أَمِلturn aside مِنfrom مَثانيهاher windings فَهَذاfor this is مَقيلُهاher noonday resting place
أَمِل مِن مَثانيها فَهَذا مَقيلُها
وَهَذيand these are مَغانيthe haunts of دارِهِمtheir home وَطُلولُهاand its ruins
وَهَذي مَغاني دارِهِم وَطُلولُها
Turn aside from her windings—here is her noonday resting place.
Hope for help from its dwellings, for that is its refuge,
And these are the haunts of their home and its ruins.
And these are the songs of their abodes and their heights,
حَرامٌforbidden عَلىto عَينيmy eyes تَجاوُزُpassing beyond أَرضِهاher land
حَرامٌ عَلى عَيني تَجاوُزُ أَرضِها
وَلَمand not يَروِquenched أَظماءَthe thirsts of الدِيارِthe dwellings هُمولُهاtheir streaming tears
وَلَم يَروِ أَظماءَ الدِيارِ هُمولُها
My eyes are forbidden to pass beyond her land,
It is forbidden for my eyes to pass over its land,
though their streaming tears have not quenched the dwellings’ thirst.
And they have not seen the desolation of the homes and their sand hills,
وَقَدand indeed خالَطَتhave mingled with ذاكَthat الثَرىsoil نَفَحاتُهاher fragrant breaths
وَقَد خالَطَت ذاكَ الثَرى نَفَحاتُها
وَجُرَّتand were dragged عَلىacross ذاكَthat الصَعيدِground ذُيولُهاher trailing hems
وَجُرَّت عَلى ذاكَ الصَعيدِ ذُيولُها
Her fragrant breaths have mingled with that soil,
Its breezes have mingled with that soil,
and her trailing hems have been drawn across that ground.
And its trains have been dragged over that plain,
حُقوفُcurving dunes of رِمالٍsand ماnot يَخافُone fears اِنهِيالُهاtheir crumbling
حُقوفُ رِمالٍ ما يَخافُ اِنهِيالُها
وَأَغصانُand boughs of بانٍbān trees ماnot يُخافُis feared ذُبولُهاtheir withering
وَأَغصانُ بانٍ ما يُخافُ ذُبولُها
Curving sand dunes whose crumbling is not feared,
Enclosures of sands that do not fear their collapse,
and boughs of bān trees whose withering is not feared.
And branches of trees that do not fear their withering,
إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle تَراآهاthey behold her اللَوائِمُthe reproaching women ساعَةًfor a moment
إِذا ما تَراآها اللَوائِمُ ساعَةً
فَأَعذَرُهاthen the most forgiving of them فيمَنtoward whoever يُحِبُّloves عَذولُهاher reproacher
فَأَعذَرُها فيمَن يُحِبُّ عَذولُها
When the reproaching women glimpse her for a moment,
When the blamers see it one day,
her own reproacher is the readiest to excuse whoever loves her.
I will excuse it for the sake of those who love its delay,
رَضيناwe were content وَلَمand did not نَسمَحwillingly accept مِنَin place of النَيلِfulfillment بِالرِضاwith contentment
رَضينا وَلَم نَسمَح مِنَ النَيلِ بِالرِضا
وَلَكِنbut كَثيرٌmuch لَوif عَلِمناwe knew قَليلُهاher little
وَلَكِن كَثيرٌ لَو عَلِمنا قَليلُها
We were content, though unwilling to exchange fulfillment for contentment;
We were content and did not allow ourselves to be content with the Nile's consent,
yet, did we but know it, even her little is much.
But much, had we known its little,
شُموسُsuns of قِبابٍtent-domes قَدindeed رَأَيناwe have seen شُروقَهاtheir rising
شُموسُ قِبابٍ قَد رَأَينا شُروقَها
فَياso, oh لَيتَwould that شِعريmy knowing أَينَwhere مِنّاaway from us أُفولُهاtheir setting
فَيا لَيتَ شِعري أَينَ مِنّا أُفولُها
Suns beneath tent-domes—we have seen their rising;
Suns of domes whose rising we have seen,
oh, would that I knew where, away from us, they set.
