مَضىdeparted لِسَبيلِهِon his way مَعنٌMaʿn وَأَبقىand left behind
مَضى لِسَبيلِهِ مَعنٌ وَأَبقى
مَكارِمَnoble deeds لَنwill not تَبيدَperish وَلَنand will not تُنالاbe equaled
مَكارِمَ لَن تَبيدَ وَلَن تُنالا
Maʿn has gone on his way and left behind
He went on his way, and Ma'n remained,
noble deeds that will never perish or be equaled.
His noble deeds will never fade or be attained.
كَأَنَّas though الشَمسَthe sun يَومَthe day أُصيبَwas struck down مَعنٌMaʿn
كَأَنَّ الشَمسَ يَومَ أُصيبَ مَعنٌ
مِنَwith الإِظلامَdarkness مُلبَسَةٌclothed جِلالاmantles
مِنَ الإِظلامَ مُلبَسَةٌ جِلالا
As though the sun, the day Maʿn was struck down,
When Ma'n was stricken, it was as if
were clothed in mantles of darkness.
The sun was shrouded in darkness and gloom.
هُوَhe الجَبَلُthe mountain الَّذيwhich كانَتused to نِزارٌNizār
هُوَ الجَبَلُ الَّذي كانَت نِزارٌ
تَهدُّdemolish مِنَof العَدُوِّthe enemy بِهِthrough him الجِبالاthe mountains
تَهدُّ مِنَ العَدُوِّ بِهِ الجِبالا
He was the mountain through whom Nizār would
He was the mountain against which small hills
demolish the mountains of the enemy.
Were rendered futile by the enemy.
وَعُطِّلَتِand were left idle الثُغورُthe frontier posts لِفَقدِfor the loss of مَعنٍMaʿn
وَعُطِّلَتِ الثُغورُ لِفَقدِ مَعنٍ
وَقَدand formerly يُرويslakes بِهاthere الأَسَلَthe spears النِهالاthirsty
وَقَد يُروي بِها الأَسَلَ النِهالا
And the frontier posts were left idle at the loss of Maʿn,
The frontiers were vulnerable without Ma'n
where he used to slake the thirsty spears.
Who could make the young plants grow.
وَأَظلَمَتِand grew dark العِراقُIraq وَأَورَثَتهاand bequeathed it
وَأَظلَمَتِ العِراقُ وَأَورَثَتها
مُصيبَتُهُhis calamity المُجَلِّلَةُall-enveloping اِختِلالاdisorder
مُصيبَتُهُ المُجَلِّلَةُ اِختِلالا
And Iraq grew dark, and was left
Iraq was darkened and left distraught
in disarray by the overwhelming calamity of his loss.
By the calamitous loss that caused its turmoil.
وَظَلَّand remained الشامُal-Shām يَرجِفُtrembling جانِباهُits two sides
وَظَلَّ الشامُ يَرجِفُ جانِباهُ
لِرُكنِfor the pillar of العِزِّglory حينَwhen وَهيَweakened فَمالاand so toppled
لِرُكنِ العِزِّ حينَ وَهيَ فَمالا
And al-Shām kept trembling on both sides
Syria kept trembling,
for the pillar of glory, when it weakened and toppled.
When the pillar of glory began to tilt.
وَكادَتand nearly مِنof تِهامَةَTihāmah كُلُّevery أَرضٍland
وَكادَت مِن تِهامَةَ كُلُّ أَرضٍ
وَمِنand of نَجدٍNajd تَزولُmove away غَداةَthe morning زالاhe departed
وَمِن نَجدٍ تَزولُ غَداةَ زالا
And every tract of Tihāmah nearly—
The lands of Tihama nearly disappeared,
and of Najd—shifted from its place the morning he departed.
As did Najd the next morning.
