وَأَشْعَثَ مُنْقَدِّ القَميصِ تَلُفُّهُ

وَأَشْعَثَ مُنْقَدِّ القَميصِ تَلُفُّهُ

إِلى الدِّفءِ هَوْجاءُ الهُبوبِ عَقيمُ

إِلى الدِّفءِ هَوْجاءُ الهُبوبِ عَقيمُ

And a disheveled man in a torn shirt was swept

Disheveled, with tattered shirt to find warmth,

toward warmth by a barren wind, wild in its blowing.

He called out while the gusts of wind were barren.

دَعا وَالصَّبا تَثْني إِلى فيهِ صَوْتَهِ

دَعا وَالصَّبا تَثْني إِلى فيهِ صَوْتَهِ

وَيَفْري أَدِيْمَ اللَّيْلِ وَهْوَ بَهيمُ

وَيَفْري أَدِيْمَ اللَّيْلِ وَهْوَ بَهيمُ

He called, while the east wind bent his voice back into his mouth,

He called and the breeze folded his voice within,

and rent the night's hide, pitch-black as it was.

As the night's leather flowed and he was confused.

فَجَاوَبَهُ مُسْتَشْرِفٌ لِطُروقِهِ

فَجَاوَبَهُ مُسْتَشْرِفٌ لِطُروقِهِ

أَلُوفٌ بِتَأْنِيسِ الضُّيُوفِ عَليمُ

أَلُوفٌ بِتَأْنِيسِ الضُّيُوفِ عَليمُ

Then one watching for his arrival by night answered him,

So one watching for guests answered his call,

friendly, skilled in putting guests at ease.

Skilled in comforting visitors, wise.

وَلاحَتْ لَهُ فَرْعاءُ تَهْدِرُ فَوْقها

وَلاحَتْ لَهُ فَرْعاءُ تَهْدِرُ فَوْقها

قُدُورٌ لَهَا تَحتَ الظَّلامِ نَئيمُ

قُدُورٌ لَهَا تَحتَ الظَّلامِ نَئيمُ

And a tall-flamed fire appeared to him, above which roared

Branches leaned over him, pots rattled above,

cauldrons, moaning low beneath the darkness.

Asleep beneath the darkness, emitting steam.

فقلتُ لَهُ أَبْشِرْ بِنارٍ عَتيْقةٍ

فقلتُ لَهُ أَبْشِرْ بِنارٍ عَتيْقةٍ

لَها مُوقِدٌ مَحْضُ النِّجارِ كَريمٌ

لَها مُوقِدٌ مَحْضُ النِّجارِ كَريمٌ

So I said to him: Rejoice in an age-old fire,

I said to him, "Rejoice in an ancient fire,

whose kindler is generous and of pure lineage.

With a stoker pure of heart and generous.

لَئِنْ سَفِهَتْ قِدْري عَلَيْكَ بِغلْيها

لَئِنْ سَفِهَتْ قِدْري عَلَيْكَ بِغلْيها

فَكَلْبي غَضِيضُ النَّاظِرَيْنِ حَليمُ

فَكَلْبي غَضِيضُ النَّاظِرَيْنِ حَليمُ

Even if my pot is insolent toward you with its boiling,

If my cauldron was foolish towards you in its boiling,

my dog is still forbearing, with both eyes lowered.

My dog is gentle, though sharp of sight."

وَإِنَّ امْرأً لَمْ يَنْحَرِ الكُومَ لِلْقِرى

وَإِنَّ امْرأً لَمْ يَنْحَرِ الكُومَ لِلْقِرى

وَسادَ مَعَّداً جَدُّهُ لَلئيمُ

وَسادَ مَعَّداً جَدُّهُ لَلئيمُ

And a man who has not slaughtered high-humped camels for guests,

A man who does not slaughter the herd for guests,

though his grandfather ruled Ma‘add, is surely base.

And aids the enemy - his ancestor was despicable.