هَلis? عاجِلٌnear-at-hand مِنof مَتاعِthe enjoyment of الحيِّthe tribe مَنظورُawaited
هَل عاجِلٌ مِن مَتاعِ الحيِّ مَنظورُ
أَمor بَيتُthe house of دومَةَDumah بَعدَafter الإِلفِfamiliar companionship مَهجورُdeserted
أَم بَيتُ دومَةَ بَعدَ الإِلفِ مَهجورُ
Is any near-at-hand pleasure of the tribe still awaited,
Is there any hope to obtain the goods of the living that I see,
or is Dumah's house deserted after familiar companionship?
Or is the abode of Duma after a thousand years desolate?
أَمor هَلis? كَبيرٌan old man بَكىwept لَمdid not يَقضِexhaust عَبرَتَهُhis tears
أَم هَل كَبيرٌ بَكى لَم يَقضِ عَبرَتَهُ
إِثرَin the wake of الأَحِبَّةِthe loved ones يَومَon the day of البَينِseparation مَعذورُexcused
إِثرَ الأَحِبَّةِ يَومَ البَينِ مَعذورُ
Or is an old man who wept, his tears unspent,
Or did an elder weep and not finish shedding his tears
after his loved ones on the day of parting, excused?
For his loved ones on the day of parting, excused?
لَكِنbut بِفِرتاجَat Firtaj فَالخَلصاءِthen at al-Khalsa أَنتَyou بِهاin it
لَكِن بِفِرتاجَ فَالخَلصاءِ أَنتَ بِها
فَحَنبَلٍthen at Hanbal فَلِوىthen at the sand-bend of سَرّاءَSarra مَسرورُhappy
فَحَنبَلٍ فَلِوى سَرّاءَ مَسرورُ
But at Firtaj, then al-Khalsa, there you are,
But you are in Firtaj of sincere and loyal people,
then at Hanbal and the sand-bend of Sarra, happy.
So rejoice, O Hanbal, travel cheerfully!
وَبِالأُنَيعِمِand at al-Unay'im يَوماًone day قَدmay تَحِلُّyou encamp بِهِin it
وَبِالأُنَيعِمِ يَوماً قَد تَحِلُّ بِهِ
لَدىbeside خَزازَKhazaz وَمِنهاand from it مَنظَرٌa visible landmark كيرُKir
لَدى خَزازَ وَمِنها مَنظَرٌ كيرُ
And at al-Unay'im, one day, you may encamp,
And one day you arrived at Al-Unayyim,
beside Khazaz, with Kir in view from there.
At the abode of Khazzaz, with an abundant view.
قَدindeed قُلتُI said لِلرَكبِto the riders لَولاif not for أَنَّهُمthat they عَجِلواhurried
قَد قُلتُ لِلرَكبِ لَولا أَنَّهُم عَجِلوا
عوجواturn aside عَلَيَّfor me فَحَيّواthen greet الحَيَّthe tribe أَوor سيرواtravel on
عوجوا عَلَيَّ فَحَيّوا الحَيَّ أَو سيروا
I would have said to the riders, had they not hurried,
I told the caravan, had they not hurried
“Turn aside for me, then greet the tribe, or travel on.
And avoided me, to greet the living or travel on.
قَلَّتwas too little لِحاجَةِfor the desire of نَفسٍa soul لَيلَةٌa night عَرَضَتpresented itself
قَلَّت لِحاجَةِ نَفسٍ لَيلَةٌ عَرَضَت
ثُمَّthen اِقصِدواtravel straight بَعدَهاafter it فيin السَيرِtraveling أَوor جورواstray
ثُمَّ اِقصِدوا بَعدَها في السَيرِ أَو جوروا
A night that offered itself was too short for a soul's desire;
A night passed by the need of a soul,
then afterward travel straight, or stray.”
Then head straight in travel or deviate.
غُرٌّfair-faced غَرائِرُguileless women أَبكارٌvirgins نَشَأنَthey grew up مَعاًtogether
غُرٌّ غَرائِرُ أَبكارٌ نَشَأنَ مَعاً
حُسنُlovely الخَلائِقِin character عَمّاfrom what يُتَّقىis shunned نورُchaste
حُسنُ الخَلائِقِ عَمّا يُتَّقى نورُ
Fair-faced, guileless virgins who grew up together,
Young virgin girls grew up together
lovely in character, keeping clear of whatever is shunned.
