تَنَكَّرتِyou became estranged مِنّاfrom us بَعدَafter مَعرِفَةٍacquaintance لَميLamī
تَنَكَّرتِ مِنّا بَعدَ مَعرِفَةٍ لَمي
وَبَعدَand after التَصابيyouthful affection وَالشَبابِand honored youth المُكَرَّمِhonored
وَبَعدَ التَصابي وَالشَبابِ المُكَرَّمِ
Lamī became estranged from us after knowing us,
and after youthful affection and honored youth,
وَبَعدَand after لَياليناour nights بِجَوِّin the valley of سُوَيقَةٍSuwayqa
وَبَعدَ لَيالينا بِجَوِّ سُوَيقَةٍ
فَباعِجَةِthen Bāʿija القِردانِal-Qirdān فَالمُتَثَلَّمِthen al-Mutathallam
فَباعِجَةِ القِردانِ فَالمُتَثَلَّمِ
and after our nights in the valley of Suwayqa,
then at Bāʿijat al-Qirdān, then al-Mutathallam.
وَماand I did not خِفتُfear أَنthat تَبلىwould wear away النَصيحَةُgoodwill بَينَناbetween us
وَما خِفتُ أَن تَبلى النَصيحَةُ بَينَنا
بِهَضبِat the heights of القَليبِal-Qalīb فَالرَقِيِّthen al-Raqī فَعَيهَمِthen ʿAyham
بِهَضبِ القَليبِ فَالرَقِيِّ فَعَيهَمِ
I had not feared that goodwill between us would wear away
at the heights of al-Qalīb, then al-Raqī, then ʿAyham.
فَميطيso go on بِمَيّاطٍto Mayyāṭ وَإِنand if شِئتِyou wish فَاِنعَميthen enjoy
فَميطي بِمَيّاطٍ وَإِن شِئتِ فَاِنعَمي
صَباحاًa morning وَرُدّيand restore بَينَناbetween us الوَصلَthe bond وَاِسلَميand be safe
صَباحاً وَرُدّي بَينَنا الوَصلَ وَاِسلَمي
So go on to Mayyāṭ; or, if you wish, enjoy
a good morning, restore our bond, and be safe.
وَإِنand if لَمnot يَكُنit is إِلّاexcept كَماas قُلتِyou said فَأذَنيthen tell me
وَإِن لَم يَكُن إِلّا كَما قُلتِ فَأذَني
بِصَرمٍof severance وَماand not حاوَلتِyou sought إِلّاexcept لِتَصرِميto sever
بِصَرمٍ وَما حاوَلتِ إِلّا لِتَصرِمي
But if it can only be as you said, then tell me
of a severance; you have sought only to break it off.
لَعَمريby my life لَقَدcertainly بَيَّنتُI made clear يَومَon the day of سُوَيقَةٍSuwayqa
لَعَمري لَقَد بَيَّنتُ يَومَ سُوَيقَةٍ
لِمَنto whoever كانَwas ذاpossessed of لُبٍّsense بِوِجهَةِin the direction of مَنسِمِMansim
لِمَن كانَ ذا لُبٍّ بِوِجهَةِ مَنسِمِ
By my life, I made things clear on the day of Suwayqa
to anyone with sense, by the direction of Mansim.
فَلاso no وَإِلَهيand by my God ماnot غَدَرتُI betrayed بِذِمَّةٍa pledge
فَلا وَإِلَهي ما غَدَرتُ بِذِمَّةٍ
وَإِنَّand indeed أَبيmy father قَبليbefore me لَغَيرُsurely beyond مُذَمَّمِreproach
وَإِنَّ أَبي قَبلي لَغَيرُ مُذَمَّمِ
No, by my God, I have betrayed no pledge,
and my father before me was beyond reproach.
يُجَرِّدُhe draws فيfrom the sheath السِربالِa bright أَبيَضَsharp one صارِماًa sword
يُجَرِّدُ في السِربالِ أَبيَضَ صارِماً
مُبيناًplain لِعَينِto the eye of الناظِرِthe observer المُتَوَسِّمِthe discerning
مُبيناً لِعَينِ الناظِرِ المُتَوَسِّمِ
He draws from its sheath a bright, sharp sword,
plain to the discerning observer’s eye.
