نَبَّهتُهُمI roused them مِثلَlike عَواليthe tips of الرِماحthe spears
نَبَّهتُهُم مِثلَ عَوالي الرِماح
إِلىto الوَغىbattle قَبلَbefore نُمومِthe revealing of الصَباحdawn
إِلى الوَغى قَبلَ نُمومِ الصَباح
I roused them, like the tips of spears,
I roused them like the towering peaks of spears
to battle before dawn disclosed itself—
To battle, before the drowsiness of dawn.
فَوارِسٌhorsemen نالواwon المُنىwishes بِالقَناwith lances
فَوارِسٌ نالوا المُنى بِالقَنا
وَصافَحواand clasped أَعراضَهُمtheir honor بِالصِفاحwith broad blades
وَصافَحوا أَعراضَهُم بِالصِفاح
horsemen who won their wishes with lances
So horsemen attained their wish with the spears
and clasped their honor with broad blades—
And resolved their honor with reconciliation.
لِغارَةٍfor a raid سامِعُthe hearer of أَنبائِهاits tidings
لِغارَةٍ سامِعُ أَنبائِها
يَغَصَّchokes فيهاin it بِالزَلالِon clear water القَراحpure
يَغَصَّ فيها بِالزَلالِ القَراح
for a raid whose tidings make their hearer
For a raid, the hearer of its news
choke even on clear, pure water.
Would choke with thirst in its scorching heat.
لَيسَthere is not عَلىupon مُضرِمِهاits kindler سُبَّةٌdisgrace
لَيسَ عَلى مُضرِمِها سُبَّةٌ
وَلاnor عَلىupon المُجلِبِthe plunder-bringer مِنهاfrom it جُناحblame
وَلا عَلى المُجلِبِ مِنها جُناح
No disgrace falls on the one who kindles it,
No disgrace is upon its kindler,
nor blame on the one who brings back its plunder.
Nor sin upon its bringer.
دونَكُمُhere before you فَاِبتَدِرواso hasten to غُنمَهاits spoils
دونَكُمُ فَاِبتَدِروا غُنمَها
دُمىًdoll-like beauties مُباحاتٍfree for the taking وَمالٌand wealth مُباحfree for the taking
دُمىً مُباحاتٍ وَمالٌ مُباح
There it is before you—hasten to its spoils:
It's up to you, so seize its booty -
doll-like beauties free for the taking, and wealth free for the taking.
Blood to be shed freely and wealth freely taken.
فَإِنَّناfor indeed we فيin أَرضِthe land of أَعدائِناour enemies
فَإِنَّنا في أَرضِ أَعدائِنا
لاnot نَطَأُwe bed العَذراءَthe virgin إِلّاexcept سَفاحillicit intercourse
لا نَطَأُ العَذراءَ إِلّا سَفاح
For in our enemies' land,
We are indeed in the land of our enemies;
we bed no virgin save in illicit intercourse.
We do not tread the sacrosanct save as violators.
ياO نَفسُsoul مِنfrom هَمِّcare إِلىto هِمَّةٍhigh resolve
يا نَفسُ مِن هَمِّ إِلى هِمَّةٍ
فَلَيسَfor there is no مِنfrom عِبءِthe burden of الأَذىhurt مُستَراحrespite
فَلَيسَ مِن عِبءِ الأَذى مُستَراح
O soul, from care to high resolve!
O soul, from anxiety to resolve,
There is no respite from the burden of hurt.
For the burden of harm has no comfort.
قَدalready آنَthe time has come لِلقَلبِfor the heart الَّذيwhich كَدَّهُwearied it
قَد آنَ لِلقَلبِ الَّذي كَدَّهُ
طولُthe length of مُناجاةِintimate converse with المُنىwishes أَنto يُراحbe eased
طولُ مُناجاةِ المُنى أَن يُراح
The time has come for the heart worn out
The time has come for the heart wearied
by long whispered converse with wishes to be eased.
By long pining for wishes to find rest.
لاno بُدَّescape أَنthat أَركَبَهاI ride her صَعبَةًunruly
لا بُدَّ أَن أَركَبَها صَعبَةً
وَقاحَةًunyielding تَحتَbeneath غُلامٍa youth وَقاحunyielding
وَقاحَةً تَحتَ غُلامٍ وَقاح
I must ride her, unruly,
I must mount it, arduous, insolent,
unyielding beneath an unyielding youth,
Under an insolent brave youth.
