ليI have إنْif تَحَامَانيboth shun me أَخٌa brother وحَميمُand a dear friend
لي إنْ تَحَامَاني أَخٌ وحَميمُ
أَخَوَانِtwo brothers فَضْلُهُماtheir kindness عَليَّto me عَظِيمُimmense
أَخَوَانِ فَضْلُهُما عَليَّ عَظِيمُ
If a brother and a dear friend shun me, I have
If a brother and intimate friend support me,
two brothers whose kindness to me is immense.
Their favor upon me is immense.
كَهْفَانtwo caves آوِيI seek shelter فيamid الخُطُوبِcalamities إليهماto them both
كَهْفَان آوِي في الخُطُوبِ إليهما
وعلىand upon النَّصِيرِthe champion يُعوِّلُrelies المظْلُومُthe wronged one
وعلى النَّصِيرِ يُعوِّلُ المظْلُومُ
Two caves to which I flee amid calamities;
They are two caves I take refuge in during adversities,
and the wronged rely upon a champion.
And the oppressed relies on the helper.
رُكْنَانِtwo pillars ظَهريmy back إنْif تمطَّىstretches itself حَادِثٌa calamity
رُكْنَانِ ظَهري إنْ تمطَّى حَادِثٌ
لِيُطيحَنيto topple me بهماby them both مَعاًtogether مَدْعُومُsupported
لِيُطيحَني بهما مَعاً مَدْعُومُ
Two pillars: my back, should a calamity stretch forth
They are two pillars of my back, if an accident bends
to cast me down, is braced by both together.
To make me, with them both, fall headlong.
كلٌّeach لَهُhe has منfrom ضِئْضِئthe ancestral stock النَّسَبِthe lineage الذيwhich
كلٌّ لَهُ من ضِئْضِئ النَّسَبِ الذي
يُعزَىis traced إليهto it ذُرْوَةُa summit وصَمِيمُand a pure core
يُعزَى إليه ذُرْوَةُ وصَمِيمُ
Each has, in the stock of the lineage
Each has a noble lineage to which belongs
to which he is traced, a summit and a pure core.
The utmost and core of glory.
جَاءَتْcame بهذاwith this one منfrom قُريشَQuraysh جحاجحٌgreat chiefs
جَاءَتْ بهذا من قُريشَ جحاجحٌ
وأَتَتْand came بذلكَwith that one منfrom تقيَّTaqi قُرُومُgreat lords
وأَتَتْ بذلكَ من تقيَّ قُرُومُ
Great chiefs of Quraysh brought forth this one;
This, Jahjaha brought from Quraish,
and great lords of Taqi brought forth that one.
And that, the immaculate brought from pious Qura.
وهماand they are فَتَىforemost youth فِتْيانِyoung men هاشمَHashim ناصرٌNasir
وهما فَتَى فِتْيانِ هاشمَ ناصرٌ
وجمَالُand the glory آلِthe family of تقيَّTaqi إبراهيمُIbrahim
وجمَالُ آلِ تقيَّ إبراهيمُ
They are Nasir, finest of Hashim's young men,
They are two valiant youths of Hashim, one an aider
and Ibrahim, the glory of the house of Taqi.
And the beauty of the family of righteous Abraham.
أَخَذَاboth took hold بأَسبابِof the ways of السَّمَاحِgenerosity فإنْso if تقلْyou say
أَخَذَا بأَسبابِ السَّمَاحِ فإنْ تقلْ
هَذَاthis one سَخِيٌّgenerous قُلْتَyou say ذَاكَthat one كريمُmunificent
هَذَا سَخِيٌّ قُلْتَ ذَاكَ كريمُ
Both embraced the ways of generosity; if you say,
They took to the means of generosity. If you say,
'This one is generous,' you say, 'That one is munificent.'
“This one is generous,” you say, “That one is noble.”
