زَعَمَتclaimed رَبِيعَةُRabi'a وَهىَand she غَيرُnot مَلُومَةٍto be blamed
زَعَمَت رَبِيعَةُ وَهىَ غَيرُ مَلُومَةٍ
أَنَّىthat I كَبِرتُhave grown old وَأَنَّand that رَأسِىmy head أَشيَبُis gray-haired
أَنَّى كَبِرتُ وَأَنَّ رَأسِى أَشيَبُ
Rabi'a claimed—and she is not to blame—
Rabia claimed, and she is blameless,
that I have grown old and my head is gray.
That I had grown old and my head turned grey,
وَرَأَتand she saw عَذَارَىmaidens أَدرَكَتhad come of age فِىin بَارِقٍBariq
وَرَأَت عَذَارَى أَدرَكَت فِى بَارِقٍ
فَتَخَافُso she fears مِنbecause of هَولِthe terror of الجنَانِthe jinn وَتَرهَبُand is afraid
فَتَخَافُ مِن هَولِ الجنَانِ وَتَرهَبُ
She has seen maidens come of age in Bariq,
And she saw young women reach maturity suddenly
so she fears the terror of the jinn and is afraid.
So she fears the madness of youth and is filled with awe.
وَيَشُفُّهَاand it wears her down أَنthat لاَnot تَزَالُceases يَرُوعُهَاstartles her
وَيَشُفُّهَا أَن لاَ تَزَالُ يَرُوعُهَا
بِكرٌa virgin تُعَرِّضُoffers نَفسَهَاherself أَوor ثَيِّبُa previously married woman
بِكرٌ تُعَرِّضُ نَفسَهَا أَو ثَيِّبُ
It wears her down that she is forever startled
It irritates her that there is still
by a virgin offering herself, or a previously married woman.
An unmarried girl who offers herself or a widow.
وَكَأَنَّهُنَّand as though they إِذَاwhen خَرَجنَcome out لِزِينَةٍfor adornment
وَكَأَنَّهُنَّ إِذَا خَرَجنَ لِزِينَةٍ
وَبَرزنَand emerge مِنfrom غَمِّthe gloom of الحَوَائِطِthe enclosing walls رَبرَبُa herd of antelopes
وَبَرزنَ مِن غَمِّ الحَوَائِطِ رَبرَبُ
They seem, when they come out adorned,
It's as if when they go out adorned
and emerge from the walls' gloom, a herd of antelopes.
And emerge from the gloom of the chambers fluttering,
مِنof كُلِّevery غَرَّاءِradiant الجَبِينِthe forehead كَأَنَّهَاas though she
مِن كُلِّ غَرَّاءِ الجَبِينِ كَأَنَّهَا
رَشَأٌa fawn أَحَمُّjet-black in المُقلَتَينِboth eyes مُرَبَّبُtenderly reared
رَشَأٌ أَحَمُّ المُقلَتَينِ مُرَبَّبُ
Each radiant of forehead, as though she were
Each smooth-browed one's forehead is like
a tenderly reared fawn, jet-black in both eyes.
A Pigeon whose eyes are painted.
تُجرِىshe passes السِّوَاكَthe tooth-stick علىover نَقِىٍّpure لَونُهُits color
تُجرِى السِّوَاكَ على نَقِىٍّ لَونُهُ
مِثلُlike المُدَامَةِthe wine رِيحُهُits scent أَوor أَطيَبُsweeter
مِثلُ المُدَامَةِ رِيحُهُ أَو أَطيَبُ
She runs the tooth-stick over teeth of spotless hue,
She brushes her teeth with a twig whose color
whose scent is like wine, or sweeter still.
Is like spearmint, its fragrance even sweeter.
وَتَقُولُand she says قَدindeed أَهلَكتَyou have squandered مَالَكَyour wealth كُلهُall of it
وَتَقُولُ قَد أَهلَكتَ مَالَكَ كُلهُ
فَلَبِئسَمَاso how badly تَشرِىyou buy الإِمَاءَthe slave women وَتخطِبُand seek brides
فَلَبِئسَمَا تَشرِى الإِمَاءَ وَتخطِبُ
She says, 'You have squandered all your wealth;
And she says, “You have squandered all your money,
how badly you buy slave women and seek brides!'
