أَبَت عَبَراتُهُ إِلّا اِنسِكابا

أَبَت عَبَراتُهُ إِلّا اِنسِكابا

وَنارُ غَرامِهِ إِلّا اِلتِهابا

وَنارُ غَرامِهِ إِلّا اِلتِهابا

His tears refused to do anything but pour forth,

His tears flowed relentlessly

and the fire of his passion anything but blaze.

And the fire of his passion burned intensely

وَمِن حَقِّ الطُلولِ عَلَيَّ أَلّا

وَمِن حَقِّ الطُلولِ عَلَيَّ أَلّا

أُغِبَّ مِنَ الدُموعِ لَها سَحابا

أُغِبَّ مِنَ الدُموعِ لَها سَحابا

The ruined dwellings have a claim upon me: that I never

And it is the right of the beloveds to never

let their cloud of tears miss a day's rain.

Withhold clouds of tears for them

وَما قَصَّرتُ في تَسآلِ رَبعٍ

وَما قَصَّرتُ في تَسآلِ رَبعٍ

وَلَكِنّي سَأَلتُ فَما أَجابا

وَلَكِنّي سَأَلتُ فَما أَجابا

I did not fall short in questioning a dwelling,

I did not fall short in asking the companions

but I asked, and it gave no answer.

But I asked, and they did not respond

رَأَيتُ الشَيبَ لاحَ فَقُلتُ أَهلاً

رَأَيتُ الشَيبَ لاحَ فَقُلتُ أَهلاً

وَوَدَّعتُ الغَوايَةَ وَالشَبابا

وَوَدَّعتُ الغَوايَةَ وَالشَبابا

I saw gray hair appear and said, "Welcome!"

I saw the grey hair appear so I said hello

and bade farewell to waywardness and youth.

And bid farewell to youth and misguidance

وَما إِن شِبتُ مِن كِبَرٍ وَلَكِن

وَما إِن شِبتُ مِن كِبَرٍ وَلَكِن

رَأَيتُ مِنَ الأَحِبَّةِ ما أَشابا

رَأَيتُ مِنَ الأَحِبَّةِ ما أَشابا

I did not turn gray from old age, but

It is not that I aged due to oldness

saw from my beloveds what turned me gray.

But I saw in the loved ones what turned white

بَعَثنَ مِنَ الهُمومِ إِلَيَّ رَكباً

بَعَثنَ مِنَ الهُمومِ إِلَيَّ رَكباً

وَصَيَّرنَ الصُدودَ لَها رِكابا

وَصَيَّرنَ الصُدودَ لَها رِكابا

They sent me a caravan of cares,

They sent against me an army of worries

and made estrangement the mounts that carried them.

And made the acts of turning away their mounts

أَلَم تَرَنا أَعَزَّ الناسِ جاراً

أَلَم تَرَنا أَعَزَّ الناسِ جاراً

وَأَمرَعُهُم وَأَمنَعُهُم جَنابا

وَأَمرَعُهُم وَأَمنَعُهُم جَنابا

Have you not seen us, the strongest protectors of neighbors among men,

Did you not see us as the most honourable of people

with the richest pastures and the most impregnable domain?

The swiftest and most steadfast in side

لَنا الجَبَلُ المُطِلُّ عَلى نِزارٍ

لَنا الجَبَلُ المُطِلُّ عَلى نِزارٍ

حَلَلنا النَجدَ مِنهُ وَالهِضابا

حَلَلنا النَجدَ مِنهُ وَالهِضابا

Ours is the mountain overlooking Nizar;

For us is the mountain overlooking Nizar

we settled its uplands and plateaus.

We made its plains and plateaus permitted

تُفَضِّلُنا الأَنامُ وَلا تُحاشي

تُفَضِّلُنا الأَنامُ وَلا تُحاشي

وَنوصَفُ بِالجَميلِ وَلا نُحابى

وَنوصَفُ بِالجَميلِ وَلا نُحابى

Mankind ranks us above others, making no exceptions;

People prefer us and do not avoid us

we are praised for noble deeds, without favoritism.

