أَتَهجُرُwill you forsake? نُعماًNuʿm أَمor تُديمُyou maintain لَهاfor her وَصلاa bond
أَتَهجُرُ نُعماً أَم تُديمُ لَها وَصلا
وَكَمand how many صَرَمَتshe severed نُعمٌNuʿm لِذيfor one possessing خُلَّةٍaffection حَبلاa bond
وَكَم صَرَمَت نُعمٌ لِذي خُلَّةٍ حَبلا
Will you forsake Nuʿm, or keep your bond with her?
Shall I abandon bounties, or keep the bond tied?
And how many a lover's bond has Nuʿm severed!
How many a bounty is cut off from one with a slender rope!
إِذاwhen أَنتَyou عَزَّيتَyou consoled الفُؤادَthe heart عَنaway from الصِباyouthful passion
إِذا أَنتَ عَزَّيتَ الفُؤادَ عَن الصِبا
تَذَكَّرتَyou remembered مِنهاof her الأُنسَcompanionship وَالمَنطِقَand speech الرِسلاunhurried
تَذَكَّرتَ مِنها الأُنسَ وَالمَنطِقَ الرِسلا
When you wean your heart from youthful passion,
When you comfort your heart about the loss of youth,
You recall her companionship and her unhurried speech,
You remember its intimacy and smooth conversation.
وذاand one with أُشُرٍserrated teeth عَذباًsweet تَرِفُّgleam غُروبُهُits tooth-tips
وذا أُشُرٍ عَذباً تَرِفُّ غُروبُهُ
وسالِفَةًand the side of a neck فيin طولِهاits length جُدِلَتwas firmly shaped جَدلاfirmly
وسالِفَةً في طولِها جُدِلَت جَدلا
And a sweet mouth with serrated teeth, whose tips gleam,
And a white-armed damsel whose dusk is soft,
And a neck, well-turned along its length,
And an ancient she-camel braided with plaits,
وَنَحراًand an upper chest كَفاثورِlike a platter of اللُجَينِsilver وَناهِداًand a swelling breast
وَنَحراً كَفاثورِ اللُجَينِ وَناهِداً
وَبَطناًand a belly كَغِمدِlike the sheath of السَيفِthe sword لَمdid not يَدرِknow ماwhat الحَملاpregnancy
وَبَطناً كَغِمدِ السَيفِ لَم يَدرِ ما الحَملا
And a chest like a silver platter, and a swelling breast,
And a slit-eared cow, and a sturdy she-camel
And a belly like a sword's sheath, that has never known pregnancy.
Whose belly is like a sword-sheath that knows no burden,
فَاِنyet if تَكُbe نُعمٌNuʿm صَرَّمتَنيshe cut me off فَاِنَّهاthen indeed she
فَاِن تَكُ نُعمٌ صَرَّمتَني فَاِنَّها
تَريشُshe fletches وَتَبرىand whittles ليfor me إِذاwhen جِئتُهاI come to her النَبلاarrows
تَريشُ وَتَبرى لي إِذا جِئتُها النَبلا
Yet if Nuʿm has cut me off, she
If bounties have cut me off, then they bow down
Fletches and whittles arrows for me when I come to her.
And bend humbly when I come to them with purpose.
تَبَدّىshe appears فَتَدنوthen she draws near ثُمَّthen تَنأىshe draws away بِوَصلِهاwith her affection
تَبَدّى فَتَدنو ثُمَّ تَنأى بِوَصلِها
لِتَبلُغَto take her toll مِنيon me أَوor لِتَقتُلَنيto kill me قَتلاutterly
لِتَبلُغَ مِني أَو لِتَقتُلَني قَتلا
She reveals herself and draws near, then withdraws her affection,
They show themselves, then draw near, then distance
To take her toll on me, or to kill me outright.
To either bring themselves to me or surely kill me.
فَماso not الحَبلُthe bond مِنfrom نُعمٍNuʿm بِباقٍremaining جَديدَهُits freshness
فَما الحَبلُ مِن نُعمٍ بِباقٍ جَديدَهُ
وَلاnor كائِنٍexisting إِلّاexcept المَواعيدَpromises وَالمَطلاand delay
وَلا كائِنٍ إِلّا المَواعيدَ وَالمَطلا
So the bond with Nuʿm does not stay fresh,
No rope of bounty lasts, renewing its tie,
Nor is there anything but promises and delay.
Nor anything that exists but meetings and partings.
وَردَcame to قيانُslave women الحَيِّthe clan حينَwhen تَحَمَّلُواthey packed to depart
وَردَ قيانُ الحَيِّ حينَ تَحَمَّلُوا
لِبَينِهِمُfor their departure أُدماًwhite camels مُخَيّسَةًhobbled بُزلاfully mature
لِبَينِهِمُ أُدماً مُخَيّسَةً بُزلا
The clan's slave women approached, as the people packed to leave,
The tribes of the living, when they undertook
White, hobbled, full-grown camels for their departure.