يَجودُhe is generous وَيُعطيand gives المالَwealth مِنwithout غَيرِany ضِنَّةٍstinginess
يَجودُ وَيُعطي المالَ مِن غَيرِ ضِنَّةٍ
وَيَضرِبُand strikes أَنفَthe nose of الأَبلَخِthe fool المُتَغَشِّمِthe aggressive
وَيَضرِبُ أَنفَ الأَبلَخِ المُتَغَشِّمِ
He is generous and gives wealth without stinginess,
and strikes the nose of the foolish aggressor.
يُحِلُّhe pitches بِأَوعارٍon rugged ground وَسَهلٍand level ground بُيوتَهُhis tents
يُحِلُّ بِأَوعارٍ وَسَهلٍ بُيوتَهُ
لِمَنfor whoever نابَهُcomes to him مِنamong مُستَجيرٍseekers of refuge وَمُنعِمِand benefactors
لِمَن نابَهُ مِن مُستَجيرٍ وَمُنعِمِ
He pitches his tents on rugged ground and level ground
for any seeker of refuge or benefactor who comes to him,
مَحَلّاًat a place كَوَعساءِlike the sandy rise of القَنافِذِal-Qanāfidh ضارِباًsetting
مَحَلّاً كَوَعساءِ القَنافِذِ ضارِباً
بِهِthere كَنَفاًa shelter كَالمُخدِرِlike one lying hidden المُتَأَجِّمِin a thicket
بِهِ كَنَفاً كَالمُخدِرِ المُتَأَجِّمِ
at a place like the sandy rise of al-Qanāfidh, setting
a shelter there like a lion lying in its thicket.
بِجَنبِbeside حُبَيٍّḤubayy لَيلَتَينِfor two nights كَأَنَّماas though
بِجَنبِ حُبَيٍّ لَيلَتَينِ كَأَنَّما
يُفَرِّطُhe wards off نَحساًill luck أَوor يُفيضُcasts lots بِأَسهُمِwith arrows
يُفَرِّطُ نَحساً أَو يُفيضُ بِأَسهُمِ
Beside Ḥubayy for two nights, as though
he were warding off ill luck or drawing lots with arrows.
يُجَلجِلُهاhe rattles them طَورَينِtwice ثُمَّthen يُفيضُهاcasts them
يُجَلجِلُها طَورَينِ ثُمَّ يُفيضُها
كَماas أُرسِلَتthey were cast مَخشوبَةًrough-hewn لَمnot تُقَوَّمِstraightened
كَما أُرسِلَت مَخشوبَةً لَم تُقَوَّمِ
He rattles them twice, then casts them out,
as rough-hewn arrows are cast before being straightened.
تَمَتَّعنَthey took their fill مِنfrom ذاتِDhāt الشُقوقِal-Shuqūq بِشَربَةٍwith a drink
تَمَتَّعنَ مِن ذاتِ الشُقوقِ بِشَربَةٍ
وَوازَنَّand they kept pace مِنfrom أَعلىthe heights of جُفافَJufāf بِمَخرِمِthrough a pass
وَوازَنَّ مِن أَعلى جُفافَ بِمَخرِمِ
They took their fill of a drink at Dhāt al-Shuqūq,
and kept pace from the heights of Jufāf through a mountain pass.
صَبَحنَat dawn they reached بَنيthe sons of عَبسٍʿAbs وَأَفناءَand the branches of عامِرٍʿĀmir
صَبَحنَ بَني عَبسٍ وَأَفناءَ عامِرٍ
بِصادِقَةٍwith a true جَودٍflood مِنَof الماءِwater وَالدَمِand blood
بِصادِقَةٍ جَودٍ مِنَ الماءِ وَالدَمِ
At dawn they came upon Banū ʿAbs and the branches of ʿĀmir
with a true, abundant flood of water and blood.
