ماwhat لَناfor us ياO ضَعيفَfaint in الوِدَادِaffection
ما لَنا يا ضَعيفَ الوِدَادِ
غيرother than فَرطِexcessive الأَسىsorrow وطُولِand prolonged السُّهادِsleeplessness
غير فَرطِ الأَسى وطُولِ السُّهادِ
What have we, O you whose affection is faint,
What's wrong with you, O weak in affection?
But excessive sorrow and long sleeplessness,
Other than excessive sorrow and prolonged vigil
وجوىًand inward anguish كالسُّلالِlike consumption لوif كنتُI were أُبديهِI reveal it
وجوىً كالسُّلالِ لو كنتُ أُبديهِ
لَقَرَّتْwould surely be gladdened بهby it عيونُeyes of الأَعَاديthe enemies
لَقَرَّتْ به عيونُ الأَعَادي
And inward grief like consumption—were I to reveal it,
And whispers that if I uttered them
My enemies' eyes would surely be gladdened?
The eyes of enemies would weep over them
انَّماonly غَيرةprotective jealousy عليكَfor you وبُقياand tender concern
انَّما غَيرة عليكَ وبُقيا
صُنْتُهُI shielded it عنfrom عيادةِvisiting the sick العُوَّادِthe sick-visitors
صُنْتُهُ عن عيادةِ العُوَّادِ
Only out of jealousy for you, and tender concern,
But it's jealousy over you and honor
Have I shielded it from the visits of those who tend the sick.
That made me shield it from the frequent visitor
لاnot أَرىI see فيin المنامِdreams منكَof you خَيالاًan apparition
لا أَرى في المنامِ منكَ خَيالاً
كيفَhow والنومُand sleep ماnot يزورُvisits وسَاديmy pillow
كيفَ والنومُ ما يزورُ وسَادي
I see no image of you in dreams;
I see no image of you in dreams
How could I, when sleep never visits my pillow?
How could sleep visit my pillow?
بالكرىin sleep جفوةٌestrangement وفيكَand in you تَجَافٍaloofness
بالكرى جفوةٌ وفيكَ تَجَافٍ
فمتىwhen, then تَنقَعُwill be quenched القلوبُthe hearts الصَّواديthe thirsty ones
فمتى تَنقَعُ القلوبُ الصَّوادي
Sleep is estranged, and you withdraw;
There's estrangement from the beloved and aloofness from you
When will thirsty hearts be quenched?
So when will hearts accustomed to affection be quenched?
حبَّذاhow welcome الرائحونَthe travelers منfrom طَرفِthe edge of الحَزْal-Hazn (start)
حبَّذا الرائحونَ من طَرفِ الحَزْ
نِal-Hazn (end) ونجدٌand Najd منهمfrom them علىat مِيعَادِan appointed time
نِ ونجدٌ منهم على مِيعَادِ
How welcome the travelers from al-Hazn's edge,
Those who came from the side of Hijaz are fortunate
And Najd awaits them at an appointed time.
And we found some of them true to their appointment
تَتَلقَّاهُمُgreet them بنَشْرِwith the fragrance of الخُزَامىlavender
تَتَلقَّاهُمُ بنَشْرِ الخُزَامى
نَفَحَاتٌbreezes تَشفيheal غليلَthe burning thirst of الفُؤَادِthe heart
نَفَحَاتٌ تَشفي غليلَ الفُؤَادِ
There greet them, with lavender's fragrance,
You receive them with the blossoms of chamomile
Breezes that quench the heart's burning thirst.
Whiffs that heal the sickness of the heart
انْif أَكنI am عارياًbare فماthen not يشعرُfeels السيthe sword (start)
انْ أَكن عارياً فما يشعرُ السي
فُsword (end) بتمريقِby stripping جَفنهits sheath والنّجَادِand the baldric
فُ بتمريقِ جَفنه والنّجَادِ
If I am stripped bare, the sword feels nothing
If I am bare, sleep does not notice
When its sheath and baldric are stripped away.
Its eyelid blinking or slumber coming
غلبَsurpassed الناسَall men جَدُّthe fortune of آلِthe house of بويهٍBuwayh
غلبَ الناسَ جَدُّ آلِ بويهٍ
وعلاand rose قدرُهمtheir standing علىabove الأَندَادِthe peers
وعلا قدرُهم على الأَندَادِ
The fortune of the house of Buwayh surpassed all men,
The excellence of the Abbasid house prevailed
And their standing rose above their peers.
