الوسم: الثاني

وَكَأَنَّمَا تَنْأَى بِجَانِبِ دَفِّهَا الـوَحْشِيِّ مِنْ هَزِجِ العَشِيِّ مُـؤَوَّمِ
Fearing that it may be scratched, so, It presses on with unabated speed.0
Making its right side away of big-headed animal of cats’ breed.0

هِرٍّ جَنِيبٍ كُلَّمَا عَطَفَتْ لَـهُ = غَضَبْى اتَّقَاهَا بِاليَدَيْـنِ وَبِالفَـمِ
It( she-camel) angrily tries to ward it off, but not like what it wants, the matter goes.0
This cat pierces its skin with sharp teeth and pointed paws.0

أَبْقَى لَهَا طُولُ السِّفَارِ مُقَرْمَدَاً = سَنَـدَاً وَمِثْلَ دَعَائِـمِ المُتَخَيِّـمِ
Her long and unremitting traveling left her thick-skinned hump hardened.0
Bear a resemblance to the apexes of an erected tent.0

بَرَكَتْ عَلَى جنب الرِّدَاعِ كَأَنَّمَا = بَرَكَتْ عَلَى قَصَبٍ أَجَشَّ مُهَضَّمِ
She knelt down beside Ar-Rida’a making a sound which is horse and not peeped;0
snapping sounds as if kneeling on hollow reeds, thickly heaped.0

وَكَأَنَّ رُبَّـاً أَوْ كُحَيْلاً مُعْقَدَاً = حَشَّ الوَقُـودُ بِـهِ جَوَانِبَ قُمْقُمِ
The sweat oozing out of her neck is like tar put in a bottle
fuel applied to the sides of it, when boiling sweat did drizzle.0

َنْبَاعُ مِنْ ذِفْرَى غَضُوبٍ جَسْرَةٍ = زَيَّافَـةٍ مِثْلَ الفَنِيـقِ المُكْـدَمِ
The sweat of the angry, able-bodied she-camel oozing out near its ears
swaggering like a raging, powerful, contused camel ; rumbling with its peers.0

إِنْ تُغْدِفِي دُونِي القِنَاعَ فإِنَّنِي = طِبٌّ بأخذِ الفَـارسِ الْمُسْتَلْئِـم
If you cover your face with a burqa(veil) hiding from me.0
I am skilled at seizing the armed rider, so it is easy to seize thee.0

أَثْنِي عَلَيَّ بِمَا عَلِمْتِ فَإِنَّنِـي = سَمْحٌ مُخَالَقَتِي إِذَا لَمْ أُظْلَـمِ
Do praise and commend me for what you know about me and don’t deny.0
As I am amiable and manageable man when not hard done by.0

فَإِذَا ظُلِمْتُ فَإِنَّ ظُلْمِي بَاسِـلٌ = مُـرٌّ مَذَاقَتُـهُ كَطَعْمِ العَلْقَـمِ
But when oppressed, I inflict severe punishment on the one does that to me; unimaginably bitter like a man tastes colocynth (harsh) my punishment would be.

وَلَقَدْ شَرِبْتُ مِنَ المُدَامَةِ بَعْدَمَـا = رَكَدَ الهَوَاجِرُ بِالمَشُوفِ المُعْلَـمِ
Till the sun heat culminated, I started drinking the wine
that I bought by an inscribed dinar of mine.0
(or)
Till every thing became motionless & the sun came to a summit
I started drinking the wine with an inscribed goblet.
(or)
Till every thing became motionless & the sun heat peaked up.0
With an inscribed tumbler, I started to have the cup.0

بِزُجَاجَةٍ صَفْرَاءَ ذَاتِ أَسِـرَّةٍ = قُرِنَتْ بِأَزْهَرَ في الشِّمَالِ مُفَـدَّمِ
Wine was poured to lined nicely-shaped yellow bottle
from a pitcher in the left, its mouth wrapped with a tatter.0
(or)
Poured to lined nicely-shaped yellow bottle, Wine was
from a pitcher in the left, its mouth wrapped with a piece of cloth.0

