ذَكَرتُI recalled وِصالَunion with البيضِfair women وَالشَيبُwhile gray hair شائِعُspreads
ذَكَرتُ وِصالَ البيضِ وَالشَيبُ شائِعُ
وَدارُand the abode of الصِباyouth مِنsince عَهدِهِنَّtheir time بَلاقِعُempty wastes
وَدارُ الصِبا مِن عَهدِهِنَّ بَلاقِعُ
I recalled union with fair women while gray hair was spreading,
and youth's abode, since their time, has become empty wastes.
أَشَتَّscattered عِمادُthe tent-poles of البَينِparting وَاِختَلَفَand diverged الهَوىdesire
أَشَتَّ عِمادُ البَينِ وَاِختَلَفَ الهَوى
لِيَقطَعَto sever ماwhat بَينَlies between الفَريقَينِthe two companies قاطِعُa severer
لِيَقطَعَ ما بَينَ الفَريقَينِ قاطِعُ
Parting's tent-poles scattered us, and desire diverged,
so that a severer might cut the bond between the two companies.
لَعَلَّكَperhaps you may يَوماًone day أَنthat يُساعِفَكَfavor you الهَوىdesire
لَعَلَّكَ يَوماً أَن يُساعِفَكَ الهَوى
فَيَجمَعَand bring together شَعبَيthe two branches of طِيَّةٍa journey لَكَfor you جامِعُa uniter
فَيَجمَعَ شَعبَي طِيَّةٍ لَكَ جامِعُ
Perhaps one day desire will favor you,
and a uniter bring together for you the two branches of a journey.
أَخالِدَO Khalida ماnot مِنany حاجَةٍlonging تَنبَريpresents itself لَناto us
أَخالِدَ ما مِن حاجَةٍ تَنبَري لَنا
بِذِكراكِat remembering you إِلّاbut اِرفَضَّstreamed forth مِنّيfrom me المَدامِعُtears
بِذِكراكِ إِلّا اِرفَضَّ مِنّي المَدامِعُ
O Khalida, no longing presents itself to us
at your remembrance but tears pour from me.
وَأَقرَضتُand I lent لَيلىLayla الوُدَّaffection ثُمَّتَthen لَمnot تُرِدshe wished
وَأَقرَضتُ لَيلى الوُدَّ ثُمَّتَ لَم تُرِد
لِتَجزِيَto repay قَرضيmy loan وَالقُروضُand loans وَدائِعُtrusts
لِتَجزِيَ قَرضي وَالقُروضُ وَدائِعُ
I lent Layla affection; then she did not wish
to repay my loan, though loans are trusts.
سَمَتrose لَكَfor you مِنهاfrom her حاجَةٌa longing بَينَbetween ثَهمَدٍThahmad
سَمَت لَكَ مِنها حاجَةٌ بَينَ ثَهمَدٍ
وَمِذعىand Midh'a وَأَعناقُand the necks of المَطِيِّriding-camels خَواضِعُbowed low
وَمِذعى وَأَعناقُ المَطِيِّ خَواضِعُ
A longing for her rose before you between Thahmad
and Midh'a, while the riding-camels' necks bowed low.
يَسُمنَthey sway كَماas سامَswayed المَنيحانِthe two blank gaming arrows أَقدُحاًgaming lots
يَسُمنَ كَما سامَ المَنيحانِ أَقدُحاً
نَحاهُنَّhe set them in motion مِنfrom شَيبانَShayban سَمحٌfree-handed مُخالِعُa reckless gambler
نَحاهُنَّ مِن شَيبانَ سَمحٌ مُخالِعُ
They sway as the two blank gaming arrows swayed among the lots,
which a free-handed gambler from Shayban set in motion.
فَهَلّاwhy then not اِتَّقَيتِyou feared اللَهَGod إِذwhen رُعتِyou startled مُحرِماًa consecrated pilgrim
فَهَلّا اِتَّقَيتِ اللَهَ إِذ رُعتِ مُحرِماً
سَرىhe traveled by night ثُمَّthen أَلقىhe laid down رَحلَهُhis saddle فَهوَso he was هاجِعُsleeping
سَرى ثُمَّ أَلقى رَحلَهُ فَهوَ هاجِعُ
Why then did you not fear God when you startled a consecrated pilgrim
who had traveled by night, then laid down his saddle and was sleeping?
