ألا فاصبحينا ابنةَ الأكرمِ

ألا فاصبحينا ابنةَ الأكرمِ

سُخاميةً كدم العَندمِ

سُخاميةً كدم العَندمِ

Come, give us morning wine, daughter of the noblest man,

Behold, we have become, O daughter of the most noble,

Dark wine, like the blood of the ʿandam tree,

Fierce like the blood of adders

عُقاراً تمزّقُ ثوبَ الظلامِ

عُقاراً تمزّقُ ثوبَ الظلامِ

بضوءِ شعاعٍ لها مُستمي

بضوءِ شعاعٍ لها مُستمي

Wine that rends the robe of darkness

A drug that tears the garment of darkness

With the light of a ray rising from it.

With the light of a ray it possesses eternally

إذا أسدلَ الليلُ جِلبابه

إذا أسدلَ الليلُ جِلبابه

ارتك سنا القَبَسِ المُضَرمِ

ارتك سنا القَبَسِ المُضَرمِ

When night lets down its cloak,

When the night dons its cloak

It shows you the radiance of a blazing brand.

It abandons the burning ember

كأنَّ الحَباب بها لؤلوءٌ

كأنَّ الحَباب بها لؤلوءٌ

على ذهبٍ ذائبٍ مسجَمِ

على ذهبٍ ذائبٍ مسجَمِ

Its bubbles seem like pearls

As if the stars in it are pearls

Upon molten gold poured forth.

On melted gold, polished

كأنَّ الحبيب بها طائفاً

كأنَّ الحبيب بها طائفاً

علينا ونحن ولم نظلمِ

علينا ونحن ولم نظلمِ

As though the beloved, passing it around

As if the lover in it is circling

Among us—and we are not unjust

Around us while we have done no wrong

بتشبيهنا قمر زاهر

بتشبيهنا قمر زاهر

يطوفُ بشمسٍ على أنجُمِ

يطوفُ بشمسٍ على أنجُمِ

In our comparison—were a radiant moon

By comparing us to a brilliant moon

Circling with a sun among stars.

Revolving around a sun amidst stars

ونحن نجرُّ ذُيولَ الحريرِ

ونحن نجرُّ ذُيولَ الحريرِ

نشاوَى نُفيد ولم نُشتمِ

نشاوَى نُفيد ولم نُشتمِ

And we trail the hems of silk,

While we drag the train of silk

Drunk, bestowing favors and never reviled.

We frolic and have not been insulted

ونهلكُ أموالنا في المُدامِ

ونهلكُ أموالنا في المُدامِ

وأعراضُنا ثَمَّ لم تُكلمِ

وأعراضُنا ثَمَّ لم تُكلمِ

And we squander our wealth on wine,

And we squander our wealth on wine

Yet our reputations there remain unwounded.

While our honors have not been slighted

ومهما صحونا بذلنا الجزيلَ

ومهما صحونا بذلنا الجزيلَ

ولم نأتِ ذمَّاً ولم نُذمَمِ

ولم نأتِ ذمَّاً ولم نُذمَمِ

And whenever we sober, we give lavishly,

And no matter how sober we are, we are generous

Doing nothing blameworthy and never being blamed.

And have not been blamed or defamed

ونحن ملوكُ بني يَعرُبٍ

ونحن ملوكُ بني يَعرُبٍ

وصيّابةُ الحسبِ الأقدمِ

وصيّابةُ الحسبِ الأقدمِ

And we are kings of the sons of Yaʿrub,

For we are the kings of the Arabs

And the choicest of the oldest noble stock.

And the sabre of the most ancient lineage

ونحنُ البهاليلُ من عامرِ

ونحنُ البهاليلُ من عامرِ

وأشبالُ حارثة الأكرمِ

وأشبالُ حارثة الأكرمِ

And we are the noble chieftains of ʿAmir,

And we are the champions of ‘Amir

And the lion cubs of most noble Haritha.

