صَرَمَsevered ties الخَليطُthe companions تَبايُناًin separation وَبُكوراand departing at dawn
صَرَمَ الخَليطُ تَبايُناً وَبُكورا
وَحَسِبتَand you thought بَينَهُمُtheir parting عَلَيكَon you يَسيراeasy
وَحَسِبتَ بَينَهُمُ عَلَيكَ يَسيرا
The companions severed ties, parting and departing at dawn,
The mixed tribes differ in their origins and dawns
and you thought their parting would be easy on you.
And you think it would be easy for you among them
عَرَضَarose الهَوىlove وَتَبَلَّغَتand reached حاجاتُهُits desires
عَرَضَ الهَوى وَتَبَلَّغَت حاجاتُهُ
مِنكَwithin you الضَميرَthe innermost heart فَلَمso did not يَدَعنَthey leave ضَميراa heart
مِنكَ الضَميرَ فَلَم يَدَعنَ ضَميرا
Love arose, and its desires reached
Passion exposes itself and its desires intensify
your innermost heart, leaving no heart intact.
Seeking from you conscience, but leaving none remaining
إِنَّindeed الغَوانِيَthe beautiful women قَدhave رَمَينَshot at فُؤادَهُhis heart
إِنَّ الغَوانِيَ قَد رَمَينَ فُؤادَهُ
حَتّىuntil تَرَكنَthey left بِسَمعِهِin his hearing تَوقيراdeafness
حَتّى تَرَكنَ بِسَمعِهِ تَوقيرا
The beautiful women have indeed shot at his heart,
The passions have certainly cast their arrows at his heart
until they left his hearing dulled.
Until they left nothing in his hearing but reverence
بيضٌfair-skinned women تَرَبَّبَهاnurtured them النَعيمُluxury وَخالَطَتand experienced
بيضٌ تَرَبَّبَها النَعيمُ وَخالَطَت
عَيشاًa life كَحاشِيَةِlike the border of الفِرِندِbrocade غَريراcarefree
عَيشاً كَحاشِيَةِ الفِرِندِ غَريرا
Fair women, nurtured by luxury, who experienced
Some whites whom luxury has nurtured and who live a life
a carefree life, like the border of brocade.
Like the fringe of a cloak, softly billowing
أَنكَرنَthey disowned عَهدَكَyour bond بَعدَafter ماthat يَعرِفنَهُthey knew it
أَنكَرنَ عَهدَكَ بَعدَ ما يَعرِفنَهُ
وَلَقَدand indeed يَكُنُّthey used to be إِلىtoward حَديثِكَyour talk صوراinclined
وَلَقَد يَكُنُّ إِلى حَديثِكَ صورا
They disowned your bond after having known it,
They denied your alliance after knowing it well
though once they leaned eagerly toward your talk.
Though they used to converse with you often before
وَرَأَينَand they saw ثَوبَa garment of بَشاشَةٍcheerfulness أَنضَيتَهُyou wore it out
وَرَأَينَ ثَوبَ بَشاشَةٍ أَنضَيتَهُ
فَجَمَعنَso they combined عَنكَaway from you تَجَنُّباًavoidance وَنُفوراand aversion
فَجَمَعنَ عَنكَ تَجَنُّباً وَنُفورا
They saw a garment of cheerfulness you had worn threadbare,
And they saw a garment of cheer you clothed
so they combined shunning you with aversion.
So they shunned you and felt aversion
لَيتَwould that الشَبابَyouth لَناto us يَعودُwould return كَعَهدِهِas it once was
لَيتَ الشَبابَ لَنا يَعودُ كَعَهدِهِ
فَلَقَدfor indeed تَكونُyou were بِشَرخِهِin its prime مَسروراhappy
فَلَقَد تَكونُ بِشَرخِهِ مَسرورا
Would that youth returned to us as it once was,
If only our youth would return as it was before
for you were indeed happy in its prime.
For it can transform sorrow into joy
وَبَكَيتَand you wept through لَيلَكَyour night لاnot تَنامُyou sleep لِطولِهِbecause of its length
وَبَكَيتَ لَيلَكَ لا تَنامُ لِطولِهِ
لَيلَa night of التَمامِgreatest length وَقَدand indeed يَكونُit could be قَصيراshort
لَيلَ التَمامِ وَقَد يَكونُ قَصيرا
You wept through your night, sleepless because of its length—
You wept the long night unable to sleep
the longest winter night, though it could once be brief.
