تَواعَدَagreed together ذاthis الخَليطُcompany لِأَنin order to يَبيناdepart
تَواعَدَ ذا الخَليطُ لِأَن يَبينا
وَزايَلَناand parted from us القَطينُthe camp-dwellers فَلاso no قَطيناcamp-dwellers
وَزايَلَنا القَطينُ فَلا قَطينا
This company agreed together to depart,
The mixed-breed stallion promised us he would make clear,
and the camp-dwellers left us; no dwellers remain.
And the two cats left us, so we have no cats.
وَإِنّيand I وَالمَواعِدُwhile the promises كاذِباتٌfalse
وَإِنّي وَالمَواعِدُ كاذِباتٌ
لَيُطمِعُناsurely gives us hope خِلابُthe beguilement الواعِديناof the promise-makers
لَيُطمِعُنا خِلابُ الواعِدينا
And I, though the promises are false,
I and the promises are liars,
still share the hope raised in us by the promisers' blandishments.
That the charms of the promisers may delude us.
نُعَنّىwe are tormented بِالمِطالِby delay مِنَfrom الغَوانيthe beauties
نُعَنّى بِالمِطالِ مِنَ الغَواني
وَهانَand mattered little عَلىto المَواطِلِthe procrastinating women ماwhat لَقيناwe suffered
وَهانَ عَلى المَواطِلِ ما لَقينا
We are tormented by the beauties' delays,
We are bothered by the expectations of the youths,
and our suffering matters little to those who put us off.
And what we found became easy for the procrastinators.
وَنَظمَأُand we thirst وَالمَوارِدُwhile the watering places مُعرِضاتٌturning away
وَنَظمَأُ وَالمَوارِدُ مُعرِضاتٌ
فَنَرجِعُso we return بِالغَليلِwith burning thirst وَماand not سُقيناwe were given drink
فَنَرجِعُ بِالغَليلِ وَما سُقينا
We thirst while the watering places turn away,
And we become thirsty while the springs are unresponsive,
so we return with burning thirst, having been given no drink.
So we return frustrated, still thirsty.
لَهُنَّfor them اللَهُGod كَيفَhow أَصَبنَthey struck مِنّاfrom us
لَهُنَّ اللَهُ كَيفَ أَصَبنَ مِنّا
نُفوساًsouls ماnot عُقِلنَwere paid for in blood-money وَماand not وُديناwe were paid blood-money
نُفوساً ما عُقِلنَ وَما وُدينا
God bless them! How they claimed from us
May Allah curse them, how they got from us,
souls for which no blood-price was paid, nor were we compensated!
Souls that were not rational, and were not friendly.
لَقينَthey met قُلوبَناour hearts بِجُنودِwith armies حَربٍof war
لَقينَ قُلوبَنا بِجُنودِ حَربٍ
تَطاعَنُthrusting at one another بِالدَمالِجِwith armlets وَالبُريناand rings
تَطاعَنُ بِالدَمالِجِ وَالبُرينا
They met our hearts with armies of war,
They met our hearts with armies of war,
thrusting at one another with armlets and rings.
That stab with thin swords and lances.
جَلَونَthey displayed لَناto us لَآلِىءَpearls واضِحاتٍbright
جَلَونَ لَنا لَآلِىءَ واضِحاتٍ
أَضَأنَthey illuminated بِهاwith them الذَوائِبَthe tresses وَالقُروناand braids
أَضَأنَ بِها الذَوائِبَ وَالقُرونا
They displayed bright pearls to us,
They displayed to us shining pearls,
lighting with them their tresses and braided locks.
With which they illuminated the armbands and the anklets.
عَهِدناwe knew الدُرَّpearls مَسكِنُهُits dwelling أَجاجٌbriny water
عَهِدنا الدُرَّ مَسكِنُهُ أَجاجٌ
فَكَيفَso how تَبَدَّلَexchanged for الثَغبَthe rock-pool المَعيناclear-flowing
فَكَيفَ تَبَدَّلَ الثَغبَ المَعينا
We knew the pearl's dwelling to be briny water;
We knew musk to inhabit only the jujube,
how then did it exchange that for a clear-flowing rock-pool?
So how did the rags change into perfume?
جُنونَO frenzy المُرشِقاتِof the women archers غَداةَon the morning of جَمعٍJam'
جُنونَ المُرشِقاتِ غَداةَ جَمعٍ
بِأَقتَلَby anything deadlier مِنthan نِبالِكَyour arrows ماnot رُميناwe were shot
بِأَقتَلَ مِن نِبالِكَ ما رُمينا
O frenzy of the women archers on the morning at Jam',
The madness of the dawn after gathering,
we were never struck by anything deadlier than your arrows.
With what is more deadly than your arrows that we shot.
