إِذاwhen غَزَوناwe campaign فَمَغزاناthen our campaign بِأَنقِرَةٍat Ankara
إِذا غَزَونا فَمَغزانا بِأَنقِرَةٍ
وَأَهلُand the people of سَلمىSalma بِسَيفِon the shore of البَحرِthe sea مِنof جُرُتِJurut
وَأَهلُ سَلمى بِسَيفِ البَحرِ مِن جُرُتِ
When we go to war, our campaign is at Ankara,
When we raid, spears guide us,
And Salma's people are on the seacoast of Jurut.
And the people of Salma with the sword of the sea swear allegiance.
هَيهاتَfar away هَيهاتَfar away بَينَbetween المَنزِلَينِthe two dwellings
هَيهاتَ هَيهاتَ بَينَ المَنزِلَينِ
لَقَدindeed أَنضَيتُI have worn out شَوقيmy longing وَقَدand already أَبعَدتُI have cast far away مُلتَفَتيmy gaze
لَقَد أَنضَيتُ شَوقي وَقَد أَبعَدتُ مُلتَفَتي
Far, far apart are the two dwellings!
Alas! Alas! Between the two abodes,
Indeed, I have worn out my longing and cast my gaze far away.
I have fulfilled my longing, and sent my greetings from afar.
حَلَّتshe settled مَحَلّاًin a dwelling بِقُطرِat the edge of الأَرضِthe earth مُنتَبِذاًremote
حَلَّت مَحَلّاً بِقُطرِ الأَرضِ مُنتَبِذاً
تُقَصِّرُfalls short الريحُthe wind عَنهُof it كُلَّماwhenever جَرَتِit blows
تُقَصِّرُ الريحُ عَنهُ كُلَّما جَرَتِ
She has settled in a remote dwelling at the edge of the earth,
It has settled in a place on earth, isolated,
Which the wind falls short of whenever it blows.
The wind falls short of reaching it, however much it blows.
فَماso not يَنالُreaches بِهاin it الهَيمانُthe thirst-maddened lover مَورَدَهُhis watering place
فَما يَنالُ بِها الهَيمانُ مَورَدَهُ
إِلّاexcept بِنَصٍّby hard driving وَجَذبِand pulling العيسِthe pale camels بِالبُرَةِby the nose-ring
إِلّا بِنَصٍّ وَجَذبِ العيسِ بِالبُرَةِ
The thirst-maddened lover cannot reach his watering place there
Only with determination and drawing the stallion with the cord,
Except by hard driving and pulling the pale camels by their nose-rings.
Can the passionate reach their watering place.
أَحبَبتُI loved أَهليmy people وَلَمand did not أَظلِمُdo wrong بِحُبِّهُمُby loving them
أَحبَبتُ أَهلي وَلَم أَظلِمُ بِحُبِّهُمُ
قالواthey said تَعَصَّبتَyou became partisan جَهلاًin ignorance قَولَthe words of ذيone given to بَهَتِslander
قالوا تَعَصَّبتَ جَهلاً قَولَ ذي بَهَتِ
I loved my people and did no wrong in loving them.
I loved my family and did not wrong them in loving them.
They said, 'You became partisan in ignorance'—a slanderer's words.
They said "You are blindly loyal", the words of the confused.
أَحميI guard حِماهُمtheir protected domain وَأَرميand I shoot فيat مُعارِضُهُمtheir opponent
أَحمي حِماهُم وَأَرمي في مُعارِضُهُم
وَأَستَقيلُand I seek pardon إِذاwhen ماever (emphatic) رِجلُهُمtheir foot هَوَتِslips
وَأَستَقيلُ إِذا ما رِجلُهُم هَوَتِ
I guard their domain and shoot at whoever opposes them,
I protect their sanctuary, and shoot at their adversaries,
And seek pardon whenever their foot slips.
And refrain when their feet slip.
لَهُمfor them لِسانيmy tongue بِتَقريظيwith my commendation وَمُمتَدَحيand my praise
لَهُم لِساني بِتَقريظي وَمُمتَدَحي
نَعَمyes وَقَلبيand my heart وَماand whatever تَحويهِencompasses it مَقدِرَتيmy power
نَعَم وَقَلبي وَما تَحويهِ مَقدِرَتي
My tongue is theirs, with my commendation and praise,
My tongue is theirs, praising and glorifying them.
Yes, and my heart, and everything within my power.
Yes, and my heart, and what my ability contains.
