جَزَعتَyou grieved وَلَمand did not تَجزَعyou grieve مِنَat الشَيبِgray hair مَجزَعاa fitting grief
جَزَعتَ وَلَم تَجزَع مِنَ الشَيبِ مَجزَعا
وَقَدand already فاتَpassed away رِبقِيُّbinding hold (uncertain reading) الشَبابِof youth فَوَدَّعاand bade farewell
وَقَد فاتَ رِبقِيُّ الشَبابِ فَوَدَّعا
You grieved, yet did not grieve duly at gray hair,
and youth's binding hold has already passed and bidden farewell.
وَلاحَand appeared بَياضٌwhiteness فيamid سَوادٍblackness كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَلاحَ بَياضٌ في سَوادٍ كَأَنَّهُ
صِوارٌa herd of wild cattle بِجَوٍّin a hollow كانَwas جَدباًbarren فَأَمرَعاthen grew lush
صِوارٌ بِجَوٍّ كانَ جَدباً فَأَمرَعا
Whiteness appeared amid blackness, as though it were
a herd of wild cattle in a hollow once barren, now lush.
وَأَقبَلَand came إِخوانُcompanions الصَفاءِof sincere affection فَأَوضَعواthen hurried
وَأَقبَلَ إِخوانُ الصَفاءِ فَأَوضَعوا
إِلىtoward كُلِّevery أَحوىdark-haired one فيin المَقامَةِthe gathering أَفرَعاluxuriantly haired
إِلى كُلِّ أَحوى في المَقامَةِ أَفرَعا
Companions of sincere affection came, then hurried
toward every dark-haired man with luxuriant locks in the gathering.
تَذَكَّرتُI remembered سَلمىSalma وَالرِكابُand the riding camels كَأَنَّهاas though they were
تَذَكَّرتُ سَلمى وَالرِكابُ كَأَنَّها
قَطاًsandgrouse وارِدٌcoming to water بَينَbetween اللِفاظِLifaz وَلَعلَعاand La'la'
قَطاً وارِدٌ بَينَ اللِفاظِ وَلَعلَعا
I remembered Salma, while the riding camels seemed
like sandgrouse coming to water between Lifaz and La'la'.
فَحَدَّثتُthen I told نَفسيmyself أَنَّهاthat she أَوor خَيالهاher apparition
فَحَدَّثتُ نَفسي أَنَّها أَو خَيالها
أَتاناcame to us عَشاءat nightfall حينَwhen قُمناwe rose لِنَهجَعاto sleep
أَتانا عَشاء حينَ قُمنا لِنَهجَعا
Then I told myself that she, or her apparition,
had come to us at nightfall, when we rose to sleep.
فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her بيتيspend the night لَدَيناwith us وَعَرِّسيand halt for the night
فَقُلتُ لَها بيتي لَدَينا وَعَرِّسي
وَماbut not طَرَقَتshe visited by night بِعدَafter الرقادِsleep لِتَنفَعاto bring benefit
وَما طَرَقَت بِعدَ الرقادِ لِتَنفَعا
I said to her, 'Spend the night with us, and settle here.'
Yet her visit after slumber was not to bring me solace.
مُنَعَّمَةٌpampered لَمdid not تَلقَshe encounter فيin العَيشِlife تَرحَةًsorrow
مُنَعَّمَةٌ لَم تَلقَ في العَيشِ تَرحَةً
وَلَوand if تَلقَshe encountered بؤساًhardship عَندَat ذاكَthat فَتَجدَعاthen she would be maimed
وَلَو تَلقَ بؤساً عَندَ ذاكَ فَتَجدَعا
Pampered, she had encountered no sorrow in life;
and were she to meet hardship, it would leave her maimed.
أَهيمُI am love-struck بِهاwith her لَمhave not أَقضَI satisfied مِنهاfrom her لُبانَةًa cherished desire
أَهيمُ بِها لَم أَقضَ مِنها لُبانَةً
وَكُنتُand I was بَهاwith her فيin سالِفِpast الدَهرِtime موزِعاinfatuated
وَكُنتُ بَها في سالِفِ الدَهرِ موزِعا
I am love-struck with her, yet have satisfied no cherished desire through her;
and in times past I was infatuated with her.