فَإِنso if يَعلُoverspreads البِلادَthe lands لَهُfor him خُشوعٌhumility
فَإِن يَعلُ البِلادَ لَهُ خُشوعٌ
فَقَدthen indeed كانَتused to تَطولُstand tall بِهِthrough him اِختِيالاproudly
فَقَد كانَت تَطولُ بِهِ اِختِيالا
If humility for him overspreads the lands,
If he were to return the lands would bow to him,
they once stood tall through him in pride.
As they were exalted by his presence before.
أَصابَstruck المَوتُdeath يَومَthe day أَصابَit struck مَعناًMaʿn
أَصابَ المَوتُ يَومَ أَصابَ مَعناً
مِنَof الأَحياءِthe living أَكرَمَهُمtheir noblest فَعالاin deeds
مِنَ الأَحياءِ أَكرَمَهُم فَعالا
Death struck, on the day it struck Maʿn,
Death took on the day it took Ma'n
the noblest of the living in his deeds.
The most generous of the living.
وَكانَand were الناسُthe people كُلُّهُمُall of them لِمَعنٍto Maʿn
وَكانَ الناسُ كُلُّهُمُ لِمَعنٍ
إِلىuntil أَنthat زارَvisited حُفرَتَهُhis grave عِيالاdependents
إِلى أَن زارَ حُفرَتَهُ عِيالا
And all the people were Maʿn's
All the people belonged to Ma'n
dependents, until he visited his grave.
Until his children visited his grave.
وَلَمand not يَكُwas طالِبٌa seeker لِلعُرفِof kindness يَنويintended
وَلَم يَكُ طالِبٌ لِلعُرفِ يَنوي
إِلىto غَيرِother than اِبنِson of زائِدَةًZāʾidah اِرتِحالاa journey
إِلى غَيرِ اِبنِ زائِدَةً اِرتِحالا
And no seeker of kindness ever intended
No seeker of glory intended
to journey to anyone but Ibn Zāʾidah.
To travel save to Ibn Ziyad's son.
مَضىdeparted مَنhe who كانَused to يَحمِلُbear كُلَّevery ثِقلٍburden
مَضى مَن كانَ يَحمِلُ كُلَّ ثِقلٍ
وَيَسبِقُand precedes فَضلُthe abundance of نائِلِهِhis bounty السُؤالاthe asking
وَيَسبِقُ فَضلُ نائِلِهِ السُؤالا
Gone is he who bore every burden,
Gone is he who could shoulder every burden
and whose abundant bounty preceded the asking.
And exceed in merit those who request.
وَماand never عَمدَsought الوُفودُthe delegations لِمَثلِone like مَعنٍMaʿn
وَما عَمدَ الوُفودُ لِمَثلِ مَعنٍ
وَلاand never حَطّواthey set down بِساحَتِهِin his courtyard الرِحالاthe saddles
وَلا حَطّوا بِساحَتِهِ الرِحالا
And no delegations ever sought a man to match Maʿn,
No delegations ever came for one like Ma'n
nor set their saddles down in such a man's courtyard.
Nor pitched their tents in his field.
وَلاand never بَلَغَتreached أَكُفُّpalms ذَويpossessors of العَطاياgifts
وَلا بَلَغَت أَكُفُّ ذَوي العَطايا
يَميناًa right hand مِنof يَديهِhis two hands وَلاnor شِمالاa left hand
يَميناً مِن يَديهِ وَلا شِمالا
Nor did the palms of givers ever reach
Nor did any givers reach with their palms
either his right hand or his left.
A right or left hand from him.
وَماand never كانَتwere تَجِفُّdrying up لَهُfor him حِياضٌpools
وَما كانَت تَجِفُّ لَهُ حِياضٌ
مِنَof المَعروفِkindness مُترَعَةٌbrimming سِجالاbucketfuls
مِنَ المَعروفِ مُترَعَةٌ سِجالا
And his pools never ran dry,
His reservoirs of kindness were never dry
brimming with bucketfuls of kindness.
For those who came to him with wants.
