كاتِبٌa writer مُحسِنُaccomplished in البَيانِeloquence صَناعُهits master craftsman
كاتِبٌ مُحسِنُ البَيانِ صَناعُه
اِستَخَفَّcaptivated العُقولَminds حيناًfor a time يَراعُهhis reed pen
اِستَخَفَّ العُقولَ حيناً يَراعُه
A writer, accomplished in eloquence, its master craftsman;
his reed pen once swept minds away.
اِبنُa son of مِصرٍEgypt وَإِنَّماand indeed كُلُّevery أَرضٍland
اِبنُ مِصرٍ وَإِنَّما كُلُّ أَرضٍ
تَنطِقُspeaks الضادَḍād; Arabic مَهدُهُhis cradle وَرِباعُهand his dwellings
تَنطِقُ الضادَ مَهدُهُ وَرِباعُه
A son of Egypt; yet every land
that speaks the tongue of ḍād is his cradle and home.
إِنَّماnothing but الشَرقُthe East مَنزِلٌa dwelling لَمhas not يُفَرِّقdivided
إِنَّما الشَرقُ مَنزِلٌ لَم يُفَرِّق
أَهَلَهُits people إِنeven if تَفَرَّقَتlie scattered أَصقاعُهits regions
أَهَلَهُ إِن تَفَرَّقَت أَصقاعُه
The East is but one dwelling, never dividing
its people, though its regions lie apart.
وَطَنٌa homeland واحِدٌone عَلىupon; by الشَمسِthe sun وَالفُصand classical Arabic (first part)
وَطَنٌ واحِدٌ عَلى الشَمسِ وَالفُص
حى(completion of classical Arabic) وَفيand in الدَمعِtears وَالجِراحِand wounds اِجتِماعُهits union
حى وَفي الدَمعِ وَالجِراحِ اِجتِماعُه
One homeland, joined by the sun and classical Arabic,
and united in tears and wounds.
عَلَمٌa banner; a leading figure فيin البَيانِeloquence وَاِبنُand son of لِواءٍa banner; a leader
عَلَمٌ في البَيانِ وَاِبنُ لِواءٍ
أَخَذَcaptivated الشَرقَthe East حِقبَةًfor an age إِبداعُهhis creative genius
أَخَذَ الشَرقَ حِقبَةً إِبداعُه
A standard in eloquence, son of a standard-bearer
whose creativity captivated the East for an age.
حَسبُهُenough for him السِحرُenchantment مِنfrom تُراثِthe legacy of أَبيهِhis father
حَسبُهُ السِحرُ مِن تُراثِ أَبيهِ
إِنeven if تَوَلَّتhave vanished قُصورُهُhis palaces وَضِياعُهand his estates
إِن تَوَلَّت قُصورُهُ وَضِياعُه
The enchantment inherited from his father suffices him,
even if his palaces and estates have vanished.
إِنَّماonly; truly السِحرُenchantment وَالبَلاغَةُand eloquence وَالحِكand wisdom (first part)
إِنَّما السِحرُ وَالبَلاغَةُ وَالحِك
مَةُ(completion of wisdom) بَيتٌa verse كِلاهُماeach of the two مِصراعُهits hemistich
مَةُ بَيتٌ كِلاهُما مِصراعُه
True enchantment—eloquence and wisdom—
is a verse, each of the two a hemistich.
فيin يَدِthe hand of النَشءِthe rising generation مِنfrom بَيانِthe eloquence of المُوَيلِحيal-Muwaylihi
في يَدِ النَشءِ مِن بَيانِ المُوَيلِحي
مَثَلٌa model يَنفَعُbenefits الشَبابَthe young اِتِّباعُهfollowing it
مَثَلٌ يَنفَعُ الشَبابَ اِتِّباعُه
In the hands of youth, from al-Muwaylihi's eloquence,
lies a model which the young benefit from following.
