خَفَرْتُI pledged protection عَلَىfor قَيْسٍQays فَأَدَّىand fulfilled خَفَارَتِيmy pledge of protection
خَفَرْتُ عَلَى قَيْسٍ فَأَدَّى خَفَارَتِي
فَوَارِسُhorsemen مِنَّاfrom among us غَيْرُneither ميلٍunsteady riders ولاَnor عُسْرِinept
فَوَارِسُ مِنَّا غَيْرُ ميلٍ ولاَ عُسْرِ
I pledged protection for Qays; my pledge was honored
by horsemen of ours, neither wavering nor inept.
فَنَحْنُso we تَرَكْنَاleft تَغْلِبَTaghlib ابْنَةَdaughter of وَائِلٍWā'il
فَنَحْنُ تَرَكْنَا تَغْلِبَ ابْنَةَ وَائِلٍ
كَمَضْرُوبَةٍlike one struck رِجْلاَهُhis two legs مُنْقَطِعِbroken الظَّهْرِin the back
كَمَضْرُوبَةٍ رِجْلاَهُ مُنْقَطِعِ الظَّهْرِ
So we left Taghlib, daughter of Wā'il,
like one struck in both legs, his back broken.
إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle لَقِينَاwe meet تَغْلِبَTaghlib ابْنَةَdaughter of وائِلٍWā'il
إِذَا مَا لَقِينَا تَغْلِبَ ابْنَةَ وائِلٍ
بَكَيْنَاwe weep بِأَطْرَافِwith the points of الرِّمَاحِthe spears عَلَىfor عَمْرِو'Amr
بَكَيْنَا بِأَطْرَافِ الرِّمَاحِ عَلَى عَمْرِو
Whenever we meet Taghlib, daughter of Wā'il,
we weep for 'Amr with the points of our spears.
سَتَبْكِيwill weep عَلَىfor عَمْرٍ'Amr عُيُونٌeyes كَثِيرَةٌmany
سَتَبْكِي عَلَى عَمْرٍ عُيُونٌ كَثِيرَةٌ
عَدَوْاthey charged لِجُبَارٍfor unavenged blood بِالمُثَقَّفَةِwith straightened spears السُّمْرِbrown
عَدَوْا لِجُبَارٍ بِالمُثَقَّفَةِ السُّمْرِ
Many eyes will weep for 'Amr.
They charged for unavenged blood with straightened, brown spears,
وكُلِّand every عَلَنْدىًmighty steed قُصَّwas clipped أَسْفَلُthe lower part of ذَيْلِهِits tail
وكُلِّ عَلَنْدىً قُصَّ أَسْفَلُ ذَيْلِهِ
فَشَمَّرَso it lifted up عَنْaway from سَاقٍa shank وأَوْظِفَةٍand cannon bones عُجْرِthick-knobbed
فَشَمَّرَ عَنْ سَاقٍ وأَوْظِفَةٍ عُجْرِ
and every mighty steed whose tail-tip was cropped,
baring its shanks and thick cannon bones.
مُلِحٌّpersistent إِذَاwhen الخُورُthe feeble ones اللَّهَامِيمُfleet steeds هَرْوَلتْtrot
مُلِحٌّ إِذَا الخُورُ اللَّهَامِيمُ هَرْوَلتْ
وَثُوبٌa great leaper بِأَوْسَاطِthrough the midst of الخَبَارِsoft ground عَلىdespite الفَتْرِweariness
وَثُوبٌ بِأَوْسَاطِ الخَبَارِ عَلى الفَتْرِ
Relentless when the weary, fleet steeds trot,
it leaps through the midst of soft ground despite fatigue.
