هَلَare...? أَنْتَyou مُحَيِّيone greeting الرَّبْعَthe campsite أَمْor أَنْتَyou سائِلُهْquestioning it
هَلَ أَنْتَ مُحَيِّي الرَّبْعَ أَمْ أَنْتَ سائِلُهْ
بِحَيْثُwhere أَحَالَتْhave changed فيin الرِّكَاءِal-Rika سَوائِلُهْits watercourses
بِحَيْثُ أَحَالَتْ في الرِّكَاءِ سَوائِلُهْ
Will you greet the campsite, or question it,
where its watercourses in al-Rika have changed?
وكَيْفَand how تُحَيِّيyou greet الرَّبْعَthe campsite قَدْalready بَانَdeparted أَهْلُهُits people
وكَيْفَ تُحَيِّي الرَّبْعَ قَدْ بَانَ أَهْلُهُ
فَلَمْso not يَبْقَremains إِلاَّexcept أُسُّهُits foundation وجَنَادِلُهْand its boulders
فَلَمْ يَبْقَ إِلاَّ أُسُّهُ وجَنَادِلُهْ
And how can you greet the campsite when its people have departed,
and nothing remains but its foundation and boulders?
عَفَتْهُeffaced it صَنَادِيدُfierce storms السِّمَاكْينِthe two Simak stars وانْتَحَتْand descended
عَفَتْهُ صَنَادِيدُ السِّمَاكْينِ وانْتَحَتْ
عَلَيْهِupon it رِيَاحُthe winds الصَّيْفِof summer غُبْراًdust-gray مَجَاوْلُهْits open spaces
عَلَيْهِ رِيَاحُ الصَّيْفِ غُبْراً مَجَاوْلُهْ
The fierce storms of the two Simak stars erased it, and descended
upon it the summer winds, leaving its open spaces dust-gray.
وقَدْand indeed قُلْتُI said مِنْfrom فَرْطِexcess الأَسَىof grief إِذْwhen رَأَيْتُهُI saw it
وقَدْ قُلْتُ مِنْ فَرْطِ الأَسَى إِذْ رَأَيْتُهُ
وأَسْبَلَand poured down دَمْعِيmy tears مُسْتَهْلاًstreaming أَوَائِلُهْtheir first drops
وأَسْبَلَ دَمْعِي مُسْتَهْلاً أَوَائِلُهْ
I spoke from overwhelming grief when I saw it,
and my tears poured down, their first drops streaming:
أَلاَah يَاO لَقَوْمٍpeople called upon لِلِّديَارِfor the dwellings بِبَدْوَةٍat Badwa
أَلاَ يَا لَقَوْمٍ لِلِّديَارِ بِبَدْوَةٍ
وأَنَّىand how مِرَاحُmerriment المَرْءِof a man والشَّيْبُand gray hair شَامِلُهْcovers him
وأَنَّى مِرَاحُ المَرْءِ والشَّيْبُ شَامِلُهْ
Ah, people! Alas for the dwellings at Badwa!
How can a man be merry when gray hair covers him?
ولِلدَّارِand for the dwelling مِنْfrom جَنْبَيْthe two flanks قَرَوْرَىof Qarawra كَأَنَّهَاas though it were
ولِلدَّارِ مِنْ جَنْبَيْ قَرَوْرَى كَأَنَّهَا
وُحِيُّwritten marks كِتَابٍof a book أَتْبَعْتْهُtraced it أَنَامِلُهْhis fingertips
وُحِيُّ كِتَابٍ أَتْبَعْتْهُ أَنَامِلُهْ
And for the dwelling on Qarawra's two flanks, as though it were
a book's script, traced by the writer's fingertips.
صَحَاsobered القَلْبُthe heart عَنْfrom أَهْلِthe people الرِّكاءِof al-Rika وفَاتَهُand were lost to it
صَحَا القَلْبُ عَنْ أَهْلِ الرِّكاءِ وفَاتَهُ
عَلَىat مَأْسَلٍMa'sal خِلاَّنُهُits friends وحَلاَئِلُهْand its wives
عَلَى مَأْسَلٍ خِلاَّنُهُ وحَلاَئِلُهْ
The heart sobered from longing for al-Rika's people, and lost
at Ma'sal its friends and wives.