يُجهِدُهاhe strains her أَوor يَنثَنيturns back بِالرَدىwith death
يُجهِدُها أَو يَنثَني بِالرَدى
دونَshort of الَّذيwhat قُدِّرَwas set أَوor بِالنَجاحwith success
دونَ الَّذي قُدِّرَ أَو بِالنَجاح
who drives her hard, or turns back in death,
He exerts it, or folds with loss,
short of the appointed goal—or with success.
Other than what was destined or gains success.
الراحُwine وَالراحَةُand ease ذُلُّthe abasement of الفَتىthe young man
الراحُ وَالراحَةُ ذُلُّ الفَتى
وَالعِزُّand glory فيin شُربِdrinking ضَريبِthe mingled milk of اللَقاحmilch camels
وَالعِزُّ في شُربِ ضَريبِ اللَقاح
Wine and ease are a young man's abasement,
Rest and comfort are the humiliation of a man,
while glory lies in drinking milch-camels' mingled milk,
And honor lies in drinking the draft of settled life.
فيin حَيثُwhere لاno حُكمٌauthority لِغَيرِfor other than القَناlances
في حَيثُ لا حُكمٌ لِغَيرِ القَنا
وَلاnor مُطاعٌone obeyed غَيرَother than داعيthe caller to الكِفاحcombat
وَلا مُطاعٌ غَيرَ داعي الكِفاح
where no authority belongs to anything but lances,
Where the spears judge, none else,
and none is obeyed but the caller to combat.
And none heeded but the caller to struggle.
ماhow أَطيَبَsweet الأَمرَthe undertaking وَلَوand even if أَنَّهُthat it
ما أَطيَبَ الأَمرَ وَلَو أَنَّهُ
عَلىat the cost of رَزاياlosses of نَعَمٍlivestock فيin مَراحa fold
عَلى رَزايا نَعَمٍ في مَراح
How sweet the undertaking, even if it comes
How good is the matter even if
at the cost of losses of livestock in their fold!
Upon cushions of bliss in places of rest!
وَأَشعَثِand a disheveled man المَفرِقِat the hair-parting ذيpossessing هِمَّةٍhigh resolve
وَأَشعَثِ المَفرِقِ ذي هِمَّةٍ
طَوَّحَهُflung him الهَمُّcare بَعيداًfar away فَطاحso he wandered
طَوَّحَهُ الهَمُّ بَعيداً فَطاح
And many a tousle-haired man of high resolve—
And the disheveled passionate one whom anxiety
care cast him far afield, and he wandered.
Has bent with sorrow and caused to fall.
لَمّاwhen رَأىhe saw الصَبرَpatience مُضِرّاًharmful بِهِto him
لَمّا رَأى الصَبرَ مُضِرّاً بِهِ
راحَhe departed وَمَنand whoever لَمdid not يُطِقِhave strength to endure الذُلَّabasement راحdeparted
راحَ وَمَن لَم يُطِقِ الذُلَّ راح
When he saw that patience did him harm,
When he saw patience doing him harm,
he departed; whoever cannot endure abasement departs,
He found rest, and whoever cannot bear humiliation finds rest.
دَفعاًrepelling بِصَدرِwith the forepart of السَيفِthe sword لَمّاwhen رَأىhe saw
دَفعاً بِصَدرِ السَيفِ لَمّا رَأى
أَلّاnot to يَرُدَّrepel الضَيمَoppression دَفعاًa push بِراحwith a palm
أَلّا يَرُدَّ الضَيمَ دَفعاً بِراح
repelling it with the forepart of his sword, once he saw
Repelling with the chest of the sword when he saw
that a push of the palm could not repel oppression.
That harm is not repelled with rest.
مَتىwhen أَرىshall I see الزَوراءَal-Zawra مُرتَجَّةًshaken
مَتى أَرى الزَوراءَ مُرتَجَّةً
تُمطَرُrained upon بِالبيضِwith bright swords الظُبىsword-edges أَوor تُراحgiven respite
تُمطَرُ بِالبيضِ الظُبى أَو تُراح
When shall I see al-Zawra shaken,
When will I see the plain shook
rained upon with bright sword-edges—or given respite?
With a stallion the neighs of whose grief are tumultuous?
