لِمَن مَنزِلٌ بِالمُستَراحِ كَأَنَّما

لِمَن مَنزِلٌ بِالمُستَراحِ كَأَنَّما

تَجَلَّلَ بَعدَ الحَولِ وَالحولِ مُذهَبا

تَجَلَّلَ بَعدَ الحَولِ وَالحولِ مُذهَبا

Whose dwelling is this at al-Mustarah, as though

Whose dwelling is in Mutarah as though,

after a year and another year it had donned a gilded covering?

After weariness and weariness, it has been laid out anew,

بِهِ ذَرَفَت عَيناكَ لَمّا عَرَفتَهُ

بِهِ ذَرَفَت عَيناكَ لَمّا عَرَفتَهُ

وَكَيفَ طِبابى عَيِّنٍ قَد تَسَرَّبا

وَكَيفَ طِبابى عَيِّنٍ قَد تَسَرَّبا

There your eyes shed tears when you recognized it.

With which your eyes trickled when you recognized it,

And how could my remedy help an eye already streaming? [Wording uncertain.]

And how after pleasant habitation they have leaked.

فَلَم أَرَ مِنها غَيرَ سُفعٍ مُواثِلٍ

فَلَم أَرَ مِنها غَيرَ سُفعٍ مُواثِلٍ

وَغَيرَ رَمادٍ كَالحَمامَةِ أَكهبَا

وَغَيرَ رَمادٍ كَالحَمامَةِ أَكهبَا

I saw nothing of it but blackened hearthstones still standing,

So I have seen in it naught but lofty columns

and ashes gray-blue as a dove.

And ashes like a dove become ashen.

تَهادى بِهِ هوجُ الرِياحِ تَهادِيا

تَهادى بِهِ هوجُ الرِياحِ تَهادِيا

وَيَهدينَ جَولانَ التُرابِ المُهَذَّبا

وَيَهدينَ جَولانَ التُرابِ المُهَذَّبا

The headlong winds swayed across it,

The violence of the winds waft gently by it

carrying the fine-sifted drift of dust.

And make the coursing dust wellbred.

نَسَفنَ تُرابَ الأَرضِ مِن كُلِ جانِبٍ

نَسَفنَ تُرابَ الأَرضِ مِن كُلِ جانِبٍ

وَمُنخَرِقٍ كانَت بِهِ الريحُ نَيسَبا

وَمُنخَرِقٍ كانَت بِهِ الريحُ نَيسَبا

They swept the earth's dust from every side,

They carry away the dust of the earth on all sides

and every open tract where the wind blew fiercely,

And with rifts the winds have been wanton.

وَكُلِ سِماكيٍّ يَجولُ رَبابُهُ

وَكُلِ سِماكيٍّ يَجولُ رَبابُهُ

مرته الصَبا في الدَجنِ حَتّى تَحَلّبا

مرته الصَبا في الدَجنِ حَتّى تَحَلّبا

and every towering raincloud whose lower cloud-banks wandered,

And every Samakeyh shepherd whose tent

milked by the east wind in the gloom until it streamed.

Its poles the breeze has rubbed in the meadows until threadbare.

إِذا ما عَلا غُوريُّهُ أَرزَمَت بِهِ

إِذا ما عَلا غُوريُّهُ أَرزَمَت بِهِ

تَوالٍ مَتالٍ مُخَّض فَتَحَدَّبا

تَوالٍ مَتالٍ مُخَّض فَتَحَدَّبا

When its lower mass rose, there thundered within it

When his voice rises the sand dunes echo it

successive, following clouds, churned until it arched.

With smoothly rolling undulations opening out.

أَغَرُّ الذُرى جَوزُ الغِفارَة وابِلٌ

أَغَرُّ الذُرى جَوزُ الغِفارَة وابِلٌ

تَرى الماءَ مِن عُثنونِهِ قَد تَصَبّبا

تَرى الماءَ مِن عُثنونِهِ قَد تَصَبّبا

White-crested, with a hooded middle, pouring rain,

The jar of Ghifar is green, abundant,

you see water streaming from its beard.

You see water trickling from its joints.

مَضى فاِنقَضى عَيشٌ بِذي الرِمثِ صالِحٌ

مَضى فاِنقَضى عَيشٌ بِذي الرِمثِ صالِحٌ

وَعَيشٌ بِحُزوى قَبلَهُ كانَ أَعجَبا

وَعَيشٌ بِحُزوى قَبلَهُ كانَ أَعجَبا

Gone and ended is a pleasant life at Dhu al-Rimth,

A harmonious life at Dhu Rimth has passed,

and a life at Huzwa before it, more wondrous still:

And an even better at Huzwa before.

لَياليَ يَدعوني الصِبا فَأُجيبُهُ

لَياليَ يَدعوني الصِبا فَأُجيبُهُ

إِلى البَيضِ تُكسى الحَضرَميَّ المُصَلَّبا

إِلى البَيضِ تُكسى الحَضرَميَّ المُصَلَّبا

nights when youthful passion called me and I answered,

Nights the breeze calls me and I answer

toward fair women clothed in cross-patterned Hadrami cloth.

To the egg-white sands rubbed smooth.

