لعلَّperhaps الهوىlove إنْif أنتَyou حيَّيْتَyou greeted منزِلاًa dwelling
لعلَّ الهوى إنْ أنتَ حيَّيْتَ منزِلاً
بأكبادَat Akbad مُرتدٌّreturning عليكَupon you عقابِلُهْits afterpangs
بأكبادَ مُرتدٌّ عليكَ عقابِلُهْ
Perhaps love, if you greet a dwelling
Perhaps if you settle somewhere, O love
at Akbad, will revisit you with its afterpangs.
Vengeful ones will return to you with livers bleeding
محتْهُerased it الرياحُthe winds الهُوجُthe wild ones يَحْننَّthey moan بالحصىamong the pebbles
محتْهُ الرياحُ الهُوجُ يَحْننَّ بالحصى
ونَوءُand the rain-season الثريّاof the Pleiades الجَودُthe copious rain منهُfrom it ووابلُهْand its downpour
ونَوءُ الثريّا الجَودُ منهُ ووابلُهْ
The wild winds erased it, moaning among the pebbles,
The fierce winds have erased it, moaning over pebbles
and the Pleiades' rain, its lavish showers and downpour.
And the downpour of heavy rain and its floods
عفاfaded away غيرَexcept أُخدودَيْنِtwo furrows جَرَّflowed عليهِماover them both
عفا غيرَ أُخدودَيْنِ جَرَّ عليهِما
جدىthe bounty كلِّevery دَلْوِيٍّbucket-pouring cloud تُجَنُّare shrouded أصائلُهْits late afternoons
جدى كلِّ دَلْوِيٍّ تُجَنُّ أصائلُهْ
It faded, save two furrows over which flowed
Except for two cheeks furrowed by my tears
the bounty of every bucket-pouring cloud, its afternoons shrouded.
The lifeblood of every miserable wretch pouring down them
فلمّاand when سألتُI asked الرَّبْعَthe campsite أينَwhere تيمَّمَتْit had headed
فلمّا سألتُ الرَّبْعَ أينَ تيمَّمَتْ
نوىthe departing course الحيّof the tribe لمnot ينطقْit spoke وضُلِّلَand was misled سائلُهْits questioner
نوى الحيّ لم ينطقْ وضُلِّلَ سائلُهْ
When I asked the campsite where it had headed—
So when I asked the countryside where your tent was pitched
the tribe's departing course—it was mute; its questioner was bewildered.
The living intended no reply and led the questioner astray
وكنتُand I used to إذاwhenever خُبِّرْتُI was told أنَّthat مُكَلَّفاًa love-stricken man
وكنتُ إذا خُبِّرْتُ أنَّ مُكَلَّفاً
بكىwept أوor تَعنّاهُtormented him عِدادٌa recurring pang يُماطلُهْputting him off
بكى أو تَعنّاهُ عِدادٌ يُماطلُهْ
Whenever I was told that a love-stricken man
Whenever I heard that some wretched soul
had wept, or a recurring, lingering pang had tormented him
Had wept for you or you had oppressed him
منَfrom الحُبِّlove زَرَّفتُI mocked المُحبَّthe lover فقدyet indeed بكاwept
منَ الحُبِّ زَرَّفتُ المُحبَّ فقد بكا
فؤاديmy heart حتىuntil أسلمتْهُabandoned it عواذلُهْits reproaching women
فؤادي حتى أسلمتْهُ عواذلُهْ
with love, I mocked the lover; but now
I adorned the lover so that he wept
my heart has wept until its reproaching women abandoned it.
Until his darling ones took him away
كأنَّas though فؤاديmy heart طائرٌa bird فيin حِبالةٍa snare
كأنَّ فؤادي طائرٌ في حِبالةٍ
رأىsaw غيَّهُits folly لمّاwhen اعْتفَتْهُensnared it حبائلُهْits snares
رأى غيَّهُ لمّا اعْتفَتْهُ حبائلُهْ
My heart is like a bird in a snare
As if my heart were a bird snared
that saw its folly when its snares caught it,
Who saw his deceiver when the snares entangled him
عشيّةَon the evening رَدَّbrought back الحيُّthe tribe بُزْلاًmature camels يَزِينُهاadorns them
عشيّةَ رَدَّ الحيُّ بُزْلاً يَزِينُها
تمامٌfull growth ونَيٌّand fatness طارَfell away عنهُfrom it خمائلُهْits shaggy tufts
تمامٌ ونَيٌّ طارَ عنهُ خمائلُهْ
on the evening the tribe brought back mature camels, adorned
One evening the living one turned away a young camel, decorating her
with full growth and fatness, their shaggy tufts shed:
With a nose-rein - she left behind her nose-bag
عقائلُchoice beasts ماnot منهنَّamong them إلاّexcept عَدَبَّسٌa massive beast
عقائلُ ما منهنَّ إلاّ عَدَبَّسٌ
ذرىshed شوكُهُits bristly hair أوor فاطرُbreaking through النابِthe tusk باقلُهْits new growth
ذرى شوكُهُ أو فاطرُ النابِ باقلُهْ
choice beasts, each a massive one
No part of her but was dusty-haired or white-blazed,
that shed its bristles, or one whose tusk was breaking out and sprouting.
