يَا لَلرِّجالِ هَوَى أُمَيمَةَ قاتلى

يَا لَلرِّجالِ هَوَى أُمَيمَةَ قاتلى

بَعدَ الجَلاَلةِ وَالشَّفِيقِ العاذلِ

بَعدَ الجَلاَلةِ وَالشَّفِيقِ العاذلِ

Men, to the rescue! Love of Umaymah is killing me,

O men who love Ummaymah though she killed me

despite dignity and the kindly reprover,

After glory and the setting of the sun.

وحوادثٍ تُسلِى المُحِبَّ عَنِ الهَوى

وحوادثٍ تُسلِى المُحِبَّ عَنِ الهَوى

وَنوائِبٍ عَذَّبنَنَا وَشَواغِلِ

وَنوائِبٍ عَذَّبنَنَا وَشَواغِلِ

and events that wean the lover from love,

With incidents that console the lover for love

and calamities that tormented us, and distractions,

And troubles that vexed and preoccupied us.

وَتَجارِبٍ منها فأَحلَى قَائلٍ

وَتَجارِبٍ منها فأَحلَى قَائلٍ

بِلِسانِهِ قِيلاً وَأَمطَلُ مَاطلِ

بِلِسانِهِ قِيلاً وَأَمطَلُ مَاطلِ

and trials of her—the sweetest of speakers

And with experiences, the sweetest of which

in the tongue's utterance, yet the worst of promise-delayers.

Was spoken by the tongue, though most evasively.

أَأُمَيمُ هَل أُخبِرتِ مَتبولاً بَكَى

أَأُمَيمُ هَل أُخبِرتِ مَتبولاً بَكَى

مِمَّا تَضَمَّنَ مِن هَوىً لِلتّابِلِ

مِمَّا تَضَمَّنَ مِن هَوىً لِلتّابِلِ

O Umaym, have you heard of a love-stricken man who wept

O Ummaymah, have you been told of one made desolate, who wept

from the passion he harbored for the one who laid him low?

For what he felt of love for the excellent?

أَو تَعلمينَ هُدِيتِ مِن صافٍ لهُ

أَو تَعلمينَ هُدِيتِ مِن صافٍ لهُ

وُدُّ الكِرَامِ وَلاَ يَجُودُ بِنائلِ

وُدُّ الكِرَامِ وَلاَ يَجُودُ بِنائلِ

Or do you know—may you be guided—one blessed with sincere

Or did you know that you were gifted with one

affection from the noble, yet giving no gift?

Whose love is nobility, though he gives nothing?

وَزَعَمتِ أَنِّى منكِ أَهلُ كَرَامةٍ

وَزَعَمتِ أَنِّى منكِ أَهلُ كَرَامةٍ

فَرَجَوتُهُ أملَ الحَيا في قابِلِ

فَرَجَوتُهُ أملَ الحَيا في قابِلِ

You claimed that I was worthy of honor from you,

And you supposed that I was of noble birth,

so I hoped for it as one hopes for rain in the coming year.

So I hoped in life for one who fulfils.

ولقد صَحِبتُكِ لو جَزَيتش مَوَدَّةً

ولقد صَحِبتُكِ لو جَزَيتش مَوَدَّةً

وخَلائقاً لَيسَت بذَاتِ غوَائلِ

وخَلائقاً لَيسَت بذَاتِ غوَائلِ

I kept you company—if only you had repaid my affection—

I kept your company: had you repaid affection

and character untainted by treachery,

And nature, it had not been of fleeting kind.

عَاماً فَعاماًُ ثُمَّ آخَرَ ثالثاً

عَاماً فَعاماًُ ثُمَّ آخَرَ ثالثاً

فَبَلَوتُ ذلكَ مثلَ قِيلِ الباطلِ

فَبَلَوتُ ذلكَ مثلَ قِيلِ الباطلِ

year after year, then a third,

Year after year, then a third,

and found it all like false talk:

I found that like the saying of the false.

وَعداً كَبارقِ خُلَّبٍ لِسمائِهِ

وَعداً كَبارقِ خُلَّبٍ لِسمائِهِ

سُدٌّ وأكذَبُ مَنظَراً لِلخائلِ

سُدٌّ وأكذَبُ مَنظَراً لِلخائلِ

a promise like rainless lightning beneath a sky

A promise like flashes of mockery in the sky -

of piled clouds, most deceptive to one expecting rain.

A cloudburst, though to the watcher most delusive.