نَواعِمَ يُسبينَ الغَويَّ وَما سَبى

نَواعِمَ يُسبينَ الغَويَّ وَما سَبى

لَهُنَّ قُلوبا إِذ دَنا وَتَخَلَّبا

لَهُنَّ قُلوبا إِذ دَنا وَتَخَلَّبا

Soft-living women who capture the wayward lover, though he captured no

Soft does the breeze lead astray, yet it has not

hearts of theirs when he approached and tried to charm them.

Stolen their hearts when it drew near and rubbed gently.

وَصَوَرَهُنَّ اللَهُ أَحسَنَ صورَةٍ

وَصَوَرَهُنَّ اللَهُ أَحسَنَ صورَةٍ

وَلاقينَ عَيشاَ بِالنَعيم تَرَبَّبا

وَلاقينَ عَيشاَ بِالنَعيم تَرَبَّبا

God fashioned them in the fairest form,

And God has formed them in the fairest shape

and they enjoyed a life nurtured in luxury.

And smoothly have they attained easeful life.

عِراضَ القَطا غُرَّ الثَنايا كَأَنَّها

عِراضَ القَطا غُرَّ الثَنايا كَأَنَّها

مَها الرَملِ في غُرٍّ مِنَ الظِلِّ أَهدَبا

مَها الرَملِ في غُرٍّ مِنَ الظِلِّ أَهدَبا

Broad-hipped, bright-toothed, as though she were

Languorous of gait, full ripe in the haunches as though

an oryx of the sands in bright, long-fringed shade.

They were a surge of sand in a hollow made humped.

قَصارَ الخُطى تَمشي الهُوَينا إِذا مَشَت

قَصارَ الخُطى تَمشي الهُوَينا إِذا مَشَت

دَبيبَ القَطا بِالرَملِ يُحسَبنَ لُغَّبا

دَبيبَ القَطا بِالرَملِ يُحسَبنَ لُغَّبا

Short-stepped, she walks softly whenever she walks,

Short of step the camel shes walk when they have walked,

like sandgrouse creeping over sand; they seem weary.

Their creeping on the sands can be reckoned shuffling.

إِذا ما خَشينَ البَينَ وَالبينُ رائِعٌ

إِذا ما خَشينَ البَينَ وَالبينُ رائِعٌ

تَواعَدنَ بَينَ الحَيِ والحيِ مَلعَبا

تَواعَدنَ بَينَ الحَيِ والحيِ مَلعَبا

When they feared parting—and parting is terrifying—

When they fear estrangement yet estrangement is remote,

they arranged to meet at a place of play between camp and camp.

They meet between tribe and tribe as on a racecourse.

خَرَجنَ عِشاءً وَالتَقينَ كَما التَقى

خَرَجنَ عِشاءً وَالتَقينَ كَما التَقى

مَها رَبرَبٍ لاقى بِفَيحانَ رَبرَبا

مَها رَبرَبٍ لاقى بِفَيحانَ رَبرَبا

They came out at evening and met, as meet

They go out in the evening and meet even as met

oryx of one herd encountering another at Fayhan.

The two Masters of Ceremony, each Master of Ceremony by the other.

قَصَرنَ حَديثاً بَينَهُنَّ مُقَبَّراً

قَصَرنَ حَديثاً بَينَهُنَّ مُقَبَّراً

وَكُلٌّ لِكُلٍ قالَ أَهلاً وَمَرحَبا

وَكُلٌّ لِكُلٍ قالَ أَهلاً وَمَرحَبا

They kept their conversation buried among themselves,

They converse briefly among themselves confidentially

and each said to the other, 'Welcome, welcome!'

And each says to each "Welcome."

رَقيقٌ كَمَسِّ الخَزِّ في غَيرِ ريبَةٍ

رَقيقٌ كَمَسِّ الخَزِّ في غَيرِ ريبَةٍ

وَلا تابِعٍ زورَ الحَديثِ المُكَذَّبا

وَلا تابِعٍ زورَ الحَديثِ المُكَذَّبا

Tender as silk's touch, free from suspicion,

Gentle as the touch of silk without any doubt

nor following false, discredited gossip.

Or attendant confirming the mendacious conversation.

خِدالُ الشَوى لَم تَدرِ ما بؤُسَ عيشَةٍ

خِدالُ الشَوى لَم تَدرِ ما بؤُسَ عيشَةٍ

وَلَم تَرَ بَيتاً مِن كُلَيبٍ مُطَنَّبا

وَلَم تَرَ بَيتاً مِن كُلَيبٍ مُطَنَّبا

Plump-limbed, she never knew a wretched life,

Ignorant of misery the milkmaids who have not seen

nor saw a tent of Kulayb stretched on guy-ropes.

A goatskin-tent of Kalib ever patched.

تَغَنّى جَريرٌ بِالرِبابِ سَفاهَةً

تَغَنّى جَريرٌ بِالرِبابِ سَفاهَةً

وَقَد ذاقَ أَيامَ الرِبابِ فَجَرَّبا

وَقَد ذاقَ أَيامَ الرِبابِ فَجَرَّبا

Jarir foolishly sang of al-Ribab,

Jarir sang of the rebeck foolhardily

though he had tasted al-Ribab's days and learned by experience.

Though he has tasted the days of the rebeck and tried them.

