يُحارِبُنيwars against me فيin كُلِّevery نائِبَةٍcalamity دَهريmy age
يُحارِبُني في كُلِّ نائِبَةٍ دَهري
كَأَنَّas though الرَّزاياdisasters تُدرِكُattain الفَخرَglory فيin قَسريsubduing me
كَأَنَّ الرَّزايا تُدرِكُ الفَخرَ في قَسري
My own age wars against me in every calamity,
as though disasters win glory by subduing me.
أضُمُّI gather لِسَعدٍfor Sa'd شارِدَthe straying part of المَجدِglory وَالعُلىand lofty honor
أضُمُّ لِسَعدٍ شارِدَ المَجدِ وَالعُلى
وَسَعدٌand Sa'd يَرانيregards me بِالتَّشاوُسِwith hostile squinting وَالشَّزرِand a sidelong glare
وَسَعدٌ يَراني بِالتَّشاوُسِ وَالشَّزرِ
I gather for Sa'd the straying glory and lofty honor,
while Sa'd regards me with narrowed eyes and sidelong scorn.
يُحاوِلُhe attempts أَنthat أَرضىI accept الدَّنيَّةَindignity طائِعاًwillingly
يُحاوِلُ أَن أَرضى الدَّنيَّةَ طائِعاً
وَأَغدوand I go forth بِلاwithout نابa fang يَروعُthat frightens وَلاand no ظُفرِclaw
وَأَغدو بِلا ناب يَروعُ وَلا ظُفرِ
He tries to make me accept indignity willingly
and go forth without a fearsome fang or claw.
وَمِنand from دونِbefore ذُلِّيmy humiliation عُصبَةٌa band عامِرِيَّةٌof Amir's tribe
وَمِن دونِ ذُلِّي عُصبَةٌ عامِرِيَّةٌ
يَلوونَthey bend أَعطافَthe shafts of المُثَقَّفَةِthe straightened السُّمرِdusky spears
يَلوونَ أَعطافَ المُثَقَّفَةِ السُّمرِ
Between me and abasement stands a band of Amir's tribe,
who bend the shafts of straightened, dusky spears.
إِذاwhen فَوَّقَwaters in intervals الوَسمِيُّthe autumn rain إِبرادَthe mantles of حاجِرٍHajir
إِذا فَوَّقَ الوَسمِيُّ إِبرادَ حاجِرٍ
وأثرتand grew rich شِعابُthe ravines of الوادِيَينِthe two valleys مِنَfrom القَطرِrain
وأثرت شِعابُ الوادِيَينِ مِنَ القَطرِ
When the autumn rain waters Hajir's mantles in showers,
and the ravines of the two valleys grow rich from rain,
فَلاso do not تَأمَنواfeel safe أَنthat تَسمَعوهاyou hear them مَرنَةًresounding
فَلا تَأمَنوا أَن تَسمَعوها مَرنَةً
بِقَرعِwith the clash of العَواليtall lances وَالمُهَنَّدَةِand Indian-made swords البُترِkeen-cutting
بِقَرعِ العَوالي وَالمُهَنَّدَةِ البُترِ
do not feel safe from hearing them resound
with the clash of tall lances and keen Indian swords.
يَقولُsays أَبوAbu (father of) حَزنHazn طَلَبناwe sought لَكَfor you الغِنىwealth
يَقولُ أَبو حَزن طَلَبنا لَكَ الغِنى
فَلمthen why أَخَذَتbegan كَفّاكَyour two hands فيin طَلَبِseeking الفَقرِpoverty
فَلم أَخَذَت كَفّاكَ في طَلَبِ الفَقرِ
Abu Hazn says: We sought wealth for you;
why, then, have your hands begun to seek poverty?
فَقُلتُso I said رَأَيتُI saw المالَwealth يَبلىwears away حُطامُهُits perishable substance
فَقُلتُ رَأَيتُ المالَ يَبلى حُطامُهُ
وَتَبقىand endure أَحاديثُthe stories of الرِّجالِmen مَعَwith الدَّهرِTime
وَتَبقى أَحاديثُ الرِّجالِ مَعَ الدَّهرِ
I said: I have seen wealth's perishable substance decay,
while men's stories endure with Time.
