هَلْdo تُبْكِيَنْكَmake you weep الدِمَنُthe traces of camps الدُرُوسُthe weathered
هَلْ تُبْكِيَنْكَ الدِمَنُ الدُرُوسُ
كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were الوَرَقُthe sheets المَطْرُوسُthe written-over
كَأَنَّهُنَّ الوَرَقُ المَطْرُوسُ
Do the weathered traces of camps make you weep,
Do the old abodes make you weep?
as though they were sheets written over?
As if they are crumpled leaves,
إِذْwhen مَرْكَبِيmy mount وَنَاقَتِيand my she-camel حَبِيسُtethered
إِذْ مَرْكَبِي وَنَاقَتِي حَبِيسُ
أَرْكَبُI undertake حِينَwhen يَحْصَدُreaps المَرِيسُthe farmer
أَرْكَبُ حِينَ يَحْصَدُ المَرِيسُ
When my mount and my she-camel were tethered,
While my ship and she-camel are confined,
I undertook, when the farmer reaped,
I ride when the plowman reaps,
عَوْصَاءَa knotty challenge لاnot يَسْطِيعُهَاcan master it الضُغْبُوسُthe weakling
عَوْصَاءَ لا يَسْطِيعُهَا الضُغْبُوسُ
مِنِّيfrom me وَلَوand even if أَسَّسَهstrengthened him إِبْلِيسُIblis
مِنِّي وَلَو أَسَّسَه إِبْلِيسُ
a knotty challenge no weakling could wrest
A refractory she-camel, the insolent cannot tame her,
from me, even if Iblis had strengthened him.
Even if the devil himself should found her for me,
وَحاجَةًand a need لِهَمِّهَاfor its concern قَسِيسُan unflagging pursuer
وَحاجَةً لِهَمِّهَا قَسِيسُ
كَأَنَّهَاas though it were مِنْof وَصَبٍillness رسِيسُa lingering trace
كَأَنَّهَا مِنْ وَصَبٍ رسِيسُ
And a need whose burden I pursued unflaggingly,
And a need whose care would perplex a priest,
as though it were a lingering trace of illness
As if it were a streaming wound,
فِيin الجِسْمِthe body أَوْor صَهْبَاءُtawny wine خَنْدَرِيسُaged
فِي الجِسْمِ أَوْ صَهْبَاءُ خَنْدَرِيسُ
يَلْتَاحُburns with thirst فِيهَاfor it المَعِكُthe stubborn one البِرْعِيسُthe coarse brute
يَلْتَاحُ فِيهَا المَعِكُ البِرْعِيسُ
in the body, or tawny, aged wine,
In the body, or a crashing headache,
for which the stubborn brute burned with thirst,
In which the swollen tent-peg sticks,
إِذَاwhen اسْتَخَفَّgrew frivolous الخَلِطُthe sociable companion اللَقُوسُthe gluttonous
إِذَا اسْتَخَفَّ الخَلِطُ اللَقُوسُ
مارَسَهاtackled it مِنِّيof mine وَلِيa champion شَرِيسُfierce
مارَسَها مِنِّي وَلِي شَرِيسُ
when the gluttonous companion grew frivolous,
When the motley drink is weakened,
was handled by a fierce champion of mine:
She is handled by a villainous mate of mine.
نَقْفٌa head-breaker لِحَيَّاتِof the serpents of العِدَىthe enemies حَسُوسُa slayer
نَقْفٌ لِحَيَّاتِ العِدَى حَسُوسُ
لَاnot سَيِّءُbase in الحِرْصِeagerness ولَاand not يَؤُوسُdespairing
لَا سَيِّءُ الحِرْصِ ولَا يَؤُوسُ
a head-breaker, a slayer of the enemies' serpents,
A sniffing out for the snakes of enmity, keen of scent,
neither basely eager nor despairing,
Neither evil in greed, nor despairing,
للْمُصْعَبَاتِagainst hard tasks مِجْذَبٌa powerful puller هَرُوسُa crusher
للْمُصْعَبَاتِ مِجْذَبٌ هَرُوسُ
لَمَّاwhen رَأَتْنِيshe saw me بَعْدَafter مَاwhen أَمِيسُI strut
لَمَّا رَأَتْنِي بَعْدَ مَا أَمِيسُ
a wrenching, crushing force against hard tasks.