وَمِنand from دونِهِbefore him تيهٌa trackless waste كَأَنَّas though شِخاصَهاits looming forms
وَمِن دونِهِ تيهٌ كَأَنَّ شِخاصَها
يَحُلنَthey shift بِأَمثالٍwith likenesses فَهُنَّso they are شَوافِعُpaired forms
يَحُلنَ بِأَمثالٍ فَهُنَّ شَوافِعُ
Before him lay a trackless waste, whose looming forms seemed
to shift beside their likenesses, forming pairs.
تَحِنُّmoans قَلوصيmy young she-camel بَعدَafter هَدءٍa lull وَهاجَهاand stirred her
تَحِنُّ قَلوصي بَعدَ هَدءٍ وَهاجَها
وَميضٌa lightning flash عَلىover ذاتِDhat السَلاسِلِal-Salasil لامِعُgleaming
وَميضٌ عَلى ذاتِ السَلاسِلِ لامِعُ
My young she-camel moans after a lull, stirred
by a lightning flash gleaming over Dhat al-Salasil.
فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her حِنّيmoan رُوَيداًgently فَإِنَّنيfor I
فَقُلتُ لَها حِنّي رُوَيداً فَإِنَّني
إِلىtoward أَهلِthe people of نَجدٍNajd مِنfrom تِهامَةَTihama نازِعُdrawn longingly
إِلى أَهلِ نَجدٍ مِن تِهامَةَ نازِعُ
I told her, 'Moan gently, for I
am drawn from Tihama toward the people of Najd.'
تَغَيَّضُoozes ذِفراهاher ear-root بِجَونٍwith dark sweat كَأَنُّهُas though it were
تَغَيَّضُ ذِفراها بِجَونٍ كَأَنُّهُ
كُحَيلٌliquid tar جَرىflowed فيthrough قُنفُذِthe hedgehog-like tuft of الليتِthe neck's side نابِعُwelling up
كُحَيلٌ جَرى في قُنفُذِ الليتِ نابِعُ
Her ear-root oozes dark sweat, as though it were
tar welling and running through the hedgehog-like tuft on her neck.
أَلاcome now حَيِّياgreet, you two الأَعرافَthe ridges مِنof مَنبِتِthe growing-place of الغَضاghada shrubs
أَلا حَيِّيا الأَعرافَ مِن مَنبِتِ الغَضا
وَحَيثُand where حَباcrept حَولَaround الصَريفِal-Sarif الأَجارِعُthe sandy flats
وَحَيثُ حَبا حَولَ الصَريفِ الأَجارِعُ
Come, you two, greet the ridges where the ghada grows,
and where the sandy flats creep around al-Sarif.
سَلِمتَmay you be safe وَجادَتكَand may they water you الغُيوثُthe downpours الرَوابِعُspringtime
سَلِمتَ وَجادَتكَ الغُيوثُ الرَوابِعُ
فَإِنَّكَfor you are وادٍa valley لِلأَحِبَّةِfor loved ones جامِعُa gathering-place
فَإِنَّكَ وادٍ لِلأَحِبَّةِ جامِعُ
May you be safe, and may the springtime rains water you,
for you are a valley that brings loved ones together.
فَلَمand never أَرَI saw ياO اِبنَson of القَرمِthe noble chief كَاليَومِlike today مَنظَراًa sight
فَلَم أَرَ يا اِبنَ القَرمِ كَاليَومِ مَنظَراً
تَجاوَزَهُpassed it by ذوone with حاجَةٍa need وَهوَwhile he is طائِعُwilling
تَجاوَزَهُ ذو حاجَةٍ وَهوَ طائِعُ
Never, O son of the noble chief, have I seen a sight like today's
that a man in need would willingly pass by.
أَتَنسَينَdo you forget ماhow نَسريwe travel by night لِحُبِّfor love of لِقائِكُمmeeting you
أَتَنسَينَ ما نَسري لِحُبِّ لِقائِكُم
وَتَهجيرَناand our midday traveling وَالبيدُwhile the deserts غُبرٌdusty خَواشِعُstill and subdued
وَتَهجيرَنا وَالبيدُ غُبرٌ خَواشِعُ
Do you forget how we travel by night for love of meeting you,
and our midday journeys, while the deserts lie dusty and still?
