تَقولُ اِبنَةُ العَمريِّ ما لَكَ بَعدَما

تَقولُ اِبنَةُ العَمريِّ ما لَكَ بَعدَما

أَراكَ صَحيحاً كَالسَليمِ المُعَذَّبِ

أَراكَ صَحيحاً كَالسَليمِ المُعَذَّبِ

The daughter of al-ʿAmri says, “What ails you, now that

The daughter of Al-Amri said, after seeing me healthy again like a tortured prisoner:

I see you healthy, yet like a tormented snakebite victim?”

"What is this anxiety that I know you have

فَقُلتُ لَها هَمّي الَّذي تَعلَمينَهُ

فَقُلتُ لَها هَمّي الَّذي تَعلَمينَهُ

مِنَ الثَأرِ في حَيِّي زُبَيدٍ وَأَرحَبِ

مِنَ الثَأرِ في حَيِّي زُبَيدٍ وَأَرحَبِ

So I told her, “My concern, which you know,

About taking revenge in the tribes of Zubaid and Arhab?

stems from vengeance against the two clans, Zubayd and Arhab.

If you raid Zubaid, you raid the most glorious people,

إِنِ اِغزُ زُبَيداً أَغزُ قَوماً أَعِزَّةً

إِنِ اِغزُ زُبَيداً أَغزُ قَوماً أَعِزَّةً

مُرَكَّبُهُم في الحَيِّ خَيرُ مُرَكَّبِ

مُرَكَّبُهُم في الحَيِّ خَيرُ مُرَكَّبِ

If I raid Zubayd, I raid a mighty people,

Whose warriors in battle are the best warriors.

whose lineage within the tribe is the finest lineage.

And if you raid my tribe Khat'am, their blood

وَإِن أَغزُ حَيِّي خَثعَمٍ فَدِمائُهُم

وَإِن أَغزُ حَيِّي خَثعَمٍ فَدِمائُهُم

شِفاءٌ وَخَيرُ الثَأرِ لِلمُتَأَوِّبِ

شِفاءٌ وَخَيرُ الثَأرِ لِلمُتَأَوِّبِ

And if I raid the two clans of Khathʿam, their blood

Is healing, and the best revenge is for the wronged.

is a cure, and the best vengeance for the returning raider.

No bowstrings ever reached their target like Al-Muhaqqiq's,

فَما أَدرَكَ الأَوتارَ مِثلُ مُحَقِّقٍ

فَما أَدرَكَ الأَوتارَ مِثلُ مُحَقِّقٍ

بِأَجرَدَ طاوٍ كَالعَسيبِ المُشَذَّبِ

بِأَجرَدَ طاوٍ كَالعَسيبِ المُشَذَّبِ

For none settles blood debts like a resolute avenger,

With the bent bow Ajrad, like a trimmed rod,

on a sleek, lean-bellied horse, like a stripped palm stalk,

Dark brown Khati, white Bater,

وَأَسمَرَ خَطِّيٍ وَأَبيَضَ باتِرٍ

وَأَسمَرَ خَطِّيٍ وَأَبيَضَ باتِرٍ

وَزَعفٍ دِلاصٍ كَالغَديرِ المُثَوِّبِ

وَزَعفٍ دِلاصٍ كَالغَديرِ المُثَوِّبِ

and with a brown Khatti spear and a gleaming, cleaving sword,

Za'af Dilas like a twisting brook,

and supple, shining mail, like a rippling pool—

The weapon of a man may let people know

سِلاحُ اِمرِئٍ قَد يَعلَمُ الناسُ أَنَّهُ

سِلاحُ اِمرِئٍ قَد يَعلَمُ الناسُ أَنَّهُ

طَلوبٌ لِثَأراتِ الرِجالِ مُطَلَّبِ

طَلوبٌ لِثَأراتِ الرِجالِ مُطَلَّبِ

the weapons of a man whom people surely know to be

That he is sought for the revenge of men wronged.

an avid seeker of men's blood vengeance, himself much pursued.

Though I am the son of the knight Amir,

فَإِنّي وَإِن كُنتُ اِبنَ فارِسِ عامِرٍ

فَإِنّي وَإِن كُنتُ اِبنَ فارِسِ عامِرٍ

وَفي السِرِّ مِنها وَالصَريحِ المُهَذَّبِ

وَفي السِرِّ مِنها وَالصَريحِ المُهَذَّبِ

For though I am the son of ʿAmir's horseman,

Subtle with her and frank when adorned,

and of its noblest stock, pure and unblemished,

Amir did not blacken me against inheriting

فَما سَوَّدَتني عامِرٌ عَن وِراثَةٍ

فَما سَوَّدَتني عامِرٌ عَن وِراثَةٍ

أَبى اللَهُ أَن أَسمو بِأُمٍّ وَلا أَبِ

أَبى اللَهُ أَن أَسمو بِأُمٍّ وَلا أَبِ

yet ʿAmir did not make me chief by inheritance;

What Allah refused to let me disavow mother and father for.

God would not have me rise through mother or father.

But I protect her protection and avoid

وَلَكِنَّني أَحمي حِماها وَأَتَّقي

وَلَكِنَّني أَحمي حِماها وَأَتَّقي

أَذاها وَأَرمي مَن رَماها بِمِقنَبِ

أَذاها وَأَرمي مَن رَماها بِمِقنَبِ

But I defend its protected lands and ward off

Harming her, and shoot at whoever shoots arrows at her."

harm to it, and with a cavalry troop strike whoever attacks it.”