أَلاLo! آلُthe family of لَيلىLayla أَزمَعواresolved بِقُفولِto return home
أَلا آلُ لَيلى أَزمَعوا بِقُفولِ
وَلَمand did not يُنظِرواgrant respite ذاone possessing حاجَةٍa need لِرَحيلِfor departure
وَلَم يُنظِروا ذا حاجَةٍ لِرَحيلِ
Lo, Layla’s people have resolved to journey home,
Behold, for Layla's kin made ready to depart
and gave no respite before departure to a man in need.
Nor waited, though in haste to take their leave.
تَنادَواthey called one another فَحَثّواthen urged on لِلتَفَرُّقِfor dispersal عيرَهُمtheir caravan
تَنادَوا فَحَثّوا لِلتَفَرُّقِ عيرَهُم
فَبانواthen they departed بِجَمّاءِwith one ample العِظامِof limb قَتولِdeadly in beauty
فَبانوا بِجَمّاءِ العِظامِ قَتولِ
They called to one another and urged their caravan to disperse,
They cried aloud and hastened to disperse their train,
then departed with a full-limbed woman whose beauty slays,
And shone with polished bones and coats-of-mail.
مُبَتَّلَةٍperfectly formed يَشفيheals السَقيمَthe ailing كَلامُهاher speech
مُبَتَّلَةٍ يَشفي السَقيمَ كَلامُها
لَهاshe has جيدُthe neck of أَدماءِa pale gazelle العَشِيِّdusk خَذولِherd-forsaking
لَها جيدُ أَدماءِ العَشِيِّ خَذولِ
perfectly formed; her speech heals the ailing.
A houri, whose sweet talk could heal the sick,
She has the neck of a pale gazelle, apart from the herd at dusk.
With lovely throat as fair as early night.
وَتَبسِمُand she smiles عَنrevealing عَذبٍsweet زُلالٍlimpid كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَتَبسِمُ عَن عَذبٍ زُلالٍ كَأَنَّهُ
نِطافَةُa droplet مُزنٍrain clouds صُفِّقَتwas mixed بِشَمولِwith wine
نِطافَةُ مُزنٍ صُفِّقَت بِشَمولِ
And she smiles, revealing sweet, limpid moisture, as though it were
And smiling lips like drafts of limpid wine,
a droplet from rain clouds, mingled with wine.
As if musk-scented dew were sprinkled there.
فَعَدِّso put aside طِلابَpursuit of الحَيِّthe tribe عَنكَaway from you بِجَسرَةٍon a sturdy she-camel
فَعَدِّ طِلابَ الحَيِّ عَنكَ بِجَسرَةٍ
تَخَيَّلُshe struts فيin ثِنيِthe loop of الزِمامِthe rein ذَمولِswift-trotting
تَخَيَّلُ في ثِنيِ الزِمامِ ذَمولِ
So leave pursuit of the tribe behind you on a sturdy she-camel,
Turn from her witching smiles and swanlike neck,
strutting in the loop of her rein, trotting swiftly,
Bent as of one who checks a camel's rein.
عُذافِرَةٍpowerfully built حَرفٍlean and hardy كَأَنَّas though قُتودَهاher saddle-bows
عُذافِرَةٍ حَرفٍ كَأَنَّ قُتودَها
عَلىupon هِقلَةٍan ostrich-hen بِالشَيِّطَينِat al-Shaytayn جَفولِquick to flee
عَلى هِقلَةٍ بِالشَيِّطَينِ جَفولِ
powerfully built, lean and hardy, as though her saddle-bows
With lovely ankles riding on her skirts,
rested on a fleeing ostrich-hen at al-Shaytayn.
As if shackled with devils for her shoon.
فَلَوso if سَلَمَتwere spared نَفسيmy life لِعَمروِfor Amr بنِson of عامِرٍAmir
فَلَو سَلَمَت نَفسي لِعَمروِ بنِ عامِرٍ
لَقَدindeed طالَwould rise high رَكبٌa company of riders نازِلٌencamped بِأَميلِat Amil
لَقَد طالَ رَكبٌ نازِلٌ بِأَميلِ
So if my life were spared to reach Amr ibn Amir,
Had but my soul been ransomed for Amr ibn Amer!
the riders encamped at Amil would indeed stand tall.
Too long the riders at the valley camp.
لَعَمريby my life لَقَدindeed جارَيتُمُyou have competed آلَO house of مالِكٍMalik
لَعَمري لَقَد جارَيتُمُ آلَ مالِكٍ
إِلىwith ماجِدٍa noble man ذيpossessing جَمَّةٍluxuriant hair وَفُضولِand superior merits
إِلى ماجِدٍ ذي جَمَّةٍ وَفُضولِ
By my life, you have competed, O house of Malik,
By my life, kin of Malik, well have you
with a noble man of luxuriant locks and manifold excellence.
Your guest, the noble chief of flowing locks!
