آمُبيحَهاO you who grant them فَضلَthe slack of الأَزِمَّةِthe reins قُصَّرِrein them in
آمُبيحَها فَضلَ الأَزِمَّةِ قُصَّرِ
فَمَعَfor with الصَّباحِthe morning تَحِيَّةٌa greeting مِنfrom عَرعَرِ'Ar'ar
فَمَعَ الصَّباحِ تَحِيَّةٌ مِن عَرعَرِ
O you who give them slack reins, rein them in;
for with the morning comes a greeting from 'Ar'ar.
هَبَّتit wafted in تَهاداهاpassed it among themselves البُروقُthe lightning flashes وَبَينَهاand among them
هَبَّت تَهاداها البُروقُ وَبَينَها
نَشِبَtook hold الخِداعdeceit وَهَزَّهُand stirred it المُتَذَكِّرِthe one remembering
نَشِبَ الخِداع وَهَزَّهُ المُتَذَكِّرِ
It wafted in, the lightning flashes passing it along, and among them
deceit took hold, and the one remembering stirred it.
وَاللَّيلُand the night قَدhad أَخَذَborrowed السُّرىnight-travel مِنfrom شِبهِهِits likeness
وَاللَّيلُ قَد أَخَذَ السُّرى مِن شِبهِهِ
وَأَعارَهُand lent it ذُلَلَdocile القِلاصِyoung she-camels الضُمَّرِlean
وَأَعارَهُ ذُلَلَ القِلاصِ الضُمَّرِ
And night-travel had borrowed something of night's likeness,
and lent it docile, lean young she-camels.
ياO بانَتيtwo ban trees of إِضَمIdam وَمَنand among دينُthe creed of الهَوىlove
يا بانَتي إِضَم وَمَن دينُ الهَوى
بَثَّputting forth السُّؤالَthe question لِكُلِّto everyone مَنwho لَمhas not يُخبِرِgiven news
بَثَّ السُّؤالَ لِكُلِّ مَن لَم يُخبِرِ
O two ban trees of Idam—it is part of love's creed
to put the question to everyone who has brought no news—
أَعَلِمتُماhave you two learned قَلبيmy heart أَقامَstayed مَكانَهُin its place
أَعَلِمتُما قَلبي أَقامَ مَكانَهُ
أَمor سارَset out فيin طَلَبِpursuit of الصَّباحِthe dawn المُسفِرِradiant
أَم سارَ في طَلَبِ الصَّباحِ المُسفِرِ
have you two learned whether my heart stayed in its place,
or set out in pursuit of the radiant dawn?
أَبلِغtell أَباthe father of حَسّانَHassan أَنَّthat قِلاصَهُhis young she-camels
أَبلِغ أَبا حَسّانَ أَنَّ قِلاصَهُ
تَجتابُcut through أَردِيَةَcloaks of العِجاجِdust الأَغبَرِgrey
تَجتابُ أَردِيَةَ العِجاجِ الأَغبَرِ
Tell Abu Hassan that his young she-camels
cut through cloaks of grey dust,
مَطرودَةdriven off وَعَلىwhile on الشَّريفِal-Sharif فَوارِسhorsemen
مَطرودَة وَعَلى الشَّريفِ فَوارِس
يَتَرَنَّحونَthey sway مَعَwith الوَشيجclose-grained spear-shafts الأَسمَرِdusky
يَتَرَنَّحونَ مَعَ الوَشيج الأَسمَرِ
driven off, while on al-Sharif there are horsemen
swaying with the dusky spear-shafts.
أَخَذواthey took مَناسِمَهاtheir footpads الرياحُthe winds عَشِيَّةًone evening
أَخَذوا مَناسِمَها الرياحُ عَشِيَّةً
وَنَجواand escaped وَقَومَكَwhile your people فَقعَةًa truffle بِالقَرقَرِon the level plain
وَنَجوا وَقَومَكَ فَقعَةً بِالقَرقَرِ
One evening they took them away on wind-swift feet,
and escaped, while your people were a truffle on the level plain.