لَحَينَهُمُthey struck them لَحيَa striking of العَصاthe stick فَطَرَدنَهُمthen drove them
لَحَينَهُمُ لَحيَ العَصا فَطَرَدنَهُم
إِلىto سَنَةٍa year جِرذانُهاwhose rats لَمnot تَحَلَّمِhad grown mature
إِلى سَنَةٍ جِرذانُها لَم تَحَلَّمِ
They struck them as a stick is struck, then drove them
into a year whose rats had not yet grown mature,
بِأَرعَنَwith a towering host مِثلَlike الطَودِthe mountain غَيرَwithout أُشابَةٍrabble
بِأَرعَنَ مِثلَ الطَودِ غَيرَ أُشابَةٍ
تَناجَزَmet in battle أولاهُits foremost part وَلَمand did not يَتَصَرَّمِcome to an end
تَناجَزَ أولاهُ وَلَم يَتَصَرَّمِ
with a towering host like a mountain, free of rabble;
its front ranks met the fight while its length had no end.
وَيَخلِجنَهُمand they drew them away مِنfrom كُلِّevery صَمدٍhigh ground وَرِجلَةٍand lowland
وَيَخلِجنَهُم مِن كُلِّ صَمدٍ وَرِجلَةٍ
وَكُلِّand every غَبيطٍbroad hollow بِالمُغيرَةِwith raiders مُفعَمِfilled
وَكُلِّ غَبيطٍ بِالمُغيرَةِ مُفعَمِ
They drew them away from every high ground and lowland
and every broad hollow filled with raiders.
فَأَعقَبَso brought in his wake خَيراًgood كُلُّevery أَهوَجَimpetuous man مِهرَجٍbattle seasoned
فَأَعقَبَ خَيراً كُلُّ أَهوَجَ مِهرَجٍ
وَكُلِّand every مُفَدّاةِcherished one العُلالَةِgiven a second drink صِلدِمِsturdy
وَكُلِّ مُفَدّاةِ العُلالَةِ صِلدِمِ
So every impetuous, battle seasoned man brought good in his wake,
and every cherished, hard, sturdy mount as well.
لَعَمرُكَby your life إِنّاindeed we وَالأَحاليفُand the confederates هَؤُلاthese
لَعَمرُكَ إِنّا وَالأَحاليفُ هَؤُلا
لَفيsurely in حِقبَةٍan age أَظفارُهاwhose claws لَمnot تُقَلَّمِhave been trimmed
لَفي حِقبَةٍ أَظفارُها لَم تُقَلَّمِ
By your life, we and these confederates
are in an age whose claws have not been trimmed.
فَإِنso if كُنتَyou are لاnot تَدعوcalling إِلىto غَيرِanything other than نافِعٍbeneficial
فَإِن كُنتَ لا تَدعو إِلى غَيرِ نافِعٍ
فَدَعنيthen leave me وَأَكرِمand honor مَنwhoever بَداappears لَكَto you وَاِذأَمِand blame
فَدَعني وَأَكرِم مَن بَدا لَكَ وَاِذأَمِ
If you call only for what brings benefit,
leave me be, honor whoever appears before you, and blame whom you will.
فَعِنديfor I possess قُروضُrepayments الخَيرِof good وَالشَرِّand evil كُلِّهِall of it
فَعِندي قُروضُ الخَيرِ وَالشَرِّ كُلِّهِ
فَبُؤسىso hardship لَدىin return for بُؤسىhardship وَنُعمىand favor لِأَنعُمِfor favors
فَبُؤسى لَدى بُؤسى وَنُعمى لِأَنعُمِ
I have the means to repay all good and evil:
hardship for hardship, and favor for favors.
فَماso not أَناI إِلّاexcept مُستَعِدٌّready كَماas تَرىyou see
فَما أَنا إِلّا مُستَعِدٌّ كَما تَرى
أَخوa companion شُرَكَيِّof the two partners at الوِردِthe watering place غَيرُnever مُعَتَّمِlate
أَخو شُرَكَيِّ الوِردِ غَيرُ مُعَتَّمِ
As you see, I stand ready,
a companion at the shared watering place, never late.
هِجاؤُكَyour abuse إِلّاexcept أَنَّthat ماwhat كانَwas قَدalready مَضىpast
هِجاؤُكَ إِلّا أَنَّ ما كانَ قَد مَضى
عَلَيَّupon me كَأَثوابِlike garments of الحَرامِthe forbidden المُهينِمِthe ill fitting
عَلَيَّ كَأَثوابِ الحَرامِ المُهينِمِ
Your abuse—except that what has already passed
lies upon me like the garments of a forbidden thing, ill fitting.
