أَيديthe hands الحَوادِثِof calamities فيin الأَيّامِthe days وَالأُمَمِand nations
أَيدي الحَوادِثِ في الأَيّامِ وَالأُمَمِ
أَمضىsharper مِنَthan الذَكَرِthe hard-tempered sword الصَمصامَةِthe keen blade الخَذِمِthe cleaving
أَمضى مِنَ الذَكَرِ الصَمصامَةِ الخَذِمِ
The hands of calamity, amid days and nations,
The hands of fate in days and nations
Are sharper than the hard-tempered, keen, cleaving sword.
Are more cutting than a sharp piercing sword
فَلاso let not يَظُنَّنَّsuppose مَنwhoever طالَتlasted long سَلامَتُهُhis safety
فَلا يَظُنَّنَّ مَن طالَت سَلامَتُهُ
أَنَّthat المَقادِيرَfate أَعطَتهُgranted him عُرىthe bonds السَلمِof peace
أَنَّ المَقادِيرَ أَعطَتهُ عُرى السَلمِ
Let no one whose safety has long endured suppose
So let not him whose safety has been prolonged
That fate has granted him the bonds of peace.
Think that the decrees have given him the reins of peace
كُلٌّeveryone بِماto what تُحدِثُbrings about الأَيّامُthe days مُرتَهَنٌheld hostage
كُلٌّ بِما تُحدِثُ الأَيّامُ مُرتَهَنٌ
وَكُلُّand every غايَةِend مَوجُودٍof an existing thing إِلىto عَدَمِnonexistence
وَكُلُّ غايَةِ مَوجُودٍ إِلى عَدَمِ
Everyone is held hostage to what the days bring,
All are mortgaged to what the days bring about
And every existing thing's end is nothingness.
And the end of everything existing is to perish
مَنwhoever سَرَّهُgladdened him الدَهرُTime صِرفاًunmixed سَوفَwill تَمزُجُهُmix it
مَن سَرَّهُ الدَهرُ صِرفاً سَوفَ تَمزُجُهُ
لَهُfor him تَصارِيفُهُits vicissitudes مِنfrom صَفوَةِthe choicest النِقَمِafflictions
لَهُ تَصارِيفُهُ مِن صَفوَةِ النِقَمِ
Whoever Time delights with unalloyed joy will soon have it mingled
Whom fortune has made happy, its reversals will embroil him
By its vicissitudes, for him, with the choicest afflictions.
It has vicissitudes for him from the elite of afflictions
فَلاso do not تَغُرَّنَّكَdeceive you الدُنياthe world وَزِينَتُهاand its adornment
فَلا تَغُرَّنَّكَ الدُنيا وَزِينَتُها
وَلَوeven if حَبَتكَit gifts you بِحُمرِwith red ones الخَيلِof horses وَالنَعَمِand livestock
وَلَو حَبَتكَ بِحُمرِ الخَيلِ وَالنَعَمِ
So let neither the world nor its adornments deceive you,
So let not the world and its ornaments deceive you
Even if it bestows red horses and livestock upon you.
Even if it loved you with the red of horses and bounties
فَماso what اللَذاذَةُpleasure فيin عَيشٍa life وَغايَتُهُand its end
فَما اللَذاذَةُ في عَيشٍ وَغايَتُهُ
مَوتٌdeath يُؤَدِّيكَtakes you مِنfrom قَصرٍa palace إِلىto رُجَمِstone-heaped graves
مَوتٌ يُؤَدِّيكَ مِن قَصرٍ إِلى رُجَمِ
So what pleasure is there in a life whose end
For what is the pleasure in a life whose end
Is death, conveying you from a palace to stone-heaped graves?
Is death that takes you from a palace to a tomb
ياO غافِلاًheedless one لَعِبَtoyed الظَنُّexpectation الكَذُوبُdeceitful بِهِwith him
يا غافِلاً لَعِبَ الظَنُّ الكَذُوبُ بِهِ
خَفِfear العَواقِبَthe consequences وَاِحذَرand beware زَلَّةَa slip القَدَمِof the foot
خَفِ العَواقِبَ وَاِحذَر زَلَّةَ القَدَمِ
O heedless one, toyed with by deceitful expectation,
O heedless one whom false fancy has played with
Fear the consequences and beware a slipping foot.