So evil is what you spend on slave women and seek to marry.”
لمdid not تَدرِknow فيماin what قدhas مَضَىpassed منof عُمرِهاher lifetime
لم تَدرِ فيما قد مَضَى من عُمرِها
أَنَّthat الجوادَthe generous man يَصيدhunts وهوwhile he is مُثَلَّبُworn with age
أَنَّ الجوادَ يَصيد وهو مُثَلَّبُ
She has never learned, in all her life gone by,
She did not know in her past life
that a generous man still hunts, though worn with age.
That the generous man hunts though saddled with debt.
وَالمَرءُand the man بَعدَafter الشَّيبِgray hair يَغشَىcovers رَأسَهُhis head
وَالمَرءُ بَعدَ الشَّيبِ يَغشَى رَأسَهُ
يَلهُوtakes pleasure إِلَىin غَزَلِthe courtship of الشَّبَابِyouth وَيَطرَبُand thrills
يَلهُو إِلَى غَزَلِ الشَّبَابِ وَيَطرَبُ
A man, even after gray hair covers his head,
And after old age covers a man's head
still delights in youthful courtship and thrills to it.
He inclines to the flirting of youth and is thrilled.
وَالخَيلَand the horses تَعذُلُنِىshe reproaches me علىfor إمسَاكِهَاkeeping them
وَالخَيلَ تَعذُلُنِى على إمسَاكِهَا
وَتَقُولُand she says قَدindeed أَهلَكتَyou have squandered مَالاَwealth يُحسَبُworth reckoning
وَتَقُولُ قَد أَهلَكتَ مَالاَ يُحسَبُ
As for horses, she reproaches me for keeping them,
And the horses reproach me for restraining them,
and says, 'You have squandered a considerable fortune.'
Saying, “You have wasted immeasurable wealth.”
فَحَلَفتُso I swore لاَnot تَنفَكُّceases to be عِندِىwith me شَطبَةٌa slender mare
فَحَلَفتُ لاَ تَنفَكُّ عِندِى شَطبَةٌ
جَردَاءُsleek-coated أوor سَبطُlong and straight through المَشَدَّةِthe saddle-place سَلهَبُtall and long-bodied
جَردَاءُ أو سَبطُ المَشَدَّةِ سَلهَبُ
So I swore I would always keep beside me a slender mare,
So I swore that I will never be without
sleek-coated, or a tall stallion, long through the saddle-place,
A smooth-coated steed or one whose gall is bitter.
سَهبُwide-ranging in الجِرَاءِthe gallop إِذَاwhen عَوَيتُI turn عِنَانَهُhis rein
سَهبُ الجِرَاءِ إِذَا عَوَيتُ عِنَانَهُ
سُحُقٌfar-ranging إِذَاwhen هُضِمَis pressed together الرَّعِيلُthe troop المُطنِبُdrawn out
سُحُقٌ إِذَا هُضِمَ الرَّعِيلُ المُطنِبُ
wide-striding in his gallop when I turn his rein,
Grey Suhub, when I loosen his reins,
far ahead when the strung-out troop is pressed together.
Is destruction when the pack is disrupted.
أَمَّاas for إِذاwhen استَقَبلتَهُyou face him فَيَقُودُهُthen it leads him
أَمَّا إِذا استَقَبلتَهُ فَيَقُودُهُ
جِذعٌa trunk عَلاَrises فَوقَabove النَّخِيلِthe palm trees مُشَذَّبُpruned
جِذعٌ عَلاَ فَوقَ النَّخِيلِ مُشَذَّبُ
When you face him, he is led by
Yet if you face him, a smooth palm trunk guides him
a pruned trunk rising high above the palm trees,
Topping the date palms, trimmed.
وَمُعَرَّقُand lean in الخدَّينِboth cheeks رُكِّبَis set فَوقَهُabove it
وَمُعَرَّقُ الخدَّينِ رُكِّبَ فَوقَهُ
خُصَلٌtufts of hair وَسَامِعَةٌand an ear تَظَلُّkeeps تَقَلّبُturning
خُصَلٌ وَسَامِعَةٌ تَظَلُّ تَقَلّبُ
and a lean-cheeked head, above which are set
The cheek-pieced one is mounted on him
tufts of hair and an ear that keeps turning.