كَأَنَّas though جَنىthe yield الكافورِof camphor وَالمِسكِand musk خالِصاًpure
كَأَنَّ جَنى الكافورِ وَالمِسكِ خالِصاً
وَبَردَand coolness النَدىof dew وَالأُقحُوانَand chamomile المُنَزَّعاplucked
وَبَردَ النَدى وَالأُقحُوانَ المُنَزَّعا
It is as though camphor's yield and pure musk,
cool dew and plucked chamomile blossoms,
وَقَلتاًand a rock basin قرتdeposited فيهِin it السَحابَةُthe cloud ماءَهاits water
وَقَلتاً قرت فيهِ السَحابَةُ ماءَها
بِأَنيابِهاupon her canine teeth وَالفارِسِيَّand Persian wine المُشَعشَعاdiluted with water
بِأَنيابِها وَالفارِسِيَّ المُشَعشَعا
and a rock basin where a cloud deposited its water,
were upon her teeth, along with diluted Persian wine.
وَإِنّيand I indeed لَأَستَحييam truly ashamed مِنof المَشيِwalking أَبتَغيI seek
وَإِنّي لَأَستَحيي مِن المَشيِ أَبتَغي
إِلىto غَيرِother than ذيone possessing المَجدِglory المُؤَثَّلِfirmly rooted مَطَمعاa hoped-for gain
إِلى غَيرِ ذي المَجدِ المُؤَثَّلِ مَطَمعا
Indeed, I am ashamed to go seeking
gain from anyone but a man of firmly rooted glory.
وَأُكرِمُand I honor نَفسيmyself عَنabove أُمورٍmatters كَثيرَةٍmany
وَأُكرِمُ نَفسي عَن أُمورٍ كَثيرَةٍ
حِفاظاًto guard honor وَأَنهىand I forbid شُحَّهاits greed أَنthat تَطَلَّعاit should covet
حِفاظاً وَأَنهى شُحَّها أَن تَطَلَّعا
I keep myself above many things,
guarding my honor, and forbid my soul's greed to reach for them.
وَآخُذُand I recover لِلمولىfor the ally إِذاwhen ضيمَhe is wronged حَقَّهُhis right
وَآخُذُ لِلمولى إِذا ضيمَ حَقَّهُ
مِنَfrom الأَعيَطِthe haughty man الآبيthe defiant إِذاwhen ماever تَمَنَّعاhe refuses
مِنَ الأَعيَطِ الآبي إِذا ما تَمَنَّعا
I recover my ally's right when he is wronged,
from the haughty, defiant man when he refuses.
فَإِنso if يَكُit be شابَhas grayed الرَأسُthe head مِنّيof mine فَإِنَّنيthen I indeed
فَإِن يَكُ شابَ الرَأسُ مِنّي فَإِنَّني
أَبيتُI insist عَلىupon نَفسيmyself مَناقِبَnoble traits أَربَعاfour
أَبيتُ عَلى نَفسي مَناقِبَ أَربَعا
Though the hair upon my head has grayed,
I insist on four noble traits for myself:
فَواحِدَةٌso the first أَنthat لاnot أَبيتَI spend the night بِغِرَّةٍunawares
فَواحِدَةٌ أَن لا أَبيتَ بِغِرَّةٍ
إِذاwhen ماever سَوامُgrazing beasts الحَيِّof the tribe حَوليaround me تَضَوَّعاcry out
إِذا ما سَوامُ الحَيِّ حَولي تَضَوَّعا
first, not to spend the night unawares
when the tribe's grazing beasts cry out around me;
وَثانِيَةٌand the second أَنthat لاnot أُصَمِّتُI silence كَلبَناour dog
وَثانِيَةٌ أَن لا أُصَمِّتُ كَلبَنا
إِذاwhen نَزَلَarrive الأَضيافُthe guests حِرصاًout of eagerness لِنودَعاso we may be left undisturbed
إِذا نَزَلَ الأَضيافُ حِرصاً لِنودَعا
second, not to silence our dog
when guests arrive, merely craving that we be left in peace;
وَثالِثَةٌand the third أَنthat تُقَذَّعَbe reviled جارَتيmy woman neighbor
وَثالِثَةٌ أَن تُقَذَّعَ جارَتي
إِذاwhen كانَis جارُa neighbor القَومِof the tribe فيهِمamong them مُقَذَعاreviled
إِذا كانَ جارُ القَومِ فيهِم مُقَذَعا
third, refusing to let my woman neighbor be reviled
when a tribe's neighbor is reviled among them;
وَرابِعَةٌand the fourth أَنthat لاnot أُحَجِّلَI keep back قِدرَناour cooking pot
وَرابِعَةٌ أَن لا أُحَجِّلَ قِدرَنا
عَلىover لَحمِهاits meat حنَwhen (apparently حين) الشِتاءَwinter لِنَشبَعاso we may eat our fill
عَلى لَحمِها حنَ الشِتاءَ لِنَشبَعا
and fourth, not to keep our cooking pot to ourselves,
with its meat in winter, just to fill our own bellies.