Fear the consequences and beware of stumbling
وَاِنظُرand look إِلىat حَسَنٍHasan فيin حُسنِthe beauty صُورَتِهِof his form
وَاِنظُر إِلى حَسَنٍ في حُسنِ صُورَتِهِ
جاءَتcame إِلَيهِto him صُروفُvicissitudes الدَهرِof Time مِنfrom أُمَمِclose at hand
جاءَت إِلَيهِ صُروفُ الدَهرِ مِن أُمَمِ
And look at Hasan, in the beauty of his form:
And look at the handsome one in the beauty of his form
The turns of Time came upon him from close at hand.
The turns of fate from nations have come to him
لَمdid not يَحمِهِprotect him صارِمٌa keen sword قَدindeed كانَhe used to يَخضِبُهُdye it
لَم يَحمِهِ صارِمٌ قَد كانَ يَخضِبُهُ
يَومَon the day النِزالِof combat مِنَfrom الأَعناقِthe necks وَالقِمَمِand crowns of heads
يَومَ النِزالِ مِنَ الأَعناقِ وَالقِمَمِ
No keen blade protected him, though he would dye it
Neither did a flashing sword that stained him
On the day of combat with blood from necks and crowns.
The day of battle protect him from necks and summits
وَلاnor جَوادٌa noble steed أَقَبُّslender الظَهرِof back مُنجَرِدٌsleek
وَلا جَوادٌ أَقَبُّ الظَهرِ مُنجَرِدٌ
يَهويswoops بِهِwith him كَهُوِيِّlike the swoop الأَجدَلِof the falcon القَطِمِravenous
يَهوي بِهِ كَهُوِيِّ الأَجدَلِ القَطِمِ
Nor a noble steed, lean-backed and sleek,
Nor a wide-backed steed diving down
Swooping with him like a ravenous falcon.
Like a diver, cutting, protect him
وَلاnor الغَطارِفُthe noble chiefs مِنof بَكرٍBakr وَإِخوَتِهاand its brethren
وَلا الغَطارِفُ مِن بَكرٍ وَإِخوَتِها
مِنof تَغلِبTaghlib الغُلبِthe mighty أَهلِpeople of البَأسِvalor وَالكَرَمِand generosity
مِن تَغلِب الغُلبِ أَهلِ البَأسِ وَالكَرَمِ
Nor the noble chiefs of Bakr and its brethren,
Nor the virgins of Bakr and her sisters
Of mighty Taghlib, men of valor and generosity.
With whom Bakr boasted, people of courage and nobility
كانُواthey used to يُفَدُّونَهُransom him بِالخَيلِwith horses مُسرَجَةًsaddled
كانُوا يُفَدُّونَهُ بِالخَيلِ مُسرَجَةً
وَالمالِand wealth وَالآلِand kin وَالأَولادِand children وَالحَشَمِand retainers
وَالمالِ وَالآلِ وَالأَولادِ وَالحَشَمِ
They would ransom him with saddled horses,
They used to ransom him with groomed horses
With wealth, kin, children, and retainers.
And wealth, family, children and in-laws
إِيهاًcome now بَنيsons of وائِلٍWa'il قَدindeed ماتَhas died لَيثُكُمُyour lion
إِيهاً بَني وائِلٍ قَد ماتَ لَيثُكُمُ
فَاِبكُواso weep عَلَيهِfor him بِدَمعٍwith tears وَاكِفٍstreaming وَدَمِand blood
فَاِبكُوا عَلَيهِ بِدَمعٍ وَاكِفٍ وَدَمِ
Come now, sons of Wa'il: your lion has died;
Alas! O Bani Wa’il, your lion has died
So weep for him with streaming tears and blood.
So weep for him with ample flowing tears and blood
قَدindeed كانَhe was إِنif نَزَلَتdescended دَهياءُa calamity مُظلِمَةٌdark
قَد كانَ إِن نَزَلَت دَهياءُ مُظلِمَةٌ
وَخامَand recoiled عَنهاfrom it حُماةُthe defenders القَومِof the people لَمdid not يَخِمِrecoil
وَخامَ عَنها حُماةُ القَومِ لَم يَخِمِ
He was one who, when a dark calamity descended,
He used to be, if an afflicting darkness befell
And the people's defenders recoiled from it, did not recoil.
