قَدْ عَرَضَت أَرْوَى بِقَوْل أَفْنادْ

قَدْ عَرَضَت أَرْوَى بِقَوْل أَفْنادْ

فَقُلْتُ هَمْساً فِي النَجِيِّ الإِرْوادْ

فَقُلْتُ هَمْساً فِي النَجِيِّ الإِرْوادْ

Arwa has spoken with words of folly.

The most eloquent spoke to me with words that enthralled,

So I whispered in gentle, private converse:

So I whispered gently, taking heed,

أَصْبَحَتِ نَمْراءَ كَأُمِّ الآسادْ

أَصْبَحَتِ نَمْراءَ كَأُمِّ الآسادْ

وَرَابَنِي تَحْرِيضُ كُلِّ وَجّادْ

وَرَابَنِي تَحْرِيضُ كُلِّ وَجّادْ

She has turned leopard-fierce, like a mother of lions.

She appeared in the morning like the mother of lions,

Every passionate man's urging disturbed me—

And every impassioned one goaded me on.

حَضَّ وَلا يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي أَجْلَادْ

حَضَّ وَلا يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي أَجْلَادْ

مِنْ قُحَمِ الدَيْنِ وَزُهْد الأَرْفادْ

مِنْ قُحَمِ الدَيْنِ وَزُهْد الأَرْفادْ

he urged, not knowing what my body bore

He pushed me and did not know what was in my skin

of debt's perils and the scarcity of gifts.

Of asceticism’s fervor and renouncing frivolity.

وَعَجِبَتْ مِنْ ذاك أَمُّ هَنّادْ

وَعَجِبَتْ مِنْ ذاك أَمُّ هَنّادْ

لَمَّا رَأَتْنِي راضِياً بِالإِهْمادْ

لَمَّا رَأَتْنِي راضِياً بِالإِهْمادْ

Umm Hannad marveled at that

And from that the mother of coquetry was amazed

when she saw me content with inactivity,

When she saw me content with steadfastness.

لا أَتَنَحَّى قاعِداً في القُعّادْ

لا أَتَنَحَّى قاعِداً في القُعّادْ

كَالكُرَّزِ المَرْبُوطِ بَيْن الأَوْتادْ

كَالكُرَّزِ المَرْبُوطِ بَيْن الأَوْتادْ

not moving away, seated among the sitters,

I do not shy away sitting amongst the squatted,

like a falcon tethered between stakes.

Like a pegged partridge between the tent pegs,

ساقَطَ مِنْهُ الرِيشَ قَبْلَ الإِبْرادْ

ساقَطَ مِنْهُ الرِيشَ قَبْلَ الإِبْرادْ

لَفْحُ الصَلَا مِنْ وَغْرِ قَيْظٍ وَقّادْ

لَفْحُ الصَلَا مِنْ وَغْرِ قَيْظٍ وَقّادْ

Its feathers were stripped from it before cooling

Its feathers had fallen off before moulting,

by fire's scorching blast in blazing summer heat.

Scorched by the midday heat and an intense fire.

وَعاج أَحْنائِي انْحِناء الأَعْوادْ

وَعاج أَحْنائِي انْحِناء الأَعْوادْ

هَرْج الأَمانِيِّ وَطُولُ التَعْوادْ

هَرْج الأَمانِيِّ وَطُولُ التَعْوادْ

And my frame was bent as sticks are bent

My joints creak with the bending of twigs,

by hopes' turmoil and long recurrence,

Confused fancies and accustomed to long vigils,

وَلَيْلَةٌ يَحْفِزُها يَوْمٌ حادْ

وَلَيْلَةٌ يَحْفِزُها يَوْمٌ حادْ

إِلَى مُغَوَّاةِ الفَتَى بِالمِرْصَادْ

إِلَى مُغَوَّاةِ الفَتَى بِالمِرْصَادْ

and a night urged onward by a driving day

And a night spurred on by a scorching day

toward the young man's pitfall, lying in wait,

To the young man’s trysting place with hunting nets.

بَعْد الأَغَانِيِّ وَبَعْد الإِنْشادْ

بَعْد الأَغَانِيِّ وَبَعْد الإِنْشادْ

لا يَبْعَدنْ عَهْدُ الشَبابِ القَيَّادْ

لا يَبْعَدنْ عَهْدُ الشَبابِ القَيَّادْ

after songs and after recitation.

