عَرَفَhe recognized الدِيارَthe dwellings تَوَهُّماًby surmise فَاِعتادَهاso he revisited them
عَرَفَ الدِيارَ تَوَهُّماً فَاِعتادَها
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat شَمِلَovertook البِلىdecay أَبلادَهاtheir grounds
مِن بَعدِ ما شَمِلَ البِلى أَبلادَها
He recognized the dwellings by surmise and revisited them,
He recognized the abode imagining it, so he accustomed himself to it
after decay had overtaken their grounds.
After time had encompassed its countries with destruction
إِلّاexcept رَواسِيَfixed hearthstones كُلُّهُنَّall of them قَدalready اِصطَلىfelt the heat of
إِلّا رَواسِيَ كُلُّهُنَّ قَد اِصطَلى
حَمراءَa red fire أَشعَلَkindled أَهلُهاits people إيقادَهاits blaze
حَمراءَ أَشعَلَ أَهلُها إيقادَها
Save fixed hearthstones, all of which had felt the heat of
Except for its firm mountains, all of which the red flames
a red fire whose blaze the camp's people kindled.
Kindled by its people had scorched
كانَتthey were رَواحِلَmounts لِلقُدورِfor cooking-pots فَعُرِّيَتthen were stripped
كانَت رَواحِلَ لِلقُدورِ فَعُرِّيَت
مِنهُنَّof them وَاِستَلَبَand snatched away الزَمانُtime رَمادَهاtheir ashes
مِنهُنَّ وَاِستَلَبَ الزَمانُ رَمادَها
They had been mounts for cooking-pots, then were stripped
Its cooking pots were places for lunch meat, but they were stripped
of them; time had stolen their ashes.
Of it, and time had seized their ashes
بِشُبَيكَةِat Shubaykat الحَوَرِal-Hawar الَّتيwhich غَربِيُّهاits western tract
بِشُبَيكَةِ الحَوَرِ الَّتي غَربِيُّها
فَقَدَتlost رَسومُtraces of حِياضِهِits watering-pools وَرّادَهاtheir water-seekers
فَقَدَت رَسومُ حِياضِهِ وَرّادَها
At Shubaykat al-Hawar, in whose western tract
With the chamber of the houri whose Western one
the traces of its pools had lost those who came to drink.
Lost the features of its courtyard and its pillows
وَتَنَكَّرَتand grew unrecognizable كُلَّall التَنَكُّرِthe alteration بَعدَناafter our departure
وَتَنَكَّرَت كُلَّ التَنَكُّرِ بَعدَنا
وَالأَرضُand the land تَعرِفُknows تَلعَهاits gullies وَجَمادَهاand its barren ground
وَالأَرضُ تَعرِفُ تَلعَها وَجَمادَها
They became utterly unrecognizable after we left,
Everything was disguised after we left
yet the land knows its gullies and barren tracts.
And the land recognizes its barrenness and its inanimateness
وَلَرُبَّand many a واضِحَةِradiant of الجَبينِbrow خَريدَةٍmodest maiden
وَلَرُبَّ واضِحَةِ الجَبينِ خَريدَةٍ
بَيضاءَfair-skinned قَدalready ضَرَبَتshe drove in بِهاthere أَوتادَهاher tent-pegs
بَيضاءَ قَد ضَرَبَت بِها أَوتادَها
And many a radiant-browed, modest maiden,
By the evident-browed, white-complexioned gazelle
fair-skinned, had driven her tent-pegs there.
Who had pegged its tents with it
تَصطادُensnares بِهجَتُهاher beauty المُعَلَّلَthe man beguiled بِالصِباby youthful passion
تَصطادُ بِهجَتُها المُعَلَّلَ بِالصِبا
عَرَضاًin passing فَتُقصِدُهُso it strikes him dead وَلَنand will never يَصطادَهاhe captures her
عَرَضاً فَتُقصِدُهُ وَلَن يَصطادَها
Her beauty ensnares the man beguiled by youthful passion
Which with its captivating coquetry entraps
in passing, striking him dead; he will never ensnare her.