وتَسَاوَيَاand both were equal جُوداًin bounty فَذَاso this one غَيثٌrain وذَاand that one
وتَسَاوَيَا جُوداً فَذَا غَيثٌ وذَا
بحرٌa sea بِهِupon it سُفُنُships الرجاءِof hope تَعُومُfloat
بحرٌ بِهِ سُفُنُ الرجاءِ تَعُومُ
They are equal in bounty: this one is rain, and that one
They equaled each other in munificence, so this is a rain, and that
a sea upon which the ships of hope float.
A sea in which the ships of hope float.
وتَشَابهَاand they resembled each other حُسْناًin beauty فَذَاso this one شمسٌa sun وذاand that one
وتَشَابهَا حُسْناً فَذَا شمسٌ وذا
بَدْرٌa full moon تجلَّتْcleared away عنfrom سَنَاهُits radiance غُيُومُclouds
بَدْرٌ تجلَّتْ عن سَنَاهُ غُيُومُ
They resemble each other in beauty: this one is a sun, and that one
They resembled each other in beauty, so this is a sun, and that
a full moon, the clouds cleared from its radiance.
A moon that shone as the clouds uncovered it.
وتَقارباand they were close سِنّاًin age فأوشَكَso nearly يومَthe day إذْwhen
وتَقاربا سِنّاً فأوشَكَ يومَ إذْ
وُلِدواthey were born بِهذاwith this one يومَon the day ذَاكَthat one فَطِيمُa weanling
وُلِدوا بِهذا يومَ ذَاكَ فَطِيمُ
They are close in age: almost on the day when
They approximated each other in age, so the day when
this one was born, that one was a weanling.
They were born, this day drew near that auspicious one.
وتوافقاand they agreed غَرَضاًin purpose فكلٌso each مِنْهماof them both
وتوافقا غَرَضاً فكلٌ مِنْهما
خَلْفَin pursuit of الفَضَائِلِthe virtues والكمالِand perfection يحُومُcircles
خَلْفَ الفَضَائِلِ والكمالِ يحُومُ
They agree in purpose: each of them
They agreed in purpose, so each of them hovers
circles in pursuit of virtues and perfection.
Behind virtues and perfection.
إنif قلتُI say ذاthis one نَطِقٌّarticulate فَذَاكَthen that one مُفَوَّهٌeloquent
إن قلتُ ذا نَطِقٌّ فَذَاكَ مُفَوَّهٌ
أَوor قُلتُI say ذَاthis one فَطِنٌdiscerning فَذَاكَthen that one فَهِيمُperceptive
أَو قُلتُ ذَا فَطِنٌ فَذَاكَ فَهِيمُ
If I say this one is articulate, that one is eloquent;
If I say this one is eloquent, then that one is articulate.
or say this one is discerning, that one is perceptive.
Or if I say this one is discerning, then that one is wise,
هَذَاكَthat one فردٌpeerless فيin كتابتهhis writing وذاand this one
هَذَاكَ فردٌ في كتابته وذا
بِغَوامِضِin the mysteries of النظمِverse العَوِيصِintricate عَلِيمُdeeply learned
بِغَوامِضِ النظمِ العَوِيصِ عَلِيمُ
That one is peerless in his writing, and this one
This one is unique in his writing, and that one
is versed in the mysteries of intricate verse.
Is learned in the obscure intricacies of poetry.
لاnot مَوْرِدُthe watering place الآمَالِof aspirations فيin كَنَفَيهِمَاtheir sheltering sides
لا مَوْرِدُ الآمَالِ في كَنَفَيهِمَا
مُرٌّbitter ولاnor مَرْعَىthe pasture الرَّجَاءِof hope وخِيمُunwholesome
مُرٌّ ولا مَرْعَى الرَّجَاءِ وخِيمُ
The watering place of aspirations within their shelter is not
Neither the pasture of hopes in their care is bitter,
bitter, nor is hope's pasture unwholesome.
