لَوif كانَwere يَرتَدِعُdeterred القَضاءُfate بِمَردَعٍby a deterrent
لَو كانَ يَرتَدِعُ القَضاءُ بِمَردَعٍ
أَوor يَنثَنيturned back بِمُدَجَّجٍby an armored warrior وَمُقَنَّعِand a helmeted warrior
أَو يَنثَني بِمُدَجَّجٍ وَمُقَنَّعِ
If fate could be deterred by a deterrent,
or turned back by an armored or helmeted warrior,
لَغَدَتwould have risen مُشَمِّرَةًgirded for action تَقيكَprotecting you مِنَfrom الرَدىdeath
لَغَدَت مُشَمِّرَةً تَقيكَ مِنَ الرَدى
عُصَبٌbands تَجُرُّdragging قَناspears الطِعانِof combat وَتَدَّعيand shouting battle cries
عُصَبٌ تَجُرُّ قَنا الطِعانِ وَتَدَّعي
bands would have risen, girded for action, to shield you from death,
dragging battle-spears and shouting their battle cries;
وَمُسَدِّدونَand spear-aimers أَسِنَّةًspearheads يَزَنيَّةًYazanite
وَمُسَدِّدونَ أَسِنَّةً يَزَنيَّةً
فَتَلواtwisted بِأَكعُبِهاaround their joints حِبالَcords الأَذرُعِof forearms
فَتَلوا بِأَكعُبِها حِبالَ الأَذرُعِ
and men aiming Yazanite spearheads,
their forearms' cords wound around the shafts' joints;
قَومٌmen ذُيولُهُمُtheir trailing hems الرِماحُthe spears إِذاwhen خَطواthey strode
قَومٌ ذُيولُهُمُ الرِماحُ إِذا خَطوا
رَفَعواraised بِمَسحَبِهاby their dragging غُبارَdust الأَجرَعِof bare sandy ground
رَفَعوا بِمَسحَبِها غُبارَ الأَجرَعِ
men whose trailing hems were spears, who, when they strode,
raised the sandy ground's dust with their dragging;
خَيلٌhorses تَوَقَّحُgrow hard-hooved بِالنَجيعِwith fresh blood مِنَfrom الوَجىhoof soreness
خَيلٌ تَوَقَّحُ بِالنَجيعِ مِنَ الوَجى
وَقناًand spears تَثَقَّفُare straightened بِالطُلىthrough necks وَالأَضلُعِand ribs
وَقناً تَثَقَّفُ بِالطُلى وَالأَضلُعِ
horses whose sore hooves grow hardened with fresh blood,
and spears straightened through necks and ribs;
مُتَعَلِّقينَgripping عِنانَthe reins كُلِّof every مُسَوَّمٍmarked steed
مُتَعَلِّقينَ عِنانَ كُلِّ مُسَوَّمٍ
يَشأىoutstrips عُجاجَتِهِits dust cloud بِوَقعِwith the beat الأَربَعِof all four hooves
يَشأى عُجاجَتِهِ بِوَقعِ الأَربَعِ
gripping the reins of every marked steed
that outstrips its dust cloud with the beat of all four hooves;
ذيhaving غُرَّةٍa white blaze سُبِغَتspread broadly عَليهِover it كَأَنَّهُas though it
ذي غُرَّةٍ سُبِغَت عَليهِ كَأَنَّهُ
فيهاwithin it يَمُدُّextends لِحاظَهُits sidelong gaze مِنfrom بُرقِعِa veil
فيها يَمُدُّ لِحاظَهُ مِن بُرقِعِ
with a white blaze spread over it, as though
within it, it cast its sidelong gaze from a veil;
قَعِدٌholding back عَنِfrom الغُنمِspoil القَريبِnearby المُجتَبىreadily gathered
قَعِدٌ عَنِ الغُنمِ القَريبِ المُجتَبى
سَرِعٌswift إِلىtoward الطَلبِpursuit البَعيدِdistant المَنزَعِin its reach
سَرِعٌ إِلى الطَلبِ البَعيدِ المَنزَعِ
holding back from nearby, easily gathered spoil,
swift in pursuit of a goal far beyond reach.
