Yemen Proverbs

Proverbs and Lullabies from Southern ArabiaAuthor(s): Walter ClineReviewed work(s):Source: The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures, Vol. 57, No. 3 (Jul.,1940), pp. 291-301Published by: The University of Chicago PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/528878 .Accessed: 20/02/2012 14:55

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PROVERBS AND LULLABIES FROM SOUTHERN ARABIA

WALTER CLINE

In the spring of 1929, while loafing on the southern coast of Arabia, I amused myself by collecting a few samples of native folklore. Most of these were entered in my notebook by Arabs who were more or less literate. Others were dictated to me, and I wrote them down in

my own faulty Arabic script, revising them as the informant directed. Translation was a roundabout and doubtful business. I had Hava's little dictionary in my lap, and the informant was usually patient enough to paraphrase the text in terms that I could understand. This method proved more successful with proverbs and lullabies from the Yemen than with the longer poems which I recorded at Makalla and

Shihr, and I therefore offer only the former for publication. Most of these were obtained from my traveling companion, a middle-aged man of the seyyid caste.

Where short vowels were lacking or ambiguous in my original notes, I have suplied the classical forms, and I have corrected, in brackets, several apparent errors. All readings which are frankly dubious are

tagged with a question mark or with an alternative translation in

parentheses. Selections presented in this amateurish way have very little linguistic value, but Arabists may be interested in their general form and content. I accept full responsibility for all the mistakes.

FATE 1. idha nazal al kadr batal as samc wal baear

When destiny strikes, hearing and sight become of no avail. 2. laisa al hadhr yidfac al makdir

Caution does not avert the decree of fate. 3. 1 hatad.r

maca kadr There is no preparedness against fate.

4. man tl bighair allah yu1kar He who is lengthened without God, will be shortened.

5. 1& tindam cala ma fat wa l1 tifrah bimn huwa at& Don't regret what has passed, and don't rejoice over what has not yet

come. 291

292 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SEMITIC LANGUAGES

PATIENCE AND SUFFICIENCY

6. md zabibah illd wa bi tIzh cfid wa la tawil illa wa lahu taraf There is no raisin without a seed (?) in its buttocks, And no long thing but has its end.

7. Walilan ddiman [daiman] wa la kathiran munkatac A little which will endure, rather than much which will be cut off.

8. man sabar cala cajdf al layal taghanam [taghannam] samanaha He who has patience in the leanness of the nights will gather their fatness.

9. man cash bil kalil bat amin He who lives on a little, abides safely.

10. maca al muddah yiktac al habl al hajar In course of time the rope will cut the rock.

LABOR WASTED

11. idh h adhir as samun la hajah lillaban If the butter is ready, there is no need for milk.

12. wakt ar rdihah la tidawwar at tacb In time of rest don't seek exertion.

13. rawwi al halim an najd wa la turawwihu at tarik Show a wise man (patient man?) the stony highland, and don't show him

the road.

14. la taghanI li aanah [asnab?] wa lM tinqab li majnfin Don't sing to the deaf (?), and don't give advice to a crazy man.

15. lais ar rakib kal mishi lais ibn ar rabah ka ibn at tacb

The rider is not like the walker, The son of ease is not like the son of toil.

16. idha macak tabbdkh la tabarak yidak If you have a cook, don't burn your hand.

17. l1 tafarrash linaum wa la takarrab lijIcin Don't spread a bed for sleep, and don't bring (food) nearer to the hungry.

(This means that a really sleepy man will sleep anywhere, and the hungry will go for his own food.)

EFFICIENCY

18. al awwal ma khalld lil akhir shayy' The first does not leave anything for the last.

PROVERBS FROM SOUTHERN ARABIA 293

19. 1A tukdhib cala muhtdij

yisbuh. cala al bab wakif

Don't lie to one in need: He will be standing at the door in the morning.