If only I knew where is their setting from us,
تَعالَينَthey ascended عَنaway from بَطنِthe valley floor of العَقيقِal-ʿAqīq تَيامُناًturning rightward
تَعالَينَ عَن بَطنِ العَقيقِ تَيامُناً
يُقَوِّمُهاstraightens them قَصدَthe course of السُرىnight travel وَيُميلُهاand turns them
يُقَوِّمُها قَصدَ السُرى وَيُميلُها
They climbed from al-ʿAqīq’s valley, turning right,
Come, let us deviate from the belly of Al-Aqeeq inclining
the course of night travel straightening them and turning them.
To the right way of travel and incline it,
فَهَلso is there مِنany مُعيريone lending me نَظرَةًa glance فَأُريكَهاso I may show them to you
فَهَل مِن مُعيري نَظرَةً فَأُريكَها
شُرَيقيَّa little east of نَجدٍNajd يَومَon the day زالَتdeparted حُمولُهاtheir laden camels
شُرَيقيَّ نَجدٍ يَومَ زالَت حُمولُها
Will anyone lend me a glance, so I may show them to you,
Is there anyone to give me a look, so I can show him,
a little east of Najd, the day their laden camels departed?
The east of Najd the day its sand hills disappeared,
كَطامِيَةِlike a swelling waterway التَيّارِthe current يَجريglide سَفينُهاits ships
كَطامِيَةِ التَيّارِ يَجري سَفينُها
أَوِor الفُلَجِal-Fulaj العَلياءِthe high-lying يَهفوsway نَخيلُهاits palm trees
أَوِ الفُلَجِ العَلياءِ يَهفو نَخيلُها
Like a waterway with swelling current, its ships gliding,
Like the currents of the currents its ships flow,
or high-lying al-Fulaj, its palms swaying.
Or the high canals whose palms roar,
وَلَمand did not تَرَyou see إِلّاexcept مُمسِكاًone holding بِيَمينِهِin his right hand
وَلَم تَرَ إِلّا مُمسِكاً بِيَمينِهِ
رَواجِفَthe tremors of صَدرٍa breast ماnot يُبَلُّis quenched غَليلُهاits burning thirst
رَواجِفَ صَدرٍ ما يُبَلُّ غَليلُها
And you saw only a man holding in his right hand
And you have not seen but one who holds
the tremors of a breast whose burning thirst is never quenched,
The chests of a soul that does not calm its anguish,
وَمُختَنِقاًand one choking مِنfrom عَبرَةٍa tear ماnot تَزولُهُleaves him
وَمُختَنِقاً مِن عَبرَةٍ ما تَزولُهُ
وَمُختَبِطاًand one floundering فيin لَوعَةٍanguish ماnot يَزولُهاhe escapes it
وَمُختَبِطاً في لَوعَةٍ ما يَزولُها
and one choking on a tear that never leaves him,
And one suffocated from crying that does not subside him,
and one floundering in anguish he cannot escape.
And troubled in agony that does not relieve it,
مَحاerased بَعدَكُمafter your departure تِلكَthose العُيونَeyes بُكائُهاtheir weeping
مَحا بَعدَكُم تِلكَ العُيونَ بُكائُها
وَغالَand ravaged بِكُمbecause of you تِلكَthose الأَضالِعَribs غولُهاtheir wasting affliction
وَغالَ بِكُم تِلكَ الأَضالِعَ غولُها
After your departure, their weeping erased those eyes,
Their eyes have been erased by your absence and their crying,
and because of you, their wasting affliction ravaged those ribs.
And their ribs have been possessed by your departure and their madness,
فَمِنso, of ناظِرٍan eye لَمnot تَبقَremained إِلّاexcept دُموعُهُits tears
فَمِن ناظِرٍ لَم تَبقَ إِلّا دُموعُهُ
وَمِنand of مُهجَةٍa heart لَمnot يَبقَremained إِلّاexcept غَليلُهاits burning thirst
وَمِن مُهجَةٍ لَم يَبقَ إِلّا غَليلُها
Of many an eye, nothing remained but its tears,
So from a looker, nothing remains but his tears,
and of many a heart, nothing remained but its burning thirst.