The night of perfection, though it may be brief
هَلdo تَرجُوانِyou two hope لِماfor what أُحاوِلُI seek راحَةًrelief
هَل تَرجُوانِ لِما أُحاوِلُ راحَةً
أَمor تَطمَعانِdo you two expect لِماfor what أَتىhas come تَفتيراeasing
أَم تَطمَعانِ لِما أَتى تَفتيرا
Do you two hope for relief from what I pursue,
Do you hope, my two friends, for the comfort I seek
or hope for some easing of what has befallen me?
Or do you expect what has come to languish?
قالَتshe said جُعادَةُJu'ada ماwhat لِجِسمِكَwith your body شاحِباًpallid
قالَت جُعادَةُ ما لِجِسمِكَ شاحِباً
وَلَقَدand indeed يَكونُit used to be عَلىin الشَبابِyouth نَضيراradiant
وَلَقَد يَكونُ عَلى الشَبابِ نَضيرا
Ju'ada said: Why is your body pallid,
Ju'adah said: Why is your body so pale
when it used to be radiant in youth?
When you could match the youth in vigor?
أَجُعادُO Ju'ad إِنّيindeed I لاdoes not يَزالُcease يَنوبُنيvisit me
أَجُعادُ إِنّي لا يَزالُ يَنوبُني
هَمٌّsorrow يُرَوَّحُis brought back مَوهِناًlate at night وَبُكوراand at dawn
هَمٌّ يُرَوَّحُ مَوهِناً وَبُكورا
O Ju'ad, I am indeed ceaselessly visited
I said: Still some care keeps wounding me
by sorrow renewed deep in the night and at dawn,
Now enervating, now vigilant and early rising
حَتّىuntil بُليتُI was worn out وَماand not عَلِمتِyou knew بِهَمِّناof our sorrow
حَتّى بُليتُ وَما عَلِمتِ بِهَمِّنا
وَرَأَيتُand I judged أَفضَلَthe best نَفعِكِof your help التَغيِيراa change
وَرَأَيتُ أَفضَلَ نَفعِكِ التَغيِيرا
till I was worn out, and you knew nothing of our sorrow;
Until I am worn out, though you don't know my concerns
and I judged a change to be the best help you could give.
And I see that to change you is most beneficial
هَلّاwhy have you not عَجِبتِmarveled مِنَat الزَمانِtime وَرَيبِهand its reversals
هَلّا عَجِبتِ مِنَ الزَمانِ وَرَيبِه
وَالدَهرُand Time يُحدِثُbrings about فيin الأُمورِaffairs أُموراevents
وَالدَهرُ يُحدِثُ في الأُمورِ أُمورا
Why have you not marveled at time and its reversals,
Are you not surprised at Fate and its caprice?
when Time keeps bringing new events into affairs?
As Time generates surprises in affairs
قالَsaid العَواذِلُthe reproachers ماwhat لِجَهلِكَwith your folly بَعدَماafter
قالَ العَواذِلُ ما لِجَهلِكَ بَعدَما
شابَgrew gray المَفارِقُthe hair-partings وَاِكتَسَينَand they donned قَتيراwhite flecks
شابَ المَفارِقُ وَاِكتَسَينَ قَتيرا
The reproachers said: Why your folly, after
The libertines said: Why are you still ignorant
your hair-partings have grayed and donned white flecks?
After the Parting went grey and donned felt?
حَيَّيتُI greeted زَورَكِyour visiting phantom إِذwhen أَلَمَّit came وَلَمand not تَكُنshe was
حَيَّيتُ زَورَكِ إِذ أَلَمَّ وَلَم تَكُن
هِندٌHind لِقاصِيَةِto distant parts of البُيوتِthe dwellings زَؤُوراa frequent visitor
هِندٌ لِقاصِيَةِ البُيوتِ زَؤُورا
I greeted your visiting phantom when it came, although
I saluted Zawra falsely when she suffered
Hind was no frequent visitor to distant dwellings.
Though Hind would not visit the outer dwellings falsely
طَرَقَتshe visited by night نَواحِلَgaunt she-camels قَدalready أَضَرَّhad harmed بِهاthem السُرىnight travel
طَرَقَت نَواحِلَ قَد أَضَرَّ بِها السُرى
نَزَحَتthey traversed بِأَذرُعِهاwith their forelegs تَنائِفَdesert wastes زوراcrooked
نَزَحَت بِأَذرُعِها تَنائِفَ زورا
She came by night to gaunt she-camels worn by night travel,
Nawahil came cloaked—the love sickened them
which had crossed crooked desert wastes with their forelegs.
