إنّيindeed I أَتَتنيcame to me لِسانٌa report مَاnot أُسَرُّI am gladdened بهاby it
إنّي أَتَتني لِسانٌ مَا أُسَرُّ بها
منfrom عُلوَthe uplands لاno عَجَبقwonder (text uncertain) فِيهَاin it ولاnor سَخَرُmockery
من عُلوَ لا عَجَبق فِيهَا ولا سَخَرُ
A report has reached me that brings me no joy,
I was brought news I wished not to hear,
from the uplands, with neither wonder nor mockery in it.
Of heights unreachable where none can jeer,
جَاءَتْit came مُرَجِّمَةًas a rumor قَدْalready كُنْتُI was أَحْذَرُهاfearing it
جَاءَتْ مُرَجِّمَةً قَدْ كُنْتُ أَحْذَرُها
لوif كانَwere يَنْفَعُنيto benefit me الإِشْفَاقُapprehension والحَذَرُand caution
لو كانَ يَنْفَعُني الإِشْفَاقُ والحَذَرُ
It came as a rumor I had feared,
She came translating though I feared her arrival,
if apprehension and caution could have helped me.
Protection and caution would have been my survival.
تَأْتِيit comes علىupon النّاسِpeople لاnot تُلويturning aside علىfor أَحَدٍanyone
تَأْتِي على النّاسِ لا تُلوي على أَحَدٍ
حتىuntil أَتَتْنَاit came to us وَكَانَتْand was دُونَنَاbetween us and it مُضَرُMudar
حتى أَتَتْنَا وَكَانَتْ دُونَنَا مُضَرُ
It comes upon people, turning aside for no one,
To people she comes not twisting any fact,
until it reached us, though Mudar lay between us and it.
Until she came to us and caused our pact.
إذاwhenever يُعَادُis repeated لهاof it ذِكْرٌmention أُكَذِّبُهُI deny it
إذا يُعَادُ لها ذِكْرٌ أُكَذِّبُهُ
حتىuntil أتَتْنيcame to me بِهَاwith it الأنْبَاءُtidings وَالخَبَرُand reports
حتى أتَتْني بِهَا الأنْبَاءُ وَالخَبَرُ
Whenever mention of it was repeated, I denied it,
When her story’s retold I deny its validity,
until tidings and reports brought it to me.
Until news and reports convinced me of its clarity.
فَبِتُّso I spent the night مُكْتَئِباًdespondent حَيْرَانَbewildered أَنْدُبُهُlamenting him
فَبِتُّ مُكْتَئِباً حَيْرَانَ أَنْدُبُهُ
وَلَسْتُand I am not أَدْفَعُwarding off ماwhat يَأْتِيcomes بِهِwith it القدَرُfate
وَلَسْتُ أَدْفَعُ ما يَأْتِي بِهِ القدَرُ
So I spent the night despondent and bewildered, lamenting him,
So I remained depressed, distraught, voicing my pain,
unable to ward off what fate brings.
But can’t avert what destiny ordains.
فَجَاشَتِthen surged النّفْسُthe soul لَمّاwhen جَاءَarrived جَمْعُهُمُtheir company
فَجَاشَتِ النّفْسُ لَمّا جَاءَ جَمْعُهُمُ
وَرَاكبٌand a rider جَاءَcame مِنْfrom تَثْلِيثَTathlith مُعْتَمِرُturbaned
وَرَاكبٌ جَاءَ مِنْ تَثْلِيثَ مُعْتَمِرُ
My soul surged when their company arrived,
When the throng came with a rider from pilgrimage rite,
and a turbaned rider came from Tathlith.
You've come from pilgrimage to mourn him alright.
إنَّindeed الذيthe one whom جِئْتَyou came مْنْfrom تَثْلِيثَTathlith تَنْدُبُهُto lament him
إنَّ الذي جِئْتَ مْنْ تَثْلِيثَ تَنْدُبُهُ
مِنْهُfrom him السّمَاحُliberality وَمِنْهُand from him الجودُgenerosity وَالغِيَرُand blood-money payments
مِنْهُ السّمَاحُ وَمِنْهُ الجودُ وَالغِيَرُ
Indeed, the man you came from Tathlith to mourn—
He who was generous, noble and giving,
from him came liberality, generosity, and blood-money payments.
News you bring of him make the living souls grieving.
