جَفا وِدُّهُ فَاِزوَرَّ أَو مَلَّ صاحِبُه

جَفا وِدُّهُ فَاِزوَرَّ أَو مَلَّ صاحِبُه

وَأَزرى بِهِ أَن لا يَزالَ يُعاتِبُه

وَأَزرى بِهِ أَن لا يَزالَ يُعاتِبُه

His affection grew cold, so he turned away—or his companion grew weary.

His aloofness pained me, so I decided to visit him or put an end to our friendship.

And it demeaned him to keep reproaching him.

I blamed him for not remaining a constant companion.

خَليلَيَّ لا تَستَنكِرا لَوعَةَ الهَوى

خَليلَيَّ لا تَستَنكِرا لَوعَةَ الهَوى

وَلا سَلوَةَ المَحزونِ شَطَّت حَبَاِئبُه

وَلا سَلوَةَ المَحزونِ شَطَّت حَبَاِئبُه

My two friends, do not find love's anguish strange,

My friends, do not disdain the torment of passion,

Nor the bereaved man's consolation when his beloveds are far away.

Or the lament of the sorrowful when misfortunes befall them.

شَفى النَفسَ ما يَلقى بِعَبدَةَ عَينُهُ

شَفى النَفسَ ما يَلقى بِعَبدَةَ عَينُهُ

وَما كانَ يَلقى قَلبُهُ وَطَبائِبُه

وَما كانَ يَلقى قَلبُهُ وَطَبائِبُه

What his eye found in Abdah healed his soul,

What his eyes behold brings joy to his soul,

And the suffering his heart and heartstrings had known.

As does what his heart and body endure.

فَأَقصَرَ عِرزامُ الفُؤادِ وَإِنَّما

فَأَقصَرَ عِرزامُ الفُؤادِ وَإِنَّما

يَميلُ بِهِ مَسُّ الهَوى فَيُطالِبُه

يَميلُ بِهِ مَسُّ الهَوى فَيُطالِبُه

So the stouthearted one desisted; only

So the tether of his heart grew short, though

Love's touch sways him, then presses its claim on him.

The touch of love inclines him and makes demands of him.

إِذا كانَ ذَوّاقاً أَخوكَ مِنَ الهَوى

إِذا كانَ ذَوّاقاً أَخوكَ مِنَ الهَوى

مُوَجَّهَةً في كُلِّ أَوبٍ رَكائِبُه

مُوَجَّهَةً في كُلِّ أَوبٍ رَكائِبُه

If your brother merely samples love,

When a brother of yours is smitten with passion,

His mounts directed toward every quarter,

His every desire is focused on the beloved.

فَخَلِّ لَهُ وَجهَ الفِراقِ وَلا تَكُن

فَخَلِّ لَهُ وَجهَ الفِراقِ وَلا تَكُن

مَطِيَّةَ رَحّالٍ كَثيرٍ مَذاهِبُه

مَطِيَّةَ رَحّالٍ كَثيرٍ مَذاهِبُه

Then leave him the way of parting, and do not become

So turn away and leave him be; do not be

The mount of a wanderer whose destinations are many.

Like the mount of a restless traveler going in all directions.

أَخوكَ الَّذي إِن رِبتَهُ قالَ إِنَّما

أَخوكَ الَّذي إِن رِبتَهُ قالَ إِنَّما

أَرَبتُ وَإِن عاتَبتَهُ لانَ جانِبُه

أَرَبتُ وَإِن عاتَبتَهُ لانَ جانِبُه

Your brother is he who, if you trouble him, says, 'I merely

The brother who, when you show him affection says "I have been brought up well"

Had a need'; and if you reproach him, his manner softens.

And when you reproach him claims no one takes his side.

إِذا كُنتَ في كُلِّ الذُنوبِ مُعاتِباً

إِذا كُنتَ في كُلِّ الذُنوبِ مُعاتِباً

صَديقَكَ لَم تَلقَ الَّذي لا تُعاتِبُه

صَديقَكَ لَم تَلقَ الَّذي لا تُعاتِبُه

If, for every fault, you reproach

If you blame your friend for every misstep,

Your friend, you will find no one you need not reproach.

You will not find one you never reproach.

فَعِش واحِداً أَو صِل أَخاكَ فَإِنَّهُ

فَعِش واحِداً أَو صِل أَخاكَ فَإِنَّهُ

 مُقارف ذَنبٍ مَرَّةً وَمُجانِبُه

مُقارف ذَنبٍ مَرَّةً وَمُجانِبُه

Then live alone, or keep ties with your brother, for he

So live as a recluse or make peace with your brother,

Commits a fault at one time and avoids it at another.

For he commits a sin only once in a while.

إِذا أَنتَ لَم تَشرَب مِراراً عَلى القَذى

إِذا أَنتَ لَم تَشرَب مِراراً عَلى القَذى

ظَمِئتَ وَأَيُّ الناسِ تَصفو مَشارِبُه

ظَمِئتَ وَأَيُّ الناسِ تَصفو مَشارِبُه

If you will not drink repeatedly despite the dregs,

If you have not tasted bitterness from grit in water,

You will thirst—and whose drinking water is always clear?

You will be thirsty, for no man's drink is pure.

وَلَيلٍ دَجوجِيٍّ تَنامُ بَناتُهُ

وَلَيلٍ دَجوجِيٍّ تَنامُ بَناتُهُ

وَأَبناؤُهُ مِن هَولِهِ وَرَبائِبُه

وَأَبناؤُهُ مِن هَولِهِ وَرَبائِبُه

And many a pitch-black night whose daughters sleep,

On a dark night whose children sleep

And whose sons and foster-children sleep from dread of it,

While their fathers tremble in fear.

