أَصاحِO friend أَلَيسَare ... not اليَومَtoday مُنتَظِريawaiting me صَحبيmy companions
أَصاحِ أَلَيسَ اليَومَ مُنتَظِري صَحبي
نُحَيِّيwe greet دِيارَthe dwellings of الحَيِّthe clan مِنfrom دارَةِDarat الجَأبِal-Ja'b
نُحَيِّي دِيارَ الحَيِّ مِن دارَةِ الجَأبِ
O friend, are my companions not waiting for me today,
as we greet the clan's dwellings at Darat al-Ja'b?
وَماذاand what عَلَيهِمwould it cost them أَنto يَعوجواturn aside بِدِمنَةٍto a ruined campsite
وَماذا عَلَيهِم أَن يَعوجوا بِدِمنَةٍ
عَفَتhas faded بَينَbetween عَوصاءِ'Awsa' الأُمَيلِحِal-Umaylih وَالنَقبِand al-Naqb
عَفَت بَينَ عَوصاءِ الأُمَيلِحِ وَالنَقبِ
What harm would it do them to turn aside to a deserted campsite,
effaced between 'Awsa' al-Umaylih and al-Naqb?
ذَكَرتُكِI remembered you وَالعيسُand the pale camels العِتاقُthe noble-bred كَأَنَّهاas though they were
ذَكَرتُكِ وَالعيسُ العِتاقُ كَأَنَّها
بِبُرقَةِat Burqat أَحجارٍAhjar قِياسٌbows مِنَof القُضبِthe boughs
بِبُرقَةِ أَحجارٍ قِياسٌ مِنَ القُضبِ
I remembered you, while the noble pale camels seemed like
bows of slender boughs at Burqat Ahjar.
فَإِنso if تَمنَعيyou withhold مِنّيfrom me الشِفاءَthe cure فَقَدthen indeed أَرىI see
فَإِن تَمنَعي مِنّي الشِفاءَ فَقَد أَرى
مَشارِعَwatering places لِلظَمآنِfor the thirsty صافِيَةَpure الشُربِthe draught
مَشارِعَ لِلظَمآنِ صافِيَةَ الشُربِ
So if you withhold healing from me, I can indeed see
watering places for the thirsty, with water pure to drink.
كَأُمِّlike the mother of الطَلاa fawn تَعتادُshe revisits وَهيَwhile she is غَريرَةٌunwary
كَأُمِّ الطَلا تَعتادُ وَهيَ غَريرَةٌ
بِأَجمَدَat Ajmad رَهبىRahba عاقِدَone curling الجيدِthe neck كَالقُلبِlike a bracelet
بِأَجمَدَ رَهبى عاقِدَ الجيدِ كَالقُلبِ
Like a fawn's mother, returning, still unwary,
at Ajmad Rahba, to one whose neck curls like a bracelet.
إِذاwhen أَناI فارَقتُleave العِذابَthe sweet waters وَبَردَهاand their coolness
إِذا أَنا فارَقتُ العِذابَ وَبَردَها
سُقيتُI am given to drink مِلاحاًsalty waters لاnot يَعيجُtakes delight بِهاin them قَلبيmy heart
سُقيتُ مِلاحاً لا يَعيجُ بِها قَلبي
When I leave sweet waters and their coolness,
I am given salty waters for which my heart has no liking.
وَإِنّاand we لَنَقريsurely feed guests حينَwhen يُحمَدُone is praised بِالقِرىfor hospitality
وَإِنّا لَنَقري حينَ يُحمَدُ بِالقِرى
وَلَمand not يَبقَremains نِقيٌmarrow فيin سُلامىa joint-bone وَلاnor صُلبِa backbone
وَلَم يَبقَ نِقيٌ في سُلامى وَلا صُلبِ
And we do feed guests when hospitality earns praise,
and no marrow remains in joint-bone or backbone;
إِذاwhen الأُفُقُthe horizon الغَربِيُّthe western أَمسىbecomes at evening كَأَنَّهُas though it were
إِذا الأُفُقُ الغَربِيُّ أَمسى كَأَنَّهُ
سَلاthe afterbirth of فَرَسٍa mare شَقراءَchestnut مُكتَئبَdarkened العَصبِthe sinews
سَلا فَرَسٍ شَقراءَ مُكتَئبَ العَصبِ
when the western horizon at evening seems like
a chestnut mare's afterbirth, its sinews darkened.
