سَرَّdelighted الْعَذارَىthe maidens مُنبِيءٌa bringer of news
سَرَّ الْعَذارَى مُنبِيءٌ
عَنْabout شَاعِرٍa poet لِلحَيِّto the quarter زائِرْvisiting
عَنْ شَاعِرٍ لِلحَيِّ زائِرْ
A messenger delighted the maidens
The virgins were told by a herald
with news of a poet visiting their quarter.
Of a poet visiting the living quarters
فَقصَدْنهُso they sought him وَسَخِرْنَand they mocked مِنْat
فَقصَدْنهُ وَسَخِرْنَ مِنْ
زجرِthe rebuke of الأُمَيْمَاتِthe little mothers الزَّوَاجِرْthe scolding ones
زجرِ الأُمَيْمَاتِ الزَّوَاجِرْ
So they sought him out and mocked
So they went to see him, making light
the rebukes of the scolding little mothers,
Of the warnings of the chaste matrons
لِيرَيَنْso they might see فِتْنَتَهُhis allure الَّتِيwhich
لِيرَيَنْ فِتْنَتَهُ الَّتِي
تُغْوِيtempts الْعَفِيفَاتِthe chaste women الْحَرَائِرْthe freeborn women
تُغْوِي الْعَفِيفَاتِ الْحَرَائِرْ
to see his allure, which
To see the temptation he exudes
tempts chaste, freeborn women.
That seduces the virtuous free women
فَوَجدْنَهُso they found him رَجُلاًa man مَلِيحاًhandsome
فَوَجدْنَهُ رَجُلاً مَلِيحاً
خَلْقُهُhis form حَسَنَfair الظَّوَاهِرْoutward features
خَلْقُهُ حَسَنَ الظَّوَاهِرْ
They found him a handsome man,
And they found him a handsome man
fair of form and outward appearance.
With a beautiful exterior
لاno شيءَthing يَفْتَضِحُis disgraced النُّهىreason
لا شيءَ يَفْتَضِحُ النُّهى
فِيهِin him كَمَاas ادَّعَتْclaimed النوَاهِرْthe scolding women
فِيهِ كَمَا ادَّعَتْ النوَاهِرْ
There was nothing to shame the mind
Nothing indecent shows in him
in him, as the scolding women had claimed.
As the talebearers had claimed
وَلَعَلَّand perhaps فِيin مَنْظومِهِhis verse
وَلَعَلَّ فِي مَنْظومِهِ
آيَاتِهِhis marvels الْكُبَرَgreatest السَّوَاحِرْspellbinding
آيَاتِهِ الْكُبَرَ السَّوَاحِرْ
Perhaps within his verse
Perhaps in his poems are signs
lay his greatest, spellbinding marvels.
Of magic that captivates minds
فَسَأَلْنَهُso they asked him إِنْشادَthe recitation of شَيْsomething (first part)
فَسَأَلْنَهُ إِنْشادَ شَيْ
ءٍsomething (completion) مِنْfrom بَدَائِعِهِhis wondrous works الحَوَاضِرْthose at hand
ءٍ مِنْ بَدَائِعِهِ الحَوَاضِرْ
So they asked him to recite something
So they asked him to recite something
from his wondrous works ready to hand.
Of his outstanding compositions
فَأَطَاعَهُنَّso he obeyed them وَمَنْand who تُرَىdo you suppose
فَأَطَاعَهُنَّ وَمَنْ تُرَى
يَعْصِيdisobeys الْجَمِيلاتِthe beautiful women الأَوَامِرْthe commanding ones
يَعْصِي الْجَمِيلاتِ الأَوَامِرْ
He obeyed them—and who, pray,
And he obeyed them, for who
disobeys the beauties who command?
Disobeys beautiful commanding women
فعقَدْنso they strung فِيمَاin what lay حَوْلَهُaround him
فعقَدْن فِيمَا حَوْلَهُ
عِقْداًa necklace فَرِيداًunique مِنْof جَوَاهِرjewels
عِقْداً فَرِيداً مِنْ جَوَاهِر
So they formed around him
They made a rare necklace around him
a matchless necklace of jewels.