حَمَيتُ بِهِ عَيني وَعَينَ مَطِيَّتي

حَمَيتُ بِهِ عَيني وَعَينَ مَطِيَّتي

لَذيذَ الكَرى حَتّى تَجَلَّت عَصائِبُه

لَذيذَ الكَرى حَتّى تَجَلَّت عَصائِبُه

I denied my eye and my mount's eye, throughout it,

I peered with it, as did my mount's eye,

The sweetness of sleep, until its veils cleared.

At the delightful, glistening starts, until its braids appeared.

وَماءٍ تَرى ريشَ الغَطاطِ بَجَوِّهِ

وَماءٍ تَرى ريشَ الغَطاطِ بَجَوِّهِ

خَفِيِّ الحَيا ما إِن تَلينُ نَضائِبُه

خَفِيِّ الحَيا ما إِن تَلينُ نَضائِبُه

And many a waterhole where you see sandgrouse feathers in its air,

At water that you see the feathers of wildfowl flutter

With scant rain, its hard-wood trees never growing tender,

When the hidden reptiles stir its pondweed.

قَريبٍ مِن التَغريرِ ناءٍ عَن القُرى

قَريبٍ مِن التَغريرِ ناءٍ عَن القُرى

سَقاني بِهِ مُستَعمِلُ اللَيلِ دائِبُه

سَقاني بِهِ مُستَعمِلُ اللَيلِ دائِبُه

Near to peril, far from villages,

Near to the direct route, remote from settlements,

A tireless worker of the night brought me to drink there.

The guide of night had me drink it, indefatigable.

حَليفُ السُرى لا يَلتَوي بِمَفازَةٍ

حَليفُ السُرى لا يَلتَوي بِمَفازَةٍ

نَساهُ وَلا تَعتَلُّ مِنها حَوالِبُه

نَساهُ وَلا تَعتَلُّ مِنها حَوالِبُه

An ally of night travel, whose sinew never twists in a wilderness,

The intimate friend of journeys does not wander lost,

Nor do his belly-sinews sicken from it.

Forgetting it so that his mind strays.

أَمَقُّ غُرَيرِيٌّ كَأَنَّ قُتودَهُ

أَمَقُّ غُرَيرِيٌّ كَأَنَّ قُتودَهُ

عَلى مُثلَثٍ يَدمى مِنَ الحُقبِ حاجِبُه

عَلى مُثلَثٍ يَدمى مِنَ الحُقبِ حاجِبُه

A long-legged Ghurayri camel, as though his saddle-wood

A firm-standing male oryx, as if his stubby horns

Were on a three-year-old wild ass, its brow bloodied by pale-bellied rivals,

On a triangle gore from the long passage of time.

غَيورٍ عَلى أَصحابِهِ لا يَرومُهُ

غَيورٍ عَلى أَصحابِهِ لا يَرومُهُ

خَليطٌ وَلا يَرجو سِواهُ صَواحِبُه

خَليطٌ وَلا يَرجو سِواهُ صَواحِبُه

Jealous over his companions: no rival ventures toward him,

Jealous regarding his companions, no riffraff mixes with him,

And his female companions desire none but him.

No one hopes for intimates but them.

إِذا ما رَعى سَنَّينَ حاوَلَ مَسحَلاً

إِذا ما رَعى سَنَّينَ حاوَلَ مَسحَلاً

يَجِدُّ بِهِ تَعذامُهُ وَيُلاعِبُه

يَجِدُّ بِهِ تَعذامُهُ وَيُلاعِبُه

Whenever he grazes at Sannin, he seeks a braying ass;

When he feeds for years, he tries his hand at a young female,

His biting grows fierce against him, and he sports with him.

Sporting with her while his virility and desire increase.

أَقَبَّ نَفى أَبناءَهُ عَن بَناتِهِ

أَقَبَّ نَفى أَبناءَهُ عَن بَناتِهِ

بِذي الرَضمِ حَتّى ما تُحَسُّ ثَوالِبُه

بِذي الرَضمِ حَتّى ما تُحَسُّ ثَوالِبُه

A lean-bellied one who drove his sons away from his daughters

He refuses his sons from his daughters,

At Dhu al-Radm, until his rival males were no longer felt.

With the branding iron, so their pedigree is undetectable.

رَعى وَرَعَينَ الرَطبَ تِسعينَ لَيلَةً

رَعى وَرَعَينَ الرَطبَ تِسعينَ لَيلَةً

عَلى أَبَقٍ وَالرَوضُ تَجري مَذانِبُه

عَلى أَبَقٍ وَالرَوضُ تَجري مَذانِبُه

He and they grazed on fresh greenery for ninety nights,

He herded ripe dates for ninety nights

On hemp, while the meadow's channels flowed.

In an enclosure, while its meadows teemed at its sides.

فَلَمّا تَوَلّى الحَرُّ وَاِعتَصَرَ الثَرى

فَلَمّا تَوَلّى الحَرُّ وَاِعتَصَرَ الثَرى

لَظى الصَيفِ مِن نَجمٍ تَوَقَّدَ لاهِبُه

لَظى الصَيفِ مِن نَجمٍ تَوَقَّدَ لاهِبُه

But when heat took hold and the damp earth was squeezed dry

When the heat declined and the ground was firm,

By summer's blaze, from a star whose flame flared,

The summer blazed from a star rising in flames.

وَطارَت عَصافيرُ الشَقائِقِ وَاِكتَسى

وَطارَت عَصافيرُ الشَقائِقِ وَاِكتَسى

مِنَ الآلِ أَمثالَ المُلاءِ مَسارِبُه

مِنَ الآلِ أَمثالَ المُلاءِ مَسارِبُه

And the sparrows of the sandy hollows took wing, and

The birds of the anemones flew, and were clothed

His paths were clothed in mirage like spreading sheets,

In types of finery like the adornments of brides.