صُوَرٌimages مِنfrom حَقيقَةٍreality وَخَيالٍand imagination
صُوَرٌ مِن حَقيقَةٍ وَخَيالٍ
هِيَthey are إِحسانُthe artistry of فِكرِهِhis thought وَاِبتِداعُهand his invention
هِيَ إِحسانُ فِكرِهِ وَاِبتِداعُه
Images of reality and imagination:
they are his thought's artistry and invention.
رُبَّmany a سَجعٍpassage of rhymed prose كَمُرقِصِlike the dance-inducing strains of الشِعرِpoetry لَمّاhas not yet
رُبَّ سَجعٍ كَمُرقِصِ الشِعرِ لَمّا
يَختَلِفvaried لَحنُهُits melody وَلاnor إيقاعُهits rhythm
يَختَلِف لَحنُهُ وَلا إيقاعُه
Many a rhymed passage is like verse that makes one dance:
neither its melody nor its rhythm has ever varied.
أَوor كَسَجعِlike the cooing of الحَمامِdoves لَوif فَصَّلَتهُthey articulated it
أَو كَسَجعِ الحَمامِ لَو فَصَّلَتهُ
وَتَأَنَّتand lingered بِهِover it وَدَقَّand grew subtle اِختِراعُهits invention
وَتَأَنَّت بِهِ وَدَقَّ اِختِراعُه
Or like the cooing of doves, had they articulated it
and lingered over it, its invention growing subtle.
هُوَhe فيهِin this بَديعُthe marvel of كُلِّevery زَمانٍage
هُوَ فيهِ بَديعُ كُلِّ زَمانٍ
ماwhat is بَديعُBadi' (marvel) الزَمانِal-Zaman (of the age) ماwhat are أَسجاعُهhis rhymed passages
ما بَديعُ الزَمانِ ما أَسجاعُه
In this he is the marvel of every age;
what is Badi' al-Zaman? What are his rhymed passages?
عَجِبَmarveled الناسُpeople مِنat طِباعِthe nature of المُوَيلِحِيal-Muwaylihi (continued)
عَجِبَ الناسُ مِن طِباعِ المُوَيلِحِي
يِ(completion of al-Muwaylihi) وَفيand in الأُسدِlions خُلقُهُhis character وَطِباعُهand his nature
يِ وَفي الأُسدِ خُلقُهُ وَطِباعُه
People marveled at al-Muwaylihi's disposition,
yet lions share his character and his nature.
فيهِin him كِبرُthe pride of اللُيوثِlions حَتّىeven عَلىdespite الجوhunger (first part)
فيهِ كِبرُ اللُيوثِ حَتّى عَلى الجو
عِ(completion of hunger) وَفيهاand in them إِباؤُهُhis proud refusal وَاِمتِناعُهand his resistance
عِ وَفيها إِباؤُهُ وَاِمتِناعُه
He has the pride of lions, even in hunger,
and they have his proud refusal and defiance.
تَعِبَgrew weary المَوتُdeath فيin dealing with صَبورٍone patient عَلىin enduring النَزthe death throes (first part)
تَعِبَ المَوتُ في صَبورٍ عَلى النَز
عِ(completion of death throes) قَليلٍslight إِلىtoward الحَياةِlife نِزاعُهhis yearning
عِ قَليلٍ إِلى الحَياةِ نِزاعُه
Death grew weary before one patient in his death throes,
whose longing for life was slight.
صارَعَwrestled with العَيشَlife حِقبَةًfor an age لَيتَwould that شِعريmy knowledge
صارَعَ العَيشَ حِقبَةً لَيتَ شِعري
ساعَةَat the hour of المَوتِdeath كَيفَhow كانَwas صِراعُهhis struggle
ساعَةَ المَوتِ كَيفَ كانَ صِراعُه
He wrestled with life for an age—if only I knew
how his struggle went at the hour of death.
قَهَرَconquered المَوتَdeath وَالحَياةَand life وَقَدthough sometimes تَحrule (first part)
قَهَرَ المَوتَ وَالحَياةَ وَقَد تَح
كُمُ(completion of rule) فيover رائِضِthe tamer of السِباعِbeasts of prey سِباعُهhis beasts of prey
كُمُ في رائِضِ السِباعِ سِباعُه
He conquered death and life, though sometimes
a beast-tamer's own beasts rule over him.
