وقاتِمand dark الأَعْماقِthe depths خاوِيempty المُخْتَرَقْthe passage
وقاتِم الأَعْماقِ خاوِي المُخْتَرَقْ
مُشْتَبِهconfounded الأَعْلامِthe landmarks لَمّاعِflashing الخَفَقْthe wavering mirage
مُشْتَبِه الأَعْلامِ لَمّاعِ الخَفَقْ
And a waste, dark in its depths, empty along its passage,
its landmarks confounded, its wavering mirage flashing,
يَكِلُّtires وَفْدُthe procession الرِيحِthe wind مِنْfrom حَيْثُwhere انْخَرَقْit breaks through
يَكِلُّ وَفْدُ الرِيحِ مِنْ حَيْثُ انْخَرَقْ
شَأْزٍrugged بِمَنْto whoever عَوَّهَcalled out جَدْبِbarren المُنْطَلَقْthe passage
شَأْزٍ بِمَنْ عَوَّهَ جَدْبِ المُنْطَلَقْ
where the wind's procession tires as it breaks through,
rugged to whoever calls out there, barren of passage,
ناءٍfar مِنَfrom التَصْبِيحِthe morning draught نَائِيdistant المُغْتَبَقْthe evening draught
ناءٍ مِنَ التَصْبِيحِ نَائِي المُغْتَبَقْ
تَبْدُوappear لَنَاto us أَعْلامُهُits landmarks بَعْدafter الغَرَقْsubmergence
تَبْدُو لَنَا أَعْلامُهُ بَعْد الغَرَقْ
far from a morning draught, far from an evening cup.
Its landmarks appear to us after being submerged
فِيin قِطَعِsheets الآلِthe mirage وَهَبْوَاتِand gusts الدُقَقْfine dust
فِي قِطَعِ الآلِ وَهَبْوَاتِ الدُقَقْ
خارِجَةemerging أَعْناقُهَاtheir necks مِنْfrom مُعْتَنَقْan embrace
خارِجَة أَعْناقُهَا مِنْ مُعْتَنَقْ
in sheets of mirage and gusts of fine dust,
their necks emerging from an enfolding embrace.
تَنَشَّطَتْهُbounded across it كُلُّevery مِغْلاةِfar-reaching racer الوَهَقْthe racing stride
تَنَشَّطَتْهُ كُلُّ مِغْلاةِ الوَهَقْ
مَضْبُورَةٍcompactly built قَرْواءَlong-backed هِرْجابٍtall فُنُقْsleek
مَضْبُورَةٍ قَرْواءَ هِرْجابٍ فُنُقْ
Each long-striding racer bounded across it,
compactly built, long-backed, tall, and sleek,
مائِرَةِswinging العَضْدَيْنِthe two upper forelegs مِصْلاتِlean and bare العُنُقْthe neck
مائِرَةِ العَضْدَيْنِ مِصْلاتِ العُنُقْ
مُسْوَدَّةblackened الأَعْطافِthe flanks مِنْfrom وَشْمِthe tattoo العَرَقْsweat
مُسْوَدَّة الأَعْطافِ مِنْ وَشْمِ العَرَقْ
her upper forelegs swinging, her neck lean and bare,
her flanks blackened by the tattoo of sweat.
إِذَاwhen الدَلِيلthe guide اسْتافَsniffed out أَخْلاقَthe worn remnants الطُرُقْthe paths
إِذَا الدَلِيل اسْتافَ أَخْلاقَ الطُرُقْ
كَأَنَّهاas though she حَقْباءُa white-belted she-ass بَلْقاءُpied الزَلَقْthe smooth parts
كَأَنَّها حَقْباءُ بَلْقاءُ الزَلَقْ
When the guide sniffs out the remnants of paths,
she seems a white-belted she-ass, her smooth parts pied,
أَوْor جادِرُbulging اللِّيتَيْنِthe two neck-sides مَطْوِيُّtightly coiled الحَنَقْanger
أَوْ جادِرُ اللِّيتَيْنِ مَطْوِيُّ الحَنَقْ
مُحَمْلَجٌtrimly twisted أُدْرِجَwas wound إِدْراجَthe winding الطَلَقْa taut rope
مُحَمْلَجٌ أُدْرِجَ إِدْراجَ الطَلَقْ
or a stallion with bulging neck-sides and tightly coiled anger,
trimly twisted, wound as a taut rope is wound.
لَوَّحَpared down مِنْهُof him بَعْدَafter بُدْنٍbulk وَسَنَقْand repletion
لَوَّحَ مِنْهُ بَعْدَ بُدْنٍ وَسَنَقْ
مِنْfrom طُولِthe length تَعْداءِroaming الرَبِيعِspring فِيin الأَنَقْdelight
مِنْ طُولِ تَعْداءِ الرَبِيعِ فِي الأَنَقْ
He was pared down after bulk and repletion
by long springtime roaming amid delights,
تَلْوِيحَكَyour paring down الضامِرَthe lean steed يُطْوَىis drawn tight لِلسَبَقْfor racing
تَلْوِيحَكَ الضامِرَ يُطْوَى لِلسَبَقْ
قُودٌlong-necked females ثَمانٍeight مِثْلlike أَمْراسropes الأَبَقْhemp
قُودٌ ثَمانٍ مِثْل أَمْراس الأَبَقْ
as you pare a lean steed, drawn tight for racing.
Eight long-necked females, like ropes of hemp,
فِيهاon them خُطُوطٌstreaks مِنْof سَوادٍblackness وَبَلَقْand pied whiteness
فِيها خُطُوطٌ مِنْ سَوادٍ وَبَلَقْ
كَأَنَّهَاas though they فِيin الجِلْدِthe skin تَوْلِيعُmottling البَهَقْwhite skin-patches
كَأَنَّهَا فِي الجِلْدِ تَوْلِيعُ البَهَقْ
bear streaks of black and white,
like the mottling of white patches on skin.
