إِنَّماonly الغَيُّfolly أَنthat يَكونَhe should be رَشيداًprudent
إِنَّما الغَيُّ أَن يَكونَ رَشيداً
فَاِنقُصاso lessen, you two مِنfrom مَلامِهِreproach of him أَوor فَزيداthen increase, you two
فَاِنقُصا مِن مَلامِهِ أَو فَزيدا
The only folly is for him to be prudent;
so lessen your reproaches of him, you two, or increase them.
خَلِّياهُleave him, you two وَجِدَّةَwith the freshness اللَهوِpleasure ماداso long as (first part)
خَلِّياهُ وَجِدَّةَ اللَهوِ مادا
مَcompletes 'so long as' رِداءُmantle الشَبابِyouth غَضّاًtender جَديداnew
مَ رِداءُ الشَبابِ غَضّاً جَديدا
Leave him to the freshness of pleasure, so long as
the mantle of youth remains tender and new.
إِنَّindeed أَيّامَهُhis days مِنَfrom البيضِthe fair women بيضٌbright
إِنَّ أَيّامَهُ مِنَ البيضِ بيضٌ
ماso long as رَأَينَthey see المَفارِقَthe hair-partings السودَblack سوداblack
ما رَأَينَ المَفارِقَ السودَ سودا
His days are bright thanks to the fair women,
so long as they see his black hair-partings still black.
أَيُّهاO الدَهرُTime حَبَّذاhow delightful أَنتَyou دَهراًas an age
أَيُّها الدَهرُ حَبَّذا أَنتَ دَهراً
قِفstay حَميداًpraiseworthy وَلاand do not تُوَلِّturn away حَميداpraiseworthy
قِف حَميداً وَلا تُوَلِّ حَميدا
O Time, what a delightful time you are!
Stay, praised as you are; do not depart, praised as you are.
كُلَّevery يَومٍday تَزدادُyou grow حُسناًin beauty فَماso never تَبsend forth (first part)
كُلَّ يَومٍ تَزدادُ حُسناً فَما تَب
عَثُcompletes 'send forth' يَوماًa day إِلّاexcept that حَسِبناهُwe count it عيداa festival
عَثُ يَوماً إِلّا حَسِبناهُ عيدا
Each day you grow more lovely; never do you send forth
a day without our counting it a festival.
إِنَّindeed فيwithin السِربِthe flock لَوif only يُساعِفُناit would favor us السِرthe flock (first part)
إِنَّ في السِربِ لَو يُساعِفُنا السِر
بُcompletes 'the flock' شُموساًsuns يَمشينَthey walk مَشياًa gait وَئيداunhurried
بُ شُموساً يَمشينَ مَشياً وَئيدا
Within that flock—if only the flock would favor us—
are suns that walk with measured steps.
يَتَدافَعنَthey jostle one another بِالأَكُفِّwith their palms وَيَعرِضand they display (first part)
يَتَدافَعنَ بِالأَكُفِّ وَيَعرِض
نَcompletes 'and they display' عَنلَياunclear in supplied text عَوارِضاًsides of the face وَخُدوداand cheeks
نَ عَنلَيا عَوارِضاً وَخُدودا
They nudge one another with their palms and display
their profiles and cheeks [one word is unclear].
يَتَبَسَّمنَthey smile عَنrevealing شَتيتٍspaced teeth أَراهُI see it as
يَتَبَسَّمنَ عَن شَتيتٍ أَراهُ
أُقحُواناًdaisy blossoms مُفَصَّلاًset apart أَوor فَريداchoice pearls
أُقحُواناً مُفَصَّلاً أَو فَريدا
They smile, revealing spaced teeth that I see as
daisy blossoms set apart, or choice pearls.
رُحنَthey went at evening وَاللَيلُwhile the night قَدalready أَقامَhad raised رُواقاًa canopy
رُحنَ وَاللَيلُ قَد أَقامَ رُواقاً
فَأَقَمنَthen they erected الصَباحَthe dawn فيهِwithin it عَموداas a pillar
فَأَقَمنَ الصَباحَ فيهِ عَمودا
They went at evening, when night had raised a canopy,
and set dawn within it as a pillar.
