صَحاsobered القَلبُthe heart مِنfrom ذِكرىremembrance قُتَيلَةَQutaylah بَعدَماafter
صَحا القَلبُ مِن ذِكرى قُتَيلَةَ بَعدَما
يَكونُit is لَهاto her مِثلَlike الأَسيرِthe captive المُكَبَّلِfettered
يَكونُ لَها مِثلَ الأَسيرِ المُكَبَّلِ
The heart has sobered from remembering Qutaylah, after
The heart recovered from the memory of Qutaylah after she had become like a shackled captive.
it had been to her like a fettered captive.
She has a delicate, smooth foot; her toes are perfectly proportioned in beautiful creation.
لَهاshe has قَدَمٌa foot رَيّاplump سِباطٌstraight and slender بَنانُهاher toes
لَها قَدَمٌ رَيّا سِباطٌ بَنانُها
قَدِindeed اِعتَدَلَتshe became well-proportioned فيin حُسنِbeauty خَلقٍa physique مُبَتَّلِwell-formed
قَدِ اِعتَدَلَت في حُسنِ خَلقٍ مُبَتَّلِ
She has a plump foot, its toes straight and slender;
And legs that flesh flows over them to the tips of her anklet with dangling bells.
she is well-proportioned in a beautifully fashioned form.
When her wrists were sought, her palms were inclined in the most excellent of manners.
وَساقانِand two legs مارَswayed اللَحمُthe flesh مَوراًa swaying motion عَلَيهِماupon them both
وَساقانِ مارَ اللَحمُ مَوراً عَلَيهِما
إِلىto مُنتَهىthe limit خَلخالِهاher anklet المُتَصَلصِلِjingling
إِلى مُنتَهى خَلخالِها المُتَصَلصِلِ
And two legs upon which the flesh sways
With a target on them that you see atop the perfected creation an elevation of beauty.
down to the edge of her jingling anklet.
When she lies down, her side keeps away from the ground and holds her like the hump of a sand dune.
إِذاwhen اِلتُمِسَتwere touched أُربِيَّتاهاher two groins تَسانَدَتrested against
إِذا اِلتُمِسَت أُربِيَّتاها تَسانَدَت
لَهاagainst her الكَفُّthe hand فيon رابٍa swelling مِنَof الخَلقِthe physique مُفضِلِamply endowed
لَها الكَفُّ في رابٍ مِنَ الخَلقِ مُفضِلِ
When her two groins are touched, support is found
When a noble knight mounts her, what an excellent bed for the noble knight!
for the hand on a swelling of her ample form,
She sways with him, a male ostrich, when she is feeling amorous, the breadth of the hillside fox's tail sways.
إِلىtoward هَدَفٍa mound فيهِin it اِرتِفاعٌa rise تَرىyou see لَهُfor it
إِلى هَدَفٍ فيهِ اِرتِفاعٌ تَرى لَهُ
مِنَof الحُسنِbeauty ظِلّاًa shadow فَوقَabove خَلقٍa physique مُكَمَّلِperfectly formed
مِنَ الحُسنِ ظِلّاً فَوقَ خَلقٍ مُكَمَّلِ
against a lofty mound, for which you see
Her thighs fold back his cloak, inclined to the likeness of a shifting dune.
a shade of beauty above a perfectly fashioned body.
A sapling, like a branch of acacia, sways when she walks with the gait of a gazelle in every meadow.
إِذاwhen اِنبَطَحَتshe lay face-down جافىstood clear عَنِof الأَرضِthe ground جَنبُهاher side
إِذا اِنبَطَحَت جافى عَنِ الأَرضِ جَنبُها
وَخَوّىand arched up بِهاwith her رابٍa swelling كَهامَةِlike the head of جُنبُلِan elephant
وَخَوّى بِها رابٍ كَهامَةِ جُنبُلِ
When she lies face-down, her side stands clear of the ground,
And breasts like two pomegranates, with a neck like the neck of a gazelle, if it were not cast off.
and a swelling arches her up like an elephant's head.