وَإِنّيand I indeed لَأُعديdo send galloping الخَيلَthe horses تُقدَعُare driven back بِالقَناwith spears
وَإِنّي لَأُعدي الخَيلَ تُقدَعُ بِالقَنا
حَفاظاًin defense عَلىof المَلاىthe ally (uncertain reading) الحَريدِthe isolated لِيُمنَعاso he may be protected
حَفاظاً عَلى المَلاى الحَريدِ لِيُمنَعا
Indeed, I send horses galloping, though spears drive them back,
in defense of the isolated ally, that he may be protected.
وَنَحنُand we جَلَبناdrove الخَيلَthe horses مِنfrom سَروِSarw حِميَرٍof Himyar
وَنَحنُ جَلَبنا الخَيلَ مِن سَروِ حِميَرٍ
إِلىuntil أَنthat وَطَئناwe trod أَرضَthe land خَثعَمَof Khath'am أَجمَعاall of it
إِلى أَن وَطَئنا أَرضَ خَثعَمَ أَجمَعا
We drove the horses from Sarw of Himyar
until we had trodden all the land of Khath'am.
فَمَنso whoever يِأتِناcomes to us أَوor يَعتَرِضcrosses بِسَبيلِناin our path
فَمَن يِأتِنا أَو يَعتَرِض بِسَبيلِنا
يَجِدfinds أَثَراًa track دَعساًdeeply trodden وَسَخلاًand young livestock مُوَضَّعاlaid low
يَجِد أَثَراً دَعساً وَسَخلاً مُوَضَّعا
Whoever comes to us or crosses our path
finds a deeply trampled trail and young livestock laid low,
وَيَلقَand finds سَقيطاًcast-off remnants مِنof نِعالٍsandals كَثيرَةٍmany
وَيَلقَ سَقيطاً مِن نِعالٍ كَثيرَةٍ
إِذاwhen خَدَمُattendants الأَرساغِof the fetlocks يَوماًone day أَلحَموهُthey cut it up for meat مُقَطَّعاin pieces
إِذا خَدَمُ الأَرساغِ يَوماً أَلحَموهُ مُقَطَّعا
and finds cast-off remnants of many sandals,
when the fetlock attendants someday cut it up for meat.
إِذاwhen ماever بَعيرٌa camel قامَstands still عُلِّقَis hung up رَحلُهُits saddle
إِذا ما بَعيرٌ قامَ عُلِّقَ رَحلُهُ
وَإِنand if هُوَit أَنقىhas abundant marrow أَلحَموهُthey cut it up for meat مُقَطَّعاin pieces
وَإِن هُوَ أَنقى أَلحَموهُ مُقَطَّعا
If a camel stands still, its saddle is hung up;
and if it is well-fattened, they cut it up for meat.
نُريدُwe seek بَنيthe sons الخَيفانِof al-Khayfan إِنَّindeed دِماءَهُمtheir blood
نُريدُ بَني الخَيفانِ إِنَّ دِماءَهُم
شِفاءٌa cure وَماand those whom والىallied with زُبَيدٌZubayd وَجَمَّعاand mustered
شِفاءٌ وَما والى زُبَيدٌ وَجَمَّعا
We seek the sons of al-Khayfan; their blood
is a cure, as is that of those Zubayd allied with and mustered.
يَقودُlead بِأَرسانby the halters الجِيادِof the fine horses سَراتُناour chiefs
يَقودُ بِأَرسان الجِيادِ سَراتُنا
لِيَنقِمنَto avenge وِتراًa blood-debt أَوor لِيَدفَعنَto repel مَدفَعاan assault
لِيَنقِمنَ وِتراً أَو لِيَدفَعنَ مَدفَعا
Our chiefs lead the fine horses by their halters
to avenge a blood-debt or repel an assault.