And their worth transcended that of all rivals
أَشرقتْshone فوقهمabove them وطالتْand towered عليهمْover them
أَشرقتْ فوقهم وطالتْ عليهمْ
صَهواتُcrests of الهِضَابِthe hills والأَطْوَادِand the mountains
صَهواتُ الهِضَابِ والأَطْوَادِ
Above them shone, and over them towered,
The rays shone above them and lingered over them
The crests of hills and mighty mountains.
And the plateaus and dunes bore witness
وشآهمand he outstripped them فيin السَّعيstriving خُرَّةُKhurra فَيرُوFiruz (start)
وشآهم في السَّعي خُرَّةُ فَيرُو
زَFiruz (end) فسادand so he ruled الأنامَhumankind قبلَbefore السَّوَادِthe first dark down
زَ فساد الأنامَ قبلَ السَّوَادِ
But Khurra Firuz outstripped them in striving,
And the nobility of Fayrouz adorned their endeavor
And ruled humankind before his beard grew dark.
Corrupting people before the darkness spread
اِنَّindeed تحويلَكَyour solar return المُبشِّرheralding بالنَّصْwith victory (start)
اِنَّ تحويلَكَ المُبشِّر بالنَّصْ
رِvictory (end) وكبتand the humbling of العُدَاةِthe enemies والحُسَّادِand the enviers
رِ وكبت العُدَاةِ والحُسَّادِ
Your solar return, heralding victory
Your accession, heralding victory, subduing enemies and envious foes
And the humbling of enemies and enviers,
Aligned with the orbiting planets and the brilliant sun halfway up
وافقَharmonized with السَّائراتِthe wandering planets والقمرُand the moon الزاradiant (start)
وافقَ السَّائراتِ والقمرُ الزا
هرُradiant (end) يَنميwaxes والشمسُand the sun فيin الأَصعادِascent
هرُ يَنمي والشمسُ في الأَصعادِ
Harmonized with the planets; the radiant moon
In its exaltation in Pisces it tripled its power
Was waxing, and the sun was ascending,
While in its detriment, and in the fourth house of its cycle
فيin مُحَاظيfavorable positions of كيوانَSaturn قَدْalready ثلثَاهboth trined him
في مُحَاظي كيوانَ قَدْ ثلثَاه
وهوwhile he والٍruling فيin رابعِthe fourth house of المِيلادِthe nativity
وهو والٍ في رابعِ المِيلادِ
Both trine to Saturn in his favorable positions,
The greater fortune in its dignity and Mars in its accidental dignity
While he ruled the fourth house of the nativity,
And the Ascendant's essential and accidental strength dominating the cusps
بَيتَةhis house (unclear spelling) الأَعظمِthe greater المُذكَّرِmasculine والمَرْand Mars (start)
بَيتَة الأَعظمِ المُذكَّرِ والمَرْ
رِيخMars (end) فيin حظّهِhis share منof الاسْعَادِfavorable influence
رِيخ في حظّهِ من الاسْعَادِ
His greater, masculine house; and Mars
All this portends what you hope for
Held his share of favorable influence.
Of attaining wishes and realizing goals
واستقلَand rose to prominence السَّعْدانِthe two benefics فيin الأَصلِthe natal chart والتحand the solar return (start)
واستقلَ السَّعْدانِ في الأَصلِ والتح
ويلِsolar return (end) واستولياand both ruled علىover الأَوتَادِthe angular houses
ويلِ واستوليا على الأَوتَادِ
The two benefics stood high in the natal chart and the solar return,
You are more worthy of the cup, valor and leisure than they
And together held sway over the angular houses.
And unravelling complex hardships
كلُّall ذاthis مُؤذِنٌforetelling بماwhat تَتَرجَّىyou hope for
كلُّ ذا مُؤذِنٌ بما تَتَرجَّى
منof بلوغِattaining المُنىwishes ونَيلِand gaining المُرَادِthe desired aim
من بلوغِ المُنى ونَيلِ المُرَادِ
All this foretells what you hope for:
And if in war there must be a leader
Attaining your wishes and gaining your desire.