A forelock and ear flickering and tossing.
وَتَرَىand you see اللِّجامَthe bridle يَضِلُّvanish فِىin أشداقِهِhis jaws
وَتَرَى اللِّجامَ يَضِلُّ فِى أشداقِهِ
حَتَّىuntil يَكادَalmost الفَأسُthe bit-bar فِيهِinside it يَذهَبُdisappears
حَتَّى يَكادَ الفَأسُ فِيهِ يَذهَبُ
You see the bridle vanish into his jaws,
And you see the bit nearly disappearing in his mouth
until the bit's iron nearly disappears inside.
As if the axe would vanish in it.
وَتَرَىand you see مَكانَthe place of الرَّبوِbreathing مِنهُin him وَاسِعاًspacious
وَتَرَى مَكانَ الرَّبوِ مِنهُ وَاسِعاً
مُتَنَفَّسٌroom for breath رَحبٌample وَجَنبٌand a flank حَوشَبُmassive
مُتَنَفَّسٌ رَحبٌ وَجَنبٌ حَوشَبُ
You see that his breathing-space is broad:
And you see his neck-opening is spacious,
ample room for breath, and a massive flank.
Ample, open-chested, and broad-shouldered.
وَلَهُand he has جِرَانٌa neck's underside كالقَمِيصِlike a shirt يَزِينُهُadorns it
وَلَهُ جِرَانٌ كالقَمِيصِ يَزِينُهُ
رَهَلٌloose flesh بِهِon it أَثَرُthe trace of الجِلاَلِthe horse-blankets وَمَنكِبُand a shoulder
رَهَلٌ بِهِ أَثَرُ الجِلاَلِ وَمَنكِبُ
He has a shirtlike throat, adorned by
He has smooth neck arteries adorning him
loose flesh bearing blanket-marks, and a shoulder.
Like a shirt, bearing marks of majesty and neck muscles.
وَكَأنَّand as though فَارِسَهُhis rider عَلَىon زُحلُوفَةٍa sliding-rock
وَكَأنَّ فَارِسَهُ عَلَى زُحلُوفَةٍ
جَردَاءَsmooth and bare لِلوِلدَانِfor the children فِيهَاon it مَلعَبُa playground
جَردَاءَ لِلوِلدَانِ فِيهَا مَلعَبُ
His rider seems to sit upon a slippery rock,
It's as if his rider sits on patterned cloth
smooth and bare, where children have a playground.
Playfully, on which boys frolic.
أَمّاas for إِذاwhen استَدبَرتَهُyou view him from behind فَتَسُوقُهُthen it drives him
أَمّا إِذا استَدبَرتَهُ فَتَسُوقُهُ
رِجلٌa leg يُقَمِّصُهَاmakes it leap وَظَيفٌa cannon-bone أَحدَبُarched
رِجلٌ يُقَمِّصُهَا وَظَيفٌ أَحدَبُ
When you view him from behind, he is driven by
But if you face his rear, his legs propel him,
a leg that an arched cannon-bone sends leaping,
Worked by a groom, humpbacked.
زَجاءُlong-shanked عَارِيَةٌbare كَأَنَّas though حَمَاتَهَاits calf muscle
زَجاءُ عَارِيَةٌ كَأَنَّ حَمَاتَهَا
لمّاwhen سَرَوتُI stripped off الجلَّthe blanket عَنهاfrom it أَرنَبُa hare
لمّا سَرَوتُ الجلَّ عَنها أَرنَبُ
long and bare, its calf muscle seeming,
Bare Zaja, as if when her protector
once I stripped its blanket off, like a hare.
Uncovered her thigh, he unveiled a gazelle.
وَإِذَاand when تَصَفَّحَهُinspect him الفَوارِسُthe horsemen مُعرِضاًside-on
وَإِذَا تَصَفَّحَهُ الفَوارِسُ مُعرِضاً
فَيُقَالُthen it is said سِرحَانُa wolf of الغَضىthe ghada trees المُتَذَئِّبُprowling wolf-fashion
فَيُقَالُ سِرحَانُ الغَضى المُتَذَئِّبُ
When horsemen inspect him side-on,
And when horsemen inspect him walking by,
they say, 'A wolf of the ghada trees, prowling wolf-fashion.'
