هَلis ...? مِثلُthe like of قَلبِكَyour heart فيin الأَهواءِthe passions مَعذورُexcused
هَل مِثلُ قَلبِكَ في الأَهواءِ مَعذورُ
وَالشَيبُand gray hair بَعدَafter شَبابِthe youth of المَرءِa man مَقدورُordained
وَالشَيبُ بَعدَ شَبابِ المَرءِ مَقدورُ
Is a heart like yours excused for its passions?
Does my heart get a reprieve for its passions?
And gray hair after a man's youth is ordained.
Graying hair after youth is destined.
قَدindeed خَفَّdeparted swiftly صَحبيmy companions وَأَشكونيand grieved me وَأَرَّقَنيand kept me awake
قَد خَفَّ صَحبي وَأَشكوني وَأَرَّقَني
خَودٌa tender maiden تُرَبِّبُهاnurture her الأَبوابُthe doors وَالدورُand the houses
خَودٌ تُرَبِّبُها الأَبوابُ وَالدورُ
My companions have hastened off and grieved me; I am kept awake by
My friends have abandoned me, leaving me worried and sleepless,
a tender maiden whom doors and houses nurture.
A cheek frequented by doors and homes.
لَمّاwhen رَأَيتُI saw بِأَنthat جَدّواthey pressed on وَشَيَّعَنيand saw me off
لَمّا رَأَيتُ بِأَن جَدّوا وَشَيَّعَني
يَومُthe day of الصَبابَةِlonging وَالمَنصورُand the victorious one مَنصورُvictorious
يَومُ الصَبابَةِ وَالمَنصورُ مَنصورُ
When I saw that they had pressed on, and I was seen off by
When I saw they were in earnest and bid me farewell,
the day of longing—and the victorious man is victorious—
The day of youth and Mansour was Mansour.
واكَبتُهُمI kept pace with them بِأَمونٍon a sure-footed she-camel جَسرَةٍsturdy أُجُدٍfirm-bodied
واكَبتُهُم بِأَمونٍ جَسرَةٍ أُجُدٍ
كَأَنَّهاas though she فَدَنٌa palace بِالطينِwith clay مَمدورُplastered
كَأَنَّها فَدَنٌ بِالطينِ مَمدورُ
I kept pace with them on a sure-footed, sturdy, firm-bodied she-camel,
I accompanied them with a bold, daring, generous spirit,
as though she were a palace plastered with clay.
As if it were a vessel of clay, round and plump.
وَجناءَthick-cheeked لاnot يَسأَمُtires of الإيضاعَbrisk trotting راكِبُهاher rider
وَجناءَ لا يَسأَمُ الإيضاعَ راكِبُها
إِذاwhen السَرابُthe mirage اِكتَساهُdonned it الحَزنُthe rugged ground وَالقورُand the flat-topped hills
إِذا السَرابُ اِكتَساهُ الحَزنُ وَالقورُ
A thick-cheeked she-camel whose rider never tires of trotting,
Horses that do not tire of galloping,
when rugged ground and flat-topped hills clothe themselves in mirage.
When the mirage covers them in sorrow and gloom.
كَأَنَّهاas though she بَينَbetween جَنبَيthe two flanks of واسِطٍWasit شَبَبٌa mature wild bull
كَأَنَّها بَينَ جَنبَي واسِطٍ شَبَبٌ
وَبَينَand between لَينَةَLayna طاويlean الكَشحِthe flank مَذعورُfrightened
وَبَينَ لَينَةَ طاوي الكَشحِ مَذعورُ
She is like a mature wild bull between the two flanks of Wasit
As if between the flanks of Wasit were a youth
and Layna, lean-flanked and frightened.
And between the softness of Tayy is a frightened creature.
ياO آلَclan of سُفيانَSufyan ماwhat باليmy business وَبالُكُمُand your business
يا آلَ سُفيانَ ما بالي وَبالُكُمُ
أَنتُمyou كَثيرٌmany وَفيand in الأَحلامِjudgment عُصفورُa sparrow
أَنتُم كَثيرٌ وَفي الأَحلامِ عُصفورُ
O clan of Sufyan, what have I to do with you?
