عَفاhas faded بَطنُthe valley-floor of قَوٍّQaww مِنof سُلَيمىSulayma فَعالِزُand Aliz
عَفا بَطنُ قَوٍّ مِن سُلَيمى فَعالِزُ
فَذاتُand Dhat الغَضاthe ghada trees فَالمُشرِفاتُand the lofty heights النَواشِزُthe rising ones
فَذاتُ الغَضا فَالمُشرِفاتُ النَواشِزُ
Qaww's valley-floor lies desolate, bereft of Sulayma, and Aliz too,
and Dhat al-Ghada, and the lofty, rising heights.
فَكُلُّfor every خَليلٍfriend غَيرُnot هاضِمِhumbling نَفسِهِhimself
فَكُلُّ خَليلٍ غَيرُ هاضِمِ نَفسِهِ
لِوَصلِto maintain the bond of خَليلٍa friend صارِمٌsevering ties أَوor مُعارِزُstanding aloof
لِوَصلِ خَليلٍ صارِمٌ أَو مُعارِزُ
For every friend who will not humble himself
to keep a friend's bond will break it or stand aloof.
وَمَرتَبَةٍand many a perilous station لاnot يُستَقالُis reprieved بِهاin it الرَدىdeath
وَمَرتَبَةٍ لا يُستَقالُ بِها الرَدى
تَلافىaverted ruin بِهاthere حِلميmy forbearance عَنِagainst الجَهلِfolly حاجِزُa barrier
تَلافى بِها حِلمي عَنِ الجَهلِ حاجِزُ
And many a perilous station where death grants no reprieve—
my forbearance saved me there, a barrier against folly.
وَعَوجاءَand a bent-limbed she-camel مِجذامٍswift-striding وَأَمرِand an undertaking صَريمَةٍof firm resolve
وَعَوجاءَ مِجذامٍ وَأَمرِ صَريمَةٍ
تَرَكتُI left behind بِهاwith her الشَكَّdoubt الَّذيwhich هُوَit عاجِزُis helpless
تَرَكتُ بِها الشَكَّ الَّذي هُوَ عاجِزُ
And many a bent-limbed, swift she-camel, and a resolute undertaking—
with her I left behind doubt, that helpless thing.
كَأَنَّas though قُتوديmy saddle-frames فَوقَupon جَأبٍa sturdy wild ass مُطَرَّدٍlong-bodied
كَأَنَّ قُتودي فَوقَ جَأبٍ مُطَرَّدٍ
مِنَamong الحُقبِthe white-bellied wild asses لاحَتهُwore him lean الجِدادُthe barren mares الغَوارِزُwhose milk has dried up
مِنَ الحُقبِ لاحَتهُ الجِدادُ الغَوارِزُ
As though my saddle-frames were upon a sturdy, long-bodied wild ass,
one of the white-bellied asses, worn lean by barren, milkless mares.
طَوىhe prolonged ظِمأَهاtheir interval without water فيin بَيضَةِthe heart of القَيظِsummer's heat بَعدَafter ماthat
طَوى ظِمأَها في بَيضَةِ القَيظِ بَعدَ ما
جَرَتstreamed فيin عِنانِthe reins of الشِعرِيَينِthe two Shi'ra stars الأَماعِزُthe rocky tracts
جَرَت في عِنانِ الشِعرِيَينِ الأَماعِزُ
He prolonged their thirst in summer's very heart, after
the rocky tracts had streamed in the reins of the two Shi'ra stars.
فَظَلَّتso they remained by day بِيَمئودٍat Yam'ud كَأَنَّas though عُيونَهاtheir eyes
فَظَلَّت بِيَمئودٍ كَأَنَّ عُيونَها
إِلىtoward الشَمسِthe sun هَلwhether تَدنوit draws low رُكِيٌّwells نَواكِزُwith receding water
إِلى الشَمسِ هَل تَدنو رُكِيٌّ نَواكِزُ
They spent the day at Yam'ud, their eyes seeming,
as they watched whether the sun drew low, like dwindling wells.
