أَلا تَسأَلانِ المَرءَ ماذا يُحاوِلُ

أَلا تَسأَلانِ المَرءَ ماذا يُحاوِلُ

أَنَحبٌ فَيُقضى أَم ضَلالٌ وَباطِلُ

أَنَحبٌ فَيُقضى أَم ضَلالٌ وَباطِلُ

Will you two not ask a man what he is striving for—

Will you two not ask a man what he seeks?

A destined term to be fulfilled, or error and futility?

A vow to be fulfilled, or error and futility?

حَبائِلُهُ مَبثوثَةٌ بِسَبيلِهِ

حَبائِلُهُ مَبثوثَةٌ بِسَبيلِهِ

وَيَفنى إِذا ما أَخطَأَتهُ الحَبائِلُ

وَيَفنى إِذا ما أَخطَأَتهُ الحَبائِلُ

Its snares lie scattered along his path,

His snares lie scattered along his path,

And he will perish even if those snares miss him.

and he perishes even if the snares miss him.

إِذا المَرءُ أَسرى لَيلَةً ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ

إِذا المَرءُ أَسرى لَيلَةً ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ

قَضى عَمَلاً وَالمَرءُ ما عاشَ عامِلُ

قَضى عَمَلاً وَالمَرءُ ما عاشَ عامِلُ

When a man travels for a single night, he imagines

When a man travels through a night, he thinks that he

He has completed a task—yet man toils as long as he lives.

has finished a task; yet a man labors as long as he lives.

فَقولا لَهُ إِن كانَ يَقسِمُ أَمرَهُ

فَقولا لَهُ إِن كانَ يَقسِمُ أَمرَهُ

أَلَمّا يَعِظكَ الدَهرُ أُمُّكَ هابِلُ

أَلَمّا يَعِظكَ الدَهرُ أُمُّكَ هابِلُ

So tell him, if he thinks he can apportion his affairs:

Then say to him, you two, if he is weighing his affairs:

Has time not admonished you yet? May your mother mourn you!

Has time not yet admonished you? May your mother mourn you!

فَتَعلَمَ أَن لا أَنتَ مُدرِكُ ما مَضى

فَتَعلَمَ أَن لا أَنتَ مُدرِكُ ما مَضى

وَلا أَنتَ مِمّا تَحذَرُ النَفسُ وائِلُ

وَلا أَنتَ مِمّا تَحذَرُ النَفسُ وائِلُ

Then you will know that you cannot overtake what has passed,

And so learn that you cannot regain what has passed,

Nor find refuge from what the soul fears.

nor escape what the soul fears.

فَإِن أَنتَ لَم تَصدُقكَ نَفسُكَ فَاِنتَسِب

فَإِن أَنتَ لَم تَصدُقكَ نَفسُكَ فَاِنتَسِب

لَعَلَّكَ تَهديكَ القُرونُ الأَوائِلُ

لَعَلَّكَ تَهديكَ القُرونُ الأَوائِلُ

If your own soul will not tell you truly, trace your lineage;

If your own soul does not tell you the truth, trace your lineage;

Perhaps the generations of old will guide you.

perhaps the earliest generations will guide you.

فَإِن لَم تَجِد مِن دونِ عَدنانَ باقِياً

فَإِن لَم تَجِد مِن دونِ عَدنانَ باقِياً

وَدونَ مَعَدٍّ فَلتَزَعكَ العَواذِلُ

وَدونَ مَعَدٍّ فَلتَزَعكَ العَواذِلُ

If you find no forebear short of Adnan,

If you find no survivor this side of Adnan,

Nor short of Maʿadd, let the reproachers restrain you.

and this side of Ma'add, let the reprovers restrain you.

أَرى الناسَ لا يَدرونَ ما قَدرُ أَمرِهِم

أَرى الناسَ لا يَدرونَ ما قَدرُ أَمرِهِم

بَلى كُلُّ ذي لُبٍّ إِلى اللَهِ واسِلُ

بَلى كُلُّ ذي لُبٍّ إِلى اللَهِ واسِلُ

I see that people do not know the measure of their condition;

I see that people do not know the true measure of their affairs.

