لَقَدindeed أَخَذَتhave taken مِنfrom دارِthe home of ماوِيَّةَMawiyya الحُقبُthe ages
لَقَد أَخَذَت مِن دارِ ماوِيَّةَ الحُقبُ
أَنُحلُare they a gift المَغانيthe dwellings لِلبِلىto decay هِيَthey أَمor نَهبُplunder
أَنُحلُ المَغاني لِلبِلى هِيَ أَم نَهبُ
The ages have indeed taken their toll on Mawiyya's home.
Gone are the glorious days of Mayya's abode,
Are the dwellings a gift to decay, or plunder?
Do songs unravel for ruins or spoils?
وَعَهديand my memory بِهاof it إِذwhen ناقِضُbreaker of العَهدِthe pledge بَدرُهاits full moon
وَعَهدي بِها إِذ ناقِضُ العَهدِ بَدرُها
مُراحُresting place of الهَوىlove فيهاin it وَمَسرَحُهُand its pasture الخِصبُthe fertile
مُراحُ الهَوى فيها وَمَسرَحُهُ الخِصبُ
I remember it when its full moon was a breaker of pledges,
My promise to it as the full moon broke his promise,
love's resting place was there, and its fertile pasture,
The passion there – its playground the fertile expanse.
مُؤَزَّرَةًgirdled مِنby صَنعَةِthe handiwork of الوَبلِthe downpour وَالنَدىand dew
مُؤَزَّرَةً مِن صَنعَةِ الوَبلِ وَالنَدى
بِوَشيٍwith embroidery وَلاbut no وَشيٌembroidery وَعَصبٍand striped cloth وَلاbut no عَصبُstriped cloth
بِوَشيٍ وَلا وَشيٌ وَعَصبٍ وَلا عَصبُ
girdled by the handiwork of downpour and dew
Clad in the art of soft rain and dew,
with embroidery that was no embroidery, and striped cloth that was no cloth.
With no sash yet a sash, and tribe yet no tribe.
تَحَيَّرَwas bewildered فيamong آرامِهاits gazelles الحُسنُbeauty فَاِغتَدَتso it became
تَحَيَّرَ في آرامِها الحُسنُ فَاِغتَدَت
قَرارَةَthe abode of مَنwhoever يُصبيcaptivates وَنُجعَةَand the sought pasture of مَنwhoever يَصبوyearns
قَرارَةَ مَن يُصبي وَنُجعَةَ مَن يَصبو
Beauty was bewildered among its gazelles, and it became
Beauty there lost itself, so it grew conceited
the abode of those who captivate, the pasture sought by those who yearn.
A settlement for whoever yearns, and rest for the weary.
سَواكِنُabiding فيin بِرٍّvirtue كَماas سَكَنَstood still الدُمىthe statues
سَواكِنُ في بِرٍّ كَما سَكَنَ الدُمى
نَوافِرُshying away مِنfrom سوءٍevil كَماas نَفَرَfled السَربُthe gazelle herd
نَوافِرُ مِن سوءٍ كَما نَفَرَ السَربُ
Abiding in virtue, as statues stand still,
Tranquil in righteousness as the price rested,
shying away from evil, as the gazelle herd flees.
Rampant in evil as the flock dispersed.
كَواعِبُfull-breasted maidens أَترابٌpeers in age لِغَيداءَof a graceful woman أَصبَحَتshe became
كَواعِبُ أَترابٌ لِغَيداءَ أَصبَحَت
وَلَيسَand there is no لَهاfor her فيin الحُسنِbeauty شَكلٌequal وَلاnor تِربُpeer
وَلَيسَ لَها في الحُسنِ شَكلٌ وَلا تِربُ
Full-breasted maidens, peers in age to a graceful woman who became
Flirtatious maidens for a coquette turned
matchless in beauty, with neither equal nor peer.
No shape or soil theirs in beauty and grace.
لَهاshe has مَنظَرٌan appearance قَيدُa fetter of النَواظِرِgazing eyes لَمnot يَزَلcease
لَها مَنظَرٌ قَيدُ النَواظِرِ لَم يَزَل
يَروحُgoes at evening وَيَغدوand goes at morning فيin خُفارَتِهِits protection الحُبُّlove
يَروحُ وَيَغدو في خُفارَتِهِ الحُبُّ
Her appearance fetters gazing eyes; unceasingly
A sight that binds all eyes never stopped
love goes morning and evening under its protection.
