ما عَهِدنا كَذا نَحيبَ المَشوقِ

ما عَهِدنا كَذا نَحيبَ المَشوقِ

كَيفَ وَالدَمعُ آيَةُ المَعشوقِ

كَيفَ وَالدَمعُ آيَةُ المَعشوقِ

Never have we known such lamentation from a yearning lover.

We are unaccustomed to hear the lover moan thus;

How so, when tears are the beloved's sign?

How could it be when tears betray the beloved's traces?

فَأَقِلّا التَعنيفَ إِنَّ غَراماً

فَأَقِلّا التَعنيفَ إِنَّ غَراماً

أَن يَكونَ الرَفيقُ غَيرَ رَفيقِ

أَن يَكونَ الرَفيقُ غَيرَ رَفيقِ

So both of you lessen your rebukes: it is torment

Reproach me little, for a love

when a companion is anything but gentle.

That its fellow be not a comrade.

وَاِستَميحا الجُفونَ دِرَّةُ دَمعٍ

وَاِستَميحا الجُفونَ دِرَّةُ دَمعٍ

في دُموعِ الفِراقِ غَيرِ لَصيقِ

في دُموعِ الفِراقِ غَيرِ لَصيقِ

And both of you seek from the eyelids a flow of tears

And lightly brush my eyes, pearl of a tear,

not foreign to the tears of separation.

For in the tears of parting it will not stick.

إِنَّ مَن عَقَّ والِدَيهِ لِمَلعو

إِنَّ مَن عَقَّ والِدَيهِ لِمَلعو

نٌ وَمَن عَقَّ مَنزِلاً بِالعَقيقِ

نٌ وَمَن عَقَّ مَنزِلاً بِالعَقيقِ

Whoever defies his parents is surely accursed,

Whoever disobeys his parents is dissolute,

and so is whoever forsakes a dwelling at al-Aqiq.

And whoever disobeys a home in al-‘Aqeeq.

فَقِفا العيسَ مُلقِياتِ المَثاني

فَقِفا العيسَ مُلقِياتِ المَثاني

في مَحَلِّ الأَنيقِ مَغنى الأَنيقِ

في مَحَلِّ الأَنيقِ مَغنى الأَنيقِ

So halt the pale camels, laying down their folded limbs,

So stop, singers, in the abode of the gentle,

at the lovely one's abode, the lovely one's dwelling.

The singing of the gentle in the place of the gentle.

إِن يَكُن رَثَّ مِن أُناسٍ بِهِم كا

إِن يَكُن رَثَّ مِن أُناسٍ بِهِم كا

نَ يُداوى شَوقي وَيَسلُسُ ريقي

نَ يُداوى شَوقي وَيَسلُسُ ريقي

If it has grown shabby, bereft of people through whom

She whose necklace at the hour of estrangement is not knitted

my yearning was healed and my saliva flowed easily.

And whose waist is not belted tightly.

هُم أَماتوا صَبري وَهُم فَرَّقوا نَف

هُم أَماتوا صَبري وَهُم فَرَّقوا نَف

سي مِنهُم في إِثرِ ذاكَ الفَريقِ

سي مِنهُم في إِثرِ ذاكَ الفَريقِ

They killed my patience, and they tore my soul

The rivulets flow as if in her cheek,

away from them, in the wake of that band.

Pure water and red ‘Aqeeq.

إِنَّ في خَيمِهِم لَمُفعَمَةَ الحِج

إِنَّ في خَيمِهِم لَمُفعَمَةَ الحِج

لَينِ وَالمَتنُ مَتنُ خوطٍ وَريقِ

لَينِ وَالمَتنُ مَتنُ خوطٍ وَريقِ

In their tents is one who fills both anklets,

She is like a gazelle, but sometimes

while her back is the stem of a leafy shoot.

The touch of hunter rests on her side.

وَهيَ لا عَقدُ وُدِّها ساعَةَ البَي

وَهيَ لا عَقدُ وُدِّها ساعَةَ البَي

نِ وَلا عَقدُ خَصرِها بِوَثيقِ

نِ وَلا عَقدُ خَصرِها بِوَثيقِ

With her, neither the knot of her love at the hour of parting

Pelted at Sa‘eed’s father, knight of Rome

nor the knot about her waist is secure.

