لَمَّا رَأَتْ رَايَةَ الْقَيْسِيّ زَاحِفَةً

لَمَّا رَأَتْ رَايَةَ الْقَيْسِيّ زَاحِفَةً

إِلَيَّ رِيعَتْ وَقَالَتْ لِي وَمَا الْعَمَلُ

إِلَيَّ رِيعَتْ وَقَالَتْ لِي وَمَا الْعَمَلُ

When she saw the Qaysi’s banner advancing,

When she saw al-Qaysi's standard advancing

When she saw the banner of Qais approaching,

toward me, she was alarmed and said to me, “What is to be done?”

toward me, she took fright and said to me: And what is to be done?

She trembled and said to me, "What shall we do?"

قُلْتُ الْوَغَى لَيْسَ مِنْ رَأْيِي وَلاَ عَمَلِي

قُلْتُ الْوَغَى لَيْسَ مِنْ رَأْيِي وَلاَ عَمَلِي

لاَ نَاقَةٌ لِيَ فِي هَذَا وَلاَ جَمَلُ

لاَ نَاقَةٌ لِيَ فِي هَذَا وَلاَ جَمَلُ

I said, “Battle is neither my counsel nor my work;

I said: Warfare is neither my choice nor my work;

I said, "Woe is not my way or deed.

I have neither she-camel nor camel in this affair.”

I have neither a she-camel nor a he-camel in this.

I have no she-camel or camel here."

قَدْ كَانَ ذَاكَ وَرَنَّاتُ الصَّهِيلِ ضُحىً

قَدْ كَانَ ذَاكَ وَرَنَّاتُ الصَّهِيلِ ضُحىً

تَهُزُّ عِطْفِي كَأَنِّي شَارِبٌ ثَمِلُ

تَهُزُّ عِطْفِي كَأَنِّي شَارِبٌ ثَمِلُ

That was once, when the ringing neighs at morning

That was once so, when the ringing neighs at midmorning

That was when the neighing of horses at dawn

would shake my sides as though I were a drunken drinker.

made my body sway as though I were an intoxicated drinker.

Would shake my shoulders as if I were drunk.

وَالآنَ قَدْ صَوَّحَ الْمَرْعَى وَقُوِّضَتِ ال

وَالآنَ قَدْ صَوَّحَ الْمَرْعَى وَقُوِّضَتِ ال

خَيمَاتُ وَالرَّكْبُ بَعْدَ اللبثِ مُحْتَمِلُ

خَيمَاتُ وَالرَّكْبُ بَعْدَ اللبثِ مُحْتَمِلُ

But now the pasture has withered, and the—

And now the pasture has withered, and struck are the

But now the pasture is desolate, the tents struck,

tents have been struck; after lingering, the caravan is setting out.

tents; after lingering, the caravan is departing.

And the people after waiting are departing.

قَالَتْ أَلَسْتَ شِهَابَ الدِّينِ تُضْرِمُهَا

قَالَتْ أَلَسْتَ شِهَابَ الدِّينِ تُضْرِمُهَا

حَاشَا الْعُلاَ أَنْ يُقَالَ اسْتَنْوَقَ الْجَمَلُ

حَاشَا الْعُلاَ أَنْ يُقَالَ اسْتَنْوَقَ الْجَمَلُ

She said, “Are you not Shihāb al-Dīn, setting it ablaze?

She said: Are you not Shihab al-Din, setting it ablaze?

She said, "Are you not the flame of faith, kindling it?

High honor forbid that it be said: ‘The camel became a she-camel.’

Far be it from high honor that one should say: The he-camel has become a she-camel.

Far be it that it be said the camel refused to carry."

وَإِنَّ أَحْسَنَ مِنْ هَذَا وَذَا وَزَرٌ

وَإِنَّ أَحْسَنَ مِنْ هَذَا وَذَا وَزَرٌ

بِمِثْلِهِ فِي الدَّوَاهِي يُبْلَغُ الأَمَلُ

بِمِثْلِهِ فِي الدَّوَاهِي يُبْلَغُ الأَمَلُ

Yet better than this or that is a refuge

And indeed, better than this and that is a refuge

Better than this or that is a burden

through whose like, amid calamities, hope is attained.

through whose like, amid calamities, hope is attained.

Of its like in the valleys to attain hope.

هُوَ الْحِمَى لأَبِي حَمُّو اسْتَجِرْهُ ففي

هُوَ الْحِمَى لأَبِي حَمُّو اسْتَجِرْهُ ففي

هِ الأَمْنُ مُنْسَدِلٌ وَالْفَضْلُ مُكْتَمِلُ

هِ الأَمْنُ مُنْسَدِلٌ وَالْفَضْلُ مُكْتَمِلُ

It is Abu Hammu’s sanctuary; seek his protection, for in—

It is Abu Hammu's sanctuary; seek his protection, for in

It is the zeal of Abu Hammu. Seek it as a neighbor.

it security hangs like a curtain, and excellence is complete.

it safety is spread out, and bounty is complete.

In it security hangs low and merit is complete.

وَاللَّهِ لَوْ أَهْمَلَ الرَّاعِي النَّقَادَ بِهِ

وَاللَّهِ لَوْ أَهْمَلَ الرَّاعِي النَّقَادَ بِهِ

مَا خَافَ مِنْ أُسْدِ خَفَّانٍ بِهِ هَمَلُ

مَا خَافَ مِنْ أُسْدِ خَفَّانٍ بِهِ هَمَلُ

By God, if the shepherd left the choice flock unattended there,

By God, were the shepherd to leave the small sheep untended there,

By God, if the shepherd neglects it with his flocks

no straying herd there would fear the lions of Khaffān.

untended livestock there would not fear the lions of Khaffan.