ياO ناشِداًseeker هَمَلَstrays المَساعيof noble endeavors نافِضاًscouring
يا ناشِداً هَمَلَ المَساعي نافِضاً
فيalong إِثرِهاtheir trail لَقَمَthe middle الطَريقِof the road المَهيَعِbroad and open
في إِثرِها لَقَمَ الطَريقِ المَهيَعِ
O seeker of the strayed deeds of glory, scouring
along their trail the middle of the broad, open road:
هَيهاتَfar from it لاno مَسعاةَnoble endeavor تَنشُدُyou seek بَعدَهاafter them
هَيهاتَ لا مَسعاةَ تَنشُدُ بَعدَها
بِظُبىwith the edges القَواضِبِof cutting swords وَالقَناand spears المُتَزَعزِعِquivering
بِظُبى القَواضِبِ وَالقَنا المُتَزَعزِعِ
alas! No noble endeavor will you seek after these
with cutting swords' edges and quivering spears.
إِنَّindeed اِبنَthe son يوسُفَof Yusuf عُرِّيَتwere stripped أَنقاضُهُhis exhausted mounts
إِنَّ اِبنَ يوسُفَ عُرِّيَت أَنقاضُهُ
وَثَوىand settled بِمَنزِلَةِin the resting-place المُكَلِّof the exhausted المُظلَعِthe lame
وَثَوى بِمَنزِلَةِ المُكَلِّ المُظلَعِ
For Ibn Yusuf's exhausted mounts have been stripped of their gear,
and he has settled where the weary and lame rest,
مُتَطامِناًbowed down مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat وَضَعَتlaid لَهُfor him
مُتَطامِناً مِن بَعدِ ما وَضَعَت لَهُ
أَيّامُهُhis days خَدَّthe cheek الذَليلِof the abased الأَضرَعِthe submissive
أَيّامُهُ خَدَّ الذَليلِ الأَضرَعِ
bowed down, after
his days had laid before him the cheek of the humbled suppliant.
أَلقىyielded بِطاعَتِهِhis obedience وَلَمّاand has not yet يَمتَنِعresisted
أَلقى بِطاعَتِهِ وَلَمّا يَمتَنِع
وَمَضىand departed لَطِيَّتِهِfor his destination وَلَمّاand has not yet يَرجِعِreturned
وَمَضى لَطِيَّتِهِ وَلَمّا يَرجِعِ
He yielded his obedience and has not resisted;
he departed for his destination and has not returned.
قَذِيَتwere irritated لَهُfor him مُقَلُthe eyes السَماحِof generosity وَقَدand indeed شَكاhe complained
قَذِيَت لَهُ مُقَلُ السَماحِ وَقَد شَكا
وَهَوَتand fell لَهُfor him قُلَلُthe summits العَلاءِof eminence وَقَدand indeed نُعيhis death was announced
وَهَوَت لَهُ قُلَلُ العَلاءِ وَقَد نُعي
Generosity's eyes were troubled when he complained;
the summits of eminence fell when his death was announced.
أَبَّنتُهُI eulogized him تَحتَbeneath الصَفائِحِthe stone slabs لَوif only يَرىhe could see
أَبَّنتُهُ تَحتَ الصَفائِحِ لَو يَرى
وَدَعَوتُهُand I called him خَلفَbehind الجَنادِلِthe boulders لَوif only يَعيhe could understand
وَدَعَوتُهُ خَلفَ الجَنادِلِ لَو يَعي
I eulogized him beneath the stone slabs—if only he could see;
I called him from behind the boulders—if only he could understand.
ماhow long لُبثُthe stay مَنof one who يُمسيcomes to be at evening مَجازاًa passage لِلرَّدىfor death
ما لُبثُ مَن يُمسي مَجازاً لِلرَّدى
وَمُعَرَّجَand a stopping-place القَدَرِfor fate المُغَذَّhastening المُسرِعِspeeding
وَمُعَرَّجَ القَدَرِ المُغَذَّ المُسرِعِ
How long can one linger who at evening is a passage for death,
and a stopping-place for hastening, speeding fate?