تَقَلْقَلَquivers عَنْaway from فَأْسَthe bit-piece of الِّلجَامِthe bridle لَهَاتُهُits uvula
تَقَلْقَلَ عَنْ فَأْسَ الِّلجَامِ لَهَاتُهُ
تَقَلْقُلَthe rattling of سِنْفِa pod of المَرْخِthe marakh shrub فيin الجَعْبَةِthe quiver الصِّفْرِempty
تَقَلْقُلَ سِنْفِ المَرْخِ في الجَعْبَةِ الصِّفْرِ
Its uvula quivers clear of the bridle-bit,
like a marakh pod rattling in an empty quiver.
فَأَخْطَلُso, Akhtal إِنْif تَسْمَعْyou hear خَوَاتِيmy wingbeats تَوَقَّنيbeware of me
فَأَخْطَلُ إِنْ تَسْمَعْ خَوَاتِي تَوَقَّني
كمَاjust as يَتَّقِيguards itself فَرْخُthe chick of الحُبَارَىthe bustard مِنَagainst الصَّقْرِthe falcon
كمَا يَتَّقِي فَرْخُ الحُبَارَى مِنَ الصَّقْرِ
So, Akhtal, if you hear my wingbeats, beware of me,
as the bustard's chick guards against the falcon.
شَهِدْتَyou were present فَلَمْyet did not تَحْفَظَguard لِقَوْمِكَfor your people عَوْرَةًan exposed place
شَهِدْتَ فَلَمْ تَحْفَظَ لِقَوْمِكَ عَوْرَةً
ولَمْand did not تَدْرِمَاknow what أُمُّthe mother of البُغَاثِweak birds مِنَcompared with النَّسْرِthe eagle
ولَمْ تَدْرِمَا أُمُّ البُغَاثِ مِنَ النَّسْرِ
You were present, yet did not guard your people's exposed flank,
nor knew how the mother of weak birds compares with the eagle.
أَلَمْhave you not تَرَseen أَنَّthat البَحْرَthe sea يَضْحَلُgrows shallow مَاؤُهُits water
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ البَحْرَ يَضْحَلُ مَاؤُهُ
فَتَأْتِيand comes عَلَىupon حِيتَانِهِits fish نَوْبَةُthe turn of الدَّهْرِtime
فَتَأْتِي عَلَى حِيتَانِهِ نَوْبَةُ الدَّهْرِ
Have you not seen how the sea's water grows shallow,
and time's turn destroys its fish?
قَرَتْgathered water لِيَfor me قَيْسٌQays فيin حِياضٍpools مَسِكَيةٍwatertight
قَرَتْ لِيَ قَيْسٌ في حِياضٍ مَسِكَيةٍ
وأَنْتَand you شَقِيُّwretched خَانَfailed حَوْضَكَyour pool مَاwhat تَقْرِيyou gather
وأَنْتَ شَقِيُّ خَانَ حَوْضَكَ مَا تَقْرِي
Qays gathered water for me in watertight pools,
while you are wretched: your pool will not hold what you gather.
بِأَيًّby what رِشَاءٍbucket-rope يَاO بْنَson of ذَاthe one with الرِّجْلِthe leg تَرْتَقِيwill you climb
بِأَيًّ رِشَاءٍ يَا بْنَ ذَا الرِّجْلِ تَرْتَقِي
إِذَاwhen غَرِقَتْare submerged عَيْنَاكَyour two eyes فيin حَوْمَةٍa whirlpool غَمْرِdeep
إِذَا غَرِقَتْ عَيْنَاكَ في حَوْمَةٍ غَمْرِ
By what rope will you climb, son of the man with the leg,
when your eyes sink into a deep whirlpool?
بِأيِّwith what قَنَاةٍspear-shaft تَرْفَعُونَyou all raise لِوَاءَكُمْyour banner
بِأيِّ قَنَاةٍ تَرْفَعُونَ لِوَاءَكُمْ
إِذَاwhen رَفَعَraise الأَقْوَامُthe peoples أَلْوِيَةَthe banners of الفَخْرِglory
إِذَا رَفَعَ الأَقْوَامُ أَلْوِيَةَ الفَخْرِ
With what spear-shaft will you raise your banner
when the peoples raise their banners of glory?