لَهُنَّthey have صَليلٌa ringing bray يَنتَظِرنَthey await قَضاءَهُhis settling
لَهُنَّ صَليلٌ يَنتَظِرنَ قَضاءَهُ
بِضاحيon an open tract عَذاةٍof sweet soil أَمرَهُhis plan وَهوَwhile he ضامِزُis silent
بِضاحي عَذاةٍ أَمرَهُ وَهوَ ضامِزُ
They brayed shrilly, waiting for him to settle
his plan on open, sweet-soiled ground, while he remained silent.
فَلَمّاthen when رَأَينَthey saw الوِردَseeking water مِنهُfrom him صَريمَةًa firm resolve
فَلَمّا رَأَينَ الوِردَ مِنهُ صَريمَةً
مَضَينَthey went on وَلاقاهُنَّand met them خِلٌّa companion مُجاوِزُpassing ahead
مَضَينَ وَلاقاهُنَّ خِلٌّ مُجاوِزُ
When they saw his firm resolve to seek the water,
they went on, and a companion met them, passing ahead.
وَلَمّاand when رَأىhe saw الإِظلامَoncoming darkness بادَرَهُhe raced to forestall it بِهاwith them
وَلَمّا رَأى الإِظلامَ بادَرَهُ بِها
كَماas بادَرَrushed forward الخَصمُthe adversary اللَجوجُthe stubborn one المُحافِزُthe impetuous one
كَما بادَرَ الخَصمُ اللَجوجُ المُحافِزُ
When he saw darkness coming, he hurried them to beat it,
as a stubborn, impetuous opponent rushes forward.
وَيَمَّمَهاand he directed them مِنfrom بَطنِthe valley-floor of ذَروَةَDharwa رُمَّةًRumma
وَيَمَّمَها مِن بَطنِ ذَروَةَ رُمَّةً
وَمِنand between دونِهاthem and it مِنof رَحرَحانَRahrahan مَفاوِزُdesert wastes
وَمِن دونِها مِن رَحرَحانَ مَفاوِزُ
He headed them from Dharwa's valley-floor toward Rumma,
with wastes of Rahrahan lying between them and it.
عَلَيهاabove them الدُجىlayers of darkness مُستَنشَآتٍrising aloft كَأَنَّهاas though they were
عَلَيها الدُجى مُستَنشَآتٍ كَأَنَّها
هَوادِجُcamel-litters مَشدودٌfastened عَلَيهاover them الجَزاجِزُthe shorn fleeces
هَوادِجُ مَشدودٌ عَلَيها الجَزاجِزُ
Above those wastes rose layers of darkness, as though they were
camel-litters with shorn fleeces fastened over them.
تَفادىthey scatter إِذاwhen اِستَذكىhe grows fierce عَلَيهاtoward them وَتَتَّقيand they shy away
تَفادى إِذا اِستَذكى عَلَيها وَتَتَّقي
كَماas تَتَّقيshy away from الفَحلَthe stallion المَخاضُpregnant she-camels الجَوامِزُthe swift-striding ones
كَما تَتَّقي الفَحلَ المَخاضُ الجَوامِزُ
They scattered when he grew fierce toward them, and shied away,
as swift pregnant camels shy away from the stallion.
وَمَرَّتand they passed بِأَعلىthrough the upper reaches of ذيDhu الأَراكِal-Arak عَشِيَّةًone evening
وَمَرَّت بِأَعلى ذي الأَراكِ عَشِيَّةً
فَصَدَّتthen they turned aside وَقَدthough already كادَتthey nearly بِشَرجٍat Sharj تُجاوِزُpassed beyond
فَصَدَّت وَقَد كادَت بِشَرجٍ تُجاوِزُ
They passed the upper reaches of Dhu al-Arak one evening,
then turned aside, though they had nearly crossed Sharj.
وَهَمَّتand they intended بِوِردِto seek water at القُنَّتَينِal-Qunnatayn فَصَدَّهاbut turned them back
وَهَمَّت بِوِردِ القُنَّتَينِ فَصَدَّها
حَواميthe rocky rims of الكُراعِal-Kura' وَالقِنانُand the peaks اللَواهِزُthe obstructing ones
حَوامي الكُراعِ وَالقِنانُ اللَواهِزُ
They meant to drink at al-Qunnatayn, but were turned back
by the rocky rims of al-Kura' and the obstructing peaks.
