آثَرتُI preferred إِدلاجيmy night journey عَلىover لَيلِa night حُرَّةٍa freeborn woman
آثَرتُ إِدلاجي عَلى لَيلِ حُرَّةٍ
هَضيمِslender الحَشاin the waist حُسّانَةِvery beautiful المُتَجَرَّدِin her bare body
هَضيمِ الحَشا حُسّانَةِ المُتَجَرَّدِ
I preferred my night journey to a night with a freeborn woman,
I preferred to spend my night with a free woman,
slender of waist, lovely when unclothed.
Of slender waist and prominent breasts,
إِذاif النَومُsleep أَلهاهاdistracted her عَنِfrom الزادِfood خِلتَهاyou would think her
إِذا النَومُ أَلهاها عَنِ الزادِ خِلتَها
بُعَيدَshortly after الكَرىslumber باتَتshe spent the night عَلىupon طَيِّa fold of مُجسَدِa dyed robe
بُعَيدَ الكَرى باتَت عَلى طَيِّ مُجسَدِ
If sleep distracted her from food, you would think she,
When sleep distracts her from her provisions,
soon after slumber, had slept upon a folded dyed robe.
She spends the night far from the abode on bare ground.
إِذاwhen اِرتَفَقَتshe leaned on her elbow فَوقَupon الفِراشِthe bed تَخالَهاyou imagine her
إِذا اِرتَفَقَت فَوقَ الفِراشِ تَخالَها
تَخافُfearing اِنبِتاتَthe snapping of الخَصرِthe waist ماas long as لَمnot تَشَدَّدِshe braces herself
تَخافُ اِنبِتاتَ الخَصرِ ما لَم تَشَدَّدِ
When she leans on her elbow upon the bed, you imagine her
When she lies softly on the bed, she fears
afraid her waist will snap unless she braces herself.
The waist beads will break if she moves.
وَتُضحيand by morning she is غَضيضَdowncast الطَرفِin gaze دونيbefore me كَأَنَّماas though
وَتُضحي غَضيضَ الطَرفِ دوني كَأَنَّما
تَضَمَّنَhad filled عَينَيهاher two eyes قَذىًa speck غَيرُnot مُفسِدِharmful
تَضَمَّنَ عَينَيها قَذىً غَيرُ مُفسِدِ
By morning she lowers her gaze before me, as though
She feigns to be sleepy, her eyelids almost closed,
a harmless speck had lodged in her eyes.
As if they contained dust that does not irritate.
إِذاif شِئتُI wished بَعدَafter النَومِsleep أَلقَيتُI laid ساعِداًa forearm
إِذا شِئتُ بَعدَ النَومِ أَلقَيتُ ساعِداً
عَلىupon كَفَلٍa rump رَيّانَfull لَمnot يَتَخَدَّدِgrown furrowed
عَلى كَفَلٍ رَيّانَ لَم يَتَخَدَّدِ
Whenever I wished, after sleep, I laid a forearm
When after sleep I place my arm
upon a full rump, unmarked by hollows.
On a moist shoulder that has not hardened.
لَهاhers is طيبُthe sweetness of رَيّاfragrance إِنif نَأَتنيshe stayed far from me وَإِنand if دَنَتshe drew near
لَها طيبُ رَيّا إِن نَأَتني وَإِن دَنَت
دَنَتshe drew near وَعثَةًsoft-bodied فَوقَupon الفِراشِthe bed المُمَهَّدِsmoothed
دَنَت وَعثَةً فَوقَ الفِراشِ المُمَهَّدِ
Hers is a sweet fragrance whether she stays far from me or draws near;
She has a sweet scent, whether she approaches or draws near,
she draws near, soft-bodied, upon the smoothed bed.
She approaches like a moth above the prepared bed.