And from a lover, nothing remains but his anguish,
دَعواleave لِيَfor me قَلباًa heart بِالغَرامِwith passion أُذيبُهُI melt it
دَعوا لِيَ قَلباً بِالغَرامِ أُذيبُهُ
عَلَيكُمfor you وَعَيناًand an eye فيamong الطُلولِthe ruins أُجيلُهاI turn it about
عَلَيكُم وَعَيناً في الطُلولِ أُجيلُها
Leave me a heart to melt with passion
Leave me a heart that I melt with love for you
for you, and an eye to turn among the ruins.
And an eye that I keep awake in longing for it,
سَقاهاmay it water them الرَبابُthe cloud-banks الجَونُthe dark كُلَّevery غَمامَةٍrain cloud
سَقاها الرَبابُ الجَونُ كُلَّ غَمامَةٍ
يَهَشُّrejoices لَهاat it حَزنُthe rugged ground of المَلاal-Malā وَسُهولُهاand its plains
يَهَشُّ لَها حَزنُ المَلا وَسُهولُها
May dark cloud-banks water them with every rain cloud
The showers quench it every time,
at which al-Malā’s rugged ground and plains rejoice.
The grief of meadows and their plains roar at it,
إِذاwhen مَلَكَتseizes ريحُthe wind of الجَنوبِthe south عِنانَهاits reins
إِذا مَلَكَت ريحُ الجَنوبِ عِنانَها
أَحالَتturns عَلَيهاtoward them بَعدَafter لَأيٍlong delay قَبولُهاits east wind
أَحالَت عَلَيها بَعدَ لَأيٍ قَبولُها
When the south wind seizes its reins,
When the south wind takes its rein,
its east wind turns toward them after long delay,
It sends after a night its acceptance,
وَساقَand it drives إِلَيهاtoward them مُثقَلاتِthe heavily laden عِشارِهِits pregnant she-camels
وَساقَ إِلَيها مُثقَلاتِ عِشارِهِ
ضَوامِرَlean ones تَرغوbellow بِالضَريبِwith frost فُحولُهاtheir male camels
ضَوامِرَ تَرغو بِالضَريبِ فُحولُها
and it drives toward them its heavily laden, pregnant she-camels,
And it sends loaded with its tithe,
lean ones whose males bellow with frost,
His convoys that bleat with tribute and their bounties
نَجائِبَnoble mounts لاnot يوديbrings ruin بِأَخفافِهاto their padded feet السُرىnight travel
نَجائِبَ لا يودي بِأَخفافِها السُرى
وَإِنeven if طالَgrows long بِالبيدِthrough the deserts القِواءِthe empty ذَميلُهاtheir quick trot
وَإِن طالَ بِالبيدِ القِواءِ ذَميلُها
noble mounts whose padded feet night travel never destroys,
She-camels that the track does not straighten their briskness
however long their quick trot through empty deserts.
Though the separation extends with the beloved’s inclination
فَكَمhow many نَفحَةٍa breeze مِنfrom أَرضِهاher land بَرَّدَتcooled حَشىًa breast
فَكَم نَفحَةٍ مِن أَرضِها بَرَّدَت حَشىً
وَبَلَّand quenched غَليلاًa burning thirst مِنof فُؤادٍa heart بَليلُهاher moist breeze
وَبَلَّ غَليلاً مِن فُؤادٍ بَليلُها
How many a breeze from her land has cooled a burning breast,
How many times has its scent cooled an ardently enamored soul
and her moist breeze has quenched a heart’s burning thirst!
And soothed an anguished heart with its slight anguish
تَخَطّىstride over الرِياحُthe winds الهوجُthe wild أَعناقَthe crests of رَملِهاher sand
تَخَطّى الرِياحُ الهوجُ أَعناقَ رَملِها
فَتَجبُرُهاso they mend them جَبرَas one mends القَراthe spine وَتَهيلُهاand heap them up
فَتَجبُرُها جَبرَ القَرا وَتَهيلُها
The wild winds stride over the crests of her sands,
The winds cross the sandy backs of its sands
mending them as a spine is mended, and heaping them up.
