أَهَمٌّis it a worry? سَرىtraveled by night أَمor عادَreturned لِلعَينِto the eye عائِرُan eye irritation
أَهَمٌّ سَرى أَم عادَ لِلعَينِ عائِرُ
أَمor اِنتابَناvisited us مِنfrom آخِرِthe end of اللَيلِthe night زائِرُa visitor
أَم اِنتابَنا مِن آخِرِ اللَيلِ زائِرُ
Is it a care that traveled by night, or has an irritation returned to the eye?
Is it a nocturnal vision or a visitor towards the end of night
Or has a visitor come to us in the last hours of night?
Who came to see me, or one who returned to my eyes after being gone?
وَنَحنُwhile we بِأَرضٍin a land قَلَّis rare ماthat يَجشُمُventures upon السُرىnight travel
وَنَحنُ بِأَرضٍ قَلَّ ما يَجشُمُ السُرى
بِهاthere العَرَبِيّاتُthe Arab women الحِسانُthe beautiful الحَرائِرُthe freeborn women
بِها العَرَبِيّاتُ الحِسانُ الحَرائِرُ
While we are in a land where night travel is seldom undertaken
While we're in a land rarely traversed at night
by beautiful, freeborn Arab women.
With beautiful Arabian mares and free women
كَثيرٌmany بِهاthere الأَعداءُthe enemies يَحصُرُfalters دونَهاshort of it
كَثيرٌ بِها الأَعداءُ يَحصُرُ دونَها
بَريدُthe courier of الأَميرِthe prince المُستَحِثُّurgently pressing on المُثابِرُpersevering
بَريدُ الأَميرِ المُستَحِثُّ المُثابِرُ
Enemies are many there; short of it falters
Many enemies surround it
the prince's urgent, persevering courier.
Messages come continually from the persistent, well-prepared prince
فَبِتُّso I spent the night أُلهىbeing beguiled فيin المَنامِsleep كَماas أَرىI see
فَبِتُّ أُلهى في المَنامِ كَما أَرى
وَفيand in الشَيبِgray hair عَنaway from بَعضِsome البَطالَةِidle folly زاجِرُa restraining force
وَفي الشَيبِ عَن بَعضِ البَطالَةِ زاجِرُ
So I passed the night beguiled in sleep by what I saw,
I spend the night distracted as if in a dream
though gray hair restrains some idle folly,
And my gray hair prevents some heedlessness
بِساجِيَةِby a tranquil one العَينَينِthe two eyes خَودسa tender maiden (unclear spelling) يَلَذُّهاdelights her
بِساجِيَةِ العَينَينِ خَودس يَلَذُّها
إِذاwhen أَطرَقَfell silent اللَيلُthe night الضَجيعُthe bedmate المُباشِرُtouching closely
إِذا أَطرَقَ اللَيلُ الضَجيعُ المُباشِرُ
by a tranquil-eyed maiden, who takes pleasure,
With eyes whose sleepy languor gives pleasure
when night falls silent, in a bedmate pressed close.
When night falls with intimacy and directness
كَأَنَّas though ثَناياهاher front teeth بَناتُdaughters سَحابَةٍof a cloud
كَأَنَّ ثَناياها بَناتُ سَحابَةٍ
حَداهُنَّdrove them شُؤبوبٌa downpour مِنَof الغَيثِrain باكِرُearly
حَداهُنَّ شُؤبوبٌ مِنَ الغَيثِ باكِرُ
Her front teeth seem like daughters of a cloud,
As if their eyelids are daughters of a small cloud
driven by an early downpour of rain.
Whose limit was made early rain
فَهُنَّso they مَعاًtogether أَوor إِقحِوانٌdaisies بِرَوضَةٍin a meadow
فَهُنَّ مَعاً أَو إِقحِوانٌ بِرَوضَةٍ
تَعاوَرَهاvisited it in turn يَومَينِfor two days طَلٌّdew وَماطِرُand rain
تَعاوَرَها يَومَينِ طَلٌّ وَماطِرُ
They are gathered together—or daisies in a meadow,
So they are together or twins in a meadow
visited for two days in turn by dew and rain.
