أَمَّاas for الشُّرَيفُal-Shurayf مِنَfrom الغَضاal-Ghada فَبَعيدُthen far away
أَمَّا الشُّرَيفُ مِنَ الغَضا فَبَعيدُ
لَولاwere it not for الرَّكائِبُthe riding-camels وَالدُّجاand the darkness وَالبيدُand the desert wastes
لَولا الرَّكائِبُ وَالدُّجا وَالبيدُ
As for al-Shurayf, it would be far from al-Ghada,
The noble man is far from stinginess,
were it not for riding-camels, darkness, and the desert wastes,
Were it not for carriages, darkness and the desert,
وَضَوامِرٌand lean steeds غَلَبَتheld sway عَلىupon صَهَواتِهاtheir saddlebacks
وَضَوامِرٌ غَلَبَت عَلى صَهَواتِها
شُعثٌdisheveled riders تَطولُrise tall مَعَwith القَناthe spears وَتَميدُand sway
شُعثٌ تَطولُ مَعَ القَنا وَتَميدُ
and lean steeds upon whose saddlebacks hold sway
And a plentiful rain has overcome its downpours,
disheveled riders, towering and swaying with the spears.
Disheveled hair grows long with spears and extends,
ياO سائِقَdriver of الأَظعانِthe camel-litters أَيُّwhat لُبانَةٍcherished desire
يا سائِقَ الأَظعانِ أَيُّ لُبانَةٍ
بِالنَّعفِat al-Na'f تَنشُدُهاseek it المَهاريthe Mahri camels القُودُlong-necked
بِالنَّعفِ تَنشُدُها المَهاري القُودُ
O driver of the camel-litters, what cherished desire
O driver of camels, which doe
do the long-necked Mahri camels seek at al-Na'f?
Is sought by the skilled guide with a halter?
عَزَّتwas hard to attain عَلىfor سَومpursuit الغَرامِpassion فَماso not دَرىknew
عَزَّت عَلى سَوم الغَرامِ فَما دَرى
وَلَعُardor النَّسيمِof the breeze بِهاof her وَلاnor التَّغرِيدُbirdsong
وَلَعُ النَّسيمِ بِها وَلا التَّغرِيدُ
She was beyond passion's pursuit; neither
It was difficult for the passion of love, and it did not know
the breeze's ardor nor birdsong knew of her.
The madness of the breeze for it or the chirping,
وَعَلىand on الثَّنِيَّةِthe mountain pass مِنof تَبالَةTabala مَوعِدٌa promised meeting
وَعَلى الثَّنِيَّةِ مِن تَبالَة مَوعِدٌ
عَقَمَتbecame barren بِهِthrough it الآمالُhopes وَهيَthough they are وَلودُfertile
عَقَمَت بِهِ الآمالُ وَهيَ وَلودُ
And on the mountain pass at Tabala, a promised meeting
And at the pass from Tabalah is an appointed tryst,
made hopes barren, though they were fertile.
At it hopes were fruitless though it is one that gives birth,
وَمُهَوِّنٍand a belittler لِلوَجدِof longing يَحسَبُsupposes أَنَّهاthat she is
وَمُهَوِّنٍ لِلوَجدِ يَحسَبُ أَنَّها
يَومَon the day of العُذَيبِal-Udhayb مَدامِعٌtearful eyes وَخُدودُand cheeks
يَومَ العُذَيبِ مَدامِعٌ وَخُدودُ
And many a man who belittles longing imagines her,
And one who makes light of anguish thinks it
on the day at al-Udhayb, as mere tearful eyes and cheeks.
A day of sweet water, tears and cheeks.
سَلask بانَةthe ban-tree الواديof the valley فَلَيسَfor not يَفوتُهاescapes it
سَل بانَة الوادي فَلَيسَ يَفوتُها
خَبَرٌnews يَطولُgrows long بِهِthrough it الجَوىheartache وَيَزيدُand increases
خَبَرٌ يَطولُ بِهِ الجَوى وَيَزيدُ
Ask the valley's ban-tree; nothing escapes it
Ask the doe of the valley, for nothing escapes it,
of news that prolongs and deepens heartache.