وَصَدَّتand they turned aside صُدوداًa marked turning-away عَنfrom ذَريعَةِthe decoy of عَثلَبٍAthlab
وَصَدَّت صُدوداً عَن ذَريعَةِ عَثلَبٍ
وَلِاِبنَيand the two sons of غِمارٍGhimar فيin الصُدورِtheir breasts حَزائِزُhad rankling pains
وَلِاِبنَي غِمارٍ في الصُدورِ حَزائِزُ
They turned far aside from Athlab's decoy,
and Ghimar's two sons bore rankling pains in their breasts.
وَلَوand had ثَقِفاهاthe two caught them ضُرِّجَتthey would have been stained red مِنwith دِمائِهاtheir blood
وَلَو ثَقِفاها ضُرِّجَت مِن دِمائِها
كَماas جُلِّلَتwere covered فيهاthere القِرامَwith patterned cloth الرَجائِزُthe camel-litters
كَما جُلِّلَت فيها القِرامَ الرَجائِزُ
Had those two caught them, they would have been stained red with their blood,
as camel-litters there are covered in patterned cloth.
وَحَلَّأَهاand drove them away عَنfrom ذيDhu الأَراكَةِal-Araka عامِرٌAmir
وَحَلَّأَها عَن ذي الأَراكَةِ عامِرٌ
أَخوa kinsman of الخُضرِal-Khudr يَرميhe shoots حَيثُwhere تُكوىare cauterized النَواحِزُcough-stricken camels
أَخو الخُضرِ يَرمي حَيثُ تُكوى النَواحِزُ
Amir drove them away from Dhu al-Araka,
a kinsman of al-Khudr, aiming where coughing camels are cauterized.
قَليلُhaving little التِلادِinherited wealth غَيرَexcept قَوسٍa bow وَأَسهُمٍand arrows
قَليلُ التِلادِ غَيرَ قَوسٍ وَأَسهُمٍ
كَأَنَّas though الَّذيthe creature that يَرميhe shoots مِنَamong الوَحشِwild beasts تارِزُis stiff in death
كَأَنَّ الَّذي يَرمي مِنَ الوَحشِ تارِزُ
He had little inherited wealth beyond a bow and arrows,
and the wild creature he shot seemed already stiff in death.
مُطِلّاًspilling blood unavenged بِزُرقٍwith blue arrowheads ماnot يُداوىis healed رَمِيُّهاtheir stricken prey
مُطِلّاً بِزُرقٍ ما يُداوى رَمِيُّها
وَصَفراءَand a yellow bow مِنof نَبعٍnab' wood عَلَيهاon it الجَلائِزُsinew bindings
وَصَفراءَ مِن نَبعٍ عَلَيها الجَلائِزُ
Spilling blood with blue arrowheads whose stricken prey cannot be healed,
and a yellow nab'-wood bow wrapped in sinew bindings.
تَخَيَّرَهاselected it القَوّاسُthe bow-maker مِنfrom فَرعِa branch of ضالَةٍa dal tree
تَخَيَّرَها القَوّاسُ مِن فَرعِ ضالَةٍ
لَهاit has شَذَبٌbranches مِنfrom دونِهاbelow it وَحَواجِزُand obstructions
لَها شَذَبٌ مِن دونِها وَحَواجِزُ
The bow-maker chose it from a branch of a dal tree,
with boughs and obstructions beneath it.
نَمَتit grew فيin مَكانٍa place كَنَّهاthat sheltered it وَاِستَوَتand grew straight بِهِin it
نَمَت في مَكانٍ كَنَّها وَاِستَوَت بِهِ
فَماso whatever دونَهاwas below it مِنof غيلِهاits thicket مُتَلاحِزُwas closely tangled
فَما دونَها مِن غيلِها مُتَلاحِزُ
It grew in a place that sheltered it and stood straight there;
the growth of its thicket below it was densely tangled.
فَماand never زالَceased يَنجوhe cuts away كُلَّevery رَطبٍgreen branch وَيابِسٍand dry branch
فَما زالَ يَنجو كُلَّ رَطبٍ وَيابِسٍ
وَيَنغَلُّand he worms through حَتّىuntil نالَهاhe reached it وَهوَwhile he بارِزُwas out in the open
وَيَنغَلُّ حَتّى نالَها وَهوَ بارِزُ
He kept cutting away every green and dry branch,
and worming through until he reached it, out in the open.
