يا صاحِبَيَّ قِفا نَستَخبِرِ الطَلَلا

يا صاحِبَيَّ قِفا نَستَخبِرِ الطَلَلا

عَن بَعضِ مَن حَلَّهُ بِالأَمسِ ما فَعَلا

عَن بَعضِ مَن حَلَّهُ بِالأَمسِ ما فَعَلا

O my two companions, halt; let us question the ruined campsite

My friend, let's stop and ask news

about one who dwelt there yesterday, and how they have fared.

Of some who camped at the old encampment yesterday, what they did,

فَقالَ لي الرَبعُ لَمّا أَن وَقَفتُ بِهِ

فَقالَ لي الرَبعُ لَمّا أَن وَقَفتُ بِهِ

إِنَّ الخَليطَ أَجَدَّ البَينَ فَاِحتَمَلا

إِنَّ الخَليطَ أَجَدَّ البَينَ فَاِحتَمَلا

The campsite said to me when I stood there:

The mirage told me when I stopped beside it:

The company resolved to part, then packed up and left.

“The approaching party hurried the separation, so it bore heavily.”

وَخادَعَتكَ النَوى حَتّى رَأَيتَهُمُ

وَخادَعَتكَ النَوى حَتّى رَأَيتَهُمُ

في الفَجرِ يَحتَثُّ حادي عيرِهِم زَجلا

في الفَجرِ يَحتَثُّ حادي عيرِهِم زَجلا

And separation deceived you until you saw them

The nomad fires deluded you, until you saw them

at dawn, their caravan-driver urging them onward with loud chants.

At dawn, breaking camp, their camel-driver urging the stragglers.

لَمّا وَقَفنا نُحَيِّهِم وَقَد صَرَخَت

لَمّا وَقَفنا نُحَيِّهِم وَقَد صَرَخَت

هَواتِفُ البَينِ فَاِستَولَت بِهِم أُصُلا

هَواتِفُ البَينِ فَاِستَولَت بِهِم أُصُلا

When we stood to greet them, already there rang out

When we halted to bid them farewell, though the voices

the heralds of parting, which bore them away at evening.

Of the camel drivers had given the call to departure.

قامَت تَراءَى لِحَينٍ ساقَهُ قَدَرٌ

قامَت تَراءَى لِحَينٍ ساقَهُ قَدَرٌ

وَقَد نَرى أَنَّها لَن تَسبِقَ الأَجَلا

وَقَد نَرى أَنَّها لَن تَسبِقَ الأَجَلا

She rose into view to bring a doom that fate had sent,

She stood, for a while, to watch the course

though we knew she could not hasten the appointed end.

Of departure, then we saw that she would not outstrip fate.

بِفاحِمٍ مُكرَعٍ سودٍ غَدائِرُهُ

بِفاحِمٍ مُكرَعٍ سودٍ غَدائِرُهُ

تَثني عَلى المَتنِ مِنهُ وارِداً جَثَلا

تَثني عَلى المَتنِ مِنهُ وارِداً جَثَلا

With coal-black, flowing hair, its braids jet-dark,

With a reddish white, intensely black camel, kneading

she draped its long, luxuriant fall across her back;

His knees into the litter, his neck outstretched.

وَمُقلَتَي نَعجَةٍ أَدماءَ أَسلَمَها

وَمُقلَتَي نَعجَةٍ أَدماءَ أَسلَمَها

أَحوى المَدامِعِ طاوي الكَشحِ قَد خَذَلا

أَحوى المَدامِعِ طاوي الكَشحِ قَد خَذَلا

and with the eyes of a white antelope, left helpless

And the teary, red-rimmed eyes of a ewe Left behind by her newly-weaned lamb.

by a slender-flanked male, dark at the eye-corners, who had deserted her;

And saplings of sweet, cool greens

وَنَيِّرِ النَبتِ عَذبٍ بارِدٍ خَصرٍ

وَنَيِّرِ النَبتِ عَذبٍ بارِدٍ خَصرٍ

كَالأُقحُوانِ عِذابٍ طَعمُهُ رَتِلا

كَالأُقحُوانِ عِذابٍ طَعمُهُ رَتِلا

and a bright-toothed mouth, sweet and refreshingly cool,

Like aloe-plants in taste, exhaling fragrance.

like daisies, sweet to taste, its teeth evenly spaced.

As if an old safflower-dyed garment

كَأَنَّ إِسفِنطَةً شيبَت بِذَي شَبَمٍ

كَأَنَّ إِسفِنطَةً شيبَت بِذَي شَبَمٍ

مِن صَوبِ أَزرَقَ هَبَّت ريحُهُ شَمَلا

مِن صَوبِ أَزرَقَ هَبَّت ريحُهُ شَمَلا

It was as though spiced wine had been mixed with icy water

Had been plundered by one grayed on the temples.

from a dark-blue cloud's downpour, whose wind blew from the north,

Ambergris, and lavender, and clove,

وَالعَنبَرَ الأَكلَفَ المَسحوقَ خالَطَهُ

وَالعَنبَرَ الأَكلَفَ المَسحوقَ خالَطَهُ

وَالزَنجَبيلَ وَراحَ الشامِ وَالعَسَلا

وَالزَنجَبيلَ وَراحَ الشامِ وَالعَسَلا

and dusky, powdered ambergris had mingled with it,

And syrup of roses to heal one sick with love.

and ginger, Syrian wine, and honey.

