كُلُّevery شَيءٍthing مَصيرُهُits destiny لِلزَوالِto pass away
كُلُّ شَيءٍ مَصيرُهُ لِلزَوالِ
غَيرَexcept رَبّيmy Lord وَصالِحِand righteous الأَعمالِdeeds
غَيرَ رَبّي وَصالِحِ الأَعمالِ
Everything is destined to pass away,
All things are fated to decay
Except my Lord and righteous deeds.
Except my Lord, and righteous deeds.
وَتَرىand you see الناسَthe people يَنظُرونَthey watch جَميعاًall together
وَتَرى الناسَ يَنظُرونَ جَميعاً
لَيسَthere is not فيهِمamong them لِذاكَagainst that بَعضُany اِحتِيالِmeans of evasion
لَيسَ فيهِم لِذاكَ بَعضُ اِحتِيالِ
And you see all the people watching,
People stare with greedy eyes
With none among them able to avert it.
Yet no trickery will serve their needs.
قُلsay لِأُمِّto the mother of الأَغَرِّal-Agharr تَبكيshe weeps for بُجَيراًBujayr
قُل لِأُمِّ الأَغَرِّ تَبكي بُجَيراً
حيلَa barrier was set بَينَbetween الرِجالِthe men وَالأَموالِand wealth
حيلَ بَينَ الرِجالِ وَالأَموالِ
Tell Umm al-Agharr, as she weeps for Bujayr:
Tell Abla's mother to weep for Bujayr
Men have been parted from their wealth.
Whose passing sundered men from wealth untold
وَلَعَمريand by my life لَأَبكِيَنَّI shall surely weep for بُجَيراًBujayr
وَلَعَمري لَأَبكِيَنَّ بُجَيراً
ماas long as أَتىcomes الماءُwater مِنfrom رُؤوسِthe summits of الجِبالِthe mountains
ما أَتى الماءُ مِن رُؤوسِ الجِبالِ
And by my life, I shall surely weep for Bujayr,
Yes, by my life! For Bujayr I will weep
As long as water flows from mountain peaks.
Until from mountain peaks the waters roll.
لَهفَthe anguish of نَفسيmy soul عَلىover بُجَيرٍBujayr إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle
لَهفَ نَفسي عَلى بُجَيرٍ إِذا ما
جالَتِwheeled الخَيلُthe horses يَومَon a day of حَربٍwar عُضالِgrievous
جالَتِ الخَيلُ يَومَ حَربٍ عُضالِ
How my soul grieves for Bujayr whenever
For Bujayr my soul burns with desire
The horses wheel on a day of grievous war,
When destriers stamp and ranks in combat close
وَتَساقىand made each other drink الكُماةُthe armored warriors سُمّاًpoison نَفيعاًpotent (reading uncertain)
وَتَساقى الكُماةُ سُمّاً نَفيعاً
وَبَداand emerged البيضُthe fair women مِنfrom قِبابِthe domes of الحِجالِthe curtained chambers
وَبَدا البيضُ مِن قِبابِ الحِجالِ
And armored warriors give one another potent poison to drink,
When lances clash and white blades flash
And fair women emerge from the domes of their curtained chambers,
As warriors grapple with their warrior foes
وَسَعَتand hastened كُلُّevery حُرَّةِnoble الوَجهِof face تَدعوshe calls out
وَسَعَت كُلُّ حُرَّةِ الوَجهِ تَدعو
ياO لِبَكرٍBakr, to the rescue غَرّاءَradiant كَالتِمثالِlike a statue
يا لِبَكرٍ غَرّاءَ كَالتِمثالِ
And every noble-faced woman hastens, crying,
And ladies' cheeks grow flushed as they implore:
'O Bakr, to the rescue!'—radiant as a statue.
"O for Bujayr, a lofty knight of charm!"
ياO بُجَيرَBujayr of الخَيراتِgood deeds لاصلحَno peace حَتّىuntil
يا بُجَيرَ الخَيراتِ لاصلحَ حَتّى
نَملَأَwe fill البيدَthe deserts مِنwith رُؤوسِthe heads of الرِجالِthe men
نَملَأَ البيدَ مِن رُؤوسِ الرِجالِ
O Bujayr of good deeds, no peace until
O Bujayr, fount of bounty! Not until
We fill the deserts with men's heads,
Our blades are filled with foemen's lives shall we be calm
وَتَقَرَّand grow cool العُيونُthe eyes بَعدَafter بُكاهاtheir weeping
وَتَقَرَّ العُيونُ بَعدَ بُكاها
حينَwhen تَسقيwaters الدِماblood صُدورَthe heads of العَواليthe tall lances
حينَ تَسقي الدِما صُدورَ العَوالي
And eyes grow cool after their weeping,
When their blood drenches chests will eyes find peace
When blood waters the heads of the tall lances.