وَلَمand not نَرَwe have seen كَالعُيونِlike the eyes ظُبىedges سُيوفٍof swords
وَلَم نَرَ كَالعُيونِ ظُبى سُيوفٍ
أَرَقنَthey shed دَماًblood وَماand not رُمنَthey left الجُفوناthe eyelids/sheaths
أَرَقنَ دَماً وَما رُمنَ الجُفونا
We have never seen sword-edges like those eyes:
And we did not see eyes shedding tears like swords
they shed blood without leaving their sheaths.
That shed blood, while the eyelids were not weeping.
عَوائِدُrecurrences مِنof تَذَكُّرِremembering آلِthe people of لَيلىLayla
عَوائِدُ مِن تَذَكُّرِ آلِ لَيلى
كَأَنَّas though لَهاfor them عَلىagainst my heart قَلبيdebts upon it would be owed دُيوناdebts
كَأَنَّ لَها عَلى قَلبي دُيونا
Recurrent memories of Layla's people,
Thoughts of the nights of Layla that return to me,
as though they held debts against my heart.
As if they have debts upon my heart.
أُكاتِمُهاI conceal them فَفيso within الأَحشاءِthe inward parts مِنهاfrom them
أُكاتِمُها فَفي الأَحشاءِ مِنها
مَضيضٌa biting ache بَعدَماafter بَلَغَit reached الحَنيناa plaintive moan
مَضيضٌ بَعدَما بَلَغَ الحَنينا
I keep them hidden, but from them within my breast
I conceal them, so within my soul,
comes a biting ache, after it has reached a plaintive moan.
There remains after the yearning has reached its peak.
فَياso O حاديdriver السِنينَof the years قِفِhalt المَطاياthe mounts
فَيا حادي السِنينَ قِفِ المَطايا
فَهُنَّfor they عَلىon طَريقِthe road to الأَربَعيناforty
فَهُنَّ عَلى طَريقِ الأَربَعينا
O driver of the years, halt the mounts,
So O you who lead the years, stop the camels,
for they are on the road to forty.
For they are on the path of forty.
وَإِنَّand indeed الرَأسَthe head بَعدَكَsince you left صَوَّحَتهُwithered it
وَإِنَّ الرَأسَ بَعدَكَ صَوَّحَتهُ
بَوارِحُscorching winds شَيبَةٍof gray hair فَغَداso it became جَبيناa forehead
بَوارِحُ شَيبَةٍ فَغَدا جَبينا
And my head, since you left, has been withered
And after you, the head which old age disheveled
by the scorching winds of grayness, until it became a bare forehead.
With parts of white hair has become wrinkled.
وَكانَand was سَوادُهُits blackness عيدَa festival for الغَوانيthe beauties
وَكانَ سَوادُهُ عيدَ الغَواني
يُعِدنَthey return إِلىto مَطالِعِهِits rising places العُيوناthe eyes
يُعِدنَ إِلى مَطالِعِهِ العُيونا
Its blackness once was a festival for the beauties;
Its blackness was the feast of the youths,
they kept returning their eyes to its rising places.
Returning the gazes to their horizons.
أُتاجِرُهاI trade with them فَأَربَحُso I profit فيin التَصابيyouthful dalliance
أُتاجِرُها فَأَربَحُ في التَصابي
وَبَعضُand some القَومِof the people يَحسَبُنيconsider me غَبيناcheated
وَبَعضُ القَومِ يَحسَبُني غَبينا
I trade with them, profiting in youthful dalliance,
I joke with them, and I profit from the tryst,
though some people think me cheated.
And some people reckon me stupid.
أَهانَdebased الشَيبُgray hair ماwhat أَعزَزنَthey cherished مِنهُof it
أَهانَ الشَيبُ ما أَعزَزنَ مِنهُ
وَعَزَّand was painful عَلىfor العَقائِلِthe noble women أَنthat يَهوناit be debased
وَعَزَّ عَلى العَقائِلِ أَن يَهونا
Gray hair debased what they had cherished of it,
Old age has degraded what dignified it,
and it pained the noble women that it should be debased.
And it was difficult for hearts to become lowly.
جُنونُfrenzy شَبيبَةٍof youth وَوَقارُand dignity شَيبٍof gray hair
جُنونُ شَبيبَةٍ وَوَقارُ شَيبٍ
خُذاtake, both of you عَنّيfrom me النُهىreason وَدَعاand leave, both of you الجُنوناthe frenzy
خُذا عَنّي النُهى وَدَعا الجُنونا
O frenzy of youth and dignity of gray age,
The madness of youth and the composure of white hair—
take reason from me, both of you, and leave the frenzy.
Take from me the prohibition and leave the madness.
نَرىwe see الأَيّامَthe days وَهيَwhile they غَداًtomorrow سِنونٌyears
نَرى الأَيّامَ وَهيَ غَداً سِنونٌ
وَبِالآحادِand one by one يَبلُغنَthey reach المِئيناthe hundreds
وَبِالآحادِ يَبلُغنَ المِئينا
We see the days, and tomorrow they are years;
We see the days, and tomorrow they are years,
one by one they reach the hundreds.