بَنيsons of القَينِthe smith لاقَيتُمyou met شُجاعاًa fierce serpent بِهَضبَةٍon a rocky height
بَني القَينِ لاقَيتُم شُجاعاً بِهَضبَةٍ
رَبيبَreared among حِبالٍsand-ridges تَتَّقيهِfear him الأَشاجِعُthe bravest
رَبيبَ حِبالٍ تَتَّقيهِ الأَشاجِعُ
Sons of the smith, you met a fierce serpent on a rocky height,
reared among sand-ridges, whom even the bravest fear.
فَإِنَّكَfor you are قَينٌa smith وَاِبنُand the son of قَينَينِtwo smiths فَاِصطَبِرso endure
فَإِنَّكَ قَينٌ وَاِبنُ قَينَينِ فَاِصطَبِر
لِذَلِكَthat إِذsince سُدَّتwere barred عَلَيكَto you المَطالِعُthe paths upward
لِذَلِكَ إِذ سُدَّت عَلَيكَ المَطالِعُ
For you are a smith and the son of two smiths; endure
that, since the paths upward are barred to you.
وَلَمّاand when رَأَيتُI saw الناسَthe people هَرَّتgrowled كِلابُهُمtheir dogs
وَلَمّا رَأَيتُ الناسَ هَرَّت كِلابُهُم
تَشَيَّعتُI took allies إِذsince لَمnot يَحمِprotected إِلّاexcept المُشايِعُan ally
تَشَيَّعتُ إِذ لَم يَحمِ إِلّا المُشايِعُ
When I saw the people whose dogs were growling,
I took allies, since only an ally offered protection.
وَجَهَّزتُand I dispatched فيinto الآفاقِthe horizons كُلَّevery قَصيدَةٍode
وَجَهَّزتُ في الآفاقِ كُلَّ قَصيدَةٍ
شَرودٍfar-ranging وَرودٍever-arriving كُلَّevery رَكبٍcaravan تُنازِعُit contends with
شَرودٍ وَرودٍ كُلَّ رَكبٍ تُنازِعُ
I dispatched to the horizons every ode,
far-ranging and ever-arriving, contending with every caravan.
يَجُزنَthey pass إِلىto نَجرانَNajran مَنwhoever كانَwas دونَهُshort of it
يَجُزنَ إِلى نَجرانَ مَن كانَ دونَهُ
وَيَظهَرنَand they appear فيin نَجدٍNajd وَهُنَّwhile they are صَوادِعُringing proclamations
وَيَظهَرنَ في نَجدٍ وَهُنَّ صَوادِعُ
They reach Najran, passing all who lie before it,
and appear in Najd, ringing out plainly.
تَعَرَّضَpresented themselves أَمثالُexamples of القَوافيthe rhymes كَأَنَّهاas though they were
تَعَرَّضَ أَمثالُ القَوافي كَأَنَّها
نَجائِبُnoble camels تَعلوrise over مِربَداًa camel-yard فَتُطالِعُthen look out
نَجائِبُ تَعلو مِربَداً فَتُطالِعُ
Such rhymes presented themselves, as though they were
noble camels rising over a camel-yard, then looking out.
أَجِئتُمhave you come تَبَغَّونَseeking العُرامَferocity فَعِندَناthen with us there is
أَجِئتُم تَبَغَّونَ العُرامَ فَعِندَنا
عُرامٌferocity لِمَنfor whoever يَبغيseeks العَرامَةَviolence واسِعُabundant
عُرامٌ لِمَن يَبغي العَرامَةَ واسِعُ
Have you come seeking ferocity? Here we have
ferocity in plenty for anyone who seeks violence.
تَشَمَّسُrises fiercely يَربوعٌYarbu' وَرائِيَbehind me بِالقَناwith spears
تَشَمَّسُ يَربوعٌ وَرائِيَ بِالقَنا
وَعادَتُناand our custom الإِقدامُadvancing يَومَon the day نُقارِعُwe clash
وَعادَتُنا الإِقدامُ يَومَ نُقارِعُ
Yarbu' rises fiercely behind me with spears,
and our custom is to advance on the day we clash.