O clan of Sufyan, what is my plight and yours?
You are many in number, but a sparrow in judgment.
You are many, while in dreams I am a little bird.
إِذاwhen غَلَبتُمyou overpower صَديقاًa friend تَبطِشونَyou attack fiercely بِهِat him
إِذا غَلَبتُم صَديقاً تَبطِشونَ بِهِ
كَماjust as تَهَدَّمُcrumble فيin الماءِthe water الجَماهيرُthe sand-heaps
كَما تَهَدَّمُ في الماءِ الجَماهيرُ
When you overpower a friend, you fall upon him,
When you defeat a friend, you assault him
as sand-heaps crumble in water.
As a swarm demolishes the water spiders.
وَأَنتُمand you مَعشَرٌa people فيin عِرقِكُمyour sinew شَنَجٌa cramp
وَأَنتُم مَعشَرٌ في عِرقِكُم شَنَجٌ
بُزخُswaybacked الظُهورِthe backs وَفيand in الأَستاهِthe buttocks تَأخيرُrearward projection
بُزخُ الظُهورِ وَفي الأَستاهِ تَأخيرُ
And you are a people whose sinews are cramped,
You are a mob, with disgrace in your lineage,
swaybacked, with buttocks jutting backward.
Delayed maturity and hasty adolescence.
ياO آلَclan of سُفيانَSufyan إِنّيindeed I قَدindeed شَهِدتُكُمُhave witnessed you
يا آلَ سُفيانَ إِنّي قَد شَهِدتُكُمُ
أَيامَthe days when أُمُّكُمُyour mother حَمراءُred-skinned مِئشيرُvery insolent
أَيامَ أُمُّكُمُ حَمراءُ مِئشيرُ
O clan of Sufyan, I have indeed witnessed you
O Sufyan clan, I witnessed you
in the days when your mother was red-skinned and insolent.
In the days of your red-skinned mother.
هَلّاwhy not نَهَيتُمyou restrained أَخاكُمyour brother عَنfrom سَفاهَتِهِhis folly
هَلّا نَهَيتُم أَخاكُم عَن سَفاهَتِهِ
إِذwhen تَشرَبونَyou drink وَغاويand one led astray by الخَمرِwine مَزجورُrebuked
إِذ تَشرَبونَ وَغاوي الخَمرِ مَزجورُ
Why did you not restrain your brother from his folly,
Why did you not forbid your reckless brother
as you drank, though one led astray by wine should be rebuked?
When you were drinking wine, intoxicated?
لَنwill not تَسبِقونيyou outstrip me وَلَوand even if أَمهَلتُكُمI gave you time شَرَفاًa stretch of distance
لَن تَسبِقوني وَلَو أَمهَلتُكُم شَرَفاً
عُقبىat the finish إِذاwhen أَبطَأَlagged الفَجحُthe splay-legged المَحاميرُthe sluggish steeds
عُقبى إِذا أَبطَأَ الفَجحُ المَحاميرُ
You will not outstrip me, even if I give you a stretch's head start,
You will never outdo me, even if I give you a head start,
at the finish, when the splay-legged, sluggish steeds lag behind.
The hindmost, when the vanguard of riders is delayed, catches up.
لَقَدindeed أَروعُI frighten سَوامَthe grazing herds of الحَيِّthe clan ضاحِيَةًin broad daylight
لَقَد أَروعُ سَوامَ الحَيِّ ضاحِيَةً
بِالجُردِwith sleek steeds يُركِضُهاgallop them الشُعثُthe disheveled المَغاويرُthe daring raiders
بِالجُردِ يُركِضُها الشُعثُ المَغاويرُ
I do indeed frighten the clan's grazing herds in broad daylight,
It terrified the living horses in the valley,
with sleek steeds spurred to gallop by disheveled raiders.
