غَشيتَyou entered لِلَيلىLayla's بِلَيلٍby night خُدوراcurtained chambers
غَشيتَ لِلَيلى بِلَيلٍ خُدورا
وَطالَبتَهاand you sought her وَنَذَرتَand you vowed النُذوراthe vows
وَطالَبتَها وَنَذَرتَ النُذورا
You entered Layla's curtained chambers by night,
You visited Layla in the night in stealth,
and sought her, and vowed your vows.
And sought her and vowed offerings.
وَبانَتand she departed وَقَدand already أَورَثَتshe left فيin الفُؤاthe heart (continued)
وَبانَت وَقَد أَورَثَت في الفُؤا
دِ(completes 'heart') صَدعاًa rift عَلىthrough نَأيِهاher remoteness مُستَطيراspreading
دِ صَدعاً عَلى نَأيِها مُستَطيرا
She departed, having left within the heart
But she appeared, bequeathing in separation
a spreading rift through her remoteness,
A crack in my heart fleeing away.
كَصَدعِlike a crack in الزُجاجَةِthe glass ماnot تَستَطيcan (continued)
كَصَدعِ الزُجاجَةِ ما تَستَطي
عُ(completes 'can') كَفُّthe hand الصَناعِthe skilled craftswoman لَهاfor it أَنto تُحيراrestore
عُ كَفُّ الصَناعِ لَها أَن تُحيرا
like a crack in glass that cannot
Like the crack of a glass bottle - the skill
be mended by a skilled craftswoman's hand.
Of glassmakers cannot mend it.
مَليكِيَّةٌa Malikiyya woman جاوَرَتshe dwelt among بِالحِجاin the Hijaz (continued)
مَليكِيَّةٌ جاوَرَت بِالحِجا
زِ(completes 'Hijaz') قَوماًa people عُداةًhostile وَأَرضاًand a land شَطيراfar away
زِ قَوماً عُداةً وَأَرضاً شَطيرا
A Malikiyya woman, she dwelt in the Hijaz
A queen who dwelt among hostile people
among hostile people, in a distant land,
And a rugged land.
بِماwhere قَدonce تَرَبَّعُshe would spend spring رَوضَthe meadow of القَطاal-Qata
بِما قَد تَرَبَّعُ رَوضَ القَطا
وَرَوضَand the meadow of التَناضِبِal-Tanadib حَتّىuntil تَصيراshe becomes
وَرَوضَ التَناضِبِ حَتّى تَصيرا
where she would spend spring in Rawd al-Qata
With what she graced the garden of palm trees
and Rawd al-Tanadib, until she became
And the garden of date palms, until they became
كَبَردِيَّةِlike a papyrus stalk الغيلِthe flowing water وَسطَamid الغَريفِthe thicket
كَبَردِيَّةِ الغيلِ وَسطَ الغَريفِ
إِذاwhen خالَطَmingles with الماءُthe water مِنهاof it السُروراthe roots
إِذا خالَطَ الماءُ مِنها السُرورا
like a papyrus stalk beside flowing water amid a thicket,
Like the cold of intense winter amidst the branches
when water mingles with its roots.
When water mixed with joy in it
وَتَفتَرُّand she parts her lips عَنrevealing مُشرِقٍgleaming بارِدٍcool
وَتَفتَرُّ عَن مُشرِقٍ بارِدٍ
كَشَوكِlike thorns of السَيالِsayal acacia أُسِفَّwas dusted with النَؤوراtattooing soot
كَشَوكِ السَيالِ أُسِفَّ النَؤورا
Her lips part to reveal gleaming, cool teeth,
And it shone like the radiance of a cold East
like sayal-acacia thorns, edged with tattooing soot.
Like the thorns of torrents, saddening the ostriches.
كَأَنَّas though جَنِيّاًfreshly gathered produce مِنَof الزَنجَبيginger (continued)
كَأَنَّ جَنِيّاً مِنَ الزَنجَبي
لِ(completes 'ginger') خالَطَmingled with فاهاher mouth وَأَرياًand honey مَشوراharvested
لِ خالَطَ فاها وَأَرياً مَشورا
As though freshly gathered ginger
As if a demon of insanity
had mingled in her mouth with harvested honey,
Mixed with it and a madman bewildered.
