ماwhat هاجَstirred شَوقَكَyour longing مِنfrom رُسومِtraces of دِيارِdwellings
ما هاجَ شَوقَكَ مِن رُسومِ دِيارِ
بِلِوىat the sand-bend of عُنَيِّقَ‘Unayyiq أَوor بِصُلبِon the hard ground of مَطارِMatar
بِلِوى عُنَيِّقَ أَو بِصُلبِ مَطارِ
What stirred your longing at the traces of dwellings
What longing of yours is stirred by the traces of settlements
at the sand-bend of ‘Unayyiq, or on the hard ground of Matar?
At Tawil Bilwa or at rugged Matar?
أَبقىleft behind العَواصِفُthe tempests مِنof مَعالِمِmarkings of رَسمِهاtheir ruins
أَبقى العَواصِفُ مِن مَعالِمِ رَسمِها
شَذَبَfragments of الخِيامِthe tents وَمَربَطَand the tethering-place of الأَمهارِfoals
شَذَبَ الخِيامِ وَمَربَطَ الأَمهارِ
The tempests left, among the markings of their ruins,
The storms have left remnants of their forms:
fragments of tents and the tethering-place of foals.
They razed tents and untethered camels.
أَمِنَwas it from الفِراقِparting طَعِبتَyou became lovesick يَومَthe day of عُنَيزَةٍ‘Unayzah
أَمِنَ الفِراقِ طَعِبتَ يَومَ عُنَيزَةٍ
كَهَواكَlike your passion يَومَthe day of شَقائِقِShaqa’iq (sand-clefts) الأَحفارِal-Ahfar
كَهَواكَ يَومَ شَقائِقِ الأَحفارِ
Did parting make you lovesick that day at ‘Unayzah,
Were you grieved when you parted from Unaizah
as your passion did the day at Shaqa’iq al-Ahfar?
As you loved it when you visited al-Aḥfār?
وَرَأَيتُand I saw نارَكَyour fire إِذwhen أَضاءَblazed وَقودُهاits fuel
وَرَأَيتُ نارَكَ إِذ أَضاءَ وَقودُها
فَرَأَيتُso I saw أَحسَنَthe finest مُصطَلينَpeople warming themselves وَنارِand a fire
فَرَأَيتُ أَحسَنَ مُصطَلينَ وَنارِ
And I saw your fire when its fuel blazed,
I saw your fire when its fuel blazed,
and saw the finest folk warming themselves, and the finest fire.
So I saw the best kindled fire.
أَمّاas for البَعيثُal-Ba‘ith فَقَدso indeed تَبَيَّنَbecame clear أَنَّهُthat he
أَمّا البَعيثُ فَقَد تَبَيَّنَ أَنَّهُ
عَبدٌa slave فَعَلَّكَso perhaps you فيabout البَعيثِal-Ba‘ith تُماريyou dispute
عَبدٌ فَعَلَّكَ في البَعيثِ تُماري
As for al-Ba‘ith, it has become clear that he is
As for al-Ba‘īth, it has become clear that he
a slave—yet perhaps you dispute this about al-Ba‘ith.
Is a slave whom you made equal to al-Ba‘īth.
وَاللُؤمُand baseness قَدalready خَطَمَbridled البَعيثَal-Ba‘ith وَأَرزَمَتand she lowed
وَاللُؤمُ قَد خَطَمَ البَعيثَ وَأَرزَمَت
أُمُّthe mother of الفَرَزدَقَal-Farazdaq عِندَbeside شَرِّthe vilest حُوارِcamel-calf
أُمُّ الفَرَزدَقَ عِندَ شَرِّ حُوارِ
Baseness has bridled al-Ba‘ith, and she lowed—
Cowardice has reviled al-Ba‘īth and caused
al-Farazdaq’s mother—beside the vilest camel-calf.
Umm al-Farazdaq to yell at the evilest disputant.
إِنَّindeed الفَرَزدَقَal-Farazdaq وَالبَعيثَand al-Ba‘ith وَأُمَّهُand his mother
إِنَّ الفَرَزدَقَ وَالبَعيثَ وَأُمَّهُ
وَأَباand the father of البَعيثِal-Ba‘ith لَشَرُّsurely the worst ماemphatic particle إِستارِa foursome
وَأَبا البَعيثِ لَشَرُّ ما إِستارِ
Indeed, al-Farazdaq, al-Ba‘ith, and his mother,
Indeed, al-Farazdaq, al-Ba‘īth, his mother
and al-Ba‘ith’s father, are the very worst foursome.
And Abū al-Ba‘īth are the evilest protectors.