لَناwe have جَبَلٌa mountain صَعبٌrugged عَلَيهِupon it مَهابَةٌawe
لَنا جَبَلٌ صَعبٌ عَلَيهِ مَهابَةٌ
مَنيعُunassailable الذُرىin its peaks فيamong الخِندِفِيِّينَthe Khindifites فارِعُtowering
مَنيعُ الذُرى في الخِندِفِيِّينَ فارِعُ
Ours is a rugged mountain, clothed in awe,
with unassailable peaks, towering among the Khindifites.
وَفيand in الحَيِّthe tribe يَربوعٌYarbu' إِذاwhen ماever تَشَمَّسواthey grow fierce
وَفي الحَيِّ يَربوعٌ إِذا ما تَشَمَّسوا
وَفيand in الهُندُوانِيّاتِthe Indian swords لِلضَيمِagainst oppression مانِعُa safeguard
وَفي الهُندُوانِيّاتِ لِلضَيمِ مانِعُ
And in the tribe is Yarbu', when they rise in fury,
and in the Indian swords is a safeguard against oppression.
لَناwe have فيamong بَنيthe sons of سَعدٍSa'd جِبالٌmountains حَصينَةٌfortified
لَنا في بَني سَعدٍ جِبالٌ حَصينَةٌ
وَمُنتَفَدٌand room to range فيin باحَةِthe courtyard of العِزِّglory واسِعُspacious
وَمُنتَفَدٌ في باحَةِ العِزِّ واسِعُ
Among Banu Sa'd we have fortified mountains,
and wide room to range in the courtyard of glory.
وَتَبذَخُand stand proudly مِنfrom سَعدٍSa'd قُرومٌchieftains بِمَفزَعٍat a place of refuge
وَتَبذَخُ مِن سَعدٍ قُرومٌ بِمَفزَعٍ
بِهِمwith them عِندَat أَبوابِthe doors of المُلوكِkings نُدافِعُwe contend
بِهِم عِندَ أَبوابِ المُلوكِ نُدافِعُ
Proud chieftains of Sa'd stand tall where help is sought;
with them we contend at the doors of kings.
لِسَعدٍSa'd has ذُرىsummits عادِيَّةٍancient, like 'Ad's يُهتَدىone finds one's way بِهاby them
لِسَعدٍ ذُرى عادِيَّةٍ يُهتَدى بِها
وَدَرءٌand resistance عَلىagainst مَنwhoever يَبتَغيseeks الدَرءَopposition ضالِعُpowerful
وَدَرءٌ عَلى مَن يَبتَغي الدَرءَ ضالِعُ
Sa'd has ancient, 'Ad-like summits by which men find their way,
and powerful resistance against anyone seeking opposition.
وَإِنَّand indeed حِمىًa sanctuary لَمnot يَحمِهِprotected it غَيرُanyone but فَرتَنىFartana
وَإِنَّ حِمىً لَم يَحمِهِ غَيرُ فَرتَنى
وَغَيرُand anyone but اِبنِthe son of ذيthe possessor of الكيرَينِtwo bellows خَزيانُshamed ضائِعُforsaken
وَغَيرُ اِبنِ ذي الكيرَينِ خَزيانُ ضائِعُ
Indeed, a sanctuary guarded only by Fartana
and the son of the man with two bellows is shamed and forsaken.
رَأَتsaw مالِكٌMalik نَبلَthe arrows of الفَرَزدَقِal-Farazdaq قَصَّرَتfell short
رَأَت مالِكٌ نَبلَ الفَرَزدَقِ قَصَّرَت
عَنِof المَجدِglory إِذsince لاnot يَأتَليslackens in الغَلوَshooting far نازِعُa bowman
عَنِ المَجدِ إِذ لا يَأتَلي الغَلوَ نازِعُ
Malik saw that al-Farazdaq's arrows fell short
of glory, though the bowman spared no effort in shooting far.
تَعَرَّضَhe exposed himself حَتّىuntil أُثبِتَتwere driven home بَينَbetween خَطمِهِhis snout
تَعَرَّضَ حَتّى أُثبِتَت بَينَ خَطمِهِ
وَبَينَand between مَخَطِّthe line of الحاجِبَينِthe two eyebrows القَوارِعُthe crushing blows
وَبَينَ مَخَطِّ الحاجِبَينِ القَوارِعُ
He exposed himself until there were lodged between his snout
and the line of his two eyebrows the crushing blows.
