ماnot كَثُرَتbecame numerous بَنوsons of أَسَدٍAsad فَتُخشىand thus be feared
ما كَثُرَت بَنو أَسَدٍ فَتُخشى
لِكَثرَتِهاfor their numbers وَلاnor طابَwas good القَليلُthe few
لِكَثرَتِها وَلا طابَ القَليلُ
Banu Asad are not so numerous as to be feared
The crowds of Banu Asad do not inspire fear,
For their numbers, nor are the few among them any good.
Though plentiful, and scant tribes are desirable.
قُبَيِّلَةٌa little tribe تَذَبذَبُwavers فيamong مَعَدٍّMaʿadd
قُبَيِّلَةٌ تَذَبذَبُ في مَعَدٍّ
أُنوفُهُمُtheir noses أَذَلُّmore abased مِنَthan السَبيلِthe road
أُنوفُهُمُ أَذَلُّ مِنَ السَبيلِ
A petty tribe that wavers among Maʿadd,
A worthless tribe plodding in empty pursuit -
Their noses are more abased than the road.
Their noses more abject than a mustache.
تَمَنّىwishes أَنthat تَكونَit be إِلىto قُرَيشٍQuraysh
تَمَنّى أَن تَكونَ إِلى قُرَيشٍ
شَبيهَlike البَغلِthe mule شَبَّهَmimicked بِالصَهيلِby neighing
شَبيهَ البَغلِ شَبَّهَ بِالصَهيلِ
It wishes to belong to Quraysh,
I wish that the relation of Quraysh,
Like a mule mimicking a horse by neighing.
To them were that of the mule to the neigh of a stallion.
Sol 6.1