So it overpowers them with the power of the train and inspires them
مَنازِلُdwellings لاnot يُعطيyields القِيادَthe reins مُقيمُهاtheir resident
مَنازِلُ لا يُعطي القِيادَ مُقيمُها
مُغالَبَةًunder force وَلاand not يُهانُis humiliated نَزيلُهاtheir guest
مُغالَبَةً وَلا يُهانُ نَزيلُها
Dwellings whose resident will not yield the reins
Dwellings that do not distress the leader
under force, and whose guest suffers no humiliation.
Or humiliate its guest,
خَليلَيَّmy two friends قَدindeed خَفَّhas lessened الهَوىpassion وَتَراجَعَتand has returned
خَليلَيَّ قَد خَفَّ الهَوى وَتَراجَعَت
إِلىto الحِلمِforbearance نَفسٌa soul لاnot يَعُزُّprevails مُذيلُهاits abaser
إِلى الحِلمِ نَفسٌ لا يَعُزُّ مُذيلُها
My two friends, passion has lessened, and there has returned
My friend, desire has subsided,
to forbearance a soul whose abaser cannot prevail.
And a soul that does not regret its consequence has returned to forbearance,
فَلَستُso I am not اِبنَthe son of أُمِّthe mother of الخَيلِhorses إِنif لَمnot أَمِلI turn بِهاwith them
فَلَستُ اِبنَ أُمِّ الخَيلِ إِن لَم أَمِل بِها
عَوابِسَgrim-faced فيin دارِthe abode of العَدوِّthe enemy أُبيلُهاI expose them to ruin
عَوابِسَ في دارِ العَدوِّ أُبيلُها
I am no son of the Mother of Horses if I do not wheel them,
I am not the son of the mother of horses if I do not
grim-faced, into the enemy’s abode, exposing them to ruin.
Incline in the abode of the enemy to bewilder it,
إِذاwhen اِنجَفَلَتthey flee مِنfrom غَمرَةٍa battle’s tumult ثابَreturns كَرُّهاtheir charge
إِذا اِنجَفَلَت مِن غَمرَةٍ ثابَ كَرُّها
وَعادَand turns back إِلىto مَرِّthe bitterness of المَناياdeaths جُفولُهاtheir flight
وَعادَ إِلى مَرِّ المَنايا جُفولُها
When they recoil from a battle’s tumult, their charge returns,
When it recoils from the darkness, and its abhorrence returns
and their flight turns back toward bitter deaths.
To the bitterness of misfortunes, and its hatred,
يُزَعفَرُis saffron-stained مِنfrom عَضَّbiting الشَكيمِthe bits لُعابُهاtheir saliva
يُزَعفَرُ مِن عَضَّ الشَكيمِ لُعابُها
وَيُرعَدُand is made to tremble مِنby قَرعِthe striking of العَواليthe spears خَصيلُهاtheir mane-hair
وَيُرعَدُ مِن قَرعِ العَوالي خَصيلُها
Their saliva is saffron-stained from biting the bits,
It hisses from the bite of dignity, and its froth rages,
and their manes tremble under the striking of spears.
And it rumbles from hitting the highlands, and its neighing,
وَأَعطِفُand I turn عَنaway from خَوضِwading through الدِماءِblood رُؤوسَهاtheir heads
وَأَعطِفُ عَن خَوضِ الدِماءِ رُؤوسَها
فَقَدfor indeed فُقِدَتhave vanished أَوضاحُهاtheir white blazes وَحُجولُهاand their white stockings
فَقَد فُقِدَت أَوضاحُها وَحُجولُها
I turn their heads away from wading through blood,
And I turn away from wading in blood, its foreheads,
for their white blazes and stockings have vanished.
