تويت
معلقة زهير بن أبي سلمى بالإنكليزية:
ترجمة شيخ المترجمين العرب المرحوم بإذن الله الأستاذ الدكتور إبراهيم المميز
The Mcuallaqa of Zuhayr ibn Abi Selma
1- أمِنْ أم ِّ أوفى دِمـنـَة ٌ لم تـَكـَلـم ِ بـِحـَومـَانـة الـَـدّراج ِ فـالــمـُتـَلثــّم ِ
1. At “Umm Awfa”(1) silent is the soot of yore’s home fire
When of “Darraj”(2) and “Mutathallim”(3) I inquire.
2- ودارٌ لـها بالرَ قمَـــتــين ِ كــأنـــها مَرَاجـِـيعُ وَشْـم ٍ في نواشِـر مِعـْصَم ِ
ترجمة شيخ المترجمين العرب المرحوم بإذن الله الأستاذ الدكتور إبراهيم المميز
The Mcuallaqa of Zuhayr ibn Abi Selma
1- أمِنْ أم ِّ أوفى دِمـنـَة ٌ لم تـَكـَلـم ِ بـِحـَومـَانـة الـَـدّراج ِ فـالــمـُتـَلثــّم ِ
1. At “Umm Awfa”(1) silent is the soot of yore’s home fire
When of “Darraj”(2) and “Mutathallim”(3) I inquire.
2- ودارٌ لـها بالرَ قمَـــتــين ِ كــأنـــها مَرَاجـِـيعُ وَشْـم ٍ في نواشِـر مِعـْصَم ِ
- [*=center]Two homes(4), apart , she has that bare have been laid
Like some faded tattoos that on a wrist were made
3- بـِـها العَـيْنُ و الأرْام يَمْـشَـيْنَ خِلفـَة ً وألهلا ؤها يَنـْهضْــنَ من كـُل ِّمَجْثــَم ِ
3- بـِـها العَـيْنُ و الأرْام يَمْـشَـيْنَ خِلفـَة ً وألهلا ؤها يَنـْهضْــنَ من كـُل ِّمَجْثــَم ِ
- [*=center]There, flocks of deer, and of oryx wide-eyed,
Forward walk, with their young stepping on beside
4- وَقفـْـتُ بـها مِـن ْ بَعْد ِ عِـشْـرين َ حِجَّة ً فـَلأيـاً عَـرفـْتُ الـدّارَ بـعد تـَـوهــّـم ِ
4- وَقفـْـتُ بـها مِـن ْ بَعْد ِ عِـشْـرين َ حِجَّة ً فـَلأيـاً عَـرفـْتُ الـدّارَ بـعد تـَـوهــّـم ِ
- [*=center]After twenty years, at her ruined abode I stood
But I hardly knew it; to know it well I should.
5- أثــافيَّ سُـفـْعـاً في مــعرَّس ِ مِـــرْجَل ٍ ونـُـؤيـاً كجـذ ْم ِ الحوْض ِ لم يـَـتـَثـَـلَّم ِ
5- أثــافيَّ سُـفـْعـاً في مــعرَّس ِ مِـــرْجَل ٍ ونـُـؤيـاً كجـذ ْم ِ الحوْض ِ لم يـَـتـَثـَـلَّم ِ
- [*=center]But the cooking-pot stones were where they’d once been laid
And the all-round rain barrier (5) still intact had stayed.
6- فـَلـَـمّا عَرَفـْتُ الدارَ قـُـلـت ُ لـِرَبْعـِها ألا انـْعَـمْ صَبَاحاً ايـّها الـرَّبْْع ِ و اسْــلم ِ
6- فـَلـَـمّا عَرَفـْتُ الدارَ قـُـلـت ُ لـِرَبْعـِها ألا انـْعَـمْ صَبَاحاً ايـّها الـرَّبْْع ِ و اسْــلم ِ
- [*=center]It was the house indeed , as far as I could tell
“Good morn to you” I said “May you fare safe and well”.
7- تـَبـَصَّـر خليليَّ هَلْ ترى مِـنْ ظعائِـن ٍ تـَتـَحمَّـلنَ بالعَلياء مـِنْ فوق ِ جُرْ ثـُم ِ
7- تـَبـَصَّـر خليليَّ هَلْ ترى مِـنْ ظعائِـن ٍ تـَتـَحمَّـلنَ بالعَلياء مـِنْ فوق ِ جُرْ ثـُم ِ
- [*=center]Look friends! behold the belles that yonder howdahs bear(6)
O’er “Jurthum”(7), well on their way they fare.
8- جـَعـَلنَ القـنانَ عَن ْ يمين ٍ و حَزْنـَه ُ وكـم ْ بالــقنان ِ من مُحــِل ٍّ و مُــحْرم ِ
8. “Al-Qinan” (8) was on their right (9), high from level ground
With its honest men, and rogues lurking all around.
