ماwhat بالُis the matter with عَينِكَyour eye لاnot تُريدُwants رُقوداsleep
ما بالُ عَينِكَ لا تُريدُ رُقودا
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat هَجعَslept العُيونُthe eyes هُجوداdeep slumber
مِن بَعدِ ما هَجعَ العُيونُ هُجودا
What is wrong with your eye, that it wants no sleep,
What ails your eyes that refuse to sleep
after the eyes have fallen into deep slumber?
After the eyes have reclined in slumber?
تَرعىwatches النُجومَthe stars كَأَنَّهاas though it مَطروفَةٌinjured
تَرعى النُجومَ كَأَنَّها مَطروفَةٌ
حَتّىuntil رَأَيتَyou saw مِنَfrom الصَباحِthe dawn عَموداa pillar
حَتّى رَأَيتَ مِنَ الصَباحِ عَمودا
It watches the stars as though it were injured,
You watch the stars as if they were scattered
until you saw a pillar of dawn.
Until you saw the dawn's pillar
واللَيلُand the night يَطردُهُdrives it away النَهارُthe day وَلاand not أَرىI see
واللَيلُ يَطردُهُ النَهارُ وَلا أَرى
كَاللَيلِlike the night يَطرُدُهُdrives it away النَهارُthe day طَريداa fugitive
كَاللَيلِ يَطرُدُهُ النَهارُ طَريدا
Day drives the night away, and I see no
And the night drives away the day, yet I do not see
fugitive like night, driven away by day.
The day drive away the night pursued
وَتَراهُand you see it مِثلَlike الليلِthe night مالَdrooped رواقُهُits canopy
وَتَراهُ مِثلَ الليلِ مالَ رواقُهُ
هتَكَtore away المُقَوِّضُthe tent-dismantler كِسرَهُits side-flap المَمدوداoutstretched
هتَكَ المُقَوِّضُ كِسرَهُ المَمدودا
And you see it like the night, its canopy sagging,
And you see it like the night whose courtyard
the tent-dismantler having torn its outstretched side-flap.
Is entered by the destroyer, its fence broken down
فَاِشتَقتُso I yearned بَعدَafter ثَواءِa stay of سِتَّةِsix أَشهُرٍmonths
فَاِشتَقتُ بَعدَ ثَواءِ سِتَّةِ أَشهُرٍ
وَالشَوقُand longing قَدmay يَدعُleave الفُؤادَthe heart عَميداstricken
وَالشَوقُ قَد يَدعُ الفُؤادَ عَميدا
Then I yearned, after a stay of six months;
So I yearned after the passing of six months
and longing can leave the heart stricken.
And longing can make the heart bleary-eyed
فاِرتَعتُso I was startled لِلظُعُنِby the women's litters الَّتيwhich بِمُبايِضٍat Mubayid
فاِرتَعتُ لِلظُعُنِ الَّتي بِمُبايِضٍ
وَكَثُرَتand became numerous تُنَشِّرُunfurling كِلَّةًa gauze curtain وَبُجوداand woolen coverings
وَكَثُرَت تُنَشِّرُ كِلَّةً وَبُجودا
I was startled by the women's caravan at Mubayid,
So I was startled by the gazelles that were in Lujayn
growing numerous, unfurling curtains and woolen covers,
And they increased, spreading freely
حَتّىuntil اِحتَمَلنَthey departed وَقَدand already تَقَدَّمَhad gone ahead سارِحٌa herdsman
حَتّى اِحتَمَلنَ وَقَد تَقَدَّمَ سارِحٌ
لِلحيِّfor the tribe سارَtraveled أَمامهُنَahead of them بَريداa stage's journey
لِلحيِّ سارَ أَمامهُنَ بَريدا
until they departed, a herdsman already gone ahead
Until they endured when an intrepid rider advanced
for the tribe, a stage's journey in front of them.
Heading west, his sail upright
غُرُّbright المَحاجِرِthe eye-rims قَدalready لَبِسنَthey wore مُجاسِداsaffron-dyed robes
غُرُّ المَحاجِرِ قَد لَبِسنَ مُجاسِدا
بَينَamong الحُمولِthe loaded camels تَجرُّهاtrailing them وَبُروداand striped cloaks
بَينَ الحُمولِ تَجرُّها وَبُرودا
Bright about the eyes, they had donned saffron-dyed robes,
And his panting when he stood up with the load
among the loaded camels, trailing them and striped cloaks.