يَغدوbecomes at morning لِأَقدامِfor the feet الخُطوبِof calamities بِمَعثَرٍa stumbling-ground
يَغدو لِأَقدامِ الخُطوبِ بِمَعثَرٍ
وَيُرىand is seen بِمَرأىًwithin sight لِلمَنونِof death وَمَسمَعِand earshot
وَيُرى بِمَرأىً لِلمَنونِ وَمَسمَعِ
Each morning he becomes a stumbling-ground for calamities' feet,
within death's sight and earshot.
ماwhat لِلزَمانِis with time يَلَذُّit relishes طَعمَthe taste مَصائِبيof my calamities
ما لِلزَمانِ يَلَذُّ طَعمَ مَصائِبي
فَكَأَنَّهُas though it يَظماthirsts لِيَشرَبَto drink أَدمُعيmy tears
فَكَأَنَّهُ يَظما لِيَشرَبَ أَدمُعي
Why does time relish the taste of my calamities,
as though thirsting to drink my tears,
مُغرىًobsessed بِنَزعِwith plucking قَوادِميmy flight-feathers مُستَعذِباًtaking delight
مُغرىً بِنَزعِ قَوادِمي مُستَعذِباً
لِتَأَلُّميin my suffering مِنfrom صَرفِهِits vicissitudes وَتَوَجُّعيand my anguish
لِتَأَلُّمي مِن صَرفِهِ وَتَوَجُّعي
bent on plucking my flight-feathers, taking delight
in my pain at its vicissitudes and my anguish?
أَرعىgave pasture الَّذينَthose who جَنَواgathered لَهُfor it وَرَقَthe leaves الغِنىof wealth
أَرعى الَّذينَ جَنَوا لَهُ وَرَقَ الغِنى
دونيrather than me وَأَعلَكَنيand made me chew شَكيمَةَthe bit مَطمَعيof my ambition
دوني وَأَعلَكَني شَكيمَةَ مَطمَعي
It gave pasture to those who gathered for it wealth's leaves,
rather than me, and made me chew the bit of my ambition.
وَمَضىand swept away بِإِخوانِthe brothers الصَفاءِof sincerity فَلَمand did not يَدَعleave
وَمَضى بِإِخوانِ الصَفاءِ فَلَم يَدَع
مِنهُمamong them أَخاa brother ثِقَةٍof trust وَلاnor عَضُداًa supporting arm مَعيwith me
مِنهُم أَخا ثِقَةٍ وَلا عَضُداً مَعي
It swept away my true-hearted brothers, leaving
no trusted brother among them, nor a supporting arm beside me.
أَبكيكَI weep for you ياO عَبدَAbd العَزيزِal-Aziz بِخِطَّةٍamid a plight
أَبكيكَ يا عَبدَ العَزيزِ بِخِطَّةٍ
تُعميblind مَطالِعُهاits approaches وَخَطبٍand a calamity مُضلِعِcrushing
تُعمي مَطالِعُها وَخَطبٍ مُضلِعِ
I weep for you, Abd al-Aziz, amid a plight
whose approaches blind, and a crushing calamity,
وَمَقاوِمٍand crises ماnot زِلتَyou ceased تُعجِزُovercoming لَيلَهاtheir night
وَمَقاوِمٍ ما زِلتَ تُعجِزُ لَيلَها
بِلِسانِwith a tongue قَوّالٍeloquent وَقَلبِand a heart سَمَيذَعِof a noble champion
بِلِسانِ قَوّالٍ وَقَلبِ سَمَيذَعِ
and crises whose night you kept overcoming
with an eloquent tongue and a noble champion's heart.
إِنّيindeed I أَرىsee فيin المَجدِglory بَعدَكَafter you ثُلمَةًa breach
إِنّي أَرى في المَجدِ بَعدَكَ ثُلمَةً
تَبقىenduring وَخِرقاًand a tear ماnot لَهُfor it مِنany مَرقَعِpatch
تَبقى وَخِرقاً ما لَهُ مِن مَرقَعِ
I see in glory, after you, a breach
that endures, and a tear that has no patch.
