إِذاwhen غَزَوناwe go to war فَمَغزاناthen our campaign destination بِأَنقِرَةٍat Anqira
إِذا غَزَونا فَمَغزانا بِأَنقِرَةٍ
وَأَهلُand the folk of سَلمىSalma بِسَيفِon the shore of البَحرِthe sea مِنof جُرُتِJurut
وَأَهلُ سَلمى بِسَيفِ البَحرِ مِن جُرُتِ
When we go to war, our destination is Anqira,
When we invaded, we invaded with spears
while Salma’s folk are on the seashore at Jurut.
And the people of Salma with the sword of the sea from the bay
هَيهاتَfar away! هَيهاتَfar away! بَينَbetween المَنزِلَينِthe two dwellings
هَيهاتَ هَيهاتَ بَينَ المَنزِلَينِ
لَقَدindeed أَنضَيتُI wore out شَوقيmy longing وَقَدand indeed أَبعَدتُI cast far away مُلتَفَتيmy backward glance
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 backward glance far away.
I have fulfilled my longing and sent away my glance
حَلَّتshe settled مَحَلّاًin a place بِقُطرِat the edge of الأَرضِthe earth مُنتَبِذاًremote
حَلَّت مَحَلّاً بِقُطرِ الأَرضِ مُنتَبِذاً
تُقَصِّرُfalls short الريحُthe wind عَنهُof reaching it كُلَّماwhenever جَرَتِit blows
تُقَصِّرُ الريحُ عَنهُ كُلَّما جَرَتِ
She has settled in a remote place at the earth’s edge,
It took its place with a drop of the earth, isolated
which the wind falls short of whenever it blows.
The wind falls short of it whenever it blows
فَماso not يَنالُreaches بِهاthere الهَيمانُthe thirsting lover مَورَدَهُhis watering place
فَما يَنالُ بِها الهَيمانُ مَورَدَهُ
إِلّاexcept بِنَصٍّby hard driving وَجَذبِand tugging العيسِthe pale camels بِالبُرَةِby the nose-ring
إِلّا بِنَصٍّ وَجَذبِ العيسِ بِالبُرَةِ
So the thirsting lover cannot reach his watering place there
So the lovesick does not attain his destination
except by hard driving and tugging the pale camels by their nose-rings.
Except with effort and pulling the smooth rock with the rope
أَحبَبتُI loved أَهليmy kin وَلَمand did not أَظلِمُdo wrong بِحُبِّهُمُby loving them
أَحبَبتُ أَهلي وَلَم أَظلِمُ بِحُبِّهُمُ
قالواthey said تَعَصَّبتَyou took sides جَهلاًignorantly قَولَthe words of ذيone guilty of بَهَتِslander
قالوا تَعَصَّبتَ جَهلاً قَولَ ذي بَهَتِ
I loved my kin and did no wrong in loving them.
I loved my family and did not wrong them with my love
They said, “You have taken sides in ignorance”—a slanderer’s words.
They said you were blindly partisan, the words of the confused
أَحميI guard حِماهُمtheir domain وَأَرميand shoot فيat مُعارِضُهُمtheir adversary
أَحمي حِماهُم وَأَرمي في مُعارِضُهُم
وَأَستَقيلُand I seek pardon إِذاwhen ماever رِجلُهُمtheir foot هَوَتِfell
وَأَستَقيلُ إِذا ما رِجلُهُم هَوَتِ
I guard their domain and shoot at their adversary,
I protect their sanctuary and cast at their rivals
and seek pardon whenever their foot slips.
And refrain when their foot slips
لَهُمfor them لِسانيmy tongue بِتَقريظيwith my praise وَمُمتَدَحيand my commendation
لَهُم لِساني بِتَقريظي وَمُمتَدَحي
نَعَمyes وَقَلبيand my heart وَماand whatever تَحويهِencompasses it مَقدِرَتيmy power
نَعَم وَقَلبي وَما تَحويهِ مَقدِرَتي
My tongue is theirs in my praise and commendation,
My tongue is theirs with my praise and acclaim
yes, and my heart, and all within my power.