وَزَعَمتَand you claimed أَنَّthat البُخلَstinginess حاميthe guardian of سَرحَهاtheir grazing herd
وَزَعَمتَ أَنَّ البُخلَ حامي سَرحَها
أَفَهَلso did أَمِنتَyou feel safe from الشَّكpiercing أَمor لَمnot تُعقَرِthey were hamstrung
أَفَهَل أَمِنتَ الشَّك أَم لَم تُعقَرِ
And you claimed stinginess guarded their grazing herd;
were you then safe from piercing, or were they not hamstrung?
كُنbe فيin الطِّرادِthe charge لبانthe breast of طَرفكَyour steed مَقدماًputting forward
كُن في الطِّرادِ لبان طَرفكَ مَقدماً
وَإِذاand when دُعيتَyou are called إِلىto الطِّرادِthe charge فَشَمِّرِthen gird yourself
وَإِذا دُعيتَ إِلى الطِّرادِ فَشَمِّرِ
When charging, keep your steed's breast to the fore,
and when called to the charge, gird yourself.
وَاهجُرand forsake نُضارَكَyour gold مِثلَlike هَجرِكَyour forsaking لِلقِرىof hospitality
وَاهجُر نُضارَكَ مِثلَ هَجرِكَ لِلقِرى
إِنَّfor المَكارِمَnoble deeds فيon السَّبيلِthe road الأَوعَرِroughest
إِنَّ المَكارِمَ في السَّبيلِ الأَوعَرِ
And forsake your gold as you have forsaken hospitality;
for noble deeds lie along the roughest road.
أَفَماdo you not تَرىsee ابنthe son of العامِرِيَّةِal-'Amiriyya سُبَّةًa disgrace
أَفَما تَرى ابن العامِرِيَّةِ سُبَّةً
شَنعاءhideous مِثلَthe like of حَديثِهاits tale لَمnever يُؤثَرِwas handed down
شَنعاء مِثلَ حَديثِها لَم يُؤثَرِ
Do you not see Ibn al-'Amiriyya as a disgrace,
a hideous one, whose tale has no recorded equal?
تَرَكَhe left الفَخارَglory لِعُصبَةٍto a band يَمَنِيَّةٍYemeni
تَرَكَ الفَخارَ لِعُصبَةٍ يَمَنِيَّةٍ
غَلَبَتprevailed عَلَىover الحَسَبِancestral honor الَّذيthat لَمhad not يُغمَرِbeen eclipsed
غَلَبَت عَلَى الحَسَبِ الَّذي لَم يُغمَرِ
He left glory to a Yemeni band
that prevailed over ancestral honor never before eclipsed.
أَفَلاdoes he not يُحاذِرُfear أَنthat يَقولَwill say مُخَبِّرُa teller of news
أَفَلا يُحاذِرُ أَن يَقولَ مُخَبِّرُ
فيamong الحَيِّthe clan قَصَّرَfell short عامِرٌ'Amir عَنof حِميَرِHimyar
في الحَيِّ قَصَّرَ عامِرٌ عَن حِميَرِ
Does he not fear that a teller will say
among the clan: “'Amir fell short of Himyar”?
سَبَقتِhas outstripped كِنانَةَKinanah فَليَثِقso let him be certain مَنwhoever رامَهاseeks to rival her
سَبَقتِ كِنانَةَ فَليَثِق مَن رامَها
بِالعَجزِof inability عَنto match شَأوِthe course of الصَّباحِthe dawn الأَشقَرِgolden
بِالعَجزِ عَن شَأوِ الصَّباحِ الأَشقَرِ
Kinanah has outstripped the rest; let whoever would rival her be sure
of failing to match the course of the golden dawn.
قَومٌa people أَضاؤاwho shone وَالخُطوبُwhile calamities بَهيمَةٌpitch-black
قَومٌ أَضاؤا وَالخُطوبُ بَهيمَةٌ
كَالبيضِlike bright blades تَلمَعُgleaming فيin خِلالthe midst of العِثيَرِstirred-up dust
كَالبيضِ تَلمَعُ في خِلال العِثيَرِ
A people who shone while calamities were pitch-black,
like bright blades gleaming through the dust.
