أُعاذِلَ قَومي فَاِعذُلي الآنَ أَو ذَري

أُعاذِلَ قَومي فَاِعذُلي الآنَ أَو ذَري

فَلَستُ وَإِن أَقصَرتِ عَنّي بِمُقصِرِ

فَلَستُ وَإِن أَقصَرتِ عَنّي بِمُقصِرِ

O reproacher, rise and reproach me now, or leave off.

I blamed my people, so blame me now or leave me be,

For I will not desist, even if you cease reproaching me.

For even if you fall short with me, I'm no failure.

أُعاذِلَ لا وَاللَهِ ما مِن سَلامَةٍ

أُعاذِلَ لا وَاللَهِ ما مِن سَلامَةٍ

وَلَو أَشفَقَت نَفسُ الشَحيحِ المُثَمِّرِ

وَلَو أَشفَقَت نَفسُ الشَحيحِ المُثَمِّرِ

O reproacher, no, by God, there is no safety,

No, by Allah! There is no peace in pardoning

even though the wealth-increasing miser's soul may fear.

Even if the miser's soul shows mercy while hoarding wealth.

أَقي العِرضَ بِالمالِ التِلادِ وَأَشتَري

أَقي العِرضَ بِالمالِ التِلادِ وَأَشتَري

بِهِ الحَمدَ إِنَّ الطالِبَ الحَمدَ مُشتَري

بِهِ الحَمدَ إِنَّ الطالِبَ الحَمدَ مُشتَري

I protect my honor with inherited wealth, and buy

I protect my honor with money, even if blamed, and buy

praise with it: whoever seeks praise is a buyer.

Praise - for one seeking praise buys praise regardless of cost.

وَكَم مُشتَرٍ مِن مالِهِ حُسنَ صيتِهِ

وَكَم مُشتَرٍ مِن مالِهِ حُسنَ صيتِهِ

لِأَيّامِهِ في كُلِّ مَبدىً وَمَحضَرِ

لِأَيّامِهِ في كُلِّ مَبدىً وَمَحضَرِ

How many a man buys good renown with his wealth,

And many bought a good name with their money

throughout his days, in every nomad camp and settlement!

For their days, wherever they went and stayed.

أُباهي بِهِ الأَكفاءَ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ

أُباهي بِهِ الأَكفاءَ في كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ

وَأَقضي فُروضَ الصالِحينَ وَأَقتَري

وَأَقضي فُروضَ الصالِحينَ وَأَقتَري

With it I rival my peers in every place,

With it I impress peers wherever I dwell

fulfill the duties of the righteous, and follow their example.

And fulfill the duties of the righteous and give charity.

فَإِمّا تَرَيني اليَومَ عِندَكِ سالِماً

فَإِمّا تَرَيني اليَومَ عِندَكِ سالِماً

فَلَستُ بِأَحيا مِن كِلابٍ وَجَعفَرِ

فَلَستُ بِأَحيا مِن كِلابٍ وَجَعفَرِ

So if you see me today safe in your presence,

So either you see me today as safe and sound,

I am no longer-lived than Kilab and Ja'far,

For I'm no coward like dogs and monkeys.

وَلا مِن أَبي جَزءٍ وَجاري حَمومَةٍ

وَلا مِن أَبي جَزءٍ وَجاري حَمومَةٍ

قَتيلِهِما وَالشارِبِ المُتَقَطِّرِ

قَتيلِهِما وَالشارِبِ المُتَقَطِّرِ

nor than Abu Juz' and my neighbor Hamumah,

Nor am I Abu Jaz' and his slave girl Humaymah -

the victim of those two, and the drinker who fell headlong;

Their killer and the constant wine drinker.

وَلا الأَحوَصَينِ في لَيالٍ تَتابَعا

وَلا الأَحوَصَينِ في لَيالٍ تَتابَعا

وَلا صاحِبِ البَرّاضِ غَيرِ المُغَمَّرِ

وَلا صاحِبِ البَرّاضِ غَيرِ المُغَمَّرِ

nor the two Ahwas, who followed one another on successive nights,

Nor the two one-eyed men on successive nights,

nor the companion of al-Barrad, who was no novice;

Nor the owner of al-Burrad unadorned.

