwhile my sword لَمhas not يَنثَلِمbeen notched
ما لي أَذِلُّ وَصارِمي لَم يَنثَلِم
بِطُلىon the necks of العِدىthe enemies وَقَنايَand my lances لَمhave not يَتَقَصَّدِbeen splintered
بِطُلى العِدى وَقَنايَ لَم يَتَقَصَّدِ
Why should I abase myself, when my sword has not been notched
I do not humiliate though my blade is unbroken
against enemies' necks, nor my lances splintered?
By the bites of enemies and my spear is untarnished
قَدindeed طالَhas lasted long فيin ثَوبِthe garment of الهُمومِcares تَزَمُّليmy wrapping myself
قَد طالَ في ثَوبِ الهُمومِ تَزَمُّلي
فَلَآخُذَنَّso I will surely take لِنَهضَتيfor my rising مِنfrom مَقعَديmy seat
فَلَآخُذَنَّ لِنَهضَتي مِن مَقعَدي
Long have I wrapped myself in the robe of cares;
I have been cloaked in the garb of worries for long
so I shall surely quit my seat and rise.
So I will rise from my seated position
وَلَأَظعَنَنَّand I will surely journey دُجىthrough the darkness of الظَلامِthe night بِحَسرَةٍon a weary she-camel
وَلَأَظعَنَنَّ دُجى الظَلامِ بِحَسرَةٍ
هَوجاءَheadlong تَسأَلُasking مَورِداًone watering-place عَنabout مَورِدِanother watering-place
هَوجاءَ تَسأَلُ مَورِداً عَن مَورِدِ
I will surely journey through the black night on a weary she-camel,
And I will light up the darkness of gloom with a blazing
headlong, asking one watering-place about another,
Yearning that asks about watering places from watering place
فيamong غِلمَةٍyoung men هَدَمواwho wore down ذُرىthe humps of عَبدِيَّةٍʿAbdiyya camels
في غِلمَةٍ هَدَموا ذُرى عَبدِيَّةٍ
أَنضاءِwasted beasts خَمسٍfive-day watering rounds لِلنَجاءِfor swift travel عَمَرَّدِlong-limbed
أَنضاءِ خَمسٍ لِلنَجاءِ عَمَرَّدِ
among young men who wore down the humps of ʿAbdiyya camels,
In darkness they destroyed the castles of glory
wasted by five-day watering rounds, long-limbed for speed.
Brilliant five defending the helpless
تَصِلُthey keep up الدُؤوبَunremitting toil كَأَنَّas though طاليa dauber of أَنيُقٍshe-camels
تَصِلُ الدُؤوبَ كَأَنَّ طالي أَنيُقٍ
نَضَحَspattered الذَفارىthe hollows behind the ears بِالكُحَيلِwith tar المُعقَدِthickened
نَضَحَ الذَفارى بِالكُحَيلِ المُعقَدِ
They keep up their toil, as though a dauber of camels
The persistent flow as if a charming bucket
had spattered their napes with thickened tar.
Poured out the reddish antimony unstopping
مَشَقَstripped away الهَجيرُthe midday heat لُحومَهاtheir flesh وَتَناضَلَتand fought
مَشَقَ الهَجيرُ لُحومَها وَتَناضَلَت
أَخفافُهاtheir padded feet بِالأَمعَزِagainst stony ground المُتَوَقِّدِblazing
أَخفافُها بِالأَمعَزِ المُتَوَقِّدِ
The midday heat stripped their flesh, and a battle raged:
Separation tore its flesh as their
their padded feet against the blazing stony ground.
Sandals struggled with flaming embers
وَإِذاand when المَواميtrackless deserts غُلنَconsumed آخِرَthe last of جُهدِهاtheir strength
وَإِذا المَوامي غُلنَ آخِرَ جُهدِها
صاحَتcried out بِهاto them الأَعراقُthe bloodlines دونَكَtake this! فَاِزدَدِand gain more!