After songs and lyrical chant,

May the age of youth that led us onward never pass away,

May the days of my youth leading the vanguard not be far removed,

وَلا مُواخاةُ الكِرامِ وَفّادْ

وَلا مُواخاةُ الكِرامِ وَفّادْ

وَنَفْح أَطْلال اللِمام الأَجْعادْ

وَنَفْح أَطْلال اللِمام الأَجْعادْ

nor brotherhood with noble visitors,

Nor the companionship of generous, hospitable men,

nor touching figures with curly locks,

And the breath of the traces of encampments now departed,

وَرَمْيُنَا طَرْفَ الحِسان الأَخْوادْ

وَرَمْيُنَا طَرْفَ الحِسان الأَخْوادْ

بِنَظَرٍ يَقْتُلُ قَبْلَ الإِصْرادْ

بِنَظَرٍ يَقْتُلُ قَبْلَ الإِصْرادْ

nor our aiming at the eyes of beautiful maidens

And our glances that kill before piercing

with a glance that kills before piercing.

Were no less than the Yemeni mail-clad warrior’s roasting,

ما كان تَحْبِيرُ اليَمانِي البَرَّادْ

ما كان تَحْبِيرُ اليَمانِي البَرَّادْ

يَرْجُو وَإِنْ دَاخَلَ كُلَّ وَصَّادْ

يَرْجُو وَإِنْ دَاخَلَ كُلَّ وَصَّادْ

The brocading of the Yemeni cloak-weaver could not

Hoping, even if he enters every pass,

hope, even in league with every weaver,

To weave my weaving, the active, nimble one.

نَسْجِي وَنَسْجِي مُجْرَهِدُّ الجُدَّادْ

نَسْجِي وَنَسْجِي مُجْرَهِدُّ الجُدَّادْ

بَلْ بَلَد أَطْرافُهُ فِي أَبْلادْ

بَلْ بَلَد أَطْرافُهُ فِي أَبْلادْ

to match my weaving—my weaving's warp drawn taut.

Rather it is a land whose horizons lie in regions diverse,

Rather, a land whose edges stretch into other lands,

With loud, ululating battle cries,

مُسْتَقْدِمِ الرَعْنِ لَمُوع الأَنْجادْ

مُسْتَقْدِمِ الرَعْنِ لَمُوع الأَنْجادْ

أَخْوَقَ فِي العَيْنِ قَمُوص الأَكْتادْ

أَخْوَقَ فِي العَيْنِ قَمُوص الأَكْتادْ

with a projecting mountain spur and gleaming uplands,

Fearful to behold, bones terrifying,

vast to the eye, its ridges bucking—

Where lively livers recoiled,

تَنَشَّطَتْ مِنْهُ عِراض الأَكْبادْ

تَنَشَّطَتْ مِنْهُ عِراض الأَكْبادْ

مُنْصَبَّةُ الحَدْرِ سَوَامِي الإِصْعادْ

مُنْصَبَّةُ الحَدْرِ سَوَامِي الإِصْعادْ

from it strode broad-livered she-camels,

High-humped, towering climbs,

sweeping downhill and soaring uphill,

Interwoven fetlocks, the freed, unbroken steeds,

مَحْبُوكَةُ الجَلْزِ عِتَاق الأَجْيادْ

مَحْبُوكَةُ الجَلْزِ عِتَاق الأَجْيادْ

سَوّاقَة الأَرْجُلِ عُوج الأَعْضادْ

سَوّاقَة الأَرْجُلِ عُوج الأَعْضادْ

firmly knit in sinew, noble-necked,

Pacing evenly, crooked-limbed,

driving their hind legs, curved in the upper forelegs.

When we raced them briskly in a group,

إِذَا أَجَزْنَاها لِخِمْسٍ طَرّادْ

إِذَا أَجَزْنَاها لِخِمْسٍ طَرّادْ

بِآجِنِ الماءِ مُحِيل الأَعْهادْ

بِآجِنِ الماءِ مُحِيل الأَعْهادْ

When we brought them across on a sustained five-day watering interval,

With the water skins that change settlements,

with water stagnant and rains long past,

They shrank to the shrinking of ostriches roused.

