ياO مُزنَةَrain cloud of الحَيِّthe clan يَحدُوurges onward عِيسَهاher pale camels الحاديthe camel-driver
يا مُزنَةَ الحَيِّ يَحدُو عِيسَها الحادي
هَلّاwhy not شَفَيتِyou relieved بِرِيٍّwith a quenching draught غُلَّةَthe burning thirst of الصاديthe thirsty one
هَلّا شَفَيتِ بِرِيٍّ غُلَّةَ الصادي
O rain cloud of the clan, whose pale camels the camel-driver urges onward,
O beauty of life, your charm makes the lovesick sing
why did you not quench the thirsty one's burning with a draught?
If only you could heal my aching heart with a kind glance
زَوَّدتِنيyou provisioned me نَظرَةًa glance زادَتincreased جَوىًburning anguish كَبِدِيmy liver
زَوَّدتِني نَظرَةً زادَت جَوىً كَبِدِي
ماwhat كانَwould have ضَرَّكِharmed you لَوif أَكثَرتِyou had given more مِنof زاديmy provisions
ما كانَ ضَرَّكِ لَو أَكثَرتِ مِن زادي
You provisioned me with a glance that increased my liver's burning;
Your gaze gave me more anguish, fueling the fires in my liver
what harm would it have done you had you increased my provisions?
It would not have harmed you to give me more provision
أَمّاas for فُؤاديmy heart فَقَدand indeed أَضحىhas become أَسيرَكُمُyour captive
أَمّا فُؤادي فَقَد أَضحى أَسيرَكُمُ
ياO وَيحَهُalas for it مِنwhat a فُؤادٍheart مالَهُit has no فاديransomer
يا وَيحَهُ مِن فُؤادٍ مالَهُ فادي
As for my heart, it has indeed become your captive;
As for my heart, it has become your captive
alas for it—a heart with no one to ransom it!
Oh what an ill-fated heart that has no ransom
مَنُّوهُgive it hopes زُوراًfalsely وَمَنُّواand offer hopes فيin المُنىwishes وَعِدُواand promise
مَنُّوهُ زُوراً وَمَنُّوا في المُنى وَعِدُوا
وَعداًa promise جَميلاًbeautiful وَلاand do not تُوفواkeep بِميعادِan appointed tryst
وَعداً جَميلاً وَلا تُوفوا بِميعادِ
Feed it false hopes, be lavish with wishes, and make
They made false promises, and promised in love,
a beautiful promise, but keep no appointed tryst.
A beautiful promise, but did not keep the appointment
كَيفَhow الخَلاصُescape وَقَدwhen already أَضرَمتِyou have kindled فيin كَبِديmy liver
كَيفَ الخَلاصُ وَقَد أَضرَمتِ في كَبِدي
زَندَينِtwo firesticks ضِدَّينِopposing مِنof خافٍwhat is hidden وَمِنand of باديwhat is manifest
زَندَينِ ضِدَّينِ مِن خافٍ وَمِن بادي
How can I escape, when you have kindled in my liver
How can I escape when in my heart you have pierced
two opposing firesticks, one hidden and one manifest?
Two opposing daggers of fear and separation
أَيّامَin the days when نَحنُwe بِأَعلىat the upper end of الشِعبِthe ravine مَنزِلُناour dwelling
أَيّامَ نَحنُ بِأَعلى الشِعبِ مَنزِلُنا
وَمَنزِلُand the dwelling of الحَيِّthe clan بَينَbetween السَفحِthe mountain's foot وَالوَاديand the valley
وَمَنزِلُ الحَيِّ بَينَ السَفحِ وَالوَادي
In those days when our dwelling was high in the ravine,
We spend our days high up on the mountain slopes
and the clan's dwelling lay between the mountain's foot and the valley,
While the tribe camps on the plains and valleys below
ماwhat كانَwould have ضَرَّكُمُharmed you وَالدارُwhile the abode جامِعَةٌheld us together
ما كانَ ضَرَّكُمُ وَالدارُ جامِعَةٌ
وَغُربَةُand the exile of البَينِparting لَمhad not تَجلِسُsat بِمِرصادِin ambush
وَغُربَةُ البَينِ لَم تَجلِسُ بِمِرصادِ
what harm would it have done you, while our abode held us together
It would not trouble you, though our houses are close,
and the exile of parting had not yet lain in ambush,
That estrangement did not allow us to settle
لَوif أَنعَمتshe had granted favors بِالمُنىwith wishes نُعمٌNu'm وَلَوand if كَرُمَتshe had been generous
لَو أَنعَمت بِالمُنى نُعمٌ وَلَو كَرُمَت
سُعدىSu'da فَجادَتand so bestowed بِإِسعافٍwith relief وَإِسعادِand happiness
سُعدى فَجادَت بِإِسعافٍ وَإِسعادِ
had Nu'm granted our wishes, and had generosity moved
If you were to grant me my wish, it would be a blessing,
Su'da to lavish relief and happiness?