وَلَمّا لَقيتَ التيمَ يَومَ بُزاخَةٍ

وَلَمّا لَقيتَ التيمَ يَومَ بُزاخَةٍ

وَرَهطَ أَبي شَهمٍ وَقَومَ ابنِ أَصهَبا

وَرَهطَ أَبي شَهمٍ وَقَومَ ابنِ أَصهَبا

And when you met al-Taym on the day of Buzakha,

And when you met Taym on the day of Buzzakha

and Abu Shahm's kin and Ibn Aṣhab's people,

And the clan of Abu Shahm and the folk of Ibn Ushabb,

نَزَوتَ عَلَيها بَعدَما شُدَّ حَبلُها

نَزَوتَ عَلَيها بَعدَما شُدَّ حَبلُها

وَلَم يُلصَقِ القَومُ العِقالَ المؤرَبا

وَلَم يُلصَقِ القَومُ العِقالَ المؤرَبا

you leapt upon her after her rope had been tightened,

You descended upon them after their rope was pulled tight

while the men had not fastened the firmly knotted hobble.

And the people had not attached the nose ropes,

رَأَيتُكَ بِالأَجزاعِ فَوقَ بُزاخَةٍ

رَأَيتُكَ بِالأَجزاعِ فَوقَ بُزاخَةٍ

هَرَبتَ وَخِفتَ الزاعبيَ المُذَرَّبا

هَرَبتَ وَخِفتَ الزاعبيَ المُذَرَّبا

I saw you in the valley bends above Buzakha:

I saw you on the tree-trunks above Buzzakha,

you fled, fearing the keenly sharpened Zaʿibi spear.

You fled and feared the terrifying disorders,

فَلَم تَنجُ مِنها إِذ هَرَبتَ وَلَم يَجِد

فَلَم تَنجُ مِنها إِذ هَرَبتَ وَلَم يَجِد

أَبٌ لَكَ عَن دارِ المَذَلَّةِ مَهرَبا

أَبٌ لَكَ عَن دارِ المَذَلَّةِ مَهرَبا

Yet you did not escape it when you fled, nor did

So you were not saved when you fled, nor did

any father of yours find escape from the abode of humiliation.

A father find for you from the house of degradation any escape.

فَإِنَّ الَّتي تُحَدى وَيُسبى رِجالُها

فَإِنَّ الَّتي تُحَدى وَيُسبى رِجالُها

نِساءُ بَني يَربوعَ شَلاَّ عَصبصَبا

نِساءُ بَني يَربوعَ شَلاَّ عَصبصَبا

For those driven onward, while their men are taken captive,

For she who is challenged and whose men are captured,

are the women of Banu Yarbuʿ, driven off hard and fast.

The women of Banu Yarbu cry "Shall I flinch?"

دَعَت يالَ يَربوعٍ فَلَم يَلحَقوا بِها

دَعَت يالَ يَربوعٍ فَلَم يَلحَقوا بِها

وَلَم يَكُ يَربوعٌ أَبوهُنَّ أَنجَبا

وَلَم يَكُ يَربوعٌ أَبوهُنَّ أَنجَبا

They cried, 'Help, Yarbuʿ!' but their men did not catch up with them,

They called "O Yarbu" but they did not catch up with them

nor was Yarbuʿ, their father, of nobler stock.

And Yarbu was not their father more prolific.

جَبُنتَ وَلَم تَضرِب بِسَيفِكَ مُغضِبا

جَبُنتَ وَلَم تَضرِب بِسَيفِكَ مُغضِبا

لُؤمتَ إِذا لَم تُنهِلِ السَيفَ مُغضَبا

لُؤمتَ إِذا لَم تُنهِلِ السَيفَ مُغضَبا

You were cowardly and did not strike with your sword in anger;

You showed cowardice and did not strike with your angry sword,

base were you when, angered, you failed to give your sword its drink.

You disgraced when you did not unsheathe the angry sword,

وَكَيفَ طِلابُ المَردفاتِ عَشيَّةً

وَكَيفَ طِلابُ المَردفاتِ عَشيَّةً

وَقَد جاوَزَ الشَيخُ الغَميمَ وَيَثرِبا

وَقَد جاوَزَ الشَيخُ الغَميمَ وَيَثرِبا

How could the women riding pillion be pursued that evening,

And what of the quest of the pack-saddles in the evening

when the old man had already passed al-Ghamim and Yathrib?

When the Shaykh has surpassed Ghaym and Yathrib!

تَخَطّى بِسَعدٍ وَالسعودُ لِغَيرِهِ

تَخَطّى بِسَعدٍ وَالسعودُ لِغَيرِهِ

وَلَم يُغنِهِم مِن دونِهِ من تأَشَّبا

وَلَم يُغنِهِم مِن دونِهِ من تأَشَّبا

He passed on with Saʿd, though good fortune favored another,

You leapt over Saad and the Saads are for others

and those who gathered before him were no help to them.

And none but he has profited them from among those who mounted.

ثَلاثَةُ أَبواعٍ أَبوكُم يَعُدُّهُ

ثَلاثَةُ أَبواعٍ أَبوكُم يَعُدُّهُ

تَميمٌ وَيَعتَدونَ بكرا وَتَغلِبا

تَميمٌ وَيَعتَدونَ بكرا وَتَغلِبا

Three armspans—your father is reckoned so

Your father counts as three tribal sections,

by Tamim; and they also reckon Bakr and Taghlib.

