أَزُرتَhave you visited? دِيارَthe dwellings الحَيِّof the tribe أَمor لاnot تَزورُهاyou visit them
أَزُرتَ دِيارَ الحَيِّ أَم لا تَزورُها
وَأَنّىand how far مِنَfrom الحَيِّthe tribe الجِمادُal-Jimad فَدورُهاand its dwellings
وَأَنّى مِنَ الحَيِّ الجِمادُ فَدورُها
Have you visited the tribe's dwellings, or will you not visit them?
And how far from the tribe are al-Jimad and its dwellings!
وَماand what تَنفَعُbenefits الدارُthe dwelling المُحيلَةُthe desolate ذاthe possessor of الهَوىlove
وَما تَنفَعُ الدارُ المُحيلَةُ ذا الهَوى
إِذاwhen اِستَنَّraced أَعرافاًin crests عَلاrose over الدارَthe dwelling مورُهاits swirling dust
إِذا اِستَنَّ أَعرافاً عَلا الدارَ مورُها
And what use is the desolate dwelling to one in love,
When its swirling dust races in crests and rises over the dwelling?
كَأَنَّas though دِيارَthe dwellings الحَيِّof the tribe مِنfrom قِدَمِthe antiquity of البِلىdecay
كَأَنَّ دِيارَ الحَيِّ مِن قِدَمِ البِلى
قَراطيسُscrolls رُهبانٍof monks أَحالَتhave faded سُطورُهاtheir lines
قَراطيسُ رُهبانٍ أَحالَت سُطورُها
The tribe's dwellings, from long decay, seem
Like monks' scrolls whose lines have faded;
كَماjust as ضَرَبَتshe pricked فيinto مِعصَمٍa wrist حارِثِيَّةٌa Harithite woman
كَما ضَرَبَت في مِعصَمٍ حارِثِيَّةٌ
يَمانِيَّةٌa Yemeni woman بِالوَشمِwith tattooing باقٍremaining نُؤورُهاher tattoo soot
يَمانِيَّةٌ بِالوَشمِ باقٍ نُؤورُها
Like the marks a Harithite woman pricked into a wrist,
A Yemeni woman tattooing, her soot still remaining.
تَفوتُelude الرُماةَthe archers الوَحشُthe wild beasts وَهيَwhile they are غَريرَةٌunwary
تَفوتُ الرُماةَ الوَحشُ وَهيَ غَريرَةٌ
وَتَخشىand fears نَوارُNawar الوَحشَthe wild beasts ماwhat لاnot يَضيرُهاharms her
وَتَخشى نَوارُ الوَحشَ ما لا يَضيرُها
Wild beasts elude the archers, though unwary,
Yet Nawar fears beasts that do her no harm.
لَئِنif indeed زَلَّfailed يَوماًone day بِالفَرَزدَقِal-Farazdaq حِلمُهُhis judgment
لَئِن زَلَّ يَوماً بِالفَرَزدَقِ حِلمُهُ
وَكانَand he was لِقَيسٍof Qays حاسِداًenvious لاnot يَضيرُهاharms it
وَكانَ لِقَيسٍ حاسِداً لا يَضيرُها
If al-Farazdaq's judgment should fail him one day,
And he envy Qays, he will do it no harm.
مِنَfrom الحينِdoom سُقتَyou drove الخورَthe weaklings خورَthe weaklings مُجاشِعٍof Mujashiʿ
مِنَ الحينِ سُقتَ الخورَ خورَ مُجاشِعٍ
إِلىinto حَربِwar with قَيسٍQays وَهيَwhile it is حامٍhot سَعيرُهاits blaze
إِلى حَربِ قَيسٍ وَهيَ حامٍ سَعيرُها
To your ruin, you drove the weaklings, Mujashiʿ's weaklings,
Into war with Qays, its blaze burning hot.
كَأَنَّكَas though you ياO اِبنَson القَينِof the smith واهِبُone giving سَيفِهِhis sword
كَأَنَّكَ يا اِبنَ القَينِ واهِبُ سَيفِهِ
لِأَعدائِهِto his enemies وَالحَربُwhile war تَغليboils قُدورُهاits cauldrons
لِأَعدائِهِ وَالحَربُ تَغلي قُدورُها
You are, son of the smith, like one who gives his sword
To his enemies while war's cauldrons boil.