وَمُستَعجِبٍand one who marvels مِمّاat what يَرىhe sees مِنof أَناتِناour patience
وَمُستَعجِبٍ مِمّا يَرى مِن أَناتِنا
وَلَوand if زَبَنَتهُit kicked him الحَربُwar لَمnot يَتَرَمرَمِwould he utter a word
وَلَو زَبَنَتهُ الحَربُ لَم يَتَرَمرَمِ
Someone marvels at the patience he sees in us;
if war kicked him, he would not utter a word.
فَإِنّاfor indeed we وَجَدناfound العِرضَhonor أَحوَجُmore in need ساعَةًat a moment
فَإِنّا وَجَدنا العِرضَ أَحوَجُ ساعَةً
إِلىof الصَونِprotection مِنthan a cloth رَيطٍYemeni يَمانٍpatterned with stripes and arrows; بن here means than, not a token in this line مُسَهَّمِpatterned
إِلى الصَونِ مِن رَيطٍ يَمانٍ مُسَهَّمِ
For we have found that honor, at its moment of need,
needs guarding more than a patterned Yemeni cloth.
أَرىI see حَربَthe war of أَقوامٍpeoples تَدِقُّgrow slight وَحَربَناwhile our war
أَرى حَربَ أَقوامٍ تَدِقُّ وَحَربَنا
تَجِلُّgrows great فَنَعرَوريso we mount بِهاwith it كُلَّevery مُعظَمِformidable thing
تَجِلُّ فَنَعرَوري بِها كُلَّ مُعظَمِ
I see that other peoples’ wars grow slight, while ours
grow great, and we mount every formidable challenge.
تَرىyou see الأَرضَthe land مِنّاfrom us بِالفَضاءِin the open مَريضَةًsick
تَرى الأَرضَ مِنّا بِالفَضاءِ مَريضَةً
مُعَضِّلَةًhard pressed مِنّاby us بِجَمعٍwith a host عَرَمرَمِimmense
مُعَضِّلَةً مِنّا بِجَمعٍ عَرَمرَمِ
You see the open land sick under our weight,
struggling with our immense host.
وَإِنand if مُقرَمٌa prized male مِنّاof ours ذَراis worn down حَدُّthe edge of نابِهِhis fang
وَإِن مُقرَمٌ مِنّا ذَرا حَدُّ نابِهِ
تَخَمَّطَrages فيناamong us نابُthe fang of آخَرَanother مُقرَمِprized male
تَخَمَّطَ فينا نابُ آخَرَ مُقرَمِ
And if one of our prized warriors wears down the edge of his fang,
another prized warrior’s fang rages among us.
لَناwe have مَرجَمٌa weapon نَنفيwe drive away بِهِwith it عَنfrom بِلادِناour lands
لَنا مَرجَمٌ نَنفي بِهِ عَن بِلادِنا
وَكُلُّand all تَميمٍTamīm يَرجُمونَthey hurl بِمَرجَمِwith a weapon
وَكُلُّ تَميمٍ يَرجُمونَ بِمَرجَمِ
We have a weapon with which we drive foes from our lands,
and all Tamīm hurl their missiles with such a weapon.
أُسَيِّدُUsayyid أَبناءٌsons لَهُhe has قَدindeed تَتابَعواhave followed one another
أُسَيِّدُ أَبناءٌ لَهُ قَد تَتابَعوا
نُجومُstars سَماءٍof a sky مِنfrom تَميمٍTamīm بِمَعلَمِas a landmark
نُجومُ سَماءٍ مِن تَميمٍ بِمَعلَمِ
Usayyid has sons who have come one after another,
stars in Tamīm’s sky, each a landmark.
تَرَكتُI left الخَبيثَthe base thing لَمnot أُشارِكI took part وَلَمand not أَدِقI tasted
تَرَكتُ الخَبيثَ لَم أُشارِك وَلَم أَدِق
وَلَكِنbut أَعَفَّkept pure اللَهُGod ماليmy wealth وَمَطعَميand my food
وَلَكِن أَعَفَّ اللَهُ مالي وَمَطعَمي
I left what was base; I neither took part nor tasted it,
and God kept my wealth and food pure.