إِذاwhen واضَحوهُthey vie with him in المَجدَglory أَربىhe gains superiority عَلَيهِمُover them
إِذا واضَحوهُ المَجدَ أَربى عَلَيهِمُ
بِمُستَفرِغٍwith one draining ماءَthe water of الذِنابِal-Dhinab سَجيلِvast and full
بِمُستَفرِغٍ ماءَ الذِنابِ سَجيلِ
When they vie with him in glory, he surpasses them
When fame made clear the glory was his right,
with a vast bucket draining the waters of al-Dhinab.
He washed it in the rain-pools after rain.
وَإِنand if يَرتَقواthey ascend فيin خُطَّةٍan undertaking يَرقَhe ascends فَوقَهاabove it
وَإِن يَرتَقوا في خُطَّةٍ يَرقَ فَوقَها
بِثَبتٍwith one sure-footed عَلىupon ضاحيthe bare surface of المَزَلِّslippery ground رَجيلِstrong-footed
بِثَبتٍ عَلى ضاحي المَزَلِّ رَجيلِ
And if they rise in any undertaking, he rises above it,
And if on dangerous venture they embark,
sure-footed on the bare, slippery ground, strong of stride.
He mounts above them on unslippered feet.
فَصُدّواso turn aside صُدودَthe retreat of الوانِthe weary one أَبقىsafer عَلَيكُمُfor you
فَصُدّوا صُدودَ الوانِ أَبقى عَلَيكُمُ
بَنيO sons of مالِكٍMalik إِذnow that سُدَّwas barred كُلُّevery سَبيلِpath
بَني مالِكٍ إِذ سُدَّ كُلُّ سَبيلِ
So turn aside as the weary do; it will better spare you,
So bar the way, ye Banu Malik, now the paths
sons of Malik, now that every path is barred.
Are closed against you, each and every road.
فَماfor not جَعَلَmade الصُعرَthe crooked-necked camels اللِئامَlowbred خُدودُهاtheir cheeks
فَما جَعَلَ الصُعرَ اللِئامَ خُدودُها
كَآدَمَlike a white camel قَلباًpurebred مِنfrom بَناتِthe daughters of جَديلِJadil
كَآدَمَ قَلباً مِن بَناتِ جَديلِ
For the lowbred, crooked-cheeked camels are no match
Their ugly faces shall not make you fear,
for a purebred white camel descended from Jadil’s daughters.
Like people's hearts descendant from Jadilah.
فَتىًa young man لاnot يُضامُis wronged الدَهرَever ماas long as عاشَhe lives جارُهُhis neighbor
فَتىً لا يُضامُ الدَهرَ ما عاشَ جارُهُ
وَلَيسَand he is not لِأَدمانِof continual provision of القِرىhospitality بِمَلولِat all weary
وَلَيسَ لِأَدمانِ القِرى بِمَلولِ
A young man whose neighbor is never wronged while he lives,
A youth who, whilst he breathes, Fate doth not harm
and who never tires of continual hospitality.
His neighbor, nor the settled tribes distress.
هُوَhe الواهِبُthe giver of الكومَhigh-humped camels الصَفاياchoice milch camels لِجارِهِto his neighbor
هُوَ الواهِبُ الكومَ الصَفايا لِجارِهِ
وَكُلَّand every عَتيقِnoble-bred horse of الحُرَّتَينِthe two lava fields أَسيلِsmooth-cheeked
وَكُلَّ عَتيقِ الحُرَّتَينِ أَسيلِ
He gives his neighbor choice, high-humped milch camels,
He gives the guest the choicest of his wealth,
and every noble-bred, smooth-cheeked steed of the two lava fields.
Yea, and the slaves untouched by whip or brand.
وَأَشجَعُand braver فيin الهَيجاءِbattle مِنthan لَيثِa lion of غابَةٍa forest
وَأَشجَعُ في الهَيجاءِ مِن لَيثِ غابَةٍ
إِذاwhen مُستَباةٌa captive woman لَمdid not تَثِقrely بِحَليلِon a husband
إِذا مُستَباةٌ لَم تَثِق بِحَليلِ
And he is braver in battle than a lion of the forest,
And in the mêlée with the lion of the waste
when a captive woman cannot rely on her husband.
More bold than at a lover's visitings,
وَخَيلٍand horses تَعادىrace one another بِالكُماةِwith armored warriors كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَخَيلٍ تَعادى بِالكُماةِ كَأَنَّها
وُعولُibex of كِهافٍcaves أَعرَضَتpresented themselves لِوُعولِto other ibex
وُعولُ كِهافٍ أَعرَضَت لِوُعولِ
And horses, racing with armored warriors, as though they were
And horses challenging with clattering hoofs
cave-dwelling ibex facing other ibex,
Like lions roaring in the wild ravine,
مُثابِرَةٍpressing onward رَهواًsteadily وَزَعتَyou checked رَعيلَهاtheir vanguard
مُثابِرَةٍ رَهواً وَزَعتَ رَعيلَها
بِأَبيَضَwith a bright sword ماضيkeen الشَفرَتَينِon both edges صَقيلِpolished
بِأَبيَضَ ماضي الشَفرَتَينِ صَقيلِ
pressing steadily onward—you checked their vanguard
Still pressing on their course, driving their steeds,
with a bright, polished sword, keen on both edges.