When this star has climbed, and the horizon reddened.

تَشفي الضَجيعَ بِهِ وَهناً عَوارِضُها

تَشفي الضَجيعَ بِهِ وَهناً عَوارِضُها

إِذا تَغَوَّرَ هَذا النَجمُ وَاِعتَدَلا

إِذا تَغَوَّرَ هَذا النَجمُ وَاِعتَدَلا

With it her teeth soothe her bedfellow late at night,

One day she said to her girlfriend:

when this star sinks low and stands upright.

“What do you bid me do, for my heart is cracked?”

قالَت عَلى رِقبَةٍ يَوماً لِجارَتِها

قالَت عَلى رِقبَةٍ يَوماً لِجارَتِها

ما تَأمُرينَ فَإِنَّ القَلبَ قَد تُبِلا

ما تَأمُرينَ فَإِنَّ القَلبَ قَد تُبِلا

One day, on her guard, she said to her neighbor:

“Is there a sister of mine today who will console me,

What do you advise? My heart is ravaged by love.

One of you I can confide in about what has happened?”

وَهَل لِيَ اليَومَ مِن أُختٍ مُواسِيَةٍ

وَهَل لِيَ اليَومَ مِن أُختٍ مُواسِيَةٍ

مِنكُنَّ أَشكو إِلَيها بَعضَ ما عَمِلا

مِنكُنَّ أَشكو إِلَيها بَعضَ ما عَمِلا

Is there today a sister to comfort me

A noble-spirited woman answered her,

among you, to whom I can lament some of what he has done?

With a judicious word, an excellent suggestion:

فَجاوَبَتها حَصانٌ غَيرُ فاحِشَةٍ

فَجاوَبَتها حَصانٌ غَيرُ فاحِشَةٍ

بِرَجعِ قَولٍ وَأَمرِ لَم يَكُن خَطِلا

بِرَجعِ قَولٍ وَأَمرِ لَم يَكُن خَطِلا

A chaste woman, free of coarseness, answered her

“Restrain yourself with modesty and generosity,

with words in reply and counsel free of folly:

You are not the first girl to be hung upon a man!”

إِقني حَياءَكِ في سِترٍ وَفي كَرَمٍ

إِقني حَياءَكِ في سِترٍ وَفي كَرَمٍ

فَلَستَ أَوَّلَ أُنثى عُلِّقَت رَجُلا

فَلَستَ أَوَّلَ أُنثى عُلِّقَت رَجُلا

Guard your modesty with discretion and dignity;

“Do not reveal your love until I can win him back,

for you are not the first woman to fall in love with a man.

I will suffice you of him, if I do not die soon.

لا تُظهِري حُبَّهُ حَتّى أُراجِعَهُ

لا تُظهِري حُبَّهُ حَتّى أُراجِعَهُ

إِنّي سَأَكفيكِهِ إِن لَم أَمُت عَجَلا

إِنّي سَأَكفيكِهِ إِن لَم أَمُت عَجَلا

Do not reveal your love for him until I speak with him;

She brusquely turned her back, and said to her companion:

I will deal with him for you, unless I die suddenly.

“For God’s sake, blame him for some of what he has done!”

صَدَّت بِعاداً وَقالَت لِلَّتي مَعَها

صَدَّت بِعاداً وَقالَت لِلَّتي مَعَها

بِاللَهِ لوميهِ في بَعضِ الَّذي فَعَلا

بِاللَهِ لوميهِ في بَعضِ الَّذي فَعَلا

She turned away, keeping her distance, and said to the woman beside her:

“Tell him what I told you, listen to his answer,

By God, reproach him for some of what he has done.

Do not weary of engaging him in conversation,

وَحَدِّثيهِ بِما حُدِّثتُ وَاِستَمِعي

وَحَدِّثيهِ بِما حُدِّثتُ وَاِستَمِعي

ماذا يَقولُ وَلا تَعيِي بِهِ جَدَلا

ماذا يَقولُ وَلا تَعيِي بِهِ جَدَلا

And tell him what I was told, and listen

Until he sees that whatever the slanderers said of us

to what he says; do not falter in arguing with him,

Reaches him from us, every bit of it transmitted.”

حَتّى يَرى أَنَّ ما قالَ الوُشاةُ لَهُ

حَتّى يَرى أَنَّ ما قالَ الوُشاةُ لَهُ

فينا لَدَيهِ إِلَينا كُلَّهُ نُقِلا

فينا لَدَيهِ إِلَينا كُلَّهُ نُقِلا

until he sees that what the slanderers told him

Make him recognize them as wits, and preserve –

about us in his presence has all been relayed to us.

