ahmed_allaithy
05-22-2006, 08:00 AM
ãÚáÞÉ ÒåíÑ Èä ÃÈí Óáãì
THE POEM OF ZUHAIR1
Ãóãöäú Ãõãøö ÃóæúÝóì ÏöãúäóÉñ áóÜãú ÊóßóÜáøóãö ÈöÜÍóæúãÇäóÉ ÇáÜÏøóÑøóÇÌö ÝóÇáúÜãõÊóËóáøóÜãö
"Does the blackened ruin, situated in the stony ground between Durraj and Mutathallam, which did not speak to me, when addressed, belong to the abode of Ummi Awfa?
æóÏÇÑñ áóåóÜÇ ÈöÇáÑøóÞúãóÊóíúÜäö ßóÃóäøóåóÜÇ ãóÑÇÌöíÚõ æóÔúãò Ýí äóæÇÔöÜÑö ãöÚúÕóÜãö
"And is it her dwelling at the two stony meadows, seeming as though they were the renewed tattoo marks in the sinews of the wrist?
ÈöåóÇ ÇáÚóíúäõ æóÇáÃóÑúÂãõ íóãúÔöíäó ÎöáúÝóÉð æóÃóØúÜáÇÄõåóÇ íóäúåóÖúäó ãöäú ßõáøö ãóÌúËóãö
"The wild cows and the white deer are wandering about there, one herd behind the other, while their young are springing up from every lying-down place.
æóÞóÝúÊõ ÈöåóÇ ãöäú ÈóÚúÏö ÚöÔúÑöíäó ÍöÌøóÜÉð ÝóÜáÃíóÇð ÚóÑóÝúÊõ ÇáÜÏøóÇÑó ÈóÜÚúÏó ÊóÜæóåøõãö
"I stood again near it, (the encampment of the tribe of Awfa,) after an absence of twenty years, and with some efforts, I know her abode again after thinking awhile.
ÃóËóÇÝöíøó ÓõÝúÚóÇð Ýí ãõÚóÑøóÓö ãöÑúÌóÜáò æóäõÜÄúíóÇð ßóÌöÐúãö ÇáÍóæúÖö áóÜãú íóÊóËóáøóãö
"I recognized the three stones blackened by fire at the place where the kettle used to be placed at night, and the trench round the encampment, which had not burst, like the source of a pool.
ÝóáóãøóÇ ÚóÑóÝúÊõ ÇáÏøóÇÑó ÞõáúÊõ áöÑóÈúÚöåóÜÇ ÃóáÇ ÇäúÚöãú ÕóÈóÇÍóÇð ÃóíõåóÇ ÇáÑøóÈúÚõ æóÇÓúáóÜãö
"And when I recognized the encampment I said to its site, 'Now good morning, oh spot; may you be safe from dangers.'
ÊóÈóÕøóÑú Îóáíáöí åóáú ÊóÑóì ãöäú ÙóÚÇÆöÜäò ÊóÜÍóãøóáúäó ÈöÜÇáúÚóáúíÇÁö ãöäú ÝóæúÞö ÌõÑúËóãö
"Look, oh my friend! do you see any women traveling on camels, going over the high ground above the stream of Jurthum?2
Úóáóæúäó ÈöÃóäúãóÇØò ÚöÊóÜÇÞò æóßöÜáøóÉò æöÑóÇÏò ÍóæóÇÔöÜíåóÇ ãõÔóÜÇßöåóÉö ÇáÜÏøóãö
"They have covered their howdajs with coverlets of high value, and with a thin screen, the fringes of which are red, resembling blood.
æóæóÑøóßúäó Ýí ÇáÓøõæÈóÇäö íóÚúáõæúäó ãóÊúäóÜåõ ÚóáóÜíúåöäøó Ïóáøõ ÇáÜäøóÜÇÚöãö ÇáÜãõÜÊóäóÚøöãö
"And they inclined toward the valley of Soobán, ascending the center of it, and in their faces were the fascinating looks of a soft-bodied person brought up in easy circumstances;
ÈóßóÑúäó ÈõßõæÑðÇ æóÇÓúÊóÍóÑúä ÈöÓõÍúÜÑóÉò ÝóåõÜäøó æóæóÇÏöí ÇáÜÑøóÓøö ßóÇáúíóÏö áöÜáúÝóãö
"They arose early in the morning and got up at dawn, and they went straight to the valley of Rass as the hand goes unswervingly to the mouth, when eating.
æóÝöíåöäøó ãóáúåóìð áöáøóØöíÜÝö æóãóäúÙóÑñ ÃóäöÜíÜÞñ áöÚóÜíúäö ÇáÜäøóÇÙöÑö ÇáÜãõÊóæóÓøöãö
"And amongst them is a place of amusement for the far-sighted one, and a pleasant sight for the eye of the looker who looks attentively.
ßóÃóäøó ÝõÊóÇÊó ÇáúÚöåúäö Ýí ßõáøö ãóäúÒöáò äóÒóáúäó ÈöÜåö ÍóÈøõ ÇáúÜÝóäóÇ áóÜãú íõÍóØøóãö
"As if the pieces of dyed wool which they left in every place in which they halted, were the seeds of night-shade which have not been crushed.
ÝóáóãøóÇ æóÑóÏúäó ÇáãóÇÁó ÒõÑúÞóÇð ÌöÜãóÇãõåõ æóÖóÜÚúäó ÚöÜÕöíøó ÇáÜÍóÇÖöÑö ÇáãõÊóÎóíøöãö
"When they arrived at the water, the mass of which was blue from intense purity, they laid down their walking sticks, (i.e., took their lodging there,) like the dweller who has pitched his tents.