أَيّامَ أَضمَر مِن تَذُكُّرِكِ الحَشا

أَيّامَ أَضمَر مِن تَذُكُّرِكِ الحَشا

فى غَمرَةٍ مِن لَهوِنَا وَغَياطِلِ

فى غَمرَةٍ مِن لَهوِنَا وَغَياطِلِ

When, at the thought of you, my breast harbored,

Those were days I concealed in my recollection of you

amid a welter of our diversions and tangled thickets,

In our heedlessness and empty boasts,

شَغَفَا تَأوَّبُنِى إِلى خَطَرَاتِهِ

شَغَفَا تَأوَّبُنِى إِلى خَطَرَاتِهِ

مُطَواءُ ذاتُ هَماهِمٍ وَمَلائلِ

مُطَواءُ ذاتُ هَماهِمٍ وَمَلائلِ

a passion whose stirrings brought back upon me

An infatuation that led me to its perils,

a long night of murmurs and weariness.

A giddiness that imagines for the youth

وَكَذاكَ سَكراتٌ تُخايِلُ لِلفَتى

وَكَذاكَ سَكراتٌ تُخايِلُ لِلفَتى

ما ليسَ للصّاحِينَ بالمُتَخَايِلِ

ما ليسَ للصّاحِينَ بالمُتَخَايِلِ

Such are the intoxications that show a young man

What is not for the wakeful in pretense.

things the sober never see.

Ummaymah said: "Women promised you,

قالت أَمَيمَةُ قَد وَعَدنَكَ نِسوَةٌ

قالت أَمَيمَةُ قَد وَعَدنَكَ نِسوَةٌ

مَلقىً وهُنَّ قَرَائِبى وخَلاَئِلى

مَلقىً وهُنَّ قَرَائِبى وخَلاَئِلى

Umaymah said, 'Some women have promised you

My dear friend and intimates.

a meeting; they are my kinswomen and close friends.

So fix us a term, for they decided me

فاضرِب لَنَا أَجَلاً فقد أَبرَمنَنى

فاضرِب لَنَا أَجَلاً فقد أَبرَمنَنى

يُعقِبنَ بَعَ رَسائلٍ بِرسائلِ

يُعقِبنَ بَعَ رَسائلٍ بِرسائلِ

So set us a time: they have wearied me,

To follow messages with messages."

sending messages one after another.'

I thought to avoid it, and I said: "They vex me

فَهَمَمتُ أَن أَنأَى وقُلتُ يَعِبنَنِى

فَهَمَمتُ أَن أَنأَى وقُلتُ يَعِبنَنِى

حَسداً لها وتحَمُّلاً لوَسائلى

حَسداً لها وتحَمُّلاً لوَسائلى

I thought of withdrawing, and said, 'They disparage me

With envy of her, though I can bear my condition."

out of envy of her and concern over my ties to her.'

I knew that if my merit were with her,

وعَلِمتُ أَنِّى إِن صفالي عِندَها

وعَلِمتُ أَنِّى إِن صفالي عِندَها

وُدٌّ فَلَيسَ لِقِيلِهِنَّ بِزَائلِ

وُدٌّ فَلَيسَ لِقِيلِهِنَّ بِزَائلِ

And I knew that if the affection she bore me

Their words would not fail of effect.

were sincere, their words would not drive it away.

If they vexed me with envy of her, she would know it -

إِن عِبنَنى حَسَداً لها عَلِمَت بِهِ

إِن عِبنَنى حَسَداً لها عَلِمَت بِهِ

طِبًّا بِهِنَّ وهُنَّ غَيرُ غَوافِلِ

طِبًّا بِهِنَّ وهُنَّ غَيرُ غَوافِلِ

If they faulted me from envy of her, she knew it,

Gracious to them, though they were not heedless.

knowing their ways; nor were they heedless.

And I made their appointment a most blessed night,

وَجَعلتُ مَوعِدَهُنَّ لَيلةَ أَسعُدٍ

وَجَعلتُ مَوعِدَهُنَّ لَيلةَ أَسعُدٍ

مَلقَى المُحِبِّ عنِ الغَيورِ الغافلِ

مَلقَى المُحِبِّ عنِ الغَيورِ الغافلِ

I set their appointment for a fortunate night,

When lover meets beloved, though the jealous is oblivious,

a lover's meeting away from the heedless jealous watcher.

Until, when I came, neither failing

حَتّى إِذا وافَيتُ لا بِمُقَصِّرٍ

حَتّى إِذا وافَيتُ لا بِمُقَصِّرٍ

عمّا رَقَبنَ لهُ ولا بالعاجِلِ

عمّا رَقَبنَ لهُ ولا بالعاجِلِ

Then I arrived, neither falling short

What they expected nor in haste,

of the time they awaited, nor coming too early.