Without causing offense – that you anger the man.

وَعَرِّفيهِ بِهِم كَالهَزلِ وَاِحتَفِظي

وَعَرِّفيهِ بِهِم كَالهَزلِ وَاِحتَفِظي

في غَيرِ مَعتَبَةٍ أَن تُغضِبي الرَجُلا

في غَيرِ مَعتَبَةٍ أَن تُغضِبي الرَجُلا

And tell him who they are as though in jest, and take care

By God, my pact with him – may God preserve him! –

to avoid reproach, lest you make the man angry.

Is that if a sin comes from one who dislikes forgiveness,

فَإِنَّ عَهدي بِهِ وَاللَهُ يَحفَظُهُ

فَإِنَّ عَهدي بِهِ وَاللَهُ يَحفَظُهُ

وَإِن أَتى الذَنبَ مِمَّن يَكرَهُ العَذلا

وَإِن أَتى الذَنبَ مِمَّن يَكرَهُ العَذلا

For I know him—may God preserve him—

If he is backbitten among us or suffers our rebuke,

even when at fault, as one who hates rebuke.

His critic will not depart from us unchided.

لَو عِندَنا اِغتيبَ أَو نيلَت نَقيصَتُهُ

لَو عِندَنا اِغتيبَ أَو نيلَت نَقيصَتُهُ

ما آبَ مُغتابُهُ مِن عِندِنا جَذِلا

ما آبَ مُغتابُهُ مِن عِندِنا جَذِلا

Were he maligned before us, or his shortcomings reviled,

his slanderer would not leave us rejoicing.

I said: “Listen! You have uttered the finest refinement.

قُلتُ اِسمَعي فَلَقَد أَبلَغتِ في لَطَفٍ

قُلتُ اِسمَعي فَلَقَد أَبلَغتِ في لَطَفٍ

وَلَيسَ يَخفى عَلى ذي اللُبِّ مَن هَزَلا

وَلَيسَ يَخفى عَلى ذي اللُبِّ مَن هَزَلا

I said: Listen; you have made your point with tact,

And it eludes not the intelligent man when one speaks lightly.

and no discerning mind fails to recognize someone jesting.

With this she intended stinginess, so we might excuse her.

هَذا أَرادَت بِهِ بُخلاً لِنَعذِرُها

هَذا أَرادَت بِهِ بُخلاً لِنَعذِرُها

وَقَد نَرى أَنَّها لَن تَعدَمَ العِلَلا

وَقَد نَرى أَنَّها لَن تَعدَمَ العِلَلا

By this she meant to withhold her favors, so we might excuse her,

Yet we see that she will not lack pretexts.”

though we know she will never lack excuses.

“Why is the heart named so, but for its fluctuations?

ما سُمِّيَ القَلبُ إِلّا مِن تَقَلُّبِهِ

ما سُمِّيَ القَلبُ إِلّا مِن تَقَلُّبِهِ

وَلا الفُؤادُ فُؤاداً غَيرَ أَن عَقَلا

وَلا الفُؤادُ فُؤاداً غَيرَ أَن عَقَلا

The heart was called qalb only because of its changing,

Why is the fu'ād called fu'ād, if not that it understands?”

nor was it called fu'ad except because it understood.

“As for the tale she claimed was brought to me,

أَمّا الحَديثُ الَّذي قالَت أُتيتُ بِهِ

أَمّا الحَديثُ الَّذي قالَت أُتيتُ بِهِ

فَما عَنيتُ بِهِ إِذ جاءَني حَوِلا

فَما عَنيتُ بِهِ إِذ جاءَني حَوِلا

As for the tale she said I had been told,

I had no intention toward it when it came to me indirectly.

I paid it no heed when it reached me, distorted.

If I obeyed her in backbiting, she would come to know

ما إِن أَطَعتُ لَها بِالغَيبِ قَد عَلِمَت

ما إِن أَطَعتُ لَها بِالغَيبِ قَد عَلِمَت

مَقالَةَ الكاشِحِ الواشي إِذا مَحَلا

مَقالَةَ الكاشِحِ الواشي إِذا مَحَلا

Never concerning her, in her absence—as she knows—have I heeded

The words of a tattling rebuker, were he given occasion.”

the words of a spiteful slanderer when he maligns her.

“I will turn him against her in his anger,

إِنّي لَأَرجِعُهُ فيها بِسُخطَتِهِ

إِنّي لَأَرجِعُهُ فيها بِسُخطَتِهِ

وَقَد أَتاني يُرَجّى طاعَتي نَفَلا

وَقَد أَتاني يُرَجّى طاعَتي نَفَلا

Indeed, I send him back angry on her account,

Though he has come to me, begging my consent.”

though he came hoping to win my compliance as a prize.