وَصَدَّ عَنِ الشَولِ القَريعُ وَأَقفَرَت

وَصَدَّ عَنِ الشَولِ القَريعُ وَأَقفَرَت

ذُرى الصَمدِ مِمّا اِستَودَعَتهُ مَواهِبُه

ذُرى الصَمدِ مِمّا اِستَودَعَتهُ مَواهِبُه

And the stud turned away from the dry camels, and bare lay

The stork warded them off the meadows, and the jujube bushes

The hilltops, stripped of what their showers had bestowed,

Were stripped of the riches they hoarded in their purses.

وَلاذَ المَها بِالظِلِّ وَاِستَوفَضَ السَفا

وَلاذَ المَها بِالظِلِّ وَاِستَوفَضَ السَفا

مِنَ الصَيفِ نَتّاجٌ تَخُبُّ مَواكِبُه

مِنَ الصَيفِ نَتّاجٌ تَخُبُّ مَواكِبُه

And the oryx sought shade, and the chaff was swept away

The oryxes sought the shade; the herd’s produce wandered

By a prolific summer wind, its columns trotting,

Aimlessly through the summer, their leaders perplexed.

غَدَت عانَةٌ تَشكو بِأَبصارِها الصَدى

غَدَت عانَةٌ تَشكو بِأَبصارِها الصَدى

إِلى الجَأبِ إِلّا أَنَّها لا تُخاطِبُه

إِلى الجَأبِ إِلّا أَنَّها لا تُخاطِبُه

A herd of wild asses went, complaining of thirst with their eyes

Until they were ailing, complaining with their eyes to the echo,

To the sturdy male, though they did not speak to him.

To the rainclouds, though they do not address them.

وَظَلَّ عَلى عَلياءَ يَقسِمُ أَمرَهُ

وَظَلَّ عَلى عَلياءَ يَقسِمُ أَمرَهُ

أَيَمضي لِوِردٍ باكِراً أَم يُواتِبُه

أَيَمضي لِوِردٍ باكِراً أَم يُواتِبُه

He remained on high ground, weighing his decision:

While upon the hillside he divided his time,

Should he go early to water, or delay it?

Debating whether to go to the early water-spring or wait for it.

فَلَمّا بَدا وَجهُ الزِماعِ وَراعَهُ

فَلَمّا بَدا وَجهُ الزِماعِ وَراعَهُ

مِنَ اللَيلِ وَجهٌ يَمَّمَ الماءَ قارِبُه

مِنَ اللَيلِ وَجهٌ يَمَّمَ الماءَ قارِبُه

When resolve showed its face, and he was startled

When the face of evening appeared, and the night had announced it

By night's face, the night-waterer headed for water.

With a face leading the water to its well,

فَباتَ وَقَد أَخفى الظَلامُ شُخوصَها

فَباتَ وَقَد أَخفى الظَلامُ شُخوصَها

يُناهِبُها أُمَّ الهُدى وَتُناهِبُه

يُناهِبُها أُمَّ الهُدى وَتُناهِبُه

He spent the night, darkness having hidden their forms,

He spent the night concealing them as the darkness enfolded them,

Racing them along the guiding track, and they racing him.

The mother of guidance attacking while he attacked her.

إِذا رَقَصَت في مَهمَهِ اللَيلِ ضَمَّها

إِذا رَقَصَت في مَهمَهِ اللَيلِ ضَمَّها

إِلى نَهَجٍ مِثلِ المَجَرَّةِ لاحِبُه

إِلى نَهَجٍ مِثلِ المَجَرَّةِ لاحِبُه

Whenever they danced across night's wilderness, he gathered them

When she danced in the deep darkness of night, he gathered her

Onto a path whose broad course was like the Milky Way,

To a path like that of a shooting star careening onward.

إِلى أَن أَصابَت في الغَطاطِ شَريعَةً

إِلى أَن أَصابَت في الغَطاطِ شَريعَةً

مِنَ الماءِ بِالأَهوالِ حُفَّت جَوانِبُه

مِنَ الماءِ بِالأَهوالِ حُفَّت جَوانِبُه

Until, in the darkness, they reached an approach

Until she reached a tract of water in the pond,

To water whose sides were surrounded by terrors.

Whose shores the terrors had encircled.

بِها صَخَبُ المُستَوفِداتِ عَلى الوَلى

بِها صَخَبُ المُستَوفِداتِ عَلى الوَلى

كَما صَخِبَت في يَومِ قَيظٍ جَنادِبُه

كَما صَخِبَت في يَومِ قَيظٍ جَنادِبُه

There the creatures flocking to the rain-fed pool clamored,

At it the young females cried out in joy,

As grasshoppers clamor on a day of scorching heat.

As the sandgrouse cry out on a day of blazing heat.

فَأَقبَلَها عُرضَ السَرِيِّ وَعَينُهُ

فَأَقبَلَها عُرضَ السَرِيِّ وَعَينُهُ

تَرودُ وَفي الناموسِ مَن هُوَ راقِبُه

تَرودُ وَفي الناموسِ مَن هُوَ راقِبُه

He brought them across the stream, while his eye

He boldly approached, his eye roving,

Roved; in the hunter's blind someone watched him.

While in the mosquito net was one watching over her.