تَرىyou see المُهرَةَthe filly الرَوعاءَspirited تَنفُضُshaking رَأسَهاher head
تَرى المُهرَةَ الرَوعاءَ تَنفُضُ رَأسَها
كَلالاًfrom weariness وَأَيناًand fatigue وَالكُمَيتَand the bay horse المُقَزَّعاclipped in tufts
كَلالاً وَأَيناً وَالكُمَيتَ المُقَزَّعا
You see the spirited filly shaking her head
from weariness and fatigue, and the bay horse clipped in tufts.
وَنَخلَعُand we remove نَعلَthe sandal العَبدِof the slave مِنbecause of سوءِthe poor quality قَودِهِof his leading
وَنَخلَعُ نَعلَ العَبدِ مِن سوءِ قَودِهِ
لِكَيماso that يَكونَmay be العَبدُthe slave لِلسَهلِon level ground أَضرَعاmore submissive
لِكَيما يَكونَ العَبدُ لِلسَهلِ أَضرَعا
We remove the slave's sandal because of his poor leading,
so that the slave may be more submissive on level ground.
وَقَدand already وَعَدوهُthey promised him عُقبةa turn riding فَمَشىso he walked لَهاfor it
وَقَد وَعَدوهُ عُقبة فَمَشى لَها
فَماbut not نالَهاhe obtained it حَتّىuntil رَأىhe saw الصُبحَthe dawn أَدرَعاdark-headed
فَما نالَها حَتّى رَأى الصُبحَ أَدرَعا
They had promised him a turn to ride, so he walked for it;
but he did not obtain it until he saw the dark-headed dawn.
وَأَوسَعنَand they drenched عقبيهhis heels دِماءwith blood فَأَصبَحَتso became
وَأَوسَعنَ عقبيه دِماء فَأَصبَحَت
أَصابِعُthe toes رِجلَيهِof both his feet رَواعِفَbleeding دُمَّعاstreaming
أَصابِعُ رِجلَيهِ رَواعِفَ دُمَّعا
They drenched his heels in blood, until
the toes of both his feet bled and streamed.
طَلَعنَthey climbed هِضاباًuplands ثُمَّthen عالَينَthey scaled قَنَّةًa summit
طَلَعنَ هِضاباً ثُمَّ عالَينَ قَنَّةً
وَجاوَزنَand they crossed خَيفاًa slope ثُمَّthen أَسهَلنَthey descended to a plain بَلقَعاbarren ground
وَجاوَزنَ خَيفاً ثُمَّ أَسهَلنَ بَلقَعا
They climbed uplands, then scaled a summit,
and crossed a slope, then descended onto barren ground.
وَتَهديand leads بِيَwith me الخَيلَthe horses المُغيرَةَraiding نَهدَةٌa strong-built mare
وَتَهدي بِيَ الخَيلَ المُغيرَةَ نَهدَةٌ
إِذاwhen ضَبَرَتshe bounded صابَتlanded قَوائِمُهاher legs مَعاtogether
إِذا ضَبَرَت صابَت قَوائِمُها مَعا
A strong-built mare bears me at the head of the raiding horses;
when she bounds, her legs land together.
إِذاwhen وَقَعَتstruck إِحدىone of يَدَيهاher forelegs بِثَبرَةٍon stony ground
إِذا وَقَعَت إِحدى يَدَيها بِثَبرَةٍ
تَجاوَبَechoed one another أَثناءُthe joints الثَلاثِof the other three بِدَعدَعاwith a 'da'da' clatter
تَجاوَبَ أَثناءُ الثَلاثِ بِدَعدَعا
When one of her forelegs strikes stony ground,
the joints of the other three answer with a 'da'da' clatter.
قُوَيرِحُa little mature mare سَبعٍof seven years أَوor ثَمانٍeight تَرىyou see لَهاin her
قُوَيرِحُ سَبعٍ أَو ثَمانٍ تَرى لَها
إِذاwhen اِعرَورَتِlay bare البَيداءُthe wilderness مَشياًa gait هَمَلَّعاswift and easy
إِذا اِعرَورَتِ البَيداءُ مَشياً هَمَلَّعا
A little full-grown mare of seven or eight years: you see in her,
when the wilderness lies bare, a swift and easy gait.