And with the units they reach the hundreds.
سَتُنبِئُناwill inform us النَوائِبُcalamities ماwhat أَرَتناthey have shown us
سَتُنبِئُنا النَوائِبُ ما أَرَتنا
مِنَof العَجَبِwonder العَجيبِastonishing بِماthrough what تُريناthey show us
مِنَ العَجَبِ العَجيبِ بِما تُرينا
Calamities will tell us what they have shown us
Mishaps will inform us of the wonders they showed us,
of astonishing marvels, through what they yet show us.
Of the most amazing things they make us see.
حَلَفتُI swore بِمُلقِياتِby those shedding النَيِّfat عوجٍbent-backed camels
حَلَفتُ بِمُلقِياتِ النَيِّ عوجٍ
خَوابِطَtramping تَطلُبُseeking البَلَدَthe city الأَميناsecure
خَوابِطَ تَطلُبُ البَلَدَ الأَمينا
I swore by the bent-backed camels that cast off their fat,
I swore by the twisting necks, scheming,
tramping onward in search of the secure city,
Seeking the safe country, bent.
حَوامِلَcarrying ناحِلينَwasted riders عَلىupon ذُراهاtheir humps
حَوامِلَ ناحِلينَ عَلى ذُراها
حَوانِيَbending low يَنجَذِبنَbeing drawn onward بِمُنحَنيناby bent riders
حَوانِيَ يَنجَذِبنَ بِمُنحَنينا
carrying wasted riders upon their humps,
Bearers of honeycombs on their humps,
bending low, drawn onward by bent riders.
Beekeepers that sway with a humming sound.
يُسَقّينَthey give drink to الهَجيرَthe midday heat عَلىdespite التَظاميshared thirst
يُسَقّينَ الهَجيرَ عَلى التَظامي
وَيَنعَلنَand shoe themselves with الحِرارَthe black-stone plains إِذاwhen وُجيناthey are footsore
وَيَنعَلنَ الحِرارَ إِذا وُجينا
They water the midday heat despite their shared thirst,
They give drink to the dry lands continuously,
and shoe themselves with black-stone plains when footsore.
And they shoe the hot sands when they are taken to water.
كَأَنَّas though سِياطَهاtheir whips وَلَهاwhile they have هَبابٌa vigorous rush
كَأَنَّ سِياطَها وَلَها هَبابٌ
قُلوعُsails اليَمِّof the sea زَعزَعَتِhave rocked السَفيناthe ships
قُلوعُ اليَمِّ زَعزَعَتِ السَفينا
Their whips, as they surge onward, seem
As if their whips and the commotion around them
like sea-sails that have rocked the ships.
Were turbulent waves that shook the ships.
بِكُلِّalong every مُعَبَّدِtrodden smooth القُطرَينِat both sides يُنضيexhausts
بِكُلِّ مُعَبَّدِ القُطرَينِ يُنضي
مِطالُthe drawn-out length طَريقِهِof its road الأُجُدَthe sturdy mount الأَميناtrusty
مِطالُ طَريقِهِ الأُجُدَ الأَمينا
Along every road trodden smooth on both sides,
The course of his journey in every smoothed valley
its drawn-out length exhausts the sturdy, trusty mount.
Lengthens the most direct, honest path.
لَقَدindeed أَرضىfulfilled قِوامُthe pillar الدينِof the faith فيناamong us
لَقَد أَرضى قِوامُ الدينِ فينا
وَصاةَthe injunction of اللَهِGod وَالدينَand the faith اليَقيناcertain
وَصاةَ اللَهِ وَالدينَ اليَقينا
Qiwam al-Din has indeed fulfilled among us
The pillar of religion was pleased with us,
God's injunction and the certain faith.
Trustees of Allah and the assured religion.
رَعاناhe shepherded us بِالقَناwith spears وَلَقَدand indeed تَراناyou see us
رَعانا بِالقَنا وَلَقَد تَرانا
وَأَضبَعُand most hyena-like ماwhen نَكونُwe are إِذاwhen رُعيناwe are tended
وَأَضبَعُ ما نَكونُ إِذا رُعينا
He shepherded us with spears—and you see us
He shepherded us with the staff, and we have been,
at our most hyena-like when we are tended.
Like lambs when we are herded.
أَعادَhe reapplied ثِقافَناour spear-straightener حَتّىuntil اِستَقَمناwe became straight
أَعادَ ثِقافَنا حَتّى اِستَقَمنا
وَدَلَّand indicated بِنورِهِby his light اللَقَمَthe highway المُبيناclear
وَدَلَّ بِنورِهِ اللَقَمَ المُبينا
He reapplied our spear-straightener until we stood straight,
He restored our pursuits until we became upright,
and with his light showed the clear highway.
