معلقة عنترة بن شداد The Muʿallaqa of Antarah ibn Shaddād
عنترة بن شداد
Antarah ibn Shaddād
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About the Poet
ANTARA IBN SHADDĀD, Arabian poet and warrior of the 6th century, was famous both for his poetry and his adventurous life. His chief poem is contained in the Mo‘allakât. The account of his life forms the basis of a long and extravagant romance. His father Shaddād was a soldier, his mother Zabūba a negro slave. Neglected at first, he soon claimed attention and respect for himself, and by his remarkable personal qualities and courage in battle he gained his freedom and the acknowledgment of his father. He took part in the great war between the related tribes of Abs and Dhubyān, which began over a contest of horses and was named after them the war of Dāhis and Ghabrā. 89He died in a fight against the tribe of Ṭai.
Source: poetrysoup
النص العربي
1
هَل غادَرَ الشُعَراءُ مِن مُتَرَدَّمِ
2
أَم هَل عَرَفتَ الدارَ بَعدَ تَوَهُّمِ
3
يا دارَ عَبلَةَ بِالجَواءِ تَكَلَّمي
4
وَعَمي صَباحاً دارَ عَبلَةَ وَاِسلَمي
5
فَوَقَفتُ فيها ناقَتي وَكَأَنَّها
6
فَدَنٌ لِأَقضِيَ حاجَةَ المُتَلَوِّمِ
7
وَتَحُلُّ عَبلَةُ بِالجَواءِ وَأَهلُنا
8
بِالحَزنِ فَالصَمّانِ فَالمُتَثَلَّمِ
9
حُيِّيتَ مِن طَلَلٍ تَقادَمَ عَهدُهُ
10
أَقوى وَأَقفَرَ بَعدَ أُمِّ الهَيثَمِ
11
حَلَّت بِأَرضِ الزائِرينَ فَأَصبَحَت
12
عَسِراً عَلَيَّ طِلابُكِ اِبنَةَ مَخرَمِ
13
عُلِّقتُها عَرَضاً وَأَقتُلُ قَومَها
14
زَعماً لَعَمرُ أَبيكَ لَيسَ بِمَزعَمِ
15
وَلَقَد نَزَلتِ فَلا تَظُنّي غَيرَهُ
16
مِنّي بِمَنزِلَةِ المُحَبِّ المُكرَمِ
17
كَيفَ المَزارُ وَقَد تَرَبَّعَ أَهلُها
18
بِعُنَيزَتَينِ وَأَهلُنا بِالغَيلَمِ
19
إِن كُنتِ أَزمَعتِ الفِراقَ فَإِنَّماْ
20
زُمَّت رِكابُكُمُ بِلَيلٍ مُظلِمِ
21
ما راعَني إِلّا حَمولَةُ أَهلِها
22
وَسطَ الدِيارِ تَسَفُّ حَبَّ الخِمخِمِ
23
فيها اِثنَتانِ وَأَربَعونَ حَلوبَةً
24
سوداً كَخافِيَةِ الغُرابِ الأَسحَمِ
25
إِذ تَستَبيكَ بِذي غُروبٍ واضِحٍ
26
عَذبٍ مُقَبَّلُهُ لَذيذِ المَطعَمِ
27
وَكَأَنَّ فارَةَ تاجِرٍ بِقَسيمَةٍ
28
سَبَقَت عَوارِضَها إِلَيكَ مِنَ الفَمِ
29
أَو رَوضَةً أُنُفاً تَضَمَّنَ نَبتَها
30
غَيثٌ قَليلُ الدِمنِ لَيسَ بِمَعلَمِ
31
جادَت عَليهِ كُلُّ بِكرٍ حُرَّةٍ
32
فَتَرَكنَ كُلَّ قَرارَةٍ كَالدِرهَمِ
33
سَحّاً وَتَسكاباً فَكُلَّ عَشِيَّةٍ
34
يَجري عَلَيها الماءُ لَم يَتَصَرَّمِ
35
وَخَلا الذُبابُ بِها فَلَيسَ بِبارِحٍ
36
غَرِداً كَفِعلِ الشارِبِ المُتَرَنِّمِ
37
هَزِجاً يَحُكُّ ذِراعَهُ بِذِراعِهِ
38
قَدحَ المُكِبِّ عَلى الزِنادِ الأَجذَمِ
39
تُمسي وَتُصبِحُ فَوقَ ظَهرِ حَشِيَّةٍ
40
وَأَبيتُ فَوقَ سَراةِ أَدهَمَ مُلجَمِ
41
وَحَشِيَّتي سَرجٌ عَلى عَبلِ الشَوى
42
نَهدٍ مَراكِلُهُ نَبيلِ المَحزِمِ
43
هَل تُبلِغَنّي دارَها شَدَنِيَّةٌ
44