9- عَلـَـوْن َ بأنـماط ِعِتـَاق ٍ وَ كِــــلـَّـةٍ ورَادٍ حواشــيها مُــــشاكِهـةِ الـــــــدّم ِ
9. With fine, light fabrics their howdahs were widely spread
Inside, they reclined on cushions dyed brightest red.
10- وَوَرّكـْنَ في السُّويان ِ يَعْـلونَ مَـتنَهُ عَليــهـِـنَّ دَلُّ الــناعـِـــم ِ المُــــتنـَعِّـم ِ
10. The slope’s steep upward trail on foot they had to take.
An effort hard for such soft-living belles to make.
11- بَكـَرْنَ بُـكُوراً واسْـتحَرْنَ بسُحرة ٍ فـَهُــنَّ ووادي الــرّسّ كالــــيد ِ للفـَم ِ
11. Leaving Early, trav’lling late, well they knew their way
To “al-Rass”(10),as one’s hand knows where one’s own mouth lay.
12- وفيهُـنَّ مَلهىً للطـيف ِ ومَنــظـَرٌ أنــيقٌ لـِعَين ِ النــــاظر ِ المُـتوسِّـــــم ِ
12. To a beholder to watch, they were pure delight
Comely and neatly dressed, were such a perfect sight.
13- كأنَ فـُـتاتَ العـِهْـن ِ في كل مَنزل ٍ نـَزلـــنَ بـه ِ حَــبُّ الفـَنـَا لـــم يُحَطـَم ِ
13. When they alight, falling bits of wool dyed bright red
Are like reddish foxgrape ere their redness is shed.(11)
14ِ- فلما وَردنَ المـاءَ زُرْ قــا ً جـمامُهُ وضَـعـْن عِصِــيَّ الحـاضِـرالمُـتـَخيــّم ِ
14. They stopped to drink. The well’s water was clear and high
They wanted to stay, as if striking tents nearby.
15- ظـَهـَرْنَ مـِنْ السُّوبان ثـُمَ جَزَعْـنَهُ على كُــــلِّ قيـْنيّ ٍ قـَشـيــبٍ ومـُـفأم ِ
15. They reached “Suban”(12), and then onward their way they made
As they in their howdah’s cool spacious comfort laid.
16- فأقـسَـمتُ بالبيتِ الذي طافَ حَوله رجالٌ بَـنُــوهُ من قـُــريش ٍ و جُرهُم ِ
16. I swore by th’House (13) which men circumambulated,
Men of “Quraysh” and of “Jurhum”(14) who had built it.
17- يـميناً لـَنِعْــم السَّـيّدان ِ وُجدْتــــما على كُـل ٍ حال ٍ مِنْ سَحيل ٍ و مُبْـرم ِ
17. In truth, worthy you will be praised for what you’ve assailed,
In ease and in hardship, steadfast you’ve well prevailed(15)
18- تداركتـُما عَبْـساً و ذبـــيانَ بَــعدَما تفـــانوا و دَقـَّـوا بَينَهم عِــطرَ مَـنـْشَم ِ
18. You stopped the ‘Abs-Dhubyan war which both could have doomed,
And all those slain whom “Mansham”(16) had perfumed.
19- وقد قـُلتـُـما: إن نـُدْرك السّـلم واسعاً بمال ٍ ومعروف ٍ مِن ِ القــول ِ نـَسْـلم ِ
19.You said: A poss’ble lasting peace we all could see
With money, and good deeds, from war we could be free .(17)
20- فاصْبـَحتـُما منها على خـَير مَوطِن ٍ بعــيدين فيــها مِـنْ عقوق ٍ و مـأثــَم ِ
20. By so doing you have done yourselves so much good (18)
From sin of sev’ring blood ties, well away you stood.(19)
21- عَظيمَين في عُــليا مــَعَدٍّ هُــدَيتـُما ومَنْ يَـستـبـحْ كنزاً من المَجْد يَعظـُم ِ
21. In the glories of “Mcaad” (20), greatest you have seemed
For he who win’s glory’s treasure, great will he be deemed
22- تـُعـْـفى الكـُلومُ بالمِئينَ فأصْـبَحتْ يـُنـَجـّمُها مـَنْ ليس فيـها بمُــجْـرم ِ
22. Through such pedigree camels, wounds are fully healed (21)
For use as stars (22) by those (23) who to no crime did yield.
23- يـُـنجـّمـُها قومٌ لـِقـوم ٍ غـَرامَة ً يـُهـَريَـقـوا بَـينـَهـُمْ مـِلءَ مِـحْـجـَم ِ
23. Those who the blood money assess for the war dead
Have not blood-letting cupful of blood had shed.