Nearly cuts through his upright sail
وَسَرىand traveled by night بِهُنَّwith them هِبابُthe brisk pace of كُلِّevery مُخَيَّسٍtamed camel
وَسَرى بِهُنَّ هِبابُ كُلِّ مُخَيَّسٍ
صُلبِhard المَلاغِمِthe muzzle يُحسنُis skilled at التَرفيداlong striding
صُلبِ المَلاغِمِ يُحسنُ التَرفيدا
The brisk pace of each tamed camel carried them through the night,
My friend, stop, let us greet a house
hard of muzzle and skilled at long strides.
Whose vestiges of dwelling are nearly gone
مُتَسانِدٍtowering نَفجٍhuge يَرُدُّpulls back زِمامَهُits rein
مُتَسانِدٍ نَفجٍ يَرُدُّ زِمامَهُ
غَرباfiercely يَرُدُّpushes back شِراعَهُits sail المَعموداpropped up
غَربا يَرُدُّ شِراعَهُ المَعمودا
Towering and huge, it pulls back against its rein,
The gravel of its threshold is altered so
fiercely driving back its propped-up sail.
That it confuses the discerner and the pursued
وَتَكادُand almost زَفرَتُهُits panting breath لحينِat the time of قيامِهِits rising
وَتَكادُ زَفرَتُهُ لحينِ قيامِهِ
بِالحَملِwith the load يَقطَعُsnaps نِسعَهُits girth-strap المَعموداfirmly fastened
بِالحَملِ يَقطَعُ نِسعَهُ المَعمودا
And its heaving breath, as it rises, almost
And a night after that went by
snaps its firmly fastened girth beneath the load.
For nights do not leave anything fresh
ياO صاحِبيَّmy two companions قِفاstop, both of you نُحَيّيlet us greet مَنزِلاa dwelling
يا صاحِبيَّ قِفا نُحَيّي مَنزِلا
قَدindeed كادَnearly داثِرُthe faded part of رَسمِهِits traces لِيَبيداto perish
قَد كادَ داثِرُ رَسمِهِ لِيَبيدا
My two companions, stop; let us greet a dwelling
And I knew her speech to be clear
whose faded traces are nearly gone.
And she gently implies with her guide
دُرجَwere rolled الحَصىthe pebbles بِأُصولِهِat its foundations فتَنَكَّرَتso they became unrecognizable
دُرجَ الحَصى بِأُصولِهِ فتَنَكَّرَت
بَينَamong البَوارِحthe hot winds طارِداchasing مَطروداchased
بَينَ البَوارِح طارِدا مَطرودا
Pebbles have been rolled around its foundations, making them unrecognizable,
And when she walked on the carpet, you would think
amid the hot winds, chasing and chased.
She rose, wishing to climb up the dune
وَمَضىand passed away بيَومٍwith a day بَعدَafter ذَلِكَthat لَيلَةٌa night
وَمَضى بيَومٍ بَعدَ ذَلِكَ لَيلَةٌ
إِنَّindeed اللَياليَthe nights لاnot يَدعنَleave جَديداanything new
إِنَّ اللَياليَ لا يَدعنَ جَديدا
And afterward a night passed, carrying away a day;
And you see her burdensome litters and belongings
the nights leave nothing still new.
Piled up, with the rest of her smooth-skinned crew
وَلَقَدand indeed عَهِدتُI once knew كَلامَهاher speech مُتَبَيِّناclear
وَلَقَد عَهِدتُ كَلامَها مُتَبَيِّنا
وَالدَّلَّand coy grace مُعتَدِلَmeasured الدَلالِcoquetry خَريداdemure
وَالدَّلَّ مُعتَدِلَ الدَلالِ خَريدا
And I once knew her speech to be clear,
She wets the toothstick in her palm
and her coy grace measured and demure.