أَخُوa companion of عَبَرَاتٍtears سِيقَwere driven لِلشَّامِto al-Sham أَهْلُهُhis people
أَخُو عَبَرَاتٍ سِيقَ لِلشَّامِ أَهْلُهُ
فَلاَso neither اليَأَسُdespair يُسْلِيهِconsoles him ولاَnor الحُزْنُgrief قَاتِلُهْkills him
فَلاَ اليَأَسُ يُسْلِيهِ ولاَ الحُزْنُ قَاتِلُهْ
A man of tears, whose people were driven to al-Sham—
neither despair consoles him nor grief kills him.
تَنَاسَأَwithdrew far عِنْfrom شُرْبِthe watering place القَرِينَةِof al-Qarina أَهْلُهَاits people
تَنَاسَأَ عِنْ شُرْبِ القَرِينَةِ أَهْلُهَا
وعَادَand returned بِهَاin it شَاءُsheep العَدُوِّof the enemy وجَامِلُهْand his camel herd
وعَادَ بِهَا شَاءُ العَدُوِّ وجَامِلُهْ
Its people withdrew far from al-Qarina's watering place,
and the enemy's sheep and camel herd returned there.
تُمْشِّيwalk بِهَاin it شَوْلُdry-uddered females الظِّبَاءِof gazelles كَأَنَّهَاas though they were
تُمْشِّي بِهَا شَوْلُ الظِّبَاءِ كَأَنَّهَا
جَنَىthe harvest مَهْرَقَانٍof a sea فَاضِoverflowed بِاللَّيْلِby night سَاحِلُهْits shore
جَنَى مَهْرَقَانٍ فَاضِ بِاللَّيْلِ سَاحِلُهْ
Dry-uddered gazelles walk there, as though they were
the harvest of a sea whose shore overflowed at night.
وبُدِّلَand was changed حَالاًa state بَعْدَafter حَالٍa state وعِيشَةًand a life
وبُدِّلَ حَالاً بَعْدَ حَالٍ وعِيشَةً
بِعِيشَتِنَاfor our life ضَيْقُthe narrows الرِّكَاءِof al-Rika فَعَاقِلُهْand then its 'Aqil
بِعِيشَتِنَا ضَيْقُ الرِّكَاءِ فَعَاقِلُهْ
And state gave way to state, and a new life replaced
our life in the narrows of al-Rika and its 'Aqil:
سَخَاخاًsalt flats يُزَجِّيsends forth الذِّئْبُthe wolf بَيْنَamong سُهُوبِهَاtheir steppes
سَخَاخاً يُزَجِّي الذِّئْبُ بَيْنَ سُهُوبِهَا
وفَحْلُand the male النَّعَامِof ostriches رِزُّهُits rumbling وأَزَامِلُهْand its cries
وفَحْلُ النَّعَامِ رِزُّهُ وأَزَامِلُهْ
salt flats, through whose steppes the wolf sends forth—
and the ostrich cock—its rumbling and cries.
أَلاَah رُبَّmany a عَيْشٍlife صَالِحٍgood قَدْindeed لَقِيتُهُI experienced it
أَلاَ رُبَّ عَيْشٍ صَالِحٍ قَدْ لَقِيتُهُ
بِضَيْقِin the narrows الرِّكَاءِof al-Rika إِذْwhen بِهِin it مَنْwhom نُواصِلُهْwe maintain ties with him
بِضَيْقِ الرِّكَاءِ إِذْ بِهِ مَنْ نُواصِلُهْ
Ah, many a good life have I known
in al-Rika's narrows, when those we kept ties with were there,
إذِwhen الدَّهْرُtime مَحْمُودُpraiseworthy السَّجِيَّاتِthe qualities تُجْتَنَىare harvested
إذِ الدَّهْرُ مَحْمُودُ السَّجِيَّاتِ تُجْتَنَى
ثِمَارُthe fruits الهَوَىof love مِنْهُfrom it ويؤْمَنُand is not feared غَائِلُهْits harm
ثِمَارُ الهَوَى مِنْهُ ويؤْمَنُ غَائِلُهْ
when time's nature was praiseworthy, and harvested were
the fruits of love from it, and its harm was not feared.