And the cubs of honorable Harithah

ونحنُ المحامون دون الحسانِ

ونحنُ المحامون دون الحسانِ

إذا سُربلت خيلنا بالدَّمِ

إذا سُربلت خيلنا بالدَّمِ

And we are the defenders of the fair women,

And we are the protectors, without the virtuous

When our horses are cloaked in blood.

When our horses are clad in blood

ونحن الغَطارفةُ الأكرمون

ونحن الغَطارفةُ الأكرمون

وأهلُ الأحاديثِ في الموسمِ

وأهلُ الأحاديثِ في الموسمِ

And we are the noblest highborn lords,

And we are the most noble chivalrous ones

And men whose tales are told at the seasonal gathering.

And the people of tradition in the season

ونحن المجيبونَ صوتَ الكُماةِ

ونحن المجيبونَ صوتَ الكُماةِ

إذا فرَّ كلُّ فتىً مُقْدمِ

إذا فرَّ كلُّ فتىً مُقْدمِ

And we answer the warriors' call,

And we are the respondents to the call of the oppressed

When every bold young man flees.

When every young man flees

ملكنا البلادَ وسُدنا العبادَ

ملكنا البلادَ وسُدنا العبادَ

ودُسنا الأعاديَ بالصّيْلَمِ

ودُسنا الأعاديَ بالصّيْلَمِ

We ruled the lands and held sway over their people,

We ruled the lands and protected the people

And trampled enemies with the keen sword.

And subjugated the enemies with the sword

ولو تسمعُ الأسْدُ تَزآرَنا

ولو تسمعُ الأسْدُ تَزآرَنا

غَداةَ الوقيعَة لم تنأمِ

غَداةَ الوقيعَة لم تنأمِ

Were lions to hear our roaring

And if the lion were to hear our screams

On the morning of battle, they would not growl.

At dawn after the battle, it would not sleep

ولو شاهدَ البحرُ معروفنا

ولو شاهدَ البحرُ معروفنا

لغاضَ لعمري ولم يُفعَمِ

لغاضَ لعمري ولم يُفعَمِ

Were the sea to witness our generosity,

And if the sea were to see our character

It would ebb, by my life, and never brim.

It would boil, by my life, and not calm

ونحن الأماني ونحن المنونُ

ونحن الأماني ونحن المنونُ

وثروةُ ذي الخَلَّة المعدِمِ

وثروةُ ذي الخَلَّة المعدِمِ

And we are hopes, and we are death,

And we are the wishes, and we are the givers

And the wealth of the penniless man in need.

And the wealth of the destitute

وفينا الصوارمُ والسمهريُّ

وفينا الصوارمُ والسمهريُّ

وكل سليم الشّظا شَيْظَم

وكل سليم الشّظا شَيْظَم

Among us are keen swords and straight spears,

And among us are the sharp blades

And every tall steed, sound of shank.

And every firm, straight sword

وفينا المغافرُ والسابغاتُ

وفينا المغافرُ والسابغاتُ

وبيضٌ تلألأ كالأنجمِ

وبيضٌ تلألأ كالأنجمِ

Among us are mail coifs and ample coats of mail,

And among us are the forgivers and givers

And helmets gleaming like stars.

And white shining like the stars

ونحن صميمُ الملوك النُّضارِ

ونحن صميمُ الملوك النُّضارِ

وكلِّ الفَخارِ لنا ينتمي

وكلِّ الفَخارِ لنا ينتمي

And we are the true stock of kings, pure as gold,

And we are the essence of bright kings

And every glory traces its descent to us.

And all pottery belongs to us

وفينا مغاويرُ تحمي النزيلَ

وفينا مغاويرُ تحمي النزيلَ

وتعطي الجزيلَ ولم نندمِ

وتعطي الجزيلَ ولم نندمِ

Among us are bold raiders who protect the guest,

And among us are protectors who shield the guest

And give lavishly; we have never regretted it.