For those severed from them, skins shrunk from washing,
رَفَعنَthey hoisted غَداةَon the morning of البَينِparting خَزّاًsilk-wool cloth وَيُمنَةًand Yemeni cloth
رَفَعنَ غَداةَ البَينِ خَزّاً وَيُمنَةً
وَأَكسِيَةًand coverings الديباجِbrocade مُبطَنَةًlined خَملاwith woolly pile
وَأَكسِيَةً الديباجِ مُبطَنَةً خَملا
They hoisted silk-wool cloth and Yemeni mantles on the morning of parting,
Raised, the morning after separation, coarse wool robes,
And brocade coverings lined with woolly pile,
And mantles lined with figured silk,
عَلىupon كُلِّeach فَتلاءِsinewy الذراعينِin both forelegs جَمرَةٍa vigorous she-camel
عَلى كُلِّ فَتلاءِ الذراعينِ جَمرَةٍ
تَمرُّshe sweeps عَلىover الحاذَينِthe two haunches مطَّرِداًlong and straight جَثلاbushy
تَمرُّ عَلى الحاذَينِ مطَّرِداً جَثلا
Upon each vigorous she-camel with sinewy forelegs,
On every bicep of the two arms a coal
Sweeping a long, bushy tail over her haunches,
Passing over the forearms continually searing.
وَأَصهَبَand a tawny camel نَضاحِstreaming sweat المَقَذِّat the poll مُفَرَّجٍbroad-chested
وَأَصهَبَ نَضاحِ المَقَذِّ مُفَرَّجٍ
جُلالٍmassive عَلىover الحِزّانِrugged ground يَستَضلِعُshoulders stoutly الحِملاthe load
جُلالٍ عَلى الحِزّانِ يَستَضلِعُ الحِملا
And a tawny camel, its poll streaming sweat, broad-chested,
The gushing of the polished, jeweled waterskins pours down
Massive, shouldering its load across rugged ground.
Over the camel litters, shading the howdahs.
فَأتَبَعتُso I sent after عَينيَّmy two eyes الحُمولَthe laden camels صَبابَةًin lovesick yearning
فَأتَبَعتُ عَينيَّ الحُمولَ صَبابَةً
وَشَوقاًand longing وَقَدand already جاوَزنَthey had crossed مِنof عالِجٍʿĀlij رَملاa stretch of sand
وَشَوقاً وَقَد جاوَزنَ مِن عالِجٍ رَملا
So I followed the laden camels with my eyes, in lovesick yearning,
So I followed the caravan, my eyes streaming
And longing, though they had crossed a stretch of ʿĀlij's sands.
With ardor, as they had passed beyond a stony tract,
عِظامَlarge مَغيلِat the bases of الهامِthe heads غُلباًthick رِقابُهاtheir necks
عِظامَ مَغيلِ الهامِ غُلباً رِقابُها
مُعَرَّقَةَlean الأَلحىin the jawbones يَمانِيَةًYemeni هُدلاdroop-lipped
مُعَرَّقَةَ الأَلحى يَمانِيَةً هُدلا
Broad at the skull-base, their necks thick,
The bones of the twisting necks overcome with languor,
Lean-jawed, Yemeni, with drooping lips.
Adorned with Yemeni leather,
إِذاwhen اِحتَثَّهاhe urged them on الحاديthe camel-driver القَبيصُnimble تَجاسَرَتthey strode boldly
إِذا اِحتَثَّها الحادي القَبيصُ تَجاسَرَت
دَوامِجَcompact-bodied بِالمَوماةِin the wasteland تَحسِبُهاyou would take them for نَخلاpalm trees
دَوامِجَ بِالمَوماةِ تَحسِبُها نَخلا
When the nimble camel-driver urges them on, they stride boldly,
If the driver whistles at them insistently they are defiant,
Compact-bodied in the wasteland—you would take them for palms.
Thinking him to be palm trees when they gain water and pasturage.
ظَعائِنُwomen in litters مِنfrom أَوسٍAws وَعُثمانَand ʿUthmān كَالدُمىlike sculpted figures
ظَعائِنُ مِن أَوسٍ وَعُثمانَ كَالدُمى
حَواصِنُchaste women لَمdid not يُخزِينَthey shame عَمّاًa paternal uncle وَلاnor بَغلاa mule (as written)
حَواصِنُ لَم يُخزِينَ عَمّاً وَلا بَغلا
Women in litters, of Aws and ʿUthmān, like sculpted figures,
Old she-camels of Aus and Uthman like humbled beasts,
Chaste women who have shamed neither uncle nor mule.