And the tribe’s protectors despaired, he did not worry
وَإِنand if نَباgrew harsh زَمَنٌTime أَوor عَضَّbit ناجِذُهُits molar
وَإِن نَبا زَمَنٌ أَو عَضَّ ناجِذُهُ
أَعطيhe gave العُفاةَthe supplicants بِلاwithout مَنٍّreminding of favors وَلاnor سَأَمِweariness
أَعطي العُفاةَ بِلا مَنٍّ وَلا سَأَمِ
And if Time grew harsh or its molar bit,
And if a time grew hard or bit with its fetus
He gave to supplicants without reproach or weariness.
He would give the destitute without reluctance or boredom
مَضىhe passed away وَلَمand did not يَدرِknow ماwhat سُكرُthe intoxication الشَبابِof youth وَلاnor
مَضى وَلَم يَدرِ ما سُكرُ الشَبابِ وَلا
أَمالَهُturn him الغَيُّerror عَنfrom رُشدٍright guidance إِلىto أَثَمِsin
أَمالَهُ الغَيُّ عَن رُشدٍ إِلى أَثَمِ
He passed away without knowing youth's intoxication, nor
He has gone and did not know the intoxication of youth or
Did error turn him from right guidance toward sin.
What hopes caprice made him deviate from reason to sin
وَلاnor تَخَطّىstrode among بُيُوتَthe houses الحَيِّof the tribe مُبتَجِحاًboastfully
وَلا تَخَطّى بُيُوتَ الحَيِّ مُبتَجِحاً
جَذلانَgleeful يَخطُرُswaggering مُختالاًproudly عَلىon قَدَمِfoot
جَذلانَ يَخطُرُ مُختالاً عَلى قَدَمِ
Nor did he stride among the tribe's dwellings, boastful,
Nor would he strut in the precincts of the Quarter swaggering
Gleeful, swaggering proudly on foot.
A frisky, prancing stallion stepping proudly
وَلَمand not يَكُنwas هَمُّهُhis concern شُربَdrinking المُدامِwine وَلاnor
وَلَم يَكُن هَمُّهُ شُربَ المُدامِ وَلا
شَدُوَthe music المَزاهيرِof lutes بِالأَوتارِwith strings وَالنَغَمِand melodies
شَدُوَ المَزاهيرِ بِالأَوتارِ وَالنَغَمِ
Nor was his concern drinking wine, nor
And his concern was not drinking wine or
The singing of lutes with strings and melodies.
Plucking the strings of lutes with tunes
لَكِنَّbut هِمَّتَهُhis ambition مالٌwealth يُقَسِّمُهُhe distributes it
لَكِنَّ هِمَّتَهُ مالٌ يُقَسِّمُهُ
عَلىamong العُفاةِsupplicants وَإِقدامٌand charging عَلىagainst البُهُمِformidable warriors
عَلى العُفاةِ وَإِقدامٌ عَلى البُهُمِ
Rather, his ambition was wealth he would distribute
Rather, his ambition was wealth he would distribute
To supplicants, and charging at formidable warriors.
To the destitute and daring against calamities
وَلَمand did not يَزَلcease صائِماًfasting طَوعاًwillingly لِخالِقِهِfor his Creator
وَلَم يَزَل صائِماً طَوعاً لِخالِقِهِ
وَبِالدُجىand at night قائِماًstanding in prayer فيin حِندِسِthe pitch-blackness الظُلَمِof darkness
وَبِالدُجى قائِماً في حِندِسِ الظُلَمِ
He never ceased fasting willingly for his Creator,
And he would not cease fasting voluntarily for his Creator
And standing in prayer at night, in deepest darkness.
And standing vigil in the darkness of night
فَياso O أَباfather of جَعفَرٍJa'far لاmay you not زِلتَcease فيin دَعَةٍease
فَيا أَبا جَعفَرٍ لا زِلتَ في دَعَةٍ
لاdo not تَجزَعَنdespair فَقَضاهُfor He decreed it غَيرُnot مُتَّهَمِopen to blame
لا تَجزَعَن فَقَضاهُ غَيرُ مُتَّهَمِ
So, Abu Ja'far, may you ever remain at ease;
So O Abu Ja’far, you have continually been in a state
Do not despair: One beyond reproach decreed it.