يَتَغايَرونَthey jealously compete عَلَىover النَّدىgenerosity فَكَأَنَّماso it is as though
يَتَغايَرونَ عَلَى النَّدى فَكَأَنَّما
يَجِدُfeels الغَنِيُّthe rich man عَداوَةhostility لِلمُعسِرِtoward the needy
يَجِدُ الغَنِيُّ عَداوَة لِلمُعسِرِ
They vie jealously over generosity, as though
the rich man felt hostility toward the needy.
وَيُسارِعونَand they hasten إِلىto الوَغىbattle وَسُيوفُهُمwhile their swords
وَيُسارِعونَ إِلى الوَغى وَسُيوفُهُم
مَغلولَةٌare fettered وَكُلومُهُمand their wounds لَمhave not تُسبَرِbeen probed
مَغلولَةٌ وَكُلومُهُم لَم تُسبَرِ
And they hasten into battle, while their swords
are fettered and their wounds have not been probed.
أَلِفَتhave grown familiar with رِماحَهُمُtheir spears الطُّيورُthe birds كَأَنَّهُمas though they
أَلِفَت رِماحَهُمُ الطُّيورُ كَأَنَّهُم
رَتَقواstitched up بِهاwith them خَلَلَthe gaps in العَجاجِthe dust-cloud الأَكدَرِmurky
رَتَقوا بِها خَلَلَ العَجاجِ الأَكدَرِ
The birds have grown familiar with their spears, as though they
had stitched up with them the gaps in the murky dust-cloud.
لاnot يَرقُدونَthey sleep سِوىexcept مُعَرِّسِa night-halt of ساعَةٍa brief while
لا يَرقُدونَ سِوى مُعَرِّسِ ساعَةٍ
يَتَفَيَّئونَthey seek shade بِهاduring it ظِلالُthe shadows of الضُمَّرِlean mounts
يَتَفَيَّئونَ بِها ظِلالُ الضُمَّرِ
They sleep only during a brief night-halt,
sheltering then in the shade of lean mounts.
مِنof كُلِّevery وَرَّادِfrequenter of الوَغىbattle بِحُسامِهِwith his keen sword
مِن كُلِّ وَرَّادِ الوَغى بِحُسامِهِ
وَالحَتفُwhile death مُعتَرِضbars طَريقَthe road of المَصدَرِreturn
وَالحَتفُ مُعتَرِض طَريقَ المَصدَرِ
Each one frequents battle with his keen sword,
while death bars the road of return.
حرمhas forbidden الاباءproud refusal عَلىto الأسنةthe spearheads ظهرهhis back
حرم الاباء عَلى الأسنة ظهره
فَالموتُso death مُفزِعُهُis his refuge إِذاif لَمhe does not يَظفَرِtriumph
فَالموتُ مُفزِعُهُ إِذا لَم يَظفَرِ
Pride has forbidden his back to spearheads;
so death is his refuge if he does not triumph.
لانواthey were gentle وَفيهِمyet in them لِلعَدُوِّfor the enemy قَساوَةharshness
لانوا وَفيهِم لِلعَدُوِّ قَساوَة
كَالماءِlike water يُغرِفladled out وَهوَwhile it is غَيرُnot مُكَدَّرِmuddied
كَالماءِ يُغرِف وَهوَ غَيرُ مُكَدَّرِ
They are gentle, yet harbor harshness for the foe,
like water drawn out yet never muddied.
فيin مُنقِذٍMunqidh شَرَفnobility فَإِنand if وَصَلَتjoins بِهِto him
في مُنقِذٍ شَرَف فَإِن وَصَلَت بِهِ
عَجَلٌ'Ijl فَلَيسَthen there is no وَراءَهُbeyond it مِنany مَفخَرِground for pride
عَجَلٌ فَلَيسَ وَراءَهُ مِن مَفخَرِ
In Munqidh is nobility; and if he is joined by
'Ijl, no glory lies beyond it.