An onlooker, and then intentionally does not trap him
كَالظَبيَةِlike a doe البِكرِthe young one الفَريدَةِthe solitary one تَرتَعيshe grazes
كَالظَبيَةِ البِكرِ الفَريدَةِ تَرتَعي
مِنfrom أَرضِهاher land قَفَراتِهاits barren tracts وِعِهادَهاand its rain-watered tracts
مِن أَرضِها قَفَراتِها وِعِهادَها
Like a young, solitary doe, grazing
Like an unbroken filly grazing
her land's barren stretches and rain-watered grounds.
On the wastelands and bushes of its land
خَضَبَتdyed لَهاfor her عُقَدُthickets البِراقِthe sandy-stony tracts جَبينَهاher brow
خَضَبَت لَها عُقَدُ البِراقِ جَبينَها
مِنfrom عَركِهاher rubbing against عَلَجانَهاtheir 'alajan shrubs وَعَرادَهاand their 'arad shrubs
مِن عَركِها عَلَجانَها وَعَرادَها
The thickets of the sandy, stony tracts have dyed her brow
The knots of lightning adorned its forehead
from rubbing against their 'alajan and 'arad shrubs.
From its rubbing against its salty bushes and thickets
كَالزينِlike adornment فيon وَجهِthe face of العَروسِthe bride تَبَذَّلَتshe grew unreserved
كَالزينِ في وَجهِ العَروسِ تَبَذَّلَت
بَعدَafter الحَياءِshyness فَلاthen (split-word beginning) عَبَتplayed with (split-word ending) أَرآدَهاher fawns
بَعدَ الحَياءِ فَلا عَبَت أَرآدَها
Like adornment on a bride's face; she grew unreserved
Like the beauty in the face of a bride who displayed herself
after her shyness and played with her fawns.
Without shyness, so she did not conceal her intention
تَزجيshe urges along أَغَنَّa nasal-voiced fawn كَأَنَّas though إِبرَةَthe needle-tip of رَوقِهِhis horn
تَزجي أَغَنَّ كَأَنَّ إِبرَةَ رَوقِهِ
قَلَمٌa pen أَصابَtook مِنَfrom الدَواةِthe inkwell مَدادَهاits ink
قَلَمٌ أَصابَ مِنَ الدَواةِ مَدادَها
She urges on a nasal-voiced fawn; the needle-tip of his horn seems
It warbles the most melodious song, as if the eye of its chanting
a pen that has taken ink from the inkwell.
Is a pen that drew from the inkwell its ink
رَكِبَتshe traversed بِهِwith him مِنof عالِجٍ'Alij مُتَحَيِّراًbewildering
رَكِبَت بِهِ مِن عالِجٍ مُتَحَيِّراً
قَفراًa wilderness تُرَيّبُnurses وَحشُهُits wild creatures أَولادَهاtheir young
قَفراً تُرَيّبُ وَحشُهُ أَولادَها
She went with him through a bewildering tract of 'Alij,
It mounted a bewildered, elevated place,
a wilderness where its wild creatures nurse their young,
A wasteland which its wild beasts scare its cubs
بِمَجَرِّalong the track of مُرتَجِزِa chanting cloud الرَواعِدِthunderclaps بَعَّجَتburst open
بِمَجَرِّ مُرتَجِزِ الرَواعِدِ بَعَّجَت
غُرُّthe bright ones of السَحابِthe clouds بِهِthere الثِقالُthe heavy ones مَزادَهاtheir waterskins
غُرُّ السَحابِ بِهِ الثِقالُ مَزادَها
along the track of a thunder-chanting cloud, where
With the getting ready to strike of lightning that ripped
bright, heavy clouds burst their waterskins.
Through the thickness of clouds, dragging its bags
فَتَرىso you see مَحانيهِits hollows الَّتيwhich تَسِقُhold الثَرىmoist earth
فَتَرى مَحانيهِ الَّتي تَسِقُ الثَرى
وَالهُبرَand the depressions يونِقُdelights نَبتُهاtheir vegetation رُوّادَهاtheir pasture-seekers
وَالهُبرَ يونِقُ نَبتُها رُوّادَها
So you see its hollows, which hold moist earth,
Thus you see its torrents that water the land
and its depressions, their vegetation delighting their pasture-seekers.