Yes, and my heart and what my ability contains
دَعنيlet me أَصِلmaintain رَحِميmy kinship ties إِنif كُنتَyou are قاطِعَهاsevering them
دَعني أَصِل رَحِمي إِن كُنتَ قاطِعَها
لاno بُدَّescape لِلرَحمِfor kinship الدُنياthe closest مِنfrom الصِلَةِmaintaining ties
لا بُدَّ لِلرَحمِ الدُنيا مِن الصِلَةِ
Let me maintain my kinship ties, if you are cutting them.
Let me join my womb-relations if you have severed them
Ties with one’s nearest kin must be maintained.
The womb cannot exist in this world without connection
لَولاwere it not for العَشائِرُthe clans ماnot رَجَّيتُI would have hoped for عارِفَةًa kindness
لَولا العَشائِرُ ما رَجَّيتُ عارِفَةً
وَلاnor لَحَقتُwould I have gained redress عَلىthrough الأَيّامِthe days مِنany تِرَةِwrong suffered
وَلا لَحَقتُ عَلى الأَيّامِ مِن تِرَةِ
Were it not for clans, I would have hoped for no kindness,
If not for my tribes, I would not have hoped for one who knew me
nor, through the passing days, have gained redress for any wrong.
Nor joined over the days from a remainder
فَاِحفَظso protect عَشيرَتَكَyour clan الأَدنَينَthe closest إِنَّindeed لَهُمthey have
فَاِحفَظ عَشيرَتَكَ الأَدنَينَ إِنَّ لَهُم
حَقّاًa claim يُفَرِّقُseparates بَينَbetween الزَوجِthe husband وَالمَرَةِand the wife
حَقّاً يُفَرِّقُ بَينَ الزَوجِ وَالمَرَةِ
So protect your closest clansmen, for they have
So protect your closest tribe, for they
a claim that parts a husband from his wife.
Have a right that distinguishes between spouse and wife
قَوميmy people بَنوthe sons of حِمَيرٍHimyar وَالأَسدُand al-Asd أُسَرتُهُمtheir kin
قَومي بَنو حِمَيرٍ وَالأَسدُ أُسَرتُهُم
وَآلِand the house of كِندَةَKinda وَالأَحياءُand the clans مِنof عُلَةِʿUla
وَآلِ كِندَةَ وَالأَحياءُ مِن عُلَةِ
My people are the sons of Himyar—and al-Asd are their kin—
My people, the sons of Himyar, and the lion their lineage
and the house of Kinda, and the clans of ʿUla.
And the house of Kinda, and the virtuous among the protected
ثُبتُsteadfast الحُلومِin judgment فَإِنbut if سُلَّتis unsheathed حَفائِظُهُمtheir wrath
ثُبتُ الحُلومِ فَإِن سُلَّت حَفائِظُهُم
سَلّواthey drew السُيوفَthe swords فَأَردَواthen they struck down كُلَّevery ذيone guilty of عَنَتِwrongdoing
سَلّوا السُيوفَ فَأَردَوا كُلَّ ذي عَنَتِ
Steadfast in judgment, yet if their wrath is unsheathed,
Show forbearance, so if their reins are loosened
they draw their swords and lay low every wrongdoer.
They unsheathe the swords and return every obstinate one
هُمthey أَثبَتُthe steadiest of الناسِpeople أَقداماًin footing إِذاwhen بُغِتواthey are surprised
هُم أَثبَتُ الناسِ أَقداماً إِذا بُغِتوا
وَقَلَّماand seldom تَثبُتُstand firm الأَقدامُfeet فيamid البَغَتِsudden shock
وَقَلَّما تَثبُتُ الأَقدامُ في البَغَتِ
They are the steadiest-footed of men when taken unawares,
They are the firmest people when reviled
and feet seldom stand firm amid sudden shock.
