لِمَنِto whom الدِيارُthe dwellings كَأَنَّهاas though they لَمnot تُحلَلِinhabited
لِمَنِ الدِيارُ كَأَنَّها لَم تُحلَلِ
بَينَbetween الكِناسِal-Kinas وَبَينَand between طَلحِthe acacias of الأَعزَلِal-A'zal
بَينَ الكِناسِ وَبَينَ طَلحِ الأَعزَلِ
Whose are these dwellings, as though never inhabited,
For whom are the abodes as if they were not inhabited
between al-Kinas and the acacias of al-A'zal?
Between Kinās and Ṭalḥ, the ascetic?
وَلَقَدand indeed أَرىI see بِكَin you وَالجَديدُand what is new إِلىtoward بِلىًdecay
وَلَقَد أَرى بِكَ وَالجَديدُ إِلى بِلىً
مَوتَthe death of الهَوىlove وَشِفاءَand healing for عَينِthe eye of المُجتَليthe beholder
مَوتَ الهَوى وَشِفاءَ عَينِ المُجتَلي
Once I saw in you—and all new things pass to decay—
And I do see you becoming old and decrepit
love's death and healing for the beholder's eye.
The death of passion and the healing of the inflamed eye
نَظَرَتshe looked إِلَيكَat you بِمِثلِwith the like of عَينَيthe two eyes of مُغزِلٍa doe with a fawn
نَظَرَت إِلَيكَ بِمِثلِ عَينَي مُغزِلٍ
قَطَعَتshe broke حِبالَتَهاher snare بِأَعلىin the upper reaches of يَليَلِYalyal
قَطَعَت حِبالَتَها بِأَعلى يَليَلِ
She looked at you with eyes like those of a doe with a fawn,
She looked at you as the eye of a weaver
which had broken her snare in upper Yalyal.
Who had cut her ties at the summit of her spinning wheel
وَإِذاand when اِلتَمَستَyou sought نَوالَهاher bounty بَخِلَتshe was stingy بِهِwith it
وَإِذا اِلتَمَستَ نَوالَها بَخِلَت بِهِ
وَإِذاand when عَرَضتَyou hinted بِوُدِّهاat her affection لَمnot تَبخَلِshe is stingy
وَإِذا عَرَضتَ بِوُدِّها لَم تَبخَلِ
When you sought her bounty, she withheld it,
And if you seek her intimacy, she is miserly with it
but when you hinted at her affection, she was not stingy.
And if you offer her love, she does not refuse
وَلَقَدand indeed ذَكَرتُكِI remembered you وَالمَطِيُّand the riding camels خَواضِعٌbowed low
وَلَقَد ذَكَرتُكِ وَالمَطِيُّ خَواضِعٌ
وَكَأَنَّهُنَّand as though they قَطاsandgrouse فَلاةٍa desert مَجهَلِtrackless
وَكَأَنَّهُنَّ قَطا فَلاةٍ مَجهَلِ
I remembered you while the riding camels bowed low,
And I remembered you while the riding animal was submissive
as though they were sandgrouse in a trackless desert,
As if they were the chicks of Tenufah’s wilderness
يَسقينَthey give drink بِالأُدَمىat al-Udama فِراخَchicks of تَنوفَةٍa wilderness
يَسقينَ بِالأُدَمى فِراخَ تَنوفَةٍ
زُغباًdowny حَواجِبُهُنَّtheir brows حُمرَred of الحَوصَلِcrop
زُغباً حَواجِبُهُنَّ حُمرَ الحَوصَلِ
giving drink at al-Udama to wilderness chicks,
Drinking at Adumā the fledglings whose eyebrows
with downy brows and red crops.
Were dyed red with kohl
ياO أُمَّmother of ناجِيَةَNajiya السَلامُpeace عَلَيكُمُupon you all
يا أُمَّ ناجِيَةَ السَلامُ عَلَيكُمُ
قَبلَbefore الرَواحِthe evening departure وَقَبلَand before لَومِthe reproach of العُزَّلِthe reproachers
قَبلَ الرَواحِ وَقَبلَ لَومِ العُزَّلِ
O Umm Najiya, peace be upon you,
O mother Nājiyah peace be upon you
before evening departure and before the reproachers' blame.
