ياO دارُdwelling دارَcircled عَلَيكِover you إِرهامُgentle drizzle النَدىdew
يا دارُ دارَ عَلَيكِ إِرهامُ النَدى
وَاِهتَزَّand stirred رَوضُكِyour meadow فيin الثَرىthe moist earth فَتَرأَّدَthen swayed
وَاِهتَزَّ رَوضُكِ في الثَرى فَتَرأَّدَ
O dwelling, may drizzling dew circle over you,
O homeland, homeland, the dew rains down on you
and may your meadow stir in the moist earth and sway;
And your garden quivered and swayed in the soil
وَكُسيتِand you were clothed مِنfrom خِلَعِrobes of honor الحَياrain مُستَأسِداًluxuriant growth
وَكُسيتِ مِن خِلَعِ الحَيا مُستَأسِداً
أُنُفاًfresh and ungrazed يُغادِرُleaves وَحشُهُits wild beasts مُستَأسِداlion-bold
أُنُفاً يُغادِرُ وَحشُهُ مُستَأسِدا
and may rain's robes of honor clothe you in luxuriant growth,
You were clothed in the garments of life like a lion
fresh and ungrazed, leaving its wild beasts lion-bold.
Whose nose disdains its den as a lion would
طَلَلٌa ruined site عَكَفتُI lingered عَلَيهِover it أَسأَلُهُI question it إِلىuntil
طَلَلٌ عَكَفتُ عَلَيهِ أَسأَلُهُ إِلى
أَنthat كادَalmost يُصبِحُbecame رَبعُهُits dwelling-place لِيَfor me مَسجِداa mosque
أَن كادَ يُصبِحُ رَبعُهُ لِيَ مَسجِدا
A ruined site I lingered over, questioning it, until
A ruined abode I brooded over, questioning it
its dwelling-place almost became a mosque for me.
Until its quarter for me became like a mosque
وَظَلِلتُand I kept أُنشِدُهُI recite to it وَأَنشُدُand I seek أَهلَهُits people
وَظَلِلتُ أُنشِدُهُ وَأَنشُدُ أَهلَهُ
وَالحُزنُand sorrow خِدنيmy companion ناشِداًseeking أَوor مُنشِداreciting
وَالحُزنُ خِدني ناشِداً أَو مُنشِدا
I kept reciting verse to it and seeking its people,
I lingered reciting verses to it and reciting to its people
sorrow my companion, whether seeking or reciting.
While sadness teased me, whether reciting or being recited to
سَقياًmay rain water لِمَعهَدِكَyour familiar abode الَّذيwhich لَوif لَمnot يَكُنit existed
سَقياً لِمَعهَدِكَ الَّذي لَو لَم يَكُن
ماnot كانَwould have been قَلبيmy heart لِلصَبابَةِfor passionate longing مَعهِداa home
ما كانَ قَلبي لِلصَبابَةِ مَعهِدا
May rain water your familiar abode, which, had it not existed,
Watering your pact which, had it not been,
my heart would not have been a home for yearning.
My heart would not have been devoted to youth
لَمnot يُعطِhas given نازِلَةَthe affliction الهَوىof love حَقَّthe due الهَوىof love
لَم يُعطِ نازِلَةَ الهَوى حَقَّ الهَوى
دَنِفٌa lovesick man أَطافَcircled بِهِaround him الهَوىpassion فَتَجَلَّداand he steeled himself
دَنِفٌ أَطافَ بِهِ الهَوى فَتَجَلَّدا
He has not given love's affliction its rightful due—
Passion’s halt was not given passion’s due
a lovesick man whom passion besets, yet who steels himself.
A victim of passion whom passion made forbearing
صَبٌّa passionate lover تَواعَدَتِhave agreed to meet الهُمومُsorrows فُؤادَهُhis heart
صَبٌّ تَواعَدَتِ الهُمومُ فُؤادَهُ
إِنif أَنتُمُyou all أَخلَفتُموهُyou failed him مَوعِداa tryst
إِن أَنتُمُ أَخلَفتُموهُ مَوعِدا
A lover—sorrows have agreed to meet in his heart
A youth whose heart sorrows had promised
if you fail to keep a tryst with him.