خَميصَةُslender ماwhat is تَحتَbeneath الثِيابِthe clothes كَأَنَّهاas though she were
خَميصَةُ ما تَحتَ الثِيابِ كَأَنَّها
عَسيبٌa palm shoot نَماgrew فيamid ناضِرٍlush growth لَمnot يُخَضَّدِlopped
عَسيبٌ نَما في ناضِرٍ لَم يُخَضَّدِ
Slender beneath her clothes, she is like
The chemise beneath her clothes is like
a palm shoot grown amid fresh greenery, never lopped.
A fawn slept on fresh plants uncrumpled.
تُفَرِّقُshe parts بِالمِدرىwith a comb أَثيثاًluxuriant hair نَباتُهُin its growth
تُفَرِّقُ بِالمِدرى أَثيثاً نَباتُهُ
عَلىabove واضِحِfair الذِفرىthe nape أَسيلِsmooth المُقَلَّدِthe neck
عَلى واضِحِ الذِفرى أَسيلِ المُقَلَّدِ
With her comb she parts hair luxuriant in its growth,
With her wrists she scatters the furnishings
above a fair nape and a smooth neck.
On the bright carpet, slender hands laden with bracelets.
تَضَوَّعُwafts abroad رَيّاهاher fragrance إِذاwhen جِئتَyou came طارِقاًas a night visitor
تَضَوَّعُ رَيّاها إِذا جِئتَ طارِقاً
كَريحِlike the scent of الخُزامىlavender فيamid نَباتِthe growth of الخَلىfresh herbage النَديmoist
كَريحِ الخُزامى في نَباتِ الخَلى النَدي
Her fragrance wafts abroad when you come visiting by night,
Her scent wafts when you come at night
like lavender's scent amid moist, fresh herbage.
Like the wind in the fragrant blossoms of the lush palms.
فَلَمّاthen when رَأَتshe saw مَنthose who فيin الرِحالِthe travelers' quarters تَعَرَّضَتshe showed herself
فَلَمّا رَأَت مَن في الرِحالِ تَعَرَّضَت
حَياءًout of shyness وَصَدَّتand turned away تَتَّقيshielding herself from القَومَthe men بِاليَدِwith her hand
حَياءً وَصَدَّت تَتَّقي القَومَ بِاليَدِ
When she saw those in the travelers' quarters, she showed herself
When she saw who was in the saddle, she was shy
bashfully, then turned away, shielding herself from the men with her hand.
And blocked with her hand, fearing the people.
فَبِتناso we spent the night وَلَمand not نَكذِبكَwe deceived you لَوif أَنَّindeed لَيلَناour night
فَبِتنا وَلَم نَكذِبكَ لَو أَنَّ لَيلَنا
إِلىuntil الحَولِa year لَمnot نَملَلwe grew weary وَقُلناand we said لَهُto it اِزدَدِgrow longer
إِلى الحَولِ لَم نَملَل وَقُلنا لَهُ اِزدَدِ
We spent the night—and we do not lie to you—had our night
We spent the night together and we would not lie if we said
lasted a year, we would not have tired, and would have told it, 'Grow longer!'
Our night had no end and we told it to last.
وَفيand at كُلِّevery مُمسىnightfall of لَيلَةٍa night وَمُعَرَّسٍand late-night resting-place
وَفي كُلِّ مُمسى لَيلَةٍ وَمُعَرَّسٍ
خَيالٌan apparition يُوافيvisits الرَكبَthe riders مِنfrom أُمِّUmm مَعبَدِMa'bad
خَيالٌ يُوافي الرَكبَ مِن أُمِّ مَعبَدِ
At every nightfall and place of late-night rest,
And every evening and wedding night
an apparition of Umm Ma'bad visits the riders.
A specter comes to the travelers from Umm Ma'bad.
فَحَيّاكِso may it greet you وَدٌّa love مِنfrom هَواكِlonging for you لَقيتُهُI found it
فَحَيّاكِ وَدٌّ مِن هَواكِ لَقيتُهُ
وَخوصٌand narrow-eyed camels بِأَعلىin the upper reaches of ذيDhu طُوالَةَTuwala هُجَّدِasleep
وَخوصٌ بِأَعلى ذي طُوالَةَ هُجَّدِ
May a love I found through longing for you greet you,
So greetings and love for you from her love I found
while narrow-eyed camels sleep high in Dhu Tuwala.
