أَباهِلُ هَل أَنتُم مُغَيِّرُ لَونِكُم

أَباهِلُ هَل أَنتُم مُغَيِّرُ لَونِكُم

وَمانِعَكُم أَن تُجعَلوا في المَقاسِمِ

وَمانِعَكُم أَن تُجعَلوا في المَقاسِمِ

O Bahila, will your color be changed,

Abalhil, have you changed your colors?

and you be kept from being allotted among the spoils,

And prevented yourselves from being divided?

هِجاأُكُمُ قَوماً أَبوهُم مُجاشِعٌ

هِجاأُكُمُ قَوماً أَبوهُم مُجاشِعٌ

لَهُ المَأثُراتُ البيضُ ذاتُ المَكارِمِ

لَهُ المَأثُراتُ البيضُ ذاتُ المَكارِمِ

by your reviling a people whose forefather is Mujashiʿ,

I reproach a people whose father is docile,

whose radiant achievements are rich in noble virtues?

To him belong the shining, noble deeds.

فَإِنّي لَأَستَحيِي وَإِنّي لَعابِئٌ

فَإِنّي لَأَستَحيِي وَإِنّي لَعابِئٌ

لَكُم بَعضَ مُرّاتِ الهِجاءِ العَوارِمِ

لَكُم بَعضَ مُرّاتِ الهِجاءِ العَوارِمِ

For I do feel shame, yet I am indeed preparing

I am too shy, yes I feel embarrassed,

for you some savage, bitter doses of satire.

To reproach you with some of the harsh satires.

أَلَم تَذكُروا أَيّامَكُم إِذ تَبيعُكُم

أَلَم تَذكُروا أَيّامَكُم إِذ تَبيعُكُم

بَغيضٌ وَتُعطي مالَكُم في المَغارِمِ

بَغيضٌ وَتُعطي مالَكُم في المَغارِمِ

Have you not recalled your days, when you were being sold

Don't you remember your days when you were sold

by Baghid, who paid out your wealth in indemnities?

By an enemy and he took your money wrongfully?

يُعَجِّلنَ يَرهَصنَ البُطونَ إِلَيكُمُ

يُعَجِّلنَ يَرهَصنَ البُطونَ إِلَيكُمُ

بِأَعجازِ قِعدانِ الوِطابِ الرَواسِمِ

بِأَعجازِ قِعدانِ الوِطابِ الرَواسِمِ

They hasten toward you, battering bellies

They would hasten, rush with their stomachs to you,

with the rumps of trotting young camels bearing milk-skins.

With the tails of the sitting camels, branded.

بَني عامِرٍ هَلّا نَهَيتُم عَبيدَكُم

بَني عامِرٍ هَلّا نَهَيتُم عَبيدَكُم

وَأَنتُم صِحاحٌ مِن كُلومِ الجَرائِمِ

وَأَنتُم صِحاحٌ مِن كُلومِ الجَرائِمِ

Sons of ʿAmir, why have you not restrained your slaves,

O Bani Amer, why don't you forbid your slaves,

while you are unscathed by the wounds of wrongdoing?

While you are free from all sins and crimes?

فَإِنّي أَظُنُّ الشِعرَ مُطَّلِعٌ بِكُم

فَإِنّي أَظُنُّ الشِعرَ مُطَّلِعٌ بِكُم

مَناقِبَ غَورٍ عامِداً لِلمَواسِمِ

مَناقِبَ غَورٍ عامِداً لِلمَواسِمِ

For I think poetry will carry you up

I think poetry knows about you,

through the passes of Ghawr, bound for the seasonal fairs.

The virtues of Ghawr, aiming for the seasons.

وَإِن يَطَّلِع نَجداً تَعَضّوا بَنانَاكُم

وَإِن يَطَّلِع نَجداً تَعَضّوا بَنانَاكُم

عَلى حينَ لا تُغني نَدامَةَ نادِمِ

عَلى حينَ لا تُغني نَدامَةَ نادِمِ

And if it ascends into Najd, you will bite your fingertips

And if it informs about Najd, bite your fingers

when a regretful man's remorse can do no good.

At a time when regret benefits no penitent.

وَما تَرَكَت مِن قَيسِ عَيلانَ بِالقَنا

وَما تَرَكَت مِن قَيسِ عَيلانَ بِالقَنا

وَبِالهُندُوانِيّات غَيرِ الشَراذِمِ

وَبِالهُندُوانِيّات غَيرِ الشَراذِمِ

And they left of Qays ʿAylan, with lances

And I haven't left anyone of Qais Ailan with spears

and Indian blades, nothing but scattered remnants—

Or Indian swords other than the scattered ones.

بَناتُ الصَريحِ الدُهمُ فَوقَ مُتونِها

بَناتُ الصَريحِ الدُهمُ فَوقَ مُتونِها

إِذا ثَوَّبَ الداعي رِجالُ الأَراقِمِ

إِذا ثَوَّبَ الداعي رِجالُ الأَراقِمِ

the black daughters of the purebred sire, on whose backs,

The daughters of Sarrah are docile, above its backs

when the herald renewed his call, rode the men of al-Araqim.