And feet rarely stand firm in trial
كَمhow often نَفَسّواthey relieved كَربَthe distress of مَكروبٍa sufferer وَكَمand how often صَبَرواthey endured
كَم نَفَسّوا كَربَ مَكروبٍ وَكَم صَبَروا
عَلىthrough الشَدائِدِhardships مِنof لَأواءَadversity فَاِنجَلَتِthen they lifted
عَلى الشَدائِدِ مِن لَأواءَ فَاِنجَلَتِ
How often they eased a sufferer’s distress, and how often endured
How many worries of the troubled they eased
the hardships of adversity until they lifted.
And how much they endured of hardships and agonies
كَمhow many عَينِan eye of ذيone possessed of حِوَلٍguile فَقَّأتُI gouged out ناظِرَهاits pupil
كَم عَينِ ذي حِوَلٍ فَقَّأتُ ناظِرَها
وَكَمand how many قَطَعتُI cut off لِأَهلِfor the people of الغِلِّmalice مِنa حُمَةِsting
وَكَم قَطَعتُ لِأَهلِ الغِلِّ مِن حُمَةِ
How often have I gouged out the pupil of a schemer’s eye!
How many eyes of the twisted I gouged their sights
And how many a sting have I cut off from the malicious!
And how many I cut down for the wrongful from the defended
كَمhow many مِنan عَدُوٍّenemy تَحامانيtried to evade me وَقَدwhile already نَشِبَتhad sunk in
كَم مِن عَدُوٍّ تَحاماني وَقَد نَشِبَت
فيهِinto him المَخالِبُthe claws يَعدوhe runs عَدُوَthe running of مُنفَلَتِone who broke free
فيهِ المَخالِبُ يَعدو عَدُوَ مُنفَلَتِ
How many an enemy has sought to evade me, with claws already sunk
How many enemies attack me while
into him, running like one who has broken free!
The claws are fixed in him, the foe rushes uncontrolled
لَوif عاشَhad lived كَبشاthe two rams of تَميمٍTamim ثُمَّتَthen اِستَمَعاthe two had heard
لَو عاشَ كَبشا تَميمٍ ثُمَّتَ اِستَمَعا
شِعريmy poetry لَماتاboth would have died وَماتَand would have died الوَغدthe knave ذوDhu الرُمَّةِal-Rumma
شِعري لَماتا وَماتَ الوَغد ذو الرُمَّةِ
Had the two rams of Tamim lived and then heard
If the bull of Tamim had lived and heard
my poetry, both would have died, and the knave Dhu al-Rumma too.
My poetry, he would have died and the despicable one died
فَصارَso became بِالعُدوَةِon the bank القُصوىthe farthest مُؤَرِّقُهُwhat kept him sleepless
فَصارَ بِالعُدوَةِ القُصوى مُؤَرِّقُهُ
خَوفيfear of me فَباتَso he passed the night وَجاشَand surged القَلبُthe heart لَمdid not يَبِتِrest for the night
خَوفي فَباتَ وَجاشَ القَلبُ لَم يَبِتِ
So, on the farthest bank, what kept him sleepless became
So he became with the furthest enmity my tormentor
fear of me; he passed the night, his heart surging without rest.
My fear, so he stayed awake with a pounding heart that did not sleep
تَقَدَمَتهُthey went ahead of him بَناتُthe daughters of القَلبِthe heart طائِرَةًflying
تَقَدَمَتهُ بَناتُ القَلبِ طائِرَةً
خَوفاًin fear لِضَغمِof the bite of أَبيa father of شِبلَينِtwo lion cubs مُنهَرِتِwide-jawed
خَوفاً لِضَغمِ أَبي شِبلَينِ مُنهَرِتِ
The daughters of his heart flew ahead of him,
The daughters of the heart came to him restless
for fear of the bite of a wide-jawed father of two cubs.
In fear of the injustice of my father with the cleft lip
كَاللَيثِlike a lion لَوif أَزَمَclamped its jaws اللَيثُthe lion الهُصورُthe mauling بِهِon him
كَاللَيثِ لَو أَزَمَ اللَيثُ الهُصورُ بِهِ
ماnot غَضَّlowered طَرفاًhis gaze وَلَمand did not يَجزَعpanic وَلَمand did not يَصُتِmake a sound
ما غَضَّ طَرفاً وَلَم يَجزَع وَلَم يَصُتِ
Like a lion—if the mauling lion clamped its jaws on him,
Like a lion, if lions were determined against him
he would not lower his gaze, nor panic, nor utter a sound.