Before departure and before the blame of the critic
وَإِذاand when غَدَوتِyou set out at dawn فَباكَرَتكِthen reached you early تَحِيَّةٌa greeting
وَإِذا غَدَوتِ فَباكَرَتكِ تَحِيَّةٌ
سَبَقَتit preceded سُروحَthe going forth of الشاحِجاتِthe cawing crows الحُجَّلِthe white-legged ones
سَبَقَت سُروحَ الشاحِجاتِ الحُجَّلِ
When you set out at dawn, may a greeting reach you early,
And when you rise early, you are greeted
ahead of the departure of the cawing, white-legged crows.
By the warblings of the long necked sand grouses
لَوif كُنتُI was أَعلَمُI know أَنَّthat آخِرَthe last عَهدِكُمmeeting with you all
لَو كُنتُ أَعلَمُ أَنَّ آخِرَ عَهدِكُم
يَومُthe day of الرَحيلِdeparture فَعَلتُI would have done ماwhat لَمnot أَفعَلِI do
يَومُ الرَحيلِ فَعَلتُ ما لَم أَفعَلِ
Had I known that my last meeting with you
If only I had known that the last of our days together
was the day of departure, I would have done what I did not.
Was the day of departure, I would have done what I did not do
أَوor كُنتُI was أَرهَبُI fear وَشكَthe imminence of بَينٍseparation عاجِلٍswift
أَو كُنتُ أَرهَبُ وَشكَ بَينٍ عاجِلٍ
لَقَنَعتُI would have been content أَوor لَسَأَلتُI would have asked ماwhat لَمnot يُسأَلِbe asked
لَقَنَعتُ أَو لَسَأَلتُ ما لَم يُسأَلِ
Or had I feared the imminence of a swift separation,
Or I would have feared the hasty doubts
I would have been content, or asked what had never been asked.
And been content or asked what I did not ask
أَعدَدتُI prepared لِلشُعَراءِfor the poets سُمّاًa poison ناقِعاًdeadly
أَعدَدتُ لِلشُعَراءِ سُمّاً ناقِعاً
فَسَقَيتُso I gave drink آخِرَهُمthe last of them بِكَأسِfrom the cup of الأَوَّلِthe first
فَسَقَيتُ آخِرَهُم بِكَأسِ الأَوَّلِ
I prepared a deadly poison for the poets,
I prepared deadly poison for the poets
and made the last of them drink from the first one's cup.
And gave the last of them a cup I gave the first
لَمّاwhen وَضَعتُI set عَلىon الفَرَزدَقِal-Farazdaq مَيسَميmy branding iron
لَمّا وَضَعتُ عَلى الفَرَزدَقِ مَيسَمي
وَضَغاand howled البَعيثُal-Ba'ith جَدَعتُI cut off أَنفَthe nose of الأَخطَلِal-Akhtal
وَضَغا البَعيثُ جَدَعتُ أَنفَ الأَخطَلِ
When I set my branding iron upon al-Farazdaq,
When I placed my branding iron on Al-Farazdaq
and al-Ba'ith howled, I cut off al-Akhtal's nose.
And Al-Ba’ith bit it, I cut off Al-Akhṭal’s nose
أَخزىdisgraced الَّذيhe who سَمَكَraised السَماءَthe sky مُجاشِعاًMujashi'
أَخزى الَّذي سَمَكَ السَماءَ مُجاشِعاً
وَبَنىand built بِناءَكَyour edifice فيin الحَضيضِthe depths الأَسفَلِthe lowest
وَبَنى بِناءَكَ في الحَضيضِ الأَسفَلِ
He who raised the sky has disgraced Mujashi',
Shame on him who built the sky aspiring upwards
and built your edifice in the lowest depths:
And built your abode in the lowliest ravine
بَيتاًa house يُحَمِّمُblackens with soot قَينُكُمyour smith بِفَنائِهِin its courtyard
بَيتاً يُحَمِّمُ قَينُكُم بِفَنائِهِ
دَنِساًfilthy مَقاعِدُهُits seats خَبيثَfoul of المَدخَلِentrance
دَنِساً مَقاعِدُهُ خَبيثَ المَدخَلِ
a house whose courtyard your smith blackens with soot,
A house which defiles your glory in its courtyard
with filthy seats and a foul entrance.
