طَافَvisited الخَيَالُthe dream-image بِنَاus رَكْباًa band of riders يَمانينَاYemeni
طَافَ الخَيَالُ بِنَا رَكْباً يَمانينَا
ودُونَand before ليْلَىLayla عَوَادٍbarriers لوْif تُعَدِّينَاyou would carry us across
ودُونَ ليْلَى عَوَادٍ لوْ تُعَدِّينَا
The dream-image visited us, a band of Yemeni riders.
Imagination came to us riding Yemeni mounts,
And barriers stand before Layla—if only you would carry us across!
While the visits to Layla, if you count them, are many.
مِنْهُنَّamong them مَعْرُوفُthe well-known آيَاتِverses of الكِتَابِthe Book وقَدْand indeed
مِنْهُنَّ مَعْرُوفُ آيَاتِ الكِتَابِ وقَدْ
تَعْتَادُdoes habitually تَكْذِبُbelies لَيْلَىLayla مَاwhat تُمَنِّينَاshe makes us hope for
تَعْتَادُ تَكْذِبُ لَيْلَى مَا تُمَنِّينَا
Among them are the familiar verses of the Book; and indeed
Among them are known verses from the Book, and Layla
Layla habitually belies the hopes she holds out to us.
Is accustomed to lying about what she wishes from us.
لَمْdid not تَسْرِtravel by night لَيْلَىLayla ولمْand did not تَطْرُقْcall at night بِحَاجَتِهَاon her errand
لَمْ تَسْرِ لَيْلَى ولمْ تَطْرُقْ بِحَاجَتِهَا
مِنْfrom أَهْلِthe people of رَيْمَانَRayman إِلاَّexcept حَاجَةًa desire فِينَاfor us
مِنْ أَهْلِ رَيْمَانَ إِلاَّ حَاجَةً فِينَا
Layla did not journey by night or come calling on her errand
Layla was not delighted, nor did she confess her need
from the people of Rayman, except out of a desire for us.
To anyone from the people of Rayman except out of need for us.
مِنْfrom سَرْوِthe highlands of حِمْيَرَHimyar أَبْوَالُurine of البِغَالِmules بِهِin it
مِنْ سَرْوِ حِمْيَرَ أَبْوَالُ البِغَالِ بِهِ
أَنَّىhow تَسَدَّيْتِyou crossed وَهْناًlate at night ذلِكَthat البينَاdistance
أَنَّى تَسَدَّيْتِ وَهْناً ذلِكَ البينَا
From Himyar's highlands, where mules leave their urine—
From the migration of the asses of Himyar are the camel mares,
how did you cross that distance late at night?
How could that weakness between us be mended?
أَمْسَتْspent the evening بِأَذْرُعِat Adhruʿ أَكْبَادٍAkbad فَحُمَّand was destined لَهَاfor her
أَمْسَتْ بِأَذْرُعِ أَكْبَادٍ فَحُمَّ لَهَا
رَكْبٌriders بِلِنَةَat Linah أوْor رَكْبٌriders بِسَاوِينَاat Sawina
رَكْبٌ بِلِنَةَ أوْ رَكْبٌ بِسَاوِينَا
She spent the evening at Adhruʿ Akbad, and destined for her was
In the evening with livers of young camels roasted, so a company
a company of riders at Linah, or riders at Sawina.
With smooth saddles, or a company with rugged ones, rides to us.
يَاO دَارَdwelling of لَيْلَىLayla خَلاَءًdeserted لاَnot أُكَلِّفُهَاI burden it
يَا دَارَ لَيْلَى خَلاَءً لاَ أُكَلِّفُهَا
إِلاَّexcept المَرَانَةَpliancy حَتَّىuntil تَعْرِفَit learns الدِّيناobedience
إِلاَّ المَرَانَةَ حَتَّى تَعْرِفَ الدِّينا
O Layla's dwelling, deserted! I demand nothing of it
O dwelling of Layla, I leave it empty that I not burden it
except pliancy, until it learns obedience.
Except with affection so it may know the religion.
تُهْدِيsends زَنَانِيرُZananir أَرْوَاحَwinds of المصِيفِsummer لَهَاto it
تُهْدِي زَنَانِيرُ أَرْوَاحَ المصِيفِ لَهَا
ومِنْand from ثَنَايَاthe passes of فُرُوجِthe clefts of الكَوْرِal-Kawr تهْدِينَاit sends us
ومِنْ ثَنَايَا فُرُوجِ الكَوْرِ تهْدِينَا
Zananir sends it the winds of summer,
The bells of the summer resorts sing to her,
and through the passes in al-Kawr's clefts sends them to us:
And from the bosoms of valleys gifts are brought to us.
