هُرَيرَةَHurayrah وَدَّعهاbid her farewell وَإِنand even if لامَblames لائِمُa blamer
هُرَيرَةَ وَدَّعها وَإِن لامَ لائِمُ
غَداةَon the morning of غَدٍtomorrow أَمor أَنتَyou لِلبَينِat parting واجِمُsilent with grief
غَداةَ غَدٍ أَم أَنتَ لِلبَينِ واجِمُ
Bid Hurayrah farewell, even if a blamer reproaches you,
Hurrayrah bid farewell, though blamer blamed
Tomorrow morning—or are you struck silent by parting?
At dawn tomorrow, or are you set on parting?
لَقَدindeed كانَthere was فيin حَولٍa year ثَواءٍa sojourn ثَوَيتَهُyou spent it
لَقَد كانَ في حَولٍ ثَواءٍ ثَوَيتَهُ
تَقَضّيfulfillment لُباناتٍof desires وَيَسأَمُand grows weary سائِمُone who tires
تَقَضّي لُباناتٍ وَيَسأَمُ سائِمُ
Surely, in the year-long sojourn you spent,
For a year now it has sheltered its baby camels
There was fulfillment of desires, and the weary grow weary.
And wearied of milking pails and milkers.
مُبَتَّلَةٌwell-proportioned هَيفاءُslender-waisted رَودٌsupple شَبابُهاher youth
مُبَتَّلَةٌ هَيفاءُ رَودٌ شَبابُها
لَهاshe has مُقلَتاthe two eyes of رِئمٍa white gazelle وَأَسوَدُand black hair فاحِمُcoal-black
لَها مُقلَتا رِئمٍ وَأَسوَدُ فاحِمُ
Well-proportioned, slender-waisted, supple in her youth,
A smooth rock-face its tent ropes, its youth gone
She has a white gazelle’s two eyes and coal-black hair,
With its love-sick eye and black midportion.
وَوَجهٌand a face نَقِيُّpure اللَونِthe complexion صافٍclear يَزينُهُadorns it
وَوَجهٌ نَقِيُّ اللَونِ صافٍ يَزينُهُ
مَعَwith الحَليِthe jewelry لَبّاتٌthroat-hollows لَهاof hers وَمَعاصِمُand wrists
مَعَ الحَليِ لَبّاتٌ لَها وَمَعاصِمُ
And a clear face, pure in complexion, adorned
A face whose pallor the smooth cheek adorns
By her throat and wrists, together with jewels.
Matched by its beauty-spots and lovely dimples.
وَتَضحَكُand she laughs عَنrevealing غُرِّgleaming white الثَناياfront teeth كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَتَضحَكُ عَن غُرِّ الثَنايا كَأَنَّهُ
ذُرىthe tops of أُقحُوانٍchamomile نَبتُهُits growth مُتَناعِمُlush and tender
ذُرى أُقحُوانٍ نَبتُهُ مُتَناعِمُ
And she laughs, revealing bright front teeth, as though they were
It smiles to hide the secrets of its nooks as though
The tops of chamomile whose growth is lush and tender.
They were the seedlings of sweet basil, intertwining.
هِيَshe الهَمُّthe heartache لاnot تَدنوcomes near وَلاand not يَستَطيعُهاcan reach her
هِيَ الهَمُّ لا تَدنو وَلا يَستَطيعُها
مِنَamong العيسِthe pale camels إِلّاexcept الناجِياتُthe swift ones الرَواسِمُthe fast-striding ones
مِنَ العيسِ إِلّا الناجِياتُ الرَواسِمُ
She is my heartache; she does not draw near, and none can reach her
It's care I can't dismiss, that only death in battle
Among pale camels except the swift, fast-striding ones.
Can penetrate, and the outstanding warrior.