وَإِسفِنطَand wine عانَةَAna بَعدَafter الرُقاsleep (continued)
وَإِسفِنطَ عانَةَ بَعدَ الرُقا
دِ(completes 'sleep') شَكَّmixed in الرِصافُstone-filtered water إِلَيهاinto it غَديراa stream
دِ شَكَّ الرِصافُ إِلَيها غَديرا
and wine from Ana after sleep,
And it heated the grape of Anah after fermenting -
mixed with a stream of stone-filtered water.
The vintner doubted whether to discard it.
وَإِنand if هِيَshe ناءَتheaved herself up تُريدُintending القِيامَto stand
وَإِن هِيَ ناءَت تُريدُ القِيامَ
تَهادىshe sways gently كَماas قَدindeed رَأَيتَyou have seen البَهيراthe breathless person
تَهادى كَما قَد رَأَيتَ البَهيرا
And if she heaved herself up to stand,
And if she sways intending to stand
she swayed like someone you have seen breathless.
She totters as you have seen the young camel.
لَهاshe has مَلِكٌa husband كانَhe was يَخشىfearing القِرافَillicit intimacy
لَها مَلِكٌ كانَ يَخشى القِرافَ
إِذاwhen خالَطَentered الظَنُّsuspicion مِنهُwithin him الضَميراthe inmost thoughts
إِذا خالَطَ الظَنُّ مِنهُ الضَميرا
She has a husband who feared illicit intimacy
She had a king who feared suspicions
when suspicion entered his inmost thoughts.
When doubt mixed with conscience.
إِذاwhen نَزَلَencamped الحَيُّthe tribe حَلَّhe settled الجَحيشَalone
إِذا نَزَلَ الحَيُّ حَلَّ الجَحيشَ
شَقِيّاًwretched غَوِيّاًwayward مُبيناًplainly غَيوراjealous
شَقِيّاً غَوِيّاً مُبيناً غَيورا
When the tribe encamped, he settled apart,
When the brave descended, the army became
wretched, wayward, plainly jealous.
Wretched, deviant, manifest, jealous.
يَقولُhe says لِعَبدَيهِto his two servants حُثّاyou two urge النَجاhaste
يَقولُ لِعَبدَيهِ حُثّا النَجا
وَغُضّاand you two lower مِنَsome of الطَرفِthe gaze عَنّاaway from us وَسيراand you two go
وَغُضّا مِنَ الطَرفِ عَنّا وَسيرا
He tells his two servants, 'Hurry away,
He says to his servants, “Hurry the departure
lower your gaze from us, and go.'
And lower your eyes from us and march away.”
فَلَيسَso he is not بِمُرعٍconsiderate عَلىtoward صاحِبٍa companion
فَلَيسَ بِمُرعٍ عَلى صاحِبٍ
وَلَيسَand he is not بِمانِعِهِpreventing him أَنfrom تَحوراyou returning
وَلَيسَ بِمانِعِهِ أَن تَحورا
He shows no consideration toward a companion,
So he cannot prevent a companion
nor can he keep you from returning.
Nor prevent her door, nor is able to flee with her.
وَلَيسَand he is not بِمانِعِهاbarring her بابَهاher door
وَلَيسَ بِمانِعِها بابَها
وَلاnor مُستَطيعٍable بِهاwith her أَنto يَطيراfly away
وَلا مُستَطيعٍ بِها أَن يَطيرا
Nor can he bar her door,
So she appeared with a brilliant beauty
nor fly away with her.
Though there was languor in her glance.
فَبانَso he departed بِحَسناءَwith a beauty بَرّاقَةٍradiant
فَبانَ بِحَسناءَ بَرّاقَةٍ
عَلىdespite أَنَّthat فيin الطَرفِthe gaze مِنهاof hers فُتوراlanguor
عَلى أَنَّ في الطَرفِ مِنها فُتورا
So he departed with a radiant beauty,
A creature of perfect nature like the moon,
though there was languor in her gaze.
She has not seen a sun or a bright morrow.