بِمَهاةٍwith an oryx-like maiden مِثلَlike المَهاةِthe white oryx أَبَتshe refused أَنto
بِمَهاةٍ مِثلَ المَهاةِ أَبَت أَن
تَصِلَgrant الوَصلَunion أَوor تَصُدَّturn away الصُدوداin rejection
تَصِلَ الوَصلَ أَو تَصُدَّ الصُدودا
With a beauty like a white oryx, who refused
either to grant true union or turn utterly away.
ذاتِpossessed of حُسنٍbeauty لَوif اِستَزادَتshe sought more مِنَof الحُسbeauty (first part)
ذاتِ حُسنٍ لَو اِستَزادَت مِنَ الحُس
نِcompletes 'beauty' إِلَيهِto it لَماwould not have أَصابَتfound مَزيداany increase
نِ إِلَيهِ لَما أَصابَت مَزيدا
Possessed of beauty: had she sought more beauty
to add to it, she would have found no more.
فَهِيَso she is الشَمسُthe sun بَهجَةًin splendor وَالقَضيبُand the bough الthe
فَهِيَ الشَمسُ بَهجَةً وَالقَضيبُ ال
غَضُّtender ليناًin suppleness وَالرِئمُand the white gazelle طَرفاًin eye وَجيداand in neck
غَضُّ ليناً وَالرِئمُ طَرفاً وَجيدا
She is the sun in splendor, and the bough,
tender and supple, and the white gazelle in eye and neck.
ياO اِبنَةَdaughter of العامِرِيِّal-Amiri كَيفَhow يَرىdeems قَوyour people (first part)
يا اِبنَةَ العامِرِيِّ كَيفَ يَرى قَو
مُكِcompletes 'your people' عَدلاًjust أَنthat تَبخَليyou withhold وَأَجوداwhile I give freely
مُكِ عَدلاً أَن تَبخَلي وَأَجودا
O daughter of al-Amiri, how can your people deem it
just that you withhold while I give freely?
إِنَّindeed قَوميmy people قَومُthe people of الشَريفِthe noble one قَديماًin ancient times
إِنَّ قَومي قَومُ الشَريفِ قَديماً
وَحَديثاًand in recent times أُبُوَّةًin paternal descent وَجُدوداand forefathers
وَحَديثاً أُبُوَّةً وَجُدودا
My people are the noble one's people, in ancient times
and recent times, in fathers and forefathers.
وَإِذاand when ماemphatic particle عَدَدتُI enumerate يَحيىYahya وَعَمراًand Amr
وَإِذا ما عَدَدتُ يَحيى وَعَمراً
وَأَباناًand Aban وَعامِراًand Amir وَالوَليداand al-Walid
وَأَباناً وَعامِراً وَالوَليدا
And when I enumerate Yahya and Amr,
and Aban and Amir and al-Walid,
وَعُبَيداًand Ubayd وَمُسهِراًand Mus'hir وَجُدَيّاًand Judayy
وَعُبَيداً وَمُسهِراً وَجُدَيّاً
وَتَدولاًand Tadul وَبُحتُراًand Buhtur وَعَتوداand Atud
وَتَدولاً وَبُحتُراً وَعَتودا
and Ubayd and Mus'hir and Judayy,
and Tadul and Buhtur and Atud,
لَمdid not أَدَعI leave مِنof مَناقِبِdistinctions المَجدِglory ماanything that يُقsatisfies (first part)
لَم أَدَع مِن مَناقِبِ المَجدِ ما يُق
نِعُcompletes 'satisfies' مَنwhoever هَمَّis determined أَنto يَكونَbe مَجيداglorious
نِعُ مَن هَمَّ أَن يَكونَ مَجيدا
I leave no glorious distinction unclaimed that could satisfy
anyone intent on attaining glory.
ذَهَبَتcarried off طَيِّئٌTayy بِسابِقَةُwith preeminence in المَجglory (first part)
ذَهَبَت طَيِّئٌ بِسابِقَةُ المَج
دِcompletes 'glory' عَلىover العالَمينَall peoples بَأساًin valor وَجوداand generosity
دِ عَلى العالَمينَ بَأساً وَجودا
Tayy has won preeminence in glory
over all peoples, in valor and generosity.