أَخو صيغَةٍ زُرقٍ وَصَفراءَ سَمحَةٍ

أَخو صيغَةٍ زُرقٍ وَصَفراءَ سَمحَةٍ

يُجاذِبُها مُستَحصِدٌ وَتُجاذِبُه

يُجاذِبُها مُستَحصِدٌ وَتُجاذِبُه

A man with a set of blue-steel arrows and a supple yellow bow,

A brother of brown, yellow, and gray partridges,

Against which a tightly twisted cord strained, and it strained back.

Wrestled with her while the reaper wrestled him in turn,

إِذا رَزَمَت أَنَّت وَأَنَّ لَها الصَدى

إِذا رَزَمَت أَنَّت وَأَنَّ لَها الصَدى

أَنينَ المَريضِ لِلمَريضِ يُجاوِبُه

أَنينَ المَريضِ لِلمَريضِ يُجاوِبُه

When it throbbed, it moaned, and the echo moaned to it,

When she shrieked that she, she alone, possessed the echo—

Like a sick man answering another sick man's groan.

The moan of the sick for the sick, responding to him,

كَأَنَّ الغِنى آلى يَميناً يَؤودُهُ

كَأَنَّ الغِنى آلى يَميناً يَؤودُهُ

إِذا ما أَتاها مُخفِقاً أَو تُصاخِبُه

إِذا ما أَتاها مُخفِقاً أَو تُصاخِبُه

As though wealth had sworn an oath that burdened him,

As if she were an heiress bequeathed wealth

Whenever he came to her empty-handed, or she railed at him.

Whether a failure or successful man comes asking her hand.

يَؤولُ إِلى أُمِّ اِبنَتَينِ يَؤودُهُ

يَؤولُ إِلى أُمِّ اِبنَتَينِ يَؤودُهُ

إِذا ما أَتاها مُخفِقاً أَو تُصاخِبُه

إِذا ما أَتاها مُخفِقاً أَو تُصاخِبُه

He returns to a mother of two daughters—a burden to him—

She favors a mother of two daughters, bringing him wealth

Whenever he came to her empty-handed, or she railed at him.

Whether a failure or successful man comes asking her hand.

فَلَمّا تَدَلّى في السَرِيِّ وَغَرَّهُ

فَلَمّا تَدَلّى في السَرِيِّ وَغَرَّهُ

غَليلُ الحَشا مِن قانِصٍ لا يُواثِبُه

غَليلُ الحَشا مِن قانِصٍ لا يُواثِبُه

When he lowered himself into the stream, and was deceived

When he dangled in the enclosure, excited

By burning thirst about a hunter who would not spring at him,

By the birds he could catch, none escaping him,

رَمى فَأَمَرَّ السَهمُ يَمسَحُ بَطنَهُ

رَمى فَأَمَرَّ السَهمُ يَمسَحُ بَطنَهُ

وَلَبّاتِهُ فَاِنصاعَ وَالمَوتُ كارِبُه

وَلَبّاتِهُ فَاِنصاعَ وَالمَوتُ كارِبُه

The hunter shot; the arrow streaked past, grazing his belly

He shot, and the arrow coursed over his belly

And his forechest; he veered away, with death closing upon him.

And side, so he buckled, and death his companion.

وَوافَقَ أَحجاراً رَدَعنَ نَضِيَّهُ

وَوافَقَ أَحجاراً رَدَعنَ نَضِيَّهُ

فَأَصبَحَ مِنها عامِراهُ وَشاخِبُه

فَأَصبَحَ مِنها عامِراهُ وَشاخِبُه

The arrow met stones that checked its bare shaft,

He encountered rocks that checked his advance,

So its two ends and its bloodletting point lay among them.

And he found it settled, though bleak and desolate.

يَخافُ المَنايا إِن تَرَحَّلتُ صاحِبي

يَخافُ المَنايا إِن تَرَحَّلتُ صاحِبي

كَأَنَّ المَنايا في المُقامِ تُناسِبُه

كَأَنَّ المَنايا في المُقامِ تُناسِبُه

My companion fears death if I depart,

My companion feared death if I departed,

As though death were his kin if he stayed.

As if death would keep him company if he stayed.

فَقُلتُ لَهُ إِنَّ العِراقَ مُقامُهُ

فَقُلتُ لَهُ إِنَّ العِراقَ مُقامُهُ

وَخيمٌ إِذا هَبَّت عَلَيكَ جَنائِبُه

وَخيمٌ إِذا هَبَّت عَلَيكَ جَنائِبُه

I said to him, 'A sojourn in Iraq

So I said to him, “Iraq is your place of abode,

Is unhealthy when its south winds blow over you.

A tent, if its sides blow fierce winds upon you.”

لِعَلَّكَ تَستَدني بِسَيرِكَ في الدُجى

لِعَلَّكَ تَستَدني بِسَيرِكَ في الدُجى

أَخا ثِقَةٍ تُجدي عَلَيكَ مَناقِبُه

أَخا ثِقَةٍ تُجدي عَلَيكَ مَناقِبُه

Perhaps, by traveling through the darkness, you may draw near

Perhaps as you travel in the darkness,

A trustworthy man whose virtues benefit you,

You will meet a trusted brother whose merits will benefit you,

مِنَ الحَيِّ قَيسٍ قَيسِ عَيلانَ إِنَّهُم

مِنَ الحَيِّ قَيسٍ قَيسِ عَيلانَ إِنَّهُم

عُيونُ النَدى مِنهُم تُرَوّى سَحائِبُه

عُيونُ النَدى مِنهُم تُرَوّى سَحائِبُه

From the tribe of Qays, Qays Aylan: they are

One of Qays of the tribe of ‘Aylan—they

The springs of bounty, from which its clouds are watered.

Are springs of dew; their clouds pour down rain.