Cooling it to cleanse the gums
وَإِذاand when مَشَتshe walked فَوقَupon البَلاطِthe paving حَسَبتَهاyou thought her
وَإِذا مَشَت فَوقَ البَلاطِ حَسَبتَها
نَهَضَتshe rose تُريدُseeking مِنَfrom الكَثيبِthe sand dune صُعوداan ascent
نَهَضَت تُريدُ مِنَ الكَثيبِ صُعودا
When she walked upon the paving, you would think she
She resembled the doe of a gazelle's mother
had risen to climb a sand dune.
And a gazelle when it is loving and gentle
وَتَرىand you see حَقائِبَهاher haunches العِراضَbroad وَثيرَةًsoft
وَتَرى حَقائِبَها العِراضَ وَثيرَةً
كوماًmounded وَسائِرَand the rest of خَلقِهاher form أَملوداsupple
كوماً وَسائِرَ خَلقِها أَملودا
You see her broad haunches soft,
And the slender two eyebrows when it walks
mounded, and the rest of her form supple.
Swaying softly on the plaited tresses
وَتُبيحُand she allows مِسواكَthe tooth-stick of الأَراكِthe arak tree بِكَفِّهاin her hand
وَتُبيحُ مِسواكَ الأَراكِ بِكَفِّها
بَرَداhailstones تُلثِّمُهُshe makes him kiss it الضَجيعَthe bedmate بَروداcool
بَرَدا تُلثِّمُهُ الضَجيعَ بَرودا
She lets the arak tooth-stick in her hand touch
Like a lone pearl in its oyster
cool hailstones that she lets her bedmate kiss.
Restless, and order followed it
أَشبَهَتshe resembled مِنfrom أُمِّthe mother of الغَزالِthe gazelle بُغامَهاher soft cry
أَشبَهَت مِن أُمِّ الغَزالِ بُغامَها
وَمِنَand from الغَزالthe gazelle إِذاwhen تَأَوَّدَit swayed جيداa neck
وَمِنَ الغَزال إِذا تَأَوَّدَ جيدا
She resembles the gazelle's mother in her soft cry,
Jurayr, you have mounted dangerous beasts
and the swaying gazelle in her neck,
Seeking glory, but found glory
وَمِنَand from المَهاةِthe oryx المُقلَتَينِthe two eyes إِذاwhen غَدَتit went out at dawn
وَمِنَ المَهاةِ المُقلَتَينِ إِذا غَدَت
وَتَرودُand roams فيin الضَفرِthe sand ridges الصِغارِthe small سُبوداSubud
وَتَرودُ في الضَفرِ الصِغارِ سُبودا
and the oryx in her eyes, when it goes out at dawn
And you roamed to boast about the generous but insulted them
and ranges over Subud amid the little sand ridges.
Until you gained from the torment fuel
كَفَريدَةِlike a single bead of المَرجانِcoral حالَpasses بِخُرتهاthrough its hole
كَفَريدَةِ المَرجانِ حالَ بِخُرتها
قَلِقٌquivering وَأَتبَعَهُand made follow it النِظامُthe string فَريداa single bead
قَلِقٌ وَأَتبَعَهُ النِظامُ فَريدا
Like a single coral bead, through whose hole passes
And you found their war to be as you portrayed it
a quivering thread, with another lone bead strung after it.
A fire flaming dry timber and iron
أَجَريرُO Jarir إِنَّكَindeed you قَدalready رَكِبتَyou mounted مُقارِعاas a challenger
أَجَريرُ إِنَّكَ قَد رَكِبتَ مُقارِعا
تَبغيseeking النَشيدَverse فَقَدso indeed لَقيتَyou encountered نَشيداverse
تَبغي النَشيدَ فَقَد لَقيتَ نَشيدا
Jarir, you have mounted as a challenger,
O son of the she-donkey, you began the first time
seeking verse; indeed you have encountered verse.
And you were defeated when poem rebutted poem
وَعَويتَand you howled تَنتَجِعُseeking out الكِرامَthe noble وَسَبَّهُمand abusing them
وَعَويتَ تَنتَجِعُ الكِرامَ وَسَبَّهُم
حَتّىuntil اِصطَلَيتَyou were scorched مِنَby العَذابِtorment وَقوداa blaze
حَتّى اِصطَلَيتَ مِنَ العَذابِ وَقودا
You howled, seeking out noble men and abusing them,
And I broke your lute and peeled off its sapwood
until you were scorched by a blaze of torment.