أَرىI see الشَيبَgray hair فيon وَجهِthe face of الفَرَزدَقِal-Farazdaq قَدalready عَلاrose over
أَرى الشَيبَ في وَجهِ الفَرَزدَقِ قَد عَلا
لِهازِمَthe jowls of قِردٍan ape رَنَّحَتهُstaggered him الصَواقِعُthunderbolts
لِهازِمَ قِردٍ رَنَّحَتهُ الصَواقِعُ
I see gray hair on al-Farazdaq's face, risen over
the jowls of an ape staggered by thunderbolts.
وَأَنتَand you are اِبنُthe son of قَينٍa smith ياO فَرَزدَقُFarazdaq فَاِزدَهِرso take care
وَأَنتَ اِبنُ قَينٍ يا فَرَزدَقُ فَاِزدَهِر
بِكيرِكَof your bellows إِنَّindeed الكيرَthe bellows لِلقَينِfor the smith نافِعُuseful
بِكيرِكَ إِنَّ الكيرَ لِلقَينِ نافِعُ
You are a smith's son, Farazdaq, so take care
of your bellows: bellows are useful to a smith.
فَإِنَّكَfor you إِنif تَنفُخblow بِكيرِكَwith your bellows تَلقَناwill find us
فَإِنَّكَ إِن تَنفُخ بِكيرِكَ تَلقَنا
نُعِدُّwe prepare القَناspears وَالخَيلَand horses يَومَon the day نُقارِعُwe clash
نُعِدُّ القَنا وَالخَيلَ يَومَ نُقارِعُ
If you blow with your bellows, you will find us
preparing spears and horses for the day we clash.
إِذاwhen مُدَّis extended غَلوُthe full stretch of الجَريِthe race طاحَfalls اِبنُthe son of فَرتَنىFartana
إِذا مُدَّ غَلوُ الجَريِ طاحَ اِبنُ فَرتَنى
وَجَدَّand becomes earnest التِجاريthe racing فَالفَرَزدَقُthen al-Farazdaq ظالِعُlimps
وَجَدَّ التِجاري فَالفَرَزدَقُ ظالِعُ
When the race's stretch is lengthened, Ibn Fartana falls,
and when the racing grows earnest, al-Farazdaq limps.
وَأَمّاand as for بَنوthe sons of سَعدٍSa'd فَلَوif قُلتَyou said أَنصِتواlisten in silence
وَأَمّا بَنو سَعدٍ فَلَو قُلتَ أَنصِتوا
لِتُنشِدَto recite فيهِمamong them حَزَّwould slash أَنفَكَyour nose جادِعُa nose-mutilator
لِتُنشِدَ فيهِم حَزَّ أَنفَكَ جادِعُ
As for Banu Sa'd, if you were to say, 'Listen,'
to recite among them, a nose-mutilator would slash your nose.
رَأَيتُكَI saw you إِذwhen لَمnot يُغنِكَmade you wealthy اللَهُGod بِالغِنىwith wealth
رَأَيتُكَ إِذ لَم يُغنِكَ اللَهُ بِالغِنى
لَجَأتَyou took refuge إِلىwith قَيسٍQays وَخَدُّكَand your cheek ضارِعُabased
لَجَأتَ إِلى قَيسٍ وَخَدُّكَ ضارِعُ
I saw you, when God had not enriched you with wealth,
take refuge with Qays, your cheek abased.
أَلاtake heed إِنَّماnothing but مَجدُthe glory of الفَرَزدَقِal-Farazdaq كيرُهُhis bellows
أَلا إِنَّما مَجدُ الفَرَزدَقِ كيرُهُ
وَذُخرٌand a treasure لَهُfor him فيon الجَنبَتَينِboth sides قَعاقِعُclattering things
وَذُخرٌ لَهُ في الجَنبَتَينِ قَعاقِعُ
Indeed, al-Farazdaq's glory is nothing but his bellows,
and his treasure on either side is clattering things.