قَلَّصْنَ تَقْلِيصَ النَعَامِ الوَخّادْ

قَلَّصْنَ تَقْلِيصَ النَعَامِ الوَخّادْ

سَوامِدَ اللَيْلِ خِفاف الأَزْوادْ

سَوامِدَ اللَيْلِ خِفاف الأَزْوادْ

they sped like long-striding ostriches,

After dusk, unencumbered, lightly-loaded,

pressing through the night, light of provisions,

Swooping down withdin in the crumbling darkness,

يَهْوِينَ بِالخَرْقِ انْخِراط الأَمْسادْ

يَهْوِينَ بِالخَرْقِ انْخِراط الأَمْسادْ

وَاللَيْل أَحْوَى مَالِئٌ بِالأَسْدادْ

وَاللَيْل أَحْوَى مَالِئٌ بِالأَسْدادْ

plunging through the waste like ropes slipping free,

While the night, filled with lions, cast about,

while dark night filled everything with screens.

And their hands with tent poles fending off.

وَطَرْح أَيْدِيهِنَّ بِالسَدْو السادْ

وَطَرْح أَيْدِيهِنَّ بِالسَدْو السادْ

بَيْنَ الفَيَافِي عَرْضُهُ لِلأَطْرادْ

بَيْنَ الفَيَافِي عَرْضُهُ لِلأَطْرادْ

And the casting of their forelegs in far-reaching strides,

Between the hills its breadth allows galloping,

across the wastes, its sweep open to long courses—

The starved beasts of the steppe split open.

يَنْشَقُّ مَوَّارُ الصَحارِي الأَجْرادْ

يَنْشَقُّ مَوَّارُ الصَحارِي الأَجْرادْ

عَنْ مُسْنَفاتٍ كَالنَعامِ النُدّادْ

عَنْ مُسْنَفاتٍ كَالنَعامِ النُدّادْ

the shimmering surge of bare deserts split

About shapely sand grouse in knots,

around forward-girt camels, like fleeing ostriches.

Nay, but the scholar and summoner knew

بَلْ عَلِمَ العالِمُ وَالداعِي النادْ

بَلْ عَلِمَ العالِمُ وَالداعِي النادْ

أَنِّي بِسَعْدِي وَهْيَ خَيْر الأَسْعادْ

أَنِّي بِسَعْدِي وَهْيَ خَيْر الأَسْعادْ

Indeed, the knowing man and the loud-voiced herald know

That I in my bliss – and it is the best of fortunes –

that through my Sa'd—the best of the Sa'd clans—

Am friendly in the barren valley, shunning towns,

فِي صامِلِ الهَضبِ مُنِيف الأَطْرادْ

فِي صامِلِ الهَضبِ مُنِيف الأَطْرادْ

وَأَنَّنِي الطارِحُ فِي الجَمْعِ العادْ

وَأَنَّنِي الطارِحُ فِي الجَمْعِ العادْ

I stand upon solid mountain-mass, its ridges towering,

And that I consort with the common folk,

and that I am the caster amid the advancing throng,

Mingling with them immoderately I exaggerate,

غَلْواً بِه أَشْحَطُ غَلْو المُزْدادْ

غَلْواً بِه أَشْحَطُ غَلْو المُزْدادْ

وَمَعْشَرٍ لَمْ يُولَدُوا بِالأَسْعادْ

وَمَعْشَرٍ لَمْ يُولَدُوا بِالأَسْعادْ

casting with it farther than one striving for greater range.

And a people not born to fortunes –

And a company not born among the Sa'd clans—

Prudence restrained me from them to avoid harm

نَهْنَهَنِي عَنْهُمْ تَوَقِّي الأَثْآدْ

نَهْنَهَنِي عَنْهُمْ تَوَقِّي الأَثْآدْ

حِلْماً وَأَنْ لَيْسُوا لَنَا بِأَنْدادْ

حِلْماً وَأَنْ لَيْسُوا لَنَا بِأَنْدادْ

my avoidance of disgrace held me back from them,

With patience, though they are not our equals,

through forbearance, and because they are not our equals.

