زَعَمَ الركبُ والاحاديثُ تَنْمي

زَعَمَ الركبُ والاحاديثُ تَنْمي

بالمَخَازي والمجدُ خيرُ أَلِيفِ

بالمَخَازي والمجدُ خيرُ أَلِيفِ

The caravan claimed—and tales spread

The caravan claimed, and the tales grew,

with shameful deeds, though glory is the best companion—

With liars, while glory is a better comrade.

اِنَّ جَبّاً من عامر أَكلوا الجَارَ

اِنَّ جَبّاً من عامر أَكلوا الجَارَ

وباعوا دمارهم بالوَظِيفِ

وباعوا دمارهم بالوَظِيفِ

that a band of Amir devoured their protected neighbor

Indeed a group from 'Amir ate their neighbor

and sold their ruin [perhaps: their honor] for a shank.

And sold their conscience for a job.

لا هُمُ حاربوا الملامةَ بالعذ

لا هُمُ حاربوا الملامةَ بالعذ

رِ ولا استوحشُوا من التَّعنيفِ

رِ ولا استوحشُوا من التَّعنيفِ

They neither fought off blame with an ex-

They neither fought blame with excuse,

cuse, nor recoiled from rebuke.

Nor felt ashamed of rebuke.

ولعَمري لولا العُقُولُ لما كا

ولعَمري لولا العُقُولُ لما كا

نتْ جُسومُ الرجالِ غيرَ طُرُوفِ

نتْ جُسومُ الرجالِ غيرَ طُرُوفِ

By my life, but for reason, there would

By my life, were it not for minds,

be no difference between men's bodies and noble steeds.

The bodies of men would be no more than fabrics.

أَين عنكم أحلامُ قيسٍ وقد ضا

أَين عنكم أحلامُ قيسٍ وقد ضا

قَ بها ذرعُ شعبِها والحَلِيفِ

قَ بها ذرعُ شعبِها والحَلِيفِ

Where is the good sense of Qays among you, when

Where are your dreams, O Qays, which

its people and ally can no longer bear it?

Filled the expanse of its plains and friends?

أَنِفوا ما يقالُ في عاقلِ العُص

أَنِفوا ما يقالُ في عاقلِ العُص

مِ فَسالوا على القَنا والسُّيوفِ

مِ فَسالوا على القَنا والسُّيوفِ

They scorned what is said of the prudent mountain

Be dignified whatever is said of the wise one's epoch,

goat, and so poured forth upon lances and swords.

And march on spears and swords!

ركِبَ العجزَ والتواني فتىً عرْ

ركِبَ العجزَ والتواني فتىً عرْ

رَض باقي آجالها للحُتُوفِ

رَض باقي آجالها للحُتُوفِ

A youth mounted helplessness and sloth, expos-

Decrepitude and cowardice rode a noble youth

ing their remaining lifespans to death.

Who was content with his remaining days for shrouds.

لا حدودَ الوفاءِ حاطَ ولم ير

لا حدودَ الوفاءِ حاطَ ولم ير

عَ حقوقَ الانعامِ والتشَّريفِ

عَ حقوقَ الانعامِ والتشَّريفِ

He neither guarded the bounds of loyalty nor

He neglected the limits of loyalty,

respected the claims of kindness and honor.

And neglected the rights of favors and honor.

ما انتفاعُ الانوفِ بالشَّمَمِ المش

ما انتفاعُ الانوفِ بالشَّمَمِ المش

رفِ منها على الشفاهِ المنيفِ

رفِ منها على الشفاهِ المنيفِ

What use to noses are their high bridges, ris-

Of what use are the noses of the prestigious

ing from them above the lips, lofty and tall?

Scenting them from the mustache of the frowning one?

مَعْشَرٌ شَمَّرَ المناخِرَ منهم

مَعْشَرٌ شَمَّرَ المناخِرَ منهم

أَنِفٌ لم يَزَلُ لهم في الانوفِ

أَنِفٌ لم يَزَلُ لهم في الانوفِ

A people whose nostrils were drawn up

A group who defiantly sniffed,

by a haughtiness that has always lodged in their noses.

Yet their noses were always stuck up in the air!