شَطَّتwent far away أُمَيمَةُUmayma بَعدَماafter صَقِبَتwas near
شَطَّت أُمَيمَةُ بَعدَما صَقِبَت
وَنَأَتand grew distant وَماthough not فَنِيَwas exhausted الجِنابُthe neighboring land فَيَذهَبُso it would disappear
وَنَأَت وَما فَنِيَ الجِنابُ فَيَذهَبُ
Umayma has gone far away after being near,
Umayma went on after she had said farewell,
And grown distant, though the neighboring land was not exhausted and lost.
Moving away while my love for her did not disappear.
نالَتshe bestowed بِعاقِبَةٍas a final recompense وَكانَand was نَوالَهاher gift
نالَت بِعاقِبَةٍ وَكانَ نَوالَها
طَيفٌa phantom يَشُقُّweighs heavily عَلىupon المُباعَدِthe distant lover مُنصِبُwearisome
طَيفٌ يَشُقُّ عَلى المُباعَدِ مُنصِبُ
She granted a final favor, and her gift was
She obtained the result of separation, which was
A phantom, grievous to the distant lover and wearying.
A specter that weighed heavily on the one bidding farewell.
فيat كُلِّevery مَثوىresting-place لَيلَةٍof a night سارٍa night-traveler لَهاfrom her
في كُلِّ مَثوى لَيلَةٍ سارٍ لَها
هادٍa guide يَهيجُstirs بِحُزنِهِwith its sorrow مُتَأَوِّبُreturning by night
هادٍ يَهيجُ بِحُزنِهِ مُتَأَوِّبُ
At every night's resting-place, a night-traveler from her,
In every night camp there was a yearning companion for her
A guide, stirring with its sorrow, returning by night.
Who stirred up sorrow while turning to and fro.
أَنّىhow قَطَعتِyou crossed وَأَنتِthough you are غَيرُnot رَجيلَةٍa capable walker
أَنّى قَطَعتِ وَأَنتِ غَيرُ رَجيلَةٍ
عَرضَthe breadth of الفَلاةِthe wilderness وَأَينَand where مِنكِin relation to you المَطلَبُthe place to seek
عَرضَ الفَلاةِ وَأَينَ مِنكِ المَطلَبُ
How did you cross, though you are no walker,
How did you cut across while you were not experienced
The breadth of the wilderness—and where can you be sought?
In traversing the desert? Where in you was determination?
هَلwill تُبلِغَنِّيهاcarry me to her عَلىdespite شَحطِthe great distance of النَوىseparation
هَل تُبلِغَنِّيها عَلى شَحطِ النَوى
عَنسٌa sturdy she-camel تَخُبُّtrots بِيَwith me الهَجيرَthrough midday heat وَتَنعَبُand speeds onward
عَنسٌ تَخُبُّ بِيَ الهَجيرَ وَتَنعَبُ
Will she carry me to her, despite the distance of separation—
Can reproach convey you to the high ground of resolve
A sturdy she-camel, trotting with me through midday heat and speeding onward?
While censure makes me shun you and causes aversion?
أُجُدٌfirm-built سَرىcoursed فيهاthrough her وَظاهَرَand doubled نَيَّهاher fat
أُجُدٌ سَرى فيها وَظاهَرَ نَيَّها
مَرعىًa pasture لَهاfor her أَنِقٌdelightful بِفَيدٍat Fayd مُعشِبُgrassy
مَرعىً لَها أَنِقٌ بِفَيدٍ مُعشِبُ
Firm-built, her body nourished and her fat doubled by
My love for her flowed freely and her intention was evident:
A delightful, grassy pasture for her at Fayd.
Pasturage for her, tender from the plants growing on it.
حَرفٌa hardy she-camel عُذافِرَةٌmighty تَجِدُّpresses onward بِراكِبٍwith a rider
حَرفٌ عُذافِرَةٌ تَجِدُّ بِراكِبٍ
وَكَأَنَّand as though حارِكَهاher withers كَثيبٌa sand-dune أَحدَبُhumped
وَكَأَنَّ حارِكَها كَثيبٌ أَحدَبُ
A hardy, mighty she-camel, pressing onward with her rider,
A she-camel, firm of step, who hardens her tread at a rider
Her withers seeming like a humped sand-dune.