لِأَبيَضَfor a noble man لاnot يَعُدُّdeems المالَmoney حَتّىuntil
لِأَبيَضَ لا يَعُدُّ المالَ حَتّى
يَعُمَّshares widely بِهِwith it بُغاةَseekers of الخَيرِgoodness مالاwealth
يَعُمَّ بِهِ بُغاةَ الخَيرِ مالا
For a noble man who did not deem money—until
The white-robed one who wouldn't count wealth
he shared it with all seekers of good—to be wealth.
Until it reached the destitute.
فَلَيتَso would that الشامِتينَthose gloating بِهِover him فَدَوهُransomed him
فَلَيتَ الشامِتينَ بِهِ فَدَوهُ
وَلَيتَand would that العُمرَthe lifespan مُدَّwere extended لَهُfor him فَطالاand so grew long
وَلَيتَ العُمرَ مُدَّ لَهُ فَطالا
So would that those who gloated over him had ransomed him,
If only death had spared him - he was their sacrifice -
and that his life had been extended and grown long!
And his life had been prolonged.
وَلَمand not يَكُwas كَنزُهُhis treasure ذَهَباًgold وَلكِنbut rather
وَلَم يَكُ كَنزُهُ ذَهَباً وَلكِن
سُيوفَswords of الهِندِIndia وَالحَلَقَand chain mail المُذالاtrailing
سُيوفَ الهِندِ وَالحَلَقَ المُذالا
And his treasure was not gold, but rather
His treasure was not gold but
Indian swords and trailing coats of mail,
Swords from India and fine coats of mail,
وَذابِلَةًand slender shafts مِنَof الخَطِّيِّKhaṭṭī spears سُمراًbrown
وَذابِلَةً مِنَ الخَطِّيِّ سُمراً
تَرىyou see فيهِنَّin them ليناًsuppleness وَاِعتِدالاand straightness
تَرى فيهِنَّ ليناً وَاِعتِدالا
and slender, brown spears of al-Khaṭṭ,
Horses dark as night yet obedient and calm,
in which you could see suppleness and straightness,
Deeds of praise stored for the virtuous,
وَذُخراًand a store مِنof مَحامِدَpraises باقِياتٍenduring
وَذُخراً مِن مَحامِدَ باقِياتٍ
وَفَضلَand excellence of تُقىpiety بِهِthrough it التَفضيلَdistinction نالاgained
وَفَضلَ تُقى بِهِ التَفضيلَ نالا
and a store of praises that endure,
Favors that if humbled had been
and surpassing piety through which he won distinction.
Steeds he disliked to humiliate.
لَئِنif indeed أَمسَتbecame رُوَيداًlittle by little قَدalready أُذيلَتwere put to common use
لَئِن أَمسَت رُوَيداً قَد أُذيلَت
جِياداًfine steeds كانَused to يَكرَهُdislike أَنthat تُذالاbe demeaned
جِياداً كانَ يَكرَهُ أَن تُذالا
If indeed, little by little, there have now been put to common use
With him they charged and he made them leap up,
fine steeds he could not bear to see demeaned,
Returning them with their reins.
لَقَدindeed كانَتused to تُصابُbe wounded بِهِunder him وَيَسموand rises aloft
لَقَد كانَت تُصابُ بِهِ وَيَسمو
بِهاwith them عَقباًlike eagles وَيُرجِعَهاand brings them back حَبالاpregnant with spoil
بِها عَقباً وَيُرجِعَها حَبالا
they indeed once took wounds under him, and he sent them soaring
They warded off calamity and kept him safe,
like eagles, then brought them back pregnant with spoil,
Though death's specter befell them.
وَقَدand had حَوَتِgathered النِهابَplunder فَأَحرَزَتهُand secured it
وَقَد حَوَتِ النِهابَ فَأَحرَزَتهُ
وَقَدand had غَشِيَتcome upon مِنَof المَوتِdeath الطِلالاthe slain
وَقَد غَشِيَت مِنَ المَوتِ الطِلالا
having gathered plunder and secured it,
Gone is he whom you hoped
having ridden amid those laid low by death.
Would rectify your life's stumbles.