Until I left you downcast and subdued
وَوَجَدتَand you found حَربَهُمtheir warfare كَماas بَيَّنتَهاI described it
وَوَجَدتَ حَربَهُم كَما بَيَّنتَها
ناراًa fire تَسَعَّرُblazing جَندَلاًstones وَحَديداand iron
ناراً تَسَعَّرُ جَندَلاً وَحَديدا
You found their warfare, as I have described it,
O son of Muraghah, you are more irreproachable than one who walked
a fire blazing with stone and iron.
The Hasaba, and more rational than one made of wood
ياO بنَson of الأَتانِthe she-ass بَدأَتَyou began أَولَthe first مَرَّةٍtime
يا بنَ الأَتانِ بَدأَتَ أَولَ مَرَّةٍ
وَغُلِبَتَand you were defeated إِذwhen نَقضَundid القَصيدُverse قَصيداverse
وَغُلِبَتَ إِذ نَقضَ القَصيدُ قَصيدا
Son of a she-ass, you were the first to begin,
And if you claim ancestry, you will find your disgrace present
and were defeated when verse undid verse.
While glory is far from you if you are attributed
وَكَسَرتُand I broke عودَكَyour stem واِقتَشَرتُand I peeled لِحاءَهُits bark
وَكَسَرتُ عودَكَ واِقتَشَرتُ لِحاءَهُ
حَتّىuntil تَرَكتُكI left you تارِزاwithered مَفؤوداheart-stricken
حَتّى تَرَكتُك تارِزا مَفؤودا
I broke your stem and peeled away its bark,
Every discourse perishes except for your disgrace
until I left you withered and heart-stricken.
O son of Muraghah, it remains ever fresh
ياO بنَson of المَراغَةِal-Maragha أَنتَyou أَلأَمُthe basest مَنof those who مَشىwalked
يا بنَ المَراغَةِ أَنتَ أَلأَمُ مَن مَشى
حَسَباin lineage وَأَخورُand the weakest مَنof those who تَكَلَّمَspoke عوداin mettle
حَسَبا وَأَخورُ مَن تَكَلَّمَ عودا
Son of al-Maragha, you are the basest of all who walk
You brought in the Rabee'a and did not take them out
in lineage, and the weakest in mettle of all who speak.
O son of the she-donkey, so they shackled you
وَإِذاand when اِنتَسَبتَyou traced your ancestry وَجَدتَyou found لؤمَكَyour baseness حاضِراpresent
وَإِذا اِنتَسَبتَ وَجَدتَ لؤمَكَ حاضِرا
وَالمَجدَand glory مِنكَfrom you إِذاwhen نُسبتَyour lineage was traced بَعيداfar
وَالمَجدَ مِنكَ إِذا نُسبتَ بَعيدا
When you trace your ancestry, you find your baseness present,
And you butted the Rabee'a so they would attain our goal
and glory far from you when your pedigree is traced.
O son of the she-donkey, so they made your hides cracked
كُلُall الحَديثِtalk يَبيدُperishes إِلّاexcept لُؤمُكُمyour baseness
كُلُ الحَديثِ يَبيدُ إِلّا لُؤمُكُم
ياO بنَson of المَراغَةِal-Maragha لاnot يَزالُceases to be جَديداfresh
يا بنَ المَراغَةِ لا يَزالُ جَديدا
Every tale fades away except your baseness,
And the hides of Rabee'a you see dyed
son of al-Maragha: it remains forever fresh.
With disgrace - the bones did not acquire hides
أَورَدتَyou brought to water يَربوعاYarbu وَلَمand did not تُصدِرهُمlead them back
أَورَدتَ يَربوعا وَلَم تُصدِرهُم
ياO بنَson of الأَتانِthe she-ass فَحَوَّلوكَso they turned you مَقيداbound
يا بنَ الأَتانِ فَحَوَّلوكَ مَقيدا
You brought Yarbu to water but did not lead them back,
The vile and base are a folk
son of a she-ass, so they turned you back in fetters.
