ياO صاحِبَيَّmy two companions هَلِis الصَباحُthe morning مُنيرُbright
يا صاحِبَيَّ هَلِ الصَباحُ مُنيرُ
أَمor هَلis there لِلَومِfor the blame of عَواذِليmy reproaching women تَفتيرُany slackening
أَم هَل لِلَومِ عَواذِلي تَفتيرُ
O my two companions, is the morning bright?
Or will my reproachers' blame ever slacken?
أَنّىhow تُكَلَّفُare you burdened with بِالغُمَيِّمِat al-Ghumayyim حاجَةًa longing
أَنّى تُكَلَّفُ بِالغُمَيِّمِ حاجَةً
نِهياthe two pools of حَمامَةَHamamah دونَهاbetween you and it وَحَفيرُand Hafir
نِهيا حَمامَةَ دونَها وَحَفيرُ
How are you burdened with longing at al-Ghumayyim,
With Hamamah's two pools and Hafir lying between?
عاداتُthe habits of قَلبِكَyour heart حينَwhen خَفَّgrew light بِهِwith it الهَوىpassion
عاداتُ قَلبِكَ حينَ خَفَّ بِهِ الهَوى
لَولاwere it not that تُسَكِّنُهُyou calm it لَكادَit would almost يَطيرُfly
لَولا تُسَكِّنُهُ لَكادَ يَطيرُ
Your heart's old ways, when passion makes it light—
Without your calming it, it would almost fly.
إِنَّindeed العَواذِلَthe reproaching women لَمhave not يَجِدنَthey felt كَوَجدِناlike our passion
إِنَّ العَواذِلَ لَم يَجِدنَ كَوَجدِنا
فَلَهُنَّso for them مِنكَfrom you تَعَبُّدٌindignant disdain وَزَفيرُand sighing
فَلَهُنَّ مِنكَ تَعَبُّدٌ وَزَفيرُ
The reproaching women have not felt a passion like ours;
All they receive from you is indignation and sighs.
يَنهَينَthey forbid مَنone who عَلِقَclung الهَوىpassion بِفُؤادِهِto his heart
يَنهَينَ مَن عَلِقَ الهَوى بِفُؤادِهِ
حَتّىuntil اِستُبينَbecame evident بِسَمعِهِin his hearing تَوقيرُhardness of hearing
حَتّى اِستُبينَ بِسَمعِهِ تَوقيرُ
They admonish one to whose heart passion clings,
Until a dullness in his hearing becomes plain.
لَيتَwould that الزَمانَtime لَناto us يَعودُwould return بِيُسرِهِwith its ease
لَيتَ الزَمانَ لَنا يَعودُ بِيُسرِهِ
إِنَّindeed اليَسيرَthe easy بِذاin this الزَمانِage عَسيرُdifficult
إِنَّ اليَسيرَ بِذا الزَمانِ عَسيرُ
Would that time returned to us with its ease;
Even the easy is difficult in this age.
ياO قَلبِmy heart هَلwill لَكَfor you فيin العَزاءِconsolation فَإِنَّهُfor indeed it
يا قَلبِ هَل لَكَ في العَزاءِ فَإِنَّهُ
قَدalready عيلَhas been exhausted صَبرُكَyour patience وَالكَريمُand the noble man صَبورُpatient
قَد عيلَ صَبرُكَ وَالكَريمُ صَبورُ
O heart, will you take comfort? For indeed
Your patience is exhausted, yet the noble man is patient.
وَلَقَدand indeed عَجِبتُI marveled مِنَat الوُشاةِthe slanderers كَأَنَّهُمas though they
وَلَقَد عَجِبتُ مِنَ الوُشاةِ كَأَنَّهُم
بِالبُغضِwith hatred نَحوَكَtoward you وَالعَداوَةِand hostility عورُone-eyed
بِالبُغضِ نَحوَكَ وَالعَداوَةِ عورُ
I have marveled at the slanderers, as though they
Were one-eyed with hatred and hostility toward you.