She smiles, revealing dimples like the scattered seeds of chamomile whose sprouts have not been stripped.
إِذاwhen ماever عَلاهاmounted her فارِسٌa horseman مُتَبَذِّلٌin everyday clothes
إِذا ما عَلاها فارِسٌ مُتَبَذِّلٌ
فَنِعمَthen excellent is فِراشُthe bed الفارِسِof the horseman المُتَبَذِّلِin everyday clothes
فَنِعمَ فِراشُ الفارِسِ المُتَبَذِّلِ
If a casually clad horseman mounts her,
Her sparkle is like polished glass, as if you see the eyes of a wild cow, even if she were not darkened with kohl.
what a fine bed for that casually clad horseman!
Eyelids languid, on the beauty of an eyebrow and a soft, glowing, dreamy cheek.
يَنوءُbears heavily بِهاwith her بوصٌa rump إِذاwhen ماever تَفَضَّلَتshe wore a single robe
يَنوءُ بِها بوصٌ إِذا ما تَفَضَّلَت
تَوَعَّبَfilled entirely عَرضَthe breadth الشَرعَبِيِّof the Sharʿabī cloth المُغَيَّلِample
تَوَعَّبَ عَرضَ الشَرعَبِيِّ المُغَيَّلِ
Her rump bears her weight when she wears a single robe;
She has a smooth liver, a bosom hidden in secret, and a neck like the neck of a camel led out to pasture.
it fills the breadth of the ample Sharʿabī cloth.
Her anklets circle her two ankles when she walks, ringing out a delightful jingle.
رَوادِفُهُits rear folds تَثنيdouble الرِداءَthe cloak تَسانَدَتrested against
رَوادِفُهُ تَثني الرِداءَ تَسانَدَت
إِلىagainst مِثلِthe likeness of دِعصِa mound الرَملَةِof sand المُتَهَيِّلِloosely tumbling
إِلى مِثلِ دِعصِ الرَملَةِ المُتَهَيِّلِ
Its fleshy folds double the cloak, resting
She is perfect in beauty; there is nothing above her, though my words about her are frivolous.
against what resembles a mound of loose sand.
And she knew in secret that I love her, and that I have mastery over myself in being decked out.
نِيافٌtall كَغُصنِlike a branch of البانِthe bān tree تَرتَجُّshe quivers إِنif مَشَتshe walks
نِيافٌ كَغُصنِ البانِ تَرتَجُّ إِن مَشَت
دَبيبَthe slow tread قَطاof sandgrouse البَطحاءِof the gravel flats فيat كُلِّevery مَنهَلِwatering place
دَبيبَ قَطا البَطحاءِ في كُلِّ مَنهَلِ
Tall as a branch of the bān tree, she quivers when she walks
I did not complain before Qutaylah killed me with the child. She has undone me with the child, all undone.
with the slow tread of sandgrouse on the gravel flats at every watering place.
When I say a thing, I do it. I am not one to change my word or alter it.
وَثَديانِand two breasts كَالرُمّانَتَينِlike two pomegranates وَجيدُهاand her neck
وَثَديانِ كَالرُمّانَتَينِ وَجيدُها
كَجيدِlike the neck of غَزالٍa gazelle غَيرَexcept أَنthat لَمnot يُعَطَّلِleft unadorned
كَجيدِ غَزالٍ غَيرَ أَن لَم يُعَطَّلِ
And two breasts like two pomegranates, and her neck
Passion destroys until it lays bare a man’s reason and makes the forbearing, dignified one kill with fury,
is like a gazelle's neck, except that it is not left unadorned.