لَقَدْcertainly عَلِمَتْknew قَيْسَQays بْنُson of عَيْلاَنَ'Aylān أَنَّنيthat I
لَقَدْ عَلِمَتْ قَيْسَ بْنُ عَيْلاَنَ أَنَّني
غَدَاةَon the morning دَعَوْنِيthey called me مَاnot بِسَمْهِيَin my hearing مِنْany وَقْرdeafness
غَدَاةَ دَعَوْنِي مَا بِسَمْهِيَ مِنْ وَقْر
Qays ibn 'Aylān knew full well that I,
on the morning they called me, had no deafness in my hearing.
شقاشِقُbellowing throat-pouches أَقْوَامٍof men فَأَسْكَتَهَاso silenced them هَدْرِيmy bellowing
شقاشِقُ أَقْوَامٍ فَأَسْكَتَهَا هَدْرِي
أَجَبْتُI answered بَنِيthe sons of عَيْلاَنَ'Aylān والخَوْضُand the turmoil دُونَهُمْbetween me and them
أَجَبْتُ بَنِي عَيْلاَنَ والخَوْضُ دُونَهُمْ
Men's blustering throat-pouches—my bellowing silenced them.
I answered the sons of 'Aylān, though turmoil lay between us,
بِأَضْبَطَwith a strong-pawed lion جَهْمِgrim الوَجْهِof face مُخْتَلِفِuneven الشَّجْرِin the jaws
بِأَضْبَطَ جَهْمِ الوَجْهِ مُخْتَلِفِ الشَّجْرِ
لهُit has طَبَقَاتtiers مِنْof فَقَارٍvertebrae كَأَنَّمَاas though
لهُ طَبَقَات مِنْ فَقَارٍ كَأَنَّمَا
with a strong-pawed, grim-faced lion, its jaws awry.
It has tiers of vertebrae, as though
جُمِعْنَthey were joined بِشَعْبٍby mending أَوْor عثَمْنَknit crookedly عَلَىafter كَسْرِa fracture
جُمِعْنَ بِشَعْبٍ أَوْ عثَمْنَ عَلَى كَسْرِ
أَزَبُّshaggy بِلَحْيَيْهِabout its jaws وأَحْجَاءِand the hollows around نَابِهِits fang
أَزَبُّ بِلَحْيَيْهِ وأَحْجَاءِ نَابِهِ
they had been pieced together or healed crooked after a fracture.
Shaggy about its jaws; around its fang lie
خَرَادِيلُchunks أَمْثَالُlike السَّريحِleather strips مِنَof الهَبْرِflesh
خَرَادِيلُ أَمْثَالُ السَّريحِ مِنَ الهَبْرِ
فَمَاfor no أَرْضَعَتْsuckled مِنْany حُرَّةٍfreeborn woman آلَthe clan of مَالِكٍMālik
فَمَا أَرْضَعَتْ مِنْ حُرَّةٍ آلَ مَالِكٍ
chunks of flesh like strips of hide.
For no freeborn woman suckled Mālik's clan,
ومَاand no حَمَلَتْهُمْcarried them مِنْany حَصَانٍchaste woman عَلَىin طُهْرِpurity
ومَا حَمَلَتْهُمْ مِنْ حَصَانٍ عَلَى طُهْرِ
ولكِنْbut رَمَتْthrust out إِحْدَىone of الإِمَاءِthe slave women بِرَأْسِهِhis head
ولكِنْ رَمَتْ إِحْدَى الإِمَاءِ بِرَأْسِهِ
nor did a chaste woman carry them in purity.