It is said, “Sihrān of the meadow, who snorts and brays.”
وَإِذاand when يُقَادُhe is led عَلَىas الجِنيبَةِa spare mount بَلَّهُhe wets it
وَإِذا يُقَادُ عَلَى الجِنيبَةِ بَلَّهُ
حَتَّىuntil يُحَمَّgrows hot مِنَfrom العِنَانِthe rein المُجنَبُthe horse led alongside
حَتَّى يُحَمَّ مِنَ العِنَانِ المُجنَبُ
When he is led as a spare mount, he wets the rein,
And when he is led at a canter that shakes him,
until the horse led alongside grows hot from its restraint.
The supple bridle nearly slips from the browband.
وَتَرَىand you see الحَصىthe gravel يَشقَىsuffer إِذَاwhen مَاever (emphatic) قُدتَهُyou lead him
وَتَرَى الحَصى يَشقَى إِذَا مَا قُدتَهُ
مِنهُfrom him بِجَندَلِwith boulders of لاَبَةٍa lava-field لاَnot يقُلَبُoverturned
مِنهُ بِجَندَلِ لاَبَةٍ لاَ يقُلَبُ
You see the gravel suffer whenever you lead him,
And you see the pebbles suffer when you lead him
struck by his lava-field boulders that cannot be overturned.
With the smooth-sided purse that does not jingle.
صُمٌّsolid حَوَامِيهَاtheir hoof-walls كَاَنَّas though نُسُورَهَاtheir hoof-frogs
صُمٌّ حَوَامِيهَا كَاَنَّ نُسُورَهَا
مِنof نِقسِink of مِصرٍEgypt عنfrom أميرa prince يُحجَبُis kept hidden
مِن نِقسِ مِصرٍ عن أمير يُحجَبُ
Their hoof-walls are solid; their frogs seem
Deaf are its sides, as if its eagles
made of Egypt's ink, kept hidden from a prince.
Were from the shell of an Egyptian ruler secluded.
وكَأَنَّمَاand as though يَستَنُّgrows فَوقَover مُتُونِهَاtheir upper surfaces
وكَأَنَّمَا يَستَنُّ فَوقَ مُتُونِهَا
بَينَbetween السَّنَابِكِthe hoof-tips وَالأَشَاعِرِand the fetlock hairs طُحلَبُmoss
بَينَ السَّنَابِكِ وَالأَشَاعِرِ طُحلَبُ
It is as though over their upper surfaces there grows
And it's as if he sniffs above their barrels
moss between the hoof-tips and the fetlock hairs.
Between the pommels and cantles - Ṭuḥlab.
أَخلَصتُهُI set him apart حَولاًfor a year أُمَسِّحُI stroke وَجهَهُhis face
أَخلَصتُهُ حَولاً أُمَسِّحُ وَجهَهُ
وَأَخُوand a brother of المَوَاطِنِthe battlefields مَنone who يَصُونُprotects وَيندُبُand calls to service
وَأَخُو المَوَاطِنِ مَن يَصُونُ وَيندُبُ
I set him apart for a year, stroking his face;
I kept him a year, wiping his face
a man of battle guards his mount and calls it forth.
And brother of the lairs - who will care for and lament him?
وَجَعلتُهُand I put him دُونضbefore (unclear form) العِيَالِthe household شِتَاءَهُthrough his winter
وَجَعلتُهُ دُونض العِيَالِ شِتَاءَهُ
حَتَّىuntil انجَلَىit passed وَهُوَwhile he was الدَّخِيلُthe one brought indoors المُقرَبُkept close
حَتَّى انجَلَى وَهُوَ الدَّخِيلُ المُقرَبُ
I put him before my household throughout his winter,
And I made him, in winter, the prize of the family,
until it passed, with him sheltered indoors and kept close.
Until he was sleek, though at first neglected.