طاحَfell الفَرَزدَقُal-Farazdaq فيin الرِهانِthe race وَعَمَّهُand overwhelmed him
طاحَ الفَرَزدَقُ في الرِهانِ وَعَمَّهُ
غَمرُprodigious البَديهَةِthe first burst of speed صادِقُproven المِضمارِthe racecourse
غَمرُ البَديهَةِ صادِقُ المِضمارِ
Al-Farazdaq fell in the race, overwhelmed
Al-Farazdaq has fallen in the wager and confusion has enveloped him—
by one mighty in the first dash, proven on the course.
The obscurity of incompetence, a loser in the race.
تَرجوyou hope for الهَوادَةَleniency ياO فَرَزدَقُFarazdaq بَعدَماafter
تَرجو الهَوادَةَ يا فَرَزدَقُ بَعدَما
أَطفَأتَyou extinguished نارَكَyour fire وَاِصطَلَيتَand warmed yourself بِناريat my fire
أَطفَأتَ نارَكَ وَاِصطَلَيتَ بِناري
You hope for leniency, Farazdaq, after
You hope for reconciliation, O Farazdaq, after you have
putting out your own fire and warming yourself at mine.
Extinguished your fire and borrowed my fire.
إِنّيindeed I لَتُحرِقُsurely burns مَنwhoever قَصَدتُI aimed at لِشَتمِهِto revile him
إِنّي لَتُحرِقُ مَن قَصَدتُ لِشَتمِهِ
ناريmy fire وَيَلحَقُand catches up بِالغُواةِwith the wayward سُعاريmy blaze
ناري وَيَلحَقُ بِالغُواةِ سُعاري
Indeed, whoever I aim to revile is burned
Indeed, my fire burns whoever I intend to revile;
by my fire, and my blaze catches up with the wayward.
It is my fire. May its flames reach the tyrants!
تَبّاًperdition لِفَخرِكَon your boasting بِالضَلالِin error وَلَمand not يَزَلceased
تَبّاً لِفَخرِكَ بِالضَلالِ وَلَم يَزَل
ثَوباthe two robes of أَبيكَyour father مُدَنَّسَينِstained بِعارِwith disgrace
ثَوبا أَبيكَ مُدَنَّسَينِ بِعارِ
Damn your misguided boasting! Always have
Woe to your pride in misguidance! Your father's robe
your father’s two robes been stained with disgrace.
Has never ceased to be stained with shame.
ماذاwhat تَقولُdo you say وَقَدand already عَلَوتُI have risen عَلَيكُمُabove you all
ماذا تَقولُ وَقَد عَلَوتُ عَلَيكُمُ
وَالمُسلِمونَand the Muslims بِماto what أَقولُI say قَواريwitnesses
وَالمُسلِمونَ بِما أَقولُ قَواري
What can you say, now that I have risen above you,
What can you say when I have overcome you
and the Muslims bear witness to what I say?
While the Muslims approve of what I say?
وَإِذاand if سَأَلتَyou ask قَضىrule القُضاةُthe judges عَلَيكُمُagainst you all
وَإِذا سَأَلتَ قَضى القُضاةُ عَلَيكُمُ
وَإِذاand if اِفتَخَرتَyou boast عَلاrises عَلَيكَabove you فَخاريmy glory
وَإِذا اِفتَخَرتَ عَلا عَلَيكَ فَخاري
And if you ask, the judges rule against you;
If you appeal the judges will rule against you.
and if you boast, my glory towers above you.
If you boast, my boasting is higher than yours.
فَأَناfor I النَهارُthe day عَلاrose عَلَيكَabove you بِضَوئِهِwith its light
فَأَنا النَهارُ عَلا عَلَيكَ بِضَوئِهِ
وَاللَيلُand night يَقبِضُcontracts بَسطَةَthe reach of الأَبصارِvision
وَاللَيلُ يَقبِضُ بَسطَةَ الأَبصارِ
For I am the day, risen above you with its light,
I am the day surpassing you with its light.
while night contracts the reach of sight.
The night conceals the outreach of visions.
إِنّاindeed we لَنَربَعُsurely take the chief’s fourth-share بِالخَميسِfrom the host تَرىyou see لَهُit has
إِنّا لَنَربَعُ بِالخَميسِ تَرى لَهُ
رَهَجاًdust وَنَضرِبُand we strike قَونَسَthe helmet-crown of الجَبّارِthe tyrant
رَهَجاً وَنَضرِبُ قَونَسَ الجَبّارِ
Indeed, we take the chief’s fourth from the host—you see its
We roar on Thursday—you will see it
dust—and strike the tyrant’s helmet-crown,
Has splendor. We will topple the palace of the tyrant.