رَأَيتُI saw بَنيthe sons of شَيبانَShayban يَظهَرُarises مِنهُمُfrom them
رَأَيتُ بَني شَيبانَ يَظهَرُ مِنهُمُ
لِقَومِيَagainst my people عَمداًdeliberately نِغصَةٌvexation وَمَظالِمُand injustices
لِقَومِيَ عَمداً نِغصَةٌ وَمَظالِمُ
I have seen the sons of Shayban: from them arise
I saw the Bani Shayban appear to my people
Deliberate vexation and injustices against my people.
As wrongs and injuries designed with malice.
فَإِنso if تُصبِحواyou become أَدنىnearest العَدُوُّthe enemy فَقَبلَكُمthen before you
فَإِن تُصبِحوا أَدنى العَدُوُّ فَقَبلَكُم
مِنَof الدَهرِtime عادَتناopposed us الرِبابُal-Ribab وَدارِمُand Darim
مِنَ الدَهرِ عادَتنا الرِبابُ وَدارِمُ
So if you become our nearest foes, then before you
If at dawn our foe comes nearest, he will find
In times past, al-Ribab and Darim were hostile to us,
Before him rababahs and settlements laid waste.
وَسَعدٌand Sa'd وَكَعبٌand Ka'b وَالعِبادُand al-'Ibad وَطَيِّئٌand Tayyi'
وَسَعدٌ وَكَعبٌ وَالعِبادُ وَطَيِّئٌ
وَدودانُand Dudan فيamong أَلفافِهاits mingled bands وَالأَراقِمُand al-Araqim
وَدودانُ في أَلفافِها وَالأَراقِمُ
And Sa'd, and Ka'b, and al-'Ibad, and Tayyi',
Sa'd, Ka'b, 'Ibad, Tayyi'
And Dudan amid its mingled bands, and al-Araqim.
Dotards in their litters, marks traced on their foreheads,
فَماso not فَضَّناscattered us مِنany صانِعٍone who acts بَعدَafter عَهدِكُمyour acquaintance with us
فَما فَضَّنا مِن صانِعٍ بَعدَ عَهدِكُم
فَيَطمَعَso might covet فيناin us زاهِرٌZahir وَالأَصارِمُand al-Asarim
فَيَطمَعَ فينا زاهِرٌ وَالأَصارِمُ
No one has scattered us since you knew us,
No allies have we found since your time
So that Zahir and al-Asarim might covet us.
To make a Zuhayr or knight crave to raid us
وَلَنand will not تَنتَهواdesist حَتّىuntil تَكَسَّرَare broken بَينَناbetween us
وَلَن تَنتَهوا حَتّى تَكَسَّرَ بَينَنا
رِماحٌspears بِأَيديin the hands of شُجعَةٍbrave men وَقَوائِمُand sword-hilts
رِماحٌ بِأَيدي شُجعَةٍ وَقَوائِمُ
And you will not desist until there are broken between us
Nor will you desist until between us lances
Spears in brave men’s hands, and sword-hilts,
Are splintered by the hands of heroes dauntless,
وَحَتّىand until يَبيتَspend the night القَومُthe men فيin الصَفِّthe battle line لَيلَةًa night
وَحَتّى يَبيتَ القَومُ في الصَفِّ لَيلَةً
يَقولونَthey say نَوَّرhas brightened صُبحُdawn وَاللَيلُand the night عاتِمُdark
يَقولونَ نَوَّر صُبحُ وَاللَيلُ عاتِمُ
And until the men spend a night in the battle line,
And people spend the night in ranks until dawn cries
Saying, ‘Dawn has brightened,’ while the night is dark,
"Light up!" though still the night enfolds in darkness,
وُقوفاًstanding firm وَراءَbehind الطَعنِspear-thrusting وَالخَيلُand the horses تَحتَهُمbeneath them
وُقوفاً وَراءَ الطَعنِ وَالخَيلُ تَحتَهُم
تُشَدُّare strapped عَلىover أَكتافِهِنَّtheir shoulders القَوادِمُthe front saddle-bows
تُشَدُّ عَلى أَكتافِهِنَّ القَوادِمُ
Standing firm behind the spear-thrusts, with horses beneath them,
As they stand, with the charging horses beneath them
The front saddle-bows strapped over their shoulders.
