طَرِبتَ وَعنّاكَ الهَوى وَالتَطَرُّبُ

طَرِبتَ وَعنّاكَ الهَوى وَالتَطَرُّبُ

وَعادَتكَ أَحزانٌ تَشوقُ وَتَنصِبُ

وَعادَتكَ أَحزانٌ تَشوقُ وَتَنصِبُ

You were stirred with longing, and passion and yearning tormented you,

You were disturbed by passion and infatuation,

and sorrows revisited you, kindling longing and wearing you down.

And your disposition turned to yearning and erecting.

وأَصبَحتَ من لَيلى هَلوعاً كَأَنَّما

وأَصبَحتَ من لَيلى هَلوعاً كَأَنَّما

أَصابَكَ مومٌ من تِهامةَ مورَبُ

أَصابَكَ مومٌ من تِهامةَ مورَبُ

And you became distraught over Layla, as though

You became in the morning disconsolate for Layla, as though

a virulent bout of pleurisy from Tihamah had struck you.

A disease from Tehama had stricken you with its biting edge.

أَلا لابَلِ الأَشواقُ هاجَت هُمومَهُ

أَلا لابَلِ الأَشواقُ هاجَت هُمومَهُ

وَأَشجانَهُ فالدَمعُ لِلوَجدِ يَسكُبُ

وَأَشجانَهُ فالدَمعُ لِلوَجدِ يَسكُبُ

Ah, no—rather, longings have roused his cares

Indeed, the patient one, his passions stirred his sorrows,

and his sorrows, so tears pour forth from love's anguish.

And his groans - so tears for anguish pour forth.

وَلَيلى أَناةٌ كالمَهاةِ غَريرَةٌ

وَلَيلى أَناةٌ كالمَهاةِ غَريرَةٌ

منعَّمَةٌ تُصبي الحَليمَ وَتخلبُ

منعَّمَةٌ تُصبي الحَليمَ وَتخلبُ

And Layla is composed, like an oryx doe, guileless,

And Layla is gentle, soft as an unweaned young she-camel,

pampered, she beguiles the sober-minded and enchants.

Pampered, she who makes the forbearing fall in love, and captivates.

كأَنَّ ثَناياها تَعلَّلنَ موهِناً

كأَنَّ ثَناياها تَعلَّلنَ موهِناً

غَبيقاً مِن الصَهباءِ بَل هيَ أَعذَبُ

غَبيقاً مِن الصَهباءِ بَل هيَ أَعذَبُ

As though her front teeth had sipped, late at night,

As though her figure was clad attractively

an evening draught of tawny wine—yet she is sweeter.

In a diaphanous robe of Zuhair, most delicate fabric.

وَما أُمُّ خِشفٍ شادِنٍ بخَميلةٍ

وَما أُمُّ خِشفٍ شادِنٍ بخَميلةٍ

من الدَهسِ منه هايلٌ وَمُكَثَّبُ

من الدَهسِ منه هايلٌ وَمُكَثَّبُ

And no doe, mother of a sturdy fawn, in a thicket

And no mother of a timid, weak-hearted creature,

on soft sandy ground, some loose and some dune-heaped—

Of fine built, is more inclining, desirous, forward.

يَعِنُّ لَها طَوراً يَروقُها

يَعِنُّ لَها طَوراً يَروقُها

عَلى الأُنسِ منه جرأةٌ وَتَوثُّبُ

عَلى الأُنسِ منه جرأةٌ وَتَوثُّبُ

he appears to her at times; she delights in

She cares for him for a while, is pleased with him

his boldness and bounding, along with his tameness—

For companionship - from her boldness and vivacity.

بأَحسنَ منها مُقلةً ومقَلَّداً

بأَحسنَ منها مُقلةً ومقَلَّداً

وَإِن هيَ لَم تُسعِف وَطالَ التَجَنُّبُ

وَإِن هيَ لَم تُسعِف وَطالَ التَجَنُّبُ

is lovelier than she in eye and neck,

With the best ornament and jewelry that adorns her

though she has granted no favor and her avoidance has lasted long.

Even if she is not compliant and avoidance became prolonged.

وَما رَوضةٌ وسميَّةٌ حَمويَّةٌ

وَما رَوضةٌ وسميَّةٌ حَمويَّةٌ

بِها مونقاتٌ من خُزامى وَحُلَّبُ

بِها مونقاتٌ من خُزامى وَحُلَّبُ

And no protected meadow, watered by autumn rains,

And no garden, fertile, Hamawiyah,

with lovely lavender and hullab growing in it,

Wherein are delicate plants of Khazami and Hubbal.