وَالقَيظَand through summer heat حِينَwhen أَصُونُهُI shelter him فىin ظُلَّةٍa shaded shelter
وَالقَيظَ حِينَ أَصُونُهُ فى ظُلَّةٍ
وَحشِيُّهَاits outer side قَبلَbefore الغُرُوبِsunset مُثَقَّبُpierced with openings
وَحشِيُّهَا قَبلَ الغُرُوبِ مُثَقَّبُ
And in summer's heat, when I shelter him beneath a canopy,
And in summer, when I shelter him in shade
its outer side is pierced with openings before sunset.
Whose enclosure, before sunset, is pierced.
وَلَهُand he has ثَلاَثُthree لَقَائِحٍmilk-giving she-camels فىin يَومِهِhis day
وَلَهُ ثَلاَثُ لَقَائِحٍ فى يَومِهِ
وَنَخِيرُهُand his snorting مَعَwith لَيلِهِhis night مُتَأَوِّبُreturning at night
وَنَخِيرُهُ مَعَ لَيلِهِ مُتَأَوِّبُ
He has three milk-giving she-camels for his daily needs,
And he has three feeds a day,
and his snorting returns with the night.
And I pasture him at night, returning.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen أَثنَىgrew his second teeth وصَارَand became كَأنَّهُas though he
حَتَّى إِذَا أَثنَى وصَارَ كَأنَّهُ
وَحَدٌa lone wild ass بِرَابيةٍon a rise مُدِلٌّself-assured أحقَبُwhite-bellied
وَحَدٌ بِرَابيةٍ مُدِلٌّ أحقَبُ
Until, when his second teeth came in, he became like
Until when he weakens and becomes like
a lone, white-bellied wild ass, self-assured upon a rise.
A hyena in Rabia, submissive, humpbacked.
رَاهَنتُI wagered with قَومِىmy people والرِّهَانُand wagering لَجَاجَةٌobstinate rivalry
رَاهَنتُ قَومِى والرِّهَانُ لَجَاجَةٌ
أحمَىI protect لِمُهرِىfor my colt أَنthat يُسَبَّhe be insulted وَأَرغَبُand I desire
أحمَى لِمُهرِى أَن يُسَبَّ وَأَرغَبُ
I wagered with my people—wagering is obstinate rivalry—
I wagered my people - and the wager was contentious -
protecting my colt from insult, and longing
That my stud fee, though high, would be accepted and sought.
فىfor سَبقَةٍa winner's prize جَادُواthey were generous بِهَاwith it أوor دَعوَةٍacclaim
فى سَبقَةٍ جَادُوا بِهَا أو دَعوَةٍ
يَومَon the day of الرِّهَانِthe wagered race وَكُلَّand all ذَلِكَthat أَطلُبُI seek
يَومَ الرِّهَانِ وَكُلَّ ذَلِكَ أَطلُبُ
for a prize they generously offered, or acclaim
In a race they entered, challenging on the day
on race-day; all of that I seek.
Of wager, and I seek all of that.
فَنَقَلتُهُso I worked him تَقلَhandling (unclear form) البصِيرِthe expert ولَمand not أَكُنbe
فَنَقَلتُهُ تَقلَ البصِيرِ ولَم أَكُن
مِمَّنof those who يُخَادِعُdeceive نَفسَهُhimself ويُكَذِّبُand lie
مِمَّن يُخَادِعُ نَفسَهُ ويُكَذِّبُ
So I worked him as an expert would; I was not
So I moved him with the insight of the discerning, and I wasn’t
one who deceives himself and lies.
One who deceives himself and lies.
أُلقِىI throw عَلَيهِover him القَرَّتينِat the two cool periods جِلاَلَهُhis blankets
أُلقِى عَلَيهِ القَرَّتينِ جِلاَلَهُ
فَيفِيضُso streams مِنهُfrom him كُلُّevery قَرنٍlock of hair يَسكُبُpours out
فَيفِيضُ مِنهُ كُلُّ قَرنٍ يَسكُبُ
At the two cool periods I throw his blankets over him,
I cast the two saddlebags, his majesty overflowing,
and every lock streams with sweat pouring from him.
Until every saddlebag was pouring over.