تَنَعَىyou announce the death of امرأًa man لاَnot تَغُبَّmissing a day الحيَّthe clan جَفْنَتُهُhis serving-bowl
تَنَعَى امرأً لاَ تَغُبَّ الحيَّ جَفْنَتُهُ
إذاwhen الكَوَاكِبُthe stars خَوّىfailed نَوْأَهاtheir rain-season المَطَرُrain
إذا الكَوَاكِبُ خَوّى نَوْأَها المَطَرُ
You mourn a man whose serving-bowl never failed the clan,
Eyes won't dry though stars rain their tears,
when rain failed at the stars' appointed seasons,
As camels pace dusty over muddy frontier.
وَرَاحَتِand returned at dusk الشَّوْلُthe milkless she-camels مُغْبَرّاًdust-covered مَنَاكِبُهاtheir shoulders
وَرَاحَتِ الشَّوْلُ مُغْبَرّاً مَنَاكِبُها
شُعْثاًunkempt تَغَيّرَchanged مِنْهَاin them النَّيُّfat وَالوَبَرُand camel-hair
شُعْثاً تَغَيّرَ مِنْهَا النَّيُّ وَالوَبَرُ
and the milkless she-camels came home with dusty shoulders,
The white desert fox howls, winter's omen,
unkempt, their fat and hair altered,
Tribes gather stones preparing the barrow.
وَأَجْحَرَand drove into a den الكَلْبَthe dog مُبْيَضُّwhitened weather الصَّقِيعِfrost بِهِin it
وَأَجْحَرَ الكَلْبَ مُبْيَضُّ الصَّقِيعِ بِهِ
وَضَمّتand gathered الحيَّthe clan مِنْagainst صُرّادِهِits bitter cold الحُجَرُthe chambers
وَضَمّت الحيَّ مِنْ صُرّادِهِ الحُجَرُ
and frost-white weather drove the dog into its den,
The first nourishment for people was known to them,
and chambers gathered the clan against its bitter cold.
Then bare mounts once their burdens were lain on earth.
عَلَيْهِupon him أَوّلُthe first زَادِprovisions of القَوْمِthe company قَدْindeed عَلِمواthey knew
عَلَيْهِ أَوّلُ زَادِ القَوْمِ قَدْ عَلِموا
ثُمَّthen المَطيَّthe riding-camels إذاwhen ما(emphasis) أَرْمَلواthey ran out of provisions جَزَرُواthey slaughtered
ثُمَّ المَطيَّ إذا ما أَرْمَلوا جَزَرُوا
The company's first provisions were his to supply, as they knew;
Unsheathed swords strike, their gleam blinds gazers,
then, when supplies ran out, they slaughtered the riding-camels.
Biting through napes where blood spurts like red fountains.
لاnot تَأْمَنُfeels safe from البازلُthe mature camel الكوماءُhigh-humped ضَرْبَتَهُhis stroke
لا تَأْمَنُ البازلُ الكوماءُ ضَرْبَتَهُ
بِالمَشْرَفيّwith the Mashrafi sword إذاwhen ما(emphasis) اخْرَوّطَgrew long السّفَرُthe journey
بِالمَشْرَفيّ إذا ما اخْرَوّطَ السّفَرُ
The mature, high-humped she-camel is not safe from his stroke
A brother of wanderers, bounty was theirs when present,
with the Mashrafi sword, whenever the journey grows long.
In their absence, caution and vigilance pleasant.
قَدْmay تَكْظِمُwithhold cud البُزْلُthe mature camels مِنْهُfor fear of him حِينَwhen يَفْجؤهاhe surprises them
قَدْ تَكْظِمُ البُزْلُ مِنْهُ حِينَ يَفْجؤها
حَتّىuntil تَقَطَّعَare cut apart فيin أَعْنَاقِهاtheir necks الجِرَرُthe cuds
حَتّى تَقَطَّعَ في أَعْنَاقِها الجِرَرُ
The mature camels may hold back their cud in fear when he surprises them,
Shooting star of wars, lighting dark nights,
until the cuds are cut apart within their necks.
Like the moon lights up surface of black lava bright.
أَخُوa man of رَغَائِبَprized gifts يُعْطِيهَاhe gives them وَيَسْأَلُهاand asks for them
أَخُو رَغَائِبَ يُعْطِيهَا وَيَسْأَلُها
يَخْشَىfears الظُّلامَةَwrongful harm مِنْهُfrom him النَّوْفَلُthe generous lord الزَّفَرُthe stalwart
يَخْشَى الظُّلامَةَ مِنْهُ النَّوْفَلُ الزَّفَرُ
A man of prized gifts, he gives them and asks for them;
Snorting charger, day presses without rest,
the generous, stalwart lord fears a wrong from him.
Nightshirt ripped, gallant show its best.