Yet every discerning person turns toward God.

Yes, everyone with understanding seeks nearness to God.

أَلا كُلُّ شَيءٍ ما خَلا اللَهَ باطِلُ

أَلا كُلُّ شَيءٍ ما خَلا اللَهَ باطِلُ

وَكُلُّ نَعيمٍ لا مَحالَةَ زائِلُ

وَكُلُّ نَعيمٍ لا مَحالَةَ زائِلُ

Behold, everything except God is vain,

Indeed, everything apart from God is vain,

And every delight must inevitably pass.

and every delight must inevitably pass.

وَكُلُّ أُناسٍ سَوفَ تَدخُلُ بَينَهُم

وَكُلُّ أُناسٍ سَوفَ تَدخُلُ بَينَهُم

دُوَيهِيَةٌ تَصفَرُّ مِنها الأَنامِلُ

دُوَيهِيَةٌ تَصفَرُّ مِنها الأَنامِلُ

Among every people there will someday enter

And among every people there will come

A little calamity that makes the fingertips turn yellow.

a little calamity that turns the fingertips yellow.

وَكُلُّ اِمرِئٍ يَوماً سَيَعلَمُ سَعيَهُ

وَكُلُّ اِمرِئٍ يَوماً سَيَعلَمُ سَعيَهُ

إِذا كُشِّفَت عِندَ الإِلَهِ المَحاصِلُ

إِذا كُشِّفَت عِندَ الإِلَهِ المَحاصِلُ

Every person will one day know the worth of his endeavor,

Every man will one day know his striving,

When all outcomes are laid bare before God.

when the fruits of deeds are laid bare before God.

لِيَبكِ عَلى النُعمانِ شَربٌ وَقَينَةٌ

لِيَبكِ عَلى النُعمانِ شَربٌ وَقَينَةٌ

وَمُختَبِطاتٌ كَالسَعالي أَرامِلُ

وَمُختَبِطاتٌ كَالسَعالي أَرامِلُ

Let drinking companions and a singing girl weep for al-Nuʿman,

Let drinking companions and a singing girl weep for al-Nu'man,

And widowed petitioners, like female ghouls.

and widows seeking aid, like she-ghouls.

لَهُ المُلكُ في ضاحي مَعَدٍّ وَأَسلَمَت

لَهُ المُلكُ في ضاحي مَعَدٍّ وَأَسلَمَت

إِلَيهِ العِبادُ كُلُّها ما يُحاوِلُ

إِلَيهِ العِبادُ كُلُّها ما يُحاوِلُ

His was the sovereignty over Maʿadd’s open lands, and to him submitted

His was dominion over Ma'add's open lands, and they surrendered

All the people, without resistance to what he sought.

to him—all the people—whatever he sought.

إِذا مَسَّ أَسآرَ الطُيورِ صَفَت لَهُ

إِذا مَسَّ أَسآرَ الطُيورِ صَفَت لَهُ

مُشَعشَعَةٌ مِمّا تُعَتِّقُ بابِلُ

مُشَعشَعَةٌ مِمّا تُعَتِّقُ بابِلُ

When the wine touches water left by birds, it runs clear for him—

When he touched the birds' leavings, there ran clear for him

A mixed wine, from what Babylon has aged:

a diluted wine of the vintages Babylon ages,

عَتيقُ سُلافاتٍ سَبَتها سَفينَةٌ

عَتيقُ سُلافاتٍ سَبَتها سَفينَةٌ

تَكُرُّ عَلَيها بِالمِزاجِ النَياطِلُ

تَكُرُّ عَلَيها بِالمِزاجِ النَياطِلُ

Old wine of the first pressing, captured by a ship,

an aged first-pressed vintage borne away by a ship.