Binding the saddles tight around their withers,
إِذاwhen ماfor emphasis سَمِعنَthey hear الزَجرَthe urging cries يَمَّمنَthey head toward مُقدَماًthe front
إِذا ما سَمِعنَ الزَجرَ يَمَّمنَ مُقدَماً
عَلَيهاon them أُسودُlions الزارَتَينِof al-Zaratayn الضَراغِمُmighty lions
عَلَيها أُسودُ الزارَتَينِ الضَراغِمُ
Whenever they hear the urging cries, they head forward,
If they hear the shout, the vultures plunge directly
Bearing the mighty lions of al-Zaratayn.
On them, dusky-flanked, rapacious, female.
أَباO father of ثابِتٍThabit أَوor تَنتَمونَyou claim descent فَإِنَّماfor only
أَبا ثابِتٍ أَو تَنتَمونَ فَإِنَّما
يَهيمُwanders aimlessly لِعَينَيهِfor his two eyes مِنَof الشَرِّevil هائِمُa wanderer
يَهيمُ لِعَينَيهِ مِنَ الشَرِّ هائِمُ
O Abu Thabit—or whatever lineage you claim—for only
Will you avenge Abu Thabit, or shall I fear
A wanderer strays into evil, following his own eyes.
Only the mischief glancing from his eyes?
مَتىwhenever تَلقَناyou meet us وَالخَيلُand the horses تَحمِلُcarry بُزَّناour war-gear
مَتى تَلقَنا وَالخَيلُ تَحمِلُ بُزَّنا
خَناذيذَnoble steeds مِنهاamong them جِلَّةٌgreat horses وَصَلادِمُand hard-built horses
خَناذيذَ مِنها جِلَّةٌ وَصَلادِمُ
Whenever you meet us, with horses carrying our war-gear,
So do not cheer up when you look at me askance
Noble steeds, among them great and hard-built mounts,
Or treat me, unless your face shows loathing.
فَتَلقَthen you meet أُناساًmen لاnot يَخيمُfalters سِلاحُهُمtheir weaponry
فَتَلقَ أُناساً لا يَخيمُ سِلاحُهُم
إِذاwhen كانَare حَمّاًclose at hand لِلصَفيحِto broad sword-blades الجَماجِمُthe skulls
إِذا كانَ حَمّاً لِلصَفيحِ الجَماجِمُ
You meet men whose weapons do not falter
I swear by God, whose bondsman I have been,
When skulls come within reach of broad sword-blades.
That one day over you will fall the curtain.
وَإِنّاand indeed we أُناسٌare men يَعتَديseek out البَأسَbattle خَلفُناour offspring
وَإِنّا أُناسٌ يَعتَدي البَأسَ خَلفُنا
كَماas يَعتَديseek out الماءَwater الظِماءُthe thirsty camels الحَوائِمُthe circling ones
كَما يَعتَدي الماءَ الظِماءُ الحَوائِمُ
And we are men whose offspring seek out battle,
"Unlawful!" it will shout. By our Lord unlawful!
As thirsty, circling camels seek out water.
And leave behind it riches sealed and treasured.
فَهانَso became trivial عَلَيناto us ماwhat يَقولُsays اِبنُthe son of مُسهِرٍMus'hir
فَهانَ عَلَينا ما يَقولُ اِبنُ مُسهِرٍ
بِرَغمِكَto your dismay إِذwhen حَلَّتencamped عَلَيناupon us اللَهازِمُal-Lahazim
بِرَغمِكَ إِذ حَلَّت عَلَينا اللَهازِمُ
So what Ibn Mus'hir says is of little account to us,
Abu Thabit, may our lances avoid you!
To your dismay, when al-Lahazim encamped among us.
Abu Thabit, I'll live out my days in safety!