ÌóÚóáúäó ÇáúÞóäóÇäó Úóäú íóÜãöíäò æóÍóÒúäóÜåõ æóßóãú ÈöÜÇáÞóäóÇäö ãöäú ãõÜÍöáøò æóãõÍúÑöãö
"They kept the hill of Qanan and the rough ground about it on their hand; while there are many, dwelling in Qanan, the shedding of whose blood is lawful and unlawful.3
ÙóåóÑúäó ãöäó ÇáÓøõæÈóÇäö Ëõãøó ÌóÒóÚúäóÜåõ Úóáóì ßõáøö ÞóÜíúäöíøò ÞóÜÔöíÈò æóãõÜÝúÃóãö
"They came out from the valley of Soobán, then they crossed it, riding in every Qainian howdah new and widened.
ÝóÃóÞúÓóãúÊõ ÈöÇáúÈóíúÊö ÇáÐøöí ØóÇÝó Íóæúáóåõ ÑöÌóÜÇáñ ÈóÜäóæúåõ ãöäú ÞõÜÑóíúÔò æóÌõÑúåõãö
"Then I swear by the temple, round which walk the men who built it from the tribes of Quraish and Jurhum.4
íóãöÜíäðÇ áóäöÚúãó ÇáÜÓøóíÏóÇäö æõÌöÜÏúÊõãóÇ ÚóÜáóì ßõáøö ÍóÜÇáò ãöäú ÓóÍöíáò æóãõÈúÑóãö
"An oath, that you are verily two excellent chiefs, who are found worthy of honor in every condition, between ease and distress.5
ÊóÏóÇÑóßúÊõãÇ ÚóÈúÓóÇð æóÐõÈúÜíóÇäó ÈóÜÚúÏóãóÇ ÊóÜÝóÇäóæúÇ æóÏóÞøõÜæÇ ÈóÜíúäóåõãú ÚöØúÑó ãóäúÔóãö
"You repaired with peace the condition of the tribes of 'Abs and Zubyán, after they had fought with one another, and ground up the perfume of Manshim between them.6
æóÞóÏú ÞõáúÊõãóÇ Åöäú äõÏúÑößö ÇáÓøöáúãó æóÇÓöÚÇð ÈöÜãóÇáò æóãóÜÚúÑõæÝò ãöäó ÇáúÞóæúáö äóÓúáóãö
"And indeed you said, 'if we bring about peace perfectly by the spending of money and the conferring of benefits, and by good words, we shall be safe from the danger of the two tribes, destroying each other.'
ÝóÃóÕúÈóÍúÊõãóÇ ãöäúåóÇ ÚóÜáóì ÎóíúÑö ãóæúØöäò ÈóÜÚöíÏóíúä ÝöíåóÇ ãöäú ÚõÞõæÞò æóãóÜÃúËóãö
"You occupied by reason of this the best of positions, and became far from the reproach of being undutiful and sinful.
ÚóÙöíãóíúäö Ýí ÚõáúíóÇ ãóÜÚóÏøò åõÏöíúÊõãóÜÇ æóãóäú íóÓúÊóÈöÍú ßóäúÒóÇð ãöäú ÇáãóÌúÏö íóÚúÙõãö
"And you became great in the high nobility of Ma'add; may you be guided in the right way; and he who spends his treasure of glory will become great.
ÊõÜÚóÝøóì ÇáúÜßõáõæãõ ÈöÇáúãöÆíöäó ÝóÃóÕúÈóÍóÊú íõÜäóÌøöãõåóÇ ãóäú áóÜíúÓó ÝöíåóÇ ÈöÜãõÌúÑöãö
"The memory of the wounds is obliterated by the hundreds of camels, and he, who commenced paying off the blood money by instalments, was not guilty of it (i.e., of making war).
íõÜäóÜÌøöãõåóÇ Þóæúãñ áöÜÞóÜæúãò ÛóÜÑóÇãóÉð æóáóÜãú íõåóÑöíÞõæÇ Èóíúäóåõãú ãöáúÁó ãöÍúÌóãö
"One tribe pays it to another tribe as an indemnity, while they who gave the indemnity did not shed blood sufficient for the filling of a cupping glass.
ÝóÜÃóÕúÈóÍó íóÜÌúÑöí Ýöíåöãõ ãöäú ÊöáÇóÏößõãú ãóÛóÜÇäöãõ ÔóÊøóì ãöÜäú ÅöÝóÜÇáò ãõÜÒóäøóãö
"Then there was being driven to them from the property you inherited, a booty of various sorts from young camels with slit ears.
ÃóáÇó ÃóÈúáöÜÛö ÇáÃóÍúáÇóÝó ÚóÜäøöí ÑöÓóÜÇáóÉð æóÐõÈúÜíóÇäó åóáú ÃóÞúÓóãúÊãõ ßõÜáøó ãõÜÞúÓóãö
"Now, convey from me to the tribe of Zubyán and their allies a message,—'verily you have sworn by every sort of oath to keep the peace.'
ÝóáÇó ÊóÜßúÊõãõäøó Çááåó ãóÇ Ýöí äõÜÝõæÓößõãú áöÜíóÎúÝóì æóãóåúãóÇ íõÜßúÊóãö Çááåõ íóÜÚúáóãö
"Do not conceal from God what is in your breast that it may be hidden; whatever is concealed, God knows all about it.
íõÜÄóÎøóÑú ÝóíõæÖóÚú ÝÜí ßöÊóÇÈò ÝóíõÏøóÎóÑú áöÜíóæúãö ÇáúÍöÓóÇÈö Ãóæú íõÚóÌøóáú ÝóÜíõäúÞóãö
"Either it will be put off and placed recorded in a book, and preserved there until the judgment day; or the punishment be hastened and so he will take revenge.