هَيْفٌhot winds هَدُوجُwavering in الضُّحَىthe forenoon سَهْوٌgentle منَاكِبُهَاtheir flanks
هَيْفٌ هَدُوجُ الضُّحَى سَهْوٌ منَاكِبُهَا
يَكْسُونَهَاthey clothe it بِالعَشِيَّاتِin the evenings العَثَانِينَاtrailing fringes
يَكْسُونَهَا بِالعَشِيَّاتِ العَثَانِينَا
hot winds, wavering at forenoon, gentle along their flanks.
Gray are the camels of morning, their saddles
They clothe it in the evenings with trailing fringes.
Are covered for us with Ithmid during the evenings.
يَكْسُونَهَاthey clothe it مَنْزِلاًa campsite لاَحَتْbecame visible مَعَارِفُهُits familiar traces
يَكْسُونَهَا مَنْزِلاً لاَحَتْ مَعَارِفُهُ
سُفْعاًdarkened أَطَالَprolonged بِهُنًّat them الحَيُّthe tribe تَدْمِينَاdung-staining
سُفْعاً أَطَالَ بِهُنًّ الحَيُّ تَدْمِينَا
They clothe it, a campsite whose familiar traces show
They cover it as a dwelling whose refinements
darkened, where the tribe long left dung-stains.
Were augmented with that which extended the life of the living for us.
عَرَّجْتُI turned aside فِيهَاin it أُحَيِّيهَاI greet it وأَسْأَلُهَاand question it
عَرَّجْتُ فِيهَا أُحَيِّيهَا وأَسْأَلُهَا
فَكِدْنَand they nearly يُبْكِينَنيmade me weep شَوْقاًwith longing ويَبْكِينَاand wept
فَكِدْنَ يُبْكِينَني شَوْقاً ويَبْكِينَا
I turned aside there to greet it and question it.
I walked about it to greet it and ask it,
They almost made me weep with longing, and wept themselves.
So it almost made me weep from ardor and made us both weep.
فَقُلْتُso I said لِلْقَوْمِto the company سِيرُواgo on لاَno أَبَاfather لكُمُto you
فَقُلْتُ لِلْقَوْمِ سِيرُوا لاَ أَبَا لكُمُ
أَرَىI see مَنَازِلَthe dwellings of لَيْلَىLayla لاَnot تُحَيِّينَاthey greet us
أَرَى مَنَازِلَ لَيْلَى لاَ تُحَيِّينَا
So I told the company: Go on—no father be yours!
So I said to the people, “Go ahead, I have no need for you,
I see that Layla's dwellings give us no greeting.
I see Layla's dwellings which do not greet us.”
وطَاسِمٍand a faded trail دَعْسُtrampling of آثَارِtracks of المَطيِّthe riding camels بِهِon it
وطَاسِمٍ دَعْسُ آثَارِ المَطيِّ بِهِ
نَائِيdistant المَخَارِمِthe mountain passes عِرْنِيناًridge فَعِرْنِينَاthen ridge
نَائِي المَخَارِمِ عِرْنِيناً فَعِرْنِينَا
And a faded trail, with camels' trampled tracks upon it,
With a trotting smooth gait blotting out the track of the riding camel,
its mountain passes distant, ridge after ridge—
Far from the worn-out roads it wore us down.
قَدْindeed غَيَّرَتْهُchanged it رِيَاحٌwinds واخْتَرَقُنْand swept through بِهِit
قَدْ غَيَّرَتْهُ رِيَاحٌ واخْتَرَقُنْ بِهِ
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery مَأْتَىapproach سَبِيلِpath of الرِّيحِthe wind يَأْتِينَاit reaches us
مِنْ كُلِّ مَأْتَى سَبِيلِ الرِّيحِ يَأْتِينَا
winds have altered it and swept across it
The winds changed it and we passed through it
from every approach, along the path of the wind that reaches us.
From every direction the winds came to us.
يَصْبَحْنَthey visit at dawn دَعْسَtrodden tracks of مَرَاسِيلِswift-moving المَطِيِّthe riding camels بِهِin it
يَصْبَحْنَ دَعْسَ مَرَاسِيلِ المَطِيِّ بِهِ
حَتَّىuntil يُغَيِّرْنَthey alter مِنْهُpart of it أَوْor يُسَوِّينَاthey make level
حَتَّى يُغَيِّرْنَ مِنْهُ أَوْ يُسَوِّينَا
At dawn they visit the tracks of swift-moving camels there,
They obscured the track of the riding camel until
until they alter part of it or make it level.