And his light showed the clear morsel.
تَيَقَّظَhe kept watch وَالعُيونُwhile the eyes مُغَمَّضاتٌclosed
تَيَقَّظَ وَالعُيونُ مُغَمَّضاتٌ
وَقَلقَلَand moved about وَالرَعِيَّةُwhile the subjects وادِعوناat ease
وَقَلقَلَ وَالرَعِيَّةُ وادِعونا
He kept watch while all eyes were closed,
He awoke while the eyes were dozing,
and was astir while his subjects rested at ease.
And he stirred though the subjects were calm.
وَماand not عَدِمَhe lacked العُلىglory كَهلاًas a grown man وَطِفلاًand as a child
وَما عَدِمَ العُلى كَهلاً وَطِفلاً
وَفيand in خِرَقِthe rags الوَليدِof the newborn وَلاnor جَنيناas an embryo
وَفي خِرَقِ الوَليدِ وَلا جَنينا
He never lacked glory, as a grown man or a child,
He did not neglect the lofty or the lowly,
in a newborn's rags, nor even as an embryo.
Not even the ripped clothes or the infant.
مِنَof القَومِthe people الأُلىwho تَبِعواfollowed المَعاليlofty deeds
مِنَ القَومِ الأُلى تَبِعوا المَعالي
قِرانَthe pairing of العَودِthe mature camel يَتَّبِعُfollows القَريناthe companion
قِرانَ العَودِ يَتَّبِعُ القَرينا
He is of those who followed lofty deeds
The eminent people followed the high pursuits,
as a mature camel, tethered, follows its companion.
The near ones follow the companion.
أَقامواthey drove away عَنfrom فَرائِسِهاtheir prey اللَياليthe nights
أَقاموا عَن فَرائِسِها اللَيالي
وَرَدّواand turned away عَنfrom مَوارِدِهاtheir watering places المَنوناdeath
وَرَدّوا عَن مَوارِدِها المَنونا
They drove the nights away from their prey,
They refrained from hunting them by night,
and repelled death from their watering places.
And they avoided their deadly waters.
هُمُthey رَفَعواraised كَماas رَفَعَتraised نِزارٌNizar
هُمُ رَفَعوا كَما رَفَعَت نِزارٌ
قِبابَdomes عُلىًof glory عَلىupon كَرَمٍnobility بُنيناwere built
قِبابَ عُلىً عَلى كَرَمٍ بُنينا
They raised, as Nizar raised,
They have raised—as Nuza' raised—
domes of glory built upon nobility.
Domes of loftiness on generous pillars.
نُبَقّيwe preserve سائِراتِcirculating verses الدَهرِof time فيهِمabout them
نُبَقّي سائِراتِ الدَهرِ فيهِم
وَيُبقونَand they preserve اليَدَthe hand البَيضاءَwhite فيناtoward us
وَيُبقونَ اليَدَ البَيضاءَ فينا
We keep verses traveling through time in their praise,
We will live the rest of time through them,
and they maintain their white hand of bounty toward us.
And they will leave the white hand in us.
فَإِنso if نُثمِرwe bear fruit لَهُمfor them شُكراًthanks طَويلاًlasting
فَإِن نُثمِر لَهُم شُكراً طَويلاً
فَهُمthen they غَرَسواplanted وَكانواand were المورِقيناthose bringing forth leaves
فَهُم غَرَسوا وَكانوا المورِقينا
If we yield them a lasting harvest of thanks,
So if we produce for them abundant gratitude,
it is they who planted and brought forth leaves.
They were the ones who planted and brought forth fruit.
فَقُلso tell لِلمُصحِرينَto those entering the open دَعواleave الضَواحىthe outskirts
فَقُل لِلمُصحِرينَ دَعوا الضَواحى
فَإِنَّfor indeed اللَيثَthe lion قَدhas نَزَعَleft العَريناthe den
فَإِنَّ اللَيثَ قَد نَزَعَ العَرينا
Tell those who venture into the open: leave the outskirts,
So say to the sorcerers, leave the encampments,
for the lion has forsaken his den.
For the lion has come out of his den.
وَلاand do not تَتَغَنَّمواseize as a gain مِنهُfrom him قُعوداًinactivity
وَلا تَتَغَنَّموا مِنهُ قُعوداً
يُقيمُhe raises لَكُمagainst you بِهِthrough it الحَربَwar الزَبوناfiercely kicking
يُقيمُ لَكُم بِهِ الحَربَ الزَبونا
Do not seize upon his inactivity as an advantage;
Do not gloat over him when he tarries,
through it he raises against you a fiercely kicking war.
For with it he brings upon you hasty wars.