مَعشَرٌa people أَمسَكَتheld firm حُلومُهُمُtheir wisdom الأَرthe earth (first part)
مَعشَرٌ أَمسَكَت حُلومُهُمُ الأَر
ضَcompletes 'the earth' وَكادَتand it nearly مِنbecause of عِزِّهِمtheir might أَنto تَميداsway
ضَ وَكادَت مِن عِزِّهِم أَن تَميدا
A people whose wisdom held the earth firm,
though their might nearly made it sway.
نَزَلواthey settled كَهِلَuplands (uncertain reading) الحِجازِthe Hijaz فَأَضحىand then became
نَزَلوا كَهِلَ الحِجازِ فَأَضحى
لَهُمُto them ساكِنوهُits inhabitants طُرّاًall عَبيداslaves
لَهُمُ ساكِنوهُ طُرّاً عَبيدا
They settled the uplands of the Hijaz [uncertain reading], and
all its inhabitants became their slaves.
مَنزِلاًa dwelling قارَعواthey fought عَلَيهِover it العَماليthe Amalekites (first part)
مَنزِلاً قارَعوا عَلَيهِ العَمالي
قَcompletes 'the Amalekites' وَعاداًand Ad فيin عِزِّهاits might وَثَموداand Thamud
قَ وَعاداً في عِزِّها وَثَمودا
A dwelling for which they fought the Amalekites,
and Ad in its might, and Thamud.
فَإِذاso when قوتُthe food of وائِلٍWa'il وَتَميمٍand Tamim
فَإِذا قوتُ وائِلٍ وَتَميمٍ
كانَwas إِذwhen كانَit existed حَنظَلاًcolocynth وَهَبيداand colocynth seeds
كانَ إِذ كانَ حَنظَلاً وَهَبيدا
When the food of Wa'il and Tamim
was—when there was any—colocynth and its seeds,
ظَلَّcontinued to وِلدانُناour children يُغادونَvisit each morning نَخلاًdate palms
ظَلَّ وِلدانُنا يُغادونَ نَخلاً
مُؤتِياًyielding أَكلَهُits fruit وَطَلعاًand palm-blossoms نَضيداdensely clustered
مُؤتِياً أَكلَهُ وَطَلعاً نَضيدا
our children would visit date palms each morning,
yielding their fruit and densely clustered blossoms.
بَلَدٌa land يُنبِتُbrings forth المَعاليgreatness فَماso not يَثcuts his teeth (first part)
بَلَدٌ يُنبِتُ المَعالي فَما يَث
ثَغِرُcompletes 'cuts his teeth' الطِفلُthe child فيهِin it حَتّىuntil يَسوداbecomes a lord
ثَغِرُ الطِفلُ فيهِ حَتّى يَسودا
A land that brings forth greatness: no child
cuts his teeth there before becoming a lord.
وَلُيوثٌand lions مِنfrom طَيِّئٍTayy وَغُيوثٌand life-giving rains
وَلُيوثٌ مِن طَيِّئٍ وَغُيوثٌ
لَهُمُtheirs is المَجدُglory طارِفاًnewly acquired وَتَليداand inherited
لَهُمُ المَجدُ طارِفاً وَتَليدا
And lions of Tayy, and life-giving rains—
theirs is glory, newly won and inherited.
فَإِذاso when المَحلُdrought جاءَcomes جاؤواthey come سُيُلاًas torrents
فَإِذا المَحلُ جاءَ جاؤوا سُيُلاً
وَإِذاand when النَقعُbattle-dust ثارَrises ثارواthey rise أُسوداas lions
وَإِذا النَقعُ ثارَ ثاروا أُسودا
When drought comes, they come as torrents;
when battle-dust rises, they rise as lions.
يَحسُنُis fair الذِكرُrenown عَنهُمabout them وَالأَحاديand tales (first part)
يَحسُنُ الذِكرُ عَنهُم وَالأَحادي
ثُcompletes 'and tales' إِذاwhen حَدَّثَspeaks to الحَديدُiron الحَديداiron
ثُ إِذا حَدَّثَ الحَديدُ الحَديدا
Fair is their renown, and the tales told of them,
when iron speaks to iron.
فيin مَقامٍa stand تَخِرُّfall فيin ضَنكِهِits straitness البيbright swords (first part)
في مَقامٍ تَخِرُّ في ضَنكِهِ البي
ضُcompletes 'bright swords' عَلىupon البيضِhelmets رُكَّعاًbowing وَسُجوداand prostrate
ضُ عَلى البيضِ رُكَّعاً وَسُجودا
In a stand so straitened that bright swords fall
upon helmets, bowing and prostrate.