وَشَيبانُand Shayban لَبّانيanswered my call فَلَمّاbut when بَلَوتُهُI tested him
وَشَيبانُ لَبّاني فَلَمّا بَلَوتُهُ
تَقاعَسَheld back عَنّيfrom me وَالأَسِنَّةُwhile spearheads فيat نَحريmy throat
تَقاعَسَ عَنّي وَالأَسِنَّةُ في نَحري
Shayban answered my call, but when I tested him,
he held back from me, with spearheads at my throat.
تَحَمَّلَhe bore عارَthe shame of الذُّلِّabasement وَاطَّرحَand cast aside الرَّدىdeath
تَحَمَّلَ عارَ الذُّلِّ وَاطَّرحَ الرَّدى
وَطَوَّقَهاand collared her with شَنعاءa foul disgrace أَبقىmore lasting مِنَthan الذِّكرِrenown
وَطَوَّقَها شَنعاء أَبقى مِنَ الذِّكرِ
He bore the shame of abasement and cast death aside,
and hung about her neck a foul disgrace more lasting than renown.
وَقارَعَنيand disputed with me ذُلانِabject men عَيشlivelihood عَلَىover النَّدىgenerosity
وَقارَعَني ذُلانِ عَيش عَلَى النَّدى
كَماas قارَعَcontended الغَيرانُthe jealous man عَنfor بَيضَةِthe maiden ('egg') of الخِدرِthe secluded chamber
كَما قارَعَ الغَيرانُ عَن بَيضَةِ الخِدرِ
Men abased by their livelihood disputed generosity with me,
as a jealous man fights for the maiden of the secluded chamber.
أَغادَرتُموهاdid you leave them فيin الشّريفِal-Sharif خَوامِساًdue for fifth-day watering
أَغادَرتُموها في الشّريفِ خَوامِساً
طَلائِحَexhausted لَمnot تُعسَفdriven harshly بِسَوقٍby driving وَلاnor زَجرِshouting
طَلائِحَ لَم تُعسَف بِسَوقٍ وَلا زَجرِ
Did you leave them in al-Sharif, due for their fifth-day drink,
exhausted, though neither driven harshly nor shouted on?
فَهَلthen is there فيكُمُamong you أَنthat تَمنَعواyou ward off نَزَواتِهاtheir leaps
فَهَل فيكُمُ أَن تَمنَعوا نَزَواتِها
بِمَيسَمwith a brand of عارٍshame فيكُمُupon you ثابِتَenduring الذِّكرِin memory
بِمَيسَم عارٍ فيكُمُ ثابِتَ الذِّكرِ
Can you prevent their assaults
from branding you with a shame whose memory endures?
أَرُمتُمdid you seek مَديحيmy praise وَاطَّرَحتُمand cast aside ثَوابَهُits reward
أَرُمتُم مَديحي وَاطَّرَحتُم ثَوابَهُ
وَهَلand can تُملِكُbe wed الحَسناءُthe beautiful woman إِلّاexcept عَلىfor مَهرِa dowry
وَهَل تُملِكُ الحَسناءُ إِلّا عَلى مَهرِ
Did you seek my praise and cast aside its reward?
Can a beautiful woman be wed except with a dowry?
فَماthen why لِيَfor me أَرضىI accept مِنكُمُfrom you بِدَنِيَّةٍan indignity
فَما لِيَ أَرضى مِنكُمُ بِدَنِيَّةٍ
تَحُضُّurges الرِّجالَthe men الأَبعَدينَmost distant عَلَىto نَصريmy aid
تَحُضُّ الرِّجالَ الأَبعَدينَ عَلَى نَصري
Why should I accept an indignity from you
that urges the most distant men to come to my aid,
وَفيand among الحَيِّthe tribe مَحمودُMahmud بنُson of نَصرِNasr بنِson of صالحٍSalih
وَفي الحَيِّ مَحمودُ بنُ نَصرِ بنِ صالحٍ
أَخوbrother of الغارَةِthe raid الشَّعواءsweeping وَالكَرَمand generosity الدَّثرِabundant
أَخو الغارَةِ الشَّعواء وَالكَرَم الدَّثرِ
when among the tribe is Mahmud, son of Nasr, son of Salih,
a brother to sweeping raids and abundant generosity?