They crept on their arms repeatedly drawing aside their cloaks
مَشَقَstripped away الهَواجِرُthe noonday heats لَحمَهُنَّtheir flesh مَعَalong with السُرىnight travel
مَشَقَ الهَواجِرُ لَحمَهُنَّ مَعَ السُرى
حَتّىuntil ذَهَبنَthey were reduced to كَلاكِلاًforebreasts وَصُدوراand chests
حَتّى ذَهَبنَ كَلاكِلاً وَصُدورا
The noonday heats and night travel stripped their flesh,
The strain of love tore their flesh along with the cloaks
till they were reduced to forebreasts and chests.
Until they went buzzing like flies, shorn of their breasts
مِنof كُلِّevery جُرشُعَةِbroad-chested she-camel الهَواجِرِthe noonday heats زادَهاincreased her
مِن كُلِّ جُرشُعَةِ الهَواجِرِ زادَها
بُعدُthe extent of المَفاوِزِthe desert wastes جُرأَةًboldness وَضَريراand endurance
بُعدُ المَفاوِزِ جُرأَةً وَضَريرا
Each a broad-chested camel of the noonday heat, which
The greater the distance of the barrens from each Ju’sha
the far reaches of wilderness made bolder and more enduring.
The bolder and more coquettish she became
قَرَعَتstruck أَخِشَّتُهاher nose-pins العِظامَthe bones فَأَخرَجَتand brought forth
قَرَعَت أَخِشَّتُها العِظامَ فَأَخرَجَت
مِنهاfrom her عَجارِفَheadstrong vigor جَمَّةًabundant وَبَكيراand early haste
مِنها عَجارِفَ جَمَّةً وَبَكيرا
Her nose-pins struck the bones and brought forth
Her skinny mount rattled her bones bringing out
abundant headstrong vigor from her, and early haste.
From them a swift she-camel and an early riser
نَفَضَتshe shook بِأَصهَبَwith a tawny rider لِلمِراحِin friskiness شَليلَهاher saddlecloth
نَفَضَت بِأَصهَبَ لِلمِراحِ شَليلَها
نَفضَas shakes النَعامَةِthe ostrich زِفَّهاits down المَمطوراrain-soaked
نَفضَ النَعامَةِ زِفَّها المَمطورا
She shook her saddlecloth with a tawny rider in her friskiness,
With the smooth sticks she flicked off her mount's spittle
as an ostrich shakes its rain-soaked down.
Flicking like an ostrich flicking its braided tail
ياO صاحِبَيَّmy two companions دَناdraws near الرَواحُdeparture فَسيراso both of you go
يا صاحِبَيَّ دَنا الرَواحُ فَسيرا
لاnone كَالعَشِيَّةِlike this evening زائِراًas a visitor وَمَزوراand as one visited
لا كَالعَشِيَّةِ زائِراً وَمَزورا
My two companions, departure draws near—so go!
My friend, the shelters are near, so travel by night
No evening like this for visitor and host!
Not like evening, as a visitor and lodger
وُجِدَwas found الأُخَيطِلُal-Ukhaytil حينَwhen شَمَّصَهُmade him bolt القَناthe lances
وُجِدَ الأُخَيطِلُ حينَ شَمَّصَهُ القَنا
حَطِماًbroken-down إِذاwhen اِعتَزَمَpressed resolutely on الجِيادُthe noble steeds عَثوراstumbling
حَطِماً إِذا اِعتَزَمَ الجِيادُ عَثورا
Al-Ukhaytil was found, when the lances made him bolt,
Al-Ukhytil was found when scorn made him a hollow cane
broken-down and stumbling when the noble steeds pressed on.
Barely held together by the resolve of his steed
وَعَوىand howled الفَرَزدَقُal-Farazdaq لِلأُخَيطِلِfor al-Ukhaytil مُحلِباًas an ally
وَعَوى الفَرَزدَقُ لِلأُخَيطِلِ مُحلِباً
فَتَنازَعاso the two tugged at مَرِسَstrong القُوىin its strands مَشزوراtightly twisted
فَتَنازَعا مَرِسَ القُوى مَشزورا
Al-Farazdaq howled in support of al-Ukhaytil,
And Al-Farazdaq cried out to Al-Ukhytil saying:
and both tugged at a strong rope, tightly twisted in its strands.
