بانَdeparted الخَليطُthe beloved's company فَقَلبيso my heart اليَومَtoday مُختَلَسُstolen away
بانَ الخَليطُ فَقَلبي اليَومَ مُختَلَسُ
حينَwhen اِزلَأَمّواthey hastened away فَماso not عاجواthey turned back وَلاand not حَبَسواthey stopped
حينَ اِزلَأَمّوا فَما عاجوا وَلا حَبَسوا
The beloved's company has departed; today my heart is stolen away.
My heart today is smitten and restless,
When they hastened off, they neither turned back nor stopped.
When they descended they did not delay or linger.
يُحدىis urged by song بِهِمbearing them كُلُّevery عَجعاجٍbellowing camel وَيَعمَلَةٍand a tireless she-camel
يُحدى بِهِم كُلُّ عَجعاجٍ وَيَعمَلَةٍ
ماnot فيin سَوالِفِهاtheir necks عَيبٌa blemish وَلاand no قَعَسُbackward curvature
ما في سَوالِفِها عَيبٌ وَلا قَعَسُ
Every bellowing camel and tireless she-camel is urged along bearing them,
Every loud-voiced and working woman is challenged by them.
with neither blemish nor backward curvature in their necks.
In their fine weapons there is no defect or dullness.
تَعومُthey swim فيthrough الآلِthe mirage مُرخاةًloosened أَزِمَّتُهاtheir reins
تَعومُ في الآلِ مُرخاةً أَزِمَّتُها
إِذاwhenever أَقولُI say وَنَواthey slackened مِنin سيرِهِمtheir traveling مَلَسواthey glided swiftly
إِذا أَقولُ وَنَوا مِن سيرِهِم مَلَسوا
They swim through the mirage, their reins let loose.
They float about in the tents slack-tied,
Whenever I say they have slackened their pace, they glide swiftly on.
When I say bend aside from their march, they comply.
وَفيand in الخُدورِthe curtained litters مَهاًoryx-like beauties بِيضٌwhite مَحاجِرُهاtheir eye-rims
وَفي الخُدورِ مَهاً بِيضٌ مَحاجِرُها
تَفتَرُّthey smile عَنrevealing بَرَدٍhailstones قَدindeed زانَهُadorned it اللَعسُdusky lip-color
تَفتَرُّ عَن بَرَدٍ قَد زانَهُ اللَعسُ
And in the curtained litters are oryx-like beauties with fair eye-rims,
And in the rooms white, proud she-camels,
smiling to reveal hailstone teeth adorned by dusky lips.
Shivering from cold that luster has adorned.
يَشفيheals القُلوبَthe hearts عِذابٌsweet teeth لَوif only يُجادُis freely bestowed بِهِof it
يَشفي القُلوبَ عِذابٌ لَو يُجادُ بِهِ
كَالبَرقِlike lightning لاno رَوَقٌtooth-protrusion فيهِin it وَلاand no كَسَسُtooth-stunting
كَالبَرقِ لا رَوَقٌ فيهِ وَلا كَسَسُ
Sweet teeth heal hearts, if their sweetness is freely bestowed,
A suffering that would heal hearts if contested with,
like lightning, neither jutting nor stunted.
Like lightning, no comfort or scarcity in it.
مَرضىlanguid العُيونِof eye وَلَمand not يَعلَقhas clung بِهاto them مَرَضٌillness
مَرضى العُيونِ وَلَم يَعلَق بِها مَرَضٌ
شُمُّhigh-bridged الأَنوفِof nose فَلاso no غِلظٌcoarseness وَلاand no فَطَسُflatness
شُمُّ الأَنوفِ فَلا غِلظٌ وَلا فَطَسُ
Their eyes are languid, though no illness has touched them;
A cure for sick eyes though no sickness clings to them,
their noses high-bridged, neither coarse nor flattened.
A scent for noses, no harshness or stuffiness.
تَكسوthey clothe الجُلودَthe skins عَبيراًsaffron perfume لَونُهاtheir complexion شَرِقٌradiant
تَكسو الجُلودَ عَبيراً لَونُها شَرِقٌ
فَكُلُّso all أَبشارِهاtheir skins مُصفَرَّةٌyellow-tinted مُلُسُsmooth
فَكُلُّ أَبشارِها مُصفَرَّةٌ مُلُسُ
They clothe their skin in saffron perfume, their complexion radiant;
Their skins are clothed in a fragrance whose color is dawn-shine,
so all their skin is yellow-tinted and smooth.
