شَيئآنtwo things قَدindeed حارَwas bewildered الوَرىhumankind فيهُماabout them both
شَيئآن قَد حارَ الوَرى فيهُما
بِاَصبَهانin Isfahan الفيلthe elephant وَالقاضيand the judge
بِاَصبَهان الفيل وَالقاضي
Two things have bewildered humankind
Two things have puzzled people endlessly—
In Isfahan: the elephant and the judge.
The elephant in Asbahan, and the judge.
لَيسَis not يُرىseen هَذاthis one وَلاnor ذاthat one فَكَمso how many
لَيسَ يُرى هَذا وَلا ذا فَكَم
مِنof ساخطa displeased person مِناamong us وَمِنand of راضيa pleased person
مِن ساخط مِنا وَمِن راضي
Neither this one nor that is seen—so how many
One is nowhere to be seen, nor the other.
Among us are displeased, and how many pleased!
Yet many are displeased, and many satisfied!
الفيلthe elephant يُرشىis bribed عِندَin the presence of سنديهhis Sindhi keeper
الفيل يُرشى عِندَ سنديه
فَأَينso where سنديّكِyour Sindhi keeper ياO قاضيjudge
فَأَين سنديّكِ يا قاضي
The elephant is bribed in his Sindhi keeper's presence;
The elephant gets sprinkled at its stand.
So where is your Sindhi keeper, O judge?
So where is your stand, O Judge?
Sol 6.1