لُعِنَت بِمَحرومِ الشَرابِ مُصَرَّمِ
45
خَطّارَةٌ غِبَّ السُرى زَيّافَةٌ
46
تَطِسُ الإِكامَ بِوَخذِ خُفٍّ ميثَمِ
47
وَكَأَنَّما تَطِسُ الإِكامَ عَشِيَّةً
48
بِقَريبِ بَينَ المَنسِمَينِ مُصَلَّمِ
49
تَأوي لَهُ قُلُصُ النَعامِ كَما أَوَت
50
حِزَقٌ يَمانِيَةٌ لِأَعجَمَ طِمطِمِ
51
يَتبَعنَ قُلَّةَ رَأسِهِ وَكَأَنَّهُ
52
حِدجٌ عَلى نَعشٍ لَهُنَّ مُخَيَّمِ
53
صَعلٍ يَعودُ بِذي العُشَيرَةِ بَيضَهُ
54
كَالعَبدِ ذي الفَروِ الطَويلِ الأَصلَمِ
55
شَرِبَت بِماءِ الدُحرُضَينِ فَأَصبَحَت
56
زَوراءَ تَنفِرُ عَن حِياضِ الدَيلَمِ
57
وَكَأَنَّما تَنأى بِجانِبِ دَفَّها ال
58
وَحشِيِّ مِن هَزِجِ العَشِيِّ مُؤَوَّمِ
59
هِرٍ جَنيبٍ كُلَّما عَطَفَت لَهُ
60
غَضَبى اِتَّقاها بِاليَدَينِ وَبِالفَمِ
61
بَرَكَت عَلى جَنبِ الرِداعِ كَأَنَّما
62
بَرَكَت عَلى قَصَبٍ أَجَشَّ مُهَضَّمِ
63
وَكأَنَّ رُبّاً أَو كُحَيلاً مُعقَد
64
حَشَّ الوَقودُ بِهِ جَوانِبَ قُمقُمِ
65
يَنباعُ مِن ذِفرى غَضوبٍ جَسرَةٍ
66
زَيّافَةٍ مِثلَ الفَنيقِ المُكدَمِ
67
إِن تُغدِفي دوني القِناعَ فَإِنَّني
68
طَبٌّ بِأَخذِ الفارِسِ المُستَلئِمِ
69
أَثني عَلَيَّ بِما عَلِمتِ فَإِنَّني
70
سَمحٌ مُخالَقَتي إِذا لَم أُظلَمِ
71
وَإِذا ظُلِمتُ فَإِنَّ ظُلمِيَ باسِلٌ
72
مُرٌّ مَذاقَتَهُ كَطَعمِ العَلقَمِ
73
وَلَقَد شَرِبتُ مِنَ المُدامَةِ بَعدَما
74
رَكَدَ الهَواجِرُ بِالمَشوفِ المُعلَمِ
75
بِزُجاجَةٍ صَفراءَ ذاتِ أَسِرَّةٍ
76
قُرِنَت بِأَزهَرَ في الشَمالِ مُفَدَّمِ
77
فَإِذا شَرِبتُ فَإِنَّني مُستَهلِكٌ
78
مالي وَعِرضي وافِرٌ لَم يُكلَمِ
79
وَإِذا صَحَوتُ فَما أُقَصِّرُ عَن نَدىً
80
وَكَما عَلِمتِ شَمائِلي وَتَكَرُّمي
81
وَحَليلِ غانِيَةٍ تَرَكتُ مُجَدَّل
82
تَمكو فَريصَتُهُ كَشَدقِ الأَعلَمِ
83
سَبَقَت يَدايَ لَهُ بِعاجِلِ طَعنَةٍ
84
وَرَشاشِ نافِذَةٍ كَلَونِ العَندَمِ
85
هَلّا سَأَلتِ الخَيلَ يا اِبنَةَ مالِكٍ
86
إِن كُنتِ جاهِلَةً بِما لَم تَعلَمي
87
إِذ لا أَزالُ عَلى رِحالَةِ سابِحٍ
88
نَهدٍ تَعاوَرُهُ الكُماةُ مُكَلَّمِ
89
طَوراً يُجَرَّدُ لِلطِعانِ وَتارَةً
90
يَأوي إِلى حَصدِ القَسِيِّ عَرَمرَمِ
91
يُخبِركِ مَن شَهِدَ الوَقيعَةَ أَنَّني
92
أَغشى الوَغى وَأَعِفُّ عِندَ المَغنَمِ
93
وَمُدَجَّجٍ كَرِهَ الكُماةُ نِزالَهُ
94
لا مُمعِنٍ هَرَباً وَلا مُستَسلِمِ
95
جادَت لَهُ كَفّي بِعاجِلِ طَعنَةٍ
96
بِمُثَقَّفٍ صَدقِ الكُعوبِ مُقَوَّمِ
97
فَشَكَكتُ بِالرُمحِ الأَصَمِّ ثِيابَهُ
98
لَيسَ الكَريمُ عَلى القَنا بِمُحَرَّمِ
99
فَتَرَكتُهُ جَزَرَ السِباعِ يَنُشنَهُ
100
يَقضِمنَ حُسنَ بِنانِهِ وَالمِعصَمِ
101
وَمِشَكِّ سابِغَةٍ هَتَكتُ فُروجَها
102
بِالسَيفِ عَن حامي الحَقيقَةِ مُعلِمِ
103
رَبِذٍ يَداهُ بِالقِداحِ إِذا شَتا
104
هَتّاكِ غاياتِ التِجارِ مُلَوَّمِ
105
لَمّا رَآني قَد نَزَلتُ أُريدُهُ
106
أَبدى نَواجِذَهُ لِغَيرِ تَبَسُّمِ
107
عَهدي بِهِ مَدَّ النَهارِ كَأَنَّما
108
خُضِبَ البَنانُ وَرَأسُهُ بِالعِظلِمِ
109
فَطَعَنتُهُ بِالرُمحِ ثُمَّ عَلَوتُهُ
110