Going and coming in its tireless ardour, that love.
يَظَلُّremain سَراةُnobles of القَومِthe people مَثنىًin pairs وَمَوحَداًand singly
يَظَلُّ سَراةُ القَومِ مَثنىً وَمَوحَداً
نَشاوىintoxicated بِعَينَيهاby her two eyes كَأَنَّهُمُas though they were شَربُa company of drinkers
نَشاوى بِعَينَيها كَأَنَّهُمُ شَربُ
The people's nobles remain, in pairs and singly,
The people’s horsemen in pairs and alone
intoxicated by her eyes, as though a company of drinkers.
Intoxicated with her eyes as if they were drink.
إِلىto خالِدٍKhalid راحَتtraveled بِناwith us أَرحَبِيَّةٌArhab-bred camels
إِلى خالِدٍ راحَت بِنا أَرحَبِيَّةٌ
مَرافِقُهاtheir elbows مِنfrom عَنaway from كَراكِرِهاtheir chest callosities نُكبُturned aside
مَرافِقُها مِن عَن كَراكِرِها نُكبُ
Arhab-bred camels carried us toward Khalid,
To Khalid we came with a wide plain,
their elbows turned aside, clear of their chest callosities.
Its dismounted fighters like toppling hills.
جَرىflowed النَجَدُthe sweat الأَحوىthe dark عَلَيهاover them فَأَصبَحَتso they became
جَرى النَجَدُ الأَحوى عَلَيها فَأَصبَحَت
مِنَfrom السَيرِtravel وُرقاًgray وَهيَthough they are فيin نَجدِهاtheir Najd صُهبُtawny
مِنَ السَيرِ وُرقاً وَهيَ في نَجدِها صُهبُ
Dark sweat flowed over them, and they became
The soft sands blew over it and it became
gray from travel, though in their Najd they are tawny.
Foliage though before in its plain a plateau.
إِلىto مَلِكٍa king لَولاbut for سِجالُbrimming buckets of نَوالِهِhis bounty
إِلى مَلِكٍ لَولا سِجالُ نَوالِهِ
لَماthere would not كانَbe لِلمَعروفِfor kindness نِقيٌmarrow وَلاnor شُخبُjets of milk
لَما كانَ لِلمَعروفِ نِقيٌ وَلا شُخبُ
To a king, but for the brimming buckets of whose bounty,
To a king - if not for the strife of his gifts -
kindness would have neither marrow nor jets of milk.
There would be no helper for good nor tower for aid.
مِنَof البيضِthe fair-faced nobles مَحجوبٌshielded عَنِfrom السوءِevil وَالخَناand obscenity
مِنَ البيضِ مَحجوبٌ عَنِ السوءِ وَالخَنا
وَلاand not تَحجُبُblock الأَنواءَthe rainstorms مِنfrom كَفِّهِhis palm الحُجبُthe veils
وَلا تَحجُبُ الأَنواءَ مِن كَفِّهِ الحُجبُ
Of the fair-faced nobles, shielded from evil and obscenity,
Of pure descent, veiled from vice and rancour,
yet no veils block the rainstorms pouring from his palm.
No clouds veil the sky from his generous hands.
مَصونُsafeguarded in المَعاليlofty honors لاnot يَزيدُYazid أَذالَهُhumbled him
مَصونُ المَعالي لا يَزيدُ أَذالَهُ
وَلاnor مَزيَدٌMazyad وَلاnor شَريكٌSharik وَلاnor الصُلبُal-Sulb
وَلا مَزيَدٌ وَلا شَريكٌ وَلا الصُلبُ
His lofty honors are safeguarded: neither Yazid humbled him,
Lofty virtues – no increase makes him prouder
nor Mazyad, nor Sharik, nor al-Sulb;
No excess, no partner, no kin to consult.
وَلاnor مُرَّتاthe two Murras of ذُهلٍDhuhl وَلاnor الحِصنُal-Hisn غالَهُbrought him low
وَلا مُرَّتا ذُهلٍ وَلا الحِصنُ غالَهُ
وَلاnor كَفَّrestrained شَأوَيهِhis two courses عَلِيٌّAli وَلاnor صَعبُSa'b
وَلا كَفَّ شَأوَيهِ عَلِيٌّ وَلا صَعبُ
nor Dhuhl's two Murras, nor al-Hisn brought him low;
No twice foolish, no fortress confined him,
nor did Ali or Sa'b check either of his courses.