United in perfect accord.

وَكَأَنَّ الجَريالَ يَجري بِماءِ الدُ

وَكَأَنَّ الجَريالَ يَجري بِماءِ الدُ

رِّ في خَدِّها وَماءِ العَقيقِ

رِّ في خَدِّها وَماءِ العَقيقِ

And it is as though red wine flows with the water of pearls

With smooth spear and bright gold

in her cheek, and with the water of carnelian.

In us and the most genteel raiment.

وَهِيَ كَالظَبيَةِ النَوارِ وَلَكِن

وَهِيَ كَالظَبيَةِ النَوارِ وَلَكِن

رُبَّما أَمكَنَت جَناةُ السَحوقِ

رُبَّما أَمكَنَت جَناةُ السَحوقِ

She is like the skittish doe, yet

In a troop clothed in the weaving of Siloq,

sometimes the towering palm's fruit comes within reach.

Who at dawn [Silook’s] dogs pursue.

رُمِيَت مِن أَبي سَعيدٍ صَفاةُ ال

رُمِيَت مِن أَبي سَعيدٍ صَفاةُ ال

رومِ جَمعاً بِالصَيلَمِ الخَنفَقيقِ

رومِ جَمعاً بِالصَيلَمِ الخَنفَقيقِ

By Abu Sa'id the solid rock of the Romans was struck,

They share in battle a cup of death,

all at once, by a mighty, far-ranging host.

While she is bound to a cup of wine.

بِالأَسيلِ الغِطريفِ وَالذَهَبِ الإِب

بِالأَسيلِ الغِطريفِ وَالذَهَبِ الإِب

ريزِ فينا وَالأَروَعِ الغِرنيقِ

ريزِ فينا وَالأَروَعِ الغِرنيقِ

By that smooth-cheeked noble, that pure gold

She trod the plain’s borders until

among us, that splendid, handsome youth.

She took her due from the open field,

في كُماةٍ يُكسَونَ نَسجَ السَلوقِيِّ

في كُماةٍ يُكسَونَ نَسجَ السَلوقِيِّ

وَتَغدو بِهِم كِلابُ سَلوقِ

وَتَغدو بِهِم كِلابُ سَلوقِ

Among armored warriors clad in Saluqi-woven mail,

The whips enflamed her until she roared

with Saluq's hounds setting out with them at dawn.

When freed towards the wide plain,

يَتَساقَونَ في الوَغى كَأسَ مَوتٍ

يَتَساقَونَ في الوَغى كَأسَ مَوتٍ

وَهيَ مَوصولَةٌ بِكَأسِ رَحيقِ

وَهيَ مَوصولَةٌ بِكَأسِ رَحيقِ

They give one another, in battle, a cup of death,

He drove her as booty, and when she was declared lawful

and it is joined to a cup of pure wine.

By kisses, [he rode] every plain and grove.

وَطِئَت هامَةَ الضَواحي إِلى أَن

وَطِئَت هامَةَ الضَواحي إِلى أَن

أَخَذَت حَقَّها مِنَ الفَيدوقِ

أَخَذَت حَقَّها مِنَ الفَيدوقِ

They trampled the crown of the borderlands until

He marched straightforward into war, raising

they took their due from al-Fayduq.

A towering flame unto Byzantium,

أَلهَبَتها السِياطُ حَتّى إِذا اِستَنَّ

أَلهَبَتها السِياطُ حَتّى إِذا اِستَنَّ

ت بِإِطلاقِها عَلى الناطَلوقِ

ت بِإِطلاقِها عَلى الناطَلوقِ

Whips set them afire, until, when they raced,

Advising the king and the righteous sovereign,

let loose upon al-Nataluq,

And the kingdom without the counsel of a sincere adviser.

سَنَّها شُزَّباً فَلَمّا اِستَباحَت

سَنَّها شُزَّباً فَلَمّا اِستَباحَت

بِالقُبُلّاتِ كُلَّ سَهبٍ وَنيقِ

بِالقُبُلّاتِ كُلَّ سَهبٍ وَنيقِ

he urged them on, lean; and when they overran

And of old was it deduced that obeying the Creator

every plain and peak at al-Qubullat,

Is naught but from obeying the created.