æóãóÇ ÇáÜÍóÑúÈõ ÅöáÇøó ãóÜÇ ÚóáöãúÊãú æóÐõÞúÊõãõ æóãóÇ åõÜæó ÚóäúåóÇ ÈöÜÇáÍóÏöíËö ÇáãõÑóÌøóãö
"And war is not but what you have learnt it to be, and what you have experienced, and what is said concerning it, is not a story based on suppositions.
ãóÊóÜì ÊóÜÈúÚóËõæåóÇ ÊóÜÈúÚóËõæåóÇ ÐóãöÜíãóÉð æóÊóÖúÜÑó ÅöÐóÇ ÖóÜÑøóíúÊõãõæåóÇ ÝóÜÊóÖúÑóãö
"When you stir it up, you will stir it up as an accursed thing, and it will become greedy when you excite its greed and it will rage fiercely.
ÝóÜÊóÚúÑõßßõãõ ÚóÑúßó ÇáÜÑøóÍóì ÈöÜËöÝóÇáöåóÇ æóÊóáúÜÞóÍú ßöÔóÇÝóÇð Ëõãøó ÊõäúÜÊóÌú ÝóÜÊõÊúÆöãö
"Then it will grind you as the grinding of the upper millstone against the lower, and it will conceive immediately after one birth and it will produce twins.7
áóÚóãúÑöí áóÜäöÚúãó ÇáÜÍóíøõ ÌóÜÑøó Úóáóíúåöãõ ÈöãóÇ áÇó íõæóÇÊöíåöã ÍõÕóíúäõ Èúäõ ÖóãúÖóãö
"By my life I swear, how good a tribe it is upon whom Husain Bin Damdam brought an injury by committing a crime which did not please them.8
æóßóÇäó Øóæóì ßóÜÔúÍðÇ Úóáóì ãõÓúÊóßöäøóÉò ÝóÜáÇó åõÜæó ÃóÈúÏóÇåóÇ æóáóÜãú íóÜÊóÞóÏøóãö
"And he had concealed his hatred, and did not display it, and did not proceed to carry out his intention until he got a good opportunity.
æóÞóÇáó ÓóÃóÞúÖöí ÍóÜÇÌóÊöí ËõÜãøó ÃóÊøóÞöí ÚóÜÏõæøöí ÈöÃóáúÝò ãöäú æóÑóÇÆöÜíó ãõáúÌóãö
"And he said, 'I will perform my object of avenging myself, and I will guard myself from my enemy with a thousand bridled horses behind me.'
ÝóÔóÜÏøó æóáóÜãú íõÜÝúÒöÚú ÈõÜíõæÊÇð ßóËöíóÑÉð áóÏóì ÍóíúËõ ÃóáúÞóÊú ÑóÍúáóåóÇ Ãõãøõ ÞóÔúÚóãö
"Then he attacked his victim from 'Abs, but did not cause fear to the people of the many houses, near which death had thrown down his baggage.9
ÑóÚóÜæúÇ ÙöÜãúÃóåõãú ÍóÊóì ÅöÐóÇ Êóãøó ÃóæúÑóÏõæÇ ÛöãóÜÇÑóÇð ÊóÜÝóÑøóì ÈöÇáÓøöáÇÍö æóÈöÜÇáÏøóãö
"They allowed their animals to graze until when the interval between the hours of drinking was finished, they took them to the deep pool, which is divided by weapons and by shedding of blood.10
ÝóÞóÖøóæúÇ ãóÜäóÇíÇ ÈóÜíúäóåõãú ËõÜãøó ÃóÕúÏóÑõæÇ ÅöáÜì ßóÜáÅòòòò ãõÓúÜÊóæúÈöáò ãõÜÊóæóÎøöãö
"They accomplished their object amongst themselves, then they led the animals back to the pasture of unwholesome indigestible grass.
ÓóÆöãúÊõ ÊóßóÇáöíÝó ÇáÜÍóíÇÉö æóãóäú íóÚöÔú ËóÜãóÇäöíäó ÍóæúáÇð áÇ ÃóÈóÜÇ áóßó íóÜÓúÃóãö
"I have grown weary of the troubles of life; and he, who lives eighty years will, mayest thou have no father if thou doubt11 grow weary.
æÃóÚúÜáóãõ ãóÇ Ýöí Çáúíóæúãö æóÇáÃóãúÓö ÞóÈúáóåõ æóáÜßöäøäí ÚóÜäú Úöáúãö ãóÇ Ýöí ÛóÏò Úóãö
"And I know what has happened to-day and yesterday, before it, but verily, of the knowledge of what will happen to-morrow; I am ignorant.
ÑóÃóíúÊõ ÇáãóäóÇíóÇ ÎóÈúØó ÚóÔúæóÇÁó ãóäú ÊõÕöÈú ÊõÜãöÊúåõ æóãóäú ÊõÜÎúØöìÁú íõÚóãøóÑú ÝóíóåúÑóãö
"I see death is like the blundering of a blind camel;—him whom he meets he kills, and he whom he misses lives and will become old.
æóãóäú áóÜãú íõÜÕóÇäöÚú Ýí ÃõãõæÑò ßóËöíÑÉò íõÜÖóÑøóÓú ÈöÃóäúíóÇÈò æóíõÜæúØóÃú ÈöãóäúÓöãö
"And he who does not act with kindness in many affairs will be torn by teeth and trampled under foot.
æóãóäú íóÌúÚóáö ÇáãóÚúÑõæÝó ãöäú Ïõæäö ÚöÑúÖöåö íóÝöÑúåõ æóãóäú áÇ íóÊøóÞö ÇáÜÔøóÊúãó íõÔúÊóãö
"And he, who makes benevolent acts intervene before honor, increases his honor; and he, who does not avoid abuse, will be abused.
æóãóäú íóÜßõ ÐóÇ ÝóÜÖúáò ÝóíóÈúÎóáú ÈöÝóÖúáöåö Úóáóì ÞóÜæúãöåö íõÓúÜÊóÛúäó Úóäúåõ æóíõÐúãóãö
"He, who is possessed of plenty, and is miserly with his great wealth toward his people, will be dispensed with, and abused.