Prickly with thorn-bushes or cleft of hoof
ومرْتٍand many a barren waste إذاwhen أمسىspent the evening بهِin it القومُthe people أعظمَتْmagnified
ومرْتٍ إذا أمسى بهِ القومُ أعظمَتْ
مَخاقَتَهمْtheir fear أهوالُهُits terrors وغوائلُهْand its lurking perils
مَخاقَتَهمْ أهوالُهُ وغوائلُهْ
And many a barren waste, where, when people spent the evening,
When the clan spent a night with her, their close friendship
its terrors and lurking perils magnified their fear,
Was destroyed by her terrors and calamities
تأوّلتُI interpreted آياتٍsigns بهِin it ورمَيْنَهُand they traversed it
تأوّلتُ آياتٍ بهِ ورمَيْنَهُ
بمِردىwith a conqueror سِفارٍof journeys ابنُaged عامَيْنِtwo years بازلُهْits mature tusk
بمِردى سِفارٍ ابنُ عامَيْنِ بازلُهْ
I read signs there, and they plunged into it
I interpreted tokens concerning her and kept track of them
with a journey-conquering beast, its mature tusk two years old,
With the spying of a boy of two years - his observing was weak
بأتلعَwith a long-necked beast فَعْمِfull in المنكبَيْنِthe shoulders تقابلَتْcame together
بأتلعَ فَعْمِ المنكبَيْنِ تقابلَتْ
عليهِupon it المهارىthe Mahri camels أروعُkeen القلبِof heart جاهلُهْits unruly nature
عليهِ المهارى أروعُ القلبِ جاهلُهْ
a long-necked, full-shouldered beast, in whose breeding met
With a neck curved like a ladle, the horsemen
Mahri camels—keen-hearted, yet headstrong.
competed for her, the most valiant of heart, ignorant
إذاwhen قلتُI said جاهٍJah! (camel-driving cry) لَجَّit persisted حتىuntil يرُدَّهُchecked it
إذا قلتُ جاهٍ لَجَّ حتى يرُدَّهُ
مِراسٌhard handling ومكِيٌّand a Meccan whip تأوَّبَreturned repeatedly جادِلُهْits plaiter
مِراسٌ ومكِيٌّ تأوَّبَ جادِلُهْ
When I cry 'Jah!' it persists, until it is checked by
When I said she belonged to a tribe, she turned aside
hard handling and a Meccan whip, repeatedly worked by its plaiter.
Until a horseman of Mikhy guided her back
كأنّيas though I ورَحليand my saddle فوقَabove جأبٍa stout wild ass خلاlay free لهُfor him
كأنّي ورَحلي فوقَ جأبٍ خلا لهُ
وإلفَيْهِand his two mates جَنْباthe two flanks صارةٍof Sarah فجُلاجِلُهْand then its Julajil
وإلفَيْهِ جَنْبا صارةٍ فجُلاجِلُهْ
It is as though I and my saddle rode a stout wild ass, with free range for him
As though I and my camel-litter were above a desolate valley
and his two mates on the flanks of Sarah and its Julajil,
While the sides of her saddle-frame were breaking apart
رِباعٍfour-year-old نفىdrove away عنهاfrom her وعنهُand from him جِحاشَهاher foals
رِباعٍ نفى عنها وعنهُ جِحاشَها
فماso not هنَّthey إلاّexcept مُلْمِعاتٍpregnant females قَتائلُهْhis victims
فما هنَّ إلاّ مُلْمِعاتٍ قَتائلُهْ
a four-year-old that drove her foals away from her and himself;
A pasture that denied both her and her leanness
they were only pregnant females, his victims,
So that they were nothing but brightly gleaming, deadly weapons
شهورَthe months الندىof dew حتىuntil إذاwhen هاجَrose ناصلٌa stripping heat
شهورَ الندى حتى إذا هاجَ ناصلٌ
عليهِover him ورامَتْهُand aimed at him بصُرْمِwith estrangement حَلائلُهْhis mates
عليهِ ورامَتْهُ بصُرْمِ حَلائلُهْ
through the dewy months, until the stripping heat rose
For months of dew, until a companion came to her
over him, and his mates sought to break away from him.