A long story by which love grows and increases,
وَانشُدand seek مَعيwith me ضوءthe light الصَّباحِof morning وَقُلand say لَهُto it
وَانشُد مَعي ضوء الصَّباحِ وَقُل لَهُ
كَمhow long تَستَطيلُstretch on بِكَbecause of you اللَّياليthe nights السُّودُblack
كَم تَستَطيلُ بِكَ اللَّيالي السُّودُ
And seek the morning's light with me, and tell it:
And recite with me in the morning light, and say to it,
How long the black nights stretch on because of you!
How long are the black nights prolonged by you?
وَإِذاand when هَبَطتَyou descend الوادِيَينِthe two valleys وَفيهِماand in them both
وَإِذا هَبَطتَ الوادِيَينِ وَفيهِما
دِمَنٌcamp traces حُبِسنَwere imprisoned عَلىto البِلىdecay وَعُهودُand memories
دِمَنٌ حُبِسنَ عَلى البِلى وَعُهودُ
And when you descend into the two valleys, where lie
And if you alight in the two valleys, and in them
camp traces imprisoned by decay, and memories,
Are loves held fast to ruin and covenants,
وَاخدَعand beguile فُؤاديmy heart فيabout الخَليطِthe companions لَعَلَّهُperhaps it
وَاخدَع فُؤادي في الخَليطِ لَعَلَّهُ
يَهفوflutters عَلىover آثارِهِمtheir traces وَيَعودُand returns
يَهفو عَلى آثارِهِم وَيَعودُ
beguile my heart about the companions; perhaps it
And deceive my heart in the thicket so that it
will flutter over their traces and return.
May yearn for their vestiges and return,
أَصَبابَةٌis it longing? بِالجزعِat al-Jiz' بَعدَafter سوَيقَةٍSuwayqa
أَصَبابَةٌ بِالجزعِ بَعدَ سوَيقَةٍ
شُغلٌa preoccupation لعَمركَby your life ياO أُمَيمُUmaym جَديدُnew
شُغلٌ لعَمركَ يا أُمَيمُ جَديدُ
Is this longing at al-Jiz', after Suwayqa?
Pouring with grief after Suwaqah
A new preoccupation, by your life, O Umaym!
Is a new occupation, O Umaym, for your life
وَمُطَوَّحand a wanderer رَكِبَrode الخَطيَّthe Khatti lance بِعَزمَةٍwith a resolve
وَمُطَوَّح رَكِبَ الخَطيَّ بِعَزمَةٍ
هَبَّتstirred وَسارِيَةُwhile the night-roving النُّجومِstars هُجودُasleep
هَبَّت وَسارِيَةُ النُّجومِ هُجودُ
And many a wanderer rode a Khatti lance with a resolve
And the rider of the valley was cast down with resolve,
that stirred while the night-roving stars slept.
And the banners of the stars scattered in defeat,
ذَعَرواthey startled الدُّجىthe darkness فَتَناثَرَتso scattered مِنfrom جيدِهِits neck
ذَعَروا الدُّجى فَتَناثَرَت مِن جيدِهِ
نَحوَtoward الصَّباحِmorning قَلائِدٌnecklaces وَعُقودُand beaded strands
نَحوَ الصَّباحِ قَلائِدٌ وَعُقودُ
They startled the dark, and from its neck there scattered
They fled the darkness so its necklaces and strings
toward morning necklaces and beaded strands.
Flew towards the dawn,
عَرِّجturn aside عَلىto الحَيِّthe clan الذَّمِيمِblameworthy فَدونَهُfor before it
عَرِّج عَلى الحَيِّ الذَّمِيمِ فَدونَهُ
بُخلٌstinginess يَصُدُّbars عَنِfrom القِرىhospitality وَيَذودُand drives away
بُخلٌ يَصُدُّ عَنِ القِرى وَيَذودُ
Turn aside to the ignoble clan; before it stands
Stop by the despicable tribe, for next to it
stinginess that bars hospitality and drives you away.