Nor the meadow of expectation bleak in it.
إنَّindeed امرءاًa man سَاواهُماequated them both بِسِواهماwith others than them
إنَّ امرءاً سَاواهُما بِسِواهما
لأَخُوsurely a brother of عَمىًblindness أوor كالأغَرِّlike the white-blazed horse بَهيمُan unmarked horse
لأَخُو عَمىً أو كالأغَرِّ بَهيمُ
A man who equates them with others
A man who equated them with their likes
is surely brother to blindness—or an unmarked horse matches a white-blazed one,
Is a blind brother or like the brutal beast.
أَوor مَادِرٌMadir كأَخِيlike the brother of السَّمَاحَةِgenerosity حَاتِمٌHatim
أَو مَادِرٌ كأَخِي السَّمَاحَةِ حَاتِمٌ
خَطْبٌa grave affair لعَمْرُby the life of أبيthe father of الكِرَامِthe noble men جَسيمُimmense
خَطْبٌ لعَمْرُ أبي الكِرَامِ جَسيمُ
or Madir is like generosity's brother, Hatim:
Or one who is unaware, like my brother Hatim of generosity
a grave affair, by the life of the father of noble men!
Whose concern, by my father’s honor, is momentous!
رعَيَاboth kept ليَfor me الذممَthe pledges المُضَاعَةَneglected وامرؤٌand a man
رعَيَا ليَ الذممَ المُضَاعَةَ وامرؤٌ
أَرْعَىI honor فلمbut did not يرعَhonor الذّمامَthe bond ذَميمُblameworthy
أَرْعَى فلم يرعَ الذّمامَ ذَميمُ
They kept for me the pledges others had neglected; a man
They shepherded for me the neglected promises, while a man
whose claims I honor, but who does not honor the bond, is blameworthy.
Shepherded but did not shepherd the blemished blames.
وتشاطراand they shared نَفْعِيbenefiting me فَهَذاso this one جَنَّةٌa garden
وتشاطرا نَفْعِي فَهَذا جَنَّةٌ
آويI seek shelter لبهجتِهاin its splendor وذَاكَand that one نَعِيمُbliss
آوي لبهجتِها وذَاكَ نَعِيمُ
They shared the task of benefiting me: this one is a garden
They shared my benefit, so this one is a blissful garden
in whose splendor I seek shelter, and that one is bliss.
I take refuge in for its delight, and that one is bounty.
وَصَفَاand became serene بكلٍّthrough each منهماof them both عَيْشِيmy life فذاso this one
وَصَفَا بكلٍّ منهما عَيْشِي فذا
رَوْضٌa meadow أُغازِلُهُI court it وذَاكَand that one نَسِيمُa breeze
رَوْضٌ أُغازِلُهُ وذَاكَ نَسِيمُ
Through each of them my life grew serene: this one
They characterized my life, so this one is a meadow
is a meadow I court, and that one a breeze.
I flirt with, and that one is a breeze.
هذاthis one يلازِمُنيclings to me نَدَاهُhis bounty كأنَّهُas though it were
هذا يلازِمُني نَدَاهُ كأنَّهُ
ليto me حَيْثُwherever كنتُI am منamong البِلادِthe lands غَرِيمُa creditor
لي حَيْثُ كنتُ من البِلادِ غَرِيمُ
This one's bounty clings to me, as though it were
This one always stays with me, his voice being as if
my creditor wherever in the lands I may be.
He is with me wherever in the lands I dwelled.
وجَميلُand the kindness ذَاكَof that one لاnot يُزايِلُنيleaves me فليso I have
وجَميلُ ذَاكَ لا يُزايِلُني فلي
مِنهُfrom him حَدِيثُnew صَنِيعةٍa favor وَقَدِيمُand old
مِنهُ حَدِيثُ صَنِيعةٍ وَقَدِيمُ
And that one's kindness never leaves me; I have
And the beauty of that one does not abandon me, so his
from him favors both new and old.