While all their complexions are yellowed and smooth.
فَلَمyet not يُبالوكَthey heeded you إِذاwhen سارواthey traveled لِطِيَّتِهِمtoward their destination
فَلَم يُبالوكَ إِذا ساروا لِطِيَّتِهِم
وَكانَand there was مِنهُمfrom them سَفاهُfoolishness الرَأيِof judgment وَالشَكَسُand obstinacy
وَكانَ مِنهُم سَفاهُ الرَأيِ وَالشَكَسُ
Yet they paid you no heed when they left for their destination,
They did not care though they marched to their wildness,
showing foolish judgment and obstinacy.
Among them were fools and crack-brained men.
فَدِمنَةُso the traces الدارِof the dwelling بَعدَafter الحَيِّthe tribe قَدalready بَلِيَتhave decayed
فَدِمنَةُ الدارِ بَعدَ الحَيِّ قَد بَلِيَت
تُرابُهاits soil بِحَسىat Hasa الأَرواحِal-Arwah مُكتَنَسُswept away
تُرابُها بِحَسى الأَرواحِ مُكتَنَسُ
The dwelling's traces have decayed since the tribe departed;
The floor of the abode after its heyday is wasted,
its soil at Hasa al-Arwah is swept away.
Its soil by the sweeping of souls is brushed away.
وَماand not يَزالُceases عَلَيهاabove it مُسبِلٌa pouring raincloud هَطِلٌheavily raining
وَما يَزالُ عَلَيها مُسبِلٌ هَطِلٌ
مُستَأسِدٌlion-like هَزِجٌroaring بِالماءِwith water مُرتَجِسُthundering
مُستَأسِدٌ هَزِجٌ بِالماءِ مُرتَجِسُ
A heavy, pouring raincloud never ceases above it,
And that which pours down on it is flooding rain,
fierce as a lion, roaring and thundering with water:
Arrogant, copious, its water held back.
جَونٌdark رُكامٌpiled up سِماكِيٌّof Simak لَهُit has لَجَبُa mighty roar
جَونٌ رُكامٌ سِماكِيٌّ لَهُ لَجَبُ
كَأَنَّهُas though it ماكِثٌdwelling فيin الدارِthe campsite مُحتَبَسُheld captive
كَأَنَّهُ ماكِثٌ في الدارِ مُحتَبَسُ
dark, piled high, a Simak cloud with a mighty roar,
Rubble, high and thick, enclosing depressions,
as though it dwelled in the campsite, held there captive.
As though tarrying heedless within the house.
يَفريcuts through الإِكامَthe hillocks مَعَalong with القيعانِthe plains وَاِبلُهُits downpour
يَفري الإِكامَ مَعَ القيعانِ وَاِبلُهُ
يَنزِعُstrips off جِلدَthe skin الحَصىof the pebbles أَجَششُhoarse-sounding مُنبَجِسُgushing
يَنزِعُ جِلدَ الحَصى أَجَششُ مُنبَجِسُ
Its downpour cuts through hillocks and level plains,
It spurts the gushing torrents and its showers
a hoarse, bursting torrent stripping the skin from pebbles.
Strip the skins from the pebbles, tumultuous and leaping.
أَبلىwore away مَعارِفَthe landmarks أَطلالٍof ruins وَغَيَّرَهاand altered them
أَبلى مَعارِفَ أَطلالٍ وَغَيَّرَها
فَكُلُّso all آياتِهاtheir signs مَمحُوَّةٌeffaced طُمُسُobliterated
فَكُلُّ آياتِها مَمحُوَّةٌ طُمُسُ
It has worn away the ruins' landmarks and altered them,
It has worn away the relics of encampments and altered them,
so all their signs are effaced and obliterated:
So that all their vestiges are erased and blotted out.
نُويٌa camp-trench وَسُفعٌand sooty hearthstones وَمَشجوجٌand a split peg مُلتَبِدٌcaked over
نُويٌ وَسُفعٌ وَمَشجوجٌ مُلتَبِدٌ
كَأَنَّهاas though they كُتُبٌwritings عادِيَّةٌancient, of 'Ad دُرُسُworn away
كَأَنَّها كُتُبٌ عادِيَّةٌ دُرُسُ
a camp-trench, sooty hearthstones, and a split peg caked with earth,
Hilltops and slopes and winding valleys,
like ancient writings of 'Ad, worn away.
Like common books that are studied and conned.
