رحَلَت قُتيلةُ عيرَها قبل الضحى

رحَلَت قُتيلةُ عيرَها قبل الضحى

وإخالُ أن شحطت بجارتك النوى

وإخالُ أن شحطت بجارتك النوى

Qutayla readied her caravan before midmorning.

The camel caravan of Utaylah departed before dawn

And I think separation has carried your neighbor far away.

As if your neighbor had packed up and left in haste

أو كلما رحلت قُتيلة غدوة

أو كلما رحلت قُتيلة غدوة

وغدت مفارقةً لأرضهمُ بكى

وغدت مفارقةً لأرضهمُ بكى

Or whenever Qutayla departed early in the morning,

Or whenever Utaylah departs at dawn

And went forth, leaving their land, did he weep?

And leaves their land weeping as she goes

ولقدر كبتُ على السفين ملجِّجاً

ولقدر كبتُ على السفين ملجِّجاً

أذَرُ الصديقَ وأنتحي دار العدى

أذَرُ الصديقَ وأنتحي دار العدى

And indeed I boarded ships, venturing into the deep,

And I have suppressed my tears on the turbulent ship

Leaving my friend behind and making for the abode of foes.

To bid farewell to a friend and head to the land of enemies

ولقد دخلتُ البيت يُخشى أهلهُ

ولقد دخلتُ البيت يُخشى أهلهُ

بعدَ الهدُوِّ وبعدما سقطَ الندى

بعدَ الهدُوِّ وبعدما سقطَ الندى

And indeed I entered the house whose people are feared,

And I entered the house whose people were feared

After all was quiet, and after the dew had fallen.

After the noonday heat when the dew had fallen

فوجدتُ فيه طفلةً قد زيّنت

فوجدتُ فيه طفلةً قد زيّنت

بالحلي تحسَبه بها جمرَ الغَضا

بالحلي تحسَبه بها جمرَ الغَضا

And there I found a tender maiden already adorned

And found there a young girl adorned

With jewels that, on her, you would take for embers of ghada wood.

With jewelry that made her cheeks glow like embers

فنعمتُ بالاً إذ أتيتُ فراشها

فنعمتُ بالاً إذ أتيتُ فراشها

وسقطتُ منها حينَ جئتُ على هوى

وسقطتُ منها حينَ جئتُ على هوى

So my mind was at ease when I came to her bed,

So I enjoyed intimacy when I came to her bed

And when I came, I found desire in her.

And fell for her when I came following my desire

فبتلك لذّات الشبابِ قضيتُها

فبتلك لذّات الشبابِ قضيتُها

عنّي فسائل بعضهم ماذا قَضى

عنّي فسائل بعضهم ماذا قَضى

With her, then, I enjoyed the pleasures of youth;

And so with the pleasures of youth I passed my time

On my behalf, ask one of them what he accomplished.

Some ask what did you spend it on

قَدحَ الذُباب فليس يوري قَدحهُ

قَدحَ الذُباب فليس يوري قَدحهُ

لا حاجةً قضى ولا مالاً نما

لا حاجةً قضى ولا مالاً نما

A fly's striking—his striking kindles no fire;

The buzzing of flies is no indication

He fulfilled no need, nor increased any wealth.

That he spent it out of need or to acquire wealth

فارفَع ضعيفكَ لا يَحُل بك ضعفهُ

فارفَع ضعيفكَ لا يَحُل بك ضعفهُ

يوماً فتُدركَه العواقبُ قد نَما

يوماً فتُدركَه العواقبُ قد نَما

So lift up your weak one, lest his weakness befall you

So raise yourself up do not let your weakness continue

One day; then may the turns of fortune find him grown strong.

Lest consequences overtake you while you slumber

يَجزيك أو يُثني عليك وإن مَن

يَجزيك أو يُثني عليك وإن مَن

أثنى عليك بما فعلتَ كمَن جزى

أثنى عليك بما فعلتَ كمَن جزى

He will repay you or praise you; and indeed, whoever

Whether he praises you or rewards you, one who

Praises you for what you have done is like one who repays.

Praises what you did is like one who rewards

أرعى أمانتَهُ وأحفظُ غيبهُ

أرعى أمانتَهُ وأحفظُ غيبهُ

جهدي فيأتي بعد ذلك ما أتى

جهدي فيأتي بعد ذلك ما أتى

I keep his trust and protect his honor in his absence,

Guard his trust and keep his secret

To the best of my ability; after that, let come what may.

I will do my part, then let whatever happens come