No mighty lion’s paw did Ali restrain.
وَأَشباهُand peers of بَكرِthe firstborn of المَجدِglory بَكرُBakr بنُson of وائِلٍWa'il
وَأَشباهُ بَكرِ المَجدِ بَكرُ بنُ وائِلٍ
وَقاسِطُand Qasit of عَدنانٍAdnan وَأَنجَبَهُand nobly begot him هِنبُHinb
وَقاسِطُ عَدنانٍ وَأَنجَبَهُ هِنبُ
And peers of glory's firstborn are Bakr ibn Wa'il,
The excellent ancestors of Bakr ibn Wa’il
and Qasit of Adnan; Hinb begot him nobly.
And Qahtanite Adnan and his father Nibt.
مَضَواthey passed away وَهُمُwhile they were أَوتادُpillars of نَجدٍNajd وَأَرضِهاand its land
مَضَوا وَهُمُ أَوتادُ نَجدٍ وَأَرضِها
يُرَونَthey were seen as عِظاماًmighty كُلَّماwhenever عَظُمَgrew great الخَطبُthe crisis
يُرَونَ عِظاماً كُلَّما عَظُمَ الخَطبُ
They passed away, having been the pillars of Najd and its land,
They passed and were Najd’s pillars and its land’s
seen to be mighty whenever the crisis grew great.
Bones seen whenever disaster's threat loomed.
لَهُمthey have نَسَبٌa lineage كَالفَجرِlike dawn ماnot فيهِin it مَسلَكٌa path
لَهُم نَسَبٌ كَالفَجرِ ما فيهِ مَسلَكٌ
خَفِيٌّhidden وَلاnor وادٍa valley عَنودٌstraying وَلاnor شِعبُa ravine
خَفِيٌّ وَلا وادٍ عَنودٌ وَلا شِعبُ
Their lineage is like dawn, with no path within it
Their lineage like dawn in which no path shows
hidden, nor a straying valley, nor a ravine.
Hidden, no rebel valley, no rugged cliff.
هُوَit is الإِضحَيانُthe great spreading tree الطَلقُthe flourishing رَفَّتswayed فُروعُهُits branches
هُوَ الإِضحَيانُ الطَلقُ رَفَّت فُروعُهُ
وَطابَand grew wholesome الثَرىthe moist earth مِنfrom تَحتِهِbeneath it وَزَكاand grew fertile التُربُthe soil
وَطابَ الثَرى مِن تَحتِهِ وَزَكا التُربُ
It is the great, flourishing tree, its branches swaying;
He is the free-roaming sacrifice whose branches sprawled
the moist earth beneath it grew wholesome, and the soil fertile.
And the ground was fragrant where he walked, the soil wholesome.
يَذُمُّcomplains of سَنيدُthe hanger-on of القَومِthe tribe ضيقَthe narrowness of مَحَلِّهِhis station
يَذُمُّ سَنيدُ القَومِ ضيقَ مَحَلِّهِ
عَلىdespite العِلمِthe knowledge مِنهُon his part أَنَّهُthat it is الواسِعُspacious الرَحبُample
عَلى العِلمِ مِنهُ أَنَّهُ الواسِعُ الرَحبُ
The tribe's hanger-on complains of his narrow station,
The tribe elder felt his place too small for his knowledge vast
despite knowing that it is spacious and ample.
He saw a glory some wished to steal - so remote from them, so near to his people.
رَأىhe saw شَرَفاًnobility مِمَّنfrom whoever يُريدُseeks اِختِلاسَهُto snatch it
رَأى شَرَفاً مِمَّن يُريدُ اِختِلاسَهُ
بَعيدَfar المَدىin reach فيهِin it عَلىfor أَهلِهِits rightful people قُربُnearness
بَعيدَ المَدى فيهِ عَلى أَهلِهِ قُربُ
He saw a nobility which, to anyone seeking to snatch it,
O pivot of life in Sheiban do not weaken!
lies far out of reach, yet is near to its rightful people.
O star of life in Sheiban do not fade!