بِمُهَنَّدٍ صافي الحَديدَةِ مِخذَمِ
111
بَطَلٍ كَأَنَّ ثِيابَهُ في سَرحَةٍ
112
يُحذى نِعالَ السِبتِ لَيسَ بِتَوأَمِ
113
يا شاةَ ما قَنَصٍ لِمَن حَلَّت لَهُ
114
حَرُمَت عَلَيَّ وَلَيتَها لَم تَحرُمِ
115
فَبَعَثتُ جارِيَتي فَقُلتُ لَها اِذهَبي
116
فَتَجَسَّسي أَخبارَها لِيَ وَاِعلَمي
117
قالَت رَأَيتُ مِنَ الأَعادي غِرَّةً
118
وَالشاةُ مُمكِنَةٌ لِمَن هُوَ مُرتَمِ
119
وَكَأَنَّما اِلتَفَتَت بِجيدِ جَدايَةٍ
120
رَشإٍ مِنَ الغِزلانِ حُرٍّ أَرثَمِ
121
نِبِّئتُ عَمرواً غَيرَ شاكِرِ نِعمَتي
122
وَالكُفرُ مَخبَثَةٌ لَنَفسِ المُنعِمِ
123
وَلَقَد حَفِظتُ وَصاةَ عَمّي بِالضُحى
124
إِذ تَقلِصُ الشَفَتانِ عَن وَضَحِ الفَمِ
125
في حَومَةِ الحَربِ الَّتي لا تَشتَكي
126
غَمَراتِها الأَبطالُ غَيرَ تَغَمغُمِ
127
إِذ يَتَّقونَ بِيَ الأَسِنَّةَ لَم أَخِم
128
عَنها وَلَكِنّي تَضايَقَ مُقدَمي
129
لَمّا رَأَيتُ القَومَ أَقبَلَ جَمعُهُم
130
يَتَذامَرونَ كَرَرتُ غَيرَ مُذَمَّمِ
131
يَدعونَ عَنتَرَ وَالرِماحُ كَأَنَّها
132
أَشطانُ بِئرٍ في لَبانِ الأَدهَمِ
133
ما زِلتُ أَرميهِم بِثُغرَةِ نَحرِهِ
134
وَلَبانِهِ حَتّى تَسَربَلَ بِالدَمِ
135
فَاِزوَرَّ مِن وَقعِ القَنا بِلَبانِهِ
136
وَشَكا إِلَيَّ بِعَبرَةٍ وَتَحَمحُمِ
137
لَو كانَ يَدري ما المُحاوَرَةُ اِشتَكى
138
وَلَكانَ لَو عَلِمَ الكَلامَ مُكَلِّمي
139
وَلَقَد شَفى نَفسي وَأَذهَبَ سُقمَها
140
قيلُ الفَوارِسِ وَيكَ عَنتَرَ أَقدِمِ
141
وَالخَيلُ تَقتَحِمُ الخَبارَ عَوابِساً
142
مِن بَينِ شَيظَمَةٍ وَآخَرَ شَيظَمِ
143
ذُلُلٌ رِكابي حَيثُ شِئتُ مُشايِعي
144
لُبّي وَأَحفِزُهُ بِأَمرٍ مُبرَمِ
145
وَلَقَد خَشيتُ بِأَن أَموتَ وَلَم تَدُر
146
لِلحَربِ دائِرَةٌ عَلى اِبنَي ضَمضَمِ
147
الشاتِمَي عِرضي وَلَم أَشتِمهُم
148
وَالناذِرَينِ إِذا لَم اَلقَهُما دَمي
149
إِن يَفعَلا فَلَقَد تَرَكتُ أَباهُم
150
جَزَرَ السِباعِ وَكُلِّ نَسرٍ قَشعَمِ
English Translation
1
Have the poets left anything unsung,
2
Or do you know the home after doubt and dreaming?
3
O home of Ablah in al-Jawa, speak to me—
4
Good morning, Ablah's home and peace be upon you.
5
I stopped my she-camel here, as if she were
6
A fortress wall, to ease my longing heart.
7
Ablah sits in al-Jawa, while our people
8
Camp in al-Hazn, al-Samman, al-Mutathallam.
9
Hail to the ruins, long grown old,
10
Deserted since Umm al-Haytham departed.
11
She settled in the visitors' land, and now
12
Hard is the seeking, daughter of Makhram.
13
Love caught me unawares while I kill her people-
14
False, by your father's life, it's no false claim.
15
You have settled, so don't think, You're anything
16
To me but the one loved and honored.
17
How can I visit when her people have settled
18
In Unayzatayn while our people are in al-Ghaylam?
19
If you're set on parting, then truly
20
Your camels were saddled in a dark night.