Of precious jewels and pearls
وَتَنَاوَلَand took up الرَّجُلُthe man الرَّبَاthe rabab (first part)
وَتَنَاوَلَ الرَّجُلُ الرَّبَا
بَthe rabab (completion) وَفِكْرُهُand his thought فِيinto الغَيْبِthe unseen نَاظِرْgazing
بَ وَفِكْرُهُ فِي الغَيْبِ نَاظِرْ
And the man took up the rabab,
And the man took the rebeck
his thought gazing into the unseen.
His thoughts gazing into the unseen
وَأَثارَand stirred فِيin الأَوْتَارِthe strings تَغْرِيداًbirdsong
وَأَثارَ فِي الأَوْتَارِ تَغْرِيداً
كَأَنَّas though الْعُودَthe oud طائِرْa bird
كَأَنَّ الْعُودَ طائِرْ
He stirred birdsong in the strings,
And plucked on the strings a trilling
as though the oud were a bird.
As if the instrument took flight
ثُمَّthen انْبَرَىbegan يَرْوِيtelling رِوَاa story (first part)
ثُمَّ انْبَرَى يَرْوِي رِوَا
يَتَهُhis story (completion) وَتَتْبَعُهُand followed him الخَوَاطِرْthe thoughts
يَتَهُ وَتَتْبَعُهُ الخَوَاطِرْ
Then he began to tell his
Then he began to tell his tale
story, with their thoughts following him:
And fancies followed one another
كَانَwas الأَمِيرُthe prince مُهندٌMuhannad
كَانَ الأَمِيرُ مُهندٌ
بطلاًa hero شَهِيراًfamous فِيamong الْعَشَائِرْthe clans
بطلاً شَهِيراً فِي الْعَشَائِرْ
Prince Muhannad was
The prince Muhannad was
a hero renowned among the clans,
A renowned hero among the tribes
مِنْfrom آلِthe house of بَدْرَBadr الْبَاسِلِينthe valiant ones
مِنْ آلِ بَدْرَ الْبَاسِلِين
الْباِذِلينَthe generous ones ذَوِيpossessors of المَفَاخِرْglories
الْباِذِلينَ ذَوِي المَفَاخِرْ
of Badr's valiant house,
Of the valiant clan of Badr
generous men possessed of glories.
The magnanimous people of repute
يَنْضَمُّgathers تَحْتَbeneath لِوَائِهِhis banner
يَنْضَمُّ تَحْتَ لِوَائِهِ
أَلْفٌa thousand مِنَof الأُسْدِthe lions الْقسَاوِرْthe fierce ones
أَلْفٌ مِنَ الأُسْدِ الْقسَاوِرْ
Beneath his banner gathered
A thousand lion warriors
a thousand fierce lions.
Joined under his banner
رَجُلٌa man كَمَاas تَهْوَىdesires المحَاpraiseworthy qualities (first part)
رَجُلٌ كَمَا تَهْوَى المحَا
مِدُpraiseworthy qualities (completion) خلْقُهُhis character وَالخلْقُand his form بَاهِرْsplendid
مِدُ خلْقُهُ وَالخلْقُ بَاهِرْ
A man as praise itself would have him,
A man made as wishes desire
in character, and splendid in form;
His nature and character manifest
ذوpossessing صَوْلَةٍprowess مَشْهُورَةٍwell-known
ذو صَوْلَةٍ مَشْهُورَةٍ
بَيْنَamong الْبَوَادِيthe desert lands وَالحَوَاضِرْand the towns
بَيْنَ الْبَوَادِي وَالحَوَاضِرْ
possessed of renowned prowess
With a famous assault
in desert lands and towns,
Among the deserts and settled areas
وَشَجَاعَةٍand courage فِيin القَلْبِthe heart
وَشَجَاعَةٍ فِي القَلْبِ
تُخْفِيهاconceals it الْعُذُوبَةُsweetness فِيin النَّوَاظِرْthe eyes
تُخْفِيها الْعُذُوبَةُ فِي النَّوَاظِرْ
and courage within his heart,
And a bravery in his heart
concealed by the sweetness in his eyes.