مَعشَرٌa people يُنجِزونَthey fulfill بِالخَيرِwith good وَالشَرand evil (first part)
مَعشَرٌ يُنجِزونَ بِالخَيرِ وَالشَر
رِcompletes 'and evil' يَدَthroughout the span of الدَهرِtime مَوعِداًa promise وَوَعيداand a threat
رِ يَدَ الدَهرِ مَوعِداً وَوَعيدا
A people who fulfill, in good and evil,
for all time, both promise and threat.
يَفرَجونَthey cleave through الوَغىbattle إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle أَثارَstirs up الthe
يَفرَجونَ الوَغى إِذا ما أَثارَ ال
ضَربُblows مِنfrom مُصمِتِsolid الحَديدِiron صَعيداdust
ضَربُ مِن مُصمِتِ الحَديدِ صَعيدا
They cleave through battle when blows raise
dust out of solid iron.
بِوُجوهٍwith faces تُعشيdazzle العُيونَthe eyes ضِياءًwith radiance
بِوُجوهٍ تُعشي العُيونَ ضِياءً
وَسُيوفٍand swords تُعشيdazzle الشُموسَthe suns وُقوداwith blazing fire
وَسُيوفٍ تُعشي الشُموسَ وُقودا
With faces that dazzle eyes with radiance,
and swords that dazzle suns with their blaze.
عَدَلواthey equaled الهَضبَthe hills مِنof تِهامَةَTihamah أَحلاminds (first part)
عَدَلوا الهَضبَ مِن تِهامَةَ أَحلا
ماًcompletes 'minds' ثِقالاًweighty وَرَملَand the sands of نَجدٍNajd عَديداin number
ماً ثِقالاً وَرَملَ نَجدٍ عَديدا
They matched the hills of Tihamah with minds
of weight, and the sands of Najd in number.
مَلَكواthey ruled الأَرضَthe earth قَبلَbefore أَنthat تُملَكَbe ruled الأَرthe earth (first part)
مَلَكوا الأَرضَ قَبلَ أَن تُملَكَ الأَر
ضُcompletes 'the earth' وَقادواand they led فيalong حافَتَيهاits two edges الجُنوداthe armies
ضُ وَقادوا في حافَتَيها الجُنودا
They ruled the earth before the earth was ruled,
and led armies along both its edges.
وَجَرَواand they raced عِندَat مَولِدِthe birth of الدَهرِTime فّيin السُؤlordship (first part)
وَجَرَوا عِندَ مَولِدِ الدَهرِ فّي السُؤ
دُدِcompletes 'lordship' وَالمَكرُماتِand noble deeds شَأواًa course بَعيداfar-reaching
دُدِ وَالمَكرُماتِ شَأواً بَعيدا
And at Time's birth they raced in lordship
and noble deeds over a far-reaching course.
وَهُمُand they قَومُthe people of تُبَّعٍTubba' خَيرُbest قَومٍpeople
وَهُمُ قَومُ تُبَّعٍ خَيرُ قَومٍ
وَكَفىand sufficient is بِالفَخارِwith glory مِنهُمfrom them شَهيداas a witness
وَكَفى بِالفَخارِ مِنهُم شَهيدا
They are the people of Tubba', the best of peoples;
their glory suffices as a witness.
بِمَساعٍthrough noble endeavors مَنظومَةٍstrung together أَلبَسَتهُنَّclothed them
بِمَساعٍ مَنظومَةٍ أَلبَسَتهُنَّ
اللَياليthe nights قَلائِداًnecklaces وَعُقوداand jeweled strands
اللَيالي قَلائِداً وَعُقودا
Through noble deeds, strung together and clothed by
the nights in necklaces and jeweled strands.
عَبدُAbd شَمسِShams شَمسُsun of العَريبِthe Arabs أَبوناour father
عَبدُ شَمسِ شَمسُ العَريبِ أَبونا
مَلَكَhe ruled الناسَthe people وَاِصَطَفاهُمand chose them عَبيداas slaves
مَلَكَ الناسَ وَاِصَطَفاهُم عَبيدا
Abd Shams, sun of the Arabs, is our father;
he ruled the people and chose them as slaves.