إِذا المُجحِدُ المَحرومُ ضَمَّت حِبالَهُ

إِذا المُجحِدُ المَحرومُ ضَمَّت حِبالَهُ

حَبائِلُهُم سيقَت إِلَيهِ رَغائِبُه

حَبائِلُهُم سيقَت إِلَيهِ رَغائِبُه

When the destitute, deprived man's ties are embraced

When the obstinate misguided one's ties are bound,

By their bonds, his coveted gifts are brought to him.'

Their knots are cast to him, though he disdains them.

وَيَومٍ عَبورِيٍّ طَغا أَو طَغا بِهِ

وَيَومٍ عَبورِيٍّ طَغا أَو طَغا بِهِ

لَظاهُ فَما يَروى مِنَ الماءِ شارِبُه

لَظاهُ فَما يَروى مِنَ الماءِ شارِبُه

And many a day beneath Sirius, fierce—or made fierce

On a day of trial when the water skin bursts with him,

By its blaze—when water could not quench its drinker,

Or bursts on him, no drink will quench his burning thirst.

رَفَعتُ بِهِ رَحلي عَلى مُتَخَطرِفٍ

رَفَعتُ بِهِ رَحلي عَلى مُتَخَطرِفٍ

يَزِفُّ وَقَد أَوفى عَلى الجَذلِ راكِبُه

يَزِفُّ وَقَد أَوفى عَلى الجَذلِ راكِبُه

I set my saddle on a swift, long-striding mount

I set out with it on a camel surging ahead

That sped along, its rider perched upon its trunk-like back.

While her rider kept pace though wearied and exhausted.

وَأَغبَرَ رَقّاصِ الشُخوصِ مَضِلَّةً

وَأَغبَرَ رَقّاصِ الشُخوصِ مَضِلَّةً

مَوارِدُهُ مَجهولَةٌ وَسَباسِبُه

مَوارِدُهُ مَجهولَةٌ وَسَباسِبُه

And many a dust-gray wasteland that made distant shapes dance, a place to lose one's way,

My guide through the meadows went astray,

Its watering places unknown, and its open wastes,

Its stopping places unknown and its passes obscure.

لِأَلقى بَني عَيلانَ إِنَّ فَعالَهُم

لِأَلقى بَني عَيلانَ إِنَّ فَعالَهُم

تَزيدُ عَلى كُلِّ الفَعالِ مَراكِبُه

تَزيدُ عَلى كُلِّ الفَعالِ مَراكِبُه

I crossed to meet the sons of Aylan, for their deeds

To meet the clan of ‘Aylan—their deeds

Rise in their lofty reaches above all other deeds.

Surpass all deeds as their riders surpass all riders.

أُلاكَ الأُلى شَقّوا العَمى بِسُيوفِهِم

أُلاكَ الأُلى شَقّوا العَمى بِسُيوفِهِم

عَنِ الغَيِّ حَتّى أَبصَرَ الحَقَّ طالِبُه

عَنِ الغَيِّ حَتّى أَبصَرَ الحَقَّ طالِبُه

Those are they who cleft blindness with their swords

Exterminators of the doomed, they split blindness with their swords

Away from error, until truth's seeker saw it.

From falsehood until the seeker of truth sees clearly.

إِذا رَكِبوا بِالمَشرَفِيَّةِ وَالقَنا

إِذا رَكِبوا بِالمَشرَفِيَّةِ وَالقَنا

وَأَصبَحَ مَروانٌ تُعَدُّ مَواكِبُه

وَأَصبَحَ مَروانٌ تُعَدُّ مَواكِبُه

When they ride with Mashrafi swords and spears,

When they ride out on the Mashrafiyyah and Mina Plain,

And Marwan's squadrons stand counted,

You would think Marwan's riders beyond count.

فَأَيُّ اِمرِىءٍ عاصٍ وَأَيُّ قَبيلَةٍ

فَأَيُّ اِمرِىءٍ عاصٍ وَأَيُّ قَبيلَةٍ

وَأَرعَنَ لا تَبكي عَلَيهِ قَرائِبُه

وَأَرعَنَ لا تَبكي عَلَيهِ قَرائِبُه

What rebellious man, what tribe,

What obstinate man, what tribe bellows

Or towering host has kin who will not weep for it?

That their kinsmen do not mourn them when we make war?

رُوَيداً تَصاهَل بِالعِراقِ جِيادُنا

رُوَيداً تَصاهَل بِالعِراقِ جِيادُنا

كَأَنَّكَ بِالضَحّاكِ قَد قامَ نادِبُه

كَأَنَّكَ بِالضَحّاكِ قَد قامَ نادِبُه

Wait a little: our steeds neigh to one another in Iraq;

Our steeds steadily penetrated Iraq

You might already see al-Dahhak's mourner standing.

As if you were at Dhakwan's funeral and the keen woman wailed.

وَسامٍ لِمَروانٍ وَمِن دونِهِ الشَجا

وَسامٍ لِمَروانٍ وَمِن دونِهِ الشَجا

وَهَولٌ كَلُجِّ البَحرِ جاشَت غَوارِبُه

وَهَولٌ كَلُجِّ البَحرِ جاشَت غَوارِبُه

And many a man who rose against Marwan, with choking peril before him,

It included Saam going against Marwan, and beyond them jujubes

And terror like the sea's depths, its towering waves surging,

And terrors—like the swelling of the sea, its billows turbulent.

أَحَلَّت بِهِ أُمُّ المَنايا بَناتِها

أَحَلَّت بِهِ أُمُّ المَنايا بَناتِها

بِأَسيافِنا إِنّا رَدى مَن نُحارِبُه

بِأَسيافِنا إِنّا رَدى مَن نُحارِبُه

The mother of deaths sent her daughters down upon him

Through our swords, we let the daughters of Death

Through our swords: we are the destruction of those we fight.