Is meanness that keeps people away and repels,
إِنَّindeed الَّذينَthose who يعزّis scarce طالِبُthe seeker رفدِهِمof their bounty
إِنَّ الَّذينَ يعزّ طالِبُ رفدِهِم
بَشَرٌpeople يُضَيَّعُis wasted لَمعُهُits gleam وَرُعُودُand thunderclaps
بَشَرٌ يُضَيَّعُ لَمعُهُ وَرُعُودُ
Indeed, those whose bounty finds few seekers
Those whose asker finds it hard to supply them
are men whose gleam is wasted, and thunderclaps.
Are people whose light is wasted and lightning hidden,
ليI have فيin بُيوتِهِمُtheir houses القِصارُlowly أَوابِدٌwild-roaming verses
لي في بُيوتِهِمُ القِصارُ أَوابِدٌ
مَعقولَةٌhobbled بِاللُّؤمِby baseness وَهيَthough they are شُرودُuntamed
مَعقولَةٌ بِاللُّؤمِ وَهيَ شُرودُ
In their lowly houses I have wild-roaming verses,
For me in their short houses are deserts
hobbled by baseness, though they are untamed.
Intelligent in villainy though they are distracted,
وَمُطَلَّحاتٍand weary ones يَنتَجِعنَseek out مَوارِداًwatering places
وَمُطَلَّحاتٍ يَنتَجِعنَ مَوارِداً
آلُthe mirage الظَهيرَةِof midday قَبلَهاbefore them مَورودُreached
آلُ الظَهيرَةِ قَبلَها مَورودُ
And weary ones that seek out watering places:
And they hunt for pastures
the midday mirage is reached before those waters.
While yesterday the morn drank from them,
حَوَّلنَthey roamed فيin طَلَبِsearch of العُلاglory فَتَقاعَسَتthen hung back
حَوَّلنَ في طَلَبِ العُلا فَتَقاعَسَت
عَنهُنَّfrom them أَيدٍhands بِالنَّوالِin giving جُمودُfrozen
عَنهُنَّ أَيدٍ بِالنَّوالِ جُمودُ
They roamed in search of glory, but met reluctance
They turned to seeking heights but hands grew idle
from hands frozen when it came to giving.
From helping them and sank into stagnation,
وَأَصابَهاand obtained them السُّلَمِيُّal-Sulami نَشدَةَa quest باخِلof a miser
وَأَصابَها السُّلَمِيُّ نَشدَةَ باخِل
شَنعاءdisgraceful طائِرُthe bird ذِكرِهاof its fame غِرّيدُsongful
شَنعاء طائِرُ ذِكرِها غِرّيدُ
And al-Sulami obtained them through a miser's quest—
And the Sulami reproached them with a miserly
a shameful affair, whose fame-bird sings aloud.
Ugly song, its fame chirping,
ياO ابنَson of اللَّئيمَةِthe base woman لَستَyou are not مِنamong أَكفائِهاtheir peers
يا ابنَ اللَّئيمَةِ لَستَ مِن أَكفائِها
فارجِعso return فَإِنَّكَfor you are بِالثَّراءِwith wealth عَميدُsmitten
فارجِع فَإِنَّكَ بِالثَّراءِ عَميدُ
O son of a base woman, you are not among their peers;
O son of a despicable woman, you are not their equal
so turn back, for you are smitten with riches.
So turn away, for you are eminent in wealth,
النّارُthe fire مَطلولwasted لَدَيكَwith you مَعَalong with النَّدىgenerosity
النّارُ مَطلول لَدَيكَ مَعَ النَّدى
سَيّانُalike وَعدٌa promise كاذِبٌfalse وَوَعيدُand a threat
سَيّانُ وَعدٌ كاذِبٌ وَوَعيدُ
With you, the fire goes to waste, and generosity too;
The fire is unleashed for you with dew,
a lying promise and a threat are alike.
They are equal, a lying promise and a threat,
أَتَرَكتَdid you leave سَرحَكَyour herd بِالجَزيرَةِin al-Jazira مُهمَلاًuntended
أَتَرَكتَ سَرحَكَ بِالجَزيرَةِ مُهمَلاً
وَعَجِبتَand were you surprised حينَwhen عَداattacked عَلَيهِupon it السيِّدُthe wolf
وَعَجِبتَ حينَ عَدا عَلَيهِ السيِّدُ
Did you leave your herd untended in al-Jazira,
Did you neglect your pasture in the island, leaving it untended,
and marvel when the wolf attacked it?
