أَلاLo! بَكَرَتshe set out early سَلمىSalma فَجَدَّso became earnest بُكورُهاher early departure
أَلا بَكَرَت سَلمى فَجَدَّ بُكورُها
وَشَقَّand split العَصاthe staff بَعدَafter اجتِماعٍbeing together أَميرُهاher leader
وَشَقَّ العَصا بَعدَ اجتِماعٍ أَميرُها
Lo, Salma set out at dawn, and her departure was in earnest;
Alas! Early dawned Salma, so her energetic one hastened at dawn,
And her leader split the staff after union.
And split the staff after its lord had assembled it,
إِذاwhenever نَحنُwe قُلناwe said قَدalready تَبايَنَتِhas widened النَوىthe separation
إِذا نَحنُ قُلنا قَد تَبايَنَتِ النَوى
تُرَقرِقُmakes quiver سَلمىSalma عَبرَةًa tear أَوor تُميرُهاlets it flow
تُرَقرِقُ سَلمى عَبرَةً أَو تُميرُها
Whenever we said, 'Separation has grown wide,'
Whenever we say the intentions have differed,
Salma lets a tear quiver, or lets it flow.
Salma trickles tears or her eyelids well up.
لَهاshe has قَصَبٌlimbs رَيّانُfull and lush قَدalready شَجِيَتhave been choked بِهِby it
لَها قَصَبٌ رَيّانُ قَد شَجِيَت بِهِ
خَلاخيلُanklets سَلمىSalma المُصمَتاتُsolid, not hollow وَسورُهاand her bracelets
خَلاخيلُ سَلمى المُصمَتاتُ وَسورُها
She has full, lush limbs that have choked
She has straight, slender stalks with which
Salma's solid anklets and her bracelets.
The palm-trees of Salma, silent, were erected and fenced.
إِذاwhenever نَحنُwe لَمdid not نَملِكmanage لِسَلمىto Salma زِيارَةًa visit
إِذا نَحنُ لَم نَملِك لِسَلمى زِيارَةً
نَفِسناwe begrudged جَداthe favor of سَلمىSalma عَلىto مَنwhoever يَزورُهاvisits her
نَفِسنا جَدا سَلمى عَلى مَن يَزورُها
Whenever we could not manage a visit to Salma,
Whenever we cannot afford to visit Salma,
We begrudged Salma's favor to whoever visited her.
We ardently wish Salma well, whoever visits her.
فَهَلthen will ...? تُبلِغَنّيsurely bring me الحاجَthe goal مَضبورَةُfirmly built القَراthe back
فَهَل تُبلِغَنّي الحاجَ مَضبورَةُ القَرا
بَطيءٌslow بِمَورِamid the surging of الناعِجاتِthe swift white camels فُتورُهاher flagging
بَطيءٌ بِمَورِ الناعِجاتِ فُتورُها
Then will a sturdy-backed she-camel carry me to my goal,
Will the longing camel convey to me any news
Slow to tire amid the swift white camels' rushing?
Whose weak knees in pacing sluggishly totter?
نَجاةٌa fleet she-camel يَصِلُّrings المَروُthe flint تَحتَbeneath أَظَلِّهاher sole
نَجاةٌ يَصِلُّ المَروُ تَحتَ أَظَلِّها
بِلاحِقَةِat an hour of clinging الأَظلالِthe shadows حامٍscorching هَجيرُهاits midday heat
بِلاحِقَةِ الأَظلالِ حامٍ هَجيرُها
A fleet one: flint rings beneath her sole,
Deliverance comes under its shadows to the meadow,
In an hour of clinging shadows, with scorching noonday heat.
Where the roaring, growling lion prowls.
أَلاLo! لَيتَwould that شِعريmy knowledge عَنabout سَليطٍSalit أَلَمdid ... not? تَجِدfind
أَلا لَيتَ شِعري عَن سَليطٍ أَلَم تَجِد
سَليطٌSalit سِوىother than غَسّانَGhassan جاراًa protecting neighbor يُجيرُهاshelters them
سَليطٌ سِوى غَسّانَ جاراً يُجيرُها
Ah, if only I knew of Salit—did they not find
Alas! Would that I knew whether Saliṭ lacked
A neighbor other than Ghassan to shelter Salit?