فَلاso do not تَأمَنَنَّever feel safe from الحَيَّthe tribe قَيساًQays فَإِنَّهُمfor they are
فَلا تَأمَنَنَّ الحَيَّ قَيساً فَإِنَّهُم
بَنوsons مُحصَناتٍof chaste women لَمnot تُدَنَّسwere defiled حُجورُهاtheir laps
بَنو مُحصَناتٍ لَم تُدَنَّس حُجورُها
Never feel safe from the tribe of Qays, for they are
Sons of chaste women whose laps have never been defiled.
مَيامينَblessed men خَطّارونَspear-brandishers يَحمونَdefend نِسوَةًwomen
مَيامينَ خَطّارونَ يَحمونَ نِسوَةً
مَناجيبُbearers of noble offspring تَغلوrise high فيamong قُرَيشٍQuraysh مُهورُهاtheir bride-prices
مَناجيبُ تَغلو في قُرَيشٍ مُهورُها
Blessed spear-brandishers who defend women,
Bearers of noble offspring, whose bride-prices soar among Quraysh.
أَلاtake heed إِنَّماindeed قَيسٌQays نُجومٌstars مُضيأَةٌshining
أَلا إِنَّما قَيسٌ نُجومٌ مُضيأَةٌ
يَشُقُّcleaves دُجىthe gloom الظَلماءِof darkness بِاللَيلِby night نورُهاtheir light
يَشُقُّ دُجى الظَلماءِ بِاللَيلِ نورُها
Know that Qays are shining stars,
Whose light cleaves the gloom of the dark night.
تُعَدُّare reckoned لِقَيسٍfor Qays مِنamong قَديمِthe ancient فِعالِهِمtheir deeds
تُعَدُّ لِقَيسٍ مِن قَديمِ فِعالِهِم
بُيوتٌhouses أَواسيهاtheir supports طِوالٌtall وَسورُهاand their walls
بُيوتٌ أَواسيها طِوالٌ وَسورُها
Among Qays's deeds of old are reckoned
Houses whose supports and walls stand tall.
فَوارِسُthe horsemen قَيسٍof Qays يَمنَعونَdefend حِماهُمُtheir protected lands
فَوارِسُ قَيسٍ يَمنَعونَ حِماهُمُ
وَفيهُمand among them جِبالُmountains العِزِّof might صَعبٌdifficult وُعورُهاtheir rugged slopes
وَفيهُم جِبالُ العِزِّ صَعبٌ وُعورُها
The horsemen of Qays defend their protected lands,
And among them are mountains of might, their rugged slopes hard to climb.
وَقَيسٌand Qays هُمُthey are قَيسُQays الأَعِنَّةِof the reins وَالقَناand the lances
وَقَيسٌ هُمُ قَيسُ الأَعِنَّةِ وَالقَنا
وَقَيسٌand Qays حُماةُdefenders الخَيلِof the horses تَدمىbleed نُحورُهاtheir chests
وَقَيسٌ حُماةُ الخَيلِ تَدمى نُحورُها
Qays are Qays of the reins and lances,
And Qays defend the horses whose chests bleed.
سُلَيمٌSulaym وَذُبيانٌand Dhubyan وَعَبسٌand ʿAbs وَعامِرٌand ʿAmir
سُلَيمٌ وَذُبيانٌ وَعَبسٌ وَعامِرٌ
حُصونٌfortresses إِلىtoward عِزٍّmight طِوالٌtall عُمورُهاtheir structures
حُصونٌ إِلى عِزٍّ طِوالٌ عُمورُها
Sulaym, Dhubyan, ʿAbs, and ʿAmir—
Fortresses reaching toward might, their structures towering.
أَلَمhave you not تَرَseen قَيساًQays لاnot يُرامُis assailed لَهاits حِمىًprotected domain
أَلَم تَرَ قَيساً لا يُرامُ لَها حِمىً
وَيَقضيand rules بِسُلطانٍwith authority عَلَيكَover you أَميرُهاits prince
وَيَقضي بِسُلطانٍ عَلَيكَ أَميرُها
Have you not seen Qays, whose domain none dares assail,
Whose prince rules over you with authority?