And were amazed when the chieftain raided it?
لَوif أَنَّthat قَومَكَyour people مِنof كِنانَةَKinana أَشرَعَتwould stretch forth
لَو أَنَّ قَومَكَ مِن كِنانَةَ أَشرَعَت
أَيدٍhands يَطولُgrow long بِهاthrough them القَناthe spears وَالجُودُand generosity
أَيدٍ يَطولُ بِها القَنا وَالجُودُ
Were your people of Kinana, there would stretch forth
Had your people been from Kinanah hands would unfold
hands that give length to spears and generosity.
With which charity lasts long and flows,
قَومٌa people يَلوحُshine لَهُمfor them عَلىupon عَليائِهِمtheir eminence
قَومٌ يَلوحُ لَهُم عَلى عَليائِهِم
قَبلَbefore اللِّقاءِthe meeting دَلائِلٌsigns وَشُهودُand witnesses
قَبلَ اللِّقاءِ دَلائِلٌ وَشُهودُ
A people on whose high eminence shine,
A people for whom before the encounter signs appear
before the meeting, signs and witnesses.
And witnesses on their loftiness,
فاللامِعاتُso the gleaming ones أَسِنَّةٌspearheads وَأَسِرَّةand brows
فاللامِعاتُ أَسِنَّةٌ وَأَسِرَّة
وَالمائِساتُand the swaying ones ذَوابِلٌslender lances وَقُدودُand figures
وَالمائِساتُ ذَوابِلٌ وَقُدودُ
Thus, the gleaming ones are spearheads and brows;
So the shining blades are tongues and the drinking vessels
and the swaying ones, slender lances and figures.
Are provisions and cauldrons,
هَبّواthey sprang إِلىtoward المَجدِglory الرَّفيعِlofty فَأَحرَزواso won
هَبّوا إِلى المَجدِ الرَّفيعِ فَأَحرَزوا
قَصَباتِهِits prizes وَبَنوwhile the sons الزَّمانِof time رُقودُasleep
قَصَباتِهِ وَبَنو الزَّمانِ رُقودُ
They sprang toward lofty glory and won
They set out for glorious honor and gained
its prizes, while the sons of time slept.
Its harvest while the people of the times slumbered,
وَبَنَتand built لَهُمfor them أَحسابُهُمtheir ancestral honors وَسُيوفُهُمand their swords
وَبَنَت لَهُم أَحسابُهُم وَسُيوفُهُم
بَيتاًa house عَمودُthe column الصُّبحِof dawn فيهِin it عَمودُa pillar
بَيتاً عَمودُ الصُّبحِ فيهِ عَمودُ
And their ancestral honors and their swords built them
And their judgment and swords built for them
a house in which the column of dawn stands as a pillar.
A house whose pillars are pillars from early morning,
جادواthey gave freely وَأَندِيَةُwhile the moisture الغَمامِof the clouds بَخِيلَةwas stingy
جادوا وَأَندِيَةُ الغَمامِ بَخِيلَة
وَجَرواand raced وَشارِدَةُwhile the wandering الرِّياحِwinds رُكودُlay still
وَجَروا وَشارِدَةُ الرِّياحِ رُكودُ
They gave freely while the clouds' rains were stingy,
They gave freely while the clouds of rain were stingy
and raced while the wandering winds lay still.
And dragged while the winds of autumn slumbered,
مِنof دينِهِمtheir creed أَنَّthat السَّماحَgenerosity عَلَيهِمُupon them
مِن دينِهِم أَنَّ السَّماحَ عَلَيهِمُ
فَرضa duty وَإِنَّand indeed الرّافِدَthe giver المَرفودُthe receiver
فَرض وَإِنَّ الرّافِدَ المَرفودُ
Their creed holds that generosity is, for them,
Part of their faith is that charity is a duty upon them
a duty, and that the giver is the receiver.
