سَرَتِtraveled by night الهُمومُthe worries فَبِتنَso they spent the night غَيرَnot نِيامِasleep
سَرَتِ الهُمومُ فَبِتنَ غَيرَ نِيامِ
وَأَخوand the companion of الهُمومِworries يَرومُseeks كُلَّevery مَرامِaim
وَأَخو الهُمومِ يَرومُ كُلَّ مَرامِ
Worries traveled by night and passed it sleepless;
Worries crept in, so I couldn't sleep,
and the companion of worries seeks every aim.
And the brother of worries plots every scheme.
ذُمَّwere scorned المَنازِلُthe dwellings بَعدَafter مَنزِلَةِthe dwelling at اللِوىal-Liwa
ذُمَّ المَنازِلُ بَعدَ مَنزِلَةِ اللِوى
وَالعَيشُand life بَعدَafter أُلائِكَthose الأَقوامِpeople
وَالعَيشُ بَعدَ أُلائِكَ الأَقوامِ
Dwellings are scorned after the dwelling at al-Liwa,
Homes became confined after the broad plain,
and life, after those people.
And life became hard after those people.
ضَرَبَتswept away مَعارِفَهاtheir landmarks الرَوامِسُthe obliterating winds بَعدَناafter us
ضَرَبَت مَعارِفَها الرَوامِسُ بَعدَنا
وَسِجالُand the downpours of كُلِّevery مُجَلجِلٍthundering cloud سَجّامِpouring rain
وَسِجالُ كُلِّ مُجَلجِلٍ سَجّامِ
Obliterating winds swept away their landmarks after we left,
After we left, the caravan leaders went their own ways,
and the downpours of every thundering, rain-pouring cloud.
And the camel-drivers marched on their paths.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَراكِI see you وَأَنتِand you are جامِعَةُgathering الهَوىlove
وَلَقَد أَراكِ وَأَنتِ جامِعَةُ الهَوى
نُثنيwe praise بِعَهدِكِin your days خَيرَthe finest دارِplace of مُقامِresidence
نُثني بِعَهدِكِ خَيرَ دارِ مُقامِ
Indeed, I recall you, gathering all love;
I saw you as the one who gathered love,
in your day we praised you as the finest place to dwell.
Binding with your promise the best abode.
فَإِذاso when وَقَفتُI stand عَلىat المَنازِلِthe dwellings بِاللِوىin al-Liwa
فَإِذا وَقَفتُ عَلى المَنازِلِ بِاللِوى
فاضَتoverflowed دُموعيmy tears غَيرَnot ذاتِpossessing نِظامِorder
فاضَت دُموعي غَيرَ ذاتِ نِظامِ
Whenever I stand at the dwellings in al-Liwa,
When I stood at the plain, overcome with love,
my tears overflow without order.
My unrestrained tears flowed.
طَرَقَتكَshe visited you by night صائِدَةُthe huntress of القُلوبِhearts وَلَيسَand it is not ذاthis
طَرَقَتكَ صائِدَةُ القُلوبِ وَلَيسَ ذا
وَقتَthe time of الزِيارَةِvisiting فَاِرجِعيso return بِسَلامِin peace
وَقتَ الزِيارَةِ فَاِرجِعي بِسَلامِ
The huntress of hearts visited you by night, but this is not
The hunter of hearts approached you inappropriately,
the hour for visiting—go back in peace.
Not the proper time for visiting, so go back in peace!
تُجريshe runs السِواكَthe tooth-stick عَلىover أَغَرَّa gleaming-white mouth كَأَنَّهُas though it were
تُجري السِواكَ عَلى أَغَرَّ كَأَنَّهُ
بَرَدٌhail تَحَدَّرَcascaded مِنfrom مُتونِthe backs of غَمامِclouds
بَرَدٌ تَحَدَّرَ مِن مُتونِ غَمامِ
She runs the tooth-stick over a gleaming-white row of teeth, as though it were
You brushed your teeth with the most delicate twig,
hail cascading from the backs of clouds.
As if it were frost descending from rainclouds.
لَوif كانَwas عَهدُكِyour pledge كَالَّذيlike what حَدَّثتِناyou told us
لَو كانَ عَهدُكِ كَالَّذي حَدَّثتِنا
لَوَصَلتِyou would have maintained ذاكَthat فَكانَso it would have been غَيرَnot رِمامِrotted rope-remnants
لَوَصَلتِ ذاكَ فَكانَ غَيرَ رِمامِ
Had your pledge been as you told us,
If your promise were as you told us,
you would have kept that bond, and it would not be rotted strands.