سارَ مُستَقدِماً إِلى البَأسِ يُزجي

سارَ مُستَقدِماً إِلى البَأسِ يُزجي

رَهَجاً باسِقاً إِلى الإِبسيقِ

رَهَجاً باسِقاً إِلى الإِبسيقِ

he advanced into battle, driving

Then he threw himself into the fray of Brusa

a towering dust-cloud toward al-Ibsiq.

Carrying the auspices and success,

ناصِحاً لِلمَليكِ وَالمَلِكِ القا

ناصِحاً لِلمَليكِ وَالمَلِكِ القا

ئِمِ وَالمُلكِ غَيرَ نُصحِ مَذيقِ

ئِمِ وَالمُلكِ غَيرَ نُصحِ مَذيقِ

Loyal to the Sovereign and the reigning king,

He disturbed its market, and left in it

and to the realm, with no dissembler's loyalty.

A market of death that darkened every market,

وَقَديماً ما اِستُنبِطَت طاعَةُ الخا

وَقَديماً ما اِستُنبِطَت طاعَةُ الخا

لِقِ إِلّا مِن طاعَةِ المَخلوقِ

لِقِ إِلّا مِن طاعَةِ المَخلوقِ

From of old, obedience to the Creator was never drawn

They fled between the flames of the sword

except from obedience to the created.

Fleeing, and between the fires of burning,

ثُمَّ أَلقى عَلى دَرَولِيَةَ البَر

ثُمَّ أَلقى عَلى دَرَولِيَةَ البَر

كَ مُحِلّاً بِاليُمنِ وَالتَوفيقِ

كَ مُحِلّاً بِاليُمنِ وَالتَوفيقِ

Then upon Darawliyah he laid his breast,

Finding refuge in the Gulf what he never found before

encamping with good fortune and success.

Either for or without provision,

فَحَوى سوقَها وَغادَرَ فيها

فَحَوى سوقَها وَغادَرَ فيها

سوقَ مَوتٍ طَمَت عَلى كُلِّ سوقِ

سوقَ مَوتٍ طَمَت عَلى كُلِّ سوقِ

So he captured its market and left within it

After the decree, nothing prevented him

a market of death overflowing every market.

Except a thin screen of land,

فَهُمُ هارِبونَ بَينَ حَريقِ السَ

فَهُمُ هارِبونَ بَينَ حَريقِ السَ

يفِ صَلتاً وَبَينَ نارِ الحَريقِ

يفِ صَلتاً وَبَينَ نارِ الحَريقِ

They flee between the blaze of the sword,

And if the steeds had not disobeyed him

unsheathed, and the fire of the conflagration.

He had naught but the distant and far,

واجِداً بِالخَليجِ ما لَم يَجِد قَطُّ

واجِداً بِالخَليجِ ما لَم يَجِد قَطُّ

بِما شانَ لا وَلا بِالرَزيقِ

بِما شانَ لا وَلا بِالرَزيقِ

Finding at al-Khalij what he had never found

An earthquake that shook the city of Constantine

at Mashan—no, nor at al-Raziq.

Until it shook with the cracks of buttresses,

لَم يَعُقهُ بَعدَ المَقاديرِ عَنهُ

لَم يَعُقهُ بَعدَ المَقاديرِ عَنهُ

غَيرُ سِترٍ مِنَ البِلادِ رَقيقِ

غَيرُ سِترٍ مِنَ البِلادِ رَقيقِ

Nothing apart from fate's decrees kept him from it

By the rights of the canal upon him, an oath

except a thin screen of land.

More cutting than the sharp edged sword,

وَلَوَ اَنَّ الجِيادَ لَم تَعصِهِ كا

وَلَوَ اَنَّ الجِيادَ لَم تَعصِهِ كا

نَ لَدَيهِ غَيرَ البَعيدِ السَحيقِ

نَ لَدَيهِ غَيرَ البَعيدِ السَحيقِ

Had the fine horses not disobeyed him,

That if the arm pulled together its strength

it would have been at hand, not distant and far removed.

