وَقَدand often أَغتَديI set out early فيin بَياضِthe whiteness of الصَّباحِthe morning
وَقَد أَغتَدي في بَياضِ الصَّباحِ
وأَعجازُand the last parts of لَيليmy night مُوَلّيturning away الذَّنَبthe tail
وأَعجازُ لَيلي مُوَلّي الذَّنَب
And I often ride out in the whiteness of dawn,
I spent my morning in the whiteness of dawn,
while the last of my night turns tail,
with the hindquarters of my obedient night mount turned away.
بِطرفٍon a noble steed يُنازِعُنيtugging against me مَرسِناًa haltered muzzle
بِطرفٍ يُنازِعُني مَرسِناً
سلوفِsurging ahead المقادةِin being led مَحضِpure النَّسَبof lineage
سلوفِ المقادةِ مَحضِ النَّسَب
on a noble steed that tugs against me at the halter,
My glance competes with me, fixed on the long
surging ahead when led, pure of breed.
neck of a smooth-gaited she-camel of pure lineage.
طَواهُmade him lean القنيصُthe hunt وتَعداؤهand his hard running
طَواهُ القنيصُ وتَعداؤه
وإِرشاشُand the spraying of sweat عِطفيهhis two flanks حَتّىuntil شَسَبhe grew gaunt
وإِرشاشُ عِطفيه حَتّى شَسَب
Hunting and his running have made him lean,
Her gown covers her and flows over
and the spray of sweat from his flanks, until he grew gaunt.
as her shoulders spray droplets when she gallops.
بعيدfar-reaching مَدىthe range الطَّرفِof the gaze خاظيthick البَضيعِin muscle
بعيد مَدى الطَّرفِ خاظي البَضيعِ
مُمرِّfirmly knit المَطاin the back سَمهَرِيِّspear-stiff العَصَبin the sinews
مُمرِّ المَطا سَمهَرِيِّ العَصَب
Far-reaching in his gaze, thick in muscle,
Far-striding with slender legs, she runs
tightly knit of back, spear-stiff in sinew,
through the meadow, fast as an ostrich.
رَفيعِhigh القِذالِof poll كَسيدِlike a wolf الغَضاof the ghada trees
رَفيعِ القِذالِ كَسيدِ الغَضا
وَتمِّand well-formed الضُّلوعِin the ribs بِجَوفٍwith a belly رَحَبspacious
وَتمِّ الضُّلوعِ بِجَوفٍ رَحَب
high of poll, like a wolf of the ghada trees,
High-crouped like a noble antelope doe,
and full-ribbed, with a spacious belly;
her ribs are wide inside a spacious chest.
وَهادٍand a neck تَقَدَّمextending forward لاno عَيبَflaw فيهِin it
وَهادٍ تَقَدَّم لا عَيبَ فيهِ
كالجذعِlike a palm trunk شُذَّبwere trimmed عَنهُfrom it الكَرَبthe frond bases
كالجذعِ شُذَّب عَنهُ الكَرَب
and a neck extending forward, without a flaw,
Steady-paced, no flaw in her, she goes forth
like a palm trunk stripped of its frond bases.
like a trunk with no knots to chafe and disturb.
إِذاwhen قيدَhe is led قَحّمَhe sends headlong منwhoever قادَهُleads him
إِذا قيدَ قَحّمَ من قادَهُ
وَبانَتand stood out عَلابِيُّهhis neck-sinews واجلَعَبand he stretched tall
وَبانَت عَلابِيُّه واجلَعَب
When led, he sends his leader plunging headlong,
When she’s haltered she digs in and throws
and his neck-sinews stand out as he stretches tall,
her forelegs out, revealing her zebras' stripes.