Sent rain for two days and a third was clear
فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her كَيفَhow اِهتَدَيتِyou found the way وَدونَناand between us
فَقُلتُ لَها كَيفَ اِهتَدَيتِ وَدونَنا
دَلوكٌDaluk وَأَشرافُand the heights الجِبالِof the mountains القَواهِرُthe overawing
دَلوكٌ وَأَشرافُ الجِبالِ القَواهِرُ
I said to her: How did you find the way, when between us lie
So I said to her, how did you find your way to us
Daluk and the towering heights of the mountains,
When we have valleys and lofty, shaking mountains around us
وَجَيحانُand Jayhan جَيحانُJayhan الجُيوشِof the armies وَالسُنٌand al-Sun
وَجَيحانُ جَيحانُ الجُيوشِ وَالسُنٌ
وَحَزمُand the ridge of خَزازيKhazazi وَالشُعوبُand the ravines القَواسِرُthe forbidding ones
وَحَزمُ خَزازي وَالشُعوبُ القَواسِرُ
and Jayhan—Jayhan of the armies—and al-Sun,
And Jayhan, Jayhan of armies and steeds
and Khazazi's ridge and the forbidding ravines?
And determined, hardy men and strong, unflinching troops
أَفَرَّAfarr يَرىsees الأَعلامَthe mountain peaks عاصِبَةًgirdling بِهِaround it
أَفَرَّ يَرى الأَعلامَ عاصِبَةً بِهِ
كَماas عَصَبَتencircled بِالمَرزِaround the frontier- بانِ-warden (marzban) الأَساوِرِthe Asawir horsemen
كَما عَصَبَت بِالمَرزِ بانِ الأَساوِرِ
Afarr sees the mountain peaks girdling it,
Does he see the standards tied around it
as the Asawir horsemen girdle the marzban.
As bracelets are bound around wrists
إِذاwhen أَلبَسَclothed الأَرضَthe earth القَتامُdust تَفَرَّجَتemerged
إِذا أَلبَسَ الأَرضَ القَتامُ تَفَرَّجَت
شَماريخُهُits pinnacles فَالآلُso the mirage عَنهُنَّfrom them حاسِرُdrawing back
شَماريخُهُ فَالآلُ عَنهُنَّ حاسِرُ
When dust cloaks the earth, there emerge
When the darkness clothes the land, its
its pinnacles, the mirage drawing back from them.
Tent ropes are loosened and the tents laid bare
يُساميrivals in height السَحابَthe clouds الغرَّthe white ones حَتّىuntil تظلّهُshade it
يُسامي السَحابَ الغرَّ حَتّى تظلّهُ
غَمائِمُcloud banks مِنهُfrom it فَهوَso it is أَخضَرُgreen ناضِرُfresh
غَمائِمُ مِنهُ فَهوَ أَخضَرُ ناضِرُ
It vies with the white clouds in height, until it is shaded
It competes with the clouds in elevation until
by banks of those clouds, and stands green and fresh.
Some of its clouds shade it, so it is green and flourishing
أَجَدَّhastened أَبوAbu (father of) حَفصٍHafs بِناwith us السَيرُthe march وَاِرتَمَتand rushed headlong
أَجَدَّ أَبو حَفصٍ بِنا السَيرُ وَاِرتَمَت
بناwith us الأَرضُthe earth حَتّىuntil ماnot تُعَدُّare counted المَسائِرُthe journey's stages
بنا الأَرضُ حَتّى ما تُعَدُّ المَسائِرُ
Abu Hafs hastened our march, and onward rushed
Travel became difficult, and the land narrowed around us
the earth with us, until the journey's stages defied counting.
