بَنو حَنيفَةَ لا يَرضى الدَعيُّ بِهِم

بَنو حَنيفَةَ لا يَرضى الدَعيُّ بِهِم

فَاِترُك حَنيفَةَ وَاِطلُب غَيرَها نَسَبا

فَاِترُك حَنيفَةَ وَاِطلُب غَيرَها نَسَبا

Banu Hanifa—the pretender to lineage is not content with them.

The clan of Hanifa are not pleased with the claimant

So leave Hanifa and seek another lineage.

So leave Hanifa and seek another lineage

وَاِذهَب إِلى عَرَبٍ تَرضى بِنِسبَتِهِم

وَاِذهَب إِلى عَرَبٍ تَرضى بِنِسبَتِهِم

إِنّي أَرى لَكَ خَلقاً يُشبِهُ العَرَبا

إِنّي أَرى لَكَ خَلقاً يُشبِهُ العَرَبا

And go to Arabs you are content to be affiliated with.

And go to the Arabs who are pleased with their lineage

Indeed, I see in you a form resembling that of the Arabs.

Indeed I see you have a nature that resembles the Arabs

لَقيتَني بِاِحتِجاجٍ بَعدَما رَتَعَت

لَقيتَني بِاِحتِجاجٍ بَعدَما رَتَعَت

فيكَ القَوافي وَأَبقى وَسمُها نَدَبا

فيكَ القَوافي وَأَبقى وَسمُها نَدَبا

You confronted me with an argument after they had grazed freely—

You met me with protestation after the rhymes

the rhymes—upon you, and their branding had left scars.

Grazed in you, leaving their mark as blame

هَلّا وَأَنتَ بِظَهرِ الغَيبِ تَأكُلُني

هَلّا وَأَنتَ بِظَهرِ الغَيبِ تَأكُلُني

فَلا تَهَنَّأتَني أَمسَكتَ مُتَّئِبا

فَلا تَهَنَّأتَني أَمسَكتَ مُتَّئِبا

Why did you not, while devouring me behind my back,

Why, while you were behind my back eating me

—may you never relish me!—hold back in shame?

Did you not congratulate me but remained saddened

مُنيتَ مِنّي وَقَد هاجَ الرِهانُ بِنا

مُنيتَ مِنّي وَقَد هاجَ الرِهانُ بِنا

بِغايَةٍ مَنَعَتكَ الفَوتَ وَالطَلَبا

بِغايَةٍ مَنَعَتكَ الفَوتَ وَالطَلَبا

You were tried at my hands, when the race between us flared,

You escaped from me though the bet had stirred between us

with a finish that denied you both escape and pursuit.

To an end that deterred you from gain and quest

فَاِقعُد فَأَنتَ طَليقُ العَفوِ مُرتَهَنٌ

فَاِقعُد فَأَنتَ طَليقُ العَفوِ مُرتَهَنٌ

بِسَورَةِ الجَهلِ ما لَم أَملِكِ الغَضَبا

بِسَورَةِ الجَهلِ ما لَم أَملِكِ الغَضَبا

So sit down: you are freed by pardon, yet held hostage

So sit, for you are free, pledged

by a surge of folly, unless I master my anger.

To the chapter of ignorance unless I possess anger