منازلdwellings الحيَّthe tribe منfrom مَيْثاMaytha بتكريتِat Tikrit
منازل الحيَّ من مَيْثا بتكريتِ
سُقيتِmay you be watered صَوْبَdownpour الحَياrain علاًrepeatedly وحيّيتِand may you be greeted
سُقيتِ صَوْبَ الحَيا علاً وحيّيتِ
O dwellings of the tribe at Maytha, in Tikrit,
The abodes of the living, from Maythab to Tikrit,
may pouring rain water you again and again, and may you be greeted!
Were quenched towards life, and enlivened,
حيثُwhere الجآذرُwild-cow calves والغِزْلانُand the gazelles راتعةٌgrazing
حيثُ الجآذرُ والغِزْلانُ راتعةٌ
فيin دلَّةِcoquettish grace الوَشيbrocade لاnot بينَamong السّباريتِthe barren wastes
في دلَّةِ الوَشي لا بينَ السّباريتِ
Where wild-cow calves and gazelles graze,
Where the flowing sands and the gazelles wander,
in the coquettish grace of brocade, not among barren wastes.
In the valley of al-Washsh without the mountains.
تخْتَالُstruts فيin حُلُلِrobes الإضريجcrimson silk ناصِبَةًraising
تخْتَالُ في حُلُلِ الإضريج ناصِبَةً
أجيادَهاtheir necks فيin اللآليpearls واليواقيتِand rubies
أجيادَها في اللآلي واليواقيتِ
They strut in robes of crimson silk, holding high
Swaying in the frames of adornment, erecting
their necks amid pearls and rubies.
Their forelocks amid pearls and rubies,
منof كلِّeach غانيةٍbeautiful woman كحلآءnaturally kohl-dark-eyed راميةٍshooting glances
من كلِّ غانيةٍ كحلآء راميةٍ
عنfrom مُقْلتيthe two eyes of رشأًa fawn فيin السِّربthe herd مبهوتِbewildered
عن مُقْلتي رشأً في السِّرب مبهوتِ
Each a beautiful, kohl-dark-eyed woman, shooting glances
From every melodious, dark-eyed gazelle,
from the eyes of a bewildered fawn within the herd.
Casting from her eyelids a glance into the enclosed pasture,
باتبspent the night (uncertain reading) تُضمِّخُshe anoints with perfume وحَفاًluxuriant hair منof ذوائبُهاher tresses
باتب تُضمِّخُ وحَفاً من ذوائبُها
منwith عنبرٍambergris بِسحيقwith finely powdered المِسْكِmusk مَلْتَوتِmixed
من عنبرٍ بِسحيق المِسْكِ مَلْتَوتِ
She spent the night [reading uncertain] anointing the luxuriant mass of her tresses
Passing the night perfuming and scenting
with ambergris mixed with finely powdered musk.
With her flowing tresses, saturated with pure musk.
تَفَتَرُshe parts her lips عنْto reveal برَدٍhailstones تَجْريflows مُحاجَتُهُits moisture (uncertain reading)
تَفَتَرُ عنْ برَدٍ تَجْري مُحاجَتُهُ
منfrom خَمرِwine بابلٍBabylon فيهin it سحْرُهَاits magic روتِRut (probably a misdivided part of Harut)
من خَمرِ بابلٍ فيه سحْرُهَا روتِ
She smiles, revealing hail-white teeth, whose moisture flows
Relieved of the cold, disputing its chill,
from Babylon's wine, bearing Harut's enchantment [reading uncertain].
With wine of Babel in it is its sorcery steeped.
إذْwhen نَحْنُwe والعيشُand life بُرْدَa mantle لاno حَرورscorching heat بهِin it
إذْ نَحْنُ والعيشُ بُرْدَ لا حَرور بهِ
إذْat ذاكَthat time والشرخُand youthful prime بُرْدٌa mantle غَيْرَnot مَهروتِworn to tatters
إذْ ذاكَ والشرخُ بُرْدٌ غَيْرَ مَهروتِ
When we were together and life was a mantle without scorching heat,
While we and life are cold without fervour,
back then, youth was a mantle not yet worn to tatters.
At that time, even chill was not devoid of ardour.