æóãóäú íõÜæúÝö áÇ íõÐúãóãú æóãóäú íõåúÏó ÞóáúÈõåõ Åöáì ãõÜØúãóÆöäøö ÇáúÜÈöÑøö áÇ íóÊóÌóãúÌóãö
"He who keeps his word, will not be reviled; and he whose heart is guided to self-satisfying benevolence will not stammer.
æóãóäú åóÜÇÈó ÃóÓúÜÈóÇÈó ÇáÜãóäóÇíóÇ íóäóáúäóåõ æóÅöäú íóÑúÞó ÃóÓúÜÈóÇÈó ÇáÓøóãóÇÁö ÈöÜÓõáøóãö
"And he who dreads the causes of death, they will reach him, even if he ascends the tracts of the heavens with a ladder.
æóãóäú íóÌúÚóáö ÇáãóÚúÑõæÝó Ýöí ÛóíúÑö Ãóåúáöåö íóßõäú ÍóÜãúÏõåõ ÐóãÇð ÚóÜáóíúåö æóíóÜäúÏóãö
"And he, who shows kindness to one not deserving it, his praise will be a reproach against him, and he will repent of having shown kindness.
æóãóäú íóÜÚúÕö ÃóØúÜÑÇÝó ÇáÒøöÌóÇÌö ÝóÅöäøóåõ íõÜØöíÚõ ÇáÜÚóæóÇáöí ÑõßøöÈóÊú ßõáøó áóåúÐóãö
"And he who rebels against the butt ends of the spears, then verily he will have to obey the spear points joined to every long spear shaft.12
æóãóäú áóÜãú íóÜÐõÏú Úóäú ÍóæúÖöåö ÈöÓöáÇÍöåö íõÜåóÏøóãú æóãóäú áÇ íóÙúáöãö ÇáÜäøóÇÓó íõÙúáóãö
"And he who does not repulse with his weapons from his tank, will have it broken; and he who does not oppress the people will be oppressed.
æóãóäú íóÜÛúÊóÑöÈú íóÍúÓöÈú ÚóÏõæÇð ÕóÏöíÞóåõ æóãóäú áÇ íõßóÑøöãú äóÜÝúÓóåõ áÇ íõÜßóÑøóãö
"And he who travels should consider his friend an enemy; and he who does not respect himself will not be respected.
æóßóÇÆöä ÊóÑóì ãöäú ÕóÇãöÊò áóßó ãõÚúÌöÈò ÒöíóÜÇÏóÊõÜåõ Ãóæ äóÞúÕõåõ Ýöí ÇáÜÊøóßóáõãö
"Many silent ones you see, pleasing to you, but their excess in wisdom or deficiency will appear at the time of talking.
áöÓóÇäõ ÇáÝóÊóì äöÕúÝñ æóäöÕúÝñ ÝõÄóÇÏõåõ ÝóÜáóãú íóÈúÞó ÅóáÇ ÕõæÑóÉõ ÇáÜáøóÍúãö æóÇáÏøóãö
"The tongue of a man is one half, and the other half is his mind, and here is nothing besides these two, except the shape of the blood and the flesh.
æóÅóäøó ÓóÝóÇåó ÇáÜÔøóíúÎö áÇ Íöáúãó ÈóÜÚúÏóåõ æóÅöäøó ÇáÜÝóÊóì ÈóÚúÏó ÇáÜÓøóÝóÇåóÉö íóÍúáõãö
"And verily, as to the folly of an old man there is no wisdom after it, but the young man after his folly may become wise.
ÓóÃáúÜäóÇ ÝóÃóÚúØóíúÊõãú æóÚõÏúäóÇ ÝóÜÚõÏúÊõãõ æóãóäú ÃóßúËóÑó ÇáÜÊøóÓúÂáó íóæúãÇð ÓóíõÍúÑóãö
"We asked of you, and you gave, and we returned to the asking and you returned to the giving, and he who increases the asking, will one day be disappointed."
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Footnotes
1 This poem begins, as do most Arab poems, with love longings, but soon drifts into praise of two peacemakers and the story of the feud between two tribes which preceded the peace. From this field the poem soon wanders to the philosophic maxims of the author. Zuhair is above, all a philosopher.
2 He fancies he sees the women again whom he saw twenty years previously, and he appeals to his companion to know if what he sees is real.
3 There are many enemies and many friends dwelling there.
4 This refers to the temple at Mecca which was built by Ismail, son of Abraham, ancestor of the tribe of Quraish, who married a woman of Jurhum, an old tribe of Yaman, who were the keepers of the temple before Quraish.
5 The theme changes here abruptly, to praise of two peacemakers.
6 Some Arabs, making a league to be revenged against their enemies, took oath with their hands plunged in a certain perfume, made by Manshim, as a sign of their coalition. They fought until they were slain to the last of them. Hence the proverb, "More unlucky than the perfume of Manshim."
7 The misfortunes arising from war are double.
8 Husain Bin Damdam's father was killed during the war between the Benî Zubyán and the Benî 'Abs. When peace was concluded between the tribes, he made a vow secretly that he would kill one of the tribe of 'Abs out of the revenge for his father. This he did, but when the Benî 'Abs came to take revenge on him, Hárith Ibn 'Awf offered them one hundred camels as blood money or his own son to kill. The 'Absioms took the camels and spared his son. The poet is now praising them for their act.
9 He killed no one while the peace was in force except the one person on whom he meant to take revenge.
10 By the deep pool is meant war, and the meaning of the lines is that the tribes refrained from war for a certain time, after which they again had recourse to arms.
11 A common term of imprecation.
12 The wandering desert Arabs when they met used to present the butt ends of their spears toward one another if their intentions were peaceful, the points if they intended fighting.