For its markers and enclosures have been lost,
نَميلُwe lean عَلَيهاover them بِالسِياطِwith whips نَوازِعاًstraining
نَميلُ عَلَيها بِالسِياطِ نَوازِعاً
إِلىtoward كُلِّevery بَيداءٍdesert يُرِمُّfalls silent دَليلُهاits guide
إِلى كُلِّ بَيداءٍ يُرِمُّ دَليلُها
We lean over them with whips as they strain
We walk it with whips, prompting
toward every desert whose guide falls silent.
To every expanse where its guide leads,
تَوَقَّرَhas grown subdued مِنfrom عُنفِthe violence of السِياطِthe whips مِراحُهاtheir friskiness
تَوَقَّرَ مِن عُنفِ السِياطِ مِراحُها
وَغاضَand has ebbed عَلىwith طولِthe length of القِيادِrein-led travel صَهيلُهاtheir neighing
وَغاضَ عَلى طولِ القِيادِ صَهيلُها
The violence of the whips has subdued their friskiness,
It has been harmed by the violence of the whips,
and their neighing has ebbed through long travel under the reins.
And overflowed at the length of the driving, its neighing,
وَنَحنُand we القُرومُthe stallion-chiefs الصيدُthe proud إِنif جاشَsurges بَأسُهاtheir might
وَنَحنُ القُرومُ الصيدُ إِن جاشَ بَأسُها
تُنوذِرَis mutually warned against مَرعىthe pasture of ذَودِهاtheir camel herd وَمَقيلُهاand their noonday resting place
تُنوذِرَ مَرعى ذَودِها وَمَقيلُها
We are proud stallion-chiefs; when their might surges,
And we are a game prey, if its might rages,
their herd’s pasture and noonday resting place are warned against.
It threatens the pasture of its livestock and its place of rest,
بِأَيمانِناin our right hands بيضُwhite blades الغُروبِthe cutting edges خَفائِفٌlightweight
بِأَيمانِنا بيضُ الغُروبِ خَفائِفٌ
نَغولُwe destroy بِهاwith them هامَthe heads of العِداthe foes وَتَغولُهاand they destroy them
نَغولُ بِها هامَ العِدا وَتَغولُها
In our right hands are light swords with white edges;
By our oaths the whiteness of dusk is light
with them we destroy the foes’ heads, and they destroy them.
With which we engulf the throats of enemies and their entirety,
تَفَلَّلنَthey grew notched حَتّىuntil كادَnearly مِنfrom طولِthe length of وَقعِهاtheir striking
تَفَلَّلنَ حَتّى كادَ مِن طولِ وَقعِها
بِيَومِon the day of الوَغىbattle يَقضيbrings an end عَلَيهاupon them فُلولُهاtheir notches
بِيَومِ الوَغى يَقضي عَلَيها فُلولُها
They grew notched until, from their long striking
We mixed until its prolonged clamor,
on the day of battle, their notches almost finished them.
Nearly makes its remnants perish on it in the day of turmoil,
قَوائِمُhilts قَدindeed جَرَّبنَhave tested كُلَّevery مُجَرَّبٍseasoned warrior
قَوائِمُ قَد جَرَّبنَ كُلَّ مُجَرَّبٍ
بِضَربِby striking الطُلىnecks حَتّىuntil تَفانَتwere entirely spent نُصولُهاtheir blades
بِضَربِ الطُلى حَتّى تَفانَت نُصولُها
Hilts that have tested every seasoned warrior,
Steeds have tried everyone tested
striking necks until their blades were utterly spent.
With striking hot iron until their canines have perished,
وَأَودِيَةٌand valleys بَينَbetween العِراقِIraq وَحاجِرٍand Ḥājir
وَأَودِيَةٌ بَينَ العِراقِ وَحاجِرٍ
بِبيضِwith bright blades المَواضيthe keen swords وَالعَواليand the spears نُسيلُهاwe make them flow
بِبيضِ المَواضي وَالعَوالي نُسيلُها
And valleys between Iraq and Ḥājir—
And valleys between Iraq and Hajar
with bright, keen swords and spears, we set them flowing.