مُهجَةٌa soul حُرَّةٌfree وَخُلقٌand a character أَبِيٌّunbowed
مُهجَةٌ حُرَّةٌ وَخُلقٌ أَبِيٌّ
عَيَّwas powerless عَنهُagainst him الزَمانُTime وَاِرتَدَّand recoiled باعُهits reach; its arm-span
عَيَّ عَنهُ الزَمانُ وَاِرتَدَّ باعُه
A free soul and an unbending character:
Time was helpless against him, its outstretched arm recoiling.
فيin الثَمانينَeighty years ياO مُحَمَّدُMuhammad عِلمٌknowledge
في الثَمانينَ يا مُحَمَّدُ عِلمٌ
لِعَليمٍfor a learned man وَإِنeven if تَناهىreached its utmost اِطِّلاعُهhis learning
لِعَليمٍ وَإِن تَناهى اِطِّلاعُه
In eighty years, O Muhammad, lies knowledge
for a sage, however vast his learning.
لِمwhy تَقاعَدَتyou held back دونَهاshort of them وَتَوانىand faltered
لِم تَقاعَدَت دونَها وَتَوانى
سائِقُthe helmsman of الفُلكِthe ship وَاِضمَحَلَّand dwindled شِراعُهits sail
سائِقُ الفُلكِ وَاِضمَحَلَّ شِراعُه
Why did you stop short of them, and why did
the ship's helmsman falter and its sail dwindle?
رُبَّmany a شَيبٍgrey head بَنَتbuilt صُروحَthe towers of المَعاليhigh achievement
رُبَّ شَيبٍ بَنَت صُروحَ المَعالي
سَنَتاهُhis two years وَشادَتِand raised المَجدَglory ساعُهhis hours
سَنَتاهُ وَشادَتِ المَجدَ ساعُه
Many a grey head has had towers of greatness built
by his two years, and glory raised by his hours.
فيهِin him مِنsome of هِمَّةِthe high resolve of الشَبابِyouth وَلَكِنand yet
فيهِ مِن هِمَّةِ الشَبابِ وَلَكِن
لَيسَthere is not فيهِin him جِماحُهُits unruliness وَاِندِفاعُهand its impetuosity
لَيسَ فيهِ جِماحُهُ وَاِندِفاعُه
He has something of youth's high resolve, but
none of its unruliness or headlong rush.
سَيِّدُthe master of المُنشِئينَprose writers حَثَّurged onward المَطاياthe mounts
سَيِّدُ المُنشِئينَ حَثَّ المَطايا
وَمَضىand traveled فيin غُبارِهِhis dust أَتباعُهhis followers
وَمَضى في غُبارِهِ أَتباعُه
The master of prose writers urged his mounts onward,
and his followers traveled in his dust.
حَطَّهُمset them down بِالإِمامِat al-Imam لِلمَوتِbound for death رَكبٌa caravan
حَطَّهُم بِالإِمامِ لِلمَوتِ رَكبٌ
يَتَلاقىmeet بِطاؤُهُits slow riders وَسِراعُهand its swift riders
يَتَلاقى بِطاؤُهُ وَسِراعُه
Death's caravan set them down at al-Imam,
its slow and swift riders meeting together.
قَنَّعواthey veiled بِالتُرابِwith earth وَجهاًa face كَريماًnoble
قَنَّعوا بِالتُرابِ وَجهاً كَريماً
كانَwas مِنof رُفعَةِthe loftiness of الحَياءِmodesty قِناعُهits veil
كانَ مِن رُفعَةِ الحَياءِ قِناعُه
They veiled a noble face with earth,
whose veil had been exalted modesty.