I came to a session of soft bodies, ripe hips,

وافَيتُ مَجلِسَ بُدَّنٍ قُطُفِ الخُطا

وافَيتُ مَجلِسَ بُدَّنٍ قُطُفِ الخُطا

هِيفِ البُطُونِ ذَواتِ شَطبٍ كاملِ

هِيفِ البُطُونِ ذَواتِ شَطبٍ كاملِ

I came upon a gathering of full-bodied women with short steps,

Deep bellies, perfectly firm.

slender-waisted and perfectly formed.

They smiled, diffusing a cold that reddened their cheeks

يَبسِمنَ عَن بَرَدٍ أَحَمَّ رُضَابُهُ

يَبسِمنَ عَن بَرَدٍ أَحَمَّ رُضَابُهُ

كالشَّهدِ لارَصِفٍ ولا مُتَتثَاعِلِ

كالشَّهدِ لارَصِفٍ ولا مُتَتثَاعِلِ

They smiled, revealing hail-white teeth, dark with moisture,

Like syrup that is neither thick nor diluted.

honey-sweet, neither crowded nor overlapping.

The meadow of their cheeks bloomed in the summer dusk

يَفتَرُّ رَوضَ حَنَاتِمٍ صَيِفيَّةٍ

يَفتَرُّ رَوضَ حَنَاتِمٍ صَيِفيَّةٍ

بَينض الدُّجَى وغُروبِ كلِّ أصائلِ

بَينض الدُّجَى وغُروبِ كلِّ أصائلِ

The smile revealed a garden of summer-red blossoms

At the setting of the Pleiades.

between night's darkness and each evening's sunset.

A wonder was the delight of the presence of those gentle,

عَجَباً لِبَهجَةِ ذاتِ دَلٍّ فَضلُها

عَجَباً لِبَهجَةِ ذاتِ دَلٍّ فَضلُها

بادٍ وهُنَّ ذَواتُ دَلٍّ فاضلِ

بادٍ وهُنَّ ذَواتُ دَلٍّ فاضلِ

How wondrous the beauty of that coy one, whose excellence

Excelled though they were by the excellent.

is evident, though they too have surpassing grace.

When we took turns speaking, we lowered our voices

لمّا ترَاجَعنا الحَدِيثَ نَكُفُّهُ

لمّا ترَاجَعنا الحَدِيثَ نَكُفُّهُ

بالخَفضِ بعدَ تَحِيَّةٍ وَتَسَاؤلِ

بالخَفضِ بعدَ تَحِيَّةٍ وَتَسَاؤلِ

When we exchanged conversation, restraining it

After greeting and questioning.

with lowered voices after greetings and questions,

We exchanged discreet words, no quarreling

والمُقتَراتِ مِنَ الكلامِ ولم يَكُن

والمُقتَراتِ مِنَ الكلامِ ولم يَكُن

بِتَجارُمٍ جِدّاً ولا بِتَباذُلِ

بِتَجارُمٍ جِدّاً ولا بِتَباذُلِ

and with sparing words, it was not

Or recrimination.

real contention or unrestrained familiarity.

They shook my hand with fingers dyed

صافَحنَنِى بنَواعِمٍ مَخضُوبةٍ

صافَحنَنِى بنَواعِمٍ مَخضُوبةٍ

شِبهِ النَّباتِ مِنَ النَّقا المُتَهايِلِ

شِبهِ النَّباتِ مِنَ النَّقا المُتَهايِلِ

They clasped my hand with soft, henna-dyed hands,

Like the shoots of sweetbrier.

like plants growing from a crumbling sandhill.

The session and incense were delightful

يانِعمَ ذلك مَجلِساً ولُبانةً

يانِعمَ ذلك مَجلِساً ولُبانةً

لو كانَ يَومُكَ لَيلُهُ يَتَطاوَلُ

لو كانَ يَومُكَ لَيلُهُ يَتَطاوَلُ

How fine that gathering, how satisfying that longing,

Had your day lasted nightlong.

if only the night of your day would stretch on!

My heart longed for the wailings of doves -

طَرِبَ الفُؤَادُ إِلى نُواحِ حَمائمٍ

طَرِبَ الفُؤَادُ إِلى نُواحِ حَمائمٍ

لا يَرعَوِينَ إِلى حَزِينٍ واجِلِ

لا يَرعَوِينَ إِلى حَزِينٍ واجِلِ

The heart yearned at the lamenting of doves

It would not rest for a melancholy tone.

who pay no heed to one grieving and afraid.

