حَلَفتُI swore بِرَبِّby the Lord of الراقِصاتِthe dancing mounts إِلىtoward مِنىًMina
حَلَفتُ بِرَبِّ الراقِصاتِ إِلى مِنىً
رَفيقاًin company وَربِّand by the Lord of الواقِفينَthose standing عَلىon الحَبلِthe sand ridge
رَفيقاً وَربِّ الواقِفينَ عَلى الحَبلِ
I swore by the Lord of the mounts dancing toward Mina,
I swore by the Lord of those dancing to Minā,
in company, and by the Lord of those standing on the sand ridge:
A companion, and the Lord of those standing on the rope,
لَوif انَّthat لِيَmine الدُّنياthe world وَماand whatever عُدِلَتwas equated بِهِwith it
لَو انَّ لِيَ الدُّنيا وَما عُدِلَت بِهِ
وَجُملٌand Juml لِغيريfor someone other than me ماnot أَردتُI would desire سِوىother than جُملِJuml
وَجُملٌ لِغيري ما أَردتُ سِوى جُملِ
if the world and all that equaled it were mine,
If I owned the world and whatever equals it,
and Juml were another's, I would desire none but Juml.
And a camel for someone else, I would not want but a camel.
أَتَهجُرwill you forsake? جُملاًJuml أَمor تُلِمُّpay a visit عَلىto جُملJuml
أَتَهجُر جُملاً أَم تُلِمُّ عَلى جُمل
وَجُملٌand Juml عيوفُaverse to الرِّيقِsaliva; kisses جاذِبَةُdrawing back الوَصلِintimacy
وَجُملٌ عيوفُ الرِّيقِ جاذِبَةُ الوَصلِ
Will you forsake Juml, or pay Juml a visit?
Would you shun a camel or blame it for being a camel?
Yet Juml disdains kisses and draws back from intimacy.
A camel, soft-mouthed, drawing closer the connection.
فَوَجديso my anguish بِجُملover Juml وَجدُthe anguish of شَمطاءَa gray-haired woman عالجَتwho endured
فَوَجدي بِجُمل وَجدُ شَمطاءَ عالجَت
مِنَof العَيشِlife أَزماناًlong periods عَلىamid مررِthe bitterness of القُلِّpoverty
مِنَ العَيشِ أَزماناً عَلى مررِ القُلِّ
My anguish over Juml is the anguish of a gray-haired woman who endured
So I found solace in a camel, and found solace when Shamṭā’ cured
long years of life amid the bitterness of poverty.
Many days of living with the bitterness of anguish.
فَعاشَتso she lived مُعافاةًin health بأَنزَحin the most remote عيشَةٍway of life
فَعاشَت مُعافاةً بأَنزَح عيشَةٍ
تَرىshe considered حَسَناًgood أَنthat لاnot تَموتَshe should die مِنَfrom الهُزلِemaciation
تَرى حَسَناً أَن لا تَموتَ مِنَ الهُزلِ
So she lived in health, in a life furthest from ease,
She lived healthy with a life of ease,
deeming it good not to die of emaciation.
Seeing beauty that she not die of jest.
قَضىordained رَبُّهاher Lord بعلاًa husband لَهاfor her فَتَزَوجتso she married
قَضى رَبُّها بعلاً لَها فَتَزَوجت
حَليلاًa spouse وَماand not كانَتshe had been تؤمِّلُhoping for منany بعلِhusband
حَليلاً وَما كانَت تؤمِّلُ من بعلِ
Her Lord ordained a husband for her, and she married
Her Lord decreed a husband for her, so she married
a spouse, though she had not hoped for a husband.
A lawful one, though she had not hoped for a husband.
وَعدَّتand she counted شهورَthe months of الحَملِpregnancy حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen انقَضَتthey ended
وَعدَّت شهورَ الحَملِ حَتّى إِذا انقَضَت
وَجاءَتand she brought forth بِخِرقٍa gallant son لاnot دَنيءbase وَلاnor وَغلِan interloper
وَجاءَت بِخِرقٍ لا دَنيء وَلا وَغلِ
She counted the months of pregnancy until they ended,
She counted the months of pregnancy until they ended,
and bore a gallant son, neither base nor an interloper.
And she gave birth to a slit, no baseness, no defect.