Or the eye of an arrow above

وَقعَةٌ زَعزَعَت مَدينَةَ قُسطَن

وَقعَةٌ زَعزَعَت مَدينَةَ قُسطَن

طينَ حَتّى اِرتَجَّت بِسورِ فُروقِ

طينَ حَتّى اِرتَجَّت بِسورِ فُروقِ

A battle shook the city of Constantine,

It would not see its lock as they claimed

until it quaked, together with Furuq's wall.

Nor the sea beneath it, however deep,

وَوَحَقِّ القَنا عَلَيهِ يَميناً

وَوَحَقِّ القَنا عَلَيهِ يَميناً

هِيَ أَمضى مِنَ الحُسامِ الفَتيقِ

هِيَ أَمضى مِنَ الحُسامِ الفَتيقِ

And by the lances' claim upon him, I swear an oath

Other than the tightness of ribs in the moment of attack

keener than the broad-bladed sword:

And no straitness after the narrowness,

أَن لَو اَنَّ الذِراعَ شَدَّت قُواها

أَن لَو اَنَّ الذِراعَ شَدَّت قُواها

عَضُدٌ أَو أُعينَ سَهمٌ بِفوقِ

عَضُدٌ أَو أُعينَ سَهمٌ بِفوقِ

had the forearm's strength been reinforced

Vanishing of voice in the moment of command and prohibition

by an upper arm, or an arrow been aided by a nock,

When the neighing of steed diminishes,

ما رَأى قُفلَها كَما زَعَموا قُف

ما رَأى قُفلَها كَما زَعَموا قُف

لاً وَلا البَحرَ دونَها بِعَميقِ

لاً وَلا البَحرَ دونَها بِعَميقِ

he would not have seen its lock, as they claimed, as a lock,

How many captives of their elite and slain

nor the sea before it as deep.

Repelling the garb with blood like tattoo,

غَيرُ ضَنكِ الضُلوعِ في ساعَةِ الرَو

غَيرُ ضَنكِ الضُلوعِ في ساعَةِ الرَو

عِ وَلا ضَيِّقٌ غَداةَ المَضيقِ

عِ وَلا ضَيِّقٌ غَداةَ المَضيقِ

He is not tight-chested in the hour of terror,

Seeking help from the patriarch in vain - and does one ask

nor constricted on the morning of distress.

Save the silent patriarch?

ذاهِبُ الصَوتِ ساعَةَ الأَمرِ وَالنَه

ذاهِبُ الصَوتِ ساعَةَ الأَمرِ وَالنَه

يِ إِذا قَلَّ ثُمَّ هَدرُ الفَنيقِ

يِ إِذا قَلَّ ثُمَّ هَدرُ الفَنيقِ

Far-carrying is his voice at the hour of command and prohibition,

And a taker who saw death until

when the prized camel's bellow is rare there.

He spoke in truth though untruthful,

كَم أَسيرٍ مِن سِرِّهِم وَقَتيلٍ

كَم أَسيرٍ مِن سِرِّهِم وَقَتيلٍ

رادِعِ الثَوبِ مِن دَمٍ كَالخَلوقِ

رادِعِ الثَوبِ مِن دَمٍ كَالخَلوقِ

How many a captive from their elite, and a slain man,

Standing for truth, addressing creation though

his robe stained with blood like saffron perfume!

By my life, he is insincere with truth,

يَستَغيثُ البِطريقَ جَهلاً وَهَل تَط

يَستَغيثُ البِطريقَ جَهلاً وَهَل تَط

لُبُ إِلّا مُبَطرِقَ البِطريقِ

لُبُ إِلّا مُبَطرِقَ البِطريقِ

He foolishly seeks the patrician's aid; yet do you seek

An advisor though not serious in counsel,

anyone but the man who made the patrician one?

Compassionate though not serious in compassion,

وَأَخيذٍ رَأى المَنِيَّةَ حَتّى

وَأَخيذٍ رَأى المَنِيَّةَ حَتّى

قالَ بِالصِدقِ وَهوَ غَيرُ صَدوقِ

قالَ بِالصِدقِ وَهوَ غَيرُ صَدوقِ

And many a captive saw death so close

Showing piety until he disobeyed kin - piety

that he spoke the truth, though no truthful man.

In religion is under that disobedience.

