أَمسىcame to evening فُؤادُكَyour heart ذاpossessed of شُجونٍsorrows مُقصَداpierced through
أَمسى فُؤادُكَ ذا شُجونٍ مُقصَدا
لَوif only أَنَّthat قَلبَكَyour heart يَستَطيعُcan تَجَلُّداsteadfast endurance
لَو أَنَّ قَلبَكَ يَستَطيعُ تَجَلُّدا
At evening your heart is sorrow-laden and stricken;
if only your heart could muster fortitude.
هاجَstirred الفُؤادُthe heart بِذيat Dhu كَريبٍKurayb دِمنَةًa ruined campsite
هاجَ الفُؤادُ بِذي كَريبٍ دِمنَةً
أَوor بِالأُفاقَةِat al-Ufaqah مَنزِلٌa dwelling مِنof مَهدَداMahdad
أَو بِالأُفاقَةِ مَنزِلٌ مِن مَهدَدا
A ruined campsite at Dhu Kurayb stirred the heart,
or, at al-Ufaqah, a dwelling of Mahdad's.
أَفَماdoes ... not, then يَزالُcease يَهيجُstirring مِنكَwithin you صَبابَةًpassionate longing
أَفَما يَزالُ يَهيجُ مِنكَ صَبابَةً
نُؤيٌa tent-trench يُحالِفُkeeps company with خالِداتٍenduring stones رُكَّداmotionless
نُؤيٌ يُحالِفُ خالِداتٍ رُكَّدا
Does it not still awaken yearning within you,
that tent-trench beside enduring, motionless stones?
خُبِّرتُI was told أَهلَكِyour people أَصعَدواwent up-country مِنfrom ذيDhu الصَفاal-Safa
خُبِّرتُ أَهلَكِ أَصعَدوا مِن ذي الصَفا
سَقياًa blessing of rain لِذَلِكَupon that مِنof فَريقٍa band أَصعَداthat went up-country
سَقياً لِذَلِكَ مِن فَريقٍ أَصعَدا
I was told your people went up-country from Dhu al-Safa;
may rain bless that band that journeyed up-country!
وَعَرَفتُand I knew بَينَهُمُtheir departure فَهاجَand so stirred صَبابَةًyearning
وَعَرَفتُ بَينَهُمُ فَهاجَ صَبابَةً
صَوتُthe sound الحَمامِof doves إِذاwhen الهَديلُthe cooing تَغَرَّداtrilled
صَوتُ الحَمامِ إِذا الهَديلُ تَغَرَّدا
And I knew they had departed; then yearning was stirred
by the doves' call, when their cooing rose in song.
عُلِّقتُهاI fell in love with her عَرَضاًby chance وَيُلفىand is found سِرُّهاher secret
عُلِّقتُها عَرَضاً وَيُلفى سِرُّها
مَنمىthe lofty nesting-place الأَنوقِof the vulture بِبَيضِهاwith her eggs أَوor أَبعَداfarther away
مَنمى الأَنوقِ بِبَيضِها أَو أَبعَدا
I fell in love with her by chance; her secret lies
where the vulture nests with her eggs, or farther still.
تُشجيmakes plaintive خَلاخِلَهاher anklets خِدالٌplump calves فَعمَةٌfull and rounded
تُشجي خَلاخِلَها خِدالٌ فَعمَةٌ
وَتَرىand you see السِوارَthe bracelet تَزينُهُshe adorns it وَالمِعضَداand the armlet
وَتَرى السِوارَ تَزينُهُ وَالمِعضَدا
Her plump, full calves make her anklets moan;
and you see how she adorns bracelet and armlet.
مَنَعَbarred الزِيارَةَvisiting وَالحَديثَand conversation إِلَيكُمُwith you
مَنَعَ الزِيارَةَ وَالحَديثَ إِلَيكُمُ
غَيرانُa jealous man حُرَّبَwas provoked دونَكُمin your defense فَاِستَأسَداand so became lionlike
غَيرانُ حُرَّبَ دونَكُم فَاِستَأسَدا
Visits and conversation with you were barred
by a jealous man, provoked in your defense, who turned lionlike.