وَأرُدُّand I restore فِيهِin him المَاءَthe water بَعدَafter ذُبُولِهِhis drying out
وَأرُدُّ فِيهِ المَاءَ بَعدَ ذُبُولِهِ
حَتَّىuntil يَعُودَhe becomes again كَاَنَّهُas though he مُستَصعَبُuntamed
حَتَّى يَعُودَ كَاَنَّهُ مُستَصعَبُ
I restore his water after he has dried out,
And I returned water to him after his fatigue
until he returns as though untamed,
Until he became as if naturally disposed to flight.
قَرِدُmatted in الخَصِيلِthe mane وفىand in العِظَامَthe bones بَقِيَّةٌa remnant
قَرِدُ الخَصِيلِ وفى العِظَامَ بَقِيَّةٌ
مِنof صَنعَةٍcareful conditioning قَدَّمتُهَاI bestowed it لاَnot تَذهَبُfades
مِن صَنعَةٍ قَدَّمتُهَا لاَ تَذهَبُ
matted in the mane, while in his bones there remains
Ape of the wasteland, yet with remnants still
some of the conditioning I gave him that never fades.
Of workmanship I presented, lasting.
وتَوَاقَفُواand they lined up بِالخَيلِwith the horses وهِىَwhile they were شَوَازِبٌlean
وتَوَاقَفُوا بِالخَيلِ وهِىَ شَوَازِبٌ
وَبلاَؤُهُنَّand their mettle عَلَيهِمُfrom them مُتَغَيِّبُconcealed
وَبلاَؤُهُنَّ عَلَيهِمُ مُتَغَيِّبُ
They lined up with their horses, lean and taut,
And they lined up with the horses, which were darting off,
their true mettle still concealed from them.
And their ordeal upon them was concealed.
بِتنَاwe spent the night بِرَأسِat the head of الخَطِّthe line نَقسِمُsorting out أَمرَنَاour plans
بِتنَا بِرَأسِ الخَطِّ نَقسِمُ أَمرَنَا
لَيلاًat night يَجُولُswirls بِنَاwith us المِرَاءُthe argument وَيَهضِبُand pours forth
لَيلاً يَجُولُ بِنَا المِرَاءُ وَيَهضِبُ
We spent the night at the head of the line, sorting out our plans,
We passed the night at the head of the line dividing our matter
while argument swept us about and poured in torrents.
While the contention wandered among us, probing.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen طَمَسَblotted out النُّجومَthe stars وغَمَّهَاand veiled them
حَتَّى إِذَا طَمَسَ النُّجومَ وغَمَّهَا
وَردٌa rosy glow يُغَيِّبُconceals لَونَهَاtheir color مُتَجَوِّبُspreading across
وَردٌ يُغَيِّبُ لَونَهَا مُتَجَوِّبُ
Until, when the stars were blotted out and veiled by
Until, when the stars faded and their beauty was obscured
a spreading rosy glow that hid their color,
By a returning cloud that hid their movements,
صَاحُواthey shouted بِهَاat them لِيَخِفَّso it might lessen حَشوُthe contents of بُطُونِهاtheir bellies
صَاحُوا بِهَا لِيَخِفَّ حَشوُ بُطُونِها
وقُلُوبُهُمand their hearts مِنfrom هَولِthe terror of ذَلِكَthat تَضرِبُpound
وقُلُوبُهُم مِن هَولِ ذَلِكَ تَضرِبُ
they shouted at the horses to lighten their bellies' contents,
They shouted at them to lighten their bellies’ burden
their hearts pounding from the terror of it.
And their hearts beat fearfully at that spectacle.
وسَرَواand they removed أَجِلَّتَهَاtheir blankets وسُرِّىand was uncovered صَفُّهَاtheir row
وسَرَوا أَجِلَّتَهَا وسُرِّى صَفُّهَا
وكَأَنَّمَاand as though يَجرِىflows عَلَيهَاover them المُذهَبُgilding
وكَأَنَّمَا يَجرِى عَلَيهَا المُذهَبُ
They stripped off their blankets, and their row stood uncovered,
And they paraded them, necks extended, line straight
as though gold flowed across them.
As if gold were flowing over them.