Veiled by gentleness in his gaze
تَخْشىfear اللُّيُوثُthe lions لِقَاءَهُmeeting him
تَخْشى اللُّيُوثُ لِقَاءَهُ
وَتَوَدُّand desire رُؤيَتهُseeing him الْجَآذِرْthe young antelopes
وَتَوَدُّ رُؤيَتهُ الْجَآذِرْ
Lions dreaded meeting him,
Lions fear encountering him
and young antelopes longed to see him.
And cowards long to see him
يَهْوَىloves فَتَاةًa girl مِنْfrom بَنِيthe sons of
يَهْوَى فَتَاةً مِنْ بَنِي
حَمَدَHamad الْكِرَامِthe noble ones ذَوِيpossessors of المَآثِرْglorious deeds
حَمَدَ الْكِرَامِ ذَوِي المَآثِرْ
He loved a girl of the sons of
He loved a girl from the noble
Hamad, noble men of glorious deeds.
Clan of Hamdan, people of glory
لكِنَّbut بَيْنَbetween أَبِيthe father of الْفَتاthe girl (first part)
لكِنَّ بَيْنَ أَبِي الْفَتا
ةِthe girl (completion) وَبَيْنَهُand him ثَأْراًa blood claim لِثَائِرْfor an avenger
ةِ وَبَيْنَهُ ثَأْراً لِثَائِرْ
Yet between the girl's father
But between her father and him
and him lay a blood feud calling for vengeance.
Was a blood feud with a blood avenger
فسَعَىso he sought لِيَخْطُبَهَاto ask for her hand عَلىon terms of
فسَعَى لِيَخْطُبَهَا عَلى
صُلْحٍpeace فعَادَbut he returned بِسَعْيِwith an effort خَاسِرْunsuccessful
صُلْحٍ فعَادَ بِسَعْيِ خَاسِرْ
So he sought her hand on terms of
So he sought to propose under
peace, but returned with his suit unsuccessful.
A truce but returned unsuccessful
عَصَفتْswept away حَمِيَّتهُhis fierce pride بِهِhim
عَصَفتْ حَمِيَّتهُ بِهِ
ناهِيكenough to impress you بِالصَّبa lovesick man المخَاطِرْrisk-taking
ناهِيك بِالصَّب المخَاطِرْ
His fierce pride swept him away—
His zeal carried him away
think of a risk-taking, lovesick man!
Let alone an impulsive young man
فغَزاهُمُso he raided them بِرِجَالِهِwith his men
فغَزاهُمُ بِرِجَالِهِ
وَبكُلِّand with every ذِيpossessor of ثأْرٍa blood claim يُضَافِرْwho lent support
وَبكُلِّ ذِي ثأْرٍ يُضَافِرْ
So he raided them with his men
So he attacked them with his men
and every ally who held a blood claim.
And all who shared his grievance
وَتقاتَلُواand they fought يَوْمَينِfor two days لَمْnot
وَتقاتَلُوا يَوْمَينِ لَمْ
يَظهَرْemerge مٍنَfrom للجَيْشَيْنِfor the two armies ظَاهِرْa victor
يَظهَرْ مٍنَ للجَيْشَيْنِ ظَاهِرْ
They fought for two days, and no
They fought for two days with
victor emerged from either army,
No victory appearing for either army
حَتَّىuntil اغْتَدَىbecame ذاكthat الْعِرَاthe combat (first part)
حَتَّى اغْتَدَى ذاك الْعِرَا
كُthe combat (completion) كَأَنَّهas though it were بَعْضُone of المَجَازِرْthe slaughterhouses
كُ كَأَنَّه بَعْضُ المَجَازِرْ
until that combat had become
Until that fray was like
like one of the slaughterhouses.