كَهزِّlike the shaking of الرُّدينيِّa Rudayni spear بَينَbetween الأَكفِّthe palms
كَهزِّ الرُّدينيِّ بَينَ الأَكفِّ
جَرىran فيthrough الأَنابيبِthe shaft-sections ثُمَthen اضطرَبit quivered
جَرى في الأَنابيبِ ثُمَ اضطرَب
like a Rudayni spear shaken between the palms:
She bolts between the hands like a Najd mare,
the tremor runs through its shaft-sections, then it quivers.
running hot then breaking into confusion.
غَدوناwe set out early نُريدُwe seek بِهِwith him الآبداتِwild beasts
غَدونا نُريدُ بِهِ الآبداتِ
نؤَيههwe call to him بَينَbetween هابٍ'Hāb!' وَهَبand 'Hab!'
نؤَيهه بَينَ هابٍ وَهَب
We set out at dawn, seeking wild game with him,
We rode out seeking high ground,
urging him with cries of 'Hāb!' and 'Hab!'
driving her between gusts and squalls.
فَلَمّاthen when أَتَيناwe came عَلىto الرَّوضَتينِal-Rawdatayn (the two meadows)
فَلَمّا أَتَينا عَلى الرَّوضَتينِ
بِحَيثُwhere المَصامَةُal-Masamah بَينَbetween الشُّعَبthe ravines
بِحَيثُ المَصامَةُ بَينَ الشُّعَب
Then, when we came to al-Rawdatayn,
When we reached the two meadows
where al-Masamah lies between the ravines,
where the valley narrows into ravines,
إِذاbehold عانةٌa herd of wild asses قَدalready رآهاhad seen it الرَّقيبُthe lookout
إِذا عانةٌ قَد رآها الرَّقيبُ
بِلاwithout حدِّan extreme of نأيٍdistance وَلاnor مِنfrom كَثَبnear at hand
بِلا حدِّ نأيٍ وَلا مِن كَثَب
behold, a herd of wild asses the lookout had seen,
I saw a group of women unguarded, alone,
neither far distant nor close at hand.
with no shelter of tents or people.
صيامٌstanding still تَلفتlooking about أَحوالَهاtheir surroundings
صيامٌ تَلفت أَحوالَها
فأَومأَthen he signaled وَهوَwhile he was عَلىon مُرتَقبa lookout height
فأَومأَ وَهوَ عَلى مُرتَقب
Standing still, they looked around them;
I watched their condition closely
then he signaled from a lookout height.
and my scout made a sign to lie in wait.
فَناشواthen they grasped العِنانَthe reins بأَيديهمُwith their hands
فَناشوا العِنانَ بأَيديهمُ
فأَعلَنَthen rang out بَعدَafter السَّرارِwhispered talk الصَّخَبthe clamor
فأَعلَنَ بَعدَ السَّرارِ الصَّخَب
They grasped the reins with their hands,
They gave their horses free rein,
and clamor rang out after whispered talk.
and after hiding they began a tumult.
وَقَدand already يَسَّرواthey readied بَينَهمamong themselves فارِساًa horseman
وَقَد يَسَّروا بَينَهم فارِساً
حَديدَsharp السِّنانِof spearhead كَميشَswift الطَّلَبin pursuit
حَديدَ السِّنانِ كَميشَ الطَّلَب
And they had readied a rider among themselves,
They had let a horseman pass between them
sharp of spearhead, swift in pursuit.
with iron spears, like a ravening wolf.
أَجالوهُthey sent him riding فيon ظَهرِهِhis back إِذwhen دَنَواthey drew near
أَجالوهُ في ظَهرِهِ إِذ دَنَوا
وَوَصَّواand they instructed غُلامَهُمtheir young man فاعتَصَبso he tied on his headband
وَوَصَّوا غُلامَهُم فاعتَصَب
They sent him riding on the steed's back as they drew near,
As he approached they charged his back,
and instructed their young man; he tied on his headband.
and ordered their slave boy to grab the loot.