And yearning in the highest mountain valley.
وَأَنّىand how اِهتَدَتshe found her way وَالدَوُّwhile the desert بَينيbetween me وَبَينَهاand her
وَأَنّى اِهتَدَت وَالدَوُّ بَيني وَبَينَها
وَماand not كانَwas ساريa night traveler through الدَوِّthe desert بِاللَيلِby night يَهتَديfinding his way
وَما كانَ ساري الدَوِّ بِاللَيلِ يَهتَدي
How did she find her way, with the desert between me and her,
How did she find the way when dark was between us?
when no night traveler through that desert could find his way?
The guide of darkness does not show the way at night.
تَسَدَّيتِناyou visited us by night مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat نامَslept ظالِعُthe lame one of الthe
تَسَدَّيتِنا مِن بَعدِ ما نامَ ظالِعُ ال
كِلابِdogs وَأَخبىand extinguished نارَهُhis fire كُلُّevery مَوقِدِfire-lighter
كِلابِ وَأَخبى نارَهُ كُلُّ مَوقِدِ
You visited us after the lame one among the
After the dogs' protector slept, hiding his fire,
dogs had slept, and every fire-lighter had quenched his fire,
We brought our mounts together in every depression.
بِأَرضٍin a land تَرىyou see شَخصَthe shape of الحُبارىthe bustard كَأَنَّهُas though it were
بِأَرضٍ تَرى شَخصَ الحُبارى كَأَنَّهُ
بِهاthere راكِبٌa rider موفٍstanding high عَلىupon ظَهرِthe top of قَردَدِa rocky ridge
بِها راكِبٌ موفٍ عَلى ظَهرِ قَردَدِ
in a land where you see a bustard's shape as though it were
In a land where you see the forms of gazelles as if
a rider standing high atop a rocky ridge.
A rider is carried on the back of a fleet ostrich.
إِذاwhen ماever رَأَيتَyou saw القَومَthe men طاشَتwent astray نِبالُهُمtheir arrows
إِذا ما رَأَيتَ القَومَ طاشَت نِبالُهُم
وَخَلّىand left لَكَfor you القَومُthe men القِناصَةَhunting فَاِصطَدِso hunt
وَخَلّى لَكَ القَومُ القِناصَةَ فَاِصطَدِ
When you see the men whose arrows have missed,
When you see the people their arrows go astray
and the men leave the hunting to you, then hunt.
And the people leave the hunting grounds, so hunt!
وَإِنّيand I لَرامٍindeed assail بِالقَلوصِwith the young she-camel أَمامَهاbefore her
وَإِنّي لَرامٍ بِالقَلوصِ أَمامَها
جَواشِنَthe breastplates of هَذاthis اللَيلِnight فيacross كُلِّevery فَدفَدِbarren plain
جَواشِنَ هَذا اللَيلِ في كُلِّ فَدفَدِ
Indeed, with my young she-camel I assail what lies before her—
And I long to meet her before dawn
the breastplates of this night across every barren plain—
The bounties of this night in every stopover.
إِذاwhen باتَspends the night لِلعُوّارِfor the coward بِاللَيلِat night نوكُهُhis folly
إِذا باتَ لِلعُوّارِ بِاللَيلِ نوكُهُ
ضَجيعاًas a bedfellow وَأَضحىand is by morning نائِماًasleep لَمnot يُوَسَّدِgiven a pillow
ضَجيعاً وَأَضحى نائِماً لَم يُوَسَّدِ
when the coward's folly spends the night
When he spends the night complaining, and wakes up miserable,
as his bedfellow, and sleeps through morning without a pillow.
Lamenting without consolation or pillow.