فَإِذَا شَرِبْتُ فإِنَّنِـي مُسْتَهْلِـكٌ = مَالِي وَعِرْضِي وَافِرٌ لَمْ يُكْلَمِ
I squander my money but do good, when I drink wine.0
untainted and sound I do keep the honor of mine.0
(or)
When I drink I squander my money helping people in need around
but do keep my honor unblemished and sound.0

وَإِذَا صَحَوْتُ فَمَا أُقَصِّرُ عَنْ نَدَىً = وَكَمَا عَلِمْتِ شَمَائِلِي وَتَكَرُّمِـي
When sobering up, I never fall short of offering generosity.0
My traits and large-heartedness are familiar to thee.0

وَحَلِيلِ غَانِيَةٍ تَرَكْتُ مُجَدَّلاً = تَمْكُو فَريصَتُهُ كَشِدْقِ الأَعْلَـمِ
A husband of a charming woman needs not to adorn, I made him fall to the ground.0
The gash in his neck ; like a split in upper lip, was making wheezing sound.0

سَبَقَتْ يَدايَ لَـهُ بِعَاجِلِ طَعْنَـةٍ = وَرَشَاشِ نَافِـذَةٍ كَلَوْنِ العَنْـدَمِ
I directed to him at full blast a swift thrust.
Like deep-red dye was his blood gust.

هَلاَّ سَأَلْتِ الخَيْلَ يَا ابْنَةَ مَالِكٍ = إِنْ كُنْتِ جَاهِلَـةً بِمَا لَمْ تَعْلَمِي
O Malik’s Daughter, if ignorant of things not known to you about me
why not ask horses of combat zone, then answers will be clear to thee.
(or)
O Malik’s Daughter, if things about me, to you, not known.
To be informed of them, why not ask horses of combat zone.

إِذْ لا أَزَالُ عَلَى رِحَالةِ سَابِحٍ = نَهْـدٍ تَعَاوَرُهُ الكُمَاةُ مُكَلَّـمِ
How odd ! I’m still seating in the saddle, atop my gigantic, speedy steed;
alternately pierced by fully armed horsemen; many of its body parts bleed.

طَوْرَاً يُجَـرَّدُ لِلطِّعَانِ وَتَـارَةً = يَأْوِي إلى حَصِدِ القِسِيِّ عَرَمْرِمِ
Sometimes I bear down on it(my steed) when charging the adversaries
and sometimes running headfirst into the center, where falling of the spears.

يُخْبِرْكِ مَنْ شَهِدَ الوَقِيعَةَ أَنَّنِـي = أَغْشَى الوَغَى وَأَعِفُّ عِنْدَ المَغْنَمِThose whom the battle witnessed by will tell thee
how I refrain from sharing the spoils & how I fight; fearlessly.

وَلَقَدْ ذَكَرْتُكِ وَالرِّمَاحُ نَوَاهِلٌ = مِنِّي وَبِيضُ الْهِنْدِ تَقْطُرُ مِنْ دَمِي
I remembered thee when pikes, into my body, did dip
and sharp, flashing swords, with my blood, did drip.
(or)
I remembered thee when lances, into my body, were dipping
and sharp, flashing swords, with my blood, were dripping.

فَوَدِدْتُ تَقْبِيلَ السُّيُـوفِ لأَنَّهَا = لَمَعَتْ كَبَارِقِ ثَغْرِكِ الْمُتَبَسِّـمِ
Then I desired that the swords, by me, be kissed
because, like your smiling mouth, they luminesced.

وَمُدَّجِـجٍ كَرِهَ الكُمَاةُ نِزَالَـهُ = لا مُمْعِنٍ هَرَبَاً وَلاَ مُسْتَسْلِـمِ
Armed to the teeth he is, brave men cautious to battle him, an intrepid knight
Neither does he run away from the battle, nor does he surrender in a fight.