لمdid not يَغْفَلoverlook الدَّهرُtime عنabout ايامٍdays الفَتْناhad befriended us
لم يَغْفَل الدَّهرُ عن ايامٍ الفَتْنا
حتَّىuntil أحالbrought عَلَيْهاupon them يومa day تشتيتِdispersal
حتَّى أحال عَلَيْها يوم تشتيتِ
Time did not overlook the days that had befriended us
Time has not neglected the days we revelled in,
until it brought upon them a day of dispersal.
Until it made them a symbol of dispersion.
ياO ويحَwoe to نفْسيmy soul منfrom صوتِthe cry of الغرابِthe raven إذاwhen
يا ويحَ نفْسي من صوتِ الغرابِ إذا
بانواthey departed وبيَّنهand made it plain الحاديthe camel-driver بتَصْويتِwith a call
بانوا وبيَّنه الحادي بتَصْويتِ
Ah, woe to my soul at the raven's cry, when
Oh my soul, beware the voice of the raven when
they departed, and the camel-driver proclaimed it with his call.
They appear and he points them out with his cawing,
ماnot وجَدgrief نيبٍold she-camels مُضلاَّتٍbereft of their calves تَحنُmoan معاًtogether
ما وجَد نيبٍ مُضلاَّتٍ تَحنُ معاً
كماas وَجدْناwe grieved ولاnor وَجدُgrief المقَاليتِmothers with no surviving children
كما وَجدْنا ولا وَجدُ المقَاليتِ
No grief of old she-camels, bereft and moaning together,
No prophet went astray while his contemporaries strayed,
matched ours, nor did the grief of mothers with no surviving children.
As we found, nor did the generations of old.
ياO نفسُsoul حكمُjudgment الهوىpassion قاضِruling عليكover you إذاthen
يا نفسُ حكمُ الهوى قاضِ عليك إذا
بطاعةِto obey الحبّlove فاحييso live فيهin it أوor موتيِdie
بطاعةِ الحبّ فاحيي فيه أو موتيِ
O soul, passion's verdict commands you, then,
Oh soul, the rule of passion judges against you
to obey love: live in it, or die.
If you obey love, so either live through it or die!
وَيليwoe to me معamid الشّحْطِdistance منfrom يوميْthe two days of قِلىًdisdain ونوىًand separation
وَيلي مع الشّحْطِ من يوميْ قِلىً ونوىً
وفيand in الرِّضىfavor منfrom يدَيْthe two hands of وَاشٍa talebearer وتبْكيتِand rebuke
وفي الرِّضى من يدَيْ وَاشٍ وتبْكيتِ
Woe to me, far away, from the twin days of disdain and separation,
Woe is me, with misfortune, from my day, little food and sleep,
and, even when favored, from a talebearer's hands and rebukes.
And in consent, before a vigilant and weeping eye,
وطيّبينَand pleasant men كرامٍnoble أصْبَحواthey met the morning وهُمُand they were
وطيّبينَ كرامٍ أصْبَحوا وهُمُ
نَشْوَىintoxicated منwith الخَمرِwine صَرعىlaid low فيin الحَوَانِيتِthe taverns
نَشْوَى من الخَمرِ صَرعى في الحَوَانِيتِ
And pleasant, noble men who met the morning still
And good, noble ones who awoke
drunk with wine, laid low in the taverns:
Intoxicated with wine, struck down in the taverns,
منof كلِّeach ارْوَعَgallant man منْطيقٍeloquent إذاwhen ثملواthey became drunk
من كلِّ ارْوَعَ منْطيقٍ إذا ثملوا
بصالحٍof worthy things وعنand about الفحشاءِindecency سكيتِutterly silent
بصالحٍ وعن الفحشاءِ سكيتِ
each a gallant man, eloquent, when they grew drunk,
All most graceful, when drunk
in worthy matters, but silent about indecency.
With goodness, and from lewdness refraining.
عاطيتُهمI exchanged cups with them عَلَلاrepeated draughts صَفراءًgolden صافيةَclear
عاطيتُهم عَلَلا صَفراءً صافيةَ
خِتامُهاits seal منof ذكيfragrant المسكِmusk مَفْتوتِfinely crushed
خِتامُها من ذكي المسكِ مَفْتوتِ
I exchanged with them draught after draught of clear golden wine,
I gave them pure, yellow wine
its seal of fragrant musk, finely crushed;
Whose seal was of minted musk.