وَكَتَمتُand I concealed سِرَّكَyour secret فيin الفُؤادِthe heart مُجَمجِماًkeeping it unspoken
وَكَتَمتُ سِرَّكَ في الفُؤادِ مُجَمجِماً
إِنَّindeed الكَتومَthe discreet man لِسِرِّهِof his secret لَجَديرُsurely worthy
إِنَّ الكَتومَ لِسِرِّهِ لَجَديرُ
I concealed your secret in my heart, keeping it unspoken;
The discreet man is surely fit to guard his secret.
فَسَقىso may it water دِيارَكِyour dwellings حَيثُwherever كُنتِyou are مُجَلجِلٌa thundering cloud
فَسَقى دِيارَكِ حَيثُ كُنتِ مُجَلجِلٌ
هَزِجٌrumbling يُرِنُّit rings out عَلىover الدِيارِthe dwellings مَطيرُrain-laden
هَزِجٌ يُرِنُّ عَلى الدِيارِ مَطيرُ
May a thundering cloud water your dwellings, wherever you are,
Rumbling and ringing over the dwellings, laden with rain.
وَلَقَدand indeed ذَكَرتُكِI remembered you بِاليَمامَةِin al-Yamamah ذَكرَةًa remembrance
وَلَقَد ذَكَرتُكِ بِاليَمامَةِ ذَكرَةً
إِنَّindeed المُحِبَّthe lover لِمَنof whomever يُحِبُّhe loves ذَكورُever mindful
إِنَّ المُحِبَّ لِمَن يُحِبُّ ذَكورُ
Indeed, in al-Yamamah I remembered you keenly;
A lover is ever mindful of the one he loves.
وَالعيسُand the pale camels مُنعَلَةُshod with السَريحِrawhide strips مِنَbecause of الوَجىsore feet
وَالعيسُ مُنعَلَةُ السَريحِ مِنَ الوَجى
وَكَأَنَّهُنَّand as though they مِنَfrom الهَواجِرِthe midday heats عورُone-eyed
وَكَأَنَّهُنَّ مِنَ الهَواجِرِ عورُ
The pale camels were shod with rawhide strips for their sore feet,
And seemed one-eyed from the midday heats.
ياO بِشرُBishr حُقَّis due لِبِشرِكَto your cheerfulness التَبشيرُglad tidings
يا بِشرُ حُقَّ لِبِشرِكَ التَبشيرُ
هَلّاwhy did you not غَضِبتَyou grew angry لَناon our behalf وَأَنتَwhile you are أَميرُa prince
هَلّا غَضِبتَ لَنا وَأَنتَ أَميرُ
O Bishr, your cheerfulness deserves glad tidings!
Why did you not grow angry for us, when you are a prince?
ياO بِشرُBishr إِنَّكَindeed you لَمhave not تَزَلceased فيin نِعمَةٍblessing
يا بِشرُ إِنَّكَ لَم تَزَل في نِعمَةٍ
يَأتيكَcomes to you مِنfrom قِبَلِthe direction of الإِلَهِGod بَشيرُa bearer of glad tidings
يَأتيكَ مِن قِبَلِ الإِلَهِ بَشيرُ
O Bishr, you have always lived in blessing,
A bearer of glad tidings coming to you from God.
بِشرٌBishr أَبوfather of مَروانَMarwan إِنif عاسَرتَهُyou treat him harshly
بِشرٌ أَبو مَروانَ إِن عاسَرتَهُ
عَسِرٌstern وَعِندَand in يَسارِهِhis gentleness مَيسورُaccommodating
عَسِرٌ وَعِندَ يَسارِهِ مَيسورُ
Bishr, Abu Marwan—if you deal harshly with him,
Is stern; yet in his gentleness, he is accommodating.
قَدindeed كانَwas حَقُّكَyour duty أَنto تَقولَyou say لِبارِقٍto Bariq
قَد كانَ حَقُّكَ أَن تَقولَ لِبارِقٍ
ياO آلَpeople of بارِقَBariq فيمَwhy سُبَّwas reviled جَريرُJarir
يا آلَ بارِقَ فيمَ سُبَّ جَريرُ
It was your duty to say to Bariq,
'O people of Bariq, why was Jarir reviled?'