تَعاورَها وَدقُ السَماءِ وَديمَةٌ

تَعاورَها وَدقُ السَماءِ وَديمَةٌ

يَظَلُّ عَلَيها وَبلُها يَتَحَلَّبُ

يَظَلُّ عَلَيها وَبلُها يَتَحَلَّبُ

visited in turn by rain from the sky and steady drizzle,

The rain pouring on it and sprinkling,

its heavy rain continually dripping upon it,

Overshadowing and wetting it, dripping.

بأَطيبَ منها نَكهَةً بَعدَ هجعَةٍ

بأَطيبَ منها نَكهَةً بَعدَ هجعَةٍ

إِذا ما تَدلّى الكَواكبُ المتصَوِّبُ

إِذا ما تَدلّى الكَواكبُ المتصَوِّبُ

is sweeter-scented than her breath after a spell of sleep,

More sweetly scented than it after slumber

when the descending stars hang low.

When the inclining stars appear.

فَدَع ذِكرَ لَيلى إِذا نأتكَ بوِدِّها

فَدَع ذِكرَ لَيلى إِذا نأتكَ بوِدِّها

وَإِذ هيَ لا تَدنو إِلَيكَ فَتسقُبُ

وَإِذ هيَ لا تَدنو إِلَيكَ فَتسقُبُ

So leave off mentioning Layla if she keeps her love far from you,

So leave mentioning Layla if she refuses you,

and since she will not draw near you and come close.

And if she does not approach you, so embrace.

أَتَتنا تَميمٌ قَضُّها بقَضيضِها

أَتَتنا تَميمٌ قَضُّها بقَضيضِها

وَمَن سارَ من أَلفافِهم وَتأشَّبوا

وَمَن سارَ من أَلفافِهم وَتأشَّبوا

Tamim came against us, their whole multitude,

Tamim came to us, their affliction in their harshness,

and those who marched from their mixed bands and gathered together,

And those who walked of their mixed horde all became dusty.

بَرَجراجةٍ لا يُنفِدُ الطَرفُ عَرضَها

بَرَجراجةٍ لا يُنفِدُ الطَرفُ عَرضَها

لَها زَجَلٌ قَد احزأَلَّ وَمَلحَبُ

لَها زَجَلٌ قَد احزأَلَّ وَمَلحَبُ

with a surging host whose breadth the eye could not span;

With a wide plain that eyes cannot encompass its width,

its clamor had swelled, and it had a broad track.

For it a noisy poem that distressed and became disordered.

فَلَمّا رَأَيناهم كأَنَّ زُهاءَهم

فَلَمّا رَأَيناهم كأَنَّ زُهاءَهم

عَلى الأَرضِ إَصباحاً سوادٌ وَغُرَّبُ

عَلى الأَرضِ إَصباحاً سوادٌ وَغُرَّبُ

When we saw them, their multitude seemed

So when we saw them, their garments

a dark mass and crows on the earth at daybreak.

On the ground in the morning were darkness and dust.

سَمَونا لهم بالخَيلِ تَردي كَأَنَّها

سَمَونا لهم بالخَيلِ تَردي كَأَنَّها

سَعالٍ وَعِقبانُ اللِوى حينَ تُركَبُ

سَعالٍ وَعِقبانُ اللِوى حينَ تُركَبُ

We advanced against them with bounding horses, as though they were

We set out against them with horses swift as though they were

ghouls and eagles of the winding sands when ridden.

Coughing, and forelocks of twisting when they gallop.

ضَوامِرُ أَمثالُ القِداحِ يَكُرُّها

ضَوامِرُ أَمثالُ القِداحِ يَكُرُّها

عَلى المَوتِ أَبناءُ الحُروبِ فتحرَبُ

عَلى المَوتِ أَبناءُ الحُروبِ فتحرَبُ

Lean horses, like arrow shafts, are sent charging again

Chargers like pillars of battle overturning them

into death by the sons of war, and so grow fierce.

Toward death - the battle-hardened sons of war - so they were defeated.