The stars of spring clustered on a side

نَجَّمنَ أَنواءَ الرَّبيعِ بجانبٍ

نَجَّمنَ أَنواءَ الرَّبيعِ بجانبٍ

خِصبٍ فساكنُهُ بعَيشٍ باجِلِ

خِصبٍ فساكنُهُ بعَيشٍ باجِلِ

They passed spring's rain-seasons in a tract

Of fertile growth whose dweller lived well.

of fertile ground, where the dweller lives in comfort,

Summer stretched over its firmament

والصَّيفَ حَتَّى استَنَّ فوقَ مِتانِهِ

والصَّيفَ حَتَّى استَنَّ فوقَ مِتانِهِ

وَهَجُ السَّمائمِ بالمَسِيلِ الحافلِ

وَهَجُ السَّمائمِ بالمَسِيلِ الحافلِ

and summer, until there coursed over its hard uplands

And the heat wave flooded in a torrent.

the blaze of scorching winds by the brimming watercourse.

The mirage flowed on the dunes as if

وجَرَى السَّرابُ عَلَى الحِدابِ كأنَّهُ

وجَرَى السَّرابُ عَلَى الحِدابِ كأنَّهُ

مَوجٌ يُرَجِّعُ فى جُنُوبِ السَّاحلِ

مَوجٌ يُرَجِّعُ فى جُنُوبِ السَّاحلِ

The mirage flowed over the rises, as though it were

It were a wave restoring to the coast sands.

waves rolling back along the sides of the shore.

Then it came near the water-springs and faded -

ثُمَّ اقتَرَبنَ إِلى المَناهِلِ وانقَضى

ثُمَّ اقتَرَبنَ إِلى المَناهِلِ وانقَضى

زَرعُ المَصِيفِ مِنَ البُطُونِ الضّاهِلِ

زَرعُ المَصِيفِ مِنَ البُطُونِ الضّاهِلِ

Then they drew near the watering places, and ended

The crop of summer from the withering bellies.

the scant summer growth of the valley bottoms.

Till when autumn fell, touching the twisting

حتَّى إِذا وَقَعَ الخَرِيفُ لمسولٍ

حتَّى إِذا وَقَعَ الخَرِيفُ لمسولٍ

فَلِذِى قِضِينَ إِلى بَياضِ جُلاجِلِ

فَلِذِى قِضِينَ إِلى بَياضِ جُلاجِلِ

Then, when autumn came to Masul,

Necks with its first white frosts,

then to Dhu Qidin, as far as Julajil's white expanse,

They drove up all the heavily-laden beasts

قَرَّبنَ لِلأحمالِ كلَّ مُضَبَّرٍ

قَرَّبنَ لِلأحمالِ كلَّ مُضَبَّرٍ

كالقَصرِ فَعمِ المَنكِبَينِ قُنابِلِ

كالقَصرِ فَعمِ المَنكِبَينِ قُنابِلِ

they brought forward for their loads every compactly built camel,

Like a palace covering both shoulders.

palace-like, broad-shouldered and huge,

The harsh bone-ridges of their chests are prominent,

نَهدِ المِلاطِ جُراشِعٍ حَيزُومُهُ

نَهدِ المِلاطِ جُراشِعٍ حَيزُومُهُ

جَثلُ الضُّلُوعِ شَدِيدُ شَعبِ الكاهلِ

جَثلُ الضُّلُوعِ شَدِيدُ شَعبِ الكاهلِ

high-flanked, ample in the chest,

The lines of their flanks rigid from the burdens.

thick-ribbed, strongly joined at the withers;

She-camels kneaded and their prints appeared -

عَيرانةٍ هَمَلضت وَظاهَرَ نَيَّها

عَيرانةٍ هَمَلضت وَظاهَرَ نَيَّها

عُشبٌ تَجَثَّلَ مِن رَبيع هاطِلِ

عُشبٌ تَجَثَّلَ مِن رَبيع هاطِلِ

a sturdy she-camel that grazed freely, her fat thickened

Herbage crumpled from a pouring rain.

by lush grass grown from pouring spring rain.