Of good character, fearful of what should be feared.
لَبِسنَthey wore رَيطاًfine cloth wraps وَديباجاًand silk brocade وَأَكسِيَةًand cloaks
لَبِسنَ رَيطاً وَديباجاً وَأَكسِيَةً
شَتّىvaried بِهاin them اللَونُthe color إِلّاexcept أَنَّهاthat they are فورُnew
شَتّى بِها اللَونُ إِلّا أَنَّها فورُ
They wore fine wraps, silk brocade, and cloaks,
Wearing fine garments and brocade and robes
varied in color, but all of them new.
Of different colors, though not silk.
لَيسَis not الحَديثُconversation بِنُهبىcommon plunder يَنتَهِبنَthey snatch وَلاnor
لَيسَ الحَديثُ بِنُهبى يَنتَهِبنَ وَلا
سِرٌّa secret يُحَدِّثنَهُthey tell it فيin الحَيِّthe tribe مَنشورُspread abroad
سِرٌّ يُحَدِّثنَهُ في الحَيِّ مَنشورُ
Conversation is no plunder for them to snatch, nor
The talk is not to plunder or eavesdrop,
is any secret they discuss spread through the tribe.
Nor a secret to gossip in the living assemblies.
وَقَدand may تُلافيhelps attain بِيَwith me الحاجاتِthe needs ناجِيَةٌa swift she-camel
وَقَد تُلافي بِيَ الحاجاتِ ناجِيَةٌ
وَجناءُstout-cheeked لاحِقَةُlean الرِجلَينِin the hind legs عَيسورُsturdy
وَجناءُ لاحِقَةُ الرِجلَينِ عَيسورُ
And a swift she-camel may carry me to fulfill my needs,
The necessities of life have evaded me,
stout-cheeked, lean of hind legs, sturdy.
And a nimble she-camel pursues me.
تُساقِطُpours forth المَشيَher gait أَفناناًin varied forms إِذاwhen غَضِبَتshe is angered
تُساقِطُ المَشيَ أَفناناً إِذا غَضِبَت
إِذاwhen أَلَحَّتpress persistently عَلىupon رُكبانِهاher saddle-bearing back الكورُthe saddles
إِذا أَلَحَّت عَلى رُكبانِها الكورُ
She pours forth her paces in varied ways when angered,
She makes the walker stumble if she gets angry,
when the saddles press hard upon her back.
When the fetters cling to her legs.
حَرفٌa lean, tough she-camel أَخوهاher brother أَبوهاher father مِنfrom مُهَجَّنَةٍa crossbred dam
حَرفٌ أَخوها أَبوها مِن مُهَجَّنَةٍ
وَعَمُّهاand her paternal uncle خالُهاher maternal uncle وَجناءُstout-cheeked مِئشيرُhigh-spirited
وَعَمُّها خالُها وَجناءُ مِئشيرُ
Lean and tough, her brother her sire, born of a crossbred dam,
Her companion, her father, is from a mixed breed,
her paternal uncle her maternal uncle—stout-cheeked and spirited.
And her uncle, her maternal uncle, a broker.
وَقَدand indeed ثَوَتshe stayed نِصفَhalf of حَولٍa year أَشهُراًmonths جُدُداًcomplete
وَقَد ثَوَت نِصفَ حَولٍ أَشهُراً جُدُداً
يَسفيscatters dust عَلىover رَحلِهاher saddle بِالحيرَةِat al-Hirah المورُwindblown dust
يَسفي عَلى رَحلِها بِالحيرَةِ المورُ
And she had stayed half a year, full months,
She remained a year and months as if new,
at al-Hirah, windblown dust sifting over her saddle.
Wasting away in Al-Hira with anxiety.
