أَلاLo! أَرِقَتwas sleepless عَينيmy eye فَبِتُّso I spent the night أُديرُهاturning it about
أَلا أَرِقَت عَيني فَبِتُّ أُديرُها
حِذارَfor fear of غَدٍtomorrow أَحجىmore prudent بِأَنso that لاnot يَضيرُهاharm it
حِذارَ غَدٍ أَحجى بِأَن لا يَضيرُها
Lo, my eye was sleepless; I spent the night turning it about,
My eyes could not sleep, so I stayed awake
For fear of tomorrow, all the better to keep it from harm.
Beware tomorrow, lest it bring harm
إِذاwhen النَجمُthe star أَضحىbecame مَغرِبَthe setting-place of الشَمسِthe sun مائِلاًinclining
إِذا النَجمُ أَضحى مَغرِبَ الشَمسِ مائِلاً
وَلَمand not يَكُwas بِالآفاقِon the horizons بَونٌa gap يُنيرُهاilluminating them
وَلَم يَكُ بِالآفاقِ بَونٌ يُنيرُها
When the star comes to lean toward the sun's setting place,
When the star appears as the sunset of the sun leaning
And no gap on the horizons gives them light;
And there was no light in the horizons to illuminate it
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle السَماءُthe sky لَمnot تَكُنwas غَيرَother than حَلبَةٍa single milking of rain
إِذا ما السَماءُ لَم تَكُن غَيرَ حَلبَةٍ
كَجِدَّةِlike a strand of بَيتِthe home of العَنكَبوتِthe spider يُنيرُهاlights it
كَجِدَّةِ بَيتِ العَنكَبوتِ يُنيرُها
When the sky yields no more than a single milking of rain,
If the sky was nothing but an arena
Like a strand of a spider's web giving it light;
Like a spider web illuminating it
فَقَدso indeed عَلِمَتhas learned غَوثٌGhawth بِأَنّاthat we سَراتُهاits foremost men
فَقَد عَلِمَت غَوثٌ بِأَنّا سَراتُها
إِذاwhen أُعلِمَتwere made known بَعدَafter السِرارِsecrecy أُمورُهاits affairs
إِذا أُعلِمَت بَعدَ السِرارِ أُمورُها
Ghawth knows full well that we are its foremost men,
So the rescue knew that we are its elite
When its affairs are revealed after being kept secret;
When the secrets were disclosed, its affairs
إِذاwhen الريحُthe wind جاءَتcame مِنfrom أَمامِin front of أَخائِفٍmountain slopes
إِذا الريحُ جاءَت مِن أَمامِ أَخائِفٍ
وَأَلوَتand twisted بِأَطنابِat the guy ropes of البُيوتِthe tents صُدورُهاits oncoming gusts
وَأَلوَت بِأَطنابِ البُيوتِ صُدورُها
When the wind comes from before the mountain slopes,
When the wind came from fearful fronts
And its oncoming gusts wrench the tent ropes.
And twisted in the robes of homes, their chests
وَإِنّاand indeed we نُهينُhold cheap المالَwealth فيwith غَيرِno ظِنَّةٍsuspicion
وَإِنّا نُهينُ المالَ في غَيرِ ظِنَّةٍ
وَماand not يَشتَكيناcomplains of us فيduring السِنينَthe drought years ضَريرُهاone afflicted by them
وَما يَشتَكينا في السِنينَ ضَريرُها
And we hold wealth cheap, with no cause for suspicion,
And we spend money without any doubt
And those stricken by the drought years do not complain of us.
And we do not complain in years for its harm
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle بَخيلُthe miser among الناسِpeople هَرَّتgrowled كِلابُهُhis dogs
إِذا ما بَخيلُ الناسِ هَرَّت كِلابُهُ
وَشَقَّand was hard عَلىon الضَيفِthe guest الضَعيفِthe weak عَقورُهاtheir biting dog
وَشَقَّ عَلى الضَيفِ الضَعيفِ عَقورُها
When the miser among men has dogs that growl,
When the people's dogs fled their master
And their biting dog troubles the weak guest,
And it was hard on the weak guest, their dens
فَإِنّيfor indeed I جَبانُtimid الكَلبِthe dog بَيتيmy tent مُوَطِّاًmade welcoming
فَإِنّي جَبانُ الكَلبِ بَيتي مُوَطِّاً
أَجودُI give generously إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle النَفسُthe soul شَحَّgrew miserly ضَميرُهاits inner heart
أَجودُ إِذا ما النَفسُ شَحَّ ضَميرُها
But my dog is timid, and my tent is welcoming;
So I am the brave one, my home protected
I give generously when the soul's inner heart grows miserly.
I am generous when the soul narrows its conscience
وَإِنَّand indeed كِلابيmy dogs قَدalready أُهِرَّتbeen made to growl وَعُوِّدَتand been trained
وَإِنَّ كِلابي قَد أُهِرَّت وَعُوِّدَت
قَليلٌlittle عَلىat مَنwhoever يَعتَرينيvisits me هَريرُهاtheir growling
قَليلٌ عَلى مَن يَعتَريني هَريرُها
And my dogs have been made to growl and trained;
And my dogs are provoked and trained
They growl little at whoever visits me.
