لَمِنَwhose? الظَعائِنُthe women in litters سَيرَهُنَّtheir journey تَرَجُّفُa swaying
لَمِنَ الظَعائِنُ سَيرَهُنَّ تَرَجُّفُ
عَومَthe gliding of السَفينِships إِذاwhen تَقاعَسَleans backward مِجذَفُan oar
عَومَ السَفينِ إِذا تَقاعَسَ مِجذَفُ
Whose are the women in litters, swaying as they go,
like ships gliding as an oar draws back?
مَرَّتthey passed بِذيthrough Dhu خُشُبٍKhushub كَأَنَّas though حُمولَهاtheir laden camels
مَرَّت بِذي خُشُبٍ كَأَنَّ حُمولَها
نَخلٌdate palms بِيَثرِبَin Yathrib طَلعُهُits flower-clusters مُتَضَعِّفُdensely layered
نَخلٌ بِيَثرِبَ طَلعُهُ مُتَضَعِّفُ
They passed through Dhu Khushub, their laden camels like
date palms in Yathrib, their flower-clusters densely layered.
عولينَthey were draped ديباجاًbrocade وَفاخِرَand sumptuous سُندُسٍfine silk
عولينَ ديباجاً وَفاخِرَ سُندُسٍ
وَبِخَزِّand with silk-and-wool cloth أَكسِيَةِcloaks of العِراقِIraq تُحَفَّفُare bordered
وَبِخَزِّ أَكسِيَةِ العِراقِ تُحَفَّفُ
They were draped in brocade and sumptuous fine silk,
and bordered with the silk-and-wool cloth of Iraqi cloaks.
وَغَدَتand set out early بِهِمwith them يَومَon the day of الفِراقِparting عَرامِسٌsturdy she-camels
وَغَدَت بِهِم يَومَ الفِراقِ عَرامِسٌ
فُتلُstout المَرافِقِat the elbows بِالهَوادِجِwith the howdahs دُلَّفُslow-stepping
فُتلُ المَرافِقِ بِالهَوادِجِ دُلَّفُ
On the day of parting, sturdy she-camels bore them away,
stout at the elbows, plodding beneath the howdahs.
بانَdeparted الخَليطُthe company وَفاتَنيand eluded me بِرحيلِهِwith its departure
بانَ الخَليطُ وَفاتَني بِرحيلِهِ
خَودٌa tender maiden إِذاwhen ذُكِرَتshe is mentioned لِقَلبِكَto your heart يُشغَفُis enthralled by love
خَودٌ إِذا ذُكِرَت لِقَلبِكَ يُشغَفُ
The company departed, and its departure took from me
a tender maiden whose mention fills your heart with love.
تَجلوshe polishes بِمَسواكِwith a toothstick of الأَراكِarak wood مُنَظَّماًan even row of teeth
تَجلو بِمَسواكِ الأَراكِ مُنَظَّماً
عَذباًsweet إِذاwhen ضَحِكَتshe laughs تَهَلَّلَit gleams يَنظُفُit is clean
عَذباً إِذا ضَحِكَت تَهَلَّلَ يَنظُفُ
She polishes an even row of teeth with an arak toothstick,
sweet and clean, gleaming whenever she laughs.
وَكَأَنَّand as though ريقَتَهاher saliva عَلىafter عَلَلِsuccessive bouts of الكَرىslumber
وَكَأَنَّ ريقَتَها عَلى عَلَلِ الكَرى
عَسَلٌhoney مُصَفّىًstrained فيin القَلالِlarge jars وَقَرقَفُand wine
عَسَلٌ مُصَفّىً في القَلالِ وَقَرقَفُ
And her saliva, after successive bouts of sleep, is like
strained honey in jars, and wine.
وَكَأَنَّماand as though نَظَرَتshe looked بِعَينَيwith the two eyes of ظَبيَةٍa female gazelle
وَكَأَنَّما نَظَرَت بِعَينَي ظَبيَةٍ
تَحنوshe bends tenderly عَلىover خِشفٍa fawn لَهاof hers وَتَعَطَّفُand shows affection
تَحنو عَلى خِشفٍ لَها وَتَعَطَّفُ
And it is as though she looked with a gazelle's eyes,
bending tenderly over her fawn and showing affection.
وَإِذاand when تَنوءُshe struggles up إِلىtoward القِيامِstanding تَدافَعَتshe sways unsteadily
وَإِذا تَنوءُ إِلى القِيامِ تَدافَعَت
مِثلَlike النَزيفِa drunken man يَنوءُhe struggles up ثُمَّتَthen يَضعُفُhe weakens
مِثلَ النَزيفِ يَنوءُ ثُمَّتَ يَضعُفُ
And when she struggles to stand, she sways,
like a drunken man who struggles up, then weakens.
