أَلَمdid not تَزَعِyou restrain الهَوىdesire إِذwhen لَمnot يُواتِyield
أَلَم تَزَعِ الهَوى إِذ لَم يُواتِ
بَلىyes indeed وَسَلَوتَand you ceased caring عَنabout طَلَبِpursuing الفَتاةِthe maiden
بَلى وَسَلَوتَ عَن طَلَبِ الفَتاةِ
Did you not curb desire when it would not yield?
Yes, and you ceased pursuing the maiden.
وَأَحكَمَكَand made you wise المَشيبُgray hair فَصِرتَso you became كَهلاًmiddle-aged
وَأَحكَمَكَ المَشيبُ فَصِرتَ كَهلاً
تَشاوُسُlooking askance لِلعُيونِat the eyes المُبرِقاتِflashing
تَشاوُسُ لِلعُيونِ المُبرِقاتِ
Gray hair made you wise, and you became middle-aged,
looking askance at flashing eyes.
فَإِنso if أَشمَطI grow gray فَلَمthen not أَشمَطI grow gray لَئيماًignoble
فَإِن أَشمَط فَلَم أَشمَط لَئيماً
وَلاnor مُتَخَشِّعاًbowing meekly لِلنائِباتِbefore calamities
وَلا مُتَخَشِّعاً لِلنائِباتِ
Though I grow gray, I have not grown gray ignoble,
nor bowing meekly before calamities,
وَلاnor كِفلَa bungler in الفُروسَةِhorsemanship شابَgrew gray غُمراًinexperienced
وَلا كِفلَ الفُروسَةِ شابَ غُمراً
أَصَمَّdeaf القَلبِat heart حَشوِيَّcoarse الطِياتِinward dispositions
أَصَمَّ القَلبِ حَشوِيَّ الطِياتِ
nor a bungler in horsemanship, grown gray untried,
deaf-hearted and coarse in inward disposition.
أَناI اِبنُthe son of الحَربِwar رَبَّتنيshe reared me وَليداًas a child
أَنا اِبنُ الحَربِ رَبَّتني وَليداً
إِلىuntil أَنthat شِبتُI grew gray وَاكتَهَلَتand reached middle age لِداتيmy age-peers
إِلى أَن شِبتُ وَاكتَهَلَت لِداتي
I am war's son; she reared me as a child,
until I grew gray and my age-peers reached middle age.
وَضارَستُand I grappled with الأُمورَaffairs وَضارَسَتنيand they grappled with me
وَضارَستُ الأُمورَ وَضارَسَتني
فَلَمso not أَعجِزI falter وَلَمand not تَضعُفgrow weak قَناتيmy spear-shaft
فَلَم أَعجِز وَلَم تَضعُف قَناتي
I grappled with affairs, and they grappled with me;
I did not falter, nor did my spear-shaft weaken.
لَعَلَّperhaps حُلومَكُمyour good sense تَأويreturns إِلَيكُمto you
لَعَلَّ حُلومَكُم تَأوي إِلَيكُم
إِذاwhen شَمَّرتُI gird myself وَاِضطَرَمَتand blazed شَذاتيmy ferocity
إِذا شَمَّرتُ وَاِضطَرَمَت شَذاتي
Perhaps your good sense will return to you
when I gird myself and my ferocity blazes.
وَذَلِكَand that حينَwhen لاتَthere is no أَوانَtime for حِلمٍforbearance
وَذَلِكَ حينَ لاتَ أَوانَ حِلمٍ
وَلَكِنbut قَبلَهُbefore it اِجتَنِبواavoid أَذاتيmy harm
وَلَكِن قَبلَهُ اِجتَنِبوا أَذاتي
But that will be when it is no time for forbearance;
before then, keep clear of my harm.
وَقَدand indeed يوسىmay be treated كَبيرُgreat الشَرِّevil حَتّىuntil
وَقَد يوسى كَبيرُ الشَرِّ حَتّى
يُبيخُextinguishes دُخانَهُits smoke رَأبُmending الأَساةِthe healers
يُبيخُ دُخانَهُ رَأبُ الأَساةِ
A great evil may indeed be treated, until
the healers' mending extinguishes its smoke.
وَيَأمُرُand it grows وَهوَwhile it is مُحتَقَرٌdespised فَتَعصىso become defiant
وَيَأمُرُ وَهوَ مُحتَقَرٌ فَتَعصى
بِهِbecause of it أَيديthe hands of المَخارِمَةِlawless fighters العُصاةِthe rebels
بِهِ أَيدي المَخارِمَةِ العُصاةِ
It grows while despised, and so defiance rises
through it in the hands of lawless rebels.