24- فأصْبـَحَ يجري فيهُـمُ مِنْ ثلادكـُمْ مـَغانـِمُ شتى مِـنْ إفـال ٍ مُـــزَنـَّم ِ
24. For another tribe’s use, one tribe these foals have paid
Though not a cup of blood had they in payment made (24)
25- ألا أبْـلِـغ ِ الأحْلافَ عَـنّي رسالة ً وذ ُبيـــان َهــلْ أقسَـمْـتـُمُ كــلّ مُـقسَــم ِ
25. To the allies, from me, this one message convey
To Dhubyan: will you faithful to the sworn peace stay?
26- فلا تـَـكـْـتـُمَنَّ الله ما في نفوسِـكُم ْ ليخفـْى ومَـــهمَا يـُكـْـتـَم ِ الله يَعْــلـم ِ
26. Do not hide from God what is in your breast concealed.
For whate’er is concealed, to God is well revealed
27- يُؤَخر فـَيوضَعْ في كتاب ٍ فـيُدّخـَر لــيوم الحـسابِ او يُعجَّــلْ فـيـُنـقـَم ِ
27. What you conceal, the charge ‘gainst you God will defer
Till Judgment Day, or, you’ll now his vengeance incur.
28- وما الحَربُ إلا ما عَـلمْـتـُم وذقـْـتـُم ْ وما هو عَــنها بالحَــديثِ المُـرجَّــم ِ
28. War is what you’ve known of it, and tasted it well,
Not what idle, baseless chatter of it would tell.
29- متى تـَبعَـثوها تـَبعثــُوها ذميمة و تـَـضـْـرَ إذا ضـَرّيتـُمُـوها فتضرَم ِ
29. Should you wage war, what’s loathsome and vile is what you’d wage.
Kindle it, and out of control it’ll wildly rage.
30- فـَتعْرُكـُكـُم ْعَـركَ الرّحى بـثـِفـالـِها وتـَـلـقـحْ كِـشافاً ثم تـُـنـْـتـَج فـَــتـُـتـْـئِم ِ
30. Like grinding stone, it’ll grind your roughage and your grain.
And breed, like camel that had given birth to twain (25)
31- فـتـُـنـْـتجْ لكُم غـِلمانَ أشأمَ كُــــلّهمْ كــأحْمر عادٍ ثـــم تـُرضعْ فـَــتفـْطم ِ
31. It will beget young, who ill-omened e’er will be deemed
like cAad; its young suckled, and at long last, weaned.(26)
32- فـَـتـُغللْ لكُ ما لا تـــــُغلّ لأهلــها قـُــرىً بالعراق ِ مِـنْ فقير ٍ ودِرْهَم ِ
32. It will give you such harvest of bounty and gain (27)
One that Iraq’s vill’ges ne’er had in coin or grain.(28)
33- لـعَـمْري لنِـعْمَ الحَيِّ جَـرَّ عليهـِم ِ بما لا يُـؤتيهمْ حُصَينُ بن ضَـمْضَم ِ
33. By life! Hail to the hay who suffered the rash move
Of Husain bin Dhamdham that so harmful did prove.(29)
34- وكانَ طوى كـَشـْحاً على مـُسْـتـَكنـَّة ٍ فـلا هــو ابْــــداها ولــــم يـَتـــــــقدَّم ِ
34. He meant to keep in strict secrecy his intent (30)
And to do his dastard deed, was on vengeance bent.
35- وقـــالَ سأقضي جاجَتي ثـــم اتــَّـقي عـــدُوِّي بألف مِـنْ ورائــــي مُـلـجم ِ
35. Said he: I’ll do my deed, my foe I’ll face sans fear
With a thousand bitted horse close by at my rear.(31)
36- فــــَشدَّ فلمْ يُــفزع ْ بـُـــيـُوتاً كـــثيرة ً لـــدى حيثُ ألقتْ رَحْــلها أمُّ قـــشعم ِ
36. He fought and slew his man, but his hand he stayed
From tents who knew not of the war that had been waged (32)
37- لدى أسَد ٍ شاكي السّـلاح ِ مُـقـَذ َّف ِ لـــهُ لِــــبَـــدٌ أظـــفارُهُ لــمْ تـــُـقـلــَّم ِ
37. Full armed was he, for battle ever was prepared
A maned lion was he, whose claws had never been pared (33)
38- جرئ ٍ متى يـُـظلــَمْ يُعاقِــبْ بظـُـلمه ِ ســـريعاً و إلا يـُـبْــدَ بالظلم ِ يَـــظلم ِ
38. When wronged, his retribution is quite swift and bold.
Even if wronged not, he’d never his might withhold.
39- رَعَوا ظـِـمأهـُمْ حتى إذا تـم َّ أوردوا غـِماراً تـفـَرّى بالسّــلاح ِ و بالـــدَم ِ
39. When they their thirst had quenched, of more drink felt in need,
Midst bloodshed and arms-clash they dared the direst deed.