THE POEM OF ZUHAIR1
Ãóãöäú Ãõãøö ÃóæúÝóì ÏöãúäóÉñ áóÜãú ÊóßóÜáøóãö ÈöÜÍóæúãÇäóÉ ÇáÜÏøóÑøóÇÌö ÝóÇáúÜãõÊóËóáøóÜãö
"Does the blackened ruin, situated in the stony ground between Durraj and Mutathallam, which did not speak to me, when addressed, belong to the abode of Ummi Awfa?
æóÏÇÑñ áóåóÜÇ ÈöÇáÑøóÞúãóÊóíúÜäö ßóÃóäøóåóÜÇ ãóÑÇÌöíÚõ æóÔúãò Ýí äóæÇÔöÜÑö ãöÚúÕóÜãö
"And is it her dwelling at the two stony meadows, seeming as though they were the renewed tattoo marks in the sinews of the wrist?
ÈöåóÇ ÇáÚóíúäõ æóÇáÃóÑúÂãõ íóãúÔöíäó ÎöáúÝóÉð æóÃóØúÜáÇÄõåóÇ íóäúåóÖúäó ãöäú ßõáøö ãóÌúËóãö
"The wild cows and the white deer are wandering about there, one herd behind the other, while their young are springing up from every lying-down place.
æóÞóÝúÊõ ÈöåóÇ ãöäú ÈóÚúÏö ÚöÔúÑöíäó ÍöÌøóÜÉð ÝóÜáÃíóÇð ÚóÑóÝúÊõ ÇáÜÏøóÇÑó ÈóÜÚúÏó ÊóÜæóåøõãö
"I stood again near it, (the encampment of the tribe of Awfa,) after an absence of twenty years, and with some efforts, I know her abode again after thinking awhile.
ÃóËóÇÝöíøó ÓõÝúÚóÇð Ýí ãõÚóÑøóÓö ãöÑúÌóÜáò æóäõÜÄúíóÇð ßóÌöÐúãö ÇáÍóæúÖö áóÜãú íóÊóËóáøóãö
"I recognized the three stones blackened by fire at the place where the kettle used to be placed at night, and the trench round the encampment, which had not burst, like the source of a pool.
ÝóáóãøóÇ ÚóÑóÝúÊõ ÇáÏøóÇÑó ÞõáúÊõ áöÑóÈúÚöåóÜÇ ÃóáÇ ÇäúÚöãú ÕóÈóÇÍóÇð ÃóíõåóÇ ÇáÑøóÈúÚõ æóÇÓúáóÜãö
"And when I recognized the encampment I said to its site, 'Now good morning, oh spot; may you be safe from dangers.'
ÊóÈóÕøóÑú Îóáíáöí åóáú ÊóÑóì ãöäú ÙóÚÇÆöÜäò ÊóÜÍóãøóáúäó ÈöÜÇáúÚóáúíÇÁö ãöäú ÝóæúÞö ÌõÑúËóãö
"Look, oh my friend! do you see any women traveling on camels, going over the high ground above the stream of Jurthum?2
Úóáóæúäó ÈöÃóäúãóÇØò ÚöÊóÜÇÞò æóßöÜáøóÉò æöÑóÇÏò ÍóæóÇÔöÜíåóÇ ãõÔóÜÇßöåóÉö ÇáÜÏøóãö
"They have covered their howdajs with coverlets of high value, and with a thin screen, the fringes of which are red, resembling blood.
æóæóÑøóßúäó Ýí ÇáÓøõæÈóÇäö íóÚúáõæúäó ãóÊúäóÜåõ ÚóáóÜíúåöäøó Ïóáøõ ÇáÜäøóÜÇÚöãö ÇáÜãõÜÊóäóÚøöãö
"And they inclined toward the valley of Soobán, ascending the center of it, and in their faces were the fascinating looks of a soft-bodied person brought up in easy circumstances;
ÈóßóÑúäó ÈõßõæÑðÇ æóÇÓúÊóÍóÑúä ÈöÓõÍúÜÑóÉò ÝóåõÜäøó æóæóÇÏöí ÇáÜÑøóÓøö ßóÇáúíóÏö áöÜáúÝóãö
"They arose early in the morning and got up at dawn, and they went straight to the valley of Rass as the hand goes unswervingly to the mouth, when eating.
æóÝöíåöäøó ãóáúåóìð áöáøóØöíÜÝö æóãóäúÙóÑñ ÃóäöÜíÜÞñ áöÚóÜíúäö ÇáÜäøóÇÙöÑö ÇáÜãõÊóæóÓøöãö
"And amongst them is a place of amusement for the far-sighted one, and a pleasant sight for the eye of the looker who looks attentively.
ßóÃóäøó ÝõÊóÇÊó ÇáúÚöåúäö Ýí ßõáøö ãóäúÒöáò äóÒóáúäó ÈöÜåö ÍóÈøõ ÇáúÜÝóäóÇ áóÜãú íõÍóØøóãö
"As if the pieces of dyed wool which they left in every place in which they halted, were the seeds of night-shade which have not been crushed.
ÝóáóãøóÇ æóÑóÏúäó ÇáãóÇÁó ÒõÑúÞóÇð ÌöÜãóÇãõåõ æóÖóÜÚúäó ÚöÜÕöíøó ÇáÜÍóÇÖöÑö ÇáãõÊóÎóíøöãö
"When they arrived at the water, the mass of which was blue from intense purity, they laid down their walking sticks, (i.e., took their lodging there,) like the dweller who has pitched his tents.
