لِمَنْwhose? طَلَلٌa ruined campsite بَعثْمَةَat Athmah أَوْحُفارِor Hufar
لِمَنْ طَلَلٌ بَعثْمَةَ أَوْحُفارِ
عَفَتْهُeffaced it الرِّيحُthe wind بَعْدَكَafter you والسَّواريِand the night rains
عَفَتْهُ الرِّيحُ بَعْدَكَ والسَّواريِ
Whose is the ruined campsite at Athmah or Hufar?
Who now stays in the abandoned abodes of Bu'athmah,
Wind and night rains have effaced it since you left.
Their walls stripped bare by the winds when you departed?
عَفَتْهُeffaced it الرِّيحُthe wind واعْتَلَجَتْand raged عَلَيْهover it
عَفَتْهُ الرِّيحُ واعْتَلَجَتْ عَلَيْه
بِأكْدَرwith a murky flow َمنfrom تُرابِthe dust of القَاعِthe level plain جَارِflowing
بِأكْدَر َمن تُرابِ القَاعِ جَارِ
The wind has effaced it and raged over it
The winds have bared them, and piled the dust upon them
With a murky stream of dust flowing from the plain.
With gravel more ashen than earth from a barren hollow.
فَلأْياًand scarcely ماemphatic particle يَبِينُis discernible رَثيدُthe piled rim of نُؤْيٍa drainage trench
فَلأْياً ما يَبِينُ رَثيدُ نُؤْيٍ
ومَرْسَىand the resting-place of السُّفْلَيَيْنِthe two lower poles منof الشِّجارِthe litter
ومَرْسَى السُّفْلَيَيْنِ من الشِّجارِ
Barely is the piled rim of a trench discernible,
What use are the ragged tents of a ruined encampment,
And the resting-place of the litter's two lower poles,
The footholds of low shrubs amid the trees,
ومَبْركِand the kneeling-ground of هَجْمَةٍa camel herd ومصَامِand the standing-place of خَيْلٍhorses
ومَبْركِ هَجْمَةٍ ومصَامِ خَيْلٍ
صَوافِنَstanding with one hoof poised فيin الأَعِنَّةِthe reins والأَواريand the tether-stakes
صَوافِنَ في الأَعِنَّةِ والأَواري
And a camel herd's kneeling-ground, and the horses' standing-ground,
The camel-folds, the tethering ropes of steeds—
Standing with one hoof poised, in reins and at tether-stakes.
Their shelters amid the sandhills and small ravines?
أَلاهَلَlisten, has? اَتاكَreached you والأَنْباُءand the reports تُنْميِspread
أَلاهَلَ اَتاكَ والأَنْباُء تُنْميِ
طَوالِعَِarriving بَيْنَamong مُبْتَكِرٍan early traveler وسَارِand a night traveler
طَوالِعَِ بَيْنَ مُبْتَكِرٍ وسَارِ
Listen: has word reached you—as reports spread,
Do messages from me reach you there, as the planets rise
Arriving among travelers at dawn and by night—
Between a starry night and one still dark—
بِمَحْبِسَناof our holding back الكَتائِبَthe battalions إنَّindeed قَوْمِيmy people
بِمَحْبِسَنا الكَتائِبَ إنَّ قَوْمِي
لهُمْthey have زَنْدٌa fire-stick غَداةَon the morning of النَّاسِthe men واريsparking
لهُمْ زَنْدٌ غَداةَ النَّاسِ واري
Of our holding the battalions back? Indeed, my people
Telling how we keep the clans confined, now my people
Have a fire-stick that sparks on the morning of battle.
Have as many warriors as folk abroad at daybreak?
إِذاwhen ذَادَوْاthey repel عَوادِraiders تَعُودُcome back مِنّاfrom us
إِذا ذَادَوْا عَوادِ تَعُودُ مِنّا
عَبَاهِلَةٌunfettered men سُيوفُهُمُtheir swords عَوارِunsheathed
عَبَاهِلَةٌ سُيوفُهُمُ عَوارِ
When they repel raiders, there return from us
When they visit us again, our reckless warriors come
Unfettered men, their swords unsheathed.
With gleaming swords, made keen like threshing sleds.