40- فـَقــَضَّوا منايا بَينـَهُم ثم اصدروا إلى كـَــلأ مُـــستـَوبَــــل ٍ مُـــتوخـِّـم ِ
40. One another they slew, then their war adjourned
But resumed, like camels that to vile pasture returned.(34)
41- لعَـمركَ ما جَرَّتْ عليهمْ رماحُهُمْ دَمَ ابن ِ نهــيك ِ أوْ قــَـتـْـل ِ المُــثــَّـلم ِ
41. Upon your life their spears from killing did refrain:
“Ibn Nuhayk” and he at “Muthallam” were slain (35)
42- ولاشارَكـَتْ في الموتِ في دم ِ نوفل ٍ ولا وَهْب ٍ مــنهاً و لا ابن ِ المُـــخرَّم ِ
42. The blood of “Ibn Nawfal” was not in that war shed
Nor there “wahab” and “Ibn Mukhazzam” had bled(36)
43- فكــــــُلا ً أراهُمْ أصبَحوا يعقـِلـُونــَهُ صحيحات ِ مال ٍ طالعات ٍ بمَـــخـّـرم ِ
43. I see them all, blood money they’re ready to pay.
As thousands of camels to payment make their way (37)
44- لـِحَيّ ٍ حـِلال ٍ يَعْـصمُ الناسَ أمرُهُمْ إذا طـَـرَقــتْ إحدى اللـــيالي بمُعـْظم ِ
44. They are for the folk who close to each other dwell.(38)
Who’d stand fast if, on black nights, foes upon them fell.
45- كرام ٍ فلا ذو الضـِّغن ِ يُدْركُ تـبْـلهُ ولا الـــجارمُ الجانيَ عليْــهمْ بمُـسْــلـَم ِ
45. They’re honest folk, vengeance ‘pon them one could not wreak.
They’d keep their own felons if strangers them should seek.
46- سَـئِمــتُ تكاليفَ الحياة ِ ومَن يَعـِشْ ثمانــينَ حَـــولاً لا ابـــــا لكَ يســـأم ِ
46. Of life’s hardships weary I’ve grown. Who lives to see
Eighty years, sans father, will weary of life be.
47- و أعْلمُ ما في اليوم ِ و الامس ِ قبْـلهُ و لكنني عن عِـلم ِ ما في غد ٍ عَـمِــي
47. I know what passed today, and in the day before.
But of tomorrow, I’m blind and can know no more
48- رأيتُ المنايا خَـبْط َ عَشواءَ مَنْ تـُصبْ تـُمتـْهُ ومنْ تخــطئ يُـــعمَّـرْ فيهرَم ِ
48. I see death’s random strikes, who it strikes, it slays
who it misses will to old age live out his days
49- ومَنْ لـــم يُصانعْ في امـــور ٍ كثــــيرة ٍ يُضـَّرسَ بأنـــياب ٍ ويوطأ بـــمنسَم ِ
49. And he who with others will not tactfully deal,
him will molars chew, and camel pads’ weight he’ll feel (39)
50- ومَنْ يجعل المعروف مـِنْ دون عـِـرضه ِ يَـفـْرهُ ومَنْ لا يتـَّق ِ الشـَـتمَ يـُـشتم ِ
50. Who puts honor beneath good, his honor will lose. (40)
He will be abused who does not avoid abuse.(41)
51- ومَنْ يَـكُ ذا فضل ٍ فيَبْـخـــل بفضلـِه ِ على قومـِه ِ يُستغـْنَ عَـنـْهُ و يُـذمَم ِ
51. Who’s well-favored, but to his kin favors denied,
Will be dispensed with, and by his people reviled.
52- ومَنْ يوف ِ لا يُذمَمْ ومَنْ يُــهْد قلبَــــهُ الى مُطمَــئِــن ِ البــِرِّ لا يتجــمْـجَم ِ
52. Who keeps his word won’t be reviled, whose heart is bent
On doing good will ne’er falter in his intent.
53- ومَنْ هابَ أسبابَ المنايا يَــنـَلنـَهُ ولو رَامَ أسبَابَ السَّـــماءِ بــِسـُـلـَّــم ِ
53. Who fears causes of death, and far away he flies,
Will be caught by death, though he ladder-climbs to the skies
54- ومَنْ يَجْعل ِ المعروف في غيرأهـلـِه ِ يكــــُنْ حَـمدُهُ ذمّـاً عــــليه ويَنـْـــدم ِ
54. He who does good to those who deserve it not
Abuse will be his thanks; regret will be his lot.