شمسيّةsun-bright منfrom لُعابِsaliva الكَرمthe vine وقدand already عَتَقَتit had aged
شمسيّة من لُعابِ الكَرم وقد عَتَقَت
بديرat the monastery of عانةَAnah أوor بالغمرat al-Ghamr اوهِيتِor Hit
بدير عانةَ أو بالغمر اوهِيتِ
sun-bright, from the vine's saliva, and long aged
Solar, from the saliva of the vine, and it had matured
at Anah's monastery, or at al-Ghamr, or Hit.
In the Dir’ of Anah, or in Hawiyah,
وللقيانِand for the singing slave girls علىover عاليthe high notes of مَزاهِرهاtheir lutes
وللقيانِ على عالي مَزاهِرها
ترنّمٌmelodious singing بينbetween محسوسaudible ومهتوتِand murmured
ترنّمٌ بين محسوس ومهتوتِ
And the singing slave girls, to their lutes' high notes,
And for the boys, atop its pitcher
sang melodies between audible tones and murmurs.
A song hummed between the perceived and hidden,
وفتيةٍand youths وخَدَتtrotted ايديthe forelegs of المَطيِّthe riding camels بهمْwith them
وفتيةٍ وخَدَت ايدي المَطيِّ بهمْ
فيin مهمةٍa desert (uncertain reading) طامسِeffaced الأعلامthe landmarks عمّيتِtrackless
في مهمةٍ طامسِ الأعلام عمّيتِ
And youths whom the camels' forelegs carried at a trot
And lads whose cheeks the riding crop caressed
through a trackless desert, its landmarks erased:
In an undertaking blotting out banners made blind,
انضآءُworn-out travelers سيْرٍtravel علىupon الأنضآءthe worn-out mounts تحْسَبُهُمyou would think them
انضآءُ سيْرٍ على الأنضآء تحْسَبُهُم
بينamid الفلاthe wastes فيin الدُّجَىdarkness جنّانَjinn برهوتِBarahut
بين الفلا في الدُّجَى جنّانَ برهوتِ
journey-worn upon worn-out mounts, you would take them,
The light of travel upon lights, you would think them
amid the wastes in darkness, for the jinn of Barahut.
Among the double stars in the darkness, celestial houris,
شامواthey watched for بورِاقَlightning flashes (uncertain reading) واستنشواand inhaled روائحscents قدalready
شاموا بورِاقَ واستنشوا روائح قد
اغْنَتْهُمfreed them from need عنof هدىguidance بَدرa full moon وَخِرّيتِand an expert desert guide
اغْنَتْهُم عن هدى بَدر وَخِرّيتِ
They watched for lightning flashes and breathed in scents that
They drank the morning draught and breathed the scents that
made a full moon's guidance and an expert guide unnecessary,
Sufficed them from the guidance of full moons and roads.
حتَّىuntil إذاwhen نزلواthey alighted أرضthe land of العتيكِal-Atik رَعتgrazed
حتَّى إذا نزلوا أرض العتيكِ رَعت
أموالهمtheir livestock بينamong أمواهٍwaters وتثبيتِand secure settlement
أموالهم بين أمواهٍ وتثبيتِ
until, when they alighted in al-Atik's land, there grazed
Until when they descended the land of peril, their wealth
their livestock among waters, securely settled.
Pastured between pitfalls and firmness.
وفيand in ديارthe dwellings of بنيthe sons of نبهانNabhan منof سَمدِSamad
وفي ديار بني نبهان من سَمدِ
حلّواthey lodged بكلwith every طويلlong الباعin reach صَنتيتِnoble chief
حلّوا بكل طويل الباع صَنتيتِ
And in Banu Nabhan's dwellings at Samad,
And in the abodes of Banu Nabhan, from Samad,
they lodged with every noble chief of ample reach:
They encamped, with every long spear upright.
محمدMuhammad بنson of بنهانBanhan واحمدand Ahmad وقدand already
محمد بن بنهان واحمد وقد
حلّواthey lodged with بنيthe sons of عمرَUmar البيضradiant المَصاليتِresolute men
حلّوا بني عمرَ البيض المَصاليتِ
Muhammad ibn Banhan and Ahmad; and they had
Muhammad ibn Nabhan, and Ahmad, when
lodged with the radiant, resolute sons of Umar.
They encamped among the Umar clan, pure breed horses.
