دَعينيleave me be ياO أَميرَةُAmira مِنfrom سِرارِwhispered talk
دَعيني يا أَميرَةُ مِن سِرارِ
وَمِنand from شَغَبٍtroublemaking عَلَيَّagainst me وَمِنand from مَسارِsecret converse
وَمِن شَغَبٍ عَلَيَّ وَمِن مَسارِ
Spare me, Amira, the whispered talk,
Let me be, O princess, from secrets
and the trouble stirred against me, and secret converse.
And from mischief against me and from the path
قَطَعتُI cut off إِلىtoward الزِماعfirm resolve دَبيبَcreeping of واشٍa slanderer
قَطَعتُ إِلى الزِماع دَبيبَ واشٍ
وَإِنَّand indeed عَقارِبَscorpions of الواشيthe slanderer سَوارِprowling by night
وَإِنَّ عَقارِبَ الواشي سَوارِ
With firm resolve I cut short a slanderer's creeping,
I marched to the tents moving slowly
and indeed the slanderer's scorpions prowl by night.
And the moving of the slow is bracelets
أَحينَis it when وَضَعتُI laid aside عَنfrom رَأسيmy head قِناعيmy veil
أَحينَ وَضَعتُ عَن رَأسي قِناعي
وَضَمَّتنيand drew me الخُطوبُcalamities إِلىinto الجِهارِthe open
وَضَمَّتني الخُطوبُ إِلى الجِهارِ
Is it now, when I have cast my veil from my head,
Sometimes when I took off my mask
and calamities have drawn me into the open,
And misfortunes drew me into the open
وَطافَتand circled بيaround me العَوامِرُhouse-dwelling spirits مُجلِباتٍraising a clamor
وَطافَت بي العَوامِرُ مُجلِباتٍ
طَوافَthe circling of المُجلِبينَthe clamorous ones إِلىtoward الدُوارِDuwar
طَوافَ المُجلِبينَ إِلى الدُوارِ
and the house-dwelling spirits have circled me, raising a clamor,
The beautiful women circled around me
like the clamorous crowds circling toward Duwar,
Circling around like the circling of the infatuated to the well
تَكِلُّgrow blunt مَضارِبيmy striking edges أَوor يَزدَهينيunnerve me
تَكِلُّ مَضارِبي أَو يَزدَهيني
وَعيدُthreat of العَبدِthe slave فيamong القَومِthe people الصِغارِthe lowly
وَعيدُ العَبدِ في القَومِ الصِغارِ
that my sword-edges should dull, or I should be cowed
My tent remains or grows more magnificent
by a slave's threats among these petty folk?
And the return of the slave among the small folk
لَناwe have نِعَمٌfavors عَلىupon المَولىthe client وَأَيدٍand benefactions
لَنا نِعَمٌ عَلى المَولى وَأَيدٍ
عَلىtoward الأَكفاءِequals تَدخُلُenter كُلَّevery دارِhouse
عَلى الأَكفاءِ تَدخُلُ كُلَّ دارِ
We have bestowed favors on the client, and benefactions
We have favors from the Master and hands
on our peers, reaching into every house.
That enter every house of peers
فَلاso not أَنحاشُI flee مِنfrom هَزِّbrandishing of العَواليtall spears
فَلا أَنحاشُ مِن هَزِّ العَوالي
وَبيضِand bright blades المَشرَفِيَّةِMashrafi swords لِلغِوارِfor raiding
وَبيضِ المَشرَفِيَّةِ لِلغِوارِ
So I do not flee the brandishing of tall spears,
So I do not worry about the shaking of calamities
nor the bright Mashrafi swords brought out for raids.
And the whiteness of glorious things for the ignorant
أَجَرناwe sheltered الباهِلِيَّthe Bahili مِنَfrom المَناياdeadly fates
أَجَرنا الباهِلِيَّ مِنَ المَنايا
فَلَمyet did not يَشكُرgive thanks لَناto us كَرَمَgenerosity of الجوارِprotection
فَلَم يَشكُر لَنا كَرَمَ الجوارِ
We sheltered the Bahili from deadly fates,
Al-Bahili has saved us from death
yet he did not thank us for our generous protection.