Until when she had tamed them with firm handling

حتّى إِذا خَشَّعنَها بِأَزِمَّةٍ

حتّى إِذا خَشَّعنَها بِأَزِمَّةٍ

مِن صُنعِ ماهِرةِ الأَكفِّ جَوادِلِ

مِن صُنعِ ماهِرةِ الأَكفِّ جَوادِلِ

Then, when they had subdued her with reins

By the skill of her deft palms,

made by braiders skilled of hand,

And the breadth of their bodies showed, and their length,

وَارَينَ عَرضَ جِسامِهِنَّ وطُولَهَا

وَارَينَ عَرضَ جِسامِهِنَّ وطُولَهَا

بِمُحَبَّرٍ مِن رَقمِهنَّ غُدَافِلِ

بِمُحَبَّرٍ مِن رَقمِهنَّ غُدَافِلِ

they hid the breadth and length of their bodies

Marked by the pattern of their necks,

beneath ample, embroidered cloth of their own making,

And she adorned them with all kinds of howdahs, secure,

وَعَلَونَهُنَّ بِكُلِّ أَحوَى قاتِرٍ

وَعَلَونَهُنَّ بِكُلِّ أَحوَى قاتِرٍ

كالطِّرفِ لا جافٍ ولاَ مُتَضائِلِ

كالطِّرفِ لا جافٍ ولاَ مُتَضائِلِ

and placed above them each dark, compact form,

Like the eyelid, neither stiff nor drooping,

like a noble steed, neither bulky nor diminutive,

With drapes of purple, covered overall

بمُحَجَّبٍ بالأُرجُوانِ مُقَنَّعِ

بمُحَجَّبٍ بالأُرجُوانِ مُقَنَّعِ

بالرَّيطِ رَهّافِ السَّدِيفِ مُخايلِ

بالرَّيطِ رَهّافِ السَّدِيفِ مُخايلِ

veiled in purple, shrouded

With rare thin gauze and pretense.

in fine cloth, lean-fleshed and splendid.

When she had prepared the finest sight,

حتى إِذا هَيَّأنَ أَحسَنَ مَنظَرٍ

حتى إِذا هَيَّأنَ أَحسَنَ مَنظَرٍ

حالاً بلَ عُنفٍ وَلاَ بِتَوَاكُلِ

حالاً بلَ عُنفٍ وَلاَ بِتَوَاكُلِ

Then, when they had prepared the fairest sight,

Without violence or nonchalance,

at once, without roughness or mutual neglect,

Above the camels the litters took their place -

فَوقَ الجِمالِ تَبَوَّأَت أَخدَارَهَا

فَوقَ الجِمالِ تَبَوَّأَت أَخدَارَهَا

خُرُدٌ مِلاَحُ الدَّلِّ غَيرُعَوَاطِلِ

خُرُدٌ مِلاَحُ الدَّلِّ غَيرُعَوَاطِلِ

above the camels, in their curtained bowers, settled

Ripe fruits of gentle birth, no vanity,

shy maidens, charmingly coy, adorned with jewelry;

Of every swaying one the veil hangs

مِن كُلِّ بَهكَنَةٍ يَجُولُ وشاحُها

مِن كُلِّ بَهكَنَةٍ يَجُولُ وشاحُها

عَن خَصرِهَا وَالخَصرُ لَيسَ بجائلِ

عَن خَصرِهَا وَالخَصرُ لَيسَ بجائلِ

each a soft, well-formed beauty, her sash shifting

From her waist, though the waist is no disgrace,

about her waist, while the waist itself stayed still;

A scented east wind blows from its pocket -

رُعبُوبةٍ نَفحُ العَبِيرِ بِجَيبِهَا

رُعبُوبةٍ نَفحُ العَبِيرِ بِجَيبِهَا

عَبِقٌ وَلاَ تَصِلُ المُحِبَّ بِطَائِلِ

عَبِقٌ وَلاَ تَصِلُ المُحِبَّ بِطَائِلِ

a tender beauty, the fragrance of blended perfume at her breast

Fragrance, though it barely reaches the lover,

clinging, yet she grants her lover no substantial favor,

Unless cared for, and then a saying, and after it

إِلاّ بعَلَّ و سَوفَ قِيلٌ بعدَهُ

إِلاّ بعَلَّ و سَوفَ قِيلٌ بعدَهُ

خُلفٌ وَلَيسَ خَيالُها بِمُزَايلى

خُلفٌ وَلَيسَ خَيالُها بِمُزَايلى

except 'perhaps' and 'later'—words followed by

A successor, not her image to be spurned.

broken promises; yet her image never leaves me.