Conversation of a feat and olden tie is mine.
وَلَرُبَّand many a قَولٍremark بِتُّI spent the night منهُbecause of it كأنَّنيas though I
وَلَرُبَّ قَولٍ بِتُّ منهُ كأنَّني
مماfrom what صَلِيتُI endured بِنَارِهِin its fire مَحْمُومُfever-stricken
مما صَلِيتُ بِنَارِهِ مَحْمُومُ
Many a remark has made me spend the night as though
And by my father, a saying of his saddens me as if
I were fever-stricken from enduring its fire.
I am feverish from what I was healed by its fire.
كَشَفَاهُboth dispelled it عندupon سَمَاعِهِhearing it عنّيfrom me فهاso here
كَشَفَاهُ عند سَمَاعِهِ عنّي فها
أَنَذاI am here وشَارَفتُthough I had approached الهَلاَكَdestruction سَليمُunharmed
أَنَذا وشَارَفتُ الهَلاَكَ سَليمُ
They dispelled it from me upon hearing it; and here
He uncovered it when he heard of me, so here I am,
I am unharmed, though I had approached destruction.
Having almost perished, now safe.
أَنَاI عَينُthe very one منwho لَهَجَkept speaking الأنامُhumankind بذكرِهِof his name
أَنَا عَينُ من لَهَجَ الأنامُ بذكرِهِ
فحدَاso chanted بذلكَof that ظَاعِنٌa traveler ومُقيمُand a resident
فحدَا بذلكَ ظَاعِنٌ ومُقيمُ
I am the very one whose name humankind constantly repeats;
I am the eye of him whose mention the people utter,
so traveler and resident alike chant of it,
So the traveler and resident spoke of that.
حتىuntil رَأيتُI saw العُرْبَthe Arabs تَحْسِدُهاenvies them بِهِfor it
حتى رَأيتُ العُرْبَ تَحْسِدُها بِهِ
عندwhen التفاضُلِcomparing merits فَارِسٌPersia والرومُand the Romans
عند التفاضُلِ فَارِسٌ والرومُ
until I saw the Arabs envied for it
Until I saw the Arabs envy them through it
by Persia and the Romans when merits were compared.
When excelling, the Persian and the Roman.
أَوor يَلْبسَاlet them both wear مماfrom what أَحُوكُI weave مَلابِساًgarments
أَو يَلْبسَا مما أَحُوكُ مَلابِساً
تبلَىwear out الملابسُthe garments غَيْرَهاother than these وتَدومُand endure
تبلَى الملابسُ غَيْرَها وتَدومُ
Or let them both wear garments from what I weave:
Or they wear some of what I wove, garments
all other garments wear out, but these endure.
Whose likes perish while they endure.
منof كلِّevery مُعْلَمةٍornamented robe إذاwhen نُشرتْit is unfolded طُوِيis folded away
من كلِّ مُعْلَمةٍ إذا نُشرتْ طُوِي
زُهْداًin disdain لهاfor its sake الموَشِيُّthe brocaded cloth والمَرْقُومُand the patterned cloth
زُهْداً لها الموَشِيُّ والمَرْقُومُ
Each an ornamented robe: when unfolded, folded away
Of each standard, if raised, the ascetic and the devout
in disdain beside it are brocade and patterned cloth.
Disdainfully fold it.
ماnot اجْتَابَهاdonned it أَحدٌanyone فَأَدركَهُthen overtook him الرَّدَىdeath
ما اجْتَابَها أَحدٌ فَأَدركَهُ الرَّدَى
وبقاءُand the survival of لابِسِthe wearer of مِثْلِهاits like مَحتُومُassured
وبقاءُ لابِسِ مِثْلِها مَحتُومُ
No one has donned it and been overtaken by death;
No one puts it on but ruin befalls him,
the survival of one who wears its like is assured.