So they contested the polished swords of mighty heroes
ماnot قادَled مِنamong عَرَبٍArabs إِلَيَّagainst me جَوادَهُمtheir steed
ما قادَ مِن عَرَبٍ إِلَيَّ جَوادَهُم
إِلّاexcept that تَرَكتُI left جَوادَهُمtheir steed مَحسوراexhausted
إِلّا تَرَكتُ جَوادَهُم مَحسورا
No Arabs ever led their steed against me
No Arab has led against me a steed
but I left their steed exhausted.
But that I left the steed confounded
أَبقَتleft remaining مُراكَضَةُracing الرِهانِthe stakes مُجَرَّباًa proven contender
أَبقَت مُراكَضَةُ الرِهانِ مُجَرَّباً
عِندَat المَواطِنِthe encounters يُرزَقُis granted التَبشيراglad tidings
عِندَ المَواطِنِ يُرزَقُ التَبشيرا
Racing for stakes has left a proven contender,
The galloping of racers left me tested
favored with glad tidings at the encounters.
At critical moments, sustenance comes with good tidings
فَإِذاthen when هَزَزتُI brandish قَطَعتُI cut through كُلَّevery ضَريبَةٍtarget
فَإِذا هَزَزتُ قَطَعتُ كُلَّ ضَريبَةٍ
وَمَضَيتُand I press on لاnot طَبِعاًrusted وَلاnor مَبهوراbreathless
وَمَضَيتُ لا طَبِعاً وَلا مَبهورا
When I wield my blade, I cut through every target,
When I shake the reins, I cut every firm bond
and press on, neither rusted nor breathless.
And go, neither innate disposition nor confounded
إِنّيindeed I إِذاwhen مُضَرٌMudar عَلَيَّover me تَحَدَّبَتbends protectively
إِنّي إِذا مُضَرٌ عَلَيَّ تَحَدَّبَت
لاقَيتَyou encounter مُطَّلَعَthe ascent of الجِبالِthe mountains وَعوراrugged
لاقَيتَ مُطَّلَعَ الجِبالِ وَعورا
Indeed, when Mudar bends protectively over me,
Truly when I am aggressive, the mountains themselves peer
you face a rugged ascent into the mountains.
To meet me, and you will find no easy ascent
مَدَّتswelled بُحورُهُمُtheir seas فَلَستَso you are not بِقاطِعٍone who crosses
مَدَّت بُحورُهُمُ فَلَستَ بِقاطِعٍ
بَحراًa sea يَمُدُّreplenishing مِنَamong البُحورِthe seas بُحوراother seas
بَحراً يَمُدُّ مِنَ البُحورِ بُحورا
Their seas swell, and you cannot cross
Their seas, having extended seas from seas
a sea among seas that replenishes other seas.
You cannot cut off a sea with other seas issuing from it
الضارِبونَthose who impose عَلىupon النَصارىthe Christians جِزيَةًtribute
الضارِبونَ عَلى النَصارى جِزيَةً
وَهُدىًand guidance لِمَنfor whoever تَبِعَfollows الكِتابَthe Book وَنوراand light
وَهُدىً لِمَن تَبِعَ الكِتابَ وَنورا
They levy tribute upon the Christians,
We who levy the jizya tax on Christians
and offer guidance and light to those who follow the Book.
And guidance for those who follow the Book and the Light
إِنّاindeed we تُفَضَّلُis held superior فيin الحَياةِlife حَياتُناour life
إِنّا تُفَضَّلُ في الحَياةِ حَياتُنا
وَنَسودُand we outrank مَنwhoever دَخَلَenters القُبورَthe graves قُبوراin the grave
وَنَسودُ مَن دَخَلَ القُبورَ قُبورا
Indeed, in life our lives are held superior,
We are preferred in this life, and our lives
and in our graves we outrank those who enter graves.
Rule over those who enter the tombs as tombs
اللَهُGod فَضَّلَناfavored us وَأَخزىand disgraced تَغلِباًTaghlib
اللَهُ فَضَّلَنا وَأَخزى تَغلِباً
لَنwill never تَستَطيعَyou are able لِماto what قَضىHe decreed تَغيِيراany change
لَن تَستَطيعَ لِما قَضى تَغيِيرا
God favored us and disgraced Taghlib;
God has favored us and disgraced the Banu Taghlib—
you will never be able to change what He decreed.