شَجَرنَthey craned their necks وَعادَلنَand weighed بَينَamong الوجوهِthe directions
شَجَرنَ وَعادَلنَ بَينَ الوجوهِ
وَعُرضِand the breadth البَسيطَةِof the plain أَينَwhere الهَربescape
وَعُرضِ البَسيطَةِ أَينَ الهَرب
The asses craned their necks, weighing the directions
They fenced with him, face-to-face,
and the breadth of the plain: where was escape?
on the flat ground. Where could he escape?
فَولَّتthen they fled سِراعاًswiftly وأَرجاؤُهand his flanks
فَولَّت سِراعاً وأَرجاؤُه
كَسَحِّlike the pouring of النَّضيحِa waterskin إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle انشَعبit split open
كَسَحِّ النَّضيحِ إِذا ما انشَعب
They fled swiftly, while his flanks
They sprang away quickly on all sides
streamed like a waterskin when it splits.
like the flowing of a sudden flood.
فَحاصَرَهُنّthen he hemmed them in وَحاصَرنَهُand they hemmed him in
فَحاصَرَهُنّ وَحاصَرنَهُ
وَناهَبنَهُand they raced him عُرضاًabreast وانتَهَبand he seized the lead
وَناهَبنَهُ عُرضاً وانتَهَب
He hemmed them in, and they hemmed him in;
He surrounded them and they surrounded him,
they vied with him abreast, and he snatched the lead.
robbing his goods and plundering his possessions.
يُقَطِّعُhe cuts off بالشدِّwith hard running إِحضارَهاtheir gallop
يُقَطِّعُ بالشدِّ إِحضارَها
لَدىamid الحُضرِthe gallop عِندَat احتِضارِthe coming on اللَّهَبof the blaze
لَدى الحُضرِ عِندَ احتِضارِ اللَّهَب
He cuts off their gallop with his hard running,
He kept trying to cut them off
amid the gallop, as the blaze comes on.
and bring them before the chiefs' assembly.
ضَروحُstriking out powerfully الحَماتَينwith both shank-muscles ساميhigh-lifting الذِّراعِin the foreleg
ضَروحُ الحَماتَين سامي الذِّراعِ
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle انتَحاهُconfronts him خَبارٌsoft, pitted ground وَثَبhe leaps
إِذا ما انتَحاهُ خَبارٌ وَثَب
Striking out with both shanks, lifting his foreleg high,
But the bold warrior maidens with long arms
when soft, pitted ground confronts him, he leaps.
were too much for him when tried and tested.
فَلَمso did not يَنفَعavail الوحشَthe wild beasts مِنهُagainst him النجاءُswift flight
فَلَم يَنفَع الوحشَ مِنهُ النجاءُ
وَلاnor بَثُّهنَّtheir scattering عِراضَbroad stretches العَلَبof hard ground
وَلا بَثُّهنَّ عِراضَ العَلَب
Flight did not save the wild beasts from him,
The wild beasts gained nothing by fleeing,
nor their scattering over broad stretches of hard ground.
nor did their scattering into the hills.
فأَلحَقَهُthen he brought him up وَهوَwhile he ساطٍbore down بِهاon them
فأَلحَقَهُ وَهوَ ساطٍ بِها
كَماjust as تُلحِقsends flying القَوسُthe bow سَهمَan arrow الغَربshot at random
كَما تُلحِق القَوسُ سَهمَ الغَرب
He carried his rider up to them, bearing down on them,
He pursued them while they distracted him
as a bow sends a stray arrow flying.
as a bow pursues an arrow's path.
فأَهوىthen he thrust السِّنانَthe spearhead إِلىtoward عَيرِهاits male wild ass
فأَهوى السِّنانَ إِلى عَيرِها
فَجذَّthen he severed الفَريصَthe shoulder-flesh وَقطَّand sliced الحُجُبthe membranes
فَجذَّ الفَريصَ وَقطَّ الحُجُب
Then the rider thrust the spearhead at the herd's male ass,
He brought down his spear on their herd
severing the shoulder-flesh and slicing through the membranes.
and snatched away the prizes.