وَأَدماءَand a pale she-camel حُرجوجٍlanky تَعالَلتُI repeatedly urged موهِناًlate at night
وَأَدماءَ حُرجوجٍ تَعالَلتُ موهِناً
بِسَوطِيَwith my whip فَاِرمَدَّتso she sped نَجاءَwith the swiftness of الخَفَيدَدِthe swift ostrich
بِسَوطِيَ فَاِرمَدَّت نَجاءَ الخَفَيدَدِ
A pale, lanky she-camel I repeatedly urged late at night
And the necks of lively camels I discipline, humbling them
with my whip; she sped with the swiftness of an ostrich.
With my whip, so they shriek, dispelling drowsiness.
تُلاعِبُshe plays with أَثناءَthe loops of الزِمامِthe halter وَتَتَّقيand avoids
تُلاعِبُ أَثناءَ الزِمامِ وَتَتَّقي
عُلالَةَa further stroke of مَلوِيٍّtwisted مِنَof القَدِّleather thongs مُحصَدِtightly braided
عُلالَةَ مَلوِيٍّ مِنَ القَدِّ مُحصَدِ
She plays with the halter's loops and avoids
They toy with the reins and avoid
another stroke of a tightly twisted leather thong.
The touch of a flexible whip of harvested cane.
فَإِنso if آنَسَتshe sensed حِسّاًa faint sound مِنَfrom السَوطِthe whip عارَضَتshe swerved
فَإِن آنَسَت حِسّاً مِنَ السَوطِ عارَضَت
بِيَwith me القَصدَthe straight course حَتّىuntil تَستَقيمَshe straightens ضُحىthe forenoon of الغَدِthe next day
بِيَ القَصدَ حَتّى تَستَقيمَ ضُحى الغَدِ
If she hears the least sound of the whip, she swerves
If they sense the whip, they shy from me
with me across the course, until she straightens by next forenoon.
Until they walk straight at dawn tomorrow.
وَإِنand if نَظَرَتshe looked يَوماًone day بِمُؤخَرِwith the rear corner of عَينِهاher eye
وَإِن نَظَرَت يَوماً بِمُؤخَرِ عَينِها
إِلىtoward عَلَمٍa landmark بِالغَورِin the Ghawr قالَتshe said لَهُto it اِبعَدِmove farther away
إِلى عَلَمٍ بِالغَورِ قالَت لَهُ اِبعَدِ
If one day she looks from the rear corner of her eye
And if one day she looks back with the corner of her eye
at a landmark in the Ghawr, she tells it, 'Move farther away!'
At a flag in the distance, she says to it "go farther!"
كَأَنَّas though هُوِيَّthe rushing of الريحِthe wind بَينَbetween فُروجِهاher leg-gaps
كَأَنَّ هُوِيَّ الريحِ بَينَ فُروجِها
تَجاوُبُthe answering calls of أَظآرٍfoster-mother camels عَلىover رُبَعٍa spring-born calf رَديdead
تَجاوُبُ أَظآرٍ عَلى رُبَعٍ رَدي
The wind rushing between her legs sounds like
As if the passing wind between her thighs
foster-mother camels answering one another over a dead spring-born calf.
Makes murmurs between the dunes on a hill.
تَرىyou see بَينَbetween لَحيَيهاher two jaws إِذاwhen ماever تَزَغَّمَتshe grumbled
تَرى بَينَ لَحيَيها إِذا ما تَزَغَّمَت
لُغاماًfoam كَبَيتِlike the home of العَنكَبوتِthe spider المُمَدَّدِstretched out
لُغاماً كَبَيتِ العَنكَبوتِ المُمَدَّدِ
Between her jaws, when she grumbles, you see
You see hair on her cheeks when she frowns
foam like a spider's outstretched web.
Like the web of a spider spread out.
