غَداًtomorrow بِاِجتِماعِwith the gathering of الحَيِّthe clan نَقضيwe fulfill لُبانَةًa longing
غَداً بِاِجتِماعِ الحَيِّ نَقضي لُبانَةً
وَأُقسِمُand I swear لاnot تُقضىis fulfilled لُبانَتُناour longing غَداtomorrow
وَأُقسِمُ لا تُقضى لُبانَتُنا غَدا
Tomorrow, when the tribe gathers, we shall satisfy a longing;
Tomorrow, when the clan gathers, we shall fulfill a longing;
yet I swear our longing will not be satisfied tomorrow,
yet I swear our longing will not be fulfilled tomorrow.
إِذاif صَدَعَsplits البَينُseparation الجَميعَthe whole gathering وَحاوَلَتand seeks
إِذا صَدَعَ البَينُ الجَميعَ وَحاوَلَت
بِقُوٍّat Quww شَماليلُscattered courses of النَوىdeparture أَنto تَبَدَّداdisperse
بِقُوٍّ شَماليلُ النَوى أَن تَبَدَّدا
when separation rends the whole company and seeks
If separation splits the gathering, and seeks
to scatter a people whom distance has reduced to far-flung fragments.
at Quww, through departure's scattered courses, to disperse it;
وَأَصبَحَتِand became الأَجزاعُthe valley bends مِمَّنof those who يَحُلُّهاinhabit them
وَأَصبَحَتِ الأَجزاعُ مِمَّن يَحُلُّها
قِفاراًdesolate فَماso as much as شاءَwished الحَمامُthe doves تَغَرَّداwarbled
قِفاراً فَما شاءَ الحَمامُ تَغَرَّدا
The winding valleys will be emptied of all who dwell there,
and the valley bends, where people used to dwell, become
left desolate, where the doves may sing as they please.
desolate, while the doves warble as freely as they wish.
أَجالَتswept عَلَيهِنَّover them الرَوامِسُthe track-burying winds بَعدَناafter us
أَجالَت عَلَيهِنَّ الرَوامِسُ بَعدَنا
دِقاقَfine grains of الحَصىgravel مِنfrom كُلِّevery سَهلٍlevel tract وَأَجلَداand hard ground
دِقاقَ الحَصى مِن كُلِّ سَهلٍ وَأَجلَدا
The tireless, track-marking camels have ranged over them, after crossing
After us, the track-burying winds swept over them
the fine gravel of every easy plain and every tract of hard ground.
fine gravel from every level tract and hard ground.
لَقَدindeed قَدَنيled me مِنthrough حُبِّlove of ماوِيَةَMawiya الهَوىpassion
لَقَد قَدَني مِن حُبِّ ماوِيَةَ الهَوى
وَماand not كانَwas يَلقانيmet me الجُنَيبَةُthe led mount أَقوَداmore docile
وَما كانَ يَلقاني الجُنَيبَةُ أَقوَدا
Enough for me, in loving Māwiya, is passion itself;
Passion has led me through my love for Mawiya;
no led spare mount I ever met was easier to guide.
no led mount could ever be more docile than I.
وَأَحسُدُand I envy زُوّارَvisitors to الأَوانِسِthe lovely young women كُلَّهُمall of them
وَأَحسُدُ زُوّارَ الأَوانِسِ كُلَّهُم
وَقَدand indeed كُنتُI was فيهِنَّamong them الغَيورَthe jealous one المُحَسَّداthe much-envied one
وَقَد كُنتُ فيهِنَّ الغَيورَ المُحَسَّدا
I envy every visitor to those sheltered beauties,
I envy all the visitors to the lovely young women,
though once among them I was the jealous guardian—the envied one.
though among them I was once the jealous, much-envied one.