مُلوكٌkings وَأَخوالُand maternal uncles المُلوكِof kings وَفيهِمُand among them
مُلوكٌ وَأَخوالُ المُلوكِ وَفيهِمُ
غُيوثُabundant rains الحَياof life-giving rain يُحيِrevives البِلادَthe lands مَطيرُهاtheir rainfall
غُيوثُ الحَيا يُحيِ البِلادَ مَطيرُها
Kings and maternal uncles of kings, and among them
Are life-giving rains, whose showers revive the lands.
فَإِنَّfor indeed جِبالَthe mountains العِزِّof might مِنamong آلِthe kin خِندِفٍof Khindif
فَإِنَّ جِبالَ العِزِّ مِن آلِ خِندِفٍ
لِقَيسٍbelong to Qays فَقَدfor indeed عَزَّتit became mighty وَعَزَّand became mighty نَصيرُهاits champion
لِقَيسٍ فَقَد عَزَّت وَعَزَّ نَصيرُها
For the mountains of might among the kin of Khindif
Belong to Qays: it is mighty, and mighty is its champion.
أَلَمhave you not تَرَseen قَيساًQays حينَwhen خارَتgrew weak مُجاشِعٌMujashiʿ
أَلَم تَرَ قَيساً حينَ خارَت مُجاشِعٌ
تُجيرُgrants protection وَلاand not تَلقىyou find قَبيلاًa tribe يُجيرُهاthat protects it
تُجيرُ وَلا تَلقى قَبيلاً يُجيرُها
Have you not seen Qays, when Mujashiʿ faltered,
Granting protection, while you find no tribe to protect it?
بَنيsons دارِمٍof Darim مَنwho رَدَّturned back خَيلاًhorsemen مُغيرَةًraiding
بَني دارِمٍ مَن رَدَّ خَيلاً مُغيرَةً
غَداةَon the morning of الصَفاal-Safa لَمnot يَنجُescaped إِلّاexcept عُشورُهاa tenth of them
غَداةَ الصَفا لَم يَنجُ إِلّا عُشورُها
Sons of Darim, who turned back the raiding horsemen
On the morning of al-Safa, when only a tenth escaped?
وَرَدتُمyou came عَلىupon قَيسٍQays بِخورِwith the weaklings مُجاشِعٍof Mujashiʿ
وَرَدتُم عَلى قَيسٍ بِخورِ مُجاشِعٍ
فَبُؤتُمso you returned عَلىon ساقٍa leg بَطيءٍslow جُبورُهاits mending
فَبُؤتُم عَلى ساقٍ بَطيءٍ جُبورُها
You came upon Qays with Mujashiʿ's weaklings,
And returned on a leg whose mending was slow.
كَأَنَّهُمُas though they بِالشِعبِin the mountain pass مالَتtoppled عَلَيهِمُupon them
كَأَنَّهُمُ بِالشِعبِ مالَت عَلَيهِمُ
نِضادٌNidad فَأَجبالُthen the mountains السُتورِof al-Sutur فَنيرُهاthen its Nir
نِضادٌ فَأَجبالُ السُتورِ فَنيرُها
As though, in the mountain pass, there had toppled upon them
Nidad, then the mountains of al-Sutur, then its Nir.
لَقَدindeed نَذَرَتvowed جَدعَthe nose-cutting of الفَرَزدَقِal-Farazdaq جَعفَرٌJaʿfar
لَقَد نَذَرَت جَدعَ الفَرَزدَقِ جَعفَرٌ
إِذاwhen حُزَّis severed أَنفُthe nose القَينِof the smith حَلَّتare fulfilled نُذورُهاits vows
إِذا حُزَّ أَنفُ القَينِ حَلَّت نُذورُها
Jaʿfar vowed to cut off al-Farazdaq's nose;
When the smith's nose is severed, its vows are fulfilled.
ذَوُوpossessors الحَجَراتِof enclosures الشُمِّthe lofty مِنfrom آلِthe kin جَعفَرٍof Jaʿfar
ذَوُو الحَجَراتِ الشُمِّ مِن آلِ جَعفَرٍ
يُسَلَّمُis handed over جانيهاwhoever wrongs it وَيُعطىand is given فَقيرُهاits poor man
يُسَلَّمُ جانيها وَيُعطى فَقيرُها
Possessors of lofty enclosures, of Jaʿfar's kin—
Whoever wrongs them is handed over, and their poor are given aid.