Drawing to difficulties, intrepid,
When she saw me, after I once strutted
When she saw me, after I had become downcast,
فِيin الرَيْطِthe fine wraps يَكْفِيsuffices لِبْسَتِيmy dress التَحْلِيسُrough-cloth covering
فِي الرَيْطِ يَكْفِي لِبْسَتِي التَحْلِيسُ
وَمَحَّand faded مِنْfrom لَوْنِthe complexion of الشَبابِyouth الطُوسُthe bloom
وَمَحَّ مِنْ لَوْنِ الشَبابِ الطُوسُ
in fine wraps, rough cloth now sufficing for my dress,
In the camp, the shabby clothes were enough for me,
and the bloom of youth's complexion had faded,
And the bloom of youth had been erased,
وَنَسِيَتْand forgot غَيْسانَهاher youthful vigor العَرُوسُthe bride
وَنَسِيَتْ غَيْسانَها العَرُوسُ
وَحَسَرand receded الأَسْوَدُthe black hair وَالحَلِيسُand the dusky-brown hair
وَحَسَر الأَسْوَدُ وَالحَلِيسُ
and the bride had forgotten her youthful vigor,
And the bride forgot her jewelry,
and black and dusky-brown hair had receded
The black hair and the gray turned white,
مِنْfrom لِمَّتِيmy locks وَالفَرَعُand the tresses المَلْمُوسُthe caressed
مِنْ لِمَّتِي وَالفَرَعُ المَلْمُوسُ
عَنْfrom هَامَةٍa head كَأَنَّهَاas though it were كُرْدُوسُa knob of bone
عَنْ هَامَةٍ كَأَنَّهَا كُرْدُوسُ
from my locks, and the once-caressed tresses
From my cares, and the hair of youth feels coarse,
from a head like a knob of bone—
Above a neck as though it were a citadel,
وَقَدْand once تَرانِيwould see me البَقَرُthe wild cows الكُنُوسُthe sheltering
وَقَدْ تَرانِي البَقَرُ الكُنُوسُ
وَمَاand no لِغِرّاتِfor the guileless ones of المَهَاthe oryx تَجْرِيسُtesting by experience
وَمَا لِغِرّاتِ المَهَا تَجْرِيسُ
the wild cows sheltering in cover once saw me,
Even the wild cows with slit noses recognize me,
and the guileless oryx had known no trial,
Nor do the calling voices of the bellowing camels trouble me.
أَزْمانَin the days when شَيْطَانُthe devil of الصِبَاyouth نَطِيسُcunning
أَزْمانَ شَيْطَانُ الصِبَا نَطِيسُ
عَادَbecame الهَوَىlove فِيin طَوْقِهِhis neck-ring تَنْجِيسُa protective charm
عَادَ الهَوَى فِي طَوْقِهِ تَنْجِيسُ
in days when youth's devil was cunning,
The Devil of Youth has become humble,
and love became a protective charm about his neck.
Desire has returned to its fetters,
لَاnot يَبْعُدَنْmay be distant عَهْدُthe season of الصِبَاyouth المَرْغُوسُrichly endowed
لَا يَبْعُدَنْ عَهْدُ الصِبَا المَرْغُوسُ
لَذَّاتُهُits pleasures وَاللَعِبُand play التَدْلِيسُthe furtive
لَذَّاتُهُ وَاللَعِبُ التَدْلِيسُ
May youth's season never depart, richly endowed
May the epoch of youth not be far removed!
with its pleasures and its furtive games.
