عَلىupon الشَنفَرىal-Shanfarā ساريtraveling by night الغَمامِthe clouds فَرائِحٌthen coming at evening
عَلى الشَنفَرى ساري الغَمامِ فَرائِحٌ
غَزيرُabundant الكُلىcloud masses وَصَيِّبُand a downpour الماءِrainwater باكِرُcoming at dawn
غَزيرُ الكُلى وَصَيِّبُ الماءِ باكِرُ
May night-traveling clouds pass over al-Shanfarā, then evening clouds,
On Shunfara the clouds rain ceaselessly,
their masses heavy with rain, and a drenching downpour at dawn.
Pouring copiously, early rain drizzling.
عَلَيكَupon you جَزاءٌa reward مِثلُlike يَومِكَyour day بِالجَباat al-Jabā
عَلَيكَ جَزاءٌ مِثلُ يَومِكَ بِالجَبا
وَقَدand indeed رَعَفَتbled مِنكَfrom you السُيوفُthe swords البَواتِرُthe cleaving ones
وَقَد رَعَفَت مِنكَ السُيوفُ البَواتِرُ
May you have a reward worthy of your day at al-Jabā,
Upon you may there be a recompense like your day at Al-Jaba,
when the cleaving swords ran with blood at your hand.
When the gleaming swords were unsheathed around you.
وَيَومِكَand your day يَومُthe day of العَيكَتَينِal-ʿAykatayn وَعَطفَةٍand a return charge
وَيَومِكَ يَومُ العَيكَتَينِ وَعَطفَةٍ
عَطَفتَyou wheeled back وَقَدand already مَسَّtouched القُلوبَthe hearts الحَناجِرُthe throats
عَطَفتَ وَقَد مَسَّ القُلوبَ الحَناجِرُ
And your day at al-ʿAykatayn, and the return charge
That was the day of weakness and compassion,
you wheeled back to make when hearts had reached the throats.
When you showed compassion though hearts were suffering distress.
تَجولُyou range بِبِزِّwith the weapons of المَوتِdeath فيهِمamong them كَأَنَّهُمas though they
تَجولُ بِبِزِّ المَوتِ فيهِم كَأَنَّهُم
بِشَوكَتِكَbefore your might الحُدّىkeen ضَئينٌsheep نَوافِرُfleeing
بِشَوكَتِكَ الحُدّى ضَئينٌ نَوافِرُ
You ranged among them with death's weapons, as though they were
Death wandered among them as though they were,
sheep scattering before your keen might.
Through your staunchness, faint fawn-spotted camels.
وَطَعنَةِand a thrust خَلسٍstealthy قَدindeed طَعَنتَyou struck مُرِشَّةٍspraying blood
وَطَعنَةِ خَلسٍ قَد طَعَنتَ مُرِشَّةٍ
لَهاit has نَفَذٌa penetrating channel تَضِلُّlose their way فيهِwithin it المَسابِرُthe wound-probes
لَها نَفَذٌ تَضِلُّ فيهِ المَسابِرُ
And the stealthy, blood-spraying thrust you dealt—
And the treacherous hidden stab with which you stabbed Murshid
its channel so deep that probes lose their way within.
Having an issue through which the probes went astray.
إِذاwhen كُشِفَتwere lifted عَنهاfrom it السُتورُthe coverings شَحاgaped لَهاfor it
إِذا كُشِفَت عَنها السُتورُ شَحا لَها
فَمٌa mouth كَفَمِlike the mouth of العَزلاءِa waterskin's spout فَيحانُwide فاغِرُgaping
فَمٌ كَفَمِ العَزلاءِ فَيحانُ فاغِرُ
When its coverings were lifted, there gaped
When the veils were lifted from her you pitied Murshid,
a mouth like a waterskin's spout, broad and yawning.
Her mouth like that of a lone, desolate woman, open.
يَظَلُّkeeps لَهاbecause of it الآسيthe healer يَميدُsways كَأَنَّهُas though he
يَظَلُّ لَها الآسي يَميدُ كَأَنَّهُ
نَزيفٌdrained of sense هَراقَتpoured away لُبَّهُhis reason الخَمرُwine ساكِرُdrunk
نَزيفٌ هَراقَت لُبَّهُ الخَمرُ ساكِرُ
The healer keeps swaying over it, as though he were
To her the rider inclines as though he were
a witless drunk whose reason wine has poured away.