أُعِدَّI prepare لِبَيّوتِfor night-visiting الأُمورِtroubles إِذاwhen سَرَتthey travel by night
أُعِدَّ لِبَيّوتِ الأُمورِ إِذا سَرَت
جِمالِيَّةًa sturdy she-camel حَرفاًlean and tough وَمَيساءَand a mays-wood saddle مُفرَداsingle
جِمالِيَّةً حَرفاً وَمَيساءَ مُفرَدا
For the nocturnal assaults of grave affairs, whenever they set forth, I ready
When night-visiting troubles come, I make ready
a lean, swaying, solitary she-camel of Jamālī stock.
a sturdy, lean she-camel and a single mays-wood saddle.
لَهاshe has مِحزَمٌa girth يُطوىis wrapped عَلىaround صُعَدائِهاher heaving breaths
لَها مِحزَمٌ يُطوى عَلى صُعَدائِها
كَطَيِّlike the building-up by الدَهاقينِthe Persian lords البِناءَthe building المُشَيَّداlofty
كَطَيِّ الدَهاقينِ البِناءَ المُشَيَّدا
Her girth curves around her swelling ribs
Her girth is wrapped around her heaving breaths,
like the curve of the lofty masonry raised by Persian lords.
as Persian lords wall up a lofty building.
وَقَدand already أَخلَفَتshe has left behind عَهدَthe days of السِقابِmale camel-calves بِجاذِبٍwith a dried-up udder
وَقَد أَخلَفَت عَهدَ السِقابِ بِجاذِبٍ
طَوَتهُdrew it up حِبالُthe ropes of الرَحلِthe saddle حَتّىuntil تَجَدَّداit became like new
طَوَتهُ حِبالُ الرَحلِ حَتّى تَجَدَّدا
She has broken with the former covenant of calfhood, wrenching herself free;
She has left the days of male calves behind, with a dried-up udder
the saddle-ropes compressed her until she grew firm anew.
that the saddle-ropes drew up until it seemed made new.
وَزافَتand she swaggered كَماjust as زافَswaggered القَريعُthe breeding stallion مُخاطِراًswishing his tail
وَزافَت كَما زافَ القَريعُ مُخاطِراً
وَلُفَّand was swathed القِرىthe back وَالحالِبانِand the two flank-veins فَأَلبَداso both became matted
وَلُفَّ القِرى وَالحالِبانِ فَأَلبَدا
She struts as a champion stallion struts when facing danger,
She swaggered like a breeding stallion swishing his tail,
her back and inner flanks thickly clothed in flesh.
his back and both flank-veins swathed and matted close.
وَتُصبِحُand she is at dawn يَومَon the day of الخِمسِthe five-day watering cycle وَهيَwhile she is شِمِلَّةٌswift
وَتُصبِحُ يَومَ الخِمسِ وَهيَ شِمِلَّةٌ
مَروحاًbrisk تُقاليbounding across الصَحصَحانَthe open plain العَمَرَّداvast and bare
مَروحاً تُقالي الصَحصَحانَ العَمَرَّدا
At dawn on the fifth day without water, she is still swift and vigorous;
At dawn on the fifth day between waterings she is still swift,
at evening she sets out, making light of the two vast, rugged plains.
briskly bounding across the vast, bare plain.
أَقولُI say لَهُto him ياO عَبدَʿAbd قَيسٍQays صَبابَةًin longing
أَقولُ لَهُ يا عَبدَ قَيسٍ صَبابَةً
بِأَيٍّin which place تَرىdo you think مُستَوقِدَthe kindler of النارِthe fire أَوقَداlit it
بِأَيٍّ تَرى مُستَوقِدَ النارِ أَوقَدا
I say to him, “O ʿAbd Qays, out of sheer yearning,
In longing I say to him, 'O ʿAbd Qays,
where do you think the fire-kindler has lit his fire?”
where do you think the kindler of the fire has lit it?'