Its pleasures and artful tricks,
بَلْnay بَلْدَةٍa land تُمْسِيspend the evening عَلَيْهَاupon it العِيسُthe pale camels
بَلْ بَلْدَةٍ تُمْسِي عَلَيْهَا العِيسُ
كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were الزَوْرَقُthe boat القَمُوسُthe deep-plunging
كَأَنَّهُنَّ الزَوْرَقُ القَمُوسُ
Nay, a land where pale camels spend the evening,
Rather, of a country over which evening comes,
as though they were a deep-plunging boat
As if they are the arched ship,
فِيin الماءِthe water لَوْلَاwere it not for العَرَقُthe sweat التَدْبِيسُthe dark-staining
فِي الماءِ لَوْلَا العَرَقُ التَدْبِيسُ
يَجْرِيstreams بِتَيْهَاthrough its wilderness آلُهَاits mirage المَألوسُthe frenzied
يَجْرِي بِتَيْهَا آلُهَا المَألوسُ
in water, were it not for the sweat's dark staining.
In the water, were it not for the caulking,
Its frenzied mirage streams through its wilderness,
It would ply its course with its deranged crew,
لَيْسَthere is no عَلَىupon حَيْزُومِهاits breast لُبُوسُcovering
لَيْسَ عَلَى حَيْزُومِها لُبُوسُ
بِالوَصْلِwith its connection مِنْfrom مَوْصُولِهَاits adjoining reaches شَطُوسُfar removed
بِالوَصْلِ مِنْ مَوْصُولِهَا شَطُوسُ
with no covering upon its breast,
There is no calking on its ribs,
with its links, remote from the reaches joined to it—
With separation, of its caulker, exceedingly zealous,
دَوِيَّةٌa wilderness وَعَقَدٌand a knot of dunes مَرْهُوسُcompacted
دَوِيَّةٌ وَعَقَدٌ مَرْهُوسُ
أَوْor شَاخِصٌa looming height مُوَشَّحٌbanded مَطْمُوسُeffaced
أَوْ شَاخِصٌ مُوَشَّحٌ مَطْمُوسُ
a wilderness and a compacted knot of dunes,
It has a leak and a firmly-tied knot,
or a looming, banded height with its markings effaced.
Or it is exposed, bearing a heavy load,
جَابَcrossed بِرَحْلِيwith my saddle حَرَجٌa strong-framed camel لَدِيسُsturdy
جَابَ بِرَحْلِي حَرَجٌ لَدِيسُ
مِنَamong العَنَاقِthe long-necked الرُبْعِthe four-toothed أَوْor سَدِيسُsix-toothed
مِنَ العَنَاقِ الرُبْعِ أَوْ سَدِيسُ
A strong-framed, sturdy camel crossed it with my saddle,
My saddle has chafed a painful sore,
one of the long-necked, four-toothed or six-toothed,
From the soft, plaited girths, or the stuffed saddlecloth,
بِالمَنْكِبَيْنِwith both shoulders قَذَفَىsurging forward رَعُوسُhead-tossing
بِالمَنْكِبَيْنِ قَذَفَى رَعُوسُ
إِذَاwhen انْتَهَىstopped عَنْfrom قَصْدِهِits steady course نَعُوسُdrowsy
إِذَا انْتَهَى عَنْ قَصْدِهِ نَعُوسُ
surging with both shoulders, tossing its head,
Onto my shoulders the saddlebags were flung,
drowsy when it has finished its steady course,
When the she-camel turned aside from her course.
وَقَدْand indeed أَتَىhas come بَعْدَafter السُرَىnight travel التَعْرِيسُthe halt for sleep
وَقَدْ أَتَى بَعْدَ السُرَى التَعْرِيسُ
وَالْهَامُand screech-owls وَالبُومُand owls لَهُfor it تَغْلِيسُpredawn activity
وَالْهَامُ وَالبُومُ لَهُ تَغْلِيسُ
when the halt for sleep has come after night travel,
And she came after the departure at eventide,
and screech-owls and owls are abroad around it before dawn.
While the cares and sorrows for her are profound.