وَزُفّواand send forth بَعضَsome of قَولِكُمُyour speech فَإِنّيfor I
وَزُفّوا بَعضَ قَولِكُمُ فَإِنّي
مَتىwhenever ماever (emphasis) أَشرِI rage تَتَّخِمواyou suffer a surfeit شَراتيmy fury
مَتى ما أَشرِ تَتَّخِموا شَراتي
Send forth some of your speech, for I—
whenever I rage, you will suffer a surfeit of my fury.
وَماand not أَشريI rage عَلىagainst المَولىthe kinsman بِجَهلٍwith ignorance
وَما أَشري عَلى المَولى بِجَهلٍ
وَلَكِنّيbut I شَرايَmy fury عَلىagainst العُداةِthe enemies
وَلَكِنّي شَرايَ عَلى العُداةِ
I do not ignorantly rage against a kinsman;
rather, my fury is against the enemies.
وَإِنand if أَكثُرI outnumber أَخيmy brother لاnot أَغتَمِضهُI slight him
وَإِن أَكثُر أَخي لا أَغتَمِضهُ
وَإِنeven if أَعطىhe gives المَقادَthe reins ذَويholders of التِراتِold grudges
وَإِن أَعطى المَقادَ ذَوي التِراتِ
Though I outnumber my brother, I do not slight him,
even if he yields the reins to bearers of old grudges.
وَلاnor أَختالُdo I swagger بِالنُصَراءِbecause of supporters حَوليaround me
وَلا أَختالُ بِالنُصَراءِ حَولي
عَلىover مَولايَmy kinsman ماas long as اِبتَلَتremains moist لَهاتيmy uvula
عَلى مَولايَ ما اِبتَلَت لَهاتي
Nor do I swagger, with supporters around me,
over my kinsman, while my uvula remains moist.
وَماand what تُغنيavail الحُلومُgood sense إِذاwhen اِستَتبَّتbecome established
وَما تُغني الحُلومُ إِذا اِستَتبَّت
مَشاتِمُكُمyour insults بِأَفواهِin the mouths of الرُواةِthe reciters
مَشاتِمُكُم بِأَفواهِ الرُواةِ
What use is good sense once
your insults are established in the mouths of reciters?
بَنيsons of أَشياعِكُمyour partisans نِقَمَvengeances التِراتِblood-feuds
بَني أَشياعِكُم نِقَمَ التِراتِ
أَبىrefused ليfor me ذوthe possessor of القُوىmight وَالطَولِand bounty إِلّاexcept
أَبى لي ذو القُوى وَالطَولِ إِلّا
The sons of your partisans—the vengeance of blood-feuds.
He of might and bounty has decreed for me only
يُؤَيِّسَmake despair جافِرٌa digger أَبَداًforever صَفاتيmy hard rock
يُؤَيِّسَ جافِرٌ أَبَداً صَفاتي
عَريضُbroad in العَفوِpardon حينَwhen أَرىI see اِبنَthe son of عَمّيmy paternal uncle
عَريضُ العَفوِ حينَ أَرى اِبنَ عَمّي
that my hard rock forever make a digger despair.
I am broad in pardon when I see my cousin
عَتيدَready for الشَرِّevil مُقتَرِبَapproaching الكَداةhardship
عَتيدَ الشَرِّ مُقتَرِبَ الكَداة
عَلىin غُلَواءَheadlong fury يَشفيheals بَعضَsome of حِلميmy forbearance
عَلى غُلَواءَ يَشفي بَعضَ حِلمي
ready for evil, drawing near to hardship;
in his headlong fury, some of my forbearance heals him,
إِذاwhen بَلَغَتhas reached بِمُحفِظَةٍthrough a provocation أَناتيmy patience
إِذا بَلَغَت بِمُحفِظَةٍ أَناتي
وَلاand not أَدَعُI abandon السُؤالَasking إِذاwhen تَعَيَّتprove intractable
وَلا أَدَعُ السُؤالَ إِذا تَعَيَّت
when a provocation has tested my patience.
I do not abandon asking when
عَلَيَّto me عُرىthe ties of الأُمورِaffairs المُشكِلاتِperplexing
عَلَيَّ عُرى الأُمورِ المُشكِلاتِ
وَيَنفَعُنيand benefits me إِذاwhen اِستَيقَنتُI become certain عِلميmy knowledge
وَيَنفَعُني إِذا اِستَيقَنتُ عِلمي
the ties of perplexing affairs prove intractable to me.
My knowledge serves me when I am certain,
وَأَيريand [unclear in supplied text] الشَكَّdoubt عِندَin the presence of البَيِّناتِclear proofs
وَأَيري الشَكَّ عِندَ البَيِّناتِ
هَلُمَّseek out قُضاةِthe judges of الغَوثِal-Ghawth وَاِسأَلand ask
هَلُمَّ قُضاةِ الغَوثِ وَاِسأَل
and [unclear wording] doubt in the face of clear proofs.