فَالعِينُand wide-eyed oryx فيهاin it رَخيطانُbands النَعامof ostriches بِهاthere
فَالعِينُ فيها رَخيطانُ النَعام بِها
وَالعُونُand mature wild cows أَطهارُهاtheir nonpregnant ones وَاللُقَّحُand pregnant ones الشُمُسُuntamed
وَالعُونُ أَطهارُها وَاللُقَّحُ الشُمُسُ
Wide-eyed oryx dwell there; bands of ostriches are there,
There the ostrich’s feet wander while the mountain goat’s eyes
and mature wild cows, both nonpregnant and pregnant, shy and untamed.
And the moufflons are their pure parts and the suns their warp threads.
وَلَيسَand not يَحبِسُنيkeeps me عَنfrom رِحلَةٍa journey عَرَضَتthat presented itself
وَلَيسَ يَحبِسُني عَن رِحلَةٍ عَرَضَت
صَوتُthe cry الغُدافِof the raven وَلاand not العَطّاسَةُthe sneezer الفَطُسُsnub-nosed
صَوتُ الغُدافِ وَلا العَطّاسَةُ الفَطُسُ
Nor am I kept from a journey that presents itself
Neither the croaking frogs nor the loud sneezes
by the raven's cry, nor by the snub-nosed sneezer.
Hold me back from a journey when it hoves into sight,
وَمَهمَةٍand a wilderness قَفرَةٍbarren أُجنٍstagnant مَناهِلُهاits watering places
وَمَهمَةٍ قَفرَةٍ أُجنٍ مَناهِلُها
دَيمومَةٍa trackless waste ماnot بِهاin it جِنٌّjinn وَلاand no أَنَسُhuman beings
دَيمومَةٍ ما بِها جِنٌّ وَلا أَنَسُ
And many a barren wilderness with stagnant watering places,
And an arid, trackless, desolate task, its water-holes
a trackless waste without jinn or human beings,
Permanent, wherein is neither jinn nor mortal.
يُقويruns out of provisions بِهاin it الرُكبُthe riding party حَتّىuntil ماnot يَكونُthere is لَهُمfor them
يُقوي بِها الرُكبُ حَتّى ما يَكونُ لَهُم
إِلّاexcept الزِنادُthe fire-drills وَإِلاand except القِدحُthe firestick مُقتَبَسُused for kindling
إِلّا الزِنادُ وَإِلا القِدحُ مُقتَبَسُ
where riders exhaust their provisions until they have nothing
The party is strengthened by it until they have no need
but fire-drills and a firestick for kindling.
Save for the flint and save for the kindled brand.
كَأَنَّas though أَعلامَهاits landmarks وَالآلُand the mirage يَرفَعُهاraises them
كَأَنَّ أَعلامَها وَالآلُ يَرفَعُها
سُبّاحُswimmers ذيin something possessing زَبَدٍfoam تَبدوthey appear وَتَغتَمِسُand submerge
سُبّاحُ ذي زَبَدٍ تَبدو وَتَغتَمِسُ
Its landmarks, lifted by the mirage, seem
As though its landmarks and the tents they raise up
like swimmers in foaming water, surfacing and submerging.
Are foam brought forth that appears and sinks back in again.
بِهاin it تَوائِمُpaired chicks جُونٌdark فيin أفاحِصِهاtheir nesting hollows
بِها تَوائِمُ جُونٌ في أفاحِصِها
مِثلُlike الكُلىkidneys عَزَّهُنَّoverpowered them الماءُthe water وَالغَلَسُand predawn darkness
مِثلُ الكُلى عَزَّهُنَّ الماءُ وَالغَلَسُ
There are paired dark ostrich chicks in their nesting hollows,
The barren uplands are coupled with it in its groves
like kidneys, beaten down by rain and predawn gloom.
Like kidneys that water and mud have nourished.
حَكَّتthey scratched جُلوداًskins كَأَنَّas though الريشَthe feathers إِذwhen بَثِرَتthey erupted in bumps
حَكَّت جُلوداً كَأَنَّ الريشَ إِذ بَثِرَت
مِنَfrom قَبلِbefore تَشويكِهِits sprouting quills فيin بَثرِهِits bumps العَدَسُlentils
مِنَ قَبلِ تَشويكِهِ في بَثرِهِ العَدَسُ
They scratched their skins; when bumps appeared, the feathers looked,
It has scoured hides that are as though the feathers when they are shed
before sprouting quills, like lentils in those bumps.
By the bird beating them in its threshing-floor, the lentils.