And we are described with beauty and do not pretend

وَقَد عَلِمَت رَبيعَةُ بَل نِزارٌ

وَقَد عَلِمَت رَبيعَةُ بَل نِزارٌ

بِأَنّا الرَأسُ وَالناسُ الذُنابى

بِأَنّا الرَأسُ وَالناسُ الذُنابى

Rabi'ah knows—indeed, Nizar knows—

Rabee’ah and even Nizar knew

that we are the head, and other people the tail.

That we are the head and people are the tail

وَلَمّا أَن طَغَت سُفَهاءُ كَعبٍ

وَلَمّا أَن طَغَت سُفَهاءُ كَعبٍ

فَتَحنا بَينَنا لِلحَربِ بابا

فَتَحنا بَينَنا لِلحَربِ بابا

When the fools of Ka'b overstepped their bounds,

And when the fools of Ka’b transgressed

we opened a gate of war between us.

We opened between us the gates of war for them

مَنَحناها الحَرائِبَ غَيرَ أَنّا

مَنَحناها الحَرائِبَ غَيرَ أَنّا

إِذا جارَت مَنَحناها الحِرابا

إِذا جارَت مَنَحناها الحِرابا

We granted them wealth, except that

We gave them ruinous warfare but

when they acted unjustly, we granted them spears.

When they attacked, we gave them perdition

وَلَمّا ثارَ سَيفُ الدينِ ثُرنا

وَلَمّا ثارَ سَيفُ الدينِ ثُرنا

كَما هَيَّجتَ آساداً غِضابا

كَما هَيَّجتَ آساداً غِضابا

When Sayf al-Din rose, we rose,

When the sword of the faith revolted angrily

as when you rouse wrathful lions.

Like you provoked lions to rage

أَسِنَّتُهُ إِذا لاقى طِعاناً

أَسِنَّتُهُ إِذا لاقى طِعاناً

صَوارِمُهُ إِذا لاقى ضِرابا

صَوارِمُهُ إِذا لاقى ضِرابا

We were his spearheads when he faced spear-thrusts,

His tongue when it meets a challenge

his keen swords when he faced sword-blows.

His swords when they meet the strike

دَعانا وَالأَسِنَّةُ مُشرَعاتٌ

دَعانا وَالأَسِنَّةُ مُشرَعاتٌ

فَكُنّا عِندَ دَعوَتِهِ الجَوابا

فَكُنّا عِندَ دَعوَتِهِ الجَوابا

He called us while the spearheads were leveled,

He called us and the tongues were unfurled

and at his call, we were the answer.

So we were responsive to his call

صَنائِعُ فاقَ صانِعُها فَفاقَت

صَنائِعُ فاقَ صانِعُها فَفاقَت

وَغَرسٌ طابَ غارِسُهُ فَطابا

وَغَرسٌ طابَ غارِسُهُ فَطابا

Protégés whose patron excelled, and so they excelled;

A making whose maker surpassed it, so it surpassed

and a planting whose planter was good, and so it thrived.

A planting well-watered by its planter, so it thrived

وَكُنّا كَالسِهامِ إِذا أَصابَت

وَكُنّا كَالسِهامِ إِذا أَصابَت

مَراميها فَراميها أَصابا

مَراميها فَراميها أَصابا

We were like arrows: when they struck

We were like arrows when they hit

their targets, their archer had struck true.

Their targets, so their archer hit

قَطَعنَ إِلى الجِبارِ بِنا مَعاناً

قَطَعنَ إِلى الجِبارِ بِنا مَعاناً

وَنَكَّبنَ الصُبَيرَةَ وَالقِبابا

وَنَكَّبنَ الصُبَيرَةَ وَالقِبابا

They crossed Ma'an with us toward al-Jibar,

He cut through the land with us to the tyrant

and skirted al-Subayrah and al-Qibab.

And we bent the Subayrah and the domes

وَجاوَزنَ البَدِيَّةَ صادِياتٍ

وَجاوَزنَ البَدِيَّةَ صادِياتٍ

يُلاحِظنَ السَرابَ وَلا سَرابا

يُلاحِظنَ السَرابَ وَلا سَرابا

They passed al-Badiyyah, parched with thirst,

We traversed the desert with intrepid determination

watching the mirage—yet there was no mirage.

