لِلَيلىfor Layla بِأَعلىin the uplands of ذيDhu مَعارِكَMa'arik مَنزِلُa dwelling
لِلَيلى بِأَعلى ذي مَعارِكَ مَنزِلُ
خَلاءٌdeserted تَنادىcalled to one another أَهلُهُits people فَتَحَمَّلواso they packed up and departed
خَلاءٌ تَنادى أَهلُهُ فَتَحَمَّلوا
Layla has a dwelling in the uplands of Dhu Ma'arik,
To Layla, in the highest abode with conflict
deserted: its people called to one another and departed.
A lonely dwelling whose people it calls so they endure
تَبَدَّلَit changed حالاًa condition بَعدَafter حالٍa condition عَهِدتُهُI knew it
تَبَدَّلَ حالاً بَعدَ حالٍ عَهِدتُهُ
تَناوَحَwailed to one another جِنّانٌjinn بِهِنَّamong them وَخُبَّلُand evil spirits
تَناوَحَ جِنّانٌ بِهِنَّ وَخُبَّلُ
It changed from one condition to another since I knew it;
Its state has changed after a state I knew it in
jinn and evil spirits wailed to one another there.
Jinn cavorted in it, and it was neglected
عَلىby العُمرِlife وَاِصطادَتand she ensnared فُؤاداًa heart كَأَنَّهُas though it were
عَلى العُمرِ وَاِصطادَت فُؤاداً كَأَنَّهُ
أَبوthe owner of غَلِقٍa pledged stake فيin لَيلَتَينِtwo nights مُؤَجَّلُgranted a reprieve
أَبو غَلِقٍ في لَيلَتَينِ مُؤَجَّلُ
By life! She ensnared a heart as though it were
It hunted a heart throughout life as if it were
the owner of a pledged stake, allowed two nights' grace.
A father of numerous children given two nights' respite
أَلَمdid not تَرَياyou two see إِذwhen جِئتُماyou two came أَنَّthat لَحمَهاher flesh
أَلَم تَرَيا إِذ جِئتُما أَنَّ لَحمَها
بِهِin it طَعمُthe taste of شَريٍbitter shary لَمnot يُهَذَّبbe purified وَحَنظَلُand colocynth
بِهِ طَعمُ شَريٍ لَم يُهَذَّب وَحَنظَلُ
Did you two not see, when you came, that her flesh
Didn't you two see when you came that her flesh
has the taste of untreated bitter shary and colocynth?
Had the taste of brackish water, unrefined and bitter
وَماand not أَناI مِمَّنone of those who يَستَنيحُseeks pity بِشَجوِهِthrough his grief
وَما أَنا مِمَّن يَستَنيحُ بِشَجوِهِ
يُمَدُّare supplied لَهُfor him غَرباtwo large buckets جَزورٍof a slaughtered camel وَجَدوَلُand a stream
يُمَدُّ لَهُ غَربا جَزورٍ وَجَدوَلُ
I am not one who seeks pity through his grief,
And I am not one who seeks sympathy with his passion
for whom two camel-hide buckets and a stream are set flowing.
As the west wind is unleashed for him and streams flow
وَلَمّاand when رَأَيتُI saw العُدمَpoverty قَيَّدَfettered نائِليmy giving
وَلَمّا رَأَيتُ العُدمَ قَيَّدَ نائِلي
وَأَملَقَand exhausted ماwhat عِنديI possess خُطوبٌcalamities تَنَبَّلُgrow great
وَأَملَقَ ما عِندي خُطوبٌ تَنَبَّلُ
And when I saw that poverty had fettered my giving,
And when I saw non-existence shackled my attainment
and mounting calamities had exhausted what I possessed,
And emptied what troubles were with me and purified
فَقَرَّبتُso I made ready حُرجوجاًa tall, lean she-camel وَمَجَّدتُand I extolled مَعشَراًa people
فَقَرَّبتُ حُرجوجاً وَمَجَّدتُ مَعشَراً
تَخَيَّرتُهُمI chose them فيماwhile أَطوفُI roam وَأَسأَلُand I ask
تَخَيَّرتُهُم فيما أَطوفُ وَأَسأَلُ
I made ready a tall, lean she-camel and extolled a people
I approached a tribe and honored a group
whom I chose amid my wandering and asking:
I picked them as I roamed and asked
بَنيthe sons of مالِكٍMalik أَعنيI mean بِسَعدِby Sa'd بنِson of مالِكٍMalik
بَني مالِكٍ أَعني بِسَعدِ بنِ مالِكٍ
أَعُمُّI include all بِخَيرٍwith good praise صالِحٍworthy وَأُخَلِّلُand single some out
أَعُمُّ بِخَيرٍ صالِحٍ وَأُخَلِّلُ
the sons of Malik—I mean Sa'd ibn Malik—
The clan of Malik - I mean Saad son of Malik -
I embrace all with worthy praise, and single some out.