فَفيfor in أَغمادِهِhis scabbards وَرَقٌsilver قَديمٌancient
فَفي أَغمادِهِ وَرَقٌ قَديمٌ
يَزيدُincreases عَلىthrough قِراعِclashing with الصيدِproud chiefs ليناin suppleness
يَزيدُ عَلى قِراعِ الصيدِ لينا
Within his scabbards is ancient silver,
In his sheaths is ancient iron
growing more supple through blows against proud chiefs.
That surpasses the armor of prey in softness.
قَواضِبُcutting swords لاnot يَغُبُّhe gives respite بِهاwith them الهَواديthe necks
قَواضِبُ لا يَغُبُّ بِها الهَوادي
فَيُعطِيَهاthen hand them over الصَياقِلَthe sword-polishers وَالقُيوناand the smiths
فَيُعطِيَها الصَياقِلَ وَالقُيونا
Cutting swords: he never rests them from striking necks
Canoes with which the valleys do not disappear,
to hand them over to polishers and smiths.
So he polishes and oils them.
أَلَيسَis it not وِقاعُهُhis onslaught بِالأَمسِyesterday فيكُمagainst you
أَلَيسَ وِقاعُهُ بِالأَمسِ فيكُم
سَقىquenched غَلَلَthe thirst الرِماحِof the spears وَماand not رَويناwe drank our fill
سَقى غَلَلَ الرِماحِ وَما رَوينا
Did not his onslaught upon you yesterday
Was not his level yesterday among you
quench the spears' thirst, though we did not drink our fill?
Watering the fibers of the spears, which we did not water?
بِأَربُقَat Arbuq قَدhas أَدارَset turning لَكُمagainst you رَحاهاits mill
بِأَربُقَ قَد أَدارَ لَكُم رَحاها
مَدارَthe rotation of الطَودِthe mountain مَرداةًa crushing stone طَحوناgrinding
مَدارَ الطَودِ مَرداةً طَحونا
At Arbuq he set its mill turning upon you,
With a fleet creature he turned his elbow for you
with a mountain's sweep—a crushing, grinding stone.
Like the circling of the mountain, wounding.
وَجَلجَلَهاand made it thunder عَلىover الأَهوازِal-Ahwaz حَتّىuntil
وَجَلجَلَها عَلى الأَهوازِ حَتّى
أَعادَhe turned زَئيرَthe roaring أُسدِكُمُof your lions أَنيناinto groaning
أَعادَ زَئيرَ أُسدِكُمُ أَنينا
He thundered it over al-Ahwaz until
He clashed them on the banks until
he turned your lions' roaring into groans.
He returned the roar of your lion.
وَساخَand sank away تَقَصُّعَlike the burrowing of اليَربوعِthe jerboa غاوٍa misguided man
وَساخَ تَقَصُّعَ اليَربوعِ غاوٍ
أَثارَhe stirred up بِطَعنِهاwith thrusts against it فَنَجاthen he escaped طَعيناpierced
أَثارَ بِطَعنِها فَنَجا طَعينا
A misguided man sank away, burrowing like a jerboa;
He tore up the armor of the roaming intruder,
having stirred it with thrusts, he escaped wounded.
His stab awakened one who was sleeping.
أُشَيعِثُa shaggy little man رَأسُهُhis head بِالبيضِby white swords يُفلىis deloused
أُشَيعِثُ رَأسُهُ بِالبيضِ يُفلى
وَيَغدوand goes forth بِالدَمِwith blood الجاريflowing دَهيناanointed
وَيَغدو بِالدَمِ الجاري دَهينا
A shaggy little man, his head deloused with white swords,
Disheveled is his hair with white, stained
goes forth anointed with flowing blood.
With flowing blood, because of which it is inked.
يَذودُhe drives away رِقابَهاtheir necks هَيهاتَfar indeed مِنهاfrom them
يَذودُ رِقابَها هَيهاتَ مِنها
وَقَدand already غَلَبَتthey overcame عَصِيَّthe staffs الذائِديناof the drovers
وَقَد غَلَبَت عَصِيَّ الذائِدينا
He fends off their necks—but is far from mastering them!
In vain he protects their necks—they overpowered him,
For they have overcome the drovers' staffs.
And the herders were defeated.
تَوَلَّعَhe meddled بِالقَناwith spears فَتَطاوَحَتهُso they tossed him about
تَوَلَّعَ بِالقَنا فَتَطاوَحَتهُ
لِداغَlike the stinging of الدَبرِbees أَيديthe hands الغاسِليناof the honey-washers
لِداغَ الدَبرِ أَيدي الغاسِلينا
He meddled with the spears, and they tossed him about,
It clung to the staff, so they jostled with it,
as bees sting the hands of honey-washers.
Due to the burning brand on the hands of the washers.