مُبتَلَّةِperfectly formed الخَلقِin physique مِثلِlike المَهاthe oryx (continued)
مُبتَلَّةِ الخَلقِ مِثلِ المَها
ةِ(completes 'oryx') لَمnot تَرَshe has seen شَمساًsunshine وَلاnor زَمهَريراbitter cold
ةِ لَم تَرَ شَمساً وَلا زَمهَريرا
Perfectly formed, like an oryx,
She cools with the cold of a cloak of bride
she has seen neither sun nor bitter cold.
Embroidered with musk in summer.
وَتَبرُدُand she is cool بَردَwith the coolness of رِداءِthe robe of العَروthe bride (continued)
وَتَبرُدُ بَردَ رِداءِ العَرو
سِ(completes 'bride') رَقرَقتَyou sprinkled بِالصَيفِin summer فيهِin it العَبيراblended perfume
سِ رَقرَقتَ بِالصَيفِ فيهِ العَبيرا
She is cool as a bride's robe
And on a night when a dog cannot
in which you sprinkled perfume in summer,
Bark but whimper, she grows warm.
وَتَسخُنُand she is warm لَيلَةَon a night لاnot يَستَطيعُcan
وَتَسخُنُ لَيلَةَ لا يَستَطيعُ
نُباحاًbarking بِهاin it الكَلبُthe dog إِلّاexcept هَريراgrowling
نُباحاً بِها الكَلبُ إِلّا هَريرا
and warm on a night when
You see her wear silk openly
a dog cannot bark, but only growl.
But she lines with that silk on the inside.
تَرىyou see الخَزَّsilk-and-wool cloth تَلبَسُهُshe wears it ظاهِراًoutside
تَرى الخَزَّ تَلبَسُهُ ظاهِراً
وَتُبطِنُand she wears underneath مِنfrom دونِbeneath ذاكَthat الحَريراsilk
وَتُبطِنُ مِن دونِ ذاكَ الحَريرا
You see her wearing silk-and-wool cloth outside,
When she adorns a wrist with two bracelets
and beneath that she wears silk.
Joined by pearls in a rare combination,
إِذاwhen قَلَّدَتshe encircles مِعصَماًa wrist يارَقَيtwo bracelets (continued)
إِذا قَلَّدَت مِعصَماً يارَقَي
نِ(completes 'two bracelets') فُصِّلَwas interspersed بِالدُرِّwith pearls فَصلاًin an arrangement نَضيراradiant
نِ فُصِّلَ بِالدُرِّ فَصلاً نَضيرا
When she encircles her wrist with two bracelets,
And above it an emerald necklace
brightly interspersed with pearls,
And a ruby that misses something precious,
وَجَلَّand stands splendid زَبَرجَدَةٌa chrysolite فَوقَهُabove it
وَجَلَّ زَبَرجَدَةٌ فَوقَهُ
وَياقوتَةٌand a ruby خِلتَyou thought شَيئاًsomething نَكيراwondrous
وَياقوتَةٌ خِلتَ شَيئاً نَكيرا
and a chrysolite stands splendidly above it,
With it your heart took flight from you
and a ruby—you think it something wondrous.
And you found yourself confused or perplexed,
فَأَلوَتthen she waved بِهِwith it طارَflew مِنكَfrom you الفُؤادُthe heart
فَأَلوَت بِهِ طارَ مِنكَ الفُؤادُ
وَأَلفَيتَand you found yourself حَيرانَbewildered أَوor مُستَحيراutterly confused
وَأَلفَيتَ حَيرانَ أَو مُستَحيرا
Then, as she waves it, your heart flies from you,
Although when she saw me come
and you find yourself bewildered, utterly at a loss.
She said with sight that discerned:
عَلىdespite أَنَّهاthat she إِذwhen رَأَتنيsaw me أُقاbeing led (continued)
عَلى أَنَّها إِذ رَأَتني أُقا
دُ(completes 'being led') قالَتshe said بِماhow often قَدonce أَراهُI would see him بَصيراclear-sighted
دُ قالَت بِما قَد أَراهُ بَصيرا
Yet when she saw me being led,
“She saw a man of distant lands
she said, 'How often I once saw him clear-sighted!'
Of differing nature, blind and sightless.