يَزيدُYazid يَغُضُّlowers الطَرفَhis gaze دونيbefore me كَأَنَّماas though
يَزيدُ يَغُضُّ الطَرفَ دوني كَأَنَّما
زَوىdrew together بَينَbetween عَينَيهِhis two eyes عَلَيَّagainst me المَحاجِمُthe cupping glasses
زَوى بَينَ عَينَيهِ عَلَيَّ المَحاجِمُ
Yazid lowers his gaze before me, as though
Each year you kill us off and we grow younger -
Cupping glasses had puckered the skin between his eyes at me.
Only white hairs are proof that time passes.
فَلاso may not يَنبَسِطsmooth out مِنfrom بَينِbetween عَينَيكَyour two eyes ماwhat اِنزَوىhas puckered
فَلا يَنبَسِط مِن بَينِ عَينَيكَ ما اِنزَوى
وَلاand not تَلقَنيmeet me إِلّاexcept وَأَنفُكَand your nose راغِمُrubbed in dust
وَلا تَلقَني إِلّا وَأَنفُكَ راغِمُ
So may what has puckered between your eyes never smooth out,
Leave us and a people who, if they intend us harm
And never meet me except with your nose in the dust.
Abu Thabit, be seated, enjoy your comfort!
فَأُقسِمُso I swear بِاللَهِby God الَّذيwho أَناI عَبدُهُHis servant
فَأُقسِمُ بِاللَهِ الَّذي أَنا عَبدُهُ
لِتَصطَفِقَنwill surely clap يَوماًone day عَلَيكَover you المَآتِمُmourning women
لِتَصطَفِقَن يَوماً عَلَيكَ المَآتِمُ
So I swear by God, whose servant I am,
Food of Iraq in plenty, that you see,
One day mourning women will surely clap in lament over you,
Fine robes and money given you each year.
يَقُلنَthey say حَرامٌunlawful ماwhat أُحِلَّwas inflicted بِرَبِّناupon our master
يَقُلنَ حَرامٌ ما أُحِلَّ بِرَبِّنا
وَتَترُكُand you leave أَموالاًwealth عَلَيهاupon it الخَواتِمُseals
وَتَترُكُ أَموالاً عَلَيها الخَواتِمُ
Saying, ‘What was inflicted upon our master is unlawful!’
Will you command a knight to slay our nobles
And you will leave behind wealth bearing seals.
And after claim to be a man of mercy?
أَباO father of ثابِتٍThabit لاlet not تَعلَقَنكَcatch you رِماحُناour spears
أَبا ثابِتٍ لا تَعلَقَنكَ رِماحُنا
أَباO father of ثابِتٍThabit أُقعُدsit down وَعِرضُكَand your honor سالِمُunharmed
أَبا ثابِتٍ أُقعُد وَعِرضُكَ سالِمُ
O Abu Thabit, let not our spears catch you;
Abu Thabit, when we take the lead
O Abu Thabit, sit down while your honor is unharmed.
A pasture or a sleeper will awaken
أَفيis it in كُلِّevery عامٍyear تَقتُلونَyou kill وَنَتَّديand we accept blood-money
أَفي كُلِّ عامٍ تَقتُلونَ وَنَتَّدي
فَتِلكَso that is الَّتيwhich تَبيَضُّturn white مِنهاfrom it المَقادِمُthe forelocks
فَتِلكَ الَّتي تَبيَضُّ مِنها المَقادِمُ
Do you kill every year while we accept blood-money?
With a torch whose flashes soak the bedding,
That is what makes the forelocks turn white.
A light that burns intensely through the night
وَذَرناand leave us وَقَوماًwith a people إِنif هُمُthey عَمَدواdeliberately headed لَناtoward us
وَذَرنا وَقَوماً إِن هُمُ عَمَدوا لَنا
أَباO father of ثابِتٍThabit وَاِجلِسand sit down فَإِنَّكَfor you ناعِمُliving in comfort
أَبا ثابِتٍ وَاِجلِس فَإِنَّكَ ناعِمُ
And leave us to face a people, should they make for us,
To solace eyes once gleeful at your absence
O Abu Thabit, and sit down, for you live in comfort:
And soak the gown and mantle of a wife.
