ألاAh! بأبيmay my father be ransom كَعْبٌKaʿb خَليلاًas a friend وصاحِباًand companion
ألا بأبي كَعْبٌ خَليلاً وصاحِباً
وناهيكَand sufficient for you كَعْبٌKaʿb منْas مُغيثٍa helper ومُصْرِخِand rescuer
وناهيكَ كَعْبٌ منْ مُغيثٍ ومُصْرِخِ
Ah, may my father be ransom for Kaʿb, a friend and companion!
By my father Ka'b, a sincere friend and companion,
And Kaʿb is all you could ask for as helper and rescuer.
And Ka'b is unrivaled among helpers and criers for aid,
أَروعُI startle بهِwith him سِرْبَa flock of القَطاsandgrouse كُلَّevery ليلَةٍnight
أَروعُ بهِ سِرْبَ القَطا كُلَّ ليلَةٍ
تَمُدُّspreads جَناحَيْthe two wings of أقْتَمِa dusky one الرّيشِin plumage أفْتَخِbroad-winged
تَمُدُّ جَناحَيْ أقْتَمِ الرّيشِ أفْتَخِ
With him I startle a flock of sandgrouse each night,
I lead the progeny of wildcats every night,
as it spreads the wings of a dusky-feathered, broad-winged bird.
Extending wings with the darkest feathers outstretched.
إذاwhen سِيمَhe is subjected to خَسْفاًhumiliation أدْرَكَتْهُovertakes him حَفيظَةٌindignant pride
إذا سِيمَ خَسْفاً أدْرَكَتْهُ حَفيظَةٌ
تُصَعِّرُturns proudly aside خَدَّthe cheek of العامِرِيِّthe ʿĀmirī فيَنْتَخيso he asserts his pride
تُصَعِّرُ خَدَّ العامِرِيِّ فيَنْتَخي
When subjected to humiliation, indignant pride overtakes him,
When the darkness falls suddenly, it is pierced
turning the ʿĀmirī's cheek proudly aside, and he rises in defiance.
By the whinnying that furrows the cheeks of the stallion.
يَزورُhe enters الوَغىbattle فيamong غِلْمَةٍyoung men منْof هَوازِنٍHawāzin
يَزورُ الوَغى في غِلْمَةٍ منْ هَوازِنٍ
رِقاقِdelicate حَواشيcontours of الأوْجُهِthe faces الغُرِّradiant شُرَّخِin youthful prime
رِقاقِ حَواشي الأوْجُهِ الغُرِّ شُرَّخِ
He enters battle among young men of Hawāzin,
Raiding occurs amid a crowd of Hawazin,
delicate-featured, radiant-faced, in youthful bloom.
With soft faces like golden dinars accustomed to refusal.
وُجوهٌfaces كماjust as شِيفَare burnished الدّنانيرُdinars عُوِّدَتْhave been schooled in
وُجوهٌ كما شِيفَ الدّنانيرُ عُوِّدَتْ
إباءَproud disdain عَرانينٍnoses منَthrough العِزِّhonor شُمَّخِheld high
إباءَ عَرانينٍ منَ العِزِّ شُمَّخِ
Faces like burnished dinars, schooled
And hands that pluck the crown from the top of a shining sword,
in the proud disdain of noses held high by honor.
And clothe the visor of the helmet at every battle’s first clash.
وأيْدٍand hands تَبُزُّstrip التاجَthe crown from قمّةَthe head of أبْلَجٍa bright-browed man
وأيْدٍ تَبُزُّ التاجَ قمّةَ أبْلَجٍ
وتَكْسوand clothe with قِناعَa veil of النّقْعِdust لِمَّةَthe locks of أبْلَخِa haughty man
وتَكْسو قِناعَ النّقْعِ لِمَّةَ أبْلَخِ
And hands that strip a bright-browed man's head of its crown,
If they have gathered what lies between back and flank,
and clothe a haughty man's locks in a veil of dust.
Then how much have they separated what lies between exertion and repose!