وَقُلتُand I said لَهُمto them جَلّلوهcover him الثيابَthe cloths
وَقُلتُ لَهُم جَلّلوه الثيابَ
وَشُدّواand tighten الحِزامَthe girth وأَرخواand loosen اللَّبَبthe breast-strap
وَشُدّوا الحِزامَ وأَرخوا اللَّبَب
And I told them: Cover him with cloths,
I said to them: “Give him clothes,
tighten the girth, and loosen the breast-strap,
bind his waist tight, and lower his headdress,
وَضُمّواand draw together جَناحَيهِhis two wings (flanks) أَنlest يُستَطارَhe be startled into flight
وَضُمّوا جَناحَيهِ أَن يُستَطارَ
فَقَدfor indeed كانَhe used to يأَخُذُaccept حُسنَgood الأَدَبtraining
فَقَد كانَ يأَخُذُ حُسنَ الأَدَب
and fold his two wings, lest he be startled into flight,
and fold his wings, so he may be hooded
for he used to accept good training.
for he had learned good manners.”
فأَعدَدتُso I prepared ذاكَthat one ليومِfor the day الوَغىof battle
فأَعدَدتُ ذاكَ ليومِ الوَغى
وَرَوعاتِand the terrors دَهرٍof time طَويلِlong الحِقَبin ages
وَرَوعاتِ دَهرٍ طَويلِ الحِقَب
So I prepared that steed for the day of battle,
I prepared him for a day of warfare
and the terrors of time across its long ages.
and terrors of prolonged strife.
فَكَمfor how many مِنof عَدوٍّan enemy نَحَوناهُمُwe advanced against them
فَكَم مِن عَدوٍّ نَحَوناهُمُ
بِجَيشٍwith an army لُهامٍvast and devouring كَثيرِgreat اللَّجَبin clamor
بِجَيشٍ لُهامٍ كَثيرِ اللَّجَب
For many an enemy have we advanced against,
How often we have driven off enemies
with a vast, devouring army, great in clamor,
in great roaring armies of many troops,
وَفِتيانِand young warriors صِدقٍtrue إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle اعتَزَواthey proclaimed their lineage
وَفِتيانِ صِدقٍ إِذا ما اعتَزَوا
أَباحواthey overran العَدوَّthe enemy وأُعطواand were given السَّلَبthe spoils
أَباحوا العَدوَّ وأُعطوا السَّلَب
and true young warriors who, when they proclaimed their lineage,
and sincere lads who, when they band together,
overran the enemy and were given the spoils.
rout the foe and seize the spoils!
مَتىwhenever أَدَعُI call قَوميmy people يُجِبanswer دَعوتيmy summons
مَتى أَدَعُ قَومي يُجِب دَعوتي
فَوارسُhorsemen هيجاof battle كِرامُnoble الحَسَبin ancestral honor
فَوارسُ هيجا كِرامُ الحَسَب
Whenever I call my people, my summons is answered
When will my people respond to my call,
by horsemen of battle, noble in ancestral honor.
horsemen of honor, noble and pure?
تَرىyou see جارَهُمtheir protected neighbor آمناًsafe وَسطَهُمin their midst
تَرى جارَهُم آمناً وَسطَهُم
يَروحُhe goes forth بعَقدٍwith a covenant وَثيقfirm السَّبَبthe cord
يَروحُ بعَقدٍ وَثيق السَّبَب
You see their protected neighbor safe among them,
You see their neighbor safe among them,
going his way with a covenant whose cord is firm.
moving about, tied by binding oaths.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle عَقَدناwe bind لَهُfor him ذِمَةًa pledge of protection
إِذا ما عَقَدنا لَهُ ذِمَةً
شَدَدناwe tighten العِناجَthe bucket's supporting rope وَعَقدَand the knot الكَربof its fastening cord
شَدَدنا العِناجَ وَعَقدَ الكَرب
Whenever we bind a pledge of protection for him,
When we grant someone protection
we tighten the bucket's supporting rope and the knot of its fastening cord.
we tighten our belts and fortune favors us.
Sol 6.1