فَهفَّthen hastened إِلَيهاto her الخِلُّthe close friend واجتَمعتand gathered لَهاtoward her
فَهفَّ إِلَيها الخِلُّ واجتَمعت لَها
عيونُthe eyes of العُفاةِthose seeking gifts الطامِحينَaspiring إِلىto الفَضلِbounty
عيونُ العُفاةِ الطامِحينَ إِلى الفَضلِ
Then her close friend hastened to her, and toward her gathered
So the tribe rushed to her, and all the pure-eyed gathered for her,
the eyes of supplicants aspiring to bounty.
Yearning for excellence.
إِذاthen suddenly راكِبٌa rider تَهوىraced بِهِwith him شَمَّرِيَّةٌa fleet she-camel
إِذا راكِبٌ تَهوى بِهِ شَمَّرِيَّةٌ
غَريبٌa stranger سِواهُمother than them مِنof أُناسٍa people وَمِنand of شَكلِa kind
غَريبٌ سِواهُم مِن أُناسٍ وَمِن شَكلِ
Then a rider appeared, a fleet she-camel rushing him onward—
When a rider appeared whom a heroic woman loved,
a stranger, of a different people and a different kind.
A stranger, unlike them in people and form.
فقالَthen he said لَهُمto them كيدواwage war بأَلفيagainst two thousand مُقنَّعٍhelmeted men
فقالَ لَهُم كيدوا بأَلفي مُقنَّعٍ
عِظامٍlarge-framed طِوالٍtall لاnot ضعافٍweak وَلاnor عُزلِunarmed
عِظامٍ طِوالٍ لا ضعافٍ وَلا عُزلِ
He said to them, “Make war on two thousand helmeted men,
He said to them, “Conspire with a thousand masked men,
huge and tall, neither weak nor unarmed.”
Tall bones, no weaklings or cowards.”
فَشَكواso they complained of طَبيقاًan overwhelming calamity أَصلَهُمthat devastated them ثُمَthen أَسلَمواthey entrusted
فَشَكوا طَبيقاً أَصلَهُم ثُمَ أَسلَموا
بِكَفِّinto the hand of ابنِهاher son أَمرَthe command of الجَماعَةِthe company والفِعلِand action
بِكَفِّ ابنِها أَمرَ الجَماعَةِ والفِعلِ
They complained of an overwhelming calamity that had devastated them, then entrusted
So they discussed in secret, then handed over
to her son's hand the company's command and conduct.
To her son command of the group and the deed.
وَقالَand he said لَهُمto them حَمَلتُمونِيَyou have charged me with أَمرَكُمyour affairs
وَقالَ لَهُم حَمَلتُمونِيَ أَمرَكُم
فَلاso do not تَترُكونيabandon me لاشتِراكٍto divided command وَلاnor خَذلِdesertion
فَلا تَترُكوني لاشتِراكٍ وَلا خَذلِ
He said to them, “You have charged me with your affairs;
And he said to them, “You have burdened me,
so do not leave me to divided command or desertion.”
So do not abandon me, neither associate nor let down.”
فَلمّاthen when اكتَنىhe called out his byname فيin بِزّةِthe attire of الحَربِwar واستَوىand settled himself
فَلمّا اكتَنى في بِزّةِ الحَربِ واستَوى
عَلىon ظَهرِthe back of شَيحانِlong القَراthe spine نَبَلٍlarge-framed عَبلِstout
عَلى ظَهرِ شَيحانِ القَرا نَبَلٍ عَبلِ
When he called out his byname in war's attire and settled
When he was girded with the garb of war and stood
on a long-backed steed, large-framed and stout,
On the back of a nimble purebred steed,
وَسارواand they set out فأَعطَوهُthen they gave him اللواءَthe banner وَجَرّبواand tested
وَساروا فأَعطَوهُ اللواءَ وَجَرّبوا
شَمائِلَthe qualities of مَيمونٍan auspicious man نَقيبَتُهُhis disposition مِثليlike me
شَمائِلَ مَيمونٍ نَقيبَتُهُ مِثلي
they set out, gave him the banner, and tested
They went, and gave him the banner, and tested
the qualities of a man of auspicious disposition, like me.
The auspices of the blessed, its guide like me.
فَسارَso he marched بِهِمwith them حَتّىuntil لَوىhe wheeled مُرجَحِنَّةًa weighty host
فَسارَ بِهِم حَتّى لَوى مُرجَحِنَّةً
تَضيقُgrew narrow بِهاfor it الصَّحراءُthe desert صادِقةَfirm الفَتلِthe twisting
تَضيقُ بِها الصَّحراءُ صادِقةَ الفَتلِ
He marched with them until he wheeled a weighty host,
He marched with them until he turned aside at Murjaḥinna,
for which the desert was too narrow, its ranks firmly knit.
