قِيلَIt was saidفِيinالْمَثَلِ:the proverb:
It was said in the proverb:
هُوَHeأَجْبَنُmore cowardlyمِنْthanهِجْرِسٍ،a hijris,
He is more cowardly than a hijris,
وَهُوَand itالْقِرْدُ،is the monkey,
and it is the monkey,
وَذَلِكَand thatأَنَّهُis becauseلَاhe doesيَنَامُnot sleepإِلَّاexceptفِيinيَدِهِhis handحَجَرٌis a stoneمَخَافَةَfor fearأَنْthatيَأْكُلَهُmight eat himالذِّئْبُ.the wolf.
and that is because he does not sleep except with a stone in his hand for fear that the wolf might eat him.
وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usرَجُلٌa manبِمَكَّةَin Meccaقَالَ:who said:
And a man in Mecca narrated to us, saying:
إِذَاWhenكَانَit isاللَّيْلُnightرَأَيْتُI sawالْقُرُودَthe monkeysتَجْتَمِعُgatheringفِيinمَوْضِعٍone placeوَاحِدٍsingle
When it is night I saw the monkeys gathering in a single place
ثُمَّthenتَبِيتُthey spend the nightمُسْتَطِيلَةًextended in a lineوَاحِداًoneفِيinإِثْرِthe track ofوَاحِدٍanother
then they spend the night extended in a line one after another
فِيinيَدِthe hand ofكُلِّeachوَاحِدٍoneمِنْهَاof themحَجَرٌis a stoneلِئَلَّاso that they do notتَرْقُدَsleep
in the hand of each one of them is a stone so that they do not sleep
فَيَأْتِيَهَاand there comes to itالذِّئْبُthe wolfفَيَأْكُلَهَا،and eats it,
and the wolf comes to it and eats it,
فَإِنْso ifنَامَsleepsوَاحِدٌoneوَسَقَطَand fallsالْحَجَرُthe stoneمِنْfromيَدِهِhis hand
so if one sleeps and the stone falls from his hand
فَزِعَتْit is startledفَتَحَوَّلَand the other movesالْآخَرُotherفَصَارَand becomesقُدَّامَهَاin front of it
it is startled and the other moves and becomes in front of it
فَلَاand they continueتَزَالُnotكَذَلِكَthusطُولَallاللَّيْلِthe night
and they continue thus all the night
فَتُصْبِحُso it becomes morningوَقَدْwhileصَارَتْit has movedمِنَfromالْمَوْضِعِthe placeالَّذِيwhichبَاتَتْit spent the nightفِيهِin it
so morning comes upon it while it has moved from the place where it spent the night
عَلَىbyثَلَاثَةِthreeأَمْيَالٍmilesوَأَقَلَّand lessوَأَكْثَرَand moreجُبْناً.out of cowardice.
by three miles, less or more, out of cowardice.
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidأَيْضاً:also:
And it was also said:
هُوَHeأَجْبَنُmore cowardlyمِنْthanصَافِرٍ،a safir,
He is more cowardly than a safir,
وَهُوَand itطَائِرٌis a birdيَتَعَلَّقُthat hangsبِرِجْلَيْهِby its legsوَيُنَكِّسُand invertsرَأْسَهُits head
and it is a bird that hangs by its legs and inverts its head
ثُمَّthenيُصَفِّرُit whistlesلَيْلَتَهُits nightكُلَّهَاall of itخَوْفاًfearfulمِنْthatأَنْit mightيَنَامَsleepفَيُؤْخَذَ.and be taken.
then it whistles all its night for fear that it might sleep and be taken.
وَيُقَالُAnd it is saidأَيْضاً:also:إِنَّthatالصَّافِرَthe safirهُوَisالَّذِيthe one whoيُصَفِّرُwhistlesلِرِيبَةٍ.for suspicion.
And it is also said: The safir is the one who whistles for suspicion.
وَذَكَرُواAnd they mentionedأَنَّthatرَجُلاًa manكَانَused toيَأْتِيcome toامْرَأَةًa woman
And they mentioned that a man used to come to a woman
وَهِيَwhile sheجَالِسَةٌwas sittingمَعَwithبَنِيهَاher sonsوَزَوْجِهَاand her husband
while she was sitting with her sons and her husband
فَيُصَفِّرُso he whistlesلَهَاfor herفَتَقُومُand she stands upوَتُخْرِجُand exposesعَجْزَهَاher rearمِنْfromوَراءِbehindالْبَابِthe door
so he whistles for her and she stands up and exposes her rear from behind the door
وَهِيَwhile sheتُحَدِّثُis talking toوَلَدَهَاher childفَتَقْضِيand she fulfillsحَاجَتَهَاher needوَحَاجَتَهُand his needوَيَنْصَرِفُ.and he leaves.
while she is talking to her child and she fulfills her need and his need, and he leaves.