وحَيٍّand a tribe حِلاَلٍencamped قَدْindeed رَأَيْنَاwe saw ومَجْلِسٍand a gathering
وحَيٍّ حِلاَلٍ قَدْ رَأَيْنَا ومَجْلِسٍ
تَعَادَىraced after one another بِجِنَّانِin the gardens الدَّحُولِof al-Duhul قَنَابِلُهْits companies
تَعَادَى بِجِنَّانِ الدَّحُولِ قَنَابِلُهْ
And many an encamped tribe have we seen, and a gathering
whose companies raced after one another in al-Duhul's gardens.
هُمُthey التَّابِعُونَthose following الحَقَّthe truth مِنْfrom عِنْدِat أَصْلِهِits root
هُمُ التَّابِعُونَ الحَقَّ مِنْ عِنْدِ أَصْلِهِ
بِأَحْلاَمِهِمْwith their judgment حَتَّىuntil تُصَابَare reached مَفَاصِلُهْits joints
بِأَحْلاَمِهِمْ حَتَّى تُصَابَ مَفَاصِلُهْ
They follow what is right from its very root,
with their sound judgment, until its joints are reached.
هُمُthey الضَّارِبُونَthose striking اليَقْدمِيَّةَthe vanguard تَعْتَرِيassails
هُمُ الضَّارِبُونَ اليَقْدمِيَّةَ تَعْتَرِي
بِمَاwith what فيin الجُفُونِthe scabbards أَخْلَصَتْهُrefined it صَيَاقِلُهْits polishers
بِمَا في الجُفُونِ أَخْلَصَتْهُ صَيَاقِلُهْ
They strike the vanguard as it assails them,
with what the scabbards hold, refined by its polishers.
مَصَالِيتُdauntless fighters فَكَّاكُونَliberators لِلسَّبْيِof captives بَعْدَمَاafter
مَصَالِيتُ فَكَّاكُونَ لِلسَّبْيِ بَعْدَمَا
تَعَضُّbite عَلَىupon أَيْدِيthe hands السَّبِيِّof captives سَلاَسِلُهْtheir chains
تَعَضُّ عَلَى أَيْدِي السَّبِيِّ سَلاَسِلُهْ
Dauntless fighters, liberators of captives, after
the captives' chains have bitten into their hands.
وكَمْand how many مِنْof مَقَامٍa stand قَدْindeed شَهِدْنَاwe witnessed بِخُطَّةٍover a matter
وكَمْ مِنْ مَقَامٍ قَدْ شَهِدْنَا بِخُطَّةٍ
نَشُجُّwe wound ونَأْسُوand we heal أَوْor كَرِيمٍa noble man نُفَاضِلُهْwe vie with him
نَشُجُّ ونَأْسُو أَوْ كَرِيمٍ نُفَاضِلُهْ
And many a stand have we witnessed over a matter,
wounding and healing, or vying with a noble man.
وكَمْand how many مِنْof كَمِيٍّan armored warrior قَدْindeed شَكَكْنَاwe pierced قَمِيصَهُhis shirt
وكَمْ مِنْ كَمِيٍّ قَدْ شَكَكْنَا قَمِيصَهُ
بِأَزْرَقَwith a blue spear عَسَّالٍquivering إِذَاwhen هُزَّis shaken عَامِلُهْits fore-shaft
بِأَزْرَقَ عَسَّالٍ إِذَا هُزَّ عَامِلُهْ
And many an armored warrior's shirt have we pierced
with a blue-tipped, quivering spear, when its fore-shaft is shaken.
وإِنَّاand indeed we لَنَحْدُوwe surely drive onward الأَمْرَthe affair عِنْدَat حُدَائِهِits driving
وإِنَّا لَنَحْدُو الأَمْرَ عِنْدَ حُدَائِهِ
إِذَاwhen عَيَّwere baffled بِالأَمْرِby the affair الفَظِيعِterrible قَوَابِلُهْits midwives
إِذَا عَيَّ بِالأَمْرِ الفَظِيعِ قَوَابِلُهْ
We surely drive an affair onward when it needs driving,
when its midwives are baffled by the terrible affair.