As though her driver were a swaying sandhill.
مِنهاin her إِذاwhen اِحتَضَرَdraw near الخُطوبُcalamities مُعَوَّلٌa support
مِنها إِذا اِحتَضَرَ الخُطوبُ مُعَوَّلٌ
وَقِرىًand hospitality لِحاضِرَةِfor the besetting الهُمومِcares وَمَهرَبُand an escape
وَقِرىً لِحاضِرَةِ الهُمومِ وَمَهرَبُ
In her is support when calamities draw near,
Whenever distress looms, she is relied upon
And hospitality for besetting cares, and a way of escape.
And a refuge for one facing calamities and seeking escape.
وَكَأَنَّهاand as though she إِذwhen قُرِّبَتwas brought forward لِقُتودِهاfor her saddle-timbers
وَكَأَنَّها إِذ قُرِّبَت لِقُتودِها
فَدَنٌa mansion تَطوفُmove around بِهِit البُناةُthe builders مُبَوَّبُfitted with doorways
فَدَنٌ تَطوفُ بِهِ البُناةُ مُبَوَّبُ
When brought forward for her saddle-timbers, she seems
She was offered to her stallion and it was as though
A mansion with doorways, around which builders move.
She were a vat round which builders throng.
تَهديleads قَلائِصَyoung she-camels دُرِّبَتtrained عيدِيَّةًIdi-bred
تَهدي قَلائِصَ دُرِّبَت عيدِيَّةً
خوصاًnarrow-eyed أَضَرَّhas harmed بِهاthem الوَجيفُthe swift trot المُهذِبُheadlong
خوصاً أَضَرَّ بِها الوَجيفُ المُهذِبُ
She leads trained young she-camels of the Idi breed,
She inspires yearning, her neck rings were adorned for the Feast,
Narrow-eyed, worn down by headlong trotting.
Delicate from the pure oil with which she was smeared.
حَتّىuntil اِنطَوىdwindled بَعدَafter الدُؤُوبِunceasing toil ثَميلُهاtheir stored belly-food
حَتّى اِنطَوى بَعدَ الدُؤُوبِ ثَميلُها
وَأُذِلَّand was humbled مِنهاamong them بِالفَلاةِin the wilderness المَصعَبُthe unruly one
وَأُذِلَّ مِنها بِالفَلاةِ المَصعَبُ
Until, after unremitting toil, their stored nourishment dwindled,
Until after persevering her determination gave out
And the unruly among them were humbled in the wilderness.
And she was disgraced by the wilderness, rugged and harsh.
وَكَأَنَّand as though أَعيُنَهُنَّtheir eyes مِنfrom طولِthe length of السُرىnight travel
وَكَأَنَّ أَعيُنَهُنَّ مِن طولِ السُرى
قُلُبٌwells نَواكِزُdepleted ماؤُهُنَّtheir water مُنَضِّبُdraining away
قُلُبٌ نَواكِزُ ماؤُهُنَّ مُنَضِّبُ
Their eyes, from the long night-marches, seemed
It was as though their eyes from the hardship of travel
Depleted wells whose water was draining away.
Were a meadow whose water channels had gone dry.
وَكَأَنَّهاand as though she صَحِلُhoarse الشَحيجِof bray مُطَرَّدٌdriven away
وَكَأَنَّها صَحِلُ الشَحيجِ مُطَرَّدٌ
أَخلىstood empty لَهُfor him حُقبُHuqb السَوارِal-Sawar وَمِذنَبُand Midhnab
أَخلى لَهُ حُقبُ السَوارِ وَمِذنَبُ
And she is like a driven wild ass with a hoarse bray,
It was as though she were the emaciated she-camel of Salh
For whom Huqb al-Sawar and Midhnab stood empty.
That had made room on its side for loss and tail.