فَقالَso he said أَرىI see ناراًa fire يُشَبُّis stoked وَقودُهاits fuel
فَقالَ أَرى ناراً يُشَبُّ وَقودُها
بِحَيثُwhere اِستَفاضَspread thickly الجِزعُthe valley bend شيحاًwith wormwood وَغَرقَداand boxthorn
بِحَيثُ اِستَفاضَ الجِزعُ شيحاً وَغَرقَدا
He says, “I see a fire with its fuel blazing
He said, 'I see a fire whose fuel is being stoked
where the ravine spreads wide with wormwood and boxthorn.”
where the valley bend is thick with wormwood and boxthorn.'
أُحِبُّI love ثَرىthe soil of نَجدٍNajd وَبِالغَورِand in the Ghawr حاجَةٌa longing
أُحِبُّ ثَرى نَجدٍ وَبِالغَورِ حاجَةٌ
فَغارَso descended to the lowlands الهَوىlove ياO عَبدَʿAbd قَيسٍQays وَأَنجَداand ascended to Najd
فَغارَ الهَوى يا عَبدَ قَيسٍ وَأَنجَدا
I love the soil of Najd, though in the Ghawr I have a need;
I love the soil of Najd, yet in the Ghawr I have a longing;
passion has descended to the Ghawr and climbed to Najd, O ʿAbd Qays.
so love, O ʿAbd Qays, has descended to the lowlands and risen to Najd.
وَإِنّيand I indeed لَمِنam surely of قَومٍa people تَكونُare خُيولُهُمtheir horses
وَإِنّي لَمِن قَومٍ تَكونُ خُيولُهُم
بِثَغرٍat a frontier وَتَلقاهُمand you meet them مَقانِبَcavalry squadrons قُوَّداleaders
بِثَغرٍ وَتَلقاهُم مَقانِبَ قُوَّدا
Indeed, I belong to a people whose warhorses are always
And I belong to a people whose horses stand
at the frontier, where you meet them as squadrons led in order.
at a frontier; you meet them in squadrons, leading the way.
يَحُشّونَthey stoke نيرانَthe fires of الحُروبِwars بِعارِضٍwith a cloudlike host
يَحُشّونَ نيرانَ الحُروبِ بِعارِضٍ
عَلَتهُrose above it نُجومُthe stars of البيضِbright helmets حَتّىuntil تَوَقَّداit blazed
عَلَتهُ نُجومُ البيضِ حَتّى تَوَقَّدا
They heap high the fires of war with an army like a cloud-bank,
They stoke the fires of war with a cloudlike host,
above which rise the stars of white swords until it blazes.
crowned with stars of bright helmets until it blazes.
وَكُنّاand we used to إِذاwhen سِرناwe marched لِحَيٍّagainst a clan بِأَرضِهِمin their land
وَكُنّا إِذا سِرنا لِحَيٍّ بِأَرضِهِم
تَرَكناهُمُwe left them قَتلىslain وَفَلّاًand a routed remnant مُشَرَّداscattered
تَرَكناهُمُ قَتلى وَفَلّاً مُشَرَّدا
Whenever we marched against a tribe in its own land,
When we marched against a clan in its own land,
we left them slain, and many another driven away in flight,
we left them as slain men, a scattered, routed remnant,
وَمُكتَبَلاًand shackled فيin القَدِّrawhide bonds لَيسَnot بِنازِعٍable to wrench free
وَمُكتَبَلاً في القَدِّ لَيسَ بِنازِعٍ
لَهُhis مِنfrom مِراسِthe stubborn grip of القِدِّthe rawhide رِجلاًa foot وَلاnor يَداa hand
لَهُ مِن مِراسِ القِدِّ رِجلاً وَلا يَدا
and others bound fast in rawhide, with none able to wrench free
and captives bound in rawhide, unable to free
a foot or hand from the rawhide’s cruel grip.
either foot or hand from the rawhide's stubborn grip.