This, and better, is praise for one praised

هذا وَخَيرٌ مِدحَةٌ لِمُمَدَّحٍ

هذا وَخَيرٌ مِدحَةٌ لِمُمَدَّحٍ

بِفَضَائلٍ مَعدُودَةٍ وَنَوَافلِ

بِفَضَائلٍ مَعدُودَةٍ وَنَوَافلِ

Enough of this; better is praise of one acclaimed

For numbered and additional virtues,

for enumerated virtues and gifts beyond obligation:

For the faithful youth who keeps his word,

لِفَتَى مَعَدٍّ ذِى الوَفاءِ بعَهدِهِ

لِفَتَى مَعَدٍّ ذِى الوَفاءِ بعَهدِهِ

وأخِى السِّياسَةِ والقَضاءِ الفَاصِلِ

وأخِى السِّياسَةِ والقَضاءِ الفَاصِلِ

the young man of Ma'add, faithful to his pledge,

Arbiter of rule and decisive justice,

a master of governance and decisive judgment,

Who wreaks punishment on those who break the staff

والمُنتَضِى لِنَكالِ مَن شَقَّ العَصَا

والمُنتَضِى لِنَكالِ مَن شَقَّ العَصَا

يومَ التَّزَايُلِ بالوَشِيجِ الذَّابل

يومَ التَّزَايُلِ بالوَشِيجِ الذَّابل

who draws forth, to punish those who split the staff of unity,

The day they weaken and their gleam grows dim,

on the day the ranks divide, a slender spearwood lance.

Who defends the protected, attacking suddenly,

وَاعصِ العَوَاذِلَ وَاقرِهَمًّا ضَائفاً

وَاعصِ العَوَاذِلَ وَاقرِهَمًّا ضَائفاً

منعَ الرُّقَادَ نَجَاءَ حَرفٍ بازِلِ

منعَ الرُّقَادَ نَجَاءَ حَرفٍ بازِلِ

Defy the reprovers, and host a visiting grief

Denying sleep to the shameless babbler.

that bars sleep—with the swift pace of a mature, lean she-camel.

O Ma'n son of the generous, who trod the pebbles

يا مَعنُ يابنَ كِرَامِ مَن وَطِىءَ الحَصَى

يا مَعنُ يابنَ كِرَامِ مَن وَطِىءَ الحَصَى

إِلاّ النُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ أَكرَمَ وَائلِ

إِلاّ النُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ أَكرَمَ وَائلِ

O Ma'n, son of the noblest who ever trod the pebbles,

Save for prophethood, then most noble ancestors,

prophethood excepted—then noblest of Wa'il

Whose war is most feared when battle grew hot,

حَسَباً وَأَكرَهَهُم إِذَا حَمِىَ الوغَى

حَسَباً وَأَكرَهَهُم إِذَا حَمِىَ الوغَى

بَأساً وَأَصبرَهُم لِحَقِّ نازلِ

بَأساً وَأَصبرَهُم لِحَقِّ نازلِ

in lineage, and their most formidable when battle blazes,

Most patient for the truth that befalls,

in valor, and most steadfast before a duty that descends;

Fiercest in might, most faithful in allies

وَأَشَدَّهُم دَفعاً وَأَخلَصَ وَائلٍ

وَأَشَدَّهُم دَفعاً وَأَخلَصَ وَائلٍ

نَفعاً وَأَطوَلَهُم مَناطَ حَمائلِ

نَفعاً وَأَطوَلَهُم مَناطَ حَمائلِ

their strongest in repelling foes, and purest of Wa'il

Bringing advantage, farthest in aspirations.

in doing good, and tallest where the sword-belts hang.

How many hateful prince of little worth

كَم مِن أَمِيرِ كَرِيهةٍ مِمَّن طَغَى

كَم مِن أَمِيرِ كَرِيهةٍ مِمَّن طَغَى

ومُقَّنَّع شاكِى السِّلاَحِ مُباسِلِ

ومُقَّنَّع شاكِى السِّلاَحِ مُباسِلِ

How many a battle commander from among the insolent,

Or pretentious, complaining of arms,

a helmeted warrior, bristling with arms, fiercely brave,

Does harm with capturing steeds, hanging up

ضَارٍ بأَسلاَبِ الفَوارِسِ مُعلِقٍ

ضَارٍ بأَسلاَبِ الفَوارِسِ مُعلِقٍ

نَفعاً تَحَرَّبَهُ بِصَدرِ العاملِ

نَفعاً تَحَرَّبَهُ بِصَدرِ العاملِ

accustomed to horsemen's spoils, displaying

Usefulness, which you sought in the thick of battle!

his gains, you despoiled with the head of your spear!

You opened a window piercing with a rusty

أَشعَرتَ نافِذَةً تَجِيشُ بناحطٍ

أَشعَرتَ نافِذَةً تَجِيشُ بناحطٍ

زَبدٍ مُعاندُهُ وآخَرَ سائلِ

زَبدٍ مُعاندُهُ وآخَرَ سائلِ

You pierced him with a wound seething with snorting

Foam of one resisting, and another asking.

foam, its blood spurting and another stream flowing.