And if they but witness my position they would acquiesce to agreement

وَلَوْ رَأَوْا وَقْعِي رَضُوا بالإِقْرادْ

وَلَوْ رَأَوْا وَقْعِي رَضُوا بالإِقْرادْ

وَشاعِرٍ لَمْ يُهْدَ سَمْتَ الإِرْشادْ

وَشاعِرٍ لَمْ يُهْدَ سَمْتَ الإِرْشادْ

Had they seen my blow, they would have accepted submission.

And a poet not guided to proper direction

And a poet not guided along the path of sound direction,

Until he strayed into the thickets of reaping,

حَتَّى تَلَوَّى فِي مغارِ الإِحْصادْ

حَتَّى تَلَوَّى فِي مغارِ الإِحْصادْ

وَاعْتَزَّهُ بَعْدَ الخِناقِ الزَرّادْ

وَاعْتَزَّهُ بَعْدَ الخِناقِ الزَرّادْ

until he writhed in a firmly twisted noose,

And it squeezed his throat after the quarrel

and after the constricting chokehold was overcome

The reproach of the feeble man, interwoven with malice,

تَقْحِيمُ عاسِي الرُكْنِ مَحْبُوكِ الآد

تَقْحِيمُ عاسِي الرُكْنِ مَحْبُوكِ الآد

أَتْلَعَ يَسْمُو بِتَلِيلٍ قَوّادْ

أَتْلَعَ يَسْمُو بِتَلِيلٍ قَوّادْ

by the charge of one hard-flanked and firmly knit in strength,

Began to try to rise with slanderers,

long-necked, raising a neck that leads the way,

Travelling his caravan with a known destination,

يَمْطُو قُرانَاهُ بِهادٍ مَرَّادْ

يَمْطُو قُرانَاهُ بِهادٍ مَرَّادْ

يَزْدادُ بُعْداً مِن أَكُف المُدّادْ

يَزْدادُ بُعْداً مِن أَكُف المُدّادْ

stretching both flanks with a stout fore-neck,

Increasing his distance from the hands that would restrain,

ever farther from the hands that reach for it.

And from the envious and hostile louts

وَحاسِدٍ مِنْ شانِئِينَ حُسّادْ

وَحاسِدٍ مِنْ شانِئِينَ حُسّادْ

ما زالَ يَغْلُو بِالخَنَا وَالإِفْنادْ

ما زالَ يَغْلُو بِالخَنَا وَالإِفْنادْ

And an envier among hostile enviers

Who never stopped exaggerating in lies and fabrications

did not cease his excesses in foul speech and foolish abuse,

Until we destroyed his territory with invocations.

حَتَّى هَدَمْنا حَوْضَهُ بِالأَوْرادْ

حَتَّى هَدَمْنا حَوْضَهُ بِالأَوْرادْ

فَأيُّها السائِلُ عَن أَهْل الْوادْ

فَأيُّها السائِلُ عَن أَهْل الْوادْ

until we shattered his trough with our water-seeking throngs.

So O questioner about the people of the valley,

So you who ask about the people of the valley:

If you are blind take heed from witnesses

إِنْ كُنْت أَعْمَى فَالقَنَا بِالأَشْهادْ

إِنْ كُنْت أَعْمَى فَالقَنَا بِالأَشْهادْ

تُنْبِيكَ ما لَمْ يُحْصِهِ ذُو أَسْبادْ

تُنْبِيكَ ما لَمْ يُحْصِهِ ذُو أَسْبادْ

if you are blind, then the spears, before witnesses,

Who will tell you what an enumerator missed.

will tell you what no shaggy-haired man could count.

Verily Tameem was an eminent tribe of ‘Ad

إِنَّ تَمِيماً كانَ قَهْبَا مِنْ عادْ

إِنَّ تَمِيماً كانَ قَهْبَا مِنْ عادْ

أَرْأَسَ مِذْكاراً كَثِير الأَوْلادْ

أَرْأَسَ مِذْكاراً كَثِير الأَوْلادْ

Indeed, Tamim was a massive man of 'Ad,

With many noble men, beyond a counter's counting,

large-headed, begetting sons, with many children;

So people in their anger and hatred

يَعْجِزُ عَنْهُمْ عَدُّ كُلِّ عَدّادْ

يَعْجِزُ عَنْهُمْ عَدُّ كُلِّ عَدّادْ

فَالناسُ مِنْ تَغَضُّبٍ وَأَحْقادْ

فَالناسُ مِنْ تَغَضُّبٍ وَأَحْقادْ

every counter's counting falls short of them.