وَلا مِن رَبيعِ المُقتِرينَ رُزِئتُهُ

وَلا مِن رَبيعِ المُقتِرينَ رُزِئتُهُ

بِذي عَلَقٍ فَاِقنَي حَياءَكِ وَاِصبِري

بِذي عَلَقٍ فَاِقنَي حَياءَكِ وَاِصبِري

nor the springtime of the destitute, whose loss I suffered

Nor am I like Rabi' insulted for borrowing

at Dhu 'Alaq—so preserve your modesty and be patient.

A bucket - spare me your shame and be patient.

وَقَيسِ بنِ جَزءٍ يَومَ نادى صِحابَهُ

وَقَيسِ بنِ جَزءٍ يَومَ نادى صِحابَهُ

فَعاجوا عَلَيهِ مِن سَواهِمُ ضُمَّرِ

فَعاجوا عَلَيهِ مِن سَواهِمُ ضُمَّرِ

Nor Qays ibn Juz', the day he called his companions,

Nor Qais ibn Jaz' the day he called his friends

and they wheeled toward him on gaunt, lean steeds.

And they came against him from their dwellings.

طَوَتهُ المَنايا فَوقَ جَرداءَ شَطبَةٍ

طَوَتهُ المَنايا فَوقَ جَرداءَ شَطبَةٍ

تَدِفُّ دَفيفَ الرائِحِ المُتَمَطِّرِ

تَدِفُّ دَفيفَ الرائِحِ المُتَمَطِّرِ

Death folded him away atop a sleek, long-limbed mare,

Death took him above the barren hills of Shutbah

skimming with the flutter of a swiftly returning bird.

Where the blowing winds pour down rain.

فَباتَ وَأَسرى القَومُ آخِرَ لَيلِهِم

فَباتَ وَأَسرى القَومُ آخِرَ لَيلِهِم

وَما كانَ وَقّافاً بِدارِ مُعَصَّرِ

وَما كانَ وَقّافاً بِدارِ مُعَصَّرِ

He lay through the night, while the company rode on at night's end;

He spent the night while the people slept their last night,

he had never loitered at a nubile maiden's house.

For he did not stay at a pressing house.

وَبِالفورَةِ الحَرّابُ ذو الفَضلِ عامِرٌ

وَبِالفورَةِ الحَرّابُ ذو الفَضلِ عامِرٌ

فَنِعمَ ضِياءُ الطارِقِ المُتَنَوِّرِ

فَنِعمَ ضِياءُ الطارِقِ المُتَنَوِّرِ

And at al-Fawrah, 'Amir, the fierce warrior, the man of bounty:

And al-Harrab the gallant, Aamir of virtue,

how fine a light for the night visitor seeking fire!

What a bright early morning visitor!

وَنِعمَ مُناخُ الجارِ حَلَّ بِبَيتِهِ

وَنِعمَ مُناخُ الجارِ حَلَّ بِبَيتِهِ

إِذا ما الكَعابُ أَصبَحَت لَم تَسَتَّرِ

إِذا ما الكَعابُ أَصبَحَت لَم تَسَتَّرِ

And how fine a lodging for a neighbor who settled in his house,

And a neighbor settling in his home -

when the young maiden awoke unveiled!

When dogs bark he does not hide.

وَمَن كانَ أَهلَ الجودِ وَالحَزمِ وَالنَدى

وَمَن كانَ أَهلَ الجودِ وَالحَزمِ وَالنَدى

عُبَيدَةُ وَالحامي لَدى كُلِّ مَحجَرِ

عُبَيدَةُ وَالحامي لَدى كُلِّ مَحجَرِ

And the man of generosity, resolve, and openhandedness:

The people of generosity, resolve and high pursuit

'Ubaydah, and the protector in every strait;

Were Ubaydah and al-Haami wherever sought.

وَسَلمى وَسَلمى أَهلُ جودٍ وَنائِلٍ

وَسَلمى وَسَلمى أَهلُ جودٍ وَنائِلٍ

مَتى يَدعُ مَولاهُ إِلى النَصرِ يُنصَرِ

مَتى يَدعُ مَولاهُ إِلى النَصرِ يُنصَرِ

and Salma—Salma was a man of generosity and gifts;

And Salma, Salma - people of generosity and attainment!

whenever his ally calls for help, he receives it.

Whenever his Master called him to victory, he was given victory.