After their weeping for the loved ones slain
أَصبَحَتhas begun وائِلٌWa'il تَعِجُّto roar مِنَfrom الحَرthe war (first part)
أَصبَحَت وائِلٌ تَعِجُّ مِنَ الحَر
بِcompletion of 'war' عَجيجَthe roaring of الجِمالِthe camels بِالأَثقالِunder heavy loads
بِ عَجيجَ الجِمالِ بِالأَثقالِ
Wa'il has begun to roar from the war—
Wailers cry loud at dawn, for now
Like camels roaring beneath their burdens.
With camel's tramp and loads is Wael afevered plain
لَمnot أَكُنI was مِنamong جُناتِهاits instigators عَلِمَknows اللَهُGod
لَم أَكُن مِن جُناتِها عَلِمَ اللَهُ
وَإِنيand indeed I لِحَرِّهاby its heat اليَومَtoday صالِscorched
وَإِني لِحَرِّها اليَومَ صالِ
I was not among its instigators, God knows,
I knew not of their gardens, God knows best,
And today I am indeed scorched by its heat.
Yet now their heat consumes me, stack and stone
قَدindeed تَجَنَّبتُI kept away from وائِلاًWa'il كَيso that يُفيقواthey might come to their senses
قَد تَجَنَّبتُ وائِلاً كَي يُفيقوا
فَأَبَتbut refused تَغلِبٌTaghlib عَلَيَّto me اِعتِزاليmy withdrawal
فَأَبَت تَغلِبٌ عَلَيَّ اِعتِزالي
I kept away from Wa'il so they might come to their senses,
I avoided Wael, hoping they'd awake
But Taghlib refused to let me withdraw.
But Taghlib's grip allowed no chance to flee my own
وَأَشابواand they turned gray ذُؤابَتيmy forelock ببُجَيرٍbecause of Bujayr
وَأَشابوا ذُؤابَتي ببُجَيرٍ
قَتَلوهُthey killed him ظُلماًunjustly بِغَيرِwithout قِتالِa fight
قَتَلوهُ ظُلماً بِغَيرِ قِتالِ
And they turned my forelock gray because of Bujayr:
To taunt me, they drove my camel past
They killed him unjustly, without a fight.
Bujayr slain though he no battle fought
قَتَلوهُthey killed him بِشِسعِfor a strap of نَعلٍa sandal of كُلَيبٍKulayb
قَتَلوهُ بِشِسعِ نَعلٍ كُلَيبٍ
إِنَّindeed قَتلَkilling الكَريمِa noble man بِالشِسعِfor a sandal strap غالِcostly
إِنَّ قَتلَ الكَريمِ بِالشِسعِ غالِ
They killed him for the strap of Kulayb's sandal;
Basely with a sandal-strap they killed
Truly, killing a noble man for a strap is costly.
A prince! Foul murder with a thong is fraught.
ياO بَنيsons of تَغلِبَTaghlib خُذواtake الحِذرَheed إِنّاindeed we
يا بَني تَغلِبَ خُذوا الحِذرَ إِنّا
قَدalready شَرِبناwe have drunk بِكَأسِfrom a cup of مَوتٍdeath زُلالِcrystal-clear
قَد شَرِبنا بِكَأسِ مَوتٍ زُلالِ
O sons of Taghlib, take heed: indeed, we
Taghlib's sons, take care! For we
Have already drunk from a cup of crystal-clear death.
Have drained death's bitter cup without recall
ياO بَنيsons of تَغلِبٍTaghlib قَتَلتُمyou have killed قَتيلاًa slain man
يا بَني تَغلِبٍ قَتَلتُم قَتيلاً
ماnever سَمِعناwe have heard بِمِثلِهِof his like فيin الخَواليbygone times
ما سَمِعنا بِمِثلِهِ في الخَوالي
O sons of Taghlib, you have slain a man
You slew a man, O Taghlib's youths
Whose like we have never heard of in bygone times.