قَدindeed جُبتُهاI crossed it وَرُؤوسُand the heads القَومِof the companions مائِلَةٌdrooping
قَد جُبتُها وَرُؤوسُ القَومِ مائِلَةٌ
مِنfrom مَتِّهِمtheir hard traveling وَمِنand from الإِدلاجِnight marching قَدalready نَعَسواthey grew drowsy
مِن مَتِّهِم وَمِن الإِدلاجِ قَد نَعَسوا
I have crossed that waste, my companions' heads drooping;
I have gained them while the people’s heads incline
from hard traveling and night marches they had grown drowsy.
Drowsily, drunk, and from the gloom they have slumbered.
كَأَنَّهُمas though they فيduring السُرىthe night journey وَاللَيلُand the night غامِرُهُمengulfing them
كَأَنَّهُم في السُرى وَاللَيلُ غامِرُهُم
إِذwhen كَلَّموكَthey spoke to you مِنَfrom الإِسآدِnight-long traveling قَدalready خَرِسواthey became speechless
إِذ كَلَّموكَ مِنَ الإِسآدِ قَد خَرِسوا
As though, on the night journey, with darkness engulfing them,
As though they in their coverts and the night covering them darkly
when they spoke to you, night-long travel had struck them dumb.
When they spoke to thee out of tipsiness, they faltered.
لَمnot يَبقَremained مِنهُمof them وَقَدand already مالَتhad tilted عَمائِمُهُمtheir turbans
لَم يَبقَ مِنهُم وَقَد مالَت عَمائِمُهُم
مُعانِقيembracing المَيسِthe mays-wood saddles إِلّاexcept الروحُlife وَالنَفَسُand breath
مُعانِقي المَيسِ إِلّا الروحُ وَالنَفَسُ
Nothing remained of them, their turbans tilted,
Of them grasping the wine-skins naught remains
as they hugged their mays-wood saddles, save life and breath.
But the soul and the breath.
تَخديstride swiftly بِهِمbearing them ضُمَّرٌlean camels حُوصٌnarrow-eyed وَسِيرَتُهاand their gait
تَخدي بِهِم ضُمَّرٌ حُوصٌ وَسِيرَتُها
تَكادُalmost مِنهاfrom it رِقابُthe necks الرَكبِof the riders تَنفَرِسُare broken
تَكادُ مِنها رِقابُ الرَكبِ تَنفَرِسُ
Lean, narrow-eyed camels stride swiftly with them, their pace
Carrying me is a virile she-camel, durable,
almost breaking the riders' necks.
And a vigorous riding-beast, a thoroughbred Sa’dis.
كَأَنَّas though أَصواتَthe sounds أَلحِيهاof their jaws إِذاwhen اِصطَدَمَتthey clash
كَأَنَّ أَصواتَ أَلحِيها إِذا اِصطَدَمَت
أَصواتُthe sounds عِيدانِof wooden clappers رُهبانٍof monks إِذاwhen نَقَسواthey strike them
أَصواتُ عِيدانِ رُهبانٍ إِذا نَقَسوا
The sounds of their jaws, when they clash, seem
Quick she-camels, masculine, their letter pronounced alike,
like monks' wooden clappers when they strike them.
While all their treadings are silent and smooth.
تَحمِلُنيbears me جَسرَةٌa tall she-camel أُجدٌstrong مُضَبَّرَةٌcompactly built
تَحمِلُني جَسرَةٌ أُجدٌ مُضَبَّرَةٌ
وَجناءُbroad-cheeked مُجفَرَةٌdeep-bodied مَنسوبَةٌpedigreed سَدَسُeight-year-old
وَجناءُ مُجفَرَةٌ مَنسوبَةٌ سَدَسُ
A tall, strong, compactly built she-camel bears me,
She passes a hill-like dune with traits
broad-cheeked, deep-bodied, pedigreed, eight years old.
Like the leaders’ though no sorrow clings to it.
رَهبٌhuge عَرَندَسَةٌmighty حَرفٌblade-like مُذَكَّرَةٌstrong as a male
رَهبٌ عَرَندَسَةٌ حَرفٌ مُذَكَّرَةٌ
فَكُلُّso all أَخفافِهاher footpads مَلثومَةٌbattered لُطُسُflattened
فَكُلُّ أَخفافِها مَلثومَةٌ لُطُسُ
Huge, mighty, blade-like, strong as a male,
The tooth has left its mark in it though it is combed;
with all her footpads battered and beaten flat.
As it leaves its effect on the common hack.