Loose upon them. We are the sons of kings; above us flutter their banners.

وَما زالَ مِنّا مُمسِكٌ بِمَدينَةٍ

وَما زالَ مِنّا مُمسِكٌ بِمَدينَةٍ

يُراقِبُ أَو ثَغرٍ تُخافُ مَرازِبُه

يُراقِبُ أَو ثَغرٍ تُخافُ مَرازِبُه

There has always been one of us holding a city,

We have never ceased maintaining control over a city

Keeping watch, or a frontier whose governors are feared.

Or a border whose fortress we fear might fall.

إِذا المَلِكُ الجَبّارُ صَعَّرَ خَدَّهُ

إِذا المَلِكُ الجَبّارُ صَعَّرَ خَدَّهُ

مَشَينا إِلَيهِ بِالسُيوفِ نُعاتِبُه

مَشَينا إِلَيهِ بِالسُيوفِ نُعاتِبُه

When a tyrannical king turns his cheek in pride,

When an overbearing king scowls,

We walk toward him with swords to reproach him.

We march against him with swords, censuring him.

وَكُنّا إِذا دَبَّ العَدُوُّ لِسُخطِنا

وَكُنّا إِذا دَبَّ العَدُوُّ لِسُخطِنا

وَراقَبَنا في ظاهِرٍ لا نُراقِبُه

وَراقَبَنا في ظاهِرٍ لا نُراقِبُه

And when the enemy crept forward to provoke our anger,

Whenever the enemy was roused by our wrath

And watched us in the open, though we did not watch him,

And watched us in the open without watching us,

رَكِبنا لَهُ جَهراً بِكُلِّ مُثَقَّفٍ

رَكِبنا لَهُ جَهراً بِكُلِّ مُثَقَّفٍ

وَأَبيَضَ تَستَسقي الدِماءَ مَضارِبُه

وَأَبيَضَ تَستَسقي الدِماءَ مَضارِبُه

We rode openly against him with every straightened spear

We would ride out against them openly with each soldier

And bright blade whose striking edges thirst for blood.

In white, seeking blood, their blades like lightning.

وَجَيشٍ كَجُنحِ اللَيلِ يَرجُفُ بِالحَصى

وَجَيشٍ كَجُنحِ اللَيلِ يَرجُفُ بِالحَصى

وَبِالشَولِ وَالخَطِّيِّ حُمرُ ثَعالِبُه

وَبِالشَولِ وَالخَطِّيِّ حُمرُ ثَعالِبُه

And many a host like night's dark wing, making the gravel quake,

An army that shakes the pebbles and meadows

And the dry camels, with Khatt spears whose tangs were red,

In throngs, their piebald steeds red, their banners white.

غَدَونا لَهُ وَالشَمسُ في خِدرِ أُمِّها

غَدَونا لَهُ وَالشَمسُ في خِدرِ أُمِّها

تُطالِعُنا وَالطَلُّ لَم يَجرِ ذائِبُه

تُطالِعُنا وَالطَلُّ لَم يَجرِ ذائِبُه

We attacked at dawn, while the sun, in her mother's chamber,

We marched against them while the sun was still in her bedchamber,

Looked out at us, and the melting dew had not yet run,

Beholding us, dawn not yet having cast its robes.

بِضَربٍ يَذوقُ المَوتَ مَن ذاقَ طَعمَهُ

بِضَربٍ يَذوقُ المَوتَ مَن ذاقَ طَعمَهُ

وَتُدرِكُ مَن نَجّى الفِرارُ مَثالِبُه

وَتُدرِكُ مَن نَجّى الفِرارُ مَثالِبُه

With blows whose taste brings death to whoever tastes it,

With a blow whose taste is death to him who tastes it,

While disgrace overtakes those whom flight saves.

While he who flees for life meets his fate nonetheless.

كَأَنَّ مُثارَ النَقعِ فَوقَ رُؤُسِهِم

كَأَنَّ مُثارَ النَقعِ فَوقَ رُؤُسِهِم

وَأَسيافَنا لَيلٌ تَهاوى كَواكِبُه

وَأَسيافَنا لَيلٌ تَهاوى كَواكِبُه

As though the dust raised above their heads,

As if sparks from the flint were above their heads

And our swords, were a night whose stars came falling down.

While our swords, like the night, rained falling stars.

بَعَثنا لَهُم مَوتَ الفُجاءَةِ إِنَّنا

بَعَثنا لَهُم مَوتَ الفُجاءَةِ إِنَّنا

بَنو المُلكِ خَفّاقٌ عَلَينا سَبائِبُه

بَنو المُلكِ خَفّاقٌ عَلَينا سَبائِبُه

We sent them sudden death: we are

We unleashed on them the sudden death. We

The sons of kingship, its streamers fluttering above us.

Are the sons of kings; above us flutter their banners.

فَراحوا فَريقاً في الإِسارِ وَمِثلُهُ

فَراحوا فَريقاً في الإِسارِ وَمِثلُهُ

قَتيلٌ وَمِثلٌ لاذَ بِالبَحرِ هارِبُه

قَتيلٌ وَمِثلٌ لاذَ بِالبَحرِ هارِبُه

They departed: one group captive, another like it

Some they took captive, and as many

Slain, and another whose fugitives sought refuge by the sea.

Lay slain, and a like number fled to the sea.