قامَ بِالحَقِّ يَخطُبُ الخَلقَ وَالأَش

قامَ بِالحَقِّ يَخطُبُ الخَلقَ وَالأَش

قى لَعَمري بِالحَقِّ غَيرُ حَقيقِ

قى لَعَمري بِالحَقِّ غَيرُ حَقيقِ

He stood proclaiming truth to the people, yet that most wretched man

So he ransomed himself with each horse

was, by my life, unworthy of truth.

And neigh in his land and snort,

ناصِحٌ وَهوَ غَيرُ جِدِّ نَصيحٍ

ناصِحٌ وَهوَ غَيرُ جِدِّ نَصيحٍ

مُشفِقٌ وَهوَ غَيرُ جِدِّ شَفيقِ

مُشفِقٌ وَهوَ غَيرُ جِدِّ شَفيقِ

Sincere, though not genuinely sincere;

Of the wealth of kings that gives the eye its pleasure

compassionate, though not genuinely compassionate.

Then the finest of the fine slaves.

بَرَّ حَتّى عَقَّ الأَقارِبَ إِنَّ ال

بَرَّ حَتّى عَقَّ الأَقارِبَ إِنَّ ال

بِرَّ بِالدَينِ تَحتَ ذاكَ العُقوقِ

بِرَّ بِالدَينِ تَحتَ ذاكَ العُقوقِ

He became dutiful until he defied his kin; indeed,

None of their elders followed them

devotion to the faith lies beneath that disobedience.

Nor did the love of hearts necessitate separation.

فَفَدى نَفسَهُ بِكُلِّ شَوارٍ

فَفَدى نَفسَهُ بِكُلِّ شَوارٍ

وَصَهيلٍ في أَرضِهِ وَنَهيقِ

وَصَهيلٍ في أَرضِهِ وَنَهيقِ

So he ransomed himself with every household furnishing

Then you marched against the usurpers, man after man,

and every neigh and bray in his land,

With striking and burning.

مِن مَتاعِ المُلكِ الَّذي يُمتِعُ العَي

مِن مَتاعِ المُلكِ الَّذي يُمتِعُ العَي

نَ بِهِ ثُمَّ مِن رَقيقِ الرَقيقِ

نَ بِهِ ثُمَّ مِن رَقيقِ الرَقيقِ

from royal possessions that delight the eye,

The difference between them and the associators

and then from the delicate among the slaves.

Is like the difference between a club and peg,

لَم تَبِعهُم مِنهُم كِباراً وَلا صَدَّ

لَم تَبِعهُم مِنهُم كِباراً وَلا صَدَّ

عتَ حَبَّ القُلوبِ بِالتَفريقِ

عتَ حَبَّ القُلوبِ بِالتَفريقِ

You did not sell the adults among them, nor did you

What thing except hopes between unbelief -

split the cores of hearts by separation.

If they thought - and immorality?

ثُمَّ ناهَضتَ في الغُلولِ رِجالاً

ثُمَّ ناهَضتَ في الغُلولِ رِجالاً

وَرِجالاً بِالضَربِ وَالتَحريقِ

وَرِجالاً بِالضَربِ وَالتَحريقِ

Then you confronted men over stolen spoils,

The meadows of Aqarqus were not roused

and other men with blows and burning.

From a breeze to tumult and moaning,

فَرقُ ما بَينَهُم وَبَينَ ذَوي الإِش

فَرقُ ما بَينَهُم وَبَينَ ذَوي الإِش

راكِ كَالفَرقِ بَينَ نوكٍ وَموقِ

راكِ كَالفَرقِ بَينَ نوكٍ وَموقِ

The difference between them and the polytheists

Religion wailed and called for your help,

is like the difference between folly and stupidity.

Islam called for victory like one drowning.

أَيُّ شَيءٍ إِلّا الأَمانِيُّ بَينَ ال

أَيُّ شَيءٍ إِلّا الأَمانِيُّ بَينَ ال

كُفرِ لَو فَكَّروا وَبَينَ الفُسوقِ

كُفرِ لَو فَكَّروا وَبَينَ الفُسوقِ

What, except wishful hopes, lies between unbelief—

The day of Bakr ibn Wa’il with champions,

if they reflected—and transgression?