21
Nothing startled me but her people's caravan
22
In the middle of the dwellings, eating khimkhim seeds.
23
Among them forty-two milk camels,
24
Black as a raven’s hidden wing
25
When she enslaves you with sunset glow,
26
Sweet to kiss and pleasant to taste.
27
As if a merchant's musk in the perfume market
28
Reached you from the mouth before her teeth.
29
Or a virgin meadow whose growth was fed
30
By rain unsoiled by dung, unknown to men.
31
Every virgin free cloud was generous to it,
32
And left every grove like a silver coin (shining).
33
Pouring and flowing, so every evening
34
Water runs over it, never cut off,
35
And flies settled in it, never leaving,
36
Singing like a drunk who hums,
37
Melodious, rubbing arm on arm,
38
Striking like one bent over flint.
39
She spends her days and nights on a cushion,
40
While I lie on the back of a black bridled horse.
41
My bed is a saddle on a strong-limbed steed,
42
Broad-chested, his flanks bound by a noble girth.
43
Will a fine she-camel of Shadan carry me to her home,
44
One used to going without water, enduring,
45
Quick-paced after night travel, eager and swift.
46
She strikes the hills with the touch of a tender hoof.
47
As if she treads the hills at evening
48
With something sharp between her toes,
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The young ostriches gather to him,
50
As Yemeni herds to a stammering foreigner.
51
Following the peak of her head as though it were
52
A curtained litter borne for them.
53
Thin-necked, returning with his tribe’s eggs,
54
Like a slave with long hair and clipped ears.
55
She drank from the water of al-Duhrudayn and became
56
Lean, shying away from the pools of al-Daylam
57
As if she moves away with her right side
58
From an evening singer, ugly-headed.
59
A cat alongside, whenever she turned to him
60
Angry, he protected himself with paws and mouth.
61
She knelt on the ridge's side as if
62
She knelt on rough broken reeds.
63
Like grape syrup or thickened kohl
64
That fuel has heated in the sides of a narrow-necked vessel.
65
Flowing from behind the ears of an angry, bold,
66
Swift one, like a scarred stallion-camel
67
If you lower the veil before me, I am
68
Skilled at taking the armed horseman.
69
Praise me for what you know, for I am
70
Generous in nature when I'm not wronged.
71
But if I am wronged my revenge is fierce,
72
Bitter in taste, like the herb al-ʿalqam.
73
I have drunk from the wine after
74
The noon-heat had stilled and everything lay still.
75
From a yellow glass bottle, banded with lines,
76
Paired with a white ewer at the left, its mouth stopped.
77
When I drink, I am wasteful - my wealth and honour
78
Remain full and unwounded,
79
And when I sober, I don't fall short of generosity;
80
And as you know my qualities and nobility.
81
And the husband of a proud woman I left fallen,
82
His chest quivering — gaping wide, whistling through the wound.
83
My hands reached him first with a swift thrust,
84
Then a spray through an opened window, like the color of safflower
85
Why don't you ask the horses, daughter of Malik,
86
If you’re ignorant of what you do not know
87
For I remain upon swift swimmer
88
A broad-chested mount the warriors wound again and again.
89
Sometimes stripped bare for spears and,
90
Sometimes sheltering behind thick-set arrows
91
Whoever saw the fight will tell you that I —
92
I rush into battle — and refrain when spoils are taken.
93
And a heavily armed warrior the champions hated to fight,
94
Neither fleeing far nor yielding.
95
My hands gave him a quick thrust,
96
With a straight sword, true at the joints, well-made.
97
Then I pierced his clothes with the hard spear —
98
A noble man is not forbidden to the spears.
99
I left him prey for beasts to tear apart;
100
They bit his beautiful fingers and his wrist.
101
And one in full armor I tore its gaps
102
With the sword from a defender of honor, marked.
103
His hands quick with the gambling arrows in the cold,
104
Tearing down the wine-flags of merchants, much blamed.
105
When he saw me dismount wanting him,
106
He showed his fangs not for smiling.
107
I remember him fallen through the day,
108
his hands and head dark-dyed as if with indigo.
109
I speared him first, then hewed him down
110
With a sharp scimitar, pure steel, cutting.
111
A hero, as if his clothes were hung on a tall tree—
112
He wore soft leather sandals, singular, unmatched.
113
O ewe of the hunt—lawful to him who won her,
114
Forbidden to me— I wish she wasn’t forbidden
115
I sent my handmaid and said, “Go,
116
And spy on her news, and know.”
117
She said, "I saw the enemies off their guard,
118
And the ewe is within reach for whoever is bold.
119
As if she turned with the neck of a young deer,
120
A graceful gazelle, noble and white-marked.
121
I was told Amr shows no gratitude for my favor,
122
And ingratitude corrupts the soul of the giver.
123
I kept my uncle’s advice at morning,
124
when lips draw back from the whiteness of the mouth.
125
In the thick of war, where heroes
126
Don't complain of its depths except with murmurs,
127
when they took shelter behind me from the spears — I did not flinch;
128
From them, but the front line got crowded.
129
When I saw the enemies advancing in groups
130
encouraging one another, I charged again — blameless.
131
They shout “Antar!” while spears are like
132
well-ropes in the chest of my black horse.
