تَبَيَّنlook carefully خَليليmy friend هَلdo تَرىyou see مِنany ظَعائِنٍwomen in camel-litters
تَبَيَّن خَليلي هَل تَرى مِن ظَعائِنٍ
بِمُنعَرَجِat the bend of الواديthe valley فُوَيقَjust above أَبانِAban
بِمُنعَرَجِ الوادي فُوَيقَ أَبانِ
Look closely, my friend: do you see any women in litters
My friend, do you see any enemies
at the valley's bend, just above Aban?
In the valley's winding pass, a prey in the open?
مَشَينَthey moved on وَأَرخَينَand let down الذُيولَthe trailing hems وَرُفِّعَتand were raised
مَشَينَ وَأَرخَينَ الذُيولَ وَرُفِّعَت
أَزِمَّةُreins عيسٍpale camels فَوقَهاabove them وَمَثانيand doubled cords
أَزِمَّةُ عيسٍ فَوقَها وَمَثاني
They moved on, letting their hems fall; raised were
They walked with trailing robes and raised
the pale camels' reins above them, and doubled cords,
The saddle-pads of the smooth mount above the cruppers,
عَلىon كُلِّevery صَهباءِtawny العَثانينِthe beard-tufts شامِذٍtail-raising
عَلى كُلِّ صَهباءِ العَثانينِ شامِذٍ
جُمالِيَّةٍstout as a bull camel فيat رَأسِهاher head شَطَنانِtwo long ropes
جُمالِيَّةٍ في رَأسِها شَطَنانِ
on every tawny-bearded, tail-raising she-camel,
With every roan Gathayan camel there was a rider
stout as a bull, with two ropes at her head;
A Ju'maliyyah with braided hair on her head,
وَأَعيَسَand a pale bull camel مَخلوجٍseparated عَنِfrom الشَولِthe milkless she-camels مُلبِدٍmatted-haired
وَأَعيَسَ مَخلوجٍ عَنِ الشَولِ مُلبِدٍ
فَنابانِso two fangs مِنof أَنيابِهِhis fangs غَرِدانِrattling together
فَنابانِ مِن أَنيابِهِ غَرِدانِ
and on a pale bull, kept apart from the dry she-camels, matted-haired,
And an old reddish-black camel, shaggy, left behind the drove,
two of his fangs rattling together;
With tusks from which issued the bellowing of young camels,
وَكُلِّand every غُرَيرِيٍّGhurayri camel كَأَنَّas though فُروجَهُspaces between his legs
وَكُلِّ غُرَيرِيٍّ كَأَنَّ فُروجَهُ
إِذاwhen رَفَّعَتquickened the pace مِنهُfrom him فُروجُspaces between the legs حِصانِa stallion
إِذا رَفَّعَت مِنهُ فُروجُ حِصانِ
and on every Ghurayri camel, whose spaces between the legs seem,
And every snarling beast whose hind-legs
when urged to speed, like those of a stallion.
When the she-camels raise their tails,
لَهُhe has عُنُقٌa neck تُلويtwists بِماwith what وُصِلَتwas fastened بِهِto it
لَهُ عُنُقٌ تُلوي بِما وُصِلَت بِهِ
وَدَفّانِand two flanks يَشتَفّانِoutstrip كُلَّall ظِعانِtraveling mounts
وَدَفّانِ يَشتَفّانِ كُلَّ ظِعانِ
He has a neck that twists whatever is fastened to it,
With a neck writhing with what is attached to it
and two flanks that outstrip all traveling mounts.
And two water-skins that gurgle with every drinker.
كَأَنَّas though جَسيماتِlarge-bodied القَعائِدِriding camels حَولَهُaround him
كَأَنَّ جَسيماتِ القَعائِدِ حَولَهُ
مِنَamong الخَيلِthe horses كُمتٌbay-colored قُرِّبَتwere brought up لِرِهانِfor a race
مِنَ الخَيلِ كُمتٌ قُرِّبَت لِرِهانِ
The big-bodied riding camels around him seem
As though the landmarks surrounding it
like bay horses brought up for a race.
Of the horses were a circle brought near for a wager.
لَعَمرُكَby your life إِنّيindeed I وَاِبنَand the son of أُختِيَmy sister بَيهَساًBayhas
لَعَمرُكَ إِنّي وَاِبنَ أُختِيَ بَيهَساً
لَرادانِindeed two seekers فيin الظَلماءِthe darkness مُؤتَسِيانِcomforting each other
لَرادانِ في الظَلماءِ مُؤتَسِيانِ
By your life, my sister's son Bayhas and I
By your life, I and the son of my paternal aunt will spend the night
are indeed two seekers in the darkness, comforting one another.
Wandering in the dark, both mounted on swift camels,
إِذاwhen ماemphasis نَزَلناwe dismounted خَرَّhe dropped down غَيرَnot مُوَسَّدٍpillowed
إِذا ما نَزَلنا خَرَّ غَيرَ مُوَسَّدٍ
وِساداًa pillow وَماand not طِبّيmy treatment لَهُtoward him بِهَوانِwith contempt
وِساداً وَما طِبّي لَهُ بِهَوانِ
Whenever we dismounted, he dropped down, not provided with
When we camp, having no pillow but the ground,
a pillow; yet I did not treat him with contempt,
And that is no comfort to the coward.