Any ally but Ghassan to protect her!
لَقَدindeed ضَمَّنواthey entrusted الأَحسابَlineage-honor صاحِبَa man possessing سَوأَةٍa disgrace
لَقَد ضَمَّنوا الأَحسابَ صاحِبَ سَوأَةٍ
يُناجيwhispers privately بِهاof it نَفساًa soul لَئيماًvile ضَميرُهاits inner thoughts
يُناجي بِها نَفساً لَئيماً ضَميرُها
They entrusted their lineage-honor to a man of disgrace,
They harbored in their bosoms a man of evils
Who whispers of it to a soul whose inner thoughts are vile.
Who whispers to himself, his conscience mean.
سَتَعلَمُthey will learn ماwhat يُغنيcan help حُكَيمٌHukaym وَمَنقَعٌand Manqa'
سَتَعلَمُ ما يُغني حُكَيمٌ وَمَنقَعٌ
إِذاwhen الحَربُwar لَمdoes not يَرجِعreturn بِصُلحٍwith peace سَفيرُهاits envoy
إِذا الحَربُ لَم يَرجِع بِصُلحٍ سَفيرُها
They will learn what help Hukaym and Manqa' can give
You will know what Ḥukaym and Manqa‘ avail
When war's envoy fails to return with peace.
If the war does not end with peace through its envoy.
أَلاLo! ساءَwretched is ماwhat تُبليaccomplishes in battle سَليطٌSalit إِذاwhen رَبَتswell
أَلا ساءَ ما تُبلي سَليطٌ إِذا رَبَت
جَواشِنُهاtheir breastplates وَاِزدادَand grew عَرضاًin breadth ظُهورُهاtheir backs
جَواشِنُها وَاِزدادَ عَرضاً ظُهورُها
Ah, how poorly Salit fights when swollen are
Alas! How ill Saliṭ fares when her steeds multiply,
Their breastplates, and their backs grow broader.
And her plains grow wider in breadth!
عَضاريطُmenial hangers-on يَشوُونَroast الفَراسِنَcamel hoof-pads بِالضُحىin the forenoon
عَضاريطُ يَشوُونَ الفَراسِنَ بِالضُحى
إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) السَراياthe raiding parties حَثَّurged on رَكضاًat a gallop مُغيرُهاtheir raider
إِذا ما السَرايا حَثَّ رَكضاً مُغيرُها
Menial hangers-on roast camel hoof-pads in the forenoon,
Young warriors hastening their excellent horses at dawn,
When the raiding parties' raider urges them to gallop.
When the horsemen urge them to raid.
فَماso no فيin سَليطٍSalit فارِسٌa horseman ذوpossessing حَفيظَةٍzeal for honor
فَما في سَليطٍ فارِسٌ ذو حَفيظَةٍ
وَمَعقِلُهاand their refuge يَومَon the day of الهِياجِbattle's tumult جُعورُهاtheir arses
وَمَعقِلُها يَومَ الهِياجِ جُعورُها
So Salit has no horseman with zeal for honor,
Saliṭ lacks any horseman of vigilance,
And on battle's day their arses are their refuge.
And its sanctuary, when war flares up, are its rocky plains.
أَضِجّواmake groan الرَواياthe water-camels بِالمَزادِwith waterskins فَإِنَّكُمfor you indeed
أَضِجّوا الرَوايا بِالمَزادِ فَإِنَّكُم
سَتُكفَونَyou will be spared كَرَّthe charge of الخَيلِthe horses تَدمىbleed نُحورُهاtheir throats
سَتُكفَونَ كَرَّ الخَيلِ تَدمى نُحورُها
Make the water-camels groan under the waterskins, for you
Rouse the valleys by the announcing of booty, for you
Will be spared the horses' charge, their throats bleeding.