يَصيحُcries out فيهاwithin it المَوتُdeath عَنthrough أَلسُنٍtongues
يَصيحُ فيها المَوتُ عَن أَلسُنٍ
مِنَof العَواليspearpoints وَالمَواضيand keen swords فِصاحeloquent
مِنَ العَوالي وَالمَواضي فِصاح
Death cries out within it through tongues
When will I see the people who at dawn
of spearpoints and keen swords, eloquent.
Were greeted with a piercing stab?
بِكُلِّwith every رَوعاءَimposing mount عُظَينِيَّةٍof 'Uzayniyyah stock
بِكُلِّ رَوعاءَ عُظَينِيَّةٍ
يَحتَثُّهاhe urges her on أَروَعُan imposing rider شاكيfully equipped with السِلاحweapons
يَحتَثُّها أَروَعُ شاكي السِلاح
With every imposing 'Uzayniyyah mount,
The fugitive in his cover
urged on by an imposing, fully armed rider,
Frightened, watches for the fall of wounds.
كَأَنَّماas though يَنظُرُhe sees مِنfrom ظِلِّهاher shadow
كَأَنَّما يَنظُرُ مِن ظِلِّها
نَعامَةًan ostrich زَيّافَةًstrutting بِالجَناحwith its wing
نَعامَةً زَيّافَةً بِالجَناح
as though he sees, within her shadow,
When will I see the bright swords that have poured
an ostrich strutting with fluttering wings.
A torrent of blood overcoming the torrent of gore?
مَتىwhen أَرىshall I see الأَرضَthe earth وَقَدand already زُلزِلَتwas shaken
مَتى أَرى الأَرضَ وَقَد زُلزِلَت
بِعارِضٍby a storm-cloud أَغبَرَdust-gray داميbleeding at النُواحthe flanks
بِعارِضٍ أَغبَرَ دامي النُواح
When shall I see the earth shaken
When will I see the shining sword bloodstained
by a dust-gray storm-cloud, bloodied on its flanks?
From every polished, long spear?
مَتىwhen أَرىshall I see الناسَthe people وَقَدand already صُبِّحواwere attacked at dawn
مَتى أَرى الناسَ وَقَد صُبِّحوا
أَوائِلَat the beginning of اليَومِthe day بِطَعنٍwith spear-thrusts صُراحundisguised
أَوائِلَ اليَومِ بِطَعنٍ صُراح
When shall I see the people attacked at dawn,
Smeared at its base from the grief of dawn
at day's outset, with undisguised spear-thrusts?
As if it were the virgin in her veil.
يَلتَفِتُlooks back الهارِبُthe fugitive فيin عِطفِهِhis side
يَلتَفِتُ الهارِبُ في عِطفِهِ
مُرَوَّعاًterrified يَرقُبُwatching for وَقعَthe impact of الجِراحwounds
مُرَوَّعاً يَرقُبُ وَقعَ الجِراح
The fugitive twists to look behind him,
When the tumult of fright came upon it
terrified, watching for wounds to strike.
It fled to the gathering of its scabbards.
مَتىwhen أَرىshall I see البيضَthe bright swords وَقَدand already أَمطَرَتrained down
مَتى أَرى البيضَ وَقَد أَمطَرَت
سَيلَa torrent of دَمٍblood يَغلِبُsurpasses سَيلَthe torrent of البِطاحbroad valley-floors
سَيلَ دَمٍ يَغلِبُ سَيلَ البِطاح
When shall I see the bright blades rain down
A people who accepted weakness and substituted
a torrent of blood surpassing the floods of the valleys?
For the sword the cup of drink to redden their hands.
مَتّىwhen أَرىshall I see البَيضَةَthe helmet مَصدوعَةًsplit open
مَتّى أَرى البَيضَةَ مَصدوعَةً
عَنrevealing كُلِّevery نَشوانَdrunkard طَويلِlong in المِراحrevelry
عَن كُلِّ نَشوانَ طَويلِ المِراح
When shall I see the helmet split open
They inherited rule even if they begot
to expose every drunkard given to endless revelry,
It would inherit from the stabbing of spears.
مُضَمَّخِperfume-soaked at الجيدِthe neck نَؤومِsleeping long into الضُحىthe forenoon
مُضَمَّخِ الجيدِ نَؤومِ الضُحى
كَأَنَّهُas though he were العَذراءُthe virgin ذاتُwearing الوِشاحthe sash
كَأَنَّهُ العَذراءُ ذاتُ الوِشاح
his neck drenched in perfume, sleeping late into the morning,
The veil of glory covered their defects
as though he were a virgin wearing a sash?
