تشكىcomplains قلوصيmy young she-camel اليto me الوجىsoreness of the feet
تشكى قلوصي الي الوجى
تجرshe drags السريحthe leather thongs وتبليand she wears out الحذاماthe girth-strap (uncertain reading)
تجر السريح وتبلي الحذاما
My young she-camel complains to me of sore feet.
My heart complains to the beloved
She drags her leather thongs and wears out the girth.
The wind blows and wears out the tent pegs
تزورshe visits كريماa generous man لهhe has عندهاwith her
تزور كريما له عندها
يدa favor لاnot تعدcan be counted وتهديand she offers السلاماgreetings
يد لا تعد وتهدي السلاما
She visits a generous man who has done her
It visits a generous man who has
a favor beyond reckoning, and she brings greetings.
A hand that knows no limit and bids peace
وقلand it is scant ثواباas recompense لهfor him أنهاthat she
وقل ثوابا له أنها
تجيدshe crafts skillfully القوافيthe rhymes عاماa year فعاماthen another year
تجيد القوافي عاما فعاما
And it is scant recompense for him that she
Tell him he deserves reward
fashions fine rhymes, year after year.
For excelling at rhymes year after year
وسادتand ruled معداMaʿadd علىdespite رغمهاits reluctance
وسادت معدا على رغمها
قريشQuraysh وسدتand you ruled قريشاQuraysh غلاماas a boy
قريش وسدت قريشا غلاما
And Maʿadd was ruled against its will
And he ruled, despite his foe
by Quraysh; you ruled Quraysh as a boy.
Quraysh, and made Quraysh a boy
جعلتyou were appointed علىover الأمرthe affair فيهin it صغاcrookedness
جعلت على الأمر فيه صغا
فماand did not زالcease غمركyour pressure حتىuntil استقاماit became straight
فما زال غمرك حتى استقاما
You were set over an affair that was crooked;
He made the matter easy for the weak
and your pressure never ceased until it stood straight.
So your immersion in it straightened
لقيتyou met الزحوفthe advancing armies فقاتلتهاso you fought them
لقيت الزحوف فقاتلتها
فجردتso you unsheathed فيهنamong them عضباkeen حساماa cutting sword
فجردت فيهن عضبا حساما
You met the advancing armies and fought them;
You met setbacks and fought them
then bared among them a keen, cutting sword.
Unleashing in them a sharp sword
تشقyou split القوانسthe helmet crests حتىuntil تناyou reach (word continues)
تشق القوانس حتى تنا
لcompletion of 'you reach' ماwhat تحتهاbeneath them ثمthen تبرىyou hew away العظاماthe bones
ل ما تحتها ثم تبرى العظاما
You split helmet crests until you reach
Splitting the helmets until you exposed
what lies beneath them, then hew through the bones.
What was beneath them then stripped the bones
نزعتyou drew ahead علىwith مهلdeliberation سابقاin the lead
نزعت على مهل سابقا
فماand not زادكadded to you النزعthe advance الاexcept تماماperfection
فما زادك النزع الا تماما
You drew ahead unhurriedly, outstripping others;
You slowly stripped a predecessor
and your advance only added to your perfection.
But stripping him only perfected you
فزادso may increase لكfor you اللَهGod سلطانهHis authority
فزاد لك اللَه سلطانه
وزادand may increase لكfor you الخيرgoodness منهfrom Him فداماso may it endure
وزاد لك الخير منه فداما
So may God increase the authority He grants you,
So may God increase your authority
and increase the good you receive from Him, and may it endure.
And may He increase goodness to you forever