Filthy are its sitting-places, evil its entrance
وَلَقَدand indeed بَنَيتَyou built أَخَسَّthe meanest بَيتٍhouse يُبتَنىbuilt
وَلَقَد بَنَيتَ أَخَسَّ بَيتٍ يُبتَنى
فَهَدَمتُso I demolished بَيتَكُمُyour house بِمِثلَيwith two equals of يَذبُلِYadhbul
فَهَدَمتُ بَيتَكُمُ بِمِثلَي يَذبُلِ
You built the meanest house ever built,
And you have built the meanest house to be built
so I demolished your house with two mountains like Yadhbul.
So I destroyed your house with that which makes one wither
إِنّيindeed, I بَنىbuilt لِيَfor me فيamong المَكارِمِnoble deeds أَوَّليmy forefather
إِنّي بَنى لِيَ في المَكارِمِ أَوَّلي
وَنَفَختَand you blew كيرَكَyour bellows فيin الزَمانِthe time الأَوَّلِthe former
وَنَفَختَ كيرَكَ في الزَمانِ الأَوَّلِ
Indeed, my forefather built me a house amid noble deeds,
I was the first to build virtues for myself
while you blew your bellows in days of old.
And you inflated your pride in the early times
أَعيَتكَbaffled you مَأثُرَةُthe ancestral glory of القُيونِthe smiths مُجاشِعٍMujashi'
أَعيَتكَ مَأثُرَةُ القُيونِ مُجاشِعٍ
فَاِنظُرso look لَعَلَّكَperhaps you تَدَّعيclaim descent مِنfrom نَهشَلِNahshal
فَاِنظُر لَعَلَّكَ تَدَّعي مِن نَهشَلِ
The ancestral glory of Mujashi', those smiths, has baffled you;
The glory of prostrating slaves made you weary
so look—perhaps you can claim descent from Nahshal.
So look, perhaps you will claim one who bites
وَاِمدَحand praise سَراةَthe chiefs of بَنيthe sons of فُقَيمٍFuqaym إِنَّهُمindeed they
وَاِمدَح سَراةَ بَني فُقَيمٍ إِنَّهُم
قَتَلواthey killed أَباكَyour father وَثَأرُهُand his killer لَمnot يُقتَلِbe killed
قَتَلوا أَباكَ وَثَأرُهُ لَم يُقتَلِ
And praise the chiefs of Banu Fuqaym, for they
And praise the clans of Banū Fuqaym, for they
killed your father, and his killer remains unslain.
Killed your father, whose death remains unavenged
وَدَعِand leave البَراجِمَal-Barajim إِنَّindeed شِربَكَyour drink فيهِمُamong them
وَدَعِ البَراجِمَ إِنَّ شِربَكَ فيهِمُ
مُرٌّbitter عَواقِبُهُits consequences كَطَعمِlike the taste of الحَنظَلِcolocynth
مُرٌّ عَواقِبُهُ كَطَعمِ الحَنظَلِ
Leave al-Barajim alone, for your drink among them
And leave off the Berbers, for your drinking with them
has bitter consequences, like the taste of colocynth.