فَعَلِمَSo found outبِذَلِكَabout thatبَعْضُsome ofبَنِيهَاher sonsفَغَابَso he was absentعَنْهَاfrom herيَوْمَهَاthat day
So some of her sons found out about that, so he was absent from her that day
ثُمَّthenجَاءَhe cameفِيatذَلِكَthatالْوَقْتِtimeوَصَفَرَand whistled
then he came at that time and whistled
وَمَعَهُand with him wasمِسْمَارٌa nailمُحَمًّى،heated,
and with him was a heated nail,
فَلَمَّاso whenجَاءَتْshe cameلِعَادَتِهَاfor her habitكَوَاهَاhe branded herبِهِ،with it,
so when she came for her habit he branded her with it,
فَجَاءَso cameالرَّجُلُthe manبَعْدَafterذَلِكَthatفَصَفَرَand whistled
so the man came after that and whistled
فَقَالَتْ:so she said:قَدْWe haveقَلَيْنَاgrown tired of / roastedصَفِيرَكُمْ،your whistling,
so she said: We have grown tired of your whistling,
فَضَرَبَهُso struck it asالْكُمَيْتُAl-Kumaytمَثَلاًa proverbفِيinقَوْلِهِ:his saying:
so Al-Kumayt struck it as a proverb in his saying:
أَرْجُوI hopeلَكُمْfor youأَنْthatتَكُونُواyou areفِيinمَوَدَّتِكُمْyour affection......كَلْباًlike a dogكَوْرَهَاءِof a foolish female ostrichتَقْلِيthat hatesكُلَّeveryصَفَّارِwhistler
I hope for you that you are in your affection... like a dog of a foolish female ostrich that hates every whistler
لَمَّاWhenأَجَابَتْshe answeredصَفِيراًa whistleكَانَthat wasيَأْلَفُهَاfamiliar to her
When she answered a whistle that was familiar to her
مِنْfromقَابِسٍa seeker of fireشَيَّطَwho scorchedالْوَجْعَاءَthe afflicted partبِالنَّارِwith fire
from a seeker of fire who scorched the afflicted part with fire
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidأَيْضاً:also:
And it was also said:
هُوَHeأَجْبَنُmore cowardlyمِنَthanالْمَنْزُوفِthe one drainedضَرْطاً،of farts,
He is more cowardly than the one drained of farts,
وَكَانَand itمِنْfromجُبْنِهِhis cowardiceأَنَّwas thatنِسْوَةًwomenمِنَfromالْعَرَبِthe Arabsلَمْdid notيَكُنَّhaveلَهُنَّfor themرَجُلٌa man
and it was from his cowardice that some women of the Arabs who had no man
فَتَزَوَّجَتْso marriedوَاحِدَةٌoneمِنْهُنَّof themبِرَجُلٍto a manكَانَwho used toيَنَامُsleepإِلَىuntilالضُّحَىforenoon
so one of them married a man who used to sleep until forenoon
فَإِذَاso whenأَتَيْنَهُthey brought himبِصَبُوحِهِhis morning drinkقُلْنَthey saidلَهُ:to him:قُمْGet upفَاصْطَبِحْ،and drink your morning cup,
so when they brought him his morning drink they said to him: Get up and drink your morning cup,
فَيَقُولُ:so he says:لَوْIf onlyلِعَادِيَةٍfor a raiding partyتُنَبِّهْنَنِي،you would wake me,
so he says: If only for a raiding party you would wake me,
فَقُلْنَ:so they said:هَذِهِThese areنَوَاصِيthe forelocks ofالْخَيْلِ.the horses.
so they said: These are the forelocks of the horses.
فَجَعَلَSo he beganيَقُولُ:saying:الْخَيْلَThe horses!الْخَيْلَ!The horses!
So he began saying: The horses! The horses!
وَيَضْرِطُand he fartsحَتَّىuntilمَاتَ،he dies,
and he farts until he dies,
فَضُرِبَso was struckبِهِwith himالْمَثَلُ.the proverb.
so the proverb was coined about him.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَخَرَجَAnd went outرَهْمُRahmبْنُson ofخَشْرَمٍKhashramالْهِلَالِيُّAl-Hilali
It was said: Rahm ibn Khashram Al-Hilali went out
وَمَعَهُand with him wereأَهْلُهُhis familyوَمَالُهُand his wealthيُرِيدُintendingالنُّقْلَةَmigrationمِنْfromبَلَدٍcountryإِلَىtoبَلَدٍ،country,
and with him were his family and his wealth, intending migration from country to country,
فَلَقِيَهُso met himقَوْمٌa peopleمِنْfromبَنِيBanuتَغْلِبَTaghlibفَدَهِشَso he became bewilderedوَرَعِبَand terrifiedرُعْباًwith terrorشَدِيداًsevere
so a people from Banu Taghlib met him, and he became bewildered and terrified with severe terror
فَقَالَ:so he said:يَاOبَنِيsons ofتَغْلِبَTaghlibشَأْنَكُمُtake your business withالْمَالَthe wealthوَخَلُّواand leaveعَنِaloneالظَّعِينَةَ.the woman/camel-litter.
so he said: O Banu Taghlib, take your business with the wealth and leave the woman alone.