A massacre, some body parts scattered
فدَعَاthen called مُهَنَّدُMuhannad لِلْبِرَاfor single combat (first part)
فدَعَا مُهَنَّدُ لِلْبِرَا
زِsingle combat (completion) وَقَدْand had تَحدَّىchallenged كُلَّevery حَاضِرْperson present
زِ وَقَدْ تَحدَّى كُلَّ حَاضِرْ
Then Muhannad called for single combat,
So Muhannad called for single combat
having challenged everyone present.
And challenged everyone present
مَاnot جَالَcharged إِلاَّexcept جوْلتَيْtwo charges of
مَا جَالَ إِلاَّ جوْلتَيْ
أَسَدٍa lion يُبَرْبِرُgrowling وَهْوَwhile he was زائِرْroaring
أَسَدٍ يُبَرْبِرُ وَهْوَ زائِرْ
He had made only two charges,
No sooner did he call than a
like a lion growling as it roared,
Prowling lion answered his call
حَتَّىuntil انْبَرَىstepped forth مِنهُمْfrom among them فَتىa youth
حَتَّى انْبَرَى مِنهُمْ فَتى
مُتَلَثِّمveiled ضَافِيabundant الْغَدَائِرْthe tresses
مُتَلَثِّم ضَافِي الْغَدَائِرْ
when a youth stepped forth among them,
Until a masked young man came forth
veiled, with abundant tresses.
Wrapped in an abundant turban
فَتَجَاوَلاso they circled in combat وَكِلاهُمَاand both of them
فَتَجَاوَلا وَكِلاهُمَا
متَقحمٌplunging headlong كَالصَّقرِlike the falcon كَاسِرْswooping
متَقحمٌ كَالصَّقرِ كَاسِرْ
They circled in combat, both of them
So they exchanged blows, both
plunging in like a swooping falcon.
Plunging in like vicious falcons
سَرْعَانَquickly مَاthat حَطَمَاthey shattered الرِّمَاthe spears (first part)
سَرْعَانَ مَا حَطَمَا الرِّمَا
حَthe spears (completion) فَأَعْمَلاso they wielded بِيضَgleaming الْبَوَاتِرْthe cleaving blades
حَ فَأَعْمَلا بِيضَ الْبَوَاتِرْ
Soon they shattered their spears,
Soon they smashed their spears and put
and set their bright, cleaving blades to work.
Their keen swords to work
وَتَوَاثَبَاand leapt at each other مُتَهَالِكيْنِheedless of death
وَتَوَاثَبَا مُتَهَالِكيْنِ
كِلاهُمَاboth of them جَلْدٌhardy مُكَابِرْunyielding
كِلاهُمَا جَلْدٌ مُكَابِرْ
They sprang at each other recklessly,
And they struggled violently
each hardy and unyielding.
Both unrelenting hides
وَكِلاهُمَاand both of them مُتَخَضِّبٌstained
وَكِلاهُمَا مُتَخَضِّبٌ
بِدَمٍwith blood وَلكِنْbut لاnot يُحَاذِرْtakes precautions
بِدَمٍ وَلكِنْ لا يُحَاذِرْ
Both were stained
Both bloodstained
with blood, yet neither feared danger.
But neither one careful
كَانَwas المَلَثِّمthe veiled fighter لاnot يُخاstrike stealthily (first part)
كَانَ المَلَثِّم لا يُخا
لِسُstrike stealthily (completion) مَقْتَلاًa vital spot مِمَّنin the one whom يُنَافِرْhe opposed
لِسُ مَقْتَلاً مِمَّن يُنَافِرْ
The veiled fighter sought no stealthy blow
The masked man did not refrain
at a vital spot in his opponent,
From killing his contender
بَلْrather يَبْتَغِيsought إِجْهَادَهُhis exhaustion
بَلْ يَبْتَغِي إِجْهَادَهُ
لِيَنَالَto gain advantage مِنْهُover him وَهْوَwhile he was خَائِرْexhausted
لِيَنَالَ مِنْهُ وَهْوَ خَائِرْ
but sought to wear him out,
Rather he sought to exhaust him
to overcome him when he was spent.