Is bitter, its consequences like the taste of colocynth
إِنّيindeed, I اِنصَبَبتُpoured down مِنَfrom السَماءِthe sky عَلَيكُمُupon you all
إِنّي اِنصَبَبتُ مِنَ السَماءِ عَلَيكُمُ
حَتّىuntil اِختَطَفتُكَI snatched you ياO فَرَزدَقُFarazdaq مِنfrom عَلِon high
حَتّى اِختَطَفتُكَ يا فَرَزدَقُ مِن عَلِ
I poured down upon you from the sky,
I poured down upon you from the sky
until I snatched you, O Farazdaq, from on high,
Until I snatched you, O Farazdaq, from the heights
مِنfrom بَعدِafter صَكَّتِيَmy blow against البَعيثَal-Ba'ith كَأَنَّهُas though he
مِن بَعدِ صَكَّتِيَ البَعيثَ كَأَنَّهُ
خَرَبٌa male bustard تَنَفَّجَpuffed up مِنfrom حِذارِfear of الأَجدَلِthe falcon
خَرَبٌ تَنَفَّجَ مِن حِذارِ الأَجدَلِ
after my blow against al-Ba'ith, who seemed
After I had silenced Al-Ba’ith it was as if he
a male bustard puffed up in fear of the falcon.
Was an inanimate object, startled by the violent shaking of a torrent
وَلَقَدand indeed وَسَمتُكَI branded you ياO بَعيثُBa'ith بِمَيسَميwith my branding iron
وَلَقَد وَسَمتُكَ يا بَعيثُ بِمَيسَمي
وَضَغاand howled الفَرَزدَقُal-Farazdaq تَحتَbeneath حَدِّthe force of الكَلكَلِthe chest
وَضَغا الفَرَزدَقُ تَحتَ حَدِّ الكَلكَلِ
I branded you, O Ba'ith, with my branding iron,
And I branded you, O Ba’ith, with my mark
and al-Farazdaq howled beneath my chest's hard press.
While Al-Farazdaq chewed on it under the shackles
حَسبُenough for الفَرَزدَقِal-Farazdaq أَنthat تُسَبَّbe reviled مُجاشِعٌMujashi'
حَسبُ الفَرَزدَقِ أَن تُسَبَّ مُجاشِعٌ
وَيَعُدَّand he counts شِعرَthe verse of مُرَقِّشٍMuraqqish وَمُهَلهِلِand Muhalhil
وَيَعُدَّ شِعرَ مُرَقِّشٍ وَمُهَلهِلِ
It is enough for al-Farazdaq that Mujashi' be reviled,
It suffices Al-Farazdaq to be insulted by a prostrating slave
and that he count the verse of Muraqqish and Muhalhil.
And to reckon the poetry of Muruqqish and Muhallil as great
طَلَبَتsought قُيونُthe smiths of بَنيthe sons of قُفَيرَةَQufayra سابِقاًan outrunner
طَلَبَت قُيونُ بَني قُفَيرَةَ سابِقاً
غَمرَabundant in البَديهَةِspontaneous verse جامِحاًbolting فيin المِسحَلِthe bit
غَمرَ البَديهَةِ جامِحاً في المِسحَلِ
The smiths of Banu Qufayra pursued an outrunner,
The generations of Banū Qufayrah sought precedence
abundant in impromptu verse, bolting against the bit.
Covering the trackless desert violently on their riding camels
قُتِلَwas killed الزُبَيرُal-Zubayr وَأَنتَwhile you عاقِدُtying حُبوَةٍa sitting-wrap
قُتِلَ الزُبَيرُ وَأَنتَ عاقِدُ حُبوَةٍ
قُبحاًshame لِحُبوَتِكَupon your sitting-wrap الَّتيwhich لَمnot تُحلَلِbe untied
قُبحاً لِحُبوَتِكَ الَّتي لَم تُحلَلِ
Al-Zubayr was killed while you sat with your sitting-wrap tied;
Al-Zubayr was killed while you were scheming
shame on your sitting-wrap, which was never untied!