20. man li yitcab fi mdlu hiatta yacrak jabinu yitcab fi mal an nas hatti yacrak juhiru He who does not tire himself with his own property till his brow sweats Will tire himself with (other) people's property till his buttocks sweat.

21. shudd lil karib mathal al bacid Exert yourself as much for the near as for the far.

22. al hiarakah fih~ barakah In traffic there is a blessing.

23. l& cabar bacd sail No irrigation (ferriage?) after a torrent.

24. tacallim min al cullm md yafidak cakibatu Learn the sciences whose results will profit you.

25. idha kutharat al adyak batal as saliiar When there are many cocks (crowing), the daybreak meal (in Rama-

dhan) is reduced to naught.

26. idha kuthirat al ashwdr batalat al macrifah When counselors are many, knowledge comes to nothing.

CAUTION

27. al hIadr ahlsan min ash shajacah Preparedness is better than courage.

28. acma kalb muftih cayiin Blind heart, open eyes.

29. cainak mizanak Your eye is your balance (pair of scales).

30. alladhi ma yikAyis kabl ma yiktac md yinfacuhu bacd al katc kiya-s Him who does not verify the measure before he cuts, Measuring will not avail after the cutting.

31. uhldhur tutlab ash sharr wal cdfIah maujtidah Beware lest you seek evil when good health is already present.

32. ana cabd man yikfi ash sharr kabl yikac I am the slave of him whom the evil suffices before it occurs.


33. man istarwaj al lahlm tac.kub

fil mara.k He who wants cheap meat (hurries with the meat?) will be punished by

(will regret it in?) the broth.

34. unzur ash shd? wa arjac ihlubhd Look at the nanny goat and then milk her.

(That is to say, don't accept anything or anybody merely on sight.)

SELF-RESTRAINT

35. al harj .kabl

al facl kadhab Much ado before the deed is a lie.

36. man kadhab bil hazli la yugaddak bil jidd He who tells a falsehood in jest will not be believed in a serious matter.

37. lisdnak ahsanak Your tongue is (for) your benefit.

38. kuthr ar rijalah nadhalah Excessive boasting is despicable.

39. 1& tidhak bila cajab Don't laugh without an extraordinary (reason).

40. 1& turawwi al mar ah abyad sinnak turawwik abmar jubrha Don't show the woman the white of your tooth, or she will show you

the red of her buttocks. (That is to say, if you smile at your wife, she will impose on you.)

41. man tacarrad fimd 1 yacnihu samaca ma l yurdihu He who interferes with what does not concern him, will hear that which

will not please him.

42. an nazar yikfi can as su&l Looking does as well as questioning.

(That is to say, don't ask questions when you can see for yourself.)

43. 1l titkhabbar min suk wa anta wArid ilaihi Don't ask for news of a market when you are arriving there.

HONOR

44. cizz al khail ubfiluha wa lau k1all al basik The glory of horses is their stable (?), even though the barley be scanty.

45. dhi ma yistahi yifcal mi yishtahi He who has no sense of shame does as he pleases.

46. idha ghubia calaik al arl dallak al facl If the origin (of anyone) is unknown to you, (his) deed will inform you.


47. alf darbah bissaif ahwan min darbah bikalam A thousand strokes of the sword are easier to bear than a single stroke of

the pen.

48. ahdhar karin as sauW yisrak tabcak Beware of an evil companion; he will steal your character.

49. l8 tasayar al mathtim tutham Don't associate with a tainted person, or you will be tainted.

50. katalt abi wa and r&?ak

balaft I! saddaktak You killed my father and I saw you (do it); You swore to me (that you had not); I believed you.

51. 1 tistahi min shayy yidurrak Don't be shy of a thing or it will harm you.

52. atjannab ash sharr wa lau kan fI awladak Avoid evil, even if it be in your own children.

FRIENDSHIP

53. shatimak man wagal lak Your reviler is one who befriends you.

54. as hbib abka? min as sabab A friend is more lasting than material gain (?).