وَطِىءَhe trod السَهلَthe plain وَالحَزونَةَand rugged ground بِالأَبwith heroes (first part)
وَطِىءَ السَهلَ وَالحَزونَةَ بِالأَب
طالِcompletes 'with heroes' شُعثاًdisheveled وَالخَيلِand horses قُبّاًlean-bellied وُقوداfiery
طالِ شُعثاً وَالخَيلِ قُبّاً وُقودا
He trod plains and rugged country with heroes,
disheveled, and horses, lean and fiery.
وَأَبوand father of الأَنجُمِthe stars الَّتيthat لاnot تَنيcease تَجrun (first part)
وَأَبو الأَنجُمِ الَّتي لا تَني تَج
ريcompletes 'run' عَلىover الناسِmankind أَنحُساًas ill omens وَسُعوداand good omens
ري عَلى الناسِ أَنحُساً وَسُعودا
And he is father of the stars that never cease to run
over mankind as omens of ill and good fortune.
سائِلِask الدَهرَTime مُذsince عَرَفناهُwe have known him هَلwhether يَعknow (first part)
سائِلِ الدَهرَ مُذ عَرَفناهُ هَل يَع
رِفُcompletes 'know' مِنّاًfrom us إِلّاexcept الفَعالَdeeds الحَميداpraiseworthy
رِفُ مِنّاً إِلّا الفَعالَ الحَميدا
Ask Time: since we have known him, has he known
anything from us but praiseworthy deeds?
قَدindeed لَعَمريby my life سُدناهُwe ruled him كَهلاًmature وَشَيخاًand aged
قَد لَعَمري سُدناهُ كَهلاً وَشَيخاً
وَشَبيباًand youthful وَناشِئاًand growing وَوَليداand newborn
وَشَبيباً وَناشِئاً وَوَليدا
By my life, we ruled him in maturity and old age,
in youth, in boyhood, and in infancy.
وَطَوَيناand we folded up أَيّامَهُhis days وَلَياليand nights
وَطَوَينا أَيّامَهُ وَلَيالي
هِhis عَلىupon المَكرُماتِnoble deeds بيضاًwhite وَسوداand black
هِ عَلى المَكرُماتِ بيضاً وَسودا
And we folded up his days and his nights
upon noble deeds, white and black alike.
لَمnot نَزَلwe have ceased قَطَّever مُذsince تَرَعرَعَhe grew up نَكسوwe clothe
لَم نَزَل قَطَّ مُذ تَرَعرَعَ نَكسو
هُhim نَدىًgenerosity لَيِّناًgentle وَبَأساًand valor شَديداfierce
هُ نَدىً لَيِّناً وَبَأساً شَديدا
Ever since he grew up, we have never ceased to clothe
him in gentle generosity and fierce valor.
فَهُوَso he مِنthrough مَجدِناour glory يَروحُgoes at evening وَيَغدوand goes at morning
فَهُوَ مِن مَجدِنا يَروحُ وَيَغدو
فيin عُلاًheights لاnot تَبيدُperish حَتّىuntil يَبيداhe perishes
في عُلاً لا تَبيدُ حَتّى يَبيدا
So through our glory he goes, evening and morning,
in heights that will not perish until he does.
نَحنُwe أَبناءِsons of يَعرُبٍYa'rub أَعرَبُmost eloquent in Arabic الناmankind (first part)
نَحنُ أَبناءِ يَعرُبٍ أَعرَبُ النا
سِcompletes 'mankind' لِساناًin tongue وَأَنضَرُand freshest الناسِmankind عوداin stock
سِ لِساناً وَأَنضَرُ الناسِ عودا
We are the sons of Ya'rub, most eloquent among men
in tongue, and of the freshest stock among mankind.
وَكَأَنَّand as though الإِلَهَGod قَدindeed قالَsaid فيin الthe
وَكَأَنَّ الإِلَهَ قَد قالَ في ال
حَربِbattle كونواbe, all of you حِجارَةًstones أَوor حَديداiron
حَربِ كونوا حِجارَةً أَو حَديدا
And it is as though God had said in
battle: 'Be stones, or iron.'
Translation model: Sol 6.1