You hit the Yemeni with a white-bladed sword

وَرمَيتَ ذَا يَمَنٍ بشَيبَانِيَّةٍ

وَرمَيتَ ذَا يَمَنٍ بشَيبَانِيَّةٍ

طَحَنَت جَنَاجِنَ مَن طَغَى بِكَلاَكِلِ

طَحَنَت جَنَاجِنَ مَن طَغَى بِكَلاَكِلِ

You struck the man of Yemen with a Shaybani host

That crushed the wings of those who were excessive.

that ground the rebels' breastbones beneath its chests.

You trampled the armies of every land possessed

وَوَطِئتَ عَسكَرَ كُلِّ ثَغرٍ حَازَهُ

وَوَطِئتَ عَسكَرَ كُلِّ ثَغرٍ حَازَهُ

أَهلُ المَخَبَّةِ وِطأَةَ المُتَثَاقِلِ

أَهلُ المَخَبَّةِ وِطأَةَ المُتَثَاقِلِ

You trod down the camp of every frontier held

By owners of ignorance with the trampling of one heavy laden,

by men of deceit, with a ponderous tread.

And the refugee who feared the enemy nearby

وَمُشَرَّدٍ خَافَ العَدُوَّ بِجَانبٍ

وَمُشَرَّدٍ خَافَ العَدُوَّ بِجَانبٍ

وَالجَورَ مُنقَطِعٍ إِلَيكَ مُوائِلِ

وَالجَورَ مُنقَطِعٍ إِلَيكَ مُوائِلِ

And many a fugitive, fearing the enemy in some outlying place,

While wrongdoing ended its roads in you.

and oppression, cut off, seeking refuge with you—

You secured his fear, and on an evil day

آمَنتَ خِيفتَهُ وَيَومِ كَرِيهةٍ

آمَنتَ خِيفتَهُ وَيَومِ كَرِيهةٍ

فَرَّجتَ غُمَّتَهَا فَكَم مِن قائلِ

فَرَّجتَ غُمَّتَهَا فَكَم مِن قائلِ

you allayed his fear; and many a day of battle,

Eased his worry - how many could say it!

you dispelled its gloom. How many a voice declares:

The delegations from all the tribes,

إِنَّ الوُفُودَ مِنَ القَبَائلِ كلِّهَا

إِنَّ الوُفُودَ مِنَ القَبَائلِ كلِّهَا

مِمَّن تَضَعضَعَ مالُهُ والخاملِ

مِمَّن تَضَعضَعَ مالُهُ والخاملِ

'The delegations from all the tribes,

Those whose wealth was shaken, and the inert,

from those whose wealth has dwindled and the obscure,

Sought the dew of Ma'n, so most laden riders

طَلَبُوا نَدَى مَعنٍ فَأوثَقُ رَاحِلٍ

طَلَبُوا نَدَى مَعنٍ فَأوثَقُ رَاحِلٍ

بِنَجَاحِ حاجَتِهِ وَأَحمَدُ قَافلِ

بِنَجَاحِ حاجَتِهِ وَأَحمَدُ قَافلِ

sought Ma'n's bounty; none leaves more confident

Succeeded through your bounty, and caravans blessed.

of his request's success, none returns more grateful.'

The sea is not vaster than the Euphrates in flood

سَمحُ المَوَدَّةِ فى العَطاءِ حَرِيمُهُ

سَمحُ المَوَدَّةِ فى العَطاءِ حَرِيمُهُ

عِندَ الثُّرَيّا مِن يَدِ المُتَناوِلِ

عِندَ الثُّرَيّا مِن يَدِ المُتَناوِلِ

Generous in affection and giving, his sanctuary lies

Between rivulets and gatherings.

at the Pleiades, beyond the hand that would reach it.

Your boon is more beneficial than your dew to the transgressor

مَا اليَمُّ مِن بَحرِ الفُرَاتِ إِذا طَمَى

مَا اليَمُّ مِن بَحرِ الفُرَاتِ إِذا طَمَى

بِالسَّيلِ بَينَ جَدَاوِلٍ ومَحافِلِ

بِالسَّيلِ بَينَ جَدَاوِلٍ ومَحافِلِ

No flood of the river Euphrates, when it overflows

Whose distinction withered the indigent man.

in torrents among streams and gathering pools,

Were it not for hoping in you, I would not have traveled

بأَعَمَّ نَفعاً مِن نَدَاكَ لِمَن بَغَى

بأَعَمَّ نَفعاً مِن نَدَاكَ لِمَن بَغَى

فَضلاً وَاثمَلَ لِلضَّعِيفِ العائلِ

فَضلاً وَاثمَلَ لِلضَّعِيفِ العائلِ

is wider in benefit than your bounty to one seeking

The expanse of Iraq with young men and riders.

favor, or more sustaining to the weak and destitute.