صاحَت بِها الأَعراقُ دونَكَ فَاِزدَدِ
When trackless deserts devour the last of their strength,
And when the milestones reached the limit of their capacity
their bloodlines cry to them, 'Take this, and gain still more!'
The veins called out, come closer!
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen رَكِبواthey drooped over الرُؤوسَtheir heads مِنَfrom الكَرىdrowsiness
حَتّى إِذا رَكِبوا الرُؤوسَ مِنَ الكَرى
وَتَصَوَّبَand descended العَيّوقُal-ʿAyyuq بَعدَafter تَصَعُّدِascending
وَتَصَوَّبَ العَيّوقُ بَعدَ تَصَعُّدِ
Until, when drowsiness sent their heads nodding,
Until when they mounted the hilltops
and al-ʿAyyuq descended after its ascent,
And the camel turned after climbing
جَعَلواthey laid الخُدودَtheir cheeks عَلىupon أَزِمَّةِthe reins of ضُمَّرٍlean she-camels
جَعَلوا الخُدودَ عَلى أَزِمَّةِ ضُمَّرٍ
فَتَلَtwisted الكَلالُexhaustion قُيودَهُنَّtheir fetters بِلاwithout يَدِa hand
فَتَلَ الكَلالُ قُيودَهُنَّ بِلا يَدِ
they laid their cheeks on the reins of lean she-camels,
They placed their cheeks on summarize reins
whose fetters exhaustion had twisted without a hand.
So necks unbound them without hands
مِثلُlike الصَوارِمِkeen swords وَالدُجىand darkness أَغمادُهاtheir scabbards
مِثلُ الصَوارِمِ وَالدُجى أَغمادُها
حَتّىuntil تُسَلَّthey are drawn إِلىtoward المَغارِthe raiding-ground الأَبعَدِfarthest
حَتّى تُسَلَّ إِلى المَغارِ الأَبعَدِ
Like keen swords, with darkness for their scabbards,
Like swords with darkness their sheaths
until they are drawn for the farthest raid.
Until drawn at the most distant cave
أَناI فيin الضُحىthe forenoon سَرجُthe saddle of الحِصانِthe stallion وَفيand in الدُجىthe darkness
أَنا في الضُحى سَرجُ الحِصانِ وَفي الدُجى
كورٌa camel-saddle عَلىon ظَهرِthe back of الأَمونِthe dependable she-camel الجَلعَدِsturdy
كورٌ عَلى ظَهرِ الأَمونِ الجَلعَدِ
By forenoon I am the stallion's saddle, and by night
I am the horse’s saddle in the morning and in darkness
a camel-saddle on a trusty, sturdy she-camel's back.
A ball on the slippery back of a valley
بِيَديin my hand مِنَof الهِندِيِّIndian steel فَضلُthe trailing end of عِمامَةٍa turban
بِيَدي مِنَ الهِندِيِّ فَضلُ عِمامَةٍ
لاno بُدَّalternative أَعصِبُهاI bind it بِرَأسِaround the head of مُسَوَّدِa chieftain
لا بُدَّ أَعصِبُها بِرَأسِ مُسَوَّدِ
In my hand, of Indian steel, is a turban's trailing end;
In my hand is the remnants of a turban from India
I must bind it around a chieftain's head.
I must wrap around my darkened head
إِنّيindeed I لَأَغلَطُsurely err آنِفاًjust now بِمَواسيwith razors
إِنّي لَأَغلَطُ آنِفاً بِمَواسي
وَأُقيمُand straighten مِنof عُنُقِthe neck of الأَبِيِّthe defiant man الأَصيَدِstiff-necked
وَأُقيمُ مِن عُنُقِ الأَبِيِّ الأَصيَدِ
I surely err, just now, with razors,
I was mistakenly gentle with pleasures
and straighten the neck of the proud, stiff-necked man.
And stood from the neck of the white antelope
قُلsay لِلعِدىto the foes إِنif بِتُّI spend the night أوقِدُkindling نارَهاits fire
قُل لِلعِدى إِن بِتُّ أوقِدُ نارَها
ماthe space بَينَناbetween us أَبَداًever إِذاthen لَمwill not تَخمَدِdie out
ما بَينَنا أَبَداً إِذا لَم تَخمَدِ
Tell the foes: if I spend the night kindling its fire
Tell the enemy, if I ignite its fire
between us, it will never then die out.