يُحْسَبْنَare reckoned شاماًbeauty spots أَوْor رِقاعاًpatches مِنْof بِنَقْshirt-panels
يُحْسَبْنَ شاماً أَوْ رِقاعاً مِنْ بِنَقْ
فَوْقَabove الكُلَىthe kidneys مِنْamong دائِراتِcircles المُنْتَطَقْthe girdled waist
فَوْقَ الكُلَى مِنْ دائِراتِ المُنْتَطَقْ
They look like beauty spots, or patches of shirt-panels,
above the kidneys, among the circles of the girdled waist.
مَقْذُوذَةُclipped الآذانِthe ears صَدْقاتُtrue الحَدَقْthe eyes
مَقْذُوذَةُ الآذانِ صَدْقاتُ الحَدَقْ
قَدalready أَحْصَنَتْhave sheltered مِثْلَlike دَعَامِيصtadpoles الرَّنَقْmurky water
قَد أَحْصَنَتْ مِثْلَ دَعَامِيص الرَّنَقْ
Their ears look clipped; their eyes are true.
They have sheltered, like tadpoles in murky water,
أَجِنَّةًembryos فيin مُسْتَكِنّاتِhidden recesses الحَلَقْthe womb-hollows
أَجِنَّةً في مُسْتَكِنّاتِ الحَلَقْ
فَعَفَّso he abstained عَنfrom أَسْرارِهاtheir secret parts بَعْدafter العَسَقْmating
فَعَفَّ عَن أَسْرارِها بَعْد العَسَقْ
embryos in the hidden hollows of their wombs.
He abstained from their secret parts after mating,
وَلَمْand did not يُضعْهاneglect them بَيْنَbetween فِرْكٍaversion وَعَشَقْand passion
وَلَمْ يُضعْها بَيْنَ فِرْكٍ وَعَشَقْ
لاnot يَتْرُكُabandons الغَيْرَةَjealousy مِنْfrom عَهْدِthe time الشَبَقْlust
لا يَتْرُكُ الغَيْرَةَ مِنْ عَهْدِ الشَبَقْ
yet did not neglect them between aversion and passion.
He never abandons the jealousy born of lust.
أَلَّفَgathered شَتَّىscattered ones لَيْسَis not بِالراعِيa herdsman الحَمِقْfoolish
أَلَّفَ شَتَّى لَيْسَ بِالراعِي الحَمِقْ
شذّابَةٌa repeller عَنْهَاfrom them شَذَىthe menace الرُبْعِthe herds السُحُقْfar-off
شذّابَةٌ عَنْهَا شَذَى الرُبْعِ السُحُقْ
He gathered the scattered ones—no foolish herdsman,
driving from them the menace of distant herds,
قَبّاضةٌa gatherer بَيْنَbetween العَنِيفِthe harsh وَاللَبِقْand the deft
قَبّاضةٌ بَيْنَ العَنِيفِ وَاللَبِقْ
مُقْتَدِرُmastering الضَيْعَةِtheir care وَهْوَاهُand his passion الشَفَقْanxious tenderness
مُقْتَدِرُ الضَيْعَةِ وَهْوَاهُ الشَفَقْ
gathering them, between harshness and deftness,
mastering their care, his passion anxious tenderness.
شَهْرَيْنِtwo months مَرْعاهَاtheir pasture بِقِيعانِin the flats السَلَقْal-Salaq
شَهْرَيْنِ مَرْعاهَا بِقِيعانِ السَلَقْ
مَرْعىًa pasture آنِيقَlovely النَبْتِthe growth مُجّاجَoverflowing الغَدَقْabundant rain
مَرْعىً آنِيقَ النَبْتِ مُجّاجَ الغَدَقْ
For two months their pasture lay in the flats of al-Salaq,
a pasture lovely in growth, overflowing with abundant rain.
جَوَازِئاًcontent with herbage يَخْبِطْنَthey tread أَنْداءَdews الغَمَقْdank ground
جَوَازِئاً يَخْبِطْنَ أَنْداءَ الغَمَقْ
مِنْfrom باكِرِearly الوَسْمِيِّthe autumn rain نَضَّاخِpouring abundantly البُوَقْrain-bursts
مِنْ باكِرِ الوَسْمِيِّ نَضَّاخِ البُوَقْ
Content with herbage, they tread the dews of dank ground,
from early autumn rain, pouring in heavy bursts,
مُسْتَأْنِفfresh-grown الأَعْشابِthe grasses مِنْfrom رَوْضٍa meadow سَمَقْgrown tall
مُسْتَأْنِف الأَعْشابِ مِنْ رَوْضٍ سَمَقْ
حَتَّىuntil إِذاwhen ماindeed اصْفَرَّyellowed حُجْرَانُthe clumps الذُرَقْsweet clover
حَتَّى إِذا ما اصْفَرَّ حُجْرَانُ الذُرَقْ
with fresh-grown grasses from a tall-growing meadow.