وَتَرميand fling يَداهاher two forelegs بِالحَصىpebbles خَلفَbehind رِجلِهاher hind leg
وَتَرمي يَداها بِالحَصى خَلفَ رِجلِها
وَتَرميand fling بِهِthem الرِجلانِthe two hind legs دابِرَةَat the heel of اليَدِthe foreleg
وَتَرمي بِهِ الرِجلانِ دابِرَةَ اليَدِ
Her forelegs fling pebbles behind her hind leg,
She throws pebbles behind her legs
and her hind legs fling them at the heel of her foreleg.
And throws her legs backwards from her hands.
وَتَشرَبُand she drinks بِالقَعبِfrom the bowl الصَغيرِsmall وَإِنand if تُقَدshe is led
وَتَشرَبُ بِالقَعبِ الصَغيرِ وَإِن تُقَد
بِمِشفَرِهاby her lip يَوماًone day إِلىtoward الرَحلِthe saddle تَنقَدِshe follows obediently
بِمِشفَرِها يَوماً إِلى الرَحلِ تَنقَدِ
She drinks from a small bowl; and if led
She drinks from a small waterskin, and if one day
one day by her lip toward the saddle, she follows obediently.
Her ladle is raised to the saddlebag she takes pains.
وَإِنand if حُلَّwas removed عَنهاfrom her الرَحلُthe saddle قارَبَshortened خَطوَهاher stride
وَإِن حُلَّ عَنها الرَحلُ قارَبَ خَطوَها
أَمينُsecure القُوىin its strands كَالدُملُجِlike an armlet المُتَعَضِّدِworn on the upper arm
أَمينُ القُوى كَالدُملُجِ المُتَعَضِّدِ
If the saddle is removed from her, her stride is shortened
When the saddlebag is removed, her pace nears
by a firmly stranded hobble, like an armlet clasping an upper arm.
The reliable, strong, firm-stepping camel.
وَإِنand if بَرَكَتshe knelt أَوفَتshe rested high عَلىupon ثَفِناتِهاher calloused pads
وَإِن بَرَكَت أَوفَت عَلى ثَفِناتِها
عَلىupon قَصَبٍleg-bones مِثلِlike اليَراعِreeds المُقَصَّدِcut into lengths
عَلى قَصَبٍ مِثلِ اليَراعِ المُقَصَّدِ
When she kneels, she rests high upon her calloused pads,
If she kneels, she leans on her front knees
on leg-bones like reeds cut into lengths.
Like an erect tent pole well-straightened.
وَإِنand if ضُرِبَتshe was struck بِالسَوطِwith the whip صَرَّتshe ground بِنابِهاwith her canine tooth
وَإِن ضُرِبَت بِالسَوطِ صَرَّت بِنابِها
صَريرَthe creaking of الصَياصيthe weaving combs فيin النَسيجِthe weaving المُمَدَّدِstretched out
صَريرَ الصَياصي في النَسيجِ المُمَدَّدِ
If struck with the whip, she grinds her canine tooth,
If she's hit with a whip, her grunt sounds
like weaving combs creaking in stretched-out cloth.
Like the creak of a loom with stretched threads.
وَكادَتand she nearly عَلىat الأَطواءِthe wells أَطواءِthe wells of ضارِجٍDarij
وَكادَت عَلى الأَطواءِ أَطواءِ ضارِجٍ
تُساقِطُنيthrew me off وَالرَحلَand the saddle مِنfrom صَوتِthe sound of هُدهُدِa hoopoe
تُساقِطُني وَالرَحلَ مِن صَوتِ هُدهُدِ
At the wells—the wells of Darij—she nearly
She almost made me and the saddle slide from her sharp voice
threw me and the saddle off at a hoopoe's cry.
On the dunes, from the sound of a moaning dove.
إِذاwhen ماever اِبتَعَثناwe roused مِنfrom مَناخٍa resting-place كَأَنَّماas though
إِذا ما اِبتَعَثنا مِن مَناخٍ كَأَنَّما
نَكُفُّwe restrain وَنَثنيand turn back مِنsome of نَواعِمَsleek beasts أُبَّدِuntamed
نَكُفُّ وَنَثني مِن نَواعِمَ أُبَّدِ
Whenever we rouse her from a resting-place, it is as though
When we set out from an abode, it is as if
we were restraining and turning back sleek, untamed beasts.