نُعِينُwe assist عَلَىin مَعْرُوفِهِits good course ونُمْرُّهُand carry it onward
نُعِينُ عَلَى مَعْرُوفِهِ ونُمْرُّهُ
عَلَىthrough شَزَرٍopposition حَتَّىuntil تُجَالَare set moving جَوَائِلُهْits moving parts
عَلَى شَزَرٍ حَتَّى تُجَالَ جَوَائِلُهْ
We aid its proper course, and carry it through
opposition, until its moving parts are set in motion.
أَلَمْhave...not? تَرَyou seen أَنَّthat المَالَwealth يَخْلُفُsucceeds it نَسْلُهُits offspring
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ المَالَ يَخْلُفُ نَسْلُهُ
ويَأْتِيand comes عَلَيهِupon it حَقُّthe rightful claim دَهْرٍof time وبَاطِلُهْand its wrongful claim
ويَأْتِي عَلَيهِ حَقُّ دَهْرٍ وبَاطِلُهْ
Have you not seen that wealth is replenished by its offspring,
and time's rightful and wrongful claims consume it?
فَأَخْلِفْso replenish وأَتْلِفْand spend إِنَّمَاonly المَالُwealth عَارَةٌa loan
فَأَخْلِفْ وأَتْلِفْ إِنَّمَا المَالُ عَارَةٌ
وكُلْهُand consume it مَعَwith الدَّهْرِtime الَّذِيwhich هُوَitself آَكِلُهْconsumes it
وكُلْهُ مَعَ الدَّهْرِ الَّذِي هُوَ آَكِلُهْ
So replenish and spend: wealth is only a loan,
and consume it with time, which itself consumes it.
وأَهْوَنُand least grievous مَفْقُودٍone lost وأَيْسَرand least troubling هَالِكٍone dead
وأَهْوَنُ مَفْقُودٍ وأَيْسَر هَالِكٍ
عَلَىto الحَيِّthe tribe مَنْone who لاَnot يَبْلُغُreaches الحيَّthe tribe نَائِلُهْhis bounty
عَلَى الحَيِّ مَنْ لاَ يَبْلُغُ الحيَّ نَائِلُهْ
And the least missed of the lost, the least mourned of the dead,
by the tribe, is one whose bounty never reaches it.
ومُضْطَرِبِand one with shifting النَّسْعَيْنِthe two saddle-straps مُطَّردِlong and even القَرَىthe back
ومُضْطَرِبِ النَّسْعَيْنِ مُطَّردِ القَرَى
تَحَدَّرَstreamed down رَشْحاًsweat لِيتُهُhis neck-side وفَلاَئِلُهْand his muscles
تَحَدَّرَ رَشْحاً لِيتُهُ وفَلاَئِلُهْ
And many a camel with shifting saddle-straps and a long, even back,
his neck and muscles streaming with sweat.
ذَوَاتُthose possessing البَقَايَاstaying power البُزْلُthe fully mature camels لاَno شَيْءَthing فَوْقَهَاabove them
ذَوَاتُ البَقَايَا البُزْلُ لاَ شَيْءَ فَوْقَهَا
ولاَnor دُونَهَاbelow them أَمْثَالُهُhis equals وقَتَائِلُهْand his slain rivals
ولاَ دُونَهَا أَمْثَالُهُ وقَتَائِلُهْ
The sturdy, fully mature camels—nothing above them,
nor below them—are his equals and his slain rivals.
رَمَيْتُI sent بِهِwith him الموْمَاةَthe trackless waste يَرْجُفُtrembles رَأْسُهُhis head
رَمَيْتُ بِهِ الموْمَاةَ يَرْجُفُ رَأْسُهُ
إِذَاwhen جَالَswirled فيin بَحْرِthe sea السَّرَابِof mirage جَوَائِلُهْits wavering forms
إِذَا جَالَ في بَحْرِ السَّرَابِ جَوَائِلُهْ
I sent him into the trackless waste, his head trembling,
when its wavering forms swirled in the sea of mirage.