And her eyes glanced at him sharply
غداset off فيamong ثلاثٍthree مُرْبِعاًmaking a fourth لاحقَlean in الحشاthe belly
غدا في ثلاثٍ مُرْبِعاً لاحقَ الحشا
إذاwhen هوhe أمسىreached evening راجعَتْهُreturned to him أفاكِلُهْhis shudders
إذا هو أمسى راجعَتْهُ أفاكِلُهْ
He set off among three, making a fourth, lean-flanked;
Next day she was speeding after wild donkeys
when evening came, his shudders returned.
By evening they had turned her back, defeated
فظلَّthen he stayed بآرامَat the cairns النُّوَيْرِof al-Nuwayr كأنّهُas though he
فظلَّ بآرامَ النُّوَيْرِ كأنّهُ
رَبِيئةُa lookout قومٍof a people خائفُfearful القلبِat heart واجلُهْits trembling
رَبِيئةُ قومٍ خائفُ القلبِ واجلُهْ
Then he stayed by the cairns of al-Nuwayr, as though he were
She remained standing still among Nu'ayr's hills
a people's lookout, fearful and trembling at heart.
Like a people in fear with cowardly hearts
فلمّاand when رأيْنَthey saw الليلَthe night جِنْحاًin gathering darkness وقدْand indeed بداbecame clear
فلمّا رأيْنَ الليلَ جِنْحاً وقدْ بدا
لهاto her ولهُand to him الأمرُthe matter الذيthat هوhe فاعلُهْdoing it
لها ولهُ الأمرُ الذي هو فاعلُهْ
When they saw the night darken, and it became clear
When she saw the wing of night spreading
to her and him what he was about to do,
She did what she did - and it was up to her
تيمَّمَheaded for عَيناًa spring منin أُثالَUthal رَوِيّةًwell-watered
تيمَّمَ عَيناً من أُثالَ رَوِيّةً
عليهاat it أخوa man of بِيدٍdeserts شديدٍfierce خصائلُهْhis traits
عليها أخو بِيدٍ شديدٍ خصائلُهْ
he headed for a plentiful spring at Uthal,
She made for the tents of Rawiya's clan
beside which was a desert man, fierce in his nature.
Where a brother of Bayd had a firm character
يُعَشِّرُhe brays ten times فيin تَقريبِهِhis canter وإذاand when انتحىhe bore down
يُعَشِّرُ في تَقريبِهِ وإذا انتحى
عليهنَّupon them منfrom قُفٍّa rocky ridge أرنَتْrang out جَنادلُهْits stones
عليهنَّ من قُفٍّ أرنَتْ جَنادلُهْ
He brays ten times as he canters, and when he bears down
He covered them at mating time and when he withdrew
on them from a rocky ridge, its stones ring out.
From them, the clattering tent-poles moaned
وأوقدْنَand they kindled نيرانَthe fires الحُباحِبِof al-Hubahib والتقىand clashed
وأوقدْنَ نيرانَ الحُباحِبِ والتقى
حصىًpebbles يتراقىrises بينهنَّbetween them ولاوِلُهْtheir clamor
حصىً يتراقى بينهنَّ ولاوِلُهْ
They kindle the fires of al-Hubahib, and there clash
They kindled the fires of lovemaking and the sparks flew
pebbles, their clamor rising between them.
Between them, while the cooking-pots boiled over
إذاwhen قلنَthey said كلاّno قالَhe said والنَّقْعُand the dust ساطعٌrising
إذا قلنَ كلاّ قالَ والنَّقْعُ ساطعٌ
بلىyes وهْوَwhile he واهٍslack بالجِراءِfrom running أباجلُهْhis leg-veins
بلى وهْوَ واهٍ بالجِراءِ أباجلُهْ
When they say 'No,' he says, as the dust rises,
When they said "No more!" he said "Yes!" and the branding irons flashed
'Yes!' though his leg-veins are slack from running.