باعَدنَthey drew away أَنَّfor وِصالَهُنَّunion with them خِلابَةٌdeception
باعَدنَ أَنَّ وِصالَهُنَّ خِلابَةٌ
وَلَقَدand indeed جَمَعنَthey combined مَعَwith البِعادِestrangement تَحَقُّداrancor
وَلَقَد جَمَعنَ مَعَ البِعادِ تَحَقُّدا
They drew away, for union with them is deceit;
and with estrangement they indeed combined rancor.
أَنكَرنَthey disowned عَهدَكَyour bond بَعدَماafter عَرَّفنَهُthey had acknowledged it
أَنكَرنَ عَهدَكَ بَعدَما عَرَّفنَهُ
وَفَقَدنَand they found missing ذاthat القَصَبَthe locks of hair الغُدافَluxuriant الأَسوَداblack
وَفَقَدنَ ذا القَصَبَ الغُدافَ الأَسوَدا
They disowned your bond after acknowledging it,
and found those luxuriant black locks gone.
وَإِذاand when الشُيوخُold men تَعَرَّضواput themselves forward لِمَوَدَّةٍfor affection
وَإِذا الشُيوخُ تَعَرَّضوا لِمَوَدَّةٍ
قُلنَthey say التُرابُdust لِكُلِّupon every شَيخٍold man أَدرَداtoothless
قُلنَ التُرابُ لِكُلِّ شَيخٍ أَدرَدا
When old men put themselves forward for affection,
they say, 'Dust upon every toothless old man!'
تَلقىsuffers الفَتاةُthe young woman مِنَfrom الشُيوخِold men بَلِيَّةًan ordeal
تَلقى الفَتاةُ مِنَ الشُيوخِ بَلِيَّةً
إِنَّindeed البَلِيَّةَthe ordeal كُلُّevery شَيخٍold man أَفنَداsenile
إِنَّ البَلِيَّةَ كُلُّ شَيخٍ أَفنَدا
A young woman suffers an ordeal from old men;
indeed, every senile old man is an ordeal.
وَتَقولُand says عاذِلَةٌa chiding woman رَخِيٌّuntroubled بالُهاher mind
وَتَقولُ عاذِلَةٌ رَخِيٌّ بالُها
ماwhat بالَis the matter with نَومِكَyour sleep لاnot يَزالُcease مُسَهَّداkept sleepless
ما بالَ نَومِكَ لا يَزالُ مُسَهَّدا
And a chiding woman says, her mind at ease:
'What ails your sleep, that it is forever restless?'
لَوif تَعلَمينَyou knew عَلِمتِyou would know هَمّاًa sorrow داخِلاًlodged within
لَو تَعلَمينَ عَلِمتِ هَمّاً داخِلاً
هَمّاًa sorrow طَوارِقُهُits nightly visitations مَنَعنَhave barred المَرقَداsleep
هَمّاً طَوارِقُهُ مَنَعنَ المَرقَدا
If you knew, you would know a sorrow deep within,
a sorrow whose night visitations have barred sleep.
وَكَأَنَّand as though رَكبَكَyour mounted company وَالمَهارىand the Mahri camels تَفتَليfollow on
وَكَأَنَّ رَكبَكَ وَالمَهارى تَفتَلي
هاجواthey roused مِنَfrom الأُدَمىal-Udama النِعامَthe ostriches الأُبَّداwild
هاجوا مِنَ الأُدَمى النِعامَ الأُبَّدا
And it is as though your riders, the Mahri camels following on,
had roused the wild ostriches of al-Udama.