ثَقُلَتgrew heavy رَوادِفُهاher haunches وَمالَand bent بِخَصرِهاupon her waist
ثَقُلَت رَوادِفُها وَمالَ بِخَصرِها
كَفَلٌa rump كَماjust as مالَsloped النَقاthe sand dune المُتَقَصِّفُcrumbling
كَفَلٌ كَما مالَ النَقا المُتَقَصِّفُ
Her haunches are heavy, and her waist bends beneath
a rump sloping like a crumbling sand dune.
وَلَهاand she has ذِراعاthe two forelegs of بَكرَةٍa young she-camel رَحبِيَّةٍRahbi
وَلَها ذِراعا بَكرَةٍ رَحبِيَّةٍ
وَلَهاand she has بَنانٌfingers بِالخِضابِwith dye مُطَرَّفُtipped
وَلَها بَنانٌ بِالخِضابِ مُطَرَّفُ
Her arms are like the forelegs of a young Rahbi she-camel,
and her fingers are tipped with dye.
وَعَوارِضٌand side-teeth مَصقولَةٌpolished وَتَرائِبٌand collarbones
وَعَوارِضٌ مَصقولَةٌ وَتَرائِبٌ
بيضٌwhite وَبَطنٌand a belly كَالسَبيكَةِlike an ingot مُخطَفُslender
بيضٌ وَبَطنٌ كَالسَبيكَةِ مُخطَفُ
And polished teeth, and collarbones
white, and a slender belly like a cast ingot.
وَلَهاand she has بِهاءٌsplendor فيamong النِساءِwomen وَبَهجَةٌand radiance
وَلَها بِهاءٌ في النِساءِ وَبَهجَةٌ
وَبِهاand in her تَحِلُّtakes lodging الشَمسُthe sun حينَwhen تُشَرِّفُit rises
وَبِها تَحِلُّ الشَمسُ حينَ تُشَرِّفُ
Among women she has splendor and radiance,
and in her the sun takes lodging when it rises.
تِلكَthat woman الَّتيwho كانَتwas هَوايَmy love وَحاجَتيand my desire
تِلكَ الَّتي كانَت هَوايَ وَحاجَتي
لَوif only أَنَّthat داراًa dwelling بِالأَحِبَّةِwith loved ones تُسعِفُwould oblige
لَو أَنَّ داراً بِالأَحِبَّةِ تُسعِفُ
She was the one I loved and longed for,
if only a dwelling would bring loved ones near.
وَإِذاand if تُصِبكَstrikes you مِنَfrom الحَوادِثِlife's misfortunes نَكبَةٌa calamity
وَإِذا تُصِبكَ مِنَ الحَوادِثِ نَكبَةٌ
فَاِصبِرthen be patient فَكُلُّfor every غَيابَةٍdarkness سَتَكَشَّفُwill clear away
فَاِصبِر فَكُلُّ غَيابَةٍ سَتَكَشَّفُ
And if a blow from life's misfortunes strikes you,
be patient, for every shrouding darkness will clear.
وَلَئِنand even if بَكيتُI wept مِنَfrom الفِراقِseparation صَبابَةًyearning
وَلَئِن بَكيتُ مِنَ الفِراقِ صَبابَةً
إِنَّindeed الكَبيرَa grown man إِذاwhen بَكىhe weeps لِيُعَنَّفُis surely reproached
إِنَّ الكَبيرَ إِذا بَكى لِيُعَنَّفُ
And if I have wept from longing at separation,
a grown man is surely reproached when he weeps.
عَجَباًhow astonishing مِنَat الأَيّامِthe days كَيفَhow تَصَرَّفَتthey have changed
عَجَباً مِنَ الأَيّامِ كَيفَ تَصَرَّفَت
وَالدارُand the dwelling تَدنوdraws near مَرَّةًat one time وَتَقَذَّفُand is flung far away
وَالدارُ تَدنو مَرَّةً وَتَقَذَّفُ
How strange the days, and how they have turned,
and the dwelling draws near at one time, then is flung far away.