Taym and they claim superiority over Bakr and Taghlib.

وَسَعدٌ بِغَيرِ ابن المَراغَةِ نَصرُها

وَسَعدٌ بِغَيرِ ابن المَراغَةِ نَصرُها

إِذا هَتَفَ الداعي بِسَعدِ وَثَوَّبا

إِذا هَتَفَ الداعي بِسَعدِ وَثَوَّبا

Saʿd's support comes from someone other than Ibn al-Maragha

And Saad without Ibn Mughira helping it,

when the summoner shouts for Saʿd and repeats his call.

When the summoner yells "O Saad!" and reiterates.

وَنَحنُ لِسَعدٍ مِغلبٌ غَيرَ خاذِلٍ

وَنَحنُ لِسَعدٍ مِغلبٌ غَيرَ خاذِلٍ

وَسَعدٌ لَنا أَمسَت عَلى الناسِ مِغلَبا

وَسَعدٌ لَنا أَمسَت عَلى الناسِ مِغلَبا

We are Saʿd's victorious champions, never deserting them,

And we to Saad are victors, not failing,

and Saʿd have become our champions against all men.

While Saad to us has through the people been defeated.

لَهُم هامَةٌ غَلباءُ ما تَستَطيعُها

لَهُم هامَةٌ غَلباءُ ما تَستَطيعُها

نَمَت في قُراسيٍّ مِنَ العِزِّ أَغلَبا

نَمَت في قُراسيٍّ مِنَ العِزِّ أَغلَبا

They have a mighty head you cannot overcome,

They have an impetuous zeal which you cannot attain,

grown amid massive, unconquerable glory.

It slept among pots of glory the most victorious.

هُمُ القَوم مَهما يُدرِكوا مِنكَ يَطلِبوا

هُمُ القَوم مَهما يُدرِكوا مِنكَ يَطلِبوا

وَإِن طَلَبوكُم لَم تَجِد لَكَ مَطلَبا

وَإِن طَلَبوكُم لَم تَجِد لَكَ مَطلَبا

They are the men who pursue whatever they can reach of you;

They are a folk - whatever of you they seek they request

if they pursue you, you will find nowhere to turn.

While if they seek you, you will not find for them a request.

وَإِن جَدَعوا أُذني جَريرٍ وَأَنَفَهُ

وَإِن جَدَعوا أُذني جَريرٍ وَأَنَفَهُ

أَقَرَّ وَلا عُتبى لِمَن لَيسَ مُعتِبا

أَقَرَّ وَلا عُتبى لِمَن لَيسَ مُعتِبا

If they cut off Jarir's ears and nose,

And if they slit the ears of Jarir and his nose,

he submits: no redress for one who will not make amends.

He will acquiesce and no blame to him who does not blame.

هُم مَنَعوا مِنكَ المياهَ فَلَم تَجِد

هُم مَنَعوا مِنكَ المياهَ فَلَم تَجِد

لِجِسمِكِ إِلّا بِالمَصيقَةِ مَشرَبا

لِجِسمِكِ إِلّا بِالمَصيقَةِ مَشرَبا

They barred the waters from you, and you found

They denied you water so you did not find

no drinking place for your body except at al-Masiqa.

For your body other than by sucking any drinking-place.

لَنا مَرقَبٌ عِندَ السَماءِ عَلَيكُمُ

لَنا مَرقَبٌ عِندَ السَماءِ عَلَيكُمُ

فَلَستُ بِلاقٍ فَوقَ ذَلِكَ مَرقَبا

فَلَستُ بِلاقٍ فَوقَ ذَلِكَ مَرقَبا

We have a lookout above you, close to the sky;

For us is an observation-post in the sky over you

I can find no lookout higher than that.

So I have no need for any other observation-post.

وَبَدرُ السَماواتِ العُلى وَنُجومُها

وَبَدرُ السَماواتِ العُلى وَنُجومُها

عَلونَ فَلَن تَسطيعَ مِنهُنَّ كَوكَبا

عَلونَ فَلَن تَسطيعَ مِنهُنَّ كَوكَبا

The full moon of the highest heavens and their stars

And the full moons of the high heavens and its stars

rise so high you cannot reach a single one.

Are exalted - so you will not obtain from among them a planet.

هُناكَ ابنَ يَربوعٍ عَلَونا عَليكُمُ

هُناكَ ابنَ يَربوعٍ عَلَونا عَليكُمُ

وَأَصبَحتَ فَقعا بِالبَلاط مُتَرَّبا

وَأَصبَحتَ فَقعا بِالبَلاط مُتَرَّبا

There, son of Yarbuʿ, we have risen above you,

There the son of Yarbu is above us over you

while you became a dust-covered truffle on hard ground.

And you have become in the palace a groveling scabby one.

نُريحُ تِلادَ المَجدِ وَسطَ بيوتِنا

نُريحُ تِلادَ المَجدِ وَسطَ بيوتِنا

إِذا ما ابنُ يَربوعٍ عَنِ المَجدِ أَعزَبا

إِذا ما ابنُ يَربوعٍ عَنِ المَجدِ أَعزَبا

We bring our ancestral stock of glory to rest amid our houses,

We give lodging to the progeny of glory in our homes

while the son of Yarbuʿ strays far from glory.