وَبَيتُ طُفَيلٍ بِالجُنَينَةِ ثاوِياً

وَبَيتُ طُفَيلٍ بِالجُنَينَةِ ثاوِياً

وَبَيتُ سُهَيلٍ قَد عَلِمتِ بِصَوءَرِ

وَبَيتُ سُهَيلٍ قَد عَلِمتِ بِصَوءَرِ

And Tufayl's dwelling, where he lies at al-Junaynah,

While the houses of Tufail in al-Junaynah lie empty

and Suhayl's dwelling, which you know, at Saw'ar:

And the houses of Suhayl, as you know, in disrepair.

فَلَم أَرَ يَوماً كانَ أَكثَرَ باكِياً

فَلَم أَرَ يَوماً كانَ أَكثَرَ باكِياً

وَحَسناءَ قامَت عَن طِرافٍ مُجَوَّرِ

وَحَسناءَ قامَت عَن طِرافٍ مُجَوَّرِ

I never saw a day with so many mourners,

Never did I see a day with more weeping

and fair women rising from spacious leather tents.

And beauties risen from decorated beds.

تَبُلُّ خُموشَ الوَجهِ كُلُّ كَريمَةٍ

تَبُلُّ خُموشَ الوَجهِ كُلُّ كَريمَةٍ

عَوانٍ وَبِكرٍ تَحتَ قَرٍّ مُخَدَّرِ

عَوانٍ وَبِكرٍ تَحتَ قَرٍّ مُخَدَّرِ

Every noble woman wets the scratches on her face,

Every noble lady makes the silent face of

matron and maiden beneath a curtained howdah.

Anwan and Bukr under perfume sad.

وَبِالجَرِّ مِن شَرقِيِّ حَرسٍ مُحارِبٌ

وَبِالجَرِّ مِن شَرقِيِّ حَرسٍ مُحارِبٌ

شُجاعٌ وَذو عَقدٍ مِنَ القَومِ مُحتَرِ

شُجاعٌ وَذو عَقدٍ مِنَ القَومِ مُحتَرِ

And at al-Jarr, east of Hars, lies a warrior,

And a warrior from the east, a protector

brave, a man of resolve among his people, resourceful;

Brave, with a necklace, a leader among the people.

شِهابُ حُروبٍ لا تَزالُ جِيادُهُ

شِهابُ حُروبٍ لا تَزالُ جِيادُهُ

عَصائِبَ رَهواً كَالقَطا المُتَبَكِّرِ

عَصائِبَ رَهواً كَالقَطا المُتَبَكِّرِ

a blazing brand of war, whose steeds are ever

A flame of wars - his steeds never stop

in bands, moving smoothly like sandgrouse setting out early.

Charging the enemies at dawn like lions.

وَصاحِبُ مَلحوبٍ فُجِعنا بِيَومِهِ

وَصاحِبُ مَلحوبٍ فُجِعنا بِيَومِهِ

وَعِندَ الرِداعِ بَيتُ آخَرَ كَوثَرِ

وَعِندَ الرِداعِ بَيتُ آخَرَ كَوثَرِ

And the lord of Malhub, whose fatal day bereaved us,

And the companion of Malhub - his day aggrieved us,

and at al-Rida', the dwelling of another man rich in bounty.

While at al-Rida' another house like abundant rain.

أولَئِكَ فَاِبكي لا أَبا لَكِ وَاِندُبي

أولَئِكَ فَاِبكي لا أَبا لَكِ وَاِندُبي

أَبا حازِمٍ في كُلِّ يَومٍ مُذَكَّرِ

أَبا حازِمٍ في كُلِّ يَومٍ مُذَكَّرِ

Weep for those men—may you have no father!—and lament

Those - weep for them and lament,

Abu Hazim on every memorable day.

Abu Hazim every day you are remembered!

فَشَيَّعَهُم حَمدٌ وَزانَت قُبورَهُم

فَشَيَّعَهُم حَمدٌ وَزانَت قُبورَهُم

سَرارَةُ رَيحانٍ بِقاعٍ مُنَوِّرِ

سَرارَةُ رَيحانٍ بِقاعٍ مُنَوِّرِ

Praise escorted them, and their graves were adorned

Praise escorted them and their graves were fragrant

by the choicest fragrant herbs on a flowering plain.

With the scent of basil in an illuminated resting place.

وَشُمطَ بَني ماءِ السَماءِ وَمُردَهُم

وَشُمطَ بَني ماءِ السَماءِ وَمُردَهُم

فَهَل بَعدَهُم مِن خالِدٍ أَو مُعَمَّرِ

فَهَل بَعدَهُم مِن خالِدٍ أَو مُعَمَّرِ

And the gray-haired sons of Ma' al-Sama' and their beardless youths:

The family of water from the sky and their knights

after them, is anyone immortal or long-lived?