And that the rejected supplicant is cast off,
حَيٌّa clan تَناسَبَshared kinship فيin العُلاnobility فَأُصولُهُso its roots
حَيٌّ تَناسَبَ في العُلا فَأُصولُهُ
أَغصانُهُits branches وَالوالِدُand the parent المَولودُthe offspring
أَغصانُهُ وَالوالِدُ المَولودُ
A clan joined in nobility, so its roots
A living tribe harmonious in glory so its roots
are its branches, and the parent is the offspring.
Are its branches and the father is the born,
إِنif قَصَّرواthey fall short عَنof غايَةِthe reach ابنِIbn (son of) مُقَلَّدٍMuqallad
إِن قَصَّروا عَن غايَةِ ابنِ مُقَلَّدٍ
فَمِنَfor from الأَراكَةِthe arak tree غُصنُهاits bough الأملودُsupple
فَمِنَ الأَراكَةِ غُصنُها الأملودُ
If they fall short of Ibn Muqallad's reach,
If they fall short of the apex of the imitated son
for from the arak tree comes its supple bough.
Then that is the branch which is flexible,
شَأوٌa reach يَفوتُeludes طِلابَهُمtheir pursuit غَلواؤُهُits utmost limit
شَأوٌ يَفوتُ طِلابَهُم غَلواؤُهُ
إِنَّindeed البَعيدَthe distant عَلَيهمُfor them لَبَعيدُfar indeed
إِنَّ البَعيدَ عَلَيهمُ لَبَعيدُ
A reach whose utmost limit eludes their pursuit:
An eminence which its seekers miss in their exaggeration
indeed, what is distant for them is distant indeed.
For the distant to them is distant indeed,
لَولاهُwere it not for him ماnot عُرِفَbe known النَّوالُbounty وَلَمand not تَكُنwould be
لَولاهُ ما عُرِفَ النَّوالُ وَلَم تَكُن
تَدريknow الغَمامُthe clouds الغُرُّradiant كَيفَhow تَجودُgive freely
تَدري الغَمامُ الغُرُّ كَيفَ تَجودُ
Without him, bounty would be unknown, nor would
Were it not for them charity would not be known nor would
the radiant clouds know how to give.
The ignorant cloud know how to show liberality,
وَعَفاand faded الثَّناءpraise مِنَfrom الزَّمانِtime وَأَهلِهِand its people
وَعَفا الثَّناء مِنَ الزَّمانِ وَأَهلِهِ
فَتَشابَهَso became alike المَذمومُthe blamed وَالمَحمودُand the praised
فَتَشابَهَ المَذمومُ وَالمَحمودُ
And praise would have faded from time and its people,
And praise slipped away from time and its people
so the blamed and the praised would have become alike.
So the blameworthy and the praised became confused,
شَرَفاًhonor بَنيsons of الأَجدادِforefathers يُعدَمُvanishes أَمسكَyour yesterday الthe
شَرَفاً بَني الأَجدادِ يُعدَمُ أَمسكَ ال
ماضيpast فَيَخلفُso succeeds يَومُكَyour day المَوجودُpresent
ماضي فَيَخلفُ يَومُكَ المَوجودُ
Honor to you, sons of forefathers! Your yesterday vanishes—the
A nobility, O scions of ancestors, without your past
past one—so your present day succeeds it.
To replace your present time,
وَعُلاًand eminence أَباAbu (father of) حَسَنٍHasan فَرَهطُكَso your clan رُمspear (first part)
وَعُلاً أَبا حَسَنٍ فَرَهطُكَ رُم
حُهاits spear (completion) العاليlofty وَأَنتَand you لِواؤُهُits banner المَعقودُfastened
حُها العالي وَأَنتَ لِواؤُهُ المَعقودُ
And eminence to you, Abu Hasan! Your clan is its
And a loftiness, Abu Hasan, so your kin folk
lofty spear, and you are the banner bound upon it.
Were tossed high by the Most High and you are their streaming banner,
إِنif لَمnot يَكُنthere is بَينيbetween me وَبَينَكَand between you نِسبَةٌkinship
إِن لَم يَكُن بَيني وَبَينَكَ نِسبَةٌ
قَرُبَتis close فَإِنّيyet I am مِنكُمُamong you مَعدودُcounted
قَرُبَت فَإِنّي مِنكُمُ مَعدودُ
If there is no kinship between me and you
If there is no blood tie between me and you
that is close, I am nevertheless counted among you.