Until the routes could not be counted
فَسارَso he marched بِعُظمِwith the main body of الجَيشِthe army لَيسَnot يَروعُهُfrightens him
فَسارَ بِعُظمِ الجَيشِ لَيسَ يَروعُهُ
مَضيقٌa narrow pass وَلاnor نَهرٌa river مِنَof الماءِwater غامِرُdeep and engulfing
مَضيقٌ وَلا نَهرٌ مِنَ الماءِ غامِرُ
He marched with the bulk of the army, undaunted
But he marched with the might of the army undaunted
by any narrow pass or river deep with water.
By narrow straits or a river full of water
إِذاwhenever ماan emphatic particle هَبَطناwe descended بَلدَةًa tract of land غَصَّchoked فَرجُهاits open space
إِذا ما هَبَطنا بَلدَةً غَصَّ فَرجُها
بِناwith us وَكَساand clothed الأَحدابَthe hills أَصهَبُtawny ثائِرُrising
بِنا وَكَسا الأَحدابَ أَصهَبُ ثائِرُ
Whenever we descended into a land, its open spaces choked
When we descend on a town, its expanse is filled by us
with us, and rising tawny dust clothed the hills.
And the winding mountain paths around it blaze into commotion
فَمَنso whoever يَلتَمِسناseeks us أَوor يَردِناseeks to reach us يَقُمbecomes apparent لَهُfor him
فَمَن يَلتَمِسنا أَو يَردِنا يَقُم لَهُ
إِلَيناto us طَريقٌa road يَقسِمُsplits الأَرضَthe earth فاقِرُdeeply cleaving
إِلَينا طَريقٌ يَقسِمُ الأَرضَ فاقِرُ
Whoever seeks us or wishes to reach us will find
Whoever seeks to find us or stop us
a deep-gouging road to us, cleaving the earth.
A path divides the land to reach us
يَخوضُplunges through بناwith us أَرضَthe land of العَدُوِّthe enemy فَتىًa young man لَهُhe has
يَخوضُ بنا أَرضَ العَدُوِّ فَتىً لَهُ
مَآثِرُglorious deeds لاnot تجزيare a match بِهِنَّfor them مآثِرُglorious deeds
مَآثِرُ لا تجزي بِهِنَّ مآثِرُ
A young man plunges with us through the enemy's land; his
Taking us through enemy territory, the feats of the man
deeds of honor cannot be matched by other deeds.
Leading us are unmatched by any feats
إِذاwhen ذَكَرَrecount الأَقوامُthe peoples أَحسابَهُمtheir ancestral honors نَماhe traced his lineage
إِذا ذَكَرَ الأَقوامُ أَحسابَهُم نَما
إِلىto خَيرِthe best of ماwhat تَنميtrace their lineage إِلَيهِto it المَعاشِرُthe clans
إِلى خَيرِ ما تَنمي إِلَيهِ المَعاشِرُ
When peoples recount their ancestral honors, he traces his
When people recount their genealogies
to the noblest stock that clans can claim.
They lead back to the best of noble ancestors
فَتىًa young man يَملَأُfills الأَبصارَthe eyes حينَwhen يَرَينَهُthey see him
فَتىً يَملَأُ الأَبصارَ حينَ يَرَينَهُ
فَماso not تَشتَفيare satisfied مِنهُwith him العُيونُthe eyes النَواظِرُthe gazing ones
فَما تَشتَفي مِنهُ العُيونُ النَواظِرُ
A young man who fills the eyes when they behold him;
A man who fills visions when he is seen
the gazing eyes can never have their fill of him.