and your generosity would bring me aid and happiness
لَمnot أَنسَهاI forgot her يَومَthe day وَلَّتshe turned away وَهيَwhile she was غادِيَةٌdeparting at dawn
لَم أَنسَها يَومَ وَلَّت وَهيَ غادِيَةٌ
بِمُهجَتيwith my lifeblood فيamid الفَريقِthe company المُزمِعِresolved to depart الغاديleaving at dawn
بِمُهجَتي في الفَريقِ المُزمِعِ الغادي
I have not forgotten her the day she turned away, departing
I will never forget, when she left, taking
with my lifeblood, amid the company resolved to leave at dawn.
my love away in the impending separation
حَسّانَةُvery beautiful of الجِيدِneck مَصقُولٌpolished bright تَرائِبُهاher upper chest
حَسّانَةُ الجِيدِ مَصقُولٌ تَرائِبُها
مِثلُlike العَقيقَةِa lightning flash فيin وَطفاءَa dense rain cloud مِرعادِthundering
مِثلُ العَقيقَةِ في وَطفاءَ مِرعادِ
Fair of neck, with a gleaming upper breast,
The smooth-cheeked gazelle, her braids
like lightning in a dense, thundering cloud.
shine like carnelians in the early dawn light
قالَتshe said فَدَتكَmay it ransom you حَياتيmy life وَهِيَwhile she was هازِلَةٌjesting
قالَت فَدَتكَ حَياتي وَهِيَ هازِلَةٌ
رُوحيmy soul الفِداءُthe ransom لِذاكَfor that one الهازِلِthe jesting one الفادِيthe one offering ransom
رُوحي الفِداءُ لِذاكَ الهازِلِ الفادِي
She said, 'May my life ransom you,' while jesting;
She jokingly said, “I ransom my life for you,”
my soul be ransom for that playful one who offered hers.
I ransom my soul for that joking redeemer
أَمسَتhas become أُمامَةُUmama قَدalready ضَنَّتshe has been sparing بِنائِلِهاwith her favors
أَمسَت أُمامَةُ قَد ضَنَّت بِنائِلِها
فاعتادَso revisited قَلبَكَyour heart مِنهاfrom her شَرُّthe worst مُعتادِrecurring visitor
فاعتادَ قَلبَكَ مِنها شَرُّ مُعتادِ
Umama has grown grudging with her favors,
Umma has grown miserly with her gifts
so the worst of her visitations has returned to your heart.
So your heart has gotten used to her evil habits
كَأَنَّas though لُبَّكَyour mind مُذsince بانَdeparted الخَليطُthe company بِهاwith her
كَأَنَّ لُبَّكَ مُذ بانَ الخَليطُ بِها
لُبُّthe mind of المُعَلَّلِone plied with drink مِنof صَفراءَyellow wine كَالجاديlike saffron
لُبُّ المُعَلَّلِ مِن صَفراءَ كَالجادي
It is as though your mind, since the company departed with her,
Since she revealed her fickle nature,
were the mind of one plied with yellow wine, saffron-bright:
your heart is like one made sick by yellow bile
مُقتُولَةٌslain بِنَميرwith sweet الماءِwater قاتِلَةٌa slayer
مُقتُولَةٌ بِنَمير الماءِ قاتِلَةٌ
تَرىyou see المُصَبَّحone given a morning drink مِنهاof it مائِلَdrooping الهاديneck
تَرى المُصَبَّح مِنها مائِلَ الهادي
slain with sweet water, yet itself a slayer;
Slain by the crocodiles in the water, herself a murderess,
you see its morning drinker with his neck drooping.