رَأَتshe saw رَجُلاًa man غائِبَwith sunken الوافِدَيthe two cheeks (continued)
رَأَت رَجُلاً غائِبَ الوافِدَي
نِ(completes 'two cheeks') مُختَلِفَaltered الخَلقِin physique أَعشىdim-sighted ضَريراblind
نِ مُختَلِفَ الخَلقِ أَعشى ضَريرا
She saw a man with sunken cheeks,
“For calamities made me stumble
his form altered, dim-sighted and blind.
And what you know was borrowed.”
فَإِنَّfor indeed الحَوادِثَmisfortunes ضَعضَعنَنيhave broken me down
فَإِنَّ الحَوادِثَ ضَعضَعنَني
وَإِنَّand indeed الَّذيwhat تَعلَمينَyou know اِستُعيراwas borrowed
وَإِنَّ الَّذي تَعلَمينَ اِستُعيرا
Indeed, misfortunes have broken me down,
When the guide of a youth in the country
and what you know of me was only borrowed.
Obeyed the prince and feared stumbling
إِذاwhen كانَis هاديthe guide of الفَتىthe man فيthrough البِلاthe lands (continued)
إِذا كانَ هادي الفَتى في البِلا
دِ(completes 'lands') صَدرَthe tip of القَناةِthe spear-shaft أَطاعَhe obeys الأَميراthe leader
دِ صَدرَ القَناةِ أَطاعَ الأَميرا
When a man's guide across the lands
When walking, avoided ease and thorns and roughness,
is a spear-shaft's tip, he obeys his leader,
In that is what benefits the youth,
وَخافَand he fears العِثارَstumbling إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) مَشىhe walks
وَخافَ العِثارَ إِذا ما مَشى
وَخالَand he thinks السُهولَةَsmooth ground وَعثاًrough وَعوراand rugged
وَخالَ السُهولَةَ وَعثاً وَعورا
and fears stumbling whenever he walks,
And which man does not meet misfortunes,
and thinks smooth ground rough and rugged.
And a wilderness in which people lose their way?
وَفيand in ذاكَthat ماsomething يَستَفيدُlearns الفَتىthe man
وَفي ذاكَ ما يَستَفيدُ الفَتى
وَأَيُّand what اِمرِئٍman لاdoes not يُلاقيencounter الشُروراevils
وَأَيُّ اِمرِئٍ لا يُلاقي الشُرورا
And in that is something a man can learn;
I traversed it when the listeners
and what man does not encounter evils?
Heard the cricket's singing in it.
وَبَيداءَand a wilderness يَلعَبُplays فيهاwithin it السَراthe mirage (continued)
وَبَيداءَ يَلعَبُ فيها السَرا
بُ(completes 'mirage') لاnot يَهتَديcan find القَومُthe people فيهاwithin it مَسيراa route
بُ لا يَهتَدي القَومُ فيها مَسيرا
And a wilderness where the mirage plays,
With a she-camel of Thumail
where people can find no path,
It fulfilled the goal after a difficult journey.
قَطَعتُI crossed إِذاwhen سَمِعَheard السامِعوthe listeners (continued)
قَطَعتُ إِذا سَمِعَ السامِعو
نَ(completes 'listeners') لِلجُندُبِof the grasshopper الجَونِdark فيهاwithin it صَريراa chirring
نَ لِلجُندُبِ الجَونِ فيها صَريرا
I crossed, when those who listened heard
A beautiful one who lies with the saddlebags
the dark grasshopper's shrill call within it,
When the sinful women deny.
بِناجِيَةٍon a swift she-camel كَأَتانِlike a wild she-ass الثَميلِof the scant pool
بِناجِيَةٍ كَأَتانِ الثَميلِ
تُوَفّيshe completes السُرىnight travel بَعدَafter أَينٍfatigue عَسيراarduous
تُوَفّي السُرى بَعدَ أَينٍ عَسيرا
on a swift she-camel, like a wild she-ass beside a scant pool,
To a king like the crescent of the sky,
completing an arduous night journey despite fatigue,
Most faithful, glorious and benign,
جُمالِيَّةٍa sturdy, male-built she-camel تَغتَليshe speeds بِالرِدافِwith a rear-rider
جُمالِيَّةٍ تَغتَلي بِالرِدافِ
إِذاwhen كَذَّبَfailed الآثِماتُthe laggard she-camels الهَجيراthe midday heat
إِذا كَذَّبَ الآثِماتُ الهَجيرا
a sturdy, male-built she-camel, speeding with her rear-rider,
Tall, sublime, protecting the guest
when laggard camels fail in the midday heat,
And giving to the needy.