That if you fail him, they would keep their tryst
لِمwhy تُنكِرينَdo you disapprove of مَعَwith الفِراقِseparation تَبَلُّديmy bewilderment
لِم تُنكِرينَ مَعَ الفِراقِ تَبَلُّدي
وَبَراعَةُand the brilliance المُشتاقِof the yearning lover أَنto يَتَبَلَّداbecome bewildered
وَبَراعَةُ المُشتاقِ أَن يَتَبَلَّدا
Why do you disapprove of my bewilderment at our parting,
Why do you act shyly with separation?
when the yearning lover's brilliance is to be bewildered?
The lover’s skill is to act with shyness
ياO صاحِبيmy companion بِدِمِشقَin Damascus لَستَyou are not بِصاحِبيmy companion
يا صاحِبي بِدِمِشقَ لَستَ بِصاحِبي
إِنif لَمnot تُمَهِّدyou prepare لِلهُمومِfor sorrows مُمَهَّداa resting-place
إِن لَم تُمَهِّد لِلهُمومِ مُمَهَّدا
O my companion in Damascus, you are no companion of mine
My friend in Damascus, you are no friend to me
unless you prepare a resting-place for sorrows.
If you do not smooth the way for cares
أَدنِbring near المُعَبَّدَةَthe well-broken she-camel السِنادَthe tall one وَأَنئِهاand send her far away
أَدنِ المُعَبَّدَةَ السِنادَ وَأَنئِها
بِالسَيرِby traveling ماas long as دامَremains الطَريقُthe road مُعَبَّداsmooth
بِالسَيرِ ما دامَ الطَريقُ مُعَبَّدا
Bring near the tall, well-broken she-camel, and send her far
Bring the camel-litter near and make it comfortable
in travel, as long as the road is smooth.
As long as the road is smoothed and passable
وَإِلىand toward بَنيthe sons of عَبدِAbd الكَريمِal-Karim تَواهَقَتshe raced
وَإِلى بَني عَبدِ الكَريمِ تَواهَقَت
رَتكَthe trot النَعامِof ostriches رَأىsaw الظَلامَthe darkness فَخَوَّداthen sped with long strides
رَتكَ النَعامِ رَأى الظَلامَ فَخَوَّدا
And toward the sons of Abd al-Karim she raced,
Your camel continued till nightfall brought it
with the trot of an ostrich that saw darkness and sped on.
To the sons of ʿAbd al-Karīm it came wandering
كَمhow many أَنجَمواthey brought to light قَمَراًa moon حَمىprotected بِفِعالِهِthrough his deeds
كَم أَنجَموا قَمَراً حَمى بِفِعالِهِ
قَمَراًa moon وَمَكرُمَةًand a noble deed تُناغيconverses with الفَرقَداthe star Farqad
قَمَراً وَمَكرُمَةً تُناغي الفَرقَدا
How many a moon they have brought to light, whose deeds protected
How they shone like the moon whose deeds
a moon and a noble deed that converses with Farqad!
Are a moon and a bright coin outvying the full moon
مُتَهَلِّلاًradiant فيamid الرَوعِterror مُنهَلّاًpouring forth إِذاwhen
مُتَهَلِّلاً في الرَوعِ مُنهَلّاً إِذا
ماever (emphasis) زَنَّدَgave scantily اللِحِزُthe mean man الشَحيحُthe tightfisted وَصَرَّداand stinted
ما زَنَّدَ اللِحِزُ الشَحيحُ وَصَرَّدا
Radiant amid terror, pouring forth bounty whenever
Exultant in fright, finding pasture when
the mean, tightfisted man gives scantily and stints.
The miserly palm-fibre robe becomes too patched
مَنwhoever كانَhas أَحمَدَfound praiseworthy مَرتَعاًa pasture أَوor ذَمَّهُcondemned it
مَن كانَ أَحمَدَ مَرتَعاً أَو ذَمَّهُ
فَاللَهَso God أَحمَدُI praise ثُمَّthen أَحمَدُI praise أَحمَداAhmad
فَاللَهَ أَحمَدُ ثُمَّ أَحمَدُ أَحمَدا
Whether one has found a pasture praiseworthy or condemned it,
Whoever took Ahmad as refuge or blamed him
I praise God, then I praise Ahmad.
God is Ahmad, then Ahmad, then Ahmad
أَضحىhe became عَدُوّاًan enemy لِلصَديقِto a friend إِذاif غَداhe set out
أَضحى عَدُوّاً لِلصَديقِ إِذا غَدا
فيover الحَمدِpraise يَعذُلُهُhe reproaches him صَديقاًa friend لِلعِداto foes
في الحَمدِ يَعذُلُهُ صَديقاً لِلعِدا
He becomes an enemy to a friend if that friend comes
He who in praise opposed the friend
to chide him over praise, and a friend to foes.