يَقولُsays لِلَيلىto Layla قَينُthe smith of صَعصَعَةَSa'sa'a اِشفَعيintercede
يَقولُ لِلَيلى قَينُ صَعصَعَةَ اِشفَعي
عَفيماis there in what وَراءَbehind الكيرِthe bellows لِلقَينِfor the smith شافِعُan intercessor
عَفيما وَراءَ الكيرِ لِلقَينِ شافِعُ
Sa'sa'a's smith says to Layla, 'Intercede!'
Is there, in what lies behind the bellows, an intercessor for the smith?
إِذاwhen أَسفَرَتunveiled يَوماًone day نِساءُthe women of مُجاشِعٍMujashi'
إِذا أَسفَرَت يَوماً نِساءُ مُجاشِعٍ
بَدَتappeared سَوءَةٌa shameful sight مِمّاfrom what تُجِنُّconceal البَراقِعُthe face-veils
بَدَت سَوءَةٌ مِمّا تُجِنُّ البَراقِعُ
When Mujashi's women uncover their faces one day,
a shameful sight appears from what the veils conceal:
مَناخِرُnostrils شانَتهاdisfigured them القُيونُthe smiths كَأَنَّهاas though they were
مَناخِرُ شانَتها القُيونُ كَأَنَّها
أُنوفُsnouts of خَنازيرِpigs of السَوادِal-Sawad القَوابِعِcrouching
أُنوفُ خَنازيرِ السَوادِ القَوابِعِ
nostrils disfigured by smiths, as though they were
the snouts of crouching pigs in al-Sawad.
مَباشيمُbloated with indigestion عَنfrom غِبِّthe aftermath of الخَزيرِkhazir stew كَأَنَّماas though
مَباشيمُ عَن غِبِّ الخَزيرِ كَأَنَّما
تُصَوِّتُcroak فيin أَعفاجِهِنَّtheir bowels الضَفادِعُfrogs
تُصَوِّتُ في أَعفاجِهِنَّ الضَفادِعُ
Bloated after khazir stew, as though
frogs were croaking in their bowels.
وَقَدand already قَوَّسَتbent her back أُمُّthe mother of البَعيثِal-Ba'ith وَأُكرِهَتand was forced
وَقَد قَوَّسَت أُمُّ البَعيثِ وَأُكرِهَت
عَلىto bear الزِفرِheavy loads حَتّىuntil شَنَّجَتهاcramped her الأَخادِعُthe neck-veins
عَلى الزِفرِ حَتّى شَنَّجَتها الأَخادِعُ
Al-Ba'ith's mother has bent her back and been compelled
to bear heavy loads, until her neck-veins cramped her.
لَقَدindeed عَلِمَتknows غَيرَapart from الفِياشِempty boasting مُجاشِعٌMujashi'
لَقَد عَلِمَت غَيرَ الفِياشِ مُجاشِعٌ
إِلىto مَنwhom تَصيرُpass الخافِقاتُthe fluttering banners اللَوامِعُgleaming
إِلى مَن تَصيرُ الخافِقاتُ اللَوامِعُ
Mujashi' knows, apart from empty boasting,
to whom the fluttering, shining banners pass.
لَناwe have بانِياtwo builders of مَجدٍglory فَبانٍone building لَناfor us العُلىhigh honor
لَنا بانِيا مَجدٍ فَبانٍ لَنا العُلى
وَحامٍand one defending إِذاwhen اِحمَرَّturned red القَناthe spears وَالأَشاجِعُand the knuckles
وَحامٍ إِذا اِحمَرَّ القَنا وَالأَشاجِعُ
We have two builders of glory: one builds high honor for us,
and one defends when spears and knuckles turn red.
أَتَعدِلُdo you equate أَحساباًancestral honors كِراماًnoble حُماتُهاtheir defenders
أَتَعدِلُ أَحساباً كِراماً حُماتُها
بِأَحسابِكُمwith your ancestral honors إِنّيindeed I إِلىto اللَهِGod راجِعُreturn
بِأَحسابِكُم إِنّي إِلى اللَهِ راجِعُ
Do you equate ancestral honors whose defenders are noble
with your ancestral honors? To God I return!
لَقَومِيَindeed my people أَحمىmore protective لِلحَقيقَةِof what must be defended مِنكُمُthan you
لَقَومِيَ أَحمى لِلحَقيقَةِ مِنكُمُ
وَأَضرَبُand harder-striking لِلجَبّارِagainst the tyrant وَالنَقعُwhile the dust ساطِعُrises
وَأَضرَبُ لِلجَبّارِ وَالنَقعُ ساطِعُ
My people defend their honor more fiercely than you,
and strike the tyrant harder while the dust rises.