وَنَعرِفُand we know حَقَّthe right of النازِلينَthose lodging وَلَمand have not تَزَلceased
وَنَعرِفُ حَقَّ النازِلينَ وَلَم تَزَل
فَوارِسُناour horsemen يَحمونَguard قاصِيَةَthe outliers of السَربِthe herd
فَوارِسُنا يَحمونَ قاصِيَةَ السَربِ
We know the rights of those who lodge with us, and ever
our horsemen guard the herd's farthest stragglers,
عَلىon مُقرَباتٍcherished mares هُنَّthey are مَعقِلُa refuge for مَنwhoever جَنىhas done wrong
عَلى مُقرَباتٍ هُنَّ مَعقِلُ مَن جَنى
وَسَمُّand poison to العِدىthe enemies وَالمُنجِياتُand deliverers مِنَfrom الكَربِdistress
وَسَمُّ العِدى وَالمُنجِياتُ مِنَ الكَربِ
on cherished mares, a refuge for whoever has done wrong,
poison to enemies, and deliverers from distress.
أَلاbehold رُبَّmany a جَبّارٍtyrant وَطِئنَthey trampled جَبينَهُhis brow
أَلا رُبَّ جَبّارٍ وَطِئنَ جَبينَهُ
صَريعاًfallen وَنَهبٍand plunder قَدindeed حَوَينَthey gathered إِلىto نَهبِplunder
صَريعاً وَنَهبٍ قَد حَوَينَ إِلى نَهبِ
Ah, many a tyrant's brow they have trampled,
as he lay fallen; and they have heaped plunder upon plunder!
بِطِخفَةَat Tikhfa ضارَبناwe fought المُلوكَthe kings وَخَيلُناand our horses
بِطِخفَةَ ضارَبنا المُلوكَ وَخَيلُنا
عَشِيَّةَon the evening of بِسطامٍBistam جَرَينَthey galloped عَلىat نَحبِgrave risk
عَشِيَّةَ بِسطامٍ جَرَينَ عَلى نَحبِ
At Tikhfa we fought kings, and our horses,
on Bistam's evening, galloped with all at stake.
نُشَرِّفُwe raise high عادِيّاًan ancient, 'Ad-like edifice مِنَof المَجدِglory لَمhave not تَزَلceased
نُشَرِّفُ عادِيّاً مِنَ المَجدِ لَم تَزَل
عَلالِيُّهُits upper chambers تُبنىare built عَلىupon باذِخٍa lofty height صَعبِunassailable
عَلالِيُّهُ تُبنى عَلى باذِخٍ صَعبِ
We heighten an 'Ad-like edifice of glory; ever
its upper chambers are built on a lofty, unassailable height.
فَماso not لُمتُI blamed قَوميmy people فيfor البِناءِthe structure الَّذيwhich بَنَواthey built
فَما لُمتُ قَومي في البِناءِ الَّذي بَنَوا
وَماكانَand there was not عَنهُمon their behalf فيin ذِيادِيَmy defense مِنany عَتبِreproach
وَماكانَ عَنهُم في ذِيادِيَ مِن عَتبِ
I have not blamed my people for the structure they built,
nor was there cause to fault my defense of them.
إِذاwhen قَرَعَstrikes الصاقورُthe stone-pick مَتنَthe surface of صَفاتِناour hard rock
إِذا قَرَعَ الصاقورُ مَتنَ صَفاتِنا
نَباit rebounds عَنfrom دُروءٍprojections مِنof حَزابِيَّهاits massive boulders الحُدبِthe humped ones
نَبا عَن دُروءٍ مِن حَزابِيَّها الحُدبِ
When the stone-pick strikes the surface of our rock,
it rebounds from the projections of its humped boulders.