لَئِنْthough indeed جَمَعَتْthey have joined ماwhat بَينَlies between ظَهْرٍa back ولَبَّةٍand an upper breast
لَئِنْ جَمَعَتْ ما بَينَ ظَهْرٍ ولَبَّةٍ
فكمْthen how often فرَّقَتْthey have parted ماwhat بَينَlies between هامٍskulls وأفْرُخِand brains
فكمْ فرَّقَتْ ما بَينَ هامٍ وأفْرُخِ
Though they have brought back and upper breast together,
I say to a piece of armor belonging to Lu’ay son of Ghalib
how often have they parted skulls from their brains!
In the vast expanse of the white desert plain:
أقولُI say لخِرْقٍto a gallant man منْof لُؤيِّLuʾayy بنِson of غالِبٍGhālib
أقولُ لخِرْقٍ منْ لُؤيِّ بنِ غالِبٍ
بأرْجاءِin the reaches of مُغْبَرٍّa dusty tract منَof البيدِthe deserts سَرْبَخِwide and barren
بأرْجاءِ مُغْبَرٍّ منَ البيدِ سَرْبَخِ
I say to a gallant man of Luʾayy ibn Ghālib,
We crossed the plain of Hajir, by God,
in the reaches of a dusty, wide and barren desert:
And it was filled to the valleys of Murbikh.
أجَزْناwe have crossed وأيْمُand by اللهِGod ساحَةَthe tract of حاجِرٍḤājir
أجَزْنا وأيْمُ اللهِ ساحَةَ حاجِرٍ
فمِلْso turn بهَواديهاtheir necks إِلىtoward رَمْلِthe sands of مُرْبِخِMurbikh
فمِلْ بهَواديها إِلى رَمْلِ مُرْبِخِ
We have crossed, by God, the tract of Ḥājir;
There a tribe of Quraysh encamped,
so turn their necks toward the sands of Murbikh.
Sheltering their neighbor and treating him with a brother's kindness.
هُنالِكَthere حَيٌّa clan منْof قُرَيْشٍQuraysh تحَدَّبواthey showed solicitude
هُنالِكَ حَيٌّ منْ قُرَيْشٍ تحَدَّبوا
علىfor الجارِthe neighbor والعافيand the supplicant بعاطِفَةِwith the affection of الأخِa brother
على الجارِ والعافي بعاطِفَةِ الأخِ
There is a clan of Quraysh who show care
When the morning cast off its cloak from them,
for neighbor and supplicant with a brother's affection.
And the darkness rolled away from its established corner,
إذاwhen ماemphatic particle صَباحٌdawn فُرَّwas unveiled عَنْهُمْfrom over them شَميطُهُits mingled light
إذا ما صَباحٌ فُرَّ عَنْهُمْ شَميطُهُ
وهَدَّand tore down الدُّجىthe darkness منfrom رُكْنِهاits pillar المُتَفَسِّخِcrumbling
وهَدَّ الدُّجى من رُكْنِها المُتَفَسِّخِ
When dawn's mingled light was unveiled around them,
We stayed where the shade melted away
and it tore darkness down from its crumbling pillar,
On flowers speckled in the meadows.
أقَمْناwe stayed بحيْثُwhere الطَّلُّthe dew ذابَmelted سَقيطُهُits fallen drops
أقَمْنا بحيْثُ الطَّلُّ ذابَ سَقيطُهُ
علىupon زَهَرٍblossoms بالمَنْدَليِّwith Mandalī aloeswood مُضَمَّخِsteeped in fragrance
على زَهَرٍ بالمَنْدَليِّ مُضَمَّخِ
we stayed where fallen drops of dew melted
The rain clouds continued to crawl above us,
on blossoms steeped in the scent of Mandalī aloeswood.
Trailing veils of clouds that soaked the land.
فلاso may not زالَcease حاديthe driver of الخِصْبِplenty يَسْحَبُdrawing فَوقَهُabove it
فلا زالَ حادي الخِصْبِ يَسْحَبُ فَوقَهُ
ذَوائِبَtresses of سُحْبٍclouds تَلْثِمُthat kiss الأرْضَthe earth نُضَّخِpouring rain
ذَوائِبَ سُحْبٍ تَلْثِمُ الأرْضَ نُضَّخِ
May the driver of plenty never cease drawing above it
That stingy one whose lightning is not followed by rainfall,
the tresses of rain-pouring clouds that kiss the earth.