It would have reached that, not fallen apart.
إِنّيindeed I أُواصِلُmaintain ties with مَنwhomever أَرَدتُI desired وِصالَهُunion with him
إِنّي أُواصِلُ مَن أَرَدتُ وِصالَهُ
بِحِبالِwith the bonds of لاneither صَلِفٍan arrogant man وَلاnor لَوّامِa reproachful man
بِحِبالِ لا صَلِفٍ وَلا لَوّامِ
I maintain ties with whomever I wish to be joined to,
I join those whose company I desire
with the bonds of one neither arrogant nor reproachful.
With ropes, neither rough nor frayed.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَرانيI see myself وَالجَديدُand the new إِلىtoward بِلىًdecay
وَلَقَد أَراني وَالجَديدُ إِلى بِلىً
فيamong فِتيَةٍyoung men طُرُفِdelightful in الحَديثِconversation كِرامِnoble
في فِتيَةٍ طُرُفِ الحَديثِ كِرامِ
Indeed, I recall myself—and the new turns to decay—
And I saw myself, though still youthful,
among noble young men, delightful in their talk.
Among honorable young men of pleasant conversation.
طَلَبواthey pursued الحُمولَthe laden caravan عَلىon خَواضِعَsubmissive she-camels فيunder البُرىthe nose-rings
طَلَبوا الحُمولَ عَلى خَواضِعَ في البُرى
يُلحِقنَthey make catch up كُلَّevery مُعَذَّلٍmuch-reproached man بَسّامِever-smiling
يُلحِقنَ كُلَّ مُعَذَّلٍ بَسّامِ
They pursued the laden caravan on camels yielding to their nose-rings,
They sought burdens to carry into the lands
which made every smiling, much-reproached youth catch up.
To join each outcast and distant wanderer.
لَولاbut for مُراقَبَةُthe watchfulness of العُيونِeyes أَرَينَناthey would have shown us
لَولا مُراقَبَةُ العُيونِ أَرَينَنا
مُقَلَthe eyes of المَهاoryx وَسَوالِفَand the neck-sides of الآرامِgazelles
مُقَلَ المَها وَسَوالِفَ الآرامِ
But for the watching eyes, they would have shown us
If not for others' watchful eyes, we would have shown
the eyes of oryx and the neck-sides of gazelles.
Lowered spears and intimate conversation.
وَنَظَرنَand they looked حينَwhen سَمِعنَthey heard رَجعَthe echo of تَحِيَّتيmy greeting
وَنَظَرنَ حينَ سَمِعنَ رَجعَ تَحِيَّتي
نَظَرَthe look of الجِيادِfine horses سَمِعنَthey heard صَوتَthe sound of لِجامِa bridle
نَظَرَ الجِيادِ سَمِعنَ صَوتَ لِجامِ
And when they heard the echo of my greeting, they looked
When they heard my greetings, they looked
as fine horses look on hearing a bridle's sound.
Like steeds hearing the jingling bridle.
كَذَبَlied العَواذِلُthe reproaching women لَوif رَأَينَthey had seen مُناخَناour encampment
كَذَبَ العَواذِلُ لَو رَأَينَ مُناخَنا
بِحَزيزِon the rugged rise of رامَةَRama وَالمَطِيُّand the riding camels سَوامِgrazing freely
بِحَزيزِ رامَةَ وَالمَطِيُّ سَوامِ
The reproaching women lied; if only they had seen our camp
The maidens lied - had they seen our resting place
on Rama's rugged rise, with the riding camels grazing,
With the snorting stallion and galloping mare!
وَالعيسُand the pale camels جائِلَةُshifting الغُروضِthe girths كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَالعيسُ جائِلَةُ الغُروضِ كَأَنَّها
بَقَرٌwild cattle جَوافِلُbolting أَوor رَعيلُa flock of نَعامِostriches
بَقَرٌ جَوافِلُ أَو رَعيلُ نَعامِ
and the pale camels, their girths shifting, as though they were
The stallions, spare but with sturdy legs
bolting wild cattle or a flock of ostriches.
Like cows with hanging udders or strutting ostriches.
نَصّيmy hard driving القُلوصَthe young she-camel بِكُلِّthrough every خَرقٍopen waste ناضِبٍfar-reaching
نَصّي القُلوصَ بِكُلِّ خَرقٍ ناضِبٍ
عَمِقِdeep in الفِجاجِthe passes مُخَرَّجٍstreaked بِقَتامِwith dust
عَمِقِ الفِجاجِ مُخَرَّجٍ بِقَتامِ
I drive the young she-camel hard through every far-reaching waste,
I lead the mares, each with a smooth saddlecloth,
deep in its passes and streaked with dust.
