ماwhat هاجَstirred شَوقَكَyour longing مِنfrom عُهودِold memories of رُسومِcamp traces
ما هاجَ شَوقَكَ مِن عُهودِ رُسومِ
بادَتvanished مَعارِفُهاtheir familiar landmarks بِذيat Dhu القَيصومِal-Qaysum
بادَت مَعارِفُها بِذي القَيصومِ
What stirred your longing among the old camp traces,
What longing of yours was stirred by the customs of old
whose familiar landmarks have vanished at Dhu al-Qaysum?
Their friendships faded away, oh possessor of the head wrap
هِجنَthey stirred الهَوىlove وَمَضىand passed لِعَهدِكَsince your time there حِقبَةٌan age
هِجنَ الهَوى وَمَضى لِعَهدِكَ حِقبَةٌ
وَبَلينَand they decayed غَيرَexcept دَعائِمِsupports of التَخيِيمِtent-pitching
وَبَلينَ غَيرَ دَعائِمِ التَخيِيمِ
They stirred love, though an age has passed since you knew them,
Passion wandered and an era has passed for your era
and they have decayed, save the supports of the tents.
While none but the poles of tents remained fixed
وَلَقَدand indeed نَراكِwe used to see you وَأَنتِwhile you جامِعَةُgathering الهَوىlove
وَلَقَد نَراكِ وَأَنتِ جامِعَةُ الهَوى
إِذwhen عَهدُthe bond with أَهلِكِyour people كانَwas غَيرَnot ذَميمِblameworthy
إِذ عَهدُ أَهلِكِ كانَ غَيرَ ذَميمِ
Indeed, we saw you when you held all our love,
And we saw you as the embodiment of passion
when our ties with your people were beyond reproach.
When the time of your people was not ignoble
فَسُقيتِso may you be watered مِنfrom سَبَلِstreaming rain of الغَواديmorning clouds ديمَةًlasting gentle rain
فَسُقيتِ مِن سَبَلِ الغَوادي ديمَةً
أَوor وَبلَa downpour from مُرتَجِسِrumbling الرَبابِclouds هَزيمِthunderous
أَو وَبلَ مُرتَجِسِ الرَبابِ هَزيمِ
So may the morning clouds water you with gentle, lasting rain,
You were quenched from the valleys' streams for a long time
or a downpour from rumbling clouds, loud with thunder.
Or soaked by the drizzling of the water skin
قَدindeed كِدتَyou almost يَومَon the day of قُشاوَتَينِQushawatayn مِنَfrom الهَوىlove
قَد كِدتَ يَومَ قُشاوَتَينِ مِنَ الهَوى
تُبديreveal شَواكِلَoutlines of سِرِّكَyour secret المَكتومِconcealed
تُبدي شَواكِلَ سِرِّكَ المَكتومِ
On the day at Qushawatayn, love almost made you
You almost revealed, on a harsh day, the secrets
reveal the outlines of your hidden secret.
Of your concealed anguish
آلىswore أَميرُكَyour prince لاnot يَرُدُّto return تَحِيَّةًa greeting
آلى أَميرُكَ لا يَرُدُّ تَحِيَّةً
ماذاthis one is not بِمَنto one whom شَعَفَconsumed الهَوىlove بِرَحيمِmerciful
ماذا بِمَن شَعَفَ الهَوى بِرَحيمِ
Your prince swore he would return no greeting;
Your prince does not return a greeting—
he has no mercy for one whom love has consumed.
What of one passion softened for the compassionate?
كُنّاwe used to نُواصِلُكُمmaintain ties with you بِحَبلِwith a cord of مَوَدَّةٍaffection
كُنّا نُواصِلُكُم بِحَبلِ مَوَدَّةٍ
فَلَقَدso indeed عَجِبتُI marveled لِحَبلِناat our cord المَصرومِsevered
فَلَقَد عَجِبتُ لِحَبلِنا المَصرومِ
We used to bind ourselves to you with a cord of affection;
We used to keep connected through a rope of affection
how I marvel at our severed cord!