جَادَتْ لَـهُ كَفِّي بِعَاجِلِ طَعْنَـةٍ = بِمُثَقَّفٍ صَدْقِ الكُعُوبِ مُقَـوَّم
My hand smote him with a swift thrust, to fight me, I gave him no chance;
his body was poked by my straight, steady and firmly held lance.
(or)
My hand smote him with a swift lunge;
my straight, steady and firmly held lance made in his body a plunge.

فَشَكَكْتُ بِالرُّمْحِ الأَصَمِّ ثِيَابَـهُ = لَيْسَ الكَرِيمُ عَلَى القَنَا بِمُحَـرَّمِ
I stabbed him with solid lance that made his intestines appear.
It is not forbidden that noble men killed by a solid spear.
(or)
His body I stabbed with a solid lance.
Killing noble men is in allowance.
(or)
His body I stabbed with a solid lance.
No law stipulates that killing noble men is in disallowance.
(or)
His body is that my solid lance did tear.
It is not forbidden that noble men killed by a solid spear.

فَتَرَكْتُـهُ جَزَرَ السِّبَاعِ يَنُشْنَـهُ = يَقْضِمْنَ حُسْنَ بَنَانِـهِ وَالمِعْصَـمِ
Like a slaughtered goat I left him after his defeat.
His good fingertips and wrist were left to the lions to eat.
(or)
Like a slaughtered goat I left his corpse, has no might nor power.
His good fingertips and wrist were left to the lions to devour.

ومِشَكِّ سَابِغَةٍ هَتَكْتُ فُرُوجَهَا = بِالسَّيْفِ عَنْ حَامِي الحَقِيقَةِ مُعْلِمِ
I charged the enemy’s fortified defense line
and cracked the guard’s heavy armor with the sword of mine.

رَبِذٍ يَدَاهُ بِالقِـدَاحِ إِذَا شَتَـا = هَتَّـاكِ غَايَاتِ التِّجَـارِ مُلَـوَّمِ
His hands (of the guard) are skilled at, in winter, gambling and games of luck;
blamed for his lavishness, he targets wine dealers to buy their stock.

لَمَّا رَآنِي قَـدْ نَزَلْتُ أُرِيـدُهُ = أَبْدَى نَواجِـذَهُ لِغَيرِ تَبَسُّـمِ
When he saw me coming, advancing toward him showing no peace
he snarled out of fear, unsmilingly bared his teeth.

عَهْدِي بِـهِ مَـدَّ النَّهَارِ كَأَنَّمَا = خُضِبَ البَنَانُ وَرَأُسُـهُ بِالعِظْلِـمِ
Seeing his dead body, after I killed him, all during daylight.
His head and fingers seen to be dyed red after blood dried.
(or)
Seeing his dead body, after I killed him, all during daylight.
His head and fingers seen to be dyed red after a period of our fight.

بَطَلٍ كَأَنَّ ثِيَابَـهُ في سَرْحَـةٍ = يُحْذَى نِعَالَ السِّبْتِ ليْسَ بِتَوْأَمِ
So tall was he, like a tree covered by clothes he appears.
Wearing stout boots, he has none of peers.

يَا شَاةَ قَنَصٍ لِمَنْ حَلَّتْ لَـهُ = حَرُمَتْ عَلَيَّ وَلَيْتَهَا لَمْ تَحْـرُمِ
A woman happy he who obtains her love and cordiality.
She can’t be mine, alas! I wish she is not forbidden to me.

فَبَعَثْتُ جَارِيَتي فَقُلْتُ لَهَا اذْهَبِي = فَتَجَسَّسِي أَخْبَارَهَا لِيَ واعْلَمِي
To my beloved’s camp, I commanded my bondwoman to go there;
to spy and bring me good tidings about her.

قَالَتْ : رَأَيْتُ مِنَ الأَعَادِي غِرَّةً = وَالشَّاةُ مُمْكِنَـةٌ لِمَنْ هُو مُرْتَمِ
She said: I found the enemies unwary and heedless
& seeing the beloved is possible for a chivalric courageous.

وَكَأَنَّمَا التَفَتَتْ بِجِيدِ جَدَايَـةٍ = رَشَأٍٍ مِنَ الغِزْلانِ حُـرٍّ أَرْثَـمِ
When she did turn her neck to look, that was so pip.
She looked like a fawn with a white spot on the upper lip.