فَقَالُوا:So they said:رَضِينَاWe are satisfiedإِنْifأَلْقَيْتَyou throw awayالرَّمْحَ.the spear.
So they said: We are satisfied if you throw away the spear.
فَرَجَعَSo returnedإِلَيْهِto himعَقْلُهُhis reasonوَقَالَ:and he said:أَوْمَعِيOr is there with meرُمْحٌ!a spear!
So his reason returned to him and he said: Or is there with me a spear!
وَحَمَلَAnd he chargedعَلَيْهِمْat themفَقَتَلَand killedمِنْهُمْfrom among themرَجُلاًa manثُمَّthenصَرَعَoverthrewآخَرَanother
And he charged at them and killed a man from among them, then overthrew another
وَأَنْشَأَand beganيَقُولُ:reciting:
and began reciting:
رُدَّاReturnعَلَىtoآخِرِهَاits endالْأَتَالِيَاthe leading camels
Return the leading camels to their end
إِنَّForلَهَاit hasبِالْمَشْرَفِيِّwith the Mashrafi swordحَاذِيَاa protector
For it has with the Mashrafi sword a protector
ذَكَّرْتُمُونِيYou reminded me ofالطَّعْنَstabbingوَكُنْتُand I wasنَاسِيَاforgetful
You reminded me of stabbing and I was forgetful
فَانْهَزَمَSo fledالْبَاقُونَthe restوَنَجَاand escapedهُوَheبِالْمَالِwith the wealthوَالظَّعِينَةِand the womanوَمَرَّand passedنَحْوَtowardsوَطَنِهِhis homelandسَالِماً.safely.
So the rest fled and he escaped with the wealth and the woman and passed towards his homeland safely.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَكَانَAnd there wasفِيinبَنِيBanuلَيْثٍLaithرَجُلٌa manجَبَانٌcowardly
It was said: And there was in Banu Laith a cowardly man
فَخَرَجَso went outرَهْطُهُhis kinsmenوَبَلَغَand that reachedذَلِكَthatنَاساًpeopleمِنْfromبَنِيBanuسُلَيْمٍSulaym
so his kinsmen went out and that reached people from Banu Sulaym
كَانُواwho wereأَعْدَاءَهُمْtheir enemiesفَلَمْso did notيَشْعُرِrealizeالرَّجُلُthe manإِلَّاexceptبِخَيْلٍthat cavalryقَدْhadأَحَاطَتْsurroundedبِهِمْthem
who were their enemies, so the man did not realize except that cavalry had surrounded them
فَذَهَبَso he wentيَفِرُّto fleeفَلَمْand did notيَجِدْfindمَفَرّاًan escapeوَوَجَدَهُمْand found themقَدْhavingأَخَذُواtakenعَلَيْهِover himكُلَّeveryوَجْهٍ،direction,
so he went to flee and did not find an escape and found them having blocked every direction against him,
فَلَمَّاso whenرَأَىhe sawذَلِكَthatجَلَسَhe sat downثُمَّthenأَبْرَزَbrought outكِنَانَتَهُhis quiver
so when he saw that he sat down then brought out his quiver
وَأَخَذَand tookقَوْسَهُhis bowوَقَالَ:and said:
and took his bow and said:
مَاWhat isعِلَّتِيmy excuseوَأَنَاwhile I amجَلْدٌstrongعَابِلُsturdy
What is my excuse while I am strong and sturdy
وَالْقَوْسُAnd the bowمِنْfromنَبْعٍnab' woodلَهَاfor it hasبَلَابِلُa resonant hum
And the bow from nab' wood has a resonant hum
يَرِنُّResoundsفِيهَاin itوَتَرٌa bowstringعَنَابِلُthick and strong
Resounds in it a thick and strong bowstring
إِنْIfلَاnotأُقَاتِلْكُمْI fight youفَأُمِّيthen my motherهَابِلُdeserving of bereavement
If I do not fight you then my mother is deserving of bereavement
أَكُلُّIs everyيَوْمٍdayأَنَاam Iعَنْكُمْfrom youنَاكِلُcowardly / holding back
Is every day am I holding back from you
لَاNeitherأَطْعُنُdo I thrustالْقَوْمَat the peopleوَلَاnorأُقَاتِلُdo I fight
Neither do I thrust at the people nor do I fight
الْمَوْتُDeathحَقٌّis a truthوَالْحَيَاةُand lifeبَاطِلُis falsehood
Death is a truth and life is falsehood
فَقَاتَلَهُمْSo he fought themفَانْهَزَمُواand they fledفَصَارَand he becameبَعْدَafterذَلِكَthatأَشْجَعَthe bravestقَوْمِهِ.of his people.
