أَلاO حَيِّgreet المَنازِلَthe dwellings بِالجِنابِat al-Jinab
أَلا حَيِّ المَنازِلَ بِالجِنابِ
فَقَدfor indeed ذَكَّرنَthey recalled عَهدَكَyour days بِالشَبابِin youth
فَقَد ذَكَّرنَ عَهدَكَ بِالشَبابِ
O, greet the dwellings at al-Jinab,
Oh you who reside in encampments, near at hand,
for they have recalled your days of youth.
Your abode reminds me now of the days of youth.
أَماdo you not تَنفَكُّyou cease تَذكُرُyou remember أَهلَthe people of دارٍa dwelling
أَما تَنفَكُّ تَذكُرُ أَهلَ دارٍ
كَأَنَّas though رُسومَهاits traces وَرَقُthe pages of الكِتابِthe book
كَأَنَّ رُسومَها وَرَقُ الكِتابِ
Will you never cease recalling the people of a dwelling
Will you never cease remembering a folk of a house,
whose traces seem like the pages of a book?
As though their vestiges were inscribed on leaves?
لَعَمرُby the life of أَبيthe father of الغَوانيthe beautiful women ماnot سُلَيمىSulayma
لَعَمرُ أَبي الغَواني ما سُلَيمى
بِشِملالٍa flighty woman تُراحُshe is drawn eagerly إِلىtoward الشَبابِyoung men
بِشِملالٍ تُراحُ إِلى الشَبابِ
By the life of the beauties' father, Sulayma is no
By the life of Abū l-Ghuwānī, never did Sulaimā
flighty woman who thrills to young men.
Find comfort in a winter camp, or in youths.
تَكُنَّshe hides عَنِfrom النَواظِرِwatching eyes ثُمَّthen تَبدوshe appears
تَكُنَّ عَنِ النَواظِرِ ثُمَّ تَبدو
بِدُوَّthe emergence of الشَمسِthe sun مِنfrom خَلَلِthe gaps in السَحابِthe clouds
بِدُوَّ الشَمسِ مِن خَلَلِ السَحابِ
She hides from watching eyes, then appears
You disappear from sight, then shine forth at dawn
as the sun emerges through gaps in the clouds.
Through rifts in clouds, like the sun when it peers.
كَأَنَّكَas though you مُستَعيرُa borrower of كُلىthe leather patches of شَعيبٍa waterskin
كَأَنَّكَ مُستَعيرُ كُلى شَعيبٍ
وَهَتgrew weak مِنfrom ناضِحٍa water-carrier سَرِبِleaking at الطِبابِthe leather seams
وَهَت مِن ناضِحٍ سَرِبِ الطِبابِ
As though you had borrowed a waterskin's leather patches,
As though you were a star in the nightly heavens
worn thin, from a water-carrier with leaking seams.
That shoots from pointing Pleiades, a falling star.
لَيالِيَon nights تَرتَميكَshe shoots at you بِنَبلِwith the arrows of جِنٍّjinn
لَيالِيَ تَرتَميكَ بِنَبلِ جِنٍّ
صَموتُsilent الحِجلِthe anklet قانِيَةُdeep crimson الخِضابِthe dye
صَموتُ الحِجلِ قانِيَةُ الخِضابِ
On nights when she shot at you with the arrows of jinn,
Nights whose darkness is made to rain upon you
her anklet silent, her dye a deep crimson.
Silent, deadly, polished and sharpened arrows.
أَماdid you not بالَيتَyou cared يَومَon the day أَكُفُّI hold back دَمعيmy tears
أَما بالَيتَ يَومَ أَكُفُّ دَمعي
مَخافَةَfor fear أَنthat يُفَنِّدَنيwould call me foolish صِحابيmy companions
مَخافَةَ أَن يُفَنِّدَني صِحابي
Did you not care on the day I held back my tears,
When will the day ever come when I stay my tears,
for fear that my companions would call me foolish?
Fearing my companions will chide me?
تَباعَدَgrew distant مِنfrom مَزاريmy visits أَهلُthe people of نَجدٍNajd
تَباعَدَ مِن مَزاري أَهلُ نَجدٍ
إِذاwhen مَرَّتthey passed بِذيthrough Dhu خُشُبٍKhushub رِكابيmy riding camels
إِذا مَرَّت بِذي خُشُبٍ رِكابي
The people of Najd grew too distant for my visits,
When my camel litters pass by Dhū Khushub
when my riding camels passed through Dhu Khushub,
The people of Najd keep their distance from me.