Who left your tongue bound between them
وَنَخَستَand you prodded يَربوعاًYarbu لِيُدرِكَto catch up with سَعيَناour endeavors
وَنَخَستَ يَربوعاً لِيُدرِكَ سَعيَنا
ياO بنَson of الأَتانِthe she-ass فَبَلَّدواso they grew sluggish تَبليداutter sluggishness
يا بنَ الأَتانِ فَبَلَّدوا تَبليدا
You prodded Yarbu to match our endeavors,
With the captivity of your women and killing of your men
son of a she-ass, but they grew utterly sluggish.
Ask the settlements of Irāb and ancestors
وَجُلودُand the skins of يَربوعٍYarbu تُرىare seen مَصبوغَةًstained
وَجُلودُ يَربوعٍ تُرى مَصبوغَةً
بِاللؤمِwith baseness ماas long as اِكتَستِclothed themselves العِظامُthe bones جُلوداin skins
بِاللؤمِ ما اِكتَستِ العِظامُ جُلودا
Yarbu's skins are seen stained
The women were taken captive against Irāb while you
with baseness as long as bones wear skins.
Were in Irāb when the women were taken captive
إِنَّindeed الأَراقِمَthe Araqim وَاللَهازِمَand the Lahazim مَعشَرٌa people
إِنَّ الأَراقِمَ وَاللَهازِمَ مَعشَرٌ
تَرَكواthey left لِسانَكَyour tongue بَينَهُمamong them مَعقوداtied
تَرَكوا لِسانَكَ بَينَهُم مَعقودا
The Araqim and the Lahazim are a people
And you sheathed your sword empty and left it
who left your tongue tied among them,
Disgraced at their abodes, subdued
بِسِباءِby capturing نِسوَتِكُمyour women وَقَتلِand killing رِجالِكُمyour men
بِسِباءِ نِسوَتِكُم وَقَتلِ رِجالِكُم
فاِسأَلso ask إِرابَIrab تنبِّكُمit will tell you وَجَدوداand Jadud
فاِسأَل إِرابَ تنبِّكُم وَجَدودا
by capturing your women and killing your men.
O son of Muraghah, you did not find a source of pride
So ask Irab—it will tell you—and Jadud.
Until you boasted of being a prey and outcast
سُبيَwere captured النِساءُthe women عَلىat إِرابَIrab وَكُنتُمُwhile you were
سُبيَ النِساءُ عَلى إِرابَ وَكُنتُمُ
بِإِرابَat Irab إِذwhen تُسبىwere captured النِساءُthe women شُهوداwitnesses
بِإِرابَ إِذ تُسبى النِساءُ شُهودا
The women were captured at Irab, while you
O son of the she-donkey, your father is more blameworthy than a father could be
stood there at Irab, witnessing the women's capture.
And the stallion exposes the disgrace of his newborn
وَسَلَلتَand you drew سَيفَكَyour sword خالياto no purpose وَتَرَكتَهُand you left it
وَسَلَلتَ سَيفَكَ خاليا وَتَرَكتَهُ
خَزيانَashamed عِندَat ديارِهِمtheir dwellings مَغموداsheathed
خَزيانَ عِندَ ديارِهِم مَغمودا
You drew your sword to no purpose, then left it
O son of Muraghah, carrying your women
ashamed and sheathed beside their dwellings.
Is water that distinguishes slave from free
ياO بنَson of المُراغَةِal-Maragha لَمdid not تَجِدfind لَكَfor yourself مَفخَراa source of pride
يا بنَ المُراغَةِ لَم تَجِد لَكَ مَفخَرا
حَتّىuntil اِتنَجَعتَyou sought out عُطارِداUtarid وَلَبيداand Labid
حَتّى اِتنَجَعتَ عُطارِدا وَلَبيدا
Son of al-Maragha, you found no boast of your own
The wombs of the Rabee'ite women are filled with it
until you sought out Utarid and Labid.