To overcome him when weakened
مُتَحَرِّزاًon his guard حَتىuntil تحَيَّنَawaited the right moment
مُتَحَرِّزاً حَتى تحَيَّنَ
نُهْزَةَthe opportunity of اللَّبِقِthe deft one المُدَاوِرْthe maneuvering one
نُهْزَةَ اللَّبِقِ المُدَاوِرْ
He kept on guard until he found
Waiting for the chance
a deft, maneuvering fighter's opening.
Of the cunning ambusher
فَسَطَاthen pounced عَلَيْهِon him مُبَادِراًtaking the initiative
فَسَطَا عَلَيْهِ مُبَادِراً
وَالْفَوْزُand victory أَخْلَقُmore fitting بِالمُبَادِرْfor the first to act
وَالْفَوْزُ أَخْلَقُ بِالمُبَادِرْ
Then he sprang upon him, striking first;
So he took him by surprise
and victory best befits the first to act.
And surprise grants victory to the ambusher
وَعَلاهُand rose over him فَهْوَso he was مُرَوَّعٌterrified
وَعَلاهُ فَهْوَ مُرَوَّعٌ
كَالشَّاةِlike the sheep تَحْتَbeneath رِكابِthe stirrups of نَاحِرْa slaughterer
كَالشَّاةِ تَحْتَ رِكابِ نَاحِرْ
He stood above him, leaving him terrified,
He overpowered him and he was terrified
like a sheep beneath a slaughterer's stirrups.
Like a sheep under the knife of a butcher
قالَsaid الأَميرُthe prince غَلَبْتَنِيyou defeated me
قالَ الأَميرُ غَلَبْتَنِي
أَفَلَسْتَwill you not تَعْفوpardon عَفْوَthe pardon of قَادِرْone with power
أَفَلَسْتَ تَعْفو عَفْوَ قَادِرْ
The prince said, 'You have defeated me;
The prince said: “You have defeated me
will you not pardon as one with power can?'
Will you not pardon with the power to pardon?”
فأَجَابَهُthen he answered him مِنْfrom فَوْرِهِhis first instant
فأَجَابَهُ مِنْ فَوْرِهِ
أَبْشِرْrejoice فَإِنَّكfor you are أَنْتَyou ظَافِرْvictorious
أَبْشِرْ فَإِنَّك أَنْتَ ظَافِرْ
He answered him at once:
He replied promptly:
'Rejoice, for you are the victor!'
“Rejoice! For you are the victor.”
وَنَضاand removed اللِّثَامَthe veil فَأَشْرَقتْthen shone
وَنَضا اللِّثَامَ فَأَشْرَقتْ
شَمْسٌa sun أَشِعَّتهَاits rays ضَفَائِرbraids
شَمْسٌ أَشِعَّتهَا ضَفَائِر
And he pulled off the veil; there shone
And he removed the turban, and a
a sun whose rays were braids.
Sun shone whose tresses flowed
كَانَتْshe was حَبِيبَتَهُhis beloved الَّتِيwho
كَانَتْ حَبِيبَتَهُ الَّتِي
خاضَplunged into الرَّدَىdeath فِيهَاfor her يُخاطِرْrisking his life
خاضَ الرَّدَى فِيهَا يُخاطِرْ
It was his beloved, for whom
She was his beloved, for whom
he had braved death, risking his life.
He had plunged into peril
فتعَاهَدَاso they made a covenant وَتَعَاقَدَاand bound themselves by vows
فتعَاهَدَا وَتَعَاقَدَا
بِدِمَاهُمَاwith their blood لاnot بِالخَنَاصِرْwith little fingers
بِدِمَاهُمَا لا بِالخَنَاصِرْ
So they pledged themselves and bound their vows
So they made a pact, pledging
with their blood, not their little fingers.