So I wondered at our severed rope
وَلَقَدand indeed رَأَيتُI saw وَلَيسَand there is not شَيءُanything باقِياًlasting
وَلَقَد رَأَيتُ وَلَيسَ شَيءُ باقِياً
يَوماًone day ظَعائِنَwomen in litters سَلوَةٍsolace وَنَعيمِand delight
يَوماً ظَعائِنَ سَلوَةٍ وَنَعيمِ
Indeed, I saw—and nothing lasts—
And I saw, one day, while nothing remains
one day, women in litters, a solace and delight.
The extravagance of luxury and bliss
فَإِذاso when احتَمَلنَthey moved camp حَلَلنَthey settled in أَوسَعَthe broadest مَنزِلٍcamping place
فَإِذا احتَمَلنَ حَلَلنَ أَوسَعَ مَنزِلٍ
وَإِذاand when اِتَّصَلنَthey declared their lineage دَعَونَthey called يالَO, to our aid تَميمِTamim
وَإِذا اِتَّصَلنَ دَعَونَ يالَ تَميمِ
When they moved camp, they settled in the broadest camping ground,
When they are tolerant, they occupy the widest abode
and when they declared their lineage, they cried, 'O Tamim, to our aid!'
And when they are joined, they call "Do not, O Tameem!"
وَإِذاand when وَعَدنَكَthey promised you نائِلاًa gift أَخلَفنَهُthey failed to give it
وَإِذا وَعَدنَكَ نائِلاً أَخلَفنَهُ
وَإِذاand when طُلِبنَthey were approached لَوَينَthey put off كُلَّevery غَريمِcreditor
وَإِذا طُلِبنَ لَوَينَ كُلَّ غَريمِ
When they promised you a gift, they broke their promise,
And when they promise you attainment, they break it
and when asked for it, they put off every creditor.
And when asked, they dodge every creditor
فَاِعصيso defy مَلامَthe blame of عَواذِلٍreproaching women يَنهَينَكُمwho forbid you
فَاِعصي مَلامَ عَواذِلٍ يَنهَينَكُم
فَلَقَدfor indeed عَصَيتُI defied إِلَيكَfor your sake كُلَّevery حَميمِclose friend
فَلَقَد عَصَيتُ إِلَيكَ كُلَّ حَميمِ
So defy the reproaches of the women who try to forbid you;
So disobey the censures of coquettes who forbid you
for your sake, I have defied every close friend.
For I have disobeyed, toward you, all intimates
وَلَقَدand indeed تَوَكَّلَundertook بِالسُهادِsleeplessness لِحُبِّكُمfor love of you
وَلَقَد تَوَكَّلَ بِالسُهادِ لِحُبِّكُم
عَينٌan eye تَبيتُspends the night قَليلَةَwith little التَهويمِdozing
عَينٌ تَبيتُ قَليلَةَ التَهويمِ
For love of you, a sleepless vigil is kept by
An eye has relied on wakefulness for your love
an eye that passes the night with scarcely a doze.
Sleeping little at night
إِنَّindeed اِمرَأًa man مَنَعَforbade الزِيارَةَvisiting مِنكُمُfrom among you
إِنَّ اِمرَأً مَنَعَ الزِيارَةَ مِنكُمُ
حَنَقاًout of rancor لَعَمرُby the life of أَبيهِhis father غَيرُnot حَليمِforbearing
حَنَقاً لَعَمرُ أَبيهِ غَيرُ حَليمِ
A man among you who has forbidden visits,
A man has prevented visitation from you
out of rancor—by his father's life!—is not forbearing.
By the life of his unforgiving father
يَرمينَthey shoot مِنthrough خَلَلِgaps in السُتورِthe curtains بِأَعيُنٍwith eyes
يَرمينَ مِن خَلَلِ السُتورِ بِأَعيُنٍ
فيهاin them السَقامُsickness وَبُرءُand the cure for كُلَّevery سَقيمِsick person
فيها السَقامُ وَبُرءُ كُلَّ سَقيمِ
They shoot through gaps in the curtains with eyes
They glance at me from behind the curtains with eyes
that hold both sickness and the cure for every sick person.