فَياso O وَشَلَtrickling spring of الدُنياthe world بِشَيبانَin Shayban لاdo not تَغِضdwindle
فَيا وَشَلَ الدُنيا بِشَيبانَ لا تَغِض
وَياand O كَوكَبَstar of الدُنياthe world بِشَيبانَin Shayban لاdo not تَخبُfade
وَيا كَوكَبَ الدُنيا بِشَيبانَ لا تَخبُ
O the world's trickling spring in Shayban, do not dwindle!
None marched but in their homes did dew fall
O the world's star in Shayban, do not fade!
None grew strong but in their dens did war grow.
فَماand not دَبَّcrept إِلّاexcept فيin بُيوتِهِمُtheir houses النَدىgenerosity
فَما دَبَّ إِلّا في بُيوتِهِمُ النَدى
وَلَمand did not تَربُgrow إِلّاexcept فيin جُحورِهِمُtheir dens الحَربُwar
وَلَم تَربُ إِلّا في جُحورِهِمُ الحَربُ
Generosity crept only into their houses,
They are people of repute - if not for their deeds,
and war grew only within their dens.
The steps would cease as no glory remained.
أُولاكَthose بَنوsons of الأَحسابِnoble lineages لَولاbut for فَعالُهُمtheir deeds
أُولاكَ بَنو الأَحسابِ لَولا فَعالُهُم
دَرَجنَthey would have died out فَلَمand not يوجَدwould be found لِمَكرُمَةٍfor a noble deed عَقبُoffspring
دَرَجنَ فَلَم يوجَد لِمَكرُمَةٍ عَقبُ
Those are the sons of noble lineages; but for their deeds,
The battle of Dhi Qar - gone, unmatched
these would have died out, leaving nobility without offspring.
Alone of its kind, no comrades had that day.
لَهُمtheirs يَومُthe day of ذيDhu قارٍQar مَضىpassed وَهوَwhile it was مُفرَدٌunique
لَهُم يَومُ ذي قارٍ مَضى وَهوَ مُفرَدٌ
وَحيدٌalone مِنَamong الأَشباهِcomparable days لَيسَthere is not لَهُfor it صَحبُcompanions
وَحيدٌ مِنَ الأَشباهِ لَيسَ لَهُ صَحبُ
The day of Dhu Qar was theirs; it passed, unique,
By it the non-Arabs knew he
alone among its kind, with no companion.
By it the Arabs expressed their soul's essence.
بِهِthrough it عَلِمَتlearned صُهبُthe red-haired ones of الأَعاجِمِthe foreigners أَنَّهُthat
بِهِ عَلِمَت صُهبُ الأَعاجِمِ أَنَّهُ
بِهِthrough it أَعرَبَتdeclared عَنabout ذاتِthe very essence of أَنفُسِهاthemselves العُربُthe Arabs
بِهِ أَعرَبَت عَن ذاتِ أَنفُسِها العُربُ
Through it the red-haired foreigners learned that
It was the decisive stage by which no armband or cross
the Arabs, through it, had declared their very selves.
Remained for Chosroes son of Chosroes.
هُوَit is المَشهَدُthe encounter الفَصلُthe decisive الَّذيwhich ماnot نَجاsurvived بِهِin it
هُوَ المَشهَدُ الفَصلُ الَّذي ما نَجا بِهِ
لِكِسرىfor Kisra بنِson of كِسرىKisra لاneither سَنامٌa hump وَلاnor صُلبُa backbone
لِكِسرى بنِ كِسرى لا سَنامٌ وَلا صُلبُ
It was the decisive encounter in which there survived
I say to the border people, yearning has ended
for Kisra son of Kisra neither hump nor backbone.
And blessings poured and the people gathered.
أَقولُI say لِأَهلِto the people of الثَغرِthe frontier قَدindeed رُئِبَhas been repaired الثَأىthe breach
أَقولُ لِأَهلِ الثَغرِ قَد رُئِبَ الثَأى
وَأُسبِغَتِand has been lavished النَعماءُblessing وَاِلتَأَمَand has closed الشَعبُthe rift
وَأُسبِغَتِ النَعماءُ وَاِلتَأَمَ الشَعبُ
I tell the frontier folk: the breach has been repaired,
So roam the horizon and graze
blessing has been lavished, and the rift has closed.