غَداhe went at dawn يَمريhe milks عُفافَتَهاtheir milk-dregs فَأَمسىthen reached evening
غَدا يَمري عُفافَتَها فَأَمسى
يَرىhe sees بِالطَعنِthrough spear-thrusts لِقحَتَهاtheir milch-camel لَبوناyielding milk
يَرى بِالطَعنِ لِقحَتَها لَبونا
He went at dawn to milk their dregs, but by evening
Yesterday it walked about chastely, but tonight
saw their milch-camel yielding milk in spear-thrusts.
It sees with the stab the splitting of its slit.
وَمَنand whoever شُرِعَتwere leveled رِماحُthe spears اللَهِof God فيهِagainst him
وَمَن شُرِعَت رِماحُ اللَهِ فيهِ
دَرىknew أَنَّthat السَوابِغَample coats of mail لاnot يَقيناprotect
دَرى أَنَّ السَوابِغَ لا يَقينا
Whoever has God's spears leveled against him
And whoever the spears of God penetrated,
knows that ample coats of mail give no protection.
Knows that the pouring ones do not save us.
وَبِتنَand they spent the night عَلىon المَطالِعِthe heights مُلجَماتٍbridled
وَبِتنَ عَلى المَطالِعِ مُلجَماتٍ
عَلائِقُهاtheir hanging gear أَنابيبُthe jointed shafts القُنيناof spears
عَلائِقُها أَنابيبُ القُنينا
They spent the night bridled on the heights,
There pitched on the horizons browned banners,
their hanging gear the jointed shafts of spears.
Their attachments are pipes of containers.
عَلىupon صَهَواتِهاtheir backs أَبناءُsons مَوتٍof death
عَلى صَهَواتِها أَبناءُ مَوتٍ
حَواسِرُbareheaded لِلرَدىto face destruction وَمُقَنَّعيناand helmeted
حَواسِرُ لِلرَدى وَمُقَنَّعينا
On their backs were sons of death,
On their arrows are sons of death,
bareheaded to meet destruction, and helmeted.
Destroyers of havoc, masked.
مُجاذِبَةًtugging against أَعِنَّتَهاtheir reins جِماحاًwildly
مُجاذِبَةً أَعِنَّتَها جِماحاً
هَبَطنَthey descended قَرارَةًa hollow وَطَلَعنَand rose بيناinto view
هَبَطنَ قَرارَةً وَطَلَعنَ بينا
Wildly tugging against their reins,
Rushing, they strengthened their wings,
they descended into a hollow and rose into view.
Then descended decisively and rose clearly.
وَقَعنَthey fell upon بِغارَةٍa raid وَطَلَبنَand sought أُخرىanother
وَقَعنَ بِغارَةٍ وَطَلَبنَ أُخرى
يُماطِلنَthey postpone الإِقامَةَstaying still وَالصُفوناand standing with a hoof raised
يُماطِلنَ الإِقامَةَ وَالصُفونا
They struck in one raid, then sought another,
They attacked suddenly then sought another,
putting off repose and standing with a hoof raised.
Delaying in place and traveling.
تُكَفكَفُthey are restrained وَهيَwhile they فيin الغُلَواءِheadlong ardor تُلقيcast
تُكَفكَفُ وَهيَ في الغُلَواءِ تُلقي
إِلىtoward أَرضِthe land العِداof the enemies نَظَراًa gaze شَفوناsidelong
إِلى أَرضِ العِدا نَظَراً شَفونا
They are held back, yet in their headlong ardor cast
It turns this way and that while in the far horizon,
toward the enemy's land a sidelong gaze,
Looking with longing eyes to enemy land.
تَلَفُّتَlike the turning of جُوَّعِstarving الآسادِlions فاتَتescaped
تَلَفُّتَ جُوَّعِ الآسادِ فاتَت
فَرائِسَهاtheir prey النُيوبُthe fangs وَقَدthough already دَميناwere bloodied
فَرائِسَها النُيوبُ وَقَد دَمينا
like starving lions turning about, eluded
The hunger of the lions misses its prey,
by their prey, though their fangs are bloodied.
Their fangs and nails stained with blood.
تُحاذِرُthey dread فيin مَرابِطِهاtheir tethering places وُقوفاًstanding still
تُحاذِرُ في مَرابِطِها وُقوفاً
وَإِنeven if بَلَغَreached العِداthe enemy أَمَداًa distance شَطوناfar-off
وَإِن بَلَغَ العِدا أَمَداً شَطونا
They dread standing still in their tethering places,
It fears standing still in its position,
even when the enemy has reached a far-off goal.
Even if the enemy takes a long time.
فَلَوso if أُلجِمنَthey were bridled لاnot لِغِوارِfor the raids of حَربٍwar
فَلَو أُلجِمنَ لا لِغِوارِ حَربٍ
لَقَدsurely ظَنَّwould suspect العَدُوُّthe enemy بِهاabout them الظُنوناsuspicions
لَقَد ظَنَّ العَدُوُّ بِها الظُنونا
Were they bridled for anything but war raids,
If they were forced, not by ravages of war,
the enemy would surely entertain suspicions about them.