In them sickness, and cure of all sick
ياO مَسلَمَMaslam المُتَضَيِّفونَthose seeking hospitality إِلَيكُمُto you
يا مَسلَمَ المُتَضَيِّفونَ إِلَيكُمُ
أَهلَpeople of الرَجاءِhope طَلَبتُI sought وَالتَكريمِand honoring
أَهلَ الرَجاءِ طَلَبتُ وَالتَكريمِ
O Maslam, guests turn to you;
O Musallam, the generous ones whose hospitality
I sought those who inspire hope and bestow honor.
People of hopes and honor frequented
كَمhow many قَدindeed قَطَعتُI crossed إِلَيكَto reach you مِنof دَيمومَةٍa vast desert
كَم قَد قَطَعتُ إِلَيكَ مِن دَيمومَةٍ
قَفرٍbarren وَغولِand deadly expanses of صَحاصِحٍopen plains وَحُزومِand rugged ridges
قَفرٍ وَغولِ صَحاصِحٍ وَحُزومِ
How many a vast desert I have crossed to reach you,
How far I traveled, unto you, across barren deserts
barren, and deadly wastes of open plains and rugged ridges!
Of wasteland, roaring waters, and mounds
لاnot يَأمَنونَthey feel safe عَلىrelying on الأَدِلَّةِguides هَولَهاits terrors
لا يَأمَنونَ عَلى الأَدِلَّةِ هَولَها
إِلّاexcept بِأَشجَعَwith a very brave man صادِقِsteadfast in التَصميمِresolve
إِلّا بِأَشجَعَ صادِقِ التَصميمِ
Even with guides, they are not safe from its terrors,
They trust not the guides across those fearful places
unless accompanied by a brave man of steadfast resolve.
Except the bravest, sincere in resolve
كَيفَhow الحَديثُconversation إِلىwith بَنيsons of داوِيَّةٍa desert
كَيفَ الحَديثُ إِلى بَني داوِيَّةٍ
مُتَعَصِّبينَwith heads wrapped لَدىbeside خَوامِسَcamels watered every fifth day هيمِthirst-crazed
مُتَعَصِّبينَ لَدى خَوامِسَ هيمِ
How can one converse with the sons of the desert,
How to speak to the prejudiced tribes of Dawiya
their heads wrapped, beside thirst-crazed camels awaiting their fifth-day drink?
As the sad song ends at their gatherings?
أَبصَرتِyou saw أَنَّthat وُجوهَهُمtheir faces قَدindeed شَفَّهاwore them thin
أَبصَرتِ أَنَّ وُجوهَهُم قَد شَفَّها
ماwhat لاdoes not يَشُفُّكِwear you thin مِنfrom سُرىًnight travel وَسَمومِand scorching winds
ما لا يَشُفُّكِ مِن سُرىً وَسَمومِ
You saw that their faces had been worn thin
You saw their faces made ugly by what will not
by night travel and scorching winds that do not wear you thin.
Make you happy, of enmity and poison
وَيَقولُand says مَنwhoever وَرَدَتarrived عَلَيهِto him رِكابُناour riding camels
وَيَقولُ مَن وَرَدَت عَلَيهِ رِكابُنا
أَمِنَis it from الكُحَيلِtar بِهِنَّupon them لَونُthe color of عَصيمِa stain
أَمِنَ الكُحَيلِ بِهِنَّ لَونُ عَصيمِ
And whoever sees our riding camels arrive says,
And he who encountered our traveling party said
'Is that stained hue upon them from tar?'
"Are their faces yellow with saffron?"