They changed it or leveled it for us.
فيon ظَهْرِthe surface of مَرْتٍa barren waste عَسَاقِيلُshimmering patches of السَّرَابِthe mirage بِهِin it
في ظَهْرِ مَرْتٍ عَسَاقِيلُ السَّرَابِ بِهِ
كأَنَّas though وَغْرَthe cry of قَطَاهُits sandgrouse وَغْرُthe cry of حَادِينَاour camel-driver
كأَنَّ وَغْرَ قَطَاهُ وَغْرُ حَادِينَا
Across a barren expanse, with shimmering patches of mirage,
In the expanse the mirage made it
its sandgrouse's cries sound like our camel-driver's cry.
As if it were a bowl and the bowl of a guide for us.
كَأَنَّas though أَصْوَاتَthe voices of أَبْكَارِyoung الحَمَامِdoves بِهِin it
كَأَنَّ أَصْوَاتَ أَبْكَارِ الحَمَامِ بِهِ
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery مَحْنِيَّةٍhollow مِنْهُin it يُغَنِّينَاthey sing
مِنْ كُلِّ مَحْنِيَّةٍ مِنْهُ يُغَنِّينَا
As though the calls of young doves there,
As if the voices of the wild ring doves in it
singing from every hollow in it,
Were singing for us from every cooing place.
أَصْوَاتُthe voices of نِسْوَانِwomen of أَنْبَاطٍNabataeans بِمَصْنَعَةٍat a fortress
أَصْوَاتُ نِسْوَانِ أَنْبَاطٍ بِمَصْنَعَةٍ
بَجَّدْنَthey donned cloaks لِلنَّوْحِfor mourning واجْتَبْنَand put on التَّبَابِينَاshort drawers
بَجَّدْنَ لِلنَّوْحِ واجْتَبْنَ التَّبَابِينَا
were the voices of Nabataean women at a fortress,
Voices of wailing Nabataean women
who donned cloaks for mourning and put on short drawers,
Who have mastered lament and chosen dirges for us.
فيin مُشْرِفٍa lofty building لِيطَwas smeared لَيَّاقُplaster البَلاطَthe stonework بِهِon it
في مُشْرِفٍ لِيطَ لَيَّاقُ البَلاطَ بِهِ
كَانَتْused to be لِسَاسَتِهِto its custodians تُهْدَىpresented قَرَابِينَاofferings
كَانَتْ لِسَاسَتِهِ تُهْدَى قَرَابِينَا
in a lofty building, its stonework smeared with plaster,
In a palace whose bricks and mortar
where offerings used to be presented to its custodians.
Were once presented to its masters as gifts to us.
صَوْتُthe sound of النَّوَاقِيسbells فِيهِin it مَاnot تُفَرِّطُهُthey let it lapse
صَوْتُ النَّوَاقِيس فِيهِ مَا تُفَرِّطُهُ
أَيْدِيthe hands of الجَلاَذِيsturdy men وجُونٌand dark ones مَاnot يُغَفِّينَاthey doze
أَيْدِي الجَلاَذِي وجُونٌ مَا يُغَفِّينَا
The bells' sound there is never allowed to lapse by
The sound of bells in it, which the hands of priests do not neglect
the hands of sturdy men and dark ones who never doze.
While the throngs around it do not make us drowsy.
كَأَنَّas though أَصْوَاتَهَاtheir sounds مِنْfrom حَيْثُwhere تَسْمَعُهَاyou hear them
كَأَنَّ أَصْوَاتَهَا مِنْ حَيْثُ تَسْمَعُهَا
صَوْتُthe sound of المَحَابِضِcarding mallets يَخْلِجْنَthey jerk المَحَارِينَاthe carding bows
صَوْتُ المَحَابِضِ يَخْلِجْنَ المَحَارِينَا
As though their sounds, from wherever you hear them,
As if their voices, from wherever you hear them,
were the clack of carding mallets jerking the carding bows.
Are like the sound of cymbals convulsing the shrines for us.
وَاطَأْتُهُI trod it بِالسُّرَىby night travel حَتَّىuntil تَرَكْتُI left بِهِin it
وَاطَأْتُهُ بِالسُّرَى حَتَّى تَرَكْتُ بِهِ
لَيْلَthe night of التِّمَامِfull length تُرَىare seen أَسْدَافَهُits dark veils جُونَاblack
لَيْلَ التِّمَامِ تُرَى أَسْدَافَهُ جُونَا
I trod it on a night journey until I left behind there
I walked it by night until I left it
the full-length night, its veils appearing black,
So its slopes at the end of night are seen desolate.