I seek the good in them and mix freely
إِذاwhen أَبرَزَdrives into the open الرَوعُterror الكَعابَthe full-breasted maiden فَإِنَّهُمthen indeed they
إِذا أَبرَزَ الرَوعُ الكَعابَ فَإِنَّهُم
مَصادٌa lofty refuge لِمَنfor whoever يَأويseeks shelter إِلَيهِمwith them وَمَعقِلُand a stronghold
مَصادٌ لِمَن يَأوي إِلَيهِم وَمَعقِلُ
When terror drives the full-breasted maiden into the open, they are
When peril shows the cowardly they
a lofty refuge and stronghold for whoever shelters with them.
Are a refuge for whoever turns to them and a fortress
وَأَنتَand you الَّذيthe one who أَوفَيتَyou gave in full فَاليَومَso the day بَعدَهُafter it
وَأَنتَ الَّذي أَوفَيتَ فَاليَومَ بَعدَهُ
أَغَرُّwhite-blazed مُمَسٌّwhite-marked بِاليَدَينِon both forelegs مُحَجَّلُwhite-socked
أَغَرُّ مُمَسٌّ بِاليَدَينِ مُحَجَّلُ
You are the one who gave in full; the day thereafter
And you are one who did his duty so today after it
is white-blazed, white on both forelegs, and white-socked.
I stir excitedly with my hands hennaed
تَخَيَّرتُI chose أَمراًa course ذاhaving سَواعِدَsupporting arms إِنَّهُindeed it
تَخَيَّرتُ أَمراً ذا سَواعِدَ إِنَّهُ
أَعَفُّmore honorable وَأَدنىand closer لِلرَشادِto right guidance وَأَجمَلُand fairer
أَعَفُّ وَأَدنى لِلرَشادِ وَأَجمَلُ
I chose a course with supporting arms, for it is
I have chosen a matter with strong arms, yes
more honorable, closer to right guidance, and fairer.
More chaste and closer to guidance and more beautiful
وَذاand one with شُطُباتٍblade grooves قَدَّهُhe fashioned it اِبنُson of مُجَدَّعٍMujadda'
وَذا شُطُباتٍ قَدَّهُ اِبنُ مُجَدَّعٍ
لَهُit has رَونَقٌa gleaming sheen ذِرِّيُّهُits fine grain يَتَأَكَّلُflashes
لَهُ رَونَقٌ ذِرِّيُّهُ يَتَأَكَّلُ
And a grooved sword, fashioned by Ibn Mujadda',
With fingers whose knots the son of Mujaddid tied
with a gleaming sheen, its fine-grained pattern flashing.
He has an elegant gait, his offspring nibble
وَأَخرَجَand he brought out مِنهُfrom it القَينَthe smith أَثراًa pattern كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَأَخرَجَ مِنهُ القَينَ أَثراً كَأَنَّهُ
مَدَبٌّthe crawling track of دَباًlocust nymphs سودٍblack سَرىtraveled by night وَهوَwhile it مُسهِلُcrosses a plain
مَدَبٌّ دَباً سودٍ سَرى وَهوَ مُسهِلُ
The smith brought out a pattern in it, as though it were
And the deadly one brought out his marrow as if it were
the track of black locust nymphs traveling by night across a plain.
A hyena slinking furtively with facile bowels
وَبَيضاءَand a white mail-coat زَغفٍfine-linked نَثلَةٍample سُلَمِيَّةٍSulami
وَبَيضاءَ زَغفٍ نَثلَةٍ سُلَمِيَّةٍ
لَهاit has رَفرَفٌa hanging skirt فَوقَabove الأَنامِلِthe toe tips مُرسَلُlet down
لَها رَفرَفٌ فَوقَ الأَنامِلِ مُرسَلُ
And a white, fine-linked, ample Sulami mail-coat,
And a white-blazed horse of Zaghif, of Sulami strain
with a loose skirt hanging down above the toes.