Eyes are not sated from looking at him
فَمَنso whoever يَرَهُsees him لاnot يُنكِرُfails to recognize الدَهرَever وَجهَهُhis face
فَمَن يَرَهُ لا يُنكِرُ الدَهرَ وَجهَهُ
وَلاnor صَوتَهُhis voice إِنَّindeed الخَليطَthe companion المُجاهِرُthe outspoken one
وَلا صَوتَهُ إِنَّ الخَليطَ المُجاهِرُ
Whoever sees him will never fail to recognize his face,
Whoever sees him does not deny his face is timeless
nor his voice: this frank, outspoken companion
Nor his voice—he is loud and audacious
وَثيقُfirm القُوىin strength لاnot يَنقُضُundoes القَولُspeech عُقدَهُhis bond
وَثيقُ القُوى لا يَنقُضُ القَولُ عُقدَهُ
وَلاnor يَنكُثُbreaks الأَمرَthe undertaking القَوِيُّthe strong man المُشاوِرُthe one who consults
وَلا يَنكُثُ الأَمرَ القَوِيُّ المُشاوِرُ
is firm in strength; words do not undo his bond,
Firm in strength, no argument shakes his resolve
nor does this strong, consultative man break his undertaking.
Nor does the powerful man of counsel break his word
يَلينُis gentle إِلىtoward مَنwhoever لَمnot يُرِبهُcauses him suspicion بِريبَةٍwith a cause for suspicion
يَلينُ إِلى مَن لَم يُرِبهُ بِريبَةٍ
وَمِنهُand from him شِماسُfierceness النَفسِof spirit حينَwhen يُناكِرُconfronts opposition
وَمِنهُ شِماسُ النَفسِ حينَ يُناكِرُ
He is gentle toward whoever gives him no cause for suspicion,
He is gentle with whoever does not offend
yet his spirit shows defiance when he confronts opposition.
But obstinate when opposed
لَهُhe has رايَةٌa banner تَهديguides الجُموعَthe hosts كَأَنَّهاas though it
لَهُ رايَةٌ تَهدي الجُموعَ كَأَنَّها
إِذاwhen خَطَرَتfluttered فيon ثَعلَبِthe shaft-tip of الرُمحِthe spear طائِرُa bird
إِذا خَطَرَت في ثَعلَبِ الرُمحِ طائِرُ
He has a banner that guides the hosts, as though,
He has a banner that guides the masses as if it were
when it flutters at the spear's shaft-tip, it were a bird.
A bird fluttering on the tip of a spear
وَأَعرَنَand a massive host جرّارٍwith a vast train تَواضَعَbowed بِالضُحىat forenoon
وَأَعرَنَ جرّارٍ تَواضَعَ بِالضُحى
لَهُbefore it الأَرضُthe earth حَتّىuntil تَطمَئِنَّlie low الظَواهِرُthe uplands
لَهُ الأَرضُ حَتّى تَطمَئِنَّ الظَواهِرُ
And a massive, far-stretching host; at forenoon bows
He humbled a stalwart in the mid-morning
the earth before it, until the uplands lie low.
The ground beneath stills from fear of him
رَمىhurled بِالسَراياwith detachments كُلَّevery ثَغرٍfrontier وَقادَهاand led them
رَمى بِالسَرايا كُلَّ ثَغرٍ وَقادَها
هُوَhe الرَأسُthe head يَهديناguides us وَنحنُand we الأَباهِرُthe great arteries
هُوَ الرَأسُ يَهدينا وَنحنُ الأَباهِرُ
He hurled detachments at every frontier and led them;
He dispatched elite campaigns to every border
he is the head that guides us, and we are the great arteries.
He is the head guiding us and we are the weapons
فَكانوso they were هُمthey themselves الأَظفارُthe nails وَالرَأسُand the head فَوقَهُمabove them
فَكانو هُم الأَظفارُ وَالرَأسُ فَوقَهُم
وَلَولاand were it not for مَكانُthe place of الرَأسِthe head طاحَfell away الأَظافِرُthe nails
وَلَولا مَكانُ الرَأسِ طاحَ الأَظافِرُ
They were the nails, and the head was above them;
They were claws and he was above them
but for the head's place, the nails would fall away.