An outpouring whose ferment the wine had made limpid.
فَيَكفيso he meets the need الَّذيwhat يَكفيmeets the need الكَريمُthe noble man بِحَزمِهِwith his resolve
فَيَكفي الَّذي يَكفي الكَريمُ بِحَزمِهِ
وَيَصبِرُand endures إِنَّindeed الحُرَّthe freeborn man مِثلَكَlike you صابِرُsteadfast
وَيَصبِرُ إِنَّ الحُرَّ مِثلَكَ صابِرُ
So he does what a noble man does, with firm resolve,
So he suffices whom the noble suffices with his resolution,
and endures: a freeborn man like you is steadfast.
The free man, like yourself, shows patience.
فَإِنso if تَكُbe نَفسُthe soul of الشَنفَرىal-Shanfarā حُمَّwas decreed يَومُهاits day
فَإِن تَكُ نَفسُ الشَنفَرى حُمَّ يَومُها
وَراحَand came لَهُto him ماكانَwhat he had been مِنهُof it يُحاذِرُwary
وَراحَ لَهُ ماكانَ مِنهُ يُحاذِرُ
If al-Shanfarā's soul has reached its appointed day,
If the soul of Shunfara one day becomes zealous
and what he used to dread has come upon him,
And there comes to him that which he was wary of before,
فَماso not كانَwas بِدعاًunprecedented أَنthat يُصابَhe be struck فَمِثلُهُfor one like him
فَما كانَ بِدعاً أَن يُصابَ فَمِثلُهُ
أُصيبَwas struck وَحُمَّand were doomed المُلتَجونَthose seeking refuge الفَوادِرُmighty ibex
أُصيبَ وَحُمَّ المُلتَجونَ الفَوادِرُ
it was nothing new that he should be struck down, for one like him
Then it was no innovation that the like of it should befall one like him
has been struck down, and mighty ibex seeking refuge have met their doom.
And the rash be made zealous and launch out.
قَضىfulfilled نَحبَهُhis life's term مُستَكثِراًhaving amassed much مِنof جَميلِهِhis good deeds
قَضى نَحبَهُ مُستَكثِراً مِن جَميلِهِ
مُقِلّاًhaving done little مِنَof الفَحشاءِshameful deeds وَالعِرضُand honor وافِرُundiminished
مُقِلّاً مِنَ الفَحشاءِ وَالعِرضُ وافِرُ
He met his end, having amassed good deeds,
He fulfilled his partner’s term, making much of her favors,
and done little that was shameful, his honor undiminished.
Lessening wantonness, while honor was abundant.
يُفَرِّجُdispels عَنهُfrom him غُمَّةَthe gloom of الرَوعِterror عَزمُهُhis resolve
يُفَرِّجُ عَنهُ غُمَّةَ الرَوعِ عَزمُهُ
وَصَفراءُand a yellow bow مِرنانٌresonant وَأَبيَضُand a bright sword باتِرُcleaving
وَصَفراءُ مِرنانٌ وَأَبيَضُ باتِرُ
His resolve drives away the gloom of terror from him,
His resolve relieves him of the distress of fear,
as do a yellow, twanging bow and a bright, cleaving sword.
While the white Mailan and the gleaming Batir.
وَأَشقَرُand a chestnut horse غَيداقُunstinting الجِراءِin running كَأَنَّهُas though it
وَأَشقَرُ غَيداقُ الجِراءِ كَأَنَّهُ
عُقابٌan eagle تَدَلّىdrops down بَينَbetween نيقَينِtwo peaks كاسِرُwith folded wings
عُقابٌ تَدَلّى بَينَ نيقَينِ كاسِرُ
And a chestnut horse, unstinting in its gallop, as though it were
The blond, braided, short-tressed Gaidag as though he were
an eagle dropping between two peaks with folded wings.
An eagle that swooped down between straight and curved bows.