Dignified, never brought shame or aversion.
أوانسُcompanionable maidens أَترابof equal age وَعينٌand wide-eyed كَأَنهاas though they were
أوانسُ أَتراب وَعينٌ كَأَنها
نِعاجُwild cows الصريمِthe sand tract أَوfirst part of 'settled' (split أوطنت) طَنَتrest of 'settled' (split أوطنت) بِالرُباon the hills بَقلاherbage
نِعاجُ الصريمِ أَو طَنَت بِالرُبا بَقلا
Companionable maidens, alike in age and wide-eyed, as though they were
Familiar she-camels whose eyes are as though
Wild cows of the sand tract, settled amid herbage on the hills.
They are sheep of Ibn Sarim, or imbued with millet and fenugreek,
أَوانِسُcompanionable maidens يَركُضنَthey kick المُروطَthe wraps كَأَنَّماas though
أَوانِسُ يَركُضنَ المُروطَ كَأَنَّما
يَطَأنَthey tread إِذاwhen اِستَوسَقنَthey gather together فيon جَدَدٍfirm, level ground وَحلاmud
يَطَأنَ إِذا اِستَوسَقنَ في جَدَدٍ وَحلا
Companionable maidens, kicking their wraps, as though
Familiar she-camels galloping the smooth-worn road as though
They tread mud when gathered on firm ground.
They were treading, when fully watered, on soft ground.
فياso O أَيُّهاyou المَرءُman الَّذيwho لَيسَis not صامِتاًsilent
فيا أَيُّها المَرءُ الَّذي لَيسَ صامِتاً
وَلاnor ناطِقاًa speaker إِنif قالَhe speaks فَصلاًdecisive words وَلاnor عَدلاjust words
وَلا ناطِقاً إِن قالَ فَصلاً وَلا عَدلا
So, O man, who is neither silent
O man who is neither silent nor speaks justly or equitably
Nor, when he speaks, a speaker of decisive or just words:
If you speak, know what you say and do not be
إِذاwhen قُلتَyou speak فَاِعلَمthen know ماwhat تَقولُyou say ولاand do not تَكُنbe
إِذا قُلتَ فَاِعلَم ما تَقولُ ولا تَكُن
كَحاطِبِlike a wood-gatherer لَيلٍby night يِجمَعُgathering الدِقَّsmall twigs والجَزلاand thick logs
كَحاطِبِ لَيلٍ يِجمَعُ الدِقَّ والجَزلا
When you speak, know what you say, and do not be
Like one gathering wood at night, piling up trash and twigs!
Like a night-time wood-gatherer, gathering twigs and thick logs.
The ornament of my people - if you ask, they possesses
مُزَينَةُMuzayna قَوميmy people إِنif سَأَلتَyou ask فَاِنَّهُمthen indeed they
مُزَينَةُ قَومي إِن سَأَلتَ فَاِنَّهُم
لَهُمthey have عِزَّةٌhonor and might لاnot تَستَطيعُyou can لَهاfor it نَقلاremoval
لَهُم عِزَّةٌ لا تَستَطيعُ لَها نَقلا
Muzayna are my people; if you ask, they indeed
An honor you cannot carry to another people.
Have honor that you cannot wrest away.
If you travel till the rising of the sun you will never find
وَلَوeven if سِرتَyou journeyed حَتّىas far as مَطلَعِthe rising-place of الشَمسِthe sun لَمnot تَجِدyou would find
وَلَو سِرتَ حَتّى مَطلَعِ الشَمسِ لَم تَجِد
لِقَومٍfor any people عَلىover قَوميmy people وَإِنeven if كَرمُواthey are noble فَضلاsuperiority
لِقَومٍ عَلى قَومي وَإِن كَرمُوا فَضلا
Even if you journeyed to where the sun rises, you would not find
For any people, though they be generous, superiority to my people.
Any people superior to mine, however noble they may be,
They give ample dowries to bridegrooms and ransom captives
أَعَفَّmore self-restrained وَأَوفىand more faithful بِالصَباحِat dawn فَوارِساًas horsemen
أَعَفَّ وَأَوفى بِالصَباحِ فَوارِساً
إِذاwhen الخَيلُthe horses جالَتwheel فيin أَعِنَّتِهاtheir reins قُبلاface-to-face
إِذا الخَيلُ جالَت في أَعِنَّتِها قُبلا
With horsemen more restrained and more faithful at dawn,
When their horses are necklaced in the thick of the fray.
When horses wheel under their reins, face to face.
