لَوif قالَhe said للسَّيلto the torrent وهْوَwhile it was مُنحدِرٌdescending
لَو قالَ للسَّيل وهْوَ مُنحدِرٌ
فيon صَبَبٍa downward slope قِفْstop ولاand do not تَفِضْoverflow وقَفاit would stop
في صَبَبٍ قِفْ ولا تَفِضْ وقَفا
Were he to speak to the sword as it plunged,
If he told the torrent, as it descended
“In your downward rush, halt—do not pass beyond,” it would halt.
down a slope, 'Stop, and do not overflow,' it would stop.
أوor قالَhe said للَيلِto the night وهُوَwhile it was مُنسدِلٌhanging down
أو قالَ للَيلِ وهُوَ مُنسدِلٌ
شَمِّرْgather up ذَيولَthe trailing skirts الظَّلامِof darkness لانكَشفاit would surely lift
شَمِّرْ ذَيولَ الظَّلامِ لانكَشفا
Or to the night while it hung unfurled,
Or told the night, as it fell,
“Gather up the skirts of darkness,” it would clear away.
'Gather up the skirts of darkness,' it would lift.
أوقالَor he said للرِّيحِto the wind وهْيَwhile it تعصِفُblows fiercely كُنْbe
أوقالَ للرِّيحِ وهْيَ تعصِفُ كُنْ
علىtoward الورىhumankind سَجْسَجاgentle and temperate لماwould not عصَفاit raged
على الورى سَجْسَجا لما عصَفا
Or to the wind as it snatched things away, “Be
Or told the wind, as it raged, 'Be
mild toward all creation,” it would never rage.
gentle to humankind,' it would not rage.
أوامرَor he commanded الليِّلَthe night والنَّهارَand the day بأنْto
أوامرَ الليِّلَ والنَّهارَ بأنْ
يصطلِحاthe two make peace طائِعَيْنِboth obediently ماnot اختَلفاthe two were at odds
يصطلِحا طائِعَيْنِ ما اختَلفا
Or were he to command night and day to
Or commanded night and day to
make peace, they would obey and never differ.
make peace obediently, they would not be at odds.
Sol 6.1