دَعنيlet me أَصِلmaintain رَحِميmy kinship إِنif كُنتَyou are قاطِعَهاsevering it
دَعني أَصِل رَحِمي إِن كُنتَ قاطِعَها
لاno بُدَّescape لِلرَحمِfor kinship الدُنياthe closest مِنfrom الصِلَةِmaintaining ties
لا بُدَّ لِلرَحمِ الدُنيا مِن الصِلَةِ
Let me preserve my kinship, if you would sever it.
Let me reconnect my womb-relations, if you have severed them.
The closest kinship ties must be maintained.
The womb cannot do without connection in the world.
لَولاwere it not for العَشائِرُthe clans ماnot رَجَّيتُwould I have hoped for عارِفَةًa kindness
لَولا العَشائِرُ ما رَجَّيتُ عارِفَةً
وَلاand not لَحَقتُwould I have gained redress عَلىthrough الأَيّامِthe years مِنfor تِرَةِa wrong
وَلا لَحَقتُ عَلى الأَيّامِ مِن تِرَةِ
Were it not for clans, I would have hoped for no kindness,
If not for my tribe, I would not have hoped for intimacy,
Nor, through the years, would I have gained redress for a wrong.
Nor joined the ranks of the honored days.
فَاِحفَظso safeguard عَشيرَتَكَyour clan الأَدنَينَthe closest kin إِنَّindeed لَهُمthey have
فَاِحفَظ عَشيرَتَكَ الأَدنَينَ إِنَّ لَهُم
حَقّاًa right يُفَرِّقُthat separates بَينَbetween الزَوجِthe husband وَالمَرَةِand the wife
حَقّاً يُفَرِّقُ بَينَ الزَوجِ وَالمَرَةِ
So safeguard your closest clansfolk, for they have
So preserve your closest tribe, they indeed
A claim that separates a husband from his wife.
Have a right that distinguishes between spouse and wife.
قَوميmy people بَنوthe sons of حِمَيرٍHimyar وَالأَسدُand al-Asd أُسَرتُهُمtheir family
قَومي بَنو حِمَيرٍ وَالأَسدُ أُسَرتُهُم
وَآلِand the house of كِندَةَKinda وَالأَحياءُand the clans مِنof عُلَةِʿUlah
وَآلِ كِندَةَ وَالأَحياءُ مِن عُلَةِ
My people are the sons of Himyar, and al-Asd are their kin,
My people, the descendants of Himer, and the lions are their allies,
And the house of Kinda, and the clans of ʿUlah.
And the people of Kinda, and the noblemen of Oula.
ثُبتُfirm الحُلومِin judgment فَإِنthen if سُلَّتis unsheathed حَفائِظُهُمtheir protective wrath
ثُبتُ الحُلومِ فَإِن سُلَّت حَفائِظُهُم
سَلّواthey drew السُيوفَthe swords فَأَردَواand struck down كُلَّevery ذيone guilty of عَنَتِwrongdoing
سَلّوا السُيوفَ فَأَردَوا كُلَّ ذي عَنَتِ
Firm in judgment; but if their protective wrath is unsheathed,
Endure calamities, for if their protections are removed,
They draw their swords and strike down every wrongdoer.
They unsheathe the swords and repel each obstinate one.
هُمthey أَثبَتُthe steadiest of الناسِpeople أَقداماًin footing إِذاwhen بُغِتواthey are surprised
هُم أَثبَتُ الناسِ أَقداماً إِذا بُغِتوا
وَقَلَّماand seldom تَثبُتُstand firm الأَقدامُthe feet فيin البَغَتِa sudden attack
وَقَلَّما تَثبُتُ الأَقدامُ في البَغَتِ
They are the steadiest of people on their feet when taken unawares,
They are the firmest people, when they are aggrieved,
And feet seldom stand firm under sudden attack.
And feet rarely stand firm in trials.
كَمhow often نَفَسّواthey relieved كَربَthe distress of مَكروبٍa distressed person وَكَمand how often صَبَرواthey endured
كَم نَفَسّوا كَربَ مَكروبٍ وَكَم صَبَروا
عَلىthrough الشَدائِدِsevere trials مِنof لَأواءَhardship فَاِنجَلَتِand so they cleared away
عَلى الشَدائِدِ مِن لَأواءَ فَاِنجَلَتِ
How often they relieved a sufferer's distress, and how often they endured
How many distressed souls they relieved! How much they endured
Severe trials and hardship, until these cleared away.
