أبى ليليَ أن يذهَب

أبى ليليَ أن يذهَب

ونيطَ الطرفُ بالكَوكَب

ونيطَ الطرفُ بالكَوكَب

My night refused to depart,

My night refused to leave

and my gaze was fastened to the star,

And the starry gaze was bound

ونجمٍ دونَهُ الأهوا

ونجمٍ دونَهُ الأهوا

لُ بين الدلو والعقرَب

لُ بين الدلو والعقرَب

and to a star, before which lie

By a star with allure below it

terrors, between Aquarius and Scorpio.

Between the bucket and Scorpio

وهذا الصبحُ لا يُأتى

وهذا الصبحُ لا يُأتى

ولا يدنو ولا يقرُب

ولا يدنو ولا يقرُب

And this dawn cannot be reached,

And this morning won't come

nor does it draw near or approach,

Nor approach nor draw near

بعقرِ عشيرةٍ منّا

بعقرِ عشيرةٍ منّا

كرامِ الخيمِ والمنصب

كرامِ الخيمِ والمنصب

because of the slaughter of a clan of ours,

With the wrath of our people

noble in character and descent.

The generous tents and high office

أحالَ علَيهمُ دهرٌ

أحالَ علَيهمُ دهرٌ

حديدُ النابِ والمِخلَب

حديدُ النابِ والمِخلَب

Fate turned upon them,

Time has turned against them

sharp of fang and claw.

With iron claws and talons

فحَلَّ بهم وقد أمِنوا

فحَلَّ بهم وقد أمِنوا

ولم يُقصِر ولم يشطُب

ولم يُقصِر ولم يشطُب

Then it descended upon them while they felt secure,

So it befell them while they felt safe

and neither held back nor swerved.

Without falling short or cutting back

وما عنهُ إذا ما ح

وما عنهُ إذا ما ح

لَّ من منجىً ولا مهرَب

لَّ من منجىً ولا مهرَب

And from it, whenever it

And from it, when it swooped down

descends, there is no refuge or escape.

There was no escape or refuge

ألا يا عينُ فابكيهم

ألا يا عينُ فابكيهم

بدَمعٍ منكِ مُستَغرب

بدَمعٍ منكِ مُستَغرب

Ah, O eye, weep for them

Oh eye, weep for them

with overflowing tears from you.

With unexpected tears from you

فإن أبكي فهُم عزّي

فإن أبكي فهُم عزّي

وهُم رُكني وهُم منكِب

وهُم رُكني وهُم منكِب

For if I weep, they are my strength;

For if I weep, they are my pride

and they are my pillar and my shoulder.

They are my pillar and shoulder

وهم أصلي وهُم فرعي

وهم أصلي وهُم فرعي

وهم نسبي إذا أُنسَب

وهم نسبي إذا أُنسَب

And they are my root and my branch,

They are my origin and branch

and they are my lineage when my ancestry is traced.

My lineage if it is traced

وهم مجدي وهُم شرفي

وهم مجدي وهُم شرفي

وهم حصني إذا أُنسَب

وهم حصني إذا أُنسَب

And they are my glory and my honor,

They are my glory and honor

and they are my fortress when my ancestry is traced.

My fortress if lineage is traced

وهُم رمحي وهُم تُرسي

وهُم رمحي وهُم تُرسي

وهُم سيفي إذا أغضَب

وهُم سيفي إذا أغضَب

And they are my spear and my shield,

They are my spear and shield

and they are my sword when I grow angry.

My sword if it is unsheathed

فكَم من قائلٍ منهُم

فكَم من قائلٍ منهُم

إذا ما قالَ لم يُكذب

إذا ما قالَ لم يُكذب

So how many a speaker among them

So many speakers among them

was never belied when he spoke!

Who when they spoke were not doubted

وكم من ناطقٍ فيهم

وكم من ناطقٍ فيهم

خطيبٍ مصقَعٍ مُعرِب

خطيبٍ مصقَعٍ مُعرِب

And how many a speaker among them,

And so many eloquent ones

an eloquent, clear-spoken orator!

Orators, pure and articulate

وكم من فارسٍ منهُم

وكم من فارسٍ منهُم

كمِيٍّ معلَمٍ محرَب

كمِيٍّ معلَمٍ محرَب

And how many a horseman among them,

And so many horsemen among them

an armored warrior, marked out and fierce in battle!

Valiant, seasoned, tested in war

وكم من مدرَهٍ فيهم

وكم من مدرَهٍ فيهم

أريبٍ حولَه مغلب

أريبٍ حولَه مغلب

And how many a spokesman among them,

And so many polished ones

shrewd, with a victor about him!

Cunning, victorious around him

وكم من جحفلٍ فيهِم

وكم من جحفلٍ فيهِم

عظيمِ النارِ والمَوكِب

عظيمِ النارِ والمَوكِب

And how many a mighty lord among them,

And so many regiments among them

great in fire and retinue!

With mighty fire and procession

وكم من خضرَمٍ فيهِم

وكم من خضرَمٍ فيهِم

نجيبٍ ماجدٍ مُنجِب

نجيبٍ ماجدٍ مُنجِب

And how many a lavish giver among them,

And so many elderly among them

nobly born, illustrious, begetting noble offspring!

Noble, glorious, begetting glory