وجَرَتand flew لَهُfor him طَيرُbirds of الأَيَامِنِthe auspicious right غُدوَةًin the morning
وجَرَت لَهُ طَيرُ الأَيَامِنِ غُدوَةً
وَلَهُنَّand for them طَيرٌbirds بِالأَشَائِمِon the ill-omened left تَنعَبُcaw
وَلَهُنَّ طَيرٌ بِالأَشَائِمِ تَنعَبُ
Birds flew on his auspicious right that morning,
And the birds of good omen flew for him at daybreak
while theirs cawed on the ill-omened left.
While for them the birds of bad omens croaked.
صَاحَcried ابنُson of آوَىAwa (together: jackal) عَنِoff to شِمالthe left of خُدُودِهَاtheir cheeks
صَاحَ ابنُ آوَى عَنِ شِمال خُدُودِهَا
وجَرَىand ran لَهُfor him قِبَلtoward اليَميننthe right (irregular spelling) الثَّعلَبُthe fox
وجَرَى لَهُ قِبَل اليَمينن الثَّعلَبُ
A jackal cried to the left of their faces,
The son of Awa cried out, away from their left cheeks,
while a fox ran for him toward the right.
And the fox ran to his right.
عَجَلتُI hastened دَفعَتَهَاtheir start وقُلتُand I said لِفَارِسىto my rider
عَجَلتُ دَفعَتَهَا وقُلتُ لِفَارِسى
رَاكضgallop بهwith him إنَّindeed الجَوادَthe noble steed المُسهَبُthe far-ranging runner
رَاكض به إنَّ الجَوادَ المُسهَبُ
I hastened their start and said to my rider,
I hurried and spurred it on, and said to my rider,
'Urge him to gallop: the noble steed is the far-ranging runner.'
“Race him, for the steed is unleashed!”
وأَبىand he refused عَلَىّme وقَدthough already جَرَىhe had run نِصفَhalf of المدَىthe course
وأَبى عَلَىّ وقَد جَرَى نِصفَ المدَى
والخَيلُand the horses تَأخُذُهاَseize them السِّيَاطُthe whips وتُكلَبُand are driven fiercely
والخَيلُ تَأخُذُهاَ السِّيَاطُ وتُكلَبُ
But he refused me, though he had run half the course,
But he refused me, though halfway down the track,
while whips seized the horses and drove them fiercely.
As the horses were seized by the whips, snapping.
وغلامُهُand his lad مُتَقَبِّضٌcrouched tight فىon مَتنِهِhis back
وغلامُهُ مُتَقَبِّضٌ فى مَتنِهِ
بمكانِهِat his position مِنهُنَّamong them رَأىٌa sight مُعجَبُadmired
بمكانِهِ مِنهُنَّ رَأىٌ مُعجَبُ
His lad was crouched tight upon his back,
And his boy steadied himself in the saddle
his position among them a sight to admire.
Fixed in his place - an amazing sight!
حَتّىuntil أَتَىhe reached الصَّفَّينِthe two rows وهُوَwhile he was مَبَرِّزٌout in front
حَتّى أَتَى الصَّفَّينِ وهُوَ مَبَرِّزٌ
بِمَكَانِهِat his position رَأىُthe sight of البَصِيرِthe keen observer مُغَرِّبُranging far
بِمَكَانِهِ رَأىُ البَصِيرِ مُغَرِّبُ
Until he reached the two rows, out in front,
Until he came to the two lines, displaying
at his position, even the keen observer's eye ranged far.
The insight of the discerning, from his position veering.
إستأنَسَhe sighted الشَّرَفَthe high ground البَعِيدَdistant بَطَرفِهِwith his eye
إستأنَسَ الشَّرَفَ البَعِيدَ بَطَرفِهِ
وكَأَنَّهُand as though he سِرحَانُa wolf of بِيدٍdesert wastes يَلحَبُcourses along
وكَأَنَّهُ سِرحَانُ بِيدٍ يَلحَبُ
He spotted the distant high ground with his eye,
He drew near the distant nobility with a glance
like a wolf of the desert wastes coursing along.
As if he were Sihrān with a waving tail.