غَريباًa stranger عَنfrom دِيارِthe homes of بَنيBanu تَميمٍTamim
غَريباً عَن دِيارِ بَني تَميمٍ
وَماand not يُخزيdisgraces عَشيرَتيmy clan اِغتِرابيmy exile
وَما يُخزي عَشيرَتي اِغتِرابي
a stranger far from the homes of Banu Tamim;
A stranger, when among the tribes of Tammim,
and my exile brings no shame upon my clan.
Though estrangement does not shame my clan.
لَقَدindeed عَلِمَknew الفَرَزدَقُal-Farazdaq أَنَّthat قَوميmy people
لَقَد عَلِمَ الفَرَزدَقُ أَنَّ قَومي
يُعِدّونَthey prepare المَكارِمَnoble deeds لِلسِبابِfor verbal abuse
يُعِدّونَ المَكارِمَ لِلسِبابِ
Al-Farazdaq well knows that my people
Al‐Farazdaq knew full well my people were wont
prepare their noble deeds for verbal combat.
To prepare their moral bequests for censure.
يَحُشّونَthey stoke الحُروبَwars بِمُقرَباتٍwith choice steeds
يَحُشّونَ الحُروبَ بِمُقرَباتٍ
وَداؤودِيَّةٍand Davidic mail كَأَضاlike the pools of الحَبابِal-Habab
وَداؤودِيَّةٍ كَأَضا الحَبابِ
They stoke wars with choice steeds
They sheathe wars in violations, iniquities,
and Davidic mail like the pools of al-Habab.
And acts as unseemly as pelting pebbles.
إِذاif أَباؤناour fathers وَأَبوكَand your father عُدّواwere counted
إِذا أَباؤنا وَأَبوكَ عُدّوا
أَبانَstood apart المُقرِفاتُthe crossbred horses مِنَfrom العِرابِthe Arab thoroughbreds
أَبانَ المُقرِفاتُ مِنَ العِرابِ
If our fathers and your father were counted,
When our fathers warred, and yours, they exposed
the crossbreds would stand apart from the Arab thoroughbreds.
Which of us were the true polytheists.
فَأَورَثَكَso he bequeathed you العَلاةَthe anvil وَأَورَثوناand they bequeathed us
فَأَورَثَكَ العَلاةَ وَأَورَثونا
رِباطَtethering الخَيلِof horses أَفنِيَةَin the forecourts of القِبابِdomed tents
رِباطَ الخَيلِ أَفنِيَةَ القِبابِ
So he left you the anvil, while they left us
So they left you clerical garb, and left us
horses tethered in the forecourts of domed tents.
The tethering of steeds and canopies.
أَجيرانَO neighbors of الزُبَيرِal-Zubayr غَرَرتُموهُyou deceived him
أَجيرانَ الزُبَيرِ غَرَرتُموهُ
كَماjust as اِغتَرَّwas deceived المُشَبِّهُone who mistakes appearances بِالسَرابِby the mirage
كَما اِغتَرَّ المُشَبِّهُ بِالسَرابِ
O neighbors of al-Zubayr, you deceived him,
Zealots of Zubayr, you duped that pompous lout,
as one who mistakes appearances is deceived by a mirage.
As mirages beguile the wistful wanderer.
وَلَوand if سارَjourneyed الزُبَيرُal-Zubayr فَحَلَّthen he settled فيناamong us
وَلَو سارَ الزُبَيرُ فَحَلَّ فينا
لَماwould not يَئِسَhave despaired الزُبَيرُal-Zubayr مِنَof الإِيابِreturning
لَما يَئِسَ الزُبَيرُ مِنَ الإِيابِ
Had al-Zubayr journeyed and settled among us,
Had Zubayr allied with us, by God, Zubayr
al-Zubayr would not have despaired of returning.
Would not have despaired of returning home.