Until, when the clumps of sweet clover yellowed,
وَأَهْيَجَand dried الخَلْصاءَthe khulṣāʾ plants مِنْfrom ذاتِDhāt البُرَقْal-Buraq
وَأَهْيَجَ الخَلْصاءَ مِنْ ذاتِ البُرَقْ
وَشَفَّهاand wore them down اللَوْحُscorching heat بِمَأْزولٍin scarcity ضَيَقْpinched
وَشَفَّها اللَوْحُ بِمَأْزولٍ ضَيَقْ
and the khulṣāʾ at Dhāt al-Buraq grew dry,
and scorching heat wore them down in pinched scarcity,
وَبَتَّand severed حَبْلُthe cord الجُزْءِsustenance from herbage قَطْعَthe severing المُنْحَذِقْthe cleanly cut
وَبَتَّ حَبْلُ الجُزْءِ قَطْعَ المُنْحَذِقْ
وَحَلَّand loosened هَيْفُthe hot wind الصَيْفِsummer أَقْرانَthe ties الرِبَقْthe tether-loops
وَحَلَّ هَيْفُ الصَيْفِ أَقْرانَ الرِبَقْ
and the cord of living on herbage was cleanly severed,
and summer's hot wind loosened the bonds of restraint,
وَخَفَّand withdrew أَنْواءُthe rain-stars الرَبِيعِspring المُرْتَزَقْnourishing
وَخَفَّ أَنْواءُ الرَبِيعِ المُرْتَزَقْ
وَاسْتَنَّand raced أَعْرافthe crests السَفَاgrass awns عَلَىover القِيَقْthe barren flats
وَاسْتَنَّ أَعْراف السَفَا عَلَى القِيَقْ
and the nourishing rain-stars of spring withdrew,
and the crests of grass awns raced over the barren flats,
وَانْتَسَجَتْand were woven فيin الرِيحِthe wind بُطْنانُthe hollows القَرَقْthe flatlands
وَانْتَسَجَتْ في الرِيحِ بُطْنانُ القَرَقْ
وَشَجَّand scarred ظَهْرthe back الأَرْضِthe earth رَقّاصُthe dancing shimmer الهَزَقْrestless movement
وَشَجَّ ظَهْر الأَرْضِ رَقّاصُ الهَزَقْ
and the flats' hollows were woven over by wind,
and wildly dancing heat-haze scarred the earth's back,
هَيَّجَhe urged on وَاجْتابَتْand they donned جِدِيداًa new coat عَنْin place of خَلَقْa worn one
هَيَّجَ وَاجْتابَتْ جِدِيداً عَنْ خَلَقْ
كَالْهَرَوِيِّlike Herati cloth انْجَابَwas drawn away عَنْfrom لَوْنthe hue السَرَقْsilk
كَالْهَرَوِيِّ انْجَابَ عَنْ لَوْن السَرَقْ
he urged them on, and they donned new coats for old,
like Herati cloth drawn away from silk's hue.
طَيَّرَcast off عَنْهَاfrom them النَسءُfresh fattening حَوْلِيَّthe year-old العِقَقْbirth-coats
طَيَّرَ عَنْهَا النَسءُ حَوْلِيَّ العِقَقْ
فَانْمَارَso streamed away عَنْهُنَّfrom them مُوَارَاتُcoverings المِزَقْshreds
فَانْمَارَ عَنْهُنَّ مُوَارَاتُ المِزَقْ
Fresh fattening cast off their year-old birth-coats,
and the coverings streamed from them in shreds.
وَمَاجَand shimmered غُدْرانُthe pools الضَحَاضِيحِthe shallows اليَقَقْdazzling white
وَمَاجَ غُدْرانُ الضَحَاضِيحِ اليَقَقْ
وَافْتَرَشَتand took as their floor أَبْيَضَa white expanse كَالصُبْحlike dawn اللَهَقْbright white
وَافْتَرَشَت أَبْيَضَ كَالصُبْح اللَهَقْ
Dazzling shallow pools shimmered,
and they took a white expanse for their floor, bright as dawn,
قَوارِباًdrawing toward water مِنْfrom واحِفٍWāḥif بَعْدَafter العَبَقْlingering
قَوارِباً مِنْ واحِفٍ بَعْدَ العَبَقْ
لِلْعِدِّtoward perennial water إِذwhen أَخْلَفَهَاfailed them مَاءthe water الطَرَقْthe trampled pools
لِلْعِدِّ إِذ أَخْلَفَهَا مَاء الطَرَقْ
drawing toward water from Wāḥif after lingering there,
toward perennial water, when the trampled pools failed them,
بَيْنَbetween القَرِيَّيْنِal-Qariyyayn وَخَبْرَاءِand Khabrāʾ العَذَقْal-ʿAdhaq
بَيْنَ القَرِيَّيْنِ وَخَبْرَاءِ العَذَقْ
يَشْذِبُdrives onward أُخْراهُنَّtheir rearmost مِنْfrom ذاتِDhāt النَهَقْal-Nahaq
يَشْذِبُ أُخْراهُنَّ مِنْ ذاتِ النَهَقْ
between al-Qariyyayn and Khabrāʾ al-ʿAdhaq.
Driving their rearmost onward from Dhāt al-Nahaq,
أَحْقَبُa white-belted stallion كَالمِحْلَجِlike a cotton roller مِنْfrom طُولِthe length القَلَقْrestlessness
أَحْقَبُ كَالمِحْلَجِ مِنْ طُولِ القَلَقْ
كَأَنَّهُas though he إِذْwhen راحَwent forth مَسْلُوسَdelirious الشَمَقْhigh spirits
كَأَنَّهُ إِذْ راحَ مَسْلُوسَ الشَمَقْ
a white-belted stallion, like a cotton roller in constant unrest,
seems, as he goes forth delirious with high spirits,
نُشِّرَa spell was lifted عَنْهُfrom him أَوْor أَسِيرٌa captive قَدْalready عَتَقْwas freed
نُشِّرَ عَنْهُ أَوْ أَسِيرٌ قَدْ عَتَقْ
مُنْسَرِحاًrunning loose إِلِّاexcept ذَعَالِيبَdangling shreds الخِرَقْrags
مُنْسَرِحاً إِلِّا ذَعَالِيبَ الخِرَقْ
to have had a spell lifted from him, or to be a freed captive,
loose save for dangling shreds of rags,
مُنْتَحِياًtaking a slanting course مِنْfrom قَصْدِهِhis purpose عَلَىin وَفَقْaccord
مُنْتَحِياً مِنْ قَصْدِهِ عَلَى وَفَقْ
صاحِبَpossessing عادَاتٍhabits مِنَof الِورْدِapproaching water الغَفَقْheadlong
صاحِبَ عادَاتٍ مِنَ الِورْدِ الغَفَقْ
taking a slanting course in keeping with his purpose,
accustomed to headlong approaches to water.