ÌóÚóáúäó ÇáúÞóäóÇäó Úóäú íóÜãöíäò æóÍóÒúäóÜåõ æóßóãú ÈöÜÇáÞóäóÇäö ãöäú ãõÜÍöáøò æóãõÍúÑöãö
"They kept the hill of Qanan and the rough ground about it on their hand; while there are many, dwelling in Qanan, the shedding of whose blood is lawful and unlawful.3
ÙóåóÑúäó ãöäó ÇáÓøõæÈóÇäö Ëõãøó ÌóÒóÚúäóÜåõ Úóáóì ßõáøö ÞóÜíúäöíøò ÞóÜÔöíÈò æóãõÜÝúÃóãö
"They came out from the valley of Soobán, then they crossed it, riding in every Qainian howdah new and widened.
ÝóÃóÞúÓóãúÊõ ÈöÇáúÈóíúÊö ÇáÐøöí ØóÇÝó Íóæúáóåõ ÑöÌóÜÇáñ ÈóÜäóæúåõ ãöäú ÞõÜÑóíúÔò æóÌõÑúåõãö
"Then I swear by the temple, round which walk the men who built it from the tribes of Quraish and Jurhum.4
íóãöÜíäðÇ áóäöÚúãó ÇáÜÓøóíÏóÇäö æõÌöÜÏúÊõãóÇ ÚóÜáóì ßõáøö ÍóÜÇáò ãöäú ÓóÍöíáò æóãõÈúÑóãö
"An oath, that you are verily two excellent chiefs, who are found worthy of honor in every condition, between ease and distress.5
ÊóÏóÇÑóßúÊõãÇ ÚóÈúÓóÇð æóÐõÈúÜíóÇäó ÈóÜÚúÏóãóÇ ÊóÜÝóÇäóæúÇ æóÏóÞøõÜæÇ ÈóÜíúäóåõãú ÚöØúÑó ãóäúÔóãö
"You repaired with peace the condition of the tribes of 'Abs and Zubyán, after they had fought with one another, and ground up the perfume of Manshim between them.6
æóÞóÏú ÞõáúÊõãóÇ Åöäú äõÏúÑößö ÇáÓøöáúãó æóÇÓöÚÇð ÈöÜãóÇáò æóãóÜÚúÑõæÝò ãöäó ÇáúÞóæúáö äóÓúáóãö
"And indeed you said, 'if we bring about peace perfectly by the spending of money and the conferring of benefits, and by good words, we shall be safe from the danger of the two tribes, destroying each other.'
ÝóÃóÕúÈóÍúÊõãóÇ ãöäúåóÇ ÚóÜáóì ÎóíúÑö ãóæúØöäò ÈóÜÚöíÏóíúä ÝöíåóÇ ãöäú ÚõÞõæÞò æóãóÜÃúËóãö
"You occupied by reason of this the best of positions, and became far from the reproach of being undutiful and sinful.
ÚóÙöíãóíúäö Ýí ÚõáúíóÇ ãóÜÚóÏøò åõÏöíúÊõãóÜÇ æóãóäú íóÓúÊóÈöÍú ßóäúÒóÇð ãöäú ÇáãóÌúÏö íóÚúÙõãö
"And you became great in the high nobility of Ma'add; may you be guided in the right way; and he who spends his treasure of glory will become great.
ÊõÜÚóÝøóì ÇáúÜßõáõæãõ ÈöÇáúãöÆíöäó ÝóÃóÕúÈóÍóÊú íõÜäóÌøöãõåóÇ ãóäú áóÜíúÓó ÝöíåóÇ ÈöÜãõÌúÑöãö
"The memory of the wounds is obliterated by the hundreds of camels, and he, who commenced paying off the blood money by instalments, was not guilty of it (i.e., of making war).
íõÜäóÜÌøöãõåóÇ Þóæúãñ áöÜÞóÜæúãò ÛóÜÑóÇãóÉð æóáóÜãú íõåóÑöíÞõæÇ Èóíúäóåõãú ãöáúÁó ãöÍúÌóãö
"One tribe pays it to another tribe as an indemnity, while they who gave the indemnity did not shed blood sufficient for the filling of a cupping glass.
ÝóÜÃóÕúÈóÍó íóÜÌúÑöí Ýöíåöãõ ãöäú ÊöáÇóÏößõãú ãóÛóÜÇäöãõ ÔóÊøóì ãöÜäú ÅöÝóÜÇáò ãõÜÒóäøóãö
"Then there was being driven to them from the property you inherited, a booty of various sorts from young camels with slit ears.
ÃóáÇó ÃóÈúáöÜÛö ÇáÃóÍúáÇóÝó ÚóÜäøöí ÑöÓóÜÇáóÉð æóÐõÈúÜíóÇäó åóáú ÃóÞúÓóãúÊãõ ßõÜáøó ãõÜÞúÓóãö
"Now, convey from me to the tribe of Zubyán and their allies a message,—'verily you have sworn by every sort of oath to keep the peace.'
ÝóáÇó ÊóÜßúÊõãõäøó Çááåó ãóÇ Ýöí äõÜÝõæÓößõãú áöÜíóÎúÝóì æóãóåúãóÇ íõÜßúÊóãö Çááåõ íóÜÚúáóãö
"Do not conceal from God what is in your breast that it may be hidden; whatever is concealed, God knows all about it.
íõÜÄóÎøóÑú ÝóíõæÖóÚú ÝÜí ßöÊóÇÈò ÝóíõÏøóÎóÑú áöÜíóæúãö ÇáúÍöÓóÇÈö Ãóæú íõÚóÌøóáú ÝóÜíõäúÞóãö
"Either it will be put off and placed recorded in a book, and preserved there until the judgment day; or the punishment be hastened and so he will take revenge.
æóãóÇ ÇáÜÍóÑúÈõ ÅöáÇøó ãóÜÇ ÚóáöãúÊãú æóÐõÞúÊõãõ æóãóÇ åõÜæó ÚóäúåóÇ ÈöÜÇáÍóÏöíËö ÇáãõÑóÌøóãö
"And war is not but what you have learnt it to be, and what you have experienced, and what is said concerning it, is not a story based on suppositions.