When the caller rouses the men with the heels.

أَظَنَّت كِلابُ اللُؤمِ أَن لَستُ شاتِماً

أَظَنَّت كِلابُ اللُؤمِ أَن لَستُ شاتِماً

قَبائِلَ إِلّا اِبنَي دُخانٍ بِدارِمِ

قَبائِلَ إِلّا اِبنَي دُخانٍ بِدارِمِ

Did the curs of baseness think I would not revile

The dogs of meanness thought that I don't satirize

tribes except the two sons of Dukhan, for Darim's sake?

Tribes except the two sons of Dukhan in Darim.

لَبِئسَ إِذاً حامي الحَقيقَةِ وَالَّذي

لَبِئسَ إِذاً حامي الحَقيقَةِ وَالَّذي

يُلاذُ بِهِ مِن مُضلِعاتِ العَظائِمِ

يُلاذُ بِهِ مِن مُضلِعاتِ العَظائِمِ

Then wretched indeed would I be as honor's defender, and as one

How bad is the protector of truth, and the one

in whom refuge is sought from crushing calamities.

Who takes refuge in it from great sins.

وَكَم مِن لَئيمٍ قَد رَفَعتُ لَهُ اِسمَهُ

وَكَم مِن لَئيمٍ قَد رَفَعتُ لَهُ اِسمَهُ

وَأَطعَمتُهُ بِاِسمي وَلَيسَ بِطاعِمِ

وَأَطعَمتُهُ بِاِسمي وَلَيسَ بِطاعِمِ

And how many a base man—I have raised his name,

And how many villain I raised his name,

and fed him through my name, though he had nothing to eat.

And fed him through my name while he was not feeding.

وَكانَ دَقيقَ الرَحطِ فَاِزدادَ رِقَّةً

وَكانَ دَقيقَ الرَحطِ فَاِزدادَ رِقَّةً

وَلُؤماً وَخِزياً فاضِحاً في المَقاوِمِ

وَلُؤماً وَخِزياً فاضِحاً في المَقاوِمِ

And his clan was small; he grew weaker still,

He was soft, so he became softer

baser, and scandalously disgraced before assemblies.

And meaner, with evident disgrace in resistances.

أَباهِلَ إِنَّ الذُلَّ بِاللُؤمِ قَد بَنى

أَباهِلَ إِنَّ الذُلَّ بِاللُؤمِ قَد بَنى

عَلَيكُم خِباءَ اللُؤمِ ضَربَةَ لازِمِ

عَلَيكُم خِباءَ اللُؤمِ ضَربَةَ لازِمِ

O Bahila, humiliation, through baseness, has pitched

Abalhil, dishonor built upon you

over you the tent of baseness with an inescapable stroke.

The tents of meanness, a lasting affliction.

أَباهِلَ هَل مِن دونِكُم إِن رُدِدتُمُ

أَباهِلَ هَل مِن دونِكُم إِن رُدِدتُمُ

عَبيداً إِلى أَربابِكُم مِن مُخاصِمِ

عَبيداً إِلى أَربابِكُم مِن مُخاصِمِ

O Bahila, is there in your defense—if you are returned

Abalhil, who is there if you are returned

as slaves to your masters—anyone to contest it?

As slaves to your masters, of opponents?

أَباهِلَ ما أَنتُم بِأَوَّلِ مَن رَمى

أَباهِلَ ما أَنتُم بِأَوَّلِ مَن رَمى

إِلَيَّ وَإِن كُنتُم لِئامَ الأَلائِمِ

إِلَيَّ وَإِن كُنتُم لِئامَ الأَلائِمِ

O Bahila, you are not the first to take aim

Abalhil, you are not the first who threw

at me, though you are the basest of the base.

At me, even if you are the wickedest of the wicked.

فَإِن تَرجِعوني حَيثُ كُنتُم رَدَدتُمُ

فَإِن تَرجِعوني حَيثُ كُنتُم رَدَدتُمُ

فَقَد رُدَّ بِالمَهدِيِّ كُلُّ المَظالِمِ

فَقَد رُدَّ بِالمَهدِيِّ كُلُّ المَظالِمِ

So if you send me back where you had sent me before,

For if you return me where I was, I would return

then all wrongs have indeed been redressed through al-Mahdi.

Through Al-Mahdi all the injustices.

وَهَل كُنتُمُ إِلّا عَبيداً نَفَيتُمُ

وَهَل كُنتُمُ إِلّا عَبيداً نَفَيتُمُ

مُقَلَّدَةً أَعناقُها بِالخَواتِمِ

مُقَلَّدَةً أَعناقُها بِالخَواتِمِ

And were you anything but slaves, despite your denial,

Were you anything but slaves who were freed

their necks collared with seals?

With collars around your necks and rings?