فَقَوميso my people وَأَعدائيand my enemies يَظُنّونَthink أَنَّنيthat I
فَقَومي وَأَعدائي يَظُنّونَ أَنَّني
مَتىwhenever يُحدِثواthey do أَمثالَهاthe like of it أَتَكَلَّمِI speak
مَتى يُحدِثوا أَمثالَها أَتَكَلَّمِ
My people and my enemies think that I
will speak whenever they do the like again.
رَأَتنيsaw me مَعَدٌّMaʿadd مُعلِماًmarked out فَتَناذَرَتso they warned one another
رَأَتني مَعَدٌّ مُعلِماً فَتَناذَرَت
مُبادَهَتيof confronting me أَمشيI walk بِرايَةِwith a banner of مُعلَمِa marked man
مُبادَهَتي أَمشي بِرايَةِ مُعلَمِ
Maʿadd saw me bearing a distinguishing mark and warned one another
against confronting me as I walked beneath a marked banner.
فَتَنهىso restrains ذَويthose possessing الأَحلامِgood sense عَنّيfrom me حُلومُهُمtheir judgment
فَتَنهى ذَوي الأَحلامِ عَنّي حُلومُهُم
وَأَرفَعُand I raise صَوتيmy voice لِلنِعامِto the ostriches المُصَلَّمِthe maimed
وَأَرفَعُ صَوتي لِلنِعامِ المُصَلَّمِ
Their good sense restrains the prudent from facing me,
while I raise my voice to the maimed ostriches.
وَإِنand if هَزَّbrandished أَقوامٌsome people إِلَيَّtoward me وَحَدَّدواand sharpened
وَإِن هَزَّ أَقوامٌ إِلَيَّ وَحَدَّدوا
كَسَوتُهُمُI clothed them مِنwith حَبرِpatterned cloth بَزٍّof fabric مُتَحَّمِdark colored
كَسَوتُهُمُ مِن حَبرِ بَزٍّ مُتَحَّمِ
And if some people brandish and sharpen weapons against me,
I clothe them in dark, patterned cloth.
يُخَيَّلُit seems فيaround the necks الأَعناقِfrom us مِنّاa disgraceful mark; خِزايَةٌ means disgraceful mark here, not a separate token خِزايَةٌa disgrace
يُخَيَّلُ في الأَعناقِ مِنّا خِزايَةٌ
أَوابِدُهاits lasting marks تَهويdescend إِلىto كُلِّevery مَوسِمِgathering
أَوابِدُها تَهوي إِلى كُلِّ مَوسِمِ
It seems that shame from us hangs around their necks,
its lasting marks descending upon every gathering.
وَقَدand indeed رامَtried بَحريmy sea بَعدَafter ذَلِكَthat طامِياًsurging
وَقَد رامَ بَحري بَعدَ ذَلِكَ طامِياً
مِنَfrom الشُعَراءِthe poets كُلُّevery عَودٍseasoned one وَمُقحَمِand headlong entrant
مِنَ الشُعَراءِ كُلُّ عَودٍ وَمُقحَمِ
After that, every poet who waded in or plunged headlong
tried to enter my sea while it was surging.
فَفاؤواso they returned وَلَوand if أَسطوI strike عَلىat أُمِّthe mother of بَعضِهِمsome of them
فَفاؤوا وَلَو أَسطو عَلى أُمِّ بَعضِهِم
أَصاخَhe cocked his ear فَلَمyet not يُنصِتhe listened وَلَمand not يَتَكَلَّمِhe spoke
أَصاخَ فَلَم يُنصِت وَلَم يَتَكَلَّمِ
They turned back; were I to strike at one of their mothers,
he would cock his ear, yet neither listen nor speak.
عَلىat حينِthe time when أَنthat تَمَّripened الذَكاءُintelligence وَأَدرَكَتand matured
عَلى حينِ أَن تَمَّ الذَكاءُ وَأَدرَكَت
قَريحَةُthe gift of حِسيٍḤisī مِنof شُرَيحٍShurayḥ مُغَمِّمِcloud covered
قَريحَةُ حِسيٍ مِن شُرَيحٍ مُغَمِّمِ
That was when intelligence had ripened and the gift had matured
of Ḥisī’s son, of Shurayḥ, amid gathering clouds.