Without a road, Khalid's sanctuary your road.
فَسيحواso roam بِأَطرافِin the far reaches of الفَضاءِopen land وَأَرتِعواand graze freely
فَسيحوا بِأَطرافِ الفَضاءِ وَأَرتِعوا
قَناthe spears of خالِدٍKhalid مِنwith غَيرِthe absence of دَربٍa fortified gateway لَكُمfor you دَربُa fortified gateway
قَنا خالِدٍ مِن غَيرِ دَربٍ لَكُم دَربُ
So roam the far reaches of open land, and graze freely:
A man with him – the best and worst of rewards
Without a fortified gateway, Khalid's spears are your gateway.
From him – disdainful denial or sweet kindness.
فَتىًa young nobleman عِندَهُwith him خَيرُthe best of الثَوابِrecompense وَشَرُّهُand its worst
فَتىً عِندَهُ خَيرُ الثَوابِ وَشَرُّهُ
وَمِنهُand from him الإِباءُdefiance المِلحُthe salty وَالكَرَمُand generosity العَذبُthe sweet
وَمِنهُ الإِباءُ المِلحُ وَالكَرَمُ العَذبُ
A young nobleman who holds the best recompense and its worst;
I smell a Syrian who walks ahead of him
from him come salty defiance and sweet generosity.
A month’s march, dread in his regiments.
أَشَمُّproud and lofty شَريكِيٌّa Sharikite يَسيرُmarches أَمامَهُbefore him
أَشَمُّ شَريكِيٌّ يَسيرُ أَمامَهُ
مَسيرَةَa march of شَهرٍa month فيin كَتائِبِهِhis battalions الرُعبُterror
مَسيرَةَ شَهرٍ في كَتائِبِهِ الرُعبُ
A proud Sharikite: before him marches,
When Tu’ayyil saw your banners that
a month's journey ahead within his battalions, terror.
Cannot be faced when they flutter, even by the firm.
وَلَمّاand when رَأىsaw توفيلُTheophilus راياتِكَyour banners الَّتيwhich
وَلَمّا رَأى توفيلُ راياتِكَ الَّتي
إِذاwhen ماever اِتلَأَبَّتadvance straight ahead لاnot يُقاوِمُهاwithstands them الصُلبُthe stalwart
إِذا ما اِتلَأَبَّت لا يُقاوِمُها الصُلبُ
And when Theophilus saw your banners, which,
He turned and fled not slowing his flight,
when they press straight ahead, the stalwart cannot withstand,
As if fleeing crazily, pouring onwards.
تَوَلّىhe turned away وَلَمand did not يَألُslacken الرَدىdeath فيin اِتِّباعِهِpursuing him
تَوَلّى وَلَم يَألُ الرَدى في اِتِّباعِهِ
كَأَنَّas though الرَدىdeath فيin قَصدِهِseeking him هائِمٌlove-maddened صَبُّpassionately yearning
كَأَنَّ الرَدى في قَصدِهِ هائِمٌ صَبُّ
he fled, and death spared no effort in pursuing him,
As if by your cry the lands of Rome huddled
as though death were a lovesick lover intent on him.
Gathering their beasts or their center rumbled.
كَأَنَّas though بِلادَthe lands of الرومِRum عُمَّتwere engulfed بِصَيحَةٍby a scream
كَأَنَّ بِلادَ الرومِ عُمَّت بِصَيحَةٍ
فَضَمَّتso they clenched حَشاهاtheir bowels أَوor رَغاbellowed وَسطَهاin their midst السَقبُthe camel calf
فَضَمَّت حَشاها أَو رَغا وَسطَها السَقبُ
As though the lands of Rum were engulfed by a scream,
The lesser end, Tinnis, and Iqritra
so they clenched their bowels—or a camel calf bellowed in their midst,
The lands of Carthage and Apolakia quaked.
بِصاغِرَةِat Saghira القُصوىthe farthest وَطِمَّينِand Timmin وَاِقتَرىand traversed
بِصاغِرَةِ القُصوى وَطِمَّينِ وَاِقتَرى
بِلادَthe lands of قَرَنطاووسَQarantaous وابِلُكَyour downpour السَكبُthe streaming
بِلادَ قَرَنطاووسَ وابِلُكَ السَكبُ
at far-off Saghira and Timmin; and it swept through
Fearfully asking books’ aid, submitting to you
the lands of Qarantaous—your streaming downpour.