وَقارَفَتand she neared mange وَهيَthough she لَمdid not تَجرَبcontract mange وَباعَand sold لَهاfor her
وَقارَفَت وَهيَ لَم تَجرَب وَباعَ لَها
مِنَsome of الفَصافِصِthe alfalfa بِالنُمِّيِّfor coins سِفسيرُa broker
مِنَ الفَصافِصِ بِالنُمِّيِّ سِفسيرُ
She came close to mange, yet had not caught it; and for her was sold
And she mated though she had no experience,
some alfalfa for coin, by a broker.
And he sold her for money to an outbidder.
أَبقىleft التَهَجُّرُnoonday traveling مِنهاof her بَعدَafter كِدنَتِهاher plumpness
أَبقى التَهَجُّرُ مِنها بَعدَ كِدنَتِها
مِنَof المَحالَةِthe backbone ماthat which يَشغىjuts upward بِهِupon it الكورُthe saddle
مِنَ المَحالَةِ ما يَشغى بِهِ الكورُ
Noonday travel left of her, after her former plumpness,
After her vengeance, estrangement from her
a backbone that makes the saddle jut high.
Is impossible, however much the fetters cling.
تُلقيshe lays down الجِرانَthe underside of her neck وَتَقلَوليand arches up إِذاwhen بَرَكَتshe kneels
تُلقي الجِرانَ وَتَقلَولي إِذا بَرَكَت
كَماjust as تَيَسَّرَwere made ready لِلنَفرِfor the band of men المَهاthe oryxes النورُbright-white
كَما تَيَسَّرَ لِلنَفرِ المَها النورُ
She lays down her neck and arches up when she kneels,
She kicks the neighbors and butts, when she kneels,
as bright-white oryx are readied for a band of men.
As the light was accessible to the people.
كَأَنَّas though هِرّاًa cat جَنيباًtethered alongside تَحتَbeneath غُرضَتِهاher girth
كَأَنَّ هِرّاً جَنيباً تَحتَ غُرضَتِها
وَاِصطَكَّand struck together ديكٌa cock بِرِجلَيهاagainst her two hind legs وَخِنزيرُand a pig
وَاِصطَكَّ ديكٌ بِرِجلَيها وَخِنزيرُ
As though a cat were tethered beneath her girth,
As if a stray dog was under her cover,
and a cock and a pig struck against her hind legs.
And a rooster collided with her legs, and a pig.
كَأَنَّهاas though she were ذوone bearing وُشومٍmarkings بَينَbetween مَأفِقَةٍMa'fiqah
كَأَنَّها ذو وُشومٍ بَينَ مَأفِقَةٍ
وَالقُطقُطانَةِand al-Qutqutanah وَالبُرعومِand al-Bur'um مَذعورُfrightened
وَالقُطقُطانَةِ وَالبُرعومِ مَذعورُ
She is like a marked wild bull between Ma'fiqah
As if she is spotted between miscarriages
and al-Qutqutanah and al-Bur'um, startled.
And barn owls, jerboas, terrified and confused.
أَحَسَّhe sensed رَكزَthe faint sound of قَنيصٍa hunting band مِنfrom بَنيthe sons of أَسَدٍAsad
أَحَسَّ رَكزَ قَنيصٍ مِن بَني أَسَدٍ
فَاِنصاعَthen he veered away مُنثَوِياًdoubling back وَالخَطوُand the stride مَقصورُshortened
فَاِنصاعَ مُنثَوِياً وَالخَطوُ مَقصورُ
He heard the faint sound of hunters from Banu Asad,
The thigh of the wearer of a Qinis-garment felt it
and veered away, doubling back, his steps shortened.
From Bani Asad, so he bent over, and his step faltered.
يَسعىhurries بِغُضفٍwith droop-eared hounds كَأَمثالِlike الحَصىpebbles زَمِعاًtrembling
يَسعى بِغُضفٍ كَأَمثالِ الحَصى زَمِعاً
كَأَنَّas though أَحناكَهاtheir jaws السُفلىlower مَآشيرُsaws
كَأَنَّ أَحناكَها السُفلى مَآشيرُ
The hunters hurry with droop-eared hounds, pebble-like, trembling,
He runs with small gravel-like stones painfully,
as though their lower jaws were saws.
As if her lower jaws are crushing.