فَأَنحىthen he swung إِلَيهاtoward it ذاتَone possessing حَدٍّa sharp edge غُرابُهاits cutting beak
فَأَنحى إِلَيها ذاتَ حَدٍّ غُرابُها
عَدُوٌّan enemy لِأَوساطِto the middles of العِضاهِthorn-trees مُشارِزُfiercely attacking
عَدُوٌّ لِأَوساطِ العِضاهِ مُشارِزُ
Then he swung toward it a sharp-edged axe, whose beak
was a fierce enemy to the trunks of thorn-trees.
فَلَمّاthen when اِطمَأَنَّتit settled securely فيin يَدَيهِhis two hands رَأىhe saw غِنىًwealth
فَلَمّا اِطمَأَنَّت في يَدَيهِ رَأى غِنىً
أَحاطَsurrounded بِهِhim وَاِزوَرَّand he turned aside عَمَّنfrom those whom يُحاوِزُhe bargained with
أَحاطَ بِهِ وَاِزوَرَّ عَمَّن يُحاوِزُ
Once it rested firmly in his hands, he saw wealth
enfold him, and turned aside from those with whom he bargained.
فَمَظَّعَهاso he seasoned it in its bark عامَينِfor two years ماءَthe moisture of لِحائِهاits bark
فَمَظَّعَها عامَينِ ماءَ لِحائِها
وَيَنظُرُand he examines مِنهاof it أَيَّهاwhich part of it هُوَit غامِزُis weak
وَيَنظُرُ مِنها أَيَّها هُوَ غامِزُ
For two years he let it drink the moisture of its bark,
watching to see which part of it was weak.
أَقامَstraightened الثِقافُthe straightening jig وَالطَريدَةُand the shaping-tool دَرأَهاits crookedness
أَقامَ الثِقافُ وَالطَريدَةُ دَرأَها
كَماas قَوَّمَتcorrected ضِغنَthe resentment of الشَموسِa restive horse المَهامِزُthe spurs
كَما قَوَّمَت ضِغنَ الشَموسِ المَهامِزُ
The straightening jig and shaping-tool corrected its crookedness,
as spurs correct a restive horse's resentment.
فَوافىthen he came بِهاwith it أَهلَto the people of المَواسِمِthe seasonal fairs فَاِنبَرىand forward stepped
فَوافى بِها أَهلَ المَواسِمِ فَاِنبَرى
لَهاfor it بَيِّعٌa buyer يُغليraising بِهاfor it السَومَthe offer رائِزُappraising
لَها بَيِّعٌ يُغلي بِها السَومَ رائِزُ
He brought it to the people of the seasonal fairs, and forward came
a buyer, appraising it and raising the offer for it.
فَقالَthen he said لَهُto him هَلwill تَشتَريهاyou buy it فَإِنَّهاfor it
فَقالَ لَهُ هَل تَشتَريها فَإِنَّها
تُباعُis sold بِماfor what بيعَwere sold for التِلادُancestral possessions الحَرائِزُthe treasured ones
تُباعُ بِما بيعَ التِلادُ الحَرائِزُ
He asked him, 'Will you buy it? For it
sells for what treasured ancestral possessions fetch.'
فَقالَthen he said إِزارٌa waist-wrap شَرعَبِيٌّShar'abi وَأَربَعٌand four
فَقالَ إِزارٌ شَرعَبِيٌّ وَأَربَعٌ
مِنَof السِيَراءِstriped silk garments أَوor أَواقٍounces نَواجِزُpaid outright
مِنَ السِيَراءِ أَو أَواقٍ نَواجِزُ
He answered, 'A Shar'abi waist-wrap and four
striped silk garments, or ounces paid outright—
ثَمانٍeight مِنَof الكيرِيِّforge-refined gold حُمرٌred كَأَنَّهاas though they were
ثَمانٍ مِنَ الكيرِيِّ حُمرٌ كَأَنَّها
مِنَof الجَمرِembers ماthose which ذَكّىkindled عَلىupon النارِthe fire خابِزُa baker
مِنَ الجَمرِ ما ذَكّى عَلى النارِ خابِزُ
eight of forge-refined gold, red as though they were
embers a baker had kindled on the fire;
وَبُردانِand two cloaks مِنof خالٍkhal cloth وَتِسعونَand ninety دِرهَماًdirhams
وَبُردانِ مِن خالٍ وَتِسعونَ دِرهَماً
وَمَعand with ذاكَthat مَقروظٌacacia-tanned مِنَof الجِلدِhide ماعِزُgoat
وَمَع ذاكَ مَقروظٌ مِنَ الجِلدِ ماعِزُ
and two khal-cloth cloaks, and ninety dirhams,
and with that a goatskin tanned with acacia.'