حَتَّىuntil اسْتَبَنْتُI discerned الهُدَىthe way والبِيدُand the deserts هَاجِمَةٌlooming
حَتَّى اسْتَبَنْتُ الهُدَى والبِيدُ هَاجِمَةٌ
يَخْشَعْنَthey bow فيin الآلِthe mirage غُلْفاًshrouded أَوْor يُصَلِّينَاthey pray
يَخْشَعْنَ في الآلِ غُلْفاً أَوْ يُصَلِّينَا
until I discerned the way, while the deserts loomed,
Until I discerned the dawn fire and dark came over us,
bowing in the mirage, shrouded, or seeming to pray.
Bowing humbly during prayer or performing our ritual prayer.
واسْتَحْمَلَand bore الشَّوْقَthe longing مِنِّيfrom me عِرْمِسٌa sturdy she-camel سُرُحٌfleet
واسْتَحْمَلَ الشَّوْقَ مِنِّي عِرْمِسٌ سُرُحٌ
تَخَالُyou would think بَاغِزَهَاher goader بِاللَّيْلِat night مَجْنُونَاmad
تَخَالُ بَاغِزَهَا بِاللَّيْلِ مَجْنُونَا
A sturdy, fleet she-camel took up the burden of my longing.
And ardent yearning carried me away, a free-roaming camel
You would think her night-time goader mad.
Rushing in the night madly.
تَرْمِيshe hurls الفِجَاجَthe passes بِحَيْدَارِwith rounded الحَصَىpebbles قُمَزاًin leaps
تَرْمِي الفِجَاجَ بِحَيْدَارِ الحَصَى قُمَزاً
فيin مِشْيَةٍa gait سُرُحٍfree-running خَلْطٍmingled أَفَانِينَاvarieties
في مِشْيَةٍ سُرُحٍ خَلْطٍ أَفَانِينَا
She hurls rounded pebbles through the passes in leaps,
It casts pebbles in the morning at the rocky ground, jumping
in a free-running stride that mingles many gaits.
With a trotting, free-roaming, intermingled gait.
تَرْمِيshe throws بِهِit وهْيَwhile she is كَالحَرْدَاءِlike a she-ostrich خَائِفَةٌafraid
تَرْمِي بِهِ وهْيَ كَالحَرْدَاءِ خَائِفَةٌ
قَذْفَlike the tossing of البَنَانِfingertips الحَصَىpebbles بَيْنَamong المُخَاسِينَاodds-and-evens players
قَذْفَ البَنَانِ الحَصَى بَيْنَ المُخَاسِينَا
She flings them, fearful as a she-ostrich,
It casts them while it is like the timid hyrax
as fingertips toss pebbles among odds-and-evens players.
Casting pebbles between the tearings with us.
كَانتْshe used to تُدَوِّمُkeep up إِرْقَالاًa swift trot فَتَجْمَعُهُand gather it
كَانتْ تُدَوِّمُ إِرْقَالاً فَتَجْمَعُهُ
إلَىinto مَنَاكِبَshoulders يَدْفَعْنَthey drive past المَذَاعِينَاthe swift mounts
إلَى مَنَاكِبَ يَدْفَعْنَ المَذَاعِينَا
She would keep up a swift trot, gathering it
It used to always trot, gathering
into shoulders that thrust past the swift mounts.
To the camel’s shoulders pushing away the drivers from us.
وَعَاتِقٍand a seasoned bow شَوْحَطٍof shawhat wood صُمٍّsolid مَقَاطِعُهَاits cut ends
وَعَاتِقٍ شَوْحَطٍ صُمٍّ مَقَاطِعُهَا
مَكْسُوَّةٍclothed مِنْin خِيَارِthe choicest الوَشْيِpatterned cloth تَلوِينَاvaried colors
مَكْسُوَّةٍ مِنْ خِيَارِ الوَشْيِ تَلوِينَا
And a seasoned shawhat-wood bow, solid at its cut ends,
And an elegant smooth neck whose chiseled parts
clad in varied colors of the choicest patterned cloth—
Are covered in the finest silky cloth as it twists around us.
عَارَضْتُهَاI matched it بِعَنُودٍwith a winning shaft غَيْرnot مُعْتَلَثٍof mixed stock
عَارَضْتُهَا بِعَنُودٍ غَيْر مُعْتَلَثٍ
تَرِنُّring مِنْهُagainst it مُتُونٌshaft-bodies حِينَwhen يَجْرِينَاthey run
تَرِنُّ مِنْهُ مُتُونٌ حِينَ يَجْرِينَا
I matched it with a winning shaft, not of mixed stock;
I challenged it with persistent disobedience
the shafts ring against it as they run.