133
I kept charging them with his chest opening
134
And breast until he was clothed with blood.
135
He turned away from the spear blows on his chest
136
And complained to me with tears and neighing.
137
If he knew what conversation was, he would complain,
138
And if he knew speech, he would have spoken to me.
139
It healed my soul and removed its sickness—
140
The horsemen's cry "Come on, Antar, be first!"
141
While horses storm the soft ground, frowning,
142
Between one tall warrior and another tall one.
143
My mount obeys wherever I want, following me,
144
Responsive, and I urge him with firm command.
145
I feared I would die before war's wheel
146
Turned upon the two sons of Damdam,
147
Who insulted my honor while I did not insult them,
148
Who vowed my blood if they did not meet me.
149
If they try, I've already left their father
150
To be split by the beasts — and every great vulture.
1
هَل غادَرَ الشُعَراءُ مِن مُتَرَدَّمِ
Have the poets left anything unsung,
2
أَم هَل عَرَفتَ الدارَ بَعدَ تَوَهُّمِ
Or do you know the home after doubt and dreaming?
3
يا دارَ عَبلَةَ بِالجَواءِ تَكَلَّمي
O home of Ablah in al-Jawa, speak to me—
4
وَعَمي صَباحاً دارَ عَبلَةَ وَاِسلَمي
Good morning, Ablah's home and peace be upon you.
5
فَوَقَفتُ فيها ناقَتي وَكَأَنَّها
I stopped my she-camel here, as if she were
6
فَدَنٌ لِأَقضِيَ حاجَةَ المُتَلَوِّمِ
A fortress wall, to ease my longing heart.
7
وَتَحُلُّ عَبلَةُ بِالجَواءِ وَأَهلُنا
Ablah sits in al-Jawa, while our people
8
بِالحَزنِ فَالصَمّانِ فَالمُتَثَلَّمِ
Camp in al-Hazn, al-Samman, al-Mutathallam.
9
حُيِّيتَ مِن طَلَلٍ تَقادَمَ عَهدُهُ
Hail to the ruins, long grown old,
10
أَقوى وَأَقفَرَ بَعدَ أُمِّ الهَيثَمِ
Deserted since Umm al-Haytham departed.
11
حَلَّت بِأَرضِ الزائِرينَ فَأَصبَحَت
She settled in the visitors' land, and now
12
عَسِراً عَلَيَّ طِلابُكِ اِبنَةَ مَخرَمِ
Hard is the seeking, daughter of Makhram.
13
عُلِّقتُها عَرَضاً وَأَقتُلُ قَومَها
Love caught me unawares while I kill her people-
14
زَعماً لَعَمرُ أَبيكَ لَيسَ بِمَزعَمِ
False, by your father's life, it's no false claim.
15
وَلَقَد نَزَلتِ فَلا تَظُنّي غَيرَهُ
You have settled, so don't think, You're anything
16
مِنّي بِمَنزِلَةِ المُحَبِّ المُكرَمِ
To me but the one loved and honored.
17
كَيفَ المَزارُ وَقَد تَرَبَّعَ أَهلُها
How can I visit when her people have settled
18
بِعُنَيزَتَينِ وَأَهلُنا بِالغَيلَمِ
In Unayzatayn while our people are in al-Ghaylam?
19
إِن كُنتِ أَزمَعتِ الفِراقَ فَإِنَّماْ
If you're set on parting, then truly
20
زُمَّت رِكابُكُمُ بِلَيلٍ مُظلِمِ
Your camels were saddled in a dark night.
21
ما راعَني إِلّا حَمولَةُ أَهلِها
Nothing startled me but her people's caravan
22
وَسطَ الدِيارِ تَسَفُّ حَبَّ الخِمخِمِ
In the middle of the dwellings, eating khimkhim seeds.
23
فيها اِثنَتانِ وَأَربَعونَ حَلوبَةً
Among them forty-two milk camels,
24
سوداً كَخافِيَةِ الغُرابِ الأَسحَمِ
Black as a raven’s hidden wing
25
إِذ تَستَبيكَ بِذي غُروبٍ واضِحٍ
When she enslaves you with sunset glow,
26
عَذبٍ مُقَبَّلُهُ لَذيذِ المَطعَمِ
Sweet to kiss and pleasant to taste.
27
وَكَأَنَّ فارَةَ تاجِرٍ بِقَسيمَةٍ
As if a merchant's musk in the perfume market
28
سَبَقَت عَوارِضَها إِلَيكَ مِنَ الفَمِ
Reached you from the mouth before her teeth.
29
أَو رَوضَةً أُنُفاً تَضَمَّنَ نَبتَها
Or a virgin meadow whose growth was fed
30
غَيثٌ قَليلُ الدِمنِ لَيسَ بِمَعلَمِ
By rain unsoiled by dung, unknown to men.
31
جادَت عَليهِ كُلُّ بِكرٍ حُرَّةٍ
Every virgin free cloud was generous to it,
32
فَتَرَكنَ كُلَّ قَرارَةٍ كَالدِرهَمِ
And left every grove like a silver coin (shining).