When would he crack open in generous gifts and pour down?
وذيand one with بَخَلٍstinginess لاnot يَتْبَعُfollows الوَدْقُthe rain بَرْقَهُhis lightning
وذي بَخَلٍ لا يَتْبَعُ الوَدْقُ بَرْقَهُ
مَتىwhenever يتخَرَّقْhe is lavish فيin المَواهِبِgifts يَرْضَخِhe gives a pittance
مَتى يتخَرَّقْ في المَواهِبِ يَرْضَخِ
And a miser, whose lightning is followed by no rain,
He called me to fresh drinking water that restored me
whenever he is lavish with gifts, gives only a pittance.
Beside twisted fibers that the riders would boil if they were caught out.
دَعانيhe invited me إِلىto ضَحْضاحِa shallow expanse of ماءٍwater أعافُهُI loathe it
دَعاني إِلى ضَحْضاحِ ماءٍ أعافُهُ
لَدىbeside عَطَنٍa camel watering-ground إنْif يَغْشَهُit visits it الركْبُthe caravan يُسْبِخِit enters salt flats
لَدى عَطَنٍ إنْ يَغْشَهُ الركْبُ يُسْبِخِ
He invited me to a shallow pool of water I loathe,
To you - your hands did not gain anything coveted
beside a camel watering-ground where an arriving caravan enters salt flats.
Whenever one searches for your embers to kindle.
إليكَaway with you! فلمfor not تَظفَرْhave caught يَداكَyour two hands بطامِعٍa greedy seeker
إليكَ فلم تَظفَرْ يَداكَ بطامِعٍ
متىwhenever ماemphatic particle يُفَتِّشْhe searches عنfor رَمادِكَyour ashes يَنْفُخِhe blows
متى ما يُفَتِّشْ عن رَمادِكَ يَنْفُخِ
Away with you! Your hands have caught no greedy seeker
Whenever a guest alights at your abode to rest,
who blows whenever he searches for your ashes.
He weeps in pity for the most hospitable of hosts.
إذاwhen ماemphatic particle أناخَmakes kneel الضّيْفُthe guest عندَكَbeside you نِضْوَهُhis exhausted mount
إذا ما أناخَ الضّيْفُ عندَكَ نِضْوَهُ
بَكىhe weeps رَحْمَةًin pity للأرْحَبيِّfor the Arḥabī camel المُنَوَّخِmade to kneel
بَكى رَحْمَةً للأرْحَبيِّ المُنَوَّخِ
When a guest makes his exhausted mount kneel beside you,
And I seek refuge with you, O Ka'b son of Mudlij,
he weeps in pity for the kneeling Arḥabī camel.
Whenever I bolster him with praise without finding fault.
وأرْحَبُand wider باعاًin reach منكَthan you كَعْبُKaʿb بنُson of مُدْلِجٍMudlij
وأرْحَبُ باعاً منكَ كَعْبُ بنُ مُدْلِجٍ
متىwhenever ماemphatic particle أُزِرْهُI send him مِدْحَةًa poem of praise لاnot أوَبَّخِI am rebuked
متى ما أُزِرْهُ مِدْحَةً لا أوَبَّخِ
And wider in reach than you is Kaʿb ibn Mudlij;
Of noble birth that is radiant, his hide is without blemish,
whenever I send him a poem of praise, I am not rebuked.
And was never stained by disreputable lineage.
عنfrom الشّرَفِnobility الوضّاحِradiant قُدَّwas cut أديمُهُhis skin
عن الشّرَفِ الوضّاحِ قُدَّ أديمُهُ
وبالحَسَبِand with ancestry المَغْمورِobscure لمْnot يتلطَّخِhe has been stained
وبالحَسَبِ المَغْمورِ لمْ يتلطَّخِ
His skin was cut from radiant nobility,
Whenever a guest comes to him, he does not veil his homes,
and he is unstained by obscure ancestry.
Nor screen himself from those who know him with a barrier.