Will curb the speed of horses pierced in their throats.
عَجِبتُI marveled مِنَat الداعيthe caller جُحَيشاًJuhaysh وَسائِداًand Sa'id
عَجِبتُ مِنَ الداعي جُحَيشاً وَسائِداً
وَعَيساءُand Aysa يَسعىhurries بِالعِلابِwith milking bowls نَفيرُهاher levy
وَعَيساءُ يَسعى بِالعِلابِ نَفيرُها
I marveled at the man summoning Juhaysh and Sa'id,
I wonder at him who summoned Juḥaysh and Sāʾid,
While Aysa's levy hurries about with milking bowls.
While ʿAysāʾ strives with cows slow to drive.
أَساعِيَةٌis ... hurrying? عَيسَءُAysa وَالضَأنُwhile the sheep حُفَّلٌfull-uddered
أَساعِيَةٌ عَيسَءُ وَالضَأنُ حُفَّلٌ
فَماso what حاوَلَتdid ... seek عَيساءُAysa أَمor ماwhat عَذيرُهاher excuse
فَما حاوَلَت عَيساءُ أَم ما عَذيرُها
Is Aysa hurrying forth while the sheep are full-uddered?
The cows of ʿAysāʾ are sluggish, and the sheep penned,
So what did Aysa seek, or what is her excuse?
So what has ʿAysāʾ attempted, or what is her excuse?
إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) تَعاظَمتُمyou vaunt your greatness جُعوراًin arses فَشَرِّفواthen honor
إِذا ما تَعاظَمتُم جُعوراً فَشَرِّفوا
جُحَيشاًJuhaysh إِذاwhen آبَتreturns مِنَfrom الصَيفِsummer عيرُهاher caravan
جُحَيشاً إِذا آبَت مِنَ الصَيفِ عيرُها
Whenever you boast of your arses' greatness, then honor
When you proudly carry yourselves, then honor
Juhaysh when her caravan returns from summer.
Juḥaysh when her camels return from summer pasture.
أُناساًa people يَخالونَwho imagine العَباءَةَthe coarse cloak فيهِمُamong them
أُناساً يَخالونَ العَباءَةَ فيهِمُ
قَطيفَةَa plush blanket مِرعِزّىgoat-down يُقَلَّبُis turned over نيرُهاits woven border
قَطيفَةَ مِرعِزّى يُقَلَّبُ نيرُها
A people who take their coarse woollen cloak
Men donning a cloak among whom
For a goat-down plush blanket, its woven border turned back.
A striped cloak of goat hair is tossed about.
إِذاwhen قيلَit is said رَكبٌa band of riders مِنfrom سَليطٍSalit فَقُبِّحَتthen may be disgraced
إِذا قيلَ رَكبٌ مِن سَليطٍ فَقُبِّحَت
رِكاباًmounts وَرُكباناًand riders لَئيماًbase بَشيرُهاtheir herald
رِكاباً وَرُكباناً لَئيماً بَشيرُها
When one says, 'Riders from Salit,' may they be disgraced—
When it is said a band from Saliṭ, their
Mounts and riders alike, their herald a base fellow.
Riders and mounts are blamed, both ignoble and bringer of news.
نَهَيتُكُمُI forbade you أَنto تَركَبواride into ذاتَone possessing ناطِحٍa horn-butter
نَهَيتُكُمُ أَن تَركَبوا ذاتَ ناطِحٍ
مِنَof الحَربِwar يُلوىwaves بِالرِداءِwith the cloak نَذيرُهاits warner
مِنَ الحَربِ يُلوى بِالرِداءِ نَذيرُها
I forbade you to ride into a horn-butting kind
I prohibited you from riding the belligerent
Of war, whose warner flourishes a cloak.
War, which twists its train as a warner.