Seek out the judges of al-Ghawth, and inquire
بِرَهطِكَabout your clan وَالبَيانُand clarity لَدىwith القُضاةِthe judges
بِرَهطِكَ وَالبَيانُ لَدى القُضاةِ
هَلُمَّcome إِلىto اِبنِIbn (son of) فَروَةَFarwa أَوor سَليطٍSalit
هَلُمَّ إِلى اِبنِ فَروَةَ أَو سَليطٍ
about your clan; clarity is with the judges.
Come to Ibn Farwa or Salit,
وَآلِand the house of مُعَرِّضٍMu'arrid وَاِترُكand leave شَكاتيcomplaint against me
وَآلِ مُعَرِّضٍ وَاِترُك شَكاتي
أَنِخmake your mount kneel بِفَناءِin the courtyard of أَشدَقَAshdaq مِنof عَدِيٍّ'Adi
أَنِخ بِفَناءِ أَشدَقَ مِن عَدِيٍّ
and the house of Mu'arrid, and stop complaining about me.
Kneel your mount in Ashdaq's courtyard, of 'Adi,
وَمِنand of جَرمٍJarm وَهُمand they أَهلُworthy of التَفاتيmy regard
وَمِن جَرمٍ وَهُم أَهلُ التَفاتي
وَحُكمٍand a judge مِنfrom جَديلَةَJadila قَيصَرِيٍّCaesar-like
وَحُكمٍ مِن جَديلَةَ قَيصَرِيٍّ
and of Jarm—they are worthy of my regard—
and a Caesar-like judge from Jadila,
يُباعِدُstands aloof فيin حُكومَةِjudgment أَوor يُواتيaccommodates
يُباعِدُ في حُكومَةِ أَو يُواتي
يُريكَhe shows you هُدىthe guidance of الطَريقِthe road وَلاand not تَعَنّىtrouble yourself
يُريكَ هُدى الطَريقِ وَلا تَعَنّى
who stands aloof in judgment or accommodates.
He shows you the right road; do not weary yourself.
وَقَدand indeed يَشفيmay cure العَمىblindness خُبرُthe knowledge of الهُداةِthe guides
وَقَد يَشفي العَمى خُبرُ الهُداةِ
وَقُلand say أَينَwhere الفَوارِسُthe horsemen وَالدَواهيand masters of stratagem
وَقُل أَينَ الفَوارِسُ وَالدَواهي
The guides' knowledge may indeed cure blindness.
And ask: where are the horsemen and masters of stratagem,
وَمُدَّعِمُand the upholder of الأُمورِaffairs المُضلِعاتِcrushing
وَمُدَّعِمُ الأُمورِ المُضلِعاتِ
وَأَينَand where اِبنُthe son of الَّذيthe one who لَمnot يُزرِdiminish يَوماًever
وَأَينَ اِبنُ الَّذي لَم يُزرِ يَوماً
and the upholder of crushing affairs?
And where is the son of him whom never, on any day,
بِمَنصِبِهِin his standing أَقاويلُthe tales of الوُشاةِthe slanderers
بِمَنصِبِهِ أَقاويلُ الوُشاةِ
وَلَمand not تَبِتِspent the night التِراتُblood-feuds لَهُfor him شِعاراًan inner garment
وَلَم تَبِتِ التِراتُ لَهُ شِعاراً
the slanderers' tales diminished in standing?
Blood-feuds never lay with him as his inner garment;
وَلَكِنbut كانَhe was عَيّافَa shunner of التِراتِblood-feuds
وَلَكِن كانَ عَيّافَ التِراتِ
وَلَمand not يَنفَكَّceased أَصيَدُa proud-necked man مِنamong بَنِيهِhis sons
وَلَم يَنفَكَّ أَصيَدُ مِن بَنِيهِ
rather, he shunned blood-feuds.
There was always a proud-necked man among his sons;
لَهُمfor them بُنِيَwere built الفَعالُnoble deeds مَعَwith البُناةِthe builders
لَهُم بُنِيَ الفَعالُ مَعَ البُناةِ
وَأَينَand where النازِلونَthose stationed بِكُلِّat every ثَغرٍfrontier
وَأَينَ النازِلونَ بِكُلِّ ثَغرٍ
for them noble deeds were built alongside the builders.
And where are those stationed at every frontier?
وَأَينَand where ذَووthose with الوُجوهِfaces الواضِحاتِradiant
وَأَينَ ذَوو الوُجوهِ الواضِحاتِ
وَأَينَand where الوافِدونَthe delegates إِذاwhen أَقامواthey settled
وَأَينَ الوافِدونَ إِذا أَقاموا
And where are those with radiant faces?
And where are the delegates when they settle?