With their blood, not with bracelets
وتصَالحَand made peace القَوْمَانِthe two clans فِيat
وتصَالحَ القَوْمَانِ فِي
عرْسٍa wedding صَفتْbecame pure فِيهِin it السَّرَائِرْthe inward feelings
عرْسٍ صَفتْ فِيهِ السَّرَائِرْ
And the two clans made peace at
And the two tribes reconciled
a wedding where their inmost hearts grew pure.
In a wedding where secrets were joined
مَرَّتْwere bitter موَارِدُهُمtheir approaches وَلكِنْbut
مَرَّتْ موَارِدُهُم وَلكِنْ
بَعْدَهَاafterward حَلتِgrew sweet المَصَادِرْthe departures
بَعْدَهَا حَلتِ المَصَادِرْ
Bitter had been their approaches, but
Their fortunes passed, but
afterward their departures grew sweet.
After them came misfortunes
فأَطَافتِso moved in a circle الْفَتِيَاتُthe maidens فِيin
فأَطَافتِ الْفَتِيَاتُ فِي
فَلكٍan orbit مِنَof الأَفْكَارِthoughts دَائِرْrevolving
فَلكٍ مِنَ الأَفْكَارِ دَائِرْ
Then the maidens circled within
And the girls revolved in
a revolving orbit of thoughts.
A cycle of thoughts spinning
وَشهِدْنُand they witnessed تِلْكَthose الْحَادِثاthe events (first part)
وَشهِدْنُ تِلْكَ الْحَادِثا
تِthe events (completion) كَأَنَّas though مَاضِيَهُنٌtheir past حَاضِرْpresent
تِ كَأَنَّ مَاضِيَهُنٌ حَاضِرْ
And they witnessed those events
And they witnessed those events
as though their past were present,
As if their past was present
وكأَنهُنَّand as though they رَأَيْنَhad seen بِالْwith the (prefix)
وكأَنهُنَّ رَأَيْنَ بِالْ
أَبْصَارِeyes ماwhat رَأَتِsaw الْبَصَائِرْthe inward visions
أَبْصَارِ ما رَأَتِ الْبَصَائِرْ
as though they had seen with their
And as if with their eyes they saw
eyes what inward vision saw.
What sights had seen
ثُمَّthen اسْتَزَدْنَasked for more فَزَادَso he added مَاwhat
ثُمَّ اسْتَزَدْنَ فَزَادَ مَا
خلَبَbewitched الْعُقُولَthe minds مِنَof النَّوَادِرْremarkable tales
خلَبَ الْعُقُولَ مِنَ النَّوَادِرْ
Then they asked for more, and he added
Then they asked for more, and more
rare tales that bewitched their minds,
Of the wondrous tales that enthral minds
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen هَبَطsank النَّهاthe day (first part)
حَتَّى إِذَا هَبَط النَّها
رُthe day (completion) كَحَطِّlike the settling of رَاحِلَةِthe mount of المُسَافِرْthe traveler
رُ كَحَطِّ رَاحِلَةِ المُسَافِرْ
until, when daylight sank
Until when night fell like
like a traveler's mount settling down,
The alighting of a traveler
خَتَمَended الْكَلامَthe discourse بِمَنْwith one whose حَدِيثُthe story
خَتَمَ الْكَلامَ بِمَنْ حَدِيثُ
هَوَاهْhis love فِيin الأَمْثالِproverbs سَائِرْcirculates
هَوَاهْ فِي الأَمْثالِ سَائِرْ
he closed his recitation with the man whose tale
He ended his speech with her whose
of love lives on in proverbial sayings:
Story set his passion roaming in tales
أَذْكَىthe keenest وَأَبْلَغِand most eloquent مَنْamong those whom عَرَتْهُafflicted him
أَذْكَى وَأَبْلَغِ مَنْ عَرَتْهُ
جِنَّةmadness لِهَوىthrough love مُخَامِرْall-consuming
جِنَّة لِهَوى مُخَامِرْ
the brightest, most eloquent of those whom
More perceptive and eloquent than a
madness seized through all-consuming love;
Jinniya provoked by passionate desire
أَوْلىmost worthy وَلِيٍّsaint أَنْthat يُقِيمَestablish
أَوْلى وَلِيٍّ أَنْ يُقِيمَ
الْعَاشِقُونَthe lovers لهُfor him شعائِرْrites
الْعَاشِقُونَ لهُ شعائِرْ
the saint most worthy to have
Better that the lovers establish
lovers perform rites in his honor:
Rites to worship her
قَيْسٌQays وَمَنْand who كُفْؤٌan equal لهُto him
قَيْسٌ وَمَنْ كُفْؤٌ لهُ
بَيْنَamong الأَوَائِلِthe first وَالأَوَاخِرْand the last
بَيْنَ الأَوَائِلِ وَالأَوَاخِرْ
Qays—and who is his equal
Like Qays and whoever is his equal
among the first and the last?