لَمnot أَدْرِI knew مَاwhat قَالsaid الصَدَىthe echo المَرْمُوسُthe buried
لَم أَدْرِ مَا قَال الصَدَى المَرْمُوسُ
كَأَنَّهَاas though she were ذُوpossessing وَقَفٍa leg-ring مَنْخُوسُgoaded
كَأَنَّهَا ذُو وَقَفٍ مَنْخُوسُ
I did not know what the buried echo said.
I do not know what the battered echo said,
As though she were a ring-legged beast, goaded on,
As if it has a suppressed deed,
مُحْمَلِّجٌwell-turned فِيupon أَرْبَعٍfour legs جَسِيسُstout
مُحْمَلِّجٌ فِي أَرْبَعٍ جَسِيسُ
بِصُلْبِon the hard ground of رَهْبَىRahba وِرْدُهُits watering تَغْلِيسُarrival before dawn
بِصُلْبِ رَهْبَى وِرْدُهُ تَغْلِيسُ
well-turned, stout upon four legs,
Swaying heavily with four unmatched camels,
on Rahba's hard ground, watering before dawn,
With the rigor of monks, its fruit is oppression,
يَقِيهِprotects it حَيْثُwhere أُكْرِبَwas tightly packed الدَخِيسُthe fleshy pad
يَقِيهِ حَيْثُ أُكْرِبَ الدَخِيسُ
وَأْبُbroad الحَوَامِيthe hoof-rims مِقْرَعٌhammering مَلْطِيسُstone-hard
وَأْبُ الحَوَامِي مِقْرَعٌ مَلْطِيسُ
protected, where the fleshy pad is tightly packed,
Where the vile were brought low.
by broad-rimmed hoofs, hammering and stone-hard.
The father of calamities is a battered old man,
لَوَّحَهُنَّscorched them العَطَشُthirst النَسِيسُthe intense
لَوَّحَهُنَّ العَطَشُ النَسِيسُ
عَنْaway from مَشْرَعٍa watering-place دَانٍnearby لَهُwith its النَامُوسُhunter's hide
عَنْ مَشْرَعٍ دَانٍ لَهُ النَامُوسُ
Scorching thirst has withered them,
Whom thirst has waved toward
away from a nearby watering-place with its hunter's hide,
An extended, submissive abode,
وَحَيْثُand where يُخْشَىis feared مُنْطَوٍa crouching man جَلُوسُseated
وَحَيْثُ يُخْشَى مُنْطَوٍ جَلُوسُ
بِاللَيْلِat night فِيin قُتْرَتِهِhis hunting blind حَلُوسُstaying fixed
بِاللَيْلِ فِي قُتْرَتِهِ حَلُوسُ
and where a crouching, seated man is feared,
And wherever a fearsome lair is dreaded,
at night, fixed within his hunting blind,
By night, in its den, it is genial,
مِنَfrom الشَقَاmisery محْتَرِقٌscorched جَسُوسُwatchful
مِنَ الشَقَا محْتَرِقٌ جَسُوسُ
مُجَوَّعٌstarved طاوِيhollow الحَشَاthe belly لَحُوسُa hungry licker
مُجَوَّعٌ طاوِي الحَشَا لَحُوسُ
scorched by misery and ever watchful,
Scorched by misery, its belly empty,
famished, hollow-bellied, licking hungrily,
Having nothing in life but rags,
لَيْسَthere is not لَهُfor him فِيin الحَيِّthe tribe هَلْبَسِيسُanything whatsoever
لَيْسَ لَهُ فِي الحَيِّ هَلْبَسِيسُ
قَدْindeed نَالَhas taken a toll مِنْهُon him الجُوعُhunger وَالتَفْلِيسُand destitution
قَدْ نَالَ مِنْهُ الجُوعُ وَالتَفْلِيسُ
with nothing whatsoever in the tribe.
Hunger and poverty have come upon it,
Hunger and destitution have worn him down,
And the food which obliges, and is sweet.