We bend and fold from soft pillows.
وَتُضحيand by morning are الجِبالُthe mountains الغُبرُdust-gray دونيbefore me كَأَنَّهاas though they
وَتُضحي الجِبالُ الغُبرُ دوني كَأَنَّها
مِنَfrom الآلِthe mirage حُفَّتwere wrapped بِالمُلاءِin mantles المُعَضَّدِstriped
مِنَ الآلِ حُفَّت بِالمُلاءِ المُعَضَّدِ
By morning the dust-gray mountains before me look as though,
The mountains before me become dust, as if
through the mirage, they were wrapped in striped mantles.
Clothed in gifted robes, propped up.
وَتَرميand she casts بِعَينَيهاwith her eyes إِذاwhen تَلَعَrises الضُحىthe forenoon
وَتَرمي بِعَينَيها إِذا تَلَعَ الضُحى
ذُباباًflies كَصَوتِlike the voice of الشارِبِthe drinker المُتَغَرِّدِsinging
ذُباباً كَصَوتِ الشارِبِ المُتَغَرِّدِ
She casts her gaze, as the forenoon rises,
She throws her eyes when dawn breaks
at flies whose buzz is like a singing drinker's voice.
At flies like the voice of a warbling bird.
وَيُمسيand at evening is الغُرابُthe crow الأَعوَرُone-eyed العَينِin the eye واقِعاًsettled
وَيُمسي الغُرابُ الأَعوَرُ العَينِ واقِعاً
مَعَwith الذِئبِthe wolf يَعتَسّانِthe two prowl toward ناريmy fire وَمِفأَديand my roasting spit
مَعَ الذِئبِ يَعتَسّانِ ناري وَمِفأَدي
At evening the one-eyed crow settles
And the one-eyed raven lands at night
with the wolf; the two prowl toward my fire and roasting spit.
With the wolf, both stoking my fire and shelter.
فَماso never زالَتِceased العَوجاءُthe crooked-legged camel تَجريrunning ضُفورُهاher braided straps
فَما زالَتِ العَوجاءُ تَجري ضُفورُها
إِلَيكَtoward you اِبنَson of شَمّاسٍShammas تَروحُshe travels at evening وَتَغتَديand goes out at dawn
إِلَيكَ اِبنَ شَمّاسٍ تَروحُ وَتَغتَدي
The crooked-legged camel kept racing, her braided straps streaming,
So the limping she-camel continued to wander
toward you, Ibn Shammas, traveling evening and morning.
To you Ibn Shammas, she grazes and fattens.
تَزورُshe visits اِمرَأًa man يُؤتيwho gives عَلىfor الحَمدِpraise مالَهُhis wealth
تَزورُ اِمرَأً يُؤتي عَلى الحَمدِ مالَهُ
وَمَنand whoever يُؤتِgives أَثمانَthe price of المَحامِدِpraiseworthy deeds يُحمَدِis praised
وَمَن يُؤتِ أَثمانَ المَحامِدِ يُحمَدِ
She visits a man who gives his wealth to earn praise;
Visiting a man who gives his wealth for praise
whoever pays the price of praiseworthy deeds is praised.
And who gives high prices for praise is praised.
يَرىhe believes البُخلَmiserliness لاnot يُبقيpreserves عَلىfor المَرءِa man مالَهُhis wealth
يَرى البُخلَ لا يُبقي عَلى المَرءِ مالَهُ
وَيَعلَمُand knows أَنَّthat البُخلَmiserliness غَيرُnot مُخَلَّدِeverlasting
وَيَعلَمُ أَنَّ البُخلَ غَيرُ مُخَلَّدِ
He believes miserliness does not preserve a man's wealth,
He sees stinginess does not keep a man's wealth
and knows that miserliness is not everlasting.