كَسَناlike the glow of الفَجرِdawn فيin ظِلالِthe shadows of الغَواديmorning rainclouds
كَسَنا الفَجرِ في ظِلالِ الغَوادي
كَرَمٌgenerosity صَفحَتاهُits two cheeks هَديٌguidance شُعاعُهits radiance
كَرَمٌ صَفحَتاهُ هَديٌ شُعاعُه
Like dawn's glow in the shadows of morning rainclouds,
its cheeks are generosity, its radiance guidance.
ياO وَحيداًsolitary one كَأَمسِas yesterday فيin كِسرِthe corner of بَيتٍa house
يا وَحيداً كَأَمسِ في كِسرِ بَيتٍ
ضَيِّقٍcramped بِالنَزيلِfor its guest رَحبٍbroad; generous ذِراعُهhis arm
ضَيِّقٍ بِالنَزيلِ رَحبٍ ذِراعُه
O solitary one, as before, in a house's corner,
cramped for a guest so generous of arm.
كُلُّevery بَيتٍhouse تَحِلُّهُyou dwell in it يَستَويare equal عِنto you (first part)
كُلُّ بَيتٍ تَحِلُّهُ يَستَوي عِن
دَكَ(completion of to you) فيin الزُهدِascetic detachment ضيقُهُits narrowness وَاِتِّساعُهand its spaciousness
دَكَ في الزُهدِ ضيقُهُ وَاِتِّساعُه
In every house you dwell in, alike to you,
in your detachment, are its narrowness and breadth.
نَمsleep مَلِيّاًfor a long time فَلَستَfor you are not أَوَّلَthe first لَيثٍlion
نَم مَلِيّاً فَلَستَ أَوَّلَ لَيثٍ
بِفَلاةِin the wilderness of الإِمامِal-Imam طالَhas lasted long اِضطِجاعُهhis repose
بِفَلاةِ الإِمامِ طالَ اِضطِجاعُه
Sleep long, for you are not the first lion
to lie long in al-Imam's wilderness.
حَولَكَaround you الصالِحونَthe righteous طابواthey were pure وَطابَتand became pure
حَولَكَ الصالِحونَ طابوا وَطابَت
أَكَماتُthe hillocks of الإِمامِal-Imam مِنهُمthrough them وَقاعُهand its plain
أَكَماتُ الإِمامِ مِنهُم وَقاعُه
Around you are the righteous: pure are they, and pure
through them are al-Imam's hillocks and plain.
قَلَّدواthey garlanded الشَرقَthe East مِنwith جَمالٍbeauty وَخَيرٍand goodness
قَلَّدوا الشَرقَ مِن جَمالٍ وَخَيرٍ
ماthat which يَؤودُburdens المُفَنِّدينَthe detractors اِنتِزاعُهtearing it away
ما يَؤودُ المُفَنِّدينَ اِنتِزاعُه
They garlanded the East with beauty and goodness
that detractors find hard to tear away.
أُسِّسَتwas founded نَهضَةُthe rise of البِناءِthe edifice بِقَومٍby some people
أُسِّسَت نَهضَةُ البِناءِ بِقَومٍ
وَبِقَومٍand through others سَماit soared وَطالَand increased اِرتِفاعُهits height
وَبِقَومٍ سَما وَطالَ اِرتِفاعُه
The rising edifice was founded by some,
and through others it soared and rose high.
كُلُّevery حَيٍّliving being وَإِنeven if تَراخَتwere delayed مَناياdeaths
كُلُّ حَيٍّ وَإِن تَراخَت مَنايا
هُhis قَضاءٌa decree عَنِfrom الحَياةِlife اِنقِطاعُهhis separation
هُ قَضاءٌ عَنِ الحَياةِ اِنقِطاعُه
Every living being, though his doom be long delayed,
is destined to be cut off from life.
وَالَّذيand that which تَحرِصُare eager النُفوسُsouls عَلَيهِfor it
وَالَّذي تَحرِصُ النُفوسُ عَلَيهِ
عالَمٌa world باطِلٌvain قَليلٌscant مَتاعُهits enjoyment
عالَمٌ باطِلٌ قَليلٌ مَتاعُه
And what souls so eagerly cling to
is a vain world, its pleasures few.
Translation model: Sol 6.1