حَياتُهُمُtheir life عِزٌّglory وَتُبنىand are built لِجَعفَرٍfor Jaʿfar
حَياتُهُمُ عِزٌّ وَتُبنى لِجَعفَرٍ
إِذاwhen ذَكَرَتit recalls مَجدَthe glory الحَياةِof life قُبورُهاits tombs
إِذا ذَكَرَت مَجدَ الحَياةِ قُبورُها
Their life is glory, and for Jaʿfar are built—
When it recalls the glory of life—its tombs.
وَعَرَّدتُمُand you fled عَنfrom جَعفَرٍJaʿfar يَومَon the day of مَعبَدٍMaʿbad
وَعَرَّدتُمُ عَن جَعفَرٍ يَومَ مَعبَدٍ
فَأَسلَمَso he surrendered وَالقَلحاءُand al-Qalhaʾ عانٍin bondage أَسيرُهاits captive
فَأَسلَمَ وَالقَلحاءُ عانٍ أَسيرُها
You fled from Jaʿfar on the day of Maʿbad,
So he surrendered, al-Qalhaʾ's captive in bondage.
أَتَنسَونَdo you forget? يَومَيthe two days of رَحرَحانَRahrahan وَأُمُّكُمwhile your mother
أَتَنسَونَ يَومَي رَحرَحانَ وَأُمُّكُم
جَنيبَةُled alongside أَفراسٍhorses يَخُبُّtrots بَعيرُهاher camel
جَنيبَةُ أَفراسٍ يَخُبُّ بَعيرُها
Do you forget the two days of Rahrahan, while your mother
Was led beside horses, her camel trotting?
وَتَذكُرُand you recall ماwhat بَينَwas between الضِبابِal-Dibab وَجَعفَرٍand Jaʿfar
وَتَذكُرُ ما بَينَ الضِبابِ وَجَعفَرٍ
وَتَنسَونَand you forget قَتلىthe slain لَمnot تُقَتَّلhave been killed ثُؤورُهاtheir killers
وَتَنسَونَ قَتلى لَم تُقَتَّل ثُؤورُها
You recall what lay between al-Dibab and Jaʿfar,
Yet forget the slain whose killers have not been killed.
لَقَدindeed أَكرَهَتforced زُرقَthe blue الأَسِنَّةِspearheads فيكُمُinto you
لَقَد أَكرَهَت زُرقَ الأَسِنَّةِ فيكُمُ
ضُحىًat midmorning سَمهَرِيّاتٌstout lances قَليلٌfew فُطورُهاtheir cracks
ضُحىً سَمهَرِيّاتٌ قَليلٌ فُطورُها
Blue spearheads were thrust forcibly into you
At midmorning by stout lances, scarcely cracked.
فَقالَthen he said غَناءًaid عَنكَfor you فيin حَربِwar with جَعفَرٍJaʿfar
فَقالَ غَناءً عَنكَ في حَربِ جَعفَرٍ
تُغَنّيكَwill suffice you زَرّاعاتُهاits farms وَقُصورُهاand its palaces
تُغَنّيكَ زَرّاعاتُها وَقُصورُها
Then he said, 'For aid in your war with Jaʿfar,
Its farms and palaces will suffice you.'
إِذاif لَمnot يَكُنthere are إِلّاexcept قُيونَthe smiths مُجاشِعٍof Mujashiʿ
إِذا لَم يَكُن إِلّا قُيونَ مُجاشِعٍ
حُماةٌdefenders عَنِof الأَحسابِancestral honors ضاعَتare lost ثُغورُهاtheir frontiers
حُماةٌ عَنِ الأَحسابِ ضاعَت ثُغورُها
If none but the smiths of Mujashiʿ
Defend ancestral honor, its frontiers are lost.
أَلَمhave you not تَرَseen أَنَّthat اللَهَGod أَخزىdisgraced مُجاشِعاًMujashiʿ
أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ اللَهَ أَخزى مُجاشِعاً
إِذاwhen ذُكِرَتare recounted بَعدَafter البَلاءِthe ordeal أُمورُهاits affairs
إِذا ذُكِرَت بَعدَ البَلاءِ أُمورُها
Have you not seen that God has disgraced Mujashiʿ,
When its affairs are recounted after the ordeal?