55. subbat al jahil khasarah The friendship of a fool is a loss.

56. khudh ar rafik kabl at tarik Take the wayfellow before the road.

PERSONAL DISTRUST

57. la tu•bib man la tajarrabu

Don't make a friend of one whom you don't put to a test.

58. fi hijam [hujiim] an naw&aib tacarifak [tacarrafak] gadikak min cadik In the attack of misfortunes you will know your friend from your enemy.

59. waddac al ahrdr wa ld titkhabbar cala al ascar Intrust (your business) to the honorable (lit. freeborn) man, and do not

inquire about prices.

60. sadikak yanhik wa cadfik yadhik Your friend will warn you and your enemy will encourage (?) you.

61. ubdhur cadak marrah wa ubdhur sadikak alf marrah

falirubbama inkalab as adik fakan aclam bil madirrah


Beware of your enemy once, and beware of your friend a thousand times; For perhaps your friend will turn (against you), and he will know the

(way to) harm.

62. ashib al jid [jayyid] wa ahmil hidh&?ah wa ld tug~hib an nadhl yahmil hidhiSak Take as friend the excellent man and carry (your own) sandals; Don't take as friend the vile man who will carry your sandals (for you).

63. Ml marfiwwah [marti ah] li kadhdhab wa la makarim li tallib No humanity to the liar, and no noble actions to the beggar.

64. ld tis al man 1.ad

cadd al kalb capdtu Don't ask anything of one whose can the dog has bitten.

(That is to day, don't trust anyone who has once been a beggar.)

65. 1M tigaddik nu•b.at

al cadji fa innahu yaghushshak Don't trust the advice of the enemy, for he will deceive you.

66. inna ar rijIl sanddikan mukaffalatan wa mai mafatihaha ill& tajaribu la tamdahanna rajul kablan

[.kabl an] tajribuhu

wa la tadhaminnahu kabl at tajdribu

Verily men are like locked boxes, And trials are the only keys to them; Don't praise a man before testing him, And don't condemn him before the tests.

67. l8 tabib sirrak lil mar ah wa lM tistakin tabt shajarah Don't reveal your secret to a woman and don't take shelter (from the rain)

under a tree. (That is to say, the woman would give your secret away, just as the

tree would drench you with water suddenly falling from its leaves.)

68. dhi ma yacrifak yijhal kadrak He who does not know you is unaware of your power.

69. idha wajadta ma tikrahu farik mA tahibb If you have found what you dislike, abandon that which you like.

(E.g., if you discover that one of your friends is a friend of your enemy, repudiate him.)

RETRIBUTION

70. man wasal lak 1katalak He who befriends you, kills you.

(To return his favor, you must die in his defense.)

71. mathal ma tacmil taujad As you do, so will you find (it).


72. m~ khufi biddust akhrajatu al malcakah What was lost in the cauldron, the spoon took out.

73. alladhi m5 yijdzIk cala macriifak yirjac yacddik Cala ma•l Ifak He who does not requite you for your good deed will return to treat you as

an enemy in return for your friendship. (He would be ashamed, or afraid, to treat you as a friend.)

74. ma dufr illd wa tabtu damm There is no fingernail without blood beneath it.

(Said to a man who intends to kill you, to warn him of the vengeance of your family.)

75. man hbanak cala ghair ummu rad.D

bidain kisrah He who rages against someone other than his mother must be satisfied

without (so much as) a piece of bread.

76. ustur cayfib an nds yistur [yisturfi] cayfibak Conceal people's vices (and) they will conceal your vices.

77. al jamil cand al hurr dain wa cand an nadhl nukiyn A favor is a loan to the noble (lit. freeborn) man, and to the vile man it is

a loss.

78. acdhar al karim wa lau jafdk Excuse the generous man, even though he has deserted you (treated you

harshly?). 79. khud min al

.kaum wa 1 tactihum

Take from the populace; don't give to them.