The disheveled, unkempt horses pursued them.
يَحمِلنَthey carry كُلَّevery هِجانٍnoble-born صارِمٍresolute ذَكَرٍmanly
يَحمِلنَ كُلَّ هِجانٍ صارِمٍ ذَكَرٍ
وَتَحتَهُمand beneath them شَزَّبٌlean قُبٌّtucked-bellied مَحاضيرُswift runners
وَتَحتَهُم شَزَّبٌ قُبٌّ مَحاضيرُ
They carry every noble-born, resolute, manly warrior,
They carry every roaring, valiant, hard-drinking warrior,
and beneath them are lean, tucked-bellied racers,
And under them are fleet, swift riding beasts.
إِلىtoward الصُراخِthe cry for aid وَسِرباليand my tunic مُضاعَفَةٌdouble-woven mail
إِلى الصُراخِ وَسِربالي مُضاعَفَةٌ
كَأَنَّهاas though it مُفرَطٌa brimful pool بِالسيِّat al-Siyy مَمطورُrained upon
كَأَنَّها مُفرَطٌ بِالسيِّ مَمطورُ
toward the cry for aid; my tunic is double-woven mail,
To the war cries—my waist wrapper is doubled over
as though it were a brimful pool at al-Siyy, drenched by rain.
As if plastered with resin and wax.
بَيضاءُwhite لاnot تُرتَدىis worn إِلّاexcept لَدىat فَزَعٍalarm
بَيضاءُ لا تُرتَدى إِلّا لَدى فَزَعٍ
مِنfrom نَسجِthe weaving of داوُدَDawud فيهاin it المِسكُmusk مَقتورُburned as incense
مِن نَسجِ داوُدَ فيها المِسكُ مَقتورُ
White mail, worn only in a time of alarm,
White, worn only in times of fear,
of Dawud's weaving, perfumed within with musk.
Woven by David with musk infused in its fabric.
مُنتَطِقاًgirded بِحُسامٍwith a keen sword غَيرِnot مُنقَضِمٍchipped
مُنتَطِقاً بِحُسامٍ غَيرِ مُنقَضِمٍ
غَضبِkeen المَضارِبِthe striking edges فيهِin it السُمُّthe poison مَذرورُsprinkled
غَضبِ المَضارِبِ فيهِ السُمُّ مَذرورُ
Girded with a keen sword, unchipped,
Girding a sword that does not break,
keen at its striking edges, with poison sprinkled upon it,
The venom of its blow lethal and penetrating.
وَعامِلٍand a spear's upper shaft مارِنٍsupple صُمٍّsolid مَعاقِمُهُits joints
وَعامِلٍ مارِنٍ صُمٍّ مَعاقِمُهُ
فيهِin it سِنانُa spearhead حَديدِsharp الحَدِّthe edge مَطرورُwhetted
فيهِ سِنانُ حَديدِ الحَدِّ مَطرورُ
and a supple upper spearshaft, solid at its joints,
And a flexible, deafening coat of mail,
bearing a sharp-edged, whetted spearhead.
With nails like iron spikes driven through it.
قَدindeed عَلِمَknew القَومُthe people أَنّيthat I مِنamong سَراتِهُمُtheir foremost men
قَد عَلِمَ القَومُ أَنّي مِن سَراتِهُمُ
إِذاwhen تَقَلَّصُshrink فيinto البَطنِthe belly المَذاكيرُthe male genitals
إِذا تَقَلَّصُ في البَطنِ المَذاكيرُ
The people know that I am among their foremost men,
The people know I am one of their horsemen
when men's genitals shrink into their bellies.
When the intestines contract into knots inside the belly.
أَوعَدتُمُyou threatened إِبِليmy camels كَلّاًno! سَيَمنَعُهاwill protect them
أَوعَدتُمُ إِبِلي كَلّاً سَيَمنَعُها
بَنوthe sons of غَزِيَّةَGhaziyya لاnot ميلٌweaklings وَلاand not عورُcowards
بَنو غَزِيَّةَ لا ميلٌ وَلا عورُ
You have threatened my camels—no! They will be defended by
You threatened to deny my camels fodder—
the sons of Ghaziyya, neither weaklings nor cowards.