Coupling with the most feral studs
ياO بنَson of الأَتانِthe she-ass أَبوكَyour father ألأَمُthe basest والِدٍfather
يا بنَ الأَتانِ أَبوكَ ألأَمُ والِدٍ
وَالفَحلُand the sire يَفضَحُdisgraces لؤمُهُhis baseness المَولوداthe offspring
وَالفَحلُ يَفضَحُ لؤمُهُ المَولودا
Son of a she-ass, your father is the basest father,
Ghathawiyyah, suckling girls whose mothers
and a sire's baseness disgraces his offspring.
Had not coupled with the noble previously
ياO بنَson of المُراغَةِal-Maragha إِنَّindeed حَملَthe conception of نِسائِكُمyour women
يا بنَ المُراغَةِ إِنَّ حَملَ نِسائِكُم
ماءٌsemen يُفَصِّلُfashions آمياًbondwomen وَعَبيداand male slaves
ماءٌ يُفَصِّلُ آمياً وَعَبيدا
Son of al-Maragha, the burden your women bear
She bore the slave of the brow, came from her womb
is semen that fashions bondwomen and male slaves.
And inherited the blame and baseness of forefathers
عَلِقَتconceived بِهby it أَرحامُthe wombs of يَربوعيَةٍa Yarbu woman
عَلِقَت بِه أَرحامُ يَربوعيَةٍ
نَكَحَتshe coupled with أَزَلَّa lean-rumped one مِنَamong الفُحولِthe sires عَتوداa young he-goat
نَكَحَت أَزَلَّ مِنَ الفُحولِ عَتودا
A Yarbu woman's womb conceived by it;
His disgrace tore her belly open
she had coupled with a lean-rumped sire, a young he-goat.
And disgrace sufficed him as inheritance while young
غَذَويَّةٌa Ghadhawiyya woman رَضعاءُa base suckler لَمnot تَكُwas أمهاher mother
غَذَويَّةٌ رَضعاءُ لَم تَكُ أمها
مِنfrom قَبلِbefore ذَلِكَthat لِلكِرامِfor noble men وَلوداa bearer of children
مِن قَبلِ ذَلِكَ لِلكِرامِ وَلودا
A Ghadhawiyya, a base suckler, whose mother had not been
So when he flourished in his prime arrogantly
before then a bearer of children for noble men.
His disgrace flourished even more
قَذَفَتshe cast out بِعَبدِwith a slave العِرقِancestry جاءَwho came مِنfrom استِهاher arse
قَذَفَت بِعَبدِ العِرقِ جاءَ مِن استِها
وَرِثَhe inherited المذمَّةdisgrace والسفالand baseness جدوداfrom forefathers
وَرِثَ المذمَّة والسفال جدودا
She cast out a slave by blood, who came from her arse,
Until old age branched him, living long
inheriting disgrace and baseness from his forefathers.
Like a dog, neither fortunate nor envied
خَرَقَtore المَشيمَةَthe placenta لؤُمُهُhis baseness فيin بَطنِهاher belly
خَرَقَ المَشيمَةَ لؤُمُهُ في بَطنِها
وَاللُؤمُand baseness قَنَّعَهُhooded him with المَشيبَgray hair وَليداas a newborn
وَاللُؤمُ قَنَّعَهُ المَشيبَ وَليدا
His baseness tore the placenta in her belly,
O son of the she-donkey, you lied - my horsemen
and baseness cloaked him in gray hair as a newborn.
Protect the tents and kill the warriors
فَإِذاthen when تَرَوَّحَcame on لِلشبابto youth تَمامُهُits fullness
فَإِذا تَرَوَّحَ لِلشباب تَمامُهُ
فَرَطاًahead تَرَوَّحadvanced لؤُمُهُhis baseness ليَزيداto increase
فَرَطاً تَرَوَّح لؤُمُهُ ليَزيدا
Then, when the fullness of his youth came on,
Wearing armor, when the regiment approaches
his baseness advanced ahead of it, to grow still greater,
In close rows, its leader upright
حَتّىuntil تَفَرَّعَهُcrowned him المَشيبُgray hair مُعمَّراlong-lived
حَتّى تَفَرَّعَهُ المَشيبُ مُعمَّرا
كَالكَلبِlike a dog لاnot سَعداfortunate وَلاand not مَحسوداenvied
كَالكَلبِ لا سَعدا وَلا مَحسودا
until gray hair crowned him in old age,
And a regiment whose descent makes the land dark
doglike, neither fortunate nor envied.