The enemy would have thought vain thoughts about them.
أَماdid they not شَهِدواwitness لَياليthe nights السوسِat al-Sus مِنهاfrom them
أَما شَهِدوا لَيالي السوسِ مِنها
وَمَسحَبَهاand their dragging القَنِيَّthe spears بِدارِat Dar زيناZina
وَمَسحَبَها القَنِيَّ بِدارِ زينا
Have they not witnessed their nights at al-Sus,
Have they not witnessed the nights of Sous and
and their dragging spears at Dar Zina,
Its mobilizing in the Abode of Adornment?
وَمَنشَرَهاand their spreading عَلىover هَضَباتِthe plateaus بَمٍّof Bam
وَمَنشَرَها عَلى هَضَباتِ بَمٍّ
رِياطاًsheets of cloth لِلعَجاجَةِfor the dust-cloud ماnot طُويناwere folded
رِياطاً لِلعَجاجَةِ ما طُوينا
and their spreading across the plateaus of Bam,
And its deployment on the plateau of Bam,
like cloths for the dust-cloud, never folded away?
An encampment against the insolent enemy we bent?
إِذاwhen رَجَعَreturned الغَزِيُّthe raiding host بِهِنَّwith them حَسرىexhausted
إِذا رَجَعَ الغَزِيُّ بِهِنَّ حَسرى
أُعِدنَthey were returned إِلىto الطِعانِspear-fighting كَماas بُديناthey first set out
أُعِدنَ إِلى الطِعانِ كَما بُدينا
When the raiding host brings them back exhausted,
When the invader returns crestfallen by them,
they are returned to spear-fighting as when they first began.
They return to stabbing just as we began.
لَحِقنَthey caught up with طَريدَةًa quarry لَولاbut for قَناهاtheir spears
لَحِقنَ طَريدَةً لَولا قَناها
لَطالَwould have lasted long رَواغُهاits evasions لِلطارِديناfor the pursuers
لَطالَ رَواغُها لِلطارِدينا
They caught a quarry that, but for their spears,
They would have caught up with the prey were it not for their staffs,
would long have evaded the pursuers.
Else their chasing of the chasers would have been long.
وَعُدنَand they returned وَفيwhile in حَقائِبِهِنَّtheir saddlebags هامٌheads
وَعُدنَ وَفي حَقائِبِهِنَّ هامٌ
لَقينَthey suffered مِنَfrom الصَوارِمِsharp swords ماwhat لَقيناwe suffered
لَقينَ مِنَ الصَوارِمِ ما لَقينا
They returned with heads in their saddlebags,
They returned with prey in their bags, having met
which had suffered from sharp swords what we had suffered.
From the swords what we met.
بِقَنّاصٍwith a huntsman أَصابَwho hit his mark وَفيwhile in يَدَيهِhis two hands
بِقَنّاصٍ أَصابَ وَفي يَدَيهِ
حَبائِلُsnares قَدalready مُدِدنَwere stretched out لِآخَريناfor others
حَبائِلُ قَد مُدِدنَ لِآخَرينا
With a huntsman who struck his mark, while in his hands
With an archer who hit his mark while
were snares already spread for others.
Ropes extended to others were in his hands.
نَوائِبُcalamities أَلقَتِcast الجُلّىthe greatest ordeal عَلَيهِupon him
نَوائِبُ أَلقَتِ الجُلّى عَلَيهِ
فَقامَso he rose بِعِبئِهِنَّwith their burden وَماand not أُعيناhe was aided
فَقامَ بِعِبئِهِنَّ وَما أُعينا
Calamities laid the greatest ordeal upon him,
Mishaps that cast light on him,
and he rose to bear their load, unaided.
So he took on their burden, though we did not help.
بَسالَةُvalor هانِئٍof Hani فيin حَيِّthe clan of بَكرٍBakr
بَسالَةُ هانِئٍ في حَيِّ بَكرٍ
وَحَنظَلَةَand of Hanzala الَّذيwho قَطَعَcut الوَضيناthe saddle-girth
وَحَنظَلَةَ الَّذي قَطَعَ الوَضينا
His was the valor of Hani in the clan of Bakr,
The courage of delighted Han' in an early encampment,
and of Hanzala, who cut the saddle-girth.
And that of Hanthalah who cut through the valley.
وَهَلand would يَرضىhe accept المُطولَdelay وَفيwhile among الأَعاديthe enemies
وَهَل يَرضى المُطولَ وَفي الأَعادي
دُيونٌdebts لِلصَوارِمِowed to sharp swords ماnot قُضيناwere repaid
دُيونٌ لِلصَوارِمِ ما قُضينا
Would he accept delay while among the enemies
Would the tall one be pleased, while among the enemies
debts to sharp swords remain unpaid?