أَقِلهاtake them away مِنَfrom الحَيِّthe tribe اللَّئيمِignoble وَنادِهاand call to them
أَقِلها مِنَ الحَيِّ اللَّئيمِ وَنادِها
مَراحَكَyour resting-place هَذاthis آخِرُthe last العَهدِencounter بِالضُّرِّwith distress
مَراحَكَ هَذا آخِرُ العَهدِ بِالضُّرِّ
Take them away from the ignoble tribe, and call to them:
Here is your fold; this is your last encounter with distress.
فَإِنthen if هِيَthey حَنَّتmoan فيin بُيوتِthe houses of بنِson of صالِحٍSalih
فَإِن هِيَ حَنَّت في بُيوتِ بنِ صالِحٍ
فَلاthen may not عَقِلَتthey be hobbled إِلّاexcept قُيوداًwith bonds مِنَfrom العَقرِhamstringing
فَلا عَقِلَت إِلّا قُيوداً مِنَ العَقرِ
If they should moan in the houses of Ibn Salih,
may their only fetters be the bonds of hamstringing.
مِنَof القَومِthe people صالassailed الدَّهرُTime إِلّاexcept عَلَيهِمُagainst them
مِنَ القَومِ صال الدَّهرُ إِلّا عَلَيهِمُ
وَصالواand they charged بِبيضِwith bright swords of الهِندِIndia حَتّىeven عَلىagainst الدَّهرِTime
وَصالوا بِبيضِ الهِندِ حَتّى عَلى الدَّهرِ
They are of a people—Time has assailed all but them,
and they have charged with Indian blades even against Time.
لَهُمthey have فيin قِراعِbattling المَحلِdrought أَيدٍhands كَأَنَّماas though
لَهُم في قِراعِ المَحلِ أَيدٍ كَأَنَّما
يَعُدّونَهاthey deem them وَقفاًan endowment عَلىfor الحجَجِthe years الغُبرِdust-gray
يَعُدّونَها وَقفاً عَلى الحجَجِ الغُبرِ
They have hands for battling drought, as though
they deemed them an endowment for the dust-gray years.
إِذاwhen سُئِلواthey are asked خِلتَyou would think النَّدىgenerosity فيin أَكُفِّهِمtheir palms
إِذا سُئِلوا خِلتَ النَّدى في أَكُفِّهِم
تَشَرَّبَhad absorbed ماءmoisture فيin وَجوهِهِمُtheir faces الغُرِّradiant
تَشَرَّبَ ماء في وَجوهِهِمُ الغُرِّ
When they are asked, you would think the bounty in their palms
had absorbed the moisture in their radiant faces.
وَإِنand if أَخصَبواthey grow prosperous بِالطَّعنِthrough spear-thrusts عادواthey return مِنَout of النَّدىgenerosity
وَإِن أَخصَبوا بِالطَّعنِ عادوا مِنَ النَّدى
سِراعاًswiftly إِلىto داعيthe summons of الخَصاصَةِwant وَالعُسرِand hardship
سِراعاً إِلى داعي الخَصاصَةِ وَالعُسرِ
If spear-thrusts bring them plenty, through generosity they return
swiftly to the summons of want and hardship.
تَميسُsways بِهِمwith them فيin طاعَةِobedience to الجودِgenerosity هِزَّةa thrill
تَميسُ بِهِم في طاعَةِ الجودِ هِزَّة
كَماas طَرِبَrejoiced النَّشوانُthe drunken man مِنfrom نَشوَةِthe intoxication of الخَمرِwine
كَما طَرِبَ النَّشوانُ مِن نَشوَةِ الخَمرِ
A thrill sways them as they obey generosity,
as the drunken man rejoices in wine's intoxication.
وَماand never كاثَرَتrivaled in number جُنحَthe cover of الظَّلامِdarkness سُوامُهُمtheir grazing herds
وَما كاثَرَت جُنحَ الظَّلامِ سُوامُهُم
فَرَوَّحَهاthen brought them home الرِّعيانُthe shepherds إِلّاexcept عَلىfor النَّحرِslaughter
فَرَوَّحَها الرِّعيانُ إِلّا عَلى النَّحرِ
Never did their herds rival the gathering darkness in number
but the shepherds brought them home for slaughter.