Reaping and bringing the spears fruit
ياO بنَson of الأَتانِthe she-ass كَذَبتَyou lied إِنَّindeed فَوارِسيmy horsemen
يا بنَ الأَتانِ كَذَبتَ إِنَّ فَوارِسي
تَحميdefend الذِمارwhat must be protected وَتَقتُلُand kill الصِنديداthe mighty warrior
تَحمي الذِمار وَتَقتُلُ الصِنديدا
Son of a she-ass, you lie: my horsemen
We struck the Shuhub's Udayyah and made their chief collapse
defend what must be protected and slay the mighty warrior,
Without wanting to bow down
اللابِسينَthose wearing إِذاwhen الكَتيبَةُthe battalion أَقبَلَتadvanced
اللابِسينَ إِذا الكَتيبَةُ أَقبَلَت
حَلَقاmail rings يَسيرruns قَتيرُهُits rivets مَسروداlinked in rows
حَلَقا يَسير قَتيرُهُ مَسرودا
wearing, when the battalion advances,
And the battlefield of Maʿrakah whose glory we won
mail rings, their rivets running in linked rows.
Angered the chief, intense and black
وَكَتيبَةٍand a battalion يَغشىassails الذِيادَthe defense نِزالُهاits fighting
وَكَتيبَةٍ يَغشى الذِيادَ نِزالُها
حَصداًthickly armed يَقُدُّcuts through وَلِلطِعانand into spear-fighting وُروداplunging
حَصداً يَقُدُّ وَلِلطِعان وُرودا
And a battalion whose fighting assails the defense,
And the army, the day Liwā folded them, I crushed them
thickly armed, cutting through and charging into spearplay—
Like the ripper crushes the harvest
شَهباءَsteel-gray عاديَةًcharging ضَرَبناwe struck كَبشَهاits ram
شَهباءَ عاديَةً ضَرَبنا كَبشَها
فَكَباso fell الرَئيسُthe chief وَلاand not يُريدُwishes سُجوداprostration
فَكَبا الرَئيسُ وَلا يُريدُ سُجودا
steel-gray and charging—we struck its ram,
No mouth more impenetrable than one with bared teeth
and its chief fell, though he meant no prostration.
And our horsemen fell upon it to defend
وَمَجالِand a field of مَعرَكَةٍbattle غَنِمناwe won مَجدَهاits glory
وَمَجالِ مَعرَكَةٍ غَنِمنا مَجدَها
لَقيَmet الرَئيسُthe chief بِهاthere الغِضابُthe enraged أَسوَداlions
لَقيَ الرَئيسُ بِها الغِضابُ أَسوَدا
And a field of battle whose glory we won:
O son of Muraghah, the severity of our horses
there the chief met raging lions.
Left Ghudānah and Kulaib utterly defeated
وَالجَيشَand the army يَومَon the day of لِوىthe sand-bend of جَدودَJadud دَقَقتُهُI crushed it
وَالجَيشَ يَومَ لِوى جَدودَ دَقَقتُهُ
دَقَّlike the crushing of المُقَرِّبَةِcherished horses القِطافِshort-striding حَصيداharvested grain
دَقَّ المُقَرِّبَةِ القِطافِ حَصيدا
And the army, on the day of Liwa Jadud, I crushed
The days of Sajhah, O Jurayr, lead you
like cherished, short-striding horses crushing harvested grain.
Blameworthy as led and leader
لاno ثَغرَfrontier أَمنَعُbetter defended مِنthan بَليَّةَBaliyya مَورِداin approach
لا ثَغرَ أَمنَعُ مِن بَليَّةَ مَورِدا
وَقَعَتdescended فَوارِسُناour horsemen بِهِthere لِتَذوداto drive foes away
وَقَعَت فَوارِسُنا بِهِ لِتَذودا
No frontier has a better-defended approach than Baliyya,
And their plains in Dhi Maja'ah left
where our horsemen descended to drive foes away.