You would be foremost of the charging heroes
أَنتَyou أولىmore entitled بالكأسِto the wine-cup والبأسand valor والرَّاand ease (start)
أَنتَ أولى بالكأسِ والبأس والرَّا
حةِease (end) منهمthan they والمعضلاتِand difficult affairs الشِّدَادِthe severe
حةِ منهم والمعضلاتِ الشِّدَادِ
You have more right than they to the cup, to valor, and to ease,
These nomads have exceeded in tyranny and enmity, unrestrained
And to the gravest, knottiest affairs.
They disbelieved in He who created you and what will benefit the people after disbelief in divine decree?
واذاand when الحربُwar كانthere is منهاof it زعيمٌa commander
واذا الحربُ كان منها زعيمٌ
موضعَthe position of القلبِthe heart كنتَyou were فيamong الروَّادِthe advance-scouts
موضعَ القلبِ كنتَ في الروَّادِ
When war has a commander at its heart,
So avoid misguidance, O Aqil ibn Ka'b
You are among those leading the advance.
And plot your course of guidance
أَسْرَفَتْexceeded bounds هذهِthese الأعاريبُBedouin tribes فيin الطغْtyranny (start)
أَسْرَفَتْ هذهِ الأعاريبُ في الطغْ
يانِtyranny (end) والبَغيand oppression لاmay not عَدَتْهَاpass them by العَوَادِيcalamities
يانِ والبَغي لا عَدَتْهَا العَوَادِي
These Bedouins have gone to excess in tyranny
And beware a defiant attack
And oppression—may calamities not pass them by!
That the lion cannot deter, such is its stubborn nature
كَفرواthey were ungrateful بالذيfor what صَنعْتَyou did وماand what يَنْavails (start)
كَفروا بالذي صَنعْتَ وما يَنْ
فعُavails (end) فيamong القومِthe people بَعْدَafter كفرِdenial of الأَيادِيfavors
فعُ في القومِ بَعْدَ كفرِ الأَيادِي
They were ungrateful for what you did; what can avail
It disturbs the flank, unable to discern in its onslaught
A people once they deny gracious favors?
The taste of tranquil sleep
فدعواso abandon الغيَّerror ياO عُقيلَUqayl بنson of كعبٍKa'b
فدعوا الغيَّ يا عُقيلَ بن كعبٍ
واعمدواand turn لاعمدتهمmay you not support them (unclear) للرشَادِtoward right guidance
واعمدوا لاعمدتهم للرشَادِ
Abandon error, O Uqayl ibn Ka'b,
And seekers of lofty goals, do not draw near
And seek right guidance—may you not support them!
The most deficient, the least thriving
واحذرواand beware وثبةًa pounce تُعاندُهاstruggle against it الأُسthe lions (start)
واحذروا وثبةً تُعاندُها الأُس
دُlions (end) وماand whatever فيin طباعِهاtheir nature منof عِنَادِdefiance
دُ وما في طباعِها من عِنَادِ
Beware a pounce that lions struggle against,
For in your safety, if you avoid plots
With all the defiance in their nature.
Can the hostile enemy feel secure?
تفجعُbereaves الجَنْبَthe flank بالوِسَادِof its pillow ولاand not تعknow (start)
تفجعُ الجَنْبَ بالوِسَادِ ولا تع
رِفُknow (end) فيهاamid it العيونُthe eyes طعمَthe taste of الرقَادِslumber
رِفُ فيها العيونُ طعمَ الرقَادِ
It parts the sleeper's side from its pillow; no eyes
Swords sit waiting in their sheaths
Amid it know the taste of slumber.
Will they end up at the watering holes?
وطلابُand the pursuit of الغَاياتِutmost aims لاdo not تَقربوهُapproach it
وطلابُ الغَاياتِ لا تَقربوهُ
أَولُthe beginning of النقصِdecline آخرُthe end of الازديادِincrease
أَولُ النقصِ آخرُ الازديادِ
Do not approach the pursuit of extremes:
And hounds surveilling the strongholds know
The beginning of decline is the end of increase.
The sincerity of the drawn blade after the chase
فنميرٌand Numayr انْif سالمتكَmakes peace with you فَعَنْthen from كيguile (start)
فنميرٌ انْ سالمتكَ فَعَنْ كي
دٍguile (end) وهلand can يأَمنُtrust العدوَّthe enemy المُعادَيone treated as an enemy
دٍ وهل يأَمنُ العدوَّ المُعادَي
If Numayr makes peace with you, it is through guile;
They helped you at their death throes but did not help
Can one beset by enmity trust his enemy?