Observing mirages but no mirage

عَبَرنَ بِماسِحٍ وَاللَيلُ طِفلٌ

عَبَرنَ بِماسِحٍ وَاللَيلُ طِفلٌ

وَجِئنَ إِلى سَلَميَةَ حينَ شابا

وَجِئنَ إِلى سَلَميَةَ حينَ شابا

They passed through Masih while the night was still a child,

We crossed at night while night was still a child

and reached Salamiyah when it had turned gray.

And arrived at Salamiya as it grew up

وَقادَ نَدي بنُ جَعفَرَ مِن عُقَيلٍ

وَقادَ نَدي بنُ جَعفَرَ مِن عُقَيلٍ

شُعوباً قَد أَسالَ بِها الشِعابا

شُعوباً قَد أَسالَ بِها الشِعابا

Nadi ibn Ja'far led, from 'Uqayl,

Nadi bin Ja’far led the troops of Uqail

tribal hosts with which he made the ravines overflow.

That poured through its valleys

فَما شَعَروا بِها إِلّا ثَباتاً

فَما شَعَروا بِها إِلّا ثَباتاً

دُوَينَ الشَدَّ تَصطَخِبُ اِصطِخابا

دُوَينَ الشَدَّ تَصطَخِبُ اِصطِخابا

They perceived them only as companies of troops,

They did not notice them except when they halted

roaring tumultuously just before the charge.

The thundering of the drums made them shake

تَناهَبنَ الثَناءَ بِصَبرِ يَومٍ

تَناهَبنَ الثَناءَ بِصَبرِ يَومٍ

بِهِ الأَرواحُ تُنتَهَبُ اِنتِهابا

بِهِ الأَرواحُ تُنتَهَبُ اِنتِهابا

They competed to seize praise through endurance on a day

They shared glory on a day

when souls were seized as plunder.

When souls were seized

تَنادَوا فَاِنبَرَت مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ

تَنادَوا فَاِنبَرَت مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ

سَوابِقُ يُنتَجَبنَ لَنا اِنتِجابا

سَوابِقُ يُنتَجَبنَ لَنا اِنتِجابا

They called to one another, and from every mountain pass sprang forth

They shouted so horses burst out of every ravine

fleet steeds, expressly selected for us.

Champions selected for us to choose

فَما كانوا لَنا إِلّا أَسارى

فَما كانوا لَنا إِلّا أَسارى

وَما كانَت لَنا إِلّا نِهابا

وَما كانَت لَنا إِلّا نِهابا

Their men were nothing to us but captives,

So they were not but prisoners to us

and their steeds nothing to us but booty.

And there was naught for us but spoils

كَأَنَّ نَدي بنَ جَعفَرَ قادَ مِنهُم

كَأَنَّ نَدي بنَ جَعفَرَ قادَ مِنهُم

هَدايا لَم يُرِغ عَنها ثَوابا

هَدايا لَم يُرِغ عَنها ثَوابا

It was as though Nadi ibn Ja'far had led from among them

As if Nadi bin Ja’far had led them from gifts

gifts for which he sought no recompense.

For which no rewards made them recoil

وَشَدّوا رَأيَهُم بِبَني قُرَيعٍ

وَشَدّوا رَأيَهُم بِبَني قُرَيعٍ

فَخابوا لا أَبا لَهُم وَخابا

فَخابوا لا أَبا لَهُم وَخابا

They bolstered their counsel with Banu Quray',

And they resolved themselves with Bani Quray’

but they failed—may they have no father!—and their counsel failed too.

But they were disappointed - no father to them and they perished

وَسُقناهُم إِلى الحيرانِ سَوقاً

وَسُقناهُم إِلى الحيرانِ سَوقاً

كَما نَستاقُ آبالاً صِعابا

كَما نَستاقُ آبالاً صِعابا

We drove them on toward al-Hiran,

And we drove them to bewilderment like a herd

as we drive unruly camel herds.