Whose like for nobility we never saw at all
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
لَقِحَتhas conceived حَربُthe war of وائِلٍWa'il عَنafter حِيالِbarrenness
لَقِحَت حَربُ وائِلٍ عَن حِيالِ
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
Bring my ostrich steed to me
Wa'il's war has conceived after barrenness.
Wael's war has left me strengthless, limp and frail
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
لَيسَnot قَوليmy speech يرادُis wanted لَكِنbut فعاليmy deeds
لَيسَ قَولي يرادُ لَكِن فعالي
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
Bring it closer! Not mere words
It is not my words that are wanted, but my deeds.
But deeds of mine shall soon reveal the tale
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
جَدَّhas intensified نَوحُthe lamentation of النِساءِthe women بِالإِعوالِwith loud wailing
جَدَّ نَوحُ النِساءِ بِالإِعوالِ
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
Bring it closer! Women Noah blamed
The women's lament has intensified into loud wailing.
When men took second wives in days of old
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
شابَhas turned gray رَأسيmy head وَأَنكَرَتنيand rejected me القَواليthe scornful women
شابَ رَأسي وَأَنكَرَتني القَوالي
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
Bring it closer! Grey has grown my hair
My head has turned gray, and scornful women reject me.
And the young girls no longer speak my name, I'm told
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
لِلسُرىfor night travel وَالغُدُوِّand morning journeys وَالآصالِand late afternoons
لِلسُرى وَالغُدُوِّ وَالآصالِ
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
Bring it closer! For night rounds
For journeys by night, by morning, and at day's end.
And climbing hills at dawn, my joints are too stiff-set
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
طالَhas lengthened لَيليmy night عَلىbeyond اللَياليthe nights الطِوالِlong
طالَ لَيلي عَلى اللَيالي الطِوالِ
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
Bring it closer! So heros can embrace
My night has lengthened beyond the long nights.
And stalwarts greet their equals without let
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
لِاِعتِناقِfor the grappling of الأَبطالِthe champions بِالأَبطالِwith champions
لِاِعتِناقِ الأَبطالِ بِالأَبطالِ
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
Turn from ignorant men's loose talk Bring it closer!
For champions to grapple with champions.
Bring it closer! My heart quails not
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
وَاِعدِلاand turn away, you two عَنfrom مَقالَةِthe talk of الجُهّالِthe ignorant
وَاِعدِلا عَن مَقالَةِ الجُهّالِ
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
From battle, and my soul disdains retreat
And you two, turn away from the talk of the ignorant.
Bring it closer! When North winds blast
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
لَيسَis not قَلبيmy heart عَنِof القِتالِbattle بِسالِheedless
لَيسَ قَلبي عَنِ القِتالِ بِسالِ
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
Their coldest chill, and branches lash and beat
My heart is not heedless of battle.
Bring it closer! For Bujayr who undid
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
كُلَّماwhenever هَبَّblows ريحُthe wind of ذَيلِthe trailing hem of الشَمالِthe north wind
كُلَّما هَبَّ ريحُ ذَيلِ الشَمالِ
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
Our chains and freed us from captivity
Whenever a gust blows from the north wind's trailing hem.
Bring it closer! For this noble soul
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
لِبَجَيرٍfor Bujayr مُفَكِّكِbreaker of الأَغلالِthe shackles
لِبَجَيرٍ مُفَكِّكِ الأَغلالِ
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
Crowned with glory and unmatched nobility
For Bujayr, breaker of shackles.
Bring it closer! We do not sell men
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
لِكَريمٍfor a noble man مُتَوَّجٍcrowned بِالجَمالِwith beauty
لِكَريمٍ مُتَوَّجٍ بِالجَمالِ
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
Like shoes! This market-haggling we deny
For a noble man crowned with beauty.
Bring it closer! Bujayr, for whom my uncle
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
لاnot نَبيعُwe sell الرِجالَthe men بَيعَthe selling of النِعالِsandals
لا نَبيعُ الرِجالَ بَيعَ النِعالِ
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
And aunt would sacrifice themselves, for whom would I
We do not sell men as sandals are sold.