Among the ancients and contemporaries
وَأَفَاضَand elaborated فِيon وَصْفِthe description of المُلَوَّal-Mulawwah (first part)
وَأَفَاضَ فِي وَصْفِ المُلَوَّ
حِal-Mulawwah (completion) مَاwhat يَشَاءُdesired هَوَىthe passion of السَّرَائِرْthe inner hearts
حِ مَا يَشَاءُ هَوَى السَّرَائِرْ
He spoke at length of al-Mulawwah,
And he freely described the one adored
as his heart's hidden passion desired,
As passions wish to describe the beloved
إِذْwhen بَاتَspent the night يَضْرِبُroaming فِيthrough المَفَاthe deserts (first part)
إِذْ بَاتَ يَضْرِبُ فِي المَفَا
وِزِthe deserts (completion) وَهْوَwhile he was سَاجِيlanguid الطرْفِof gaze حَائِرْbewildered
وِزِ وَهْوَ سَاجِي الطرْفِ حَائِرْ
when he roamed by night through the
While he wandered at night distraught
deserts, languid-eyed and bewildered,
Eyes wandering lost
كلِفاًlovesick طرِيداًoutcast لاno شَفِيقَcompassionate friend
كلِفاً طرِيداً لا شَفِيقَ
وَلاand no رَفِيقَcompanion وَلاand no مُؤَازِرْsupporter
وَلا رَفِيقَ وَلا مُؤَازِرْ
lovesick, outcast, with none to pity him,
Burdened and spurned, with no
no companion, and none to lend him aid,
Comforter or supporter or aide
إِلاَّexcept إِذَاwhen مَرَّpassed الْغَزَاthe gazelle (first part)
إِلاَّ إِذَا مَرَّ الْغَزَا
لُthe gazelle (completion) بِهِby him فَيَأْنَسُthen grows friendly وَهْوَthough it was نَافِرْshy
لُ بِهِ فَيَأْنَسُ وَهْوَ نَافِرْ
except when a gazelle passed
Except when raiders passed by him
by him and, though shy, grew friendly.
And he found their company when shunning company
يَبْكِيweeps وَيَسْتَبْكِيand draws tears بِشِعْرٍwith poetry
يَبْكِي وَيَسْتَبْكِي بِشِعْرٍ
خالِصُpure الدَّمِblood مِنْهُfrom it قَاطِرْdripping
خالِصُ الدَّمِ مِنْهُ قَاطِرْ
He wept, and drew tears with poetry
He wept and made weep with poetry
from which pure blood dripped,
Pure tears pouring forth
وَيُعَلِّمُand teaches الوَحْشَthe wild beasts الأَسَىsorrow
وَيُعَلِّمُ الوَحْشَ الأَسَى
وَيُلينُand softens أًحْجَارَthe stones of المَقابِرْthe graves
وَيُلينُ أًحْجَارَ المَقابِرْ
and taught the wild beasts sorrow,
And taught sadness to the wilderness
and softened the stones of graves,
And softened the stones of graves
حَتَّىuntil قَضَىdied فِيin يَأْسِهِhis despair
حَتَّى قَضَى فِي يَأْسِهِ
دَنِقاًwasted by illness مَشُوقاًyearning غَيْرَnot صَابِرْpatient
دَنِقاً مَشُوقاً غَيْرَ صَابِرْ
until he died in his despair,
Until in despair he died
wasted, yearning, unable to endure.