فَظَلَّso he kept يُناجيprivately consulting نَفسَهُhis soul وَأَميرَهاand its commander
فَظَلَّ يُناجي نَفسَهُ وَأَميرَها
أَيَأتيshould he accept الَّذيwhat يُعطىhe is offered بِهاfor it أَمor يُجاوِزُpass it by
أَيَأتي الَّذي يُعطى بِها أَم يُجاوِزُ
So he kept conferring with his soul and its commander:
should he accept what he was offered for it, or pass it by?
فَقالواthen they said لَهُto him بايِعstrike a bargain with أَخاكَyour brother وَلاand not يَكُنlet there be
فَقالوا لَهُ بايِع أَخاكَ وَلا يَكُن
لَكَfor you اليَومَtoday عَنaway from رِبحٍprofit مِنَfrom البَيعِthe sale لاهِزُa deterrent
لَكَ اليَومَ عَن رِبحٍ مِنَ البَيعِ لاهِزُ
They said, 'Strike a bargain with your brother, and let there be
nothing today to turn you from profit in the sale.'
فَلَمّاthen when شَراهاhe sold it فاضَتِoverflowed العَينُthe eye عَبرَةًwith tears
فَلَمّا شَراها فاضَتِ العَينُ عَبرَةً
وَفيand in الصَدرِthe breast حُزّازٌa rankling ache مِنَof الوَجدِgrief حامِزُbiting
وَفي الصَدرِ حُزّازٌ مِنَ الوَجدِ حامِزُ
When he sold it, his eye overflowed with tears,
and a biting ache of grief filled his breast.
وَذاقَand he tested فَأَعطَتهُthen it gave him مِنَof اللينِsuppleness جانِباًa measure
وَذاقَ فَأَعطَتهُ مِنَ اللينِ جانِباً
كَفىsufficient وَلَهاًand it has أَنto يُغرِقَdraw fully السَهمَthe arrow حاجِزُa check
كَفى وَلَهاً أَن يُغرِقَ السَهمَ حاجِزُ
He tried it, and it yielded him a measure of suppleness,
enough; yet it had a check against drawing the arrow fully.
إِذاwhen أَنبَضَtwang الرامونَthe archers عَنهاfrom it تَرَنَّمَتit sings
إِذا أَنبَضَ الرامونَ عَنها تَرَنَّمَت
تَرَنُّمَthe lament of ثَكلىa bereaved mother أَوجَعَتهاpained her الجَنائِزُthe funeral biers
تَرَنُّمَ ثَكلى أَوجَعَتها الجَنائِزُ
When archers twang it, it sings
the lament of a bereaved mother pained by funeral biers.
قَذوفٌfar-shooting إِذاwhen ماever خالَطَstrikes الظَبيَthe gazelle سَهمُهاits arrow
قَذوفٌ إِذا ما خالَطَ الظَبيَ سَهمُها
وَإِنand if ريغَevasion is attempted مِنهاfrom it أَسلَمَتهُabandon it النَواقِزُthe bounding limbs
وَإِن ريغَ مِنها أَسلَمَتهُ النَواقِزُ
Far-shooting: when its arrow strikes a gazelle,
even if escape is attempted, its bounding legs betray it.
كَأَنَّas though عَلَيهاupon it زَعفَراناًsaffron تُميرُهُsupply it
كَأَنَّ عَلَيها زَعفَراناً تُميرُهُ
خَوازِنُthe storekeepers of عَطّارٍa perfumer يَمانٍYemeni كَوانِزُhoarding
خَوازِنُ عَطّارٍ يَمانٍ كَوانِزُ
As though saffron lay upon it, supplied
by the hoarding storekeepers of a Yemeni perfumer.
