أَعينَىَّO my two eyes جُودَgive freely بالدُّمُوعِwith tears السَّواكِبِstreaming
أَعينَىَّ جُودَ بالدُّمُوعِ السَّواكِبِ
وَكونَاand both be كَوَاهِىlike the leaking part of شَنَّةِan old waterskin معwith راكبa rider
وَكونَا كَوَاهِى شَنَّةِ مع راكب
My two eyes, pour forth streaming tears,
and be like a leaking old waterskin with a rider.
فَإِنَّfor indeed سُرُورَthe joy of العَيشِlife قَدalready حِيلَa barrier was interposed دُونَهُbefore it
فَإِنَّ سُرُورَ العَيشِ قَد حِيلَ دُونَهُ
وَمَاand ... is not الشَّرُّmisfortune فِىin الدُّنيَاthis world بِضَربَةِa blow لاَnot لازِبِinescapable
وَمَا الشَّرُّ فِى الدُّنيَا بِضَربَةِ لاَ لازِبِ
For the joy of life has been placed beyond reach,
and misfortune in this world is no blow one can escape.
وللأَزدِand for al-Azd فَابكِىthen weep إِذsince أُصِيبَتwere struck down سَرَاتُهُمtheir chieftains
وللأَزدِ فَابكِى إِذ أُصِيبَت سَرَاتُهُم
فَقُبحاًso shame لِعَيشٍupon a life بَعدَafter ذلِكَthat خضائِبِluxuriant (uncertain reading)
فَقُبحاً لِعَيشٍ بَعدَ ذلِكَ خضائِبِ
And weep for al-Azd, since their chieftains were struck down;
shame on a life of plenty after that [final word uncertain].
نُرَجِّىwe hope for خُلُوداًimmortality بَعدَهُمafter them وَتَغُولُنَاwhile ... destroy us
نُرَجِّى خُلُوداً بَعدَهُم وَتَغُولُنَا
غَوَائِلُthe ravages of مَوتٍdeath أَوor قِرَاعُthe clash of الكَتَائِبِbattalions
غَوَائِلُ مَوتٍ أَو قِرَاعُ الكَتَائِبِ
We hope for immortality after them, while we are destroyed
by death's ravages or the clash of battalions.
وَكُنَّاand we were بِخَيرٍwell قَبلَbefore قَتلِthe killing of ابنشthe son of مِخنَفٍMikhnaf
وَكُنَّا بِخَيرٍ قَبلَ قَتلِ ابنش مِخنَفٍ
وَكُلُّand every امرِىءٍman يَوماًone day لَبَعضِis bound for one of المَذَاهِبِthe paths of departure
وَكُلُّ امرِىءٍ يَوماً لَبَعضِ المَذَاهِبِ
And we fared well before the slaying of Ibn Mikhnaf;
every man must someday take a road of departure.
أَمَارَset flowing دُمُوعَthe tears of الشِّيبشthe grey-haired elders مِنamong أَهلِthe people of مِصرِهِhis city
أَمَارَ دُمُوعَ الشِّيبش مِن أَهلِ مِصرِهِ
وَعَجَّلَand hastened فِىamong الشُّبَّانِthe young men شَيبَthe greying of الذَّوَائِبِthe locks
وَعَجَّلَ فِى الشُّبَّانِ شَيبَ الذَّوَائِبِ
He set flowing the tears of his city's grey-haired elders,
and hastened the greying of young men's locks.
وَقَاتَلَand he fought حَتَّىuntil مَاتَhe died أَكرَمَthe noblest مِيتَةٍdeath
وَقَاتَلَ حَتَّى مَاتَ أَكرَمَ مِيتَةٍ
وَخَرَّand he fell عَلَىupon وَجهٍa face كَرِيمشnoble وَحَاجِبِand a brow
وَخَرَّ عَلَى وَجهٍ كَرِيمش وَحَاجِبِ
And he fought until he died a most noble death,
and fell upon his noble face and brow.
عَشِيَّةَon the evening when حَالَgave way الصَّفُّthe battle line إِلاَّexcept عِصَابَةًa band
عَشِيَّةَ حَالَ الصَّفُّ إِلاَّ عِصَابَةً
مشنَof الأَزدِal-Azd تَمشِىadvancing بالسُّيُوفِwith swords القَوَاضِبِkeen-cutting
مشنَ الأَزدِ تَمشِى بالسُّيُوفِ القَوَاضِبِ
That evening, when the battle line gave way, save for a band
of al-Azd, advancing with keen-cutting swords.