Of calm; do not agonize for his fate is not blamed
وَياand O أَباfather of حَسَنٍHasan صَبراًbe patient فَكُلُّfor every فَتىًyoung man
وَيا أَبا حَسَنٍ صَبراً فَكُلُّ فَتىً
مُفارِقٌdeparting وَحَياةُand the life المَرءِof a person كَالحلُمِlike a dream
مُفارِقٌ وَحَياةُ المَرءِ كَالحلُمِ
And Abu Hasan, be patient, for every young man
And O Abu Hassan, patience, for every youth
Must depart; a man's life is like a dream.
Will depart, and a person's life is like a dream
وَالمَوتُand death كُلُّevery اِمرِئٍperson لاno بُدَّescape ذائِقُهُtasting it
وَالمَوتُ كُلُّ اِمرِئٍ لا بُدَّ ذائِقُهُ
تَقاصَرَwas shortened العُمرُlife أَوor أَدّىled إِلىto الهرَمِold age
تَقاصَرَ العُمرُ أَو أَدّى إِلى الهرَمِ
And death—every person must taste it,
And death, every person will inevitably taste it
Whether life is cut short or leads to old age.
Whether lifespan shortened or led to old age
أَينَwhere are المُلوكُthe kings وَأردافُand the deputies المُلوكِof kings وَمَنand those who
أَينَ المُلوكُ وَأردافُ المُلوكِ وَمَن
سادَruled القبائِلَthe tribes مِنof عادٍ'Ad وَمِنand of إرَمِIram
سادَ القبائِلَ مِن عادٍ وَمِن إرَمِ
Where are the kings, the kings' deputies, and those
Where are the kings and the followers of kings and who
Who ruled the tribes of 'Ad and Iram?
Ruled over the tribes, the ‘Aad and the Iram?
وَأَينَand where are طَسمٌTasm وَأَولادُand the sons التَبابِعِof the Tubba' kings مِنof
وَأَينَ طَسمٌ وَأَولادُ التَبابِعِ مِن
أَولادِthe sons حِميَرَof Himyar وَالساداتُand the lords مِنof عَمَمِ'Amam
أَولادِ حِميَرَ وَالساداتُ مِن عَمَمِ
And where are Tasm and the sons of the Tubba' kings, of
And where are Tasm and the sons of lizards from
The sons of Himyar, and the lords of 'Amam?
The sons of donkeys and the masters from insects?
وَأَينَand where is آلُthe house مُضاضٍof Mudad فيamong قَبائِلِهاits tribes
وَأَينَ آلُ مُضاضٍ في قَبائِلِها
مِنof جُرهُمٍJurhum ساكِنيdwellers in بَحبوحَةِthe heart الحَرمِof the Sacred Precinct
مِن جُرهُمٍ ساكِني بَحبوحَةِ الحَرمِ
And where is the house of Mudad among its tribes,
And where are the clan of Mudhadh among their tribes
Of Jurhum, dwellers in the heart of the Sacred Precinct?
From Jurhum dwelling luxuriously in the sanctuary?
أَفناهُمُit annihilated them وَأَدارَand passed around الكَأسَthe cup مُترَعَةًbrimming
أَفناهُمُ وَأَدارَ الكَأسَ مُترَعَةً
فيamong وائِلٍWa'il فَسَقاهاthen made them drink it غَيرَnot مُحتَشِمِrestrained by shame
في وائِلٍ فَسَقاها غَيرَ مُحتَشِمِ
It annihilated them, and passed around a brimming cup
It made them perish and passed around the overflowing cup
Among Wa'il, making them drink it without restraint.
In Waa’il and made them drink what they did not deserve
أَردىit slew اِبنَthe son مُرَّةَof Murrah هَمّاماًHammam وَكانَand there was لَهُfor him
أَردى اِبنَ مُرَّةَ هَمّاماً وَكانَ لَهُ
عَقدُthe bond الرِئاسَةِof leadership عَنfrom آبائِهِhis forefathers القِدَمِof old
عَقدُ الرِئاسَةِ عَن آبائِهِ القِدَمِ
It laid low Hammam, son of Murrah, who possessed
It felled the son of Murrah fallen in battles and he had
The bond of leadership inherited from his forefathers of old.