أَكَلَate الرَبيعَthe spring growth بِهاthere يُفَزِّعُstartles سَمعَهُhis hearing
أَكَلَ الرَبيعَ بِها يُفَزِّعُ سَمعَهُ
بِمَكانِهِat his place هَزِجُresonant-voiced العَشِيَّةِat evening أَصهَبُa tawny creature
بِمَكانِهِ هَزِجُ العَشِيَّةِ أَصهَبُ
He ate the spring growth there, his hearing startled
Springtime makes its home there, frightening to hear
Where he stood by a tawny creature crying at evening.
In its stead the bustle of evening, loud and confused.
وَحداًalone كَمِقلاءِlike the throwing-stick of الوَليدِa child مُكَدَّمٌbite-scarred
وَحداً كَمِقلاءِ الوَليدِ مُكَدَّمٌ
جَأبٌa sturdy wild ass أَطاعَyielded لَهُto him الجَميمُfresh herbage مُحَنَّبُbowlegged
جَأبٌ أَطاعَ لَهُ الجَميمُ مُحَنَّبُ
Alone, like a child's throwing-stick, scarred with bites,
And a limit like the scar of al-Walid, rugged,
A sturdy wild ass, bowlegged, with fresh herbage yielding to him.
A mountainside which the worthless dust heaps obey.
صُلُبُhard النُسورِof hoof-frogs عَلىacross الصُخورِthe rocks مُراجِمٌpounding
صُلُبُ النُسورِ عَلى الصُخورِ مُراجِمٌ
جَأبٌa burly wild ass حَزابِيَةٌthickset أَقَبُّlean-bellied مُعَقرِبُscorpion-tailed
جَأبٌ حَزابِيَةٌ أَقَبُّ مُعَقرِبُ
Hard of hoof-frogs, pounding across the rocks,
The nests of eagles on the crags, a mountainside,
A burly, thickset ass, lean-bellied, with a scorpion-curved tail.
Steep, more hollow than a honeycomb.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen لَوحُthe scorching heat of الكَواكِبِthe stars شَفَّهُwasted him
حَتّى إِذا لَوحُ الكَواكِبِ شَفَّهُ
مِنهُfrom it الحَرائِرُhot winds وَالسَفاand grass-awns المُتَنَصِّبُstanding upright
مِنهُ الحَرائِرُ وَالسَفا المُتَنَصِّبُ
Until, when the stars' scorching heat had wasted him,
When the stars gave it shade, it shook off
With its hot winds and upright grass-awns,
The free women and those who bore heavy burdens.
اِرتاعَgrew alarmed يَذكُرُremembering مَشرَباًa drinking-place بِثِمادِهِwith its shallow pools
اِرتاعَ يَذكُرُ مَشرَباً بِثِمادِهِ
مِنon the near side of دونِهِit خُشُعٌlow hills دَنونَlying close وَأَنقُبُand mountain passes
مِن دونِهِ خُشُعٌ دَنونَ وَأَنقُبُ
He grew alarmed, remembering a drinking-place with shallow pools,
He remembered a watering place with its fruit trees
With nearby low hills and mountain passes lying before it.
While beyond it were humble palm trees, bent and stooped.
عَزَمَresolved upon الوُرودَgoing to water فَآبَso he returned عَذباًsweet بارِداًcool
عَزَمَ الوُرودَ فَآبَ عَذباً بارِداً
مِنfrom فَوقِهِabove it سُدٌّa mountain barrier يَسيلُpours down وَأَلهُبُand gullies
مِن فَوقِهِ سُدٌّ يَسيلُ وَأَلهُبُ
He resolved to seek water, and returned to water sweet and cool,
He determined to head for the fresh, cold springs
A ridge and gullies pouring their streams down from above it.
Above which was a dyke pouring out and flaming.
جُفَرٌdeep basins تَفيضُoverflow وَلاand do not تَغيضُdwindle طَوامِياًbrimful
جُفَرٌ تَفيضُ وَلا تَغيضُ طَوامِياً
يَزخَرنَthey surge فَوقَabove جِمامِهِنَّtheir full waters الطُحلُبُthe algae
يَزخَرنَ فَوقَ جِمامِهِنَّ الطُحلُبُ
Deep pools, overflowing and never dwindling, brimful,
Pool overflowing which do not dry up, rushing
Surging, with algae atop their full waters.