فَقالوا الصَبوحَ عِندَ أَولِ وَهلَةٍ

فَقالوا الصَبوحَ عِندَ أَولِ وَهلَةٍ

فَقُلنا لهم أَهلٌ تَميمٌ وَمَرحَبُ

فَقُلنا لهم أَهلٌ تَميمٌ وَمَرحَبُ

Then they cried, 'The morning draught!' at the very first instant,

They said good morning at the first opportunity,

and we said to them, 'Welcome, Tamim—welcome!'

So we said to them, "A people, Tamim, and welcome!"

أَلَم تَعلَموا أَنّا نَرُدُّ عدوَّنا

أَلَم تَعلَموا أَنّا نَرُدُّ عدوَّنا

إِذا احشوا شَدوا في جَمعِهم وَتأَلَّبوا

إِذا احشوا شَدوا في جَمعِهم وَتأَلَّبوا

Did you not know that we repel our enemy

"Do you not know that we repel our enemy

when they muster, charge in their gathered host, and band together,

When they were insolent, united in their assembly?"

بِضَربٍ يَفُضُّ الهامَ شِدَّةُ وَقعِهِ

بِضَربٍ يَفُضُّ الهامَ شِدَّةُ وَقعِهِ

وَوَخزٍ تَرى منه التَرائِبَ تَشخُبُ

وَوَخزٍ تَرى منه التَرائِبَ تَشخُبُ

with strokes whose fierce impact splits skulls,

With a blow that spills blood - intense is its impact -

and thrusts from which you see the upper chests spurt blood?

And a stab that you see from it the innards gush forth.

فَلاقوا مِصاعاً مِن أُناسٍ كَأَنَّهم

فَلاقوا مِصاعاً مِن أُناسٍ كَأَنَّهم

أسودُ العَرينِ صادِقاً لا يُكَذِّبُ

أسودُ العَرينِ صادِقاً لا يُكَذِّبُ

So they met fierce combat from men who seemed

So they met with an affliction from people like

lions of the lair—fighting in earnest, never feigned.

Lions of the den, truthful, they do not lie.

فَلَم تَرَ منهم غَيرَ كابٍ لِوَجهِهِ

فَلَم تَرَ منهم غَيرَ كابٍ لِوَجهِهِ

وآخرَ مَغلولٍ وآخر يَهرُبُ

وآخرَ مَغلولٍ وآخر يَهرُبُ

Then you saw among them only one fallen on his face,

And you would not see from them but one covering his face,

and another in fetters, and another fleeing.

And another bound, and another fleeing.

وَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا خَيفَقٌ أَعوجيَّةٌ

وَلَم يَبقَ إِلّا خَيفَقٌ أَعوجيَّةٌ

وَإِلّا طِمِرُّ كالهِراوَةِ مِنهَبُ

وَإِلّا طِمِرُّ كالهِراوَةِ مِنهَبُ

And none remained but a swift A'waj-bred mare,

And there did not remain but quivering females,

and a leaping steed, like a club, fleet-footed.

And except a Nimr cattle-marker like a leather bag tossed about.

وَفاءَ لنا منهم نِساءٌ كَأَنَّها

وَفاءَ لنا منهم نِساءٌ كَأَنَّها

بِوَجرَةَ وَالسُلّانِ عينٌ وَرَبرَبُ

بِوَجرَةَ وَالسُلّانِ عينٌ وَرَبرَبُ

And women from among them fell to us as spoils, as though they were

There returned to us from them women who were as though

wide-eyed antelopes and a herd at Wajrah and al-Sullan.

With prominent collarbone and sleek body, a gazelle, nimble.

وَنحن قَتَلنا عامِراً وابنَ أُمِّهِ

وَنحن قَتَلنا عامِراً وابنَ أُمِّهِ

ووافاهُما يَومٌ شَتيمٌ عَصَبصَبُ

ووافاهُما يَومٌ شَتيمٌ عَصَبصَبُ

And we killed Amir and his mother's son,

And we killed Amir and his mother's son,

and a grim, crushing day overtook them both.

And they were afflicted by a calamitous, painful day.

وَغودِرَ فيها ابنا رِياحٍ وَحَبتَرٍ

وَغودِرَ فيها ابنا رِياحٍ وَحَبتَرٍ

تَنوشُهمُ طَيرٌ عِتاقٌ وأذؤُبُ

تَنوشُهمُ طَيرٌ عِتاقٌ وأذؤُبُ

And the two sons of Riyah and Habtar were left there,

And there perished therein the two sons of Riyah and Habtar,

noble birds and wolves tearing at them.

Whose corpses were torn by devouring birds of prey and wolves.