You will not be able do anything against what He has decreed
فيناamong us المَساجِدُthe mosques وَالإِمامُand the imam وَلاand not تَرىyou see
فينا المَساجِدُ وَالإِمامُ وَلا تَرى
فيin دارِthe land of تَغلِبَTaghlib مَسجِداًa mosque مَعموراin active use
في دارِ تَغلِبَ مَسجِداً مَعمورا
Among us are the mosques and the imam; you will not see
Ours are the mosques and the imam, while you see
in Taghlib's land a mosque in active use.
No frequented mosque in the settlements of Taghlib
تَلقىyou find إِذاwhen اِجتَمَعَgather الكِرامُthe noble بِمَوطِنٍin one place
تَلقى إِذا اِجتَمَعَ الكِرامُ بِمَوطِنٍ
أَشرافَthe chiefs of تَغلِبَTaghlib سائِلاًa beggar وَأَجيراand a hireling
أَشرافَ تَغلِبَ سائِلاً وَأَجيرا
When the noble gather in one place, you find
You will find, if the generous assemble in an abode
Taghlib's chiefs—a beggar and a hireling.
The nobles of Taghlib begging and hirelings
إِنَّindeed الأُخَيطِلَal-Ukhaytil لَوif يُفاضِلُvies in merit with خِندِفاًKhindif
إِنَّ الأُخَيطِلَ لَو يُفاضِلُ خِندِفاً
لَقِيَhe would meet الهَوانَhumiliation هُناكَthere وَالتَصغيراand belittlement
لَقِيَ الهَوانَ هُناكَ وَالتَصغيرا
Indeed, if al-Ukhaytil tried to rival Khindif in merit,
Truly, if Al-Ukhytil were to vie with Khindif
he would meet humiliation there and belittlement.
He would meet there disgrace and belittlement
وَإِذاand when الدُعاءُthe rallying cry عَلاrises بِقَيسٍfor Qays أَلجَمواthey bridle
وَإِذا الدُعاءُ عَلا بِقَيسٍ أَلجَموا
شُعثاًshaggy-maned مَلامِعَpregnant mares كَالقَناlike lances وَذُكوراand stallions
شُعثاً مَلامِعَ كَالقَنا وَذُكورا
When the rallying cry rises for Qays, they bridle
And if curses upon Qays arise, they silence them
shaggy pregnant mares, lance-like, and stallions.
Rough-haired coats of mail like bells and wild cows
أَلباعِثينَthose who send بِرَغمِin defiance of آنُفِthe noses of تَغلِبٍTaghlib
أَلباعِثينَ بِرَغمِ آنُفِ تَغلِبٍ
فيin كُلِّevery مَنزِلَةٍstation عَلَيكَover you أَميراa commander
في كُلِّ مَنزِلَةٍ عَلَيكَ أَميرا
Those who send, with Taghlib's noses humbled,
Though you dispatch against the will of Taghlib
a commander over you at every station.
In every stance making you a commander
أَفَبِالصَليبِthen is it with the cross وَمارَand Saint سَرجِسَSarjis تَتَّقيyou ward off
أَفَبِالصَليبِ وَمارَ سَرجِسَ تَتَّقي
شَهباءَa gray host ذاتَhaving مَناكِبٍflanks جُمهوراa mighty mass
شَهباءَ ذاتَ مَناكِبٍ جُمهورا
So will you ward off with the cross and Mar Sarjis
Will you be pious with the cross and Mar Sargis
a gray, broad-flanked, massed host?
Fearing a fiery she-camel with striding shoulder blades?
عايَنتَyou saw مُشعَلَةَwidely scattered الرِعالِthe squadrons كَأَنَّهاas though it were
عايَنتَ مُشعَلَةَ الرِعالِ كَأَنَّها
طَيرٌbirds تُغاوِلُracing toward فيin شَمامَShamam وُكوراnests
طَيرٌ تُغاوِلُ في شَمامَ وُكورا
You saw its squadrons spread wide, as though it were
You eyed the brand of shame blazing as if it were
birds racing for nests in Shamam.