لَأَصبَحَwould have stood دونَهُbefore him رَقَماتُRaqamat of فَلجٍFalj
لَأَصبَحَ دونَهُ رَقَماتُ فَلجٍ
وَغُبرُand the dust-grey heights اللامِعاتِof al-Lami'at مِنَamong الحِدابِthe hillocks
وَغُبرُ اللامِعاتِ مِنَ الحِدابِ
Before him would have stood the Raqamat of Falj,
Before him there would have bowed the humped backs
and the dust-grey hillocks of al-Lami'at.
Of swelling waves, the motes made humid clouds.
وَماand not باتَspent the night النَوائِحُthe mourning women مِنof قُرَيشٍQuraysh
وَما باتَ النَوائِحُ مِن قُرَيشٍ
يُراوِحنَthey alternate التَفَجُّعَlamentation بِاِنتِحابِwith sobbing
يُراوِحنَ التَفَجُّعَ بِاِنتِحابِ
Nor would the mourning women of Quraysh have spent the night
Never would the Nawāḥid women of Quraysh
alternating lamentation with sobbing.
Have ceased their laments and rent their raiment.
أَلَسناare we not بِالمُجاوِرِto the protected neighbor نَحنُwe أَوفىmore loyal
أَلَسنا بِالمُجاوِرِ نَحنُ أَوفى
وَأَكرَمَand nobler عِندَat مُعتَرَكِthe melee of الضِرابِstriking blows
وَأَكرَمَ عِندَ مُعتَرَكِ الضِرابِ
Are we not more faithful to the neighbor under our protection,
Are we not the truest neighbors, and the most
and nobler in the melee of clashing blows,
Noble in the melee of clashing swords?
وَأَحمَدَand more praiseworthy حينَwhen تُحمَدُpraise is given بِالمَقاريfor hospitality
وَأَحمَدَ حينَ تُحمَدُ بِالمَقاري
وَحالَand failed المُربِعاتُthe spring-rain clouds مِنَamong السَحابِthe clouds
وَحالَ المُربِعاتُ مِنَ السَحابِ
and more praiseworthy when hospitality earns praise,
The most praiseworthy when praised for glories;
and the spring-rain clouds withhold their rain;
The most faithful to pacts when times grow hard?
وَأَوفىand more faithful لِلمُجاوِرِto the protected neighbor إِنif أَجَرناwe grant protection
وَأَوفى لِلمُجاوِرِ إِن أَجَرنا
وَأَعطىand more generous لِلنَفيساتِwith precious things الرِغابِcoveted
وَأَعطى لِلنَفيساتِ الرِغابِ
and more loyal to our neighbor when we grant protection,
We showed our mettle on the Day of Khafīfah,
and more generous with precious, coveted gifts?
When the horses’ chests crashed through the armor.
صَبَرناwe held firm يَومَon the day of طِخفَةَTikhfa قَدindeed عَلِمتُمyou know
صَبَرنا يَومَ طِخفَةَ قَد عَلِمتُم
صُدورَthe breasts of الخَيلِthe horses تَنحِطُpant فيamid الحِرابِlances
صُدورَ الخَيلِ تَنحِطُ في الحِرابِ
On the day of Tikhfa—as you know—we held steady
They advanced against us, took by false entitlement
our horses' breasts as they panted amid the lances.
In the fog of war the sons of the tyrant.
وَطِئنَthey trampled مُجاشِعاًMujashi' وَأَخَذنَand they seized غَصباًby force
وَطِئنَ مُجاشِعاً وَأَخَذنَ غَصباً
بَنيBanu الجَبّارِal-Jabbar فيin رَهجِthe dust of الضَبابِmist
بَني الجَبّارِ في رَهجِ الضَبابِ
They trampled Mujashi' and forcibly seized
Yet al‐Farazdaq attained no special place
Banu al-Jabbar amid a swirling haze of dust.
Among Tammim, no preference, through his ties.
فَماso not بَلَغَhas attained الفَرَزدَقُal-Farazdaq فيamong تَميمٍTamim
فَما بَلَغَ الفَرَزدَقُ في تَميمٍ
تَخَيُّرِيَmy choosing the best المَضارِبَancestral stocks وَاِنتِخابيand my selection
تَخَيُّرِيَ المَضارِبَ وَاِنتِخابي
Al-Farazdaq has not attained, within Tamim,
I am the scion of the undying Khālids,
my choice ancestry and my select lineage.
And of the lofty and firm summit Sakhr.