When the son of Yarbu has turned aside from glory.

وَنَقري السِنامَ الضَيفَ إِن جاءَ طارِقا

وَنَقري السِنامَ الضَيفَ إِن جاءَ طارِقا

يُمارِسُ عرنينا مِنَ القُرِّ أَشهَبا

يُمارِسُ عرنينا مِنَ القُرِّ أَشهَبا

We serve the guest camel hump if he comes by night,

And we feed the guest if he comes knocking by night

wrestling with the hoary snout of bitter cold.

To have commerce with our threshing floors from the villages.

وَيَقري ابنُ يَربوعٍ إِذا الضَيفُ آبَهُ

وَيَقري ابنُ يَربوعٍ إِذا الضَيفُ آبَهُ

عَلى ناقَةٍ أَيرَ الحِمارِ المؤَدَّبا

عَلى ناقَةٍ أَيرَ الحِمارِ المؤَدَّبا

But the son of Yarbuʿ, when a guest comes to him, serves

While the son of Yarbu feeds him when the guest turns to him

on a she-camel, the penis of a well-trained donkey.

On a camel, shooting of the well-trained donkey.

لَنا مَجدُ أَيامِ الكُلابِ عَليكُم

لَنا مَجدُ أَيامِ الكُلابِ عَليكُم

بَني الكَلب لا نَخشى بِهِ أَن نُكَذَّبا

بَني الكَلب لا نَخشى بِهِ أَن نُكَذَّبا

Ours is the glory over you of al-Kulab's battle-days,

For us is the glory of the "Days of the Dogs" over you

sons of the dog; we do not fear being called liars about it.

Sons of a dog! We do not fear with it to be called liars.

غَزانا بِهِ الجَيشُ اليَماني فَكافَحت

غَزانا بِهِ الجَيشُ اليَماني فَكافَحت

جُنودُهُم زَحفاً غَليظاً وَمِقنَبا

جُنودُهُم زَحفاً غَليظاً وَمِقنَبا

The Yemeni army invaded us there, and we met in combat

With it the Yemeni army attacked us and their

their troops, a dense advancing host and a cavalry squadron.

Troops struggled against it, a thick and sturdy struggle,

فَما غادَرَت إِلّا سَليبا مُشَرَّدا

فَما غادَرَت إِلّا سَليبا مُشَرَّدا

بِثهلانَ مِنهُم أَو صَريعا مُلحَّبا

بِثهلانَ مِنهُم أَو صَريعا مُلحَّبا

Leaving only men stripped and scattered

So it left none but plunder, disorderly,

at Thahlan, or men cut down and hacked to pieces among them—

With dromedaries of them, or a prostrate corpse being dragged,

صَريعَ القَنا أَو مَقصَدا نالَ ضَربَةً

صَريعَ القَنا أَو مَقصَدا نالَ ضَربَةً

ذَرَت رَأَسَهُ عَن مَنكِبِ فَتنَكَّبا

ذَرَت رَأَسَهُ عَن مَنكِبِ فَتنَكَّبا

felled by spears, or mortally struck by a blow

A corpse of one struck down, or a destined victim who received

that flung a man's head from his shoulder, casting it aside.

A blow which scattered his head from his shoulder blades.

لِقائِلِنا أَيامُ صِدقٍ يَعُدُّها

لِقائِلِنا أَيامُ صِدقٍ يَعُدُّها

بِها فاز أَيامَ الخِطارِ فَأَوجَبا

بِها فاز أَيامَ الخِطارِ فَأَوجَبا

Our spokesman has days of proven truth to recount;

For our slayer are virtuous days which he numbers

through them he won on wager-days and secured the prize.

With them he won in the perilous days and made obligatory.

فَأيَ فَعالٍ يا جَريرُ تَعُدُّهُ

فَأيَ فَعالٍ يا جَريرُ تَعُدُّهُ

إِذا الرَكبُ أمُّوا يَومَ نُعمانَ أَركَبا

إِذا الرَكبُ أمُّوا يَومَ نُعمانَ أَركَبا

What deeds, Jarir, can you recount

So which deeds, O Jarir, do you number

when riders head toward other riders on the day of Nuʿman?

When the riders reined in on the day of Nu'man?

أَتَدعو مُعيدا لِلرهان وَمُحقِبا

أَتَدعو مُعيدا لِلرهان وَمُحقِبا

فَقَد نِلتَ إِذ تَدعو مُعيدا وَمُحقِبا

فَقَد نِلتَ إِذ تَدعو مُعيدا وَمُحقِبا

Do you call Muʿid and Muhqib to the wager?

Do you call, repeating and confirming the wager?

Indeed you have gained, calling Muʿid and Muhqib!

For you have attained, since you call repeating and confirming!

دَعَوتُ أَبا عَبدا وَأمّا لَئيمَةً

دَعَوتُ أَبا عَبدا وَأمّا لَئيمَةً

فَلا أُمَّ تَدعو في الكِرامِ وَلا أَبا

فَلا أُمَّ تَدعو في الكِرامِ وَلا أَبا

I called a father who was a slave and a mother who was base;

I called Abu Abdul, but a base mother -

you can claim neither mother nor father among the noble.