فَأَبْلِغْso tell قِسْعَةَQis'ah الجُشَمِيَّal-Jushami عَنِّيon my behalf
فَأَبْلِغْ قِسْعَةَ الجُشَمِيَّ عَنِّي
كَفِيلَthe protector of الَحيِّthe clan أيَّامَin the days of النِّفارِalarm
كَفِيلَ الَحيِّ أيَّامَ النِّفارِ
So tell Qis'ah al-Jushami on my behalf,
Convey to Jušamī my words, O you
The clan's protector in days of alarm,
Who frees the live coals on cold mornings:
بِآيَةَby the token of ماthat أَجَزْتُهُمُI let them pass ثَلاثاًthree nights
بِآيَةَ ما أَجَزْتُهُمُ ثَلاثاً
بَقِينَremaining وَأَرْبعاًand four بَعْدَafter السِّرارِthe moon's dark phase
بَقِينَ وَأَرْبعاً بَعْدَ السِّرارِ
By the token that I let them pass, with three nights
"I smote three hosts and then a fourth as well,
Remaining, and four after the moon's dark phase.
After they had banded together secretly.
فجاءَتْthen came خَثْعَمٌKhath'am وبَنُوزَبِيدٍand the Banu Zubayd
فجاءَتْ خَثْعَمٌ وبَنُوزَبِيدٍ
وَمَذْحِجُand Madhhij كُلُّهاall of it وابْناand the two sons of صُحارِSuhar
وَمَذْحِجُ كُلُّها وابْنا صُحارِ
Then Khath'am came, and the Banu Zubayd,
Then Khath'am came, and B. Zabīd as one,
And all Madhhij, and the two sons of Suhar,
And Mudhij entire, plus both the sons of Şuĥạ̄r.
وَجَمْعٌand a host مِنْfrom صُداءٍSuda' قَدْalready أَتاناcame to us
وَجَمْعٌ مِنْ صُداءٍ قَدْ أَتانا
وَدُعْمِيٌّand Du'mi وجَمْعُand a host of بَنيthe sons of شِعَارShi'ar
وَدُعْمِيٌّ وجَمْعُ بَني شِعَار
And a host from Suda' had come to us,
A group of Şudạ̄' also joined us there,
And Du'mi, and a host of the Banu Shi'ar.
And Dūmaiy, plus the entirety of B. Shi'ār.
فَلَمْso did not نَشْعُرْwe notice بِهِمthem ْ حتىَّuntil أَتَوْناthey came to us
فَلَمْ نَشْعُرْ بِهِم ْ حتىَّ أَتَوْنا
كَحِمْيَرَlike Himyar إذwhen أَناخَتْit encamped بالجِمارِat al-Jimar
كَحِمْيَرَ إذ أَناخَتْ بالجِمارِ
We did not notice them until they came upon us,
We were not aware of them until they came
Like Himyar when it camped at al-Jimar.
Like donkeys gathered round a wellhead's pulley wheel.
فَقامَthen arose مُؤذِّنٌa herald مِنّاومِنْهُمْfrom us and from them
فَقامَ مُؤذِّنٌ مِنّاومِنْهُمْ
لَدىbeside أبياتِناour tents سُورِيcharge! سَوارِcharge!
لَدى أبياتِنا سُورِي سَوارِ
Then a herald arose from our side and theirs,
Then a caller from their ranks and one from ours
Beside our tents: ‘Charge! Charge!’
Stood by our tents' doors, you strapping youth.
كَأَنَّاas though we بالَمضِيقِin the narrow pass وقَدْand already ثَرَوْناwe grew numerous
كَأَنَّا بالَمضِيقِ وقَدْ ثَرَوْنا
لَدىbeside طَرَفِthe edge of الأُصَيْحِرِal-Usayhir ضَوْءُthe glow of نَارِa fire
لَدى طَرَفِ الأُصَيْحِرِ ضَوْءُ نَارِ
In the narrow pass, our numbers swollen, we seemed
It was as though we were at the mountain pass, having ignited
A fire's glow at the edge of al-Usayhir.
Fires whose glow extended to Ṣuḥayr's slopes.
فقَالواso they said يَاO لَعَبْسٍ'Abs, to the rescue! نازِعوهُمْcontend with them
فقَالوا يَا لَعَبْسٍ نازِعوهُمْ
سِجالَbuckets; alternating bouts الموْتِof death بالأَسَلِwith spears الحِرارِkeen
سِجالَ الموْتِ بالأَسَلِ الحِرارِ
So they cried: ‘'Abs, to arms! Vie with them
They said, 'O Li'b, go pull them into combat—
For death's buckets, with keen spears!’
Let them taste the hot iron of the spear!'
فقُلْناso we said يَاO لَيَرْفَىYarfa, to the rescue! مَاصِعُوهُمْcross swords with them
فقُلْنا يَا لَيَرْفَى مَاصِعُوهُمْ
فِرارَflight اليَوْمِtoday فَاfirst fragment of 'disgracing' ضحِةَremaining fragment of 'disgracing' الذِّمارِhonor to be defended
فِرارَ اليَوْمِ فَا ضحِةَ الذِّمارِ
So we cried: ‘Yarfa, to arms! Cross swords with them!