55- ومَنْ يَعْص ِ أطرافَ الزِّجاج ِ فـأنـَّه يُــطيعُ العوالي رُكـّـبَتْ كـلَّ لــَهْذم ِ
55. And he who chooses to ignore a speare’s blunt end
With its sharpest front spike he’ll be forced to contend (42)
56- ومَنْ لم يَذ ُد عن حَوضـِه ِ بسلاحِه ِ يُهـــدَّم ومَنْ لايَـــظلِم الــناس ِ يُظـْـلــَم ِ
56. Ruined he’ll be who won’t for his land and folk fend.
Who wrongs others not, won’t ‘gainst wrong himself defend. (43)
57- ومَنْ يَغتربْ يَحْسَبْ عدوّاً صَديقــَهُ ومَنْ لايُـكــــرِّمْ نــَفسَــــــهُ لايُــــكـَرَّم ِ
57. A stranger far from home a foe as friend will see.
He who honors himself not, will ne’er honored be.
58- ومَهما تـَكـُنْ عِـنـْدَ امرئ ٍ من خليقةٍ وان خالهـا تـَخفى على الناس ِ تـُـعْـلم ِ
58. Whate’er traits one has which from others he’d concealed
Though one thinks they’re hidd’n, to others are well revealed.
59- وَكائن ترى مـِـنْ صامت ٍ لك مُعْجب زيادُتـُـهُ أو نـَـقصُهُ في التـَكـَلــّم ِ
59. A silent one’s silence you may admire and praise
But when he speaks his worth will see a fall – or raise.
60- لِـسَانُ الفتى نِـصفٌ ونصفٌ فؤادُهُ فلــَمْ يَـبْقَ ألا صُورَةُ اللحم ِوالدم ِ
60. Man is half heart, half tongue; they both do Man sustain.
Nothing else but image of flesh and blood remain.
61- وإن ســَفـَـاة الشيخ ِ لا حِــلمَ بَــعْدهُ وإنّ الفتى بَعْدَ السفاهة ِ يَحْـــــلـُم ِ
61. After a crass life, th’old could not with wisdom glow
But youth, after a crass phase, may to wisdom grow.
62- ســـــألنا فأعْطيتـُم وعُـدْنا فـــَعُـدتـُمْ ومَنْ أكثـرَ التسألَ يوماً سَــيُحرَم ِ
62. We asked, you gave; we asked again and you’ve complied
But he who asks often, will one day be denied.
8- جـَعـَلنَ القـنانَ عَن ْ يمين ٍ و حَزْنـَه ُ وكـم ْ بالــقنان ِ من مُحــِل ٍّ و مُــحْرم ِ
8. “Al-Qinan” (8) was on their right (9), high from level ground
With its honest men, and rogues lurking all around.
9- عَلـَـوْن َ بأنـماط ِعِتـَاق ٍ وَ كِــــلـَّـةٍ ورَادٍ حواشــيها مُــــشاكِهـةِ الـــــــدّم ِ
9. With fine, light fabrics their howdahs were widely spread
Inside, they reclined on cushions dyed brightest red.
10- وَوَرّكـْنَ في السُّويان ِ يَعْـلونَ مَـتنَهُ عَليــهـِـنَّ دَلُّ الــناعـِـــم ِ المُــــتنـَعِّـم ِ
10. The slope’s steep upward trail on foot they had to take.
An effort hard for such soft-living belles to make.
11- بَكـَرْنَ بُـكُوراً واسْـتحَرْنَ بسُحرة ٍ فـَهُــنَّ ووادي الــرّسّ كالــــيد ِ للفـَم ِ
11. Leaving Early, trav’lling late, well they knew their way
To “al-Rass”(10),as one’s hand knows where one’s own mouth lay.
12- وفيهُـنَّ مَلهىً للطـيف ِ ومَنــظـَرٌ أنــيقٌ لـِعَين ِ النــــاظر ِ المُـتوسِّـــــم ِ
12. To a beholder to watch, they were pure delight
Comely and neatly dressed, were such a perfect sight.
13- كأنَ فـُـتاتَ العـِهْـن ِ في كل مَنزل ٍ نـَزلـــنَ بـه ِ حَــبُّ الفـَنـَا لـــم يُحَطـَم ِ
13. When they alight, falling bits of wool dyed bright red
Are like reddish foxgrape ere their redness is shed.(11)
14ِ- فلما وَردنَ المـاءَ زُرْ قــا ً جـمامُهُ وضَـعـْن عِصِــيَّ الحـاضِـرالمُـتـَخيــّم ِ
14. They stopped to drink. The well’s water was clear and high
They wanted to stay, as if striking tents nearby.
15- ظـَهـَرْنَ مـِنْ السُّوبان ثـُمَ جَزَعْـنَهُ على كُــــلِّ قيـْنيّ ٍ قـَشـيــبٍ ومـُـفأم ِ
15. They reached “Suban”(12), and then onward their way they made
As they in their howdah’s cool spacious comfort laid.