you see the swimmer beside her losing his way
وَفِتيَةٍand many youths لَوَّحَتهُمsun-scorched them كُلُّevery طامِسَةٍtrackless waste
وَفِتيَةٍ لَوَّحَتهُم كُلُّ طامِسَةٍ
قَفرٍdesolate وَكُلُّand every سَحيقِfar-reaching of الرِعنِcrest مُنقادِlong sand dune
قَفرٍ وَكُلُّ سَحيقِ الرِعنِ مُنقادِ
And many youths sun-scorched by every trackless
And youths every barren outcast flashed at them,
desolate waste and every long dune with a far-reaching crest—
every smooth-sided flatterer enticed them
تَهويspeed onward بِهمwith them شَدَنيّاتٌShadani she-camels مُزَمَّمَةٌreined
تَهوي بِهم شَدَنيّاتٌ مُزَمَّمَةٌ
تَضِلُّvanish فيin البِيدِthe wastes أَعضاداًin bands بِأَعضادِamong bands
تَضِلُّ في البِيدِ أَعضاداً بِأَعضادِ
reined Shadani she-camels rush onward with them,
Passionate she-camels hurry them away,
vanishing into the wastes, troop mingling with troop.
straying confusedly in the wasteland
كَأَنَّهُمas though they were مِنof نَعامِthe ostriches of الدَوِّthe wilderness سارِحَةٌa roaming flock
كَأَنَّهُم مِن نَعامِ الدَوِّ سارِحَةٌ
تَخديstride swiftly بِجِنٍّwith jinn عَلىupon الأَكوارِthe camel-saddles مُرّادِrebellious
تَخدي بِجِنٍّ عَلى الأَكوارِ مُرّادِ
They seem a roaming flock of ostriches of the wilderness,
As if they were ostriches fleeing Ghost Forest,
striding with rebellious jinn upon the saddles.
streaking wildly across the sand dunes
تَشدُوyou sing بِذِكرِof the name of ابنِthe son of مِرداسٍMirdas فَيُطرِبُهاand it enraptures them
تَشدُو بِذِكرِ ابنِ مِرداسٍ فَيُطرِبُها
حَتّىuntil تَهِمَّthey are minded بِأَنto تَشدُوsing مَعَwith الشاديthe singer
حَتّى تَهِمَّ بِأَن تَشدُو مَعَ الشادي
You sing of Ibn Mirdas, and it so enraptures them
They are inspired to sing the son of Mirdas,
that they long to sing along with the singer.
till they are transported and sing with the singers
مُتَوَّجٌa crowned king مِنamong مُلوكِthe kings of الأَرضِthe earth هِمَّتُهُhis purpose
مُتَوَّجٌ مِن مُلوكِ الأَرضِ هِمَّتُهُ
مَقسُومَةٌdivided بَينَbetween إِصدارٍsending forth وَإِيرادِand bringing in
مَقسُومَةٌ بَينَ إِصدارٍ وَإِيرادِ
A crowned king among the kings of earth, whose purpose
A king crowned over the kings of the earth,
is divided between sending forth and bringing in.
his ambition divided between initiative and income
زُرناwe visited المُعِزَّal-Mu'izz فَزُرناand so we visited مِنin فَتىthe noble youth of مُضَرٍMudar
زُرنا المُعِزَّ فَزُرنا مِن فَتى مُضَرٍ
بَحرَthe sea of النَدىgenerosity وَشِهابَand the blazing star of الحَيِّthe clan وَالناديand the council
بَحرَ النَدى وَشِهابَ الحَيِّ وَالنادي
We visited al-Mu'izz, and in Mudar's noble youth visited
We visited Al-Mu’izz, so we visited a prince of Mudar,
an ocean of bounty, the blazing star of clan and council.
an ocean of dew, a flame of life and activity
وَباتَتِand spent the night العيسُthe pale camels فيin مَغناهُhis abode حامِدَةًgiving thanks
وَباتَتِ العيسُ في مَغناهُ حامِدَةً
لِفَضلِهِfor his bounty وَلِإتهاميand for my travels to Tihama وَإِنجاديand my travels to Najd
لِفَضلِهِ وَلِإتهامي وَإِنجادي
And the pale camels spent the night in his abode, giving thanks
The lovers in their passions sing his praises through the night
for his bounty, and for my travels to Tihama and Najd.