لَدىbeside الحَبلِthe tether مَنon يُسرىthe left one ذِراعَيof the two forelegs شِمِلَّةٍa swift she-camel
لَدى الحَبلِ مَن يُسرى ذِراعَي شِمِلَّةٍ
أُنيخَتshe was made to kneel فَأَلقَتthen she laid فَوقَهُover him بِجِرانِwith her neck's underside
أُنيخَت فَأَلقَت فَوقَهُ بِجِرانِ
beside the tether, by a swift she-camel's left foreleg,
By the tent-rope one who spreads his two arms, wrapped up,
which was made to kneel, then laid her throat over him.
Bent over, and above him cast skins.
ثَنَتshe folded أَربَعاًfour limbs مِنهاof hers عَلىover ثِنيِthe folds of أَربَعٍfour
ثَنَت أَربَعاً مِنها عَلى ثِنيِ أَربَعٍ
فَهُنَّso they بِمَثنِيّاتِهِنَّwith their folded parts ثَمانيeight
فَهُنَّ بِمَثنِيّاتِهِنَّ ثَماني
She folded four limbs of hers over four bent parts;
Four of them he folded into pairs over pairs,
so, with their folded parts, they numbered eight.
So they became eights with their doubles.
إِلَيكَtoward you مِنَfrom الغَورِthe lowlands اليَمانيYemeni تَدافَعَتsurged forward
إِلَيكَ مِنَ الغَورِ اليَماني تَدافَعَت
يَداهاher two forelegs وَنِسعاand the two straps غَرضِهاof her girth قَلِقانِshifting loosely
يَداها وَنِسعا غَرضِها قَلِقانِ
Toward you, from the Yemeni lowlands, surged
To you from the Yemeni cave they rushed pell-mell,
her forelegs, while her two girth-straps swayed loose.
Both his hands and purpose confused.
كَأَنَّas though كُحَيلاًtar خالَطَتهُmingled with it عَنِيَّةٌa urine-based salve
كَأَنَّ كُحَيلاً خالَطَتهُ عَنِيَّةٌ
بِدَفَّينِon two flanks مِنهاof hers اِستَرخَياhad slackened وَلَبانِand a breast
بِدَفَّينِ مِنها اِستَرخَيا وَلَبانِ
As though tar mixed with a urine-based salve
As though a black pandemic mare mingled with them
lay on her two slackened flanks and breast.
Having two water-bags hanging slack.
تَظَلُّshe keeps تَمَطّىstretching فيagainst الزِمامِthe rein كَأَنَّهاas though she were
تَظَلُّ تَمَطّى في الزِمامِ كَأَنَّها
إِذاwhen بَرَكَتshe knelt قَوسٌa bow مِنَof الشِرِيانِshiryan wood
إِذا بَرَكَت قَوسٌ مِنَ الشِرِيانِ
She keeps stretching against the rein, as though she were,
It continues to sway in the halter as though
when kneeling, a bow of shiryan wood.
When it kneels down it is a bow of arteries.
نَهوزٌthrusting forward بِلَحيَيهاwith her two jaws أَمامَahead of سِفارِهاher halter
نَهوزٌ بِلَحيَيها أَمامَ سِفارِها
وَمُعتَلَّةٌand driven hard إِنif شِئتَyou wish فيat الجَمَزانِa bounding trot
وَمُعتَلَّةٌ إِن شِئتَ في الجَمَزانِ
She thrusts her jaws ahead of her halter,
Sneezing through its whiskers in front of its nostril,
and can, if you wish, be driven hard at a bounding trot.
And if you wish, bleating among the flocks.
وَكَمand how many قَدalready طَوَتshe passed مِنof مَنهَلٍa watering place بَعدَafter مَنهَلٍa watering place
وَكَم قَد طَوَت مِن مَنهَلٍ بَعدَ مَنهَلٍ
وَأَورَدتُهاand I brought her to water مِنfrom آجِنٍstagnant water وَدِفانِand sand-choked wells
وَأَورَدتُها مِن آجِنٍ وَدِفانِ
And how many watering places she has passed, one after another;
How often it has crossed from pool to pool
and I have brought her to stagnant water and sand-choked wells.
And I watered it from between the two valley-sides.
وَأَشعَثَand a disheveled man قَدalready طارَتhad flown loose قَنازِعُhair-tufts رَأسِهِof his head
وَأَشعَثَ قَد طارَت قَنازِعُ رَأسِهِ
دَعَوتُI called عَلىdespite طولِthe length of الكَرىdrowsiness وَدَعانيand he called to me
دَعَوتُ عَلى طولِ الكَرى وَدَعاني
And a disheveled man, whose head's hair-tufts flew loose,
While the dusty gray hair of its forelock fluttered
I called despite long drowsiness, and he called to me.
I supplicated against its length and it answered me.