There will never be peace between us if it doesn’t die out
فَدَعواso abandon مُصاوَلَةَgrappling with الضَراغِمِlions وَاِنبِحواand bark
فَدَعوا مُصاوَلَةَ الضَراغِمِ وَاِنبِحوا
نَبحَthe barking of الكِلابِdogs عَلىat نُجومِthe stars of الأَسعَدِthe most fortunate
نَبحَ الكِلابِ عَلى نُجومِ الأَسعَدِ
So give up grappling with lions, and bark
So stop the howling of wild dogs and bark
like dogs at the stars of the most fortunate.
The bark of dogs at fortunate stars
لاnot يَغرُرَنَّكُمُlet it deceive you تَناوُمُthe feigned sleep of ضَيغَمٍa lion
لا يَغرُرَنَّكُمُ تَناوُمُ ضَيغَمٍ
وَتَناذَرواand warn one another of وَثَباتِthe leaps of أَغلَبَa thick-necked lion مُلبِدِmatted-maned
وَتَناذَروا وَثَباتِ أَغلَبَ مُلبِدِ
Do not let a lion's feigned sleep deceive you;
Let not their dozing and threats deceive you
warn one another of a thick-necked, matted-maned lion's leaps.
And warn each other of the power of the man with mail
الصارِمُthe sword المَشهورُdrawn يُنذِرُwarns of نَفسَهُitself
الصارِمُ المَشهورُ يُنذِرُ نَفسَهُ
فَخُذواso take الحِذارَheed مِنَof الحُسامِthe keen blade المُغمَدِsheathed
فَخُذوا الحِذارَ مِنَ الحُسامِ المُغمَدِ
The drawn sword gives warning of itself;
The famous blade warns itself
so beware the keen blade still sheathed.
So beware of the sheathed sword
وَأَقارِبٌand kinsmen جَعَلواmade العُقوقَdisloyalty سَجِيَّةًa natural trait
وَأَقارِبٌ جَعَلوا العُقوقَ سَجِيَّةً
يَتَوارَثونَinherit successively سَفاهَةًfoolishness عَنfrom قُعدُدِa near ancestor
يَتَوارَثونَ سَفاهَةً عَن قُعدُدِ
And kinsmen have made disloyalty their nature,
While kin have made disavowal a trait
inheriting foolishness from a near forebear.
Inheriting foolishness from a sedentary ancestor
لَبِسواthey donned لَناagainst us زَرَدَthe chainmail of النِفاقِhypocrisy فَأَصبَحواand became
لَبِسوا لَنا زَرَدَ النِفاقِ فَأَصبَحوا
فيin ذِمَّةِthe keeping of الخُلُقِa character اللَئيمِbase الأَوغَدِvile
في ذِمَّةِ الخُلُقِ اللَئيمِ الأَوغَدِ
They donned the chainmail of hypocrisy against us and came
They wore for us the armor of hypocrisy so they became
under the protection of a base, vile character.
In the custody of wicked morals and corruption
وَكَأَنَّماand as though تِلكَthose الضُلوعُribs قَساوَةًin their hardness
وَكَأَنَّما تِلكَ الضُلوعُ قَساوَةً
تُثنىare folded عَلىaround قِطَعِchunks of الصَفاءِrock الجَلمَدِunyielding
تُثنى عَلى قِطَعِ الصَفاءِ الجَلمَدِ
It is as though those ribs, in their cruelty,
As if those ribs are hardened
closed around chunks of unyielding rock.
To bend the purity of polished Indian steel
قالواthey said الصَفاحُhandshakes فَقُلتُso I said إِنَّindeed أَلِيَةًan oath
قالوا الصَفاحُ فَقُلتُ إِنَّ أَلِيَةً
أَنthat لاnot أَمُدُّI extend يَديmy hand بِغَيرِwithout مُهَنَّدِan Indian blade
أَن لا أَمُدُّ يَدي بِغَيرِ مُهَنَّدِ
They said, 'Shake hands!' I said, 'An oath binds me
They said reconcile, but I said my doctrine
not to extend my hand without an Indian blade.'