With eggshell white expanses and highlands flowing its floods
يَمُدُّswells بِدُفّاعِwith surges of الدِماءِblood غُثاؤُهاtheir froth
يَمُدُّ بِدُفّاعِ الدِماءِ غُثاؤُها
وَيَجريand flows بِأَعناقِwith the necks of الرِجالِmen حَميلُهاtheir flotsam
وَيَجري بِأَعناقِ الرِجالِ حَميلُها
Their froth swells with surging blood,
It pours with the shedding of blood its torrents
and their flotsam flows with men’s necks.
And the necks of men flow with its loads,
إِذاwhen هاشِمُHāshim العَلياءِof lofty glory عَبَّswells عُبابُهاits flood
إِذا هاشِمُ العَلياءِ عَبَّ عُبابُها
وَسالَتand flow بِطَنّابِwith the tent-ropes of البُيوتِthe houses سُيولُهاits torrents
وَسالَت بِطَنّابِ البُيوتِ سُيولُها
When exalted Hāshim’s flood swells,
Whenever the glorious Hashimites rage and its seas flood,
and its torrents stream with the houses’ tent-ropes,
And the briskets of houses pour its torrents,
مُدَفَّعَةًurged forward تَحتَbeneath الرِحالِthe camel saddles رِكابُهاits riding camels
مُدَفَّعَةً تَحتَ الرِحالِ رِكابُها
مُحَفَّزَةًdriven on تَحتَbeneath اللُبودِthe felt pads خُيولُهاits horses
مُحَفَّزَةً تَحتَ اللُبودِ خُيولُها
its riding camels urged forward beneath their saddles,
Storming under the saddles are its riders,
its horses driven on beneath their felt pads,
And startled under the coats of mail are its steeds,
وَكُلُّand every مُثَنّاةِdoubled in النُسوعِsaddle-straps مُطارَةٍhastened she-camel
وَكُلُّ مُثَنّاةِ النُسوعِ مُطارَةٍ
سَواءٌalike عَلَيهاto her حَلُّهاher halting وَرَحيلُهاand her journeying
سَواءٌ عَلَيها حَلُّها وَرَحيلُها
and every hastened she-camel with doubled saddle-straps,
And every hissing viper is swift,
to whom halting and journeying are alike,
Whether it departs or lodges,
كَأَنَّas though عَلىon مَتنِthe back of الظَليمِthe male ostrich قُتودُهاher saddle-frames
كَأَنَّ عَلى مَتنِ الظَليمِ قُتودُها
وَفيand in يَدِthe hand of عُلويِّthe uppermost of الرِياحِthe winds جَديلُهاher plaited rein
وَفي يَدِ عُلويِّ الرِياحِ جَديلُها
as though her saddle-frames rested on an ostrich’s back,
As if on the back of darkness are its vanguards,
and her plaited rein lay in the hand of the high winds—
And in the hand of the most high winds are its forelocks,
رَأَيتُI saw المَساعيnoble achievements كُلُّهاall of them وَتَلاحَقَتand came together
رَأَيتُ المَساعي كُلُّها وَتَلاحَقَت
فُروعُthe branches of العُلىhigh glory مَجموعَةًgathered together وَأُصولُهاand its roots
فُروعُ العُلى مَجموعَةً وَأُصولُها
I saw all noble achievements, and there came together
I saw all the efforts and the branches of glory followed one another,
the branches of glory, gathered as one, and its roots.
If one day it competes, its gain slackens,
إِذاwhen اِستَبَقَتit races ahead يَوماًone day تَراخىfalls behind تَبيعُهاits follower
إِذا اِستَبَقَت يَوماً تَراخى تَبيعُها
وَخَلّىand leaves لَهاto it الشَأوَthe racecourse البَعيدَthe distant رَسيلُهاits fellow racer
وَخَلّى لَها الشَأوَ البَعيدَ رَسيلُها
Whenever it races ahead, its follower falls behind,
And the farfetched goal empties its floods,
and its fellow racer yields it the distant goal.