إِذاwhen سَقَطَfalls الأَنداءُthe dew صينَتit is protected وَأُكرِمَتand honored
إِذا سَقَطَ الأَنداءُ صينَت وَأُكرِمَت
حَبيراًwith fine patterned cloth وَلَمand not تُدرَجare wrapped عَلَيهاaround it المَعاوِزُworn-out rags
حَبيراً وَلَم تُدرَج عَلَيها المَعاوِزُ
When the dews fall, it is protected and honored
in fine patterned cloth; no worn rags are wrapped around it.
فَلَمّاthen when رَأَينَthey saw الماءَthe water قَدalready حالَstood as a barrier دونَهُbefore it
فَلَمّا رَأَينَ الماءَ قَد حالَ دونَهُ
زُعافٌdeadly poison لَدىat جَنبِthe edge of الشَريعَةِthe watering-place كارِزُlurking
زُعافٌ لَدى جَنبِ الشَريعَةِ كارِزُ
When they saw the water, already barred by
deadly poison lurking beside the watering-place,
شَكَكنَthey threaded through بِأَحساءِthe seepage pools of الذِنابِal-Dhinab عَلىon هُدىًa sure course
شَكَكنَ بِأَحساءِ الذِنابِ عَلى هُدىً
كَماas تابَعَتfollowed in succession سَردَthe stitching of العِنانِthe rein الخَوارِزُthe leather-stitchers
كَما تابَعَت سَردَ العِنانِ الخَوارِزُ
they threaded the seepage pools of al-Dhinab on a sure course,
as leather-stitchers follow a rein's line of stitching.
وَلَمّاand when اِستَغاثَتthey cried for help وَالهَواديand the guides عُيونُهاtheir eyes
وَلَمّا اِستَغاثَت وَالهَوادي عُيونُها
مِنَfrom الرُهبِterror قُبلٌturned inward وَالنُفوسُand the souls نَواشِزُrising
مِنَ الرُهبِ قُبلٌ وَالنُفوسُ نَواشِزُ
When they cried for help, their guiding eyes
were crossed with terror, and their souls rose in panic.
فَأَلقَتthen they flung out بِأَيديهاtheir forelegs وَخاضَتand waded in صُدورُهاtheir breasts
فَأَلقَت بِأَيديها وَخاضَت صُدورُها
وَهُنَّwhile they إِلىtoward وَحشِيِّهِنَّtheir outer flanks كَوارِزُhuddled for shelter
وَهُنَّ إِلى وَحشِيِّهِنَّ كَوارِزُ
They threw out their forelegs and waded breast-first,
while they huddled toward their outer flanks.
نَهِلنَthey took first draughts بِمُدّانٍat Muddan مِنَof الماءِwater مَوهِناًlate at night
نَهِلنَ بِمُدّانٍ مِنَ الماءِ مَوهِناً
عَلىin عَجَلٍhaste وَلِلفَريصِand in the shoulder-muscles هَزاهِزُtremors
عَلى عَجَلٍ وَلِلفَريصِ هَزاهِزُ
They took first draughts of water at Muddan, late at night,
in haste, their shoulder-muscles trembling.
غَدَونَthey went at dawn لَهُto him صُعرَtilted الخُدودِin the cheeks كَماas غَدَتrose
غَدَونَ لَهُ صُعرَ الخُدودِ كَما غَدَت
عَلىat ماءِthe water of يَمئودَYam'ud الدِلاءُthe buckets النَواهِزُbeing hoisted
عَلى ماءِ يَمئودَ الدِلاءُ النَواهِزُ
At dawn they went to him, cheeks tilted, as rise
the hoisted buckets at the water of Yam'ud.
يُحَشرِجُهاhe makes them gasp طَوراًat times وَطَوراًand at times كَأَنَّماas though
يُحَشرِجُها طَوراً وَطَوراً كَأَنَّما
لَهاthey have بِالرُغامىin the windpipes وَالخَياشيمِand nostrils جارِزُa choking cough
لَها بِالرُغامى وَالخَياشيمِ جارِزُ
At times he made them gasp, and at times it was as though
a choking cough filled their windpipes and nostrils.