33
سَحّاً وَتَسكاباً فَكُلَّ عَشِيَّةٍ
Pouring and flowing, so every evening
34
يَجري عَلَيها الماءُ لَم يَتَصَرَّمِ
Water runs over it, never cut off,
35
وَخَلا الذُبابُ بِها فَلَيسَ بِبارِحٍ
And flies settled in it, never leaving,
36
غَرِداً كَفِعلِ الشارِبِ المُتَرَنِّمِ
Singing like a drunk who hums,
37
هَزِجاً يَحُكُّ ذِراعَهُ بِذِراعِهِ
Melodious, rubbing arm on arm,
38
قَدحَ المُكِبِّ عَلى الزِنادِ الأَجذَمِ
Striking like one bent over flint.
39
تُمسي وَتُصبِحُ فَوقَ ظَهرِ حَشِيَّةٍ
She spends her days and nights on a cushion,
40
وَأَبيتُ فَوقَ سَراةِ أَدهَمَ مُلجَمِ
While I lie on the back of a black bridled horse.
41
وَحَشِيَّتي سَرجٌ عَلى عَبلِ الشَوى
My bed is a saddle on a strong-limbed steed,
42
نَهدٍ مَراكِلُهُ نَبيلِ المَحزِمِ
Broad-chested, his flanks bound by a noble girth.
43
هَل تُبلِغَنّي دارَها شَدَنِيَّةٌ
Will a fine she-camel of Shadan carry me to her home,
44
لُعِنَت بِمَحرومِ الشَرابِ مُصَرَّمِ
One used to going without water, enduring,
45
خَطّارَةٌ غِبَّ السُرى زَيّافَةٌ
Quick-paced after night travel, eager and swift.
46
تَطِسُ الإِكامَ بِوَخذِ خُفٍّ ميثَمِ
She strikes the hills with the touch of a tender hoof.
47
وَكَأَنَّما تَطِسُ الإِكامَ عَشِيَّةً
As if she treads the hills at evening
48
بِقَريبِ بَينَ المَنسِمَينِ مُصَلَّمِ
With something sharp between her toes,
49
تَأوي لَهُ قُلُصُ النَعامِ كَما أَوَت
The young ostriches gather to him,
50
حِزَقٌ يَمانِيَةٌ لِأَعجَمَ طِمطِمِ
As Yemeni herds to a stammering foreigner.
51
يَتبَعنَ قُلَّةَ رَأسِهِ وَكَأَنَّهُ
Following the peak of her head as though it were
52
حِدجٌ عَلى نَعشٍ لَهُنَّ مُخَيَّمِ
A curtained litter borne for them.
53
صَعلٍ يَعودُ بِذي العُشَيرَةِ بَيضَهُ
Thin-necked, returning with his tribe’s eggs,
54
كَالعَبدِ ذي الفَروِ الطَويلِ الأَصلَمِ
Like a slave with long hair and clipped ears.
55
شَرِبَت بِماءِ الدُحرُضَينِ فَأَصبَحَت
She drank from the water of al-Duhrudayn and became
56
زَوراءَ تَنفِرُ عَن حِياضِ الدَيلَمِ
Lean, shying away from the pools of al-Daylam
57
وَكَأَنَّما تَنأى بِجانِبِ دَفَّها ال
As if she moves away with her right side
58
وَحشِيِّ مِن هَزِجِ العَشِيِّ مُؤَوَّمِ
From an evening singer, ugly-headed.
59
هِرٍ جَنيبٍ كُلَّما عَطَفَت لَهُ
A cat alongside, whenever she turned to him
60
غَضَبى اِتَّقاها بِاليَدَينِ وَبِالفَمِ
Angry, he protected himself with paws and mouth.
61
بَرَكَت عَلى جَنبِ الرِداعِ كَأَنَّما
She knelt on the ridge's side as if
62
بَرَكَت عَلى قَصَبٍ أَجَشَّ مُهَضَّمِ
She knelt on rough broken reeds.
63
وَكأَنَّ رُبّاً أَو كُحَيلاً مُعقَد
Like grape syrup or thickened kohl
64
حَشَّ الوَقودُ بِهِ جَوانِبَ قُمقُمِ
That fuel has heated in the sides of a narrow-necked vessel.
65
يَنباعُ مِن ذِفرى غَضوبٍ جَسرَةٍ
Flowing from behind the ears of an angry, bold,
66
زَيّافَةٍ مِثلَ الفَنيقِ المُكدَمِ
Swift one, like a scarred stallion-camel
67
إِن تُغدِفي دوني القِناعَ فَإِنَّني
If you lower the veil before me, I am
68
طَبٌّ بِأَخذِ الفارِسِ المُستَلئِمِ
Skilled at taking the armed horseman.
69
أَثني عَلَيَّ بِما عَلِمتِ فَإِنَّني
Praise me for what you know, for I am
70
سَمحٌ مُخالَقَتي إِذا لَم أُظلَمِ
Generous in nature when I'm not wronged.
71
وَإِذا ظُلِمتُ فَإِنَّ ظُلمِيَ باسِلٌ
But if I am wronged my revenge is fierce,
72
مُرٌّ مَذاقَتَهُ كَطَعمِ العَلقَمِ
Bitter in taste, like the herb al-ʿalqam.