Evil be to your scheming which did not get undone
لاdo not تَذكُرواyou all mention حُلَلَthe robes of المُلوكِkings فَإِنَّكُمfor indeed you all
لا تَذكُروا حُلَلَ المُلوكِ فَإِنَّكُم
بَعدَafter الزُبَيرِal-Zubayr كَحائِضٍlike a menstruating woman لَمnot تُغسَلِbe washed
بَعدَ الزُبَيرِ كَحائِضٍ لَم تُغسَلِ
Do not speak of kings' robes, for you,
Do not mention the violations of kings, for you
after al-Zubayr, are like a menstruating woman still unwashed.
After Al-Zubayr are like a menstruating woman who did not cleanse herself
أَبُنَيَّO little son of شِعرَةَShi'ra لِمwhy تَسُدُّyou block طَريقَناour path
أَبُنَيَّ شِعرَةَ لِم تَسُدُّ طَريقَنا
بِالأَعمَيَينِwith the two blind men وَلاand no قُفَيرَةَQufayra فَاِزحَلِso move aside
بِالأَعمَيَينِ وَلا قُفَيرَةَ فَاِزحَلِ
Little son of Shi'ra, why do you block our path
O son of Shu’rah, why do you block our way
with the two blind men? Qufayra counts for nothing—move aside.
With the blind, and not Qufayrah, so move aside!
وَلَقَدand indeed تَبَيَّنَbecame apparent فيin وُجوهِthe faces of مُجاشِعٍMujashi'
وَلَقَد تَبَيَّنَ في وُجوهِ مُجاشِعٍ
لُؤمٌbaseness يَثورُrises ضَبابُهُits mist لاnot يَنجَليclears
لُؤمٌ يَثورُ ضَبابُهُ لا يَنجَلي
In the faces of Mujashi' there has plainly appeared
And it became clear in the faces of the prostrating slaves
a baseness whose mist rises and never clears.
An evil which bubbles up, its fog does not dissipate
وَلَقَدand indeed تَرَكتُI left مُجاشِعاًMujashi' وَكَأَنَّهُمand as though they
وَلَقَد تَرَكتُ مُجاشِعاً وَكَأَنَّهُم
فَقعٌtruffles بِمَدرَجَةِon the path of الخَميسِthe army الجَحفَلِthe massed
فَقعٌ بِمَدرَجَةِ الخَميسِ الجَحفَلِ
I left Mujashi' as though they were
And I left the prostrating slaves as if they were
truffles in the path of a massed army.
Locusts at the foothills of al-Khamīs, stupid and unthinking
إِنّيindeed, I إِلىto جَبَلَيthe two mountains of تَميمٍTamim مَعقِليmy stronghold
إِنّي إِلى جَبَلَي تَميمٍ مَعقِلي
وَمَحَلُّand the site of بَيتيmy house فيon اليَفاعِthe high ground الأَطوَلِthe loftiest
وَمَحَلُّ بَيتي في اليَفاعِ الأَطوَلِ
My stronghold is with the two mountains of Tamim,
I take refuge in the two mountains of Tamīm, my stronghold
and my house stands on the loftiest high ground.
And the abode of my house is in the tallest Yafā’
أَحلامُناour sober judgment تَزِنُweighs against الجِبالَthe mountains رَزانَةًin weightiness
أَحلامُنا تَزِنُ الجِبالَ رَزانَةً
وَيَفوقُand surpasses جاهِلُناour hothead فَعالَthe deeds of الجُهَّلِthe hotheads
وَيَفوقُ جاهِلُنا فَعالَ الجُهَّلِ
Our sober judgment matches the mountains in weight,
Our dreams weigh down mountains with composure
and our hothead surpasses the hotheads in deeds.
And our ignoramus surpasses the deeds of the ignorant
فَاِرجِعso turn إِلىto حَكَمَيthe two arbiters of قُرَيشٍQuraysh إِنَّهُمindeed they
فَاِرجِع إِلى حَكَمَي قُرَيشٍ إِنَّهُم
أَهلُthe people of النُبُوَّةِprophecy وَالكِتابِand the Book المُنزَلِthe revealed
أَهلُ النُبُوَّةِ وَالكِتابِ المُنزَلِ
Then turn to Quraysh's two arbiters, for they
So return to the judgment of Quraysh, for they
are the people of prophecy and the revealed Book.