وَلَمّاand when دَعاهاcalled them مِنfrom أَباطِحِthe gravelly flats of واسِطٍWasit
وَلَمّا دَعاها مِن أَباطِحِ واسِطٍ
دَوائِرُround hollows لَمnot تُضرَبwere pitched عَلَيهاover them الجَرامِزُlittle tents
دَوائِرُ لَم تُضرَب عَلَيها الجَرامِزُ
And when, from Wasit's gravelly flats, they were called
by round hollows with no little tents pitched over them,
حَذاهاhe shod them مِنَwith الصَيداءِstony ground نَعلاًshoes طِراقُهاtheir layers
حَذاها مِنَ الصَيداءِ نَعلاً طِراقُها
حَواميthe rocky rims of الكُراعِal-Kura' المُؤيِداتُthe massive ones العَشاوِزُthe rugged ones
حَوامي الكُراعِ المُؤيِداتُ العَشاوِزُ
he shod them with shoes of stony ground, their layers
the massive, rugged rocky rims of al-Kura'.
فَأَقبَلَهاthen he directed them toward نِجادَthe uplands of قَوَّينَQawwayn وَاِنتَحَتand led onward
فَأَقبَلَها نِجادَ قَوَّينَ وَاِنتَحَت
بِهاwith them طُرُقٌpaths كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were نَحائِزُwoven strips
بِها طُرُقٌ كَأَنَّهُنَّ نَحائِزُ
Then he turned them toward Qawwayn's uplands, and they were led onward
by paths that seemed like woven strips.
حَداهاhe drove them بِرَجعٍwith repeated sounds مِنof نُهاقٍbraying كَأَنَّهُas though he were
حَداها بِرَجعٍ مِن نُهاقٍ كَأَنَّهُ
بِماin what رَدَّsent back لَحياهُhis two jaws إِلىinto الجَوفِthe body's hollow راجِزُa rajaz-chanter
بِما رَدَّ لَحياهُ إِلى الجَوفِ راجِزُ
He drove them with echoing brays, as though he were,
in the sound his jaws sent back into his chest, a rajaz-chanter.
فَأَورَدَهُنَّthen he brought them to المَورَal-Mawr مَورَthe Mawr of حَمامَةًHamama
فَأَورَدَهُنَّ المَورَ مَورَ حَمامَةً
عَلىin كُلِّevery إِجرِيّائِهاmanner of their running هُوَhe رائِزُis an assessor
عَلى كُلِّ إِجرِيّائِها هُوَ رائِزُ
He brought them to al-Mawr, the Mawr of Hamama,
assessing every manner of their running.
يُكَلِّفُهاhe demands of them طَوراًat times مَداهُhis full range إِذاwhen اِلتَوىbecame tortuous
يُكَلِّفُها طَوراً مَداهُ إِذا اِلتَوى
بِهِfor him الوِردُthe approach to water وَاِعوَجَّتand twisted عَلَيهِagainst him المَجاوِزُthe crossings
بِهِ الوِردُ وَاِعوَجَّت عَلَيهِ المَجاوِزُ
At times he pressed them to his full range, when tortuous
was his approach to water, and the crossings twisted against him.
مُحامٍa defender عَلىof عَوراتِهاtheir exposed flanks لاnot يَروعُهاfrightens them
مُحامٍ عَلى عَوراتِها لا يَروعُها
خَيالٌa phantom وَلاnor راميa hunter of الوُحوشِwild beasts المُناهِزُseeking his chance
خَيالٌ وَلا رامي الوُحوشِ المُناهِزُ
He guarded their exposed flanks; they were not startled
by a phantom, nor by a wild-beast hunter seeking his chance.
فَأَصبَحَthen by morning he was فَوقَupon النَشزِthe rise نَشزِthe rise of حَمامَةٍHamama
فَأَصبَحَ فَوقَ النَشزِ نَشزِ حَمامَةٍ
لَهُfor him مَركَضٌa running-ground فيon مُستَوىlevel الأَرضِearth بارِزُopen
لَهُ مَركَضٌ في مُستَوى الأَرضِ بارِزُ
By morning he was on the rise, the rise of Hamama,
with a clear running-ground on the level earth.
وَظَلَّتand they spent the day تَفالىgrooming one another بِاليَفاعِon the upland كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَظَلَّت تَفالى بِاليَفاعِ كَأَنَّها
رِماحٌspears نَحاهاdirected them وِجهَةَtoward الريحِthe wind راكِزُa spear-planter
رِماحٌ نَحاها وِجهَةَ الريحِ راكِزُ
They spent the day grooming one another on the upland, like
spears that a planter had pointed toward the wind.
Translation model: Sol 6.1