بِأَنَّهُمُbecause they لاno مَحرَمٌsacred prohibition يَتَّقونَهُthey heed it
بِأَنَّهُمُ لا مَحرَمٌ يَتَّقونَهُ
وَأَنand that لاnot يَفيkeeps faith يَوماًever لِجارٍwith a neighbor مُجيرُهاits protector
وَأَن لا يَفي يَوماً لِجارٍ مُجيرُها
For they heed no sacred prohibition,
And their protector never keeps faith with a neighbor.
لَقَدindeed بُنِيَتwere built يَوماًonce بُيوتُthe houses مُجاشِعٍof Mujashiʿ
لَقَد بُنِيَت يَوماً بُيوتُ مُجاشِعٍ
عَلىon الخُبثِfilth حَتّىuntil قَدindeed أُصِلَّتturned putrid قُعورُهاtheir depths
عَلى الخُبثِ حَتّى قَد أُصِلَّت قُعورُها
Mujashiʿ's houses were once built
On filth, until their depths turned putrid.
فَكَمand how many فيهِمُamong them مِنof سَوأَةٍa shame ذاتِwith أَفرُخٍchicks
فَكَم فيهِمُ مِن سَوأَةٍ ذاتِ أَفرُخٍ
تُعَدُّis counted وَأُخرىand another قَدalready أُتِمَّتhave been completed شُهورُهاits months
تُعَدُّ وَأُخرى قَد أُتِمَّت شُهورُها
How many a shame among them, with chicks of its own,
Is counted, and another's months are already complete!
بَنوsons نَخَباتٍof weaklings لاnot يَفونَthey honor بِذِمَّةٍa covenant
بَنو نَخَباتٍ لا يَفونَ بِذِمَّةٍ
وَلاand no جارَةٌprotected woman فيهِمamong them تُهابُare respected سُتورُهاher curtains
وَلا جارَةٌ فيهِم تُهابُ سُتورُها
Sons of weaklings, they honor no covenant,
And no woman under their protection has her curtains respected.
وَخَبَّثَand befouled حَوضَthe pool الخورِof the weaklings خورِthe weaklings مُجاشِعٍof Mujashiʿ
وَخَبَّثَ حَوضَ الخورِ خورِ مُجاشِعٍ
رَواحُthe evening coming المَخازيof disgraces نَحوَهاtoward them وَبُكورُهاand their morning coming
رَواحُ المَخازي نَحوَها وَبُكورُها
The weaklings' pool—the weaklings of Mujashiʿ—was befouled
By disgraces coming toward them, evening and morning.
أَفَخراًis it boasting? إِذاwhen رابَتcurdled وَطابُthe milk-skins مُجاشِعٍof Mujashiʿ
أَفَخراً إِذا رابَت وَطابُ مُجاشِعٍ
وَجاءَتand brought بِتَمرٍdates مِنfrom حُوارينَHuwarin عيرُهاits caravan
وَجاءَت بِتَمرٍ مِن حُوارينَ عيرُها
Is it a boast when Mujashiʿ's milk-skins curdle,
And its caravan brings dates from Huwarin?
بَنوsons عُشَرٍof milkweed لاno نَبعَnabʿ bow-wood فيهِin it وَخَروَعٍand castor
بَنو عُشَرٍ لا نَبعَ فيهِ وَخَروَعٍ
وَزِنداهُمُand their two firesticks أَثلٌtamarisk تَناوَحَswayed together خورُهاits weak stems
وَزِنداهُمُ أَثلٌ تَناوَحَ خورُها
Sons of milkweed, with no nabʿ wood in it, and of castor,
Their two firesticks are tamarisk, its weak stems swaying together.
وَيَكفيand suffices خَزيرُthe gruel المِرجَلَينِof the two cauldrons مُجاشِعاًMujashiʿ
وَيَكفي خَزيرُ المِرجَلَينِ مُجاشِعاً
إِذاwhen ماever السَراياthe war-bands حَسَّsenses رَكضاًgalloping مُغيرُهاtheir raider
إِذا ما السَرايا حَسَّ رَكضاً مُغيرُها
Gruel from two cauldrons suffices Mujashiʿ,
Whenever the war-bands' raider senses galloping.