There are debts to the swords we did not repay?
أَلاindeed جُزتَmay reward الجَوازيthe recompensing powers اليَومَtoday عَنّيon my behalf
أَلا جُزتَ الجَوازي اليَومَ عَنّي
جَواداًa noble steed لاnot أَغَمَّshaggy-browed وَلاnor هَجيناbaseborn
جَواداً لا أَغَمَّ وَلا هَجينا
May the powers of recompense today reward on my behalf
Verily you have rewarded me today the prizes
a noble steed, neither shaggy-browed nor baseborn.
A generous steed that does not frown or become restive.
نَماهُbred him أَبٌa father وَلودٌprolific لِلمَعاليin lofty deeds
نَماهُ أَبٌ وَلودٌ لِلمَعالي
وَأُمُّand a mother of أَراقِمٍvipers تُدهيmakes cunning البَنيناthe sons
وَأُمُّ أَراقِمٍ تُدهي البَنينا
He was bred by a father prolific in lofty deeds,
He was raised by a loving father,
and a mother of vipers who makes her sons cunning.
And a mother of noble birth who makes the sons thrive,
مِنَamong العُظَماءِthe great أَطوَلُهُمthe tallest of them عِماداًin tent-pole
مِنَ العُظَماءِ أَطوَلُهُم عِماداً
وَأَنداهُمand the most generous of them إِذاwhen مُطِرواthey receive rain يَميناin right hand
وَأَنداهُم إِذا مُطِروا يَمينا
Of the great, he has the tallest tent-pole,
The tallest of the eminent, towering,
and the most generous right hand when rain falls upon them.
And the most generous when they pour right hand.
تَبَوَّعَhe strode بيwith me إِلىtoward قُلَلِthe summits المَعاليof glory
تَبَوَّعَ بي إِلى قُلَلِ المَعالي
وَخَيَّرَنيand let me choose المَعاقِلَthe strongholds وَالحُصوناand the fortresses
وَخَيَّرَني المَعاقِلَ وَالحُصونا
He carried me in great strides to the summits of glory,
He carried me to the peaks of loftiness,
and offered me a choice of strongholds and fortresses.
And he gave me the choice of citadels and fortresses.
فَأَرغَمَso he humbled بيthrough me عَلىdespite رُغمٍresistance أُنوفاًnoses
فَأَرغَمَ بي عَلى رُغمٍ أُنوفاً
مُضاغَنَةًharboring rancor وَأَقذىand put grit in بيthrough me عُيوناeyes
مُضاغَنَةً وَأَقذى بي عُيونا
Through me he forced noses down, against their will,
So he forced me against my will
harboring rancor, and through me put grit in eyes.
To contend and gouged out my eyes.
تَهَنَّrejoice بِمَطلَعِat the dawning of النَيروزِNowruz وَاِبلُغand reach
تَهَنَّ بِمَطلَعِ النَيروزِ وَاِبلُغ
مَطالِعَdawnings مِثلَهُlike it حيناًa time فَحيناthen another time
مَطالِعَ مِثلَهُ حيناً فَحينا
Rejoice at the dawning of Nowruz, and reach
Be prospered at the rise of Nayruz, and convey
dawnings like it, time after time,
Congratulations on the like of it time after time.
مُرَحِّلَsending away كُلَّevery نائِبَةٍcalamity مُقيماًremaining
مُرَحِّلَ كُلَّ نائِبَةٍ مُقيماً
مُذيلاًhumbling لِلعِداto the foes أَبَداًforever مَصوناprotected
مُذيلاً لِلعِدا أَبَداً مَصونا
sending every calamity away while you remain,
Sending away every misfortune, residing,
humbling your foes, forever safeguarded,
Ever protected at the enemies' rear.
تُظَفَّرُyou are made victorious بِالمَآرِبِin your aims طَيِّعاتٍwillingly yielding
تُظَفَّرُ بِالمَآرِبِ طَيِّعاتٍ
وَبِالآمالِand in the hopes أَبكاراًvirgins وَعوناand matrons
وَبِالآمالِ أَبكاراً وَعونا
granted your aims as they yield willingly,
You are granted obedient triumphs
and your hopes, both virgin and once-wedded.
And hopeful virgins as helpers.
وَإِنand indeed أَحَقَّworthier مِنكَthan you بِأَنof being يُهَنّىcongratulated
وَإِن أَحَقَّ مِنكَ بِأَن يُهَنّى
إِذاwhen مَدَّextends البَقاءَlasting life لَكَfor you السِنوناthe years
إِذا مَدَّ البَقاءَ لَكَ السِنونا
And it is worthier than you of being congratulated,
And if anyone deserves more than you to be congratulated
when lasting life extends the years for you.
When time extends its years for you.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.