With mosses upon their eddies fluttering.
فَاِعتامَهُso he chose it عِندَat الظَلامِnightfall فَسامَهُand sought it
فَاِعتامَهُ عِندَ الظَلامِ فَسامَهُ
ثُمَّthen اِنتَهىdrew near حَذَرَfearing المَنِيَّةِdeath يَرقُبُkeeping watch
ثُمَّ اِنتَهى حَذَرَ المَنِيَّةِ يَرقُبُ
He chose it at nightfall and made for it,
So he led his mount into the darkness and it led him away
Then drew near, watching in fear of death.
Then halted, wary of destruction, keeping watch.
وَعَلىand at الشَريعَةِthe water's approach رابِئٌa watcher مُتَحَلِّسٌcrouching
وَعَلى الشَريعَةِ رابِئٌ مُتَحَلِّسٌ
رامٍaiming بِعَينَيهِwith his two eyes الحَظيرَةَat the enclosure شَيزَبُgaunt
رامٍ بِعَينَيهِ الحَظيرَةَ شَيزَبُ
At the water's approach a watcher lay crouched,
Upon the path a mounted guard was an attentive sentry
A gaunt archer, directing both eyes toward the enclosure.
Striving with his eyes to keep the enclosure in view.
مَعَهُwith him مُتابِعَةٌa responsive bow إِذاwhen هُوَhe شَدَّهاdraws it taut
مَعَهُ مُتابِعَةٌ إِذا هُوَ شَدَّها
بِالشِرعِwith the bowstrings يَستَشزيrises upright لَهُfor him وَتَحَدَّبُand arches
بِالشِرعِ يَستَشزي لَهُ وَتَحَدَّبُ
Beside him a responsive bow; when he draws it taut
With him was a scout, whenever he tightened its lead
With its strings, it rises for him and arches.
With divine sanction she mocked him and laughed at him.
مَلساءُsmooth مُحدَلَةٌunevenly curved كَأَنَّas though عَتادَهاits tackle
مَلساءُ مُحدَلَةٌ كَأَنَّ عَتادَها
نَوّاحَةٌa wailing woman نَعَتِannounced the deaths of الكِرامَnoble men مُشَبِّبُchanting a lament
نَوّاحَةٌ نَعَتِ الكِرامَ مُشَبِّبُ
Smooth and unevenly curved, as though its tackle were
Smooth and deep-necked, it was as though her equipment
A wailing woman announcing noble men's deaths, chanting her lament.
Were a professional mourner enumerating the generous.
قَنواءُhook-tipped حَصّاءُsmooth المُقَوَّسِin the curved limb نَبعَةٌa nabʿ-wood bow
قَنواءُ حَصّاءُ المُقَوَّسِ نَبعَةٌ
مِثلُlike السَبيكَةِan ingot إِذwhen تُمَلُّheated in embers وَتُشسَبُand dried
مِثلُ السَبيكَةِ إِذ تُمَلُّ وَتُشسَبُ
Hook-tipped, smooth in the bend, a nabʿ-wood bow,
Slender, pebble-hard hoof, a spring,
Like an ingot when heated in embers and dried.
Like metal slag when it is pounded and drawn out.
عُرشٌbow-tip notches كَحاشِيَةِlike the hem of الإِزارِa wrap شَريجَةٌa split-wood bow
عُرشٌ كَحاشِيَةِ الإِزارِ شَريجَةٌ
صَفراءُyellow لاnot سِدرٌsidr wood وَلاnor هِيَis it تَألَبُtaʾlab wood
صَفراءُ لا سِدرٌ وَلا هِيَ تَألَبُ
Its notched ends like a wrap's hem—a split-wood bow,
A look like the hem of a loincloth, pallid,
Yellow, neither sidr wood nor taʾlab wood.
Neither jujube nor does it tend to mottle.