إِذاwhen اِنتَسَبواthey name their lineage خِلتَyou would think السَّماءthe sky تَهافَتَتhad tumbled
إِذا اِنتَسَبوا خِلتَ السَّماء تَهافَتَت
عَلَيهِمupon them وَبانَتand parted مِنfrom كَواكِبِهاits stars الزُّهرِbrilliant
عَلَيهِم وَبانَت مِن كَواكِبِها الزُّهرِ
When they name their lineage, you would think the sky had tumbled
upon them and parted from its brilliant stars.
هُمُthey البيضُthe bright blades إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُمthat they واصَلواsustained القِرىhospitality
هُمُ البيضُ إِلّا أَنَّهُم واصَلوا القِرى
وَقَدّوand they severed الطُّلىnecks وَالبِيضُwhile bright blades تَفريcut وَلاand do not تَقريoffer hospitality
وَقَدّو الطُّلى وَالبِيضُ تَفري وَلا تَقري
They are bright blades, save that they sustain hospitality
and sever necks—blades cut, but do not feed guests.
وُجوهٌfaces كايماضِlike the flashing of الصَّوارِمkeen swords أَشرَقَتshone
وُجوهٌ كايماضِ الصَّوارِم أَشرَقَت
مِنَfrom الحَسَبِhonor الوَضّاحِradiant وَالنّائِلِand bounty الغَمرِoverflowing
مِنَ الحَسَبِ الوَضّاحِ وَالنّائِلِ الغَمرِ
Faces like the flash of keen swords have grown radiant
through shining honor and overflowing bounty.
وَخَيلٌand horses تَبارىvie بِالرِّماحِwith the spears كَأَنَّماas though
وَخَيلٌ تَبارى بِالرِّماحِ كَأَنَّما
أَغارَتraided عَلىupon ماwhat فيin الرِّماحِthe spears مِنَof الضُمرِslenderness
أَغارَت عَلى ما في الرِّماحِ مِنَ الضُمرِ
And horses vie with the spears, as though
they had raided the slenderness the spears possess.
وَبيضٌand bright blades بِهاin them ماءthe watery sheen of الفِرَندِthe blade's pattern كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَبيضٌ بِها ماء الفِرَندِ كَأَنَّهُ
دُموعُtears of الغَواديmorning rainclouds جُلنَroamed فيin حَدَقِthe eyes of الزُّهرِflowers
دُموعُ الغَوادي جُلنَ في حَدَقِ الزُّهرِ
And bright blades carry the watery sheen of their pattern, as though it were
tears of morning rainclouds roaming in the eyes of flowers.
حَبيبٌbeloved إِلَيهِمto them أَنthat تُلِمَّdescends مُلِمَّةٌa calamity
حَبيبٌ إِلَيهِم أَن تُلِمَّ مُلِمَّةٌ
وَتَطرُفُهُمand surprises them فيماin what أَصابواthey gained مِنَof الوَفرِabundance
وَتَطرُفُهُم فيما أَصابوا مِنَ الوَفرِ
They delight in having a calamity descend
and surprise them amid the abundance they have won.
هُمُthey ظَفَرواwon بِالعِزِّmight عَنfrom سَيفِthe sword of صالِحSalih
هُمُ ظَفَروا بِالعِزِّ عَن سَيفِ صالِح
وَغرِّand radiant المَعاليheights of honor عَنfrom ثِمالٍThimal وَعَنand from نَصرِNasr
وَغرِّ المَعالي عَن ثِمالٍ وَعَن نَصرِ
They won might from the sword of Salih,
and shining heights of honor from Thimal and Nasr.
وَنالواand they attained بِعِزِّthrough Izz (Might of) الدَّولَةِal-Dawla (the State) المَجدَglory شائِداًbuilding up
وَنالوا بِعِزِّ الدَّولَةِ المَجدَ شائِداً
لِماfor what أَثَّلوهُthey firmly established مِنof عَلاءeminence وَمِنand of فَخرِpride
لِما أَثَّلوهُ مِن عَلاء وَمِن فَخرِ
They gained glory through Izz al-Dawla, building upon
what they had firmly established of eminence and pride.