وَالمَطْعَمُand food المُوجِبُthe compelling وَاللَهِيسُand ravenous craving
وَالمَطْعَمُ المُوجِبُ وَاللَهِيسُ
ثُمَّthen انْدَرَىcame forward مُكَدَّحٌscarred شَمُوسُskittish
ثُمَّ انْدَرَى مُكَدَّحٌ شَمُوسُ
and food's compelling claim, and ravenous craving.
Then he limped, toil-worn, unkempt,
Then a scarred, skittish beast came forward,
Wearing a coat as if it were fur,
ذُوhaving جُبَبٍwhite leg-markings كَأَنَّهَاas though they were فُؤُوسُaxes
ذُو جُبَبٍ كَأَنَّهَا فُؤُوسُ
وَانْدَرَعَتand bolted خائِفَةٌa frightened female وَهُوسُswift-running
وَانْدَرَعَت خائِفَةٌ وَهُوسُ
with white leg-markings like axes,
And a timid, delirious female camel shied away,
and a frightened, swift-running female bolted.
So the archer missed, and the vile creature showed its heel,
فَأَخْطَأَso missed الرَامِيthe archer وَحَفَّand rustled الخِيسُthe thicket
فَأَخْطَأَ الرَامِي وَحَفَّ الخِيسُ
وَانْصَاعَand wheeled away مِنْfrom وَجسٍa faint sound لَهُfor it تَوْجِيسُapprehensive listening
وَانْصَاعَ مِنْ وَجسٍ لَهُ تَوْجِيسُ
The archer missed, and the thicket rustled;
And it bolted from a body having for it a saddle,
it wheeled at a faint sound it listened for in alarm,
With its beard hanging over the sides of its head.
حابٍcreeping forward بِلحْيَيْwith both jaws of رَأْسِهِits head رَدُوسُbattering
حابٍ بِلحْيَيْ رَأْسِهِ رَدُوسُ
عَلَىupon صَلاَهَاher rump مِعْطَفٌturning back عَجُوسُmoving backward
عَلَى صَلاَهَا مِعْطَفٌ عَجُوسُ
creeping forward with its head's two jaws, battering,
Over its baggage is a coarse cover,
doubling back upon her rump, moving behind,
I will drive it away if it is recalcitrant.
أَقْلَحُyellow-toothed إِنْif عَاصَيْنَهُthey disobeyed it نَهُوسُbiting hard
أَقْلَحُ إِنْ عَاصَيْنَهُ نَهُوسُ
بَلْnay عَلِمَhas learned العَالِمُthe learned man وَالقِسِّيسُand the priest
بَلْ عَلِمَ العَالِمُ وَالقِسِّيسُ
yellow-toothed, biting hard if they disobeyed it.
But the scholar and priest both know
Nay, the learned man and the priest know
That a man who fought against us is possessed,
أَنَّthat امْرَءًاa man حَارَبَنَاfought us مَمْسُوسُpossessed
أَنَّ امْرَءًا حَارَبَنَا مَمْسُوسُ
بِئْسَwretched is الخَلِيطُthe companion الحَرِبُthe embittered المَدْسُوسُthe infiltrated one
بِئْسَ الخَلِيطُ الحَرِبُ المَدْسُوسُ
that a man who fights us is possessed.
Evil is the mixture! War brings woe.
Wretched is the companion, the embittered infiltrator!
Why do people who have insight
ماwhat بالُails أَقْوامٍsome people لَهُمْthey have حَسِيسُa murmur
ما بالُ أَقْوامٍ لَهُمْ حَسِيسُ
بَيَّنَmade plain فِيin رُؤُوسِهِمْtheir heads تَنْكِيسُa bowing down
بَيَّنَ فِي رُؤُوسِهِمْ تَنْكِيسُ
What ails people who murmur?
Show on their heads the sign of humility?