أَناI اِبنُthe son of الخالِدينَthe two Khalids وَآلِand the house of صَخرٍSakhr
أَنا اِبنُ الخالِدينَ وَآلِ صَخرٍ
أَحَلّانيthey both placed me الفُروعَon the highest branches وَفيand on الرَوابيthe heights
أَحَلّاني الفُروعَ وَفي الرَوابي
I am the son of the two Khalids and the house of Sakhr;
My glorious ancestors ennobled me;
they both placed me on the highest branches and on the heights.
The branches exalted what was once the root.
وَيَربوعٌand Yarbu' هُمُthey أَخَذواtook control of قَديماًlong ago
وَيَربوعٌ هُمُ أَخَذوا قَديماً
عَلَيكَagainst you مِنَof المَكارِمِnoble deeds كُلَّevery بابِgate
عَلَيكَ مِنَ المَكارِمِ كُلَّ بابِ
And Yarbu' long ago closed
The Ya‘rub clan—they claimed long ago to take
every gate of noble deeds against you.
All your honorable deeds for their own.
فَلاso do not تَفخَرboast وَأَنتَwhile you are مُجاشِعيٌّa Mujashi'i
فَلا تَفخَر وَأَنتَ مُجاشِعيٌّ
نَخيبُfaint in القَلبِheart مُنخَرِقُtorn through الحِجابِthe heart's membrane
نَخيبُ القَلبِ مُنخَرِقُ الحِجابِ
So do not boast, being a man of Mujashi',
So do not boast, you abject, faint-hearted one,
faint of heart, your heart's membrane rent.
Disappointed, whose screen is ripped through.
إِذاwhen عَدَّتcounts مَكارِمَهاits noble deeds تَميمٌTamim
إِذا عَدَّت مَكارِمَها تَميمٌ
فَخَرتَyou boasted بِمِرجَلٍof a cauldron وَبِعَقرِand of slaughtering نابِan aged she-camel
فَخَرتَ بِمِرجَلٍ وَبِعَقرِ نابِ
When Tamim counts its noble deeds,
If Tammim recounts its glories, you will be
you boast of a cauldron and slaughtering an aged she-camel.
Brought down low, by a hyena, by the fangs of a wolf.
وَسَيفُand the sword of أَبيthe father of الفَرَزدَقِal-Farazdaq قَدindeed عَلِمتُمyou know
وَسَيفُ أَبي الفَرَزدَقِ قَد عَلِمتُم
قَدومٌan adze غَيرُnot ثابِتَةِfirm in النِصابِthe handle
قَدومٌ غَيرُ ثابِتَةِ النِصابِ
The sword of al-Farazdaq's father, as you know,
The sword of Abū Farazdaq—you know it well—
is an adze with an unsteady handle.
Never misses the neck-veins when it strikes.
كَفَيناwe sufficed يَومَon the day of ذيDhu نَجَبٍNajab وَعُذتُمand you sought refuge
كَفَينا يَومَ ذي نَجَبٍ وَعُذتُم
بِسَعدٍwith Sa'd يَومَon the day of وارِدَةِthe arrival at الكِلابِal-Kilab
بِسَعدٍ يَومَ وارِدَةِ الكِلابِ
We sufficed on the day of Dhu Najab, while you sought refuge
We saved you at Najb, when you sought refuge
with Sa'd on the day of the arrival at al-Kilab.
Behind Sa‘d on the day the hounds attacked.
أَتَنسىdo you forget بِالرِمادَةِat al-Rimada وِردَthe arrival of سَعدٍSa'd
أَتَنسى بِالرِمادَةِ وِردَ سَعدٍ
كَماas وَرَدواthey arrived at مُسَلَّحَةَthe outpost of الصِعابِal-Si'ab
كَما وَرَدوا مُسَلَّحَةَ الصِعابِ
Do you forget Sa'd's arrival at al-Rimada,
Will you forget, at Rimādah, Sa‘d’s onslaught,
as they arrived at the outpost of al-Si'ab?
When he advanced enfolded in iron mail?
أَماwill not يَدَعُhe give up الزِناءَfornication أَبوAbu فِراسٍFiras
أَما يَدَعُ الزِناءَ أَبو فِراسٍ
وَلاnor شُربَdrinking الخَبيثِwhat is foul مِنَof الشَرابِbeverages
وَلا شُربَ الخَبيثِ مِنَ الشَرابِ
Will Abu Firas never give up fornication,
Abu Faras, will you not forsake lechery,
nor drinking foul beverages?