Over which great ewers pour the mixing-water—

Large vessels repeatedly bring it a mixing draught

بِأَشهَبَ مِن أَبكارِ مُزنِ سَحابَةٍ

بِأَشهَبَ مِن أَبكارِ مُزنِ سَحابَةٍ

وَأَريِ دَبورٍ شارَهُ النَحلَ عاسِلُ

وَأَريِ دَبورٍ شارَهُ النَحلَ عاسِلُ

Gray-white water from a raincloud’s virgin downpour,

of pale water from a rain-cloud's first drops,

And west-wind honey, drawn from the bees by a honey-gatherer.

and west-wind honey gathered from the bees by a honey-gatherer.

تَكُرُّ عَلَيهِ لا يُصَرِّدُ شُربَهُ

تَكُرُّ عَلَيهِ لا يُصَرِّدُ شُربَهُ

إِذا ما اِنتَشى لَم تَحتَضِرهُ العَواذِلُ

إِذا ما اِنتَشى لَم تَحتَضِرهُ العَواذِلُ

It is poured for him, his drinking never cut short;

They come round to him repeatedly; he never stints his drinking.

Once he is merry, reproachers do not crowd around him.

When he grows tipsy, no reprovers attend him

عَلى ما تُريهِ الخَمرُ إِذ جاشَ بَحرُهُ

عَلى ما تُريهِ الخَمرُ إِذ جاشَ بَحرُهُ

وَأَوشَمَ جودٌ مِن نَداهُ وَوابِلُ

وَأَوشَمَ جودٌ مِن نَداهُ وَوابِلُ

Whatever the wine reveals to him when its sea surges,

for what wine shows him, as his sea surges,

The lightning of generosity flashes from his bounty, followed by rain.

and showers and downpours of his bounty begin to appear.

فَيَوماً عُناةٌ في الحَديدِ يَفُكُّهُم

فَيَوماً عُناةٌ في الحَديدِ يَفُكُّهُم

وَيَوماً جِيادٌ مُلجَماتٌ قَوافِلُ

وَيَوماً جِيادٌ مُلجَماتٌ قَوافِلُ

One day there are captives in iron whom he sets free,

One day he frees captives in iron,

And another, bridled thoroughbreds proceeding in trains.

and another day, lean, bridled thoroughbreds,

عَلَيهِنَّ وِلدانُ الرِهانِ كَأَنَّها

عَلَيهِنَّ وِلدانُ الرِهانِ كَأَنَّها

سَعالٍ وَعِقبانٌ عَلَيها الرَحائِلُ

سَعالٍ وَعِقبانٌ عَلَيها الرَحائِلُ

Upon them ride the youths of the racecourse, as though they were

with young racing riders upon them, as though they were

Ghouls and eagles, with saddles upon them.

she-ghouls and eagles bearing saddles.

إِذا وَضَعوا أَلبادَها عَن مُتونِها

إِذا وَضَعوا أَلبادَها عَن مُتونِها

وَقَد نَضَحَت أَعطافُها وَالكَواهِلُ

وَقَد نَضَحَت أَعطافُها وَالكَواهِلُ

When they remove the felt cloths from their backs,

When they remove their saddle-felts from their backs,

Their flanks and withers are streaming with sweat.

their flanks and withers having streamed with sweat,

يُلاقونَ مِنها فَرطَ حَدٍّ وَجُرأَةٍ

يُلاقونَ مِنها فَرطَ حَدٍّ وَجُرأَةٍ

إِذا لَم تُقَوِّم دَرأَهُنَّ المَساحِلُ

إِذا لَم تُقَوِّم دَرأَهُنَّ المَساحِلُ

Their riders meet in them the utmost keenness and daring,

they encounter in them excessive mettle and boldness,

Unless bits and reins correct their veering.

when the bits do not check their unruliness.

وَيَوماً مِنَ الدُهمِ الرِغابِ كَأَنَّها

وَيَوماً مِنَ الدُهمِ الرِغابِ كَأَنَّها

أَشاءٌ دَنا قِنوانُهُ أَو مَجادِلُ

أَشاءٌ دَنا قِنوانُهُ أَو مَجادِلُ

And one day there are broad black cauldrons, as though they were

And another day, some great black cauldrons, as though they were

Palms with low-hanging clusters, or fortresses.

palms with low-hanging clusters, or fortresses.