فَيَاso O عَينُeye بَكِّىweep for مِخنَفاًMikhnaf وَابنَand the son of مِخنَفٍMikhnaf
فَيَا عَينُ بَكِّى مِخنَفاً وَابنَ مِخنَفٍ
وَفُرسَانَand the horsemen of قَومِىmy people قُصرَةًclose kindred وَأَقَارِبِىand my relatives
وَفُرسَانَ قَومِى قُصرَةً وَأَقَارِبِى
So, eye, weep for Mikhnaf and Ibn Mikhnaf,
and my people's horsemen, my close kindred and relatives,
وبُعدَand the loss of جُبَاةٍtribute-collectors فِىwithin أَرُومَةِthe lineage of بارِقٍBariq
وبُعدَ جُبَاةٍ فِى أَرُومَةِ بارِقٍ
ولَيسَand ... are not المَنَاياَdeath's decrees مُرضِيَاتُpleasing to المُعَاتِبِone who reproaches
ولَيسَ المَنَاياَ مُرضِيَاتُ المُعَاتِبِ
and the loss of tribute-gatherers from Bariq's stock;
death's decrees do not appease those who reproach them.
فُجِعنَاwe were bereaved بِهِof him لاnot وَانِياًslack مُتَوانِياًdilatory
فُجِعنَا بِهِ لا وَانِياً مُتَوانِياً
وَلاnor عَاجِزاًhelpless عِندَwhen facing الأُمُورِevents النَّوَائِبِcalamitous
وَلا عَاجِزاً عِندَ الأُمُورِ النَّوَائِبِ
We were bereaved of him—no sluggard or laggard,
nor helpless when calamities befell.
وَلَوand if سُئِلَتwere asked مِنهُfor him شَنُوءَةُShanu'ah فِديَةًa ransom
وَلَو سُئِلَت مِنهُ شَنُوءَةُ فِديَةً
لأَعطَواthey would have given نُفُوسَthe lives of القَومِthe people بَعدَafter الحَرَائِبِthe prized possessions
لأَعطَوا نُفُوسَ القَومِ بَعدَ الحَرَائِبِ
Had Shanu'ah been asked for a ransom for him,
they would have given their people's lives after their prized possessions,
لِمَنfor one whose لاnot يَخَافُfear القَومُthe people سَقطَةَa lapse in رَأيِهِhis judgment
لِمَن لا يَخَافُ القَومُ سَقطَةَ رَأيِهِ
إِذاwhen زَاغَwent astray أصحَابُthe possessors of الحُلومِminds العَوَازِبِwandering
إِذا زَاغَ أصحَابُ الحُلومِ العَوَازِبِ
for one in whose judgment the people feared no lapse,
when men of wandering wits went astray.
وسَائِلُهُand his petitioner مُعطَىwas granted الجزِيلabundant gifts ولَمand ... did not تَكُنbe
وسَائِلُهُ مُعطَى الجزِيل ولَم تَكُن
تُهَيِّبُهُmake him afraid قِدماin earlier times عِظَامُthe greatest of المَوَاهِبِgifts
تُهَيِّبُهُ قِدما عِظَامُ المَوَاهِبِ
His petitioner received lavishly, and never
had mighty gifts daunted him in earlier days.
وكَانand he was هَيُوباdeeply fearful لِلفَوَاحِشِof shameful deeds كُلِّهَاall of them
وكَان هَيُوبا لِلفَوَاحِشِ كُلِّهَا
ولَيسَand ... was not لأَبطالِof the champions of الرِّجالmen بِهَائِبِafraid
ولَيسَ لأَبطالِ الرِّجال بِهَائِبِ
And he shrank from every shameful deed,
yet feared no champions among men.
ولمand ... did not يَكُbe مِمَّنamong those who يَملأُfills الرَّوعُterror صَدرَهُhis breast
ولم يَكُ مِمَّن يَملأُ الرَّوعُ صَدرَهُ
إِذَاwhen رَاغَdodged أَهلُthe people of الخِبِّguile رَوغَthe dodging of الثَّعالِبِfoxes
إِذَا رَاغَ أَهلُ الخِبِّ رَوغَ الثَّعالِبِ
Nor was he one whose breast was filled with terror,
when men of guile dodged like foxes.