Is not to extend a hand without a glove
مِنamong كُلِّevery مَنخوبِcraven الجَنانِof heart كَأَنَّهُas though he
مِن كُلِّ مَنخوبِ الجَنانِ كَأَنَّهُ
فيin الرَوعِterror مَطرودٌpursued وَإِنeven if لَمnot يُطرَدِbe pursued
في الرَوعِ مَطرودٌ وَإِن لَم يُطرَدِ
Each is faint of heart, as though
He is outcast from every garden though he seems
pursued in terror, even when not pursued.
Expelled and even if he is not expelled
إِنif عايَنَhe sees النَقعَينِthe two dust-clouds أَنكَرَhe does not recognize قَلبَهُhis heart
إِن عايَنَ النَقعَينِ أَنكَرَ قَلبَهُ
وَنَجاand escapes بِناصِيَةِby the forelock of الطِمِرَّthe lean steed الأَجرَدِsleek-coated
وَنَجا بِناصِيَةِ الطِمِرَّ الأَجرَدِ
If he sees the two dust-clouds, he cannot recognize his heart,
If he sees the two teats he disavows his heart
and escapes by grasping a lean, sleek horse's forelock.
And is saved by the lead rope of the bald camel
لَوif عيدَwere visited when ill مِنfor داءِthe disease of الفَهاهَةِstammering واحِدٌanyone
لَو عيدَ مِن داءِ الفَهاهَةِ واحِدٌ
عادوهُthey would visit him مِنfor عَيِّtongue-tiedness إِذاwhen حَضَرَhe attended النَديthe assembly
عادوهُ مِن عَيِّ إِذا حَضَرَ النَدي
If anyone were visited for the sickness of stammering,
If one is cured of terrible foolishness
they would visit him for tongue-tiedness when he joined the assembly.
They return to him at the time of bounty
مُتَقَدِّمٌadvanced فيin لُؤمِهِhis baseness ميلادُهُhis birth
مُتَقَدِّمٌ في لُؤمِهِ ميلادُهُ
وَمِنَand from الخُمولِobscurity كَأَنَّهُas though he لَمwas not يولَدِborn
وَمِنَ الخُمولِ كَأَنَّهُ لَم يولَدِ
In baseness he was advanced from birth;
Advanced in his foolishness since birth
yet, in his obscurity, it is as though he had never been born.
As if he was never born from lethargy
قُلtell لِلَّذيthe one who بِالغَيِّin error سَوّىmade equal بَينَناbetween us
قُل لِلَّذي بِالغَيِّ سَوّى بَينَنا
أَينَwhere الغُبارُdust مِنَcompared with الجِبالِthe mountains الرُكَّدِsteadfast
أَينَ الغُبارُ مِنَ الجِبالِ الرُكَّدِ
Tell him who, in error, made us equals:
Say to the one who equated us with falsehood
where is dust beside the steadfast mountains?
Where is dust compared to solid mountains
لاnot تُدنِيَنَّbring near مُوارِبينَevasive men دَعَوتَهُمwhom you summoned
لا تُدنِيَنَّ مُوارِبينَ دَعَوتَهُم
يَومَon the day of الطِعانِspear-fighting فَسَوَّفوكَand they put you off إِلىuntil الغَدِtomorrow
يَومَ الطِعانِ فَسَوَّفوكَ إِلى الغَدِ
Do not bring close the evasive men you summoned
Do not lend them your ears when they accuse
on the day of spear-fighting, who put you off until tomorrow.