I do not call "O mother!" in generosity, nor "O father!"

كَما كُنتَ تَدعو قَعنَبا حينَ قصرت

كَما كُنتَ تَدعو قَعنَبا حينَ قصرت

كُلَيب فَما أَغنى دُعاءُكَ قَعنَبا

كُلَيب فَما أَغنى دُعاءُكَ قَعنَبا

As you used to call Qaʿnab when it fell short—

As you were calling Qa'nab when Kulaib shackled you,

Kulayb; your call to Qaʿnab did no good.

Yet your calling Qa'nab did not avail you at all.

فَخرت بِأَيامٍ لِغَيرِكَ فَخَرُها

فَخرت بِأَيامٍ لِغَيرِكَ فَخَرُها

ضَلِلتَ وَلَم تَذهَب هُنالِكَ مَذهَبا

ضَلِلتَ وَلَم تَذهَب هُنالِكَ مَذهَبا

You boasted of days whose glory belongs to others;

So you fell on days for other than you, and their falling -

you went astray and found no course there.

You went astray and did not go there at all on any path.

فَخاطِر بيَربوعٍ فَلَستَ بِواجِدٍ

فَخاطِر بيَربوعٍ فَلَستَ بِواجِدٍ

لَهُم حامِداً إِلّا لَئيما مُكَذَّبا

لَهُم حامِداً إِلّا لَئيما مُكَذَّبا

Then stake your wager on Yarbuʿ; you will find

Venture against Yarbu - you will not find

no one praising them except a base, discredited man.

For them a praiser unless it be a base liar.

فَإِن قُلتَ يَربوعٌ نَصابي وَأُسرَتي

فَإِن قُلتَ يَربوعٌ نَصابي وَأُسرَتي

لَؤمتَ وَأَلأَمتَ النِصابَ المُركَّبا

لَؤمتَ وَأَلأَمتَ النِصابَ المُركَّبا

If you say, 'Yarbuʿ is my stock and my family,'

For if you say, "Yarbu are my protectors and my family"

you prove base and make your composite stock baser still.

You disgrace and blemish protectors most excellent.

وَلَم تَكُ يَربوعٌ من العزِّ حومة

وَلَم تَكُ يَربوعٌ من العزِّ حومة

فَنَخشى وَلا الفَرعَ الصَريحَ المُهَذَبا

فَنَخشى وَلا الفَرعَ الصَريحَ المُهَذَبا

Yarbuʿ was never a stronghold of might

Yarbu was not from glory a timorous creature

for us to fear, nor a pure and unblemished branch.

Which we fear, nor the straight, well-bred branch.

وَلا مِثلَ يَربوعٍ عَلى الجَهدِ بَعدَما

وَلا مِثلَ يَربوعٍ عَلى الجَهدِ بَعدَما

غُلبتَ وَأَصبَحتَ الحِمارَ المُعَذَّبا

غُلبتَ وَأَصبَحتَ الحِمارَ المُعَذَّبا

Nor the like of Yarbuʿ, despite every effort, now that

Nor like Yarbu, after you were defeated,

you have been beaten and become a tormented donkey.

And you became in the morning the tormented ass.

أَتَرجونَ عُقبى ابنِ المراغَةِ بَعدَما

أَتَرجونَ عُقبى ابنِ المراغَةِ بَعدَما

مَدَدتُ لَهُ الأَشطانَ حَتّى تَذَبذَبا

مَدَدتُ لَهُ الأَشطانَ حَتّى تَذَبذَبا

Do you hope for Ibn al-Maragha's final success after

Do you hope for the protection of Ibn Mughira after

I stretched the long ropes for him until he swayed to and fro,

I stretched out to him the tent-poles until they shook?

وَفَرَّ وَخَلّى لي المَدينَةَ خاسِئاً

وَفَرَّ وَخَلّى لي المَدينَةَ خاسِئاً

ذَليلاً وَعَضَّتُهُ الكِلابُ مُتَعَّبا

ذَليلاً وَعَضَّتُهُ الكِلابُ مُتَعَّبا

and he fled, leaving me the city, driven off,

And he fled and left the town disgraced for me

humiliated and exhausted, bitten by dogs?

Abject, and the dogs snapped at him wearied,

وَقِستُم حِماراً مِن كُلَيبٍ بِسابِقٍ

وَقِستُم حِماراً مِن كُلَيبٍ بِسابِقٍ

جَوادٍ جَرى يَومَ الرِهانَ فَعَقَّبا

جَوادٍ جَرى يَومَ الرِهانَ فَعَقَّبا

You compared a donkey from Kulayb to a front-running

While you were content with an ass of Kulaib in a race

thoroughbred that ran on wager-day and ran again.

Against a thoroughbred steed which on the day of the wager sped off.

تُقَرِّعُ يَربوعاً كَما ذُدتَ عَنهُم

تُقَرِّعُ يَربوعاً كَما ذُدتَ عَنهُم

وَذادَكَ عَن أَحسابِ تَيمٍ فَأَرهَبا

وَذادَكَ عَن أَحسابِ تَيمٍ فَأَرهَبا

You rebuke Yarbuʿ, just as you defended them,

You cuff at Yarbu as you warded them off

and he drove you from Taym's ancestral honors and terrified you.