16- فأقـسَـمتُ بالبيتِ الذي طافَ حَوله رجالٌ بَـنُــوهُ من قـُــريش ٍ و جُرهُم ِ
16. I swore by th’House (13) which men circumambulated,
Men of “Quraysh” and of “Jurhum”(14) who had built it.
17- يـميناً لـَنِعْــم السَّـيّدان ِ وُجدْتــــما على كُـل ٍ حال ٍ مِنْ سَحيل ٍ و مُبْـرم ِ
17. In truth, worthy you will be praised for what you’ve assailed,
In ease and in hardship, steadfast you’ve well prevailed(15)
18- تداركتـُما عَبْـساً و ذبـــيانَ بَــعدَما تفـــانوا و دَقـَّـوا بَينَهم عِــطرَ مَـنـْشَم ِ
18. You stopped the ‘Abs-Dhubyan war which both could have doomed,
And all those slain whom “Mansham”(16) had perfumed.
19- وقد قـُلتـُـما: إن نـُدْرك السّـلم واسعاً بمال ٍ ومعروف ٍ مِن ِ القــول ِ نـَسْـلم ِ
19.You said: A poss’ble lasting peace we all could see
With money, and good deeds, from war we could be free .(17)
20- فاصْبـَحتـُما منها على خـَير مَوطِن ٍ بعــيدين فيــها مِـنْ عقوق ٍ و مـأثــَم ِ
20. By so doing you have done yourselves so much good (18)
From sin of sev’ring blood ties, well away you stood.(19)
21- عَظيمَين في عُــليا مــَعَدٍّ هُــدَيتـُما ومَنْ يَـستـبـحْ كنزاً من المَجْد يَعظـُم ِ
21. In the glories of “Mcaad” (20), greatest you have seemed
For he who win’s glory’s treasure, great will he be deemed
22- تـُعـْـفى الكـُلومُ بالمِئينَ فأصْـبَحتْ يـُنـَجـّمُها مـَنْ ليس فيـها بمُــجْـرم ِ
22. Through such pedigree camels, wounds are fully healed (21)
For use as stars (22) by those (23) who to no crime did yield.
23- يـُـنجـّمـُها قومٌ لـِقـوم ٍ غـَرامَة ً يـُهـَريَـقـوا بَـينـَهـُمْ مـِلءَ مِـحْـجـَم ِ
23. Those who the blood money assess for the war dead
Have not blood-letting cupful of blood had shed.
24- فأصْبـَحَ يجري فيهُـمُ مِنْ ثلادكـُمْ مـَغانـِمُ شتى مِـنْ إفـال ٍ مُـــزَنـَّم ِ
24. For another tribe’s use, one tribe these foals have paid
Though not a cup of blood had they in payment made (24)
25- ألا أبْـلِـغ ِ الأحْلافَ عَـنّي رسالة ً وذ ُبيـــان َهــلْ أقسَـمْـتـُمُ كــلّ مُـقسَــم ِ
25. To the allies, from me, this one message convey
To Dhubyan: will you faithful to the sworn peace stay?
26- فلا تـَـكـْـتـُمَنَّ الله ما في نفوسِـكُم ْ ليخفـْى ومَـــهمَا يـُكـْـتـَم ِ الله يَعْــلـم ِ
26. Do not hide from God what is in your breast concealed.
For whate’er is concealed, to God is well revealed
27- يُؤَخر فـَيوضَعْ في كتاب ٍ فـيُدّخـَر لــيوم الحـسابِ او يُعجَّــلْ فـيـُنـقـَم ِ
27. What you conceal, the charge ‘gainst you God will defer
Till Judgment Day, or, you’ll now his vengeance incur.
28- وما الحَربُ إلا ما عَـلمْـتـُم وذقـْـتـُم ْ وما هو عَــنها بالحَــديثِ المُـرجَّــم ِ
28. War is what you’ve known of it, and tasted it well,
Not what idle, baseless chatter of it would tell.
29- متى تـَبعَـثوها تـَبعثــُوها ذميمة و تـَـضـْـرَ إذا ضـَرّيتـُمُـوها فتضرَم ِ
29. Should you wage war, what’s loathsome and vile is what you’d wage.
Kindle it, and out of control it’ll wildly rage.