إِلىtoward مَلِكٍa king كَهِلالِlike the crescent of السَماthe sky (continued)
إِلى مَلِكٍ كَهِلالِ السَما
ءِ(completes 'sky') أَزكىsurpassing وَفاءًin fidelity وَمَجداًand glory وَخَيراand goodness
ءِ أَزكى وَفاءً وَمَجداً وَخَيرا
toward a king like the crescent in the sky,
You are tremendous and a glorious man
surpassing in fidelity, glory, and goodness,
And your sea among men rises above seas.
طَويلِlong of النَجادِsword-belt رَفيعِlofty of العِماtent-pole (continued)
طَويلِ النَجادِ رَفيعِ العِما
دِ(completes 'tent-pole') يَحميhe protects المُضافَthe distressed وَيُعطيand gives to الفَقيراthe poor
دِ يَحمي المُضافَ وَيُعطي الفَقيرا
long of sword-belt, lofty of tent-pole,
You have favored me with abundant gifts
protecting the distressed and giving to the poor.
While stinginess in me was great.
أَهَوذَO Hawdha وَأَنتَand you اِمرُؤٌa man ماجِدٌnoble
أَهَوذَ وَأَنتَ اِمرُؤٌ ماجِدٌ
وَبَحرُكَand your sea فيamong الناسِpeople يَعلوsurpasses البُحوراthe seas
وَبَحرُكَ في الناسِ يَعلو البُحورا
O Hawdha, you are a noble man,
So my family is your ransom on days of estrangement
and your sea among men rises above all seas.
When the fetter leaves my steps short.
مَنَنتَyou bestowed عَلَيَّupon me العَطاءَthe gift الجَزيلَlavish
مَنَنتَ عَلَيَّ العَطاءَ الجَزيلَ
وَقَدwhile indeed قَصَّرَdiminished الضَنُّmiserliness مِنّيfrom me كَثيراgreatly
وَقَد قَصَّرَ الضَنُّ مِنّي كَثيرا
You bestowed a lavish gift upon me,
And my family is your ransom in battle
when miserliness had left me greatly diminished.
When the war cries of men grow loud.
فَأَهليso my family فِداؤُكَare your ransom يَومَon the day of الجِفاal-Jifar (continued)
فَأَهلي فِداؤُكَ يَومَ الجِفا
رِ(completes 'al-Jifar') إِذwhen تَرَكَleft القَيدُthe fetters خَطويmy stride قَصيراshort
رِ إِذ تَرَكَ القَيدُ خَطوي قَصيرا
May my family be your ransom on the day of al-Jifar,
Ask Tamim while eloquence is with me,
when fetters made my steps short;
And if you conceal, you will find me aware."
وَأَهليand my family فِداؤُكَare your ransom عِندَduring النِزالِbattle
وَأَهلي فِداؤُكَ عِندَ النِزالِ
إِذاwhen كانَis دَعوىthe cry of الرِجالِmen الكَريراa throaty roar
إِذا كانَ دَعوى الرِجالِ الكَريرا
and may my family be your ransom in battle,
They wish you in absence what they never
when men's cry is a throaty roar.
Cease to build at every worthy watering place.
فَسائِلso ask تَميماًTamim وَعِنديand I have البَيانُthe clear account
فَسائِل تَميماً وَعِندي البَيانُ
وَإِنand if تَكتُمواyou conceal تَجِدونيyou will find me خَبيراwell informed
وَإِن تَكتُموا تَجِدوني خَبيرا
Ask Tamim, for I possess the clear account;
So you set out your family from their people,
even if you conceal it, you will find me well informed.
And your stirring met with slight success.