He need not fear the attack of a lurking lion.

تَكُونُ مِنْ قَوْمِ مُوسَى إِنْ قَضَوْا عَدَلُوا

تَكُونُ مِنْ قَوْمِ مُوسَى إِنْ قَضَوْا عَدَلُوا

وَإِنْ تَقَاعَدَ دَهْرٌ جَائِرٌ حَمَلُوا

وَإِنْ تَقَاعَدَ دَهْرٌ جَائِرٌ حَمَلُوا

You will be among Moses’ people: when they judge, they act justly,

You will be among Musa's people: when they judge, they are just,

You would be of the people of Moses if you judge justly

and when an unjust age hangs back, they charge.

and if an unjust age falters, they shoulder the burden.

And if an unjust age hangs back, carry the burden.

هُمُ الْجِبَالُ الرَّوَاسِي كُلَّمَا حَلُمُوا

هُمُ الْجِبَالُ الرَّوَاسِي كُلَّمَا حَلُمُوا

هُمُ الْبِحَارُ الطَّوَامِي كُلَّمَا جَمُلُوا

هُمُ الْبِحَارُ الطَّوَامِي كُلَّمَا جَمُلُوا

They are the firmly rooted mountains whenever they show forbearance;

They are firmly rooted mountains whenever they show forbearance;

They are the towering mountains, whenever they show restraint,

they are the swelling seas whenever they display nobility.

they are overflowing seas whenever they act graciously.

They are the surging seas, whenever they endure patiently.

فَقُلْتُ كَانَ لَك الرَّحْمَانُ بَعْدِي مَا

فَقُلْتُ كَانَ لَك الرَّحْمَانُ بَعْدِي مَا

سِوَاهُ مُعْتَمَدٌ وَالرَّأْيُ مُعْتَمِلُ

سِوَاهُ مُعْتَمَدٌ وَالرَّأْيُ مُعْتَمِلُ

So I said, “May the All-Merciful be yours after me: there is

So I said: May the All-Merciful be with you after me; there is none

So I said, "After me the Most Merciful was your pillar;

none but Him to rely upon, while resolve is at work.”

besides Him to rely on, and thought is at work.

No other was relied upon and judgment was pending."

فَهَا أَنَا تَحْتَ ظِلٍّ مِنْهُ يُلْحِفُنِي

فَهَا أَنَا تَحْتَ ظِلٍّ مِنْهُ يُلْحِفُنِي

وَالشَّمْلُ مِنِّي بِسِتْرِ الْعِزِّ يَشْتَمِلُ

وَالشَّمْلُ مِنِّي بِسِتْرِ الْعِزِّ يَشْتَمِلُ

And here I am beneath a shade from him that wraps me,

So here I am beneath his shade, which enfolds me,

And I am covered with the cloak of honor.

while my whole being is enveloped in honor’s protection.

and all my affairs are wrapped in the veil of honor.

Say to Qais, "Judgment has failed, so do not

فَقُلْ لِقَيْسٍ لَقَدْ خَابَ الْقِيَاسُ فَلاَ

فَقُلْ لِقَيْسٍ لَقَدْ خَابَ الْقِيَاسُ فَلاَ

تُذْكُوا الْمِصَاعَ وَتَحْتَ اللَّيْلِ فَاحْتَمِلُوا

تُذْكُوا الْمِصَاعَ وَتَحْتَ اللَّيْلِ فَاحْتَمِلُوا

So tell Qays: “The calculation has indeed failed; do not

So tell Qays: The comparison has failed; do not

Stir up trouble, but show patience through the night."

rekindle the combat, and under cover of night, depart.”

stoke the combat; depart under cover of night.

May the rain of favors last for him, contending,

دَامَتْ لَهُ دِيَمُ النُّعْمَى مُسَاجِلَةً

دَامَتْ لَهُ دِيَمُ النُّعْمَى مُسَاجِلَةً

يُمْنَاهُ تَنْهلُّ بِالْيُمْنَى فَتَنْهَمِلُ

يُمْنَاهُ تَنْهلُّ بِالْيُمْنَى فَتَنْهَمِلُ

May the rain clouds of favor endure for him, vying

May the steady rains of blessing endure for him, vying with

Giving drink from the right hand, overflowing.

with his right hand: it gushes with good fortune and streams abundantly.

his right hand, as they rain alongside it, then pour forth.

And the sun of his grandeur was secured from setting

وَآمَنَتْ شَمْسُ عُلْيَاهُ الأُفُولَ إِلَى

وَآمَنَتْ شَمْسُ عُلْيَاهُ الأُفُولَ إِلَى

طَيِّ الْوُجُودِ فَلاَ شَمْسٌ وَلاَ حَمَلُ

طَيِّ الْوُجُودِ فَلاَ شَمْسٌ وَلاَ حَمَلُ

May the sun of his exalted glory be secure from setting until

And may the sun of his exalted glory be safe from setting until

Into the lap of existence, with neither sun nor burdens.

existence is folded away—when there is neither sun nor Ram.

existence is folded away—then neither sun nor Aries remains.