لَقَدindeed عَلِمَknow الأَقوامُthe peoples أَنَّthat مُجاشِعاًMujashiʿ
لَقَد عَلِمَ الأَقوامُ أَنَّ مُجاشِعاً
إِذاwhen عُرِفَتis known بِالخِزيِfor disgrace قَلَّis little نَكيرُهاits denial
إِذا عُرِفَت بِالخِزيِ قَلَّ نَكيرُها
The peoples know full well that Mujashiʿ,
When known for disgrace, offers little denial.
وَلاand not يَعصِمُsafeguards الجيرانَthe neighbors عَقدُthe pact مُجاشِعٍof Mujashiʿ
وَلا يَعصِمُ الجيرانَ عَقدُ مُجاشِعٍ
إِذاwhen الحَربُwar لَمnot يَرجِعreturns بِصُلحٍwith peace سَفيرُهاits envoy
إِذا الحَربُ لَم يَرجِع بِصُلحٍ سَفيرُها
Mujashiʿ's pact does not safeguard its neighbors
When, in war, its envoy does not return with peace.
وَفَقَّأَand put out عَينَيthe two eyes غالِبٍof Ghalib عِندَat كيرِهِhis bellows
وَفَقَّأَ عَينَي غالِبٍ عِندَ كيرِهِ
نَوازيthe leaping شَرارِsparks القَينِof the smith حينَwhen يُطيرُهاhe sends them flying
نَوازي شَرارِ القَينِ حينَ يُطيرُها
Ghalib's two eyes were put out at his bellows
By the smith's leaping sparks, when he sends them flying.
وَداوَيتُand I treated مِنof عَرِّthe mange الفَرَزدَقِof al-Farazdaq نُقبَةًa patch
وَداوَيتُ مِن عَرِّ الفَرَزدَقِ نُقبَةً
بِنِفطٍwith naphtha فَأَمسَتso it became لاnot يُخافُis feared نُشورُهاits spread
بِنِفطٍ فَأَمسَت لا يُخافُ نُشورُها
I treated a patch of al-Farazdaq's mange
With naphtha, so its spread is no longer feared.
وَأَنهَلتُهُand I gave him a first draught بِالسُمِّof poison ثُمَّthen عَلَلتُهُI gave him another draught
وَأَنهَلتُهُ بِالسُمِّ ثُمَّ عَلَلتُهُ
بِكَأسٍwith a cup مِنَof الذَيفانِdeadly venom مُرٌّbitter عَصيرُهاits juice
بِكَأسٍ مِنَ الذَيفانِ مُرٌّ عَصيرُها
I gave him a first draught of poison, then another,
With a cup of deadly venom, its juice bitter.
وَآبَand returned إِلىto الأَقيانِthe smiths أَلأَمُthe vilest وافِدٍvisitor
وَآبَ إِلى الأَقيانِ أَلأَمُ وافِدٍ
إِذاwhen حُلَّwas unbound عَنfrom ظَهرِthe back النَجيبَةِof the fine she-camel كورُهاher saddle
إِذا حُلَّ عَن ظَهرِ النَجيبَةِ كورُها
The vilest visitor returned to the smiths,
When the saddle was unbound from the fine she-camel's back.
أَيَوماًis it one day? لِماخورِfor the brothel الفَرَزدَقِof al-Farazdaq خَزيَةٌa disgrace
أَيَوماً لِماخورِ الفَرَزدَقِ خَزيَةٌ
وَيَوماًand another day زَوانيthe prostitutes بابِلٍof Babylon وَخُمورُهاand its wines
وَيَوماً زَواني بابِلٍ وَخُمورُها
Is it one day the shame of al-Farazdaq's brothel,
And another, Babylon's prostitutes and its wines?
إِذاif ماever شَرِبتَyou drink البابِلِيَّةَBabylonian wine لَمnot تُبَلyou care
إِذا ما شَرِبتَ البابِلِيَّةَ لَم تُبَل
حَياءًfor modesty وَلاand not يُسقىis given to drink عَفيفاًto a chaste man عَصيرُهاits juice
حَياءً وَلا يُسقى عَفيفاً عَصيرُها
If ever you drink Babylonian wine, you care nothing
For modesty; its juice is not poured for a chaste man.