Not the day of the fire-worshipping heathen,

وَبَوادي عَقَرقُسٍ لَم تُعَرِّد

وَبَوادي عَقَرقُسٍ لَم تُعَرِّد

عَن رَسيمٍ إِلى الوَغى وَعَنيقِ

عَن رَسيمٍ إِلى الوَغى وَعَنيقِ

And in the valley of Aqarqus you did not draw back

The day of the severed necks, that and this day

from a brisk trot toward battle and a swift stride.

In Rome, the day of severed gullets,

جَأَرَ الدينُ وَاِستَغاثَ بِكَ الإِس

جَأَرَ الدينُ وَاِستَغاثَ بِكَ الإِس

لامُ لِلنَصرِ مُستَغاثَ الغَريقِ

لامُ لِلنَصرِ مُستَغاثَ الغَريقِ

The faith cried aloud, and Islam sought your aid

He fed the sword half of them and threw the half

for victory, with the plea of a drowning man.

With the view of the expert carpenter,

يَومُ بَكرِ بنِ وائِلٍ بِقِضاتٍ

يَومُ بَكرِ بنِ وائِلٍ بِقِضاتٍ

دونَ يَومِ المُحَمَّرِ الزِنديقِ

دونَ يَومِ المُحَمَّرِ الزِنديقِ

Bakr ibn Wa'il's day at Qidat

And they clamoured as if he threw them

falls short of the day of the red-clad heretic.

With that device from the mangonel,

يَومُ حَلقِ اللِمّاتِ ذاكَ وَهَذا ال

يَومُ حَلقِ اللِمّاتِ ذاكَ وَهَذا ال

يَومُ في الرومِ يَومُ حَلقِ الحُلوقِ

يَومُ في الرومِ يَومُ حَلقِ الحُلوقِ

That was a day of shaving locks, but this

By the Lord of the Ancient House he demolished

day among the Romans is a day of shaving throats.

The pillar of their ancient misguidance,

أَطعَمَ السَيفَ نِصفَهُم وَرَمى النِص

أَطعَمَ السَيفَ نِصفَهُم وَرَمى النِص

فَ بِرَأيٍ صافي النِجارِ عَريقِ

فَ بِرَأيٍ صافي النِجارِ عَريقِ

He fed half of them to the sword, and struck the other half

They stole them from the swords and from the height

with a judgment pure in stock and deep-rooted.

Of lofty nights of the thief,

وَأَصاخوا كَأَنَّما كانَ يَرمي

وَأَصاخوا كَأَنَّما كانَ يَرمي

هِم بِذاكَ التَدبيرِ مِن مَنجَنيقِ

هِم بِذاكَ التَدبيرِ مِن مَنجَنيقِ

And they listened intently, as though he were pelting

Your preceding and subsequent raid exalted

them with that strategy from a catapult.

While speech remains inadequate,

فَوَرَبِّ البَيتِ العَتيقِ لَقَد طَح

فَوَرَبِّ البَيتِ العَتيقِ لَقَد طَح

طَحتَ مِنهُم رُكنَ الضَلالِ العَتيقِ

طَحتَ مِنهُم رُكنَ الضَلالِ العَتيقِ

By the Lord of the Ancient House, you have indeed smashed

When the sky's skin is not green

their age-old pillar of error.

And the face of winter not bright,

سَرَقوهُم مِنَ السُيوفِ وَمِن سُم

سَرَقوهُم مِنَ السُيوفِ وَمِن سُم

رِ العَوالي لَيالِيَ الساروقِ

رِ العَوالي لَيالِيَ الساروقِ

They stole them away from the swords and from the brown

You orphaned their small with the great, despite

lofty spears, on the nights of al-Saruq.

Their scheming, before daybreak,

كَرُمَت غَزوَتاكَ بِالأَمسِ وَالخَي

كَرُمَت غَزوَتاكَ بِالأَمسِ وَالخَي

لُ دِقاقٌ وَالخَطبُ غَيرُ دَقيقِ

لُ دِقاقٌ وَالخَطبُ غَيرُ دَقيقِ

Noble were your two raids yesterday, while the horses

How much it brought back from the land of delight -

were lean and the affair no slight one.