80. and cabd man yakhzuk wa yarkac I am the slave of him who pierces and then repairs.

81. kacaffiiratan fi yid tiflin yahinah5 tadhuk mardr al maut wat tifl yilcabu fa l~ at tifl dhii caklin yarikk li B lha wa l& at tair matluk al jindhin yahrubu Like a little bird in the hand of a baby who is mistreating it, Tasting the bitterness of death while the baby is playing. The baby has not wits enough to pity its plight, And the bird's wings are not released to fly away.

Eighty-one proverbs are not enough to warrant any close com-

parison with collections made from other parts of the Arab world.

My informants seem to have excluded several kinds of "proverbial

sayings" which are recorded by Jewett' for Syria and by Westermarck2 1 James Richard Jewett, "Arabic Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases," Journal of the

American Oriental Society, XV (1893), 28-120. 2 Edward Westermarck, Wit and Wisdom in Morocco (London, 1930).


for Morocco, and which are probably current in the Yemen as well. These authors present many proverbs of the narrative type, whereas I have only one-No. 50. The conventional simile, of which Jewett

gives so many examples, is represented in my collection only by No.

81, which is too long and poetic to be regarded as truly proverbial. It is interesting to observe, however, that in Syria, as in the Yemen, about one-fourth of the proverbs rhyme and that some proverb patterns are rare or lacking in one area, common in another. The

imperative construction seems twice as frequent in the Yemen as in

Syria, while the form beginning "I am the slave of ... ." (Nos. 32 and 80) is apparently a South Arabian specialty. None of my proverbs turn up in Jewett's list, and a cursory reading of Westermarck's Moroccan collection discloses only three which may be identified with

any of mine: Westermarck's No. 238 (my No. 46), No. 394 (my No.

44), and No. 271 (my 56). The last of these three-"khudh ar rafik kabl at tarik"-is given in another variation by Huxley3 from Syria; but the rhyme rafi k-tarTk is so tempting, and the traveling companion is such a traditional figure, that this proverb may originate independ- ently wherever roads and wayfellows are discussed.

Jewett's proverbs are far superior to mine in variety and literary quality. This may be due to the fact that they were collected from

many informants, whereas mine were given me by only two or three. Sex may also be a selective factor. Jewett does not state how many of his proverbs were obtained from women or are used mainly in women's

speech; but in a partly Christian country like Syria, where women are

relatively easy to converse with, the collector of proverbs works at a

great advantage. Many of Jewett's sayings refer to women's matters. I suspect, however, that the dearth of wit and imagery in my Ye-

meni proverbs reflects a real difference in the cultural background. So may the moral themes. A very large proportion of the Syrian proverbs preach industry and efficiency. Favorite subjects in the

Yemen, on the other hand, are personal honor and prestige, retribu-

tion, patience and self-restraint, and the folly of unnecessary labor. Above all, the Yemeni proverbs warn us to distrust the people who

appear to be our friends. The nervous tribesmen of South Arabia

3 Henry Minor Huxley, "Syrian Songs, Proverbs and Stories," Journal of the A merican Oriental Society, XXIII (1902), 175-288.


and the solid merchants of the Lebanon have little in common except their written language, and Syria's homely materialism may have been

particularly conducive to the invention of salty old saws. From the same informants who gave me the proverbs, I learned

fourteen Yemeni lullabies.

1. wal db Idbi ldbi

ya casal jilldbi wa mauz cannah rabi

By the father, labi labi! O honey of the gum-tree And bananas of cAnnah hanging ripe!

2. yR naum ji wa usrac wudd macak duhnah wudd macak majrac O sleep come, and hasten! Bring butter with you, Bring with you a baby's drinking-spoon.

3. haiwah yR naumat ash shar.ki ya jariyah yR saudah

tandwali wa hRti .kurdc

ibni balwd wa sukkar nabRti Lullaby, 0 doze of the late morning! O slave woman, 0 black woman, Take and bring my son's breakfast, Sweetmeats and sugar candy.