When she wears a head shawl and then flashes with her wrists, and the sun has just risen,
وَتَضحَكُand she smiles عَنrevealing غُرِّthe white الثَناياincisors كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَتَضحَكُ عَن غُرِّ الثَنايا كَأَنَّهُ
ذُرىthe tops of أُقحُوانٍdaisies نَبتُهُtheir growth لَمnot يُفَلَّلِmarred
ذُرى أُقحُوانٍ نَبتُهُ لَم يُفَلَّلِ
And she smiles, revealing white incisors, as though they were
She bites a palm with a bracelet adorning it, fingers like the lobes of the branched date cluster.
the heads of daisies, their flowering unmarred.
You saw the generous one, of majestic manner, gazing while the heart of the mocking outcast melted.
تَلَألُؤُهاtheir sparkle مِثلُlike اللُجَينِsilver كَأَنَّماas though
تَلَألُؤُها مِثلُ اللُجَينِ كَأَنَّما
تَرىyou see مُقلَتَيthe two eyes of رِئمٍa white antelope وَلَوeven if لَمnot تَكَحَّلِshe applies kohl
تَرى مُقلَتَي رِئمٍ وَلَو لَم تَكَحَّلِ
Their sparkle is like silver; it is as though
So leave her be, and cast away your worries with one who increases in excellence of bridle and saddle,
you see a white antelope's two eyes, even when she wears no kohl.
And which land did I not visit its expanses, and which land did I not answer its call with my camel-borne litter?
سَجُوّينَboth tranquil بَرجاوَينِboth wide and bright فيin حُسنِthe beauty of حاجِبٍa brow
سَجُوّينَ بَرجاوَينِ في حُسنِ حاجِبٍ
وَخَدٍّand a cheek أَسيلٍsmooth واضِحٍfair مُتَهَلِّلِradiant
وَخَدٍّ أَسيلٍ واضِحٍ مُتَهَلِّلِ
Both tranquil, both wide and bright, beneath a lovely brow
On a day we encamped at Dove Spring, an excellent rest for guest and wanderer.
and a smooth, fair, radiant cheek.
Convey to the clan of ‘Ijl a messenger - and you are people of esteemed lineage and magnificent glory -
لَهاshe has كَبِدٌa midriff مَلساءُsmooth ذاتُhaving أَسِرَّةٍskin folds
لَها كَبِدٌ مَلساءُ ذاتُ أَسِرَّةٍ
وَنَحرٌand an upper chest كَفاثورِlike a platter of الصَريفِpure silver المُمَثَّلِengraved with figures
وَنَحرٌ كَفاثورِ الصَريفِ المُمَثَّلِ
She has a smooth midriff marked with folds,
We paid the thousand for you to your people, and we returned with the hastily gathered ransom money,
and an upper chest like an engraved platter of pure silver.
And we drove back the Persians by force, and we broke among them the spear of ‘Abdal.
يَجولُsways وِشاحاهاher two sashes عَلىover أَخمَصَيهِماtheir two hollows
يَجولُ وِشاحاها عَلى أَخمَصَيهِما
إِذاwhen اِنفَتَلَتshe turns جالاًboth swing عَلَيهاupon her يُجَلجِلُit jingles
إِذا اِنفَتَلَت جالاً عَلَيها يُجَلجِلُ
Her two sashes sway across those two hollows;
So which cultivator of the ages hopes for our expanses when we did not show favor in what turned away?
when she turns, both swing upon her, jingling.
And which ordeal of truth have you not been tested with, yet no one being tested was found wanting?
فَقَدso indeed كَمُلَتshe became perfect حُسناًin beauty فَلاso no شَيءَthing فَوقَهاabove her
فَقَد كَمُلَت حُسناً فَلا شَيءَ فَوقَها
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَذوcertainly possess قَولٍspeech بِهاabout her مُتَنَخَّلِcarefully sifted
وَإِنّي لَذو قَولٍ بِها مُتَنَخَّلِ
She is perfect in beauty; nothing surpasses her,
We lead the life of nobility, so do not covet our pastures if we did not show favor.
and I speak of her in carefully sifted words.
And convey to the clan of ‘Ijl a messenger - you all have esteemed lineage and brilliant glory.