The leadership from his ancient fathers
وَمانِعَand the protector الجارِof the neighbor جَسّاساًJassas أُتيحَwas allotted لَهُto him
وَمانِعَ الجارِ جَسّاساً أُتيحَ لَهُ
سَهمُthe arrow المَنونِof doom عَلىwith عَمدٍdeliberate intent فَلَمso did not يَرُمِstir
سَهمُ المَنونِ عَلى عَمدٍ فَلَم يَرُمِ
And Jassas, protector of the neighbor: allotted to him
And he who warded harm, fate enabled it
Was doom's arrow, aimed deliberately, and he did not stir.
To reach him, deliberately, not missing
وَالحَوفَزانَand al-Hawfazan الَّذيwho كانَتwas تَنُوءُstraining بِهِunder his weight
وَالحَوفَزانَ الَّذي كانَت تَنُوءُ بِهِ
بَكرٌBakr سَقاهُit made him drink بِكاساتٍwith cups مِنَof النِقَمِafflictions
بَكرٌ سَقاهُ بِكاساتٍ مِنَ النِقَمِ
And al-Hawfazan, under whose weight
And Al-Hawfazaan whom Bakr used to boast of
Bakr strained—it made him drink cups of affliction.
Fate made him drink from cups of afflictions
وَفارِسَand the horseman العَرَبِof the Arabs العَرباءِpure-blooded إِنif ذُكِرَتthey are mentioned
وَفارِسَ العَرَبِ العَرباءِ إِن ذُكِرَت
بسطامَBistam مَدَّit stretched إِلَيهِtoward him كَفَّthe hand مُختَرِمِof a destroyer
بسطامَ مَدَّ إِلَيهِ كَفَّ مُختَرِمِ
And the horseman of the pure Arabs, whenever they are mentioned—
And the horseman of purebred Arabs, if
Bistam—it extended toward him a destroyer's hand.
Bastam were mentioned, it would stretch to him a withered palm
فَاِبتَزَّهُso it wrested from him مُلكَهُhis rule غَصباًforcibly وَأَنزَلَهُand laid him down
فَاِبتَزَّهُ مُلكَهُ غَصباً وَأَنزَلَهُ
فَوقَupon التُرابِthe dust عَفيرَdust-stained الخَدِّof cheek والقَسِمِand countenance
فَوقَ التُرابِ عَفيرَ الخَدِّ والقَسِمِ
Then it forcibly wrested his rule from him, and laid him down
So his rule was usurped by force and dethroned,
Upon the dust, with cheek and countenance dust-stained.
Throwing him to the ground, his cheek and tradition violated
وَعافرَand the wrestler الفِيلِof the elephant يَومَon the day القادِسِيَّةِof al-Qadisiyyah قَدindeed
وَعافرَ الفِيلِ يَومَ القادِسِيَّةِ قَد
سَقاهُmade him drink كاسَthe cup الرَدىof death صِرفاًunmixed بِغَيرِwithout فَمِa mouth
سَقاهُ كاسَ الرَدى صِرفاً بِغَيرِ فَمِ
And he who wrestled the elephant on the day of al-Qadisiyyah—it had
And he encountered the elephants on the Day of Qadisiyyah, then
Made him drink death's unmixed cup, without a mouth.
Destiny made him drink the cup of returning by coercion forcefully
وَقَدand indeed أَذاقَmade taste شَبيباًShabib فيin شَبيبَتِهِhis youth
وَقَد أَذاقَ شَبيباً في شَبيبَتِهِ
كَأسَthe cup الحُتُوفِof deadly fates بِلاwithout سَيفٍa sword وَلاnor سَقَمِsickness
كَأسَ الحُتُوفِ بِلا سَيفٍ وَلا سَقَمِ
And it made Shabib, in his youth, taste
And caused Shabeeb in his prime youth
The cup of death, without sword or sickness.