The next day, so they pushed you to tomorrow
تَرَكواthey left القَناthe lances تَهفوdarting إِلَيكَtoward you صُدورُهُtheir points
تَرَكوا القَنا تَهفو إِلَيكَ صُدورُهُ
وَالقَومُwhile the men بَينَbetween مُهَلِّلٍa cheerer وَمُغَرَّدِand a singer
وَالقَومُ بَينَ مُهَلِّلٍ وَمُغَرَّدِ
They left the lances with their points darting toward you,
They left their chests panting for you
while the men were cheering or singing,
While the people are between praising and singing
حَتّىuntil اِتَّقَواthey shielded themselves بِكَwith you ثَمَّthere فاغِرَةَthe gaping mouth of الرَدىdeath
حَتّى اِتَّقَوا بِكَ ثَمَّ فاغِرَةَ الرَدى
فَنَجَواso they escaped وَأَنتَwhile you عَلىon طَريقِthe path to المَزرَدِthe gullet
فَنَجَوا وَأَنتَ عَلى طَريقِ المَزرَدِ
until they shielded themselves with you there from death's gaping mouth,
Until they sought refuge through you from the calamity
and escaped, while you were on the path to its gullet.
So they were saved while you are on the path to banishment
قَذَفوكَthey flung you فيinto غَمّائِهاits dark turmoil وَتَباعَدواand kept far away
قَذَفوكَ في غَمّائِها وَتَباعَدوا
عَنهاfrom it وَقالواand said قُمstand up لِنَفسِكَfor yourself وَاِقعُدِand sit down
عَنها وَقالوا قُم لِنَفسِكَ وَاِقعُدِ
They flung you into its dark turmoil and kept far away
They cast you into its darkness and kept away
from it, saying, 'Stand and sit on your own!'
From it and said, stand for yourself and sit
قَطَعَsevered الزَمانُtime قِبالَthe thong of نَعلِكَyour sandal فَاِنتَعِلso put on a sandal
قَطَعَ الزَمانُ قِبالَ نَعلِكَ فَاِنتَعِل
أُخرىanother تَقيكَthat protects you مِنَfrom العِثارِstumbling وَجَدِّدِand renew it
أُخرى تَقيكَ مِنَ العِثارِ وَجَدِّدِ
Time has cut your sandal's thong, so put on
Time has severed the straps of your shoes so wear
another to save you from stumbling, and renew it.
Others to protect you from stumbling and renew
يَصِلُreaches الذَليلُthe lowly إِلىto العَزيزِthe mighty بِكَيدِهِthrough his scheming
يَصِلُ الذَليلُ إِلى العَزيزِ بِكَيدِهِ
وَالشَمسُand the sun تُظلِمُgrows dark مِنfrom دُخانِthe smoke of المَوقِدِthe hearth
وَالشَمسُ تُظلِمُ مِن دُخانِ المَوقِدِ
The lowly reaches the mighty through his scheming,
The despised reaches the honorable through his scheming
and the sun grows dark from the smoke of a hearth.
And the sun is darkened by smoke from the kindling
وَاِشدُدand strengthen يَدَيكَyour two hands إِلىfor الوَغىbattle بِمُغامِرٍwith a daring fighter
وَاِشدُد يَدَيكَ إِلى الوَغى بِمُغامِرٍ
نَدبٍready and valiant لِعاداتِto the ways of الطِعانِspear-fighting مُعَوَّدِaccustomed
نَدبٍ لِعاداتِ الطِعانِ مُعَوَّدِ
Strengthen your hands for battle with a daring fighter,
And harden your hands for battle with one who risks
ready and valiant, schooled in the ways of spear-fighting.
A reprimand for the habits of the habitual fault-finder
لَمnot يَنتَقِشhe plucked out شَوكَthe thorns of القَناlances مِنfrom جِلدِهِhis skin
لَم يَنتَقِش شَوكَ القَنا مِن جِلدِهِ
فيin الرَوعِbattle's terror إِلّاexcept بِالقَناwith lances المُتَقَصِّدِsplintered
في الرَوعِ إِلّا بِالقَنا المُتَقَصِّدِ
He has never plucked the thorns of lances from his skin
The thorn of defiance was not plucked from his skin
in battle except with splintered lances,
Except by definite defiance
مِنfrom كُلِّevery مُربَدَةِdarkened النَجيعِwith blood إِذاwhen عَلَتrose
مِن كُلِّ مُربَدَةِ النَجيعِ إِذا عَلَت
نَغَراتُهاits spurts قَطَعَتcut off حُضورَthe attendance of العُوَّدِsickbed visitors
نَغَراتُها قَطَعَت حُضورَ العُوَّدِ
from every blood-dark wound whose rising
From every hissing dune, when
spurts cut off the coming of sickbed visitors.