The clan of Ghaziyya will not swerve or limp.
قَومٌa people إِذاwhen اِختَلَفَraged الهَيجاءُthe battle وَاِختَلَفَتand shifted
قَومٌ إِذا اِختَلَفَ الهَيجاءُ وَاِختَلَفَت
صُبرٌsteadfast إِذاwhen عَرَّدَfled العُزلُthe unarmed العَواويرُcowards
صُبرٌ إِذا عَرَّدَ العُزلُ العَواويرُ
A people who, when battle rages and shifts,
A people, when the warriors and steeds marshaled,
stand firm when unarmed cowards flee.
Endurance, when the leather tent pegs pounded the ground.
كَأَنَّas though وِلدانَهُمtheir boys لَمّاwhen اِختَلَطنَthey mingled بِهِمwith them
كَأَنَّ وِلدانَهُم لَمّا اِختَلَطنَ بِهِم
تَحتَbeneath العَجاجَةِthe dust-cloud بِالأَيديin the hands العَصافيرُthe sparrows
تَحتَ العَجاجَةِ بِالأَيدي العَصافيرُ
Their boys, when they mingle with them, seem
As if their children, when mixed with them,
like sparrows in hands beneath the dust-cloud.
Were small birds beneath the small tent.
إِذاwhen طَرَدناwe pursued كَسَوناwe clothed الخَيلَthe horses أَنضِيَةًlean riders
إِذا طَرَدنا كَسَونا الخَيلَ أَنضِيَةً
وَإِنand if طُرِدناwe were pursued كَأَنّاas though we خَلفَناbehind us زورُvisitors
وَإِن طُرِدنا كَأَنّا خَلفَنا زورُ
When we give chase, we clothe the horses in lean riders;
When we raid, we clothe our horses in neck armor,
and if we are pursued, it is as though we had guests behind us.
And when we are raided, it is as if we left but briefly.
تَنجوescape سَوابِقُهاits leading steeds مِنfrom ساطِعِa rising dust-cloud كَدِرٍmurky
تَنجو سَوابِقُها مِن ساطِعِ كَدِرٍ
كَماjust as تَجَلَّلَتِswept over الوَعثَthe loose sand اليَعافيرُgazelle-fawns
كَما تَجَلَّلَتِ الوَعثَ اليَعافيرُ
Its leading steeds escape a rising, murky cloud of dust,
Their lead mares escape the glittering sword,
as gazelle-fawns sweep over the loose sand.
As the frog escapes under the copious rains.
إِنَّindeed اِمرَأًa man باتَspent the night عَمروٌAmr بَينَamid صِرمَتِهِhis small camel-herd
إِنَّ اِمرَأً باتَ عَمروٌ بَينَ صِرمَتِهِ
عَمروُAmr بنُson of سُفيانَSufyan ذوpossessor of السَيفَينِthe two swords مَغرورُdeluded
عَمروُ بنُ سُفيانَ ذو السَيفَينِ مَغرورُ
Indeed, a man among whose small camel herd Amr has spent the night
A man by the name of Amr slept amidst his armor—
—Amr son of Sufyan, bearer of two swords—is deluded.
Amr ibn Sufyan, proud wielder of two swords.
لاnot أَعرِفَنI ever see لِمَّةًa band سَوداءَblack داجِيَةًdark
لا أَعرِفَن لِمَّةً سَوداءَ داجِيَةً
تَدعوcalling on كِلاباًKilab وَفيهاand within it الرِمحُthe spear مَكسورُbroken
تَدعو كِلاباً وَفيها الرِمحُ مَكسورُ
Let me never see a black, shadowy band
I do not recognize an ominous, visibly dark banner
calling on Kilab, with a broken spear in its midst.
That summons dogs, while the spear lies broken.
Sol 6.1