وَماand not زِلتَyou ceased ياO عِقدانُʿIqdan بانِيَbuilding سَوأَةٍa disgrace
وَما زِلتَ يا عِقدانُ بانِيَ سَوأَةٍ
تُناجيyou whisper بِهاof it نَفساًto a soul لَئيماًbase ضَميرُهاits conscience
تُناجي بِها نَفساً لَئيماً ضَميرُها
You have never ceased, O ʿIqdan, building disgrace,
Whispering of it to a soul whose conscience is base.
رَأَيتُكَI saw you لَمnot تَعقِدyou establish حِفاظاًhonor وَلاnor حِجىًgood sense
رَأَيتُكَ لَم تَعقِد حِفاظاً وَلا حِجىً
وَلَكِنbut مَواخيراًbrothels تُؤَدّىare paid أُجورُهاtheir fees
وَلَكِن مَواخيراً تُؤَدّى أُجورُها
I saw you establish neither honor nor good sense,
But brothels whose fees are paid.
أَثَرتُI stirred up عَلَيكَagainst you المُخزِياتِthe disgraces وَلَمand not يَكُنwould be
أَثَرتُ عَلَيكَ المُخزِياتِ وَلَم يَكُن
لِيَعدَمَto lack جانيa perpetrator سَوأَةٍof shame مَنsomeone who يُثيرُهاstirs it up
لِيَعدَمَ جاني سَوأَةٍ مَن يُثيرُها
I stirred up disgraces against you; never would
A perpetrator of shame lack someone to expose it.
لَقيتَyou met شُجاعاًa fierce serpent لَمnot تَلِدهُbore him مُجاشِعٌMujashiʿ
لَقيتَ شُجاعاً لَم تَلِدهُ مُجاشِعٌ
وَأَخوَفُand the most feared حَيّاتِof the snakes الجِبالِof the mountains ذُكورُهاtheir males
وَأَخوَفُ حَيّاتِ الجِبالِ ذُكورُها
You have met a fierce serpent, not born of Mujashiʿ,
And the most feared mountain snakes are their males.
وَتَمدَحُand you praise سَعداًSaʿd لاmay not عَلَيتَyou rise وَمِنقَراًand Minqar
وَتَمدَحُ سَعداً لا عَلَيتَ وَمِنقَراً
لَدىat حَومَلِHawmal السيدانِof the wolves يَحبوcrawls عَقيرُهاtheir hamstrung beast
لَدى حَومَلِ السيدانِ يَحبو عَقيرُها
You praise Saʿd—may you never rise—and Minqar,
At Hawmal of the wolves, their hamstrung beast crawling.
وَدُرتَand you turned عَلىto عاسيone with withered العُروقِveins وَلَمand not يَكُنcould be
وَدُرتَ عَلى عاسي العُروقِ وَلَم يَكُن
لِيَسقِيَto water أَفواهَthe mouths العُروقِof the veins دُرورُهاtheir flow
لِيَسقِيَ أَفواهَ العُروقِ دُرورُها
You turned to one with withered veins, but never could
Their flow water the mouths of those veins.
دَعَتcried for أُمُّكَyour mother العَمياءُthe blind لَيلَةَon the night of مِنقَرٍMinqar
دَعَت أُمُّكَ العَمياءُ لَيلَةَ مِنقَرٍ
ثُبوراًruin لَقَدindeed زَلَّتshe stumbled وَطالَand grew long ثُبورُهاher misery
ثُبوراً لَقَد زَلَّت وَطالَ ثُبورُها
Your blind mother cried on the night of Minqar
For ruin: she had stumbled, and long was her misery.
أَشاعَتshe spread بِنَجدٍin Najd لِلفَرَزدَقِfor al-Farazdaq خَزيَةًa disgrace
أَشاعَت بِنَجدٍ لِلفَرَزدَقِ خَزيَةً
وَغارَتand descended جِبالُthe mountains الغَورِof al-Ghawr فيamong مَنthose who يَغورُهاdescend into them
وَغارَت جِبالُ الغَورِ في مَن يَغورُها
She spread a disgrace of al-Farazdaq through Najd,
And it descended into al-Ghawr's mountains among those who go down there.