تَمَنَّوكَthey wished you ill بِالغَيبِin secret ماnot يَفتَأوthey cease (continued)
تَمَنَّوكَ بِالغَيبِ ما يَفتَأو
نَ(completes 'they cease') يَبنونَbuilding فيat كُلِّevery ماءٍwatering place جَديراa wall
نَ يَبنونَ في كُلِّ ماءٍ جَديرا
They wished you ill in secret, never ceasing
And when you met the deceivers,
to build a wall at every watering place.
You found God over them All-Powerful.
فَأَخطَرتَso you staked أَهلَكَyour people عَنagainst أَهلِهِمtheir people
فَأَخطَرتَ أَهلَكَ عَن أَهلِهِم
فَصادَفَso encountered قِدحُكَyour gaming arrow فَوزاًa victory يَسيراeasy
فَصادَفَ قِدحُكَ فَوزاً يَسيرا
You staked your people against theirs,
And you prepared for war its furnishings -
and your gaming arrow found an easy victory.
Long spears and stallions.
وَلَمّاand when لُقيتَyou were matched مَعَwith المُخطِرينَthose wagering
وَلَمّا لُقيتَ مَعَ المُخطِرينَ
وَجَدتَyou found الإِلَهَGod عَلَيهِمover them قَديراpowerful
وَجَدتَ الإِلَهَ عَلَيهِم قَديرا
And when you were matched with those wagering,
And coats of mail of David's weaving,
you found God mighty over them.
Led with the army brigade after brigade,
وَأَعدَدتَand you prepared لِلحَربِfor war أَوزارَهاits burdens
وَأَعدَدتَ لِلحَربِ أَوزارَها
رِماحاًspears طِوالاًlong وَخَيلاًand horses ذُكوراmale
رِماحاً طِوالاً وَخَيلاً ذُكورا
You prepared war's burdens for it:
When they throng in the narrow space
long spears and stallions,
Crowding each other tightly.
وَمِنand from نَسجِthe weaving of داوُودَDavid مَوضونَةًclosely woven mail
وَمِن نَسجِ داوُودَ مَوضونَةً
تُساقُis driven مَعَwith الحَيِّthe tribe عيراًa caravan فَعيراthen another caravan
تُساقُ مَعَ الحَيِّ عيراً فَعيرا
and close-woven mail of David's weaving,
They have a bell like the rustle of gravel
borne with the tribe, caravan after caravan.
Struck by night winds in the black dark.
إِذاwhen اِزدَحَمَتit crowds together فيin المَكانِthe place المَضيnarrow (continued)
إِذا اِزدَحَمَت في المَكانِ المَضي
قِ(completes 'narrow') حَتَّscraped away التَزاحُمُthe jostling مِنهاfrom it القَتيراthe rivets
قِ حَتَّ التَزاحُمُ مِنها القَتيرا
When it crowds together in a narrow place,
And a groaning that tires their champions
the jostling wears away its rivets.
As the outstrippers tired the laggard.
لَهاit has جَرَسٌa clinking كَحَفيفِlike the rustle of الحَصاharvested stalks (continued)
لَها جَرَسٌ كَحَفيفِ الحَصا
دِ(completes 'harvested stalks') صادَفَmet بِاللَيلِat night ريحاًa wind دَبوراwesterly
دِ صادَفَ بِاللَيلِ ريحاً دَبورا
It has a clinking like the rustle of harvested stalks
Your steeds enjoy comfort in summer,
met at night by a west wind.
Honored with barley and chaff.
وَجَأواءَand a dark-armored host تُتعِبُwearies أَبطالَهاits champions
وَجَأواءَ تُتعِبُ أَبطالَها
كَماas أَتعَبَwearied السابِقونَthe front-runners الكَسيراthe exhausted runner
كَما أَتعَبَ السابِقونَ الكَسيرا
And a dark-armored host that wearies its champions,
Their necks—their trunks—like a marrow bone
as front-runners weary an exhausted runner.
Whittled at by the beaks of eagles.
جِيادُكَyour fine horses فيin الصَيفِsummer فيin نِعمَةٍcomfort
جِيادُكَ في الصَيفِ في نِعمَةٍ
تُصانُare protected الجِلالَhorse-blankets وَتُعطىand are given الشَعيراbarley
تُصانُ الجِلالَ وَتُعطى الشَعيرا
Your fine horses live at ease in summer,
And no escaping a raid in the autumn
kept under coverings and fed barley.