for his merit, and for rescuing and helping me
فَتىًa noble youth إِذاwhen قَصَدَseek القُصّادُthe petitioners نائِلَهُhis bounty
فَتىً إِذا قَصَدَ القُصّادُ نائِلَهُ
أَمُّواthey head for مُعَرَّسَthe resting place of وُفّادٍdelegations وَقُصّادِand petitioners
أَمُّوا مُعَرَّسَ وُفّادٍ وَقُصّادِ
A noble youth: when petitioners seek his bounty,
A youth, when the archers seek their prey,
they make for the resting place of delegations and seekers.
they guide well-trained trackers and archers
أَغَرُّradiant أَبلَجُbright-browed يَلقىhe greets الوَفدَthe delegation مُبتَسِماًsmiling
أَغَرُّ أَبلَجُ يَلقى الوَفدَ مُبتَسِماً
بِمُشرِقٍwith a radiant face مِثلِlike ضَوءِthe light of الشَمسِthe sun وَقّادِblazing
بِمُشرِقٍ مِثلِ ضَوءِ الشَمسِ وَقّادِ
Radiant and bright-browed, he greets delegations with a smile,
Dazzling white, radiant, he receives delegations smiling,
with a face shining and blazing like the sunlight.
with brilliance like the rising sun’s rays
يُهدىis guided بِهِby him الرَكبُthe caravan وَالظَلماءُwhile darkness عاكِفَةٌlingers
يُهدى بِهِ الرَكبُ وَالظَلماءُ عاكِفَةٌ
لاmay not يُبعِدُtake away اللَهُGod ذاكَthat المُرشِدِguide الهاديwho shows the way
لا يُبعِدُ اللَهُ ذاكَ المُرشِدِ الهادي
By him the caravan is guided while darkness lingers;
By him, caravans and those astray in darkness are guided,
may God never take away that guide who shows the way.
may God not remove that rightly-guiding leader
فَخرٌglory مُنيفٌtowering بَناهُbuilt it فيin القَديمِancient times لَهُمfor them
فَخرٌ مُنيفٌ بَناهُ في القَديمِ لَهُم
كَعبُKa'b بنُson of عَبدٍ'Abd وَإِدريسُand Idris بنُson of شَدّادِShaddad
كَعبُ بنُ عَبدٍ وَإِدريسُ بنُ شَدّادِ
A towering glory, built for them long ago
A lofty, splendid palace built for them in ancient times
by Ka'b ibn 'Abd and Idris ibn Shaddad.
by Ka’b ibn ‘Abd and Idris ibn Shaddad
ماnot كُلُّevery قَومٍclan إِذاwhen طالُواthey excel بِأَنفُسِهِمthrough their own merit
ما كُلُّ قَومٍ إِذا طالُوا بِأَنفُسِهِم
طالُواthey excel بِهاthrough it وَبِآباءٍand through fathers وَأَجدادِand forefathers
طالُوا بِها وَبِآباءٍ وَأَجدادِ
Not every clan that rises through its own merit
Not every people who boast of their own excellence
rises through that, and through fathers and forefathers too.
boast of their ancestors and forefathers
تَرىyou see الثِيابَthe garments عَلىupon أَجسادِهِمtheir bodies فَتَرىand so you see
تَرى الثِيابَ عَلى أَجسادِهِم فَتَرى
تِلكَthose الثِيابَgarments عَلىupon أَجسادِthe bodies of آسادِlions
تِلكَ الثِيابَ عَلى أَجسادِ آسادِ
You see the garments on their bodies, and you see
You see clothes upon their bodies, and see
those garments upon the bodies of lions.
those clothes upon the frames of lions
إِذاwhen نَضَوهاthey strip them off نَضَوهاthey strip them off عَنfrom مَناكِبِهِمtheir shoulders
إِذا نَضَوها نَضَوها عَن مَناكِبِهِم
كَماjust as نَضَوتَyou drew out سُيُوفاًswords حَشوَfilling أَغمادِscabbards
كَما نَضَوتَ سُيُوفاً حَشوَ أَغمادِ
When they strip them off, they strip them from their shoulders
When they unsheathe them they unsheathe them from their shoulders
as you draw swords housed within scabbards.