And knows that stinginess has no eternity.
كَسوبٌa great earner وَمِتلافٌand lavish spender إِذاwhen ماever سَأَلتَهُyou ask him
كَسوبٌ وَمِتلافٌ إِذا ما سَأَلتَهُ
تَهَلَّلَhe beams وَاِهتَزَّand quivers اِهتِزازَwith the quivering of المُهَنَّدِan Indian-forged sword
تَهَلَّلَ وَاِهتَزَّ اِهتِزازَ المُهَنَّدِ
A great earner and lavish spender, whenever you ask him,
When asked, he sparkles and trembles
he beams and quivers like an Indian-forged sword.
With the trembling of a type of large lizard.
مَتىwhenever تَأتِهِyou come to him تَعشوfeeling your way إِلىtoward ضَوءِthe light of نارِهِhis fire
مَتى تَأتِهِ تَعشو إِلى ضَوءِ نارِهِ
تَجِدyou find خَيرَthe best نارٍfire عِندَهاbeside it خَيرُthe best موقِدِfire-lighter
تَجِد خَيرَ نارٍ عِندَها خَيرُ موقِدِ
Whenever you come to him, feeling your way toward his firelight,
Whenever you come to his firelight at night
you find the finest fire, beside it the finest fire-lighter.
You will find the best fire and hearth with him.
وَذاكَand that اِمرُؤٌa man إِنif يُعطِكَhe gives you اليَومَtoday نائِلاًa gift
وَذاكَ اِمرُؤٌ إِن يُعطِكَ اليَومَ نائِلاً
بِكَفَّيهِwith his two hands لاnot يَمنَعكَhe denies you مِنof نائِلِthe gift of الغَدِtomorrow
بِكَفَّيهِ لا يَمنَعكَ مِن نائِلِ الغَدِ
He is a man who, if he gives you a gift today
That man, if he gives you something today willingly
with his own hands, will not deny you tomorrow's gift.
With both hands, will not prevent you tomorrow.
وَأَنتَand you اِمرُؤٌa man مَنwhomsoever تَرمِyou shoot at تَهدِمcrumbles صَفاتُهُhis rock
وَأَنتَ اِمرُؤٌ مَن تَرمِ تَهدِم صَفاتُهُ
وَيَرميand he shoots فَلاbut not يَهدِمshatters صَفاتَكَyour rock مُرتَدِa counterattacker
وَيَرمي فَلا يَهدِم صَفاتَكَ مُرتَدِ
You are a man: whomever you shoot at, his rock crumbles;
You are a man who throws but his qualities are not demolished
he shoots back, but no counterattacker shatters your rock.
While he throws but does not demolish your qualities.
سَواءٌit is the same عَلَيهِto him أَيَّwhichever حينٍtime أَتَيتَهُyou come to him
سَواءٌ عَلَيهِ أَيَّ حينٍ أَتَيتَهُ
أَفيwhether on يَومِa day of نَحسٍill luck كانَit was أَوor يَومِa day of أَسعُدِgood fortune
أَفي يَومِ نَحسٍ كانَ أَو يَومِ أَسعُدِ
It is all the same to him whenever you come,
It is equal to him whichever time you come to him
whether on a day of ill luck or of good fortune.
Whether an unlucky day or happiest day.
هُوَhe الواهِبُthe giver of الكومَhigh-humped camels الصَفاياchoice milch camels لِجارِهِto his neighbor
هُوَ الواهِبُ الكومَ الصَفايا لِجارِهِ
يَروحُgo at evening بِهاwith them العِبدانُthe slaves فيin عازِبٍa distant pasture نَديmoist
يَروحُ بِها العِبدانُ في عازِبٍ نَدي
He gives his neighbor choice, high-humped milch camels,
He is the giver of piles of noble traits to his neighbor
which the slaves take out at evening to a distant, moist pasture.
The servants carry them to a remote, lofty abode.
Sol 6.1