Deeply set, bound with strong girth.
يَدمىbleeds عَلىagainst خَدَمِthe loops of السَريحِthe leather foot-thong أَظَلُّهاher foot's sole
يَدمى عَلى خَدَمِ السَريحِ أَظَلُّها
وَالمَروُand the flint مِنfrom وَهَجِthe blaze of الهَجيرَةِthe midday heat حامِhot
وَالمَروُ مِن وَهَجِ الهَجيرَةِ حامِ
Her foot's sole bleeds against the loops of the leather foot-thong,
Their sweat sprinkles the saddlecloth's hem
and the flint is hot from the blaze of midday.
As the branding iron glows red hot.
باتَspent the night الوِسادُthe pillow لَدىbeside ذِراعِthe foreleg of شِمِلَّةٍa swift she-camel
باتَ الوِسادُ لَدى ذِراعِ شِمِلَّةٍ
وَثَنىand he curled أَشاجِعَهُhis finger-joints بِفَضلِaround a spare length of رِمامِworn rope
وَثَنى أَشاجِعَهُ بِفَضلِ رِمامِ
The pillow lay all night beside a swift she-camel's foreleg,
The pillow lies by the arm of my beloved
and the sleeper curled his fingers round a spare length of worn rope.
As I fold its straps with a short rope.
إِنَّindeed اِبنَthe son of آكِلَةِthe woman who eats النُخالَةِbran قَدalready جَنىbrought about
إِنَّ اِبنَ آكِلَةِ النُخالَةِ قَد جَنى
حَرباًa war عَلَيكَupon you ثَقيلَةَheavy with الأَجرامِburdens
حَرباً عَلَيكَ ثَقيلَةَ الأَجرامِ
The son of the bran-eating woman has brought
The son of the date-pit eater has unjustly
a war upon you, heavy with burdens.
Waged heavy war against you.
خُلِقَwas created الفَرَزدَقُal-Farazdaq سَوأَةًa disgrace فيamong مالِكٍMalik
خُلِقَ الفَرَزدَقُ سَوأَةً في مالِكٍ
وَلَخَلفِand for the offspring of ضَبَّةَDabba كانَhe was شَرَّthe worst غُلامِboy
وَلَخَلفِ ضَبَّةَ كانَ شَرَّ غُلامِ
Al-Farazdaq was created a disgrace among Malik,
Al-Farazdaq was born into the worst family of Malik -
and for Dabba's offspring he was the worst of boys.
And for successors, the worst boy ever nursed.
مَهلاًhold back فَرَزدَقُFarazdaq إِنَّindeed قَومَكَyour people فيهُمُamong them
مَهلاً فَرَزدَقُ إِنَّ قَومَكَ فيهُمُ
خَوَرُweakness of القُلوبِhearts وَخِفَّةُand lightness of الأَحلامِjudgment
خَوَرُ القُلوبِ وَخِفَّةُ الأَحلامِ
Hold, Farazdaq! Your people harbor
Wait, Farazdaq! Among your people are
cowardice of heart and frivolity of mind.
Faint hearts and fleeting dreams.
الظاعِنونَthose who depart عَلىin العَمىblindness بِجَميعِهِمall of them together
الظاعِنونَ عَلى العَمى بِجَميعِهِم
وَالنازِلونَand those who settle بِشَرِّin the worst دارِplace of مُقامِresidence
وَالنازِلونَ بِشَرِّ دارِ مُقامِ
All of them depart blindly,
Slandering the blind, all of them,
and settle in the worst place to dwell.
And settling in the worst abode.
بِئسَwretched were الفَوارِسُthe horsemen يَومَon the day of نَعفِthe slope of قُشاوَةٍQushawa
بِئسَ الفَوارِسُ يَومَ نَعفِ قُشاوَةٍ
وَالخَيلُand the horses عادِيَةٌcharging عَلىagainst بِسطامِBistam
وَالخَيلُ عادِيَةٌ عَلى بِسطامِ
Wretched were the horsemen on the day at Qushawa's slope,
Evil horsemen on the day of Nuqasha's bier!
while the horses charged against Bistam.
The horses bolting with snapped reins.