Of hardships, dreadful calamities!
كَمhow many عَينِan eye of ذيone with حِوَلٍa squint فَقَّأتُI gouged out ناظِرَهاits pupil
كَم عَينِ ذي حِوَلٍ فَقَّأتُ ناظِرَها
وَكَمand how many قَطَعتُI cut off لِأَهلِof those harboring الغِلِّrancor مِنa (partitive) حُمَةِvenomous sting
وَكَم قَطَعتُ لِأَهلِ الغِلِّ مِن حُمَةِ
How many a squinter's eye have I blinded by gouging its pupil!
How many eyes of the twisted I blinded!
And how many a venomous sting have I cut off the spiteful!
And how many unjust ones I cut down!
كَمhow many مِنof عَدُوٍّan enemy تَحامانيhas avoided me وَقَدand already نَشِبَتhad sunk in
كَم مِن عَدُوٍّ تَحاماني وَقَد نَشِبَت
فيهِin him المَخالِبُthe claws يَعدوhe runs عَدُوَwith the running of مُنفَلَتِone who has broken free
فيهِ المَخالِبُ يَعدو عَدُوَ مُنفَلَتِ
How many an enemy has sought to evade me, though claws had sunk
How many enemies attack me, claws extended,
Into him, as he ran like one who had broken free!
Charging wildly with hatred unleashed!
لَوif عاشَhad lived كَبشاthe two rams of تَميمٍTamim ثُمَّتَand then اِستَمَعاboth had listened
لَو عاشَ كَبشا تَميمٍ ثُمَّتَ اِستَمَعا
شِعريmy poetry لَماتاboth would have died وَماتَand would have died الوَغدthe wretch ذوDhu (possessor of) الرُمَّةِal-Rummah (the worn rope)
شِعري لَماتا وَماتَ الوَغد ذو الرُمَّةِ
Had Tamim's two rams lived and then heard
If the bull of Tamim had lived and heard
My poetry, both would have died, as would the wretch Dhu al-Rummah.
My poetry, he would have died, as would that wretched rogue.
فَصارَso became بِالعُدوَةِon the bank القُصوىthe farther مُؤَرِّقُهُwhat kept him awake
فَصارَ بِالعُدوَةِ القُصوى مُؤَرِّقُهُ
خَوفيfear of me فَباتَso he spent the night وَجاشَand surged القَلبُthe heart لَمdid not يَبِتِrest overnight
خَوفي فَباتَ وَجاشَ القَلبُ لَم يَبِتِ
So, on the farther bank, what kept him awake was
He troubled me intensely with his hostility,
Fear of me; he passed the night, while his surging heart never rested.
My fear kept him awake, his heart pounding the night.
تَقَدَمَتهُwent ahead of him بَناتُthe daughters of القَلبِthe heart طائِرَةًflying
تَقَدَمَتهُ بَناتُ القَلبِ طائِرَةً
خَوفاًin fear لِضَغمِof the bite of أَبيa father of شِبلَينِtwo cubs مُنهَرِتِwide-jawed
خَوفاً لِضَغمِ أَبي شِبلَينِ مُنهَرِتِ
The daughters of his heart flew ahead of him,
My heart's daughters came to me in flight,
Fearing the bite of a wide-jawed sire of two cubs.
Fearing the rage of my father Shibleen in anguish.
كَاللَيثِlike a lion لَوif أَزَمَclamped its jaws اللَيثُthe lion الهُصورُthe crushing بِهِon him
كَاللَيثِ لَو أَزَمَ اللَيثُ الهُصورُ بِهِ
ماnot غَضَّdid he lower طَرفاًhis gaze وَلَمand did not يَجزَعpanic وَلَمand did not يَصُتِcry out
ما غَضَّ طَرفاً وَلَم يَجزَع وَلَم يَصُتِ
Like a lion—if a crushing lion clamped its jaws on him,
Like a lion, if lions crowd around him,
He would not lower his gaze, nor panic, nor cry out.
He does not divert his gaze, nor panic, nor keep silent.
نَفسيmy soul تُنافِسُنيvies with me فيin كُلِّevery مَكرُمَةٍnoble deed
نَفسي تُنافِسُني في كُلِّ مَكرُمَةٍ
إِلىtoward المَعاليhigh honors وَلَوand even if خالَفتُهاI opposed it أَبَتِit refused
إِلى المَعالي وَلَو خالَفتُها أَبَتِ
My soul vies with me in every noble deed,
My soul competes with me in every glorious deed,
Toward high honors; even if I opposed it, it would not yield.