تَرْمِيflings ذِرَاعَيْهِhis two forelegs بِجَثْجاثِagainst jithjāth shrubs السُوَقْthe stalks
تَرْمِي ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِجَثْجاثِ السُوَقْ
ضَرْحاًthrusting away وَقَدand already أَنْجَدْنَthey climbed to high ground مِنْfrom ذاتDhāt الطُوَقْal-Ṭawq
ضَرْحاً وَقَد أَنْجَدْنَ مِنْ ذات الطُوَقْ
His forelegs fling aside the jithjāth stalks,
thrusting them away; the females have climbed from Dhāt al-Ṭawq,
صَوَادِقَsteadfast العَقْبِthe follow-through مَهَاذِيبَswift runners الوَلَقْracing
صَوَادِقَ العَقْبِ مَهَاذِيبَ الوَلَقْ
مُسْتَوِيَاتِeven القَدِّthe stature كَالجَنْبِlike a side-by-side rank النَسَقْorderly
مُسْتَوِيَاتِ القَدِّ كَالجَنْبِ النَسَقْ
steadfast in their follow-through, swift in their racing,
evenly built, like beasts lined side by side.
تَحِيدُthey shy away عَنfrom أَظْلالِهَاtheir shadows مِنَout of الفَرَقْfear
تَحِيدُ عَن أَظْلالِهَا مِنَ الفَرَقْ
مِنْfrom غائِلاتِlurking harms اللَيْلِthe night وَالهَوْلِand terror الزَعَقْshrill
مِنْ غائِلاتِ اللَيْلِ وَالهَوْلِ الزَعَقْ
They shy from their own shadows out of fear,
from night's lurking harms and shrill terror.
قُبٌّlean مِنَfrom التَعْداءِrunning حُقْبٌwhite-belted فيin سَوَقْlong shanks
قُبٌّ مِنَ التَعْداءِ حُقْبٌ في سَوَقْ
لَوَاحِقtucked up الأَقْرابِthe bellies فِيهَاin them كالمَقَقْlike great length
لَوَاحِق الأَقْرابِ فِيهَا كالمَقَقْ
Lean from running, white-belted, long in the shanks,
their bellies tucked up, their bodies strikingly long,
تَكَادalmost أَيْدِيهِنَّtheir forelegs تَهْوِيplunge فيinto الزَهَقْhollow ground
تَكَاد أَيْدِيهِنَّ تَهْوِي في الزَهَقْ
مِنْfrom كَفْتِهاtheir drawing-in شَدّاًracing كَإِضْرامِlike kindling الحَرَقْa blaze
مِنْ كَفْتِها شَدّاً كَإِضْرامِ الحَرَقْ
their forelegs almost plunge into hollow ground
as they draw them in, racing like a kindled blaze.
سَوَّىmade even مَسَاحِيهِنَّtheir shovel-hooves تَقْطِيطَthe trimming الحُقَقْrounded caskets
سَوَّى مَسَاحِيهِنَّ تَقْطِيطَ الحُقَقْ
تَفْلِيلُchipping ماwhat قارَعْنَthey struck مِنْof سُمْرِdark الطُرَقْstones
تَفْلِيلُ ما قارَعْنَ مِنْ سُمْرِ الطُرَقْ
Their shovel-hooves were trimmed like rounded caskets
by chipping against the dark stones they struck.
رُكِّبْنَwere set فيin مَجْدُولtightly corded أَرْساغٍpasterns وُثُقْsturdy
رُكِّبْنَ في مَجْدُول أَرْساغٍ وُثُقْ
يَتْرُكْنَthey leave تُرْبَthe dust الأَرْضِthe earth مَجْنُونَmaddened الصِيَقْdust-clouds
يَتْرُكْنَ تُرْبَ الأَرْضِ مَجْنُونَ الصِيَقْ
They are set upon tightly corded, sturdy pasterns.
They leave the earth's dust maddened in swirling clouds,
وَالمَرْوَand flint ذاpossessing القَدَّاحِspark-giving power مَضْبُوحَscorched الفِلَقْthe fragments
وَالمَرْوَ ذا القَدَّاحِ مَضْبُوحَ الفِلَقْ
يَنْصَاحُflies apart مِنْfrom جَبْلَةِa mass رَضْمٍpiled rock مُدَّهَقْdensely packed
يَنْصَاحُ مِنْ جَبْلَةِ رَضْمٍ مُدَّهَقْ
and spark-giving flint with scorched fragments
flying apart from a densely packed mass of rock.
إِذَاwhen تَتَلَّاهُنَّhe follows close behind them صَلْصالَloud-clanging الصَعَقْthe thunderous voice
إِذَا تَتَلَّاهُنَّ صَلْصالَ الصَعَقْ
مُعْتَزِمُresolved upon التَجْلِيحِcharging boldly مَلّاخُsweeping forward النَزَقْrestlessness
مُعْتَزِمُ التَجْلِيحِ مَلّاخُ النَزَقْ
When the thunder-clanging one follows close behind,
resolved on charging, sweeping forward in restless bounds,
حَشْرَجَrattled فيwithin الجَوْفِthe chest سَحِيلاًa panting sound أَوْor شَهَقْgasped
حَشْرَجَ في الجَوْفِ سَحِيلاً أَوْ شَهَقْ
حَتَّىuntil يُقَالَit is said ناهِقٌa brayer وَماalthough not نَهَقْhe brayed
حَتَّى يُقَالَ ناهِقٌ وَما نَهَقْ
he rattles a panting sound within his chest, or gasps,
until one says, 'He is braying,' though he has not brayed.
