ابدأنthey performed marvels لاno لوَّ'if' (a reservation) فيماin what قالsaid ناعتهاtheir describer
ابدأن لا لوَّ فيما قال ناعتها
منthrough صنعةworkmanship ضامتwronged الولدانthe boys فيin الحلبِthe milking
من صنعة ضامت الولدان في الحلبِ
They have worked wonders—no 'ifs' in their describer's words—
The milkmaids started singing, praising it
through workmanship that robbed the boys of their milk,
A craft which the young men practice in Aleppo
إذاwhen الصبوحthe morning draught لهمfor them أسآرremnants ماwhat تركتit left
إذا الصبوح لهم أسآر ما تركت
بعدafter التعلجeating والتحساءand sipping فيin العُلَبِthe wooden bowls
بعد التعلج والتحساء في العُلَبِ
when their morning draught is what it left over
When the youth milk for them in the mornings
after eating and sipping from the wooden bowls.
After rubbing and cleansing in the jugs
لاnot ينضحsplashes الصارباتthe women who sour milk الوَطْبُthe milk-skin منbecause of يُبسdryness
لا ينضح الصاربات الوَطْبُ من يُبس
لحالبfor a milker قبلbefore أنthat يروينthey drink their fill مصطربِstoring milk to sour
لحالب قبل أن يروين مصطربِ
The milk-skin, dry, does not splash the women who sour milk,
The udders do not ooze dry herbage
for a milker storing milk to sour before they drink their fill.
Before a confused milker can water them
لاnot يخدعdeceives الآلthe mirage بالموماةin the trackless waste أعينهاtheir eyes
لا يخدع الآل بالموماة أعينها
منaway from شربهنtheir drinking عنfrom الأشوارthe extracted honey فيin القربِthe waterskins
من شربهن عن الأشوار في القربِ
The mirage in the trackless waste does not beguile their eyes
The cattle's eyes are not deceived by stroking
away from their draughts of honey in the waterskins,
Those who drank from the water troughs nearby
حتىuntil يصبis poured لهاfor them فضلthe remainder of النطافthe clear water إذاwhen
حتى يصب لها فضل النطاف إذا
ماan emphatic particle كدَّرmuddied الماحةthe well-bottom water-dippers الساقونthose serving drink ذاthat of القُلُبِthe wells
ما كدَّر الماحة الساقون ذا القُلُبِ
until the remaining clear water is poured for them, when
Until it pours for them the surplus of udders when
the well-dippers serving drink have muddied the well-water.
The carrier with the heart churned the frothing milk
Sol 6.1