وَإِنّيand as for me لَتَبتَزُّsurely seize الرَئيسَthe chieftain فَوارِسيmy horsemen
وَإِنّي لَتَبتَزُّ الرَئيسَ فَوارِسي
إِذاwhen كُلُّevery عَجعاجٍnoisy boaster مِنَthrough الخورِcowardice عَرَّداfled
إِذا كُلُّ عَجعاجٍ مِنَ الخورِ عَرَّدا
Indeed, I have horsemen who wrest a chieftain away
And my horsemen surely seize the chieftain,
whenever every dust-cloud raised by cowards turns and flees.
when every noisy boaster flees through cowardice.
رَدَدناwe brought back بِخَبراءِat the basin of العُنابِal-ʿUnab نِساءَكُمyour women
رَدَدنا بِخَبراءِ العُنابِ نِساءَكُم
وَقَدand already قُلنَthey had said عِتقُfreedom اليَومِtoday أَوor رِقُّناour enslavement غَداtomorrow
وَقَد قُلنَ عِتقُ اليَومِ أَو رِقُّنا غَدا
At Khabrāʾ al-ʿUnnāb we drove your women back,
At the basin of al-ʿUnab we brought your women back,
and they said, “Freedom today—or enslavement tomorrow!”
after they had said, 'Freedom today, or our enslavement tomorrow.'
فَأَصبَحنَso they came to يَزجُرنَread bird-omens الأَيامِنَrightward flights أَسعُداlucky omens
فَأَصبَحنَ يَزجُرنَ الأَيامِنَ أَسعُدا
وَقَدand indeed كُنَّthey used to لاnot يَزجُرنَread bird-omens بِالأَمسِyesterday أَسعُداlucky omens
وَقَد كُنَّ لا يَزجُرنَ بِالأَمسِ أَسعُدا
At dawn they urged the camel-litters onward with the cry “Asʿidā!”
So now they read the rightward flights as lucky omens,
though only yesterday they had not urged them on with “Asʿidā!”
though yesterday they read no lucky omens.
فَماso not عِبتُdid I fault مِنany نارٍfire أَضاءَlit up وَقودُهاits fuel
فَما عِبتُ مِن نارٍ أَضاءَ وَقودُها
فِراساًFiras وَبَسطامَand Bistam بنَson of قَيسٍQays مُقَيَّداin fetters
فِراساً وَبَسطامَ بنَ قَيسٍ مُقَيَّدا
You found no fault with a fire whose fuel cast light upon
I found no fault with a fire whose fuel lit up
Firās and Bisṭām son of Qays, bound in chains.
Firas and Bistam ibn Qays in fetters.
وَأَوقَدتَand you lit بِالسيدانِat al-Sidan ناراًa fire ذَليلَةًabject
وَأَوقَدتَ بِالسيدانِ ناراً ذَليلَةً
وَعَرَّفتَand you exposed مِنof سَوآتِthe private parts of جِعثَنَJiʿthan مَشهَداa spectacle
وَعَرَّفتَ مِن سَوآتِ جِعثَنَ مَشهَدا
At al-Saydān you kindled a feeble fire,
And you lit an abject fire at al-Sidan,
and made a spectacle of Jaʿthan’s disgrace.
and displayed a spectacle of Jiʿthan's private parts.
أَضاءَlit up وُقودُthe blaze of النارِthe fire مِنهاfrom her بَصيرَةًa revealing sight
أَضاءَ وُقودُ النارِ مِنها بَصيرَةً
وَعَبرَةَand the tear of أَعمىa blind man هَمُّهُhis anguish قَدhas indeed تَرَدَّداrecurred
وَعَبرَةَ أَعمى هَمُّهُ قَد تَرَدَّدا
The fire’s fuel blazed, yielding clear insight
The fire's blaze lit up a revealing sight of her,
and a lesson even to a blind man whose resolve had wavered.
and a blind man's tear, his anguish returning.