And the showers that ripen its vegetation and make it flourish
بانَتdeparted سُعادُSu'ad وَأَخلَفَتand broke ميعادَهاher promise
بانَت سُعادُ وَأَخلَفَت ميعادَها
وَتَباعَدَتand drew far away مِنّاfrom us لِتَمنَعَto withhold زادَهاher sustenance
وَتَباعَدَت مِنّا لِتَمنَعَ زادَها
Su'ad departed and broke her promise,
Good times departed and missed their appointment
and went far from us to withhold her sustenance.
And distanced themselves from us to deny us their provision
إِنّيindeed I إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle لَمdoes not تَصلِنيshe maintains ties with me خُلَّتيmy beloved
إِنّي إِذا ما لَم تَصلِني خُلَّتي
وَتَباعَدَتand drew away عَنّيfrom me اِغتَفَرتُI forgave بِعادَهاher estrangement
وَتَباعَدَت عَنّي اِغتَفَرتُ بِعادَها
Indeed, when my beloved does not keep her bond with me,
When isolation does not unite me with my bosom friend
and draws away from me, I forgive her estrangement.
And distance comes between me and her settlement
وَإِذاand when القَرينَةُthe female companion لَمdoes not تَزَلcease فيin نَجدَةٍharshness
وَإِذا القَرينَةُ لَم تَزَل في نَجدَةٍ
مِنfrom ضَغنِهاher rancor سَئِمَgrew weary of القَرينُthe partner قِيادَهاguiding her
مِن ضَغنِها سَئِمَ القَرينُ قِيادَها
And when a female companion persists in harshness
Either I see white hair spreading through my black hair
from her rancor, her partner tires of guiding her.
Until brightness peers through its darkness
إِمّاif تَرَيyou see شَيباًgray hair تَفَشَّغُspreading through لِمَّتيmy locks
إِمّا تَرَي شَيباً تَفَشَّغُ لِمَّتي
حَتّىuntil عَلىover وَضَحٌwhiteness يَلوحُgleams سَوادَهاtheir blackness
حَتّى عَلى وَضَحٌ يَلوحُ سَوادَها
If you see gray hair spreading through my locks,
The hand of the maiden was once my pillow
until whiteness gleams over their blackness,
Making my right hand a pillow under her head
فَلَقَدyet indeed تَبيتُlies through the night يَدُthe hand of الفَتاةِthe young woman وِسادَةًa pillow
فَلَقَد تَبيتُ يَدُ الفَتاةِ وِسادَةً
ليfor me جاعِلاًmaking يُسرىthe left of يَدَيَّmy two hands وِسادَهاher pillow
لي جاعِلاً يُسرى يَدَيَّ وِسادَها
yet a young woman's hand would once lie all night as a pillow
And the companions of the heavily armed army saw me
for me, while I made my left hand her pillow.
As the bravest horseman among its cavalry and infantry
وَأَصحابُand I accompany (probable reading) الجَيشِthe army العَرَمرَمthe vast فارِساًas a horseman
وَأَصحابُ الجَيشِ العَرَمرَم فارِساً
فيamong الخَيلِthe horses أَشهَدُI witness كَرَّهاtheir charges وَطِرادَهاand their pursuits
في الخَيلِ أَشهَدُ كَرَّها وَطِرادَها
And I accompany the vast army as a horseman,
And a poem whose verses I collected completely
among the horses, I witness their charges and pursuits.
Until I corrected its leaning and its support
وَقَصيدَةٍand a poem قَدindeed بِتُّI spent the night أَجمَعُassembling بَينَهاits parts together
وَقَصيدَةٍ قَد بِتُّ أَجمَعُ بَينَها
حَتّىuntil أُقَوِّمَI straighten مَيلَهاits crookedness وَسِنادَهاand its rhyme faults
حَتّى أُقَوِّمَ مَيلَها وَسِنادَها
And many a poem I spent the night piecing together,
The thoughts of the cultivated man in his meditations
until I straightened its crookedness and rhyme faults,
Until his education straightens its minarets
نَظَرَthe scrutiny of المُثَقِّفِthe shaft-straightener فيof كُقوبِknots (probable reading) قَناتِهِhis spear-shaft
نَظَرَ المُثَقِّفِ في كُقوبِ قَناتِهِ
حَتّىuntil يُقيمَstraightens ثِقافُهُhis straightening-tool مُنآدَهاits bends
حَتّى يُقيمَ ثِقافُهُ مُنآدَها
as a shaft-straightener examines the knots of his spear,
And indeed I attained the joy of livelihood
until his straightening-tool corrects its bends.