But he did not thank us for the generosity of neighborhood
يُفاخِرُناhe rivals us in boasting وَنِعمَتُناand our favor عَلَيهِupon him
يُفاخِرُنا وَنِعمَتُنا عَلَيهِ
وَفيمَand in what الباهِلِيُّthe Bahili مِنَof الفَخارِboasting
وَفيمَ الباهِلِيُّ مِنَ الفَخارِ
He rivals us in boasting, though our favor rests upon him;
He is arrogant towards us though we favored him
and what has the Bahili to boast of?
What is Al-Bahili in glory?
فَياso O عَجَباwonder مِنَat العَبدِthe slave المُذَكّيaged
فَيا عَجَبا مِنَ العَبدِ المُذَكّي
أَيَظلِمُنيdoes he wrong me وَلَيسَand is not بِذيa possessor of سِوارِa bracelet
أَيَظلِمُني وَلَيسَ بِذي سِوارِ
How strange, then, is this aged slave!
So strange is the intelligent slave
Would he wrong me, though he wears no bracelet?
Does he oppress me while he has no bracelets?
أَقولُI say لَهُto him وَليand I have فَضلٌsuperiority عَلَيهِover him
أَقولُ لَهُ وَلي فَضلٌ عَلَيهِ
كَفَضلِlike the superiority of القَسوَرِيِّthe lion عَلىover الوِبارِhyraxes
كَفَضلِ القَسوَرِيِّ عَلى الوِبارِ
I tell him, for I surpass him
I say to him that I have a favor over him
as the lion surpasses the hyraxes:
Like the favor of the falcon over the hyena
دَنَوتَyou drew near مَعَwith الكِرامِthe noble وَلَستَand you are not مِنهُمone of them
دَنَوتَ مَعَ الكِرامِ وَلَستَ مِنهُم
تَأَخَّرstep back ياO اِبنَson of نائِكَةِa woman who fucks الحِمارِthe donkey
تَأَخَّر يا اِبنَ نائِكَةِ الحِمارِ
'You have drawn near the noble, but you are not one of them.
You mingled with the generous but you are not one of them
Stand back, son of a woman who fucks a donkey.
Go away O son of a braying she-ass
خُلِقناwe were created سادَةًmasters وَخُلِقتَand you were created كَلباًa dog
خُلِقنا سادَةً وَخُلِقتَ كَلباً
كَكَلبِlike a dog of السوءِwretchedness يَلحَقُit follows بِالقِطارِafter the camel train
كَكَلبِ السوءِ يَلحَقُ بِالقِطارِ
We were created masters, and you were created a dog,
We were created as chiefs and you were created as a dog
like a wretched dog trailing a camel train.'
Like the evil dog that follows the caravan
نَسيتُمyou forgot دَفعَناour repelling عَنكُمfrom you زُهَيراًZuhayr
نَسيتُم دَفعَنا عَنكُم زُهَيراً
وَجَعدَةَand Ja'dah إِذwhen يَروحُhe sets out عَلىwith اِقتدارِpower
وَجَعدَةَ إِذ يَروحُ عَلى اِقتدارِ
You have forgotten how we drove Zuhayr away from you,
You forgot how we defended you from Zuheir
and Ja'dah, when he advanced in strength,
And Ja’da when he attacked with his power
عَشِيَّةَon the evening يُعوِلونَthey cry out إِلىto عِقالٍIqal
عَشِيَّةَ يُعوِلونَ إِلى عِقالٍ
فَدافَعَso he warded off عَنكُمُfrom you إِحدىone of الكِبارِthe great calamities
فَدافَعَ عَنكُمُ إِحدى الكِبارِ
on the evening they cried out to Iqal,
One evening they marched to the encampment
so he warded off one of the great calamities from you.