مَضىdeparted لِسَبيلِهِon his way مَنhe whom كُنتَyou used to تَرجوhope
مَضى لِسَبيلِهِ مَن كُنتَ تَرجو
بِهِthrough him عَثَراتُstumblings دَهرِكَof your life أَنthat تُقالاbe mended
بِهِ عَثَراتُ دَهرِكَ أَن تُقالا
Gone on his way is he through whom you hoped
You cannot control the tears that fell
the stumblings of your life might be set right.
From your eyes, pouring nonstop.
فَلَستَso you are not بِمالِكٍin control of عَبَراتtears of عَينٍan eye
فَلَستَ بِمالِكٍ عَبَرات عَينٍ
أَبَتrefused بِدُموعِهاwith its tears إِلّاanything but اِنهِمالاpouring down
أَبَت بِدُموعِها إِلّا اِنهِمالا
So you cannot command the tears of an eye
In your heart is blazing sorrow,
that refuses anything but to let its tears pour down.
Like a flaming fire lit.
وَفيand within الأَحشاءِthe innermost parts مِنكَof you غَليلُa burning ache of حُزنٍgrief
وَفي الأَحشاءِ مِنكَ غَليلُ حُزنٍ
كَحَرِّlike the heat of النارِfire يَشتَعِلُblazes اِشتِعالاa blazing
كَحَرِّ النارِ يَشتَعِلُ اِشتِعالا
And within your innermost parts burns an ache of grief,
It's as if after Ma'n, the nights
blazing fiercely like the heat of fire.
Have joined together and prolonged.
كَأَنَّas though اللَيلَthe night واصَلَjoined بَعدَafter مَعنٍMaʿn
كَأَنَّ اللَيلَ واصَلَ بَعدَ مَعنٍ
لَيالِيَnights قَدalready قُرِنَّwere joined بِهto it فَطالاand so grew long
لَيالِيَ قَد قُرِنَّ بِه فَطالا
As though the night, after Maʿn, had joined
You've left me and my children with worries
other nights bound to it, and so grown long.
And sorrows that keep us busy.
لَقَدindeed أَورَثتَنيyou bequeathed me وَبَنيَّand my sons هَمّاًanxiety
لَقَد أَورَثتَني وَبَنيَّ هَمّاً
وَأَحزاناًand sorrows نُطيلُwe prolong بِهاwith them اِشتِغالاpreoccupation
وَأَحزاناً نُطيلُ بِها اِشتِغالا
You have indeed bequeathed me and my sons anxiety
A woman who saw me said, astonished,
and sorrows that engross us for long.
"He's changed in body and demeanor."
وَقائِلَةٍand a woman speaking رَأَتsaw جِسميmy body وَلَونيand my complexion
وَقائِلَةٍ رَأَت جِسمي وَلَوني
مَعاًtogether عَنfrom عَهدِهاwhat she remembered قُلِباboth were transformed فَحالاand so both changed
مَعاً عَن عَهدِها قُلِبا فَحالا
And a woman spoke, seeing my body and complexion
She saw a man whom sadness had aged
both transformed from what she remembered, and changed;
And caused sickness and anxiety.
رَأَتsaw رَجُلاًa man بَراهُwore him away الحُزنُgrief حَتّىuntil
رَأَت رَجُلاً بَراهُ الحُزنُ حَتّى
أَضَرَّharmed بِهِhim وَأَورَثَهُand bequeathed him خَبالاmental distress
أَضَرَّ بِهِ وَأَورَثَهُ خَبالا
she saw a man whom grief had worn away until
"I see Marwan has returned gaunt
it harmed him and left him distraught:
As an Indian sword that lost its polish."
أَرىI see مَروانَMarwān عادَbecame كَذيlike one with نُحولٍthinness
أَرى مَروانَ عادَ كَذي نُحولٍ
مِنَof الهِندِيِّIndian steel قَدalready فَقَدَlost الصِقالاthe polish
مِنَ الهِندِيِّ قَد فَقَدَ الصِقالا
"I see Marwān become like a slender blade
I said to her, "What you see changed in me
of Indian steel that has lost its polish."
