أَرِقتُ لِبَرقٍ بِالعِراقِ وَصُحبَتي
بِحَجرٍ وَما طَيَّاتُ قَومِيَ مِن حَجرِ
I was sleepless because of lightning in Iraq, while my companions slept on stone.
Flashes as if the clouds in their bowers, when they burst amid deep dark clouds, were flower gardens.
وَميضٌ كَأَنَّ الرَبطَ في حَجَراتِهِ
إِذا اِنشَقَّ في غُرٍّ غَوارِبُهُ زُهرِ
As the lances of Balqā’ darted, baring their blades, slender-waisted like the dragon.
Suns that horses from every side brought to a meadow on the Euphrates, circling about a stallion.
كَما رَمَحَت بَلقاءُ تَحمي فُلُوَّها
دَجوجِيَّةُ المَتنَينِ واضِحَةُ الخَصرِ
If I and my tribe return to them, we will be like him who consults the oracle but gets no answer.
Would that I had for them in my breast sincere advice and affection that could be twisted to the throat.
شَموسٌ أَتَتها الخَيلُ مِن كُلِّ جانِبٍ
بِمَرجٍ فُراتِيٍّ تَحومُ عَلى مُهرِ
Know, O thou that blamest destiny, that we were unruly before I gained power over the kingdom of the sons of Naṣr.
When we had taken the kingdom we were not to be coerced; we came to them from east and west as givers and receivers of good news.
فَإِنّي وَقَومي إِن رَجِعتُ إِلَيهِمُ
كَذي العِلقِ آلى لا يَنولُ وَلا يَشري
We held back the son of him of the two horns and his comrades from marching through what lies between east and west.
Our enemies knew that we—the quick helpers whose houses command the mountain-passes—
لَوَيتُ لَهُم في الصَدرِ مِنّي نَصيحَةً
وَوُدّاً كَما تُلوى اليَدانِ إِلى النَحرِ
Establish our dwellings in the abodes of guards; and if it be said they are but huts, yet we pass the night there satisfied.
We have a rugged hill, stubborn as Mālik, and a lion of Farā’, not to be awed by threats.
أَلا أَيُّهذا المُؤتَلي إِنَّ نَهشَلاً
عَصَوا قَبلَ ما آلَيتُ مُلكَ بَني نَصرِ
Their habit is not to cast out one of them whom fortune has cast down, or close their eyes to a brother.
They are the folk who do glorious deeds, and he whom the days have afflicted with grief turns to them for help.
فَلَمّا غَلَبنا المُلكَ لا يَقسِرونَنا
قَسَطنا فَأَقبَلنا مِنَ الهَيلِ وَالبِشرِ
Let him who counts them players reckon his account twice; let him not lie or remain in ignorance.
By our spears we saved him that called on us in deadly peril, when death was nearer to him than the tip of his finger-nail.
وَصَدَّ اِبنُ ذي القَرنَينِ عَنّا وَرَهطُهُ
نَسيرُ بِما بَينَ المَشارِقِ وَالقَهرِ
We rescued him from the spite of envious neighbours and from the hatred of those who bear malice. Neighbours, a folk fated to suffer vicissitudes and change.
If thou art neighbour to a man, dread bringing shame upon his honour; verily disgrace at the hands of neighbours is lasting infamy.
وَقَد عَلِمَت أَعداؤُنا أَنَّ نَهشَلاً
مَصاليتُ حَلاّلو البُيوتِ عَلى الثَغرِ
Repel from him what thou hast covenanted, cover his faults with what covering thou hast, and veil him with thy veil.
And, nephew of Juwwās, he strove a glorious striving, fulfilling for the Ḥayy the covenant of the Bakr.
تُقيمُ عَلى دارِ الحِفاظِ بُيوتُنا
وَإِن قيلَ مَرحاها نُصَبِّحُ أَو تَسري
By my life, the son of Ḍamrah gave his wealth freely to comrades from all regions different in language.
He gave hundreds of high-bred camels with their gear to men whose fires are not kept alive with wood or stones.
لَنا هَضبَةٌ صَمّاءُ مِن رُكنِ مالِكٍ
وَأُسدُ كِراءٍ لا تُوَزَّعُ بِالزَجرِ
Verily my people brandish their spears between Falaǧ and Medina, warding off dog and Ṭayyi’ and驟�ālib and the lances of Bakr.
Verily my people's abodes are not confined between mountain-pass and valley.
مَداريهُ ما يُلقى بِهِ أَو مَضيعَةٍ
أَخوهُم وَلا يُغضونَ عَيناً عَلى وَترِ
We defended our folk by sharing their luck, sons of a fire that blazes aloft ready to burn.
Their countenances by it are illumined, long-necked warriors with piercing weapons and reddish hair.
هُمُ القَومُ يَبنونَ الفَعالَ وَيَنتَمي
إِلَيهِم مُصابُ المالِ مِن عَنَتِ الدَهرِ
Palfreys tall as palm-trees rough coated, cured by piercing and branding.