And encountered the harshness of hardships and their severity
وَلَقَدand indeed أَصَبتُI found مِنَin المَعيشَةِliving لَذَّةًpleasure
وَلَقَد أَصَبتُ مِنَ المَعيشَةِ لَذَّةً
وَلَقيتُand I encountered مِنamong شَظَفِthe hardship of الخُطوبِadversities شِدادَهاtheir severest forms
وَلَقيتُ مِن شَظَفِ الخُطوبِ شِدادَها
I have indeed found pleasure in living,
So I concealed the flaw of my life with nobility
and faced the severest hardships of adversity.
And attained success at the peak of luxury and its firmness
فَسَتَرتُso I concealed عَيبَthe defect of مَعيشَتيmy livelihood بِتَكَرُّمٍwith generosity
فَسَتَرتُ عَيبَ مَعيشَتي بِتَكَرُّمٍ
وَأَتَيتُand I observed فيin سَعَةِthe abundance of النَعيمِcomfort سَدادَهاits proper measure
وَأَتَيتُ في سَعَةِ النَعيمِ سَدادَها
So I concealed the faults of my livelihood with generosity,
And I remained such that I do not ask a scholar
and in abundant comfort observed its proper measure.
About one science in order to increase it
وَبَقيتُand I lived on حَتّىuntil ماnot أُسائَلُI question عالِماًa learned man
وَبَقيتُ حَتّى ما أُسائَلُ عالِماً
عَنabout عِلمknowledge of واحِدَةٍa single thing لِكَيso that أَزدادَهاI may add it to my knowledge
عَن عِلم واحِدَةٍ لِكَي أَزدادَها
And I have lived so long that I no longer ask a learned man
May God pray upon a man whom I bid farewell
about a single thing, to add it to my knowledge.
And complete His blessings upon him and augment them
صَلّىmay bless الإِلَهُGod عَلىupon اِمرِئٍa man وَدَّعتُهُI bade him farewell
صَلّى الإِلَهُ عَلى اِمرِئٍ وَدَّعتُهُ
وَأَتَمَّand may perfect نِعمَتَهُHis favor عَلَيهِupon him وَزادَهاand increase it
وَأَتَمَّ نِعمَتَهُ عَلَيهِ وَزادَها
May God bless a man I bade farewell,
When the springs continued one after another
and perfect His favor upon him and increase it.
Watering the cheeks of the barren lands, so it poured forth generously
وَإِذاand when الرَبيعُspring تَتابَعَتfollowed in succession أَنواؤُهُits seasonal rains
وَإِذا الرَبيعُ تَتابَعَت أَنواؤُهُ
فَسَقىthen watered خُناصِرَةَKhunasirah الأَحَصِّal-Ahass فَجادَهاand drenched it abundantly
فَسَقى خُناصِرَةَ الأَحَصِّ فَجادَها
And when spring's rainfalls follow one another,
Al-Walid came down upon it, so for its people he was
it waters Khunasirah of al-Ahass and drenches her.
A rain that brought relief to its companion and its countries
نَزَلَsettled الوَليدُal-Walid بِهاthere فَكانَso he became لِأَهلِهاfor its people
نَزَلَ الوَليدُ بِها فَكانَ لِأَهلِها
غَيثاًsuccoring rain أَغاثَbrought relief to أَنيسَهاits inhabitants وَبِلادَهاand its lands
غَيثاً أَغاثَ أَنيسَها وَبِلادَها
Al-Walid settled there and became, for its people,
Does it not please you that the entire wilderness
rain that brought relief to its inhabitants and lands.