تُمِرُّshe sweeps جَثلاًa bushy tail عَلىover الحاذَينِboth thighs ذاpossessing خُصَلٍtufts
تُمِرُّ جَثلاً عَلى الحاذَينِ ذا خُصَلٍ
مِثلِlike القَوادِمprimary flight feathers لَمnot يَعلَقhas adhered بِهاto it العَبَسُclotted dung
مِثلِ القَوادِم لَم يَعلَق بِها العَبَسُ
She sweeps a bushy, tufted tail across both thighs,
As though it after the eye’s exhaustion, when it was tired,
like flight feathers, with no clotted dung adhering to it.
Were a patch-coated garron with a withered face.
قَدindeed أَثَّرَhas marked النِسعٌthe girth فيهاher وَهِيَwhile she is مُسنَفَةٌbreast-strapped
قَد أَثَّرَ النِسعٌ فيها وَهِيَ مُسنَفَةٌ
كَماjust as يُؤَثِّرُmarks فيin العادِيَّةِthe ancient well المَرَسُthe rope
كَما يُؤَثِّرُ في العادِيَّةِ المَرَسُ
The girth has marked her, her breast-strap drawn tight,
It spent the night by a lively whistling thorn-tree
as a rope scores an ancient well.
That a wind makes applaud when the darkness lifts from its person.
كَأَنَّهاas though she بَعدَafter جَهدِstrain العَينِof the eye إِذwhen ضَمَرَتshe grew lean
كَأَنَّها بَعدَ جَهدِ العَينِ إِذ ضَمَرَت
مُوَلَّعٌa dappled oryx لَهَقٌbrilliant white فيin وَجهِهِits face خَنَسُa receding nose
مُوَلَّعٌ لَهَقٌ في وَجهِهِ خَنَسُ
When grown lean, after the eye's long scrutiny, she seems
It encountered slender game, lean of flesh, raiding,
a dappled, brilliant-white oryx with a receding muzzle.
Of Dumat al-Jandal’s hunters of wild beasts, seeking.
باتَspent the night إِلىbeside حِقفِa curved dune أَرطاةٍof an arta shrub تُصَفِّقُهُbuffets it
باتَ إِلى حِقفِ أَرطاةٍ تُصَفِّقُهُ
ريحٌwind فَلَمّاand when اِنجَلىcleared away عَنfrom شَخصِهِits shape الغَلَسُpredawn darkness
ريحٌ فَلَمّا اِنجَلى عَن شَخصِهِ الغَلَسُ
It spent the night beside an arta shrub on a curved dune, buffeted
It loosed hounds that did not flinch and chased them,
by wind; when predawn darkness cleared from its shape,
Loping, of variegated hues, sullen.
صادَفَencountered خوطاًa twig-thin man قَليلَscant اللَحمِin flesh مُغتَدِياًsetting out at dawn
صادَفَ خوطاً قَليلَ اللَحمِ مُغتَدِياً
مِنfrom أَهلِthe people of دَومَةَDawmah صَيدَhunting الوَحشِwild animals يَلتَمِسُhe seeks
مِن أَهلِ دَومَةَ صَيدَ الوَحشِ يَلتَمِسُ
it encountered a twig-thin, lean hunter setting out at dawn,
Longing to bear him seized it while it bore him
from the people of Dawmah, seeking wild game.
While he in fright of the huntsman cowered, cringing.
أَشلىhe called كِلاباًdogs فَلَمand not تَنكُلthey faltered وَأَجرِيَهاand their pups
أَشلى كِلاباً فَلَم تَنكُل وَأَجرِيَها
غُضفاًdroop-eared نَواحِلَlean فيin أَلوانِهاtheir colors غَبَسُdusky gray
غُضفاً نَواحِلَ في أَلوانِها غَبَسُ
He called his dogs and their pups, and they did not falter:
Until when of their mouths it gained the leap
droop-eared, lean, their coats tinged with dusky gray.
And no harm met it, all of them docile,
فَاِشتَقَّso it struck out تَحمِلُهُbear it رُحٌّbroad-set legs وَيَحمِلُهاand it bears them
فَاِشتَقَّ تَحمِلُهُ رُحٌّ وَيَحمِلُها
وَهُوَwhile it بِذُعرٍwith fear مِنَof القُنّاصِthe hunters مُنتَخَسُis goaded
وَهُوَ بِذُعرٍ مِنَ القُنّاصِ مُنتَخَسُ
It struck out, borne by broad-set legs that it in turn bore,
It wheeled as if an enraged lion turning in fury,
goaded onward by dread of the hunters.