مَطَوتُI journeyed far بِهِwith him فيover الأَرضِthe land حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّهُas though he
مَطَوتُ بِهِ في الأَرضِ حَتّى كَأَنَّهُ
أَخوone with سَبَبٍa rope يُرمىis tossed بِهِwith him الرَجَوانِthe two well-sides
أَخو سَبَبٍ يُرمى بِهِ الرَجَوانِ
I journeyed far with him over the land, until he seemed
Knocked down with it on the ground until it was as though
one hanging by a rope, tossed between a well's two sides.
It was the throwing-stick's brother thrown by the player.
إِذاif جَرَّفَتswept away ماليmy wealth الجَوارِفُsweeping calamities مَرَّةًonce
إِذا جَرَّفَت مالي الجَوارِفُ مَرَّةً
تَضَمَّنَundertook رِسلاًwith ease حاجَتيmy need اِبنُthe son of سِنانِSinan
تَضَمَّنَ رِسلاً حاجَتي اِبنُ سِنانِ
If ever sweeping calamities stripped away my wealth,
When the torrents carry away my property once
Ibn Sinan took my need upon himself with ease,
The son of Sinan's message contains my request
وَحاجَةَand the need of غَيريothers besides me إِنَّهُindeed he ذوpossessing مَوارِدٍwellsprings
وَحاجَةَ غَيري إِنَّهُ ذو مَوارِدٍ
وَذوand possessing مَصدَرٍan outflow مِنof نائِلٍbounty وَبَيانِand eloquence
وَذو مَصدَرٍ مِن نائِلٍ وَبَيانِ
and others' needs: he has wellsprings
And the request of others - he has abundant resources
and an outflow of bounty and eloquence.
And an unstinting source of bestowal and clarity.
يَسُنُّsets لِقَوميfor my people فيin عَطائِيَgiving to me سُنَّةًa precedent
يَسُنُّ لِقَومي في عَطائِيَ سُنَّةً
فَإِنso if قَومِيَmy people اِعتَلّواmake excuses عَلَيَّto me كَفانيhe meets my needs
فَإِن قَومِيَ اِعتَلّوا عَلَيَّ كَفاني
He sets my people a precedent in giving to me;
He establishes for my people in my gifts a precedent
if my people plead excuses to me, he meets my needs.
For if my people transgressed against me, enough for me!
كَأَنَّas though ذَويthose with الحاجاتِneeds حَولَaround قِبابِهِhis pavilions
كَأَنَّ ذَوي الحاجاتِ حَولَ قِبابِهِ
جِمالٌcamels لَدىby ماءٍwater يَحُمنَcircling حَوانيwith necks bent
جِمالٌ لَدى ماءٍ يَحُمنَ حَواني
Those in need around his pavilions seem like
As though the needy around his domes
camels by water, circling with their necks bent.
Were camels at a pool exuding drivel.
إِذاwhen ماemphasis غَشواthey came to الحَدّادَthe doorkeeper فَرَّقَparted بَينَهُمbetween them
إِذا ما غَشوا الحَدّادَ فَرَّقَ بَينَهُم
جِفانٌlarge bowls مِنَof الشيزىshiza wood وَراءَbehind جِفانِlarge bowls
جِفانٌ مِنَ الشيزى وَراءَ جِفانِ
When they come to the doorkeeper, they are parted
When they overrun the stipend he divides them
by great bowls of shiza wood, one behind another.
Skins of aged sheep behind skins.
إِذاwhen الخَيلُthe horses جالَتwheeled فيamong القَناthe lances وَتَكَشَّفَتand fell back
إِذا الخَيلُ جالَت في القَنا وَتَكَشَّفَت
عَوابِسَgrim-faced لاnot يُسأَلنَare asked for غَيرَother than طِعانِspear-thrusts
عَوابِسَ لا يُسأَلنَ غَيرَ طِعانِ
When horses wheel amid the lances and fall back,
When the horses pranced in the meadow and were uncovered,
grim-faced, called on for nothing but spear-thrusts,
Glowering and not asked for anything but the lance,
وَكُرَّتand were turned to charge جَميعاًall together ثُمَّthen فُرِّقَwere separated بَينَهاbetween them
وَكُرَّت جَميعاً ثُمَّ فُرِّقَ بَينَها
سَقىhe watered رُمحَهُhis spear مِنهاfrom them بِأَحمَرَwith red blood آنيhot
سَقى رُمحَهُ مِنها بِأَحمَرَ آني
and are turned back to charge together, then driven apart,
And all wheeled about and then were separated between them
he waters his spear with their hot red blood.
His lance watered her among them with a red vessel,
فَتىًa youth لاnot يُلاقيmeets القِرنَthe matched opponent إِلّاexcept بِصَدرِهِwith his chest
فَتىً لا يُلاقي القِرنَ إِلّا بِصَدرِهِ
إِذاwhen أُرعِشَتare made to tremble أَحشاءُthe innards of كُلِّevery جَبانِcoward
إِذا أُرعِشَت أَحشاءُ كُلِّ جَبانِ
A youth who meets his opponent only breast foremost,
A man who does not encounter the spear except with his chest
when every coward's innards are made to tremble.
When the vitals of every coward tremble.
Sol 6.1