مَنْone who لَيْسَhas not فيin خَيْرِهِhis bounty مَنٌّreproachful reminders يُكَدّرُهُtainting it
مَنْ لَيْسَ في خَيْرِهِ مَنٌّ يُكَدّرُهُ
عَلَىtoward الصَّدِيقِthe friend وَلاَand no فيin صَفْوِهِhis clarity كَدَرُmurkiness
عَلَى الصَّدِيقِ وَلاَ في صَفْوِهِ كَدَرُ
A man whose kindness bears no reproach to taint it
Giant stallion, brother of trust now lain,
for a friend, nor any murkiness in his clear goodwill.
Generous and glorious his fame remains.
يَمْشيhe walks بِبَيْدَاءَthrough a wilderness لاnot يَمْشيwalks بِهَاin it أَحَدٌanyone
يَمْشي بِبَيْدَاءَ لا يَمْشي بِهَا أَحَدٌ
وَلاَand not يُحَسُّis sensed خَلاَexcept for الخافيthe unseen jinn بِهَاin it أَثَرُa trace
وَلاَ يُحَسُّ خَلاَ الخافي بِهَا أَثَرُ
He walks through a wilderness where no one else walks,
Knight who spurred mount through night in frays,
and no trace is sensed there except that of the unseen jinn.
A people with no water or trees to allay.
كَأَنّهُas though he بَعْدَafter صِدْقِproved true to القَوْمِthe men أَنْفُسَهمthemselves
كَأَنّهُ بَعْدَ صِدْقِ القَوْمِ أَنْفُسَهم
بِالبأسِin battle يَلْمَعُflashes مِنْfrom أَقْدَامِهِhis feet الشّرَرُsparks
بِالبأسِ يَلْمَعُ مِنْ أَقْدَامِهِ الشّرَرُ
As though, after the men have proved themselves
No shying at what the pot contained for them,
in battle, sparks flash from his feet.
Nor biting raw meat however fierce the hunger pang.
وَلَيْسَand there is not فِيهِin him إذاwhen اسْتَنْظَرْتَهُyou ask him for time عَجَلٌhaste
وَلَيْسَ فِيهِ إذا اسْتَنْظَرْتَهُ عَجَلٌ
وَلَيْسَand there is not فيهِin him إذاwhen ياسَرْتَهُyou seek easy terms with him عُسُرُharshness
وَلَيْسَ فيهِ إذا ياسَرْتَهُ عُسُرُ
There is no haste in him when you ask him for time,
A morsel of grilled meat avails when craved,
nor any harshness when you seek easy terms with him.
Quenching thirst if the sweet rainwater’s saved.
إمّاif يُصِبْهُstrikes him عَدوٌّan enemy فيin مُنَاوَأةٍa hostile encounter
إمّا يُصِبْهُ عَدوٌّ في مُنَاوَأةٍ
يَوْماًone day فَقَدْfor indeed كَانَhe was يَسْتَعليprevailing وَيَنْتَصِرُand winning victory
يَوْماً فَقَدْ كَانَ يَسْتَعلي وَيَنْتَصِرُ
If an enemy strikes him in a hostile encounter
Safe from his rage at dawn or dusk aren’t folks,
one day, he had certainly prevailed and triumphed before.
In each ravine though no battle cry invokes.
أَخُوa man of حُروبٍwars وَمِكْسَابٌand a great earner إذاwhen عَدَمُواthey lacked everything
أَخُو حُروبٍ وَمِكْسَابٌ إذا عَدَمُوا
وفيand in المَخَافَةِdanger مِنْهُfrom him الجِدُّearnest resolve والحَذَرُand caution
وفي المَخَافَةِ مِنْهُ الجِدُّ والحَذَرُ
A man of wars, and a great provider when they have nothing,
Impatient for their cauldrons to boil ere sunrise,
and in danger, his are resolve and caution.
Eyes clear not of rheum till hands can rub.
مِردَىa crushing rock حُروبٍof wars شِهابٌa blazing star يُسْتَضَاءُlight is sought بِهِby him
مِردَى حُروبٍ شِهابٌ يُسْتَضَاءُ بِهِ
كَمَاjust as أَضَاءَilluminated سَوَادَthe blackness of الصَّخْيَةِthe dark night القَمَرُthe moon
كَمَا أَضَاءَ سَوَادَ الصَّخْيَةِ القَمَرُ
A crushing rock in war, a blazing star whose light guides,
No tired ligaments however far he roams,
as the moon lights the blackness of the dark night.
Ever ahead of clan, all wrongs he redresses.