Without the place of the head, the claws would fall
يُفَرِّقُهُمscatters them طَوراًat one time وَطَوراًand at another يَلُفُّهُمgathers them
يُفَرِّقُهُم طَوراً وَطَوراً يَلُفُّهُم
كَماas لَفَّgathered شَذّانَthe scattered ones القِداحِof the gaming arrows المُقامِرُthe gambler
كَما لَفَّ شَذّانَ القِداحِ المُقامِرُ
At times he scatters them, at times he gathers them,
He separates them for a time and then regroups them
as a gambler gathers scattered gaming arrows.
As if gathering gambling arrows scattered about
إِذاwhenever اِنفَرَجَتparted عَنfrom حاجِبَيهِhis brows عَجاجَةٌa dust cloud
إِذا اِنفَرَجَت عَن حاجِبَيهِ عَجاجَةٌ
تَعَطَّفُcurls back أُخرىanother أَنشَأَتهاraised it الحَوافِرُthe hooves
تَعَطَّفُ أُخرى أَنشَأَتها الحَوافِرُ
Whenever a cloud of dust parts from his brows,
When severity departs from his frown
another curls around him, raised by the hooves.
Another appears, created by his steed
حَوافِرُhooves كَالخَيلِlike the horses الرَعانِthe mountain spurs (unclear syntax) فَكُلِّمَتso were wounded
حَوافِرُ كَالخَيلِ الرَعانِ فَكُلِّمَت
سَنابِكُهاtheir hoof-tips وَاِنحَصَّand wore away مِنهاfrom them الأَشاعِرُthe coronet hairs
سَنابِكُها وَاِنحَصَّ مِنها الأَشاعِرُ
Hooves like those of horses on mountain spurs [wording uncertain]; wounded were
Whose hooves strike like untethered racehorses
their tips, and the hair around their hoof-rims wore away.
Their joints emitted sparks and their manes scattered
وَأَفضىand brought into contact النُسورَthe hoof-frogs المُجمِراتِthe compact, hardened ones حَوافِرhooves
وَأَفضى النُسورَ المُجمِراتِ حَوافِر
إِلىto الأَرضِthe ground حَتّىuntil أَوجَعَتهاpained them الدَوابِرُthe hoof-heels
إِلى الأَرضِ حَتّى أَوجَعَتها الدَوابِرُ
The hooves brought their hard, compact hoof-frogs
And blazing hooves poured down destruction
against the ground, until their heels made them sore.
Until their constant attacks wearied it
سَواهِمُgaunt مِنfrom هَولِthe terror of الغَزاهِcampaigning كَأَنَّهاas though they
سَواهِمُ مِن هَولِ الغَزاهِ كَأَنَّها
مِنَfrom الجُهدِexhaustion يَبريهاwhittles them away سُلالٌa wasting sickness مَخامِرُlurking within
مِنَ الجُهدِ يَبريها سُلالٌ مَخامِرُ
Gaunt from the terror of campaigning, as though
As a wild cat becomes soaked from repeated lunges
from exhaustion a lurking wasting sickness were whittling them away.
Their horsemen vie with pride in every battle
وَفيand at كُلَّevery حينٍtime يبتَلينَthey are tried بغارَةٍby a raid
وَفي كُلَّ حينٍ يبتَلينَ بغارَةٍ
كَماas غَلِسَarrived before dawn الوُدُّthe watering place (uncertain reading) القَطاthe sandgrouse المُتواتِرُcoming in succession
كَما غَلِسَ الوُدُّ القَطا المُتواتِرُ
And at every turn they are tried by a raid,
They are the sincere, burning with purpose
as sandgrouse come in succession to water before dawn [reading uncertain].
Running through enemy land has thinned them
يَلِكنَthey champ فُؤوسَthe bit-pieces of اللجمِthe bridles فيat كُلِّevery مَوقِفٍhalt
يَلِكنَ فُؤوسَ اللجمِ في كُلِّ مَوقِفٍ
تَباهىglory بِهاin them فُرسانُhorsemen صِدقٍof true valor مَساعِرُkindlers of war
تَباهى بِها فُرسانُ صِدقٍ مَساعِرُ
They champ their bridles' bit-pieces at every halt;
Where the waist wraps are loosened
true horsemen, kindlers of war, glory in them.