وَقَدand indeed عَلِمَتshe knew بِالغَيبِin absence أَنّيthat I أُحِبُّهاlove her
وَقَد عَلِمَت بِالغَيبِ أَنّي أُحِبُّها
وَأَنّيand that I لِنَفسيof myself مالِكٌam master فيin تَجَمَّلِdignified composure
وَأَنّي لِنَفسي مالِكٌ في تَجَمَّلِ
And she knows, though I am absent, that I love her,
and that I govern myself with dignified restraint.
وَماand not كُنتُI was أَشكيmore troubled قَبلَbefore قَتلَةَQatlah بِالصِبىby youthful passion
وَما كُنتُ أَشكي قَبلَ قَتلَةَ بِالصِبى
وَقَدand indeed خَتَلَتنيshe beguiled me بِالصِبىwith youthful passion كُلَّevery مَختَلِtrick
وَقَد خَتَلَتني بِالصِبى كُلَّ مَختَلِ
Never before Qatlah had youthful passion troubled me so,
yet she has beguiled me with youthful passion by every trick.
وَإِنّيand indeed I إِذاwhen ماever قُلتُI said قَولاًa thing فَعَلتُهُthen I did it
وَإِنّي إِذا ما قُلتُ قَولاً فَعَلتُهُ
وَلَستُand I am not بِمِخلافٍa promise-breaker لِقَوليof my word مُبَدَّلِa changer
وَلَستُ بِمِخلافٍ لِقَولي مُبَدَّلِ
And whenever I say a thing, I do it,
and I am no breaker of my word, no changer of it.
تَهالَكُshe swoons حَتّىuntil تُبطِرَshe deprives المَرءَthe man عَقلَهُof his reason
تَهالَكُ حَتّى تُبطِرَ المَرءَ عَقلَهُ
وَتُصبيand she infatuates الحَليمَthe composed man ذاpossessing الحِجىreason بِالتَقَتُّلِwith languid coquetry
وَتُصبي الحَليمَ ذا الحِجى بِالتَقَتُّلِ
She swoons until she robs a man of his reason,
and enthralls the composed man of reason with languid coquetry.
إِذاwhen لَبِسَتshe wore شَيدارَةًa shaydārah wrap ثُمَّthen أَبرَقَتshe flashed
إِذا لَبِسَت شَيدارَةً ثُمَّ أَبرَقَت
بِمِعصَمِهاher wrist وَالشَمسُand the sun لَمّاnot yet تَرَجَّلِhad risen high
بِمِعصَمِها وَالشَمسُ لَمّا تَرَجَّلِ
When she wears a shaydārah wrap, then lets flash
her wrist, while the sun has not yet climbed high,
وَأَلوَتand she waved بِكَفٍّwith a hand فيwithin سِوارٍa bracelet يَزينُهاadorn it
وَأَلوَت بِكَفٍّ في سِوارٍ يَزينُها
بَنانٌfingers كَهُدّابِlike the fringes of الدِمَقسِfine silk المُفَتَّلِtwisted
بَنانٌ كَهُدّابِ الدِمَقسِ المُفَتَّلِ
and waves a bracelet-wearing hand, adorned
with fingers like the fringes of twisted silk,
رَأَيتَyou saw الكَريمَthe noble man ذاpossessing الجَلالَةِdignity رانِياًgazing
رَأَيتَ الكَريمَ ذا الجَلالَةِ رانِياً
وَقَدand already طارَhad flown قَلبُthe heart of المُستَخِفَّthe flighty man المُعَذَّلِmuch reproached
وَقَد طارَ قَلبُ المُستَخِفَّ المُعَذَّلِ
you see the noble man of dignity gazing,
while the flighty, much-reproached man's heart has taken wing.
فَدَعهاso leave her وَسَلِّand dispel الهَمَّcare عَنكَfrom yourself بِجَسرَةٍwith a sturdy she-camel
فَدَعها وَسَلِّ الهَمَّ عَنكَ بِجَسرَةٍ
تَزَيَّدُshe quickens فيon فَضلِthe slack الزَمامِof the rein وَتَعتَليand rises high
تَزَيَّدُ في فَضلِ الزَمامِ وَتَعتَلي
So leave her, and banish care from yourself with a sturdy she-camel
that quickens on the slack rein and rises high.