Is deep sadness that struck high."
فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her الَّذيwhat أَنكَرتِyou found strange مِنّيin me
فَقُلتُ لَها الَّذي أَنكَرتِ مِنّي
لِفَجعِfrom the shock of مُصيبَةٍa calamity أَنكىwounded deeply وَعالاand overwhelmed
لِفَجعِ مُصيبَةٍ أَنكى وَعالا
So I told her, "What you find strange in me
"Days of sorrow rotate,
comes from a calamity's shock that wounded and overwhelmed me.
Altering man's state again and again.
وَأَيّامُand the days of المَنونِdeath لَهاhave صُروفٌreversals
وَأَيّامُ المَنونِ لَها صُروفٌ
تَقَلَّبُturn بِالفَتىa man حالاًone state فَحالاthen another
تَقَلَّبُ بِالفَتى حالاً فَحالا
The days of death have their reversals,
After you, people see us in times
turning a man from state to state."
That have not been kind to our forefathers.
يَراناsee us الناسُthe people بَعدَكَafter you فلthe broken remnant of دَهرٍan age
يَرانا الناسُ بَعدَكَ فل دَهرٍ
أَبيrefused لِجُدودِناour fortunes إِلّاanything but اِغتِيالاtreacherous destruction
أَبي لِجُدودِنا إِلّا اِغتِيالا
People see us after you as the wreckage of an age
We are like cups, from which times didn't spare
that granted our fortunes nothing but treacherous ruin.
A portion for us or let us subsist."
فَنَحنُso we كَأَسهُمٍlike arrows لَمnot يُبقِleft ريشاًfeathers
فَنَحنُ كَأَسهُمٍ لَم يُبقِ ريشاً
لَهاfor them رَيبُthe calamities of الزَمانِtime وَلاnor نصالاarrowheads
لَها رَيبُ الزَمانِ وَلا نصالا
So we are like arrows: not a feather was left
We would quench thirst at your basin
on them by time's calamities, nor a point.
And not reject the overflow.
وَقَدand indeed كُنّاwe were بِحَوضِكَat your pool ذاكَthat نَرويdrinking our fill
وَقَد كُنّا بِحَوضِكَ ذاكَ نَروي
وَلاand not نَرِدُwe visited المُصَرَّدَةَrationed السِحالاscant waters
وَلا نَرِدُ المُصَرَّدَةَ السِحالا
We once drank our fill at that pool of yours,
My father yearned for you when gifts
and never came to meager, rationed waters.
Were made, false and corrupted.
فَلَهفُso the anguish of أَبيmy father عَلَيكَfor you إِذاwhen العَطاياgifts
فَلَهفُ أَبي عَلَيكَ إِذا العَطايا
جُعِلنَwere made مُنىhopes كَواذِبَfalse وَاِغتِلالاand deceit
جُعِلنَ مُنى كَواذِبَ وَاِغتِلالا
Oh, my father's anguish for you, when gifts
My father longed for you when captives
become false hopes and deceit!
Complained of the shackles bruising their necks.
وَلَهفُand the anguish of أَبيmy father عَلَيكَfor you إِذاwhen الأَسارىcaptives
وَلَهفُ أَبي عَلَيكَ إِذا الأَسارى
شَكَواcomplained of حَلَقاًrings بِأَسوُقِهِمon their shins ثِقالاheavy
شَكَوا حَلَقاً بِأَسوُقِهِم ثِقالا
And my father's anguish for you, when captives
My father longed for you when orphans
complain of heavy rings upon their shins!
Wandered disheveled, as if cast off.
وَلَهفُand the anguish of أَبيmy father عَلَيكَfor you إِذاwhen اليَتامىorphans
وَلَهفُ أَبي عَلَيكَ إِذا اليَتامى
غَدَواwent about شُعثاًdisheveled كَأَنَّas though بِهِمthey had سُلالاwasting sickness
غَدَوا شُعثاً كَأَنَّ بِهِم سُلالا
And my father's anguish for you, when orphans
My father longed for you when livestock
go about disheveled, as though afflicted with wasting sickness!