Little to whoever tries to make them growl
وَماand not تَشتَكيcomplains قِدريmy pot إِذاwhen الناسُthe people أَمحَلَتsuffered drought
وَما تَشتَكي قِدري إِذا الناسُ أَمحَلَت
أُؤَثِّفُهاI set it on hearthstones طَوراًat one time وَطَوراًand at another أُميرُهاI provision it
أُؤَثِّفُها طَوراً وَطَوراً أُميرُها
My pot does not complain when people suffer drought;
And my pot does not complain when people find fault
Now I set it on hearthstones, now I stock it with food.
I move it from time to time as its master
وَأُبرِزُand I display قِدريmy pot بِالفَضاءِin the open قَليلُهاthe little in it
وَأُبرِزُ قِدري بِالفَضاءِ قَليلُها
يُرىis seen غَيرَnot مَضنونٍgrudgingly withheld بِهِwith it وَكَثيرُهاand the plenty in it
يُرى غَيرَ مَضنونٍ بِهِ وَكَثيرُها
I set my pot in the open: the little in it
And I bring out my pot in the open, little of it
Is seen to be ungrudged, and so is the plenty in it.
Its full is seen and not suspected of it
وَإِبلِيَand my camels رَهنٌpledged أَنthat يَكونَbe كَريمُهاtheir finest
وَإِبلِيَ رَهنٌ أَن يَكونَ كَريمُها
عَقيراًslaughtered أَمامَin front of البَيتِthe tent حينَwhen أُثيرُهاI rouse them
عَقيراً أَمامَ البَيتِ حينَ أُثيرُها
And my camels are pledged: their finest shall be
And my camels pledge to be generous
Slaughtered before the tent when I rouse them.
Restless in front of the house when aroused
أُشاوِرُI consult نَفسَthe spirit of الجودِgenerosity حَتّىuntil تُطيعَنيit obeys me
أُشاوِرُ نَفسَ الجودِ حَتّى تُطيعَني
وَأَترُكُand I leave نَفسَthe spirit of البُخلِmiserliness لاnot أَستَشيرُهاI consult it
وَأَترُكُ نَفسَ البُخلِ لا أَستَشيرُها
I consult the spirit of generosity until it obeys me,
I consult the soul of generosity until it obeys me
And leave the spirit of miserliness, never consulting it.
And I leave the soul of stinginess, I do not consult it
وَلَيسَand there is not عَلىover ناريmy fire حِجابٌa screen يَكُنُّهاhides it
وَلَيسَ عَلى ناري حِجابٌ يَكُنُّها
لِمُستَوبِصٍfor a seeker of light لَيلاًby night وَلَكِنbut rather أُنيرُهاI make it shine
لِمُستَوبِصٍ لَيلاً وَلَكِن أُنيرُها
No screen over my fire keeps it hidden
And there is no barrier on my fire to hide it
From a seeker of light by night; instead I make it shine.
From one lurking at night, but I illuminate it
فَلاso no وَأَبيكَby your father ماnot يَظَلُّspends the day اِبنُthe son of جارَتيmy female neighbor
فَلا وَأَبيكَ ما يَظَلُّ اِبنُ جارَتي
يَطوفُwanders حَوالَيaround قِدرِناour pot ماnot يَطورُهاapproaches it
يَطوفُ حَوالَي قِدرِنا ما يَطورُها
No, by your father, my neighbor's son never spends the day
By your father, my neighbor's son does not remain
Circling our pot without ever reaching it.
Circling around our pot however he maneuvers
وَماand not تَشتَكينيcomplains of me جارَتيmy female neighbor غَيرَexcept أَنَّهاthat she
وَما تَشتَكيني جارَتي غَيرَ أَنَّها
إِذاwhen غابَwas absent عَنهاfrom her بَعلُهاher husband لاnot أَزورُهاI visit her
إِذا غابَ عَنها بَعلُها لا أَزورُها
My neighbor has no complaint against me except that
And my neighbor does not complain about me except
When her husband is away from her, I do not visit her.
When her husband is away from her, I do not visit her
سَيَبلُغُهاwill reach her خَيريmy kindness وَيَرجِعُand returns بَعلُهاher husband
سَيَبلُغُها خَيري وَيَرجِعُ بَعلُها
إِلَيهاto her وَلَمand not يُقصَرbe drawn closed عَلَيَّover me سُتورُهاher curtains
إِلَيها وَلَم يُقصَر عَلَيَّ سُتورُها
My kindness will reach her, and her husband will return
She will know my goodness, and her husband will return to her
To her, without her curtains having been drawn over me.
And she did not lack my veils upon her
وَخَيلٍand horses تَعادىrace لِلطِعانِfor spear-fighting شَهِدتُهاI witnessed them
وَخَيلٍ تَعادى لِلطِعانِ شَهِدتُها
وَلَوand if لَمnot أَكُنI were فيهاamong them لَساءَwould surely worsen عَذيرُهاtheir plight
وَلَو لَم أَكُن فيها لَساءَ عَذيرُها
And many a troop of horses rushing to spear-fighting I have joined;
And horses competing in spearing which I witnessed
Had I not been among them, their plight would have been grim.