A bird circling in the thickets and canyons
جَنَحَinclined الأَصيلُlate afternoon وَقَدand already قَضَيناwe fulfilled لِتَغلِبٍfor Taghlib
جَنَحَ الأَصيلُ وَقَد قَضَينا لِتَغلِبٍ
نَحباًan obligation قَضَينَthey discharged قَضائُهُits fulfillment وَنُذوراand vows
نَحباً قَضَينَ قَضائُهُ وَنُذورا
Late afternoon waned, and we had fulfilled for Taghlib
The steed fled, and we have judged for Taghlib's sake
an obligation they brought to fulfillment, and solemn vows.
A judgment never to be undone or vowed
أَسلَمتَyou abandoned أَحمَرَAhmar وَاِبنَand the son of عَبدِ'Abd مُحَرِّقٍMuharriq
أَسلَمتَ أَحمَرَ وَاِبنَ عَبدِ مُحَرِّقٍ
وَوُجِدتَand you were found يَومَإِذٍthat day أَزَبَّshaggy نَفوراquick to flee
وَوُجِدتَ يَومَإِذٍ أَزَبَّ نَفورا
You abandoned Ahmar and Ibn 'Abd Muharriq,
You submitted Ahmar and Ibn Abdi Muharraq
and were found that day shaggy and quick to flee.
And you were found on that day galloping in fright
فَإِذاthen if وَطِئنَكَthey trample you ياO أُخَيطِلُUkhaytil وَطأَةًa single trampling
فَإِذا وَطِئنَكَ يا أُخَيطِلُ وَطأَةً
لَمnot يَرجُwill hope عَظمُكَyour bone بَعدَهُنَّafter them جُبوراmending
لَم يَرجُ عَظمُكَ بَعدَهُنَّ جُبورا
If they trample you once, O Ukhaytil,
When Ukhytil gives you a blow, O Farazdaq
your bones will have no hope of mending after them.
After it your bones will not again be mended
فَإِذاthen if سَمِعتَyou hear بِحَربِof war with قَيسٍQays بَعدَهاafter it
فَإِذا سَمِعتَ بِحَربِ قَيسٍ بَعدَها
فَضَعواthen lay down السِلاحَthe weapons وَكَفِّرواand bow in submission تَكفيراa deep bow
فَضَعوا السِلاحَ وَكَفِّروا تَكفيرا
If you hear of war with Qays after that,
So if you hear of Qays' war after this
lay down your arms and bow in full submission.
Lay down your weapons and make a full atonement
تَرَكواthey left شُعَيثَShu'ayth بَنيthe sons of مُلَيلٍMulayl مُسلَماًabandoned
تَرَكوا شُعَيثَ بَني مُلَيلٍ مُسلَماً
وَالشَعثَمَينِand the two Sha'thams وَأَسلَمواand they abandoned شُعروراShu'rur
وَالشَعثَمَينِ وَأَسلَموا شُعرورا
They left Shu'ayth of Banu Mulayl abandoned,
They left Shu'ayth b. Mulayl a Muslim
and the two Sha'thams; they abandoned Shu'rur.
And the Shuthamiyin, and they surrendered the Shu'rur
وَأُجِرَّand was left lodged مُطَّرِدُregularly aligned الكُعوبِthe joints كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَأُجِرَّ مُطَّرِدُ الكُعوبِ كَأَنَّهُ
مَسَدٌa twisted rope يُنازِعُstraining against مِنfrom لَصافَLasaf جَروراa deep well
مَسَدٌ يُنازِعُ مِن لَصافَ جَرورا
And a straight-jointed spear was left lodged, as though it were
And the pell-mell rout of the K'ub was blocked
a twisted rope straining against a deep well at Lasaf.
As if it were a dam opposing a flood of rolling pebbles
وَكَأَنَّand as though تَغلِبَTaghlib يَومَon the day لاقَواthey met خَيلَناour cavalry
وَكَأَنَّ تَغلِبَ يَومَ لاقَوا خَيلَنا
خِربانُmale bustards ذيDhu حُسُمٍHusum لَقينَthey met صُقوراfalcons
خِربانُ ذي حُسُمٍ لَقينَ صُقورا
It was as though Taghlib, when they met our cavalry,
It was as if when they met our horses, Taghlib were
were bustards of Dhu Husum meeting falcons.
Ruined settlements that met predatory birds of prey
إِنّاindeed we نُصَدِّقُmake good بِالَّذيwhat قُلناwe said لَكُمto you
إِنّا نُصَدِّقُ بِالَّذي قُلنا لَكُم
وَيَكونُand becomes قَولُكَyour speech ياO فَرَزدَقُFarazdaq زوراfalsehood
وَيَكونُ قَولُكَ يا فَرَزدَقُ زورا
We make good what we have told you,
We are truthful in what we said to you
while your words, O Farazdaq, are falsehood.