وَأَينَand where ذَووthose with الرِئاسَةِleadership فيamong الغَزاةِthe raiders
وَأَينَ ذَوو الرِئاسَةِ في الغَزاةِ
هُناكَthere تَنُصُّyou set forth أَمرَthe affair of أَبيكَyour father حَتّىuntil
هُناكَ تَنُصُّ أَمرَ أَبيكَ حَتّى
And where are those who lead among the raiders?
There you will set forth your father's affair, until
تَبَيَّنَyou discern ماwhat جَهِلتَyou did not know مِنَof الهَناتِfaults
تَبَيَّنَ ما جَهِلتَ مِنَ الهَناتِ
هُناكَthere يَنُصُّهاhe sets it forth نَفرُبنُNafr ibn قَيسٍQays
هُناكَ يَنُصُّها نَفرُبنُ قَيسٍ
you discern the faults you did not know.
There Nafr ibn Qays traces it
لِآباءٍto forefathers كِرامِnoble of الأُمَّهاتِmothers
لِآباءٍ كِرامِ الأُمَّهاتِ
لِحُبّيto Hubbi إِنif سَأَلتَyou ask وَأُمِّand Umm عَمرٍو'Amr
لِحُبّي إِن سَأَلتَ وَأُمِّ عَمرٍو
to forefathers with noble mothers:
to Hubbi, if you ask, and Umm 'Amr,
وَزُهرَةَand Zuhra مِنamong عَجائِزَold women مُنحِباتِlamenting
وَزُهرَةَ مِن عَجائِزَ مُنحِباتِ
وَفَكهَةَand Fakha غَيرَnot مُخلِفَةٍfaithless وَفَترٍand Fatr
وَفَكهَةَ غَيرَ مُخلِفَةٍ وَفَترٍ
and Zuhra, among lamenting old women,
and Fakha, not faithless, and Fatr.
بُعولَتُهاher husbands السَراةُthe nobles بَنوsons of السَراةِthe nobles
بُعولَتُها السَراةُ بَنو السَراةِ
لِكُلِّfor every أَشَمَّhigh-nosed lord مِنamong أَبناءِthe sons of نَفرٍNafr
لِكُلِّ أَشَمَّ مِن أَبناءِ نَفرٍ
Her husbands are nobles, sons of nobles.
For every high-nosed lord among Nafr's sons,
عَظيمِgreat in الهَمِّresolve مُضطَلِعِable to shoulder العُداةِthe enemies
عَظيمِ الهَمِّ مُضطَلِعِ العُداةِ
وَقورٍcomposed حينَwhen تَختَلِفُcross العَواليspear-points
وَقورٍ حينَ تَختَلِفُ العَوالي
great in resolve, able to shoulder the burden of foes,
composed when spear-points cross,
إِلىto النَجَداتِdeeds of rescue قَوّامِever rising السِناتِdrowsiness
إِلى النَجَداتِ قَوّامِ السِناتِ
إِلىto الأَبطالِthe heroes مِنof سَبَأٍSaba تَنَمَّتascended
إِلى الأَبطالِ مِن سَبَأٍ تَنَمَّت
ever rising from drowsiness to deeds of rescue.
To the heroes of Saba ascend
مَناسِبُlineages مِنهُfrom him غَيرُnot مُقَرزَماتِcurtailed
مَناسِبُ مِنهُ غَيرُ مُقَرزَماتِ
وَمَنand whoever يَكُis سائِلاًasking بِالغَوثِamong al-Ghawth عَنّيabout me
وَمَن يَكُ سائِلاً بِالغَوثِ عَنّي
his lineages, uncurtailed.
Whoever asks about me among al-Ghawth—
فَآبائيthen my fathers الحُماةُthe protectors بَنوsons of الحُماةِthe protectors
فَآبائي الحُماةُ بَنو الحُماةِ
نَماdescended كُلُّevery أَصيَدَproud-necked man مِنof أَمانٍAman
نَما كُلُّ أَصيَدَ مِن أَمانٍ
my fathers are protectors, sons of protectors.
Every proud-necked man of Aman descends,
أبِيَّrejecting الضَيمِoppression مِنfrom نَفَرٍa band of men أُباةِunbowed
أبِيَّ الضَيمِ مِن نَفَرٍ أُباةِ
مَتىwhenever تَذكُرyou recall مَواطِنَfields of action آلِthe house of نَفرٍNafr
مَتى تَذكُر مَواطِنَ آلِ نَفرٍ
spurning oppression, from a band of the unbowed.