كَأَنَّas though الَّتيshe whom يَدعونَthey call جِعثَنَJiʿthan وَرَّكَتsettled her haunches
كَأَنَّ الَّتي يَدعونَ جِعثَنَ وَرَّكَت
عَلىon فالِجٍa huge two-humped camel مِنfrom بُختِthe Bactrian camels of كَرمانَKerman أَحرَداlame
عَلى فالِجٍ مِن بُختِ كَرمانَ أَحرَدا
It was as though the woman they call Jaʿthan had mounted
It is as though the woman they call Jiʿthan settled her haunches
a huge, smooth-coated Bactrian camel from Kerman.
on a lame, huge Bactrian camel from Kerman.
وَأَورَثَنيand bequeathed me الفَرعانِthe two noble branches سَعدٌSaʿd وَمالِكٌand Malik
وَأَورَثَني الفَرعانِ سَعدٌ وَمالِكٌ
سَناءًsplendor وَعِزّاًand honor فيin الحَياةِlife مُخَلَّداeverlasting
سَناءً وَعِزّاً في الحَياةِ مُخَلَّدا
The two branches, Saʿd and Mālik, bequeathed me
The two branches, Saʿd and Malik, bequeathed me
splendor and might, made everlasting through life.
splendor and honor, everlasting in life.
مَتىwhenever أُدعَI am summoned بَينَamong اِبنَيthe two sons of مُغَدّاةَMughaddah تَلقَنيyou find me
مَتى أُدعَ بَينَ اِبنَي مُغَدّاةَ تَلقَني
إِلىtoward لَوذِthe shelter of عِزٍّhonor طامِحِholding high الرَأسِthe head أَصيَداproud
إِلى لَوذِ عِزٍّ طامِحِ الرَأسِ أَصيَدا
Whenever I am summoned between the two sons of Mughādhah, you will find me
Whenever I am summoned among Mughaddah's two sons, you will find me
in pride’s very stronghold, head held high and haughty.
in the shelter of honor, head held high and proud.
أَحُلُّI settle in إِذاwhen شِئتُI wish الإِيادَal-Iyad وَحَزنَهُand its rugged uplands
أَحُلُّ إِذا شِئتُ الإِيادَ وَحَزنَهُ
وَإِنand if شِئتُI wish أَجزاعَthe valley bends of العَقيقِal-ʿAqiq فَجَلعَداthen Jalʿad
وَإِن شِئتُ أَجزاعَ العَقيقِ فَجَلعَدا
Whenever I wish, I encamp in Iyād and its rugged country,
I settle, when I wish, in al-Iyad and its rugged uplands,
or, if I wish, in the sandy reaches of al-ʿAqīq—then Jalʿad.
or, if I wish, in the valley bends of al-ʿAqiq, then Jalʿad.
فَلَوso if كانَthere were رَأيٌsound judgment فيin عَدِيِّʿAdi بنِson of جُندَبِJundab
فَلَو كانَ رَأيٌ في عَدِيِّ بنِ جُندَبِ
رَأَواthey would see ظُلمَناour oppression لِابنَيof the two sons of سُمَيرَةَSumayra أَنكَداmore grievous
رَأَوا ظُلمَنا لِابنَي سُمَيرَةَ أَنكَدا
Had my counsel concerning ʿAdī ibn Jundab prevailed,
Had there been sound judgment in ʿAdi ibn Jundab,
they would have seen how bitterly we oppressed Sumayra’s two sons.
they would have found our oppression of Sumayra's two sons more grievous.
أَيَشهَدُdoes he testify? مَثغورٌa broken-toothed man عَلَيناagainst us وَقَدalthough already رَأىhas seen
أَيَشهَدُ مَثغورٌ عَلَينا وَقَد رَأى
سُمَيرَةُSumayra مِنّاfrom us فيin ثَناياهُhis front teeth مَشهَداa witnessed deed
سُمَيرَةُ مِنّا في ثَناياهُ مَشهَدا
Does Gap-tooth testify against us, though he saw
Does a broken-toothed man testify against us, though
what a spectacle Sumayra became at our hands amid his ranks?
Sumayra has seen our handiwork in his front teeth?