طَعامُthe food of العِراقُIraq المُستَفيضُabundant الَّذيthat تَرىyou see
طَعامُ العِراقُ المُستَفيضُ الَّذي تَرى
وَفيand in كُلِّevery عامٍyear حُلَّةٌa set of clothes وَدَراهِمُand dirhams
وَفي كُلِّ عامٍ حُلَّةٌ وَدَراهِمُ
The abundant food of Iraq that you see,
A pony will be found, our cousin's handmaid,
And every year a set of clothes and dirhams.
Like gifts exchanged between close relatives.
أَتَأمُرُdo you order سَيّاراًSayyar بِقَتلِto kill سَراتِناour chiefs
أَتَأمُرُ سَيّاراً بِقَتلِ سَراتِنا
وَتَزعُمُand you claim بَعدَafter القَتلِthe killing أَنَّكَthat you سالِمُsafe
وَتَزعُمُ بَعدَ القَتلِ أَنَّكَ سالِمُ
Do you order Sayyar to kill our chiefs,
Accost her, and she'll say "Abkr of Wa'il"
And claim that you are safe after the killing?
Though Bakr's men captured her, striking off her nose.
أَباO father of ثابِتٍThabit إِنّاindeed we إِذاif تَسبِقُنَّناyou surely forestall us
أَبا ثابِتٍ إِنّا إِذا تَسبِقُنَّنا
سَيُرعَدُwill be made to tremble سَرحٌa grazing herd أَوor يُنَبَّهُis awakened نائِمُa sleeper
سَيُرعَدُ سَرحٌ أَو يُنَبَّهُ نائِمُ
O Abu Thabit, as for us, if you forestall us,
A grazing herd will tremble, or a sleeper be awakened,
بِمُشعِلَةٍwith a fiery assault يَغشىoverspreads الفِراشَthe bedding رَشاشُهاits spray
بِمُشعِلَةٍ يَغشى الفِراشَ رَشاشُها
يَبيتُremains through the night لَهاfor it ضَوءٌa light مِنَof النارِfire جاحِمُfiercely blazing
يَبيتُ لَها ضَوءٌ مِنَ النارِ جاحِمُ
By a fiery assault whose spray overspreads the bedding;
Its fiercely blazing firelight lasts through the night.
تَقُرُّis gladdened بِهِby it عَينُthe eye الَّذيof him who كانَwas شامِتاًgloating
تَقُرُّ بِهِ عَينُ الَّذي كانَ شامِتاً
وَتَبتَلُّand is wetted مِنهاfrom it سُرَّةٌa navel وَمَآكِمُand buttocks
وَتَبتَلُّ مِنها سُرَّةٌ وَمَآكِمُ
It will gladden the eye of him who once gloated,
And from it a navel and buttocks will be soaked.
وَتُلقىand is found حَصانٌa chaste woman تَخدُمُserves اِبنَةَthe daughter of عَمِّهاher paternal uncle
وَتُلقى حَصانٌ تَخدُمُ اِبنَةَ عَمِّها
كَماas كانَwas يُلقىfound الناصِفاتُserving women الخَوادِمُmaidservants
كَما كانَ يُلقى الناصِفاتُ الخَوادِمُ
And a chaste woman will be found serving her uncle’s daughter,
As the serving maids used to be found.
إِذاwhen اِتَّصَلَتshe calls upon her kin قالَتshe says أَبَكرَO Bakr بنَson of وائِلٍWa'il
إِذا اِتَّصَلَت قالَت أَبَكرَ بنَ وائِلٍ
وَبَكرٌyet Bakr سَبَتهاtook her captive وَالأُنوفُand the noses رَواغِمُrubbed in dust
وَبَكرٌ سَبَتها وَالأُنوفُ رَواغِمُ
When she calls upon her kin, she cries, ‘O Bakr ibn Wa'il!’
Yet Bakr took her captive, with noses rubbed in dust.
Partial English translation: 56 of 66 Arabic lines translated.