Or quit your swilling of liquor’s bitter draught?
وَلامَتand she blamed فيover الحُدودِthe legal penalties وَعاتَبَتهُand she rebuked him
وَلامَت في الحُدودِ وَعاتَبَتهُ
فَقَدfor indeed يَئِسَتhas despaired نُوارُNuwar مِنَof العِتابِreproach
فَقَد يَئِسَت نُوارُ مِنَ العِتابِ
And she blamed him over the legal penalties and rebuked him;
She blamed you, warned you of violating the law,
for Nuwar has despaired of reproach.
Then lost hope that you might ever change your ways.
فَلاso not صَفوٌunblemished جَوازُكَyour sojourn عِندَamong سَعدٍSa'd
فَلا صَفوٌ جَوازُكَ عِندَ سَعدٍ
وَلاnor عَفُّchaste in الخَليقَةِcharacter فيamong الرِبابِal-Ribab
وَلا عَفُّ الخَليقَةِ في الرِبابِ
Your sojourn among Sa'd is not unblemished,
No pure prize was Sa‘d to grant legitimacy
nor are you chaste in character among al-Ribab.
To your misdeeds, no cover for your sins.
لَقَدindeed أَخزاكَhas disgraced you فيin نَدَواتِthe assemblies of قَيسٍQays
لَقَد أَخزاكَ في نَدَواتِ قَيسٍ
وَفيand among سَعدٍSa'd عِياذُكَyour seeking refuge مِنfrom زَبابِshrews
وَفي سَعدٍ عِياذُكَ مِن زَبابِ
Indeed, you were disgraced in the assemblies of Qays,
At the gatherings of Qays you were put to shame
and among Sa'd, by your seeking refuge from shrews.
By Sa‘d—God spare you his piercing blades!
عَلىon غَيرِother than السِواءِfair terms مَدَحتَyou praised سَعداًSa'd
عَلى غَيرِ السِواءِ مَدَحتَ سَعداً
فَزِدهُمso give them more ماas much as اِستَطَعتَyou can مِنَof الثَوابِreward
فَزِدهُم ما اِستَطَعتَ مِنَ الثَوابِ
You praised Sa'd without fair measure,
You lavished praise on Sa‘d unequally,
so give them as much reward as you can.
So heap upon them more gifts, earn their favor!
هُمُthey قَتَلواkilled الزُبَيرَal-Zubayr فَلَمyet not تُنَكِّرyou objected
هُمُ قَتَلوا الزُبَيرَ فَلَم تُنَكِّر
وَعَزّواand they prevailed over رَهطَthe clan of جِعثِنَJi'thin فيin الخِطابِdispute
وَعَزّوا رَهطَ جِعثِنَ في الخِطابِ
They killed al-Zubayr, yet you did not object,
They killed Zubayr, yet you raised no outcry,
and bested Ji'thin's clan in the dispute.
And eulogized the Jailer and his kin.
وَقَدand indeed جَرَّبتَنيyou tested me فَعَرَفتَso you learned أَنّيthat I
وَقَد جَرَّبتَني فَعَرَفتَ أَنّي
عَلىat خَطَرِthe stake of المُراهِنِthe wagerer غَيرُnot كابيstumbling
عَلى خَطَرِ المُراهِنِ غَيرُ كابي
You have tested me and learned that I,
You tried me and so learned that I am not
with the wagerer's stake upon me, do not stumble.
One to waver at the gambling arrow’s cast.
سَبَقتُI took the lead فَجاءَso came وَجهيmy face لَمnot يُغَبَّرwas dusted
سَبَقتُ فَجاءَ وَجهي لَم يُغَبَّر
وَقَدand indeed حَطَمَshattered الشَكيمَةَthe bridle-bit عَضُّthe bite of نابيmy fang
وَقَد حَطَمَ الشَكيمَةَ عَضُّ نابي
I took the lead; my face emerged untouched by dust,
My throw came first; untainted was my face,
and my fang's bite has shattered the bridle-bit.
While the grip of my crooked fang was a crushing vise.