30- فـَتعْرُكـُكـُم ْعَـركَ الرّحى بـثـِفـالـِها وتـَـلـقـحْ كِـشافاً ثم تـُـنـْـتـَج فـَــتـُـتـْـئِم ِ
30. Like grinding stone, it’ll grind your roughage and your grain.
And breed, like camel that had given birth to twain (25)
31- فـتـُـنـْـتجْ لكُم غـِلمانَ أشأمَ كُــــلّهمْ كــأحْمر عادٍ ثـــم تـُرضعْ فـَــتفـْطم ِ
31. It will beget young, who ill-omened e’er will be deemed
like cAad; its young suckled, and at long last, weaned.(26)
32- فـَـتـُغللْ لكُ ما لا تـــــُغلّ لأهلــها قـُــرىً بالعراق ِ مِـنْ فقير ٍ ودِرْهَم ِ
32. It will give you such harvest of bounty and gain (27)
One that Iraq’s vill’ges ne’er had in coin or grain.(28)
33- لـعَـمْري لنِـعْمَ الحَيِّ جَـرَّ عليهـِم ِ بما لا يُـؤتيهمْ حُصَينُ بن ضَـمْضَم ِ
33. By life! Hail to the hay who suffered the rash move
Of Husain bin Dhamdham that so harmful did prove.(29)
34- وكانَ طوى كـَشـْحاً على مـُسْـتـَكنـَّة ٍ فـلا هــو ابْــــداها ولــــم يـَتـــــــقدَّم ِ
34. He meant to keep in strict secrecy his intent (30)
And to do his dastard deed, was on vengeance bent.
35- وقـــالَ سأقضي جاجَتي ثـــم اتــَّـقي عـــدُوِّي بألف مِـنْ ورائــــي مُـلـجم ِ
35. Said he: I’ll do my deed, my foe I’ll face sans fear
With a thousand bitted horse close by at my rear.(31)
36- فــــَشدَّ فلمْ يُــفزع ْ بـُـــيـُوتاً كـــثيرة ً لـــدى حيثُ ألقتْ رَحْــلها أمُّ قـــشعم ِ
36. He fought and slew his man, but his hand he stayed
From tents who knew not of the war that had been waged (32)
37- لدى أسَد ٍ شاكي السّـلاح ِ مُـقـَذ َّف ِ لـــهُ لِــــبَـــدٌ أظـــفارُهُ لــمْ تـــُـقـلــَّم ِ
37. Full armed was he, for battle ever was prepared
A maned lion was he, whose claws had never been pared (33)
38- جرئ ٍ متى يـُـظلــَمْ يُعاقِــبْ بظـُـلمه ِ ســـريعاً و إلا يـُـبْــدَ بالظلم ِ يَـــظلم ِ
38. When wronged, his retribution is quite swift and bold.
Even if wronged not, he’d never his might withhold.
39- رَعَوا ظـِـمأهـُمْ حتى إذا تـم َّ أوردوا غـِماراً تـفـَرّى بالسّــلاح ِ و بالـــدَم ِ
39. When they their thirst had quenched, of more drink felt in need,
Midst bloodshed and arms-clash they dared the direst deed.
40- فـَقــَضَّوا منايا بَينـَهُم ثم اصدروا إلى كـَــلأ مُـــستـَوبَــــل ٍ مُـــتوخـِّـم ِ
40. One another they slew, then their war adjourned
But resumed, like camels that to vile pasture returned.(34)
41- لعَـمركَ ما جَرَّتْ عليهمْ رماحُهُمْ دَمَ ابن ِ نهــيك ِ أوْ قــَـتـْـل ِ المُــثــَّـلم ِ
41. Upon your life their spears from killing did refrain:
“Ibn Nuhayk” and he at “Muthallam” were slain (35)
42- ولاشارَكـَتْ في الموتِ في دم ِ نوفل ٍ ولا وَهْب ٍ مــنهاً و لا ابن ِ المُـــخرَّم ِ
42. The blood of “Ibn Nawfal” was not in that war shed
Nor there “wahab” and “Ibn Mukhazzam” had bled(36)
43- فكــــــُلا ً أراهُمْ أصبَحوا يعقـِلـُونــَهُ صحيحات ِ مال ٍ طالعات ٍ بمَـــخـّـرم ِ
43. I see them all, blood money they’re ready to pay.
As thousands of camels to payment make their way (37)
44- لـِحَيّ ٍ حـِلال ٍ يَعْـصمُ الناسَ أمرُهُمْ إذا طـَـرَقــتْ إحدى اللـــيالي بمُعـْظم ِ
44. They are for the folk who close to each other dwell.(38)
Who’d stand fast if, on black nights, foes upon them fell.
45- كرام ٍ فلا ذو الضـِّغن ِ يُدْركُ تـبْـلهُ ولا الـــجارمُ الجانيَ عليْــهمْ بمُـسْــلـَم ِ
45. They’re honest folk, vengeance ‘pon them one could not wreak.
They’d keep their own felons if strangers them should seek.
46- سَـئِمــتُ تكاليفَ الحياة ِ ومَن يَعـِشْ ثمانــينَ حَـــولاً لا ابـــــا لكَ يســـأم ِ
46. Of life’s hardships weary I’ve grown. Who lives to see
Eighty years, sans father, will weary of life be.