كَأَنَّهُas though he مُسْتَنْشِقٌsniffing مِنَfrom الشَرَقْchoking
كَأَنَّهُ مُسْتَنْشِقٌ مِنَ الشَرَقْ
خُرّاًfine powder مِنَof الخَرْدَلِmustard مُكْرُوهَhateful النَشَقْinhalation
خُرّاً مِنَ الخَرْدَلِ مُكْرُوهَ النَشَقْ
He seems to have sniffed, choking,
fine mustard powder, hateful to inhale,
أَوْor مُقْرَعٌbattered مِنْfrom رَكْضِهَاher galloping دَامِيbloodied الزَنَقْthe nose-ring
أَوْ مُقْرَعٌ مِنْ رَكْضِهَا دَامِي الزَنَقْ
أَوْor مُشْتَكٍsuffering pain فَائِقَهُhis rear head-joint مِنَfrom الفَأَقْneck-joint pain
أَوْ مُشْتَكٍ فَائِقَهُ مِنَ الفَأَقْ
or to be battered by her galloping, his nose-ring bloodied,
or to suffer pain at the joint behind his head,
فيin الرَأْسِthe head أَوْor مَجْمَعِthe junction أَحْناءٍcurved bones دِقَقْdelicate
في الرَأْسِ أَوْ مَجْمَعِ أَحْناءٍ دِقَقْ
شَاحِيَopening لَحْيَيboth jaws قَعْقَعَانِيِّclattering الصَلَقْthe shrill cry
شَاحِيَ لَحْيَي قَعْقَعَانِيِّ الصَلَقْ
in his head or where delicate curved bones meet,
opening both jaws in a clattering, shrill cry,
قَعَقَعَةَthe rattling المِحْوَرِthe axle خُطّافَsnatching العَلَقْclinging growth
قَعَقَعَةَ المِحْوَرِ خُطّافَ العَلَقْ
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen أَقْحَمَهَاhe drove them فِيinto المُنْسَحَقْthe worn hollow
حَتَّى إِذَا أَقْحَمَهَا فِي المُنْسَحَقْ
rattling like an axle, snatching at clinging growth.
Until, when he drove them into the worn hollow,
وَانْحَسَرَتْand fell away عَنَهاfrom them شِقابُthe clefts المُخْتَنَقْthe constricted pass
وَانْحَسَرَتْ عَنَها شِقابُ المُخْتَنَقْ
وَثَلَمُand the gaps الوادِيthe valley وَفَرْغُand the outlet المُنْدَلَقْthe pouring channel
وَثَلَمُ الوادِي وَفَرْغُ المُنْدَلَقْ
and the clefts of the constricted pass fell away from them,
and the valley's gaps and the outlet of its pouring channel,
وَانْشَقَّand unfolded عَنْهاbefore them صَحْصَحَانُthe broad plain المُنفَهَقْthe wide expanse
وَانْشَقَّ عَنْها صَحْصَحَانُ المُنفَهَقْ
زُوراًoff to one side تَجَافىstood clear عَنْof أَشَاءَاتِpalm-clumps العُوَقْal-ʿAwq
زُوراً تَجَافى عَنْ أَشَاءَاتِ العُوَقْ
and the broad, open plain unfolded before them,
off to one side, clear of al-ʿAwq's palm-clumps,
فِيalong رَسْمِthe traces آثارٍtracks وَمِدْعاسٍand a trodden path دَعَقْdeeply worn
فِي رَسْمِ آثارٍ وَمِدْعاسٍ دَعَقْ
يَرِدْنَthey come to water تَحْتbeneath الأَثْلِthe tamarisks سَيَّاحَflowing الدَسَقْdark water
يَرِدْنَ تَحْت الأَثْلِ سَيَّاحَ الدَسَقْ
along traces of tracks and a deeply trodden path,
they came beneath the tamarisks to flowing, dark water,
أَخْضَرَgreen كَالبُرْدِlike a cloak غَزِيرَabundant المُنْبَعَقْthe outpouring
أَخْضَرَ كَالبُرْدِ غَزِيرَ المُنْبَعَقْ
قَدْalready كَفَّwas checked عَنْat حَائِرِهِits basin بَعْدَafter الدفَقْgushing
قَدْ كَفَّ عَنْ حَائِرِهِ بَعْدَ الدفَقْ
green as a cloak, abundant in its outpouring.
Its flow had been checked at its basin after gushing,
فيwithin حاجِرٍa retaining bank كَعكَعَةُholding back عَنِfrom البَثَقbursting forth
في حاجِرٍ كَعكَعَةُ عَنِ البَثَق
وَاغتَمَسَand sank into concealment الراميthe archer لِماinto what lies بَينَbetween الأُوَقthe clefts
وَاغتَمَسَ الرامي لِما بَينَ الأُوَق
within a retaining bank that held it back from bursting forth.
The archer had sunk into concealment between the clefts,
فيin غِيلِa thicket قَصْباءَreeds وَخِيسٍand woodland مُخْتَلَقْtangled
في غِيلِ قَصْباءَ وَخِيسٍ مُخْتَلَقْ
لايَلْتَوِيdoes not turn aside مِنْbecause of عاطِسٍa sneeze وَلاnor نَغَقْa crow's croak
لايَلْتَوِي مِنْ عاطِسٍ وَلا نَغَقْ
in a reed-thicket and tangled woodland.
He does not turn aside for a sneeze or a crow's croak,
وَلَمْand did not يُفَجَّشْshrink عِنْدَat صَيْدٍgame مُخْتَرَقْpierced
وَلَمْ يُفَجَّشْ عِنْدَ صَيْدٍ مُخْتَرَقْ
نِيءٍraw وَلاnor يَذْخُرُstores up مَطْبُوخَcooked meat المَرَقْbroth
نِيءٍ وَلا يَذْخُرُ مَطْبُوخَ المَرَقْ
nor shrink from pierced game,
raw, nor store up meat cooked in broth.