Just as we herd restive camels

سَقَينا بِالرِماحِ بَني قُشَيرٍ

سَقَينا بِالرِماحِ بَني قُشَيرٍ

بِبَطنِ العُثيَرِ السُمَّ المُذابا

بِبَطنِ العُثيَرِ السُمَّ المُذابا

With our spears, we made Banu Qushayr drink,

We quenched Bani Qushayr with spears

in the valley of al-'Uthayr, dissolved poison.

In the belly of Uthayr the melting poison

فَلَمّا اِشتَدَّتِ الهَيجاءُ كُنّا

فَلَمّا اِشتَدَّتِ الهَيجاءُ كُنّا

أَشَدَّ مَخالِباً وَأَحَدَّ نابا

أَشَدَّ مَخالِباً وَأَحَدَّ نابا

When the battle grew fierce, we were

So when the struggle intensified we were

stronger in claw and sharper in fang,

Fiercer of claw and sharper of fang

وَأَمنَعَ جانِباً وَأَعَزَّ جاراً

وَأَمنَعَ جانِباً وَأَعَزَّ جاراً

وَأَوفى ذِمَّةً وَأَقَلَّ عابا

وَأَوفى ذِمَّةً وَأَقَلَّ عابا

more impregnable in flank and stronger in protecting neighbors,

And firmer of flank and more honourable as neighbours

more faithful to covenants and less open to blame.

And most faithful of pacts and least blaming

وَنَكَّبنا الفُرُقلُسَ لَم نَرِدهُ

وَنَكَّبنا الفُرُقلُسَ لَم نَرِدهُ

كَأَنَّ بِنا عَنِ الماءِ اِجتِنابا

كَأَنَّ بِنا عَنِ الماءِ اِجتِنابا

We skirted al-Furuqlus, not stopping there for water,

We made the Byzantines recoil - we did not want them

as though we had an aversion to water.

As if we avoided water altogether

وَأَمطَرنَ الجِباهَ بِمُرجَحِنَّ

وَأَمطَرنَ الجِباهَ بِمُرجَحِنَّ

وَلَكِن بِالطِعانِ المُرِّ صابا

وَلَكِن بِالطِعانِ المُرِّ صابا

They showered foreheads from a heavy cloud,

And we rained upon their foreheads with our lances

but their rain was bitter sap, delivered by bitter spear-thrusts.

But with piercing tips - devastatingly accurate

وَجُزنَ الصَحصَحانِ يَخِدنَ وَخداً

وَجُزنَ الصَحصَحانِ يَخِدنَ وَخداً

وَيَجتَبنَ الفَلاةَ بِنا اِجتِنابا

وَيَجتَبنَ الفَلاةَ بِنا اِجتِنابا

They crossed al-Sahsahan, striding briskly,

And we split the skulls of Saḥsaḥah - it cracked as it broke

and carried us across the wilderness, skirting it.

And they avoided confrontation with us by withdrawing

وَمِلنَ عَنِ الغُوَيرِ وَسِرنَ حَتّى

وَمِلنَ عَنِ الغُوَيرِ وَسِرنَ حَتّى

وَرَدنَ عُيونَ تَدمُرَ وَالجِبابا

وَرَدنَ عُيونَ تَدمُرَ وَالجِبابا

They turned aside from al-Ghuwayr and traveled until

They inclined away from Ghuwayr and marched on

they reached Tadmur's springs and wells.

Until they reached springs of Tadmur and its wastelands

قَرَينا بِالسَماوَةِ مِن عُقَيلٍ

قَرَينا بِالسَماوَةِ مِن عُقَيلٍ

سِباعَ الأَرضِ وَالطَيرِ السِغابا

سِباعَ الأَرضِ وَالطَيرِ السِغابا

At al-Samawah, we made 'Uqayl a feast for

We settled near Samawah among Uqail

the beasts of the earth and the famished birds.