Suffered drought, dying of emaciation.
وَلَهفُand the anguish of أَبيmy father عَلَيكَfor you إِذاwhen المَواشيlivestock
وَلَهفُ أَبي عَلَيكَ إِذا المَواشي
قَرَتremained amid جَدباًdrought تُماتُare killed بِهِby it هُزالاthrough wasting
قَرَت جَدباً تُماتُ بِهِ هُزالا
And my father's anguish for you, when livestock
My father longed for you, for every pregnant she-camel
remain amid drought that wastes them to death!
Bearing burdens that weighed down its back.
وَلَهفُand the anguish of أَبيmy father عَلَيكَfor you لِكُلِّat every هَيجاbattle
وَلَهفُ أَبي عَلَيكَ لِكُلِّ هَيجا
لَهاbecause of it تُلقىcast forth حَوامِلُهاits pregnant beasts السِخالاthe young
لَها تُلقى حَوامِلُها السِخالا
And my father's anguish for you in every battle
My father longed for you when poetry
that makes its pregnant beasts cast their young!
Went astray in praise of the undeserving.
وَلَهفُand the anguish of أَبيmy father عَلَيكَfor you إِذاwhen القَوافيverses
وَلَهفُ أَبي عَلَيكَ إِذا القَوافي
لِمُمتَدَحٍfor one praised بِهاin them ذَهَبَتwent ضَلالاto waste
لِمُمتَدَحٍ بِها ذَهَبَت ضَلالا
And my father's anguish for you, when verses
My father longed for you in every matter
for a man praised in them go utterly to waste!
For which the honorable would say, strategize!
وَلَهفُand the anguish of أَبيmy father عَلَيكَfor you لِكُلِّat every أَمرٍmatter
وَلَهفُ أَبي عَلَيكَ لِكُلِّ أَمرٍ
يَقولُsays لَهُabout it النَجِيُّthe confidant أَلاis there no اِحتِيالاremedy
يَقولُ لَهُ النَجِيُّ أَلا اِحتِيالا
And my father's anguish for you in every plight
We stayed in Yamama, having despaired
of which the confidant says, "Is there no remedy?"
Of staying in a place we didn't want.
أَقَمناwe stayed بِاليَمامَةِin al-Yamāmah إِذwhen يَئِسناwe despaired
أَقَمنا بِاليَمامَةِ إِذ يَئِسنا
مُقاماًa stay لاnot نُريدُwe desire لَهُfor it زِيالاdeparture
مُقاماً لا نُريدُ لَهُ زِيالا
We stayed in al-Yamāmah when we despaired,
We said, where can we go after Ma'n
in a stay from which we desire no departure.
When gifts and hospitality have departed?
وَقُلناand we said أَينَwhere نَرحَلُwe journey بَعدَafter مَعنٍMaʿn
وَقُلنا أَينَ نَرحَلُ بَعدَ مَعنٍ
وَقَدand indeed ذَهَبَdeparted النَوالُbounty فَلاso no نَوالاbounty
وَقَد ذَهَبَ النَوالُ فَلا نَوالا
And we said, "Where shall we journey after Maʿn,
If you are gone, many are the horses
when bounty has gone and no bounty remains?"
Whose bridles you've pulled with strength.
فَإِنso if تَذهَبyou depart فَرُبَّthen many رِعالِsquadrons of خَيلٍhorses
فَإِن تَذهَب فَرُبَّ رِعالِ خَيلٍ
عَوابِسَfierce-faced قَدindeed كَفَفتَyou held back بِهاwith them رِعالاsquadrons
عَوابِسَ قَد كَفَفتَ بِها رِعالا
If you are gone, how many squadrons of horses,
You were a spring for some people,
fierce-faced, have you used to turn back other squadrons!
And a calamity for others.