لَها حَجَلٌ قَد قَرَّعَت مِن رُؤوسِهِ

لَها حَجَلٌ قَد قَرَّعَت مِن رُؤوسِهِ

لَها فَوقَهُ مِمّا تَحَلَّبُ واشِلُ

لَها فَوقَهُ مِمّا تَحَلَّبُ واشِلُ

They stand on supports whose heads have been battered,

They have white hearthstones whose tops they have chipped away;

While above them dripping fat runs in a trickle.

over those stones trickles what the cauldrons ooze.

بِذي حُسَمٍ قَد عُرِّيَت وَيَزينُها

بِذي حُسَمٍ قَد عُرِّيَت وَيَزينُها

دِماثُ فُلَيجٍ رَهوُها فَالمَحافِلُ

دِماثُ فُلَيجٍ رَهوُها فَالمَحافِلُ

At Dhu Husam they have been laid bare, and they are adorned by

At Dhu Husam they have been stripped bare, and adorning them are

The soft flats of Fulayj—its open ground and gathering places.

Fulayj's gentle grounds, their flats, then al-Mahafil.

وَأَسرَعَ فيها قَبلَ ذَلِكَ حِقبَةً

وَأَسرَعَ فيها قَبلَ ذَلِكَ حِقبَةً

رُكاحٌ فَجَنبا نُقدَةٍ فَالمَغاسِلُ

رُكاحٌ فَجَنبا نُقدَةٍ فَالمَغاسِلُ

Long before that, coursing swiftly through it were

And before that, for a long while, they had been worn down by

Rukah, the two sides of Nuqda, and then al-Maghāsil.

Rukah, then both slopes of Nuqdah, then al-Maghasil.

فَإِنَّ اِمرَأً يَرجو الفَلاحَ وَقَد رَأى

فَإِنَّ اِمرَأً يَرجو الفَلاحَ وَقَد رَأى

سَواماً وَحَيّاً بِالأُفاقَةِ جاهِلُ

سَواماً وَحَيّاً بِالأُفاقَةِ جاهِلُ

A man who hopes for success after he has seen

For a man who hopes to live on, though he has seen

Livestock and a tribe at al-Ufaq is ignorant indeed.

grazing herds and a tribe at al-Ufaqah, is ignorant.

غَداةَ غَدَوا مِنها وَآزَرَ سَربَهُم

غَداةَ غَدَوا مِنها وَآزَرَ سَربَهُم

مَواكِبَ تُحدى بِالغَبيطِ وَجامِلُ

مَواكِبَ تُحدى بِالغَبيطِ وَجامِلُ

On the morning they departed, their company was reinforced by

The morning they left it, their column was reinforced by

Processions urged onward with covered litters and laden camels.

cavalcades driven through al-Ghabit, and camel herds.

وَيَومَ أَجازَت قُلَّةَ الحَزنِ مِنهُمُ

وَيَومَ أَجازَت قُلَّةَ الحَزنِ مِنهُمُ

مَواكِبُ تَعلو ذا حُسىً وَقَنابِلُ

مَواكِبُ تَعلو ذا حُسىً وَقَنابِلُ

And on the day their caravans crossed the crest of the stony ground,

And the day their companies crossed al-Hazn's summit:

They climbed Dhu Husa and Qanabil.

cavalcades climbing Dhu Husa, and mounted bands.

عَلى الصَرصَرانِيّاتِ في كُلِّ رِحلَةٍ

عَلى الصَرصَرانِيّاتِ في كُلِّ رِحلَةٍ

وَسوقٌ عِدالٌ لَيسَ فيهِنَّ مائِلُ

وَسوقٌ عِدالٌ لَيسَ فيهِنَّ مائِلُ

They rode sturdy she-camels on every journey,

On Sarsarani camels, on every journey,

Their loads balanced, with none leaning aside.

were balanced loads, with none of them leaning.