So they were exposed by humiliation - what an exposing!
إِذاwhen رَداحُa heavy calamity الرَوعِof terror عَنَّتpresented itself لَهُto him
إِذا رَداحُ الرَوعِ عَنَّت لَهُ
فَرَّhe fled إِلىto ضَمِّembracing الكِعابِbuxom maidens الرَداحample-hipped
فَرَّ إِلى ضَمِّ الكِعابِ الرَداح
When a heavy terror looms before him,
I and the critic of my honor are as one
he flees to embrace buxom, ample-hipped maidens.
Who frightened the lions of evil with barking.
قَومٌa people رَضواwere content بِالعَجزِwith helplessness وَاِستَبدَلواand exchanged
قَومٌ رَضوا بِالعَجزِ وَاِستَبدَلوا
بِالسَيفِinstead of the sword يَدمىbleeds غَربُهُits edge كاسَa cup of راحwine
بِالسَيفِ يَدمى غَربُهُ كاسَ راح
A people who accepted helplessness and traded
He seeks my company while being certain
the sword whose edge bleeds for a cup of wine.
That my rein is in the right hand of clouds.
تَوارَثواthey inherited successively المُلكَkingship وَلَوand if أَنجَبواthey proved noble
تَوارَثوا المُلكَ وَلَو أَنجَبوا
لَوَرَّثوهُthey would have bequeathed it عَنthrough طِعانِthrusts of الرِماحspears
لَوَرَّثوهُ عَن طِعانِ الرِماح
They inherited kingship; had they shown nobility,
So set your eyes, gazing, you will see
they would have bequeathed it through thrusts of spears.
My dust in the eyes of the calumniators.
غَطّىcovered رِداءُthe mantle of العِزِّglory عَوراتِهِمtheir nakedness
غَطّى رِداءُ العِزِّ عَوراتِهِم
فَاِفتُضِحواso they were disgraced بِالذُلِّby abasement أَيَّwhat an اِفتِضاحexposure
فَاِفتُضِحوا بِالذُلِّ أَيَّ اِفتِضاح
Glory's mantle covered their nakedness,
And be easy about your side, never
then humiliation exposed them—what an exposure!
Will the towering mountain be shaken by the passing wind.
إِنِّيَindeed I وَالشاتِمَand the reviler of عِرضيmy honor كَمَنlike one who
إِنِّيَ وَالشاتِمَ عِرضي كَمَن
رَوَّعَfrightened آسادَthe lions of الشَرىal-Shara بِالنُباحwith barking
رَوَّعَ آسادَ الشَرى بِالنُباح
Indeed, he who reviles my honor is to me like one
My heart never aspired to ascendence
who tries to frighten the lions of al-Shara with barking.
Nor extended my hands in supplication.
يَطلُبُseeks شَأويmy reach وَهوَwhile he مُستَيقِنٌis certain
يَطلُبُ شَأوي وَهوَ مُستَيقِنٌ
أَنَّthat عِنانيmy rein فيin يَمينِthe right hand of الجِماحunbridled defiance
أَنَّ عِناني في يَمينِ الجِماح
He strives to match my reach, though certain
If I do not attain it by stipulating as
that my rein is in the right hand of unbridled defiance.
I wish over the eggs of ostriches and proposing.
فَاِرمِso cast بِعَينَيكَwith your two eyes مَلِيّاًfor a long while تَرىyou will see
فَاِرمِ بِعَينَيكَ مَلِيّاً تَرى
وَقعَthe falling of غُباريmy dust فيinto عُيونِthe eyes of الطِلاحspent mounts
وَقعَ غُباري في عُيونِ الطِلاح
Then cast your eyes long and hard; you will see
I profit from it with the choicest
my dust falling into the eyes of spent mounts.
That satisfies hopes, gaining and ease.
وَاِرقَand climb عَلىdespite ظَلعِكَyour limp هَيهاتَhow far-fetched أَنthat
وَاِرقَ عَلى ظَلعِكَ هَيهاتَ أَن
يُزَعزَعَbe shaken الطَودُthe towering mountain بِمَرِّby the passing of الرِياحthe winds
يُزَعزَعَ الطَودُ بِمَرِّ الرِياح
And climb despite your limp! It is impossible for
So what keeps me from a range
the towering mountain to be shaken by passing winds.