لَعَمرُكَby your life ماnot تُنسىis forgotten فَتاةُthe young woman مُجاشِعٍof Mujashiʿ
لَعَمرُكَ ما تُنسى فَتاةُ مُجاشِعٍ
وَلاnor ذِمَّةٌa pledge غَرَّdeceived الزُبَيرَal-Zubayr غَرورُهاits deceiver
وَلا ذِمَّةٌ غَرَّ الزُبَيرَ غَرورُها
By your life, Mujashiʿ's young woman is not forgotten,
Nor the pledge whose deceiver duped al-Zubayr.
يُلَجِّجُventure into the deep أَصحابُthe crews السَفينِof ships بِغَدرِكُمwith your treachery
يُلَجِّجُ أَصحابُ السَفينِ بِغَدرِكُم
وَخوصٌand sunken-eyed camels عَلىover مَرّانَMarran تَجريstream ضُفورُهاtheir plaited cords
وَخوصٌ عَلى مَرّانَ تَجري ضُفورُها
Seafarers take word of your treachery onto the open sea,
And sunken-eyed camels race over Marran, their plaited cords streaming.
تَراغَيتُمُyou bawled to one another يَومَon the day of الزُبَيرِal-Zubayr كَأَنَّكُمas though you were
تَراغَيتُمُ يَومَ الزُبَيرِ كَأَنَّكُم
ضِباعٌhyenas أُصِلَّتhad rotted فيin مَغارٍa cavern جُعورُهاtheir dung
ضِباعٌ أُصِلَّت في مَغارٍ جُعورُها
You bawled to one another on al-Zubayr's day, as though you were
Hyenas whose dung had rotted inside a cavern.
وَلَوand if كُنتَyou were مِنّاone of us ماnot تَقَسَّمَshared out جارَكُمyour neighbor
وَلَو كُنتَ مِنّا ما تَقَسَّمَ جارَكُم
سِباعٌpredatory beasts وَطَيرٌand birds لَمnot تَجِدthey found مَنanyone who يُطيرُهاwould drive them away
سِباعٌ وَطَيرٌ لَم تَجِد مَن يُطيرُها
Had you been one of us, your neighbor would not have been shared out
By beasts and birds that found no one to drive them away.
وَلَوand if نَحنُwe عاقَدناhad covenanted with الزُبَيرَal-Zubayr لَقيتَهُyou would have found him
وَلَو نَحنُ عاقَدنا الزُبَيرَ لَقيتَهُ
مَكانَin the place of أُنوقٍa vulture ماnot تُنالُare reached وُكورُهاits nests
مَكانَ أُنوقٍ ما تُنالُ وُكورُها
Had we made a covenant with al-Zubayr, you would have found him
In the place of a vulture whose nests cannot be reached.
تُدافِعُfight in defense قِدماًlong since عَنfor تَميمٍTamim فَوارِسيmy horsemen
تُدافِعُ قِدماً عَن تَميمٍ فَوارِسي
إِذاwhen الحَربُwar أَبدىbares حَدَّthe sharp edge نابٍof a fang هَريرُهاits snarling
إِذا الحَربُ أَبدى حَدَّ نابٍ هَريرُها
My horsemen have long fought in Tamim's defense,
When war's snarling bares a fang's sharp edge.
فَمَنthen who مُبلِغٌwill convey عَنّيfrom me تَميماًto Tamim رِسالَةًa message
فَمَن مُبلِغٌ عَنّي تَميماً رِسالَةً
عَلانِيَةًopenly وَالنَفسُand the soul نُصحٌsincere counsel ضَميرُهاits inward thought
عَلانِيَةً وَالنَفسُ نُصحٌ ضَميرُها
Who will convey from me a message to Tamim,
Openly, with sincere counsel in my soul's depths?
عَطَفتُI turned عَلَيكُمtoward you وُدَّthe affection قَيسٍof Qays فَلَمand not يَكُنcould be
عَطَفتُ عَلَيكُم وُدَّ قَيسٍ فَلَم يَكُن
لَهُمfor them بَدَلٌa substitute أَقيانُthe smiths لَيلىof Layla وَكيرُهاand her bellows
لَهُم بَدَلٌ أَقيانُ لَيلى وَكيرُها
I turned Qays's affection toward you; never could
Layla's smiths and her bellows be a substitute for them.
Sol 6.1