وَإِيَاسَand Iyas فَابكِيهِthen weep for him إِذاwhen اشتَجَرَinterlocked القَنَأthe spears
وَإِيَاسَ فَابكِيهِ إِذا اشتَجَرَ القَنَأ
لَدَىamid الرَّوعِterror أَوor كَلَّتgrew blunt رِقَاقُthe slender ones of المَضَارِبِthe sword-blades
لَدَى الرَّوعِ أَو كَلَّت رِقَاقُ المَضَارِبِ
And Iyas—weep for him when the spears interlocked,
amid terror, or when slender sword-blades grew blunt,
وَحَادَand turned aside رِجَالٌmen عَنfrom رَجَالٍmen وَأَبرَزَتand bared
وَحَادَ رِجَالٌ عَن رَجَالٍ وَأَبرَزَت
نَوَاجِذَهَأtheir molars يَومَon the day of الطِّعَانِspear-thrusting مَرَازِبِىmy maces
نَوَاجِذَهَأ يَومَ الطِّعَانِ مَرَازِبِى
and men turned aside from men, and there were bared
the molars of my maces on the day of spear-thrusts.
وَإِنand if ذُكِرَis mentioned الحِلمُforbearance المُزَيِّنُthat adorns أَهلَهُthose who possess it
وَإِن ذُكِرَ الحِلمُ المُزَيِّنُ أَهلَهُ
فَمَاthen ... was not الحِلمُforbearance عَنهُfrom him يَومَon the day of ذَاكَthat بِغَائِبِabsent
فَمَا الحِلمُ عَنهُ يَومَ ذَاكَ بِغَائِبِ
And if forbearance, which adorns its possessors, was mentioned,
forbearance was not absent from him that day.
وَكَانَand he was زَعِيمَthe leader of القَومِthe people فِيمَاin whatever يَنُوبُهُمbefell them
وَكَانَ زَعِيمَ القَومِ فِيمَا يَنُوبُهُم
إِذَاwhen عَىَّwas at a loss مَنwhoever يَومَon the day of ذَاكَthat بِغَائِبِabsent
إِذَا عَىَّ مَن يَومَ ذَاكَ بِغَائِبِ
And he was the people's leader in whatever befell them,
when whoever was absent that day was at a loss [wording unclear].
وَكَانَand there was لَهُfor him فِىat ذِروَةِthe summit of الحَىِّthe clan مَنصِبٌa high station
وَكَانَ لَهُ فِى ذِروَةِ الحَىِّ مَنصِبٌ
وَلَيسَand ... was not كَمَنlike one who عَضَّbit الفِرَاhides بِالمَشَاعِبِwith stitching awls
وَلَيسَ كَمَن عَضَّ الفِرَا بِالمَشَاعِبِ
And he held a station at the summit of the clan,
and was not like a hide-biter working with stitching awls;
وَلاَnor خَامِلٍobscure فِيهِمamong them إِذاwhen مَاan emphatic particle نَسَبتهُyou traced his lineage
وَلاَ خَامِلٍ فِيهِم إِذا مَا نَسَبتهُ
ولَكِنَّهُbut he مِنof بَارِقٍBariq فِىamong الذَّوَائِبٍِthe loftiest crests
ولَكِنَّهُ مِن بَارِقٍ فِى الذَّوَائِبٍِ
nor was he obscure among them when you traced his lineage,
but of Bariq, among its loftiest crests.
فلاَso may ... not وَلَدَتgive birth أُنثَىa woman وَلاَnor آبَreturn غَائِبٌan absent man
فلاَ وَلَدَت أُنثَى وَلاَ آبَ غَائِبٌ
إِلَىto أهلِهِhis family إنif كانَhe is لَيسَnot بِآئِبِreturning
إِلَى أهلِهِ إن كانَ لَيسَ بِآئِبِ
Then may no woman give birth, nor any absent man return
to his family, if he himself is not to return.
وَغَرقَدَةَand Gharqadah القَرمَthe noble sire الَّذِىwho بَذoutstripped قَومَهُhis people
وَغَرقَدَةَ القَرمَ الَّذِى بَذ قَومَهُ
غُلاَماًas a youth إِلَىuntil أَنthat شَابَhe grew grey غَيرَnot الأَكاذِبِfalsehoods
غُلاَماً إِلَى أَن شَابَ غَيرَ الأَكاذِبِ
And Gharqadah, that noble sire who outstripped his people,
from youth until he grew grey—no false claim;
وَأَخصَبَهُمand the most bountiful of them رَحلاًin camp وَفِىand on السَّفرِthe journey عِصمَةٌa refuge
وَأَخصَبَهُم رَحلاً وَفِى السَّفرِ عِصمَةٌ
إِذَاwhen كَانَwere زَادُthe provisions of القَومِthe people مَاwhat فِىin الحَقَائِبِthe saddlebags
إِذَا كَانَ زَادُ القَومِ مَا فِى الحَقَائِبِ
the most bountiful of them in camp, and a refuge on the road,
when the people's provisions were what lay in the saddlebags;
وَآبَاهُمُand the most defiant of them لِلضَّيمِof humiliation حِينَwhen يُسَامُهُhe was subjected to it
وَآبَاهُمُ لِلضَّيمِ حِينَ يُسَامُهُ
إِذَاwhen قِيدَتِwere led النَّوكَىthe fools كَقَودِlike the leading of الجَنَائِبِspare mounts
إِذَا قِيدَتِ النَّوكَى كَقَودِ الجَنَائِبِ
and the staunchest of them against humiliation when subjected to it,
when fools were led as spare mounts are led.