We said, 'O Layrā, go herd them off—
Flight today is a disgrace to honor!’
Make them today's example of vile cowards!'
فَأَمَّاand if تَعْقِرواyou hamstring فَرسِيmy mare فَإنَّىthen indeed I
فَأَمَّا تَعْقِروا فَرسِي فَإنَّى
أُقَدِّمُهاI send her forward إذاwhen كَثُرَmultiplies التَّغارِيmutual raiding
أُقَدِّمُها إذا كَثُرَ التَّغارِي
If you hamstring my mare, it is because I
But do not hamstring my steed—rather, I spur it on
Send her forward when the raids multiply.
When the thrusting and stabbing grows more fierce.
وأَحْمِلُهاand I charge her علىagainst الأبْطالِthe champions إنيindeed I
وأَحْمِلُها على الأبْطالِ إني
علىon يومِthe day of الكَريهَةِbattle ذُوpossessed of اصْطبارِsteadfast endurance
على يومِ الكَريهَةِ ذُو اصْطبارِ
And I charge her against the champions; I am
I drive it at the champions; truly,
Steadfast on the day of battle.
I have great patience on a day of woes.
صَلَيْتُI braved the heat بِغَمْرِةٍin a fierce mêlée فَخَرَجْتُthen I emerged مِنْهاfrom it
صَلَيْتُ بِغَمْرِةٍ فَخَرَجْتُ مِنْها
كَنَصْلِlike the blade of السَّيْفِthe sword مُخْتَضِبَdyed الغِرارِthe cutting edges
كَنَصْلِ السَّيْفِ مُخْتَضِبَ الغِرارِ
I braved the heat of a mêlée, then emerged from it,
I prayed the dawn prayer there, then sallied forth,
Like a sword blade with its cutting edges dyed.
My sword gleaming bright like a polished spearhead.
كَأَنَّas though الخَيْلَthe horses إذْwhen عَرَفَتْthey recognized مَقامِيmy position
كَأَنَّ الخَيْلَ إذْ عَرَفَتْ مَقامِي
تُفاديshy away عنfrom َشَتيِمِgrim الوَجْهِof face صَارِa raging lion
تُفادي عن َشَتيِمِ الوَجْهِ صَارِ
The horses, when they recognized my position, seemed
It was as though when my steed sensed my resolve
To shy from a grim-faced, raging lion.
It recoiled from whipping the cheek any more.
أُكَفِّئُهُمْI topple them وأضْرِبهُمْand I strike them ومِنِّيand from me
أُكَفِّئُهُمْ وأضْرِبهُمْ ومِنِّي
مُشَلْشَلَةٌa loose-hanging strip كحَاشِيَةِlike the hem of الإزارِthe waistcloth
مُشَلْشَلَةٌ كحَاشِيَةِ الإزارِ
I topple them and strike them, and from me comes
I parried their blows and struck back at them, sending off
A trailing strip, like the hem of a waistcloth.
Flurries like the hem of a loincloth.
وَأَعْرَضَand came into view جَامِلٌa camel herd عَكْرُlarge; massed وسَبْيٌand captives
وَأَعْرَضَ جَامِلٌ عَكْرُ وسَبْيٌ
كَغزْلانِlike the gazelles of الصَّرائمِthe sandy tracts منْfrom بَحارِBahar
كَغزْلانِ الصَّرائمِ منْ بَحارِ
And a massed camel herd came into view, and captives,
Then their white-skinned captives from 'Akk turned in retreat,
Like gazelles in the sandy tracts of Bahar.
Like the young of wild cows fleeing the seaside.
فَلَمْso did not أبْخَلْI spare غَداتَئِذٍthat morning بِنَفْسيmyself
فَلَمْ أبْخَلْ غَداتَئِذٍ بِنَفْسي
ولاnor َفرسيmy mare علىat طَرفِthe edge of العِيارِthe fray
ولا َفرسي على طَرفِ العِيارِ
So I did not spare myself that morning,
I did not then stint that day with my own life
Nor my mare at the edge of the fray.
Or steed, when it came to the spearhead's blade.
نُضارِبُwe trade blows بالصَّفائحِwith broad sword-blades مِنْwhoever أتاناcame to us
نُضارِبُ بالصَّفائحِ مِنْ أتانا
وأُخْراهمْand their rearmost ranks تَمََّلأُunite بالفِرارِin flight
وأُخْراهمْ تَمََّلأُ بالفِرارِ
We fight with broad blades against whoever comes at us,
We battled with swords—when we came at them,
While their rearmost ranks unite in flight.