A grieving emaciated death, unresigned
نَامَتْslept نَوَاظِرُهُhis eyes وَلَكِنْbut
نَامَتْ نَوَاظِرُهُ وَلَكِنْ
قَلْبُهُhis heart فِيin الْقبْرِthe grave سَاهِرْwakeful
قَلْبُهُ فِي الْقبْرِ سَاهِرْ
His eyes fell asleep, but
His eyes slept but his heart
his heart stayed wakeful in the grave.
In the grave stayed awake
فَبَكَيْنَso they wept for قيساًQays ترْحَةin sorrow
فَبَكَيْنَ قيساً ترْحَة
وَحَبِبْنَهُand they loved him مِلءَto the fullness of الضمَائِرْtheir hearts
وَحَبِبْنَهُ مِلءَ الضمَائِرْ
So they wept for Qays in sorrow
So they wept for Qays in pity
and loved him with all their hearts.
And loved him with all their thoughts
وَنَظرْنَهُand they saw him فِيin شَكْلِthe form of مَنْthe one who
وَنَظرْنَهُ فِي شَكْلِ مَنْ
أَبْكَىbrought tears بِمَاwith what هُوَhe عَنْهabout him ذَاكِرْrecounts
أَبْكَى بِمَا هُوَ عَنْه ذَاكِرْ
They saw him in the form of the man
And saw him in the form of one
who drew their tears by speaking of him.
Who laments what he recalls of him
ثُمَّthen انْثَنيْنَthey turned away مُكَفْكِفَاwiping away (first part)
ثُمَّ انْثَنيْنَ مُكَفْكِفَا
تٍwiping away (completion) دَمْعَهُنَّtheir tears عَنِfrom المَحَاجِرْthe eye sockets
تٍ دَمْعَهُنَّ عَنِ المَحَاجِرْ
Then they turned away, wiping
Then turned back sniffling
their tears from their eye sockets,
Wiping their tears from their lids
مُتَلَفِّتاتٍlooking back نَحْوَtoward منone who
مُتَلَفِّتاتٍ نَحْوَ من
هُوَhe مِثْلُهُlike him غَزِلٌamorous وَشَاعِرْand a poet
هُوَ مِثْلُهُ غَزِلٌ وَشَاعِرْ
looking back toward one
Glancing toward one who
who, like him, was a lover and a poet.
Is like him, a charmer and poet
كُلٌّeach تَقُولُsays بِلَحْظِهَاwith her glance
كُلٌّ تَقُولُ بِلَحْظِهَا
يَاO قَيْسُQays إِنِّيI indeed بِنْتُthe daughter of عَامِرْAmir
يَا قَيْسُ إِنِّي بِنْتُ عَامِرْ
Each said with her glance:
Each saying with her glance:
'O Qays, I am the daughter of Amir!'
“O Qays, I am the daughter of Aamer
تَاللّهِby God أَنْصَفَتjudged fairly النَّواthe women advisers (first part)
تَاللّهِ أَنْصَفَت النَّوا
صِحُthe women advisers (completion) لَيْسَis not هَذَاthis غَيْرَother than سَاحِرْa sorcerer
صِحُ لَيْسَ هَذَا غَيْرَ سَاحِرْ
'By God, the women who warned us judged fairly:
By God, the confidantes were fair
this man is nothing but a sorcerer!'
This one is no less than a sorcerer”
Sol 6.1