Became a foe to the friend, an aid to the enemy
أَفنَيتُI exhausted مِنهُfrom him الشِعرَpoetry فيon مُتَمَدِّحٍa man worthy of praise
أَفنَيتُ مِنهُ الشِعرَ في مُتَمَدِّحٍ
قَدindeed سادَbecame preeminent حَتّىuntil كادَalmost يُفنيexhausts السُؤدُداnobility
قَد سادَ حَتّى كادَ يُفني السُؤدُدا
I have exhausted my poetry on him, a man worthy of praise,
I exhausted poetry in praise of him
who has become so preeminent he almost exhausts nobility.
Who prevailed until he almost exhausted the poets
عَضبُblade-sharp العَزيمَةِin resolve فيin المَكارِمِnoble deeds لَمnot يَدَعhe left
عَضبُ العَزيمَةِ في المَكارِمِ لَم يَدَع
فيin يَومِهِhis day شَرَفاًan honor يُطالِبُهُhe pursues it غَداtomorrow
في يَومِهِ شَرَفاً يُطالِبُهُ غَدا
Blade-sharp in resolve for noble deeds, he has left
Wrathful resolve in noble deeds left
no honor today to pursue tomorrow.
No glory in his day for which it tomorrow called
بَرَّزتَyou excelled فيin طَلَبِseeking المَعاليlofty honors واحِداًalone
بَرَّزتَ في طَلَبِ المَعالي واحِداً
فيهاin them تَسيرُyou travel مُغَوِّراًgoing into lowlands أَوor مُنجِداgoing into highlands
فيها تَسيرُ مُغَوِّراً أَو مُنجِدا
You have excelled alone in the pursuit of lofty honors;
You have excelled in pursuing the heights, alone,
in their pursuit you travel through lowlands or highlands.
Proceeding obscured or distinct
عَجَباًa wonder بِأَنَّكَat your being سالِمٌunharmed مِنfrom وَحشَةٍloneliness
عَجَباً بِأَنَّكَ سالِمٌ مِن وَحشَةٍ
فيat غايَةٍa summit ماnot زِلتَyou have ceased فيهاin it مُفرَداalone
في غايَةٍ ما زِلتَ فيها مُفرَدا
A wonder, that you are free of loneliness
Amazing that you are unharmed by a loneliness
at a height where you have always stood alone!
In which you have continuously remained solitary
وَأَناand I الفِداءُthe ransom إِذاwhen الرِماحُspears تَشاجَرَتcrossed
وَأَنا الفِداءُ إِذا الرِماحُ تَشاجَرَت
لَكَfor you وَالرِماحُand spears مِنَagainst الرِماحِspears لَكَfor you الفِداthe ransom
لَكَ وَالرِماحُ مِنَ الرِماحِ لَكَ الفِدا
And I am a ransom, when the spears clash,
And I the ransom when lances engage
for you; and spears are your ransom against spears.
For you, and of lances you have the ransom of my life
وَسَلِمتَand may you be safe أَنّاthat we لاnot تَزالُcease to be سَوالِماًunharmed
وَسَلِمتَ أَنّا لا تَزالُ سَوالِماً
آمالُناour hopes بِكَin you ماas long as سَلِمتَyou remain safe مِنَfrom الرَدىdeath
آمالُنا بِكَ ما سَلِمتَ مِنَ الرَدى
And may you remain safe, for ever unharmed remain
You are unharmed, and still we hope
our hopes in you, so long as you are safe from death.
Our hopes in you are unharmed from decline
كَمhow often جِئتَyou came فيin الهَيجاbattle بِيَومٍwith a day أَبيَضٍwhite
كَم جِئتَ في الهَيجا بِيَومٍ أَبيَضٍ
وَالحَربُand war قَدalready جاءَتhad come بِيَومٍwith a day أَسوَداblack
وَالحَربُ قَد جاءَت بِيَومٍ أَسوَدا
How often in battle you have brought a white day,
How often you came in the fray on a shining day
when war had brought a black day!
While war brought a day darkened
أَقدَمتَyou charged لَمnot تُرِكَshowed you الحَمِيَّةُzeal for honor مَصدَراًa way out
أَقدَمتَ لَم تُرِكَ الحَمِيَّةُ مَصدَراً
عَنهاfrom it وَلَمand not يَرَsaw فيكَin you قِرنُكَyour opponent مَورِداa way in
عَنها وَلَم يَرَ فيكَ قِرنُكَ مَورِدا
You charged: honor showed you no way of retreat
You attacked, valor was not hindered
from battle, nor did your opponent find an opening against you.