Over its anklets is a fluttering like a loosened garment
وَأَشبَرَنيهِand he gave it to me الهالِكِيُّthe Haliki smith كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَأَشبَرَنيهِ الهالِكِيُّ كَأَنَّهُ
غَديرٌa pool جَرَتran فيacross مَتنِهِits surface الريحُthe wind سَلسَلُclear
غَديرٌ جَرَت في مَتنِهِ الريحُ سَلسَلُ
The Haliki smith gave it to me, as though it were
And its brief rein like the leash of a snarling lion
a clear pool across whose surface the wind had run.
A supple, smooth-stepping, sweet-tempered saddlery
مَعيwith me مارِنٌa pliant spear-shaft لَدنٌsupple يُخَلّيclears طَريقَهُits path
مَعي مارِنٌ لَدنٌ يُخَلّي طَريقَهُ
سِنانٌa spearhead كَنِبراسِlike the lamp of النِهامِيِّthe Nihami monk مِنجَلُbroad-bladed
سِنانٌ كَنِبراسِ النِهامِيِّ مِنجَلُ
With me is a pliant, supple shaft, whose path is cleared
It learned in its yearling days, while still a filly
by a broad spearhead, like the Nihami monk's lamp.
In a valley where is a long-running spring and thickets
تَقاكَfacing you بِكَعبٍwith a shaft-joint واحِدٍsingle وَتَلَذُّهُand enjoy it
تَقاكَ بِكَعبٍ واحِدٍ وَتَلَذُّهُ
يَداكَyour two hands إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle هُزَّit is shaken بِالكَفِّin the palm يَعسِلُit quivers
يَداكَ إِذا ما هُزَّ بِالكَفِّ يَعسِلُ
It faces you with a single joint, and is a delight to
Agile, fleet, elegant, and swift
your hands; whenever shaken in the palm, it quivers.
Choice trappings, soft and richly ornamented
وَصَفراءَand a yellow bow مِنof نَبعٍnab' wood كَأَنَّas though نَذيرَهاits warning twang
وَصَفراءَ مِن نَبعٍ كَأَنَّ نَذيرَها
إِذاwhen لَمnot تُخَفِّضهُyou hush it عَنِfrom الوَحشِthe wild game أَفكَلُa trembling fit
إِذا لَم تُخَفِّضهُ عَنِ الوَحشِ أَفكَلُ
And a yellow nab'-wood bow, whose warning twang seems,
He broke it round the cistern of its cheekpieces
when you do not hush it from the game, a trembling fit.
It rears up on the saddlecloth and settles down
تَعَلَّمَهاhe identified it فيin غيلِهاits thicket وَهيَwhile it was حَظوَةٌa slender shoot
تَعَلَّمَها في غيلِها وَهيَ حَظوَةٌ
بِوادٍin a valley بِهِin it نَبعٌnab' trees طِوالٌtall وَحِثيَلُand low hithyal shrubs
بِوادٍ بِهِ نَبعٌ طِوالٌ وَحِثيَلُ
He identified it in its thicket while it was a slender shoot,
He possessed it with the saliva beneath its shell
in a valley with tall nab' trees and low hithyal shrubs,
Like the white of an egg which curdling spoiled
وَبانٌand ban trees وَظَيّانٌand zayyan shrubs وَرَنفٌand ranf trees وَشَوحَطٌand shawhat trees
وَبانٌ وَظَيّانٌ وَرَنفٌ وَشَوحَطٌ
أَلُفُّinterwoven أَثيثٌthick-grown ناعِمٌtender مُتَغَيِّلُforming a thicket
أَلُفُّ أَثيثٌ ناعِمٌ مُتَغَيِّلُ
and ban, zayyan, ranf, and shawhat trees,
And it vexed him that it was said, far from you
interwoven, thick-grown, tender, and forming a thicket.
Are promises of wellbeing left unfulfilled
فَمَظَّعَهاso he seasoned it حَولَينِfor two years ماءَthe sap of لِحائِهاits bark
فَمَظَّعَها حَولَينِ ماءَ لِحائِها
تُعالىit is raised عَلىonto ظَهرِthe roof of العَريشِthe shelter وَتُنزَلُand lowered
تُعالى عَلى ظَهرِ العَريشِ وَتُنزَلُ
So he seasoned it for two years with its bark's sap,
Three gray thoroughbreds and a chestnut mare
raised onto the shelter's roof and lowered again.