وَالعيسُand the pale camels تَنتَعِلُwear as sandals الظِلالَthe shadows كَأَنَّهاas though they
وَالعيسُ تَنتَعِلُ الظِلالَ كَأَنَّها
نَبَعَتwelled up أَخادِعُهاtheir neck-veins الكُحَيلَtar المُعقَداthickened
نَبَعَت أَخادِعُها الكُحَيلَ المُعقَدا
And the pale camels wear shadows as sandals, as though
their neck-veins welled up with thickened tar.
يَعلونَthey take to فيon صَدَرٍa return from water وَوِردٍand an approach to water باكِرٍearly
يَعلونَ في صَدَرٍ وَوِردٍ باكِرٍ
أُمَّthe main track of الطَريقِthe road إِذاwhen الطَريقُthe road تَبَدَّداbranches apart
أُمَّ الطَريقِ إِذا الطَريقُ تَبَدَّدا
They take, returning from water or going early to drink,
the main track when the road branches apart.
تَنفيsweeps away حَصىpebbles القَذَفاتِof the hillocks عَنoff عادِيَّةٍan ancient track
تَنفي حَصى القَذَفاتِ عَن عادِيَّةٍ
وَتَرىand you see مَناحِيَهُits courses تَشُقُّcleaving القَردَداthe hard high ground
وَتَرى مَناحِيَهُ تَشُقُّ القَردَدا
They sweep the hillocks' pebbles off an ancient track,
and you see its courses cleaving the hard high ground.
وَيَلوحُand it gleams فيon قُبلِthe faces النِجادِof the uplands إِذاwhen اِنتَحىit takes
وَيَلوحُ في قُبلِ النِجادِ إِذا اِنتَحى
نَهجاًa course يَضُرُّdraws close بِكُلِّto every رَعنٍmountain spur أَقوَداlong-reaching
نَهجاً يَضُرُّ بِكُلِّ رَعنٍ أَقوَدا
And it gleams on the faces of uplands as it takes
a course that skirts each long mountain spur.
ياO اِبنَson الخَليفَةِof the caliph ياO مُعاوِيَMu'awiya إِنَّنيindeed I
يا اِبنَ الخَليفَةِ يا مُعاوِيَ إِنَّني
أَرجوI hope for فُضولَكَyour bounty فَاِتَّخِذso establish عِنديwith me يَداa favor
أَرجو فُضولَكَ فَاِتَّخِذ عِندي يَدا
O son of the caliph, O Mu'awiya, I
hope for your bounty; bestow a favor upon me.
إِنّاindeed we لَنَأمُلُsurely hope for مِنكَfrom you سَيباًa bountiful gift عاجِلاًprompt
إِنّا لَنَأمُلُ مِنكَ سَيباً عاجِلاً
ياO اِبنَson الخَليفَةِof the caliph ثُمَّthen نَرجوكُمwe place our hopes in you غَداtomorrow
يا اِبنَ الخَليفَةِ ثُمَّ نَرجوكُم غَدا
We indeed hope for a gift from you without delay,
O son of the caliph, and then look to you tomorrow.
آباؤُكَyour forefathers المُتَخَيَّرونَthe chosen أُلوpossessors of النُهىsound judgment
آباؤُكَ المُتَخَيَّرونَ أُلو النُهى
ياO اِبنَson الخَضارِمِof the great-hearted يُترِعونَfill to the brim المِرفَداthe serving bowl
يا اِبنَ الخَضارِمِ يُترِعونَ المِرفَدا
Your chosen forefathers, men of understanding,
O son of the great-hearted, fill the bowl to the brim.
وَجَدواthey found مُعاوِيَةَMu'awiya المُبارَكَblessed عَزمُهُhis resolve
وَجَدوا مُعاوِيَةَ المُبارَكَ عَزمُهُ
صُلبَfirm القَناةِthe spear-shaft عَنِin defense of المَحارِمِsacred things مِذوَداa staunch defender
صُلبَ القَناةِ عَنِ المَحارِمِ مِذوَدا
They found Mu'awiya, blessed in his resolve,
firm as a spear-shaft, defending all held sacred.