Against Tameem and the region’s blazing heat

So the people, from rage and grudges

Fell ill and died by the malignant stars.

علَى تَمِيمٍ مِنْ تَلَظِّي الأَحْرادْ

علَى تَمِيمٍ مِنْ تَلَظِّي الأَحْرادْ

مَرْضَى وَمَوْتَى بِالنُجُوم الأَنْكادْ

مَرْضَى وَمَوْتَى بِالنُجُوم الأَنْكادْ

against Tamim, from blazing resentments,

And if you blame my jesting with verse,

are sick and dead beneath baleful stars.

While Qais is merciful in mighty verse,

وَإِنْ تُلَمْلِمْ خِنْدِفِي بِالأَنْضادْ

وَإِنْ تُلَمْلِمْ خِنْدِفِي بِالأَنْضادْ

وَقَيْسُنا تَرْحَمْ بِعِزٍّ مَيّادْ

وَقَيْسُنا تَرْحَمْ بِعِزٍّ مَيّادْ

And if my Khindif gathers its layered ranks,

Deviations fall short of it.

with our Qays, it shows mercy through a swaying might

We are more lasting than mountains solid,

تَزِلُّ عَنْهُ ناطِحات الأَضْدادْ

تَزِلُّ عَنْهُ ناطِحات الأَضْدادْ

وَنَحْن أَبْقَى مِنْ جِبال الأَوْتادْ

وَنَحْن أَبْقَى مِنْ جِبال الأَوْتادْ

off which the butting horns of opponents slip.

Rising above the leveling vicissitudes of fate,

And we endure longer than firmly pegged mountains

With breasts as strong as coat of mail, supporting pillars,

عَلَى مُلِمّاتِ الزَمانِ الهَدّادْ

عَلَى مُلِمّاتِ الزَمانِ الهَدّادْ

نَسْمُو بِصَدْرٍ جَوْزُهُ ذُو أَكْآدْ

نَسْمُو بِصَدْرٍ جَوْزُهُ ذُو أَكْآدْ

against the calamities of shattering Time.

For us and ancestors, great men of great deeds,

We rise with a breast whose middle is hard to scale,

Saved them from the schemes of every schemer

ضَخْمِ المِلاَطَيْنِ دُعامِيِّ الهادْ

ضَخْمِ المِلاَطَيْنِ دُعامِيِّ الهادْ

لَنَا وَأَجْدادٍ عِظام الأَجْدادْ

لَنَا وَأَجْدادٍ عِظام الأَجْدادْ

huge in both flanks, pillar-necked,

And unjust man, though eminent and severe,

ours, and forefathers' whose forefathers were mighty.

The goring of Oud’s sons is the death of tyrants.

أَحْرَرَهُمْ مِنْ كَيْدِ كُلِّ كَيّادْ

أَحْرَرَهُمْ مِنْ كَيْدِ كُلِّ كَيّادْ

وَظالِمٍ فِي رَأْسِ عِزٍّ ضَهّادْ

وَظالِمٍ فِي رَأْسِ عِزٍّ ضَهّادْ

What freed them from every schemer's plot,

We have troops, excellent for charges,

and from a tyrant atop oppressive might,

With lances at Marw they struck the heads of rivals.

نَطْحُ بَنِي أُدٍّ رُؤُوسِ الآدادْ

نَطْحُ بَنِي أُدٍّ رُؤُوسِ الآدادْ

عَنَّا وَجُنْدٌ فاضِلٌ لِلأَجْنادْ

عَنَّا وَجُنْدٌ فاضِلٌ لِلأَجْنادْ

was Banu Udd's butting the heads of the mighty

So we are masters even of defiant slaves,

on our behalf—and an army surpassing armies,

No present or absent escapes

بِمَرْوَ ضَرّابُوا رُؤُوس الأَنْدادْ

بِمَرْوَ ضَرّابُوا رُؤُوس الأَنْدادْ

فَنَحْن أَرْباب العِباد العُبّادْ

فَنَحْن أَرْباب العِباد العُبّادْ

in Marw, striking the heads of equals.