Darker than the ink of writing, equipped
فَمَلَّكَthen he worked it firmly بِاللَيطِat the inner bast الَّذيwhich تَحتَbeneath قِشرِهاits outer bark
فَمَلَّكَ بِاللَيطِ الَّذي تَحتَ قِشرِها
كَغِرقيءِlike the inner membrane of بَيضٍeggs كَنَّهُsheltered it القَيضُthe eggshell مِنfrom عَلُabove
كَغِرقيءِ بَيضٍ كَنَّهُ القَيضُ مِن عَلُ
Then he worked the bast beneath its outer bark,
I came with my sale driving them, not adding to it
like an egg's inner membrane, sheltered from above by its shell.
Until the sifter of men returns unsuccessful
وَأَزعَجَهُand it stirred him أَنthat قيلَwas said شَتّانَhow far apart ماwhat تَرىyou see
وَأَزعَجَهُ أَن قيلَ شَتّانَ ما تَرى
إِلَيكَbefore you وَعودٌand a stave مِنof سَراءٍsara' wood مُعَطَّلُunused
إِلَيكَ وَعودٌ مِن سَراءٍ مُعَطَّلُ
He was stirred to hear: How far apart are what you see
And that is my weapon, which I was pleased with its perfection
before you and an unused stave of sara' wood!
So the winged one glances away from me in confusion
ثَلاثَةُthree أَبرادٍstriped cloaks جِيادٍfine وَجُرجَةٌand a leather bag
ثَلاثَةُ أَبرادٍ جِيادٍ وَجُرجَةٌ
وَأَدكَنُand a dark skin مِنof أَريِthe honey of الدَبورِthe west wind مُعَسَّلُfilled with honey
وَأَدكَنُ مِن أَريِ الدَبورِ مُعَسَّلُ
Three fine striped cloaks and a leather bag,
It creeps up to it surreptitiously, making it stagger
and a dark skin filled with the west wind's honey.
To weaken it in its shooting as it looses
فَجِئتُso I came بِبَيعيwith my purchase مولِياًturning away لاnot أَزيدُهُI give him more
فَجِئتُ بِبَيعي مولِياً لا أَزيدُهُ
عَلَيهِbeyond it بِهاfor it حَتّىuntil يَؤوبَreturns المُنَخَّلُal-Munakhkhal
عَلَيهِ بِها حَتّى يَؤوبَ المُنَخَّلُ
So I came away with my purchase, giving him no more
I saw Byzantium look scornfully at me with its eye
for it beyond that, until al-Munakhkhal returns.
Consider carefully, I am one who considers carefully
وَذاكَand that سِلاحيmy armament قَدindeed رَضيتُI am satisfied with كَمالَهُits completeness
وَذاكَ سِلاحي قَد رَضيتُ كَمالَهُ
فَيَصدُفُso turns aside عَنّيaway from me ذوthe one with الجُناحِwings المُعَبَّلُbroad-headed
فَيَصدُفُ عَنّي ذو الجُناحِ المُعَبَّلُ
That is my armament; I am content with its completeness,
And you two, sons of Janab, were found
so the winged, broad-headed shaft turns aside from me.
Like one who creeps to hide, while in his throat is choking
يَدُبُّhe creeps إِلَيهِtoward it خاتِياًstealthily يَدَّريlies in wait لَهُfor it
يَدُبُّ إِلَيهِ خاتِياً يَدَّري لَهُ
لِيَفقُرَهُto pierce its spine فيin رَميِهِhis shooting وَهوَwhile he يُرسِلُlets fly
لِيَفقُرَهُ في رَميِهِ وَهوَ يُرسِلُ
He creeps toward it, stealthily, lying in wait for it,
to pierce its spine with his shot as he lets fly.
رَأَيتُI saw بُرَيداًBurayd يَزدَرينيscorns me بِعَينِهِwith his eye
رَأَيتُ بُرَيداً يَزدَريني بِعَينِهِ
تَأَمَّلlook closely رُوَيداًslowly إِنَّنيindeed I am مَنthe one whom تَأَمَّلُyou behold
تَأَمَّل رُوَيداً إِنَّني مَن تَأَمَّلُ
I saw Burayd regarding me with a scornful eye;
look closely, take your time: I am the one you behold.
وَإِنَّكُماand indeed you two ياO اِبنَيtwo sons of جَنابٍJanab وُجِدتُماyou two were found
وَإِنَّكُما يا اِبنَي جَنابٍ وُجِدتُما
كَمَنlike one who دَبَّcrept يَستَخفيtries to hide himself وَفيand in الحَلقِthe throat جَلجَلُa bell
كَمَن دَبَّ يَستَخفي وَفي الحَلقِ جَلجَلُ
And you two, O sons of Janab, were found to be
like one creeping to hide himself, with a bell at his throat.
Partial English translation: 52 of 58 Arabic lines translated.