No messengers swayed you, no books.
غَداhe became خائِفاًfearful يَستَنجِدُseeking aid from الكُتبَletters مُذعِناًsubmissive
غَدا خائِفاً يَستَنجِدُ الكُتبَ مُذعِناً
عَلَيكَagainst you فَلاbut neither رُسلٌenvoys ثَنَتكَturned you back وَلاnor كُتبُletters
عَلَيكَ فَلا رُسلٌ ثَنَتكَ وَلا كُتبُ
He grew fearful and submissive, seeking aid in letters
The fierce lion never opposed
against you; neither envoys nor letters turned you back.
His roar, even if blamed or barked at by a dog.
وَماand not الأَسَدُthe lion الضِرغامُthe mighty يَوماًever بِعاكِسٍreversing
وَما الأَسَدُ الضِرغامُ يَوماً بِعاكِسٍ
صَريمَتَهُhis resolve إِنif أَنَّwhined أَوor بَصبَصَwagged its tail الكَلبُthe dog
صَريمَتَهُ إِن أَنَّ أَو بَصبَصَ الكَلبُ
Never does the mighty lion reverse
He passed as the fire of distress burned his heart
his resolve if the dog whines or wags its tail.
The soul feels only the grasp of distress.
وَمَرَّand he passed on وَنارُwhile the fire of الكَربِanguish تَلفَحُscorches قَلبَهُhis heart
وَمَرَّ وَنارُ الكَربِ تَلفَحُ قَلبَهُ
وَماand not الرَوحُrespite إِلّاexcept أَنthat يُخامِرَهُit should possess him الكَربُanguish
وَما الرَوحُ إِلّا أَن يُخامِرَهُ الكَربُ
He passed on, the fire of anguish scorching his heart,
He went fleeing East, his soul
his only respite being for anguish to possess him.
Of itself expecting the worst because of ill thoughts.
مَضىhe went مُدبِراًretreating شَطرَtoward الدَبورِthe west wind وَنَفسُهُand his soul
مَضى مُدبِراً شَطرَ الدَبورِ وَنَفسُهُ
عَلىagainst نَفسِهِhimself مِنfrom سوءِan ill ظَنٍّopinion بِهاof itself إِلبُa hostile force
عَلى نَفسِهِ مِن سوءِ ظَنٍّ بِها إِلبُ
He fled toward the west wind, his own soul
He shunned the East until an ignorant man thought
a hostile force against him, through its mistrust of itself.
The Christians faced West in their prayers.
جَفاshunned الشَرقَthe east حَتّىuntil ظَنَّthought مَنwhoever كانَwas جاهِلاًignorant
جَفا الشَرقَ حَتّى ظَنَّ مَن كانَ جاهِلاً
بِدينِof the faith of النَصارىthe Christians أَنَّthat قِبلَتَهُhis prayer-direction الغَربُthe west
بِدينِ النَصارى أَنَّ قِبلَتَهُ الغَربُ
He shunned the east, until anyone ignorant
You returned the cloth of religion smooth after
of the Christians' faith thought his prayer-direction was west.
Its days and nights had become coarse.
رَدَدتَyou restored أَديمَthe hide of الدينِreligion أَملَسَsmooth بَعدَماafter
رَدَدتَ أَديمَ الدينِ أَملَسَ بَعدَما
غَداit became وَلَياليهِwith its nights وَأَيّامُهُand its days جُربُmangy
غَدا وَلَياليهِ وَأَيّامُهُ جُربُ
You made religion's hide smooth again, after
With every young warrior exposing himself to the spear
it had grown mangy, together with its nights and days.
Welcoming death, his adornment stab and strike.
بِكُلِّwith every فَتىًyoung warrior ضَربٍlean يُعَرِّضُoffers لِلقَناto the spears
بِكُلِّ فَتىً ضَربٍ يُعَرِّضُ لِلقَنا
مُحَيّاًa face مُحَلّىًadorned حَليُهُits adornment الطَعنُthrusting وَالضَربُand striking
مُحَيّاً مُحَلّىً حَليُهُ الطَعنُ وَالضَربُ
With every lean young warrior who offers to the spears
Firm mountains when called to battle near the frenzy
an adorned face, its adornment thrusts and blows.