ثلاثةٌthree كسيوفlike the swords of الهندIndia كلَّهمall of them
ثلاثةٌ كسيوف الهند كلَّهم
منof كلall ماwhat أُوتيwas given الأختيارthe chosen (uncertain reading) قدindeed أُوتِيwas given
من كل ما أُوتي الأختيار قد أُوتِي
Three men, like the swords of India, each of them
Three, like Indian swords, all of them
endowed with every gift bestowed upon the chosen.
Were given the choice of every gift.
منof كلeach أروعgallant man محمودpraised شمائِلهhis qualities
من كل أروع محمود شمائِله
سهلeasy النَّوالin giving جميلgracious العفْوin pardon زّميتِdignified
سهل النَّوال جميل العفْو زّميتِ
Each a gallant man whose qualities are praised,
Of all most praiseworthy traits
free in giving, gracious in pardon, dignified;
Easy-natured, beautiful in pardon, formidable,
مُؤثَّرٌdistinguished بصنيعby deeds of الخَيرgoodness ذيpossessed of حسبٍnoble lineage
مُؤثَّرٌ بصنيع الخَير ذي حسبٍ
مطَرّزembroidered بصنيعwith acts of الفَضلbounty منْعُوتِrenowned
مطَرّز بصنيع الفَضل منْعُوتِ
distinguished by good deeds, possessed of noble lineage,
Preferring to do good, of noble lineage,
embroidered with acts of bounty, renowned;
Embroidered in doing fine deeds, ennobled,
حُلاحلٌa noble chief غيْرnot مصروفdiverted إلىtoward خلقٍa disposition
حُلاحلٌ غيْر مصروف إلى خلقٍ
وَعْرٍharsh وليسَand not عنaway from اْلحُسْنيgoodness بملْفوتِturned aside
وَعْرٍ وليسَ عن اْلحُسْني بملْفوتِ
a noble chief, never inclined toward a disposition
Young men not inclined to any blame
harsh, and never diverted from goodness.
Or disgrace, and not neglectful of doing good,
آلthe house of العتيكal-Atik قضىdecreed حكمُthe judgment of المليكthe Sovereign لهمfor them
آل العتيك قضى حكمُ المليك لهم
بالفضلwith excellence والحمدand praise والعلياءand eminence والصيّتِand renown
بالفضل والحمد والعلياء والصيّتِ
The Sovereign's judgment decreed for the house of al-Atik
The family of Utayk, the decree of the King adjudged theirs
excellence, praise, eminence, and renown.
Merit, praise, supremacy, and renown,
مهذَّبونrefined بأحلامٍby sound judgment وتجْربَةٍand experience
مهذَّبون بأحلامٍ وتجْربَةٍ
مشيَّدونَraised high بتأييدٍthrough support وتثْبيتِand strengthening
مشيَّدونَ بتأييدٍ وتثْبيتِ
Refined by sound judgment and experience,
Cultured in dream and experience,
raised high through support and made steadfast:
Built up in the granting of strength and firmness,
شيبٌgray-haired men ومُردٌand beardless youths علىupon جُردٍsleek steeds مسوّمةٍmarked
شيبٌ ومُردٌ على جُردٍ مسوّمةٍ
مثلُlike الصّقورfalcons عَلَيْهاupon them كالعَفاريتِlike ifrits
مثلُ الصّقور عَلَيْها كالعَفاريتِ
gray-haired men and beardless youths, on marked, sleek steeds
Grey hair and youths on saddled, marked steeds,
like falcons, with riders upon them like ifrits.
Like ghouls upon them like hideous afreets,
تَرميhurls بهمwith them غمرةthe depths of الهيجاbattle وتنقلَهمand carries them
تَرمي بهم غمرة الهيجا وتنقلَهم
فيthrough مشْمَعِلٍa towering column منof القَسطَالِbattle-dust شِخْتيتِslender
في مشْمَعِلٍ من القَسطَالِ شِخْتيتِ
They hurl them into the thick of battle and carry them
The swell of flood and upheaval takes them
through a towering, slender column of battle-dust:
Into great waves of the magenta torrent,
منof كلَّeach ارْوَعِgallant man ندْبِresolute القَلْبِat heart منصَلتٍcharging forth
من كلَّ ارْوَعِ ندْبِ القَلْبِ منصَلتٍ
بكُلwith every أَجرَدbare sword غضَبِkeen الغَرْبِin edge اصْليتِgleaming
بكُل أَجرَد غضَبِ الغَرْبِ اصْليتِ
each a gallant, resolute-hearted man, charging forth
Of all most grievous inciting of the heart to flee
with a bare sword, keen-edged and gleaming.