Whenever you recall where the house of Nafr took its stand,
تَصَدَّقyou speak truth بِالأَياديof the benefactions الصالِحاتِworthy
تَصَدَّق بِالأَيادي الصالِحاتِ
بِحَوطِهِمُthrough their guarding قَواصيthe distant branches of الأَصلِthe stock قدماًlong ago
بِحَوطِهِمُ قَواصي الأَصلِ قدماً
you speak truly of worthy benefactions:
their long-ago guarding of the stock's distant branches,
وَنَهضِهِمُand their shouldering بِأَعباءِof the burdens of الدِياتِblood-money payments
وَنَهضِهِمُ بِأَعباءِ الدِياتِ
وَلَمِّهِمُand their gathering شُعوثَthe scattered strands of الأَمرِthe affair حَتّىuntil
وَلَمِّهِمُ شُعوثَ الأَمرِ حَتّى
and their shouldering of the burdens of blood-money,
and their gathering of scattered affairs, until
يَصيرَit becomes مَعاًtogether مَعاًtogether بَعدَafter الشَتاتِdispersal
يَصيرَ مَعاً مَعاً بَعدَ الشَتاتِ
وَأَخذِهِمُand their securing النَصيبَthe share لِكُلِّfor every مَولىًkinsman
وَأَخذِهِمُ النَصيبَ لِكُلِّ مَولىً
all is together, together, after dispersal,
and their securing a share for every kinsman.
سَيَكثُرُwill increase إِنif فَنوthey perish عَدَمُthe lack of الكُفاةِcapable protectors
سَيَكثُرُ إِن فَنو عَدَمُ الكُفاةِ
حَبَواthey defended دونَwithout regard for الحَياةِlife عَنِon behalf of المَواليthe allies
حَبَوا دونَ الحَياةِ عَنِ المَوالي
If they perish, the lack of capable protectors will grow.
They defended their allies at the cost of life,
وَنالواand they attained بِالقَناwith spears شَرَفَthe honor of الوَفاةِdeath
وَنالوا بِالقَنا شَرَفَ الوَفاةِ
إِذاwhen ذَهَبَdisappears التَخايُلُswagger وَالتَباهيand boasting
إِذا ذَهَبَ التَخايُلُ وَالتَباهي
and won with spears the honor of death.
When swagger and boasting disappear,
لَقيتَyou encounter سُيوفَناour swords جُنَنَthe shields of الجُناةِthe aggressors
لَقيتَ سُيوفَنا جُنَنَ الجُناةِ
بِلاwithout خَدَبٍbluff وَلاor خَوَرٍweakness إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis)
بِلا خَدَبٍ وَلا خَوَرٍ إِذا ما
you find our swords against the aggressors' shields,
without bluff or weakness, whenever
بَدَتappears نُمِّيَّةُthe stock of الخُدبِhulking men النُفاةِoutcasts
بَدَت نُمِّيَّةُ الخُدبِ النُفاةِ
لَناwe have أُمٌّa mother بِهاin her قَلَتٌchild-loss وَنَزرٌand scant offspring
لَنا أُمٌّ بِها قَلَتٌ وَنَزرٌ
the stock of hulking outcasts appears.
We have a mother marked by child-loss and few offspring,
كَأُمِّlike the mother of الأُسدِlions كاتِمَةُconcealing الشَكاةِcomplaint
كَأُمِّ الأُسدِ كاتِمَةُ الشَكاةِ
تَضِنُّare sparing بِنَسلِناwith our offspring الأَرحامُthe wombs حَتّىuntil
تَضِنُّ بِنَسلِنا الأَرحامُ حَتّى
like the mother of lions, concealing her complaint.
Wombs are sparing with our offspring, until
تُنَضِّجَناripen us بُطونُthe bellies of المُحصَناتِchaste women
تُنَضِّجَنا بُطونُ المُحصَناتِ
أَرىI see قَوماًa people وِلادهُمُtheir births تُؤامٌtwins
أَرى قَوماً وِلادهُمُ تُؤامٌ
the bellies of chaste women ripen us.
I see a people whose births are twins,
كَنَسلِlike the offspring of الضَأنِsheep فيin أُنُفِthe new growth of النَباتِvegetation
كَنَسلِ الضَأنِ في أُنُفِ النَباتِ
وَلَوand if أَنّيI أَشاءُwish حَدَوتُI would chant قَولاًa verse
وَلَو أَنّي أَشاءُ حَدَوتُ قَولاً
like sheep's offspring amid new-growing herbage.
If I wished, I would chant a verse
عَلىalong أَعلامِهِits landmarks المُتَبَيِّناتِclearly distinguishable
عَلى أَعلامِهِ المُتَبَيِّناتِ
لاnot عُقدَtangled knots مُقرِفِone of base birth الطَرَفَينِboth parental sides تَبنيbuilds
لا عُقدَ مُقرِفِ الطَرَفَينِ تَبني
along its unmistakable landmarks,
not the tangled words of one base on both sides, whose
عَشيرَتُهُhis clan لَهُfor him خِزيَthe shame of الحَياةِlife
عَشيرَتُهُ لَهُ خِزيَ الحَياةِ
وَلَكِنّيbut I أُغَيِّبُconceal بَعضَsome of قَوليmy speech
وَلَكِنّي أُغَيِّبُ بَعضَ قَولي
clan builds him a lifetime's disgrace.