تَعَذَّرتَyou sought excuses ياO خِنزيرَswine of تَغلِبَTaghlib بَعدَماafter
تَعَذَّرتَ يا خِنزيرَ تَغلِبَ بَعدَما
عَلِقتَyou became entangled بِحَبلَيin the two ropes of ذيone of مُعاسَرَةٍharsh dealing شَغبِquarrelsome
عَلِقتَ بِحَبلَي ذي مُعاسَرَةٍ شَغبِ
You sought excuses, O swine of Taghlib, after
you became entangled in the two ropes of a harsh, contentious man.
إِذاwhen أَناI جازَيتُrequite القَرينَan opponent تَمَرَّسَتtwisted tight
إِذا أَنا جازَيتُ القَرينَ تَمَرَّسَت
حِباليmy ropes وَرَخّىand slackened مِنsome of عَلابِيِّهِhis neck-sinews جَذبيmy pull
حِبالي وَرَخّى مِن عَلابِيِّهِ جَذبي
When I requite an opponent, he is caught fast
in my ropes; my tug loosens the sinews of his neck.
أَتُخبِرُdo you tell مَنwhoever لاقَيتَyou have met أَنَّكَthat you لَمhave not تُصِبsuffered
أَتُخبِرُ مَن لاقَيتَ أَنَّكَ لَم تُصِب
عِثاراًa stumble وَقَدthough indeed لاقَيتَyou have met نَكباًcalamity عَلىupon نَكبِcalamity
عِثاراً وَقَد لاقَيتَ نَكباً عَلى نَكبِ
Do you tell those you meet that you have suffered no
stumble, though you have met calamity upon calamity?
أَلَمhave you not تَرَseen قَيساًQays قَيسَQays of عَيلانَ'Aylan دَمَّرواthey destroyed
أَلَم تَرَ قَيساً قَيسَ عَيلانَ دَمَّروا
خَنازيرَswine بَينَbetween الشَرعَبِيَّةِal-Shar'abiyya وَالدَربِand al-Darb
خَنازيرَ بَينَ الشَرعَبِيَّةِ وَالدَربِ
Have you not seen Qays—Qays of 'Aylan—destroy
swine between al-Shar'abiyya and al-Darb?
عَرَفتُمyou have acknowledged لَهُمto them عَينَthe heart of البُحورِthe seas عَلَيكُمُover you
عَرَفتُم لَهُم عَينَ البُحورِ عَلَيكُمُ
وَساحَةَand the expanse of نَجدٍNajd وَالطِوالَand the tall ones مِنَamong الهَضبِthe hills
وَساحَةَ نَجدٍ وَالطِوالَ مِنَ الهَضبِ
You have acknowledged their mastery over you in the seas' very heart,
across Najd's expanse and the lofty hills.
وَقَدand indeed أَورَدَتhas brought forth قَيسٌQays عَلَيكَagainst you وَخِندِفٌand Khindif
وَقَد أَورَدَت قَيسٌ عَلَيكَ وَخِندِفٌ
فَوارِسَhorsemen هَدَّمنَthey shattered الحِياضَthe watering-pools الَّتيwhich تُجبيyou fill
فَوارِسَ هَدَّمنَ الحِياضَ الَّتي تُجبي
Qays and Khindif have indeed brought against you
horsemen who shattered the watering-pools you fill,
مَصاعيبَuntamable warriors أَمثالَthe likes of الهُذَيلِal-Hudhayl رِماحُهُمtheir spears
مَصاعيبَ أَمثالَ الهُذَيلِ رِماحُهُم
بِهاon them مِنfrom دِماءِthe blood of القَومِthe opposing men خَضبٌstain عَلىupon خَضبِstain
بِها مِن دِماءِ القَومِ خَضبٌ عَلى خَضبِ
untamable warriors like al-Hudhayl; their spears
bear stain upon stain from the blood of their foes.