as you would unsheathe polished swords from scabbards
إِنif تَلقَهُمyou meet them تَلقَyou find مِنهُمamong them مَعشَراًa company نُجُباًnoble
إِن تَلقَهُم تَلقَ مِنهُم مَعشَراً نُجُباً
أَكبادُهُمُtheir livers فيin الرَزاياcalamities غَيرُno ordinary أَكبادِlivers
أَكبادُهُمُ في الرَزايا غَيرُ أَكبادِ
If you meet them, you find among them a company of noble men,
If you meet them, you meet a noble company
whose livers, amid calamities, are no ordinary livers.
whose hearts in calamities are unlike other hearts
كَأَنَّهُمas though they were وَعِتاقُwhile the thoroughbreds of الخَيلِhorses تَحمِلُهُمcarry them
كَأَنَّهُم وَعِتاقُ الخَيلِ تَحمِلُهُم
أَطوادُmountains of حِلمٍforbearance جُلوساًseated فَوقَupon أَطوادِmountains
أَطوادُ حِلمٍ جُلوساً فَوقَ أَطوادِ
They seem, as thoroughbred horses carry them,
It is as if they and the horses they ride
mountains of forbearance seated upon mountains.
are borne by pillars of forbearance atop pillars
شُمُّhigh-bridged العَرانينِnoses طَعّانينَfierce spear-thrusters إِنif غَضِبُواthey grow angry
شُمُّ العَرانينِ طَعّانينَ إِن غَضِبُوا
بِالسَمهَرِيَّةِwith Samhari spears بِذّالِينَlavish givers لِلزّادِof provisions
بِالسَمهَرِيَّةِ بِذّالِينَ لِلزّادِ
High-nosed, fierce in their thrusts when angered,
When angry, they have the sharp scent of mint,
with Samhari spears, lavish givers of provisions.
slashing with Indian swords at the provisions
ياO بنَson of المُلوكِkings كَلاكَmay He guard you اللَهُGod مِنsuch a مَلِكٍking
يا بنَ المُلوكِ كَلاكَ اللَهُ مِن مَلِكٍ
مُدَرَّبٍseasoned بِفَعالِin deeds of الخَيرِgoodness مُعتادِwell-practiced
مُدَرَّبٍ بِفَعالِ الخَيرِ مُعتادِ
O son of kings, may God guard you—such a king,
O son of kings, may God give you protection
seasoned in good works and practiced in them!
accustomed to righteous deeds, untiring
كَمhow many a مِنَّةٍfavor لَكَof yours عِنديto me ثَمَّرَتincreased جِدَتيmy wealth
كَم مِنَّةٍ لَكَ عِندي ثَمَّرَت جِدَتي
وَكَثَّرَتand multiplied فَوقَupon ظَهرِthe back of الأَرضِthe earth حُسّاديmy enviers
وَكَثَّرَت فَوقَ ظَهرِ الأَرضِ حُسّادي
How many a favor of yours to me has increased my wealth
How many favors I owe you brought fruit from my labors
and multiplied my enviers upon the back of the earth!
and multiplied across the face of the earth despite enviers
لَأَجزِيَنَّكَI shall surely repay you أَوصافاًpraises مُحَبَّرَةَrichly adorned
لَأَجزِيَنَّكَ أَوصافاً مُحَبَّرَةَ
كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were عُقُودٌnecklaces فَوقَupon أَجيادِnecks
كَأَنَّهُنَّ عُقُودٌ فَوقَ أَجيادِ
I shall surely repay you with richly wrought praises,
I will repay you with odes penned in saffron,
as though they were necklaces upon necks,
as if they were collars placed around steeds’ necks
تَبقىthey endure عَلىthrough غُبَّرِthe remainder of الأَيّامِdays خالِدَةًimmortal
تَبقى عَلى غُبَّرِ الأَيّامِ خالِدَةً
خُلودَas enduring as ذِكرِكَyour renown فيamong حَضرِtownsfolk وَفيand among باديnomads
خُلودَ ذِكرِكَ في حَضرِ وَفي بادي
enduring immortal through the days to come,
Remaining through the dust of days undying,
as your renown endures among townsfolk and nomads.
like memories of you lasting in settled lands and wastelands
Sol 6.1