But I conceal some of my speech
بِمِثلَبَةِconcerning the faults of العَروضِopponents الحائِناتِdoomed
بِمِثلَبَةِ العَروضِ الحائِناتِ
وَأَكرَهُand I dislike أَنthat يَعيبَshould fault عَلَيَّme قَوميmy people
وَأَكرَهُ أَن يَعيبَ عَلَيَّ قَومي
concerning the faults of doomed opponents,
and dislike my people faulting me
هِجائيmy lampooning المُفحَمينَmen unable to answer in verse ذَويpossessors of الحِناتِgrudges
هِجائي المُفحَمينَ ذَوي الحِناتِ
مَتىwhenever ماever (emphasis) أَحذُI fashion مَثلَبَةًa reproach لِقَومٍfor a people
مَتى ما أَحذُ مَثلَبَةً لِقَومٍ
for lampooning men unable to answer, bearers of grudges.
Whenever I fashion a reproach for a people,
أُواصِلI link بَينَهاits parts together بِالناقِراتِwith piercing taunts
أُواصِل بَينَها بِالناقِراتِ
تَفادَواthey kept clear مِنfrom أَذايَmy harm كَماjust as تَفادىkeeps clear
تَفادَوا مِن أَذايَ كَما تَفادى
I link its parts with piercing taunts.
They keep clear of my harm as
مِنَfrom البازيthe hawk رَعيلُa flock of حُبارَياتِbustards
مِنَ البازي رَعيلُ حُبارَياتِ
غَداit set out خَرِصاًhungry يَزِلُّslips الطَلُّdew عَنهُoff it
غَدا خَرِصاً يَزِلُّ الطَلُّ عَنهُ
a flock of bustards keeps clear of the hawk,
which sets out hungry, the dew slipping off it,
يُلَألِئُit gleams بِالمَخالِبِwith talons وَالشِباةِand sharp points
يُلَألِئُ بِالمَخالِبِ وَالشِباةِ
يُقَلِّبُit turns دائِمَunceasing in الخَفَقانِfluttering سامٍsoaring
يُقَلِّبُ دائِمَ الخَفَقانِ سامٍ
gleaming with talons and sharp points.
High-soaring and ever-fluttering, it turns its gaze
بِظَمياwith a thin الجَفنِeyelid صادِقَةِtrue in الجَلاةِclear vision
بِظَميا الجَفنِ صادِقَةِ الجَلاةِ
لَناours are الجَبَلانِthe two mountains مَنsince أَزمانِthe days of عادٍ'Ad
لَنا الجَبَلانِ مَن أَزمانِ عادٍ
with a thin-lidded eye of unfailing vision.
The two mountains have been ours since the days of 'Ad,
وَمُجتَمَعُand the meeting-place of الأَلاءَةِthe alaa shrub وَالغَضاةِand the ghada tree
وَمُجتَمَعُ الأَلاءَةِ وَالغَضاةِ
إِلىto فُرَضِthe landing places of الفُراتِthe Euphrates فَلابِthen the lava tract of لَيلىLayla
إِلى فُرَضِ الفُراتِ فَلابِ لَيلى
and the meeting-place of the alaa shrub and ghada tree,
as far as the Euphrates' landing places, then Layla's lava tract,
فَتَيماthen Tayma فَالقُرىthen the villages المُتَجاوِراتِneighboring
فَتَيما فَالقُرى المُتَجاوِراتِ
أَبَحناهاwe won them بِكُلِّwith every أَصَمَّunyielding صُلبٍsolid
أَبَحناها بِكُلِّ أَصَمَّ صُلبٍ
then Tayma, then the neighboring villages.
We won them with every hard, stout spear,
وَكُلِّand every أَشَقَّlong-limbed horse مُنتَبِرِbulging in الحَماةِthe leg-muscles
وَكُلِّ أَشَقَّ مُنتَبِرِ الحَماةِ
لَناours is البَطحاءُthe gravel plain مِنof أجإِAja قَديماًfrom ancient times
لَنا البَطحاءُ مِن أجإِ قَديماً
and every long-limbed horse with bulging leg-muscles.
Ours is the gravel plain of Aja from ancient times,
إِذاwhen ذُكِرَتare recalled دِيارُthe homes of المَكرُماتِnoble deeds
إِذا ذُكِرَت دِيارُ المَكرُماتِ
وَحُوّاطُand the guardians of البِلادِthe land إِذاwhen اِجرَهَدَّتit becomes barren
وَحُوّاطُ البِلادِ إِذا اِجرَهَدَّت
when homes of noble deeds are recalled,
and the guardians of the land when it grows barren,
وَأَصحابُand the men of المَآثِرِglorious deeds وَالثَباتِand steadfastness
وَأَصحابُ المَآثِرِ وَالثَباتِ
هُمُthey مَنَعواwithheld مِنَfrom النُعمانِal-Nu'man لَمّاwhen
هُمُ مَنَعوا مِنَ النُعمانِ لَمّا
and the men of glorious deeds and steadfastness.