From which supple bodies pour when they touch us.
حَسَرْتُI drew back عَنْfrom كَفِّيَmy hand السِّرْبَالَthe shirt آخُذُهُtaking it
حَسَرْتُ عَنْ كَفِّيَ السِّرْبَالَ آخُذُهُ
فَرْداًa lone shaft يُجَرُّis drawn علىacross أَيْدِيthe hands of المُفَدِّينَاthose pledging ransom
فَرْداً يُجَرُّ على أَيْدِي المُفَدِّينَا
I drew the shirt back from my hand, taking it,
I pulled my cloak off my hand seizing it
a lone shaft drawn across the hands of men pledging ransom.
Individually dragging along the redeeming hands from us.
ثُمَّthen انْصَرَفْتُI departed بِهِwith it جَذْلاَنَelated مُبْتَهِجاًrejoicing
ثُمَّ انْصَرَفْتُ بِهِ جَذْلاَنَ مُبْتَهِجاً
كَأَنَّهُas though it were وَقْفُa bracelet of عَاجٍivory بَاتَspent the night مَكْنُونَاhidden
كَأَنَّهُ وَقْفُ عَاجٍ بَاتَ مَكْنُونَا
Then I departed with it, elated and rejoicing,
Then I went away briskly rejoicing with it
like an ivory bracelet kept hidden through the night.
As if it were the estate of elephants hidden with us.
ومَأْتَمٍand a gathering of women كَالدُّمَىlike statues حُورٍwhite-eyed and dark-pupilled مَدَامِعُهَاtheir eyes
ومَأْتَمٍ كَالدُّمَى حُورٍ مَدَامِعُهَا
لمْnever تَبْأَسِsuffered hardship in العَيْشَlife أَبْكاراًas maidens ولاnor عُونَاas mature women
لمْ تَبْأَسِ العَيْشَ أَبْكاراً ولا عُونَا
And a gathering of women like statues, with dark pupils in white eyes,
And a funeral in which mourning women's tears
who had known no hardship in life, as maidens or mature women,
Have not tasted life as virgins or helpers for us.
شُمٍّhigh-nosed مُخَصَّرَةٍslender-waisted صِينَتْwere protected مُنَعَّمَةًpampered
شُمٍّ مُخَصَّرَةٍ صِينَتْ مُنَعَّمَةً
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery دَاءٍillness بِإِذْنِby permission of اللهِGod يَشْفِينَاHe heals us
مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ بِإِذْنِ اللهِ يَشْفِينَا
high-nosed, slender-waisted, sheltered in luxury
Pure and healing from every disease, by God's leave
from every ailment, by permission of God, who heals us.
They will heal us.
كَأَنَّas though أَعْيُنَthe eyes of غِزْلاَنٍgazelles إِذَاwhen اكْتَحَلَتْthey apply kohl
كَأَنَّ أَعْيُنَ غِزْلاَنٍ إِذَا اكْتَحَلَتْ
بِالإِثْمِدِwith antimony الجَوْنِblack قَدْhad قَرَضْنَهَاlent them to her حِينَاfor a time
بِالإِثْمِدِ الجَوْنِ قَدْ قَرَضْنَهَا حِينَا
As though gazelles' eyes, whenever they paint their own
As if the eyes of young gazelles when lined
with black antimony, had been lent them for a while.
With black kohl, it suited them for a while with us.
كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were الظِّبَاءُgazelles الأُدْمُpale-coated أَسْكَنَهَاsheltered them
كَأَنَّهُنَّ الظِّبَاءُ الأُدْمُ أَسْكَنَهَا
ضَالٌwild lote-trees بِغُرَّةَat Ghurrah أَوْضَالٌor wild lote-trees بِدَارِينَاat Darina
ضَالٌ بِغُرَّةَ أَوْضَالٌ بِدَارِينَا
As though they were pale-coated gazelles, sheltered by
As if they are the beloved oryx does, so tame,
wild lote-trees at Ghurrah, or wild lote-trees at Darina.
Straying in Murrah's valley or staying in our valley.
يَمْشِينَthey walk هَيْلَlike spilling sand of النَّقَاthe dune مَالَتْhave slanted جَوَانِبُهُits flanks
يَمْشِينَ هَيْلَ النَّقَا مَالَتْ جَوَانِبُهُ
يَنْهَالُit spills down حِيناًat times ويَنْهَاهُand checks it الثَّرَىthe damp earth حِينَاat times
يَنْهَالُ حِيناً ويَنْهَاهُ الثَّرَى حِينَا
They walk like sand spilling from a dune whose flanks have tilted,
They walk the waviness of sand dunes leaning sideways
flowing at times, then checked at times by damp earth,
Sometimes slipping, sometimes held back by the ground with us.