Not of lineage or begetting?
لاmay never هَمَّaspire قَلبيmy heart بِرُكوبِto scaling العُلىthe heights
لا هَمَّ قَلبي بِرُكوبِ العُلى
يَوماًever وَلاnor بَلَّmoisten يَدَيَّmy two hands السَماحgenerosity
يَوماً وَلا بَلَّ يَدَيَّ السَماح
May my heart never aspire to scale the heights,
A charlatan extending with his ribs
nor generosity ever moisten my hands,
And deceiving the people until they were duped.
إِنif لَمnot أَنَلهاI attain them بِاِشتِراطٍon stipulated terms كَماas
إِن لَم أَنَلها بِاِشتِراطٍ كَما
شِئتُI wish عَلىupon بيضِbright الظُبىsword-edges وَاِقتِراحand free choice
شِئتُ عَلى بيضِ الظُبى وَاِقتِراح
if I do not win them on my own terms, as
One without glory aspires
I wish, upon bright sword-edges and by my own choosing.
When I am excused by the aspirants.
أَفوزُI win مِنهاfrom them بِاللُبابِthe essence الَّذيwhich
أَفوزُ مِنها بِاللُبابِ الَّذي
يُغنيsatisfies الأَمانيwishes نَيلُهُits attainment وَالصُراحand the unalloyed substance
يُغني الأَماني نَيلُهُ وَالصُراح
I win from them the essence whose
And a scheme the loss mocks,
attainment satisfies every wish—and their unalloyed substance.
Difficult, clearing the people like the cups pass around.
فَماthen what الَّذيthat which يُقعِدُنيholds me back عَنfrom مَدىًa goal
فَما الَّذي يُقعِدُني عَن مَدىً
لاnot هُوَit بِالنَسلِa matter of offspring وَلاnor بِاللِقاحa matter of impregnation
لا هُوَ بِالنَسلِ وَلا بِاللِقاح
What, then, keeps me from a goal
I endured myself during its horrors
that is no matter of offspring or breeding?
And said for its stupidity, no comfort.
طُلَيحَةٌTulayha مَدَّstretched out بِأَضباعِهِwith his upper arms
طُلَيحَةٌ مَدَّ بِأَضباعِهِ
وَغَرَّand deceived قَبليbefore me الناسَthe people حَتّىeven سَجاحSajah
وَغَرَّ قَبلي الناسَ حَتّى سَجاح
Tulayha stretched out his arms,
Either a man who attained ascendence and recovered
and deceived people before me—even Sajah did.
Or a hero who tasted loss and found rest.
يَطمَحُaspires مَنone who لاno مَجدَglory يَسموrises بِهِthrough it
يَطمَحُ مَن لا مَجدَ يَسمو بِهِ
إِنّيindeed I إِذاthen أُعذَرُam excused عِندَwhen الطَماحaspiring
إِنّي إِذا أُعذَرُ عِندَ الطَماح
One with no glory to raise him still aspires;
surely, then, I am excused for aspiring.
وَخِطَّةٍand many a venture يَضحَكُlaughs مِنهاat it الرَدىdeath
وَخِطَّةٍ يَضحَكُ مِنها الرَدى
عَسراءَharsh تَبريwhittles القَومَthe men بَريَthe whittling of القِداحarrow-shafts
عَسراءَ تَبري القَومَ بَريَ القِداح
And many a venture at which death laughs,
a harsh one that whittles men like arrow-shafts—
صَبَرتُI held steadfast نَفسيmy soul عِندَamid أَهوالِهاits terrors
صَبَرتُ نَفسي عِندَ أَهوالِها
وَقُلتُand I said مِنfrom هَبوَتِهاits dust-cloud لاno بَراحdeparture
وَقُلتُ مِن هَبوَتِها لا بَراح
I held my soul firm amid its terrors,
and said from within its dust-cloud: 'No retreat!'
إِمّاeither فَتىًa youth نالَattained العُلىthe heights فَاِشتَفىand found healing
إِمّا فَتىً نالَ العُلى فَاِشتَفى
أَوor بَطَلٌa hero ذاقَtasted الرَدىdeath فَاِستَراحand found rest
أَو بَطَلٌ ذاقَ الرَدى فَاِستَراح
Either a youth who wins the heights and finds healing,
or a hero who tastes death and finds rest.
Partial English translation: 78 of 86 Arabic lines translated.