By enduring torment
قَعَدَتْit sat تنظرُwatching الصَّوارمَthe sharp swords فيin هَاheads (start)
قَعَدَتْ تنظرُ الصَّوارمَ في هَا
مِكَyour heads (end) هلwhether تنتهيreach الىto الأَورَادِthe watering-places
مِكَ هل تنتهي الى الأَورَادِ
It sat watching the sharp swords in your heads,
And I see the right course if you transcend
To see whether they would reach their watering-places.
Your passions, for reason is one's guide
وكلابٌand Kilab علىupon العَواصمِal-Awasim تَدريknows
وكلابٌ على العَواصمِ تَدري
أَنَّthat صِدقَtrue skill in المِصَاعِswordplay بَعْدَafter الطِّرَادِjousting
أَنَّ صِدقَ المِصَاعِ بَعْدَ الطِّرَادِ
Kilab, in al-Awasim, knows
You are not like the asses of relics
That true swordplay follows the jousting.
Nor the living among Thamud and Aad
أَنجدُوكمthey aided you منin نَصْرِهمtheir support بالمَواعيwith promises (start)
أَنجدُوكم من نَصْرِهم بالمَواعي
دِpromises (end) ولمbut did not ينجدوكمthey aid you بالجِلادِwith sword-fighting
دِ ولم ينجدوكم بالجِلادِ
They aided you with promises of support,
And people of settlements ruined by time
But did not aid you with sword-fighting.
With only their traces left in the land
وأَرىand I see الرأيَsound judgment بادياًclear لوif only تَعدَّيit passed beyond
وأَرى الرأيَ بادياً لو تَعدَّي
منbeyond هَواكمyour whims والرأيand sound judgment للمرءِfor a man هَادِa guide
من هَواكم والرأي للمرءِ هَادِ
I see the right course plainly, if only it escaped
And hands that were your greatest supporters
Your whims; sound judgment guides a man.
And mobilizers against the squadrons
لستمyou are not مثلَlike حِمْيَرٍHimyar فيin المقاماachievements (start)
لستم مثلَ حِمْيَرٍ في المقاما
تِachievements (end) ولاnor الحيِّthe tribe منof ثمودٍThamud وَعَادِand Ad
تِ ولا الحيِّ من ثمودٍ وَعَادِ
You are not like Himyar in your achievements,
Before the peninsula gained superiority over you
Nor the tribes of Thamud and Ad,
Filling it with unsheathed Indian swords
واناسٍand people بالحَضرِat al-Hadr افناهمdestroyed them الدهtime (start)
واناسٍ بالحَضرِ افناهم الده
رُtime (end) وأَبقىand left آثارهمtheir traces فيin البلادِthe lands
رُ وأَبقى آثارهم في البلادِ
Nor those at al-Hadr whom time destroyed,
Their hands pelted them with the arrows of calamities
Leaving their traces in the lands,
Incessantly feeding the quiver of the man of many soldiers
وايادٍand Iyad كانواthey were أَعَزَّmightier نَصيراًin allies
وايادٍ كانوا أَعَزَّ نَصيراً
ونفيراًand in mustered hosts منكمthan you علىat سِنْدَادِSindad
ونفيراً منكم على سِنْدَادِ
Nor Iyad, who had stronger allies
They confronted him in the highlands of glory
And greater hosts than you at Sindad.
But his highlands caused them to topple in ruin
قبلbefore أنْthat تفضلَhad room to spare الجَزيرةُal-Jazira عنكمْbeyond you
قبل أنْ تفضلَ الجَزيرةُ عنكمْ
مَلَؤُوهَاthey filled it بالصافناتِwith poised horses الجِيادِnoble steeds
مَلَؤُوهَا بالصافناتِ الجِيادِ
Before al-Jazira grew too spacious for you,
Then with the two deals he marched them in fetters
They filled it with noble, poised steeds.
To death, violating the pact of loved ones
رَجمَتْهمُpelted them أَيديthe hands of الخُطُوبِcalamities بسَابُوwith Shapur (start)
رَجمَتْهمُ أَيدي الخُطُوبِ بسَابُو
رَShapur (end) مُغِذّاًhastening سابورَShapur ذيpossessing الأَجنَادِthe armies
رَ مُغِذّاً سابورَ ذي الأَجنَادِ
The hands of calamity pelted them with Shapur,
And the vying of youths destroyed in vain battles
Shapur of the armies, hastening onward.