مِنْfrom رَمْلِthe sands of عِرْنَانَʿIrnan أَوْor مِنْfrom رَمْلِthe sands of أَسْنُمَةٍAsnumah
مِنْ رَمْلِ عِرْنَانَ أَوْ مِنْ رَمْلِ أَسْنُمَةٍ
جَعْدِclumped الثَّرَىdamp earth بَاتَspent the night فيin الأَمْطَارِthe rains مَدْجُونَاcloud-shrouded
جَعْدِ الثَّرَى بَاتَ في الأَمْطَارِ مَدْجُونَا
from the sands of ʿIrnan, or the sands of Asnumah,
From the sands of ‘Irnah or from the sands of Asnumah
its damp earth clumped, lying all night shrouded in rain.
The curly ground in the rains lies buried with us.
يَهْزُزْنَthey sway لِلْمَشْيِin walking أوصالاًlimbs مُنَعَّمَةًpampered
يَهْزُزْنَ لِلْمَشْيِ أوصالاً مُنَعَّمَةً
هَزَّas the shaking of الجَنُوبِthe south wind ضُحىًat forenoon عِيدَانَboughs of يَبْرينَاYabrin
هَزَّ الجَنُوبِ ضُحىً عِيدَانَ يَبْرينَا
They sway their pampered limbs as they walk,
They sway supple bodies for walking which
as the south wind sways Yabrin's boughs at forenoon,
The south wind moves gently, slender branches with us.
أَوْor كَاهْتِزَازِlike the quivering of رُدَيْنَيٍّa Rudayni spear تَدَاوَلَهُpassed it around
أَوْ كَاهْتِزَازِ رُدَيْنَيٍّ تَدَاوَلَهُ
أَيْدِيthe hands of التِّجَارِmerchants فَزَادُواand they increased مَتْنَهُits shaft's لِينَاsuppleness
أَيْدِي التِّجَارِ فَزَادُوا مَتْنَهُ لِينَا
or like the quivering of a Rudayni spear, passed around by
Or like the swaying of an Indian sword handled
merchants' hands, who added suppleness to its shaft.
By merchant’s hands, so they increased its flexibility with us.
بِيضٌfair women يُجَرِّدْنَthey unsheathe مِنْfrom أَلْحَاظِهِنَّtheir glances لَنَاfor us
بِيضٌ يُجَرِّدْنَ مِنْ أَلْحَاظِهِنَّ لَنَا
بِيضاًbright blades ويُغْمِدْنَand sheath مَاwhat جَرَّدْنَهُthey unsheathed فِينَاin us
بِيضاً ويُغْمِدْنَ مَا جَرَّدْنَهُ فِينَا
Fair women unsheathe, from their glances, for us
Whites disrobing for us from their mantles
bright blades, and sheath those drawn blades within us.
To disrobe in white and sheathe what they stripped off with us.
إِذَاwhen نَطَقْنَthey speak رَأَيْتَyou see الدرَّpearls مُنْتَثِراًscattered
إِذَا نَطَقْنَ رَأَيْتَ الدرَّ مُنْتَثِراً
وإِنْand if صَمَتْنَthey fall silent رَأَيْتَyou see الدُّرَّpearls مَكْنُونَاhidden
وإِنْ صَمَتْنَ رَأَيْتَ الدُّرَّ مَكْنُونَا
When they speak, you see pearls scattered;
When they speak, you see scattered pearls
and if they fall silent, you see pearls hidden away.
And if they are silent, you see concealed pearls with us.
نَازَعْتَyou matched أَلْبَابَهَاtheir wits لُبِّيmy wit بِمُخْتَزَنٍwith a store
نَازَعْتَ أَلْبَابَهَا لُبِّي بِمُخْتَزَنٍ
مِنَof الأَحَادِيثِconversation حَتَّىuntil ازْدَدْنَthey increased ليtoward me لِينَاgentleness
مِنَ الأَحَادِيثِ حَتَّى ازْدَدْنَ لي لِينَا
You matched their wits against mine with a store
You take issue with their minds, and my heart
of conversation, until they grew gentler toward me,
Stores from conversations until they double in gentleness for me.