حَتّىuntil أُشِبَّwas flushed لَهُنَّfor them الثَورُthe bull مِنfrom كَثَبٍclose by
حَتّى أُشِبَّ لَهُنَّ الثَورُ مِن كَثَبٍ
فَأَرسَلوهُنَّthen they unleashed them لَمdid not يَدرواknow بِماby what ثيرواthey were roused
فَأَرسَلوهُنَّ لَم يَدروا بِما ثيروا
Until the bull was flushed for them at close range,
Until the bulls roused because of her leaping,
and they unleashed them, not knowing what had roused them.
So they let them go, not knowing the result.
وَلّىhe turned away مُجِدّاًin earnest وَأَزمَعنَand they resolved اللَحاقَto catch up بِهِwith him
وَلّى مُجِدّاً وَأَزمَعنَ اللَحاقَ بِهِ
كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were بِجَنبَيهِat his two flanks الزَنابيرُwasps
كَأَنَّهُنَّ بِجَنبَيهِ الزَنابيرُ
He fled in earnest, and they resolved to catch him,
He turned away majestically, and they intended to catch up,
like wasps at his two flanks.
As if they are hornets around his sides.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen قُلتَyou said نالَتهُthey reached him أَوائِلُهاthe first of them
حَتّى إِذا قُلتَ نالَتهُ أَوائِلُها
وَلَوthough if يَشاءُhe wished لَنَجَّتهُwould have saved him المَثابيرُthe rugged ground
وَلَو يَشاءُ لَنَجَّتهُ المَثابيرُ
Until, when you would say their leaders had reached him—
Until when you say the vanguards reached him,
though, had he wished, the rugged ground would have saved him—
Though if he wished, the confusers would have saved him.
كَرَّhe charged back عَلَيهاat them وَلَمand did not يَفشَلfalter يُهارِشُهاhe fights them
كَرَّ عَلَيها وَلَم يَفشَل يُهارِشُها
كَأَنَّهُas though he were بِتَواليهِنَّat their coming in succession مَسرورُdelighted
كَأَنَّهُ بِتَواليهِنَّ مَسرورُ
he charged back at them, unfaltering, fighting them,
He turned upon her and did not fail, harassing her,
as though delighted by their coming one after another.
As if he is pleased with following them.
فَشَكَّهاthen he pierced them بِذَليقٍwith a sharp horn حَدُّهُits point سَلِبٌlong and slender
فَشَكَّها بِذَليقٍ حَدُّهُ سَلِبٌ
كَأَنَّهُas though he were حينَwhen يَعلوهُنَّhe bears down on them مَوتورُbereaved, seeking vengeance
كَأَنَّهُ حينَ يَعلوهُنَّ مَوتورُ
He pierced them with a sharp horn, its point long and slender,
He shook her with a thin that is stripping,
as though, when he bore down on them, he had a loss to avenge.
As if he is agonized when mounting them.
ثُمَّthen اِستَمَرَّhe went on يُباريracing ظِلَّهُhis shadow جَذِلاًgleeful
ثُمَّ اِستَمَرَّ يُباري ظِلَّهُ جَذِلاً
كَأَنَّهُas though he were مَرزُبانٌa marzuban, a Persian governor فازَhe triumphed مَحبورُdelighted
كَأَنَّهُ مَرزُبانٌ فازَ مَحبورُ
Then he went on, racing his shadow, gleeful,
Then he continued, his shadow competing,
as though he were a marzuban, triumphant and delighted.
As if it is a terrified and defeated gambler.
يالَO, help from تَميمٍTamim وَذوand Dhu قارٍQar لَهُit has حَدَبٌswelling waves
يالَ تَميمٍ وَذو قارٍ لَهُ حَدَبٌ
مِنَfrom الرَبيعِthe spring rains وَفيand in شَعبانَSha'ban مَسجورُfull to the brim
مِنَ الرَبيعِ وَفي شَعبانَ مَسجورُ
Help, Tamim! And Dhu Qar has swelling waves
Woe to Tameem and Thow Qaran, he has a hump
from the spring rains, and in Sha'ban it is brimming.
From spring, and in Shaaban fettered!