Its writhing cuts short the presence of the peg
إِنif سَوَّموهُthey entered him إِلىinto الرِهانِthe race فَإِنَّماthen they merely
إِن سَوَّموهُ إِلى الرِهانِ فَإِنَّما
مَسَحواstroked جَبينَthe brow of مُقَلَّدٍa garlanded champion لِمُقَلِّدِfor a garlander
مَسَحوا جَبينَ مُقَلَّدٍ لِمُقَلِّدِ
If they enter him in the race, they merely
If they assign him to the wager, then they have
stroke a garlanded champion's brow for his garlander.
Patted the forehead of an imitator of an imitator
ماwhat عُذرُexcuse has مَنone whose ضَرَبَتcarried back بِهِhim أَعراقُهُhis bloodlines
ما عُذرُ مَن ضَرَبَت بِهِ أَعراقُهُ
حَتّىuntil بَلَغنَthey reached إِلىto النَبِيِّthe Prophet مُحَمَّدِMuhammad
حَتّى بَلَغنَ إِلى النَبِيِّ مُحَمَّدِ
What excuse has one whose bloodlines carry him back
What is the excuse of one whose veins have been struck
until they reach the Prophet Muhammad,
To the point of reaching the Prophet Muhammad
أَنthat لاnot يَمُدَّhe stretches إِلىtoward المَكارِمِnoble deeds باعَهُhis arm's reach
أَن لا يَمُدَّ إِلى المَكارِمِ باعَهُ
وَيَنالَand attains مُنقَطِعَthe utmost point of العُلىglory وَالسُؤدُدِand lordship
وَيَنالَ مُنقَطِعَ العُلى وَالسُؤدُدِ
not to stretch his arm toward noble deeds
That he does not extend his scope to noble deeds
and attain the utmost heights of glory and lordship,
And attain the highest and most faithful summit
مُتَحَلِّقاًsoaring حَتّىuntil تَكونَbecome ذُيولُهُhis trailing hems
مُتَحَلِّقاً حَتّى تَكونَ ذُيولُهُ
أَبَدَfor the eternity of الزَمانِtime عَمائِماًturbans لِلفَرقَدِfor al-Farqad
أَبَدَ الزَمانِ عَمائِماً لِلفَرقَدِ
soaring until his trailing hems become
Grasping until his trains
for all time turbans for al-Farqad?
Become for all time turbans for the grave
أَعِنِhelp المَقادِرَthe fates لاnot تَكُنbe هَبّابَةًa fool
أَعِنِ المَقادِرَ لا تَكُن هَبّابَةً
وَتَأَزَّرِand gird yourself with اليَومَthe day العَصَبصَبَharsh وَاِرتَدِand wear it as a cloak
وَتَأَزَّرِ اليَومَ العَصَبصَبَ وَاِرتَدِ
Help the fates; do not be a fool;
Aid the divine decree, be not fickle
gird yourself with the harsh day, and wear it as a cloak.
And dress yourself today with collectedness and composure
لاnot تَغبِطَنَّenvy عَلىfor البَقاءِremaining alive مُعَمَّراًa long-lived man
لا تَغبِطَنَّ عَلى البَقاءِ مُعَمَّراً
فَلَقُربُfor how near يَومِthe day of مَنِيَّةٍdeath مِنto مَولِدِbirth
فَلَقُربُ يَومِ مَنِيَّةٍ مِن مَولِدِ
Do not envy a long-lived man his survival:
Do not congratulate yourself on prolonged life
for how near is the day of death to birth!
For the day of death is nearer than the day of birth
Sol 6.1