يَجُمُّreplenishes its strength جُمومَreplenishment البَحرِthe sea طالَrose high عُبابُهُits surge
يَجُمُّ جُمومَ البَحرِ طالَ عُبابُهُ
إِذاwhen فاضَoverflows مِنهُfrom it أَوَّلٌa first wave جاشَsurges آخِرُanother
إِذا فاضَ مِنهُ أَوَّلٌ جاشَ آخِرُ
It replenishes its strength like the sea, its surge rising high;
He surges with the surge of the sea—his might is prolonged—
when its first wave pours forth, another surges.
When a first surge from it floods, another follows.
لَئِنeven if ضَحِكَتlaughed مِنكَat you الإِماءُthe slave women لَقَدindeed بَكَتwept
لَئِن ضَحِكَت مِنكَ الإِماءُ لَقَد بَكَت
عَلَيكَfor you فَأَعوَلنَthen they wailed النِساءُthe women الحَرائِرُthe freeborn
عَلَيكَ فَأَعوَلنَ النِساءُ الحَرائِرُ
Though slave women laughed at you, tears were surely shed
If slave girls laugh at you, free women have assuredly
for you, and wails raised, by freeborn women.
Wept for you, raising shrill cries.
وَمَرقَبَةٍand a lookout شَمّاءَlofty أَقعَيتَyou crouched فَوقَهاatop it
وَمَرقَبَةٍ شَمّاءَ أَقعَيتَ فَوقَها
لِيَغنَمَso he might gain spoils غازٍa raider أَوor لِيُدرِكَso he might attain ثائيرُan avenger
لِيَغنَمَ غازٍ أَو لِيُدرِكَ ثائيرُ
And many a lofty lookout you crouched upon,
And over a high watchtower on which you climbed, observers
so a raider might win spoils, or an avenger attain revenge.
To descry raiders or partisans to descry the fugitives.
وَأَمرٍand a predicament كَسَدِّlike the blocking of المِنخَرَينِthe two nostrils اِعتَلَيتَهُyou surmounted it
وَأَمرٍ كَسَدِّ المِنخَرَينِ اِعتَلَيتَهُ
فَنَفَّستَso you brought relief مِنهُfrom it وَالمَناياwhile deaths حَواضِرُwere present
فَنَفَّستَ مِنهُ وَالمَنايا حَواضِرُ
And many a crisis, like nostrils blocked, you surmounted,
And at a matter like sniffing the two nostrils you chafed,
and brought relief from it while deaths stood close at hand.
Gasping from it while the deaths were present.
وَإِنَّكَand indeed you لَوif لاقَيتَنيmet me بَعدَafter ماwhat تَرىyou see
وَإِنَّكَ لَو لاقَيتَني بَعدَ ما تَرى
وَهَلand can يُلقَينَever be met مَنone whom غَيَّبَتهُhave hidden him المَقابِرُthe graves
وَهَل يُلقَينَ مَن غَيَّبَتهُ المَقابِرُ
And if you were to meet me after what you see—
Indeed, were you to meet me after what you see
and can one ever meet someone whom the graves have hidden?—
And will he who has been hidden in the graves meet me?
لَأَلفَيتِنيyou would surely find me فيin غارَةٍa raid أَعتَزيI proclaim allegiance بِهاin it
لَأَلفَيتِني في غارَةٍ أَعتَزي بِها
إِلَيكَto you وَإِمّاor else راجِعاًreturning أَناI ثائِرُan avenger
إِلَيكَ وَإِمّا راجِعاً أَنا ثائِرُ
you would find me in a raid, proclaiming my allegiance
You would find me raiding proudly against you
to you, or else returning, an avenger.
Whether I am returning or again setting out.
فَلَوso if نَبَّأَتنيhad told me الطَيرُthe birds أَوor كُنتُI had been شاهِداًpresent
فَلَو نَبَّأَتني الطَيرُ أَو كُنتُ شاهِداً
لَآساكَwould have aided you فيin البَلوىthe ordeal أَخٌa brother لَكَof yours ناصِرُa defender
لَآساكَ في البَلوى أَخٌ لَكَ ناصِرُ
If the birds had told me, or I had been present,
Had the birds told me or had I witnessed,
a brother and defender of yours would have stood by you in the ordeal.
I would have solaced you in affliction, a supporter for you.