Reaching for the heights, even if I opposed it, it would refuse.
كَمhow often قَدindeed وَطِئتُI trod عَلىupon أَحشاءِentrails مُتعِبَةٍwearisome
كَم قَد وَطِئتُ عَلى أَحشاءِ مُتعِبَةٍ
لِلنَفسِto the soul كانَتthey were طَريقَa path of اللَينِsoftness وَالدَعَةِand repose
لِلنَفسِ كانَت طَريقَ اللَينِ وَالدَعَةِ
How often have I trampled on entrails that wearied
How often I have trodden the guts of the weary,
The soul, yet were a road to softness and repose.
When the soul wanted the path of softness and lenience!
وَكَمand how often زَحَمتُI pressed into طَريقَthe path of المَوتِdeath مُعتَرِضاًconfronting it
وَكَم زَحَمتُ طَريقَ المَوتِ مُعتَرِضاً
بِالسَيفِwith the sword صَلتاًunsheathed فَأَدّانيso it led me إِلىto السَعَةِabundance
بِالسَيفِ صَلتاً فَأَدّاني إِلى السَعَةِ
And how often have I forced my way into death's path, confronting it
And how often I cleared the path of death by force,
With sword unsheathed—and it led me to abundance.
My sword paving the way that led me to spaciousness!
وَالجودُand generosity يَعلَمُknows أَنّيthat I مُنذُsince عاهَدَنيmade a covenant with me
وَالجودُ يَعلَمُ أَنّي مُنذُ عاهَدَني
ماnot خُنتُهُhave I betrayed it وَقتَin the time of مَيسوريmy prosperity وَمَعسِرَتيand my hardship
ما خُنتُهُ وَقتَ مَيسوري وَمَعسِرَتي
And generosity knows that, since it made its covenant with me,
Generosity knows that since I promised it,
I have not betrayed it in prosperity or hardship.
I have not betrayed it, in ease or hardship.
وَالضَيفُand the guest يَعلَمُknows أَنِّيَthat I حينَwhen يَطرُقُنيhe visits me at night
وَالضَيفُ يَعلَمُ أَنِّيَ حينَ يَطرُقُني
ماضيresolute الجَنانِof heart عَلىwith regard to كَفّيmy hand وَمَقدِرَتيand my means
ماضي الجَنانِ عَلى كَفّي وَمَقدِرَتي
And the guest knows that, when he visits me at night,
The guest knows that whenever he comes to me,
My heart is resolute in what my hand and means can give.
I am ready to give even my soul for his need.
أَهوىI desire هَواهُhis desire وَيَهوىand he desires ماwhat أُسَرُّI am delighted بِهِby it
أَهوى هَواهُ وَيَهوى ما أُسَرُّ بِهِ
يَنالُhe attains ماwhat يَشتَهيhe desires وَالنَفسُand the soul ماwhat اِشتَهَتit desired
يَنالُ ما يَشتَهي وَالنَفسُ ما اِشتَهَت
I desire what he desires, and he desires what delights me.
He takes what he desires, and the soul what it craves.
He gains what he desires, and my soul what it desires.
He attains what he wishes, the soul what it coveted.
ماnot يَرحَلُdeparts الضَيفُthe guest عَنّيfrom me غِبَّafter لَيلَتِهِhis night's stay
ما يَرحَلُ الضَيفُ عَنّي غِبَّ لَيلَتِهِ
إِلّاexcept بِزادٍwith provisions وَتَشيِيعٍand a send-off وَمَعذِرَةِand an apology
إِلّا بِزادٍ وَتَشيِيعٍ وَمَعذِرَةِ
No guest leaves me after his night's stay
No guest ever left me on the eve of his stay
Except with provisions, a send-off, and an apology.
Except with provisions, an escort, and apologies.
قالَsaid العَواذِلُthe reproachers أَودىhas perished المالُthe wealth قُلتُI said لَهُمto them
قالَ العَواذِلُ أَودى المالُ قُلتُ لَهُم
ماwhat lies بَينَbetween أَجرٍa reward أُلَقّاهُI shall be granted it وَمَحمَدَةِand praise
ما بَينَ أَجرٍ أُلَقّاهُ وَمَحمَدَةِ
The reproachers said, 'Your wealth is gone!' I answered them:
The censurers said "Wealth has ruined you". I said to them
'It lies between a reward I shall receive and praise.'