"Indeed," while he was confused by the open spaces and dunes
وإنْand if أسهلَhe reached level ground اسْتَتْلَيْنَthey drew behind them نَقعاًdust كأنّهُas though it
وإنْ أسهلَ اسْتَتْلَيْنَ نَقعاً كأنّهُ
شَماطيطُshreds كتّانٍof linen تطيرُfly رَعابلُهْits tatters
شَماطيطُ كتّانٍ تطيرُ رَعابلُهْ
If he reaches level ground, they draw dust behind them, like
And when he made it easy, they extracted a branding
shreds of linen whose tatters fly.
As though it were tufts of flax their awls plucked out
فأوردَهاso he brought her to water والليلُwhile the night نَصفانُwas half-spent بعدَماafter
فأوردَها والليلُ نَصفانُ بعدَما
علاهاcovered her حميمٌhot sweat ماnot رعَتْهُtended it (unclear here) شُلاشِلُهْits trickling streams
علاها حميمٌ ما رعَتْهُ شُلاشِلُهْ
He brought her to water at midnight, after
He brought her when night was halfway gone, after
hot sweat had covered her, untended by its rivulets [wording unclear].
Fervent passion had induced in her what her ragings could not
يرَيْنَthey see نجومَthe stars الليلِof night فيهاin it كأنّهاas though they
يرَيْنَ نجومَ الليلِ فيها كأنّها
مصابيحُlights مِحرابٍof a sanctuary تُذَكّىare kept burning قنادلُهْits lamps
مصابيحُ مِحرابٍ تُذَكّى قنادلُهْ
They see the night stars in it, as though they were
She could see the stars of night in her as though they were
lights in a sanctuary whose lamps are kept burning.
Lamps being fueled in a prayer-niche and its candles lit
وفيand on الجانبِthe side الأدنىthe nearer الذيwhich ليسnot ضربةًa thrust
وفي الجانبِ الأدنى الذي ليس ضربةً
برمحٍwith a spear بلىyes حَرّانُa parched man زُرقٌblue مَعابلُهْhis arrowheads
برمحٍ بلى حَرّانُ زُرقٌ مَعابلُهْ
On the nearer bank, not within a thrust
On her nearer side which no spear-thrust reached
of a spear—yes, a parched man, his arrowheads blue,
But hot-brandings, blue, opposite each other
مُطِلٌّlooking out بمَنحاةٍfrom a secluded spot لهُhe has فيin شِمالِهِhis left hand
مُطِلٌّ بمَنحاةٍ لهُ في شِمالِهِ
رَنينٌa twang إذاwhen ماever حرَّكتْهاmoved it أناملُهْhis fingertips
رَنينٌ إذا ما حرَّكتْها أناملُهْ
watching from a place apart; in his left hand,
Aiming with a branding-iron which, when he moved
a twang whenever his fingertips move it.
His fingers, gave out a humming sound
فَصَوَّبْنَso they lowered أعناناًnecks وأدنَيْنَand drew near أذرُعاًforelegs
فَصَوَّبْنَ أعناناً وأدنَيْنَ أذرُعاً
إليهنَّtoward themselves والجَرْعand the gulping انتهازاًeagerly تُداخلُهْcrowded into it
إليهنَّ والجَرْع انتهازاً تُداخلُهْ
They lowered their necks and drew their forelegs
They guided the halters and moved the fore-arms
toward themselves, haste crowding into their gulping.
Toward them, seizing the occasion of mating eagerly
رمىshot at العَيرُthe wild ass أذْناهُits nearest part علىtoward الفُقْرةِthe vertebra التيwhich
رمى العَيرُ أذْناهُ على الفُقْرةِ التي
تَليهِis nearest him وأدنىand nearest النَّجْبِthe fine beasts منهُto him مَقاتلُهْits vital spots
تَليهِ وأدنى النَّجْبِ منهُ مَقاتلُهْ
He shot at the ass's nearest part, toward the vertebra
The side of his ear touched her spine
facing him, the fine beast's vital spots nearest to him.
And the lower part of his throat met her deadly blows
فمَرَّthen it passed تُحَيْتَjust beneath المَرفقَيْنِthe elbows وصدَّهُand deflected it
فمَرَّ تُحَيْتَ المَرفقَيْنِ وصدَّهُ
عنِfrom الجَوفِthe belly إنْif لمْnot يلقَhe met حتفاًa death يُعاجلُهْovertaking him
عنِ الجَوفِ إنْ لمْ يلقَ حتفاً يُعاجلُهْ
The arrow passed just beneath the elbows and was turned aside
It passed by the two elbows and he warded it
from his belly—unless a swift death should overtake him.