And the wearer of its like is destined to remain.
يستأنفُhe begins anew العمرَlife الجديدَnew وعظمُهُwhile his bones
يستأنفُ العمرَ الجديدَ وعظمُهُ
منfrom طُولِthe length of ماthe time that أَلِفَthey grew familiar with الترابَthe dust رَمِيمُcrumbled
من طُولِ ما أَلِفَ الترابَ رَمِيمُ
He begins life anew, though his bones
The new life takes its renewal and its greatness
are crumbled from their long familiarity with the dust.
From the soil it long inhabited and cherished.
فأَمَاnow then ومَرْفُوعِby the raised السقائِفِroofs مثلُهاlike them
فأَمَا ومَرْفُوعِ السقائِفِ مثلُها
عِوَليlofty (reading uncertain) علىupon الفَحْلِthe male camel المُسِنِّaged عَكُومُbales
عِوَلي على الفَحْلِ المُسِنِّ عَكُومُ
Now, by the high-roofed edifice, whose roofs resemble
But if the likes of it are erected as high ceilings,
lofty bales upon an aged male camel,
My dependence is on the aging stalwart stallion
نَاءٍfar away يشقُّis arduous علىfor المطيِّthe mounts بلاغُهُreaching it
نَاءٍ يشقُّ على المطيِّ بلاغُهُ
فتظَلُّso they keep تقعدُsitting down دُونَهُshort of it وتَقُومُand rising
فتظَلُّ تقعدُ دُونَهُ وتَقُومُ
far away, whose reaching is arduous for the mounts,
Who scarcely reaches the mare, so she remains
so they keep sitting down and rising short of it;
Sitting below him and standing up.
تستفرغُexhaust الحمدَthe praise الركائبُthe riding camels نحوَهُtoward it
تستفرغُ الحمدَ الركائبُ نحوَهُ
فلهُنَّso they have وَجْهٌa course دونَهُbefore reaching it ورَسِيمُand a brisk trot
فلهُنَّ وَجْهٌ دونَهُ ورَسِيمُ
the riding camels exhaust all praise as they head toward it,
The riding camels exhaust praise towards it,
and before reaching it, theirs is a course and a brisk trot:
For it has a presence they don’t and a pathfinder.
لَئِنِif indeed استطالاboth surpassed بالنَوَالِwith gifts عَلَيَّover me والْand the
لَئِنِ استطالا بالنَوَالِ عَلَيَّ والْ
مُعطَىrecipient بِشُكْرِto thanks for عَطَائِهِhis gift مَلْزُومُbound
مُعطَى بِشُكْرِ عَطَائِهِ مَلْزُومُ
if both have surpassed me with gifts—and the
And if they continue bestowing favor upon me while the
recipient is bound to give thanks for his gift—
Rewarding with gratitude for their gift is incumbent on me,
لأُكافئنَّهُماI shall surely repay them both بِكلِّwith every قَصِيدةٍode
لأُكافئنَّهُما بِكلِّ قَصِيدةٍ
عِرْضُthe honor of الكرامِthe noble men بمثلِهاby its like مَرْسُومُinscribed
عِرْضُ الكرامِ بمثلِها مَرْسُومُ
I shall surely repay them both with every ode
I will reward them for every ode
by whose like the honor of noble men is inscribed.
As rewarding the honorable alike is customary.
يتهلّلُbeams الحرُّthe freeborn man الكريمُnoble لمثلِهاat its like
يتهلّلُ الحرُّ الكريمُ لمثلِها
دَعْوَىa supposition وإلاّand otherwise مثلُهاits like مَعْدُومُnonexistent
دَعْوَى وإلاّ مثلُها مَعْدُومُ
The noble, freeborn man beams at its like—
The free and noble glisten towards its like,
a mere supposition; otherwise, its like does not exist.
Or else the like of it is nonexistent.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.