تُساقُ وَأَطفالُ المُصيفِ كَأَنَّها

تُساقُ وَأَطفالُ المُصيفِ كَأَنَّها

حَوانٍ عَلى أَطلائِهِنَّ مَطافِلُ

حَوانٍ عَلى أَطلائِهِنَّ مَطافِلُ

They were driven on, while the summer-born young seemed like

They are driven, with summer-born calves, as though they were

Tender mothers bending over their calves.

mothers with young, bending tenderly over their fawns.

حَقائِبُهُم راحٌ عَتيقٌ وَدَرمَكٌ

حَقائِبُهُم راحٌ عَتيقٌ وَدَرمَكٌ

وَرَيطٌ وَفاثورِيَّةٌ وَسَلاسِلُ

وَرَيطٌ وَفاثورِيَّةٌ وَسَلاسِلُ

Their packs held old wine and fine white flour,

Their packs hold aged wine and fine wheat flour,

Striped cloth, Fathurian vessels, and chains;

and fine cloths, silver vessels, and chains,

وَما نَسَجَت أَسرادَ داوُدَ وَاِبنِهِ

وَما نَسَجَت أَسرادَ داوُدَ وَاِبنِهِ

مُضاعَفَةً مِن نَسجِهِ إِذ يُقابِلُ

مُضاعَفَةً مِن نَسجِهِ إِذ يُقابِلُ

And coats of mail whose linked rows David and his son had woven,

and the woven coats of mail of David and his son,

Doubled by his workmanship where ring met ring.

doubled in his weaving as he fitted ring to ring.

وَكانَت تُراثاً مِنهُما لِمُحَرِّقٍ

وَكانَت تُراثاً مِنهُما لِمُحَرِّقٍ

طَحونٌ كَأَنَّ البَيضَ فيها الأَعابِلُ

طَحونٌ كَأَنَّ البَيضَ فيها الأَعابِلُ

They had passed as an inheritance from them to al-Muharriq—

They were an inheritance from both of them for Muharriq—

A grinding panoply, its helmets like massive boulders.

a grinding host, with helmets in it like white boulders.

إِذا ما اِجتَلاها مَأزِقٌ وَتَزايَلَت

إِذا ما اِجتَلاها مَأزِقٌ وَتَزايَلَت

وَأَحكَمَ أَضغانَ القَتيرِ الغَلائِلُ

وَأَحكَمَ أَضغانَ القَتيرِ الغَلائِلُ

Whenever the press of battle displayed it and the ranks drew apart,

When battle's narrow press revealed it, and the ranks parted,

The iron knots held the inner tunics firmly closed.

and under-tunics held in check the mail-rings' spite,

أَوَت لِلشِياحِ وَاِهتَدى لِصَليلِها

أَوَت لِلشِياحِ وَاِهتَدى لِصَليلِها

كَتائِبُ خُضرٌ لَيسَ فيهِنَّ ناكِلُ

كَتائِبُ خُضرٌ لَيسَ فيهِنَّ ناكِلُ

They took shelter among the lances and followed the ringing steel—

it rallied to earnest combat, and its clang guided

Iron-dark battalions with no superfluous man among them.

green-armored battalions, without a shirker among them.

كَأَركانِ سَلمى إِذ بَدَت وَكَأَنَّها

كَأَركانِ سَلمى إِذ بَدَت وَكَأَنَّها

ذُرى أَجَإٍ إِذ لاحَ فيها مُواسِلُ

ذُرى أَجَإٍ إِذ لاحَ فيها مُواسِلُ

Like the pillars of Salma when the mountain appears, and as though they were

Like Salma's buttresses when they appear, and as though they were

The peaks of Aja when paths gleam across them.

the peaks of Aja when Muwasil shows among them.