They withheld from al-Nu'man, when
تَحَمَّسَhe grew fierce بَردَthe coolness of أَمواهِthe waters of القِلاتِrock pools
تَحَمَّسَ بَردَ أَمواهِ القِلاتِ
وَشَلّواand they drove away جَيشَهُhis army حَتّىuntil اِستَغاثَتcried for refuge
وَشَلّوا جَيشَهُ حَتّى اِستَغاثَت
he grew fierce, the cool waters of the rock pools.
They drove his army away, until
ظَعائِنُهُhis women in litters بِآجامِamong the thickets of الفُراتِthe Euphrates
ظَعائِنُهُ بِآجامِ الفُراتِ
فَلَمّاand when أَنonce (linking particle) رَأَيناwe saw الناسَthe people خَلّواhad abandoned
فَلَمّا أَن رَأَينا الناسَ خَلّوا
his women in litters cried for refuge in the Euphrates' thickets.
And when we saw the people abandon
مَحارِمَthe sacred bounds of هامَتَيهاits two peaks لِلغُواةِto the wayward
مَحارِمَ هامَتَيها لِلغُواةِ
حَبَوناwe guarded دونَin defense of سَوءَتِهاits shame وَكُنّاand we were
حَبَونا دونَ سَوءَتِها وَكُنّا
the sacred bounds of its two peaks to the wayward,
we guarded its shame, and we were
بَنيsons of مُصدانِهاits mountain heights المُتَمَنِّعاتِimpregnable
بَني مُصدانِها المُتَمَنِّعاتِ
وَلَمand not نَجزَعwe quailed لمَنbefore those who لاخىcontended عَلَيناagainst us
وَلَم نَجزَع لمَن لاخى عَلَينا
sons of its impregnable mountain heights.
We did not quail before those who opposed us,
وَلَمand not نَذَرِwe abandoned العَشيرَةَthe tribe لِلجُناةِto the aggressors
وَلَم نَذَرِ العَشيرَةَ لِلجُناةِ
لَناours are أَبوابُهاits gateways الأولىthe foremost وَكانَتand was
لَنا أَبوابُها الأولى وَكانَت
nor leave the tribe to the aggressors.
Its foremost gateways are ours, and
إِتوَتُهاits tribute لَناours مِنfrom كُلِّevery آتيcomer
إِتوَتُها لَنا مِن كُلِّ آتي
لِحُرّاشِfor Hurrash المُجيبِthe answering one بكُلِّat every نيقٍpeak
لِحُرّاشِ المُجيبِ بكُلِّ نيقٍ
its tribute was ours from everyone who came,
for Hurrash, who answers at every peak,
يُقَصِّرُfall short دونَهُbelow it نَبلُthe arrows of الرُماةِthe archers
يُقَصِّرُ دونَهُ نَبلُ الرُماةِ
وَمُطَّرِدِand having continuous المُتونِridges لَهُit has تَأخٍّresemblance
وَمُطَّرِدِ المُتونِ لَهُ تَأخٍّ
below which the archers' arrows fall short,
and a tract of unbroken ridges, alike in form,
قَليلِlittle خِلافِvariation بَيدانِ[unclear in supplied text] النَباتِvegetation
قَليلِ خِلافِ بَيدانِ النَباتِ
سِوىexcept شُعَبٍravines تَجانَفُveer aside ثُمَّthen تَأويconverge
سِوى شُعَبٍ تَجانَفُ ثُمَّ تَأوي
with little variation in [unclear word] vegetation,
save ravines that bend aside, then converge
إِلىinto غَلَقٍa narrows كَمَشرَبَةِlike the drinking-place of المَهاةِthe oryx
إِلى غَلَقٍ كَمَشرَبَةِ المَهاةِ
هَجَرتُI traveled at midday عَلَيهِover it وَالحَيّاتُwhile the snakes مَذلىlanguid
هَجَرتُ عَلَيهِ وَالحَيّاتُ مَذلى
into a narrows like an oryx's drinking-place.
I crossed it at midday, while the snakes lay languid,
تَبَطَّحُlie out flat كَالسُيوفِlike swords المُصلَتاتِunsheathed
تَبَطَّحُ كَالسُيوفِ المُصلَتاتِ
سَرَنداةُlong-framed and strong النَجاةِswift escape كَذاتِlike one with لَوحٍa flat side
سَرَنداةُ النَجاةِ كَذاتِ لَوحٍ
stretched flat like unsheathed swords.