White gleaming the two edges of their swords.
أَخوa man of ثِقَةٍtrustworthiness ضَشمُvast الدَسيعَةِbounty ماجِدٌnoble
أَخو ثِقَةٍ ضَشمُ الدَسيعَةِ ماجِدٌ
كَريمُnoble النَثاrepute مَولاهُhis client غَيرُnot ذَليلِabased
كَريمُ النَثا مَولاهُ غَيرُ ذَليلِ
A trustworthy man, vast in bounty, noble,
A brother, tried and trusty, brave Majid,
of honorable repute; his client is not abased.
Well-born, of generous stock, no weakling he!
إِذاwhen الناسُpeople مَدّواstretch out لِلفَعالِfor noble deeds أَكُفَّهُمtheir hands
إِذا الناسُ مَدّوا لِلفَعالِ أَكُفَّهُم
بَذَختَyou tower proudly بُعادِيِّwith an ancient, mighty one السَراةِcrest طَويلِtall
بَذَختَ بُعادِيِّ السَراةِ طَويلِ
When people stretch out their hands for noble deeds,
When men stretch forth their palms unto the noble chief,
you tower proudly with an ancient, lofty crest,
Thou spreadest treasures with a lavish hand.
وَجُرثومَةٍand an ancestral stock لاnot يَبلُغُreaches السَيلُthe flood أَصلَهاits base
وَجُرثومَةٍ لا يَبلُغُ السَيلُ أَصلَها
فَقَدfor indeed صَدَّhas turned aside عَنهاfrom it الماءُthe water كُلَّevery مَسيلِwatercourse
فَقَد صَدَّ عَنها الماءُ كُلَّ مَسيلِ
and an ancestral stock whose base no flood can reach;
And he's a huge tree-trunk, no flood can reach
for water has turned aside from it in every channel.
Its roots, for from it every channel's dammed.
بَنىbuilt الأَحوَصانِthe two Ahwases مَجدَهاits glory ثُمَّthen أُسلِمَتit was entrusted
بَنى الأَحوَصانِ مَجدَها ثُمَّ أُسلِمَت
إِلىto خَيرِthe best of مُردٍbeardless youths سادَةٍlords وَكُهولِand mature men
إِلى خَيرِ مُردٍ سادَةٍ وَكُهولِ
The two Ahwases built its glory; then it was entrusted
The Banu Ahwas reared their glory high,
to the best of beardless lords and mature men.
Then rendered it to chiefs and counselors.
فَإِنso if عُدَّis reckoned مَجدٌglory فاضِلٌoutstanding عَدَّhe reckons مِثلَهُits equal
فَإِن عُدَّ مَجدٌ فاضِلٌ عَدَّ مِثلَهُ
وَإِنand if أَثَّلواthey establish glory أَدرَكتُهُمI match them بِأَثيلِwith deep-rooted glory
وَإِن أَثَّلوا أَدرَكتُهُم بِأَثيلِ
So if outstanding glory is reckoned, he reckons its equal,
And if excel a noble, match him then
and if they build lasting glory, I match them with deep-rooted glory.
With one as noble, or with truer claim.
وَليتَyou took charge of تُراثَthe legacy of الأَحوَصَينِthe two Ahwases فَلَمso it did not يَضِعbecome lost
وَليتَ تُراثَ الأَحوَصَينِ فَلَم يَضِع
إِلىto اِبنَيthe two sons of طُفَيلٍTufayl مالِكٍMalik وَعَقيلِand Aqil
إِلى اِبنَي طُفَيلٍ مالِكٍ وَعَقيلِ
You inherited the two Ahwases’ legacy, and it was not lost
Would that the Ahwas' heritage were not
when it passed to Tufayl’s two sons, Malik and Aqil.
To Malik's sons entrusted, Malik and Aqil!
فَماso not يَنظُرُdeliberate الحُكّامُthe judges بِالفَضلِover superiority بَعدَماafter
فَما يَنظُرُ الحُكّامُ بِالفَضلِ بَعدَما
بَداappears واضِحٌa conspicuous one ذوpossessing غُرَّةٍa forehead blaze وَحُجولِand white stockings
بَدا واضِحٌ ذو غُرَّةٍ وَحُجولِ
So the judges need not deliberate on superiority once
For when clear merit shows the man of worth,
one stands out clearly, with a blaze and white stockings.
The rulers heed no more an empty boast.
Sol 6.1