وَقَومٍand a people قَدindeed جُعِلتَyou were made لَهُمfor them رَبيعاًa springtime
وَقَومٍ قَد جُعِلتَ لَهُم رَبيعاً
وَقَومٍand a people قَدindeed جُعِلتَyou were made لَهُمfor them نَكالاa chastisement
وَقَومٍ قَد جُعِلتَ لَهُم نَكالا
And for many a people you were made a springtime,
None who witnessed your feats was firmer,
and for many a people you were made a scourge!
More forbearing when wronged, and harsher in affliction.
فَماso no one شَهِدَwitnessed الوَقائِعَthe battles مِنكَthan you أَمضىmore decisive
فَما شَهِدَ الوَقائِعَ مِنكَ أَمضى
وَأَكرَمُand nobler محتَداًin lineage وَأَشَدُّand stronger بالاin spirit
وَأَكرَمُ محتَداً وَأَشَدُّ بالا
No one who witnessed battles was more decisive than you,
The Caliph, when matters trouble him
nobler in lineage, or stronger in spirit.
And he lacks men, will remember you.
سَيذكُرُكَwill remember you الخَليفَةُthe caliph غَيرَnot قالaverse
سَيذكُرُكَ الخَليفَةُ غَيرَ قال
إِذاwhen هُوَhe بالأُمورِthrough affairs بَلاtested الرِجالاthe men
إِذا هُوَ بالأُمورِ بَلا الرِجالا
The caliph will remember you without aversion
He won't forget your exploits against enemies
when he tests men through the tasks before him.
That brought them ruin and woes.
وَلاand not يَنسىforgets وَقائِعِكَyour battles اللَواتيwhich
وَلا يَنسى وَقائِعِكَ اللَواتي
عَلىagainst أَعدائِهِhis enemies جُعِلَتwere made وَبالاa scourge
عَلى أَعدائِهِ جُعِلَت وَبالا
Nor will he forget your battles,
A battlefield you witnessed defending
made a scourge against his enemies,
That even its knights disliked to fight in.
وَمُعتَرَكاًand a battlefield شَهِدتَyou attended بِهِthere حِفاظاًin defense of honor
وَمُعتَرَكاً شَهِدتَ بِهِ حِفاظاً
وَقَدand indeed كَرِهَتdisliked فَوارِسُهُits horsemen النِزالاcombat
وَقَد كَرِهَت فَوارِسُهُ النِزالا
or a battlefield where you fought in defense of honor,
The brother of Umayya will remember you in elegy
when its horsemen shrank from combat.
Along with praise you were given.
حَباكَbestowed upon you أَخوthe kinsman of أُمَيَّةَUmayyah بِالمَراثيwith elegies
حَباكَ أَخو أُمَيَّةَ بِالمَراثي
مَعَwith المِدَحِthe praises اللَواتيwhich كانَhad قالاrecited
مَعَ المِدَحِ اللَواتي كانَ قالا
Umayyah's kinsman has gifted you elegies,
Every year he journeyed close to you
along with the praises he had spoken before.
Prolonging his stay at Al-Wasit.
أَقامَstayed وَكانَand had نَحوَكَtoward you كُلَّevery عامٍyear
أَقامَ وَكانَ نَحوَكَ كُلَّ عامٍ
يُطيلُprolongs بواسِطِround the pommel of الرَحلِthe saddle اِعتِقالاhooking his leg
يُطيلُ بواسِطِ الرَحلِ اِعتِقالا
He stayed, though every year toward you he used
In sorrow, he shunned travel
to ride long with his leg hooked round the saddle's pommel.
And swore never to saddle his mount.
وَأَلقىand cast down رَحلَهُhis saddle أَسَفاًin sorrow وَآلىand swore
وَأَلقى رَحلَهُ أَسَفاً وَآلى
يَميناًan oath لاnot يَشُدُّhe fastens لَهُfor it حِبالاropes
يَميناً لا يَشُدُّ لَهُ حِبالا
And he cast down his saddle in sorrow and swore
an oath never to fasten its ropes again.
Partial English translation: 106 of 108 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1