And warded off from the reputation of Taym so you frightened them.

فَأَقصَرتُ لَمّا أَن قَصَدتَ وَلَم تَكُن

فَأَقصَرتُ لَمّا أَن قَصَدتَ وَلَم تَكُن

شَغَبتَ فَقَد لاقَيتَ في الجَورِ مَشغَبا

شَغَبتَ فَقَد لاقَيتَ في الجَورِ مَشغَبا

I desisted when you acted moderately and had not

So I fell short when you approached and you were not

stirred trouble; in wrongdoing you have met a troublemaker.

Quarrelsome - for you have met with wrongdoing a quarreler.

فَأَلقِ العَصا وَامسَح سِبالَكَ إِنَّما

فَأَلقِ العَصا وَامسَح سِبالَكَ إِنَّما

شَرِبتَ ابنَ يَربوعٍ مَنيَّاً مقشَّبا

شَرِبتَ ابنَ يَربوعٍ مَنيَّاً مقشَّبا

Lay down your staff and wipe your mustache: you have only

So cast aside your staff and wipe your moustache hairs!

drunk, son of Yarbuʿ, tainted semen.

You have drunk Ibn Yarbu semen mixed and seasoned.

غُلِبتَ ابنَ شَرَّابِ المَني وَلَم تَجِد

غُلِبتَ ابنَ شَرَّابِ المَني وَلَم تَجِد

لَكُم والِدا إِلّا لَئيما مُغَلَّبا

لَكُم والِدا إِلّا لَئيما مُغَلَّبا

You are beaten, son of a semen-drinker, and you have found

You are defeated, son of a semen drinker, and have not found

no father for your people but a base, repeatedly defeated man.

For you a father unless it be a base defeated one.

بِحَقِّ امريءٍ كانَت غُدانَةُ عَزَّهُ

بِحَقِّ امريءٍ كانَت غُدانَةُ عَزَّهُ

وَسَجحَةُ وَالأَحمالُ أَن يَتَصَوَّبا

وَسَجحَةُ وَالأَحمالُ أَن يَتَصَوَّبا

It is fitting for a man whose power was Ghudana,

By the right of a man whose neck rope of glory was

and Sajha and al-Ahmal, to sink low.

And prostration, and litters something to wrap around,

وَجَدنا صُبَيرا أَهلَ لؤمٍ وَدِقَّةٍ

وَجَدنا صُبَيرا أَهلَ لؤمٍ وَدِقَّةٍ

وَعودَ بَني العَجماءِ في اللؤمِ مَنصَبا

وَعودَ بَني العَجماءِ في اللؤمِ مَنصَبا

We found Subayr a people of baseness and insignificance,

We found you to be forbearing, folk of baseness and meanness,

and the trunk of Banu al-ʿAjma planted in baseness.

And wont of the slaves to be base when they wrap around.

أَلَستَ أبنَ يَربوعيَّةٍ يَسقُط ابنُها

أَلَستَ أبنَ يَربوعيَّةٍ يَسقُط ابنُها

مِنَ اللُؤمِ في أَيدي القَوابِلِ أَشيَبا

مِنَ اللُؤمِ في أَيدي القَوابِلِ أَشيَبا

Are you not the son of a Yarbuʿ woman, whose son falls

Are you not the son of a Yarbu'iyya whose son falls

gray-haired from baseness into the midwives' hands?

From baseness into the hands of the midwives aged?

وَكانَ لَئيما نُطفَةً ثُمَّ مُضغَةً

وَكانَ لَئيما نُطفَةً ثُمَّ مُضغَةً

إِلى أَن تَناهى خَلقُهُ فَتَشَعَّبا

إِلى أَن تَناهى خَلقُهُ فَتَشَعَّبا

He was base as a drop of semen, then as a lump of flesh,

He was base as a sperm, then a clot,

until his formation was complete and branched into limbs.

Until his creation was completed and it branched out.

لَشَرُ الفُحولِ المُرسَلاتِ رَضيعُها

لَشَرُ الفُحولِ المُرسَلاتِ رَضيعُها

لِأَبيهِ اللُؤمُ أَن يَتَجَنَّبا

لِأَبيهِ اللُؤمُ أَن يَتَجَنَّبا

Her suckling is surely the worst of the stallions let loose;

The worst of stallions is her new-born foal,

his father is one whom baseness should shun. [Sense uncertain.]

Base for its father which it should avoid.

يَشينُ حِجالَ البَيتِ ريحُ ثيابِها

يَشينُ حِجالَ البَيتِ ريحُ ثيابِها

وَخَبَّثَ خَدّاها الملابَ المُطَيَّبا

وَخَبَّثَ خَدّاها الملابَ المُطَيَّبا

The stench of her clothes disgraces the house's curtained chambers;

The smell of her clothes fouls the room's drapes,

her cheeks have fouled the sweet-scented malab perfume.

And her cheek has been stained by the perfumed beard dye.

إِذا ما رَآها المجتَلي مِن ثيابِها

إِذا ما رَآها المجتَلي مِن ثيابِها

رَأى ظَرِبانا جِلدُهُ قَد تَقَوَّبا

رَأى ظَرِبانا جِلدُهُ قَد تَقَوَّبا

When the man unveiling her saw her out of her clothes,

When the mejtali looked at her clothes

he saw a polecat whose skin had peeled away.