لَمّاwhen تَوَجَّهَhe set out بِالجُنودِwith the armies وَأَدرَبواand they entered the passes
لَمّا تَوَجَّهَ بِالجُنودِ وَأَدرَبوا
لاقىhe met الأَيامِنَauspicious omens يَتَّبِعنَfollowing الأَسعُداgood fortunes
لاقى الأَيامِنَ يَتَّبِعنَ الأَسعُدا
When he set out with the armies and they entered the passes,
he met auspicious omens following upon good fortune.
يَلقىencounters العَدُوُّthe enemy عَلىat الثُغورِthe frontiers جِيادُهُhis steeds
يَلقى العَدُوُّ عَلى الثُغورِ جِيادُهُ
أَبدَأنَthey began ثُمَّthen ثَنَينَthey repeated فيهاthere عُوَّداreturning repeatedly
أَبدَأنَ ثُمَّ ثَنَينَ فيها عُوَّدا
The enemy encounters his steeds upon the frontiers;
they have begun their raids, then renewed them there, returning again.
لاmay ... not زالَcease مُلكُكُمُyour rule وَأَنتُمand you أَهلُهُare worthy of it
لا زالَ مُلكُكُمُ وَأَنتُم أَهلُهُ
وَالنَصرُand victory ماas long as خَلَدَendure الجِبالُthe mountains مُخَلَّداeverlasting
وَالنَصرُ ما خَلَدَ الجِبالُ مُخَلَّدا
May your rule endure—you are worthy of it—
and victory be everlasting, as long as the mountains stand.
إِنَّindeed اِمرَأًa man كَبَتَhumbled العَدُوَّthe enemy وَيَبتَنيand builds up
إِنَّ اِمرَأً كَبَتَ العَدُوَّ وَيَبتَني
فيناamong us المَحامِدَpraiseworthy deeds حَقُّهُhis due أَنto يُحمَداbe praised
فينا المَحامِدَ حَقُّهُ أَن يُحمَدا
A man who has humbled the enemy and builds up
praiseworthy deeds among us deserves to be praised.
أَخزىhas disgraced الَّذيHe who سَمَكَraised السَماءَthe sky عَدُوَّكُمyour enemy
أَخزى الَّذي سَمَكَ السَماءَ عَدُوَّكُم
وَوَرىand set ablaze بِغَيظِكُمُwith rage at you الصُدورَbreasts الحُسَّداenvious
وَوَرى بِغَيظِكُمُ الصُدورَ الحُسَّدا
He who raised the sky has put your enemy to shame
and set envious breasts ablaze with rage at you.
وَإِذاand when جَرَرتَyou draw إِلىtoward العَدُوِّthe enemy كَتائِباًbattalions
وَإِذا جَرَرتَ إِلى العَدُوِّ كَتائِباً
رَعَبَتterrified مَخافَتُكَfear of you القُلوبَhearts الصُدَّداdefiant
رَعَبَت مَخافَتُكَ القُلوبَ الصُدَّدا
And when you draw battalions toward the enemy,
dread of you strikes terror into defiant hearts.
أَمّاas for العَدُوُّthe enemy فَقَدthen indeed أَبَحتَyou laid open دِيارَهُمtheir dwellings
أَمّا العَدُوُّ فَقَد أَبَحتَ دِيارَهُم
وَتَرَكتَand you left أَمنَعَthe most impregnable كُلِّof every حِصنٍfortress مُبلَداsubdued
وَتَرَكتَ أَمنَعَ كُلِّ حِصنٍ مُبلَدا
As for the enemy, you have laid their dwellings open,
and left the most impregnable of all fortresses subdued.