بَنِيَّmy sons وَماليand my wealth دونَbefore عِرضيmy honor مُسَلَّمٌare given up
بَنِيَّ وَمالي دونَ عِرضي مُسَلَّمٌ
وَقَوليand my words كَوَقعِlike the blow of المَشرَفِيِّthe Mashrafī sword المُصَمَّمِthe resolute
وَقَولي كَوَقعِ المَشرَفِيِّ المُصَمَّمِ
My sons and my wealth are given up before my honor,
and my words strike like a resolute Mashrafī sword.
نُبيحُwe enter حِمىthe protected ground of ذيone possessing العِزِّpower حينَwhen نُريدُهُwe wish it
نُبيحُ حِمى ذي العِزِّ حينَ نُريدُهُ
وَنَحميand we defend حِماناour protected ground بِالوَشيجِwith straight spear shafts المُقَوَّمِstraightened
وَنَحمي حِمانا بِالوَشيجِ المُقَوَّمِ
We enter the protected ground of a mighty man when we wish,
and defend our own with straight spears.
يَرىsee الناسُpeople مِنّاfrom us جِلدَthe skin of أَسوَدَa black serpent سالِخٍshedding
يَرى الناسُ مِنّا جِلدَ أَسوَدَ سالِخٍ
وَفَروَةَand the pelt of ضِرغامٍa lion مِنَfrom الأُسدِthe lions ضَيغَمِfierce
وَفَروَةَ ضِرغامٍ مِنَ الأُسدِ ضَيغَمِ
People see in us the skin of a shedding black serpent
and the pelt of a fierce, powerful lion.
مَتىwhenever تَبغِyou seek عِزّيmy standing فيamong تَميمٍTamīm وَمَنصِبيand my rank
مَتى تَبغِ عِزّي في تَميمٍ وَمَنصِبي
تَجِدyou find لِيَfor me خالاًa maternal uncle غَيرَnot مُخزٍdisgraceful وَلاnor عَمِa paternal uncle
تَجِد لِيَ خالاً غَيرَ مُخزٍ وَلا عَمِ
Whenever you seek my standing and rank among Tamīm,
you will find me neither a disgraceful maternal uncle nor paternal uncle.
تَجِدنِيَyou find me مِنamong أَشرافِهِمtheir nobles وَخِيارِهِمand their best
تَجِدنِيَ مِن أَشرافِهِم وَخِيارِهِم
حَفيظاًguarding عَلىover عَوراتِهِمtheir vulnerabilities غَيرَnot مُجرِمِoffending
حَفيظاً عَلى عَوراتِهِم غَيرَ مُجرِمِ
You will find me among their nobles and their best,
guarding their vulnerabilities and committing no offense.
نَكَصتُمyou turned back عَلىon أَعقابِكُمyour heels يَومَthe day جِئتُمُyou came
نَكَصتُم عَلى أَعقابِكُم يَومَ جِئتُمُ
تَزُجّونَdriving forward أَنفالَthe vanguard of الخَميسِthe army العَرَمرَمِthe immense
تَزُجّونَ أَنفالَ الخَميسِ العَرَمرَمِ
You turned on your heels the day you came
driving forward the vanguard of an immense army.
أَلَيسَis he not بِوَهّابٍa lavish giver مُفيدٍa provider وَمُتلِفٍand a spender
أَلَيسَ بِوَهّابٍ مُفيدٍ وَمُتلِفٍ
وَصولٍone maintaining ties لِذيto one of قُربىkinship هَضيمٍgentle لِمَهضَمِto the wronged
وَصولٍ لِذي قُربى هَضيمٍ لِمَهضَمِ
Is he not a lavish giver, a provider, and a spender,
one who maintains family ties and is gentle to the wronged,
أَهابِيَّmy close kin سَفسافٍfine soft earth مِنَof التُربِthe soil تَوأَمِa twin
أَهابِيَّ سَفسافٍ مِنَ التُربِ تَوأَمِ
my own close kin, twin to the finest, softest earth?
Translation model: Sol 6