فيon لَيْلَةٍa night مِنْamong ليَالِيthe nights of الدَّهْرِtime صَالِحَةٍpleasant
في لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ ليَالِي الدَّهْرِ صَالِحَةٍ
لوْif only كَانَwere بَعْدَafterward انْصِرَافِthe turning of الدَّهْرِtime مَأْمُونَاsafe to trust
لوْ كَانَ بَعْدَ انْصِرَافِ الدَّهْرِ مَأْمُونَا
on a pleasant night among the nights of time—
On a night of the nights of fate worthy
if only time's turning afterward could be trusted.
Of eternity, if after the end of fate there was safety with us.
أَبْلِغْtell خَدِيجاًKhadij فَإِنِّيfor I قَدْhave سَمِعْتُheard لَهُfrom him
أَبْلِغْ خَدِيجاً فَإِنِّي قَدْ سَمِعْتُ لَهُ
بَعْضَsome المَقَالَةِwords يُهْدِيهَاhe sends them فَتَأْتِينَاand they reach us
بَعْضَ المَقَالَةِ يُهْدِيهَا فَتَأْتِينَا
Tell Khadij, for I have heard from him
Deliver, O messenger, for I have heard
some words he sends, which reach us.
Some of the speech which will guide her to come to us.
مَاwhat لَكَis with you تَجْرِيyou run إِلَيْنَاtoward us غَيْرَwithout ذِيpossessing رَسَنٍa halter
مَا لَكَ تَجْرِي إِلَيْنَا غَيْرَ ذِي رَسَنٍ
وقَدْand indeed تَكُونُyou may be إِذَاwhen نُجْرِيكَwe make you run تُعْنِينَاyou weary us
وقَدْ تَكُونُ إِذَا نُجْرِيكَ تُعْنِينَا
Why do you race toward us without a halter?
Why do you run to us without a beard
And yet, when we make you run, you may weary us.
When you may, if we run you down, help us?
وقدْand indeed بَرَيْتَyou whittled قِدَاحاًshafts أَنْتَyou مُرْسِلُهَاare their sender
وقدْ بَرَيْتَ قِدَاحاً أَنْتَ مُرْسِلُهَا
ونَحْنُand we رَامُوكَshoot at you فَانْظُرْso see كَيْفَhow تَرْمِينَاyou shoot at us
ونَحْنُ رَامُوكَ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ تَرْمِينَا
You have whittled shafts that you are sending,
You have fled far away, you sent it forth
and we shoot at you—so watch how you shoot at us.
While we shoot at you, so see how you throw at us!
فَاقْصِدْso be moderate بِذَرْعِكَwithin your reach واعْلَمْand know لَوْif تُجَامِعُنَاyou meet us
فَاقْصِدْ بِذَرْعِكَ واعْلَمْ لَوْ تُجَامِعُنَا
أَنَّاthat we بَنُوare sons of الحَرْبِwar نَسْقِيهَاwe give it drink وتَسْقِينَاand it gives us drink
أَنَّا بَنُو الحَرْبِ نَسْقِيهَا وتَسْقِينَا
So keep within your reach, and know, should you meet us,
So aim with your arm, and know that if you fight us
that we are sons of war: we give it drink, and it gives us drink—
We are the people of war, we give it to drink as it gives us drink.
سَمُّpoison of الصَّبَاحِthe morning بِخِرصَانٍwith spearshafts مُقَوَّمَةٍstraightened
سَمُّ الصَّبَاحِ بِخِرصَانٍ مُقَوَّمَةٍ
والمَشْرَفِيَّةُand Mashrafi swords نَهْدِيهَاwe deliver them بِأَيْدِينَاwith our hands
والمَشْرَفِيَّةُ نَهْدِيهَا بِأَيْدِينَا
morning's poison, with straightened spearshafts,
Poisonous are the mountain tops with smoothed rocks
and Mashrafi swords we deliver with our own hands.
And we subjugate the Mashrafiya with our hands.
إِنَّاwe are مَشَائِيمُill omens إِنْif أَرَّشْتَyou stir up جَاهِلَنَاour hothead
إِنَّا مَشَائِيمُ إِنْ أَرَّشْتَ جَاهِلَنَا
يَوْمَon the day of الطَّعَانِspear-fighting وتَلْقَاهَاand you find them مَيَامِينَاgood omens
يَوْمَ الطَّعَانِ وتَلْقَاهَا مَيَامِينَا
We are ill omens if you stir up our hothead
We are quick to scatter if you incite our ignorance
on the day of spear-fighting, yet you find them good omens.
On the day of battle, and it meets our blades.