نُبِّئْتُ عَمْرَاً غَيْرَ شَاكِرِ نِعْمَتِي = وَالكُفْرُ مَخْبَثَـةٌ لِنَفْسِ المُنْعِـمِ
Her father(Amr) is ungrateful toward me, that is what I have been told.
Ingratitude is poison to the giver’s soul and bad mold.

وَلَقَدْ حَفِظْتُ وَصَاةَ عَمِّي بِالضُّحَى = إِذْ تَقْلِصُ الشَّفَتَانِ عَنْ وَضَحِ الفَمِ
My uncle’s injunction in the morning as to fight, by which I do abide.
This matter looks like lips part to reveal the mouth from inside.

في حَوْمَةِ الْمَوْتِ التي لا تَشْتَكِي = غَمَرَاتِها الأَبْطَالُ غَيْرَ تَغَمْغُـمِ
In the thick of battle where death surrounds the war horsemen
heroes complain not, nor moan, it is just their uproar and din.
(or)
where death abounds, In the thick of battle
heroes complain not, nor moan, it is just their uproar and rattle.

إِذْ يَتَّقُونَ بِيَ الأَسِنَّةَ لَمْ أَخِـمْ = عَنْهَا وَلَكنِّي تَضَايَـقَ مُقْدَمي
They averted the falling spears, shielding themselves behind me.
Although my advancement was slowed, I faced their spears valiantly.
(or)
They shielded themselves behind me to avoid the falling of any lance
I faced them valiantly but something on the ground hindered my advance.

ولقَدْ هَمَمْتُ بِغَارَةٍ في لَيْلَـةٍ = سَوْدَاءَ حَالِكَـةٍ كَلَوْنِ الأَدْلَـمِ
Once I conducted a sudden fight
on a jetty, as the color of black leather, night.
(or)
Once I conducted a sudden attack
on a night, as a color of leather, black.

لَمَّا سَمِعْتُ نِدَاءَ مُـرَّةَ قَدْ عَلاَ = وَابْنَيْ رَبِيعَةَ في الغُبَارِ الأَقْتَـمِ
As I heard Murrah and Rabia’s two sons calling aloud
for war midst thick, murky dust cloud.

وَمُحَلِّمٌ يَسْعَـوْنَ تَحْتَ لِوَائِهِمْ = وَالْمَوْتُ تَحْتَ لِوَاءِ آلِ مُحَلِّمِ
And saw The Muhallam men, under their banner, gathering;
beneath the banner of the Muhallams death lurking.

أَيْقَنْتُ أَنْ سَيَكُون عِنْدَ لِقَائِهِمْ = ضَرْبٌ يُطِيرُ عَنِ الفِرَاخِ الجُثَّـمِ
when clashing with them (adversaries) I was quite sure
panic-stricken birds will abandon their nests due to the smiting and striking of war.
(or)
I realized, when clashing with them that a din will be sprung;
the smiting and striking will scare birds away from their nests; abandoning their young.

بِرَحِيبَةِ الفَرْغَيْنِ يَهْدِي جَرْسُهَـا = باللَّيْلِ مُعْتَسَّ الذِّئَـابِ الضُّـرَّمِ
The sound of blood gushing out of gashes and bodies (which are) riven
attracts the roaming wolves at night; hunger driven.
(or)
The sound of blood gushing out of gashes and bodies, riven
attracts the roaming wolves at night; hunger driven.

لَمَّا رَأيْتُ القَوْمَ أقْبَلَ جَمْعُهُـمْ = يَتَذَامَرُونَ كَرَرْتُ غَيْرَ مُذَمَّـمِ
When I saw the foes advancing, urging one another to fight courageously
I charged onward to fight them with no fear and unhesitatingly.

يَدْعُونَ عَنْتَرَ وَالرِّمَاحُ كَأَنَّـهَا = أَشْطَانُ بِئْـرٍ في لَبَانِ الأَدْهَـمِ
Repeatedly they cried “Antarah” while my horse is in peril;
spears alternating on Adham’s chest like ropes of a deep well.