إِذwhen لاnot تَغارُshows protective jealousy عَلىfor البَناتِdaughters مُجاشِعٌMujashi‘
إِذ لا تَغارُ عَلى البَناتِ مُجاشِعٌ
يَومَthe day of الحِفاظِhonor’s defense وَلاand not يَفونَthey keep faith بِجارِwith a protected neighbor
يَومَ الحِفاظِ وَلا يَفونَ بِجارِ
when Mujashi‘ does not jealously guard its daughters
When protectors do not begrudge their daughters
on the day honor must be defended, nor keeps faith with a protected neighbor.
On the day of release, no neighbor envies his neighbor.
أَنّىhow لِقَومِكَfor your people مِثلُthe like of عَدوَةِthe charge of خَيلِناour horses
أَنّى لِقَومِكَ مِثلُ عَدوَةِ خَيلِنا
بِالشِعبِin the pass يَومَthe day of مُجَزَّلِMujazzal الأَمرارِal-Amrar
بِالشِعبِ يَومَ مُجَزَّلِ الأَمرارِ
How could your people match the charge of our horses
Where are horsemen like ours for your people
in the pass, on the day of Mujazzal al-Amrar?
On the day of the heavily loaded, fully caparisoned horses?
قَوميmy people الَّذينَthose whose يَزيدُincreases سَمعيmy hearing ذِكرُهُمmention of them
قَومي الَّذينَ يَزيدُ سَمعي ذِكرُهُم
سَمعاًhearing وَكانَand was بِضَوئِهِمby their light إِبصاريmy sight
سَمعاً وَكانَ بِضَوئِهِم إِبصاري
My people are those whose mention makes my hearing
My people whom the mention of their name
keener; it was by their light that I saw.
Increases my hearing and my sight depended on their light.
وَالمورِدونَand those who lead to drink عَلىupon الأَسِنَّةِspear-points قُرَّحاًmature steeds
وَالمورِدونَ عَلى الأَسِنَّةِ قُرَّحاً
حُمراًred مَساحِلُهُنَّtheir bits غَيرَnot مِهارِfoals
حُمراً مَساحِلُهُنَّ غَيرَ مِهارِ
And they lead full-grown steeds to drink at spear-points,
Those who flow on tongues like sores—
with reddened bits—not mere foals.
Red, blistered—their gums unskilled.
هَلdo تَشكُرونَyou thank لِمَنto whoever تَدارَكَrescued سَبيَكُمyour captives
هَل تَشكُرونَ لِمَن تَدارَكَ سَبيَكُم
وَالمُردَفاتُand the women riding pillion يَمِلنَtilt بِالأَكوارِthe camel-saddles
وَالمُردَفاتُ يَمِلنَ بِالأَكوارِ
Do you thank those who rescued your captives,
Do you thank one who recovered your captives
while the women riding pillion tilted the camel-saddles?
While the women behind were heavily burdened?
إِنّيindeed I لَتُعرَفُare surely known فيat الثُغورِthe frontiers فَوارِسيmy horsemen
إِنّي لَتُعرَفُ في الثُغورِ فَوارِسي
وَيُفَرِّجونَand they disperse قَتامَthe dark haze of كُلِّevery غُبارِdust-cloud
وَيُفَرِّجونَ قَتامَ كُلِّ غُبارِ
My horsemen are indeed known on the frontiers,
My horsemen are known in the marches
and disperse the dark haze of every dust-cloud.
And they dispel the darkness of every dust cloud.
نَحنُwe البُناةُthe builders دَعائِماًbuttresses وَسَوارِياًand pillars
نَحنُ البُناةُ دَعائِماً وَسَوارِياً
يَعلونَthey tower above كُلَّall دَعائِمٍbuttresses وَسَوارِand pillars
يَعلونَ كُلَّ دَعائِمٍ وَسَوارِ
We are builders of buttresses and pillars,
We are the builders, buttresses and bastions
towering above all buttresses and pillars.
Rising above every buttress and bastion.
تَدعوcalls out رَبيعَةُRabi‘ah وَالقَميصُand the shirt مُفاضَةٌan ample coat of mail
تَدعو رَبيعَةُ وَالقَميصُ مُفاضَةٌ
تَحتَbeneath النِجادِthe sword-baldric تُشَدُّis fastened بِالأَزرارِwith buttons
تَحتَ النِجادِ تُشَدُّ بِالأَزرارِ
Rabi‘ah calls out, in a full-length shirt of mail,
You call upon Rabī‘ah while the shirt is ripped open
beneath the sword-baldric, fastened with buttons.