73
وَلَقَد شَرِبتُ مِنَ المُدامَةِ بَعدَما
I have drunk from the wine after
74
رَكَدَ الهَواجِرُ بِالمَشوفِ المُعلَمِ
The noon-heat had stilled and everything lay still.
75
بِزُجاجَةٍ صَفراءَ ذاتِ أَسِرَّةٍ
From a yellow glass bottle, banded with lines,
76
قُرِنَت بِأَزهَرَ في الشَمالِ مُفَدَّمِ
Paired with a white ewer at the left, its mouth stopped.
77
فَإِذا شَرِبتُ فَإِنَّني مُستَهلِكٌ
When I drink, I am wasteful - my wealth and honour
78
مالي وَعِرضي وافِرٌ لَم يُكلَمِ
Remain full and unwounded,
79
وَإِذا صَحَوتُ فَما أُقَصِّرُ عَن نَدىً
And when I sober, I don't fall short of generosity;
80
وَكَما عَلِمتِ شَمائِلي وَتَكَرُّمي
And as you know my qualities and nobility.
81
وَحَليلِ غانِيَةٍ تَرَكتُ مُجَدَّل
And the husband of a proud woman I left fallen,
82
تَمكو فَريصَتُهُ كَشَدقِ الأَعلَمِ
His chest quivering — gaping wide, whistling through the wound.
83
سَبَقَت يَدايَ لَهُ بِعاجِلِ طَعنَةٍ
My hands reached him first with a swift thrust,
84
وَرَشاشِ نافِذَةٍ كَلَونِ العَندَمِ
Then a spray through an opened window, like the color of safflower
85
هَلّا سَأَلتِ الخَيلَ يا اِبنَةَ مالِكٍ
Why don't you ask the horses, daughter of Malik,
86
إِن كُنتِ جاهِلَةً بِما لَم تَعلَمي
If you’re ignorant of what you do not know
87
إِذ لا أَزالُ عَلى رِحالَةِ سابِحٍ
For I remain upon swift swimmer
88
نَهدٍ تَعاوَرُهُ الكُماةُ مُكَلَّمِ
A broad-chested mount the warriors wound again and again.
89
طَوراً يُجَرَّدُ لِلطِعانِ وَتارَةً
Sometimes stripped bare for spears and,
90
يَأوي إِلى حَصدِ القَسِيِّ عَرَمرَمِ
Sometimes sheltering behind thick-set arrows
91
يُخبِركِ مَن شَهِدَ الوَقيعَةَ أَنَّني
Whoever saw the fight will tell you that I —
92
أَغشى الوَغى وَأَعِفُّ عِندَ المَغنَمِ
I rush into battle — and refrain when spoils are taken.
93
وَمُدَجَّجٍ كَرِهَ الكُماةُ نِزالَهُ
And a heavily armed warrior the champions hated to fight,
94
لا مُمعِنٍ هَرَباً وَلا مُستَسلِمِ
Neither fleeing far nor yielding.
95
جادَت لَهُ كَفّي بِعاجِلِ طَعنَةٍ
My hands gave him a quick thrust,
96
بِمُثَقَّفٍ صَدقِ الكُعوبِ مُقَوَّمِ
With a straight sword, true at the joints, well-made.
97
فَشَكَكتُ بِالرُمحِ الأَصَمِّ ثِيابَهُ
Then I pierced his clothes with the hard spear —
98
لَيسَ الكَريمُ عَلى القَنا بِمُحَرَّمِ
A noble man is not forbidden to the spears.
99
فَتَرَكتُهُ جَزَرَ السِباعِ يَنُشنَهُ
I left him prey for beasts to tear apart;
100
يَقضِمنَ حُسنَ بِنانِهِ وَالمِعصَمِ
They bit his beautiful fingers and his wrist.
101
وَمِشَكِّ سابِغَةٍ هَتَكتُ فُروجَها
And one in full armor I tore its gaps
102
بِالسَيفِ عَن حامي الحَقيقَةِ مُعلِمِ
With the sword from a defender of honor, marked.
103
رَبِذٍ يَداهُ بِالقِداحِ إِذا شَتا
His hands quick with the gambling arrows in the cold,
104
هَتّاكِ غاياتِ التِجارِ مُلَوَّمِ
Tearing down the wine-flags of merchants, much blamed.
105
لَمّا رَآني قَد نَزَلتُ أُريدُهُ
When he saw me dismount wanting him,
106
أَبدى نَواجِذَهُ لِغَيرِ تَبَسُّمِ
He showed his fangs not for smiling.
107
عَهدي بِهِ مَدَّ النَهارِ كَأَنَّما
I remember him fallen through the day,
108
خُضِبَ البَنانُ وَرَأسُهُ بِالعِظلِمِ
his hands and head dark-dyed as if with indigo.
109
فَطَعَنتُهُ بِالرُمحِ ثُمَّ عَلَوتُهُ
I speared him first, then hewed him down
110
بِمُهَنَّدٍ صافي الحَديدَةِ مِخذَمِ
With a sharp scimitar, pure steel, cutting.