مَنwho يُشرِقُmakes choke الخَصمَthe opponent الأَلَدَّmost obstinate بَريقِهِon his saliva
مَن يُشرِقُ الخَصمَ الأَلَدَّ بَريقِهِ
عَيّاًspeechless وَيَقدَعُand restrains مِنهُin him ماwhat لَمnot يُقدَعِwas restrained
عَيّاً وَيَقدَعُ مِنهُ ما لَم يُقدَعِ
Who makes the most obstinate opponent choke on his own saliva,
speechless, and restrains in him what none had restrained?
أَمor مَنwho يُبَلِّغُattains بِالبَلاغَةِthrough eloquence غايَةًa goal
أَم مَن يُبَلِّغُ بِالبَلاغَةِ غايَةً
تَلويturns back بِحَسرىexhausted طالِبينَseekers وَظُلَّعِand the lame
تَلوي بِحَسرى طالِبينَ وَظُلَّعِ
Or who attains through eloquence a goal
that turns back exhausted seekers and the lame?
أَمor مَنwho يَرُدُّturns back مِنَfrom المُغيرَةِthe raiding cavalry غَربَهاits ferocity
أَم مَن يَرُدُّ مِنَ المُغيرَةِ غَربَها
وَالخَيلُand horses تَنهَضُrise كَالقَطاlike sandgrouse بِالدُرَّعِbearing armored men
وَالخَيلُ تَنهَضُ كَالقَطا بِالدُرَّعِ
Or who blunts the ferocity of the raiding cavalry,
as horses rise like sandgrouse bearing armored men,
بِنَوافِذٍwith piercing words لِلقَولِof speech يَبلُغُreaches وَقعُهاtheir impact
بِنَوافِذٍ لِلقَولِ يَبلُغُ وَقعُها
ماwhat لَيسَis not يُبلَغُreached بِالرِماحِwith spears الشُرَّعِextended
ما لَيسَ يُبلَغُ بِالرِماحِ الشُرَّعِ
with piercing words whose impact reaches
what extended spears cannot reach?
شُهبٌmeteors تَشَعشَعَshone brightly فيamid النَوائِبِcalamities ضَوءُهاtheir light
شُهبٌ تَشَعشَعَ في النَوائِبِ ضَوءُها
كَالشَمسِlike the sun تُنغِضُlifts رَأسَهاits head لِلمَطلَعِto rise
كَالشَمسِ تُنغِضُ رَأسَها لِلمَطلَعِ
Meteors whose light blazed amid calamities,
like the sun lifting its head to rise,
حَتّىuntil يَقولَsay الغابِطونَthe envious admirers وَقَدand indeed رَأواthey saw
حَتّى يَقولَ الغابِطونَ وَقَد رَأوا
فَعَلاتِهِhis deeds زاحِمvie بِجِدٍّin earnest أَودَعِor desist
فَعَلاتِهِ زاحِم بِجِدٍّ أَودَعِ
until the envious admirers say, having seen
his deeds: 'Vie in earnest, or desist!'
وَيَوَدُّand wishes مَنwhoever حَمَلَbears الثَناpraise لَوif only أَصبَحَتbecame
وَيَوَدُّ مَن حَمَلَ الثَنا لَو أَصبَحَت
تِلكَthat الأَداةُweapon عَلىupon الكَمِيِّthe mailed warrior الأَروَعِsplendid
تِلكَ الأَداةُ عَلى الكَمِيِّ الأَروَعِ
And the bearer of praise wishes that
such a weapon might arm the splendid mailed warrior.
إِنif لاnot تَكُنyou are فيin الجَمعِthe host أَمضىmost piercing طَعنَةٍa spear-thrust
إِن لا تَكُن في الجَمعِ أَمضى طَعنَةٍ
فَلَأَنتَthen surely you أَمضىmost piercing خُطبَةٍa speech فيin المَجمَعِthe assembly
فَلَأَنتَ أَمضى خُطبَةٍ في المَجمَعِ
If yours is not the keenest thrust amid the host,
yours is surely the keenest speech in the assembly.