لَوif غَيرُكُمsomeone other than you all عَلِقَtook in الزُبَيرَal-Zubayr وَرَحلَهُand his baggage
لَو غَيرُكُم عَلِقَ الزُبَيرَ وَرَحلَهُ
أَدّىwould have fulfilled الجِوارَthe duty of protection إِلىtoward بَنيthe sons of العَوّامِal-Awwam
أَدّى الجِوارَ إِلى بَني العَوّامِ
Had someone other than you taken in al-Zubayr and his baggage,
Had it been others who hosted az-Zubayr and his camel,
he would have fulfilled his duty of protection toward the sons of al-Awwam.
They would have shown proper neighborliness to the commoners.
كانَwas العِنانُthe rein عَلىto أَبيكَyour father مُحَرَّماًforbidden
كانَ العِنانُ عَلى أَبيكَ مُحَرَّماً
وَالكيرُand the bellows كانَwas عَلَيهِto him غَيرَnot حَرامِforbidden
وَالكيرُ كانَ عَلَيهِ غَيرَ حَرامِ
The reins were forbidden to your father,
The reins were forbidden to your father
but the bellows were not forbidden to him.
While wine was not prohibited.
عَمداًdeliberately أُعَرِّفُI make known بِالهَوانِthrough humiliation مُجاشِعاًMujashi'
عَمداً أُعَرِّفُ بِالهَوانِ مُجاشِعاً
إِنَّindeed اللِئامَthe base عَلَيَّin my eyes غَيرُnot كِرامِnoble
إِنَّ اللِئامَ عَلَيَّ غَيرُ كِرامِ
Deliberately I brand Mujashi' with dishonor;
I openly acknowledge my humiliation,
indeed, the base are not noble in my eyes.
Since the vile are not honorable to me.
إِنَّindeed المَكارِمَnoble deeds قَدalready سُبِقتَyou have been surpassed بِفَضلِهاin their excellence
إِنَّ المَكارِمَ قَد سُبِقتَ بِفَضلِها
فَاِنسُبso trace the lineage of أَباكَyour father لِعُروَةَto Urwa بنِson of حِزامِHizam
فَاِنسُب أَباكَ لِعُروَةَ بنِ حِزامِ
In the excellence of noble deeds, you have already been surpassed;
You have been surpassed in virtues -
so trace your father's descent to Urwa ibn Hizam.
So attribute your father to Urwa ibn Hizam!
ماnot زِلتَyou have ceased تَسعىstriving فيin خَبالِكَyour folly سادِراًheedless
ما زِلتَ تَسعى في خَبالِكَ سادِراً
حَتّىuntil اِلتَبَستَyou became entangled بِعُرَّتيwith my scourge وَعُراميand my fury
حَتّى اِلتَبَستَ بِعُرَّتي وَعُرامي
You kept striving in your folly, heedless,
You persist running confusedly in your foolishness
until you tangled with my scourge and my fury.
Until you have become entangled with me and my she-camels.
إِنّيindeed I إِذاwhen كَرِهَdislike الرِجالُmen حَلاوَتيmy sweetness
إِنّي إِذا كَرِهَ الرِجالُ حَلاوَتي
كُنتُI become الذُعافَdeadly venom مُقَشَّباًlaced بِسِمامِwith poisons
كُنتُ الذُعافَ مُقَشَّباً بِسِمامِ
Indeed, when men dislike my sweetness,
When men dislike my sweetness,
I become deadly venom, laced with poisons.
I become bitter, whetted like an Indian sword.
فيمَwhy المِراءُthe dispute وَقَدand already عَلَوتُI have risen above مُجاشِعاًMujashi'
فيمَ المِراءُ وَقَد عَلَوتُ مُجاشِعاً
عَلياءَa lofty height ذاتَpossessing مَعاقِلٍstrongholds وَحَواميand defenses
عَلياءَ ذاتَ مَعاقِلٍ وَحَوامي
Why dispute, when I have already risen above Mujashi'
Why argue when I have surpassed you,
to a height with strongholds and defenses?
Lofty one, with fortresses and sanctuaries?
وَحَلَلتُand I settled فيin مُتَمَنِّعٍan unassailable place لَوif رُمتَهُyou sought it
وَحَلَلتُ في مُتَمَنِّعٍ لَو رُمتَهُ
لَهَوَيتَyou would surely fall قَبلَbefore تَثَبُّتِthe firm planting of الأَقدامِthe feet
لَهَوَيتَ قَبلَ تَثَبُّتِ الأَقدامِ
And I have settled in an unassailable place; if you tried to reach it,
I penetrated an aloof man - had you thrown him,
you would fall before your feet could gain firm footing.
He would have fallen before getting his footing.
Sol 6.1