Are gone - is there anyone left immortal and long-lived?

وَمَن فادَ مِن إِخوانِهِم وَبَنيهِم

وَمَن فادَ مِن إِخوانِهِم وَبَنيهِم

كُهولٌ وَشُبّانٌ كَجِنَّةِ عَبقَرِ

كُهولٌ وَشُبّانٌ كَجِنَّةِ عَبقَرِ

And those among their brothers and sons who died,

And those of their brothers and sons who followed them -

mature men and young men, like the jinn of 'Abqar:

Elders and youths - like the gardens of Paradise.

مَضَوا سَلَفاً قَصدُ السَبيلِ عَلَيهِمِ

مَضَوا سَلَفاً قَصدُ السَبيلِ عَلَيهِمِ

بَهِيٌّ مِنَ السُلّافِ لَيسَ بِحَيدَرِ

بَهِيٌّ مِنَ السُلّافِ لَيسَ بِحَيدَرِ

they went before us; the straight road to them

They passed on, travelers on the path ahead of them

is clear from those who went before, and does not turn aside.

Radiant, not gloomy, like those gone before.

فَكائِن رَأَيتُ مِن بَهاءٍ وَمَنظَرٍ

فَكائِن رَأَيتُ مِن بَهاءٍ وَمَنظَرٍ

وَمِفتَحِ قَيدٍ لِلأَسيرِ المُكَفَّرِ

وَمِفتَحِ قَيدٍ لِلأَسيرِ المُكَفَّرِ

How much splendor and fine appearance I have seen,

Whenever I saw splendor and a spectacular view

and how many an unlocker of chains for the shackled captive!

And freeing a prisoner in shackles a mercy...

وَكائِن رَأَيتُ مِن مُلوكٍ وَسوقَةٍ

وَكائِن رَأَيتُ مِن مُلوكٍ وَسوقَةٍ

وَراحِلَةٍ شُدَّت بِرَحلٍ مُحَبَّرِ

وَراحِلَةٍ شُدَّت بِرَحلٍ مُحَبَّرِ

And how many kings and commoners I have seen,

Whenever I saw kings, servants, and a camel litter

and riding-camels fitted with ornamented saddles!

Tied with embroidered saddles and fringes...

وَأَفنى بَناتُ الدَهرِ أَربابَ ناعِطٍ

وَأَفنى بَناتُ الدَهرِ أَربابَ ناعِطٍ

بِمُستَمَعٍ دونَ السَماءِ وَمَنظَرِ

بِمُستَمَعٍ دونَ السَماءِ وَمَنظَرِ

And Time's daughters consumed the lords of Na'it,

The days destroyed the masters of splendor

at their listening-post and lookout beneath the sky.

Without pause beneath the heavens and the view.

وَبِالحارِثِ الحَرّابِ فَجَّعنَ قَومَهُ

وَبِالحارِثِ الحَرّابِ فَجَّعنَ قَومَهُ

وَلَو هاجَهُم جاءوا بِنَصرٍ مُؤَزَّرِ

وَلَو هاجَهُم جاءوا بِنَصرٍ مُؤَزَّرِ

And they bereaved his people of al-Harith, the warrior,

And al-Harith the warrior on the day he roused his people -

though, had he roused them, they would have come with mighty aid.

Had he rallied them they would have come armored.

وَأَهلَكنَ يَوماً رَبَّ كِندَةَ وَاِبنَهُ

وَأَهلَكنَ يَوماً رَبَّ كِندَةَ وَاِبنَهُ

وَرُبَّ مَعَدٍّ بَينَ خَبتٍ وَعَرعَرِ

وَرُبَّ مَعَدٍّ بَينَ خَبتٍ وَعَرعَرِ

One day they destroyed the lord of Kindah and his son,

He destroyed the Lord of Kinda and his son in a day

and the lord of Ma'add between Khabt and 'Ar'ar.

And the Lord of Ma'add between Khabt and Ar'ar.

وَأَعوَصنَ بِالدومِيِّ مِن رَأسِ حِصنِهِ

وَأَعوَصنَ بِالدومِيِّ مِن رَأسِ حِصنِهِ

وَأَنزَلنَ بِالأَسبابِ رَبَّ المُشَقَّرِ

وَأَنزَلنَ بِالأَسبابِ رَبَّ المُشَقَّرِ

And they brought the Dumi down from his fortress's summit,

He blinded the one-eyed man from his mountain fortress

and lowered the lord of al-Mushaqqar by ropes.