يَأْوِيreturns إِلَىto سْفعَاءَa dark woman كَالثَوْبِlike a garment الخَلَقْworn-out
يَأْوِي إِلَى سْفعَاءَ كَالثَوْبِ الخَلَقْ
لَمْnot تَرْجُshe hoped for رِسْلاًmilk بَعْدafter أَعْوَامyears الفَتَقْwant
لَمْ تَرْجُ رِسْلاً بَعْد أَعْوَام الفَتَقْ
He returns to a dark woman, like a worn-out garment,
who has hoped for no milk after years of want.
إِذَاwhen احْتَسَىhe drinks مِنْof لَوْمِهاher reproaches مُرَّthe bitter اللَعَقْmouthful
إِذَا احْتَسَى مِنْ لَوْمِها مُرَّ اللَعَقْ
جَدَّhe pressed on وَجَدَّتand she pressed on إِلقَةٌa shrew مِنَamong الإِلَقshrews
جَدَّ وَجَدَّت إِلقَةٌ مِنَ الإِلَق
When he drinks the bitter mouthful of her reproaches,
he presses on, and so does she—a shrew among shrews,
مَسْمُوعَةٌloud-voiced كَأَنَّهَاas though she إِحْدَىone السِلَقْthe bitches
مَسْمُوعَةٌ كَأَنَّهَا إِحْدَى السِلَقْ
لَوْif صُحِنَتْshe were beaten حَوْلاًa year وَحَوْلاًand a year لَمْnot تَفِقْshe came to her senses
لَوْ صُحِنَتْ حَوْلاً وَحَوْلاً لَمْ تَفِقْ
loud-voiced, as though one of the bitches.
Were she beaten for a year and another, she would not come to her senses.
تَشْتَقُّconcocts فِيin الباطِلِfalsehood مِنْهَاfrom herself المُمْتَذَقْadulterated talk
تَشْتَقُّ فِي الباطِلِ مِنْهَا المُمْتَذَقْ
غُولٌa ghoul تَشَكَّىcomplaining لِسَبَنْتىًto a lionlike man مُعْتَرَقْgaunt
غُولٌ تَشَكَّى لِسَبَنْتىً مُعْتَرَقْ
She concocts adulterated nonsense of her own,
a ghoul complaining to a gaunt, lionlike man,
كَالحَيَّةlike a serpent الأَصْيَدِstiff-necked مِنْfrom طُولthe length الأَرَقْsleeplessness
كَالحَيَّة الأَصْيَدِ مِنْ طُول الأَرَقْ
لاnot يَشْتَكِيhe complains of صُدْغَيْهِhis two temples مِنْfrom داءِthe ailment الوَدَقْsunstroke
لا يَشْتَكِي صُدْغَيْهِ مِنْ داءِ الوَدَقْ
like a stiff-necked serpent from long sleeplessness.
He does not complain of aching temples from sunstroke.
كَسَّرَmade squint مِنfrom عَينيهِhis eyes تَقويمُstraightening الفُوَقthe arrow-nocks
كَسَّرَ مِن عَينيهِ تَقويمُ الفُوَق
وَماand not بِعَينيهِin his eyes عَواويرُdefects البَخَقblinding damage
وَما بِعَينيهِ عَواويرُ البَخَق
Straightening the arrow-nocks has made his eyes squint,
yet his eyes have no blinding defect.
حَتَّىuntil إِذاwhen تَوَقَّدَتْblazed مِنَamong الزَرَقْthe blue points
حَتَّى إِذا تَوَقَّدَتْ مِنَ الزَرَقْ
حَجْرِيَّةٌḤajarī points كَالجَمْرِlike embers مِنْfrom سَنِّwhetting الذَلَقْthe keen edges
حَجْرِيَّةٌ كَالجَمْرِ مِنْ سَنِّ الذَلَقْ
Until the blue points blaze,
Ḥajarī points, ember-like from the whetting of their keen edges,
يُكْسَيْنَare clothed أَرْياشاًfeathers مِنَfrom الطَيْرِbirds العُتُقْnoble
يُكْسَيْنَ أَرْياشاً مِنَ الطَيْرِ العُتُقْ
سَوَّىfitted لَهَاto them كَبْدَاءَa thick-bellied bow تَنْزُوleaping فِيin الشَنَقْthe sling
سَوَّى لَهَا كَبْدَاءَ تَنْزُو فِي الشَنَقْ
clothed in feathers from noble birds.
He fitted to them a thick-bellied bow that leaps in its sling,
نَبْعِيَّةًof nabʿ-wood سَاوَرَهَاhe wrestled with it بَيْنَamong النِيَقْthe peaks
نَبْعِيَّةً سَاوَرَهَا بَيْنَ النِيَقْ
تَنْثُرُflings forth مَتْنَthe body السَمْهَرِيِّthe straight spear-shaft المُمْتَشَقْslender
تَنْثُرُ مَتْنَ السَمْهَرِيِّ المُمْتَشَقْ
of nabʿ-wood, which he had wrestled with among the peaks.
It flings the body of the straight, slender spear-shaft,
كَأَنَّمَاas though عَوْلَتُهاits crying مِنْfrom التَأَقْpent-up fullness
كَأَنَّمَا عَوْلَتُها مِنْ التَأَقْ
عَوَلَةُthe cry عَبْرَىa tearful woman وَلْوَلَتْshe wailed بَعْدَafter المَأَقْchoking sobs
عَوَلَةُ عَبْرَى وَلْوَلَتْ بَعْدَ المَأَقْ
as though its crying, from pent-up fullness,
were the cry of a tearful woman wailing after choking sobs.