إِذَاwhen ظَلتِspent the day العِيسُthe pale camels الخَوَامِسُon a five-day watering cycle والقَطَاand the sandgrouse
إِذَا ظَلتِ العِيسُ الخَوَامِسُ والقَطَا
مَعَاًtogether فيamong هَدَالٍdrooping boughs يَتْبَعُfollows الرِّيحَthe wind مَائِلُهْits leaning growth
مَعَاً في هَدَالٍ يَتْبَعُ الرِّيحَ مَائِلُهْ
When the pale camels on a five-day watering cycle and the sandgrouse stayed
together amid drooping boughs, their leaning branches following the wind,
تَوَسَّدَtook as pillows أَلْحِيthe jaws العِيسِof pale camels أَجْنِحَةَthe wings القَطَاof sandgrouse
تَوَسَّدَ أَلْحِي العِيسِ أَجْنِحَةَ القَطَا
ومَاand what فيin أدَاوَىthe waterskins القَوْمِof the people خِفُّfaint صَلاَصِلُهْits gurgles
ومَا في أدَاوَى القَوْمِ خِفُّ صَلاَصِلُهْ
the camels' jaws pillowed themselves on the sandgrouse's wings,
and what remained in the people's waterskins gave only faint gurgles.
وغَيْثٍand a rain-fed pasture تَبَطَّنْتُI explored within النَّدَىthe dew فيin تِلاَعِهِits valleys
وغَيْثٍ تَبَطَّنْتُ النَّدَى في تِلاَعِهِ
بِمُضْطَلِعِwith one capable of التَّعْدَاءِgalloping نَهْدٍwell-developed مَرَاكِلُهْhis flanks
بِمُضْطَلِعِ التَّعْدَاءِ نَهْدٍ مَرَاكِلُهْ
And many a rain-fed pasture, whose dewy valleys I rode deep into,
on a powerful galloper, his flanks well developed,
شَدِيدِstrong مَنَاطِthe attachment القُصْرَيَيْنِof the two short ribs مُصَامِصٍcompactly built
شَدِيدِ مَنَاطِ القُصْرَيَيْنِ مُصَامِصٍ
صَنِيعِwell-reared رِبَاطٍat the tether لمْnot تُغَمَّزْwere weakened أَبَاجِلُهْhis leg veins
صَنِيعِ رِبَاطٍ لمْ تُغَمَّزْ أَبَاجِلُهْ
strong where the two short ribs join, compactly built,
well reared at the tether, his leg veins never weakened.
غَدَوْتُI set out early بِهِwith him فَرْدَيْنِwe two alone يُنْغِضُbobs رَأْسَهُhis head
غَدَوْتُ بِهِ فَرْدَيْنِ يُنْغِضُ رَأْسَهُ
يُقَاتِلُنيhe fights me حَالاًat one time وحَالاًand at another time أُقَاتِلُهْI fight him
يُقَاتِلُني حَالاً وحَالاً أُقَاتِلُهْ
I set out with him, we two alone, while he tossed his head,
at times he fought me, at times I fought him.
فَلَمَّاthen when رَأَيْتُI saw الوَحْشَthe wild game أَيَّهْتُI called out وانْتَحَىand descended
فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ الوَحْشَ أَيَّهْتُ وانْتَحَى
بِهِupon him أَفْكَلٌa shudder حَتىuntil اسْتَخَفَّتْgrew lively خَصَائِلُهْhis muscles
بِهِ أَفْكَلٌ حَتى اسْتَخَفَّتْ خَصَائِلُهْ
When I saw the wild game, I shouted, and there descended
on him a shudder, until his muscles grew lively.
تَمَطَّيْتُI stretched out أَخْلِيهِI loosen for him اللِّجَامَthe bridle وبَذَّنِيand he bested me
تَمَطَّيْتُ أَخْلِيهِ اللِّجَامَ وبَذَّنِي
وشَخْصيand my body يُسَامِيmatches in height شَخْصَهُhis body وَيُطَاوِلُهْand rivals him in height
وشَخْصي يُسَامِي شَخْصَهُ وَيُطَاوِلُهْ
I stretched out, giving him free rein, and he bested me,
my body rising to match his and rival his height.