إِنَّindeed الفَصاحَةَeloquence ذَلَّلَتbowed لَكَto you عُنقُهاits neck
إِنَّ الفَصاحَةَ ذَلَّلَت لَكَ عُنقُها
فَأَخَذتَso you seized مِنهاfrom it بِالعِنانِthe rein الأَطوَعِmost obedient
فَأَخَذتَ مِنها بِالعِنانِ الأَطوَعِ
Eloquence bowed its neck to you,
and you seized its most obedient rein.
أَمسَتbecame ظُهورُthe backs المَجدِof glory عِندِكَat your disposal تَرتَقيyou climb
أَمسَت ظُهورُ المَجدِ عِندِكَ تَرتَقي
مِنهاfrom them إِلىto قَمَعِthe summit السَنامِof the hump الأَمنَعِmost inaccessible
مِنها إِلى قَمَعِ السَنامِ الأَمنَعِ
Glory's backs became yours to climb,
from them to the summit of the most inaccessible hump.
كَيدٌa stratagem كَمارِقَةِlike piercing النِصالِarrowheads وَدونَهُand before it
كَيدٌ كَمارِقَةِ النِصالِ وَدونَهُ
بِشرٌa smile كَبارِقَةِlike the flash النُصولِof blades اللُمَّعِgleaming
بِشرٌ كَبارِقَةِ النُصولِ اللُمَّعِ
A stratagem like arrowheads piercing through, and before it
a smile like the flash of gleaming blades.
نَهّازُquick to seize أَذنِبَةِthe trailing ends الكَلامِof speech إِذاwhen هَفاfaltered
نَهّازُ أَذنِبَةِ الكَلامِ إِذا هَفا
قَلبُthe heart الجَرِيُّof the bold speaker وَعَيَّand faltered قَولُthe speech المِصقَعِof the eloquent orator
قَلبُ الجَرِيُّ وَعَيَّ قَولُ المِصقَعِ
Quick to seize the trailing ends of speech whenever
the bold speaker's heart faltered and the great orator's speech failed.
قَدindeed قُلتُI said لِلمُتَعَرِّضينَto those challenging لِسَطوِهِhis might
قَد قُلتُ لِلمُتَعَرِّضينَ لِسَطوِهِ
خَلّواleave وِجارَthe lair الأَرقَمِof the speckled serpent المُتَطَلِّعِwatchful
خَلّوا وِجارَ الأَرقَمِ المُتَطَلِّعِ
I told those who challenged his might:
'Leave the lair of the watchful, speckled serpent!
أَيّاكُمُbeware, all of you أَنlest يَستَضيفَكُمُhosts you الدُجىthe darkness
أَيّاكُمُ أَن يَستَضيفَكُمُ الدُجى
وَمَقيلُهُand his resting-place وَمَقيلُكُمand your resting-place فيin مَوضِعِone place
وَمَقيلُهُ وَمَقيلُكُم في مَوضِعِ
Beware lest darkness play host to you
with his resting-place and yours in the same spot.
لاdo not تَتبَعواpursue شُبَهَambiguities الأُمورِof matters فَإِنَّهُfor he
لا تَتبَعوا شُبَهَ الأُمورِ فَإِنَّهُ
شَبَهٌa semblance يُتيحُbrings forth الحَقَّthe truth عِندَat المَقطَعِthe decisive point
شَبَهٌ يُتيحُ الحَقَّ عِندَ المَقطَعِ
Do not pursue dubious matters, for he is
a semblance that brings forth truth at the decisive point.'
مَنone who كانَwas ماءَwater العَينِof the eye أَصبَحَbecame رُزءُهُhis loss
مَن كانَ ماءَ العَينِ أَصبَحَ رُزءُهُ
مِثلَlike القَذاةِa mote مُلِظَّةًclinging بِالمَدمَعِto the tear duct
مِثلَ القَذاةِ مُلِظَّةً بِالمَدمَعِ
He who was the eye's own water—his loss has become
like a mote clinging to the tear duct.