Until you defeat the shameless cheat.
سَواهِمُlean جُذعانُهاtheir yearlings كَالجِلاlike rocks (continued)
سَواهِمُ جُذعانُها كَالجِلا
مِ(completes 'rocks') أَقرَحَulcerated مِنهاof them القِيادُthe leading النُسوراthe hoof-frogs
مِ أَقرَحَ مِنها القِيادُ النُسورا
Lean steeds, their yearlings like rocks,
They compete with the plateau does
leading has rubbed sores into the frogs of their hooves.
Disheveled when they ascend the hills.
وَلاand no بُدَّescape مِنfrom غَزوَةٍa raid فيin المَصيsummer (continued)
وَلا بُدَّ مِن غَزوَةٍ في المَصي
فِ(completes 'summer') حَتٍّhard-driving تُكِلُّexhausting الوَقاحَthe hard-hoofed mount الشَكوراthriving on little fodder
فِ حَتٍّ تُكِلُّ الوَقاحَ الشَكورا
Yet there must be a raid in summer,
You are the generous one, and you are the one who,
hard-driving, exhausting the hard-hoofed mount that thrives on little.
When spirits filled up the chests,
يُنازِعنَthey tug against أَرسانَهُنَّtheir halters الرواthe grooms (continued)
يُنازِعنَ أَرسانَهُنَّ الروا
ةَ(completes 'grooms') شُعثاًdisheveled إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) عَلَونَthey ascend الثُغوراthe frontier heights
ةَ شُعثاً إِذا ما عَلَونَ الثُغورا
They strain at their halters against the grooms,
Deserves the stab on the day of meeting
disheveled as they climb the frontier heights.
That makes the women stab the breasts.
فَأَنتَso you are الجَوادُthe generous one وَأَنتَand you are الَّذيthe one who
فَأَنتَ الجَوادُ وَأَنتَ الَّذي
إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) النُفوسُthe souls مَلَأنَfill الصُدوراthe breasts
إِذا ما النُفوسُ مَلَأنَ الصُدورا
You are the generous one, and you are he
And no surging wave from the sea of rats
who, when souls fill the breasts,
Covers the sandbar and climbs over the dykes,
جَديرٌcapable بِطَعنَةِof a spear-thrust يَومِon the day of اللِقاthe encounter (continued)
جَديرٌ بِطَعنَةِ يَومِ اللِقا
ءِ(completes 'encounter') تَضرِبُbeat مِنهاbecause of it النِساءُthe women النُحوراthe upper chests
ءِ تَضرِبُ مِنها النِساءُ النُحورا
is capable of a thrust on the day of encounter
Capsizing ships with its tusks
that makes women beat their upper chests.
And felling many a worn-out house,
وَماand no مُزبِدٌfoaming flood مِنfrom خَليجِan arm of الفُراthe Euphrates (continued)
وَما مُزبِدٌ مِن خَليجِ الفُرا
تِ(completes 'Euphrates') يَغشىengulfs الإِكامَthe hills وَيَعلوand overtops الجُسوراthe bridges
تِ يَغشى الإِكامَ وَيَعلو الجُسورا
No foaming flood from an arm of the Euphrates,
With more generous than it in what he possesses
engulfing the hills and rising above bridges,
So he gives the hundred and gives the few.
يَكُبُّoverturns السَفينَthe fleet لِأَذقانِهِonto its prows
يَكُبُّ السَفينَ لِأَذقانِهِ
وَيَصرَعُand fells بِالعَبرِon the riverbank أَثلاًtamarisks وَدوراand houses
وَيَصرَعُ بِالعَبرِ أَثلاً وَدورا
toppling the fleet onto its prows,
and felling tamarisks and houses on the bank,
بِأَجوَدَmore generous مِنهُthan he بِماwith what عِندَهُhe has
بِأَجوَدَ مِنهُ بِما عِندَهُ
فَيُعطيso he gives المِئينَhundreds وَيُعطيand gives البُدوراbags of coin
فَيُعطي المِئينَ وَيُعطي البُدورا
is more generous than he with what it has;
he gives hundreds, and gives bags of coin.
Partial English translation: 110 of 114 Arabic lines translated.