Long-framed, swift in escape, like a flat-sided creature,
خَصيفُtwo-colored البَطنِin the belly كَدراءُdusky السَراةِalong the back
خَصيفُ البَطنِ كَدراءُ السَراةِ
سَرَتshe went عَنaway from نة[unclear fragment] قَوَّمَتهُshe reared it
سَرَت عَن نة قَوَّمَتهُ
two-toned in the belly, dusky-backed,
she went away from [an unclear fragment], which she had reared
بِأُفحوصٍin a scraped nest بِمُعتَلِجِamid the jumbled ground of الفَلاةِthe wilderness
بِأُفحوصٍ بِمُعتَلِجِ الفَلاةِ
تَقَلَّبُshe roams فيin بُطونِthe hollows of كُلِّevery تيهٍtrackless tract
تَقَلَّبُ في بُطونِ كُلِّ تيهٍ
in a scraped nest amid the wilderness's jumbled ground.
She roams the hollows of every trackless tract,
عَريضِwide in الفَرجِopenings لِلمُتَقَلِّباتِfor roaming creatures
عَريضِ الفَرجِ لِلمُتَقَلِّباتِ
تَقَلَّبُshe wheels بِالقَطاwith the sandgrouse طَوراًat one time وَطَوراًand at another
تَقَلَّبُ بِالقَطا طَوراً وَطَوراً
wide in its openings for roaming creatures.
She wheels with the sandgrouse, now one way, now another;
تَميلُtilt بِهاwith her هَذاليلُthe trailing sprays of الخَشاةِthe khasha (uncertain referent)
تَميلُ بِها هَذاليلُ الخَشاةِ
ذَوامِلُmoving at an even pace حينَwhen لاnot يَخشَينَthey fear ريحاًa wind
ذَوامِلُ حينَ لا يَخشَينَ ريحاً
the khasha's trailing sprays tilt with her.
They move evenly when they fear no wind,
مَعاًtogether كَبَنانِlike the fingers of أَيديthe hands of القَابِياتِwomen gathering
مَعاً كَبَنانِ أَيدي القَابِياتِ
وَهُنَّand they إِذاwhen تَهُبُّblows الريحُthe wind حُردٌscattered apart
وَهُنَّ إِذا تَهُبُّ الريحُ حُردٌ
together, like fingers on the hands of gathering women.
But when the wind blows, they scatter apart,
جَوانِحُbanking بِالسَوالِفِwith their fore-necks مُصغِياتِinclined
جَوانِحُ بِالسَوالِفِ مُصغِياتِ
مُبَطَّنَةٌslender-bellied حَواصِلُهاtheir crops أَداوىwater-skins
مُبَطَّنَةٌ حَواصِلُها أَداوى
banking with their fore-necks inclined.
Slender-bellied, their crops are water-skins,
لِطافُdelicate in الطَيِّfolding لَيسَnot بِمُعصَماتِfitted with carrying-straps
لِطافُ الطَيِّ لَيسَ بِمُعصَماتِ
لَهُنَّthey have نَوائِطُhanging pouches يَخلِجنَtug أُخرىanother
لَهُنَّ نَوائِطُ يَخلِجنَ أُخرى
delicately folded, without carrying-straps.
They have hanging pouches that tug at one another,
وَهُنَّand they لَذىat الحَناجِرِthe throats مُقمِحاتِheld high
وَهُنَّ لَذى الحَناجِرِ مُقمِحاتِ
تَؤُمُّheads toward بِهِنَّwith them أُمُّthe mother of الفَرخِthe chick ماءًwater
تَؤُمُّ بِهِنَّ أُمُّ الفَرخِ ماءً
and these are held high at their throats.
The chick's mother leads them toward water,
رَجَتshe hoped for خَلَواتِهِits empty reaches لِلوارِداتِfor those coming to drink
رَجَت خَلَواتِهِ لِلوارِداتِ
فَعَبَّتso she gulped نَهلَةًa first draught ثُمَّthen اِستَمَرَّتcontinued onward
فَعَبَّت نَهلَةً ثُمَّ اِستَمَرَّت
hoping its empty reaches will be free for those coming to drink.
She gulps a first draught, then goes onward,
بِظَمأىwith a thirsty one الريحِthe wind ظاهِرَةِhigh above العَذاةِdry ground
بِظَمأى الريحِ ظاهِرَةِ العَذاةِ
تُعيرُshe lends الريحَthe wind مَنكِبَهاher shoulder وَتَعصيand resists
تُعيرُ الريحَ مَنكِبَها وَتَعصي
thirsty for wind, high above the dry ground;
she lends the wind her shoulder, yet resists
بأوذwith strength (uncertain reading) غَيرِnot مُختَلِفِuneven in النَباتِgrowth
بأوذ غَيرِ مُختَلِفِ النَباتِ
with strength, uniform in growth.
Translation model: Sol 6.1