To every rugged, wrathful, western place,
أَقْسَمْتُI swore بالوفدِby the company حُجّاجاًas pilgrims يؤُمُّleads toward بِهمwith them
أَقْسَمْتُ بالوفدِ حُجّاجاً يؤُمُّ بِهم
رُكْبانُriders مكَّةMecca سَعياًhastening فيat المَواقيتِthe appointed times
رُكْبانُ مكَّة سَعياً في المَواقيتِ
I swore by the company of pilgrims, led onward
I swore by the pilgrim caravans he leads
by riders toward Mecca, hastening at the appointed times,
To Mecca, making effort at the appointed times,
إنّاindeed we إذاif ماever نويناwe resolved حبَّlove غيْرَother than بنيthe sons of
إنّا إذا ما نوينا حبَّ غيْرَ بني
نبْهانNabhan كُنَّاwe would be كعُبَّادِlike worshippers of الطَّواغيتِfalse gods
نبْهان كُنَّا كعُبَّادِ الطَّواغيتِ
that if we ever chose to love any but the sons of
That if we intended love of other than
Nabhan, we would be like worshippers of false gods.
The family of Nabhan we would be like idol-worshippers!
ماذاwhat أُحاولdo I seek منfrom دَهريmy time وقدand already عَلقْتhave clung
ماذا أُحاول من دَهري وقد عَلقْت
كَفَّايَmy two hands منْهُمfrom them بحَبْلٍto a rope غيْرَnot مَبْتُوتِsevered
كَفَّايَ منْهُم بحَبْلٍ غيْرَ مَبْتُوتِ
What should I seek from time, now that I cling
What can I attempt in my time, when I have hung
with both hands to a rope from them, unsevered?
My palm from them with a rope not cut?
حُزْتُI attained الغنىwealth وكُفونيand they spared me فيin ديارهمْtheir lands
حُزْتُ الغنى وكُفوني في ديارهمْ
قَطْعَcrossing المفاوزَthe deserts أَبغيI seek بُلْغَةa sufficiency of القُوتِfood
قَطْعَ المفاوزَ أَبغي بُلْغَة القُوتِ
I attained wealth, and in their lands they spared me
I gained wealth and their presence sufficed me
crossing deserts to seek enough food to live on.
To traverse the wilderness, seeking livelihood.
هذيthese محاسنُvirtues يحنوinclines كلevery ذيpossessor of مِقَةٍlove
هذي محاسنُ يحنو كل ذي مِقَةٍ
لهاtoward them ويُعْرضُand turns away عنْهاfrom them كلَّevery ممْقوتِhated person
لها ويُعْرضُ عنْها كلَّ ممْقوتِ
These are virtues; every person with love inclines
These are the beauties every person of merit longs for,
toward them, while every hated person turns away from them.
And every despicable person spurns,
عِشتُمْmay you live بنيsons of عُمَرٍUmar طولَthroughout المَدىall time وغَداًand tomorrow
عِشتُمْ بني عُمَرٍ طولَ المَدى وغَداً
حُسَادُكمyour enviers بيْنَbetween مَخْذولforsaken ومَكْبُوتِand crushed
حُسَادُكم بيْنَ مَخْذول ومَكْبُوتِ
May you live, sons of Umar, through all time, and tomorrow
Live long, O Banu Umar, and tomorrow
may your enviers be left forsaken or crushed.
Your enviers will be between the abandoned and supressed!
وهَاكُمand take this, all of you السَّحْرَmagic بَيْنamong الدُّرّpearls نيطَwas fastened إلىto
وهَاكُم السَّحْرَ بَيْن الدُّرّ نيطَ إلى
صَعْبٍrugged غَريضٍfresh منfrom الأحبالِthe ridges مَنْحُوتِhewn
صَعْبٍ غَريضٍ من الأحبالِ مَنْحُوتِ
And take this magic among pearls, fastened to
And here is the magic, strung among the pearls, reaching
a rugged, fresh work hewn from the ridges.
To grievous, rugged ropes, carved,
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.