Where the desert narrows, sincere in slaughter.
فَلمّاthen when التَقىmet الصفّانِthe two battle lines كانَthere was تَطارُدٌmutual pursuit
فَلمّا التَقى الصفّانِ كانَ تَطارُدٌ
وَطَعنٌand spear-thrusts بِهِin it أَفواهُmouths مَعطوفَةٍcurving نُجلِwide-gaping
وَطَعنٌ بِهِ أَفواهُ مَعطوفَةٍ نُجلِ
When the two battle lines met, there was pursuit and counter-pursuit,
When the two ranks met, there was charging
and spear-thrusts with broad, curving mouths of wounds,
And stabbing by it—mouths conjoined, fierce.
نَهاراًfor a day طَويلاًlong ثُمthen دارَتturned هَزيمَةٌdefeat
نَهاراً طَويلاً ثُم دارَت هَزيمَةٌ
بأَصحابِهِupon his companions مِنthrough غَيرِno ضَعفٍweakness وَلاnor خَذلِdesertion
بأَصحابِهِ مِن غَيرِ ضَعفٍ وَلا خَذلِ
through a long day; then defeat turned
A long day, then defeat turned
upon his companions, though not from weakness or desertion.
His men, without weakness or desertion.
فَقالَthen he said لَهُمto them والخَيلُwhile the horses مُدبِرَةٌwere retreating بِهِمwith them
فَقالَ لَهُم والخَيلُ مُدبِرَةٌ بِهِم
وأَعيُنهُمand their eyes مِمّاfrom what يَخافونَthey feared كالقُبلِlike beads
وأَعيُنهُم مِمّا يَخافونَ كالقُبلِ
He said to them, as their horses fled with them
He said to them, with horses fleeing with them,
and their eyes, from what they feared, were like beads—
And their eyes, from what they fear, like hills:
عَلىat رسلِكُمyour ease إِنيindeed I سأَحميshall protect ذِمارَكُمyour honor and dependents
عَلى رسلِكُم إِني سأَحمي ذِمارَكُم
وَهَلand does anyone? يَمنعdefend الأَحسابَancestral honors إِلاexcept فَتىًa young man مِثليlike me
وَهَل يَمنع الأَحسابَ إِلا فَتىً مِثلي
“Steady now! I shall guard all you must defend;
“On your mounts! I will protect your saddles,
who defends ancestral honor but a young man like me?”
And who can prevent fate but a man like me?”
فَبَيناهthen while he يَحميهمwas protecting them وَيعطِفُand wheeling back خَلفَهُمbehind them
فَبَيناه يَحميهم وَيعطِفُ خَلفَهُم
بَصيرٌknowing well بِعوراتِof the vulnerabilities of الفَوارسِthe horsemen والرَّجلِand the foot soldiers
بَصيرٌ بِعوراتِ الفَوارسِ والرَّجلِ
While he protected them and wheeled behind them,
While he protected them and wheeled behind them,
knowing the weak spots of horsemen and foot soldiers,
A keen judge of the gaps in horsemen and footmen,
هَوىswooped ثائِرٌan avenger حَرّانُburning with thirst يعلَمُknowing أَنَّهُthat he
هَوى ثائِرٌ حَرّانُ يعلَمُ أَنَّهُ
إِذاwhen ماfor emphasis تَوارىdisappeared القَومthe men مُنقَطِعُcut off from النَّبلِarrows
إِذا ما تَوارى القَوم مُنقَطِعُ النَّبلِ
a thirsting avenger swooped, knowing that he,
A fiery stallion plunged, knowing that
once the men vanished, would be cut off from arrows.
When the people flee, spent are the arrows,
فَلَمso not يَستَطِعhe could manage مِنfrom نَفسِهِhimself غَيرَother than طَعنَةٍa spear-thrust
فَلَم يَستَطِع مِن نَفسِهِ غَيرَ طَعنَةٍ
سوىstraight فيinto ضُلوعِthe ribs of الجَوفِthe chest نافِذةِpiercing الوَغلِdeep penetration
سوى في ضُلوعِ الجَوفِ نافِذةِ الوَغلِ
He could manage, of himself, only a single spear-thrust,
He could not but stab once
straight into the ribs of the chest, piercing deep within.