مُهَفْهَفٌslender أَهْضَمُhollow الكَشْحَينِthe two flanks مُنْخَرِقٌtorn open
مُهَفْهَفٌ أَهْضَمُ الكَشْحَينِ مُنْخَرِقٌ
عَنْهُfrom him القَمِيصُthe shirt لِسَيْرِof travel اللّيْلِby night مُحْتَقِرُmaking light
عَنْهُ القَمِيصُ لِسَيْرِ اللّيْلِ مُحْتَقِرُ
Slender and hollow-flanked; torn away
We lived an era with him then departed he did,
from him is his shirt; he makes light of night travel.
Like the two-edged spear that finally split.
ضَخْمُgreat الدّسِيعَةِbounty متلافٌa lavish spender أَخُوa man of ثِقةٍtrustworthiness
ضَخْمُ الدّسِيعَةِ متلافٌ أَخُو ثِقةٍ
حَامِيprotector of الحَقِيقةِwhat must be defended مِنْهُfrom him الجُودُgenerosity والفَخَرُand pride
حَامِي الحَقِيقةِ مِنْهُ الجُودُ والفَخَرُ
Great in bounty, a lavish spender, a man of trust,
How excellent you were when asked for bounty!
a protector of honor; from him come generosity and pride.
How ready to defend us against calamity!
طاويempty المَصِيرِthe gut علىamid العَزّاءِhardship مُنْجَرِدٌpressing onward
طاوي المَصِيرِ على العَزّاءِ مُنْجَرِدٌ
بِالقَوْمِwith the company لَيْلَةَon a night لاno ماءٌwater ولاand no شَجَرُtrees
بِالقَوْمِ لَيْلَةَ لا ماءٌ ولا شَجَرُ
Hollow-bellied amid hardship, he presses onward
You have attained inviolable kin,
with the company through a night with neither water nor trees.
Hind daughter of Sallama, but no triumph for you therein.
لاَnot يَتَأرّىlingers لِمَأfor what فيin القِدْرِthe pot يَرْقبُهُhe watches it
لاَ يَتَأرّى لِمَأ في القِدْرِ يَرْقبُهُ
ولاand not يَعَضّbites علىat شُرسُوفِهِhis rib-cartilage الصَّفَرُthe hunger-worm
ولا يَعَضّ على شُرسُوفِهِ الصَّفَرُ
He does not linger, watching what is in the pot,
If we despair, disaster caused us to waver;
nor does the hunger-worm bite at his rib-cartilage.
If we're patient, we are a people of composure.
تَكْفِيهِsuffices him فِلْذَةُa morsel لَحْمٍof meat إنْif أَلمّhe chances بِهَاupon it
تَكْفِيهِ فِلْذَةُ لَحْمٍ إنْ أَلمّ بِهَا
مِنَof الشِّواءِroast meat وَيَرويand quenches شُرْبَهُhis thirst الغَمَرُthe small drinking-cup
مِنَ الشِّواءِ وَيَروي شُرْبَهُ الغَمَرُ
A morsel of meat suffices him, if he chances upon it,
But for vile betrayal, your feats would have flowed;
of roast meat; a small cup quenches his thirst.
A stream irrigating people, or flooding the broad.
لاَnot يَأْمَنfeel safe from النّاسُpeople مُمْسَاهُhis evening arrival وَمُصْبَحَهُand his morning arrival
لاَ يَأْمَن النّاسُ مُمْسَاهُ وَمُصْبَحَهُ
فيin كلّevery فَجٍpass وإنْand even if لَمْnot يَغزُhe raids يُنْتَظَرُhe is expected
في كلّ فَجٍ وإنْ لَمْ يَغزُ يُنْتَظَرُ
People are not safe from his coming at evening or morning;
Kill him and your women are up for grabs;
in every pass he is expected, even when he does not raid.
To him belong stratagems and bold attacks.
المُعَجّلُthe one hastening القَوْمِthe company أَنْto تَغليboil مَرَاجِلُهُمْtheir cauldrons
المُعَجّلُ القَوْمِ أَنْ تَغلي مَرَاجِلُهُمْ
قَبْلَbefore الصَّبَاحِdawn وَلَمّاand not yet يُمْسَحِare rubbed البَصَرُthe eyes
قَبْلَ الصَّبَاحِ وَلَمّا يُمْسَحِ البَصَرُ
He hastens the company to set their cauldrons boiling
If you take a path, you tread, consequences unfold;
before dawn, while eyes have not yet been rubbed.
So go, and may God not make you strayed and distraught!