وَأَرعَنَ يَغشى الشَمسَ لَونُ حَديدِهِ

وَأَرعَنَ يَغشى الشَمسَ لَونُ حَديدِهِ

وَتَخلِسُ أَبصارَ الكُماةِ كَتائِبُه

وَتَخلِسُ أَبصارَ الكُماةِ كَتائِبُه

And many a towering host whose iron's gleam veiled the sun,

The neighing of Ar'ar covered the face of his sword,

Its battalions dazzling the eyes of armored warriors,

And the ranks of archers blinked from its blows.

تَغَصُّ بِهِ الأَرضُ الفَضاءُ إِذا غَدا

تَغَصُّ بِهِ الأَرضُ الفَضاءُ إِذا غَدا

تُزاحِمُ أَركانَ الجِبالِ مَناكِبُه

تُزاحِمُ أَركانَ الجِبالِ مَناكِبُه

The spacious earth chokes with it when it marches;

The earth, the desert is choked with him when he marches,

Its shoulders crowd against the mountains' foundations.

His pillar-like legs jostling the mountain crags.

كَأَنَّ جَناباوَيهِ مِن خَمِسِ الوَغى

كَأَنَّ جَناباوَيهِ مِن خَمِسِ الوَغى

شَمامٌ وَسَلمى أَو أَجاً وَكَواكِبُه

شَمامٌ وَسَلمى أَو أَجاً وَكَواكِبُه

As though its two flanks, from the five-part host of battle,

As if his withers rise from the fray

Were Shamam and Salma, or Aja and its stars.

Like Thamud and Sulum or Aj and its celestial bodies.

تَرَكنا بِهِ كَلباً وَقَحطانَ تَبتَغي

تَرَكنا بِهِ كَلباً وَقَحطانَ تَبتَغي

مُجيراً مِنَ القَتلِ المُطِلِّ مَقانِبُه

مُجيراً مِنَ القَتلِ المُطِلِّ مَقانِبُه

With it we left Kalb and Qahtan seeking

We left Kalb and Qahtan there, seeking

A protector from slaughter, its squadrons looming over them.

Refuge from slaughter perpetually stabbing them.

أَباحَت دِمَشقاً خَيلُنا حينَ أُلجِمَت

أَباحَت دِمَشقاً خَيلُنا حينَ أُلجِمَت

وَآبَت بِها مَغرورَ حِمصٍ نَوائِبُه

وَآبَت بِها مَغرورَ حِمصٍ نَوائِبُه

Our horses laid Damascus open to plunder when they were bridled,

Our steeds made Damascus permissible when they stormed it,

And there his calamities returned upon the deluded man of Hims.

And the deluded people of Hims met its disasters.

وَنالَت فِلِسطيناً فَعَرَّدَ جَمعُها

وَنالَت فِلِسطيناً فَعَرَّدَ جَمعُها

عَنِ العارِضِ المُستَنِّ بِالمَوتِ حاصِبُه

عَنِ العارِضِ المُستَنِّ بِالمَوتِ حاصِبُه

They reached Palestine, and its assembled force fled

It attained Palestine, and its army

Before the sweeping storm-cloud whose hail pelts death.

Fled from the deadly blows of death's swordsman.

وَقَد نَزَلَت مِنّا بِتَدمُرَ نَوبَةٌ

وَقَد نَزَلَت مِنّا بِتَدمُرَ نَوبَةٌ

كَذاكَ عُروضُ الشَرِّ تَعرو نَوائِبُه

كَذاكَ عُروضُ الشَرِّ تَعرو نَوائِبُه

A contingent of ours descended upon Tadmur:

Indeed we unleashed a raid upon Palmyra

Thus do evil's onsets come, its calamities recurring.

For so does the cycle of evil show its disasters.

تَعودُ بِنَفسٍ لا تَزِلُّ عَنِ الهُدى

تَعودُ بِنَفسٍ لا تَزِلُّ عَنِ الهُدى

كَما زاغَ عَنهُ ثابِتٌ وَأَقارِبُه

كَما زاغَ عَنهُ ثابِتٌ وَأَقارِبُه

Returning with a soul that never slips from guidance,

It returns to a soul that never swerves from guidance

As Thabit and his relatives strayed from it.

As Thabit and his kin deviated from it.

دَعا اِبنَ سِماكٍ لِلغَوايَةِ ثابِتٌ

دَعا اِبنَ سِماكٍ لِلغَوايَةِ ثابِتٌ

جِهاراً وَلَم يُرشِد بَنيهِ تَجارِبُه

جِهاراً وَلَم يُرشِد بَنيهِ تَجارِبُه

Thabit called Ibn Simak to error

Thabit invited the misguided Ibn Simak openly

Openly, and his experiences did not guide his sons.

And did not guide his sons by his experiences.

وَنادى سَعيداً فَاِستَصَبَّ مِنَ الشَقا

وَنادى سَعيداً فَاِستَصَبَّ مِنَ الشَقا

ذَنوباً كَما صُبَّت عَلَيهِ ذَنائِبُه

ذَنوباً كَما صُبَّت عَلَيهِ ذَنائِبُه

He called Sa'id, drawing down from misery

He summoned Sa'id, who was struck by misery

A bucketful, as its bucketfuls were poured upon him.

As sins were poured upon him like heavy rain.

وَمِن عَجَبٍ سَعيُ اِبنِ أَغنَمَ فيهِمُ

وَمِن عَجَبٍ سَعيُ اِبنِ أَغنَمَ فيهِمُ

وَعُثمانَ إِنَّ الدَهرَ جَمُّ عَجائِبُه

وَعُثمانَ إِنَّ الدَهرَ جَمُّ عَجائِبُه

Strange is Ibn Aghnam's striving among them,

The striving of Ibn Ahnam's son among them is wondrous,

And Uthman's: time has wonders in abundance.

As are ‘Uthman—time's wonders are indeed strange.