وَماand no بِكُمُin you صَبرٌendurance عَلىagainst مَشرَفِيَّةٍa Mashrafi sword
وَما بِكُمُ صَبرٌ عَلى مَشرَفِيَّةٍ
تَعَضُّbites فِراخَfledglings (brains) الهامِthe skulls أَوor تَسطِيُرهاcleaves them
تَعَضُّ فِراخَ الهامِ أَو تَسطِيُرها
And you have no endurance against a Mashrafi sword
You have no patience for Mashrifiyyah
That bites the skulls' fledglings or cleaves them.
Who snatches away the young of protected ostriches.
تَمَنَّيتُمُyou wished أَنto تَسلُبواstrip القاعَthe plain أَهلَهُits people
تَمَنَّيتُمُ أَن تَسلُبوا القاعَ أَهلَهُ
كَذاكَso too المُنىwishes غَرَّتdeceived جُحَيشاًJuhaysh غُرورُهاtheir deceit
كَذاكَ المُنى غَرَّت جُحَيشاً غُرورُها
You wished to strip the plain of its people;
You wished to plunder the settlements their inhabitants.
So too did hopes, with their deceit, beguile Juhaysh.
Thus did delusion seduce Juḥaysh.
وَقَدand already كانَthere was فيin بَقعاءِBaq'a رِيٌّenough drinking water لِشائِكُمfor your sheep
وَقَد كانَ في بَقعاءِ رِيٌّ لِشائِكُم
وَتَلعَةَand Tal'a وَالجَوباءُand al-Jawba يَجريflows غَديرُهاits pool
وَتَلعَةَ وَالجَوباءُ يَجري غَديرُها
And there was water enough in Baq'a for your sheep,
Biqaʿāʾ had a meadow for your cattle
And Tal'a; and al-Jawba's pool flows.
And Tilʿah, and Al-Jawbāʾ watered by its brook.
تَناهَواrestrain one another وَلاand do not تَستَورِدواseek to drink at مَشرَفِيَّةًa Mashrafi sword
تَناهَوا وَلا تَستَورِدوا مَشرَفِيَّةً
تُطيرُsends flying شُؤونَthe sutures of الهامِthe skulls مِنهاamong them ذُكورُهاtheir male steel blades
تُطيرُ شُؤونَ الهامِ مِنها ذُكورُها
Restrain one another; do not come to drink at a Mashrafi sword,
Abstain, and do not take captives from Mashrifiyyah,
Whose 'male' blades send skull-sutures flying.
Which makes the ostriches fly from it terrified.
كَأَنَّas though السَليطيِّينَthe Salitis أَنقاضُcrumbled fragments كَمأَةٍtruffles
كَأَنَّ السَليطيِّينَ أَنقاضُ كَمأَةٍ
لِأَوَّلِfor the first جانٍgatherer بِالعَصاwith a stick يَستَثيرُهاstirs them up
لِأَوَّلِ جانٍ بِالعَصا يَستَثيرُها
The Salitis are like crumbled truffles,
As if the Salīṭīs were remnants of Kamaṭah
For the first gatherer who stirs them up with a stick.
Stirred up by the first comer with a staff.
غَضِبتُمyou grew angry عَلَيهاover it أَوor تَغَنَّيتُمُyou sang بِهاof it
غَضِبتُم عَلَيها أَو تَغَنَّيتُمُ بِها
أَنِbecause اِخضَرَّgrew green مِنfrom بَطنِthe beds of التِلاعِthe ravines غَميرُهاits fresh undergrowth
أَنِ اِخضَرَّ مِن بَطنِ التِلاعِ غَميرُها
You grew angry over it, or sang of it,
You were angry at it or sang its praises
Because its fresh undergrowth greened in the ravines' beds.
When its vegetation turned green from the bosom of ridges.
فَلَوso if كانَthere were حِلمٌforbearance نافِعٌuseful فيin مُقَلَّدٍMuqallad
فَلَو كانَ حِلمٌ نافِعٌ في مُقَلَّدٍ
لَماwould not وَغِرَتburn with anger مِنfrom غَيرِabsence of جُرمٍwrongdoing صُدورُهاtheir breasts
لَما وَغِرَت مِن غَيرِ جُرمٍ صُدورُها
Had there been any useful forbearance in Muqallad,
Had forebearance in the adorned one been of use,
Their breasts would not have burned with anger without a wrong.