He saw a garment whose skin has become infested.

وَإِن سَفَرت أَبدَت عَلى الناسِ سَوءَةً

وَإِن سَفَرت أَبدَت عَلى الناسِ سَوءَةً

بِها وَتواري سَوءَةً أَن تَنَقَّبا

بِها وَتواري سَوءَةً أَن تَنَقَّبا

If she unveiled, she exposed a disgrace to everyone

And if she travels she shows people shamefulness

in herself; she hides that disgrace if she veils.

With it, and she can only conceal shamefulness by veiling.

خَبيثَةُ ريحِ المشفَرين كَأَنَّما

خَبيثَةُ ريحِ المشفَرين كَأَنَّما

فَسا ظَربانٌ فيهِما أَو تَثَوَّبا

فَسا ظَربانٌ فيهِما أَو تَثَوَّبا

Her camel-like lips stink, as though

The smell of the unkempt is like

a polecat had farted in them, or done so again.

Adders in them have crawled or lice crawled.

فَرابَ ابنَ يَربوعٍ مُشافِرُ عِرسِهِ

فَرابَ ابنَ يَربوعٍ مُشافِرُ عِرسِهِ

وَما بَينَ رِجلَيها لَهُ كانَ أَريبا

وَما بَينَ رِجلَيها لَهُ كانَ أَريبا

His wife's camel-like lips dismayed the son of Yarbuʿ,

The pubic hair of the daughter of Yarbu combs out her clothes

and what lay between her legs was troubling to him.

As though it were the comb of a cock, its tip perfect, yet it drips.

فَجُنَّ جُنوناً لا تَلُمهُ فَإِنَّهُ

فَجُنَّ جُنوناً لا تَلُمهُ فَإِنَّهُ

رَأى سَوءَةً مِن واسِعِ الشِدقِ أَهلَبا

رَأى سَوءَةً مِن واسِعِ الشِدقِ أَهلَبا

He went stark mad—do not blame him, for he

So for this Jarir heaps abuse on their women,

saw a shameful part, broad-mouthed and shaggy.

A poet has granted it - when he braided smoothly.

رَأى فَرجَ يَربوعيَّةٍ غَيرَ طاهِرٍ

رَأى فَرجَ يَربوعيَّةٍ غَيرَ طاهِرٍ

إِذا ما دَنا مِنهُ الذُبابُ تَقرطَبا

إِذا ما دَنا مِنهُ الذُبابُ تَقرطَبا

He saw the unclean vulva of a Yarbuʿ woman;

I sang of the two branches of Wael's family

whenever flies came near it, they tumbled.

So I have perfumed when I opposed Bakr and Taghlib.

لَها عُنبُلٌ يُنبي الثيابَ كَأَنَّهُ

لَها عُنبُلٌ يُنبي الثيابَ كَأَنَّهُ

قَفا الديكِ أَوفى عرفُه ثُمَّ طَرَّبا

قَفا الديكِ أَوفى عرفُه ثُمَّ طَرَّبا

She has a large clitoris that pushes her clothes out, as though it were

While when you opposed them you were merely

a rooster's nape, its comb risen high, then crowing.

A flea whom the surge has made disappear.

فَهَذا ليَربوعٍ سِبابُ نِسائِهِم

فَهَذا ليَربوعٍ سِبابُ نِسائِهِم

حَباهُم بِهَذا شاعِرٌ حينَ شَبَّبا

حَباهُم بِهَذا شاعِرٌ حينَ شَبَّبا

This, then, is the abuse of Yarbuʿ's women,

And you met from among the horsemen of Bakr b. Wael

bestowed on them by a poet when he sang of love.

Finer horsemen than your father and of better scent.

تَغَنَّيتُ بِالفرعَينِ مِن آلِ وائِلٍ

تَغَنَّيتُ بِالفرعَينِ مِن آلِ وائِلٍ

فَعَرَّقتُ إِذ خاطَرتُ بَكراً وَتغلِبا

فَعَرَّقتُ إِذ خاطَرتُ بَكراً وَتغلِبا

I sang of the two branches of Wa'il's house,

and made them sweat when I challenged Bakr and Taghlib.

وَما كُنتَ إِذ خاطَرتَهُم غَيرَ فُرعُلٍ

وَما كُنتَ إِذ خاطَرتَهُم غَيرَ فُرعُلٍ

أَزِلَّ عَلاهُ المَوجُ حَتّى تَغَيَّبا

أَزِلَّ عَلاهُ المَوجُ حَتّى تَغَيَّبا

When you challenged them, you were nothing but a young hyena,

thin-rumped, engulfed by waves until it vanished.

وَلاقَيتَ مِن فُرسانِ بَكرِ بِن وائِلٍ

وَلاقَيتَ مِن فُرسانِ بَكرِ بِن وائِلٍ

فَوارِسَ خَيراً مِن أَبيك وَأَطيَبا

فَوارِسَ خَيراً مِن أَبيك وَأَطيَبا

Among the horsemen of Bakr ibn Wa'il you met

riders better and nobler than your father.