سَأَذكُرُI shall mention مِنof هُنَيدَةَHunayda ماwhat عَلِمتُمyou know
سَأَذكُرُ مِن هُنَيدَةَ ما عَلِمتُم
وَأَرفَعُand I shall raise شَأنَthe standing of جِعثَنَJi'than وَالرَبابِand al-Rabab
وَأَرفَعُ شَأنَ جِعثَنَ وَالرَبابِ
I shall recount what you know of Hunayda,
I will recall what you know of Hunaidah,
and raise the standing of Ji'than and al-Rabab,
And extol Jailer’s clan and the terrace-roof.
وَعاراًand a disgrace مِنfrom حُمَيدَةَHumayda يَومَon the day of حَوطٍHawt
وَعاراً مِن حُمَيدَةَ يَومَ حَوطٍ
وَوَقعاًand blows مِنfrom جَنادِلِهاher boulders الصِلابِhard
وَوَقعاً مِن جَنادِلِها الصِلابِ
and a disgrace from Humayda on the day of Hawt,
A disgraceful rout from Ḥumaidah was your lot,
and blows from her hard boulders.
When the polished Indian swords rained down their blows.
فَأَصبَحَso it became غالِياًcostly فَتَقَسَّموهُand you divided it
فَأَصبَحَ غالِياً فَتَقَسَّموهُ
عَلَيكُمamong you لَحمُthe flesh of راحِلَةِthe riding camel of الغُرابِal-Ghurab
عَلَيكُم لَحمُ راحِلَةِ الغُرابِ
It became costly, and you divided it—
So they took the choice portions of the fattened camel,
among yourselves, the flesh of al-Ghurab's riding camel.
And you were left the vultures’ leavings.
لَناon our side قَيسٌQays عَلَيكَagainst you وَأَيُّand what a يَومٍday
لَنا قَيسٌ عَلَيكَ وَأَيُّ يَومٍ
إِذاwhen ماindeed اِحمَرَّgrew red أَجنِحَةُthe wings of العُقابِthe eagle
إِذا ما اِحمَرَّ أَجنِحَةُ العُقابِ
Qays is on our side against you—and what a day,
To us belong Qays, while to you—what day,
when the eagle's wings grow red!
If the wings of the eagles run red with carnage?
أَتَعدِلُdo you equate فيamong الشَكيرِthe young shoots أَباAbu جُبَيرٍJubayr
أَتَعدِلُ في الشَكيرِ أَبا جُبَيرٍ
إِلىwith كَعبٍKa'b وَرابِيَتَيand the two heights of كِلابِKilab
إِلى كَعبٍ وَرابِيَتَي كِلابِ
Do you, among the young shoots, equate Abu Jubayr
Can you compare Abū Jubaīr’s valor in combat
with Ka'b and the two heights of Kilab?
To Ka‘b’s, or the savagery of his she-wolves?
وَجَدتُI found حَصىthe pebbles of هَوازِنَHawazin ذاpossessing فُضولٍabundance
وَجَدتُ حَصى هَوازِنَ ذا فُضولٍ
وَبَحراًand a sea ياO اِبنَson of شِعرَةَShi'ra ذاpossessing عُبابِsurging waves
وَبَحراً يا اِبنَ شِعرَةَ ذا عُبابِ
I found Hawazin's pebbles in great abundance,
I found the gravel of Hawāzin to be worthless,
and a sea with surging waves, O son of Shi'ra.
And you, O Ibn Shi‘rah, to be a shore with shallow pools.
وَفيand among غَطَفانَGhatafan فَاِجتَنِبواso keep clear of حِماهُمtheir protected ground
وَفي غَطَفانَ فَاِجتَنِبوا حِماهُم
لُيوثُlions of الغَيلِthe thicket فيin أَجَمٍdense thickets وَغابِand woods
لُيوثُ الغَيلِ في أَجَمٍ وَغابِ
And among Ghatafan—so avoid their protected ground—
Among Ghatafān, beware their protective zeal,
are lions of the thicket, in dense cover and woods.
The lions of Ghaiḍ, roaming the thickets.