Are the people of prophethood and the revealed Book
فَاِسأَلso ask إِذاwhen خَرَجَbecame exposed الخِدامُthe anklets وَأُحمِشَتand was kindled
فَاِسأَل إِذا خَرَجَ الخِدامُ وَأُحمِشَت
حَربٌa war تَضَرَّمُblazes كَالحَريقِlike the fire المُشعَلِset alight
حَربٌ تَضَرَّمُ كَالحَريقِ المُشعَلِ
Then ask, when the anklets are exposed and there is kindled
So ask, when the servants depart and war
a war blazing like a fire set alight,
Burns, snarling, like an ignited blaze
وَالخَيلُand the horses تَنحِطُpant بِالكُماةِcarrying armored warriors وَقَدand already رَأواthey saw
وَالخَيلُ تَنحِطُ بِالكُماةِ وَقَد رَأوا
لَمعَthe flashing signal of الرَّبيئَةِthe lookout فيon النِيافِthe lofty height العَيطَلِthe towering
لَمعَ الرَّبيئَةِ في النِيافِ العَيطَلِ
and the horses pant beneath armored warriors, who have seen
And the horses sniff the ground, and they have seen
the lookout's flashing signal on the lofty, towering height:
The gleam of the armor in the wide plain
أَبَنوdo the sons of طُهَيَّةَTuhayya يَعدِلونَequal فَوارِسيmy horsemen
أَبَنو طُهَيَّةَ يَعدِلونَ فَوارِسي
وَبَنوand the sons of خَضافِKhadaf وَذاكَand that ماwhat لَمhas not يُعدَلِbeen equaled
وَبَنو خَضافِ وَذاكَ ما لَم يُعدَلِ
do Banu Tuhayya equal my horsemen,
Do the sons of Ṭuhayyah equal my horsemen?
and Banu Khadaf? That has never been equaled.
And the sons of Khadhāf, and that cannot be matched!
وَإِذاand when غَضِبتُI grew angry رَمىhurled وَرائِيَbehind me بِالحَصىwith pebbles
وَإِذا غَضِبتُ رَمى وَرائِيَ بِالحَصى
أَبناءُthe sons of جَندَلَتيmy rock كَخَيرِlike the best of الجَندَلِstone
أَبناءُ جَندَلَتي كَخَيرِ الجَندَلِ
When I grow angry, pebbles are hurled behind me
And if I am angry, the sons of my Janadalah pelt
by the sons of my rock, like the choicest stone:
Stones behind me, like the best janadal seeds
عَمروٌAmr وَسَعدٌand Sa'd ياO فَرَزدَقُFarazdaq فيهِمُamong them
عَمروٌ وَسَعدٌ يا فَرَزدَقُ فيهِمُ
زُهرُthe bright النُجومِstars وَباذِخاتُand towering الأَجبُلِmountains
زُهرُ النُجومِ وَباذِخاتُ الأَجبُلِ
Amr and Sa'd, O Farazdaq—among them are
‘Amr and Sa‘d, O Farazdaq, among them
bright stars and towering mountains.
Are the blossoms of the stars, and the towering mountains
كانَwas الفَرَزدَقُal-Farazdaq إِذwhen يَعوذُhe seeks refuge بِخالِهِwith his maternal uncle
كانَ الفَرَزدَقُ إِذ يَعوذُ بِخالِهِ
مِثلَlike الذَليلِthe weakling يَعوذُseeking refuge تَحتَbeneath القَرمَلِthe qarmal shrub
مِثلَ الذَليلِ يَعوذُ تَحتَ القَرمَلِ
Al-Farazdaq, when he sought refuge with his maternal uncle,
Al-Farazdaq, when he would seek refuge with his uncle
was like a weakling sheltering beneath a qarmal shrub.