إِنَّindeed الكَريمَةَthe noble woman يَنصُرُchampions الكَرَمَnobility اِبنُهاher son
إِنَّ الكَريمَةَ يَنصُرُ الكَرَمَ اِبنُها
وَاِبنُand the son of اللَئيمَةِthe base woman لِلِّئامِfor the base نَصورُa staunch champion
وَاِبنُ اللَئيمَةِ لِلِّئامِ نَصورُ
A noble woman's son champions nobility,
And a base woman's son staunchly champions the base.
لاdo not يَدخُلُنَّlet them ever enter عَلَيكَinto your presence إِنَّindeed دُخولَهُمtheir entering
لا يَدخُلُنَّ عَلَيكَ إِنَّ دُخولَهُم
رِجسٌdefilement وَإِنَّand indeed خُروجَهُمtheir leaving تَطهيرُpurification
رِجسٌ وَإِنَّ خُروجَهُم تَطهيرُ
Never let them enter your presence: their coming in
Is defilement, and their going out is purification.
أَمسىhas become سُراقَةَSuraqah قَدalready عَوىhe howled لِشَقائِهِto his own misery
أَمسى سُراقَةَ قَد عَوى لِشَقائِهِ
خَطبٌan affair وَأُمِّكَby your mother ياO سُراقَSuraq يَسيرُtrivial
خَطبٌ وَأُمِّكَ يا سُراقَ يَسيرُ
Suraqah has taken to howling, to his own misery—
A trifling affair, by your mother, O Suraq!
أَسُراقَO Suraq قَدindeed عَلِمَتhas known مَعَدٌّMa'add أَنَّنيthat I
أَسُراقَ قَد عَلِمَت مَعَدٌّ أَنَّني
قِدماًlong since إِذاwhen كُرِهَwas dreaded الخِياضُentering the fray جَسورُbold
قِدماً إِذا كُرِهَ الخِياضُ جَسورُ
O Suraq, Ma'add knows full well that I
Have long been bold when others dreaded the fray.
أَسُراقَO Suraq إِنَّكَindeed you قَدalready غَشيتَyou ventured into بِبارِقٍwith Bariq
أَسُراقَ إِنَّكَ قَد غَشيتَ بِبارِقٍ
أَمراًa matter مَطالِعُهُits approaches عَلَيكَfor you وُعورُrugged
أَمراً مَطالِعُهُ عَلَيكَ وُعورُ
O Suraq, with Bariq you have ventured into
A matter whose approaches are rugged for you.
ياO آلَpeople of بارِقَBariq لَوif only تَقَدَّمَhad stepped forward ناصِحٌan adviser
يا آلَ بارِقَ لَو تَقَدَّمَ ناصِحٌ
لِلبارِقيِّfor the Bariqi فَإِنَّهُfor he مَغرورُdeluded
لِلبارِقيِّ فَإِنَّهُ مَغرورُ
O people of Bariq, if only an adviser had stepped forward
For the Bariqi, for he is deluded,
كَالسامِرِيِّlike al-Samiri غَداةَon the morning when ضَلَّwent astray بِقَومِهِwith his people
كَالسامِرِيِّ غَداةَ ضَلَّ بِقَومِهِ
وَالعِجلُand the calf يُعكَفُpeople gather in devotion حَولَهُaround it وَيَخورُand it lows
وَالعِجلُ يُعكَفُ حَولَهُ وَيَخورُ
Like al-Samiri on the morning he led his people astray,
While people gather in devotion around the calf as it lows.
إِنّيindeed I بَنىhas built ليfor me مَنone who يَزيدُgrows بِنائُهُhis edifice
إِنّي بَنى لي مَن يَزيدُ بِنائُهُ
طولاًin height وَباعُكَand your reach ياO سُراقَSuraq قَصيرُshort
طولاً وَباعُكَ يا سُراقَ قَصيرُ
Indeed, one has built for me whose edifice grows
In height; your reach, O Suraq, is short.
لَوif كُنتَyou were تَعلَمُyou know ماnot جَهِلتَyou would be ignorant of فَوارِسيmy horsemen
لَو كُنتَ تَعلَمُ ما جَهِلتَ فَوارِسي
أَيّامَin the days of طِخفَةَTikhfah وَالدِماءُwhile the blood تَمورُsurged
أَيّامَ طِخفَةَ وَالدِماءُ تَمورُ
Had you any knowledge, you would not be ignorant of my horsemen,
In the days of Tikhfah, when blood surged.