كَأَنَّas though يَدَيْهِhis forelegs والغُلاَمُand the lad يَنُوشُهُreaches for him
كَأَنَّ يَدَيْهِ والغُلاَمُ يَنُوشُهُ
يَدَاthe arms بطَلٍof a champion عَارِيbare of القَمِيصِthe shirt أُزَوِالُهْI wrestle him
يَدَا بطَلٍ عَارِي القَمِيصِ أُزَوِالُهْ
As though his forelegs, while the lad reached for him,
were a shirtless champion's arms as I wrestled him.
فمَاand not نيلwas mastered حَتَّىuntil مَدَّstretched ضَبْعِيmy upper arm عِنَانَهُhis rein
فمَا نيل حَتَّى مَدَّ ضَبْعِي عِنَانَهُ
وقُلْتُand I said مَتَىwhen مُسْتَكْرَهُhard-pressed الكَفِّthe hand نَائِلُهْable to master him
وقُلْتُ مَتَى مُسْتَكْرَهُ الكَفِّ نَائِلُهْ
He was not mastered until his rein stretched my upper arm,
and I said: When will one with a strained hand master him?
وحَاوَطْتُهُand I maneuvered with him حَتَّىuntil ثنيْتُI bent عِنَانَهُhis rein
وحَاوَطْتُهُ حَتَّى ثنيْتُ عِنَانَهُ
عَلَىover مُدْبِرِthe rear العِلْبَاءِof the neck-sinew رَيَّانَfull-fleshed كاهِلُهْhis withers
عَلَى مُدْبِرِ العِلْبَاءِ رَيَّانَ كاهِلُهْ
I maneuvered with him until I bent his rein
over the back of his neck-sinew, his withers full-fleshed.
فَأَلْجَمْتُهُso I curbed him مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter جَهْدٍeffort وقَدْand already أَتَىhe covered
فَأَلْجَمْتُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ جَهْدٍ وقَدْ أَتَى
مِنَof الأَرْضِthe land دُونَshort of الوَحْشِthe game غَيْبٌhidden مُجاهِلُهْits trackless reaches
مِنَ الأَرْضِ دُونَ الوَحْشِ غَيْبٌ مُجاهِلُهْ
So I curbed him after much effort; he had already covered
land short of the game, its trackless stretches hidden.
فَلَمَّاthen when احْتَضَنْتُI clasped جَوْزَهُhis middle مَالَhe swerved مَيْلَةًa swerve
فَلَمَّا احْتَضَنْتُ جَوْزَهُ مَالَ مَيْلَةً
بِهِwith him الغَرْبُhis ardor حَتَّىuntil قُلْتُI said هَلْcan...? أَنَاI عَادِلُهْstraighten him
بِهِ الغَرْبُ حَتَّى قُلْتُ هَلْ أَنَا عَادِلُهْ
When I clasped his middle, he swerved,
his ardor driving him, till I asked: Can I straighten him?
وأَغْرَقَنِيand he overwhelmed me حَتَّىuntil تَكَفتَbunched up مِئْزَرِيmy waistcloth
وأَغْرَقَنِي حَتَّى تَكَفتَ مِئْزَرِي
إِلىto الحُجْزَةِthe waistband العُلْيَاupper وطَارَتْand flew ذَلاَذْلُهْits loose hems
إِلى الحُجْزَةِ العُلْيَا وطَارَتْ ذَلاَذْلُهْ
He overwhelmed me until my waistcloth bunched up
to the upper waistband, its loose hems flying.