Kulaib and ignited the war of corruption
قارعوهُthey challenged him علىover الطَّريفِnew-won gains منof العِزْglory (start)
قارعوهُ على الطَّريفِ من العِزْ
زِglory (end) فأودىand so destroyed طريفُهمtheir new-won gains بالتِّلادِancestral wealth
زِ فأودى طريفُهم بالتِّلادِ
They challenged him over newly acquired glory,
She who witnessed the crushing defeat of the confederates
And their new gains ruined their ancestral wealth.
Truthfully avenged them with her own hands
ثمthen بالصفقتينِthrough the two bargains ساقَdrove الىtoward الحيdeath (start)
ثم بالصفقتينِ ساقَ الى الحي
نِdeath (end) مَعَداًMa'add محبةlove of الأَزوَادِprovisions
نِ مَعَداً محبة الأَزوَادِ
Then, through the two bargains, love of provisions drove
When Dahis transgressed with an ugly grin
Ma'add toward death.
He sowed enmity that embroiled them in feuds
وتباغِيand mutual aggression of الفتيانِthe young men أَهلَكَslew فيin الفَخْpride (start)
وتباغِي الفتيانِ أَهلَكَ في الفَخْ
رِpride (end) كليباًKulayb وجرَّand dragged on حربَa war of الفَسَادِruin
رِ كليباً وجرَّ حربَ الفَسَادِ
The young men's mutual aggression slew, in their pride,
They ignited the flames of filial disobedience
Kulayb, and dragged on a war of ruin.
And it became an ember in hearts and livers
والذيand the affair in which أَدركتْgained حُذَيفَةُHudhayfa أَفراhorses (start)
والذي أَدركتْ حُذَيفَةُ أَفرا
سَhorses (end) لؤيٍّLu'ayy حقَّهاtheir due بذاتِat Dhat الأَصَادِal-Asad
سَ لؤيٍّ حقَّها بذاتِ الأَصَادِ
And Hudhayfa's affair, when Lu'ayy's horses gained
You undid the knot of affection and invoked
Their due at Dhat al-Asad,
The motto of forefathers and ancestors
اذْwhen عداran دَاحِسٌDahis لحىthe bearded clansmen of بَغِيضٍBaghid
اذْ عدا دَاحِسٌ لحى بَغِيضٍ
عَدْوَةًa race أوقعتهمplunged them فيinto التَّعَاديmutual hostility
عَدْوَةً أوقعتهم في التَّعَادي
When Dahis ran among Baghid's bearded clansmen,
And so too the Nidaa, when it rang out
A race that plunged them into mutual hostility:
An answer that deafens the hearer
قبسواthey kindled شعلةَthe flame of العقوقِbroken kinship فكانتand it became
قبسوا شعلةَ العقوقِ فكانت
جمرةًan ember فيin القلوبِthe hearts والأكَبادِand the livers
جمرةً في القلوبِ والأكَبادِ
They kindled the flame of broken kinship,
O epitome of glory, O rising sun
And it became an ember in hearts and livers.
Radiance, and O savior of worshippers
فحللتمthen you loosened عَقْدَthe knots of الحُبىthe sitting-wraps ودعوتُمand you called out
فحللتم عَقْدَ الحُبى ودعوتُم
بشعارِwith the war-cry of الآباءِthe fathers والأَجدَادِand the forefathers
بشعارِ الآباءِ والأَجدَادِ
Then you untied the knots of your sitting-wraps and called out
May God facilitate what you embark upon
With the war-cry of fathers and forefathers.
And give succession to the excellent steeds
وكذاكَand likewise النِّداthe call لَماwhen بَلَغَcarried الصوthe voice (start)
وكذاكَ النِّدا لَما بَلَغَ الصو
تَvoice (end) جوابٌan answer يُصِمُّdeafens سَمْعَthe hearing of المُنَاديthe caller
تَ جوابٌ يُصِمُّ سَمْعَ المُنَادي
Such was the call: when the voice carried,
The gamboling of horses, the swaying of stalwarts
An answer deafened the caller's hearing.