وَبيضٍ تَرَبَّتها الهَوادِجُ حِقبَةً

وَبيضٍ تَرَبَّتها الهَوادِجُ حِقبَةً

سَرائِرُها وَالمُسمِعاتُ الرَوافِلُ

سَرائِرُها وَالمُسمِعاتُ الرَوافِلُ

And fair women whom camel-litters had sheltered and reared for years—

And fair women, long reared in howdahs,

Secluded ladies and singers with trailing robes.

in their secluded chambers—and singers in trailing robes—

تَروحُ إِذا راحَ الشَروبُ كَأَنَّها

تَروحُ إِذا راحَ الشَروبُ كَأَنَّها

ظِباءُ شَقيقٍ لَيسَ فيهِنَّ عاطِلُ

ظِباءُ شَقيقٍ لَيسَ فيهِنَّ عاطِلُ

They return at evening when the drinkers return, as though they were

go forth at evening when the drinker does, as though they were

Gazelles of Shaqiq, not one of them unadorned.

gazelles of Shaqiq, not one without adornment.

يُجاوِبنَ بُحّاً قَد أُعيدَت وَأَسمَحَت

يُجاوِبنَ بُحّاً قَد أُعيدَت وَأَسمَحَت

إِذا اِحتَثَّ بِالشِرعِ الدِقاقِ الأَنامِلُ

إِذا اِحتَثَّ بِالشِرعِ الدِقاقِ الأَنامِلُ

They answer a hoarse song, repeated and freely rendered,

They answer husky lutes, retuned and responsive,

Whenever slender fingertips urge the delicate strings.

when fingertips urge them on through slender strings.

يُقَوِّمُ أولاهُم إِذا اِعوَجَّ سِربُهُم

يُقَوِّمُ أولاهُم إِذا اِعوَجَّ سِربُهُم

مَواكِبُ وَاِبنُ المُنذِرينَ الحُلاحِلُ

مَواكِبُ وَاِبنُ المُنذِرينَ الحُلاحِلُ

He straightens their foremost ranks whenever their column swerves,

Their vanguard is set straight when their column strays,

Accompanying them—the mighty son of the two Mundhirs.

by cavalcades and the mighty son of the Mundhirs.

تَظَلُّ رَواياهُم تَبَرَّضنَ مَنعِجاً

تَظَلُّ رَواياهُم تَبَرَّضنَ مَنعِجاً

وَلَو وَرَدَتهُ وَهوَ رَيّانُ سائِلُ

وَلَو وَرَدَتهُ وَهوَ رَيّانُ سائِلُ

Their water-camels keep sipping Maniʿ down to scant puddles,

Their water-camels spend the day sipping away at Man'ij,

Even if they reach it while its torrent is full and flowing.

even if they reach it full and flowing.

فَلا قَصَبُ البَطحاءِ نَهنَهَ وِردَهُم

فَلا قَصَبُ البَطحاءِ نَهنَهَ وِردَهُم

بِرِيٍّ وَلا العادِيُّ مِنهُ العُدامِلُ

بِرِيٍّ وَلا العادِيُّ مِنهُ العُدامِلُ

Neither the reeds of al-Batha can halt their watering

Neither the gravel-plain's channels checked their coming to water

With fullness, nor can its immense ancient well.

by slaking them, nor its great ancient well.

وَما كادَ غُلّانُ الشُرَيفِ يَسَعنَهُم

وَما كادَ غُلّانُ الشُرَيفِ يَسَعنَهُم

بِحَلَّةِ يَومٍ وَالشُروجُ القَوابِلُ

بِحَلَّةِ يَومٍ وَالشُروجُ القَوابِلُ

Ghullan al-Shurayf can scarcely contain them

Al-Shurayf's stream-valleys could scarcely contain them

At Hallat Yawm, with al-Shurayj lying before them.

for one day's encampment, nor the facing ravines.

وَمُصعَدُهُم كَي يَقطَعوا بَطنَ مَنعِجٍ

وَمُصعَدُهُم كَي يَقطَعوا بَطنَ مَنعِجٍ

فَضاقَت بِهِم ذَرعاً خَزازٌ وَعاقِلُ

فَضاقَت بِهِم ذَرعاً خَزازٌ وَعاقِلُ

They climb so that they may cross the heart of Maniʿ,

And their ascent, to cross Man'ij's valley-floor,

Until Khazaz and Aqil are too narrow to hold them.

made Khazaz and Aqil too cramped to hold them.