فَدَلَّيْتُso I let plunge نَهَّاماًa loudly neighing steed كَأَنَّas though هُوِيُّa swoop
فَدَلَّيْتُ نَهَّاماً كَأَنَّ هُوِيُّ
هُويُّthe swoop قُطَامِيٍّof a falcon تَلَتْهُfollowed it أَجَادِلُهْits falcons
هُويُّ قُطَامِيٍّ تَلَتْهُ أَجَادِلُهْ
Then I let the loud-neighing steed plunge, as though his swoop
were a falcon's swoop, followed by its falcons,
عَلَىon إِثْرthe trail شَحّاجٍof a loud-braying ass لَطِيفٍslender مَصِيرُهُhis gut
عَلَى إِثْر شَحّاجٍ لَطِيفٍ مَصِيرُهُ
يَمُجُّspits out لُعَاعَthe tender shoots العِضْرِسِof the 'idris plant الجَوْنِdark سَاعِلُهْhis coughing throat
يَمُجُّ لُعَاعَ العِضْرِسِ الجَوْنِ سَاعِلُهْ
after a loud-braying ass with a slender gut,
whose coughing throat spat the tender shoots of dark 'idris.
مُفِجٌّwide-straddling مِنَof الَّلائِيthose that إِذَاwhen كُنْتَyou are خَلْفَهُbehind him
مُفِجٌّ مِنَ الَّلائِي إِذَا كُنْتَ خَلْفَهُ
بَدَاappears نَحْرهُhis chest مِنْfrom خَلْفِهِbehind him وجَحَافِلُهْand his lips
بَدَا نَحْرهُ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ وجَحَافِلُهْ
A wide-straddling beast, the kind that, when you stand behind him,
shows his chest and lips from the rear.
إذَاif كَانَwas جَرْيُthe running العَيْرof the wild ass فيin الوَعْثِsoft sand دِيمَةًa steady rain
إذَا كَانَ جَرْيُ العَيْر في الوَعْثِ دِيمَةً
تَغَمَّدَengulfed جَرْيَthe running العَيْرِof the wild ass فيin الوَعْثِsoft sand وَابِلُهْits downpour
تَغَمَّدَ جَرْيَ العَيْرِ في الوَعْثِ وَابِلُهْ
If the ass's running on soft sand was a steady rain,
the steed's downpour engulfed the ass's running on soft sand.
فَلَمَّاthen when اجْتَمَعْنَاwe came together فيin الغُبَارِthe dust حَبَسْتُهُI held him back
فَلَمَّا اجْتَمَعْنَا في الغُبَارِ حَبَسْتُهُ
مَدَىwithin range النَّبْلِof arrows يَدْمَىbleeds مِرْفَقَاهُhis two elbows وفَائِلُهْand his hip-muscle
مَدَى النَّبْلِ يَدْمَى مِرْفَقَاهُ وفَائِلُهْ
When we came together in the dust, I held him back,
within bowshot, his two elbows and hip-muscle bleeding.
وجَاوَزَهُand passed him مُسْتَأْنِسُwatching closely الشُّأْوِthe course شَاخِصٌwith fixed gaze
وجَاوَزَهُ مُسْتَأْنِسُ الشُّأْوِ شَاخِصٌ
كَمَاas اسْتَأْنَسَwatched الذِّئْبَthe wolf الطَّرِيدُthe hunted beast يُغَاوِلُهْtries to catch it unawares
كَمَا اسْتَأْنَسَ الذِّئْبَ الطَّرِيدُ يُغَاوِلُهْ
And the quarry passed him, scanning the course with a fixed gaze,
as a hunted beast watches the wolf trying to catch it unawares.
فَأَعْصَمْتُso I protected myself عَنْهُfrom him بِالنُّزُولِby dismounting مُجَلِّحاًcharging persistently
فَأَعْصَمْتُ عَنْهُ بِالنُّزُولِ مُجَلِّحاً
كَتَيْسِlike a buck الظِّبَاءِof gazelles أَفْزَعَterrified القّلْبَthe heart حَابِلُهْits trapper
كَتَيْسِ الظِّبَاءِ أَفْزَعَ القّلْبَ حَابِلُهْ
I saved myself from him by dismounting, as he charged onward,
like a gazelle buck whose heart a trapper has terrified.