When dawn cools, their attire is
طَوىdrew in الرَكضُgalloping فيthrough أَرضِthe land of العَدُوِّthe enemy بُطونَهُمtheir bellies
طَوى الرَكضُ في أَرضِ العَدُوِّ بُطونَهُم
فَقَدso indeed خَفَّgrew lean مِنهُمof them حَيثُwhere تُلوىare wound المَآزِرُthe waistcloths
فَقَد خَفَّ مِنهُم حَيثُ تُلوى المَآزِرُ
Galloping through the enemy's land drew their bellies in,
Light armor, sharp swords, and piercing arrows
so they grew lean where the waistcloths are wound.
Quivers whose straps they loose
إِذاwhen بَرَدَgrew cold الأَسحارُthe pre-dawn hours كانَwas لَبوسُهُمtheir clothing
إِذا بَرَدَ الأَسحارُ كانَ لَبوسُهُم
خِفافَlight الدُروعِthe coats of mail وَالسُيوفِand the swords البَواتِرُthe keen-cutting ones
خِفافَ الدُروعِ وَالسُيوفِ البَواتِرُ
When the hours before dawn grew cold, their clothing was
Tanned skins seeped in oil
light coats of mail and keen-edged swords,
Left with a beauty the heat made radiant
وَأَقبِيَةِand coats ماnot يُطلِقونَthey loosen زُرورَهاtheir buttons
وَأَقبِيَةِ ما يُطلِقونَ زُرورَها
فَقَدfor indeed حَلَبَتmilked فيهاinto them الجُلودَthe skins الهَواجِرُthe noon heats
فَقَد حَلَبَت فيها الجُلودَ الهَواجِرُ
and coats whose buttons they never loosened;
Umar al-Mansur fought with his soul and appointed successor
for the noon heats had milked sweat from their skins into them.
No helper remains for one who does not aid God
تَرَكنَthey left behind مِنَfrom الصابونِsoap حُسناًbeauty وَمَسَّهاand touched them
تَرَكنَ مِنَ الصابونِ حُسناً وَمَسَّها
مَعَalong with اليَبسِdryness قَيظِيٌّa summer blast مِنَof الحَرِّheat ناجِرُparching
مَعَ اليَبسِ قَيظِيٌّ مِنَ الحَرِّ ناجِرُ
They left behind the beauty soap had given them, and were touched
With an army whose packs get lost inside its quarters
by parching summer heat, along with dryness.
Wandering visible and the seeker bewildered within it
غَزاcampaigned against عُمَرُUmar المَنصورُaided to victory نَفساًNafs وَوالِهاًand Walih
غَزا عُمَرُ المَنصورُ نَفساً وَوالِهاً
وَلَيسَand there is no لِمَنfor whoever لَمnot يَنصُرِhelps اللَهَGod ناصِرُa helper
وَلَيسَ لِمَن لَم يَنصُرِ اللَهَ ناصِرُ
Umar, granted victory, campaigned against Nafs and Walih,
It camped next to enemies, its location unknown to them
and whoever does not help God has no helper.
In an open land, while being patient with the Romans
بِجَيشٍwith an army تَضلُّlose their way البُلقُthe piebald horses فيin حَجَراتِهِits divisions
بِجَيشٍ تَضلُّ البُلقُ في حَجَراتِهِ
عَلانِيَةًin plain sight وَالمُبتَغيand the seeker فيهِwithin it حائِرُbewildered
عَلانِيَةً وَالمُبتَغي فيهِ حائِرُ
with an army in whose divisions even piebald horses lose their way,
Confining groups as captives there
in plain sight; whoever searches within it is bewildered.