Then I am counted as one of you,
لِيI have فيكَabout you مِنof فِقَرِpassages الكَلامِof speech غَرائِبٌrare wonders
لِي فيكَ مِن فِقَرِ الكَلامِ غَرائِبٌ
يُثنيpraises عَلَيهاupon them الدَّهرُTime وَهوَthough it is حَسودُenvious
يُثني عَلَيها الدَّهرُ وَهوَ حَسودُ
I have rare wonders of eloquence about you,
For me in you are marvels of speech
which Time praises, though it is envious.
For which time would praise though it is envious,
لَولاwere it not for هَواكlove for you لَطالَwould rise high عَنabove تَثقيفِهاpolishing them
لَولا هَواك لَطالَ عَن تَثقيفِها
قَدريmy rank وَلَوeven if أَنَّthat النُّجومَthe stars قَصِيدُpoetry
قَدري وَلَو أَنَّ النُّجومَ قَصِيدُ
Without love for you, too lofty for polishing them would be
Were it not for passion for you my power would have prolonged
my rank, even if the stars were poetry.
Instructing it even if the stars intoned poems,
وَلَعَزَّand would resist عَنagainst طَوعِobedience القِيادِto leading زِمامُهاtheir rein
وَلَعَزَّ عَن طَوعِ القِيادِ زِمامُها
لَوif أَنَّthat غَيرَكَanyone but you كُفؤهاtheir peer المَقصودُintended
لَو أَنَّ غَيرَكَ كُفؤها المَقصودُ
And their rein would resist obedient guidance,
And the reins of guidance would have slipped
if anyone but you were their intended peer.
Had other than you been its sought goal,
أَعرَضتَyou turned away عَنfrom ذُلِّthe humiliation الطِّلابِof seeking وَرُبَّماand sometimes
أَعرَضتَ عَن ذُلِّ الطِّلابِ وَرُبَّما
وَجَدَfound المُريحُthe one at ease وَأَخفَقَand failed المَكدودُthe toil-worn one
وَجَدَ المُريحُ وَأَخفَقَ المَكدودُ
You shunned the humiliation of seeking, and sometimes
You turned away from the disgrace of begging, and perhaps
the one at ease succeeds, while the toil-worn fails.
The content gained while the afflicted was frustrated,
وَسَكَنتَand you dwelt فيin ظِلِّthe shade النَّزاهَةِof integrity فَليُصَنso let be guarded
وَسَكَنتَ في ظِلِّ النَّزاهَةِ فَليُصَن
مالَthe wealth البَخيلِof the miser رِتاجُهُhis gate المَسدودُbolted shut
مالَ البَخيلِ رِتاجُهُ المَسدودُ
And you dwelt in the shade of integrity; let
And you dwelt in the shadow of integrity so the wealth
his bolted gate guard the miser's wealth.
Of the miser may be guarded while it is barred,
وَإِذاand if وَجَدتَyou find العَيشَlife يُعقِبُbrings in its wake صَفوُهُits clarity
وَإِذا وَجَدتَ العَيشَ يُعقِبُ صَفوُهُ
كَدَراًmurk فَإِنَّthen indeed شَقِيَّهُits wretched one لَسَعيدُhappy indeed
كَدَراً فَإِنَّ شَقِيَّهُ لَسَعيدُ
And if you find that life's clarity gives way to
And when you find life’s comfort followed by bitterness
murk, then its wretched one is happy indeed.
Then its misfortunes are fortunate indeed,
العُمرُlife حُلمٌa dream وَاللَّياليand the nights قُلَّبٌfickle
العُمرُ حُلمٌ وَاللَّيالي قُلَّبٌ
وَالبُخلُand stinginess فَقرٌpoverty وَالثَّناءُand praise خُلودُimmortality
وَالبُخلُ فَقرٌ وَالثَّناءُ خُلودُ
Life is a dream, and the nights are fickle;
Life is a dream and the nights fickle moments,
stinginess is poverty, and praise is immortality.
Stinginess is poverty and praise is eternity,
Sol 6.1