We speak - our words please - we support it;
نَقولُwe speak فَيُرضىso is approved قَولُناour speech وَنُعينُهُand we uphold it
نَقولُ فَيُرضى قَولُنا وَنُعينُهُ
وَنَحنُand we أُناسٌa people نُحسِنُexcel in القِيلَspeech وَالفِعلاand action
وَنَحنُ أُناسٌ نُحسِنُ القِيلَ وَالفِعلا
We speak; our words win approval, and we uphold them,
We are people who do well in words and actions.
And we are a people who excel in word and deed.
We drove away from Tihama with the spear
وَنَحنُand we نَفَيناdrove away عَنfrom تِهامَةَTihāma بِالقَناwith spears
وَنَحنُ نَفَينا عَن تِهامَةَ بِالقَنا
وِبالَجُردِand with sleek horses يَمعَلنَthey race across الرَقاقَsoft ground بِناwith us مَعلاswiftly
وِبالَجُردِ يَمعَلنَ الرَقاقَ بِنا مَعلا
And we drove them from Tihāma with spears,
And the short coat of mail, driving captive the captives with us.
And with sleek horses, racing across the soft ground with us,
You see for them bellies tucked up, their backs elongated,
مُدَرَّبَةًwell-trained قُبَّlean البُطونِin the bellies تَرىyou see لَهاthey have
مُدَرَّبَةً قُبَّ البُطونِ تَرى لَها
مُتوناًbacks طِوالاًlong أَدمِجَتfirmly knit وَشَوىand limbs عَبلاstout
مُتوناً طِوالاً أَدمِجَت وَشَوى عَبلا
Well-trained, lean-bellied—you see on them
Proceeding tied together, marked with the cautery.
Long, firmly knit backs, and stout limbs.
If examined for pedigree, they flow and foam over,
إِذاwhen اِمتُرِيَتurged to run بِالقِدِّwith a rawhide thong جاشَتthey surged وَاَزبَدَتand foamed
إِذا اِمتُرِيَت بِالقِدِّ جاشَت وَاَزبَدَت
وَإِنand when واضَخَتthey drenched تَعريبَهاtheir cautery marks وبَلَتthey poured down وَبلاlike heavy rain
وَإِن واضَخَت تَعريبَها وبَلَت وَبلا
When urged with a rawhide thong, they surge and foam,
And if tested for ancestry, they mix it and perfect it.
And when they drench their cautery marks, they pour sweat like rain.
For every young man broad of waist, long-necked,
لِكُلِّfor each فَتىًyoung man رِخوِloose-hanging النِجادِthe sword-belt سمَيدَعٍnoble chief
لِكُلِّ فَتىً رِخوِ النِجادِ سمَيدَعٍ
وَأَشمَطَand a grizzled man لَمnot يُخلَقwas born جَباناًa coward وَلاnor وَغلاa hanger-on
وَأَشمَطَ لَم يُخلَق جَباناً وَلا وَغلا
For each noble youth with a loose-hanging sword-belt,
Lean of groin, created not to be cowardly or slothful,
And each grizzled man, born neither coward nor hanger-on.
In their hands Indian swords polished smooth
بِأَيديهِمُin their hands سُمرُbrown المُتونِin the shafts مَوارِنٌsupple spears
بِأَيديهِمُ سُمرُ المُتونِ مَوارِنٌ
وَمَشهورَةٌand drawn swords هِندِيَّةٌIndian أُخضِلَتmade wet-bright صَقلاby polishing
وَمَشهورَةٌ هِندِيَّةٌ أُخضِلَت صَقلا
In their hands are supple, brown-shafted spears,
And famous, forged of steel and planished.
And drawn Indian swords, shining wet with polish.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle فَرَغناwe finished مِنwith قِراعِfighting كَتيبَةٍa war-band
إِذا ما فَرَغنا مِن قِراعِ كَتيبَةٍ
نَصَبناwe turn إِلىtoward أُخرىanother تَكونُwill be لَناfor us شُغلاan occupation
نَصَبنا إِلى أُخرى تَكونُ لَنا شُغلا
Whenever we have finished fighting one war-band,
When we finish fighting one company
We turn to another that will occupy us.
We turn to another, which occupies us.
فَكَمand how many مِنof عَدُوٍّan enemy قَدalready أَباحَتlaid open to plunder رِماحُناour spears
فَكَم مِن عَدُوٍّ قَد أَباحَت رِماحُنا
وَكَمand how many مِنof صَديقٍa friend نالَreceived مِنfrom سَيبِناour bounty سَجلاa full bucket
وَكَم مِن صَديقٍ نالَ مِن سَيبِنا سَجلا
How many an enemy our spears have laid open to plunder,
How many a foe have our spears made lawful to violate,
And how many a friend has received a full bucket of our bounty!
And how many a friend gained booty from our swords!
Partial English translation: 59 of 60 Arabic lines translated.