We train them to plunge into every deep pool, to charge, firm-limbed with sturdy legs never resting.
وَمَن عَدَّ مَسعاةً فَلا يَكذِبَنَّها
وَلا يَكُ كَالأَعمى يَقولُ وَلا يَدري
And a day when those who rub down their horses seem as though the gleaming warriors and their steeds were afire.
It is as though the spears of our horsemen in their charges were roaring flames in a well.
وَمُستَلحِمٍ قَد أَنقَذَتهُ رِماحُنا
وَقَد كانَ مِنهُ المَوتُ أَقرَبَ مِن شِبرِ
We were steadfast till he was respited, for days of woe are made bearable by patience.
We broke the head of Ibn Ṭayyi’ on the high ground, with a blade that had left its mark plain to see on many a neck.
دَعانا فَنَجَّيناهُ في مُشمَخِرَّةٍ
مَعادَةِ جيرانٍ تَقَلَّصُ بِالغَفرِ
We dyed the tunic of al-Khaṭīm with blood from a piercing thrust that laid bare his throat.
And O Ḥayy of Salīṭ, joyfully we spent the night, though without wine save what flowed from our wounds.
وَجارٍ مَنَعناهُ مِنَ الضَيمِ وَالخَنا
وَجيرانُ أَقوامٍ بِمَدرَجَةِ الدَهرِ
And on the night of the raid of Zayd's horse our steeds attained their wish and ample share of booty and vengeance.
We took vengeance on Sumayy and his comrades for the what befell us from him and the tribe of Watar.
إِذا كُنتَ جاراً لاِمرِىءٍ فَاِرهَبِ الخَنا
عَلى عِرضِهِ إِنَّ الخَنا طَرَفُ الغَدرِ
The son of him of the two Momings quartered amidst our tents, his throat parched, his gullet burning.
We kept back the horses from gorging themselves on truffles and the steeds were restrained with us.
وَذُد عَن حِماهُ ما عَقَدتَ حِبالَهُ
بِحَبلِكَ وَاِستُرهُ بِما لَكَ مِن سِترِ
We held them until they submitted to our judgement and the camels' loads were brought to Sakhra.
You know Abū Fāris of the two mantles; on the day of Khifāf he marched forth alone across the desolate country.
وَخالي اِبنُ جَوّاسٍ سَعى سَعيَ ماجِدٍ
فَأَدّى إِلى حَيَّي قُضاعَةَ مِن بَكرِ
We saw between ‘Amr and Mālik three hundred placaters after the tribe was divided, and the wrongdoer was surrendered and the long-haired man was wearied.
And when al-Sā’ūn saw an impassable cleft and the mountain-sides closed,
لَعَمري لَقَد أَعطى اِبنُ ضَمرَةَ مالَهُ
رِفاقاً مِن الآفاقِ مُختَلِفي النَجرِ
We took up the loads of the three hundred, so that our clan was left free of debt and obligation.
In a meadow whose plants when rubbed give forth the musk-pod's fragrance, and whose young camels returning in the evening are hard-driven.
قَرى مِئَةً أَحمٍ لَها وَنُفوسَها
عَلى حينَ لا يُعطي الكَريمُ وَلا يَقري
And one of us brought down Māzin entire, and rescued it from slaughter and captivity.
With spears round ‘Aniṭ’s dwelling we encompassed Ṭarīf and his paternal uncle Ṭarīf son of ‘Amr.
أَلا إِنَّ قَومي واكزونَ رِماحَهُم
بِما بَينَ فَلجٍ وَالمَدينةِ مِن ثَغرِ
And a freed-man whom we saved when the battle had cast him down in deadly peril, as a swimmer well-nigh drowned is saved by true help and sure.
We have a rugged hill, stubborn as Mālik, and a lion of Farā’ that may not be scared away by threats.
يَذودونَ كَلباً بِالرِماحِ وَطَيِّئاً
وَتَغلِبَ وَالصيدَ النَواظِرَ مِن بَكرِ
If Naḥshal stands by me I have no fear, except of God, of indigence.
A champion akin to the souls of Ṣhatān repels whatever comes against me from Ḥawrān or Egypt.
أَلا إِنَّ قَومي لا يَجُنُّ بُيوتَهُم
مَضيقٌ مِنَ الوادي إِلى جَبَلٍ وَعرِ
The tribes of Jumḥ know I am he, when I hurl people headlong and smite hoary heads.
With the hurling of terrible lion-like rocks that bring out the whelps from their lair and make the pregnant hyenas miscarry.
وَنَحنُ مَنَعنا بِالتَناضُبِ قَومَنا
وَبِتنا عَلى نارٍ تُحَرَّقُ كَالفَجرِ
We defended Naḥshal, steadfast with me, whenever ghosts advanced from the direction of Ḥawrān or of Egypt.
The tribes all know that my throwing of javelins procures lamentation for the people and mourning for venerable elders.
تُضيءُ عَلى القَومِ الكِرامِ وُجوهُهُم
طِوالُ الهَوادي مِن وِرادٍ وَمِن شُقرِ
With the hurling of formidable rocks that drive forth the broods from their burrows and make the pregnant spotted hyenas miscarry.