كَأَنَّهاas though it فيin كَفِّهِhis palm تَحتَbeneath الرِوَقthe covering
كَأَنَّها في كَفِّهِ تَحتَ الرِوَق
وَفقُthe likeness هِلالٍa crescent بَينَbetween لَيلٍnight وَأُفُقand horizon
وَفقُ هِلالٍ بَينَ لَيلٍ وَأُفُق
In his palm, beneath the covering, it seems
the likeness of a crescent between night and horizon,
أَمْسَىbecame شَفَىslender أَوْor خَطُّهُits line يَوْمَthe day المَحَقْthe moon's disappearance
أَمْسَى شَفَى أَوْ خَطُّهُ يَوْمَ المَحَقْ
فَهيَso it ضَرُوحُthrusts fiercely الرَكْضِthe propulsion مِلْحَاقُswiftly overtaking اللَحَقْwhat runs ahead
فَهيَ ضَرُوحُ الرَكْضِ مِلْحَاقُ اللَحَقْ
grown slender, or its mere line on the day it vanishes.
It thrusts fiercely, swiftly overtaking what runs ahead.
لَوْلاbut for يُدَاليhandling gently حَفْضُهُhis gear القِدْحَthe arrow-shaft انْزَرَقْit would dart away
لَوْلا يُدَالي حَفْضُهُ القِدْحَ انْزَرَقْ
وَقَدْand already بَنَىhe built بَيْتاًa shelter خَفِيَّconcealed المُنْزَبَقْthe entrance
وَقَدْ بَنَى بَيْتاً خَفِيَّ المُنْزَبَقْ
But for his gentle handling of his gear, the shaft would fly off.
He has built a shelter with a concealed entrance,
مُقْتَدِرَmeasured النَقْبِthe aperture خَفِيَّhidden المُمْتَرَقْthe passage
مُقْتَدِرَ النَقْبِ خَفِيَّ المُمْتَرَقْ
رَمْساًa concealed shelter مِنَof النَامُوسِthe hunting blind مَسْدُودَsealed النَفَقْthe tunnel
رَمْساً مِنَ النَامُوسِ مَسْدُودَ النَفَقْ
a measured aperture and a hidden passage,
a concealed hunting blind with its tunnel sealed,
مَضْطَمِراًcramped كَالقَبْرِlike a grave بِالضِيْقin narrowness الأَزَقmost constricted
مَضْطَمِراً كَالقَبْرِ بِالضِيْق الأَزَق
أَسَّسَهُhe founded it بَيْنَbetween القَرِيبِthe near وَالمَعَقْand the far
أَسَّسَهُ بَيْنَ القَرِيبِ وَالمَعَقْ
cramped like a grave in the narrowest straits.
He founded it between the near and the far,
أَجْوَفَhollow عَنْaround مَقْعَدِهِhis seat وَالمُرْتَفَقْand resting-place
أَجْوَفَ عَنْ مَقْعَدِهِ وَالمُرْتَفَقْ
فَبَاتَso he spent the night وَالنَفْسُand the soul مِنَfrom الحِرصِgreed الفَشَقbrimming over
فَبَاتَ وَالنَفْسُ مِنَ الحِرصِ الفَشَق
hollow around his seat and resting-place.
He spends the night, his soul brimming with greed,
فِيin الزَرْبِthe blind لَوْif يَمْضَعُhe chewed شَرياًcolocynth ماnot بَصَقْhe spat
فِي الزَرْبِ لَوْ يَمْضَعُ شَرياً ما بَصَقْ
لَمَّاwhen تَسَوَّىhe settled فِيin ضَئِيلِthe narrow المُنْدَمَقْentrance
لَمَّا تَسَوَّى فِي ضَئِيلِ المُنْدَمَقْ
in the blind: were he chewing colocynth, he would not spit.
When he settled within its narrow entrance,
وَفِيand in جَفِيرِthe quiver النَبْلِarrows حَشرَاتُslender shafts الرَشَقْthe volley
وَفِي جَفِيرِ النَبْلِ حَشرَاتُ الرَشَقْ
سَاوَىhe aligned بِأَيْديهِنَّwith their forelegs مِنْfrom قَصْدِintent اللَمَقْshooting
سَاوَى بِأَيْديهِنَّ مِنْ قَصْدِ اللَمَقْ
with slender shooting-arrows in his quiver,
he aligned himself with their forelegs, intent on shooting,
مَشْرَعَةٌa watering entrance ثَلْماءُbreached مِنْby سَيْلِa torrent الشَدَقْwide-mouthed
مَشْرَعَةٌ ثَلْماءُ مِنْ سَيْلِ الشَدَقْ
فَجِئْنَso they came وَاللَيْلُwhile the night خَقِيُّthinning المُنْسَرَقْthe stealthy retreat
فَجِئْنَ وَاللَيْلُ خَقِيُّ المُنْسَرَقْ
at a watering gap breached by a broad-mouthed torrent.
They came while night was thinning and slipping away,
إِذَاwhen دَنَاdrew near مِنْهُنَّto them أَنْقاضُthe croakings النُقَقْthe frogs
إِذَا دَنَا مِنْهُنَّ أَنْقاضُ النُقَقْ
فيin الماءِthe water وَالساحِلُand the shore خَضْخاضُsquelching البَثَقْthe overflow
في الماءِ وَالساحِلُ خَضْخاضُ البَثَقْ
as the croaking of frogs drew near them
in the water, the shore squelching with overflow.