So one of the great ones defended you
غَداhe set out at dawn بِجيادِهِwith his steeds فَقَضَينَand they met نَحباًdeath
غَدا بِجيادِهِ فَقَضَينَ نَحباً
وَقَدand already لَمَعَgleamed الخَوافِقُfluttering banners فيin الغُبارِthe dust
وَقَد لَمَعَ الخَوافِقُ في الغُبارِ
He set out at dawn with his steeds, and they met their death,
The next morning with his stallions he settled the score
while the fluttering banners gleamed in the dust.
And the spears flashed in the dust
وَمُندَلِثٍand many a reckless fool يُماريناdisputes with us بِجَهدٍwith effort
وَمُندَلِثٍ يُمارينا بِجَهدٍ
فَقُلتُso I said لَهُto him تَعَلَّمlearn ثُمَّthen مارِargue
فَقُلتُ لَهُ تَعَلَّم ثُمَّ مارِ
And many a reckless fool has argued fiercely with us;
And Mundelith who challenged us with effort
I told him: 'Learn, then argue.'
So I said to him: learn then challenge
إِذاif أَنكَرتَyou doubt نِسبَةَlineage of باهِلِيٍّa Bahili
إِذا أَنكَرتَ نِسبَةَ باهِلِيٍّ
فَرَفِّعthen lift عَنهُaway from him ناحِيَةَedge of الإِزارِthe loincloth
فَرَفِّع عَنهُ ناحِيَةَ الإِزارِ
If you doubt a Bahili's lineage,
If you deny the lineage of Bahlil
then lift a corner of his loincloth off him.
Then lift the side of his loincloth
عَلىon أَستاهِbuttocks of سادَتِهِمtheir chiefs كِتابٌan inscription
عَلى أَستاهِ سادَتِهِم كِتابٌ
مَواليclients of عامِرٍAmir وَسمٌa brand بِنارِwith fire
مَوالي عامِرٍ وَسمٌ بِنارِ
On the buttocks of their chiefs is an inscription:
Upon their chief’s column is a book
'Clients of Amir'—a brand made with fire.
Of my Master Amer with a hot brand
فِهَذاso this حينَwhen قَدَّمَنيbrought me forward بَلائيmy prowess
فِهَذا حينَ قَدَّمَني بَلائي
وَرَوَّعتُand I terrified القَبائِلَthe tribes مِنof نِزارِNizar
وَرَوَّعتُ القَبائِلَ مِن نِزارِ
So this was when my prowess brought me to the fore,
This is when my affliction presented me
and I terrified the tribes of Nizar.
And I frightened the tribes with my ferocity
مَضىpassed زَمَنٌan age فَأَسلَمَنيso handed me over كَريماًnoble
مَضى زَمَنٌ فَأَسلَمَني كَريماً
إِلىto زَمَنٍan age يَحولُturns بِلاwithout عِذارِa bridle
إِلى زَمَنٍ يَحولُ بِلا عِذارِ
One age passed and handed me over, still noble,
An age has passed so it handed me over generously
to an age that swerves without a bridle.
To an age that changes without excuse
سَعىstrove لِيَكونَto be مِثليlike me باهِلِيٌّa Bahili
سَعى لِيَكونَ مِثلي باهِلِيٌّ
وَكَيفَand how سَعىhe strove بِمَجدٍwith glory مُستَعارِborrowed
وَكَيفَ سَعى بِمَجدٍ مُستَعارِ
A Bahili strove to be my equal,
Al-Bahili tried to be like me
but how could he vie with borrowed glory?
But how did he try with borrowed glory?
أَرادَhe sought بِلُؤمِهِthrough his baseness تَدنيسَto sully عِرضيmy honor
أَرادَ بِلُؤمِهِ تَدنيسَ عِرضي
وَأَينَand how far الشَمسُthe sun مِنfrom دَنَسٍfilth وَعارِand shame
وَأَينَ الشَمسُ مِن دَنَسٍ وَعارِ
In his baseness he sought to soil my honor,
He wanted with his villainy to taint my honor
but how far the sun is from filth and shame!
And where is the sun from filth and shame?