وَمَاand ... is not اللَّيثُthe lion إِذwhen يَعدُوit charges عَلَىagainst أَلفٍa thousand فَارِسٍhorsemen
وَمَا اللَّيثُ إِذ يَعدُو عَلَى أَلفٍ فَارِسٍ
وَتَحتَand beneath هَوادِىthe necks of خَيلِهِمtheir horses ألفُa thousand نَاشِبِarchers
وَتَحتَ هَوادِى خَيلِهِم ألفُ نَاشِبِ
And no lion, when charging a thousand horsemen,
with a thousand archers beneath their horses' necks,
مُوَازٍa rival ولاَnor عِدلٌan equal لِعُروَةَto Urwah إِذwhen غَدَاhe advanced
مُوَازٍ ولاَ عِدلٌ لِعُروَةَ إِذ غَدَا
علىagainst صَفٍّthe battle line of صِفِّينَSiffin العَظيمِmighty in المَوَاكِبِbattle-columns
على صَفٍّ صِفِّينَ العَظيمِ المَوَاكِبِ
could rival or equal Urwah when he advanced
against Siffin's battle line, mighty in its columns;
وَلاَnor جُندَباًJundab إِذwhen صَالَhe charged بالسَّيفِwith the sword صَولَةًa fierce assault
وَلاَ جُندَباً إِذ صَالَ بالسَّيفِ صَولَةً
علىagainst سَاحِرٍa sorcerer فِىat حَافَةِthe edge of السُّوقِthe market لاَعِبِperforming
على سَاحِرٍ فِى حَافَةِ السُّوقِ لاَعِبِ
nor Jundab, when he charged with his sword
against a sorcerer performing at the market's edge.
وَكانَand he was أخَاa brother to لَيلٍnight طَوِيلٍlong قِيَامُهُhis standing in prayer
وَكانَ أخَا لَيلٍ طَوِيلٍ قِيَامُهُ
إِذَاwhen النَّومُsleep أَلهَىdistracted حُبُّهُlove of it كُلَّevery جَانِبِside
إِذَا النَّومُ أَلهَى حُبُّهُ كُلَّ جَانِبِ
And he was a brother to the night, standing long in prayer,
when love of sleep distracted those on every side.
وَقَيسُand Qays بنُson of عَوفٍAwf فَاندُبِيهِthen lament him بِعَبرَةٍwith a tear
وَقَيسُ بنُ عَوفٍ فَاندُبِيهِ بِعَبرَةٍ
إِذَاwhen الخَيلُthe horses جَالَتwheeled بِالرِّجَالِbearing the men عَصَائِبِin bands
إِذَا الخَيلُ جَالَت بِالرِّجَالِ عَصَائِبِ
And Qays ibn Awf—lament him with a tear,
when the horses wheeled with men in bands.
وَإِنand even if ذَهِلتgrew heedless نَفسِىmy soul وَأَذهِبَand were removed دَاؤُهَاits sickness
وَإِن ذَهِلت نَفسِى وَأَذهِبَ دَاؤُهَا
فمَاyet ... is not دَاءُthe sickness of نَفسِىmy soul مِنbecause of حَكِيمٍHakim بِذَاهِبٍdeparting
فمَا دَاءُ نَفسِى مِن حَكِيمٍ بِذَاهِبٍ
And even if my soul forgot and its sickness were taken away,
yet my soul's sickness over Hakim would never depart.
حَمَىdefended صَقعَبٌSaq'ab تَحَتَbeneath اللِّوَاءِthe banner ذِمَارَهُall he held sacred
حَمَى صَقعَبٌ تَحَتَ اللِّوَاءِ ذِمَارَهُ
بِضَربٍwith blows كَأَفوَاهِlike the mouths of اللِّقَاحِmilch-camels السَّوَارِبِroaming freely
بِضَربٍ كَأَفوَاهِ اللِّقَاحِ السَّوَارِبِ
Saq'ab defended all he held sacred beneath the banner,
with blows like the mouths of freely roaming milch-camels.
Sol 6.1