وَإِذاand when تَغَيطَلَتِgrew tangled المَطالِعُthe prospects حَيرَةًin bewilderment
وَإِذا تَغَيطَلَتِ المَطالِعُ حَيرَةً
صَدَعَcleft العَمايَةَthe darkness بِالقَضاءِwith judgment المُقنِعِconvincing
صَدَعَ العَمايَةَ بِالقَضاءِ المُقنِعِ
And when the prospects grew tangled in bewilderment,
he cleft the darkness with convincing judgment.
بِأَبيmy father be ransom for مَنِthe one whom اِستَودَعتُهُI entrusted بَطنَto the belly الثَرىof the earth
بِأَبي مَنِ اِستَودَعتُهُ بَطنَ الثَرى
وَعَلِمتُand I knew كَيفَhow خِيانَةُthe betrayal المُستَودَعِof the depository
وَعَلِمتُ كَيفَ خِيانَةُ المُستَودَعِ
My father be his ransom, whom I entrusted to the belly of the earth,
knowing how treacherous that depository is!
يالَيتَwould that شِعريI knew مَنone who أَعَدَّprepared لِدَهرِهِfor his lifetime
يالَيتَ شِعري مَن أَعَدَّ لِدَهرِهِ
ماذاwhat أَعَدَّdid he prepare لِضيقِfor the narrowness هَذاof this المَضجَعِresting-place
ماذا أَعَدَّ لِضيقِ هَذا المَضجَعِ
Would that I knew: whoever prepared for his lifetime,
what did he prepare for this narrow resting-place?
لَمnot يَخلُis free مَنone whom تَرميshoot at الخُطوبُcalamities سَوادَهُhis person
لَم يَخلُ مَن تَرمي الخُطوبُ سَوادَهُ
مِنfrom واقِعٍa falling blow أَبَداًever وَمِنand from مُتَوَقَّعِan expected blow
مِن واقِعٍ أَبَداً وَمِن مُتَوَقَّعِ
He whose person is calamities' target is never free
of blows that fall and blows expected.
نَجِدُwe find الضَراعَةَabasement وَالنَقيصَةَand diminution نَزرَةًslight
نَجِدُ الضَراعَةَ وَالنَقيصَةَ نَزرَةً
إِنَّindeed القُلامَةَthe nail-paring شِكَّةٌa prick لِلأِصبَعِto the finger
إِنَّ القُلامَةَ شِكَّةٌ لِلأِصبَعِ
We count abasement and diminution a small thing;
indeed, a nail-paring is a prick to the finger.
إِنif أَقضِI discharge مَفروضَthe obligation البُكاءِof weeping عَليكُمُfor you
إِن أَقضِ مَفروضَ البُكاءِ عَليكُمُ
مُتَحَرِّجاًscrupulously يُجريmakes flow الدُموعَthe tears تَبَرُّعيmy voluntary offering
مُتَحَرِّجاً يُجري الدُموعَ تَبَرُّعي
If I discharge the prescribed duty of weeping for you,
scrupulously, my voluntary offering still makes tears flow.
فَإِلامَthen until when تَتبَعُكُمpursue you لَواعِجُburning pangs زَفرَتيof my sigh
فَإِلامَ تَتبَعُكُم لَواعِجُ زَفرَتي
وَنَوازِعٌand streams مِنof دَمعِيَmy tears المُتَسَرِّعِswiftly flowing
وَنَوازِعٌ مِن دَمعِيَ المُتَسَرِّعِ
Then how long will the burning pangs of my sigh pursue you,
and streams of my swiftly flowing tears?
هَلdo تَعلَمونَyou know عَلىdespite بِعادِthe remoteness دِيارِكُمof your dwellings
هَل تَعلَمونَ عَلى بِعادِ دِيارِكُم
أَنَّthat الغَليلَthe burning thirst عَليكُمُfor you لَمnot يُنقَعِwas quenched
أَنَّ الغَليلَ عَليكُمُ لَم يُنقَعِ
Do you know, despite the remoteness of your dwellings,
that my burning thirst for you remains unquenched?