سَبَقَhe preceded الكِرامَthe noble men وَأَخَّرَand placed later ابنَthe son of مُقَلَّدٍMuqallad
سَبَقَ الكِرامَ وَأَخَّرَ ابنَ مُقَلَّدٍ
عَنهُمafter them فَكانَso was السَّبقُprecedence لِلمُتَأَخِّرِfor the latecomer
عَنهُم فَكانَ السَّبقُ لِلمُتَأَخِّرِ
He preceded the noble men and placed Ibn Muqallad
after them; yet precedence belonged to the latecomer.
شُهِرَتwere made famous مَناقِبُهُمtheir virtues وَزادَand exceeded فِعالُهُhis deeds
شُهِرَت مَناقِبُهُم وَزادَ فِعالُهُ
عَنbeyond شَأوِهاtheir reach فَكَأَنَّهاso it was as though they لَمhad not تُشهَرِbeen made known
عَن شَأوِها فَكَأَنَّها لَم تُشهَرِ
Their virtues were famed, but his deeds went
beyond their reach, as though they had never been made known.
إِنَّindeed الأُصولَthe roots وَإِنeven if زَكَتflourished أَغراسُهاtheir plantings
إِنَّ الأُصولَ وَإِن زَكَت أَغراسُها
لَولاwere it not for الغُصونُthe boughs فُروعُهاtheir offshoots لَمwould not تُثمَرِbear fruit
لَولا الغُصونُ فُروعُها لَم تُثمَرِ
Indeed, the roots, though their plantings flourish,
would bear no fruit without the boughs, their offshoots.
إِنif جاوَدوهُthey rival him in giving فَحاتِمٌthen he is Hatim فيamong طَيِّهِhis Tayy
إِن جاوَدوهُ فَحاتِمٌ في طَيِّهِ
أَوor نازَلوهُthey challenge him to combat فَعامِرٌthen he is 'Amir فيamong جَعفَرِJa'far
أَو نازَلوهُ فَعامِرٌ في جَعفَرِ
If they rival him in giving, he is Hatim among his Tayy;
or challenge him in combat, he is 'Amir among Ja'far.
يُبديhe displays عَلىdespite عَيبِthe flaws of الزَّمانِtime وَكُلَّماand whenever
يُبدي عَلى عَيبِ الزَّمانِ وَكُلَّما
صُقِلَis polished الحُسامُthe keen blade أَفاضَit pours forth ماءthe lustre of الجَوهَرِthe steel
صُقِلَ الحُسامُ أَفاضَ ماء الجَوهَرِ
He reveals his worth despite time's flaws; whenever
a keen blade is polished, it pours forth the lustre of its steel.
شَرِفَتwere ennobled أَسِرَّةُthe lines of وَجهِهِhis face بِحَيائهِby his modesty
شَرِفَت أَسِرَّةُ وَجهِهِ بِحَيائهِ
شَرقthe glow of الصَّوارِمkeen swords بِالنَّجيعِwith fresh blood الأَحمَرِcrimson
شَرق الصَّوارِم بِالنَّجيعِ الأَحمَرِ
The lines of his face are ennobled by his modesty,
as keen swords glow with crimson blood.
وَأَرادَand he sought إِخفاءto conceal النَّدىgenerosity فَأَذاعَهُso he made it known
وَأَرادَ إِخفاء النَّدى فَأَذاعَهُ
لاnot يَظهَرُappears المَعروفُkindness ماso long as لَمnot يَستُرِhe conceals it
لا يَظهَرُ المَعروفُ ما لَم يَستُرِ
And he sought to conceal his generosity, and so made it known;
kindness does not appear until he conceals it.
بَينيbetween me وَبَينَكَand between you حُرمَةٌa sacred bond ماnot غالَهاhas destroyed it
بَيني وَبَينَكَ حُرمَةٌ ما غالَها
وَلَعُthe obsession of الخُطوبِcalamities وَذِمَّةٌand a covenant لَمnever تُخفَرِbetrayed
وَلَعُ الخُطوبِ وَذِمَّةٌ لَم تُخفَرِ
Between you and me is a sacred bond, never destroyed by
calamities' relentless pursuit, and a covenant never betrayed;
وَمَوَدَّةand affection مُزِجَتwas mingled بِأَيّامwith the days of الصِّباyouth
وَمَوَدَّة مُزِجَت بِأَيّام الصِّبا
وَرَأَتand it saw تَغَيُّرَهُits changing فَلَمyet did not تَتَغَيَّرِchange
وَرَأَت تَغَيُّرَهُ فَلَم تَتَغَيَّرِ
and affection blended with the days of youth,
which saw youth change, yet never changed itself.