Or it tilts with spears for the encounter and its bands,
وَإِمّاand whenever أَمالَتit inclines لِلطِعانِfor spear-thrusting رِماحَهاits lances
وَإِمّا أَمالَت لِلطِعانِ رِماحَها
وَشُنَّand is poured عَلَيهاover it لِلِّقاءِfor the encounter شَليلُهاits under-mail tunic
وَشُنَّ عَلَيها لِلِّقاءِ شَليلُها
And whenever it lowers its lances for thrusting,
So the courageous whose chests do not retreat tasted it,
and its under-mail tunic is cast over it for the clash,
And the steeds whose lead cannot be repelled tasted it,
فَشَمَّthen there (apparently intended: فَثَمَّ) عَوالٍlofty spears ماnot تُرَدُّare turned back صُدورُهاtheir points
فَشَمَّ عَوالٍ ما تُرَدُّ صُدورُها
وَثَمَّand there جِيادٌnoble steeds ماnot يُفَلُّis broken رَعيلُهاtheir advance troop
وَثَمَّ جِيادٌ ما يُفَلُّ رَعيلُها
then there are lofty spears whose points cannot be repelled,
And the guarding warriors repelling from the protected
and there are steeds whose advance ranks cannot be broken.
An evening in which their husbands cannot protect the women,
وَثَمَّand there الحُماةُthe defenders الذائِدونَthose warding off عَنِfrom الحِمىthe protected domain
وَثَمَّ الحُماةُ الذائِدونَ عَنِ الحِمى
عَشيَّةَon an evening لاnot يَحميdefend النِساءَthe women بُعولُهاtheir husbands
عَشيَّةَ لا يَحمي النِساءَ بُعولُها
And there are protectors defending the sanctuary,
My father what my father, do not call to one like him,
on an evening when women’s husbands cannot defend them.
The companion of glory from before you and its peer,
أَبيmy father ماwhat a أَبيfather of mine لاnot تَدَّعونَyou claim نَظيرَهُhis equal
أَبي ما أَبي لا تَدَّعونَ نَظيرَهُ
رَديفُthe fellow rider of العُلىhigh glory مِنfrom قَبلِكُمbefore your time وَزَميلُهاand its companion
رَديفُ العُلى مِن قَبلِكُم وَزَميلُها
My father—what a father! You can claim no equal for him:
He carries the burdens, all its bearing,
high glory’s fellow rider and companion long before your time.
And he roars the roar of the honored, their loads,
هُوَhe الحامِلُthe bearer of الأَعباءَthe burdens كَلَّhas grown weary مُطيقُهاtheir able bearer
هُوَ الحامِلُ الأَعباءَ كَلَّ مُطيقُها
وَعَجَّand has cried out عَجيجَwith the bellowing of الموقَراتِthe heavily laden beasts حَمولُهاtheir carrier
وَعَجَّ عَجيجَ الموقَراتِ حَمولُها
He bears the burdens when their able bearer grows weary,
Tall, generous, he creeps into a band,
and their carrier cries out like heavily laden beasts.
So he towers over them, rising, and its height,
طَويلُlong of نِجادٍsword-baldric يَحتَبيsits knee-clasped فيamong عِصابَةٍa band
طَويلُ نِجادٍ يَحتَبي في عِصابَةٍ
فَيَفرَعُهاso he rises above them مُستَعلِياًtowering وَيَطولُهاand surpasses them
فَيَفرَعُها مُستَعلِياً وَيَطولُها
With a long sword-baldric, he sits knee-clasped among a band,
If he attacked, we said the lion pounced together,
yet rises high above them and towers over them.
And if he gave, we said the Nile of Egypt flooded from its sources,
إِذاwhen صالَhe attacks قُلناwe say أَجمَعَhas resolved on اللَيثُthe lion وَثبَةًa leap
إِذا صالَ قُلنا أَجمَعَ اللَيثُ وَثبَةً
وَإِنand if جادَhe gives generously قُلناwe say مَدَّhas surged مِنfrom مِصرَEgypt نيلُهاits Nile
وَإِن جادَ قُلنا مَدَّ مِن مِصرَ نيلُها
When he attacks, we say, “The lion has readied a leap”;
Clement - if a clan turns to him,
and when he gives, we say, “Egypt’s Nile has surged forth.”