He would not avert his gaze or panic or become silent
نَفسيmy soul تُنافِسُنيrivals me فيin كُلِّevery مَكرُمَةٍnoble deed
نَفسي تُنافِسُني في كُلِّ مَكرُمَةٍ
إِلىtoward المَعاليlofty heights 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 the heights; even if I opposed it, it would refuse.
To the heights, and if I opposed it, it would refuse
كَمhow often قَدindeed وَطِئتُI trod عَلىupon أَحشاءِentrails مُتعِبَةٍwearisome
كَم قَد وَطِئتُ عَلى أَحشاءِ مُتعِبَةٍ
لِلنَفسِto the soul كانَتwere طَريقَa path to اللَينِsoftness وَالدَعَةِand repose
لِلنَفسِ كانَت طَريقَ اللَينِ وَالدَعَةِ
How often have I trodden upon entrails that wearied
How often I have trodden with exhausted intestines
the soul, yet were a path to softness and repose.
For the soul on the path of softness and calm
وَكَمand how often زَحَمتُI pressed into طَريقَthe path of المَوتِdeath مُعتَرِضاًconfronting it
وَكَم زَحَمتُ طَريقَ المَوتِ مُعتَرِضاً
بِالسَيفِwith the sword صَلتاًunsheathed فَأَدّانيso it brought me إِلىto السَعَةِabundance
بِالسَيفِ صَلتاً فَأَدّاني إِلى السَعَةِ
And how often have I pressed into death’s path, confronting it
And how often I charged down the path of death, confronting
with sword bared, and so it brought me to abundance.
With the sword as my connection, so it led me to abundance
وَالجودُand generosity يَعلَمُknows أَنّيthat I مُنذُsince عاهَدَنيit made a pact with me
وَالجودُ يَعلَمُ أَنّي مُنذُ عاهَدَني
ماnot خُنتُهُI betrayed it وَقتَin the time of مَيسوريmy prosperity وَمَعسِرَتيand my hardship
ما خُنتُهُ وَقتَ مَيسوري وَمَعسِرَتي
And generosity knows that, since it made a pact with me,
Generosity knows that since it pledged to me
I have not betrayed it in prosperity or hardship.
I have not betrayed it whether in ease or hardship
وَالضَيفُand the guest يَعلَمُknows أَنِّيَthat I حينَwhen يَطرُقُنيhe visits me at night
وَالضَيفُ يَعلَمُ أَنِّيَ حينَ يَطرُقُني
ماضيresolute الجَنانِof heart عَلىaccording to كَفّيmy palm وَمَقدِرَتيand my means
ماضي الجَنانِ عَلى كَفّي وَمَقدِرَتي
And the guest knows that, when he comes to me at night,
And the guest knows that whenever he comes to me suddenly
I am resolute of heart in what my hand and means can offer.
My wings dash to my palms and my ability
أَهوىI desire هَواهُhis desire وَيَهوىand he desires ماwhat أُسَرُّI am pleased بِهِby it
أَهوى هَواهُ وَيَهوى ما أُسَرُّ بِهِ
يَنالُhe obtains 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 desires his desire, and I desire what delights me
He gains what he desires, and the soul what it has desired.
He attains what he wants, and the soul what it craved
ماnot يَرحَلُdeparts الضَيفُthe guest عَنّيfrom me غِبَّafter لَيلَتِهِhis night
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 leaves me having spent his night
except with provisions, a send-off, and an apology.