ãóÊóÜì ÊóÜÈúÚóËõæåóÇ ÊóÜÈúÚóËõæåóÇ ÐóãöÜíãóÉð æóÊóÖúÜÑó ÅöÐóÇ ÖóÜÑøóíúÊõãõæåóÇ ÝóÜÊóÖúÑóãö
"When you stir it up, you will stir it up as an accursed thing, and it will become greedy when you excite its greed and it will rage fiercely.
ÝóÜÊóÚúÑõßßõãõ ÚóÑúßó ÇáÜÑøóÍóì ÈöÜËöÝóÇáöåóÇ æóÊóáúÜÞóÍú ßöÔóÇÝóÇð Ëõãøó ÊõäúÜÊóÌú ÝóÜÊõÊúÆöãö
"Then it will grind you as the grinding of the upper millstone against the lower, and it will conceive immediately after one birth and it will produce twins.7
áóÚóãúÑöí áóÜäöÚúãó ÇáÜÍóíøõ ÌóÜÑøó Úóáóíúåöãõ ÈöãóÇ áÇó íõæóÇÊöíåöã ÍõÕóíúäõ Èúäõ ÖóãúÖóãö
"By my life I swear, how good a tribe it is upon whom Husain Bin Damdam brought an injury by committing a crime which did not please them.8
æóßóÇäó Øóæóì ßóÜÔúÍðÇ Úóáóì ãõÓúÊóßöäøóÉò ÝóÜáÇó åõÜæó ÃóÈúÏóÇåóÇ æóáóÜãú íóÜÊóÞóÏøóãö
"And he had concealed his hatred, and did not display it, and did not proceed to carry out his intention until he got a good opportunity.
æóÞóÇáó ÓóÃóÞúÖöí ÍóÜÇÌóÊöí ËõÜãøó ÃóÊøóÞöí ÚóÜÏõæøöí ÈöÃóáúÝò ãöäú æóÑóÇÆöÜíó ãõáúÌóãö
"And he said, 'I will perform my object of avenging myself, and I will guard myself from my enemy with a thousand bridled horses behind me.'
ÝóÔóÜÏøó æóáóÜãú íõÜÝúÒöÚú ÈõÜíõæÊÇð ßóËöíóÑÉð áóÏóì ÍóíúËõ ÃóáúÞóÊú ÑóÍúáóåóÇ Ãõãøõ ÞóÔúÚóãö
"Then he attacked his victim from 'Abs, but did not cause fear to the people of the many houses, near which death had thrown down his baggage.9
ÑóÚóÜæúÇ ÙöÜãúÃóåõãú ÍóÊóì ÅöÐóÇ Êóãøó ÃóæúÑóÏõæÇ ÛöãóÜÇÑóÇð ÊóÜÝóÑøóì ÈöÇáÓøöáÇÍö æóÈöÜÇáÏøóãö
"They allowed their animals to graze until when the interval between the hours of drinking was finished, they took them to the deep pool, which is divided by weapons and by shedding of blood.10
ÝóÞóÖøóæúÇ ãóÜäóÇíÇ ÈóÜíúäóåõãú ËõÜãøó ÃóÕúÏóÑõæÇ ÅöáÜì ßóÜáÅòòòò ãõÓúÜÊóæúÈöáò ãõÜÊóæóÎøöãö
"They accomplished their object amongst themselves, then they led the animals back to the pasture of unwholesome indigestible grass.
ÓóÆöãúÊõ ÊóßóÇáöíÝó ÇáÜÍóíÇÉö æóãóäú íóÚöÔú ËóÜãóÇäöíäó ÍóæúáÇð áÇ ÃóÈóÜÇ áóßó íóÜÓúÃóãö
"I have grown weary of the troubles of life; and he, who lives eighty years will, mayest thou have no father if thou doubt11 grow weary.
æÃóÚúÜáóãõ ãóÇ Ýöí Çáúíóæúãö æóÇáÃóãúÓö ÞóÈúáóåõ æóáÜßöäøäí ÚóÜäú Úöáúãö ãóÇ Ýöí ÛóÏò Úóãö
"And I know what has happened to-day and yesterday, before it, but verily, of the knowledge of what will happen to-morrow; I am ignorant.
ÑóÃóíúÊõ ÇáãóäóÇíóÇ ÎóÈúØó ÚóÔúæóÇÁó ãóäú ÊõÕöÈú ÊõÜãöÊúåõ æóãóäú ÊõÜÎúØöìÁú íõÚóãøóÑú ÝóíóåúÑóãö
"I see death is like the blundering of a blind camel;—him whom he meets he kills, and he whom he misses lives and will become old.
æóãóäú áóÜãú íõÜÕóÇäöÚú Ýí ÃõãõæÑò ßóËöíÑÉò íõÜÖóÑøóÓú ÈöÃóäúíóÇÈò æóíõÜæúØóÃú ÈöãóäúÓöãö
"And he who does not act with kindness in many affairs will be torn by teeth and trampled under foot.
æóãóäú íóÌúÚóáö ÇáãóÚúÑõæÝó ãöäú Ïõæäö ÚöÑúÖöåö íóÝöÑúåõ æóãóäú áÇ íóÊøóÞö ÇáÜÔøóÊúãó íõÔúÊóãö
"And he, who makes benevolent acts intervene before honor, increases his honor; and he, who does not avoid abuse, will be abused.
æóãóäú íóÜßõ ÐóÇ ÝóÜÖúáò ÝóíóÈúÎóáú ÈöÝóÖúáöåö Úóáóì ÞóÜæúãöåö íõÓúÜÊóÛúäó Úóäúåõ æóíõÐúãóãö
"He, who is possessed of plenty, and is miserly with his great wealth toward his people, will be dispensed with, and abused.