وَأَوثَقُand more dependable عِندَin the presence of المُردَفاتِwomen riding pillion عَشِيَّةًat evening
وَأَوثَقُ عِندَ المُردَفاتِ عَشِيَّةً
لِحاقاًin pursuit إِذاwhen ماever جَرَّدَunsheathed السَيفَthe sword لامِعُa gleaming warrior
لِحاقاً إِذا ما جَرَّدَ السَيفَ لامِعُ
And they are more dependable, when women ride pillion at evening,
in pursuit, when a gleaming warrior draws his sword.
وَأَمنَعُand more protective of جيراناًneighbors وَأَحمَدُand more praised فيfor القِرىhospitality
وَأَمنَعُ جيراناً وَأَحمَدُ في القِرى
إِذاwhen اِغبَرَّbecame dusty فيin المَحلِdrought النُجومُthe stars الطَوالِعُrising
إِذا اِغبَرَّ في المَحلِ النُجومُ الطَوالِعُ
And they better protect neighbors, and are more praised for hospitality,
when the rising stars grow dusty in drought.
وَسامٍand many a rising man بِدُهمٍwith dark hosts غَيرِnot مُنتَقِضِweakened in القِوىstrength
وَسامٍ بِدُهمٍ غَيرِ مُنتَقِضِ القِوى
رَئيسٍa chief سَلَبناwe stripped بَزَّهُhis gear وَهوَwhile he was دارِعُwearing mail
رَئيسٍ سَلَبنا بَزَّهُ وَهوَ دارِعُ
And many a man rising with dark hosts, his strength undiminished—
a chief: we stripped him of his gear while he wore mail.
نَدَسناwe stabbed أَباAbu مَندوسَةَMandusa القَينِthe smith بِالقَناwith spears
نَدَسنا أَبا مَندوسَةَ القَينِ بِالقَنا
وَمارَand surged دَمٌblood مِنfrom جارِthe neighbor of بَيبَةَBayba ناقِعُdeep-red
وَمارَ دَمٌ مِن جارِ بَيبَةَ ناقِعُ
We stabbed Abu Mandusa, the smith, with spears,
and deep-red blood surged from Bayba's neighbor.
وَنَحنُand we نَفَرناbested حاجِباًHajib مَجدَin the glory of قَومِهِhis people
وَنَحنُ نَفَرنا حاجِباً مَجدَ قَومِهِ
وَماand not نالَattained عَمروٌ'Amr مَجدَناour glory وَالأَقارِعُnor the Aqari'
وَما نالَ عَمروٌ مَجدَنا وَالأَقارِعُ
We bested Hajib in his people's glory,
and neither 'Amr nor the Aqari' attained our glory.
وَنَحنُand we صَدَعناsplit هامَةَthe crown of the head of اِبنِthe son of مُحَرِّقٍMuharriq
وَنَحنُ صَدَعنا هامَةَ اِبنِ مُحَرِّقٍ
فَماand not رَقَأَتdried تِلكَthose العُيونُeyes الدَوامِعُweeping
فَما رَقَأَت تِلكَ العُيونُ الدَوامِعُ
We split the crown of Ibn Muharriq's head,
and those weeping eyes have not dried.
وَماand no باتَspent the night قَومٌpeople ضامِنينَowing لَناto us دَماًblood
وَما باتَ قَومٌ ضامِنينَ لَنا دَماً
فَتوفِيَناso repaying us إِلّاonly دِماءٌbloodshed شَوافِعُin pairs
فَتوفِيَنا إِلّا دِماءٌ شَوافِعُ
No people spent the night owing us blood,
without repayment to us in blood in pairs.
بِمُرهَفَةٍwith keen-edged blades بيضٍwhite إِذاwhen هِيَthey جُرِّدَتwere unsheathed
بِمُرهَفَةٍ بيضٍ إِذا هِيَ جُرِّدَت
تَأَلَّقُflash فيهِنَّwithin them المَناياdeaths اللَوامِعُgleaming
تَأَلَّقُ فيهِنَّ المَنايا اللَوامِعُ
With keen-edged, white blades that, when drawn,
flash with the gleaming deaths within them.