How much did they cut across to you from a land

لَولاَ رَجَاؤُكَ لَم أسِر مِن بِيشةٍ

لَولاَ رَجَاؤُكَ لَم أسِر مِن بِيشةٍ

عَرضَ العِرَاقِ بِفِتيَةٍ وَرَواحِلِ

عَرضَ العِرَاقِ بِفِتيَةٍ وَرَواحِلِ

Were it not for hope in you, I would not have traveled from Bishah

Whose guide through the plain is the ignorant!

across Iraq, with young men and riding-camels.

Joined are the stages joined, their regions

كَم قَد قَطَعنَ إِلَيكَ مِن دَاوِيَّةٍ

كَم قَد قَطَعنَ إِلَيكَ مِن دَاوِيَّةٍ

سَهلٍ يَظَلُّ دَلِيلُهَا كَالجاهِلِ

سَهلٍ يَظَلُّ دَلِيلُهَا كَالجاهِلِ

How many a desert they have crossed to reach you,

Linked by howdahs succeeding.

a level waste whose guide remains like one who knows nothing,

A time of disasters they crossed continuously

مَوصُولةٍ بِتَنائفٍ مَوصُولةٍ

مَوصُولةٍ بِتَنائفٍ مَوصُولةٍ

أَقطَارُهُنَّ بِسَبسَبٍ مُتَماحِلِ

أَقطَارُهُنَّ بِسَبسَبٍ مُتَماحِلِ

joined to desolate tracts, joined

And sank into sorrow, frail.

at their boundaries to a far-stretching barren plain.

O son of the lofty Ghassan whose heights for them

وَزَمَانِ آفاتٍ قَطَعنَ تمادِياً

وَزَمَانِ آفاتٍ قَطَعنَ تمادِياً

وَخَبَبنَ فى الحزّانِ ذَاتَ هَزَائلِ

وَخَبَبنَ فى الحزّانِ ذَاتَ هَزَائلِ

Through a season of calamities they pressed on,

Were noble, with pillars and columns!

and trotted over rugged ground, wasted and lean.

Their foundations were firm, their branches flourishing -

يابنَ الغَطَارِفَةِ الذِينَ سَمَت لهم

يابنَ الغَطَارِفَةِ الذِينَ سَمَت لهم

قُلَلٌ ذَوَاتُ أُرومةٍ وَعُدَامِلِ

قُلَلٌ ذَوَاتُ أُرومةٍ وَعُدَامِلِ

O son of noble chiefs for whom there rise

Excellence preventing indulgence in the harvest.

summits with rootstocks and ancient trunks,

May your sacrifice bring wretchedness to him who envies me

ثَبتَت رَوَاسِيها وَزَانَ فُرُوعَها

ثَبتَت رَوَاسِيها وَزَانَ فُرُوعَها

فَضلٌ يمنّعُ مِن تَعَاطِى الحاصِلِ

فَضلٌ يمنّعُ مِن تَعَاطِى الحاصِلِ

their firm foundations standing, their branches adorned

And joy to him who blames you though hopeful!

by excellence kept beyond the gatherer's reach.

For declining favor, in the view of one gazing

حَقِّق فِدَاكَ أبى مَغِيظةَ حاسِدِى

حَقِّق فِدَاكَ أبى مَغِيظةَ حاسِدِى

وَسُرورَ مُعتَرٍّ لسَيبِكَ آملِ

وَسُرورَ مُعتَرٍّ لسَيبِكَ آملِ

Fulfill—may my father be your ransom—the vexation of my envier,

At your dew; you are truly of high merit.

and the joy of a petitioner hoping for your largesse,

Make wretched my father's envier and gladden

لجمال مُنقَلَبٍ بزَعمٍ ناظرٍ

لجمال مُنقَلَبٍ بزَعمٍ ناظرٍ

لِنَدَاكَ إِنَّكَ ذُو ندىً وَفَوَاضِلِ

لِنَدَاكَ إِنَّكَ ذُو ندىً وَفَوَاضِلِ

for a happy return, waiting in expectation

The giver of false blame though expectant of you.

for your bounty: you possess generosity and abundant gifts.

You are of aid and additional virtues.