وَيعدو بِبَزّي هَيكلُ الخَلقِ سابِحٌ

وَيعدو بِبَزّي هَيكلُ الخَلقِ سابِحٌ

مُمَرٌّ أَسيلُ الخَدِّ أَجرَدُ شَرجَبُ

مُمَرٌّ أَسيلُ الخَدِّ أَجرَدُ شَرجَبُ

And a great-framed steed, swimming in stride, gallops with my battle gear,

And Salih runs with the physique of mankind swimming,

firmly knit, smooth-cheeked, sleek-coated, long-limbed.

Bald forehead, smooth-cheeked, shanks bare.

كَأَنّي غَداةَ الرَوعِ من أُسدِ زارةٍ

كَأَنّي غَداةَ الرَوعِ من أُسدِ زارةٍ

أَبو أَشبُلٍ عَبلُ الذِراعَينِ مِحرَبُ

أَبو أَشبُلٍ عَبلُ الذِراعَينِ مِحرَبُ

As though, on the morning of terror, I were one of Zarah's lions,

As though I - on the morning of fright from a roaring lion -

a sire of cubs, thick-forearmed, fierce in battle.

Abu Ashbal - thick of forearms, seasoned warrior.

وَلَمّا رأَيتُ الخَيلَ تَدمي نُحورُها

وَلَمّا رأَيتُ الخَيلَ تَدمي نُحورُها

كَررَتُ فَلَم أَنكُل إِذا القَومُ هَيَّبوا

كَررَتُ فَلَم أَنكُل إِذا القَومُ هَيَّبوا

And when I saw the horses' chests bleeding,

And when I saw the horses wetting their chests,

I charged again, never flinching when the men took fright.

I returned, and did not flinch when the people screamed.

حَبَوتُ أَبا الرَحالِ مِنّي بطَعنَةٍ

حَبَوتُ أَبا الرَحالِ مِنّي بطَعنَةٍ

يَمُدُّ بِها آتٍ مِن الجَوفِ يَزعَبُ

يَمُدُّ بِها آتٍ مِن الجَوفِ يَزعَبُ

I favored Abu al-Rahal with a spear-thrust of my own,

I made Abu Al-Rahal stumble with a stab from me

through which a torrent from his belly surges and gushes.

From which a noble rider spills forth.

فَلَم أَرقِهِ إِن يَنجُ منها وَإِن يَمت

فَلَم أَرقِهِ إِن يَنجُ منها وَإِن يَمت

فَجيَّاشَةٌ فيها عَوانِدُ تَثعَبُ

فَجيَّاشَةٌ فيها عَوانِدُ تَثعَبُ

So I gave him no healing charm, whether he survives it or dies,

And I did not care if he escapes it or dies from it -

for it is a gushing wound, with unstaunched veins pouring blood.

For it has deadly, gaping wounds.

وَقَد عَلِمَت أَولى المُغيرَةِ أَنَّني

وَقَد عَلِمَت أَولى المُغيرَةِ أَنَّني

كَررَتُ وَقَد شَلَّ السوامُ المُعَزِّبُ

كَررَتُ وَقَد شَلَّ السوامُ المُعَزِّبُ

And the vanguard of the raiders knows that I

And the chiefs of Mughirah knew already that I had returned

charged again when the far-pasturing herdsman had driven off the herd,

When the warriors were paralyzed, hindered.

وَنَهنَهتُ رَيعانَ العَديِّ كَأَنَّهُ

وَنَهنَهتُ رَيعانَ العَديِّ كَأَنَّهُ

غَوارِبُ تَيّارٍ من اليَمِّ يُجنَبُ

غَوارِبُ تَيّارٍ من اليَمِّ يُجنَبُ

and checked the first rush of the attackers, as though it were

And I routed the young men of al-Adiyy as though he were

the crests of a torrent from the sea, swept along.

Torrents of water from the sea, sidestepped.

فَسائِل بَني الجَعراءِ كَيفَ مِصاعُنا

فَسائِل بَني الجَعراءِ كَيفَ مِصاعُنا

إِذا كَرَّرَ الدَعوى المُشيحُ المَثوِّبُ

إِذا كَرَّرَ الدَعوى المُشيحُ المَثوِّبُ

So ask Banu al-Ja'ra' what our fighting is like,

So ask the clan of Al-Ja'ara how our affliction was

when the resolute war-crier repeats the rallying call.

When the claimant repeatedly complained and was rewarded.