As ships were confined at Dhi Majaz
وَعَسكَرَand he encamped جَنباًapart ماnot يَريمُleaves مَكانَهُhis place
وَعَسكَرَ جَنباً ما يَريمُ مَكانَهُ
بِأَرضِon ground فَضاءٍopen وَهوَand he لِلرومِagainst the Romans واتِرُa blood-enemy
بِأَرضِ فَضاءٍ وَهوَ لِلرومِ واتِرُ
He encamped apart, never stirring from his place,
Not lodging for years in the spot where lodged
on open ground, a blood-enemy of the Romans.
During the vacant campaigns, the armies
تُحَبِّسُkeeps penned أَفواجاًin throngs عَلَيهِbefore him سَبِيُّهُمtheir captives
تُحَبِّسُ أَفواجاً عَلَيهِ سَبِيُّهُم
كَماas حُبِسَتwere penned فيat ذيDhu (possessor of) المَجازِal-Majaz الأَباعِرُthe camels
كَما حُبِسَت في ذي المَجازِ الأَباعِرُ
Their captives are held before him in throngs,
Their outstretched palms at his door
as camels were penned at Dhu al-Majaz.
When spread out are sleeveless
وَماand not كانَhad يَثويsettled فيin المَكانِthe place الَّذيwhere ثَوىhe settled
وَما كانَ يَثوي في المَكانِ الَّذي ثَوى
بِهِin it فيin السِنينِthe years الخالِياتِgone by العَساكِرُthe armies
بِهِ في السِنينِ الخالِياتِ العَساكِرُ
And in the place where he settled, there had never settled
Like palm tree heads, supported
any armies in the years gone by.
By irrigating buckets, streaming from holes
كَأَنَّas though أَكُفَّthe palms of السائِلينَthe petitioners بِبابِهِat his gate
كَأَنَّ أَكُفَّ السائِلينَ بِبابِهِ
إِذاwhen بُسِطَتwere spread out وَالقُمصُand the shirts عَنهاfrom them حَواسِرُdrawn back
إِذا بُسِطَت وَالقُمصُ عَنها حَواسِرُ
The palms of the petitioners at his gate seem,
When a messenger turns to leave, his replacement nears
when spread out, with their shirts drawn back from them,
As troops pour out continuously from headquarters
رُؤوسُheads نَهالٍcamels at their first drink خامِساتٍreturning to water on the fifth day تُعينُهاaid them
رُؤوسُ نَهالٍ خامِساتٍ تُعينُها
دَلاءُthe buckets of السُقاةِthe water-drawers وَالحِياضُand the troughs الدَعاثِرُthe broken-rimmed ones
دَلاءُ السُقاةِ وَالحِياضُ الدَعاثِرُ
like the heads of first-drinking camels on their fifth day, aided
So excellent the leader of a people when a raider
by water-drawers' buckets and broken-rimmed troughs.
So excellent the stalwart youth at home and when traveling
إِذاwhenever رُسُلٌa herd وَلّىturned away أَتىcame to الحَوضَthe trough مِثلُهُanother like it
إِذا رُسُلٌ وَلّى أَتى الحَوضَ مِثلُهُ
وَقَدand sometimes تَعقُبُfollow المُستَورِكاتِthose resting on their haunches الصَوادِرُthose returning from water
وَقَد تَعقُبُ المُستَورِكاتِ الصَوادِرُ
Whenever one herd turns away, another like it comes to the trough,
and the homeward ones sometimes follow those resting on their haunches.
فَنِعمَso excellent is إِمامُthe leader of القَومِthe people إِذاwhen كانَhe is غازِياًcampaigning
فَنِعمَ إِمامُ القَومِ إِذا كانَ غازِياً
وَنِعمَand excellent is الفَتىthe young man فيamong أَهلِهِhis family وَالمُسافِرُand the traveler
وَنِعمَ الفَتى في أَهلِهِ وَالمُسافِرُ
Excellent is the people's leader when he goes to war,
and excellent the young man among his family and when traveling.
Partial English translation: 88 of 92 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1