While your words, O Farazdaq, are lies
لَعَنَmay curse الإِلَهُGod نُسَيَّةًa petty band of women مِنof تَغلِبٍTaghlib
لَعَنَ الإِلَهُ نُسَيَّةً مِن تَغلِبٍ
يَرفَعنَthey raise مِنfrom قِطَعِpieces of العَباءِwoolen cloaks خُدوراcurtained shelters
يَرفَعنَ مِن قِطَعِ العَباءِ خُدورا
May God curse a paltry band of Taghlib women,
Cursed by God are the women of Taghlib
who raise curtained shelters from scraps of woolen cloaks.
Who lift the lower parts of their robes with immoral hands
الجاعِلينَthose who dedicate لِمارَto Saint سَرجِسَSarjis حَجَّهُمtheir pilgrimage
الجاعِلينَ لِمارَ سَرجِسَ حَجَّهُم
وَحَجيجُand the pilgrims of مَكَّةَMecca يُكثِرُmultiply التَكبيراproclamations of God's greatness
وَحَجيجُ مَكَّةَ يُكثِرُ التَكبيرا
Those who dedicate their pilgrimage to Mar Sarjis,
Those who take Mar Sargis for their pilgrimage
while Mecca's pilgrims multiply proclamations of God's greatness.
While the Hajj pilgrims multiply their declarations of God’s unity
مِنof كُلِّevery حَنكَلَةٍa squat, ugly woman تَرىyou see جِلبابَهاher outer robe
مِن كُلِّ حَنكَلَةٍ تَرى جِلبابَها
فَرواًa fur pelt وَتَقلِبُand she turns لِلعَباءَةِfor the woolen cloak نيراa loom heddle
فَرواً وَتَقلِبُ لِلعَباءَةِ نيرا
Each an ugly, squat woman whose outer robe you see
On each scowling woman you see a rough mantle
as a fur pelt, while she works a heddle for a woolen cloak.
Turning and flipping up the cloak violently
وَكَأَنَّماand as though بَصَقَspat الجَرادُthe locusts بِليتِهاon the side of her neck
وَكَأَنَّما بَصَقَ الجَرادُ بِليتِها
فَالوَجهُso the face لاnot حَسَناًbeautiful وَلاnor مَنضوراradiant
فَالوَجهُ لا حَسَناً وَلا مَنضورا
It is as though locusts spat upon her neck,
It is as if the locusts had spat their saliva on her face
so her face is neither beautiful nor radiant.
Which shows neither beauty nor care
لَقِيَmet الأُخَيطِلُal-Ukhaytil أُمَّهُhis mother مَخمورَةًdrunk
لَقِيَ الأُخَيطِلُ أُمَّهُ مَخمورَةً
قُبحاًshame لِذَلِكَupon that one شارِباًa drinker مَخموراdrunk
قُبحاً لِذَلِكَ شارِباً مَخمورا
Al-Ukhaytil met his mother drunk;
Al-Ukhytil found his mother drunk—
shame on that drunken drinker!
Shame! Drinking wine like the intoxicated
لَمnot يَجرِhas run مُذsince خُلِقَتshe was created عَلىover أَنيابِهاher fangs
لَم يَجرِ مُذ خُلِقَت عَلى أَنيابِها
ماءُwater السِواكِthe tooth-stick وَلَمand not تَمَسَّshe has touched طَهوراpurifying water
ماءُ السِواكِ وَلَم تَمَسَّ طَهورا
Never, since she was born, has there run over her fangs
Not once since her eyeteeth were formed
water from a tooth-stick; nor has she touched purifying water.
Did the water of a toothstick touch her, nor did she perform ablution
لَقِحَتshe conceived لِأَشهَبَby a gray boar بِالكُناسَةِat al-Kunasa داجِنٍtame
لَقِحَت لِأَشهَبَ بِالكُناسَةِ داجِنٍ
خِنزيرَةٌa sow فَتَوالَداso the two begot خِنزيراa pig
خِنزيرَةٌ فَتَوالَدا خِنزيرا
A tame gray boar at al-Kunasa impregnated
For Ashhab a domesticated pig mated
a sow; the two then begot a pig.
With a sow, begetting pigs for them!
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.