فَتَحَgranted conquest الإِلَهُGod عَلىthrough يَدَيكَyour two hands بِرَغمِهِمdespite them
فَتَحَ الإِلَهُ عَلى يَدَيكَ بِرَغمِهِم
وَمَلَأتَand you filled أَرضَهُمُtheir land حَريقاًwith fire موقَداblazing
وَمَلَأتَ أَرضَهُمُ حَريقاً موقَدا
God granted conquest through your hands, despite them,
and you filled their land with blazing fire.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَبَحتَyou laid open مِنَin العِقابِthe mountain passes مَنازِلاًdwellings
وَلَقَد أَبَحتَ مِنَ العِقابِ مَنازِلاً
نَرجوwe hope بِذَلِكَthrough that أَنthat تَنالَyou may reach الفَرقَداal-Farqad, a star
نَرجو بِذَلِكَ أَن تَنالَ الفَرقَدا
You have indeed laid open dwellings in the mountain passes;
we hope thereby that you may reach the star al-Farqad.
وَلَقَدand indeed جَمَعتَyou combined حِمايَةًprotection وَتَكَرُّماًand generosity
وَلَقَد جَمَعتَ حِمايَةً وَتَكَرُّماً
مَنwhoever غارَdescended to the lowlands يَعلَمُهُknows it وَمَنand whoever قَدhas أَنجَداascended to Najd
مَن غارَ يَعلَمُهُ وَمَن قَد أَنجَدا
You have indeed combined protection and generosity;
those who descend to the lowlands know it, and those who climb to Najd.
لَمّاwhen رَأَتكَsaw you عَلىupon العُقابِal-Uqab (the Eagle) مُلوكُهُمtheir kings
لَمّا رَأَتكَ عَلى العُقابِ مُلوكُهُم
أَلقواthey threw down سِلاحَهُمُtheir weapons وَخَرّواand fell سُجَّداprostrate
أَلقوا سِلاحَهُمُ وَخَرّوا سُجَّدا
When their kings saw you upon al-Uqab,
they threw down their weapons and fell prostrate.
عاداتُthe habits خَيلِكَof your horses أَنto يَبِتنَspend the night عَوابِساًgrim-faced
عاداتُ خَيلِكَ أَن يَبِتنَ عَوابِساً
بِالدارِعينَat armored men وَلاand not تَراهاyou see them رُوَّداmoving leisurely
بِالدارِعينَ وَلا تَراها رُوَّدا
Your horses' habit is to spend the night scowling
at armored men; you never see them dawdling.
ماnever إِنemphatic particle نَزَلتَyou descended بِمُشرِكينَupon those ascribing partners بِرَبِّهِمto their Lord
ما إِن نَزَلتَ بِمُشرِكينَ بِرَبِّهِم
إِلّاexcept that تَرَكتَyou left عَظيمَهُمtheir chieftain مُستَعبَداenslaved
إِلّا تَرَكتَ عَظيمَهُم مُستَعبَدا
Never have you descended on those who ascribe partners to their Lord
without leaving their chieftain enslaved.
كانَwas اِبنُthe son of سيسَنَSisan طاغِياًtyrannical فَرَدَدتَهُso you brought him back
كانَ اِبنُ سيسَنَ طاغِياً فَرَدَدتَهُ
رِخوَslack الأَخادِعِin the neck-veins فيin الكُبولِfetters مُقَيَّداbound
رِخوَ الأَخادِعِ في الكُبولِ مُقَيَّدا
Ibn Sisan was a tyrant; you brought him back
slack-necked, bound in fetters.
أَبلىproved his valor مُعاوِيَةُMu'awiya البَلاءَin the ordeal وَلَمand has not يَزَلceased
أَبلى مُعاوِيَةُ البَلاءَ وَلَم يَزَل
مَيمونَblessed مَنقَبَةٍin noble achievement تَراهُyou see him مُسَدَّداguided aright
مَيمونَ مَنقَبَةٍ تَراهُ مُسَدَّدا
Mu'awiya has proved his valor, and has always been
blessed in his exploits; you see him guided aright.
Sol 6.1