Was like the despised one seeking refuge beneath the small jujube tree
وَاِفخَرand boast بِضَبَّةَof Dabba إِنَّindeed أُمَّكَyour mother مِنهُمُfrom them
وَاِفخَر بِضَبَّةَ إِنَّ أُمَّكَ مِنهُمُ
لَيسَis not اِبنُa son of ضَبَّةَDabba بِالمُعَمِّwith noble paternal uncles المُخوَلِwith noble maternal uncles
لَيسَ اِبنُ ضَبَّةَ بِالمُعَمِّ المُخوَلِ
Boast of Dabba, since your mother is one of them;
And boast about Ḍabbah, your mother is from among them
a son of Dabba has no noble paternal or maternal uncles.
The son of Ḍabbah is no smooth-tongued deceiver
وَقَضَتand judged لَناfor us مُضَرٌMudar عَلَيكَagainst you بِفَضلِناfor our superiority
وَقَضَت لَنا مُضَرٌ عَلَيكَ بِفَضلِنا
وَقَضَتand judged رَبيعَةُRabi'a بِالقَضاءِwith the verdict الفَيصَلِdecisive
وَقَضَت رَبيعَةُ بِالقَضاءِ الفَيصَلِ
Mudar judged for us against you on account of our superiority,
And Muḍar has judged for us over you with its merit
and Rabi'a delivered the decisive verdict.
And Rabi‘ah with the definitive judgment
إِنَّindeed الَّذيhe who سَمَكَraised السَماءَthe sky بَنىbuilt لَناfor us
إِنَّ الَّذي سَمَكَ السَماءَ بَنى لَنا
بَيتاًa house عَلاكَtowering over you فَماso not لَهُfor it مِنany مَنقَلِrelocation
بَيتاً عَلاكَ فَما لَهُ مِن مَنقَلِ
Indeed, He who raised the sky has built for us
Indeed the one who built the sky built for us
a house that overtops you and cannot be moved.
A house above you, so it has no columns
أَبلِغtell بَنيthe sons of وَقبانَWaqban أَنَّthat حُلومَهُمtheir judgments
أَبلِغ بَني وَقبانَ أَنَّ حُلومَهُم
خَفَّتgrew light فَماso not يَزِنونَthey weigh حَبَّةَa seed of خَردَلِmustard
خَفَّت فَما يَزِنونَ حَبَّةَ خَردَلِ
Tell Banu Waqban that their judgments
Convey to the Banū Waqbān that their corpses
have grown so light they do not weigh a mustard seed.
Have become lighter, so they do not weigh a mustard seed
أَزرىdebased بِحِلمِكُمُyour judgment الفِياشُvain boasting فَأَنتُمُso you all
أَزرى بِحِلمِكُمُ الفِياشُ فَأَنتُمُ
مِثلُlike الفَراشِmoths غَشينَthey swarmed over نارَthe fire of المُصطَليone warming himself
مِثلُ الفَراشِ غَشينَ نارَ المُصطَلي
Vain boasting has debased your judgment, so you are
The snakes are repelled by your forbearance, yet you
like moths that swarm over the fire of one warming himself.
Are like moths who cover the kindled fire
تَصِفُyou describe السُيوفَthe swords وَغَيرُكُمwhile others than you يَعصىstrike بِهاwith them
تَصِفُ السُيوفَ وَغَيرُكُم يَعصى بِها
ياO اِبنَson of القُيونِthe smiths وَذاكَand that فِعلُthe work of الصَيقَلِthe sword-polisher
يا اِبنَ القُيونِ وَذاكَ فِعلُ الصَيقَلِ
You describe swords while others strike with them,
You line up swords while others wield them
O son of smiths—that is the sword-polisher's work.
O son of the generations, and that is the work of the polished
وَبِرَحرَحانَand at Rahrahan تَخَضخَضَتquivered أَصلأؤُكُمyour buttocks
وَبِرَحرَحانَ تَخَضخَضَت أَصلأؤُكُم
وَفَزِعتُمُand you all panicked فَزَعَthe panic of البِطانِthe potbellied العُزَّلِthe unarmed
وَفَزِعتُمُ فَزَعَ البِطانِ العُزَّلِ
And at Rahrahan your buttocks quivered,
And at Rahrāhān you quivered like
and you panicked like potbellied, unarmed men.