æóãóäú íõÜæúÝö áÇ íõÐúãóãú æóãóäú íõåúÏó ÞóáúÈõåõ Åöáì ãõÜØúãóÆöäøö ÇáúÜÈöÑøö áÇ íóÊóÌóãúÌóãö
"He who keeps his word, will not be reviled; and he whose heart is guided to self-satisfying benevolence will not stammer.
æóãóäú åóÜÇÈó ÃóÓúÜÈóÇÈó ÇáÜãóäóÇíóÇ íóäóáúäóåõ æóÅöäú íóÑúÞó ÃóÓúÜÈóÇÈó ÇáÓøóãóÇÁö ÈöÜÓõáøóãö
"And he who dreads the causes of death, they will reach him, even if he ascends the tracts of the heavens with a ladder.
æóãóäú íóÌúÚóáö ÇáãóÚúÑõæÝó Ýöí ÛóíúÑö Ãóåúáöåö íóßõäú ÍóÜãúÏõåõ ÐóãÇð ÚóÜáóíúåö æóíóÜäúÏóãö
"And he, who shows kindness to one not deserving it, his praise will be a reproach against him, and he will repent of having shown kindness.
æóãóäú íóÜÚúÕö ÃóØúÜÑÇÝó ÇáÒøöÌóÇÌö ÝóÅöäøóåõ íõÜØöíÚõ ÇáÜÚóæóÇáöí ÑõßøöÈóÊú ßõáøó áóåúÐóãö
"And he who rebels against the butt ends of the spears, then verily he will have to obey the spear points joined to every long spear shaft.12
æóãóäú áóÜãú íóÜÐõÏú Úóäú ÍóæúÖöåö ÈöÓöáÇÍöåö íõÜåóÏøóãú æóãóäú áÇ íóÙúáöãö ÇáÜäøóÇÓó íõÙúáóãö
"And he who does not repulse with his weapons from his tank, will have it broken; and he who does not oppress the people will be oppressed.
æóãóäú íóÜÛúÊóÑöÈú íóÍúÓöÈú ÚóÏõæÇð ÕóÏöíÞóåõ æóãóäú áÇ íõßóÑøöãú äóÜÝúÓóåõ áÇ íõÜßóÑøóãö
"And he who travels should consider his friend an enemy; and he who does not respect himself will not be respected.
æóßóÇÆöä ÊóÑóì ãöäú ÕóÇãöÊò áóßó ãõÚúÌöÈò ÒöíóÜÇÏóÊõÜåõ Ãóæ äóÞúÕõåõ Ýöí ÇáÜÊøóßóáõãö
"Many silent ones you see, pleasing to you, but their excess in wisdom or deficiency will appear at the time of talking.
áöÓóÇäõ ÇáÝóÊóì äöÕúÝñ æóäöÕúÝñ ÝõÄóÇÏõåõ ÝóÜáóãú íóÈúÞó ÅóáÇ ÕõæÑóÉõ ÇáÜáøóÍúãö æóÇáÏøóãö
"The tongue of a man is one half, and the other half is his mind, and here is nothing besides these two, except the shape of the blood and the flesh.
æóÅóäøó ÓóÝóÇåó ÇáÜÔøóíúÎö áÇ Íöáúãó ÈóÜÚúÏóåõ æóÅöäøó ÇáÜÝóÊóì ÈóÚúÏó ÇáÜÓøóÝóÇåóÉö íóÍúáõãö
"And verily, as to the folly of an old man there is no wisdom after it, but the young man after his folly may become wise.
ÓóÃáúÜäóÇ ÝóÃóÚúØóíúÊõãú æóÚõÏúäóÇ ÝóÜÚõÏúÊõãõ æóãóäú ÃóßúËóÑó ÇáÜÊøóÓúÂáó íóæúãÇð ÓóíõÍúÑóãö
"We asked of you, and you gave, and we returned to the asking and you returned to the giving, and he who increases the asking, will one day be disappointed."
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Footnotes
1 This poem begins, as do most Arab poems, with love longings, but soon drifts into praise of two peacemakers and the story of the feud between two tribes which preceded the peace. From this field the poem soon wanders to the philosophic maxims of the author. Zuhair is above, all a philosopher.
2 He fancies he sees the women again whom he saw twenty years previously, and he appeals to his companion to know if what he sees is real.
3 There are many enemies and many friends dwelling there.
4 This refers to the temple at Mecca which was built by Ismail, son of Abraham, ancestor of the tribe of Quraish, who married a woman of Jurhum, an old tribe of Yaman, who were the keepers of the temple before Quraish.
5 The theme changes here abruptly, to praise of two peacemakers.
6 Some Arabs, making a league to be revenged against their enemies, took oath with their hands plunged in a certain perfume, made by Manshim, as a sign of their coalition. They fought until they were slain to the last of them. Hence the proverb, "More unlucky than the perfume of Manshim."
7 The misfortunes arising from war are double.
8 Husain Bin Damdam's father was killed during the war between the Benî Zubyán and the Benî 'Abs. When peace was concluded between the tribes, he made a vow secretly that he would kill one of the tribe of 'Abs out of the revenge for his father. This he did, but when the Benî 'Abs came to take revenge on him, Hárith Ibn 'Awf offered them one hundred camels as blood money or his own son to kill. The 'Absioms took the camels and spared his son. The poet is now praising them for their act.
9 He killed no one while the peace was in force except the one person on whom he meant to take revenge.
10 By the deep pool is meant war, and the meaning of the lines is that the tribes refrained from war for a certain time, after which they again had recourse to arms.
11 A common term of imprecation.
12 The wandering desert Arabs when they met used to present the butt ends of their spears toward one another if their intentions were peaceful, the points if they intended fighting.