Dejection made itself plain in their heads,
And a thought that obsesses them is confused,
وَهاجِسٌand a thought مِنabout أَمْرِهِمْtheir affair مَهْجُوسُbrooded over
وَهاجِسٌ مِن أَمْرِهِمْ مَهْجُوسُ
يَثْوِيdwells عَلَيْهِupon it يَصْطَلِيwarms himself المَجُوسُthe Magians
يَثْوِي عَلَيْهِ يَصْطَلِي المَجُوسُ
and a thought about their affair is brooded over;
Upon which the Magi warm themselves.
the Magians dwell upon it and warm themselves.
Insults and sneezes have been visited upon it.
جَرَتْswept عَلَيْهِover it اللُجْمُthe bridles وَالعَطُوسُand the snorting mounts
جَرَتْ عَلَيْهِ اللُجْمُ وَالعَطُوسُ
بِنَاthrough us يُدَاوِيone treats الفَقَمُthe crooked jaw الشَخِيسُthe jutting
بِنَا يُدَاوِي الفَقَمُ الشَخِيسُ
Bridles and snorting mounts swept over it.
With us the contemptible charlatan is healed,
Through us one treats the jutting, crooked jaw,
And insolence, until the unyielding becomes gentle.
وَالشَغْبُand unruliness حَتَّىuntil يَسْمَحَyields الضَرِيسُthe hard-biting one
وَالشَغْبُ حَتَّى يَسْمَحَ الضَرِيسُ
إِنَّاindeed we إِذَاwhen مَاemphasis هَوَّسَravaged الهَوِيسُthe ravager
إِنَّا إِذَا مَا هَوَّسَ الهَوِيسُ
and unruliness, until the hard-biting one yields.
When caprice has aroused our desire,
Indeed, for us, whenever the ravager ravages,
Our pampered arrogance was satisfied by the bully,
أَعْطَىgrants مُنَانَاour wishes المُتْرَفُthe pampered one العِتْرِيسُthe hulking brute
أَعْطَى مُنَانَا المُتْرَفُ العِتْرِيسُ
حَتَّىuntil يُلِينَsoftens سَأْوَهُhis resolve التَوْكِيسُabasement
حَتَّى يُلِينَ سَأْوَهُ التَوْكِيسُ
the pampered, hulking brute grants our wishes,
Until he softened his obstinate neck for tethering,
until abasement softens his resolve,
And ignited the fire of strife,
وَحَشَّand stoked نارَthe fire of الفِتْنَةِstrife التَأْسِيسُthe groundwork
وَحَشَّ نارَ الفِتْنَةِ التَأْسِيسُ
وَقُودُهَاits fuel وَاللَهَبُand the flame المَقْبُوسُthe kindled
وَقُودُهَا وَاللَهَبُ المَقْبُوسُ
and groundwork stoked the fire of strife—
Its fuel being the sealed flame,
its fuel, and the flame kindled from it.
Now is the hour when souls find peace,
هذَاthis أَوَانَthe time when قَرَّتِsettled النُفُوسُthe souls
هذَا أَوَانَ قَرَّتِ النُفُوسُ
أَلْقَتْlaid down عَصَاهَاits staff الفِتْنَةُstrife المَؤُوسُthe ruinous
أَلْقَتْ عَصَاهَا الفِتْنَةُ المَؤُوسُ
This is the time when souls have settled.
Strife has cast away its wand,
Ruinous strife has laid down its staff,
And there remain only terrible doubts,
وَبَائِقَاتٌand calamities رَيْبُهَاtheir menace رَبِيسُgrave
وَبَائِقَاتٌ رَيْبُهَا رَبِيسُ
وَارفَضَّand dispersed عَنهاaway from it أَمرُهاits affair المَرجوسُthe befouled
وَارفَضَّ عَنها أَمرُها المَرجوسُ
and calamities whose menace is grave,
And its affair was rejected with disdain.
and its befouled affair has dispersed away from it.