The beasts and birds of prey of the land

وَبِالصَبّاحِ وَالصَبّاحُ عَبدٌ

وَبِالصَبّاحِ وَالصَبّاحُ عَبدٌ

قَتَلنا مِن لُبابِهِمُ اللُبابا

قَتَلنا مِن لُبابِهِمُ اللُبابا

Through al-Sabbah—and al-Sabbah is a slave—

And at dawn - and dawn is a servant -

we killed the very best of their best.

We killed their prime from among them

تَرَكنا في بُيوتِ بَني المُهَنّا

تَرَكنا في بُيوتِ بَني المُهَنّا

نَوادِبَ يَنتَحِبنَ بِها اِنتِحابا

نَوادِبَ يَنتَحِبنَ بِها اِنتِحابا

We left in the houses of Banu al-Muhanna

We left in the houses of Bani Muhanaa’

mourning women sobbing bitterly there.

Bereaved women who wailed over them

شَفَت فيها بَنو بَكرٍ حُقوداً

شَفَت فيها بَنو بَكرٍ حُقوداً

وَغادَرَتِ الضَبابَ بِها ضَبابا

وَغادَرَتِ الضَبابَ بِها ضَبابا

There Banu Bakr assuaged their grudges,

Bakr therein saw grudges fulfilled

and left al-Dabab there nothing but mist.

And clouds passed over them, clouded

وَأَبعَدنا لِسوءِ الفِعلِ كَعباً

وَأَبعَدنا لِسوءِ الفِعلِ كَعباً

وَأَدنَينا لِطاعَتِها كِلابا

وَأَدنَينا لِطاعَتِها كِلابا

We banished Ka'b for their evil conduct,

We distanced K’ab for the evil of their deeds

and brought Kilab close for their obedience.

And drew dogs near for their obedience

وَشَرَّدنا إِلى الجَولانِ طَيئاً

وَشَرَّدنا إِلى الجَولانِ طَيئاً

وَجَنَّبنا سَماوَتَها جِنابا

وَجَنَّبنا سَماوَتَها جِنابا

We scattered Tayy toward the Golan,

And we dispersed Tai’ to the Golan

and kept Jinab away from their Samawah.

And avoided the sky of their Samawah

سَحابٌ ما أَناخَ عَلى عُقَيلٍ

سَحابٌ ما أَناخَ عَلى عُقَيلٍ

وَجَرَّ عَلى جِوارِهِمُ ذُبابا

وَجَرَّ عَلى جِوارِهِمُ ذُبابا

A cloud that did not settle over 'Uqayl,

No clouds lodged over Uqail

and dragged flies across their neighborhood.

Or drew flies over their vicinity

وَمِلنا بِالخُيولِ إِلى نُمَيرٍ

وَمِلنا بِالخُيولِ إِلى نُمَيرٍ

تُجاذِبُنا أَعِنَّتَها جِذابا

تُجاذِبُنا أَعِنَّتَها جِذابا

We turned with our horses toward Numayr,

And we raced on horses to Numayr

as they strained against us at their reins.

Pulled by their forelocks

بِكُلِّ مُشَيِّعٍ سَمحٍ بِنَفسٍ

بِكُلِّ مُشَيِّعٍ سَمحٍ بِنَفسٍ

يَعِزُّ عَلى العَشيرَةِ أَن يُصابا

يَعِزُّ عَلى العَشيرَةِ أَن يُصابا

With every fearless warrior, generous with his life,

With every escort proud of himself

whose loss would weigh heavily on his clan.

Too dear for the clan for him to be hurt

وَما ضاقَت مَذاهِبُهُ وَلَكِن

وَما ضاقَت مَذاهِبُهُ وَلَكِن

يُهابُ مِنَ الحَمِيَّةِ أَن يُهابا

يُهابُ مِنَ الحَمِيَّةِ أَن يُهابا

His paths were not constricted; rather,

His directions were not straitened but

out of pride, he fears becoming afraid.

He feared zeal that he would be zealous

وَيَأمُرَنا فَنَكفيهِ الأَعادي

وَيَأمُرَنا فَنَكفيهِ الأَعادي

هُمامٌ لَو يَشاءُ كَفى وَنابا

هُمامٌ لَو يَشاءُ كَفى وَنابا

He commands us, and we deal with his enemies for him:

And he ordered us so we sufficed the enemies

a noble champion who, if he wished, could suffice and take our place.