أَلَمhave you not تُخبَرyou were told بِخَيلِof the cavalry of بَنيBanu نُفَيلٍNufayl
أَلَم تُخبَر بِخَيلِ بَني نُفَيلٍ
إِذاwhen رَكِبواthey mounted وَخَيلِand the cavalry of بَنيBanu الحُبابِal-Hubab
إِذا رَكِبوا وَخَيلِ بَني الحُبابِ
Have you not heard of the cavalry of Banu Nufayl,
Have you not heard of the steeds of Bani Nufayl
when they ride forth, and the cavalry of Banu al-Hubab?
And the steeds of Bani Hubāb when they ride to war?
هُمُthey جَذّواcut down بَنيBanu جُشَمَJusham بنِibn بَكرٍBakr
هُمُ جَذّوا بَني جُشَمَ بنِ بَكرٍ
بِلُبّىat Lubba بَعدَafter يَومِthe day of قُرىthe villages of الزَوابيal-Zawabi
بِلُبّى بَعدَ يَومِ قُرى الزَوابي
They cut down Banu Jusham ibn Bakr
They drove the Bani Jusham clan of Bakr
at Lubba, after the day of the villages of al-Zawabi.
To Al-Liwa after the incident at Quza Valley.
وَحَيُّand the tribe of مُحارِبَMuharib الأَبطالُthe heroes قِدماًfrom of old
وَحَيُّ مُحارِبَ الأَبطالُ قِدماً
أُلوpossessors of بَأسٍvalor وَأَحلامٍand wisdom رِغابِample
أُلو بَأسٍ وَأَحلامٍ رِغابِ
And the tribe of Muharib, heroes from of old,
Glory to the intrepid heroes who plunge into battle,
are men of might and ample wisdom.
Possessed of might and lofty ambition!
خُطاهُمtheir strides بِالسُيوفِwith swords إِلىtoward الأَعاديfoes
خُطاهُم بِالسُيوفِ إِلى الأَعادي
بِوَصلِby extending سُيوفِهِمtheir swords يَومَon the day of الضِرابِstriking blows
بِوَصلِ سُيوفِهِم يَومَ الضِرابِ
Their strides with swords toward their foes
They stride with their swords against their enemies,
extend their blades' reach on the day of blows.
Blasting them with continuous, cleaving blows.
تَحَكَّكُyou pick a quarrel بِالوَعيدِwith threats فَإِنَّfor indeed قَيساًQays
تَحَكَّكُ بِالوَعيدِ فَإِنَّ قَيساً
نَفَوكُمthey banished you عَنfrom ضَرِيَّةَDariyya وَالجِنابِand al-Jinab
نَفَوكُم عَن ضَرِيَّةَ وَالجِنابِ
You pick a quarrel with threats; for Qays
Stop your threats, for Qays will repel you
banished you from Dariyya and al-Jinab.
From our sanctuary inviolable.
أَلَمhave you not تَرَyou saw مَنwhoever هَجانيlampooned me كَيفَhow يَلقىhe meets
أَلَم تَرَ مَن هَجاني كَيفَ يَلقى
إِذاwhen غَبَّhas grown stale الحَديثُthe talk مِنَof العَذابِtorment
إِذا غَبَّ الحَديثُ مِنَ العَذابِ
Have you not seen how one who lampooned me suffers
Have you not seen what befalls those who lambaste me,
torment when the talk has grown old?
When words run short of protecting them?
يَسُبُّهُمُreviles them بِسَبّيwith my invective كُلُّevery قَومٍpeople
يَسُبُّهُمُ بِسَبّي كُلُّ قَومٍ
إِذاwhen اِبتُدِرَتis rushed into مُحاوَرَةُan exchange of الجَوابِreplies
إِذا اِبتُدِرَت مُحاوَرَةُ الجَوابِ
Every people reviles them with my invective
Every tribe curses them when debate shifts
when an exchange of replies begins in haste.
And the thrust and parry of speech begin.
وَكُلُّهُمُand all of them سَقَيتُI gave to drink نَقيعَan infusion of سَمٍّpoison
وَكُلُّهُمُ سَقَيتُ نَقيعَ سَمٍّ
بِبابيat my door مُخدِرٍa den-lurking lion ضَرِمِfiery in اللُعابِsaliva
بِبابي مُخدِرٍ ضَرِمِ اللُعابِ
And all of them I made drink an infusion of poison,
Each one I have made to drink a draught of poison
at my door—a den-lurking lion with fiery spittle.
From the deadly fount of my dripping fangs.
Sol 6.1