No one from Hadramawt or Himas neglected
ياO بنَson of المُراغَةِal-Maragha إنindeed شَدَّةَthe charge of خيلِناour horses
يا بنَ المُراغَةِ إن شَدَّةَ خيلِنا
تَرَكَتleft غُدانَةَGhudana وَالكُلَيبَand al-Kulayb فَنيداwitless
تَرَكَت غُدانَةَ وَالكُلَيبَ فَنيدا
Son of al-Maragha, the charge of our horses
The day of Khuzaym after we bound him when
left Ghudana and al-Kulayb witless,
They had made pacts with us
أَيامَin the days of سَجحَةَSajha ياO جَريرُJarir يَقودُكُمhe led you
أَيامَ سَجحَةَ يا جَريرُ يَقودُكُم
أَلئِمhow base بِذَلِكَthat one قائِداas a leader وَمَقوداand as the led
أَلئِم بِذَلِكَ قائِدا وَمَقودا
in the days when Sajha led you, Jarir—
And we drove back ‘Ādiyah of Hudhayl but no army
how base that leader and his followers!
After it intended to return
وَمَجالُهُنَّand their ranging بِذيat Dhu المَجاعَةِal-Majaa لَمdid not يَدَعleave
وَمَجالُهُنَّ بِذي المَجاعَةِ لَم يَدَع
مِنfrom حَضرَموتَHadramawt وَلاnor الحِماسَal-Himas شَريداa fugitive
مِن حَضرَموتَ وَلا الحِماسَ شَريدا
Their ranging at Dhu al-Majaa left
O son of Muraghah, you have mocked gatherings
no fugitive from Hadramawt or al-Himas,
And horsemen - O son of Muraghah - hunted
يَومَon the day of الخُزَيمِal-Khuzaym غداةَthe morning كُبِّلَhe was shackled بَعدَماafter
يَومَ الخُزَيمِ غداةَ كُبِّلَ بَعدَما
شَدّواthey secured مَواثِقَpledges عِندَناbefore us وَعُهوداand covenants
شَدّوا مَواثِقَ عِندَنا وَعُهودا
on al-Khuzaym's day, the morning he was shackled, after
They surpassed Kulaib in generosity and elevation
they had secured pledges and covenants before us.
Sitting above cushions loftily
وَدَفَعنَand they repelled عاديَةَthe onslaught of الهُذَيلِal-Hudhayl فَلَمso did not يُرِدwish
وَدَفَعنَ عاديَةَ الهُذَيلِ فَلَم يُرِد
جَيشٌan army لِتَغلِبَof Taghlib بَعدَهاafterward ليَعوداto return
جَيشٌ لِتَغلِبَ بَعدَها ليَعودا
They repelled al-Hudhayl's onslaught; no
Do you expect one whose building reached the sky
army of Taghlib wished to return thereafter.
You have cast at him severely
ياO بنَson of المُراغَةِal-Maragha قَدalready هَجَوتَyou lampooned مَجالِساassemblies
يا بنَ المُراغَةِ قَد هَجَوتَ مَجالِسا
وَفَوارِساand horsemen ياO بنَson of المُراغَةِal-Maragha صيداproud
وَفَوارِسا يا بنَ المُراغَةِ صيدا
Son of al-Maragha, you have lampooned assemblies
and proud horsemen, son of al-Maragha,
سَبَقواthey outstripped كُلَيباKulayb بِالمَكارِمin noble deeds وَالعُلىand eminence
سَبَقوا كُلَيبا بِالمَكارِم وَالعُلى
فَوقَupon النَمارِقِthe cushions مُحتَبينَwith knees clasped قُعوداseated
فَوقَ النَمارِقِ مُحتَبينَ قُعودا
who outstripped Kulayb in noble deeds and eminence,
seated upon cushions with their knees clasped.
أَتَرومُdo you challenge مَنone who بَلَغَreached السَماءَthe sky بِناءَهُhis building
أَتَرومُ مَن بَلَغَ السَماءَ بِناءَهُ
قَدindeed رُمتَyou attempted مُطَّلَعاًan ascent عَلَيكَfor you شَديداdifficult
قَد رُمتَ مُطَّلَعاً عَلَيكَ شَديدا
Do you challenge one whose building reaches the sky?
You have attempted an ascent too hard for you.
Partial English translation: 114 of 120 Arabic lines translated.