And if I were not among them, their excuse would be miserable
وَغَمرَةِand a flood of مَوتٍdeath لَيسَthere is not فيهاin it هَوادَةٌmercy
وَغَمرَةِ مَوتٍ لَيسَ فيها هَوادَةٌ
يَكونُare صُدورَthe points of المَشرَفِيِّMashrafi swords جُسورُهاits bridges
يَكونُ صُدورَ المَشرَفِيِّ جُسورُها
And many a flood of death, in which there is no mercy,
And a sea of death without any calmness
Has the points of Mashrafi swords for its bridges.
The chests of the valiant would be its bridges
صَبَرناwe stood firm لَهاagainst it فيamid نَهكِهاits ravages وَمُصابِهاand its affliction
صَبَرنا لَها في نَهكِها وَمُصابِها
بِأَسيافِناwith our swords حَتّىuntil يَبوخَdies down سَعيرُهاits blaze
بِأَسيافِنا حَتّى يَبوخَ سَعيرُها
We stood firm against it, amid its ravages and afflictions,
We were patient with it in its groaning and afflictions
With our swords until its blaze died down.
With our swords until its flow of pus poured forth
وَعَرجَلَةٍand a band of men شُعثِdisheveled الرُؤوسِthe heads كَأَنَّهُمas though they were
وَعَرجَلَةٍ شُعثِ الرُؤوسِ كَأَنَّهُم
بَنوsons of الجِنِّthe jinn لَمnot تُطبَخbeen cooked بِقِدرٍin a pot جَزورُهاtheir slaughtered camel
بَنو الجِنِّ لَم تُطبَخ بِقِدرٍ جَزورُها
And a band of men with disheveled heads, as though they were
And the barefoot, disheveled hair, as if they are
Sons of the jinn, their slaughtered camel not cooked in a pot—
The jinn's sons, their pots never cooked
شَهِدتُI witnessed وَعَوّاناًand renewed war أُمَيمَةُO Umayma أَنّناthat we
شَهِدتُ وَعَوّاناً أُمَيمَةُ أَنّنا
بَنوsons of الحَربِwar نَصلاهاwe endure its fire إِذاwhen اِشتَدَّgrew fierce نورُهاits light
بَنو الحَربِ نَصلاها إِذا اِشتَدَّ نورُها
I have witnessed them, and renewed war, O Umayma, for we
Umaymah witnessed that we
Are sons of war, enduring its heat when its blaze grows fierce,
Are the people of war, its light intensified when we unsheathed it
عَلىon مُهرَةٍa filly كَبداءَbroad-barreled جَرداءَsleek-coated ضامِرٍslender
عَلى مُهرَةٍ كَبداءَ جَرداءَ ضامِرٍ
أَمينٍsound شَظاهاher splint bone مُطمَئِنٍّfirmly set نُسورُهاher hoof-frogs
أَمينٍ شَظاها مُطمَئِنٍّ نُسورُها
On a broad-barreled, sleek-coated filly, with slender
On a sturdy, severe, barren, trustworthy horse
And sound splint bones, her hoof-frogs firmly set.
Whose legs stomp showing no fear
وَأَقسَمتُand I swore لاnot أُعطيI yield مَليكاًa king ظُلامَةًunjust treatment
وَأَقسَمتُ لا أُعطي مَليكاً ظُلامَةً
وَحَوليand around me عَدِيٌّAdiyy كَهلُهاits mature men وَغَريرُهاand its untried youths
وَحَولي عَدِيٌّ كَهلُها وَغَريرُها
And I swore: I will submit to no king's injustice,
And I swore I will not give a king my darkness
With Adiyy around me, its mature men and its untried youths.
While around me are foes, old and young
أَبَتrefused لِيَfor me ذاكُمthat (addressing you all) أُسرَةٌa clan ثُعَلِيَّةٌThuʿali
أَبَت لِيَ ذاكُم أُسرَةٌ ثُعَلِيَّةٌ
كَريمٌgenerous غِناهاits wealth مُستَعِفٌّrefraining from begging فَقيرُهاits poor
كَريمٌ غِناها مُستَعِفٌّ فَقيرُها
A Thuʿali clan has rejected that on my behalf,
They refused me the highborn captives
Its rich are generous; its poor refrain from begging.
The generous provided for them, the poor acquired them
وَخوصٍand sunken-eyed camels دِقاقٍlean قَدindeed حَدَوتُI urged on with song لِفِتيَةٍfor young men
وَخوصٍ دِقاقٍ قَد حَدَوتُ لِفِتيَةٍ
عَلَيهِنَّon them إِحداهُنَّone of them قَدalready حَلَّcame loose كورُهاits saddle
عَلَيهِنَّ إِحداهُنَّ قَد حَلَّ كورُها
And sunken-eyed, lean camels I have urged on with song for young men
And a fine, slender one whom young men vied over
Riding them; one camel's saddle had come loose.
One of them had loosened her belt
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.