وَإِنand if تَكُyou be مَأسوراًcaptive وَظَلتَand you remained مُخَيّماًencamped
وَإِن تَكُ مَأسوراً وَظَلتَ مُخَيّماً
وَأَبلَيتَand proved your valor حَتّىuntil ماnot يَكيدُكَplots against you واتِرُa blood-foe
وَأَبلَيتَ حَتّى ما يَكيدُكَ واتِرُ
And even if you were captive and remained encamped,
And if you are taken captive and are sheltering
and proved your valor until no blood-foe could plot against you,
And are worn out until no plotting avails against you,
وَحَتّىand until رَماكَstruck you الشَيبُgray hair فيon الرَأسِthe head عانِساًgrown old
وَحَتّى رَماكَ الشَيبُ في الرَأسِ عانِساً
وَخَيرُكَand your bounty مَبسوطٌspread wide وَزادُكَand your provisions حاضِرُat hand
وَخَيرُكَ مَبسوطٌ وَزادُكَ حاضِرُ
and until gray hair struck your head in old age,
Until grey hairs make you in the head an aged man,
with your bounty spread wide and your provisions at hand—
While your best possession is secure and your provisions are present,
وَأَجمَلُand the finest مَوتِdeath of المَرءِa man إِذsince كانَhe was مَيِّتاًmortal
وَأَجمَلُ مَوتِ المَرءِ إِذ كانَ مَيِّتاً
وَلابُدَّand inevitably يَوماًone day مَوتُهُhis death وَهوَwhile he صابِرُsteadfast
وَلابُدَّ يَوماً مَوتُهُ وَهوَ صابِرُ
a man's finest death, since he is mortal,
The most beautiful kind of death for a man, when he must die some day
and must one day die, is death met steadfastly.
And his death is bound to come while he shows patience,
وَخَفَّضَand calmed جَأشيmy heart's agitation أَنَّthat كُلَّevery اِبنِson of حُرَّةٍa freeborn woman
وَخَفَّضَ جَأشي أَنَّ كُلَّ اِبنِ حُرَّةٍ
إِلىto حَيثُwhere صِرتَyou have gone لاno مَحالَةَescape صائِرُbound to go
إِلى حَيثُ صِرتَ لا مَحالَةَ صائِرُ
And it quiets my heart that every son of a freeborn woman
Is to lower his voice that every son of a noble
must inevitably go where you have gone.
To where you have come inevitably will come.
وَأَنَّand that سَوامَthe grazing herds of المَوتِdeath تَجريrun خِلالَناthrough our midst
وَأَنَّ سَوامَ المَوتِ تَجري خِلالَنا
رَوائِحُcoming at evening مِنfrom أَحداثِهِits calamities وَبَواكِرُand coming at dawn
رَوائِحُ مِن أَحداثِهِ وَبَواكِرُ
And that death's grazing herds run through our midst,
And that the chargers of death run among us—
its calamities coming at evening and at dawn.
Whiffs from its events and early matters.
فَلاso may not يَبعَدَنَّever be far away الشَنفَرىal-Shanfarā وَسِلاحُهُand his weapons
فَلا يَبعَدَنَّ الشَنفَرى وَسِلاحُهُ
الحَديدُiron وَشَدٌّand a sprint خَطوُهُits strides مُتَواتِرُin swift succession
الحَديدُ وَشَدٌّ خَطوُهُ مُتَواتِرُ
So may al-Shanfarā never be far away; his weapons were
So let not Shunfara with his weapons—
iron, and a sprint whose strides came in swift succession.
The iron and the compactness of his step oft-repeated—
إِذاwhen راعَstruck fear رَوعُthe terror of المَوتِdeath راعَhe struck fear وَإِنand if حَمىhe defended
إِذا راعَ رَوعُ المَوتِ راعَ وَإِن حَمى
حَمىdefended مَعَهُbeside him حُرٌّa freeborn man كَريمٌnoble مُصابِرُsteadfast
حَمى مَعَهُ حُرٌّ كَريمٌ مُصابِرُ
When death's terror struck fear, he struck fear; and if he defended,
Keep far away when the distress of death keeps near,
a freeborn, noble, steadfast man defended beside him.
Together with a free man, noble and patient.
Sol 6.1