Sol 6

  1. لَعَمرُكَ ما آسى حِراضُ اِبنَ أُمِّهِ

    عَلى النَصفِ مِن شَطرِ الكَلاءَةِ قائِمُ

    By your life, Ḥirāḍ did not grieve for his mother’s son,

    standing through half his share of the watch.

  2. تَطاوَلَ حَربُ اللَيلِ عَن قَدرِ ظَنِّهِ

    فَنامَ وَهَذا آمِنُ الفَتكِ نائِمُ

    The night’s struggle lasted longer than he had expected,

    so he slept; and this other one slept, feeling safe from attack.

  3. فَيا خُطَّةً راثَت عَلَيكَ وَنى لَها

    ثُمامَةُ يَرعاها عَلى السَيفِ جاثِمُ

    What a plan delayed for you! Thumāmah was slow to pursue it,

    watching over it as he crouched upon his sword.

  4. يَدُبُّ إِلَيهِ السَبعُ يَختُلُ ظِلَّهُ

    وَفي كَفِّهِ صافي الحَديدَةِ صارِمُ

    A lion crept toward him, stealthily stalking his shadow,

    with a keen sword of gleaming steel in his hand.

  5. فَأَمكَنَ حَدَّ السَيفِ مَرجِعَ خَصمِهِ

    وَكَرَّ يُساوي الخَطوَ وَالشَخصُ قائِمُ

    He placed the sword’s edge in the path of his adversary’s return,

    then turned back, matching his steps, while the figure stood upright.

  6. فَآبَ إِلى جَيبٍ نَصيحٍ فَلامَهُ

    وَمِن سُرَرِ الجَيبِ النَصيحُ المُلاوِمُ

    He returned to a counseling heart, and it reproached him;

    from deep within that heart came the sincere reproacher.

  7. فَقالَ لَهُ عُد تُشفَ نَفساً وَلا تَكُن

    عَلى ظِنَّةٍ مِنها وَلِلحَزمِ لائِمُ

    It said to him: ‘Return and soothe a soul; do not be

    suspicious of it or reproach its resolve.’

  8. فَقَلَّدَهُ لَمّا تَبَيَّنَ شَخصَهُ

    بِضَربَةِ ثَأرٍ لَم تَخُنها العَزائِمُ

    Then, when he made out the other’s figure, he struck him

    with a blow of vengeance that firm resolve did not betray.

  9. فَماتا صَريعَي غِرَّةٍ وَلَمَن سَعى

    إِلى المَوتِ لَم تُنظَم عَلَيهِ التَمائِمُ

    So both died, brought down by an unwary moment; and for one who seeks

    death, no protective amulets are strung.