هَلّاdid you not بِذيat Dhu نَجَبٍNajab عَلِمتَyou learned بَلاءَناour prowess
هَلّا بِذي نَجَبٍ عَلِمتَ بَلاءَنا
أَوor يَومَon the day أَصعَدَwent up بِالنِسارِat al-Nisar بَحيرُBahir
أَو يَومَ أَصعَدَ بِالنِسارِ بَحيرُ
Did you not learn our prowess at Dhu Najab,
Or the day Bahir went up at al-Nisar?
أَنَصَرتَdid you aid قَينَthe smith of بَنيthe sons of قُفَيرَةَQufayrah مُحلِباًmustering allies
أَنَصَرتَ قَينَ بَني قُفَيرَةَ مُحلِباً
أَسُراقَO Suraq لَيسَis not لِبارِقَfor Bariq التَخيِيرُthe choice
أَسُراقَ لَيسَ لِبارِقَ التَخيِيرُ
Did you aid the smith of Banu Qufayrah, mustering allies?
O Suraq, the choice is not Bariq's.
إِنَّindeed الفَرَزدَقَal-Farazdaq قَدalready أُصيبَhas been struck بِسَهمِهِby his arrow
إِنَّ الفَرَزدَقَ قَد أُصيبَ بِسَهمِهِ
فَضَغاso he squealed وَأَسلَمَand abandoned تَغلِبَTaghlib الخِنزيرُthe swine
فَضَغا وَأَسلَمَ تَغلِبَ الخِنزيرُ
Al-Farazdaq has indeed been struck by his arrow,
So he squealed, and the swine abandoned Taghlib.
قَدalready كانَthere was فيagainst كَلبٍKalb يُخافُwas feared شَذاتُهُits sting
قَد كانَ في كَلبٍ يُخافُ شَذاتُهُ
مِنّيfrom me وَماand what لَقِيَbefell الغُواةَthe misguided نَذيرُa warning
مِنّي وَما لَقِيَ الغُواةَ نَذيرُ
Against Kalb there had already been a blow whose sting was feared
From me; what befell the misguided is a warning.
أَسُراقَO Suraq إِنَّكَindeed you قَدalready تُرِكتَyou have been left مُخَلَّفاًbehind
أَسُراقَ إِنَّكَ قَد تُرِكتَ مُخَلَّفاً
وَغُبارُand the dust عِثيَرِهاof their dust-cloud عَلَيكَover you يَثورُbillows
وَغُبارُ عِثيَرِها عَلَيكَ يَثورُ
O Suraq, you have been left behind,
While the dust of their passage billows over you.
وَعَلِقتَand you became caught فيin مَرَسٍa rope يَمُدُّpulls قَرينَهُits partner
وَعَلِقتَ في مَرَسٍ يَمُدُّ قَرينَهُ
حَتّىuntil اِلتَوىcoiled بِكَaround you مُحصَدٌa tightly plaited cord مَشزورُtightly twisted
حَتّى اِلتَوى بِكَ مُحصَدٌ مَشزورُ
And you are caught in a rope that pulls at its partner,
Until a tightly plaited, twisted cord coils around you.
لَحَصادُsurely the harvest of بارِقَBariq كانَwas أَهوَنَa lesser ضَيعَةًloss
لَحَصادُ بارِقَ كانَ أَهوَنَ ضَيعَةً
وَالمِخلَبانِand the two claws وَدونَكَand before you المَنحورُthe slaughtered victim
وَالمِخلَبانِ وَدونَكَ المَنحورُ
Bariq's harvest was surely a lesser loss;
And the two claws—with the slaughtered victim before you—
مِنfrom مُخدِرٍa lair-dwelling lion قَطَعَbarred الطَريقَthe road بِلَعلَعٍat La'la'
مِن مُخدِرٍ قَطَعَ الطَريقَ بِلَعلَعٍ
تَهويstrike down مَخالِبُهُhis claws مَعاًtogether فَيَسورُthen he springs
تَهوي مَخالِبُهُ مَعاً فَيَسورُ
Are those of a lair-dwelling lion that barred the road at La'la',
Whose claws strike down together as he springs.