And release of the oryx from their tethers
ياO بهاءَsplendor of العلاhigh glory وياand O طَلْعَةَthe rising of الشمthe sun (start)
يا بهاءَ العلا ويا طَلْعَةَ الشم
سِsun (end) ضياءًin radiance وياand O غِيَاثَsuccor of العِبَادِthe people
سِ ضياءً ويا غِيَاثَ العِبَادِ
O splendor of high glory, O sunrise
As if I see them vying in the charge
In radiance, O succor of the people,
To plunder their breasts on the rugged terrain
يَسَّرَmay make easy اللهُGod ماwhat تُرِيْغُyou seek منof السَّيْmarching (start)
يَسَّرَ اللهُ ما تُرِيْغُ من السَّيْ
رِmarching (end) وأحظىand may favor بهthrough it جُدُودَthe fortunes of الجيَادِthe steeds
رِ وأحظى به جُدُودَ الجيَادِ
May God ease the marching you seek,
Galloping irresistibly over the sandgrouse
And through it favor the fortunes of the steeds.
Haughty yet submissive to the reins
مَرَحُthe prancing of الخَيلِthe horses واهتِزَازُand the quivering of العَواليthe tall spears
مَرَحُ الخَيلِ واهتِزَازُ العَوالي
وَفَكَاكand the release of الظباthe blades منfrom الأَغمادِthe scabbards
وَفَكَاك الظبا من الأَغمادِ
The prancing of horses, the quivering of tall spears,
Perhaps they will trample you with their hooves
And the freeing of blades from their scabbards.
God's custom with enemies is repetition
وكأَنيand as though I بهاwith them تُبادِرُrace ahead فيin الجَرْgalloping (start)
وكأَني بها تُبادِرُ في الجَرْ
يِgalloping (end) الىtoward نَهْبِهَاtheir plunder صُدُوْرَthe heads of الصِّعّادِthe tall lances
يِ الى نَهْبِهَا صُدُوْرَ الصِّعّادِ
I seem to see them, in their gallop, racing
They preyed upon the House of Idris
The heads of the tall lances toward their plunder,
And seized the citadels of the Kurds
جَامِحَاتٍheadstrong علىagainst الأعنةِthe reins تَنْزُوleaping
جَامِحَاتٍ على الأعنةِ تَنْزُو
صَعْبَةًunruly وهيyet they سَمْحَةٌdocile فيin القِيَادِbeing led
صَعْبَةً وهي سَمْحَةٌ في القِيَادِ
Headstrong against the reins, leaping,
Bewildering them from women, warriors
Unruly, yet docile when led.
Like flames devouring the locusts
وعسىand may أَنْthat تدوسَكمit tramples you بِرَحَاهَاwith its millstone
وعسى أَنْ تدوسَكم بِرَحَاهَا
عادةُthe customary way of اللهِGod عندهُwith him فيtoward الأَعاديthe enemies
عادةُ اللهِ عندهُ في الأَعادي
May it tread you down beneath its millstone—
They saw the company of loved ones more sweet
God's accustomed way with enemies on his behalf.
Than parting of heads from bodies
قنصتْit hunted فيon مَسِيرهاits march آلَthe house of ادريIdris (start)
قنصتْ في مَسِيرها آلَ ادري
سَIdris (end) ونالتْand seized مَعَاقِلَthe strongholds of الأَكْرَادِthe Kurds
سَ ونالتْ مَعَاقِلَ الأَكْرَادِ
On its march it hunted down the house of Idris,
Kab saw them and they provoked
And seized the strongholds of the Kurds.
Yearning in the pipes of his love songs
أَذهَلَتْهُمmade them forget عنabout النِّسَاءِthe women رِعَالٌsquadrons
أَذهَلَتْهُم عن النِّسَاءِ رِعَالٌ
مثشْعَلاتٌablaze (unclear spelling) تسومُgrazing سَومَthe grazing of الجَرَادِthe locusts
مثشْعَلاتٌ تسومُ سَومَ الجَرَادِ
Squadrons made them forget their women,
They sipped from his laments after madness
Ablaze, grazing as locusts graze.
Sips of the captive in chains
فَرأواso they deemed فُرقةَparting from الأَحبةِloved ones أَحلىsweeter
فَرأوا فُرقةَ الأَحبةِ أَحلى
منthan فِراقِthe separation of الرؤوسِheads للأَجسَادِfrom bodies
من فِراقِ الرؤوسِ للأَجسَادِ
They deemed parting from loved ones sweeter
While they hope towards your sword-strokes
Than the parting of heads from bodies.