فَتىًa young man ذَلَّلَsubdued الأَيّامَthe days حَتّىuntil تَثَقَّفَتthey became straightened
فَتىً ذَلَّلَ الأَيّامَ حَتّى تَثَقَّفَت
عَلىwith الهَونِease وانقادand submitted الزَّمانُTime عَلىunder القَسرِcompulsion
عَلى الهَونِ وانقاد الزَّمانُ عَلى القَسرِ
A young man who subdued the days until they were straightened
with ease, and Time submitted under compulsion.
إِذاwhen شَردَstrayed المَعروفُgenerosity أَوor جُمِعَwas gathered العُلىlofty honor
إِذا شَردَ المَعروفُ أَو جُمِعَ العُلى
رَأَيتyou see الفِعالَdeeds السَّهلeffortless فيin المَطلَبِthe quest الوَعرِrugged
رَأَيت الفِعالَ السَّهل في المَطلَبِ الوَعرِ
When generosity strays, or lofty honors are gathered,
you see effortless deeds in a rugged quest.
أَشَدَّmore intense احتِقاراًin scorn لِلرَّدىfor death مِنthan حُسامِهِhis keen sword
أَشَدَّ احتِقاراً لِلرَّدى مِن حُسامِهِ
وَأَدنىand nearer إِلىto شَرِّthe worst of الأَعاديfoes مِنَthan الذُّعرِterror
وَأَدنى إِلى شَرِّ الأَعادي مِنَ الذُّعرِ
He scorns death more fiercely than his sword,
and is nearer to the worst of foes than terror itself.
لَهُhe has خُلُقٌa character فيin المَحلِdrought غَيثٌrain وَفيand in الصَّباthe east wind
لَهُ خُلُقٌ في المَحلِ غَيثٌ وَفي الصَّبا
نَسيمٌa breeze وَفيand in جُنحِthe cover of الدُّجاnight's darkness غُرَّةُthe bright brow of الفَجرِdawn
نَسيمٌ وَفي جُنحِ الدُّجا غُرَّةُ الفَجرِ
His character is rain in drought, and in the east wind
a breeze, and beneath night's wing the bright brow of dawn.
حَدَوتُI drove with song إِلَيهِtoward him المَدحَpraise حُرّاًnoble وَطالَماand for long
حَدَوتُ إِلَيهِ المَدحَ حُرّاً وَطالَما
بَخِلتُI withheld بِهِit حَتّىuntil تَقاعَسَit held back فيin فِكريmy thoughts
بَخِلتُ بِهِ حَتّى تَقاعَسَ في فِكري
I drove noble praise toward him in song; for long
I had withheld it, until it hung back in my thoughts.
وَأَكبَرتُand I esteemed قَدريmy worth أَنthat يَجودَwould give freely بِهِit فَميmy mouth
وَأَكبَرتُ قَدري أَن يَجودَ بِهِ فَمي
وَنَزَّهتُand I held above نَفسيmyself أَنthat يَجيشَshould surge بِهِwith it صَدريmy breast
وَنَزَّهتُ نَفسي أَن يَجيشَ بِهِ صَدري
I deemed my worth too high for my mouth to lavish it,
and held myself above letting it surge in my breast.
فَجادَso it gave freely عَلىdespite إِحجامِهِits reluctance بِشَوارِدwith wandering verses
فَجادَ عَلى إِحجامِهِ بِشَوارِد
جَوائِلَroaming فيthrough الآفاقِthe horizons مِصراًa city إِلىto مِصرِa city
جَوائِلَ في الآفاقِ مِصراً إِلى مِصرِ
Yet despite its reluctance, it poured forth wandering verses,
roaming the horizons, from city to city.
إِذاwhen غَرَّدَsings الحاديthe camel-driver بِهاwith them خَفَرَتgrew bashful بِهِat him
إِذا غَرَّدَ الحادي بِها خَفَرَت بِهِ
حَنيناًout of longing وَأَضحىand became وَهوَwhile he حاسِدُهاtheir envier يَطريextols
حَنيناً وَأَضحى وَهوَ حاسِدُها يَطري
When the camel-driver sings them, they grow bashful at his voice
with longing; and he, though he envies them, begins to extol them.
Sol 6.1