47- و أعْلمُ ما في اليوم ِ و الامس ِ قبْـلهُ و لكنني عن عِـلم ِ ما في غد ٍ عَـمِــي
47. I know what passed today, and in the day before.
But of tomorrow, I’m blind and can know no more
48- رأيتُ المنايا خَـبْط َ عَشواءَ مَنْ تـُصبْ تـُمتـْهُ ومنْ تخــطئ يُـــعمَّـرْ فيهرَم ِ
48. I see death’s random strikes, who it strikes, it slays
who it misses will to old age live out his days
49- ومَنْ لـــم يُصانعْ في امـــور ٍ كثــــيرة ٍ يُضـَّرسَ بأنـــياب ٍ ويوطأ بـــمنسَم ِ
49. And he who with others will not tactfully deal,
him will molars chew, and camel pads’ weight he’ll feel (39)
50- ومَنْ يجعل المعروف مـِنْ دون عـِـرضه ِ يَـفـْرهُ ومَنْ لا يتـَّق ِ الشـَـتمَ يـُـشتم ِ
50. Who puts honor beneath good, his honor will lose. (40)
He will be abused who does not avoid abuse.(41)
51- ومَنْ يَـكُ ذا فضل ٍ فيَبْـخـــل بفضلـِه ِ على قومـِه ِ يُستغـْنَ عَـنـْهُ و يُـذمَم ِ
51. Who’s well-favored, but to his kin favors denied,
Will be dispensed with, and by his people reviled.
52- ومَنْ يوف ِ لا يُذمَمْ ومَنْ يُــهْد قلبَــــهُ الى مُطمَــئِــن ِ البــِرِّ لا يتجــمْـجَم ِ
52. Who keeps his word won’t be reviled, whose heart is bent
On doing good will ne’er falter in his intent.
53- ومَنْ هابَ أسبابَ المنايا يَــنـَلنـَهُ ولو رَامَ أسبَابَ السَّـــماءِ بــِسـُـلـَّــم ِ
53. Who fears causes of death, and far away he flies,
Will be caught by death, though he ladder-climbs to the skies
54- ومَنْ يَجْعل ِ المعروف في غيرأهـلـِه ِ يكــــُنْ حَـمدُهُ ذمّـاً عــــليه ويَنـْـــدم ِ
54. He who does good to those who deserve it not
Abuse will be his thanks; regret will be his lot.
55- ومَنْ يَعْص ِ أطرافَ الزِّجاج ِ فـأنـَّه يُــطيعُ العوالي رُكـّـبَتْ كـلَّ لــَهْذم ِ
55. And he who chooses to ignore a speare’s blunt end
With its sharpest front spike he’ll be forced to contend (42)
56- ومَنْ لم يَذ ُد عن حَوضـِه ِ بسلاحِه ِ يُهـــدَّم ومَنْ لايَـــظلِم الــناس ِ يُظـْـلــَم ِ
56. Ruined he’ll be who won’t for his land and folk fend.
Who wrongs others not, won’t ‘gainst wrong himself defend. (43)
57- ومَنْ يَغتربْ يَحْسَبْ عدوّاً صَديقــَهُ ومَنْ لايُـكــــرِّمْ نــَفسَــــــهُ لايُــــكـَرَّم ِ
57. A stranger far from home a foe as friend will see.
He who honors himself not, will ne’er honored be.
58- ومَهما تـَكـُنْ عِـنـْدَ امرئ ٍ من خليقةٍ وان خالهـا تـَخفى على الناس ِ تـُـعْـلم ِ
58. Whate’er traits one has which from others he’d concealed
Though one thinks they’re hidd’n, to others are well revealed.
59- وَكائن ترى مـِـنْ صامت ٍ لك مُعْجب زيادُتـُـهُ أو نـَـقصُهُ في التـَكـَلــّم ِ
59. A silent one’s silence you may admire and praise
But when he speaks his worth will see a fall – or raise.
60- لِـسَانُ الفتى نِـصفٌ ونصفٌ فؤادُهُ فلــَمْ يَـبْقَ ألا صُورَةُ اللحم ِوالدم ِ
60. Man is half heart, half tongue; they both do Man sustain.
Nothing else but image of flesh and blood remain.
61- وإن ســَفـَـاة الشيخ ِ لا حِــلمَ بَــعْدهُ وإنّ الفتى بَعْدَ السفاهة ِ يَحْـــــلـُم ِ
61. After a crass life, th’old could not with wisdom glow
But youth, after a crass phase, may to wisdom grow.
62- ســـــألنا فأعْطيتـُم وعُـدْنا فـــَعُـدتـُمْ ومَنْ أكثـرَ التسألَ يوماً سَــيُحرَم ِ
62. We asked, you gave; we asked again and you’ve complied
But he who asks often, will one day be denied.
تعليق