111
بَطَلٍ كَأَنَّ ثِيابَهُ في سَرحَةٍ
A hero, as if his clothes were hung on a tall tree—
112
يُحذى نِعالَ السِبتِ لَيسَ بِتَوأَمِ
He wore soft leather sandals, singular, unmatched.
113
يا شاةَ ما قَنَصٍ لِمَن حَلَّت لَهُ
O ewe of the hunt—lawful to him who won her,
114
حَرُمَت عَلَيَّ وَلَيتَها لَم تَحرُمِ
Forbidden to me— I wish she wasn’t forbidden
115
فَبَعَثتُ جارِيَتي فَقُلتُ لَها اِذهَبي
I sent my handmaid and said, “Go,
116
فَتَجَسَّسي أَخبارَها لِيَ وَاِعلَمي
And spy on her news, and know.”
117
قالَت رَأَيتُ مِنَ الأَعادي غِرَّةً
She said, "I saw the enemies off their guard,
118
وَالشاةُ مُمكِنَةٌ لِمَن هُوَ مُرتَمِ
And the ewe is within reach for whoever is bold.
119
وَكَأَنَّما اِلتَفَتَت بِجيدِ جَدايَةٍ
As if she turned with the neck of a young deer,
120
رَشإٍ مِنَ الغِزلانِ حُرٍّ أَرثَمِ
A graceful gazelle, noble and white-marked.
121
نِبِّئتُ عَمرواً غَيرَ شاكِرِ نِعمَتي
I was told Amr shows no gratitude for my favor,
122
وَالكُفرُ مَخبَثَةٌ لَنَفسِ المُنعِمِ
And ingratitude corrupts the soul of the giver.
123
وَلَقَد حَفِظتُ وَصاةَ عَمّي بِالضُحى
I kept my uncle’s advice at morning,
124
إِذ تَقلِصُ الشَفَتانِ عَن وَضَحِ الفَمِ
when lips draw back from the whiteness of the mouth.
125
في حَومَةِ الحَربِ الَّتي لا تَشتَكي
In the thick of war, where heroes
126
غَمَراتِها الأَبطالُ غَيرَ تَغَمغُمِ
Don't complain of its depths except with murmurs,
127
إِذ يَتَّقونَ بِيَ الأَسِنَّةَ لَم أَخِم
when they took shelter behind me from the spears — I did not flinch;
128
عَنها وَلَكِنّي تَضايَقَ مُقدَمي
From them, but the front line got crowded.
129
لَمّا رَأَيتُ القَومَ أَقبَلَ جَمعُهُم
When I saw the enemies advancing in groups
130
يَتَذامَرونَ كَرَرتُ غَيرَ مُذَمَّمِ
encouraging one another, I charged again — blameless.
131
يَدعونَ عَنتَرَ وَالرِماحُ كَأَنَّها
They shout “Antar!” while spears are like
132
أَشطانُ بِئرٍ في لَبانِ الأَدهَمِ
well-ropes in the chest of my black horse.
133
ما زِلتُ أَرميهِم بِثُغرَةِ نَحرِهِ
I kept charging them with his chest opening
134
وَلَبانِهِ حَتّى تَسَربَلَ بِالدَمِ
And breast until he was clothed with blood.
135
فَاِزوَرَّ مِن وَقعِ القَنا بِلَبانِهِ
He turned away from the spear blows on his chest
136
وَشَكا إِلَيَّ بِعَبرَةٍ وَتَحَمحُمِ
And complained to me with tears and neighing.
137
لَو كانَ يَدري ما المُحاوَرَةُ اِشتَكى
If he knew what conversation was, he would complain,
138
وَلَكانَ لَو عَلِمَ الكَلامَ مُكَلِّمي
And if he knew speech, he would have spoken to me.
139
وَلَقَد شَفى نَفسي وَأَذهَبَ سُقمَها
It healed my soul and removed its sickness—
140
قيلُ الفَوارِسِ وَيكَ عَنتَرَ أَقدِمِ
The horsemen's cry "Come on, Antar, be first!"
141
وَالخَيلُ تَقتَحِمُ الخَبارَ عَوابِساً
While horses storm the soft ground, frowning,
142
مِن بَينِ شَيظَمَةٍ وَآخَرَ شَيظَمِ
Between one tall warrior and another tall one.
143
ذُلُلٌ رِكابي حَيثُ شِئتُ مُشايِعي
My mount obeys wherever I want, following me,
144
لُبّي وَأَحفِزُهُ بِأَمرٍ مُبرَمِ
Responsive, and I urge him with firm command.
145
وَلَقَد خَشيتُ بِأَن أَموتَ وَلَم تَدُر
I feared I would die before war's wheel
146
لِلحَربِ دائِرَةٌ عَلى اِبنَي ضَمضَمِ
Turned upon the two sons of Damdam,
147
الشاتِمَي عِرضي وَلَم أَشتِمهُم
Who insulted my honor while I did not insult them,
148
وَالناذِرَينِ إِذا لَم اَلقَهُما دَمي
Who vowed my blood if they did not meet me.
149
إِن يَفعَلا فَلَقَد تَرَكتُ أَباهُم
If they try, I've already left their father
150
جَزَرَ السِباعِ وَكُلِّ نَسرٍ قَشعَمِ
To be split by the beasts — and every great vulture.