Except we subdue him with dominating rule

So we are masters of the people, the devout.

That hurls the adversary like Iblees and the refractory

فَلَيْسَ يُلْفَى حاضِرٌ وَلا بادْ

فَلَيْسَ يُلْفَى حاضِرٌ وَلا بادْ

إِلَّا قَهَرْناُهُ بِمُلْكٍ حَدّادْ

إِلَّا قَهَرْناُهُ بِمُلْكٍ حَدّادْ

No townsman or desert-dweller is found

And if clashing with armor restrains

but we have subdued him with keen-edged sovereignty.

Our arms and the skulls of turbaned heads,

تَرْمِي بِنا خِنْدِفُ يَوْمَ الإِيسادْ

تَرْمِي بِنا خِنْدِفُ يَوْمَ الإِيسادْ

طَحْمَةَ إِبْلِيسَ وَمِرْدَاةَ الرَّادْ

طَحْمَةَ إِبْلِيسَ وَمِرْدَاةَ الرَّادْ

Khindif hurls us on the day of fierce assault,

We disobey with foreign swords every sharp cutting blade,

Iblis's charging mass, a crushing stone for the repeller.

When drawn from their still sheathed repose.

وَنَحْنُ إِنْ نَهْنَهَ ضَرْبُ الذُوّادْ

وَنَحْنُ إِنْ نَهْنَهَ ضَرْبُ الذُوّادْ

سَواعِدَ القَوْمِ وَقَمْد الأَقْمادْ

سَواعِدَ القَوْمِ وَقَمْد الأَقْمادْ

And we, when defenders' blows hold back

They split with their edges the firmament's expanse,

the people's forearms and the stoutest of stout men,

We suffice Quraish whoever strove to make mischief

نَعْصَى بَغَرْبى كُلِّ نَصْلٍ قَدّادْ

نَعْصَى بَغَرْبى كُلِّ نَصْلٍ قَدّادْ

إِذَا اسْتُعِيرَت مِنْ جُفُون الأَغْمادْ

إِذَا اسْتُعِيرَت مِنْ جُفُون الأَغْمادْ

smite with both edges of every cleaving blade.

Of every hated sowers of dissent,

When borrowed from the coverings of their sheaths,

And atheist who has mixed matters of unbelief,

فَقَأْنَ بِالصَقْعِ يَرَابِيعَ الصادْ

فَقَأْنَ بِالصَقْعِ يَرَابِيعَ الصادْ

نَكْفِي قُرَيْشاً مَنْ سَعَى بِالإِفْسادْ

نَكْفِي قُرَيْشاً مَنْ سَعَى بِالإِفْسادْ

they burst, with blows, the 'jerboas' within copper helmets.

And we cure the pounding of heads and the disease of tremors

We shield Quraysh from whoever works corruption,

With a wave of our hands, the necklaces' threads,

مِنْ كُلِّ مَرْهُوبِ الشِقاقِ جَحّادْ

مِنْ كُلِّ مَرْهُوبِ الشِقاقِ جَحّادْ

وَمُلْحِدٍ خالَط أَمْر الإِلْحادْ

وَمُلْحِدٍ خالَط أَمْر الإِلْحادْ

from every obstinate denier feared for his dissension,

We send the heads of the arrogant, aggressive ones

and every heretic who engages in heresy.

From each people before the coins are minted

وَقَدْ نُدَاوِي مِنْ صُدَامِ الإِغْدادْ

وَقَدْ نُدَاوِي مِنْ صُدَامِ الإِغْدادْ

وَحَقْوَةِ البَطْنِ وَداء الأَلْهادْ

وَحَقْوَةِ البَطْنِ وَداء الأَلْهادْ

We treat the assault of swelling glands,

To the Commander of the Faithful, rightly guided,

and belly-colic and crushing afflictions,

An honor from God and praise of the praised,

بِخَفْق أَيْدِينا خُيُوط الأَقْلادْ

بِخَفْق أَيْدِينا خُيُوط الأَقْلادْ

نُهْدِي رُؤُوسَ المُتْرِفِينَ الصُدّادْ

نُهْدِي رُؤُوسَ المُتْرِفِينَ الصُدّادْ

by our hands striking the cords of necks.