"What is between reward I bestowed, and praise!"
أَفسَدتَyou ruined مالَكَyour wealth قُلتُI said المالُwealth يُفسِدُنيruins me
أَفسَدتَ مالَكَ قُلتُ المالُ يُفسِدُني
إِذاif بَخِلتُI am miserly بِهِwith it وَالجودُand generosity مَصلَحَتيmy remedy
إِذا بَخِلتُ بِهِ وَالجودُ مَصلَحَتي
'You have ruined your wealth.' I said, 'Wealth ruins me
"You have squandered your wealth", I said "Wealth corrupts me,
If I am miserly with it; generosity is my remedy.'
If I am miserly with it, generosity is my improvement."
أَرزاقُprovisions of رَبّيmy Lord لِأَقوامٍfor people يُقَدِّرُهاHe apportions them
أَرزاقُ رَبّي لِأَقوامٍ يُقَدِّرُها
مِنfrom حَيثُwherever شاءَHe wills فَيُجريهِنَّthen He makes them flow فيthrough هِبَتيmy giving
مِن حَيثُ شاءَ فَيُجريهِنَّ في هِبَتي
My Lord apportions sustenance for people,
The sustenance of my Lord is for people He apportions,
From wherever He wills, then lets it flow through my giving.
Sending it to them from wherever He wills.
فَليَشكُرواso let them thank اللَهَGod ماnot شُكَريthanking me بِزائِدِهِمadding anything to them
فَليَشكُروا اللَهَ ما شُكَري بِزائِدِهِم
وَليَحمَدوهُand let them praise Him فَإِنَّfor indeed الحَمدَpraise ذوpossesses مِقَةِlove
وَليَحمَدوهُ فَإِنَّ الحَمدَ ذو مِقَةِ
So let them thank God; thanking me adds nothing to them.
So let them thank Allah for what is surplus to them,
And let them praise Him, for praise bears love.
And praise Him, for praise holds benefit.
لاdo not تَعرِضَنَّever approach بِمَزحٍin jest لِإِمرِىءٍa man سَفِهٍfoolish
لا تَعرِضَنَّ بِمَزحٍ لِإِمرِىءٍ سَفِهٍ
ماwhatever راضَهُhas rehearsed it قَلبُهُhis heart أَجراهُhe lets it run فيover الشَفَةِthe lip
ما راضَهُ قَلبُهُ أَجراهُ في الشَفَةِ
Never approach a foolish man in jest;
Do not jest disrespectfully with any foolish man,
Whatever his heart has rehearsed, he sends running over his lips.
Whatever pleased his heart he babbled through his lips.
فَرُبَّfor many a قافِيَةٍrhyme بِالمَزحِin jest جارِيَةٍcirculating
فَرُبَّ قافِيَةٍ بِالمَزحِ جارِيَةٍ
مَشبوبَةٍkindled لَمdid not تُرِدyou intend إِنماءَهاits growth نَمَتِit grew
مَشبوبَةٍ لَم تُرِد إِنماءَها نَمَتِ
For many a rhyme that runs abroad in jest,
For many a rhyme of jest flows easily,
Once kindled, has grown though you did not mean to nurture it.
Unintended, yet it grew.
رَدُّrestoring السَلىthe fetal membrane مُستَتِمّاًwhole بَعدَafter قَطعَتَهُyou have cut it
رَدُّ السَلى مُستَتِمّاً بَعدَ قَطعَتَهُ
كَرَدِّis like recalling قافِيَةٍa rhyme مِنfrom بَعدِafter ما(clause marker) مَضَتit has gone forth
كَرَدِّ قافِيَةٍ مِن بَعدِ ما مَضَت
Restoring the fetal membrane whole after you have cut it
Repeating a joke after delivering its punchline,
Is like recalling a rhyme after it has gone forth.
Is like repeating a rhyme after it has passed.
إِنّيindeed I إِذاwhen قُلتُI utter بَيتاًa verse ماتَdies قائِلُهُits speaker
إِنّي إِذا قُلتُ بَيتاً ماتَ قائِلُهُ
وَمَنand the one who يُقالُit is said لَهُto him وَالبَيتُand the verse لَمdoes not يَمُتِdie
وَمَن يُقالُ لَهُ وَالبَيتُ لَم يَمُتِ
Indeed, when I utter a verse, its speaker dies,
When I recite a verse, its speaker dies,
And the one it addresses, while the verse does not die.
And the one it is said to - yet the verse does not die.
Sol 6.1