لاdo not تَعدَمواlack مِنّيfrom me وَإِنeven if بَعُدَgrows distant المَدىthe distance
لا تَعدَموا مِنّي وَإِن بَعُدَ المَدى
نَفَسَthe breath العَميدِof the love-stricken وَأَنَّةَand the moan المُتَفَجِّعِof the bereaved
نَفَسَ العَميدِ وَأَنَّةَ المُتَفَجِّعِ
May you never lack from me, however far the distance,
the breath of one love-stricken and the moan of one bereaved.
ماwhatever شِئتُI wished مِنof دَمعٍtears لَكُمfor you مُتَحَدِّرٍcascading
ما شِئتُ مِن دَمعٍ لَكُم مُتَحَدِّرٍ
وَزَفيرِand sighs وَجدٍof grief بَعدَكُمafter you مُتَرَفِّعِrising
وَزَفيرِ وَجدٍ بَعدَكُم مُتَرَفِّعِ
All the tears I could wish stream down for you,
and sighs of grief rise up after you.
أَمسىnow became أَخٌa brother لَكَof yours لَمnot يُجارِكَcompeted with you فيin الصِباchildhood
أَمسى أَخٌ لَكَ لَم يُجارِكَ في الصِبا
طَلَقاًin a race وَلاnor ساقاكَshared drink with you دَرَّthe flowing milk المُرضِعِof the wet nurse
طَلَقاً وَلا ساقاكَ دَرَّ المُرضِعِ
Now a brother of yours, who never competed with you in childhood,
in a race, nor shared a wet nurse's flowing milk with you,
فيin صَدرِهِhis breast أَرَةٌa fire عَليكَfor you مِنَof الجَوىgrief
في صَدرِهِ أَرَةٌ عَليكَ مِنَ الجَوى
تُذكىis kindled بِأَنفاسِby the breaths المُعَنّىof the tormented الموجَعِthe pained
تُذكى بِأَنفاسِ المُعَنّى الموجَعِ
bears in his breast a fire of grief for you,
kindled by the breaths of one tormented and in pain.
رُزءٌa loss تَخَضخَضَstirred violently سَهمُهُits arrow فيin مَقتَليmy vital spot
رُزءٌ تَخَضخَضَ سَهمُهُ في مَقتَلي
يَمضيpasses الزَمانُtime وَنَصلُهُand its arrowhead لَمnot يُنزَعِwas removed
يَمضي الزَمانُ وَنَصلُهُ لَم يُنزَعِ
A loss whose arrow has twisted within my vital spot—
time passes, and its point has not been withdrawn.
نَضَحَmay drench الثَرىthe soil ذوwhich أَنتَyou فيهِin it مُجَلجِلٌare entombed
نَضَحَ الثَرى ذو أَنتَ فيهِ مُجَلجِلٌ
يَستَخلِفُrenews الأَكلاءَthe pastures بَعفَafter (probable reading) المَقلَعِthe withdrawal
يَستَخلِفُ الأَكلاءَ بَعفَ المَقلَعِ
May a cloud drench the soil in which you lie entombed,
renewing the pasture after it has withdrawn;
هَزِجُmusical الرُعودِwith thunder لَهُit has بِكُلِّat every ثَنيَّةٍmountain pass
هَزِجُ الرُعودِ لَهُ بِكُلِّ ثَنيَّةٍ
زَجَلٌa rumble كَشَقشَقَةِlike the throaty roar الفَنيقِof the stallion camel الموضِعِswift-moving
زَجَلٌ كَشَقشَقَةِ الفَنيقِ الموضِعِ
musical with thunder, with at every mountain pass
a rumble like the throaty roar of a speeding stallion camel;
لَثِقُmuddy المُناخِits resting-place ثَقيلَةٌheavy أَوراكُهُits haunches
لَثِقُ المُناخِ ثَقيلَةٌ أَوراكُهُ
حَضِرُgreen المَجَرُّits track مُرَوَّضٌmaking meadows بِالبَلقَعِin the wasteland
حَضِرُ المَجَرُّ مُرَوَّضٌ بِالبَلقَعِ
muddy where it settles, its haunches heavy,
green along its track, making meadows of the wasteland,
حَتّىuntil تَرىyou see نَزعَthe bare crowns الرُبىof the hills مِنfrom نورِهِits blossoms
حَتّى تَرى نَزعَ الرُبى مِن نورِهِ
غَمَماًthickly tufted يَرِفُّfluttering عَلىover خَصيبٍfertile ground مُمرِعِlush
غَمَماً يَرِفُّ عَلى خَصيبٍ مُمرِعِ
until you see the hills' bare crowns, through its blossoms,
thickly tufted, waving over fertile, lush ground.