So he fought them and they fled, and he became after that the bravest of his people.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَخَرَجَAnd went outأَبُوAbuدُلَامَةَDulamaمَعَwithرَوْحِRuhبْنِson ofحَاتِمٍHatimإِلَىtoبَعْضِsomeالْحُرُوبِ،of the wars,
It was said: Abu Dulama went out with Ruh ibn Hatim to some of the wars,
فَلَمَّاso whenالْتَقَىmetالْجَمْعَانِthe two hostsقَالَsaidأَبُوAbuدُلَامَةَDulamaلِرَوْحٍ:to Ruh:
so when the two hosts met, Abu Dulama said to Ruh:
أَصْلَحَMay God make righteousاللَّهُGodالْأَمِيرَ!the Emir!لَوْIfأَنَّthatتَحْتِيbeneath meفَرَسْاًa horseمِنْfromخَيْلِكَyour horses
May God make the Emir righteous! If beneath me were a horse from your horses
وَفِيand inوَسَطِيmy waist/middleأَلْفُa thousandدِينَارٍdinarsلَأَشْجَيْتَyou would have distressedأَعْدَاءَكَyour enemiesنَجْدَةًin braveryوَإِقْدَاماً.and boldness.
and in my waist a thousand dinars, you would have distressed your enemies in bravery and boldness.
فَقَالَSo saidرَوْحٌ:Ruh:ادْفَعُواGiveإِلَيْهِto himذَلِكَ.that.
So Ruh said: Give that to him.
فُدُفِعَSo it was paidإِلَيْهِto himفَلَمَّاand whenأَخَذَهُhe took itأَنْشَأَhe beganيَقُولُ:reciting:
So it was given to him, and when he took it he began reciting:
إِنِّيIndeed Iأَعُوذُseek refugeبِرَوْحٍin Ruhأَنْthatيُقَدِّمَنِيhe puts me forward
Indeed I seek refuge in Ruh that he puts me forward
إِلَىtoالْقِتَالِthe fightفَيَشْقَىso wretchedبِيbecause of meبَنُوwould be the sons ofأَسَدٍAsad
to the fight so the sons of Asad would be wretched because of me
إِنَّVerilyالْمُهَلَّبَAl-Muhallabحُبُّthe love ofالْمَوْتِdeathأَوْرَثَكُمْinherited to you
Verily Al-Muhallab, the love of death has inherited to you
وَلَمْand I did notأَرْثِinheritنَجْدَةًbraveryفِيinالْمَوْتِdeathمِنْfromأَحَدٍanyone
and I did not inherit bravery in death from anyone
فَأَجَابَهُSo answered himرَوْحٌ:Ruh:
So Ruh answered him:
هَوْنَEaseعَلَيْكَupon youفَلَنْfor I will notأُرِيدَكَwant youفِيinالْوَغَىthe battle
Ease upon you, for I will not want you in the battle
لِتَطَاعُنٍfor thrustingوَتَنَازُلٍand confrontingوَضِرَابِand striking
for thrusting and confronting and striking
كُنْBeآخِراًlastفِيamongالْقَوْمِthe peopleتَنْظُرُlookingوَاقِفاًstanding
Be last among the people, looking while standing
فَإِنْso ifانْهَزَمْتَyou are defeatedمَشَيْتَyou walkفِيinالْهِرَابِfleeing
so if you are defeated you walk in fleeing
فَأَجَابَهُSo answered himأَبُوAbuدُلَامَةَ:Dulama:
So Abu Dulama answered him:
هَذِهِTheseالسُّيُوفُswordsرَأَيْتُهَاI saw themمَشْهُورَةًdrawn
These swords, I saw them drawn
فَتَرَكْتُهَاso I left themوَمَضَيْتُand proceededفِيinالْهَرَّابِfleeing
so I left them and proceeded in fleeing
مَاذَاWhatتَقُولُdo you sayلِمَاto that whichيَجِيءُcomesوَلَاand does notيُرَىsee
What do you say to that which comes and is not seen
مِنْfromبَادَرَاتِsudden attacks ofالْمَوْتِdeathمِنْfromنَشَّابِarchers / arrows
from the sudden attacks of death from archers
فَضَحِكَSo laughedرَوْحٌRuhفَأَعْفَاهُand excused himوَانْصَرَفَ.and he left.
So Ruh laughed and excused him, and he left.