حَلَفتُI swore بِمَنحَرِby the slaughter-place of البُدنِsacrificial camels الهَداياthe offerings
حَلَفتُ بِمَنحَرِ البُدنِ الهَدايا
وَأَحلِفُand I swear بِالمَقامِby the Station وَبِالجِمارِand by the ritual pebbles
وَأَحلِفُ بِالمَقامِ وَبِالجِمارِ
I swore by the slaughter-place of camels offered in sacrifice,
I swear by the slaughtering places of gifts
and I swear by the Station and the ritual pebbles:
And I swear by the abode and the heated stones
لَنِعمَexcellent indeed is الرَبُّthe master رَبُّthe master of اِبنَيthe two sons of دُخانٍDukhan
لَنِعمَ الرَبُّ رَبُّ اِبنَي دُخانٍ
إِذاwhen نَفَضَshakes down الشِتاءُwinter عَلىover القُتارِroasting smoke
إِذا نَفَضَ الشِتاءُ عَلى القُتارِ
A fine master indeed is the master of Dukhan's two sons,
How good is the Lord, the Lord of Ibn Dukhan
when winter shakes down over the smoke of roasting meat.
When winter sheds upon the barrens
يَجودُhe gives generously عَلَيهِمُto them وَيَذُبُّand he defends عَنهُمon their behalf
يَجودُ عَلَيهِمُ وَيَذُبُّ عَنهُم
بِأَسيافٍwith swords وَأَرزاقٍand provisions غِزارِabundant
بِأَسيافٍ وَأَرزاقٍ غِزارِ
He gives generously to them and defends them
He is generous to them and melts for them
with swords and plentiful provisions.
With swords and abundant provisions
أَباهِلَO Bahila راجِعيreturn مَولاكِyour master صَغراًin abasement
أَباهِلَ راجِعي مَولاكِ صَغراً
وَلاand do not تَجريrun عَلىin ضَوءِlight of النَهارِday
وَلا تَجري عَلى ضَوءِ النَهارِ
O Bahila, return to your master in abasement,
O Bahlil, return submissively to your Master
and do not run in the daylight,
And do not travel by the light of day
لَدىbefore كُلِّevery اِمرِئٍman نَصَباًin hostility بِرَبٍّtoward a master
لَدى كُلِّ اِمرِئٍ نَصَباً بِرَبٍّ
وَباهِلَةُand Bahila بنُson of أَعصُرَA'sur فيin خَسارِloss
وَباهِلَةُ بنُ أَعصُرَ في خَسارِ
before every man, in hostility toward a master,
For every man there is a Lord to worship
while Bahila, son of A'sur, suffers loss.
And Bahlil the son of A’asur is in loss
أَجيبواanswer رَبَّكُمyour master وَتَنَصَّفوهُand serve him
أَجيبوا رَبَّكُم وَتَنَصَّفوهُ
فَإِنَّfor indeed العَبدَthe slave أَولىmore deserving بِالصَغارِof abasement
فَإِنَّ العَبدَ أَولى بِالصَغارِ
Answer your master and serve him,
Respond to your Lord and be fair to Him
for the slave is more deserving of abasement.
For the slave is most worthy of humility
أَباهِلَO Bahila لَيسَis not شَأنُكُمُyour standing كَشَأنيlike my standing
أَباهِلَ لَيسَ شَأنُكُمُ كَشَأني
إِذاif لَمnot تُقصِرواyou desist وَالحَقُّand the truth عارِbare
إِذا لَم تُقصِروا وَالحَقُّ عارِ
O Bahila, your standing is not like mine,
O Bahlil, your situation is not like mine
if you will not desist—and the truth lies bare.
If you do not fall short while truth is disgraceful
أَباهِلَO Bahila ماnot وَهَبتُكُمُI gave you away فَتَنأواso you may withdraw
أَباهِلَ ما وَهَبتُكُمُ فَتَنأوا
وَلاnor مَولايَmy client بِالعِلقِa prized possession المُعارِborrowed
وَلا مَولايَ بِالعِلقِ المُعارِ
O Bahila, I have not given you away for you to leave,
O Bahlil, I did not bestow upon you so recoil
nor is my client a borrowed treasure.
Nor is my Master with borrowed equipment
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.