تُؤتىare given الكِرامُnoble women مُهورَهُنَّtheir dowries سِياقَةًin driven herds
تُؤتى الكِرامُ مُهورَهُنَّ سِياقَةً
وَنِساءُand the women of بارِقَBariq ماnot لَهُنَّfor them مُهورُdowries
وَنِساءُ بارِقَ ما لَهُنَّ مُهورُ
Noble women receive their dowries in herds driven to them,
But the women of Bariq have no dowries.
إِنَّindeed المَلامَةَblame وَالمَذَلَّةَand abasement فَاِعلَمواso know, all of you
إِنَّ المَلامَةَ وَالمَذَلَّةَ فَاِعلَموا
قَدَرٌa destiny لِأَوَّلِfor the first of بارِقٍBariq مَقدورُdecreed
قَدَرٌ لِأَوَّلِ بارِقٍ مَقدورُ
Blame and abasement—know this—
Are a destiny decreed for Bariq's first forebear.
وَإِذاand when اِنتَسَبتَyou trace your lineage إِلىto شَنوءَةَShanu'ah تَدَّعيyou claim descent
وَإِذا اِنتَسَبتَ إِلى شَنوءَةَ تَدَّعي
قالواthey say اِدِّعاءُthe claim of أَبيthe father of سُراقَةَSuraqah زورُa lie
قالوا اِدِّعاءُ أَبي سُراقَةَ زورُ
And when you trace your lineage to Shanu'ah, claiming kinship,
They say, 'The claim of Suraqah's father is a lie.'
إِنّيindeed I بَنىhas built ليfor me زاخِرٌa surging multitude مِنfrom خِندِفٍKhindif
إِنّي بَنى لي زاخِرٌ مِن خِندِفٍ
لِلمُلكِfor kingship فيهِwithin it مَنابِرٌpulpits وَسَريرُand a throne
لِلمُلكِ فيهِ مَنابِرٌ وَسَريرُ
Indeed, a surging host of Khindif has built for me,
Within it stand pulpits and a throne for kingship.
أَسُراقَO Suraq إِنَّكَindeed you لَوif تُفاضِلُyou vie in honor with خِندِفاًKhindif
أَسُراقَ إِنَّكَ لَو تُفاضِلُ خِندِفاً
بَثَقَتwould burst forth عَلَيكَupon you مِنَfrom الفُراتِthe Euphrates بُحورُseas
بَثَقَت عَلَيكَ مِنَ الفُراتِ بُحورُ
O Suraq, if you should vie with Khindif in honor,
Seas would burst upon you from the Euphrates.
أَسُراقَO Suraq إِنَّكَindeed you لاnot نِزاراًNizar نِلتُمُyou all have matched
أَسُراقَ إِنَّكَ لا نِزاراً نِلتُمُ
وَالحَيُّand the tribe مِنfrom يَمَنٍYemen عَلَيكَagainst you نَصيرُan ally
وَالحَيُّ مِن يَمَنٍ عَلَيكَ نَصيرُ
O Suraq, you people have not attained Nizar's rank,
And the tribe from Yemen is allied against you.
أَسُراقَO Suraq إِنَّindeed لَناours العِراقَIraq وَنَجدَهُand its uplands
أَسُراقَ إِنَّ لَنا العِراقَ وَنَجدَهُ
وَالغَورَand the lowlands وَيلَwoe to أَبيكَyour father حينَwhen نَغورُwe descend to the lowlands
وَالغَورَ وَيلَ أَبيكَ حينَ نَغورُ
O Suraq, Iraq and its uplands are ours,
And the lowlands—woe to your father when we descend!
أَرَجاdid hope سُراقَةُSuraqah أَنto يُفاضِلَrival in honor خِندِفاًKhindif
أَرَجا سُراقَةُ أَن يُفاضِلَ خِندِفاً
وَأَبوand the father of سُراقَةَSuraqah فيin الحَصىthe pebble-count مَكثورُoutnumbered
وَأَبو سُراقَةَ في الحَصى مَكثورُ
Did Suraqah hope to rival Khindif in honor,
Though Suraqah's father is outnumbered in the pebble-count?
Sol 6.1