You see them - their feet as if riding!
كُماةٌarmored champions إِذاwhen تُدعىis called نَزالِcome down to fight لَدىamid الوَغىbattle
كُماةٌ إِذا تُدعى نَزالِ لَدى الوَغى
رَأَيتَهُمُyou see them رَجلىon foot كَأَنَّهُمُas though they were رَكبُmounted riders
رَأَيتَهُمُ رَجلى كَأَنَّهُمُ رَكبُ
Armored champions: when 'Come down and fight!' is called in battle,
Of the well-armed, no dawn clears but by them
you see them on foot as though they were mounted riders.
No fate turns nor time passes but through them.
مِنَfrom المَطَرِيّينَthe Matariyyun الأُلىthose who لَيسَnot يَنجَليis dispelled
مِنَ المَطَرِيّينَ الأُلى لَيسَ يَنجَلي
بِغَيرِهِمُby anyone but them لِلدَهرِof time صَرفٌa reversal وَلاnor لَزبُan abiding hardship
بِغَيرِهِمُ لِلدَهرِ صَرفٌ وَلا لَزبُ
Of the Matariyyun, those without whom no relief comes
No virgin distinguished herself in fierce war
from time's reversals or abiding hardships.
Nor did a matron unless by them, her suitors.
وَماand never اِجتُلِيَتwas unveiled بِكرٌa virgin مِنَof الحَربِwar ناهِدٌfull-breasted
وَما اِجتُلِيَت بِكرٌ مِنَ الحَربِ ناهِدٌ
وَلاnor ثَيِّبٌa previously married woman إِلّاexcept وَمِنهُمand among them لَهاfor her خِطبُa suitor
وَلا ثَيِّبٌ إِلّا وَمِنهُم لَها خِطبُ
No full-breasted virgin of war was unveiled,
You set the system of gifts so no millstone turned
nor a once-married woman, without a suitor from their ranks.
Except by you its pivot.
جُعِلتَyou were made نِظامَthe string of المَكرُماتِnoble deeds فَلَمand not تَدُرturned
جُعِلتَ نِظامَ المَكرُماتِ فَلَم تَدُر
رَحىa millstone of سُؤدُدٍnobility إِلّاexcept وَأَنتَwith you لَهاfor it قُطبُthe pivot
رَحى سُؤدُدٍ إِلّا وَأَنتَ لَها قُطبُ
You were made the string of noble deeds; no
Whenever Rabia boasted you were its heart
millstone of nobility turned without you as its pivot.
Beating behind two covers of glory.
إِذاwhen اِفتَخَرَتboasts يَوماًone day رَبيعَةُRabi'a أَقبَلَتshe advances
إِذا اِفتَخَرَت يَوماً رَبيعَةُ أَقبَلَت
مُجَنَّبَتَيas the two flanks of مَجدٍglory وَأَنتَand you لَهاfor her قَلبُthe heart
مُجَنَّبَتَي مَجدٍ وَأَنتَ لَها قَلبُ
When Rabi'a boasts one day, she advances
By it the ground is watered and your softness sprouts
with glory's two flanks, and you as her heart.
By it the rainwater bubbles though it bubbles not.
يَجِفُّgrows dry الثَرىthe moist earth مِنهاof her وَتُربُكَwhile your soil لَيِّنٌsoft
يَجِفُّ الثَرى مِنها وَتُربُكَ لَيِّنٌ
وَيَنبوand fails بِهاher ماءُthe water of الغَمامِthe clouds وَماbut not تَنبوyou fail
وَيَنبو بِها ماءُ الغَمامِ وَما تَنبو
Her soil grows dry, while your earth stays soft;
By your generosity clouds disperse when thick
the clouds' water fails her, but you never fail.
And the white becomes varied in its hues.
بِجودِكَthrough your generosity تَبيَضُّturn white الخُطوبُcalamities إِذاwhen دَجَتgrow dark
بِجودِكَ تَبيَضُّ الخُطوبُ إِذا دَجَت
وَتَرجِعُand return فيto أَلوانِهاtheir colors الحِجَجُthe years الشُهبُthe gray
وَتَرجِعُ في أَلوانِها الحِجَجُ الشُهبُ
Through your generosity, calamities turn white when they darken,
He is the ship of glory to every mistress
and gray years regain their colors.