A separated branch of the date palm, terrified
خُصِيَwas castrated الفَرَزدَقُal-Farazdaq وَالخَصاءُand castration مَذَلَّةٌhumiliation
خُصِيَ الفَرَزدَقُ وَالخَصاءُ مَذَلَّةٌ
يَرجوhe hopes for مُخاطَرَةَa risky contest with القُرومِthe camel stallions البُزَّلِthe fully mature
يَرجو مُخاطَرَةَ القُرومِ البُزَّلِ
Al-Farazdaq was castrated—and castration is humiliation—
Al-Farazdaq was castrated, and eunuchs are disgraced
yet he hopes to risk a contest with mature camel stallions.
Hoping for the favors of the effeminate cuckolds
هابَfeared الخَواتِنُthe female circumcisers مِنamong بَناتِthe daughters of مُجاشِعٍMujashi'
هابَ الخَواتِنُ مِن بَناتِ مُجاشِعٍ
مِثلَthings like المَحاجِنِhooked staffs أَوor قُرونَthe antlers of الأَيِّلِthe stag
مِثلَ المَحاجِنِ أَو قُرونَ الأَيِّلِ
The female circumcisers feared, among Mujashi's daughters,
The noble ladies fled from the daughters of the prostrating slaves
things like hooked staffs or the antlers of a stag.
Like gazelles or the horns of a deer
قَعَدَتheld back قُفَيرَةُQufayra بِالفَرَزدَقِal-Farazdaq بَعدَماafter
قَعَدَت قُفَيرَةُ بِالفَرَزدَقِ بَعدَما
جَهَدَexerted himself الفَرَزدَقُal-Farazdaq جُهدَهُhis utmost لاnot يَأتَليspare effort
جَهَدَ الفَرَزدَقُ جُهدَهُ لا يَأتَلي
Qufayra held al-Farazdaq back, after
After Al-Farazdaq exerted his utmost
al-Farazdaq had strained his utmost, sparing no effort.
Qufayrah settled him, so he cannot escape
أَلهىdistracted أَباكَyour father عَنِfrom المَكارِمِnoble deeds وَالعُلىand high rank
أَلهى أَباكَ عَنِ المَكارِمِ وَالعُلى
لَيُّbending الكَتائِفِiron clamps وَاِرتِفاعُand raising المِرجَلِthe cauldron
لَيُّ الكَتائِفِ وَاِرتِفاعُ المِرجَلِ
What distracted your father from noble deeds and high rank was
Playfulness distracted your father from virtues and high stature
bending iron clamps and raising the cauldron.
The bending of elbows and the raising of spinning staffs
أَبلِغdeliver هَدِيَّتِيَmy gift الفَرَزدَقَal-Farazdaq إِنَّهاindeed it
أَبلِغ هَدِيَّتِيَ الفَرَزدَقَ إِنَّها
ثِقَلٌa burden يُزادُis added عَلىupon حَسيرٍa weary one مُثقَلِheavily burdened
ثِقَلٌ يُزادُ عَلى حَسيرٍ مُثقَلِ
Deliver my gift to al-Farazdaq; it is
Convey my gift to Al-Farazdaq, for it
a burden added to an exhausted, overladen beast.
Is a weight added to a heavily laden camel
إِنّاindeed we نُقيمُstraighten صَغاthe tilt of الرُؤوسِthe heads وَنَختَليand we reap
إِنّا نُقيمُ صَغا الرُؤوسِ وَنَختَلي
رَأسَthe head of المُتَوَّجِthe crowned one بِالحُسامِwith the keen sword المِقصَلِthe severing
رَأسَ المُتَوَّجِ بِالحُسامِ المِقصَلِ
We straighten the tilt of heads, and we reap
We straighten bent necks, and we behead
the crowned one's head with a keen, severing sword.
The head of the crowned with the cutting sword
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.