And brought down the Lord of al-Muhaqqaq with siege engines.

وَأَخلَفنَ قُسّاً لَيتَني وَلَوَ أَنَّني

وَأَخلَفنَ قُسّاً لَيتَني وَلَوَ أَنَّني

وَأَعيا عَلى لُقمانَ حُكمُ التَدَبُّرِ

وَأَعيا عَلى لُقمانَ حُكمُ التَدَبُّرِ

They left Quss's 'Would that I...' and 'If only I...' unfulfilled,

He left behind only Quss, if only I had been

and the wisdom of foresight proved powerless for Luqman.

Endowed with Luqman's wisdom and reflection!

فَإِن تَسأَلينا فيمَ نَحنُ فَإِنَّنا

فَإِن تَسأَلينا فيمَ نَحنُ فَإِنَّنا

عَصافيرُ مِن هَذا الأَنامِ المُسَحَّرِ

عَصافيرُ مِن هَذا الأَنامِ المُسَحَّرِ

So if you ask us what our condition is, we are

If you ask who we are, we are just

sparrows among these creatures that need food and drink.

Birds of these enchanted people.

عَبيدٌ لِحَيِّ حِميَرٍ إِن تَمَلَّكوا

عَبيدٌ لِحَيِّ حِميَرٍ إِن تَمَلَّكوا

وَتَظلِمُنا عُمّالُ كِسرى وَقَيصَرِ

وَتَظلِمُنا عُمّالُ كِسرى وَقَيصَرِ

Slaves to the tribe of Himyar if they take power,

Slaves of donkeys if they rule us

and the officials of Kisra and Caesar oppress us.

And the workers of Chosroes and Caesar oppress us.

وَنَحنُ وَهُم مُلكٌ لِحِميَرَ عَنوَةً

وَنَحنُ وَهُم مُلكٌ لِحِميَرَ عَنوَةً

وَما إِن لَنا مِن سادَةٍ غَيرَ حِميَرِ

وَما إِن لَنا مِن سادَةٍ غَيرَ حِميَرِ

We and they belong to Himyar through conquest,

We and they are property of donkeys by force

and we have no masters other than Himyar.

For we have no masters but donkeys!

تَبابِعَةٌ سَبعونَ مِن قَبلِ تُبَّعٍ

تَبابِعَةٌ سَبعونَ مِن قَبلِ تُبَّعٍ

تَوَلّوا جَميعاً أَزهَراً بَعدَ أَزهَرِ

تَوَلّوا جَميعاً أَزهَراً بَعدَ أَزهَرِ

Seventy Tubba' kings before Tubba'

Seventy elders from Tubba

all departed, one radiant ruler after another.

Who all ruled rose gardens one after another.

نَحُلُّ بِلاداً كُلُّها حُلَّ قَبلَنا

نَحُلُّ بِلاداً كُلُّها حُلَّ قَبلَنا

وَنَرجو الفَلاحَ بَعدَ عادٍ وَحِميَرِ

وَنَرجو الفَلاحَ بَعدَ عادٍ وَحِميَرِ

We settle lands that were all settled before us,

We settle every land, all settled before us,

and hope for survival after 'Ad and Himyar.

And hope for success after Aad and donkeys!

وَإِنّا وَإِخواناً لَنا قَد تَتابَعوا

وَإِنّا وَإِخواناً لَنا قَد تَتابَعوا

لَكَالمُغتَدي وَالرائِحِ المُتَهَجِّرِ

لَكَالمُغتَدي وَالرائِحِ المُتَهَجِّرِ

We and brothers of ours who have gone in succession

We and our brethren who passed on

are like one leaving at dawn and one departing in midday heat.

Are like the aggressor and the wandering wind.

هَلِ النَفسُ إِلّا مُتعَةٌ مُستَعارَةٌ

هَلِ النَفسُ إِلّا مُتعَةٌ مُستَعارَةٌ

تُعارُ فَتَأتي رَبَّها فَرطَ أَشهُرِ

تُعارُ فَتَأتي رَبَّها فَرطَ أَشهُرِ

Is the soul anything but a borrowed enjoyment,

Is not the soul merely borrowed pleasure

lent, then returning to its owner after a span of months?

Lent and then returning to its Lord in months?