And give generously and have not regretted

فسائل بنا العُربَ والأعجمينٍ

فسائل بنا العُربَ والأعجمينٍ

تخبرْك إن كنت لم تعلم

تخبرْك إن كنت لم تعلم

So ask the Arabs and non-Arabs about us,

So ask the Arabs and non-Arabs about us

They will tell you, if you did not know,

To inform you if you did not know

متى عَهْدُنا بفكاكِ الأسيرِ

متى عَهْدُنا بفكاكِ الأسيرِ

وجبر كسير الورى المُهْضَمِ

وجبر كسير الورى المُهْضَمِ

How far back our ransoming of captives goes,

When did we neglect freeing the captive

And our restoring the broken and downtroddden among mankind,

And mending the broken people

وبذل النُّضارِ ونحر العِشار

وبذل النُّضارِ ونحر العِشار

ونهب الفَخار من الأعظم

ونهب الفَخار من الأعظم

And our giving gold and slaughtering ten-month-pregnant she-camels,

And giving the bright and slaughtering the tithe

And our wresting glory from the greatest.

And looting the pottery from the greatest

وكنا إذا الشَّرُّ أرخى اللثامَ

وكنا إذا الشَّرُّ أرخى اللثامَ

وأسفرَ عن منظرٍ أقتمِ

وأسفرَ عن منظرٍ أقتمِ

And we, when evil let down its veil,

And we used to, when evil donned the garb

And disclosed a dust-dark sight,

And the view was gloomy and dark

ودارت رَحَى الحرب بالمُعْلمِينَ

ودارت رَحَى الحرب بالمُعْلمِينَ

ونادى كميُّ الوغى بالكمي

ونادى كميُّ الوغى بالكمي

And war's millstone turned upon warriors bearing insignia,

And the mill of war spun with the learned

And battle's champion called to a champion,

And the caller of tumult called out loudly

تصبنا لوقعِ الرّماحِ الصدورَ

تصبنا لوقعِ الرّماحِ الصدورَ

ولم نخشَ حتفاً ولم نسأم

ولم نخشَ حتفاً ولم نسأم

Set our breasts before the spear-thrusts,

We poured out our chests to the thrust of spears

And feared no death and never wearied.

And did not fear death nor become tired

أنا ابنُ العَرانينِ من تُبَّعٍ

أنا ابنُ العَرانينِ من تُبَّعٍ

وعينُ الفتى الأفخرِ الأكرمِ

وعينُ الفتى الأفخرِ الأكرمِ

I am the son of the chieftains of Tubbaʿ,

I am the son of sheikhs from Tubba‘

And the very model of the most glorious, noblest youth.

And the eye of the most glorious young man

أنا البطلُ الباسلَ الشمَّريُّ

أنا البطلُ الباسلَ الشمَّريُّ

وسائد كل فتىً مُنعِمِ

وسائد كل فتىً مُنعِمِ

I am the dauntless, resolute hero,

I am the brave, valiant, audacious one

And master of every generous young man.

The pillow of every blessed lad

إذا الرَّوعُ أبدى وجوهَ الِخرِاد

إذا الرَّوعُ أبدى وجوهَ الِخرِاد

وقلَّصَ عن ساقها الأنجمِ

وقلَّصَ عن ساقها الأنجمِ

When terror uncovered the maidens' faces,

When fear shows the faces of old maids

And bared their legs [the word 'stars' is unclear here],

And the stars contract around their ankles

وقمن ينادينَ أين الحُماةِ

وقمن ينادينَ أين الحُماةِ

وأين الشجاعُ المهيبُ الكمي

وأين الشجاعُ المهيبُ الكمي

And they rose crying, 'Where are the defenders?'

They stand calling, where are the protectors?

'And where is the brave, awe-inspiring champion?'

And where is the courageous, revered hero?

كررتُ كأنيَ ليثُ العرينِ

كررتُ كأنيَ ليثُ العرينِ

على عانةِ الحُمُر العُدَّمِ

على عانةِ الحُمُر العُدَّمِ

I charged again, like a lion of the thicket

I repeat as if I am the lion of the lair

Upon a herd of dusky wild asses,

On the udders of the black camels

أُطيرُ النفوسَ وأفري الرؤسَ

أُطيرُ النفوسَ وأفري الرؤسَ

ولمّا أصُدّ ولم أحجمِ

ولمّا أصُدّ ولم أحجمِ

Sending souls flying and cleaving heads,

I make souls fly and heads roll

Never yet turning aside, never shrinking back.