Deep in the ribs, piercing the vitals.
فَخَرَّthen he fell وَكَرَّتand wheeled back خَيلُهُhis cavalry يَندبونَهُlamenting him
فَخَرَّ وَكَرَّت خَيلُهُ يَندبونَهُ
ويُثنونَand spoke praise خَيراًgood فيamong الأَباعدِstrangers والأَهلِand kin
ويُثنونَ خَيراً في الأَباعدِ والأَهلِ
He fell, and his cavalry wheeled back, lamenting him,
He fell, and his horse wheeled, mourning him
and spoke well of him among strangers and kin.
And speaking well at a distance and to his kin.
فَلَمّاthen when دَنَواthey drew near لِلحيِّto the settlement أُسمعwas heard هاتِفٌa crier
فَلَمّا دَنَوا لِلحيِّ أُسمع هاتِفٌ
عَلىamid غَفلَةِthe unawareness of النِّسوانِthe women وَهيَwhile she عَلىon رَحلِa saddle
عَلى غَفلَةِ النِّسوانِ وَهيَ عَلى رَحلِ
When they drew near the settlement, a crier was heard,
As they approached the camp, a shouter called out
taking the women unawares, while she was on a saddle.
Upon the heedless women, who were on howdahs.
فَقامَتso she rose إِلىtoward موسىa razor لِتَذبَحَto slaughter نَفسَهاherself
فَقامَت إِلى موسى لِتَذبَحَ نَفسَها
وأَعجَلَهاand hurried her وَشكُthe suddenness of الرزيئَةِthe calamity والثُّكلِand bereavement
وأَعجَلَها وَشكُ الرزيئَةِ والثُّكلِ
She sprang to a razor to cut her own throat,
She rose toward Moses, to slaughter herself,
hurried by the sudden calamity and bereavement.
Hastened by grief and fear for bereavement,
فَماbut not بَرَحتshe moved away حَتّىuntil أَتاهاhe came to her كَماas بَداhe had set out
فَما بَرَحت حَتّى أَتاها كَما بَدا
وَراجَعهاand answered her تَكليمَwith the speech of ذيone with حُلُقٍmail rings جَزلِsturdy
وَراجَعها تَكليمَ ذي حُلُقٍ جَزلِ
But she did not move until he came to her as he had set out,
She had barely risen before he came as he began,
and answered her with the speech of a sturdy man in ring-mail.
Returning her address—one with a resonant voice.
فَوجديso my anguish بِجُملٍover Juml وجدُthe anguish of تيكَthat woman وَفَرحَتيand my joy
فَوجدي بِجُملٍ وجدُ تيكَ وَفَرحَتي
بجُملٍin Juml كَماlike قَدalready بابنِهاin her son فَرحتshe rejoiced قَبليbefore me
بجُملٍ كَما قَد بابنِها فَرحت قَبلي
My anguish over Juml is that woman's anguish; and my joy
So I found solace in a camel, and my joy in Tīk,
in Juml is like the joy she had in her son before me.
As she before me joyed in her son.
أَتَشغَلُare you too busy? عَنّاaway from us ياO ابنَson of عمِّmy paternal uncle فَلاand so not تَرىyou will see
أَتَشغَلُ عَنّا يا ابنَ عمِّ فَلا تَرى
مِنَfrom البُخلِstinginess لاءًa 'no' سَوفَwill تَعتَلّyou make an excuse بِالشُّغلِof being busy
مِنَ البُخلِ لاءً سَوفَ تَعتَلّ بِالشُّغلِ
“Are you too busy for us, cousin? You will find no
Will you be distracted from us, O cousin, so you do not see
‘no’ born of stinginess; you will plead being busy.”
Miserliness as blameworthy? It will lead to preoccupation.
مهالَسةًin a furtive exchange والسترُand the curtain بَينيbetween me وَبَينَهُand him
مهالَسةً والسترُ بَيني وَبَينَهُ
بِداراًin haste كَتَحليلِlike the brief halt of القطاsandgrouse جازَthat passed بِالضَّحلِby shallow water
بِداراً كَتَحليلِ القطا جازَ بِالضَّحلِ
A furtive exchange, with the curtain between me and him,
Joking and screening between me and him
hurriedly, like a sandgrouse's brief halt as it passes shallow water.
With verses, like a cat passing through the bowels.
Sol 6.1