وَمَتىand whenever يَكُنthere is فيهِin it سَقاكَits watering you نَقيصَةًa shortfall
وَمَتى يَكُن فيهِ سَقاكَ نَقيصَةً
أَبَدَthrough all الزَمانِtime تَمَمتَهاI complete it (probable reading) بِالأَدمُعِwith tears
أَبَدَ الزَمانِ تَمَمتَها بِالأَدمُعِ
And whenever its watering you falls short,
through all time, I shall make it up with tears.
نُثنيwe praise عَليكَyou ثَناءَwith the praise راعيof a keeper هَجمَةٍof a large camel herd
نُثني عَليكَ ثَناءَ راعي هَجمَةٍ
بَعدَafter الجُدوبِdroughts عَلىupon الغَمامِthe cloud المُقلِعِdeparting
بَعدَ الجُدوبِ عَلى الغَمامِ المُقلِعِ
We praise you with the praise a keeper of many camels gives,
after drought, to the cloud as it departs.
وَنَقولُand we say فيكَof you وَلَوeven if سَكَتناwe fell silent قاsa- (part of 'said')
وَنَقولُ فيكَ وَلَو سَكَتنا قا
لَتِ-id (completes 'said') الأَيّامُthe days أَكثَرَmore than ماwhat نَقولُwe say وَنَدَّعيand claim
لَتِ الأَيّامُ أَكثَرَ ما نَقولُ وَنَدَّعي
And we speak of you; even if we fell silent,
the days would say more than we say and claim.
وَلَقَand indeed (text incomplete) تَجافيhas risen clear المَجدُglory عَنfrom ثَفِناتِهِits knee-calluses
وَلَقَ تَجافي المَجدُ عَن ثَفِناتِهِ
قَلِقاًrestless عَليكَover you فَماso not يَقَرُّit settles بِمَربَعِin a pasture
قَلِقاً عَليكَ فَما يَقَرُّ بِمَربَعِ
And indeed, glory has risen from its calloused knees,
restless over you, unable to settle in any pasture.
نَقَصَتdiminished أَداةُinstruments الفَضلِof excellence بَعدَكَafter you كُلُّهاall of them
نَقَصَت أَداةُ الفَضلِ بَعدَكَ كُلُّها
فَوَعىso it hears بِمُصطَلَمٍwith a severed ear وَشَمَّand smells بِأَجدَعِwith a cut-off nose
فَوَعى بِمُصطَلَمٍ وَشَمَّ بِأَجدَعِ
All excellence's instruments were diminished after you,
so it hears with an amputated ear and smells with a severed nose.
فَاِذهَبgo then رَعاكَmay guard you اللَهُGod غَيرَnot مُضَيَّعٍneglected
فَاِذهَب رَعاكَ اللَهُ غَيرَ مُضَيَّعٍ
وَسَقىand may water ثَراكَyour earth المُزنُrainclouds غَيرَnot مُرَوَّعِterrified
وَسَقى ثَراكَ المُزنُ غَيرَ مُرَوَّعِ
Go, then—may God guard you, never neglected,
and may rainclouds water your earth, with you unafraid.
فَالقَلبُso the heart لِلشانينَbelongs to detractors إِنif لَمnot يَكتَئِبit grieves
فَالقَلبُ لِلشانينَ إِن لَم يَكتَئِب
وَالجَفنُand the eyelid لِلأَعداءِbelongs to enemies إِنif لَمnot يَدمَعِit weeps
وَالجَفنُ لِلأَعداءِ إِن لَم يَدمَعِ
The heart belongs to your detractors if it does not grieve,
and the eyelid to your enemies if it does not weep.
Translation model: Sol 6.1