قَدindeed حَلَّأَتdrove away ناقَتيmy she-camel بُردٌBurd وَراكِبَهاand her rider
قَد حَلَّأَت ناقَتي بُردٌ وَراكِبَها
عَنfrom ماءِthe water of بَصوَةَBaswah يَوماًone day وَهوَthough it was مَجهورُopenly visible
عَن ماءِ بَصوَةَ يَوماً وَهوَ مَجهورُ
Burd drove my she-camel and her rider away
The cold outfitted my she-camels and their rider
from Baswah's water one day, though it lay open to view.
From the water of Baswa one day, and he is assembled.
فَماso not تَناءىtook far away بِهاwith her المَعروفُkindness إِذwhen نَفَرَتshe shied away
فَما تَناءى بِها المَعروفُ إِذ نَفَرَت
حَتّىuntil تَضَمَّنَهاsheltered her الأَفدانُthe palaces وَالدورُand the houses
حَتّى تَضَمَّنَها الأَفدانُ وَالدورُ
So she did not go far to find kindness when she shied away,
Goodwill did not neglect them when they fled
before palaces and houses sheltered her.
Until the valleys and houses gave them refuge.
قَومٌa people لِئامٌbase وَفيand in أَعناقِهِمtheir necks عُنُفٌcoarseness
قَومٌ لِئامٌ وَفي أَعناقِهِم عُنُفٌ
وَسَعيُهُمand their striving دونَbelow سَعيِthe striving of الناسِother people مَبهورُexhausted
وَسَعيُهُم دونَ سَعيِ الناسِ مَبهورُ
A base people, with coarseness in their necks,
Wicked people, with harshness around their necks,
whose striving falls short of others', exhausted.
And their endeavor unlike people's is confused.
وَيلُwoe to اُمِّهِمtheir mother مَعشَراًas a people جُمّاًbare بُيوتُهُمُtheir houses
وَيلُ اُمِّهِم مَعشَراً جُمّاً بُيوتُهُمُ
مِنَof الرِماحِspears وَفيand in المَعروفِkindness تَنكيرُdenial
مِنَ الرِماحِ وَفي المَعروفِ تَنكيرُ
Woe to their mother! A people whose houses are bare
Woe to their mothers, an assembly of insects, their homes
of spears, and who deny all kindness.
With spears, and in goodwill, rejection!
إِذwhen يَشزِرونَthey cast askance إِلَيَّtoward me الظَرفَthe glance (apparent misspelling) عَنfrom عُرُضٍthe side
إِذ يَشزِرونَ إِلَيَّ الظَرفَ عَن عُرُضٍ
كَأَنَّas though أَعيُنَهُمtheir eyes مِنfrom بُغضِهِمtheir hatred عورُblind in one eye
كَأَنَّ أَعيُنَهُم مِن بُغضِهِم عورُ
When they cast their glance askance at me from the side,
When they squint at me spitefully
as though hatred had left their eyes half-blind.
As if their eyes from hatred are defective.
نَكَّبتُهاI turned her aside مائَهُمfrom their water لَمّاwhen رَأَيتَهُمُI saw them
نَكَّبتُها مائَهُم لَمّا رَأَيتَهُمُ
صُهبَtawny السِبالِof moustaches بِأَيديهِمin their hands بَيازيرُmallets
صُهبَ السِبالِ بِأَيديهِم بَيازيرُ
I turned her away from their water when I saw them,
I avoided their water when I saw them,
tawny-moustached, with mallets in their hands.
Evil carriers of buckets in their hands.
مُخَلَّفونَleft behind وَيَقضيand accomplish الناسُthe people أَمرَهُمُtheir affairs
مُخَلَّفونَ وَيَقضي الناسُ أَمرَهُمُ
غُسُّweak الأَمانَةِin trustworthiness صُنبورٌa rootless weakling فَصُنبورُthen another rootless weakling
غُسُّ الأَمانَةِ صُنبورٌ فَصُنبورُ
Left behind, while other people carry out their affairs,
Left behind while people fulfill their purpose,
untrustworthy, one rootless weakling after another.
The worst of trusts, hornets and more hornets!