أَصبَحتُI have become رَهناًa captive لِلعَداةِto the enemies مُكَبَّلاًshackled
أَصبَحتُ رَهناً لِلعَداةِ مُكَبَّلاً
أُمسيI pass the evening وَأُصبِحُand I meet the morning فيin الأَداهِمِheavy iron fetters أَرسُفُI shuffle in fetters
أُمسي وَأُصبِحُ في الأَداهِمِ أَرسُفُ
I have become the enemies' captive, shackled;
evening and morning I shuffle in iron fetters.
بَينَbetween القُلَيسِمِal-Qulaysim فَالقُيولِand al-Quyul فَحامِنٍand Hamin
بَينَ القُلَيسِمِ فَالقُيولِ فَحامِنٍ
فَاللَهزَمَينِand al-Lahzamayn وَمَضجَعيand my resting place مُتَكَنَّفُhemmed in
فَاللَهزَمَينِ وَمَضجَعي مُتَكَنَّفُ
Between al-Qulaysim, al-Quyul, and Hamin,
and al-Lahzamayn—my resting place hemmed in—
فَجِبالِand the mountains of وَيمَةَWayma ماnot تَزالُcease to be مُنيفَةًtowering
فَجِبالِ وَيمَةَ ما تَزالُ مُنيفَةً
ياoh لَيتَwould that أَنَّthat جِبالَthe mountains of وَيمَةَWayma تُنسَفُwere blasted away
يا لَيتَ أَنَّ جِبالَ وَيمَةَ تُنسَفُ
and the mountains of Wayma, still towering.
Oh, would that Wayma's mountains were blasted away!
وَلَقَدand indeed أَرانيI see myself قَبلَbefore ذَلِكَthat ناعِماًliving at ease
وَلَقَد أَراني قَبلَ ذَلِكَ ناعِماً
جَذلانَjoyful آبىI refuse أَنto أُضامَbe wronged وَآنَفُand I disdain humiliation
جَذلانَ آبى أَن أُضامَ وَآنَفُ
Yet I recall myself before this, living at ease,
joyful, refusing to be wronged, and proudly defiant.
وَاِستَنكَرَتand found strange ساقيmy leg الوِثاقَthe bonds وَساعِديand my forearm
وَاِستَنكَرَت ساقي الوِثاقَ وَساعِدي
وَأَناand I أَمرُؤٌa man باديshowing الأَشاجِعِthe hand tendons أَعجَفُgaunt
وَأَنا أَمرُؤٌ بادي الأَشاجِعِ أَعجَفُ
My leg and forearm found the bonds unfamiliar,
and I am a gaunt man, the tendons of my hands showing.
وَلَقَدand indeed تُضَرِّسُنيgnaw at me الحُروبُwars وَإِنَّنيand indeed I
وَلَقَد تُضَرِّسُني الحُروبُ وَإِنَّني
أُلفىI am found بِكُلِّin every مَخافَةٍperil أَتَعَسَّفُI force my way
أُلفى بِكُلِّ مَخافَةٍ أَتَعَسَّفُ
Wars have indeed gnawed at me, and I
am found forcing my way through every peril.
أَتُسَربِلُI clothe myself in اللَيلَthe night البَهيمَpitch-black وَأَستَريand I journey by night
أَتُسَربِلُ اللَيلَ البَهيمَ وَأَستَري
فيin اللَيلِthe night إِذwhen لاnot يَستَرونَthey journey by night وَأَوجِفُand I hasten
في اللَيلِ إِذ لا يَستَرونَ وَأَوجِفُ
I cloak myself in pitch-black night and travel
by night, when they do not travel, and speed on.
ماnot إِنat all (emphatic) أَزالُI cease مُقَنَّعاًhelmeted أَوor حاسِراًbareheaded
ما إِن أَزالُ مُقَنَّعاً أَو حاسِراً
سَلَفَahead of الكَتيبَةِthe troop وَالكَتيبَةُwhile the troop وُقَّفُstands still
سَلَفَ الكَتيبَةِ وَالكَتيبَةُ وُقَّفُ
I am always, whether helmeted or bareheaded,
ahead of the troop, while the troop stands still.
فَأَصابَنيthen struck me قَومٌa people وَكُنتُand I used to أُصيبُهُمstrike them
فَأَصابَني قَومٌ وَكُنتُ أُصيبُهُم
فَالآنَso now أَصبِرُI endure لِلزمانِwith time وَأَعرِفُand I understand
فَالآنَ أَصبِرُ لِلزمانِ وَأَعرِفُ
Then a people struck me, whom I had once struck;
so now I bear with time, and understand.