فَأَصبَحنَso by morning they were لَمhad not يَترُكنَthey left وِتراًa blood-debt عَلِمتُهُI knew of it
فَأَصبَحنَ لَم يَترُكنَ وِتراً عَلِمتُهُ
لِهَمدانَfor Hamdan فيagainst سَعدٍSa'd وَأَصبَحنَand by morning they were طُلَّعاranging ahead
لِهَمدانَ في سَعدٍ وَأَصبَحنَ طُلَّعا
By morning they had left no blood-debt I knew of
for Hamdan against Sa'd; by morning they were ranging ahead.
مُقَرَّبَةٌa mare kept close أَدنَيتُهاI brought her near وَاِفتَلَيتُهاand reared her
مُقَرَّبَةٌ أَدنَيتُها وَاِفتَلَيتُها
لِتَشهَدَto witness غُنماًspoils أَوor لِتَدفَعَto repel مَدفَعاan assault
لِتَشهَدَ غُنماً أَو لِتَدفَعَ مَدفَعا
A mare kept close: I brought her near and reared her
to witness spoils or repel an assault.
تَشَكّينَthey complained مِنof أَعضادِهاher upper forelegs حينَwhen مَشيِهاher walking
تَشَكّينَ مِن أَعضادِها حينَ مَشيِها
أَمِor القَضُّthe gravel مِنfrom تَحتِbeneath الدَوابِرِthe hoof-heels أَوجَعاhurt more
أَمِ القَضُّ مِن تَحتِ الدَوابِرِ أَوجَعا
Did they complain of their upper forelegs as they walked,
or did gravel beneath their hoof-heels hurt more?
وَمِنّاand among us رَئيسُa leader يُستَضاءُlight is sought بِرَأيِهِthrough his judgment
وَمِنّا رَئيسُ يُستَضاءُ بِرَأيِهِ
سَناءًsplendor وَحُلماًand forbearance فيهِin him فَاِجتَمَعاso both united مَعاtogether
سَناءً وَحُلماً فيهِ فَاِجتَمَعا مَعا
Among us is a leader whose judgment gives light,
with splendor and forbearance in him, both united.
وَسارعand raced أَقوامٌpeoples لِمَجدٍfor glory فَقَصَّرواbut fell short
وَسارع أَقوامٌ لِمَجدٍ فَقَصَّروا
وَقارَبَهاand approached it زَيدُZayd بنُson of قَيسٍQays فَأَسرَعاthen sped onward
وَقارَبَها زَيدُ بنُ قَيسٍ فَأَسرَعا
Peoples raced for glory, but fell short;
Zayd ibn Qays drew close, then sped onward.
وَلاand does not يَسأَلَask الضَعيفُthe weak one الغَريبُthe stranger إِذاwhen شَتاhe spends the winter
وَلا يَسأَلَ الضَعيفُ الغَريبُ إِذا شَتا
بِماwith what زَخَرَتِoverflowed قِدريmy cooking pot لَهُfor him حينَwhen وَدَّعاhe bade farewell
بِما زَخَرَتِ قِدري لَهُ حينَ وَدَّعا
Nor need the weak stranger, when he spends the winter, ask
what my pot held in plenty for him when he bade farewell.
فَإِنfor if يَكُit be غَثّاًlean أَوor سَميناًfat فَإِنَّنيthen I indeed
فَإِن يَكُ غَثّاً أَو سَميناً فَإِنَّني
سَأَجعَلُI shall make عَينَيهِhis two eyes لِنَفسِهِfor himself مَقنَعاa sufficiency
سَأَجعَلُ عَينَيهِ لِنَفسِهِ مَقنَعا
Whether it is lean or fat, I
will make his own eyes sufficient reassurance for him.
إِذاwhen حَلَّcamp قَوميmy people كُنتُI am أَوسَطَin the middle دارِهِمِof their dwelling
إِذا حَلَّ قَومي كُنتُ أَوسَطَ دارِهِمِ
وَلاand do not أَبتَغيI seek عِندَby الثَنَيَّةِthe mountain pass مَطلَعاa lookout
وَلا أَبتَغي عِندَ الثَنَيَّةِ مَطلَعا
When my people camp, I am in the midst of their dwellings,
and seek no lookout by the mountain pass.
Sol 6.1