To taste the cup of variegated swords without sword or sickness
والمَزيَدِيِّينَand the Mazyadids غالَتهُمdestroyed them غَوائِلُهُits calamities
والمَزيَدِيِّينَ غالَتهُم غَوائِلُهُ
وَاِجتَاحَهُمand swept them away مُزبِدٌa foaming surge مِنfrom سَيلِهِits torrent العَرِمِraging
وَاِجتَاحَهُم مُزبِدٌ مِن سَيلِهِ العَرِمِ
And the Mazyadids—its calamities destroyed them,
And their swelling deluged the Muzainah
And a foaming surge from its raging torrent swept them away.
And an unleashed torrent from its copious valley flooded them
وَلَمand did not تَدعspare هانِئاًHani' وَهوَand he الَّذيthe one who اِنتَصَفَتwon redress
وَلَم تَدع هانِئاً وَهوَ الَّذي اِنتَصَفَت
بِهِthrough him الأَعارِيبُthe desert Arabs وَاِستَولَتand prevailed عَلىover العَجَمِthe non-Arabs
بِهِ الأَعارِيبُ وَاِستَولَت عَلى العَجَمِ
Nor did it spare Hani', through whom
And it did not spare Haani’ who was
The desert Arabs won redress and prevailed over the non-Arabs.
The one the nomads took vengeance through and prevailed over the non-Arabs
وَالحارِثَand al-Harith بنَson of عُبادٍ'Ubad غالَهُit destroyed him وَسَطاand struck
وَالحارِثَ بنَ عُبادٍ غالَهُ وَسَطا
بِجَحدَرٍupon Jahdar فارِسِthe horseman التَحلاقِof the Shaving لِلَّمَمِof the locks
بِجَحدَرٍ فارِسِ التَحلاقِ لِلَّمَمِ
And al-Harith son of 'Ubad it destroyed, and struck down
And Al-Haarith ibn ‘Ubaad, Sacat
Jahdar, horseman of the Shaving of Locks.
Felled him, the horseman slitting necks with swords
وَالحارِثَand al-Harith بنَson of سَدُوسٍSadus لَمdid not يَهَبfear عَدَداًa multitude
وَالحارِثَ بنَ سَدُوسٍ لَم يَهَب عَدَداً
فِيهِمamong them بَنُوهُhis sons وَلَمّاand had not يَكتَرِثcare بِهِمِabout them
فِيهِم بَنُوهُ وَلَمّا يَكتَرِث بِهِمِ
And al-Harith son of Sadus—it feared no multitude,
And Al-Haarith ibn Sadaus, his sons did not
His sons among them, nor did it heed them.
Ransom him and did not bother themselves for him
وَالجعدَand the curly-haired one مَسلَمَةًMaslamah لَمdid not يَحمِهِprotect him فَدَنٌa palace
وَالجعدَ مَسلَمَةً لَم يَحمِهِ فَدَنٌ
بَناهُhe built it والِدُهُhis father إذwhen كانَhe was ذاpossessing هِمَمِhigh ambitions
بَناهُ والِدُهُ إذ كانَ ذا هِمَمِ
And curly-haired Maslamah—no palace protected him,
And Al-Ja’da did not save Maslamah
Which his father built when he had lofty ambitions.
His father had built which had enclosures
وَهَوذَةَand Hawdhah بنَson of عَلِيٍّ'Ali حَطَّit brought down مُنتَزِعاًtearing away
وَهَوذَةَ بنَ عَلِيٍّ حَطَّ مُنتَزِعاً
عَنfrom رَأسِهِhis head التاجَthe crown عَمداًdeliberately غَيرَnot مُحتَشِمِrestrained by shame
عَن رَأسِهِ التاجَ عَمداً غَيرَ مُحتَشِمِ
And Hawdhah son of 'Ali—it brought him low, tearing
And Hawtha ibn ‘Ali, he dethroned violently
The crown from his head deliberately, without restraint.