وعَاقِدِand a wearer of التَّاجِthe crown أَوْor سَامٍan exalted man لَهُwho has شَرَفٌnobility
وعَاقِدِ التَّاجِ أَوْ سَامٍ لَهُ شَرَفٌ
مِنْamong سُوقَةِordinary النَّاسِpeople نَالَتْهُreached him عَوَالِينَاour spearpoints
مِنْ سُوقَةِ النَّاسِ نَالَتْهُ عَوَالِينَا
And a wearer of the crown, or an exalted man of rank
We have the binder of the crown or one exalted over it
among ordinary people, our spearpoints have reached.
Whose nobility the people's leadership brought to us.
فَاسْتَبْهَلَso he let loose الحَرْبَwar مِنْfrom حَرَّانَburning with fury مُطَّرِدٍrushing onward
فَاسْتَبْهَلَ الحَرْبَ مِنْ حَرَّانَ مُطَّرِدٍ
حَتَّىuntil يَظَلَّhe lies عَلَىon الكَفَّيْنِthe two palms مَرْهُونَاheld captive
حَتَّى يَظَلَّ عَلَى الكَفَّيْنِ مَرْهُونَا
So he let war loose, driven by burning, headlong fury,
So he took war lightly against the Harran ever ready
until he lay on his two palms, held captive.
Until he remained bound by the two hands with us.
وإِنَّand indeed فِينَاamong us صَبُوحاًa morning draught إِنْif أَرِبْتَyou desire بِهِit
وإِنَّ فِينَا صَبُوحاً إِنْ أَرِبْتَ بِهِ
جَمْعاًa host بَهِيّاًsplendid وآلاَفاًand thousands ثَمَانِينَاeighty
جَمْعاً بَهِيّاً وآلاَفاً ثَمَانِينَا
And among us is a morning draught, if you desire it:
And among us is Sabbah, if you contend against him,
a splendid host, and eighty thousand,
A goodly army of eighty thousand with us.
ومُقْرَبَاتٍand prized steeds عَنَاجِيجاًlong-bodied مُطَهَّمَةًfinely formed
ومُقْرَبَاتٍ عَنَاجِيجاً مُطَهَّمَةً
مِنْfrom آلِthe line of أَعْوَجَAʿwaj مَلْحُوفاًblanketed ومَلْبُونَاand milk-fed
مِنْ آلِ أَعْوَجَ مَلْحُوفاً ومَلْبُونَا
and prized steeds, long-bodied and finely formed,
And intimate she-camels, swift steeds, ripe,
of Aʿwaj's line, blanketed and fed milk.
From the family of ‘Auaj, mixed and compressed with us.
إِذَاwhen تَجَاوَبْنَthey answer one another صَعَّدْنَthey raise الصَّهِيلِtheir neighing إِلَىto
إِذَا تَجَاوَبْنَ صَعَّدْنَ الصَّهِيلِ إِلَى
صُلْبِthe hard bones of الشُّؤُونِthe skull sutures ولَمْand not تَصْهَلْthey neigh بَرَاذِينَاlike hackneys
صُلْبِ الشُّؤُونِ ولَمْ تَصْهَلْ بَرَاذِينَا
When they answer one another, they raise their neighing to
When they call out to each other their whinny rises up
the hard sutures of the skull; they do not neigh like hackneys.
To the essence of affairs, and they do not neigh with us weakly.
ورَجْلَةًand footmen يَضْرِبُونَthey strike البَيْضَhelmets عَنْfrom عُرُضٍthe side
ورَجْلَةً يَضْرِبُونَ البَيْضَ عَنْ عُرُضٍ
ضَرْباًblows تَوَاصَىenjoin one another بِهِto deal them الأَبْطَالُthe heroes سِجِّينَاfierce
ضَرْباً تَوَاصَى بِهِ الأَبْطَالُ سِجِّينَا
And footmen who strike helmets from the side,
And footsoldiers who strike the white spot on the shoulders
with fierce blows that heroes urge one another to deal.
With a blow the heroes swear allegiance to with us.
فَلاَso do not تَكُونَنَّever be كَالنَّازِيlike one leaping بِبِطْنَتِهِwith his full belly
فَلاَ تَكُونَنَّ كَالنَّازِي بِبِطْنَتِهِ
بَيْنَbetween القَرْينَيْنِthe two companions حَتَّىuntil ظَلَّhe became مَقْرُونَاbound to them
بَيْنَ القَرْينَيْنِ حَتَّى ظَلَّ مَقْرُونَا
So do not be like one leaping about with a full belly
So do not be like the one planted in his belly
between two companions, until he too was bound to them.
Between the two ranks until he remained paired with us.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.