Of delight of the eye and fluttering glancing,

حينَ لا جِلدَةُ السَماءِ بِخَضرا

حينَ لا جِلدَةُ السَماءِ بِخَضرا

ءَ وَلا وَجهُ شَتوَةٍ بِطَليقِ

ءَ وَلا وَجهُ شَتوَةٍ بِطَليقِ

When the skin of the sky was not green,

Then it returned while you fear the concealing cloud

nor winter's face cheerful.

With thought and pounding heart,

أَورَثَت صاغِرى صَغاراً وَرَغماً

أَورَثَت صاغِرى صَغاراً وَرَغماً

وَقَضَت أَو قَضى قُبَيلَ الشُروقِ

وَقَضَت أَو قَضى قُبَيلَ الشُروقِ

It left Saghra humiliated and abased,

You do not care about lightning of white and red,

and it met its end—or he did—just before sunrise.

Rather you feared the lightning of lightning,

كَم أَفاءَت مِن أَرضِ قُرَّةَ مِن قُرَّ

كَم أَفاءَت مِن أَرضِ قُرَّةَ مِن قُرَّ

ةِ عَينٍ وَرَبرَبٍ مَرموقِ

ةِ عَينٍ وَرَبرَبٍ مَرموقِ

How much it brought as booty from Qurra's land—delight

You crave rain though it is the right of a beloved

for the eye, and a gazelle-herd much admired!

How many bundles during the hatred of an addict,

ثُمَّ آبَت وَأَنتَ خَوفَ الغَمامِ ال

ثُمَّ آبَت وَأَنتَ خَوفَ الغَمامِ ال

غَطِّ ذو فِكرَةٍ وَقَلبٍ خَفوقِ

غَطِّ ذو فِكرَةٍ وَقَلبٍ خَفوقِ

Then it returned, and you, in fear of the clouds—

You do not frighten with the harm of an enemy or injustice

the dense ones—were deep in thought, with a pounding heart.

Rather you fear the harm of a friend.

لا تُبالي بَوارِقَ البيضِ وَالسُم

لا تُبالي بَوارِقَ البيضِ وَالسُم

رِ وَلَكِن بالَيتَ لَمعَ البُروقِ

رِ وَلَكِن بالَيتَ لَمعَ البُروقِ

You heed not the flashes of white swords and brown

Your fine days against Rome

spears, yet you heeded the gleam of lightning.

Are red dawns, red sunrises,

تَشنَأُ الغَيثَ وَهوَ حَقُّ حَبيبٍ

تَشنَأُ الغَيثَ وَهوَ حَقُّ حَبيبٍ

رُبَّ حَزمٍ في بِغضَةِ المَوموقِ

رُبَّ حَزمٍ في بِغضَةِ المَوموقِ

You loathe the rain, though it is truly beloved;

Signs as if by spilled blood,

often prudence lies in hating what is cherished.

Days of ritual sacrifice and stoning.

لَم تَخَوَّف ضَرَّ العَدُوِّ وَلا بَغ

لَم تَخَوَّف ضَرَّ العَدُوِّ وَلا بَغ

ياً وَلَكِن تَخافُ ضَرَّ الصَديقِ

ياً وَلَكِن تَخافُ ضَرَّ الصَديقِ

You feared neither the enemy's harm nor

So refrain, O people of grudges, from dwelling

aggression, but you fear the friend's harm.

Among the lofty and steep passes,

إِنَّ أَيّامَكَ الحِسانَ مِنَ الرَو

إِنَّ أَيّامَكَ الحِسانَ مِنَ الرَو

مِ لَحُمرُ الصَبوحِ حُمرُ الغَبوقِ

مِ لَحُمرُ الصَبوحِ حُمرُ الغَبوقِ

Indeed, your glorious days against the Romans

Of pure birth, good upbringing,

are red at the morning draught, red at the evening draught.

And enlightened course of veins,

مُعلَماتٌ كَأَنَّها بِالدَمِ المُه

مُعلَماتٌ كَأَنَّها بِالدَمِ المُه

راقِ أَيّامُ النَحرِ وَالتَشريقِ

راقِ أَيّامُ النَحرِ وَالتَشريقِ

Marked out, as though with spilled blood

He does not make matters equal in pardoning

they were the days of sacrifice and Tashriq.