Brandishing a blade that makes the lionesses scatter –
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen كانَit was مِنto أَفواهِهاtheir mouths كَثَباًclose
حَتّى إِذا كانَ مِن أَفواهِها كَثَباً
وَماand not طَلَتهُhad reached it ضِراءٌhunting hounds كُلُّهاall of them حَنِسُbent-legged
وَما طَلَتهُ ضِراءٌ كُلُّها حَنِسُ
Until, when it came close to their mouths,
So they are different, a wounded one and a ducking one!
though none of the hunting hounds, all bent-legged, had reached it,
It stretched those first with a blow and went straight for them
كَرَّit wheeled back وَقَدand already لَحِقَتhad caught up مِنهاamong them سَوابِقُهاtheir foremost ones
كَرَّ وَقَد لَحِقَت مِنها سَوابِقُها
كَأَنَّهُas though it مَرزُبانٌa Persian governor مُغضَبٌangered مَرِسُbattle-hardened
كَأَنَّهُ مَرزُبانٌ مُغضَبٌ مَرِسُ
it wheeled back, their foremost dogs already upon it,
So in succession to its hounds it spurred them on.
like an angered, battle-hardened marzban.
And it sank down like a falling star in its swoop –
يَهِزُّbrandishes لَدناًa supple lance يَذُبُّfends off الضارِياتِthe hunting hounds بِهِwith it
يَهِزُّ لَدناً يَذُبُّ الضارِياتِ بِهِ
فَهُنَّso they شَتّانare scattered apart مَجروحٌwounded وَمُنحَدِسُand flung down
فَهُنَّ شَتّان مَجروحٌ وَمُنحَدِسُ
It brandishes a supple lance, fending off the hunting hounds with it;
As the kindled brand gleams amid the darkness.
they scatter, some wounded, some flung to the ground.
Thus I likened it to a slain old she-oryx
أَردىfelled أَوائِلَهاtheir foremost ones طَعناًwith thrusts فَأَقصَدَهاand killed them outright
أَردى أَوائِلَها طَعناً فَأَقصَدَها
فَفيso among التَواليthe following ones إلىtoward كَلّابِهاtheir dog-keeper شَوَسُsidelong looks
فَفي التَوالي إلى كَلّابِها شَوَسُ
It felled their leaders with thrusts, killing them outright;
When every rope lies prone upon it, dangling easily.
the following dogs cast sidelong looks toward their keeper.
It purposes the Commander of the Faithful, al-Walid –
وَاِنصاعَand sped away كَالكَوكَبِlike the star الدُرِّيِّpearly-bright مَيعَتُهُits rush
وَاِنصاعَ كَالكَوكَبِ الدُرِّيِّ مَيعَتُهُ
كَماjust as تَضَرَّمَflares وَسطَamid الظُلمَةِthe darkness القَبَسُthe firebrand
كَما تَضَرَّمَ وَسطَ الظُلمَةِ القَبَسُ
Then it swept away, its rush like a brilliant, pearly star,
Though the travel were long and the waste lands spread before it –
as a firebrand flares in the midst of darkness.
God’s Caliph from whom the clouds are summoned for rain
فَذاكَso that شَبَّهتُهُI likened it عَنساًto a she-camel مُقَتَّلَةًtravel-worn
فَذاكَ شَبَّهتُهُ عَنساً مُقَتَّلَةً
إِذwhen كُلُّevery حَبلٍrope عَلَيهاupon her جائِلٌmoving loosely سَلِسُpliant
إِذ كُلُّ حَبلٍ عَلَيها جائِلٌ سَلِسُ
To that beast I likened a she-camel worn by travel,
No filth ever touched his garments.
with every rope upon her sliding loose and easy.
A staunch king who attacks affairs formidably
تَنويshe makes for الوَليدَal-Walid أَميرَCommander المُؤمِنينَof the Faithful وَإِنeven if
تَنوي الوَليدَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَإِن
طالَgrew long السِفارُthe journey وَأَضحَتand came to lie دونَهُbefore him الطَبَسُTabas
طالَ السِفارُ وَأَضحَت دونَهُ الطَبَسُ
She makes for al-Walid, Commander of the Faithful, even if
When the hot-head is perplexed by the strategy.
the journey grows long and Tabas lies before him.