فَأَيَّةَso which أَرضٍland لاnot أَتَيتُI reached سَراتَهاits heights
فَأَيَّةَ أَرضٍ لا أَتَيتُ سَراتَها
وَأَيَّةُand which أَرضٍland لَمnot أَجُبهاI traversed it بِمَرحَلِon a saddled camel
وَأَيَّةُ أَرضٍ لَم أَجُبها بِمَرحَلِ
So what land's heights have I not reached,
and what land have I not crossed on a saddled camel?
وَيَومِand the day of حِمامٍḤimām قَدindeed نَزَلناهُwe halted there نَزلَةًa halt
وَيَومِ حِمامٍ قَد نَزَلناهُ نَزلَةً
فَنِعمَthen excellent is مُناخُthe camping place الضَيفِof the guest وَالمُتَحَوِّلِand the traveler
فَنِعمَ مُناخُ الضَيفِ وَالمُتَحَوِّلِ
And the day of Ḥimām—we made our halt there;
what a fine camping place for guest and traveler!
فَأَبلِغso convey بَنيto the sons of عِجلٍʿIjl رَسولاًa message وَأَنتُمُand you
فَأَبلِغ بَني عِجلٍ رَسولاً وَأَنتُمُ
ذَوُوpossessors of نَسَبٍkinship دانٍclose وَمَجدٍand glory مُؤَثَّلِfirmly rooted
ذَوُو نَسَبٍ دانٍ وَمَجدٍ مُؤَثَّلِ
So convey a message to the sons of ʿIjl: you
possess close kinship and firmly rooted glory.
فَنَحنُfor we عَقَلناpaid blood-money الأَلفَthe thousand عَنكُمon your behalf لِأَهلِهِto its claimants
فَنَحنُ عَقَلنا الأَلفَ عَنكُم لِأَهلِهِ
وَنَحنُand we وَرَدناarrived بِالغَبوقِwith the evening draught المُعَجَّلِbrought early
وَنَحنُ وَرَدنا بِالغَبوقِ المُعَجَّلِ
For we paid the thousand in blood-money on your behalf to its claimants,
and we arrived with the evening draught brought early.
وَنَحنُand we رَدَدناrepelled الفارِسِيِّينَthe Persians عَنوَةًby force
وَنَحنُ رَدَدنا الفارِسِيِّينَ عَنوَةً
وَنَحنُand we كَسَرناbroke فيهِمُamong them رُمحَthe spear of عَبدَلِʿAbdal
وَنَحنُ كَسَرنا فيهِمُ رُمحَ عَبدَلِ
And we repelled the Persians by force,
and we broke ʿAbdal's spear among them.
فَأَيَّso what فَلاحِprosperity الدَهرِin life يَرجوhope for سَراتُناour chiefs
فَأَيَّ فَلاحِ الدَهرِ يَرجو سَراتُنا
إِذاif نَحنُwe فيماin what نابَbefell لَمnot نَتَفَضَّلِact generously
إِذا نَحنُ فيما نابَ لَم نَتَفَضَّلِ
So what prosperity in life can our chiefs hope for,
if, in what befalls us, we do not act generously?
وَأَيَّand what بَلاءِtrial الصِدقِof sincerity لاnot قَدalready بَلَوتُمُyou experienced
وَأَيَّ بَلاءِ الصِدقِ لا قَد بَلَوتُمُ
فَماso not فُقِدَتwas found missing كانَتwas بَلِيَّةُa trial مُبتَليof one who tests
فَما فُقِدَت كانَت بَلِيَّةُ مُبتَلي
And what test of true mettle have you not experienced?
No trial set by a tester was ever left unmet.
Partial English translation: 34 of 64 Arabic lines translated.