Tearing the crown off his head deliberately without dignity
وَشيخَand the elder عِجلٍof 'Ijl أَباfather of مَعدانَMa'dan عاجَلَهُovertook him swiftly
وَشيخَ عِجلٍ أَبا مَعدانَ عاجَلَهُ
مِنهُfrom it الحِمامُdeath فَلَمso not يُطلَبwas sought لَهُfor him بِدَمِin blood-vengeance
مِنهُ الحِمامُ فَلَم يُطلَب لَهُ بِدَمِ
And the elder of 'Ijl, Abu Ma'dan, was swiftly overtaken
And the Shaykh of ‘Ijl did not give Abu Ma’dan
By its doom; no vengeance for his blood was sought.
Any respite, so no blood money was asked for him from them
وَفارِسَand the horseman العَرَبِof the Arabs العَرباpure-blooded وَسَيِّدَهاand their lord
وَفارِسَ العَرَبِ العَربا وَسَيِّدَها
أَعنيI mean كُلَيباًKulayb قَريعَthe foremost العُربِof the Arabs وَالعَجَمِand non-Arabs
أَعني كُلَيباً قَريعَ العُربِ وَالعَجَمِ
And the horseman of the pure Arabs and their lord—
And the horseman of Arabs and their chief
I mean Kulayb, foremost among Arabs and non-Arabs—
I mean Kulayb, butcher of Arabs and non-Arabs
لَمdid not يَحمِهِprotect him عَدَدٌa host مَجرٌvast وَلاnor دَفَعَتrepelled
لَم يَحمِهِ عَدَدٌ مَجرٌ وَلا دَفَعَت
عَنهُfrom him المَنِيَّةَdeath إِذwhen جاءَتit came بنُوthe sons جُشَمِof Jusham
عَنهُ المَنِيَّةَ إِذ جاءَت بنُو جُشَمِ
No vast host protected him, nor did
Numbers did not protect him, nor
The sons of Jusham repel death from him when it came.
Did the death blow that came from Bani Jusham repel
وَلَمand did not يَكُنexist لِعَدِيٍّfor 'Adi بَعدَهُafter him عِصَمٌsafeguards
وَلَم يَكُن لِعَدِيٍّ بَعدَهُ عِصَمٌ
مِنهُagainst it وَكانَand was عَدِيٌّ'Adi أَيَّwhat a مُعتَصِمِone seeking protection
مِنهُ وَكانَ عَدِيٌّ أَيَّ مُعتَصِمِ
Nor did 'Adi, after him, have any safeguards
And ‘Adi had no protection after him
Against it—and how well 'Adi had sheltered himself!
Who was ‘Adi? Which protector?
وَآلَand the house كُلثُومَof Kulthum ساداتِlords الأَراقِمِof al-Araqim لَمdid not
وَآلَ كُلثُومَ ساداتِ الأَراقِمِ لَم
يَترُكleave لَهُمfor them مِنany حِمىprotected ground حامٍof a protector ولاnor حَرَمِa sanctuary
يَترُك لَهُم مِن حِمى حامٍ ولا حَرَمِ
And the house of Kulthum, lords of al-Araqim—it did not
And the family of Kulthum, chiefs of yard-long arrows
Leave them a protector's shelter or an inviolable sanctuary.
It did not spare any protection or sanctuary for them
أُولَئِكَthose الغُرُّthe illustrious مِنamong ساداتِthe lords قَومِكُماof your people, you two
أُولَئِكَ الغُرُّ مِن ساداتِ قَومِكُما
أَهلُpeople of النُهىwisdom وَاللُهىand generous gifts وَالعَهدِand covenants وَالذِّمَمِand pledges
أَهلُ النُهى وَاللُهى وَالعَهدِ وَالذِّمَمِ
Those were the illustrious among the lords of your people,
Those are the noble ones from the chiefs of your two tribes
Men of wisdom, bounty, covenants, and pledges.
The people of forbearance, ardency, covenant and protection
وَهَذِهِand these شِيَمُthe ways الدُنياof the world وَعادَتُهاand its custom
وَهَذِهِ شِيَمُ الدُنيا وَعادَتُها
فِيمَنwith those who مَضىpassed away أَوor بَقىremained مِنamong سائِرِall الأُمَمِthe nations
فِيمَن مَضى أَو بَقى مِن سائِرِ الأُمَمِ
Such are the world's ways and its custom
And such are the traits of the world and its habit
With those who have passed or remain, among all nations.
Regarding those who passed and all the rest of nations
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.