سَتَعلَمُyou will learn ماwhat يُغنيavails الصَليبُthe cross إِذاwhen غَدَتmarch out at dawn
سَتَعلَمُ ما يُغني الصَليبُ إِذا غَدَت
كَتائِبُthe battalions of قَيسٍQays كَالمُهَنَّأَةِlike pitch-daubed camels الجُربِthe mangy ones
كَتائِبُ قَيسٍ كَالمُهَنَّأَةِ الجُربِ
You will learn what help the cross affords when, at dawn,
Qays's battalions advance like pitch-daubed, mangy camels.
لَعَلَّكَperhaps you خِنزيرَswine of الكُناسَةِthe rubbish heap فاخِرٌare boasting
لَعَلَّكَ خِنزيرَ الكُناسَةِ فاخِرٌ
إِذاwhen مُضَرٌMudar مِنهاfrom among them تَسامىrise high بَنوthe sons of الحَربِwar
إِذا مُضَرٌ مِنها تَسامى بَنو الحَربِ
Perhaps you boast, O swine of the rubbish heap,
when the sons of war rise high from among Mudar?
لَئِنif indeed وَضَعَتhas laid down قَيسٌQays وَخِندِفُand Khindif بَينَهاbetween themselves
لَئِن وَضَعَت قَيسٌ وَخِندِفُ بَينَها
عَصاthe staff of الحَربِwar ماnot أَوجَفتَyou rode hard فيهاin it مَعَwith الرَكبِthe mounted troop
عَصا الحَربِ ما أَوجَفتَ فيها مَعَ الرَكبِ
If indeed Qays and Khindif have laid down between them
the staff of war, you never galloped in it with the troop.
وَلَوand if كُنتَyou had been مَولىan ally of العِزِّglory أَزمانَin the days of راهِطٍRahit
وَلَو كُنتَ مَولى العِزِّ أَزمانَ راهِطٍ
شَغَبتَyou would have stirred strife وَلَكِنand yet لاno يَدَيtwo hands (power) لَكَfor you بِالشَغبِfor strife
شَغَبتَ وَلَكِن لا يَدَي لَكَ بِالشَغبِ
Had you been an ally of glory in the days of Rahit,
you would have stirred strife—but you have no strength for strife.
تَعَرَّضتَyou stepped forward مِنfrom دونِin front of الفَرَزدَقِal-Farazdaq مُحلِباًlending support
تَعَرَّضتَ مِن دونِ الفَرَزدَقِ مُحلِباً
فَماso not كُنتَyou were مَنصوراًvictorious وَلاnor عالِيَhigh in الكَعبِstanding
فَما كُنتَ مَنصوراً وَلا عالِيَ الكَعبِ
You stepped forward to shield al-Farazdaq, lending him aid,
but you were neither victorious nor high in standing.
تَصَلَّيتَyou warmed yourself بِالنارِat the fire الَّتيwhich يَصطَليhe warms himself بِهاby it
تَصَلَّيتَ بِالنارِ الَّتي يَصطَلي بِها
فَأَرداكَso he ruined you فيهاin it وَافتَدىand ransomed himself بِكَwith you مِنfrom حَربيmy war
فَأَرداكَ فيها وَافتَدى بِكَ مِن حَربي
You warmed yourself at the fire by which he warms himself,
so he cast you to ruin in it and ransomed himself with you from my war.
قُفَيرَةُQufayra حِزبٌa party لِلنَصارىfor the Christians وَجِعثِنٌand Ji'thin
قُفَيرَةُ حِزبٌ لِلنَصارى وَجِعثِنٌ
وَأَمسىand now are الكِرامُthe noble men الغالِبونَthe victors وَهُمand they حِزبيmy party
وَأَمسى الكِرامُ الغالِبونَ وَهُم حِزبي
Qufayra and Ji'thin are the Christians' party,
and the noble victors are now my party.
Sol 6.1