إِنّيindeed I لِطُلّابِfor seekers of التِراتِvengeance مُطَلَّبٌa much-sought target
إِنّي لِطُلّابِ التِراتِ مُطَلَّبٌ
وَبِكُلِّand by every أَسبابِpath to المَنِيَّةِdeath أُشرِفُI come to the brink
وَبِكُلِّ أَسبابِ المَنِيَّةِ أُشرِفُ
Indeed I am a much-sought target for seekers of vengeance,
and by every path I come to the brink of death.
باقٍsurviving عَلىdespite الحِدثانِfate's vicissitudes غَيرُnot مُكَذِّبٍfaltering
باقٍ عَلى الحِدثانِ غَيرُ مُكَذِّبٍ
لاnot كاسِفٌdowncast باليmy spirit وَلاnor مُتَأَسِّفُregretful
لا كاسِفٌ بالي وَلا مُتَأَسِّفُ
Surviving fate's vicissitudes, unflinching,
neither downcast in spirit nor regretful.
إِنif نِلتُI gain لَمnot أَفرَحI rejoice بِشَيءٍin anything نِلتُهُI have gained it
إِن نِلتُ لَم أَفرَح بِشَيءٍ نِلتُهُ
وَإِذاand if سُبِقتُI am forestalled بِهِin it فَلاthen not أَتَلَهَّفُI lament
وَإِذا سُبِقتُ بِهِ فَلا أَتَلَهَّفُ
If I gain something, I do not rejoice in what I have gained,
and if I am beaten to it, I do not lament.
إِنّيindeed I لَأَحميI surely protect فيin المَضيقِthe narrow pass فَوارِسيmy horsemen
إِنّي لَأَحمي في المَضيقِ فَوارِسي
وَأَكُرُّand I charge back خَلفَbehind المُستَضافِthe hard-pressed man وَأَعطِفُand I wheel round
وَأَكُرُّ خَلفَ المُستَضافِ وَأَعطِفُ
I surely protect my horsemen in the narrow pass,
and charge back behind the hard-pressed man, wheeling round.
وَأَشُدُّand I charge إِذwhen يَكبواstumbles الجَبانُthe coward وَأَصطَليand I brave the heat
وَأَشُدُّ إِذ يَكبوا الجَبانُ وَأَصطَلي
حَرَّthe heat of الأَسِنَّةِspearheads وَالأَسِنَّةُwhile the spearheads تَرعُفُbleed
حَرَّ الأَسِنَّةِ وَالأَسِنَّةُ تَرعُفُ
And I charge when the coward stumbles, and brave
the heat of spearheads, while the spearheads bleed.
فَلَئِنso even if أَصابَتنيhave struck me الحُروبُwars فَرُبَّماyet often
فَلَئِن أَصابَتني الحُروبُ فَرُبَّما
أُدعىI am called إِذاwhen مُنِعَis refused الرِدافُa pillion ride فَأَرِدِفُso I take a rider behind me
أُدعى إِذا مُنِعَ الرِدافُ فَأَرِدِفُ
So though wars have struck me, many a time
I am called when a pillion seat is refused, and take a rider behind me.
وَلَرُبَّماand indeed often يَروىdrinks its fill بِكَفّيin my palm لَهذَمٌa keen blade
وَلَرُبَّما يَروى بِكَفّي لَهذَمٌ
ماضٍsharp-edged وَمُطَّرِدِand evenly spaced in الكُعوبِthe shaft-joints مُثَقَّفُstraightened
ماضٍ وَمُطَّرِدِ الكُعوبِ مُثَقَّفُ
And often in my hand a keen blade drinks its fill,
sharp-edged, and a straightened lance with evenly spaced joints.
وَأَغيرُغاراتٍand I launch raids وَأَشهَدُand I take part in مَشهَداًa battle
وَأَغيرُغاراتٍ وَأَشهَدُ مَشهَداً
قَلبُthe heart of الجَبانِthe coward بِهِin it يَطيرُtakes flight وَيَرجُفُand trembles
قَلبُ الجَبانِ بِهِ يَطيرُ وَيَرجُفُ
And I launch raids and take part in a battle
where the coward's heart takes flight and trembles.
وَأَرىand I see مَغانِمَspoils لَوأَشاءَif I wished حَويتُهاI could gather them
وَأَرى مَغانِمَ لَوأَشاءَ حَويتُها
فَيَصُدُّنيbut holds me back عَنهاfrom them غِنىًcontentment وَتَعَفُّفُand self-restraint
فَيَصُدُّني عَنها غِنىً وَتَعَفُّفُ
And I see spoils that, if I wished, I could gather,
but contentment and self-restraint hold me back from them.
Sol 6.1