وَمُثَقَّفٌand a straightened arrow مِمّاfrom what بَرىhe whittled مُتَمالِكٌheld firmly together
وَمُثَقَّفٌ مِمّا بَرى مُتَمالِكٌ
بِالسَيرِwith leather thongs ذوhaving أُطُرٍbinding-bands عَلَيهِupon it وَمَنكِبُand a shoulder
بِالسَيرِ ذو أُطُرٍ عَلَيهِ وَمَنكِبُ
And a straightened arrow from what he had whittled, held firmly together
And well-informed from what he has seen, steadfast,
With leather, bearing binding-bands and a shouldered head.
With the course of events, above him and pressing down.
فَرَمىso he shot فَأَخطَأَهُand missed him وَجالَand he wheeled كَأَنَّهُas though he were
فَرَمى فَأَخطَأَهُ وَجالَ كَأَنَّهُ
أَلِمٌin pain عَلىacross بَرزِthe open ground of الأَماعِزِstony flats يَلحَبُgalloping
أَلِمٌ عَلى بَرزِ الأَماعِزِ يَلحَبُ
He shot and missed him; the ass wheeled as though
He shot and missed him and galloped away as though
In pain, galloping over the open, stony flats.
He were a fox in the lair of goats bleating.
أَفَذاكَis it that one, then أَمor ذوhaving جُدَّتَينِtwo stripes مُوَلَّعٌdappled
أَفَذاكَ أَم ذو جُدَّتَينِ مُوَلَّعٌ
لَهَقٌbrilliantly white تُراعيهِwatches over him بِحَومَلَat Hawmal رَبرَبُa herd of wild cows
لَهَقٌ تُراعيهِ بِحَومَلَ رَبرَبُ
Is it that one, then, or a two-striped, dappled wild bull,
Was that him or one with two braids, impassioned,
Brilliant white, watched by a herd at Hawmal?
A splay-footed hyena which a howler looks after?
بَيناwhile يُضاحِكُshares smiles with رَملَةًa sand-dune وَجِوائِسَهاand its roaming animals
بَينا يُضاحِكُ رَملَةً وَجِوائِسَها
يَوماًone day أُتيحَwas brought لَهُagainst him أُقَيدِرُa squat little hunter جَأنَبُthickset
يَوماً أُتيحَ لَهُ أُقَيدِرُ جَأنَبُ
While he shared smiles with a dune and its roaming herd,
While he jested with a sand dune and her young
One day a squat, thickset hunter was brought against him,
There came to him a large-necked wild donkey.
قَصداًheading straight إِلَيهِtoward him فَجالَso he wheeled ثُمَّتَthen رَدَّهُturned him back
قَصداً إِلَيهِ فَجالَ ثُمَّتَ رَدَّهُ
عِزٌّpride وَمُشتَدُّand a firm setting النِصالِfor the horn-points مُجَرَّبُbattle-tested
عِزٌّ وَمُشتَدُّ النِصالِ مُجَرَّبُ
Making straight for him; he wheeled, then was turned back by
It went straight for him and he shied away, then it drove him off,
Pride, and a battle-tested head with firmly set horn-points.
Honor which tests sharp swords and tries them out.
فَتَرَكنَهُso they left him خَضِلَdrenched الجَبينِof brow كَأَنَّهُas though he were
فَتَرَكنَهُ خَضِلَ الجَبينِ كَأَنَّهُ
قَرمٌa breeding camel بِهِon him كَدمُbite-marks البِكارَةِof young she-camels مُصعَبُuntamed
قَرمٌ بِهِ كَدمُ البِكارَةِ مُصعَبُ
They left him with his brow drenched, as though he were
It left him with cheeks that looked as though
An untamed breeding camel marked by young she-camels' bites.
They were stained with the blood of virginity, viscous.
فَاِبتَزَّهُنَّso he wrested from them حُتوفَهُنَّtheir fated deaths فَفائِظٌand one expiring
فَاِبتَزَّهُنَّ حُتوفَهُنَّ فَفائِظٌ
عَطِبٌslain وَكابٍand one fallen لِلجَبينِonto its brow مُتَرَّبُdust-covered
عَطِبٌ وَكابٍ لِلجَبينِ مُتَرَّبُ
So he dealt them their destined deaths: one expiring,
It tore away their veils, so ones nobility and gravity
Slain, another fallen on its brow, dust-covered.
Were shamed and stooped over in humiliation.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.