يُفديكَmay he be your ransom كُلُّevery man جَديدَةٍnew نَعماؤُهhis prosperity
يُفديكَ كُلُّ جَديدَةٍ نَعماؤُه
وَعِرrugged السَّبيلthe road إِلىto العَلاءِeminence مُؤَخَّرِleft behind
وَعِر السَّبيل إِلى العَلاءِ مُؤَخَّرِ
May every man newly come to fortune be your ransom,
a laggard on the rugged road to eminence.
تَتَعَجَّبُmarvel الأَيّامُthe days كَيفَhow أَطاعَهُobeyed him
تَتَعَجَّبُ الأَيّامُ كَيفَ أَطاعَهُ
قَدَرٌfate وَفازَand won مَنيحُهُhis losing arrow فيin المَيسِرِthe game of lots
قَدَرٌ وَفازَ مَنيحُهُ في المَيسِرِ
The days marvel at how he was obeyed by
fate, and how his losing arrow won in the game of lots.
وَعدhe promised كَماas خَدَعَdeceived الجَهامُthe rainless cloud وَبَرقُهُand his lightning
وَعد كَما خَدَعَ الجَهامُ وَبَرقُهُ
كَذِبa lie وَعارِضُand the cloud-bank of مُزنِهِhis rain-clouds لَمdid not يُمطَرِshed rain
كَذِب وَعارِضُ مُزنِهِ لَم يُمطَرِ
He promised as a rainless cloud deceives; his lightning
was false, and his bank of rain-clouds shed no rain.
عَدَّcounted الزَّمانُtime لِئامَهُits scoundrels فَاِستَوقَفَتthen brought to a halt
عَدَّ الزَّمانُ لِئامَهُ فَاِستَوقَفَت
تِلكَthose الخِلالُtraits عَلَيهِat him عَقدَthe bending of الخِنصَرِthe little finger
تِلكَ الخِلالُ عَلَيهِ عَقدَ الخِنصَرِ
Time counted its scoundrels, but was brought to a halt
by those traits, its little finger bent to mark him.
أَهوِنhow insignificant بِهِhe is ماas long as كُنتَyou are ياO ابنَson of مُقَلَّدٍMuqallad
أَهوِن بِهِ ما كُنتَ يا ابنَ مُقَلَّدٍ
عَونيmy aid عَلَيهِagainst him وَكانَand were قَومُكَyour people مَعشَريmy folk
عَوني عَلَيهِ وَكانَ قَومُكَ مَعشَري
How little he matters, so long as you, Ibn Muqallad,
are my aid against him, and your people are my kin.
أَثنِيI praise عَلَيهِhim بِماfor what عَلِمتُI know وَبَعضُهُand some of it
أَثنِي عَلَيهِ بِما عَلِمتُ وَبَعضُهُ
يُعييbaffles البَليغَthe eloquent speaker وَإِنand if خَبِرتَyou have learned فَخَبِّرِthen tell
يُعيي البَليغَ وَإِن خَبِرتَ فَخَبِّرِ
I praise him for what I know, and some of it
baffles the eloquent; if you have knowledge, tell.
وَإِذاand when أَطَلتَyou speak at length وَكانَwhile it is يُقصِرُfalling short عاجِزاًhelplessly
وَإِذا أَطَلتَ وَكانَ يُقصِرُ عاجِزاً
شُكريmy gratitude فَأَعجِبthen marvel بِالمُطيلِat the lengthy speaker المُكثِرِthe profuse one
شُكري فَأَعجِب بِالمُطيلِ المُكثِرِ
And when you speak at length, though helplessly inadequate
is my gratitude, marvel at one so long and lavish in speech.
Sol 6.1