مَتىwhenever أَلقَI meet مَثغوراًa broken-toothed man عَلىdespite سوءِthe ruin of ثَغرِهِhis teeth
مَتى أَلقَ مَثغوراً عَلى سوءِ ثَغرِهِ
أَضَعI put فَوقَupon ماwhat أَبقىhe has kept مِنَof الثَغرِthe teeth مِبرَداa file
أَضَع فَوقَ ما أَبقى مِنَ الثَغرِ مِبرَدا
Whenever I meet Gap-tooth, despite the ugliness of his gap,
Whenever I meet the broken-toothed man, despite his ruined teeth,
I set a file upon whatever teeth it has left.
I set a file upon whatever teeth he has left.
مَنَعناكُمُwe protected you حَتّىuntil اِبتَنَيتُمyou built بُيوتَكُمyour houses
مَنَعناكُمُ حَتّى اِبتَنَيتُم بُيوتَكُم
وَأَصدَرَand led from water راعيكُمyour herdsman بِفَلحٍsuccessfully وَأَورَداand led to water
وَأَصدَرَ راعيكُم بِفَلحٍ وَأَورَدا
We kept you safe until you had built your houses,
We protected you until you built your houses,
and made your shepherd leave the water at Falaḥ, then brought him back to water,
and your herdsman safely led his beasts from water and to it,
بِشُعثٍwith shaggy men عَلىon شُعثٍshaggy mounts مَغاويرَbold raiders بِالضُحىin broad daylight
بِشُعثٍ عَلى شُعثٍ مَغاويرَ بِالضُحى
إِذاwhen ثَوَّبَrepeated the call الداعيthe caller لِرَوعٍfor an alarm وَنَدَّداand cried out
إِذا ثَوَّبَ الداعي لِرَوعٍ وَنَدَّدا
with disheveled warriors on shaggy mounts, bold raiders at high noon,
with shaggy men on shaggy mounts, bold raiders in daylight,
whenever the summoner calls again and again in alarm and raises the war-cry;
when the caller repeated the alarm and cried aloud:
كَراديسَmassed squadrons أَوراداًarriving in waves بِكُلِّwith every مُناجِدٍvaliant defender
كَراديسَ أَوراداً بِكُلِّ مُناجِدٍ
تَعَوَّدَhe had practiced ضَربَstriking البيضِbright helmets فيماamong what تَعَوَّداhe was accustomed to
تَعَوَّدَ ضَربَ البيضِ فيما تَعَوَّدا
battalions arriving troop after troop by every upland way,
massed squadrons arriving in waves, with every valiant defender
accustomed to the blows of white swords in all they practice.
practiced in striking helmets among his accustomed deeds.
إِذاwhen كَفَّhe rolled back عَنهُfrom himself مِنsome of يَدَيthe two sleeves of حُطَمِيَّةٍa Hutamiyya mail-coat
إِذا كَفَّ عَنهُ مِن يَدَي حُطَمِيَّةٍ
وَأَبدىand bared ذِراعَيthe two arms of شَيظَمٍa tall, rangy man قَدalready تَخَدَّداgrown lean
وَأَبدى ذِراعَي شَيظَمٍ قَد تَخَدَّدا
When a crushing stroke from my two hands is warded off him,
When he rolls the sleeves of his Hutamiyya mail back from himself,
he bares the scarred forearms of a towering champion,
he bares the lean arms of a tall, rangy man,
عَلىon سابِحٍa swimming-gaited horse نَهدٍpowerfully built يُشَبَّهُis likened بِالضُحىin morning light
عَلى سابِحٍ نَهدٍ يُشَبَّهُ بِالضُحى
إِذاwhen عادَreturned فيهِin him الرَكضُthe gallop سيداًto a wolf عَمَرَّداtall and rangy
إِذا عادَ فيهِ الرَكضُ سيداً عَمَرَّدا
astride a swift, broad-chested horse that resembles him in daylight;
upon a powerful, swimming-gaited horse, likened in morning light,
when its gallop is renewed, he becomes a huge, towering wolf.
when his gallop returns, to a tall, rangy wolf.