Beneath the cloak, fastened with buttons.
إِنَّindeed البَعيثَal-Ba‘ith وَعَبدَand the slave of آلِthe house of مُقاعِسٍMuqa‘is
إِنَّ البَعيثَ وَعَبدَ آلِ مُقاعِسٍ
لاnot يَقرَآنِthe two recite بِسورَةِfrom the chapter of الأَحبارِthe rabbis
لا يَقرَآنِ بِسورَةِ الأَحبارِ
Indeed, al-Ba‘ith and the slave of the house of Muqa‘is
Al-Ba‘īth and the slave of Banū Muqā‘is
do not recite the chapter of the rabbis.
Cannot recite a single sūrah of the soothsayers.
أَبلِغtell بَنيthe sons of وَقبانَWaqban أَنَّthat نِساؤُهُمtheir women
أَبلِغ بَني وَقبانَ أَنَّ نِساؤُهُم
خورٌlowing cows بَناتُdaughters of مُوَقَّعٍa scarred bull خَوّارِbellowing
خورٌ بَناتُ مُوَقَّعٍ خَوّارِ
Tell the sons of Waqban that their women
Inform Banū Wabān that their women
are lowing cows, daughters of a scarred, bellowing bull.
Are wicked—daughters of Muwaqqi‘ the vile.
كُنتُمyou were بَنيsons of أَمَةٍa slave-woman فَأُغلِقَso was shut دونَكُمbefore you all
كُنتُم بَني أَمَةٍ فَأُغلِقَ دونَكُم
بابُthe gate of المَكارِمِnoble deeds ياO بَنيsons of النِخوارِthe snorting bull
بابُ المَكارِمِ يا بَني النِخوارِ
You were sons of a slave-woman, so shut before you
You were a nation, so excellence was locked from you,
was the gate of noble deeds, you sons of the snorting bull.
O sons of vileness, O sons of Nukhār.
أَبَنيO sons of قُفَيرَةَQufayrah قَدalready أَناخَknelt down إِلَيكُمُbeside you all
أَبَني قُفَيرَةَ قَد أَناخَ إِلَيكُمُ
يَومَthe day of التَقاسُمِapportionment لُؤمُthe baseness of آلِthe house of نِزارِNizar
يَومَ التَقاسُمِ لُؤمُ آلِ نِزارِ
O sons of Qufayrah, there has knelt beside you,
O people of Qufayrah, the vilest of Banū Nizār
on the day of apportionment, the baseness of Nizar’s house.
Have roped their mounts to you on the day of sharing.
إِنَّindeed اللِئامَthe base بَنيsons of اللِئامِthe base مُجاشِعٌMujashi‘
إِنَّ اللِئامَ بَني اللِئامِ مُجاشِعٌ
وَالأَخبَثونَand the foulest مَحَلَّat the place of كُلِّevery إِزارِloincloth
وَالأَخبَثونَ مَحَلَّ كُلِّ إِزارِ
Indeed, the base, the sons of the base, are Mujashi‘,
The cowards, sons of cowards, are protectors
and the foulest where each loincloth lies.
And the vilest people are in every girdle.
سارَtraveled القَصائِدُthe poems وَاِستَبَحنَand they ravaged مُجاشِعاًMujashi‘
سارَ القَصائِدُ وَاِستَبَحنَ مُجاشِعاً
ماwhat lies بَينَbetween مِصرَEgypt إِلىto جَنوبِthe south of وَبارِWabar
ما بَينَ مِصرَ إِلى جَنوبِ وَبارِ
The poems have traveled and ravaged Mujashi‘,
The poems have moved on and ridiculed Mujāshi‘
from Egypt to the south of Wabar.
From Egypt to the south and north.
يَتَلاوَمونَthey blame one another وَقَدand already أَباحَlaid open حَريمَهُمtheir sanctuary
يَتَلاوَمونَ وَقَد أَباحَ حَريمَهُم
قَينٌa blacksmith أَحَلَّهُمُlodged them بِدارِin a house of بَوارِruin
قَينٌ أَحَلَّهُمُ بِدارِ بَوارِ
They blame one another, though their sanctuary was laid open
They criticize each other when Qayn
by a blacksmith who lodged them in a house of ruin.
Made lawful their sanctuaries in the home of vileness.
لاdo not تَفخَرَنَّever boast إِذاwhen سَمِعتَyou hear مُجاشِعاًMujashi‘
لا تَفخَرَنَّ إِذا سَمِعتَ مُجاشِعاً
يَتَخاوَرونَthey bellow to one another تَخاوُرَthe mutual bellowing of الأَثوارِbulls
يَتَخاوَرونَ تَخاوُرَ الأَثوارِ
Do not boast when you hear Mujashi‘
Do not boast when you hear Mujāshi‘
bellowing to one another as bulls bellow.