لَقَدindeed كانَthere was ياO أَولادَsons of خَجخَجَKhajkhaj فيكُمُamong you
لَقَد كانَ يا أَولادَ خَجخَجَ فيكُمُ
مُحَوَّلُa place to move رَحلٍa saddle لِلزُبَيرِfor al-Zubayr وَمانِعُand a defender
مُحَوَّلُ رَحلٍ لِلزُبَيرِ وَمانِعُ
Indeed, sons of Khajkhaj, there was among you
a place to move al-Zubayr's saddle, and a defender.
وَقَدand indeed كانَwas فيon يَومِthe day of الحَوارِيِّthe Disciple جارُكُمyour neighbor
وَقَد كانَ في يَومِ الحَوارِيِّ جارُكُم
أَحاديثُtales صَمَّتwere deafened مِنby نَثاهاtheir spreading report المَسامِعُears
أَحاديثُ صَمَّت مِن نَثاها المَسامِعُ
And on the Disciple's day, your neighbor became
the subject of tales whose report deafened ears.
وَبِتُّمand you spent the night تَعَشَّونَeating supper الخَزيرَkhazir stew كَأَنَّكُمas though you were
وَبِتُّم تَعَشَّونَ الخَزيرَ كَأَنَّكُم
مُطَلَّقَةٌa divorced woman حيناًat one time وَحيناًand at another تُراجَعُtaken back
مُطَلَّقَةٌ حيناً وَحيناً تُراجَعُ
You spent the night supping on khazir stew, as though you were
a woman divorced at one time and taken back at another.
يُقَبِّحُmakes ugly جِبريلٌGabriel وُجوهَthe faces of مُجاشِعٍMujashi'
يُقَبِّحُ جِبريلٌ وُجوهَ مُجاشِعٍ
وَتَنعىand announce the death of الحَوارِيَّthe Disciple النُجومُthe stars الطَوالِعُrising
وَتَنعى الحَوارِيَّ النُجومُ الطَوالِعُ
Gabriel makes Mujashi's faces ugly,
and the rising stars announce the Disciple's death.
إِذاwhen قيلَit is asked أَيُّwhich الناسِpeople شَرٌّworst قَبيلَةًas a tribe
إِذا قيلَ أَيُّ الناسِ شَرٌّ قَبيلَةً
وَأَعظَمُand greatest عاراًin shame قيلَit is said تِلكَthat is مُجاشِعُMujashi'
وَأَعظَمُ عاراً قيلَ تِلكَ مُجاشِعُ
When it is asked which people are worst as a tribe
and greatest in shame, the answer is, 'That is Mujashi'.'
فَأَصبَحَthen came forth عَوفٌ'Awf فيin السِلاحِarms وَأَصبَحَتwhile there came to be
فَأَصبَحَ عَوفٌ في السِلاحِ وَأَصبَحَت
تَفُشُّlets out جُشاءاتِbelches of الخَزيرِkhazir stew مُجاشِعُMujashi'
تَفُشُّ جُشاءاتِ الخَزيرِ مُجاشِعُ
Then 'Awf came forth in arms, while
Mujashi' let out belches of khazir stew.
نَدِمتَyou regretted عَلىover يَومِthe day of السِباقَينِthe two races بَعدَماafter
نَدِمتَ عَلى يَومِ السِباقَينِ بَعدَما
وَهيتَyou frayed فَلَمand none يوجَدwas found لِوَهيِكَfor your fraying راقِعُa patcher
وَهيتَ فَلَم يوجَد لِوَهيِكَ راقِعُ
You regretted the day of the two races after
you had frayed, and no one could be found to patch your fraying.
فَماso not أَنتُمُyou بِالقَومِa people of worth يَومَon the day اِفتَدَيتُمُyou ransomed yourselves
فَما أَنتُمُ بِالقَومِ يَومَ اِفتَدَيتُمُ
بِهِwith him عَنوَةًunder compulsion وَالسَمهَرِيُّwhile the Samhari spears شَوارِعُwere leveled
بِهِ عَنوَةً وَالسَمهَرِيُّ شَوارِعُ
You were no men of worth the day you ransomed yourselves
with him under compulsion, while Samhari spears were leveled.
Sol 6.1