تَشكوthey complain of جَوالِبَsores دامِياتٍbleeding بِالكُلىover the kidneys
تَشكو جَوالِبَ دامِياتٍ بِالكُلى
أَوor بِالصَفاحِon the flanks وَغارِبٍand the withers مَكلومِwounded
أَو بِالصَفاحِ وَغارِبٍ مَكلومِ
They complained of bleeding sores over their kidneys,
She complains of shackles from blood-red camels
or on their flanks, and of wounded withers,
Or a wounded, setting sun
حَتّىuntil استَرَحنَthey rested إِلَيكَwith you مِنfrom طولِlength of السُرىnight travel
حَتّى استَرَحنَ إِلَيكَ مِن طولِ السُرى
وَمِنَand from الحَفاfootsoreness وَسَرائِحِand strips of torn skin التَخديمِfetter-chafing
وَمِنَ الحَفا وَسَرائِحِ التَخديمِ
until with you they rested from long night travel,
Until at ease, returned to you after the long journey
and from sore feet and strips of skin torn by fetters.
And fatigue, and saddles' chafing
نامَslept الخَلِيُّthe carefree man وَماbut not تَنامُsleep هُموميmy cares
نامَ الخَلِيُّ وَما تَنامُ هُمومي
وَكَأَنَّand as though لَيلِيَmy night باتَwas لَيلَthe night of سَليمِa snake-bitten man
وَكَأَنَّ لَيلِيَ باتَ لَيلَ سَليمِ
The carefree man sleeps, but my cares do not sleep,
The friend slept, but my worries are sleepless
as though my night were the night of a snake-bitten man.
As if my night remained a peaceful night
إِنَّindeed الهُمومَcares عَلَيكَupon you داءٌan illness داخِلٌinward
إِنَّ الهُمومَ عَلَيكَ داءٌ داخِلٌ
حَتّىuntil تُفَرِّجَyou dispel شَكَّهاtheir uncertainty بِصَريمِthrough a resolute man
حَتّى تُفَرِّجَ شَكَّها بِصَريمِ
Cares are an inward illness afflicting you,
Worries upon you are an internal disease
until you dispel their uncertainty through a resolute man.
Until you relieve their doubt openly
ماnot أَنصَفَacted fairly المُتَوَدِّدونَthose courting إِلىtoward الرَدىdestruction
ما أَنصَفَ المُتَوَدِّدونَ إِلى الرَدى
وَحَمَيتُwhile I protected كُلَّevery حِماًpreserve لَهُمof theirs وَحَريمِand inviolate domain
وَحَمَيتُ كُلَّ حِماً لَهُم وَحَريمِ
Those courting destruction have not been fair,
The endearing ones were not fair to rejection
though I protected every preserve and inviolate domain of theirs.
And I protected them all, their sanctity
لَوif يَقدِرونَthey could بِغَيرِotherwise than ماwhat أَبلَيتُهُمI bestowed on them
لَو يَقدِرونَ بِغَيرِ ما أَبلَيتُهُم
لَسُقيتُI would have been made to drink كَأسَa cup of مُقَشَّبٍtainted drink مَسمومِpoisoned
لَسُقيتُ كَأسَ مُقَشَّبٍ مَسمومِ
If they had their way, despite the favors I bestowed on them,
If they could without what I endured for them
I would be made to drink a tainted, poisoned cup.
I'd have given them a poisoned cup to drink
وَوَجَدتُand I found مَسلَمَةَMaslama الكَريمِnoble نِجارُهُhis stock
وَوَجَدتُ مَسلَمَةَ الكَريمِ نِجارُهُ
مِثلَlike الهِلالِthe crescent moon أَغَرَّradiant غَيرَnot بَهيمِdark
مِثلَ الهِلالِ أَغَرَّ غَيرَ بَهيمِ
And I found Maslama, noble in his stock,
I found Musallam the noble, his carpenter
like the crescent moon, radiant, not dark.