نَقائِذَ أَمثالَ القَنا أَعوَجِيَّةً
وَجُرداً تَداوى بِالغَريضِ وَبِالنَقرِ
نُعَوِّدُها الإِقدامَ في كُلِّ غَمرَةٍ
وَكَرّاً بِأَيدٍ لا قِصارٍ وَلا عُسرِ
وَيَومٍ كَأَنَّ المُصطَلينَ بِحَرِّهِ
وَإِن لَم تَكُن نارٌ قِيامٌ عَلى الجَمرِ
كَأَنَّ رِماحَ القَومِ في غَمَراتِهِ
نَواشِطُ فُرّاطٍ نُواضِحُ في بِئرِ
صَبَرنا لَهُ حَتّى يُريحَ وَإِنَّما
تُفَرَّجُ أَيّامُ الكَريهَةِ بِالصَبرِ
وَنَحنُ فَلَينا لِاِبنِ طيبَةَ رَأسَهُ
عَلى مَرِقِ الغالي بِأَبيَضَ ذي أَثرِ
وَنَحنُ خَضَبنا لِلخَطيمِ قَميصَهُ
بِدامِيَةٍ نَجلاءَ مِن واضِحِ النَحرِ
وَحَيَّي سَليطٍ قَد صَبَحنا وَوائِلاً
صَبوحَ مَنايا غَيرَ ماءٍ وَلا خَمرِ
وَلَيلَةَ زَيدِ الخَيلِ نالَت جِيادُنا
مُناها وَحَظّاً مِن أَسارى وَمِن ثَأرِ
وَنَحنُ ثَأَرنا مِن سُمَيِّ وَرَهطِهِ
وَظَبيانَ ما في حَيِّ ظَبيانَ مِن وَترِ
وَقاظَ اِبنُ ذي الجَدَّينِ وَسطَ بُيوتِنا
وَكَرشا في الإِغلالِ وَالحَلقِ السُمرِ
وَنَحنُ حَبَسنا الخَيلَ أَن يَتأَوَّبوا
عَلى شَجَعاتٍ وَالجِيادُ بِنا تَجري
حَبَسناهُمُ حَتّى أَقَرّوا بُحُكمِنا
وَأُدِّيَ أَثقالُ الخَميسِ إِلى صَخرِ
أَبي فارِسِ الجَونَينِ قَد تَعلَمونَهُ
وَيَومَ خِفافٍ سارَ في لَجَبٍ مَجرِ
وَنَحنُ رَأَينا بَينَ عَمرٍو وَمالِكٍ
كَما شُدَّ أَعضادُ المَهيضَةِ بِالجَبرِ
مِئينَ ثَلاثاً بَعدَما اِنشَقَّتِ العَصا
وَقَد أُسلِمَ الجاني وَأُتعِبَ ذو الوَفرِ
وَلَمّا رَأَى الساعونَ زَلخاً مَزِلَّةً
وَسُدَّ الثَنايا غَيرَ مُطَّلَعٍ وَعرِ
نَهَضنا بِأَثقالِ المِئينَ فَأَصبَحَت
عَشيرَتُنا ما مِن خَبالٍ وَلا كَسرِ
بِمَرجٍ يُسِمُّ الراعِبَينِ جَنينُهُ
وَيَجهَدُ يَومَ الوِردِ ثائِبَةِ الجَفرِ
وَمِنّا الَّذي أَدّى مِنَ المُلكِ مازِناً
جَميعاً فَنَجّاها مِنَ القَتلِ وَالأَسرِ
وَنَحنُ حَوَينا بِالقَنا يَومَ عانِطٍ
طَريفاً وَمَولاها طَريفَ بَني عَمرِو
وَمَولىً تَدارَكناهُ مِن سوءِ صَرعَةٍ
وَقَد قَذَفَتهُ الحَربُ في لُجَجٍ خُضرِ
كَما اِنتاشَ مَغموراً مِن المَوتِ سابِحٌ
بِأَسبابِ صِدقٍ لا ضِعافٍ وَلا بُترِ
لَنا هَضبَةٌ صَمّاءُ مِن صُلبِ مالِكٍ
وَأُسدُ فَراءٍ لا تُوَزَّعُ بِالزَجرِ
إِذا نَهشَلٌ ثابَت إِليَّ فَما بِنا
إِلى أَحَدٍ إِلاّ إِلى اللَهِ مِن فَقرِ
يُعارِضُ أَرواحَ الشَتآنِ جابِرٌ
إِذا أَقبَلَت مِن نَحوِ حَورانَ أَو مِصرِ
وَقَد عَلِمَت جَمخُ القَبائِلِ أَنَّني
إِذا ما رَمَيتُ القَومَ أُسمِعُ ذا الوَقرِ
بِرَجمِ قَوافٍ تُخرِجُ الخَبءَ في الصَفا
وَتُنزِلُ بَيضاتِ الأَنوقِ مِنَ الوَكرِ