Its youth and its elders hurry to him in submission,
حَليمٌforbearing إِذاwhen اِلتَفَّتgathers عَلَيهِaround him عَشيرَةٌa clan
حَليمٌ إِذا اِلتَفَّت عَلَيهِ عَشيرَةٌ
تَطاطاbows low لَهُto him شُبّانُهاits young men وَكُهولُهاand its elders
تَطاطا لَهُ شُبّانُها وَكُهولُها
Forbearing, when a clan gathers around him,
And if one day the herds incline their heads,
its youths and elders bow low before him.
He keeps to the path of guidance, attracting them,
وَإِنand if نُعرَةٌa cry of factional pride يَوماًone day أَمالَتtilts رُؤوسَهاtheir heads
وَإِن نُعرَةٌ يَوماً أَمالَت رُؤوسَها
أَقامَhe stands firm عَلىupon نَهجِthe path of الهُدىguidance يَستَميلُهاwinning them over
أَقامَ عَلى نَهجِ الهُدى يَستَميلُها
And if a cry of factional pride one day tilts their heads,
And he waited for them until their character returned,
he stands firm upon the path of guidance, winning them over.
And he gave them time until their minds returned,
وَأَنظَرَهاand gives them time حَتّىuntil تَعودَreturns حُلومُهاtheir sound judgment
وَأَنظَرَها حَتّى تَعودَ حُلومُها
وَأَمهَلَهاand grants them respite حَتّىuntil تَثوبَcomes back عُقولُهاtheir reason
وَأَمهَلَها حَتّى تَثوبَ عُقولُها
He gives them time until their sound judgment returns,
And he did not extend to them his tolerance, so it exceeded its bridle,
and grants them respite until their reason comes back.
And stumbled over it a stumbling that does not deliver it,
وَلَمand does not يَطوِهاgrant them بِالحِلمِthrough forbearance فَضلَexcess slack زِمامِهاtheir rein
وَلَم يَطوِها بِالحِلمِ فَضلَ زِمامِها
فَتَعثُرَlest they stumble فيهِin it عَثرَةًa stumble لاnot يُقيلُهاhe pardons it
فَتَعثُرَ فيهِ عَثرَةً لا يُقيلُها
He does not, through forbearance, give them excess rein,
So his feared might throws his enemy,
lest they stumble in it with a fall he would not pardon.
And from his generous wealth, his killed is compensated,
فَعَنthus through بَأسِهِhis might المَرهوبِthe dreaded يُرمىis struck عَدوُّهاtheir enemy
فَعَن بَأسِهِ المَرهوبِ يُرمى عَدوُّها
وَمِنand from مالِهِhis wealth المَبذولِfreely given يودىis paid for with blood-money قَتيلُهاtheir slain
وَمِن مالِهِ المَبذولِ يودى قَتيلُها
Through his dreaded might, their enemy is struck down,
Our elders and predecessors to glory,
and from his freely given wealth, blood-money is paid for their slain.
Verily, those are lions, and we are their cubs,
أَكابِرُناour elders وَالسابِقونَand those first إِلىto العُلىhigh glory
أَكابِرُنا وَالسابِقونَ إِلى العُلى
أَلاbehold تِلكَthose آسادٌlions وَنَحنُand we شُبولُهاtheir cubs
أَلا تِلكَ آسادٌ وَنَحنُ شُبولُها
Our elders, who were first to reach high glory—
And I was a cub to one of them, though I am dark,
behold, those are lions, and we are their cubs.
It is a rightful claim that its killed not be humiliated,
وَإِنَّand indeed أُسوداًlions كُنتُI was شِبلاًa cub لِبَعضِهاof some of them
وَإِنَّ أُسوداً كُنتُ شِبلاً لِبَعضِها
لَمَحقوقَةٌare surely entitled أَنthat لاnot يُذَلَّbe abased قَتيلُهاtheir slain
لَمَحقوقَةٌ أَن لا يُذَلَّ قَتيلُها
And lions, of some of whom I was a cub,
surely deserve that their slain should never be abased.
Partial English translation: 108 of 110 Arabic lines translated.