And when I charge none can deter me

وأروعَ ذي سطوةٍ ماجدٍ

وأروعَ ذي سطوةٍ ماجدٍ

مهيبٍ الحفيظةِ مستلئمِ

مهيبٍ الحفيظةِ مستلئمِ

And many a gallant, noble man of might,

And I terrify the one of glorious power

Awe-inspiring in wrath and clad in armor—

Fearsome, awesome, reputable

أطرتُ نعَامةً يا فوخهِ

أطرتُ نعَامةً يا فوخهِ

بأبيضَ ذي رونقٍ مخْذَمِ

بأبيضَ ذي رونقٍ مخْذَمِ

I sent the scalp at his crown flying

I hunted an ostrich, O Fawkhah

With a white blade, gleaming and keen.

With white, delicate plumage

فغادرته جَزَراً للسباعِ

فغادرته جَزَراً للسباعِ

وزاداً لأنسرها الحُوَّمِ

وزاداً لأنسرها الحُوَّمِ

Then I left him as butchered meat for beasts of prey,

So I left it as morsels for the beasts

And food for their circling vultures.

And sustenance for the ravenous wolves

ومالٍ وهبتُ لذي فاقةٍ

ومالٍ وهبتُ لذي فاقةٍ

فأمسى ثَرِّياً ولم أندم

فأمسى ثَرِّياً ولم أندم

And wealth I gave to a man in need,

And wealth I gave to the needy

So he became rich, and I did not regret it.

So he became wealthy and I did not regret

وكائن نعشتُ أخا عثرةٍ

وكائن نعشتُ أخا عثرةٍ

وكائن تجاوزتُ عن مجرمٍ

وكائن تجاوزتُ عن مجرمٍ

And how many a fallen man I raised,

And however much I supported a stumbling brother

And how many an offender I pardoned.

And however much I forgave a sinner

وبعلِ حَصانٍ من الغانيات

وبعلِ حَصانٍ من الغانيات

دعانَي والحربُ في معظمِ

دعانَي والحربُ في معظمِ

And the husband of a chaste woman among the beauties

And the husband of a singing girl

Challenged me when war was at its height.

Called me while war was at its peak

فنازلته تحت ظِلّ العجاجِ

فنازلته تحت ظِلّ العجاجِ

بيومٍ وغىّ عابسٍ مظلمِ

بيومٍ وغىّ عابسٍ مظلمِ

So I faced him beneath a canopy of dust,

So I confronted him beneath the shade of spears

On a grim, dark day of battle.

On a day of gloomy, cloudy strife

كلانا أشمَّ شديد المراسِ

كلانا أشمَّ شديد المراسِ

يفلُّ الجيوشَ ولم يُهزمِ

يفلُّ الجيوشَ ولم يُهزمِ

Both of us were proud and fierce in combat,

We were both intensely skilled with spears

Breaking armies, never defeated.

Routing armies and never defeated

إذا انتهبَ الحمدَ فاجأتُه

إذا انتهبَ الحمدَ فاجأتُه

فخلصته منه في المصْدَمِ

فخلصته منه في المصْدَمِ

When he seized the praise, I took him by surprise,

When he grabbed the praise I surprised him

And wrested it from him in the clash.

And saved him from it in the clash

حشوتُ حشَاه بمخلوجةٍ

حشوتُ حشَاه بمخلوجةٍ

تفرَّعُ عن نافذٍ لَهذمِ

تفرَّعُ عن نافذٍ لَهذمِ

I filled his belly with a wrenching thrust,

I stuffed his belly with a javelin

Springing from a penetrating, keen spearhead.

Splitting out from a piercing outlet

فخرَّ صريعاً لحرّ الجبينِ

فخرَّ صريعاً لحرّ الجبينِ

يُفحّصُ عن فرثه والدَّمِ

يُفحّصُ عن فرثه والدَّمِ

Then he fell stricken, flat upon his brow,

So he fell dead with a burning forehead

Scrabbling at his gut contents and blood.

Feeling through the debris and blood