Like the crescent moon, not dull
أَنتَyou المُؤَمَّلُthe one hoped for وَالمُرَجّىand the one awaited فَضلُهُhis bounty
أَنتَ المُؤَمَّلُ وَالمُرَجّى فَضلُهُ
ياO اِبنَson of الخَليفَةِthe caliph وَاِبنَand son of أُمِّUmm (mother of) حَكيمِHakim
يا اِبنَ الخَليفَةِ وَاِبنَ أُمِّ حَكيمِ
You are the one hoped for, whose bounty is awaited,
You are the hoped for, his excellence expected
O son of the caliph and son of Umm Hakim.
O son of the Caliph, and son of Wise Mother
لَلبَدرُindeed the full moon وَاِبنُand son of غَمامَةٍa raincloud رِبعِيَّةٍof spring
لَلبَدرُ وَاِبنُ غَمامَةٍ رِبعِيَّةٍ
أَصبَحتَyou became أَكرَمَthe most generous ظاعِنٍa traveler وَمُقيمِand a dweller
أَصبَحتَ أَكرَمَ ظاعِنٍ وَمُقيمِ
You are indeed the full moon and son of a spring raincloud;
The full moon and son of misty morning
you have become the most generous of travelers and dwellers.
You have become the best strong and lasting
وَنَباتُand the shoots of عيصِكُمُyour family thicket لَهُit has طيبُgoodness of الثَرىthe soil
وَنَباتُ عيصِكُمُ لَهُ طيبُ الثَرى
وَقَديمُand the ancient stock of عيصِكَyour thicket كانَwas خَيرَthe best قَديمِancient stock
وَقَديمُ عيصِكَ كانَ خَيرَ قَديمِ
The shoots of your family's thicket have wholesome soil,
The plants of your plain are fragrant earth
and your thicket's ancient stock was the finest ancient stock.
And your old plain was the best old
لَمّاwhen نَزَلتُI alighted بِكُمamong you عَرَفتُمyou recognized حاجَتيmy need
لَمّا نَزَلتُ بِكُم عَرَفتُم حاجَتي
فَجَبَرتَso you mended عَظميmy bones وَاِستَجَدَّand became new أَديميmy skin
فَجَبَرتَ عَظمي وَاِستَجَدَّ أَديمي
When I alighted among you, you knew my need,
When I descended upon you, you knew my need
so you mended my bones, and my skin was renewed.
So you mended my bone and patched my skin
وَلَقَدand indeed حَبَونيthey bestowed on me بِالجِيادِfine horses وَأَخدَمواand they furnished
وَلَقَد حَبَوني بِالجِيادِ وَأَخدَموا
خَدَماًservants إِلىalong with مِئَةٍa hundred بَهازِرَmassive mature camels كومِhigh-humped
خَدَماً إِلى مِئَةٍ بَهازِرَ كومِ
Indeed, they gave me fine horses and furnished
They gifted me generously with steeds and served
servants, together with a hundred massive, high-humped camels.
A hundred nimble servants
حَيَّيتُI saluted وَجهَكَyour face بِالسَلامِwith peace تَحِيَّةًa greeting
حَيَّيتُ وَجهَكَ بِالسَلامِ تَحِيَّةً
وَعَرَفتُand I recognized ضَربَthe mating of كَريمَةٍa noble woman لِكَريمِwith a noble man
وَعَرَفتُ ضَربَ كَريمَةٍ لِكَريمِ
I saluted your face with a greeting of peace,
I greeted your face with peace, a greeting
and recognized a noble woman's union with a noble man.
And recognized a generous model for the generous
وَاللَهُand God فَضَّلَfavored والِدَيكَyour parents فَأَنجَباso they begot noble offspring
وَاللَهُ فَضَّلَ والِدَيكَ فَأَنجَبا
وَعَدَدتَand you counted خَيرَthe finest خُؤولَةٍmaternal uncles وَعُمومِand paternal uncles
وَعَدَدتَ خَيرَ خُؤولَةٍ وَعُمومِ
God favored your parents, and they begot noble offspring,
God graced your parents, so they begot
and you counted the finest maternal and paternal uncles.