Nor incline except rightly upon the path.

فَإِلَيكُم بَني الضَغائِنَ عَن سا

فَإِلَيكُم بَني الضَغائِنَ عَن سا

كِن بَينِ السِماكِ وَالعَيّوقِ

كِن بَينِ السِماكِ وَالعَيّوقِ

Away with you, sons of rancor, from one who dwells

So be warned - for the creation of that Doer

between al-Simak and al-'Ayyuq,

Is unlike that creation indeed,

النَقِيِّ الوِلادَةِ الطَيِّبِ التُر

النَقِيِّ الوِلادَةِ الطَيِّبِ التُر

بَةِ وَالمُستَنيرِ مَسرى العُروقِ

بَةِ وَالمُستَنيرِ مَسرى العُروقِ

pure of birth and good of soil,

His wealth distracted him so he did not meet it

and radiant along the course of his veins.

Except as prey to rights,

لا يَجوزُ الأُمورَ صَفحاً وَلا يُر

لا يَجوزُ الأُمورَ صَفحاً وَلا يُر

قِلُ إِلّا عَلى سَواءِ الطَريقِ

قِلُ إِلّا عَلى سَواءِ الطَريقِ

He does not pass affairs by heedlessly, nor does he hasten

Wakeful though most heedless of people

except along the straight road.

Towards an obtainer of something stolen,

فَتَناهَوا إِنَّ الخَليقَ مِنَ القَو

فَتَناهَوا إِنَّ الخَليقَ مِنَ القَو

مِ لِذاكَ الفَعالِ غَيرُ خَليقِ

مِ لِذاكَ الفَعالِ غَيرُ خَليقِ

So desist: the worn-out one among the people

I and passion are infatuated with your love as long as I live

is not fit for such deeds.

And we flourish through you without waking,

مَلَكَت مالَهُ المَعالي فَما تَل

مَلَكَت مالَهُ المَعالي فَما تَل

قاهُ إِلّا فَريسَةً لِلحُقوقِ

قاهُ إِلّا فَريسَةً لِلحُقوقِ

Noble pursuits have taken possession of his wealth: you find it

My comfort is in praise what remains

only as prey to rightful claims.

Of an ability on my ruptured tongue,

يَقِظٌ وَهوَ أَكثَرُ الناسِ إِغضاءً

يَقِظٌ وَهوَ أَكثَرُ الناسِ إِغضاءً

عَلى نائِلٍ لَهُ مَسروقِ

عَلى نائِلٍ لَهُ مَسروقِ

Alert, yet of all men the readiest to turn a blind eye

So suffice with the blessing which is like love -

to a gift of his that is stolen.

No forsaker and no withholder,

أَنا وَلهانُ في وِدادِكَ ما عِش

أَنا وَلهانُ في وِدادِكَ ما عِش

تُ وَنَشوانُ فيكَ غَيرُ مُفيقِ

تُ وَنَشوانُ فيكَ غَيرُ مُفيقِ

I am distraught with love for you as long as I live,

Its owner feels safe from rebellion against it

and intoxicated with you, never sobering.

And it is in asylum from divorce.

راحَتي في الثَناءِ ما بَقِيَت لي

راحَتي في الثَناءِ ما بَقِيَت لي

فَضلَةٌ مِن لِسانِيَ المَفتوقِ

فَضلَةٌ مِن لِسانِيَ المَفتوقِ

My solace lies in praise, as long as I have left

a remnant of my unloosed tongue.

فَاِغنِ بِالنِعمَةِ الَّتي هِيَ كَالحَو

فَاِغنِ بِالنِعمَةِ الَّتي هِيَ كَالحَو

راءِ لا فارِكٍ وَلا بِعَلوقِ

راءِ لا فارِكٍ وَلا بِعَلوقِ

So enrich me with the blessing that is like a wide-eyed maiden,

neither hating her husband nor feigning affection.

بَعلُها يَأمَنُ النُشوزَ عَلَيها

بَعلُها يَأمَنُ النُشوزَ عَلَيها

وَهيَ في مَعقِلٍ مِنَ التَطليقِ

وَهيَ في مَعقِلٍ مِنَ التَطليقِ

Her husband is safe from her defiance,

and she is in a stronghold against divorce.