وَما مِنهُما إِلّا وَطارَ بِشَخصِهِ

وَما مِنهُما إِلّا وَطارَ بِشَخصِهِ

نَجيبٌ وَطارَت لِلكِلابِ رَواجِبُه

نَجيبٌ وَطارَت لِلكِلابِ رَواجِبُه

Of those two, each had his body borne away

Yet from them came only noble souls, while

By a fine camel, while his knuckles flew to the dogs.

The dregs went to the dogs, their coffers empty.

أَمَرنا بِهِم صَدرَ النَهارِ فَصُلِّبوا

أَمَرنا بِهِم صَدرَ النَهارِ فَصُلِّبوا

وَأَمسى حَميدٌ يَنحِتُ الجِذعَ صالِبُه

وَأَمسى حَميدٌ يَنحِتُ الجِذعَ صالِبُه

We gave the order against them early in the day, and they were crucified;

At dawn we ordered them crucified,

At evening, Hamid's crucifier was hewing the tree trunk.

And by evening Humaid was carving their crosses.

وَباطَ اِبنُ رَوحٍ لِلجَماعَةِ إِنَّهُ

وَباطَ اِبنُ رَوحٍ لِلجَماعَةِ إِنَّهُ

زَأَرنا إِلَيهِ فَاِقشَعَرَّت ذَوائِبُه

زَأَرنا إِلَيهِ فَاِقشَعَرَّت ذَوائِبُه

Ibn Rawh submitted to the community; indeed,

But Ibn Rauh sided with the faction—he

We roared at him, and his forelocks bristled.

Let out a roar at us, and his sides shuddered.

وَبِالكوفَةِ الحُبلى جَلَبنا بِخَيلِنا

وَبِالكوفَةِ الحُبلى جَلَبنا بِخَيلِنا

عَلَيهِم رَعيلَ المَوتِ إِنّا جَوالِبُه

عَلَيهِم رَعيلَ المَوتِ إِنّا جَوالِبُه

And in pregnant Kufa we drove with our horses

At fertile Kufa we brought against them with our steeds

A squadron of death against them: we are its bringers.

The vanguard of death—we are its marauding warriors.

أَقَمنا عَلى هَذا وَذاكَ نِساءَها

أَقَمنا عَلى هَذا وَذاكَ نِساءَها

مَآتِمَ تَدعو لِلبُكا فَتُجاوِبُه

مَآتِمَ تَدعو لِلبُكا فَتُجاوِبُه

Over this man and that we set its women

We held funeral rites for this and that woman there,

In mourning gatherings, calling for weeping and answering it.

Crying for weeping, each answering the others,

أَيامى وَزَوجاتٍ كَأَنَّ نِهائَها

أَيامى وَزَوجاتٍ كَأَنَّ نِهائَها

عَلى الحُزنِ أَرآمُ المَلا وَرَبارِبُه

عَلى الحُزنِ أَرآمُ المَلا وَرَبارِبُه

Widows and wives, their gatherings seeming,

Widows and wives who seemed in their sorrow

Amid grief, like gazelles of the open waste and its herds.

Afflicted like the stricken, wailing old women.

بَكَينَ عَلى مِثلِ السِنانِ أَصابَهُ

بَكَينَ عَلى مِثلِ السِنانِ أَصابَهُ

حِمامٌ بِأَيدينا فَهُنَّ نَوادِبُه

حِمامٌ بِأَيدينا فَهُنَّ نَوادِبُه

They wept over one like a spearhead, whom

They wept for the likes of Sinan, whom

Death struck through our hands; they are his mourners.

Our pigeons struck down by our hands, so they mourned him.

فَلَمّا اِشتَفَينا بِالخَليفَةِ مِنهُمو

فَلَمّا اِشتَفَينا بِالخَليفَةِ مِنهُمو

وَصالَ بِنا حَتّى تَقَضَّت مَآرِبُه

وَصالَ بِنا حَتّى تَقَضَّت مَآرِبُه

When, with the caliph, we had slaked our vengeance on them,

When we were satisfied by slaying the Caliph among them,

And he attacked through us until his purposes were fulfilled,

And fate had accomplished all his affairs,

دَلَفنا إِلى الضَحّاكِ نَصرِفُ بِالرَدى

دَلَفنا إِلى الضَحّاكِ نَصرِفُ بِالرَدى

وَمَروانُ تَدمى مِن جُذامَ مَخالِبُه

وَمَروانُ تَدمى مِن جُذامَ مَخالِبُه

We advanced upon al-Dahhak, dealing out death,

We crossed over to Dhakwan, wreaking havoc,

While Marwan's claws were bloodied by Judham,

While Marwan bled from the wounds of our claws.

مُعِدّينَ ضِرغاماً وَأَسوَدَ سالِخاً

مُعِدّينَ ضِرغاماً وَأَسوَدَ سالِخاً

حُتوفاً لِمَن دَبَّت إِلَينا عَقارِبُه

حُتوفاً لِمَن دَبَّت إِلَينا عَقارِبُه

Preparing a lion and a black snake shedding its skin,

Preparing threshing floors and flails

Dooms for anyone whose scorpions crawled against us.

For those whose scorpions crept toward us.

وَما أَصبَحَ الضَحّاكُ إِلّا كَثابِتٍ

وَما أَصبَحَ الضَحّاكُ إِلّا كَثابِتٍ

عَصانا فَأَرسَلنا المَنِيَّةَ تادِبُه

عَصانا فَأَرسَلنا المَنِيَّةَ تادِبُه

Al-Dahhak became no different from Thabit:

By morning Dhakwan was left like Thabit:

He defied us, so we sent death to chastise him.

A rebel, so we sent death to discipline him.