لَولاwere it not for الهُمامُthe great-hearted lord الَّذيwho تُرجىare hoped for نَوافِلُهُhis gifts
لَولا الهُمامُ الَّذي تُرجى نَوافِلُهُ
لَنالَهُمwould surely have struck them جَحفَلٌa vast army تَشقىsuffer بِهِthrough it العورُthe one-eyed
لَنالَهُم جَحفَلٌ تَشقى بِهِ العورُ
Were it not for the great-hearted lord whose gifts are hoped for,
If not for the aspirations whose supererogations are hoped for,
a great host would strike them, making the one-eyed suffer.
A calamitous army would have made the disabled miserable.
لَولاwere it not for الهُمامُthe great-hearted lord لَقَدsurely خَفَّتsped away نَعامَتُهُمtheir ostrich (their band)
لَولا الهُمامُ لَقَد خَفَّت نَعامَتُهُم
وَقالَand he said راكِبُهُمtheir rider فيamid عُصبَةٍa band سيرواtravel on
وَقالَ راكِبُهُم في عُصبَةٍ سيروا
Were it not for that lord, their ostrich would have bolted,
If not for the aspirations, their ostrich-like ways would have weakened,
and their rider, amid a band, would have said, “Move on!”
And their rider in a group would have said: March on!
يُعلونَthey top بِالقَلَعِwith sailcloth البُصرِيِّfrom Busra هامَهُمُtheir heads
يُعلونَ بِالقَلَعِ البُصرِيِّ هامَهُمُ
وَيُخرِجُand emits الفَسوَfarts مِنfrom تَحتُbelow الدَقاريرُthe breeches
وَيُخرِجُ الفَسوَ مِن تَحتُ الدَقاريرُ
They top their heads with sailcloth from Busra,
Raising the Probhari fortress, their zeal,
and their breeches let out farts below.
And the trash comes out from under the cisterns.
تَناهَقونَyou bray at one another إِذاwhen اِخضَرَّتturned green نِعالُكُمُyour sandals
تَناهَقونَ إِذا اِخضَرَّت نِعالُكُمُ
وَفيand in الحَفيظَةِthe defense of honor أَبرامٌuseless weaklings مَضاجيرُfretful
وَفي الحَفيظَةِ أَبرامٌ مَضاجيرُ
You bray at one another when your sandals turn green,
You strut when your slippers turn green,
but in defending honor, you are useless, fretful men.
And your pockets contain lots of junk.
أَجلَتrevealed مُرَمَّأَةُthe pregnant bearer الأَخبارِof tidings إِذwhen وَلَدَتshe gave birth
أَجلَت مُرَمَّأَةُ الأَخبارِ إِذ وَلَدَت
عَنabout يَومِa day of سَوءٍevil لِعَبدِfor Abd القَيسِal-Qays مَذكورُremembered
عَن يَومِ سَوءٍ لِعَبدِ القَيسِ مَذكورُ
The pregnant bearer of tidings, when she gave birth, disclosed
The reporter of news foretold a bad day
a remembered day of disaster for Abd al-Qays.
For Abd Al-Qays, mentioned and recorded.
إِنَّindeed الرَحيلَthe journey إِلىto قَومٍa people وَإِنand even if بَعُدواthey were far away
إِنَّ الرَحيلَ إِلى قَومٍ وَإِن بَعُدوا
أَمسَواthey came to dwell وَمِنand on دونِهِمthe nearer side of them ثَهلانُThahlan فَالنيرُthen al-Nir
أَمسَوا وَمِن دونِهِم ثَهلانُ فَالنيرُ
Indeed, the journey to a people, however far away
Surely heading to a people, even if distant,
they dwell, with Thahlan and then al-Nir between us—
Is easier than staying with the feeble and weak.
تُلقىare found الأَوَزّونَthe geese فيin أَكنافِthe precincts of دارَتِهاits homestead
تُلقى الأَوَزّونَ في أَكنافِ دارَتِها
تَمشيthey walk وَبَينَand between يَدَيهاits two hands التِبنُthe straw مَنثورُscattered
تَمشي وَبَينَ يَدَيها التِبنُ مَنثورُ
where geese are found around their homestead,
She meets the equipage in the bosoms of its abode,
walking, with straw scattered before them.
Walking with hay scattered before her.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.