That one, even if the howling people are rallied,

We present the heads of pampered obstructionists

Silences the bells of bleating flocks,

مِنْ كُلِّ قَوْمٍ قَبْلَ خَرْجِ النُقّادْ

مِنْ كُلِّ قَوْمٍ قَبْلَ خَرْجِ النُقّادْ

إِلَى أَمِير المُؤمِنِين المُمْتادْ

إِلَى أَمِير المُؤمِنِين المُمْتادْ

from every people, before the cash-payers' tribute,

The loud Al-Dayghamiyyat, the booming,

to the Commander of the Faithful, sought for his bounty,

I am inspired despite the allurements of sport and amusement

كَرَامَةَ اللَّهِ وَحَمْدَ الحُمّادْ

كَرَامَةَ اللَّهِ وَحَمْدَ الحُمّادْ

ذاكَ وَإِن أَجْلَب أَهْل الأَهْدادْ

ذاكَ وَإِن أَجْلَب أَهْل الأَهْدادْ

for God's honor and the praise of praisers.

My roar and the tumult of the crashing, rumbling din,

That, though the threateners raised a clamor,

And the echo of the brittle bowl that rebounds

أَسْكَت أَجْراس القُرُوم الأَلْوادْ

أَسْكَت أَجْراس القُرُوم الأَلْوادْ

اَلْضَيْغَمِيّاتِ العِظام الأَلْدادْ

اَلْضَيْغَمِيّاتِ العِظام الأَلْدادْ

hushed the voices of the stubborn champions,

Silenced for me the bells of every babbler

the great and fiercely contentious lionesses,

Who frightened away a bustard before shooting,

عَنِّي وَأَوْعَيْنَ اللَهَى في الأَلْغاد

عَنِّي وَأَوْعَيْنَ اللَهَى في الأَلْغاد

زَأْرِي وَقَبْقَابُ الهَدِيرِ الزَغّادْ

زَأْرِي وَقَبْقَابُ الهَدِيرِ الزَغّادْ

against me; they tucked their palates into their jowls—

Spreading its wings over its chicks,

my roar and the gurgling of its forceful rumble,

As if a torrent poured after damming

وَرَدُّ بخَبْاخِ القَصِيفِ الرَدّادْ

وَرَدُّ بخَبْاخِ القَصِيفِ الرَدّادْ

أَسْكَتَ عَنِّي جَرْسَ كُلِّ هَدْهادْ

أَسْكَتَ عَنِّي جَرْسَ كُلِّ هَدْهادْ

and the answering crackle of its echoing crash.

Over my beloved's brow, frowning with pain,

It hushed every loud roarer's voice against me.