بَصْبَصْنَthey twitched their tails وَاقْشَعْرَرْنَand shuddered مِنْfrom خَوْفِfear الزَهَقْdeath
بَصْبَصْنَ وَاقْشَعْرَرْنَ مِنْ خَوْفِ الزَهَقْ
يَمْصَعْنَthey switch بِالأَذْنابِwith their tails مِنْfrom لَوْحٍthirst وَبَقand mortal peril
يَمْصَعْنَ بِالأَذْنابِ مِنْ لَوْحٍ وَبَق
They twitched their tails and shuddered in fear of death,
switching their tails from thirst and mortal peril.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen ماindeed كُنَّthey were فيin الحَوْمِthe water's ring المَهَقْpale
حَتَّى إِذَا ما كُنَّ في الحَوْمِ المَهَقْ
وَبَلَّand wetted بَرْدthe coolness الماءthe water أَعْضادthe upper legs اللَزَقْthe close-set limbs
وَبَلَّ بَرْد الماء أَعْضاد اللَزَقْ
Until, when they were within the pale ring of water,
and the water's coolness wetted their close-set upper legs,
وَسْوَسَhe whispered يَدْعُوinvoking مُخْلِصاًsincerely رَبَّthe Lord الفَلَقْdaybreak
وَسْوَسَ يَدْعُو مُخْلِصاً رَبَّ الفَلَقْ
سِرّاًsecretly وَقَدْand already أَوَّنَّthey rested heavily تَأْوِينَthe heavy resting العُقُقْpregnant females
سِرّاً وَقَدْ أَوَّنَّ تَأْوِينَ العُقُقْ
he whispered, sincerely invoking the Lord of daybreak,
secretly, as they rested heavily like pregnant females.
فَارْتَازَso he selected عيْرَa stallion ass سَنْدَرِيٍّmassive مُخْتَلَقْfirmly built
فَارْتَازَ عيْرَ سَنْدَرِيٍّ مُخْتَلَقْ
لَوْif صَفّضhe lashed together أَدْراقاًshields مَضَىit would pass مِنthrough أَلدَرَقْthe shields
لَوْ صَفّض أَدْراقاً مَضَى مِن أَلدَرَقْ
He selected a massive, firmly built stallion.
Had shields been lashed together, it would have passed through them.
يَشْقَىsuffers بِهِfrom it صَفْحُthe side الفَرِيصِthe shoulder-muscle وَالأَفَقْand the hide
يَشْقَى بِهِ صَفْحُ الفَرِيصِ وَالأَفَقْ
وَمَتْنُand the back مَلْساءِthe smooth surface الوَتِينِthe aorta فيwithin الطَبَقْthe layers
وَمَتْنُ مَلْساءِ الوَتِينِ في الطَبَقْ
Its blow torments the shoulder-muscle's side and the hide,
and the smooth back of the aorta within the body's layers.
فَمَاso not اشْتَلاهَاcalled them away صَفْقُهُhis clap لِلْمُنْصَفَقْat the struck surface
فَمَا اشْتَلاهَا صَفْقُهُ لِلْمُنْصَفَقْ
حَتَّىuntil تَرَدَّىtumbled أَرْبَعٌfour فِيat المُنْعَفَقْthe turning-place
حَتَّى تَرَدَّى أَرْبَعٌ فِي المُنْعَفَقْ
No clap of his at the struck surface called them off
before four tumbled at the turning-place,
بِأَرْبَعِwith four arrows يَنْزَعْنَdrawing out أَنْفَاسَbreaths الرَمَقْthe last life
بِأَرْبَعِ يَنْزَعْنَ أَنْفَاسَ الرَمَقْ
تَرَىyou see بِهَاon them مِنْfrom كُلِّevery مِرْشاشِsprinkling wound الوَرَقْblood
تَرَى بِهَا مِنْ كُلِّ مِرْشاشِ الوَرَقْ
with four arrows drawing out their last breaths.
On them, from every wound sprinkling blood, you see
كَثَمَرِlike the fruit الحُمَّاضِsorrel مِنْfrom هَفْتِthe falling العَلَقْblood-clots
كَثَمَرِ الحُمَّاضِ مِنْ هَفْتِ العَلَقْ
وَانْصَاعَand darted away بَاقِيهِنَّtheir remainder كَالْبَرْقِlike lightning الشِقَقْthe streaks
وَانْصَاعَ بَاقِيهِنَّ كَالْبَرْقِ الشِقَقْ
clots falling like sorrel fruit.
The rest darted away like lightning's streaks,
تَرْمِيflings بِأَيْدِيهاwith its forelegs ثَنَايَاthe forks المُنْفَرَقْthe diverging paths
تَرْمِي بِأَيْدِيها ثَنَايَا المُنْفَرَقْ
كَأَنَّهاas though they وَهْيwhile they تَهاوَىplunge بِالرَقَقْacross soft ground
كَأَنَّها وَهْي تَهاوَى بِالرَقَقْ
flinging their forelegs through the forks of diverging paths.
As though, while plunging across the soft ground,
مِنْfrom ذَرْوِهَاtheir scattering شِبْراقُswift racers شَدٍّa run ذِيpossessing عَمَقْfar reach
مِنْ ذَرْوِهَا شِبْراقُ شَدٍّ ذِي عَمَقْ
حِينwhen احْتَدَاهاdrove them onward رُفْقَةٌa company مِنَamong الرُفَقْtravelling companies
حِين احْتَدَاها رُفْقَةٌ مِنَ الرُفَقْ
in their scattering they were racers on a far-reaching run,
driven onward by a company of travellers,
أَوْor خَارِبٌa camel-thief وَهْيَwhile they تَغَالىstrain onward بِالحِزَقْin close bands
أَوْ خَارِبٌ وَهْيَ تَغَالى بِالحِزَقْ
فَأَصْبَحَتْso by morning they were بِالصُلْبِon hard ground مِنْfrom طُولِthe length الوَسَقْdriving
فَأَصْبَحَتْ بِالصُلْبِ مِنْ طُولِ الوَسَقْ
or a camel-thief, while they strained in close bands.
By morning they were on hard ground after long driving.
إِذَاwhen تَأَنَّىhe patiently regained حِلْمَهُhis reason بَعْدَafter الغَلَقْagitation
إِذَا تَأَنَّى حِلْمَهُ بَعْدَ الغَلَقْ
كاذَبَhe belied لَوْمَthe reproach النَفْسِthe soul أَوْor عنْهَاabout it صَدَقْhe told the truth
كاذَبَ لَوْمَ النَفْسِ أَوْ عنْهَا صَدَقْ
When he patiently regained his reason after agitation,
he belied his soul's reproach—or told the truth about it.
Sol 6.1