إذاwhen ماemphatic particle أتاهُcomes to him الضّيفُthe guest لمnot يُعْتِمِdoes he delay القِرىthe guest's fare
إذا ما أتاهُ الضّيفُ لم يُعْتِمِ القِرى
ولمْand not يَحْتَجِبْdoes he hide عنfrom مُعْتَفيهِhis petitioner ببَرْزَخِbehind a barrier
ولمْ يَحْتَجِبْ عن مُعْتَفيهِ ببَرْزَخِ
When a guest comes to him, he does not delay the guest's fare,
And if war flares up, he quells its burning with forbearance,
nor hides behind a barrier from anyone seeking his bounty.
And plunges the flames into peace with firmness.
وإنْand if طاشَruns wild حَرْبٌwar كَفَّhe curbs بالحِلْمِwith forbearance غَرْبَهاits sharp edge
وإنْ طاشَ حَرْبٌ كَفَّ بالحِلْمِ غَرْبَها
وأهْوىand brings down بنيرانٍfires إِلىinto السِّلْمِpeace بُوَّخِdying out
وأهْوى بنيرانٍ إِلى السِّلْمِ بُوَّخِ
And if war runs wild, he curbs its sharp edge with forbearance,
That man of great size was like a massive mountain,
and brings dying fires down into peace.
Whose bases around him nearly swayed.
وذيand one with لَجَبٍclamor كالطَّوْدِlike a mountain كادَتْnearly did رِعانُهُits peaks
وذي لَجَبٍ كالطَّوْدِ كادَتْ رِعانُهُ
تَميدُsway بأرْكانٍwith pillars حَوالَيْهِaround it سُوَّخِsunk deep
تَميدُ بأرْكانٍ حَوالَيْهِ سُوَّخِ
And many a clamorous host, mountain-like, whose peaks nearly
The horses' reins were pulled, as they trampled him down,
swayed with deep-sunk pillars all around it,
More firmly planted in combat and more steadfast.
فشُدَّتْso were bound نَواصيthe forelocks of الخَيْلِthe horses وهْيَwhile they تَدوسُهُtrample it
فشُدَّتْ نَواصي الخَيْلِ وهْيَ تَدوسُهُ
بأثْبَتَto one steadier منْهُthan it فيin اللِّقاءِbattle وأرْسَخِand more firmly rooted
بأثْبَتَ منْهُ في اللِّقاءِ وأرْسَخِ
was trampled by horses whose forelocks were bound
In the ample folds of his flowing robe, ready
to one steadier and more firmly rooted than it in battle:
For the test of fate, with resolved purpose made firm.
بأرْوَعَto a splendid man فَضْفاضِample الرِّداءِin cloak مُذَرَّبٍkeenly honed
بأرْوَعَ فَضْفاضِ الرِّداءِ مُذَرَّبٍ
أغِرَّةَedges of عَزْمٍresolve للخُطوبِof calamities مُدَوِّخِa subduer
أغِرَّةَ عَزْمٍ للخُطوبِ مُدَوِّخِ
to a splendid, ample-cloaked man, with keenly honed
He wades into the deep pool till its water reaches his ankles,
edges of resolve, a subduer of calamities.
With the strides of heroes that churn its depths.
يَخوضُhe wades through القَناthe lances الرُّعافَblood-dripping لِيثَتْwere entwined كُعوبُهُtheir joints
يَخوضُ القَنا الرُّعافَ لِيثَتْ كُعوبُهُ
بأذْرُعِwith the arms of أبْطالٍheroes لَهاميمَnoble and generous بُذَّخِlofty in pride
بأذْرُعِ أبْطالٍ لَهاميمَ بُذَّخِ
He wades through blood-dripping lances, their joints entwined
When the stallions of the breeding-pasture are aroused, they wrap
with the arms of heroes, noble and proud.
Themselves in valor that captures the onlooker’s gaze.
إذاwhen ثارَarises رَيْعانُthe first surge of العَجاجِthe dust تلثَّمواthey veil themselves
إذا ثارَ رَيْعانُ العَجاجِ تلثَّموا
علىover غُرَرٍradiant brows تَسْتَوْقِفُthat arrest العَيْنَthe eye شُدَّخِbroad-blazed
على غُرَرٍ تَسْتَوْقِفُ العَيْنَ شُدَّخِ
When the first billows of dust arise, they veil themselves
over broad, radiant brows that arrest the eye.
Partial English translation: 50 of 52 Arabic lines translated.