مَا زِلْتُ أَرْمِيهُمْ بِثُغْرَةِ نَحْـرِهِ = وَلَبَانِـهِ حَتَّى تَسَرْبَـلَ بِالـدَّمِ
I pressed on pounding them with my horse’s dimple till its bleeding was like a flood;
he was completely wrapped and covered with blood.

فَازْوَرَّ مِنْ وَقْـعِ القَنَا بِلَبَانِـهِ = وَشَكَا إِلَيَّ بِعَبْـرَةٍ وَتَحَمْحُـمِ
He turned aside, spears falling on his chest were too many.
Complaining to me with a tear and a heart-melting whinny.

لَوْ كَانَ يَدْرِي مَا المُحَاوَرَةُ اشْتَكَى = وَلَكانَ لَوْ عَلِمْ الكَلامَ مُكَلِّمِـي
Had it been able to dialogue, it would have lodged his complaint.
Had it been able to talk, its words would not have been in restraint.

وَلَقَدْ شَفَى نَفْسِي وَأَبْرَأَ سُقْمَهَا = قِيْلُ الفَوارِسِ وَيْكَ عَنْتَرَ أَقْـدِمِ
My soul was healed of its malady when I heard the knights call my name
pleading: charge, Antarah, charge, rescue us from shame.

وَالخَيْلُ تَقْتَحِمُ الخَبَارَ عَوَابِـسَاً = مِنْ بَيْنِ شَيْظَمَـةٍ وَأَجْرَدَ شَيْظَمِ
The battleground is angrily charged by haired and non-haired long-bodied steeds
every one of them scowling due to the battleground cliffs, as it(every horse) proceeds.

ذُلَلٌ رِكَابِي حَيْثُ شِئْتُ، مُشَايعِي = لُبِّـي وَأَحْفِـزُهُ بِأمرٍ مُبْـرَمِ
I direct my horse as I want; to the left, it obeys, to the right it goes to the right.
My mind is my supporter, I carry out what it calls for with orders, tight.

إِنِّي عَدَاني أَنْ أَزوَركِ فَاعْلَمِي = مَا قَدْ عَلِمْتُ وبَعْضُ مَا لَمْ تَعْلَمِي
Paying you a call is not an option for me
so know that which I know & some of what is not known by thee.

حَالَتْ رِماحُ ابْنَي بغيضٍ دُونَكُمْ = وَزَوَتْ جَوَانِي الحَرْبِ مَنْ لم يُجْرِمِ

The spears, have stood between you and me, of the sons of the hateful one.
And war perpetrators harm innocents of no guilt was done.
(or)
The spears, have stood between you and me, of the sons of the hateful one.
And war perpetrators harm innocents their guilts were none.

وَلَقَدْ خَشَيْتُ بِأَنْ أَمُوتَ وَلَمْ تَدُرْ = لِلْحَرْبِ دَائِرَةٌ عَلَى ابْنَي ضَمْضَمِ
I was afraid to die before the time of war to come
before I had a chance to take on the two sons of Dhamdham.

الشَّاتِمَيْ عِرْضِي وَلَمْ أَشْتِمْهُمَا = وَالنَّاذِرِيْنَ إِذْا لَقَيْتُهُمَـا دَمـِي
أو
الشَّاتِمَيْ عِرْضِي وَلَمْ أَشْتِمْهُمَا = وَالنَّاذِرِيْنَ إِذْا لم القهما دَمـِيThey have disgraced my honor, yet I have not.
They have vowed to spill my blood in case they see me in a spot.
(or)
The ones who have disgraced my honor, yet I have not
When absent, they vow to spill my blood, but in front of me their mouths are shut

إِنْ يَفْعَلا فَلَقَدْ تَرَكْتُ أَبَاهُمَـا = جَزَرَ السِّباعِ وَكُلِّ نَسْرٍ قَشْعَـمِ
No wonder they seek my blood and crave to take vengeance
for killing their father & leaving him as a prey to wild animals and vultures.