Nor did your fellows see in you a place of retreat
لِمَnot تُغمِدِyou sheath السَيفَthe sword الَّذيwhich قُلِّدتَهُyou were girded with it
لِمَ تُغمِدِ السَيفَ الَّذي قُلِّدتَهُ
حَتّىuntil تَمَنّىwished نَصلُهُits blade أَنto يُغمَداbe sheathed
حَتّى تَمَنّى نَصلُهُ أَن يُغمَدا
You did not sheath the sword with which you were girded
Why do you sheathe the sword you are girt with
until its blade itself longed to be sheathed.
Until its blade desires to be sheathed
هَيهاتَfar from it لاnot يَنأىstays distant الفَخارُglory وَإِنand even if نَأىit is distant
هَيهاتَ لا يَنأى الفَخارُ وَإِن نَأى
عَنfrom طالِبٍa seeker سيماespecially مَطِيَّتُهُhis mount النَدىgenerosity
عَن طالِبٍ سيما مَطِيَّتُهُ النَدى
Far from it! Glory does not stay far, even if distant,
Alas! Glory does not abandon the glorious
from a seeker—especially one whose mount is generosity.
Even if it abandons a seeker, especially one whose mount is the dew
أَنّىhow يَفوتُكَeludes you ماwhat طَلَبتَyou sought وَإِنَّماand only
أَنّى يَفوتُكَ ما طَلَبتَ وَإِنَّما
وَطَراكَyour two desires أَنto تُعطيyou give الجَزيلَlavish bounty وَتُحمَداand be praised
وَطَراكَ أَن تُعطي الجَزيلَ وَتُحمَدا
How can what you seek elude you, when
How could what you sought elude you
your two desires are only to give lavishly and be praised?
When your manner is to give generously and be praised
لَمّاwhen زَهِدتَyou renounced زَهِدتَyou renounced فيfrom جَمعِamassing الغِنىwealth
لَمّا زَهِدتَ زَهِدتَ في جَمعِ الغِنى
وَلَقَدand indeed رَغِبتَyou desired فَكُنتَso you were فيهِtoward it أَزهَداmore detached
وَلَقَد رَغِبتَ فَكُنتَ فيهِ أَزهَدا
When you renounced, you renounced amassing wealth;
When you renounced, you renounced gathering wealth
and indeed you desired, becoming still more detached from it.
Yet you desired it and so renounced it even more
فَالمالُso wealth أَنّيwherever مِلتَyou turn لَيسَis not بِسالِمٍsafe
فَالمالُ أَنّي مِلتَ لَيسَ بِسالِمٍ
مِنfrom بَطشِthe assault جودِكَof your generosity مُصلِحاًsetting things right أَوor مُفسِداcausing ruin
مِن بَطشِ جودِكَ مُصلِحاً أَو مُفسِدا
Wealth, wherever you turn, is not safe
Wealth, I am weary, not secure
from your generosity's assault, whether you set things right or wreak ruin.
From the blows of your open hand, whether correcting or corrupting
وَلَأَنتَand surely you أَكرَمُnobler مِنthan نَوالِكَyour gifts مَحتِداin origin
وَلَأَنتَ أَكرَمُ مِن نَوالِكَ مَحتِدا
وَنَداكَand your generosity أَكرَمُnobler مِنthan عَدُوِّكَyour enemy مَحتِداin origin
وَنَداكَ أَكرَمُ مِن عَدُوِّكَ مَحتِدا
And surely you are nobler in origin than your gifts,
You are more generous than your giving, competing
and your generosity is nobler in origin than your enemy.
Your help more generous than your enemy competing
لاmay not تَعدِمَنَّكَever lose you طَيِّئٌTayy فَلَقَلَّماfor seldom indeed
لا تَعدِمَنَّكَ طَيِّئٌ فَلَقَلَّما
عَدِمَتhas lacked عَشيرَتُكَyour clan الجَوادَthe generous man السَيِّداthe lord
عَدِمَت عَشيرَتُكَ الجَوادَ السَيِّدا
May Tayy never lose you, for seldom
May Tayyi’ not lose you, for rarely
has your clan lacked a generous lord.
Has your clan lost a generous, noble horseman
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.