Conspiring—the conspiracy of muleteers.
أَعَلَيَّis it at me تَغضَبُyou are angry أَنbecause قُفَيرَةُQufayrah أَشبَهَتresembled
أَعَلَيَّ تَغضَبُ أَن قُفَيرَةُ أَشبَهَت
مِنهُof him مَكانَthe place of مُقَلَّدٍa collar-place وَعِذارِand a cheek-strap
مِنهُ مَكانَ مُقَلَّدٍ وَعِذارِ
Are you angry with me because Qufayrah resembled
Are you angry with me that Qufayrah resembles
him where the collar and the cheek-strap sit?
The position of a cuckold and a feeble man?
قالَsaid الفَرَزدَقُal-Farazdaq إِذwhen أَتاهُreached him حَديثُهاword of her
قالَ الفَرَزدَقُ إِذ أَتاهُ حَديثُها
لَيسَتis not نَوارُNawar مُجاشِعٍof Mujashi‘ بِنَوارِa chaste woman
لَيسَت نَوارُ مُجاشِعٍ بِنَوارِ
Al-Farazdaq said, when word of her reached him:
When talk of her reached him, al-Farazdaq said:
“Nawar of Mujashi‘ is no chaste woman.”
The glory of Mujāshi‘ is not glory.
تَدعوshe calls for ضَريسَDaris بَنيthe sons of الحُتاتِal-Hutat إِذاwhen اِنتَشَتshe becomes tipsy
تَدعو ضَريسَ بَني الحُتاتِ إِذا اِنتَشَت
وَتَقولُand she says وَيحَكَalas for you مَنwho أَحَسَّhas noticed سِواريmy bracelet
وَتَقولُ وَيحَكَ مَن أَحَسَّ سِواري
She calls for Daris of Banu al-Hutat when she gets tipsy,
You summon Ḍurays, son of Ḥūtāt, when they are agitated
and says, “Alas for you! Who has seen my bracelet?”
And you say: Woe to you! Who feels my bastion?
إِنَّindeed القَصائِدَthe poems لَنwill not يَزَلنَcease سَوائِحاًroaming
إِنَّ القَصائِدَ لَن يَزَلنَ سَوائِحاً
بِحَديثِwith tales of جِعثِنَJi‘thin ماas long as تَرَنَّمَsings ساريa night-traveler
بِحَديثِ جِعثِنَ ما تَرَنَّمَ ساري
Indeed, the poems will never cease to roam
The poems will always roam as long as
with tales of Ji‘thin, as long as a night-traveler sings.
The tale of Ji‘thun is chanted by a vagrant poet.
لَمّاwhen بَنىbuilt الخَطفىal-Khatafa رَضيتُI was content بِماwith what بَنىhe built
لَمّا بَنى الخَطفى رَضيتُ بِما بَنى
وَأَبوand the father of الفَرَزدَقِal-Farazdaq نافِخُa blower of الأَكيارِbellows
وَأَبو الفَرَزدَقِ نافِخُ الأَكيارِ
When al-Khatafa built, I was content with what he built,
When al-Khaṭfa built, I was pleased with his building
while al-Farazdaq’s father was a blower of bellows.
While Abū Farazdaq is the bellows blower.
وَتَبيتُand you spend the night تَشرَبُyou drink عِندَwith كُلِّevery مُقَصَّصٍcropped-haired man
وَتَبيتُ تَشرَبُ عِندَ كُلِّ مُقَصَّصٍ
خَضِلِdamp الأَنامِلِthe fingertips واكِفِdripping المِعصارِthe wine-press
خَضِلِ الأَنامِلِ واكِفِ المِعصارِ
And you spend the night drinking with every cropped-haired man,
You spend the night drinking at every brocade-wearing
his fingertips damp, his wine-press dripping.
Tattered-sleeved, twisted-wristed vintner.
لاdo not تَفخَرَنَّever boast فَإِنَّfor indeed دينَthe religion of مُجاشِعٍMujashi‘
لا تَفخَرَنَّ فَإِنَّ دينَ مُجاشِعٍ
دينُthe religion of المَجوسِthe Magians تَطوفُyou circle حَولَaround دُوارِDuwar
دينُ المَجوسِ تَطوفُ حَولَ دُوارِ
Never boast, for the religion of Mujashi‘
Do not boast! The religion of Mujāshi‘
is the religion of the Magians; you circle around Duwar.
Is the religion of the Magians walking around an idol.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.