فَأَيَّهْتُso I called out تَأْييهاًa loud call بِهِto him وَهْوَwhile he مُدْبِرٌwas turning away
فَأَيَّهْتُ تَأْييهاً بِهِ وَهْوَ مُدْبِرٌ
فَأَقْبَلَso he came back وَهْوَاهاًwith a hoarse neigh تَحَدَّرَtrickled down وَاشِلُهْhis sweat
فَأَقْبَلَ وَهْوَاهاً تَحَدَّرَ وَاشِلُهْ
Then I shouted a call to him as he was turning away,
and he came back with a hoarse neigh, his sweat dripping down.
خَدَىtrotted مِثْلَlike خَدْيِthe gait الفَالجِيِّof a Falaji camel يَنُوشُنيreaches at me
خَدَى مِثْلَ خَدْيِ الفَالجِيِّ يَنُوشُني
بِخَبْطِwith blows يَدَيْهِof his forelegs عِيلَbe overcome مَاwhatever هُوَit عَائِلُهْwould overpower him
بِخَبْطِ يَدَيْهِ عِيلَ مَا هُوَ عَائِلُهْ
He trotted like a Falaji camel, reaching at me
with blows of his forelegs—vanquished be whatever would vanquish him!
إِذَاwhen مَأْقِيَاهُhis two eye-corners أَصْفَقَاclapped shut الطرْفَthe eyelids صَفْقَةًa clap
إِذَا مَأْقِيَاهُ أَصْفَقَا الطرْفَ صَفْقَةً
كَصَفْقِlike the joining الصَّنَاعِof a craftswoman بِالطِّبَابِwith leather seam-strips تُقَابِلُهْshe aligns it
كَصَفْقِ الصَّنَاعِ بِالطِّبَابِ تُقَابِلُهْ
When his eye-corners clapped his eyelids shut,
like a craftswoman pressing together the leather seam-strips she aligns,
حَسِبْتُI thought الْتِقَاءَthe meeting مَأْقِيَيْهِof his two eye-corners بِطَرْفِهِwith his eyelids
حَسِبْتُ الْتِقَاءَ مَأْقِيَيْهِ بِطَرْفِهِ
سُقُوطَthe falling جُمَانٍof pearls أَخْطَأَmissed السِّلْكَthe thread وِاصِلُهْtheir stringer
سُقُوطَ جُمَانٍ أَخْطَأَ السِّلْكَ وِاصِلُهْ
I thought the meeting of his eye-corners with his lids
was pearls dropping as their stringer missed the thread.
تَرَىyou see النُّعَرَاتِthe horseflies الخُضْرَgreen تَحْتَbeneath لَبَانِهِhis chest
تَرَى النُّعَرَاتِ الخُضْرَ تَحْتَ لَبَانِهِ
فُرَادَىsingly ومَثْنَىand in pairs أَصْعَقَتْهَاstunned them صَوَاهِلُهْhis neighs
فُرَادَى ومَثْنَى أَصْعَقَتْهَا صَوَاهِلُهْ
You see green horseflies beneath his chest,
singly and in pairs, stunned by his neighs,
فَرِيساًslain ومَغْشِيّاًand overcome عَلَيْهِupon it كَأَنَّهُas though it were
فَرِيساً ومَغْشِيّاً عَلَيْهِ كَأَنَّهُ
خُيُوطَةُthreads مِارِيٍّof Mari لَوَاهُنَّtwisted them فَاتِلهْtheir spinner
خُيُوطَةُ مِارِيٍّ لَوَاهُنَّ فَاتِلهْ
slain and senseless, as though they were
Mari's threads, twisted by their spinner.
وَكَمْand how many مِنْof إِرَانٍa wild bull قَدْindeed سَلَبْتُI robbed مَقِيلَهُhis midday resting place
وَكَمْ مِنْ إِرَانٍ قَدْ سَلَبْتُ مَقِيلَهُ
إِذَاwhen ضَنَّwas miserly بِالْوَحْشِwith the wild beasts العِتَاقِnoble مَعَاقِلُهْhis refuges
إِذَا ضَنَّ بِالْوَحْشِ العِتَاقِ مَعَاقِلُهْ
And many a wild bull have I robbed of his midday rest,
when his refuges withheld the noble wild game.
Sol 6.1