Off from his belly, if he did not meet sudden death
فياso, oh لكَfor you إخطاءًa miss وياand oh لكَfor you جَولةًa wheeling turn
فيا لكَ إخطاءً ويا لكَ جَولةً
وياand oh لكَfor you شدّاًa dash يَعْبِطُtears into الأكْمَthe hillocks وابِلُهْits downpour
ويا لكَ شدّاً يَعْبِطُ الأكْمَ وابِلُهْ
What a miss! What a wheeling turn!
Oh what a mistake! What a going astray!
And what a dash, its downpour tearing into the hillocks!
What strength to wrench bones and shed their joints!
كماjust as انقضَّswooped دَرِيٌّa brilliant star علىupon مُتَعَفْرِتٍa demon
كما انقضَّ دَرِيٌّ على مُتَعَفْرِتٍ
رجيمٍaccursed تَدرَّىstalked وحيَa whisper سمعٍa sound يُخائلُهْtantalizes him
رجيمٍ تَدرَّى وحيَ سمعٍ يُخائلُهْ
As a brilliant star swoops upon a demon,
As a wild ass charged down on a reddish camel, sniffing her urine,
accursed, stalking a whispered sound that tantalizes him.
While the voice of a fool harangued him to release her
أذلكَis it that أمْor ذَبُّrestless الرِّيادِin grazing خلاlay free لهُfor him
أذلكَ أمْ ذَبُّ الرِّيادِ خلا لهُ
لوىًa sand-bend وكثيبٌand a dune مُزْبَئِرٌّbristling خمائلُهْhis shaggy tufts
لوىً وكثيبٌ مُزْبَئِرٌّ خمائلُهْ
Is it that, or a restless grazing bull, with all to himself
Or was it the slavering desire, having an opportunity,
a sand-bend and a dune, his shaggy tufts bristling?
For him - with his neck twisted and his forelock dishevelled?
رعىgrazed الخَطراتِthe shoots الحُوَّthe dark-green ones فرْداًalone كأنّهُas though he
رعى الخَطراتِ الحُوَّ فرْداً كأنّهُ
حسامٌa sword جلاcleared أطباعَthe rust مَتْنَيْهِof its two faces صاقِلُهْits polisher
حسامٌ جلا أطباعَ مَتْنَيْهِ صاقِلُهْ
He grazed the dark-green shoots alone, as though he were
He pastured on dangerous places alone, as though he were
a sword whose polisher had cleared the rust from both its faces.
A polished sword that had cast off the sheathings of its blade
طَباهُdrew him away عنِfrom الأُلاّفِthe companions أيامُdays سَلوةٍof carefree ease
طَباهُ عنِ الأُلاّفِ أيامُ سَلوةٍ
يُناطحُhe butts فيهاduring them ظِلَّهُhis shadow ويُخائِلُهْand toys with it
يُناطحُ فيها ظِلَّهُ ويُخائِلُهْ
Days of carefree ease drew him from his companions;
Days of tranquility corrupted him from gentle ways -
in them he butts his shadow and toys with it.
He contended with his shadow in them and his thoughts strayed
إذاwhenever رَيْدَةٌa gentle breeze منfrom حيثُwhere ماever نفحَتْblew لهُtoward him
إذا رَيْدَةٌ من حيثُ ما نفحَتْ لهُ
أتاهُcame to him برَيّاهاwith its fragrance خليلٌa companion يُواصلُهْkeeps close to him
أتاهُ برَيّاها خليلٌ يُواصلُهْ
Whenever a gentle breeze blew toward him from any quarter,
When a small blow from her assailed him, though he did not know
a companion came with its fragrance, keeping him company.
Where it came from, a friend brought him her wind, joined to him
غداset off والندىwhile the dew يَنصبُّstreams عنهُfrom him كأنّهُas though he
غدا والندى يَنصبُّ عنهُ كأنّهُ
فريدُpearls العذارىof the maidens ضيَّعَlost السِّلْكَthe thread ناصِلُهْits unstringer
فريدُ العذارى ضيَّعَ السِّلْكَ ناصِلُهْ
He set off, dew streaming from him, as though he were
Next morning the dew was streaming from him as though
the maidens' pearls, whose unstringer had lost the thread.
He were the single stallion who had lost the progeny of his ancestor
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.