And you were blessed among nobles and stars
أَرضَيتَناyou pleased us وَخُلِقتَand were created نوراًa light عالِياًlofty
أَرضَيتَنا وَخُلِقتَ نوراً عالِياً
بِالسَعدِwith good fortune بَينَamong أَهِلَّةٍcrescent moons وَنُجومِand stars
بِالسَعدِ بَينَ أَهِلَّةٍ وَنُجومِ
You have pleased us, and were created a lofty light,
You pleased us and were created a lofty light
auspicious amid crescent moons and stars.
With fortune between the distinguished and eminent
أَنتَyou اِبنُa son of مُعتَلَجِthe meeting-place of الأَباطِحِgravelly valley beds فَاِفتَخِرso take pride
أَنتَ اِبنُ مُعتَلَجِ الأَباطِحِ فَاِفتَخِر
مِنfrom عَبدِAbd شَمسَShams بِذِروَةٍat the summit وَصَميمِand the pure core
مِن عَبدِ شَمسَ بِذِروَةٍ وَصَميمِ
You are a son of the converging gravelly valleys; take pride
You are the son of the owner of glorious encampments—boast
in being of Abd Shams, at their summit and their purest core.
Of a servant of the sun at its apex and essence
وَلَقَدand indeed بَنىbuilt لَكَfor you فيin المَكارِمِnoble deeds وَالعُلىand eminence
وَلَقَد بَنى لَكَ في المَكارِمِ وَالعُلى
آلُthe house of المُغيرَةِal-Mughira مِنfrom بَنيthe sons of مَخزومِMakhzum
آلُ المُغيرَةِ مِن بَني مَخزومِ
Indeed, honor and eminence were built up for you by
And the Al-Mughira family built for you in nobility and loftiness
the house of al-Mughira, of Banu Makhzum.
From the Banu Makhzum tribe
وَبِئالِand in the house of مُرَّةَMurra رَهطِthe clan of سُعدىSu'da فَاِفتَخِرso take pride
وَبِئالِ مُرَّةَ رَهطِ سُعدى فَاِفتَخِر
مِنهُمfrom them بِمَكرُمَةٍin a noble deed وَفَضلِand excellence of حُلومِwisdom
مِنهُم بِمَكرُمَةٍ وَفَضلِ حُلومِ
And take pride in the house of Murra, Su'da's clan,
And the houses of Murra, kinsmen of Suda—boast
in their noble deeds and surpassing wisdom:
Of them with generosity and excellent mansions
المانِعينَthe protectors إِذاwhen النِساءُthe women تَبَذَّلَتdiscarded their finery
المانِعينَ إِذا النِساءُ تَبَذَّلَت
وَالجاسِرينَand the bold ones بِمُضلِعِwith the crushing burden of المَغرومِthe debtor
وَالجاسِرينَ بِمُضلِعِ المَغرومِ
the protectors when women cast aside their finery,
They who boldly take the resisting women
and those who boldly shoulder a debtor's crushing burden.
When they act coy, and the confused drunkard
ماnot كانَwas فيin أَحَدٍanyone لَهُمof them مُستَنكِراًdeemed strange
ما كانَ في أَحَدٍ لَهُم مُستَنكِراً
فَكُّfreeing العُناةِthe captives وَحَملُand shouldering كُلَّevery عَظيمِgreat burden
فَكُّ العُناةِ وَحَملُ كُلَّ عَظيمِ
It was not deemed strange in any of them
None of them had in anyone objecting
to free captives and shoulder every great burden.
Dissolving the obstinate and carrying every great load
وَبَنىand built لِمَسلَمَةَfor Maslama الخَلائِفُthe caliphs فيin العُلىthe heights
وَبَنى لِمَسلَمَةَ الخَلائِفُ في العُلى
شَرَفاًa glory أَقامَstood firm بِمَنزِلٍin a station مَعلومِwell known
شَرَفاً أَقامَ بِمَنزِلٍ مَعلومِ
And the caliphs built for Maslama, in the heights,
And the Caliphs built for Musallam in the heights
a glory established in a well-known station.
An honor at a known site
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.