Draw it nearer, as a dread mount for Taghlib's horsemen
قَرِّباbring near, you two مَربَطَthe tethering place of النَعامَةِal-Na'amah مِنّيto me
قَرِّبا مَربَطَ النَعامَةِ مِنّي
لِبُجَيرٍfor Bujayr فداهُmay he be ransomed by عَمّيmy paternal uncle وَخاليand my maternal uncle
لِبُجَيرٍ فداهُ عَمّي وَخالي
You two, bring al-Na'amah's tether close to me;
When champions grapple on the field of fight
For Bujayr—may my paternal and maternal uncles be his ransom.
Lead it forth, a stout spearshaft of seasoned elmwood
قَرِّباهاbring her near, you two لِحَيِّtoward the clan of تَغلِبَTaghlib شوساًfierce-eyed
قَرِّباها لِحَيِّ تَغلِبَ شوساً
لِاِعتِناقِfor grappling with الكُماةِthe armored warriors يَومَon the day of القِتالِbattle
لِاِعتِناقِ الكُماةِ يَومَ القِتالِ
You two, bring her near to Taghlib's fierce-eyed clan,
To repel the archer's shafts in towering flight
To grapple with armored warriors on the day of battle.
With smooth lances of Yemen, bring it closer!
قَرِّباهاbring her near, you two وَقَرِّباand bring near, you two لَأمَتيmy armor دِرa coat of mail (first part)
قَرِّباها وَقَرِّبا لَأمَتي دِر
عاًcompletion of 'coat of mail' دِلاصاًsmooth and gleaming تَرُدُّthat repels حَدَّthe points of النِبالِthe arrows
عاً دِلاصاً تَرُدُّ حَدَّ النِبالِ
You two, bring her near, and bring my armor—a coat of
When heroes close in clashing ranks outright
Smooth mail that turns back the arrows' points.
Full many a horde I've seen, pelted by death
قَرِّباهاbring her near, you two بِمُرهَفاتٍwith keen-edged swords حِدادٍsharp
قَرِّباها بِمُرهَفاتٍ حِدادٍ
لِقِراعِfor clashing with الأَبطالِthe champions يَومَon the day of النِزالِcombat
لِقِراعِ الأَبطالِ يَومَ النِزالِ
You two, bring her near with sharp, keen-edged swords,
Though panoplied knights stood haughty in their might
To clash with champions on the day of combat.
Ask Kindah's warriors, and Bekr's horsemen too
رُبَّmany an جَيشٍarmy لَقيتُهُI met it يَمطُرُit rains down المَوdeath (first part)
رُبَّ جَيشٍ لَقيتُهُ يَمطُرُ المَو
تَcompletion of 'death' عَلىon هَيكَلٍa mighty steed خَفيفِlight in الجِلالِsaddlecloths
تَ عَلى هَيكَلٍ خَفيفِ الجِلالِ
Many an army raining death have I met,
Inquire of Mudhij's riders, and Hayy's band
Mounted on a mighty steed with light saddlecloths.
When we face a potent force mailed for war
سائِلواask كِندَةَKindah الكِرامَthe noble ones وَبَكراًand Bakr
سائِلوا كِندَةَ الكِرامَ وَبَكراً
وَاِسأَلواand ask مَذحِجاًMadhhij وَحَيِّand the clan of هِلالِHilal
وَاِسأَلوا مَذحِجاً وَحَيِّ هِلالِ
Ask noble Kindah, and Bakr,
Grim, staunch, and stern, and skilled hand against hand
And ask Madhhij and the clan of Hilal,
We drive them off when they seek to trade glance for glance
إِذاwhen أَتَوناthey came to us بِعَسكَرٍwith an army ذيpossessing زُهاءٍgreat numbers
إِذا أَتَونا بِعَسكَرٍ ذي زُهاءٍ
مُكفَهِرِّgrim in الأَذىharm شَديدِfierce in المَصالِcombat
مُكفَهِرِّ الأَذى شَديدِ المَصالِ
When they came to us with an army of great numbers,
Like hornets routed by stones swiftly sped
Grim with menace and fierce in combat,
فَقَرَيناهُso we offered it hospitality حينَwhen رامَit sought قِراناour hospitality
فَقَرَيناهُ حينَ رامَ قِرانا
كُلَّevery ماضيkeen الذُبابِthe blade's point عَضبِsharp-edged الصِقالِthe polish
كُلَّ ماضي الذُبابِ عَضبِ الصِقالِ
So we served it, when it sought our hospitality,
Every keen-pointed, sharp and burnished blade.
Partial English translation: 71 of 74 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1