They broke and ran, totally routed.
أَلاlisten أَبْلِغْtell غُزَيِّلَGhuzayyil حَيْثُwherever أَضْحىhe now is
أَلا أَبْلِغْ غُزَيِّلَ حَيْثُ أَضْحى
أَحَقّاًis it truly? ماwhat أُنَبَّأُI am told بالفَخارِof boasting
أَحَقّاً ما أُنَبَّأُ بالفَخارِ
Now tell Ghuzayyil, wherever he is:
Mark you! Convey to Ghuzayl there that now
Is what I hear of your boasting really true?
He may lay fullest claim to valiant fame.
فإنَّكَfor indeed you والَفخارِand boasting بآلِof the family of كَعْبٍKa'b
فإنَّكَ والَفخارِ بآلِ كَعْبٍ
كَمَنْlike one who باَهَىshowed off بثَوبٍْa garment مُسْتَعارِborrowed
كَمَنْ باَهَى بثَوبٍْ مُسْتَعارِ
For you, with your boasts of the house of Ka'b,
Yet you and fame gained through Kacb's line
Are like one showing off a borrowed garment,
Are like one who brags in borrowed robes.
وذاتِand a woman wearing الحِجْلِthe anklet تَبْهَجُshe delights أنْto تَراهُsee it
وذاتِ الحِجْلِ تَبْهَجُ أنْ تَراهُ
وتَمْشيand she goes along والمَسيرُand the journey علىon حِمارِa donkey
وتَمْشي والمَسيرُ على حِمارِ
And an anklet-wearer who delights to see it,
The lank she-camel rejoices to see him
And goes along, her journey on a donkey.
Strutting along while she plods on a donkey.
أَرَيْناwe showed يومَon the day of ذلِكَthat مَنْwhoever أتاناcame to us
أَرَيْنا يومَ ذلِكَ مَنْ أتانا
بِذِيwith one bearing الظُّبَةِa cutting edge الكواكِبَthe stars بالنَّهارِby daylight
بِذِي الظُّبَةِ الكواكِبَ بالنَّهارِ
That day we showed whoever came against us,
On that day we saw who it was that came at us
With a keen-edged sword, the stars in daylight.
With the celestial orb amid the daytime sky.
فَلَوْso had كُنَّاwe been الُمغيِرةَthe raiders قدsurely أَفَأْنَاwe took as booty
فَلَوْ كُنَّا الُمغيِرةَ قد أَفَأْنَا
الُمؤَبَّلthe camel herds والعَقائِلَand noble women كالعَرارِlike 'arar blossoms
الُمؤَبَّل والعَقائِلَ كالعَرارِ
Had we been the raiders, we would surely have taken as booty
Had we been at Mughīrah, we'd have returned
The camel herds and noble women, like 'arar flowers.
Mu'abbal and the slave girls like hobbled she-camels.
أَباثَورٍO Abu Thawr سَجاحِgo gently! فإنَّfor indeed دَعْوىa claim
أَباثَورٍ سَجاحِ فإنَّ دَعْوى
تُخالِفُcontradicts ماwhat أبيْتَyou refused عَصِيمَa stain of عَارِshame
تُخالِفُ ما أبيْتَ عَصِيمَ عَارِ
O Abu Thawr, go easy! For a claim
This claim, Abū Thawr, does not accord with your deeds—
That contradicts what you refused is a stain of shame.
It contradicts what you did, you shameless coward!
فلولاand had it not been أَنْthat تدارَكَchecked جَرْيُthe gallop of صَهْوَىSahwa
فلولا أَنْ تدارَكَ جَرْيُ صَهْوَى
كُلُومٌwounds مِثْلُlike غائِلةِthe havoc of النِّفارِa stampede
كُلُومٌ مِثْلُ غائِلةِ النِّفارِ
Had wounds not checked Sahwa's gallop—
Had your headlong rushing not then resembled
Wounds like the havoc of a stampede—
A raid by Kulaym's sons amid the fray,
لَرَدَّwould have sent back إِلَيْكَto you شاكِلةًa flank بتَيِراًsevered
لَرَدَّ إِلَيْكَ شاكِلةً بتَيِراً
حُسامٌa keen sword غَيْرُnot مُنْثَلِمٍnotched قَطَارِfelling
حُسامٌ غَيْرُ مُنْثَلِمٍ قَطَارِ
A severed flank would have been sent back to you
You'd have gotten back from me a similar blow
By a keen, unnotched, lethal sword.
From a blade no less keen than tempered steel.
Sol 6.1