And the lofty - but a towering, formidable ship.
هُوَit is المَركَبُthe mount المُدنيbringing near إِلىto كُلِّevery سُؤدُدٍhonor
هُوَ المَركَبُ المُدني إِلى كُلِّ سُؤدُدٍ
وَعَلياءَand lofty rank إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat it is المَركَبُthe mount الصَعبُthe difficult
وَعَلياءَ إِلّا أَنَّهُ المَركَبُ الصَعبُ
It is the mount that brings one near to every honor
If a reason finds a man lost, in your presence
and lofty rank—though it is a difficult mount.
My wish finds the angry reason submissive.
إِذاwhen سَبَبٌa means أَمسىbecomes كَهاماًblunt لَدىwith اِمرِىءٍa man
إِذا سَبَبٌ أَمسى كَهاماً لَدى اِمرِىءٍ
أَجابَanswered رَجائيmy hope عِندَكَwith you السَبَبُthe means العَضبُthe keen-edged
أَجابَ رَجائي عِندَكَ السَبَبُ العَضبُ
When a means becomes blunt in another man's hands,
A journeyer on earth whom no departing
the keen-edged means with you answers my hope.
Distracts from it - profound, endless sadness.
وَسَيّارَةٍand a wanderer فيthrough الأَرضِthe earth لَيسَnot بِنازِحٍtoo distant
وَسَيّارَةٍ في الأَرضِ لَيسَ بِنازِحٍ
عَلىfor وَخدِهاher swift stride حَزنٌrugged land سَحيقٌfar-off وَلاnor سَهبُopen plain
عَلى وَخدِها حَزنٌ سَحيقٌ وَلا سَهبُ
And a wanderer through the earth—no place is too distant
Shedding sunbeams in every town
for her swift stride, no remote rough land or open plain.
Moving unrestrained - no West turns it back.
تَذُرُّshe rises ذُرورَlike the rising of الشَمسِthe sun فيin كُلِّevery بَلدَةٍtown
تَذُرُّ ذُرورَ الشَمسِ في كُلِّ بَلدَةٍ
وَتَمضيand she goes جَموحاًunbridled ماnot يُرَدُّis checked لَهاher غَربُvehemence
وَتَمضي جَموحاً ما يُرَدُّ لَها غَربُ
She rises like the sun in every town,
You did not defend the helpless virgins
and goes unbridled; none can check her vehemence.
No injustice that, no force.
عَذارىvirgins قَوافٍrhymes كُنتَyou were غَيرَnot مُدافِعٍdisputed
عَذارى قَوافٍ كُنتَ غَيرَ مُدافِعٍ
أَباthe father of عُذرِهاtheir maidenhead لاno ظُلمَwrong ذاكَin that وَلاnor غَصبُforcible seizure
أَبا عُذرِها لا ظُلمَ ذاكَ وَلا غَصبُ
Virgin rhymes: you were, beyond dispute,
When recited among the people they are like
the first to take their maidenhead—no wrong in that, no forcible seizure.
Hidden grandeur or enveloped in pride.
إِذاwhen أُنشِدَتthey are recited فيamong القَومِthe people ظَلَّتthey remain كَأَنَّهاas though they were
إِذا أُنشِدَت في القَومِ ظَلَّت كَأَنَّها
مُسِرَّةُsecretly harboring كِبرٍpride أَوor تَداخَلَهاhas filled them عُجبُself-admiration
مُسِرَّةُ كِبرٍ أَو تَداخَلَها عُجبُ
When recited among the people, they seem
Strung with chosen pearls, of poetry only
to harbor secret pride, or to be filled with self-admiration.
That it is juicy, succulent pearls.
مُفَصَّلَةٌadorned بِاللُؤلُؤِwith pearls المُنتَقىselected لَهاfor them
مُفَصَّلَةٌ بِاللُؤلُؤِ المُنتَقى لَها
مِنَfrom الشِعرِpoetry إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat it is اللُؤلُؤُthe pearls الرَطبُthe fresh and moist
مِنَ الشِعرِ إِلّا أَنَّهُ اللُؤلُؤُ الرَطبُ
Adorned with pearls selected for them
from poetry—yet these pearls are fresh and moist.
Partial English translation: 108 of 110 Arabic lines translated.