أَرىI see الطَيرَthe birds بِالحَجّاجِwith al-Hajjaj تَجريflying أَيامِناًauspicious flights
أَرى الطَيرَ بِالحَجّاجِ تَجري أَيامِناً
لَكُمfor you ياO أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful وَأَسعُداand lucky omens
لَكُم يا أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَأَسعُدا
I see the omen-birds beside al-Hajjaj flying rightward—auspiciously—
I see the birds with al-Hajjaj taking auspicious flights
for you, O Commander of the Faithful, and more propitiously still.
for you, O Commander of the Faithful, and bearing lucky omens.
رَجَعتَyou restored لِبَيتِto the House of اللَهِGod عَهدَthe covenant of نَبِيِّهِHis Prophet
رَجَعتَ لِبَيتِ اللَهِ عَهدَ نَبِيِّهِ
وَأَصلَحتَand you repaired ماwhat كانَhad الخُبَيبانِthe two Khubaybs أَفسَداspoiled
وَأَصلَحتَ ما كانَ الخُبَيبانِ أَفسَدا
You restored to God’s House the covenant of His Prophet,
You restored to God's House the covenant of His Prophet,
and repaired what the two Khubaybs had corrupted.
and repaired what the two Khubaybs had spoiled.
فَماso no مُخدِرٌlair-dwelling lion وَردٌtawny بِخَفّانَat Khaffan زَأرُهُhis roar
فَما مُخدِرٌ وَردٌ بِخَفّانَ زَأرُهُ
إِلىtoward القِرنِthe adversary زَجرَthe cries of الزاجِرينَthose driving him back تَوَرَّداsurged forward
إِلى القِرنِ زَجرَ الزاجِرينَ تَوَرَّدا
No den-lion coming to drink at Khuffān, roaring,
No tawny lion in his lair at Khaffan, whose roar
advancing upon an equal despite the restrainers’ rebukes,
surges toward his rival despite the warders' cries,
بِأَمضىis more decisive مِنَthan الحَجّاجِal-Hajjaj فيin الحَربِwar مُقدِماًadvancing
بِأَمضى مِنَ الحَجّاجِ في الحَربِ مُقدِماً
إِذاwhen بَعضُهُمsome of them هابَfeared الخِياضَplunging into battle فَعَرَّداand fled
إِذا بَعضُهُم هابَ الخِياضَ فَعَرَّدا
is bolder than al-Hajjaj in war as he charges ahead,
is more resolute than al-Hajjaj advancing in war,
when some among the host fear the plunge and shrink away.
when some of them fear plunging in and flee.
تَصَدّىstood facing صَناديدُthe mighty men of العِراقِIraq لِوَجهِهِbefore his face
تَصَدّى صَناديدُ العِراقِ لِوَجهِهِ
وَتُضحيand become لَهُbefore him غُرُّthe foremost of الدَهاقينِthe Persian lords سُجَّداprostrate
وَتُضحي لَهُ غُرُّ الدَهاقينِ سُجَّدا
The champions of Iraq confronted him face-to-face,
Iraq's mighty men stand facing him,
and in broad daylight the illustrious Persian lords lay prostrate before him.
and the foremost Persian lords lie prostrate before him.
وَلِلقَينِand for the smith وَالخِنزيرِand the swine مِنّيfrom me بَديهَةٌan impromptu retort
وَلِلقَينِ وَالخِنزيرِ مِنّي بَديهَةٌ
وَإِنand if عاوَدونيthey assail me again كُنتُI shall be لِلعَودِin replying again أَحمَداmore praiseworthy
وَإِن عاوَدوني كُنتُ لِلعَودِ أَحمَدا
For al-Qullayn and the Swine I have an extemporaneous retort;
For the smith and the swine I have an impromptu retort;
and if they answer me, I shall be still more praiseworthy in answering back.
and if they assail me again, I shall be more praiseworthy in replying.
Sol 6.1