And others than us it has degraded,
وَغَيرُناand someone other than us مِنهاfrom it بِهِin him تَدنيسُdefilement
وَغَيرُنا مِنها بِهِ تَدنيسُ
ضَلاَلَةٌmisguidance فِيin الدِينِreligion وَتطْفِيسُand defilement
ضَلاَلَةٌ فِي الدِينِ وَتطْفِيسُ
And someone other than us bears its stain:
Misguidance in religion and sacrilege,
misguidance in religion and defilement.
Ours are the leaders, and ours are the heads,
مِنَّاfrom us الرَئِيسُthe leader وَلَنَاand ours are الرُؤُوسُthe chieftains
مِنَّا الرَئِيسُ وَلَنَا الرُؤُوسُ
وَلَجَبand the tumult of الأَجْنَادِthe armies وَالخَمِيسُand the host
وَلَجَب الأَجْنَادِ وَالخَمِيسُ
The leader comes from us, and the chieftains are ours,
And the armies on Thursday and Friday.
and the armies' tumult, and the host.
Our spears are better than any that spear,
وَقَيْسُنَاand our Qays أَفْضَلُthe best مَنْof those who يَقِيسُmeasure
وَقَيْسُنَا أَفْضَلُ مَنْ يَقِيسُ
مَجْداًglory وَفِينَاand among us البَاذِخاتُthe towering heights الشُوسُthe defiant
مَجْداً وَفِينَا البَاذِخاتُ الشُوسُ
Our Qays is the best of those who measure
In glory, and among us are the towering banners,
glory; among us stand towering, defiant heights.
With them we vie, and with them we spear,
بِهِمْthrough them نُرَادِيwe contend وَبِهِمْand through them نَرِيسُwe lead
بِهِمْ نُرَادِي وَبِهِمْ نَرِيسُ
فِيon كُلِّevery يَوْمٍday تَحْتَهُمْbeneath them فَرِيسُa slain victim
فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ تَحْتَهُمْ فَرِيسُ
Through them we contend, and through them we lead.
Beneath them every day is quarry,
Each day beneath them lies a slain victim,
A lancer, or a body in a pit,
مُقَصَّبٌhacked apart أَوْor جَسَدٌa body مَحْدُوسُstruck down
مُقَصَّبٌ أَوْ جَسَدٌ مَحْدُوسُ
وَخِنْدَفٌand Khindif وَرَاءَهَاbehind her القُدْمُوسُthe massive rock
وَخِنْدَفٌ وَرَاءَهَا القُدْمُوسُ
hacked apart, or a body struck down.
And a military umbrella above it and spears,
And behind Khindif stands the massive rock;
Missing its stab, the lances swerve,
تَزِلُّslip عَنْaway from نَطْحَتِهِits butting blow الفُطُوسُthe flat-nosed ones
تَزِلُّ عَنْ نَطْحَتِهِ الفُطُوسُ
وَقُرْبُهاand approaching her وَوِرْدُهَاand coming to her water غَمُوسُa deep plunge
وَقُرْبُها وَوِرْدُهَا غَمُوسُ
flat-nosed beasts slip aside from its butting blow.
And their drinking-troughs and roses are bathed in blood,
And nearing her and coming to her water is a deep plunge—
A stroke and a stab with the spear brings woe,
ضَرْبٌblows وَطَعْنٌand thrusts بِالقَنَاwith spears نَحِيسُbaleful
ضَرْبٌ وَطَعْنٌ بِالقَنَا نَحِيسُ
مُعْتَرِضٌan interceptor أَوْor مِسْعَرٌa battle-kindler دَعُوسُa fierce thruster
مُعْتَرِضٌ أَوْ مِسْعَرٌ دَعُوسُ
blows and baleful thrusts with spears,
An opponent, or a flaring-nostrilled horse,
an interceptor, or a battle-kindler thrusting fiercely;
It sniffs in anger, enraged.
يَحْنِبُturn aside عَنْfrom حنَقِهاher wrath تُيُوسُbuck-goats
يَحْنِبُ عَنْ حنَقِها تُيُوسُ
buck-goats swerve away from her wrath.
Partial English translation: 98 of 99 Arabic lines translated.