إِذا أَنتُما يا اِبنَي رَبيعَةَ قُمتُما

إِذا أَنتُما يا اِبنَي رَبيعَةَ قُمتُما

إِلى هُوَّةٍ لا تُرتَقى بِالسَلالِمِ

إِلى هُوَّةٍ لا تُرتَقى بِالسَلالِمِ

If you two, O sons of Rabiʿa, rise

When the two sons of Rabia rise

toward a chasm that cannot be scaled with ladders,

To an abyss that cannot be climbed with ladders.

فَإِيّاكُما لا أَدفَعَنَّكُما مَعاً

فَإِيّاكُما لا أَدفَعَنَّكُما مَعاً

إِلى قَعرِها بَعدَ اِعتِراقِ المَلاوِمِ

إِلى قَعرِها بَعدَ اِعتِراقِ المَلاوِمِ

then beware, both of you, lest I thrust you together

Beware I will throw you together

to its bottom, after gnawing reproaches to the bone.

To its depths after intimacy of bosom friends.

وَإِنَّ هِجاءَ الباهِلِيِّينَ دارِماً

وَإِنَّ هِجاءَ الباهِلِيِّينَ دارِماً

لَإِحدى الأُمورِ المُنكَراتِ العَظائِمِ

لَإِحدى الأُمورِ المُنكَراتِ العَظائِمِ

And the Bahilis' lampooning of Darim

But satirizing Bahila intensely

is indeed one of those monstrous, outrageous deeds.

Is one of the major forbidden matters.

وَهَل في مَعَدٍّ مِن كِفاءٍ نَعُدُّهُ

وَهَل في مَعَدٍّ مِن كِفاءٍ نَعُدُّهُ

لَنا غَيرَ بَيتَي عَبدِ شَمسٍ وَهاشِمِ

لَنا غَيرَ بَيتَي عَبدِ شَمسٍ وَهاشِمِ

And is there among Maʿadd any peer we can reckon

Is there anyone worthy in Ma'add other than

our equal, save the two houses of ʿAbd Shams and Hashim?

The two houses of Abd Shams and Hashim?

أَلَسنا أَحَقَّ الناسِ حينَ تَقايَسوا

أَلَسنا أَحَقَّ الناسِ حينَ تَقايَسوا

إِلى المَجدِ بِالمُستَأثَراتِ الجَسايِمِ

إِلى المَجدِ بِالمُستَأثَراتِ الجَسايِمِ

Are we not the most entitled of men, when they contend

Are we not the most rightful of people when they measured

for glory, to the mighty, exclusive honors?

To glory with the distinguished feats?

وَإِن تَبعَثوني بَعدَ سَبعينَ حِجَّةً

وَإِن تَبعَثوني بَعدَ سَبعينَ حِجَّةً

أَكُن كَعَذابِ النارِ ذاتِ الجَحائِمِ

أَكُن كَعَذابِ النارِ ذاتِ الجَحائِمِ

And if you rouse me after seventy years,

And if you resurrect me after seventy years

I shall be like the torment of the Fire with its raging flames.

Will I not be like the torment of Hell with its crimes?

وَإِنَّ هِجائي اِبنَي دُخانٍ وَأَنتُما

وَإِنَّ هِجائي اِبنَي دُخانٍ وَأَنتُما

كَأَملَسَ مِن وَقعِ الأَسِنَّةِ سالِمِ

كَأَملَسَ مِن وَقعِ الأَسِنَّةِ سالِمِ

And as for my satire of Dukhan's two sons, while you two

And my satire, O two sons of Dukhan, and you

are like a smooth stone, safe from spearhead blows—

Is smoother than the impact of the sharp tongues.

فَلَم تَدَعِ الأَيّامُ فَاِستَمِعا الَّتي

فَلَم تَدَعِ الأَيّامُ فَاِستَمِعا الَّتي

تُصَمُّ وَتُعمي بِالكِبارِ الخَواطِمِ

تُصَمُّ وَتُعمي بِالكِبارِ الخَواطِمِ

the days have not spared you; so listen, both, to what

So the days did not leave, listen to the one

deafens and blinds with mighty blows to the muzzle.

That deafens and blinds with major calamities.

وَقَد عَلِمَت ذُهلا رَبيعَةَ أَنَّكُم

وَقَد عَلِمَت ذُهلا رَبيعَةَ أَنَّكُم

عَبيدٌ وَكُنتُم أَعبُداً لِلَّهازِمِ

عَبيدٌ وَكُنتُم أَعبُداً لِلَّهازِمِ

And the two Dhuhl clans of Rabiʿa indeed know that you

Thuhala of Rabia knew that you

are slaves, and were slaves to al-Lahazim.

Are slaves, and you were the most enslaved to defeats.

فَقَد كُنتُمُ في تَغلِبٍ بِنتِ وائِلٍ

فَقَد كُنتُمُ في تَغلِبٍ بِنتِ وائِلٍ

عَبيداً لَهُم يُعطَونَ خَرجَ الدَراهِمِ

عَبيداً لَهُم يُعطَونَ خَرجَ الدَراهِمِ

For you were among Taghlib, daughter of Waʾil,

For you were in Taghlib, daughter of Wail

slaves to them, while they were paid a levy of dirhams.

Slaves to them, given the dirhams as revenue.