But one of the slave women thrust out his head,
سَرُوقُa habitual thief of البِرَامِcooking pots كالسَّلُوقِيَّةِlike a Saluki bitch المُجْرِيwith pups
سَرُوقُ البِرَامِ كالسَّلُوقِيَّةِ المُجْرِي
وكَانَand was أَبُوهُhis father التَّغْلَبِيُّthe Taghlibite إِذَاwhen بَكَىhe wept
وكَانَ أَبُوهُ التَّغْلَبِيُّ إِذَا بَكَى
a cooking-pot thief, like a Saluki bitch with pups.
And his Taghlibite father, whenever he wept
عَلَىfor الزَّادِfood لَمْdid not يَسْكُتْfall silent بِثَدْيٍwith a breast ولاnor نَحْرِa bosom
عَلَى الزَّادِ لَمْ يَسْكُتْ بِثَدْيٍ ولا نَحْرِ
أَتَتْهُshe came to him وقَدْwhen already نَامَhad slept العُيُونُthe eyes بِكَسْبِهَاwith her earnings
أَتَتْهُ وقَدْ نَامَ العُيُونُ بِكَسْبِهَا
for food, would not be quieted by breast or bosom.
She came to him with her earnings, when eyes had fallen asleep;
فَبَاتَاso both spent the night عَلَىin جُوعٍhunger وظَلاَّand both spent the day عَلَىin غِمْرِrancor
فَبَاتَا عَلَى جُوعٍ وظَلاَّ عَلَى غِمْرِ
فَقَدْfor indeed آبَreturned أَفْرَاسُthe horses of الصُّمَيْلِal-Ṣumayl بْنِson of نَهْشَلٍNahshal
فَقَدْ آبَ أَفْرَاسُ الصُّمَيْلِ بْنِ نَهْشَلٍ
so both spent the night hungry and the day in rancor.
For the horses of al-Ṣumayl ibn Nahshal returned
بِبِنْتِكَwith your daughter فَاطْلُبْso seek مَاwhat أَصَبْنَthey seized عَلَىfor الوِتْرِvengeance
بِبِنْتِكَ فَاطْلُبْ مَا أَصَبْنَ عَلَى الوِتْرِ
أَحَلَّmade lawful العَوَالِيthe spear-points فَرْجَهَاher private parts لاِبْنِto the son of نَهْشَلٍNahshal
أَحَلَّ العَوَالِي فَرْجَهَا لاِبْنِ نَهْشَلٍ
with your daughter; seek revenge for what they seized.
The spear-points made her private parts lawful to Ibn Nahshal;
فَمَاso not نِلْتَyou gained مِنْهَاon her account مِنْany عِقَابٍredress ولاَnor مَهْرٍa bride-price
فَمَا نِلْتَ مِنْهَا مِنْ عِقَابٍ ولاَ مَهْرٍ
وكُنْتَand you were كَذِيlike one with الكَفَّيْنِtwo hands أَصْبَحَwho became رَاضِياًcontent
وكُنْتَ كَذِي الكَفَّيْنِ أَصْبَحَ رَاضِياً
so you gained neither redress for her nor a bride-price.
And you were like a man with two hands who became content
بِوَاحِدَةٍwith one جَذْمَاءَmaimed مِنْout of قَصَبٍfinger-bones عِشْرِten
بِوَاحِدَةٍ جَذْمَاءَ مِنْ قَصَبٍ عِشْرِ
مَنَحْتُI gave نَصَارَىthe Christians of تَغْلِبَTaghlib إِذْاwhen مَنَحْتُهَاI gave her
مَنَحْتُ نَصَارَى تَغْلِبَ إِذْا مَنَحْتُهَا
with one maimed finger out of ten.
I gave the Christians of Taghlib, when I made my gift,
عَلَىdespite نَأْيِهَاher remoteness حَذَّاءَa swift-ranging satire بَاقِيَةَenduring الغِمْرِrancor
عَلَى نَأْيِهَا حَذَّاءَ بَاقِيَةَ الغِمْرِ
despite their distance, a swift-ranging satire of enduring rancor.
Sol 6.1