فَبادوا فَما أَمسى عَلى الأَرضِ مِنهُمُ

فَبادوا فَما أَمسى عَلى الأَرضِ مِنهُمُ

لَعَمرُكَ إِلّا أَن يُخَبَّرَ سائِلُ

لَعَمرُكَ إِلّا أَن يُخَبَّرَ سائِلُ

Then they vanish, and by evening none of them remains upon the earth—

Then they perished, and none of them remained upon earth,

By your life, save as a tale related to someone who asks.

by your life—save that an inquirer is told of them.

كَأَن لَم يَكُن بِالشِرعِ مِنهُم طَلائِعٌ

كَأَن لَم يَكُن بِالشِرعِ مِنهُم طَلائِعٌ

فَلَم تَرعَ سَحّاً في الرَبيعِ القَنابِلُ

فَلَم تَرعَ سَحّاً في الرَبيعِ القَنابِلُ

As though they never had scouts beside al-Shiʿb,

As though no scouts of theirs had been at al-Shir',

And their great herds never grazed the abundant spring growth.

and no mounted bands had grazed Sahh in spring.

وَبِالرَسِّ أَوصالٌ كَأَنَّ زُهاءَها

وَبِالرَسِّ أَوصالٌ كَأَنَّ زُهاءَها

ذِوى الضَمرِ لَمّا زالَ عَنها القَبائِلُ

ذِوى الضَمرِ لَمّا زالَ عَنها القَبائِلُ

At al-Rass lie scattered remnants whose great bulk resembles

And at al-Rass lie scattered bones, whose multitude seems

Lean creatures after the tribes have moved away.

like withered damr shrubs, since the tribes departed.

وَغَسّانُ ذَلَّت يَومَ جِلَّقَ ذِلَّةً

وَغَسّانُ ذَلَّت يَومَ جِلَّقَ ذِلَّةً

بِسَيِّدِها وَالأَريَحِيُّ المُنازِلُ

بِسَيِّدِها وَالأَريَحِيُّ المُنازِلُ

Ghassan suffered bitter humiliation on the day of Jilliq,

And Ghassan was humbled on the day at Jillaq,

Together with its lord, the open-handed master of halls.

with its lord, the open-handed warrior.

رَعى خَرَزاتِ المُلكِ عِشرينَ حِجَّةً

رَعى خَرَزاتِ المُلكِ عِشرينَ حِجَّةً

وَعِشرينَ حَتّى فادَ وَالشَيبُ شامِلُ

وَعِشرينَ حَتّى فادَ وَالشَيبُ شامِلُ

He tended the jewels of kingship for twenty years,

He tended the beads of kingship for twenty years,

And twenty more, until he died with grayness covering him.

and twenty more, until he died, grey hair covering him.

وَأَمسى كَأَحلامِ النِيامِ نَعيمُهُم

وَأَمسى كَأَحلامِ النِيامِ نَعيمُهُم

وَأَيُّ نَعيمٍ خِلتَهُ لا يُزايِلُ

وَأَيُّ نَعيمٍ خِلتَهُ لا يُزايِلُ

Their splendor became like the dreams of sleepers—

Their delight became like the dreams of sleepers;

And what delight did you ever suppose would not depart?

what delight did you ever think would not depart?

تَرُدُّ عَلَيهِم لَيلَةٌ أَهلَكَتهُمُ

تَرُدُّ عَلَيهِم لَيلَةٌ أَهلَكَتهُمُ

وَعامٌ وَعامٌ يَتبَعُ العامَ قابِلُ

وَعامٌ وَعامٌ يَتبَعُ العامَ قابِلُ

A night returns upon them and destroys them,

A night that destroyed them returns upon them,

And year after year follows the year before.

and year upon year, a coming year follows the year.