Except with provision, escort, and excuse
قالَsaid العَواذِلُthe reproachers أَودىhas perished المالُthe money قُلتُI said لَهُمto them
قالَ العَواذِلُ أَودى المالُ قُلتُ لَهُم
ماwhat is بَينَbetween أَجرٍa reward أُلَقّاهُI am granted it وَمَحمَدَةِand praise
ما بَينَ أَجرٍ أُلَقّاهُ وَمَحمَدَةِ
The reproachers said, “The money is gone!” I told them:
The censurers said: "Wealth has brought me to ruin." I said to them:
“Between a reward granted to me and a good name.”
"What is between a reward I have given and an act of commendation."
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 wasted your wealth," they said. I replied: "Wealth corrupts me
if I am miserly with it; generosity is my remedy.”
When I am stingy with it, and generosity reforms me."
أَرزاقُthe provisions of رَبّيmy Lord لِأَقوامٍfor people يُقَدِّرُهاHe apportions them
أَرزاقُ رَبّي لِأَقوامٍ يُقَدِّرُها
مِنfrom حَيثُwherever شاءَHe wills فَيُجريهِنَّso He channels them فيthrough هِبَتيmy giving
مِن حَيثُ شاءَ فَيُجريهِنَّ في هِبَتي
My Lord ordains provisions for people
The sustenance of my Lord is for people He apportions it
from wherever He wills, and channels them through my giving.
Wherever He wills, so He directs it to my open hand
فَليَشكُرواso let them thank اللَهَGod ماnot شُكَريthanking me بِزائِدِهِمincreasing their share
فَليَشكُروا اللَهَ ما شُكَري بِزائِدِهِم
وَليَحمَدوهُand let them praise Him فَإِنَّfor indeed الحَمدَpraise ذوpossessing مِقَةِaffection
وَليَحمَدوهُ فَإِنَّ الحَمدَ ذو مِقَةِ
So let them thank God; thanking me will not increase their share.
So let them thank Allah, not my thanks for their surplus
And let them praise Him, for praise carries affection.
And let them praise Him, for praise is of lasting benefit
لاdo not تَعرِضَنَّever provoke بِمَزحٍin jest لِإِمرِىءٍtoward a man سَفِهٍfoolish
لا تَعرِضَنَّ بِمَزحٍ لِإِمرِىءٍ سَفِهٍ
ماwhatever راضَهُturns it over قَلبُهُhis heart أَجراهُhe lets it flow فيacross الشَفَةِthe lip
ما راضَهُ قَلبُهُ أَجراهُ في الشَفَةِ
Never provoke a foolish man in jest:
Do not engage in jest with an ignorant fool
whatever his heart turns over, he lets flow across his lips.
Whose heart was pleased with what his lip conveyed
فَرُبَّfor many a قافِيَةٍrhyme بِالمَزحِin jest جارِيَةٍcirculating
فَرُبَّ قافِيَةٍ بِالمَزحِ جارِيَةٍ
مَشبوبَةٍkindled لَمdid not تُرِدyou intend إِنماءَهاto make it grow نَمَتِit grew
مَشبوبَةٍ لَم تُرِد إِنماءَها نَمَتِ
For many a rhyme that circulates in jest,
For many a rhyme in jest flows
once kindled, has grown though you never meant to foster it.
Barren, it did not intend growth, yet it flourished
رَدُّrestoring السَلىthe fetal membrane مُستَتِمّاًwhole بَعدَafter قَطعَتَهُyou severed it
رَدُّ السَلى مُستَتِمّاً بَعدَ قَطعَتَهُ
كَرَدِّlike recalling قافِيَةٍa rhyme مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat مَضَتit has gone forth
كَرَدِّ قافِيَةٍ مِن بَعدِ ما مَضَت
Restoring the fetal membrane whole after you have severed it
Replying wholesomely after its cutting off
is like recalling a rhyme once it has gone forth.
Is like the reply of 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 spoken لَهُto him وَالبَيتُyet the verse لَمdoes not يَمُتِdie
وَمَن يُقالُ لَهُ وَالبَيتُ لَم يَمُتِ
Indeed, when I utter a verse, its speaker dies,
When I say a verse, its speaker dies
and the one it is spoken to; yet the verse does not die.
And the one it is said to, yet the verse does not die
Sol 6.1