Its chests would not have swelled without crime.
بَنوthe sons of الخَطَفىal-Khatafa وَالخَيلُand the horses أَيّامَin the days of سوفَةٍSufa
بَنو الخَطَفى وَالخَيلُ أَيّامَ سوفَةٍ
جَلَواcleared away عَنكُمُfrom you الظَلماءَthe darkness وَاِنشَقَّand broke forth نورُهاits light
جَلَوا عَنكُمُ الظَلماءَ وَاِنشَقَّ نورُها
The sons of al-Khatafa, and the horses in the days of Sufa,
The clan of Khatafah and the horses in the days of Suffah
Cleared the darkness from you, and its light broke forth.
Drove from you the darkness, and its light split.
وَفيand at بِئرِthe well of حِصنٍHisn أَدرَكَتهاovertook them حَفيظَةٌzeal for honor
وَفي بِئرِ حِصنٍ أَدرَكَتها حَفيظَةٌ
وَقَدand already رُدَّwas returned فيهاinto it مَرَّتَينِtwice حَفيرُهاits excavated earth
وَقَد رُدَّ فيها مَرَّتَينِ حَفيرُها
And at Hisn's well, zeal for honor overtook them,
In the well of Ḥiṣn, Ḥafīẓah reached it
And its dug-out earth had twice been put back into it.
And its digger turned away from it twice.
فَجِئناso we came وَقَدwhen already عادَتhad become مَراعاًpasture وَبَرَّكَتand knelt
فَجِئنا وَقَد عادَت مَراعاً وَبَرَّكَت
عَلَيهاupon it مَخاضٌpregnant she-camels لَمdid not تَجِدfind مَنanyone who يُثيرُهاrouses them
عَلَيها مَخاضٌ لَم تَجِد مَن يُثيرُها
So we came when it had become pasture, and there had knelt
So we came while it had become pasture again, blessed.
Upon it pregnant she-camels, with no one to rouse them.
Labor pain that found none to stimulate it befell it.
لَئِنif indeed ضَلَّwent astray يَوماًone day بِالمُجَشَّرِat al-Mujashshar رَأيُهُhis judgment
لَئِن ضَلَّ يَوماً بِالمُجَشَّرِ رَأيُهُ
وَكانَand was لِعَوفٍof Awf حاسِداًenvious لاnot يَضيرُهاharms them
وَكانَ لِعَوفٍ حاسِداً لا يَضيرُها
If his judgment once went astray at al-Mujashshar,
If his opinion went astray one day with the fickle one
And he envied Awf, yet did them no harm,
And he envied ʿAwf, it would not harm it.
فَأَولىthen more fitting وَأَولىand more fitting still أَنthat أُصيبَI strike مُقَلَّداًMuqallad
فَأَولى وَأَولى أَن أُصيبَ مُقَلَّداً
بِغاشِيَةِwith an overwhelming visitation العَدوىcontagion سَريعٍswift نُشورُهاits spreading
بِغاشِيَةِ العَدوى سَريعٍ نُشورُها
Then it is all the more fitting—more fitting still—that I strike Muqallad
But it is best, yes, best, that the adorned one
With an overwhelming contagion, swift in its spread.
Be afflicted with the contagion of enemies, quick are its pangs.
لَقَدindeed جُرِّدَتwere stripped يَومَon the day of الحِدابِal-Hidab نِسائُهُمtheir women
لَقَد جُرِّدَت يَومَ الحِدابِ نِسائُهُم
فَساءَتso became ugly مَجاليهاtheir exposed charms وَقَلَّتand grew meager مُهورُهاtheir bridal gifts
فَساءَت مَجاليها وَقَلَّت مُهورُها
Their women were indeed stripped on the day of al-Hidab,
On the day of Ḥidāb their women were stripped bare
So ugly were their exposed charms, and meager their bridal gifts.
So their haunts were disgraced and their bridal payments lessened.
Sol 6.1