ولِكُلِّهِنَّand for each of them عِصَابَةٌa band مِنfrom قَومِهِhis people
ولِكُلِّهِنَّ عِصَابَةٌ مِن قَومِهِ
ولَهُand for him منَfrom ابنَاءِthe sons of القَبَائِلِthe tribes مَوكِبُan escort
ولَهُ منَ ابنَاءِ القَبَائِلِ مَوكِبُ
Each had a band from its rider's people,
And for each was a band of his people
and he had an escort from the sons of the tribes.
And he had a procession of tribal scions attending him.
يَغشَونَهُthey crowd around him ويَقُولُand one says هَذَاthis one سَابِقٌa winner
يَغشَونَهُ ويَقُولُ هَذَا سَابِقٌ
مُتَفَرِّسٌa discerning examiner فىof الخَلقِthe physique أوor مُتَعَجِّبُa marveling onlooker
مُتَفَرِّسٌ فى الخَلقِ أو مُتَعَجِّبُ
They crowded around him, and one would say, 'This is a winner,'
They overtook him, saying, “This is a racer,
whether a judge of conformation or a marveling onlooker.
A scrutinizer of lineage, or one amazed.”
وَأَذُبُّand I fend off عَنهُfrom him المُرقِصِينthose spurring their mounts وَرَاءَهُbehind him
وَأَذُبُّ عَنهُ المُرقِصِين وَرَاءَهُ
حَذَرَfor fear of الفَوَارِسِthe horsemen وَهُوَwhile he is رِيحٌa wind يُجنَبُled alongside
حَذَرَ الفَوَارِسِ وَهُوَ رِيحٌ يُجنَبُ
I fend off those spurring their mounts behind him,
And I kept away the prancers behind him
wary of the horsemen—he, a wind led alongside.
Fearing for the horsemen - he was a gentle wind.
هَذَاthis لِتَعلَمَso that it may know بَارِقٌBariq أَنِّىthat I امرُؤٌa man
هَذَا لِتَعلَمَ بَارِقٌ أَنِّى امرُؤٌ
لِىI have فِىfor السَّوَابِقِthe winning horses نَظرَةٌan eye لاَnot تَكذِبُlies
لِى فِى السَّوَابِقِ نَظرَةٌ لاَ تَكذِبُ
This is so Bariq may know that I am a man
This is so you may know, Bāriq, that I am a man
with an eye for winning horses that never lies.
For whom there is insight in racing, no deceit.
وَتبَيّنَand may discern الأَقيَالُthe chieftains مَاwhat أحلاَمُهُمtheir judgments are
وَتبَيّنَ الأَقيَالُ مَا أحلاَمُهُم
وَالحِلمُand judgment أَردَؤُهُits worst kind المُسَامُالمُعزَبُthe untended, far-straying kind
وَالحِلمُ أَردَؤُهُ المُسَامُالمُعزَبُ
And the chieftains may discern what their judgments are:
And the heavies saw their dreams were in vain
the worst judgment is that left untended and far astray.
While the dreamer - his cloak is the well-cut, embroidered.
وَالناسُand people مِنهُمamong them مَنone who يُعَاشُlife is sustained بِرَأيِهِby his counsel
وَالناسُ مِنهُم مَن يُعَاشُ بِرَأيِهِ
وَمُعَذَّبٌand a tormented one يَشقَىone suffers بِهِthrough him وَيُعَذَّبُand is tormented
وَمُعَذَّبٌ يَشقَى بِهِ وَيُعَذَّبُ
Among people are those whose counsel sustains life,
And of the people are those who live by his opinion
and a tormented one, through whom one suffers and is tormented.
And those who suffer misery through him and are tormented.
فَدَعِso leave المِرَاءَthe argument وَوَافِand come to يَومَthe day of رِهَانِنَاour wagered race
فَدَعِ المِرَاءَ وَوَافِ يَومَ رِهَانِنَا
بِطِمِرَّةٍwith a fleet mare أَوor ضَامِرٍa lean steed لاَnot يَتعَبُtires
بِطِمِرَّةٍ أَو ضَامِرٍ لاَ يَتعَبُ
So leave the argument and attend our race-day
Leave off contention and attend on our wager day
with a fleet mare, or a lean steed that never tires.
With a five-year-old or a defective old mare.
Sol 6.1