Ambitions - if he willed he finish and return

فَلَمّا أَيقَنوا أَن لاغِياثٌ

فَلَمّا أَيقَنوا أَن لاغِياثٌ

دَعَوهُ لِلمَغوثَةِ فَاِستَجابا

دَعَوهُ لِلمَغوثَةِ فَاِستَجابا

When they became certain there was no help,

So when they despaired that there was no savior

they called on him for rescue, and he answered.

They called him for rescue so he answered

وَعادَ إِلى الجَميلِ لَهُم فَعادوا

وَعادَ إِلى الجَميلِ لَهُم فَعادوا

وَقَد مَدّوا لِصارِمِهِ الرِقابا

وَقَد مَدّوا لِصارِمِهِ الرِقابا

He returned to kindness toward them, and they returned,

And he returned to treating them kindly, so they

having stretched out their necks to his sharp sword.

Offered their necks to his blade

أَمَرَّ عَلَيهِمُ خَوفاً وَأَمناً

أَمَرَّ عَلَيهِمُ خَوفاً وَأَمناً

أَذاقَهُمُ بِهِ أَرياً وَصابا

أَذاقَهُمُ بِهِ أَرياً وَصابا

He brought both fear and safety upon them,

Fear and safety he let alternate upon them

making them taste through it honey and bitter sap.

He made them taste in it harm and good health

أَحَلَّهُمُ الجَزيرَةَ بَعدَ يَأسٍ

أَحَلَّهُمُ الجَزيرَةَ بَعدَ يَأسٍ

أَخو حِلمٍ إِذا مَلَكَ العِقابا

أَخو حِلمٍ إِذا مَلَكَ العِقابا

He settled them in al-Jazirah after despair,

He settled them in the peninsula after despair

a man of forbearance when he held the power to punish.

A brother of forbearance when he takes revenge

دِيارُهُمُ اِنتَزَعناها اِنتِزاعاً

دِيارُهُمُ اِنتَزَعناها اِنتِزاعاً

وَأَرضُهُمُ اِغتَصَبناها اِغتِصابا

وَأَرضُهُمُ اِغتَصَبناها اِغتِصابا

Their dwellings we wrested away by force,

Their homes we seized by forceful dispossession

and their land we seized outright.

And their land we usurped by wrongful usurpation

وَلَو شِئنا حَمَيناها البَوادي

وَلَو شِئنا حَمَيناها البَوادي

كَما تَحمي أُسودُ الغابِ غابا

كَما تَحمي أُسودُ الغابِ غابا

Had we wished, we would have barred it to the desert tribes,

If we wished, we would have protected it with warriors

as lions of the forest defend a forest.

As lions protect their thickets

إِذا ما أَنهَضَ الأُمراءُ جَيشاً

إِذا ما أَنهَضَ الأُمراءُ جَيشاً

إِلى الأَعداءِ أَنفَذنا كِتابا

إِلى الأَعداءِ أَنفَذنا كِتابا

When princes mobilize an army

Whenever the princes mobilized an army

against their enemies, we dispatch a letter.

Against enemies, we forwarded a letter

أَنا اِبنُ الضارِبينَ الهامَ قِدماً

أَنا اِبنُ الضارِبينَ الهامَ قِدماً

إِذا كَرِهَ المُحامونَ الضِرابا

إِذا كَرِهَ المُحامونَ الضِرابا

I am the son of those who struck heads long ago,

I am the son of those who strike skulls

when defenders shrank from sword-blows.

When attorneys dislike concussion

أَلَم تَعلَم وَمِثلُكَ قالَ حَقّاً

أَلَم تَعلَم وَمِثلُكَ قالَ حَقّاً

بِأَنّي كُنتُ أَثقَبَها شِهابا

بِأَنّي كُنتُ أَثقَبَها شِهابا

Did you not know—and one like you speaks truth—

Do you not know - and one like you said truthfully:

that I was their brightest shooting star?

That I punctured them with comets