In a shock of hair like gall, amid plaits,

يَفْرَقْنَ مِنْ نَهْدٍ كَعُرْضِ الصَلّادْ

يَفْرَقْنَ مِنْ نَهْدٍ كَعُرْضِ الصَلّادْ

عَلَى غُرَابَيْهِ نَفِيُّ الإِلْبادْ

عَلَى غُرَابَيْهِ نَفِيُّ الإِلْبادْ

They fear a powerful beast, broad as hard rock,

Or the curling lock between curly plaits,

with loose matted tufts upon its two hipbones,

Unruly against the nose bands and halter ropes,

كَأَنَّ رُبّاً سالَ بَعْدَ الإِعْقادْ

كَأَنَّ رُبّاً سالَ بَعْدَ الإِعْقادْ

عَلَى لَدِيدَىْ مُصْمَئِكٍّ صِلْخادْ

عَلَى لَدِيدَىْ مُصْمَئِكٍّ صِلْخادْ

as though thick syrup had flowed after thickening

Disheveled soft hair upon soft skin,

over the two sides of a compact, rock-hard beast,

As if it was dyed with saffron or the yellow dye,

فِي هامَةٍ كَالصَمْدِ بَيْن الأَصْمادْ

فِي هامَةٍ كَالصَمْدِ بَيْن الأَصْمادْ

أَوْ جُمُدِ العادِيِّ بَيْن الأَجْمادْ

أَوْ جُمُدِ العادِيِّ بَيْن الأَجْمادْ

in a head like a rocky knoll among knolls,

Pulling out locks with a sharpened incisor,

or an ancient boulder among boulders,

And twisted strands like a wine skin’s twist,

صَعْبٍ عَنِ الخَطْمِ وَقَيْد الأَقْيادْ

صَعْبٍ عَنِ الخَطْمِ وَقَيْد الأَقْيادْ

جَعْدِ الدّرَانِيكِ رِفَلِّ الأَجْلادْ

جَعْدِ الدّرَانِيكِ رِفَلِّ الأَجْلادْ

unyielding to nose-reins and the bondage of fetters,

Hating the pounding of the two forehead veins,

curly in its shaggy coverings, loose-hided,

In his head tossed hair of youth,

كَأَنَّهُ مُخْتَضِبٌ فِي أَجْسادْ

كَأَنَّهُ مُخْتَضِبٌ فِي أَجْسادْ

مِنْ صِبْغِ وَرْسٍ أَوْ صِباغ الفِرْصادْ

مِنْ صِبْغِ وَرْسٍ أَوْ صِباغ الفِرْصادْ

as though it were steeped in pigments

Shaking the earth with might and moaning,

of wars-dye or mulberry coloring.

So they are victims of a charging knight,

يَقْتَصِلُ القَصْلَ بِنابٍ حُدّادْ

يَقْتَصِلُ القَصْلَ بِنابٍ حُدّادْ

وَلَفْتِ كَسّارِ العِظامِ خَضّادْ

وَلَفْتِ كَسّارِ العِظامِ خَضّادْ

It shears clean through with a sharp-cutting fang,

Who promises or takes before appointed time,

and a wrenching that shatters and crushes bones,

A deadly fate that scatters the heads of rivals

كَرْهِ الحِجاجَيْنِ شَدِيد الأَرْآدْ

كَرْهِ الحِجاجَيْنِ شَدِيد الأَرْآدْ

فِي رَأْسِهِ مُرْتَهِشات الأَحْيادْ

فِي رَأْسِهِ مُرْتَهِشات الأَحْيادْ

grim in both eye-sockets, strong in the joints;

From bones into the innermost soul,

bony ridges quiver within its head.

While peers of warriors, heavily armed, rejoice

يَسْتَرْجِف الأَرْضَ بِرِزٍّ وَأَّادْ

يَسْتَرْجِف الأَرْضَ بِرِزٍّ وَأَّادْ

فَهُنَّ صَرْعَى مِنْ جُرازٍ وَرّادْ

فَهُنَّ صَرْعَى مِنْ جُرازٍ وَرّادْ

It makes the earth tremble with a deep, heavy rumble,

At the thick staff of the strong, towering man,

and they lie slain by a devourer ever returning,

Who casts to hands invincible in combat,

يُوعِد أَوْ يَأْخُذُ قَبْل الإِيعادْ

يُوعِد أَوْ يَأْخُذُ قَبْل الإِيعادْ

سَرَومطٍ يُذري رُؤوسَ الأَقصاد

سَرَومطٍ يُذري رُؤوسَ الأَقصاد

that threatens—or seizes before a threat—

And looming figures like massive mountains,

a long-bodied beast scattering the tips of fragments

مِنَ العِظامِ في الصَميمِ الأَعراد

مِنَ العِظامِ في الصَميمِ الأَعراد

يَعتزُّ أَقرانُ الجِذابِ المَدَّاد

يَعتزُّ أَقرانُ الجِذابِ المَدَّاد

of bone, deep in the hard core.

It overmasters its peers in a long-drawn grapple,

قَسْبِ العَلابِيِّ شَدِيد الأَعْلادْ

قَسْبِ العَلابِيِّ شَدِيد الأَعْلادْ

يُرْزِي إِلَى أَيْدٍ مَنِيع الأُيّادْ

يُرْزِي إِلَى أَيْدٍ مَنِيع الأُيّادْ

hard of neck-sinew, strong of neck,

taking refuge in might, impregnable in its supports,

وشامِخَاتٍ كَالْجِبالِ الأَطْوادْ

وشامِخَاتٍ كَالْجِبالِ الأَطْوادْ

and lofty heights like massive mountain peaks.