To him have submitted the Arabs of the horizons, fearing him,
خَليفَةَthe caliph اللَهِof God يُستَسقىis asked for rain الغِمامُthe clouds بِهِthrough him
خَليفَةَ اللَهِ يُستَسقى الغِمامُ بِهِ
مامَسَّhas never touched أَثوابَهُhis robes مِنfrom غَدرَةٍtreachery دَنَسُa stain
مامَسَّ أَثوابَهُ مِن غَدرَةٍ دَنَسُ
God's caliph, through whom rain is sought from the clouds,
And the Byzantines submitted all together and the Persians.
whose robes no stain of treachery has touched;
They fear the columns of troops passing among them
مَلكاًa king هُماماًresolute يَجيلُturns over الأَمرَthe matter جائِلَهُits course
مَلكاً هُماماً يَجيلُ الأَمرَ جائِلَهُ
إِذاwhen تَحَيَّرَis bewildered عِندَbefore الخُطَّةِthe grave decision الهَوِسُthe rash fool
إِذا تَحَيَّرَ عِندَ الخُطَّةِ الهَوِسُ
a resolute king who turns a matter through its course,
Bearing complete mail-coats for their warriors.
when the rash fool falters before a grave decision.
With them you bring captives, then divide them
دانَتsubmitted لَهُto him عَرَبُthe Arabs الآفاقِof the horizons خَشيَتَهُout of fear of him
دانَت لَهُ عَرَبُ الآفاقِ خَشيَتَهُ
وَالرومُand the Romans دانَتsubmitted لَهُto him جَمعاءُall together وَالفُرُسُand the Persians
وَالرومُ دانَت لَهُ جَمعاءُ وَالفُرُسُ
The Arabs of the far horizons submit to him out of fear,
As wild beasts stalk your prey in the wilderness.
and all the Romans submit to him, and the Persians.
Your enemy is broken by force – verily hatred kills them.
خافواthey feared كَتائِبَbattalions غُلباًmighty أَنthat تُطيفُmight surround بِهِمthem
خافوا كَتائِبَ غُلباً أَن تُطيفُ بِهِم
لِلسابِغاتِthe full-length mail has عَلىupon أَبطالِهاits heroes جَرَسُa ringing sound
لِلسابِغاتِ عَلى أَبطالِها جَرَسُ
They feared that mighty battalions might surround them,
And if they intend any treachery, may they be wretched!
their heroes' full-length coats of mail ringing aloud.
They see nothing and in their ears is deafness
بِهِنَّwith them تَحويyou gather سُبِيّاًcaptive women ثُمَّthen تَقسِمُهاyou apportion them
بِهِنَّ تَحوي سُبِيّاً ثُمَّ تَقسِمُها
كَماjust as يَصِيدُكَhunts for you وَحشَwild game القَفرَةِof the wasteland الفَرَسُthe horse
كَما يَصِيدُكَ وَحشَ القَفرَةِ الفَرَسُ
With them you gather captive women, then apportion them,
When you rouse them from some temptation, they relapse.
as a horse hunts the wasteland's wild game for you.
They are those whom I have heard God promise
قَسراًunder compulsion عَدَّوَكَthey treated you as an enemy إِنَّindeed الضِغنَrancor قاتلُهُمis their killer
قَسراً عَدَّوَكَ إِنَّ الضِغنَ قاتلُهُم
وَإِنَّهُمand indeed they إِنif أَرادواthey intend غَدرَةًtreachery تَعِسواcome to ruin
وَإِنَّهُم إِن أَرادوا غَدرَةً تَعِسوا
They were driven to treat you as an enemy; their rancor will kill them,
And the idolaters – whoever does not support you is unclean!
and if they attempt treachery, they will come to ruin.
Their words raved whether you said good or ill
لاnot يُبصِرونَthey see وَفيand in آذانِهِمtheir ears صَمَمٌdeafness
لا يُبصِرونَ وَفي آذانِهِم صَمَمٌ
إِذاwhen نَعَشتَهُمُyou lift them مِنfrom فِتنَةٍstrife رَكَسواthey relapse
إِذا نَعَشتَهُمُ مِن فِتنَةٍ رَكَسوا
They do not see, and deafness fills their ears;
At the assembly, whether they stood or sat.
when you lift them out of strife, they fall back into it.
Umayya has lost the paths of truth in following them –
هُمُthey الَّذينَare those whom سَمِعتُI heard اللَهَGod أَوعَدَهُمthreaten them
هُمُ الَّذينَ سَمِعتُ اللَهَ أَوعَدَهُم
والمُشرِكونَand the idolaters وَمَنand whoever لَمnot يَهوَكُمloves you all نَجَسُunclean
والمُشرِكونَ وَمَن لَم يَهوَكُم نَجَسُ
These are the ones I have heard God threaten,
Verily affairs to the doubter grow confused!
and the idolaters, and those who do not love you, are unclean.