And do not hope towards the valleys
ورأَتْهاand it saw it كعبٌKa'b فكانتْand it became ثِقافاًa spear-straightener
ورأَتْها كعبٌ فكانتْ ثِقافاً
لأَنابيبِfor the shafts of عِطْفِهاits side المُنْآدِthe crooked
لأَنابيبِ عِطْفِها المُنْآدِ
Ka'b saw it, and it became a straightening-tool
Clouds of darkness have covered them so no shelter accepts them
For the shafts of its crooked side.
Neither a tent nor a burrow
رَشَفتsipped فيin أناتِهَاits patient calm بعدَafter طَيْشٍrecklessness
رَشَفت في أناتِهَا بعدَ طَيْشٍ
رَشَفَانَthe sipping of الأَسيرِthe captive فيin الاقيَادِchains
رَشَفَانَ الأَسيرِ في الاقيَادِ
After rashness, it sipped in patient calm,
The passions of fate, if they assail them
Like a captive sipping in chains.
Blast them upon the sharp polished swords
فهمso they يأملونَhope for صَوبthe showers of سَجَايَاqualities
فهم يأملونَ صَوب سَجَايَا
كَyour ولاand not يأملونَhope for صوبَthe showers of الغَواديmorning rainclouds
كَ ولا يأملونَ صوبَ الغَوادي
They hope for the showers of your nature,
And lions, like falcons over the ruins
Not for the showers of morning rainclouds.
Protecting them from the vipers
قدalready تَحامتْهُمُshunned them الفِجَاجُthe mountain passes فماso not تقaccepts (start)
قد تَحامتْهُمُ الفِجَاجُ فما تق
بلهمaccepts them (end) تَلعةٌa hill ولاnor بَطْنُthe floor of وآدِa valley
بلهم تَلعةٌ ولا بَطْنُ وآدِ
The mountain passes have shunned them; neither
In the valley of waters, a hound, and in the uplands
Hill nor valley floor will receive them.
Blackened ruins like the burrows of hyenas
لهواتُthe throats of الشَّهباءِthe grey host انْif لهمتهمswallow them
لهواتُ الشَّهباءِ انْ لهمتهم
نَفَثَتَهُمْspit them out علىonto السيوفِthe swords الحِدَادِthe sharp
نَفَثَتَهُمْ على السيوفِ الحِدَادِ
If the throats of the grey host swallow them,
Whether you attack or withdraw you lose livestock
They spit them onto the sharp swords.
While withdrawal destroys the excellent steed
وليوثٌand lions مثلlike الصقورِfalcons علىon الخَthe Khabur (start)
وليوثٌ مثل الصقورِ على الخَ
بورِKhabur (end) يَحْمُونَهُguard it منagainst الوُرادِthose coming to drink
بورِ يَحْمُونَهُ من الوُرادِ
And lions, like falcons upon the Khabur,
They have nothing left but to return to Najd
Guard it against those who come to drink.
The terrain of Hejaz is the worst destiny
وبواديand in the valley of المياهِwaters كَلبٌKalb وبالشَّاand in Syria (start)
وبوادي المياهِ كَلبٌ وبالشَّا
مِSyria (end) خِلالٌgaps مُسْوَدَّةٌblackened كالدَّآديlike dark end-of-month nights
مِ خِلالٌ مُسْوَدَّةٌ كالدَّآدي
In the valley of waters is Kalb, and in Syria
Are gaps black as the month's last nights.
انْif تُجاوِرْyou live beside others تُضَمْyou are wronged وانْand if تنفردْyou stand alone تؤyou are devoured (start)
انْ تُجاوِرْ تُضَمْ وانْ تنفردْ تؤ
كلْdevoured (end) ضَياعاًto ruin وذاكَand that عقرُthe hamstringing of الجوَادِthe noble steed
كلْ ضَياعاً وذاكَ عقرُ الجوَادِ
If you live beside others, you are wronged; if you stand alone, you are devoured
To ruin: that is the hamstringing of the noble steed.
ماnothing لهمُfor them غيرexcept أَنْto يَعوداboth return الىto نجNajd (start)
ما لهمُ غير أَنْ يَعودا الى نج
دٍNajd (end) وغورُand the lowlands of الحِجَازِthe Hijaz شَرُّthe worst مَعَادِplace of return
دٍ وغورُ الحِجَازِ شَرُّ مَعَادِ
Their only course is for both to return to Najd;
The lowlands of the Hijaz are the worst retreat.
Partial English translation: 116 of 122 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1