Cast its reins to him, so he led it?
أَوَلاdo you not تَسريyou see (probable reading) أَنَّthat البَرِيَّةَcreation كُلَّهاall of it
أَوَلا تَسري أَنَّ البَرِيَّةَ كُلَّها
أَلقَتcast خَزائِمَهاits nose-reins إِلَيهِto him فَقادَهاso he led it
أَلقَت خَزائِمَها إِلَيهِ فَقادَها
Do you not see that all creation
And indeed God wanted, when He made him its guardian,
has cast its nose-reins to him, and he has led it?
The reform of a nation and its guidance
وَلَقَدand indeed أَرادَintended اللَهُGod إِذwhen وَلاكَهاHe gave you rule over it
وَلَقَد أَرادَ اللَهُ إِذ وَلاكَها
مِنof أَمَّةٍa nation إِصلاحَهاits reform وَرَشادَهاand its right guidance
مِن أَمَّةٍ إِصلاحَها وَرَشادَها
Indeed, God intended, when He gave you rule over it,
And you populated the land of the Muslims, so it came to life
the reform and right guidance of a nation.
And you eliminated from it those who want its corruption
وَعَمَّرتَand you made flourish أَرضَthe land of المُسلمينَthe Muslims فَأَقبَلَتso it prospered
وَعَمَّرتَ أَرضَ المُسلمينَ فَأَقبَلَت
وَنُفيتَand you banished عَنهاfrom it مَنwhoever يُريدُwants فَسادَهاits ruin
وَنُفيتَ عَنها مَن يُريدُ فَسادَها
You made the Muslims' land flourish, and it prospered,
And you attained in the land of the enemy a blow
and banished from it whoever sought its ruin.
That reached the furthest parts of its expanse and its palms
وَأَصَبتَand you inflicted فيin أَرضِthe land of العَدُوِّthe enemy مُصيبَةًa calamity
وَأَصَبتَ في أَرضِ العَدُوِّ مُصيبَةً
بَلَغَتreached أَقاصيthe furthest reaches of غورِهاits lowlands وِنِجادَهاand its uplands
بَلَغَت أَقاصي غورِها وِنِجادَها
And in the enemy's land you inflicted a calamity
A victory and triumph the like of which
that reached the furthest of its lowlands and uplands:
None of the allies had ever intended or wanted
نَصراًa victory وَظَفراًand a triumph ماnot تَناوَلَattained مِثلَهُits like
نَصراً وَظَفراً ما تَناوَلَ مِثلَهُ
أَحَدٌanyone مِنَamong الحُلَفاءِthe allies كانَhad أَرادَهاsought it
أَحَدٌ مِنَ الحُلَفاءِ كانَ أَرادَها
a victory and triumph whose like had never been attained
And if you unfold praise for him you will find him
by any of the allies who had sought it.
Gathering virtues, its edges, and its extensions
وَإِذاand when نَشَرتَyou proclaim لَهُfor him الثَناءَpraise وَجَدتَهُyou find him
وَإِذا نَشَرتَ لَهُ الثَناءَ وَجَدتَهُ
جَمَعَhe gathered المَكارِمَnoble qualities طُرفَهاtheir newly won ones وَتِلادَهاand their inherited ones
جَمَعَ المَكارِمَ طُرفَها وَتِلادَها
And when you proclaim his praise, you find him
Al-Walid surpassed the honorable in generosity
having gathered noble qualities, both newly won and inherited.
And it sufficed Quraysh what afflicts its pillow
غَلَبَsurpassed المَساميحَthe generous الوَليدُal-Walid سَماحَةًin generosity
غَلَبَ المَساميحَ الوَليدُ سَماحَةً
وَكَفىand spared قُرَيشاًQuraysh ماwhatever يَنوبُbefalls وَسادَهاand became its chief
وَكَفى قُرَيشاً ما يَنوبُ وَسادَها
Al-Walid surpassed the generous in generosity,
The trophies of power come to him forcibly
and spared Quraysh whatever befell it, becoming its chief.