لاَnot يَغْمِزُrubs السّاقَthe leg مِنْfrom أَيْنٍweariness ولاnor نَصَبٍexhaustion
لاَ يَغْمِزُ السّاقَ مِنْ أَيْنٍ ولا نَصَبٍ
وَلاَand not يَزَالُceases أَمَامَahead of القَوْمِthe company يَغْتَفِرُstriding swiftly
وَلاَ يَزَالُ أَمَامَ القَوْمِ يَغْتَفِرُ
He never rubs his leg from weariness or exhaustion,
and always strides swiftly ahead of the company.
عِشْنَاwe lived بِهِby him بُرْهَةًfor a span دَهْراًa long time فَوَدّعَناthen he bade us farewell
عِشْنَا بِهِ بُرْهَةً دَهْراً فَوَدّعَنا
كَذَلِكَthus الرِّمْحُthe spear ذُوwith النّصْلَيْنِtwo blades يَنْكَسِرُbreaks
كَذَلِكَ الرِّمْحُ ذُو النّصْلَيْنِ يَنْكَسِرُ
We lived by him for a long time; then he bade us farewell.
Thus does the spear with two blades break.
فَنِعْمَso excellent is مَاthe one whom أَنْتَyou عِنْدَwhen seeking الخَيْرِbounty تَسْأَلُهُask of him
فَنِعْمَ مَا أَنْتَ عِنْدَ الخَيْرِ تَسْأَلُهُ
وَنِعْمَand excellent is مَاthe one whom أَنْتَyou عِنْدَin البأسِbattle تَحْتَضِرُjoin
وَنِعْمَ مَا أَنْتَ عِنْدَ البأسِ تَحْتَضِرُ
Excellent is the man you ask for bounty,
and excellent the man you stand beside in battle.
أَصَبْتَyou struck فيamong حُرُمٍconsecrated men مِنّاof ours أَخَأa brother ثِقَةٍtrustworthiness
أَصَبْتَ في حُرُمٍ مِنّا أَخَأ ثِقَةٍ
هِنْدَHind بْنَson of سَلْمَىSalma فَلاَso may not يَهْنَاbe sweet لَكَto you الظَّفَرُvictory
هِنْدَ بْنَ سَلْمَى فَلاَ يَهْنَا لَكَ الظَّفَرُ
Among our consecrated men, you struck a trusted brother,
Hind ibn Salma; may your victory bring you no joy.
فإنْso if جَزَعْنَاwe grieve فإنّthen indeed الشّرّcalamity أَجْزَعَنَاmade us grieve
فإنْ جَزَعْنَا فإنّ الشّرّ أَجْزَعَنَا
وَإنْand if صَبَرْنَاwe endure فَإنَّاthen indeed we مَعْشَرٌa people صُبُرُsteadfast
وَإنْ صَبَرْنَا فَإنَّا مَعْشَرٌ صُبُرُ
If we grieve, calamity has caused our grief;
and if we endure, we are a steadfast people.
لَوْif لَمْnot يخُنْهُbetrays him نَفِيلٌNufayl لاسْتَمَرّwould surely continue بِهِwith him
لَوْ لَمْ يخُنْهُ نَفِيلٌ لاسْتَمَرّ بِهِ
وِردٌa coming to water يُلِمَreaches بِهَذَاamong these النّاسِpeople أَوْor صَدَرُa departure from water
وِردٌ يُلِمَ بِهَذَا النّاسِ أَوْ صَدَرُ
Had Nufayl not betrayed him, he would have kept going,
reaching these people, whether coming to water or departing.
إنْif تَقْتُلُوهُyou kill him فَقَدْthen perhaps تُسْبَىare taken captive نِسَاؤُكُمُyour women
إنْ تَقْتُلُوهُ فَقَدْ تُسْبَى نِسَاؤُكُمُ
وَقَدْand perhaps تَكُونُis لَهُhis المُعْلاَةُpreeminence وَالخَطَرُand high standing
وَقَدْ تَكُونُ لَهُ المُعْلاَةُ وَالخَطَرُ
If you kill him, your women may yet be taken captive,
and his may yet be preeminence and high standing.
فإنْand if سَلَكْتَyou traveled سَبيلاًa road كُنْتَyou were سَالِكَهاto travel it
فإنْ سَلَكْتَ سَبيلاً كُنْتَ سَالِكَها
فَاذْهَبْthen go فَلاَand may not يُبْعِدَنْكَcast you away اللَّهُGod مُنْتَشِرُMuntashir
فَاذْهَبْ فَلاَ يُبْعِدَنْكَ اللَّهُ مُنْتَشِرُ
If you have traveled the road you were to travel,
go, then; may God not cast you away, Muntashir.
Partial English translation: 56 of 72 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1