A people who when thoughts are prodded, think noble thoughts –
هَجَّنَmade base أَقوالَهُمtheir words ماwhat قُلتَyou said مِنof حَسَنٍgoodness
هَجَّنَ أَقوالَهُم ما قُلتَ مِن حَسَنٍ
عِندَat المَقامَةِthe assembly إِنwhether قامواthey stood وَإِنor whether جَلَسواthey sat
عِندَ المَقامَةِ إِن قاموا وَإِن جَلَسوا
The fine things you said made their words seem base,
Verily lineages come together and then intertwine!
in assembly, whether they stood or sat.
And the easiest people to give to one grabbing,
هَدَتguided أُمَيَّةُUmayyah سُبلَthe paths الحَقِّof truth تابِعَهاits follower
هَدَت أُمَيَّةُ سُبلَ الحَقِّ تابِعَها
إِنَّindeed الأُمورَaffairs عَلىfor ذيone possessing الشَكِّdoubt تَلتَبِسُbecome confused
إِنَّ الأُمورَ عَلى ذي الشَكِّ تَلتَبِسُ
Umayyah has guided its followers along the paths of truth;
And the readiest people with lances when they wax hot!
affairs grow confused for the doubter.
They are not afraid when killing befalls them,
ذَووpossessors of جُدودٍgood fortunes إِذاwhen ماever حودِسَتthey were challenged حَدَسَتthey prevailed
ذَوو جُدودٍ إِذا ما حودِسَت حَدَسَت
إِنَّindeed الجُدودَfortunes تَلاقىmeet ثُمَّthen تَحتَدِسُwrestle
إِنَّ الجُدودَ تَلاقى ثُمَّ تَحتَدِسُ
Men of fortune, whose fortunes, when challenged, prevail;
Nor are they happy with redemption should they be hard pressed!
for fortunes meet, then wrestle with each other.
When Quraysh resolved they were its leaders
وَأَسهَلُand the most welcoming الناسِof people أَعطاناًin watering grounds لِمُختَبِطٍto a petitioner
وَأَسهَلُ الناسِ أَعطاناً لِمُختَبِطٍ
وَأَكثَرُand the most numerous الناسِof people عِيداناًin spear-shafts إِذاwhen حَمِسواthey fight fiercely
وَأَكثَرُ الناسِ عِيداناً إِذا حَمِسوا
The most welcoming of men at their watering grounds to a petitioner,
And the best of them to foster glory when they were grafted!
and the most numerous in spear-shafts when they fight fiercely.
A people supporting me whom I have pardoned –
لاnot يَجزَعونَthey despair إِذاwhen ماever القَتلُkilling حَلَّdescends بِهِمupon them
لا يَجزَعونَ إِذا ما القَتلُ حَلَّ بِهِم
وَلاand not يُرَونَthey are seen فُراحىexultant إِنif هُمُthey خَمِسواtake a fifth of the spoils
وَلا يُرَونَ فُراحى إِن هُمُ خَمِسوا
They do not despair when killing descends upon them,
Never by thy life did they grudge nor sulk!
nor are they seen exulting when they take a fifth of the spoils.
إِذاwhen قُرَيشٌQuraysh سَمَتrose high كانواthey were ذَوائِبَهاits crowning tresses
إِذا قُرَيشٌ سَمَت كانوا ذَوائِبَها
وَخَيرَهُمand their best مَنبِتاًin rooted stock فيin المَجدِglory إِذwhen غُرِسواthey were planted
وَخَيرَهُم مَنبِتاً في المَجدِ إِذ غُرِسوا
When Quraysh rises high, they are its crowning tresses,
and its best-rooted stock in glory when they were planted.
قَومٌa people هُمُthey مَوَّلونيenriched me قَدindeed عَفَوتُهُمُI sought their bounty
قَومٌ هُمُ مَوَّلوني قَد عَفَوتُهُمُ
فَلاso no وَجَدِّكَby your good fortune ماnot ضَنّواthey grudged وَلاand not عَبَسواthey frowned
فَلا وَجَدِّكَ ما ضَنّوا وَلا عَبَسوا
A people who enriched me; I have sought their bounty.
No, by your good fortune, they neither grudged nor frowned.
Partial English translation: 109 of 114 Arabic lines translated.