And by compulsion, and he gathers for wars its equipment
تَأَتيهِcome to him أَسلابُthe spoils of الأَعِزَّةِthe mighty عَنوَةًby force
تَأَتيهِ أَسلابُ الأَعِزَّةِ عَنوَةً
قَسراًby compulsion وَيَجمَعُand he gathers لِلحُروبِfor wars عَتادَهاtheir equipment
قَسراً وَيَجمَعُ لِلحُروبِ عَتادَها
The spoils of the mighty come to him by force,
And when he saw the fire of destruction raging
by compulsion; and he gathers the equipment of war.
He rallied those people at its height and peak
وَإِذاand when رَأىhe saw نارَthe fire of العَدُمِّthe enemy (probable reading) تَضَرَّمَتblazed
وَإِذا رَأى نارَ العَدُمِّ تَضَرَّمَت
ساميhe challenged جَماعَةَthe assembly of أَهلِهاits people فَاِكتادَهاthen outmaneuvered them
سامي جَماعَةَ أَهلِها فَاِكتادَها
And when he sees the enemy's fire blazing,
With heavily armed soldiers subduing the highlands, men of distinction
he challenges its assembled people and outmaneuvers them,
Bearing the noonday heat like the hot wind carrying its bundles
بِعَرَمرَمٍwith a vast army يَئِدُburies الرَوابيthe hills ذيpossessing وَغيٍbattle-clamor
بِعَرَمرَمٍ يَئِدُ الرَوابي ذي وَغيٍ
كَالحَرَّةِlike a lava-field اِحتَمَلَbore aloft الضُحىthe morning glare أَطوادَهاits mountains
كَالحَرَّةِ اِحتَمَلَ الضُحى أَطوادَها
with a vast, clamorous army that buries the hills,
They extinguished the fires of the enemy and ignited
like a lava-field whose mountains the morning glare bears aloft.
A fire sparked by your palms striking its flints
أَطفَأَتyou quenched نيرانَthe fires of العَدُوِّthe enemy وَأوقِدَتand was kindled
أَطفَأَت نيرانَ العَدُوِّ وَأوقِدَت
نارٌa fire قَدَحتَyou struck بِراحَتَيكَwith your two palms زِنادَهاits fire-sticks
نارٌ قَدَحتَ بِراحَتَيكَ زِنادَها
You quenched the enemy's fires, and there was kindled
So its insight became clear to those who follow guidance
a fire whose fire-sticks you struck with your two palms.
While the intense heat of its evil smoldered its enviers
فَبَدَتso appeared بَصيرَتُهاits illuminating proof لِمَنto whoever تَبَعَfollowed الهُدىright guidance
فَبَدَت بَصيرَتُها لِمَن تَبَعَ الهُدى
وَأَصابَand struck حَرُّthe heat of شَرارِهاits sparks حُسّدَهاits enviers
وَأَصابَ حَرُّ شَرارِها حُسّدَها
So its illuminating proof appeared to those who followed guidance,
And when a fated day comes with a blast
and the heat of its sparks struck those who envied it.
The next day presents the like of it, so it repeats it
وَإِذاand if غَداhe went forth in the morning يَوماًone day بِنَفخَةِwith a gust نائِلٍof bounty
وَإِذا غَدا يَوماً بِنَفخَةِ نائِلٍ
عَرَضَتpresented itself لَهُto him الغَدَthe next day مِثلُهاits like فَأَعادَهاso he repeated it
عَرَضَت لَهُ الغَدَ مِثلُها فَأَعادَها
And if one day he goes forth with a gust of bounty,
And when horses raced to overtake a goal
its like presents itself the next day, and he gives it again.
The one approaching and coming leads its steeds
وَإِذاand when جَرَتran خَيلٌhorses تُبادِرُrace toward غايَةًa finishing-post
وَإِذا جَرَت خَيلٌ تُبادِرُ غايَةً
فَالسابِقُthen the frontrunner الجائيthe one arriving يَقودُleads جِيادَهاtheir finest steeds
فَالسابِقُ الجائي يَقودُ جِيادَها
And when horses race toward a finishing-post,
then he is the first to arrive, leading their finest steeds.
Partial English translation: 82 of 84 Arabic lines translated.