4. haiwah libni wa mabad [ma had] ddri ibni malihu wa ibni kdri idha kari [kara ] fil bait qautu balI [bali] itsammacfi [tasammacfi] yRhli [ya ahlI] wa yd ajwRri wa in kard? bil masjid sakat kull

.kari Lullaby to my son! And no one knows My son is handsome and my son is a reader. When he reads in the house, his voice is sweet. Hearken, O my family and my neighbors! And when he reads in the mosque, every reader, will be silent.

5. haiwah haiwah libni dhi shabb wa la cadhdhibni shibbah shabab al bukru ma huwa shabdb ad dukhni


Lullaby, lullaby to my son! Grow up, and don't torment me. Grow up with the youthfulness of al bukru (a tall kind of grain), Not the youthfulness of millet (a shorter kind of grain).

6. haiwah yd rabb hab li wahab hab 1i karitu min dhahab wa hab 11 juwaihil bain al cawailah yilcab

Lullaby! O Lord, give me a gift. Give me an earring of gold, And give me a little boy playing among the children.

7. haiwah haiwah li binti wa bint abiihd

kad jiilaha [jiltiha] al khutab yakhtabfiha alfain yirddfi ummahd wa alfain yirddii abfihd wa alfain tabt al makhaddah nasfiha Lullaby, lullaby to my daughter and her father's daughter! Prospective bridegrooms have chosen her to ask her in marriage. They seek to please her mother with two thousand (riyals), and seek to

please her father with two thousand, And they have forgotten two thousand under the pillow!

8. haiwah libni wa ibn al ajbdr wa ibn al mashdyikh al kubdr alladhi 1 yakhinii bil amanah wa la yikhdaciin al jdr

Lullaby to my son, the son of the rulers And the son of the great chiefs, Who do not betray the trust Nor deceive the neighbor!

9. haiwah libni yir1kud wash sharr minu yibcud

Lullaby to my son, he is sleeping And evil is far from him.

10. haiwah libni yirkud wa la rakad lahu shini wa man shanak ya ibni

yifdak wa yifdani Lullaby to my son, he is sleeping, And may he who hates him not sleep! He who hates you, O my son, Will redeem you and redeem me.

(That is to say, his death will preserve our health, like a scapegoat killed to bear sickness away.)


11. haiwah haiwah wash shaniyah wash shani yitkAwudfi camyRni li wa•t mauf

.haImli wa ibni bishibbah thini

Lullaby, lullaby! Both the female enemy and the male enemy Lead each other blindly Into the midst of the hot bread-oven, And my son shall grow still more.

12. haiwah wa inni fid&? wa atfaddi [ataffda?] lammd yishayyib [yashibu?] khaddi

shaibfi [shayyibu] min az zabad wa shaibai [shayyibu] min al md? wardi

Lullaby! And I am a ransom and shall ransom (you) When my cheek grows old, Old from civet-perfume And old from rose-water.

(The last two lines seem to refer to the drying and bleaching effects of these cosmetics on the skin.)

13. hawwait libni nddi min lailat al wiladi min yaum al kalimah tadrub wat tacn bil kibddi I have lullabied my son, crying, From the night of the birth, From the day when the back (?) was throbbing (lit. beating), And the stabbing in the liver (?).

14. yd srrl al lailah wa asdri cadan kul lil gharib mR maca ummu min shajan wa hurmatu bubla wa zadat awladan wa jabat wulaidu wa saminahu hasan O night-traveler of the night, and night-traveler to Aden, Tell the absent one what sorrow his mother has! And his wife was pregnant and has added to the children, And has brought forth an infant boy: we have named him Hasan.

The first three of these lullabies might be sung appropriately to infant sons in almost any land, but the rest betray the particular ambi- tions and anxieties of an Arab mother. The only one sung for a daughter (No. 7) celebrates the large offerings of money which her parents will receive from her suitors.

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