راحتcame at evening لسرحةto the acacia نعمانNu‘man وواديهاand its valley
راحت لسرحة نعمان وواديها
غرbright-white السحائبclouds تغدوهاvisit it in the morning غواديهاtheir morning showers
غر السحائب تغدوها غواديها
At evening there came to Nu‘man's acacia and its valley
She went to the meadows of Nu'man and its valleys,
bright clouds, their morning showers visiting it,
The clouds wandering above, shading its valleys.
منfrom كلevery وطفاءheavy-fringed cloud يوزىkindles (uncertain reading) البرقthe lightning مزنتهاits rain-cloud
من كل وطفاء يوزى البرق مزنتها
كأنماas though ثغرthe mouth of سعدىSa‘da ضاحكsmiling فيهاwithin it
كأنما ثغر سعدى ضاحك فيها
from every heavy-fringed cloud whose rain-laden mass the lightning kindles,
From every gentle breeze, lightning adorns it,
as though Sa‘da's smiling mouth were within it.
As if the smile of Sa'di glistening through it.
أضحتhas become محلتهاher dwelling بالشامin Syria نائيةdistant
أضحت محلتها بالشام نائية
ياoh بعدهاher remoteness منكfrom you والأشواقand longings تدنيهاbring her near
يا بعدها منك والأشواق تدنيها
Her dwelling has become distant, in Syria;
Its dwellings have become remote in Syria,
how far she is from you, though longing brings her near!
Oh how far you are from it, though yearning draws you near.
بيضاءfair-skinned woman عاندتI defied فيهاfor her sake منwhoever يعاندهاdefies her
بيضاء عاندت فيها من يعاندها
عمداdeliberately وصافيتand I befriended فيهاfor her sake منwhoever يصافيهاbefriends her
عمدا وصافيت فيها من يصافيها
A fair-skinned woman—for her I defied whoever defied her,
Defiantly white within it, against any who would oppose it,
deliberately, and for her befriended whoever befriended her.
Purposefully pure to any who would be pure towards it.
صدتshe turned away فلاso not هيshe يومon the day of البينparting ذاكرةremembering
صدت فلا هي يوم البين ذاكرة
عهديmy pledge ولاnor أناI يومon the day of البينparting ناسيهاforgetting her
عهدي ولا أنا يوم البين ناسيها
She turned away; on the day of parting she did not remember
It turned away, neither remembering the days of separation,
my pledge, nor did I, on the day of parting, forget her.
Nor I remembering the days we were parted.
تمشيshe walks فيثقلهاand weighs her down رِيّfullness إذاwhen خطَرَتshe sways gracefully
تمشي فيثقلها رِيّ إذا خطَرَت
كأنهاas though she were بانةa ban-tree طُلَّتwere sprinkled with dew حواشيهاits fringes
كأنها بانة طُلَّت حواشيها
She walks, weighed down by fullness when she sways,
She walks but the flowing of her garment weighs on her,
as though she were a ban-tree whose fringes were sprinkled with dew.
As if she were a gazelle adorned with necklaces.
كأنas though ريحانةa basil sprig فيin ثِنيa fold of بردتهاher cloak
كأن ريحانة في ثِني بردتها
باتspent the night النسيمthe breeze قبيلjust before الصبحdawn يثنيهاbending it
بات النسيم قبيل الصبح يثنيها
As though a basil sprig lay in the fold of her cloak,
As if a basil plant folded in the cold,
the breeze spent the night bending it just before dawn.
The breeze caressed her at dawn's first light.
زارتshe visited علىduring غِرةthe unawareness of الواشيthe tale-bearer مراقبةwatchful
زارت على غِرة الواشي مراقبة
تهديshe brings الغرامlove's torment لقلبيto my heart فيin تهاديهاher swaying gait
تهدي الغرام لقلبي في تهاديها
She visited while the tale-bearer was off guard, keeping watch,
She visited, spying from the hill's ridge,
bringing love's torment to my heart with her swaying gait.
Conveying the passion in my heart through her glances.
تسريshe travels by night اختلاساstealthily وليلُand the night of الشَّعرthe hair يسترهاconceals her
تسري اختلاسا وليلُ الشَّعر يسترها
عنfrom العيونeyes وصبحand the dawn of الثغرthe mouth يبديهاreveals her
عن العيون وصبح الثغر يبديها
She travels by night in secret; the night of her hair conceals her
She moves furtively while the night's poetry conceals her
from eyes, while the dawn of her mouth reveals her.
From eyes, though the smile of dawn reveals her.
لاnot يعرفknows الشوقlonging إلاexcept منone who يكابدهstruggles with it
لا يعرف الشوق إلا من يكابده
ولاnor الصبابةardent yearning إلاexcept منone who يعانيهاsuffers it
ولا الصبابة إلا من يعانيها
None knows longing except one who struggles with it,
None knows longing save those who endure it,
nor passionate yearning except one who suffers it,
None knows youth save those who suffer it.
ولاnor السماحةgenerosity إلاexcept المستهامthe one infatuated بهاwith it
ولا السماحة إلا المستهام بها
خليفةthe caliph of اللهGod مسديهاits bestower ومسنيهاand its increaser
خليفة الله مسديها ومسنيها
nor generosity except the one enamored of it:
None knows generosity save those inspired by it -
God's caliph, who bestows it and makes it abundant.
God's Caliph who founded it and refined it.
رستwas anchored علىupon كبدthe heart of الدنياthe world خلافتُهhis caliphate
رست على كبد الدنيا خلافتُه
فماso not تزولdoes it shift ولاand never زالتmay shift رواسيهاits anchoring mountains
فما تزول ولا زالت رواسيها
His caliphate is anchored in the heart of the world,
His caliphate settled on the bosom of the world,
never to shift; may its anchoring mountains never shift.
Never moving, its foundations never shaken.
ماnot اختالdid he swagger مِذsince نالهاhe attained it وهوwhile he is المعدُّthe one prepared لهاfor it
ما اختال مِذ نالها وهو المعدُّ لها
تيهاًin pride ونالَتهand it attained him فاختالتso it swaggered بهbecause of him تيهاproudly
تيهاً ونالَته فاختالت به تيها
He has not swaggered since attaining it, though destined for it,
He attained it without pretension, for he was destined for it,
in pride; it attained him and strutted proudly because of him.
Lost, until finding it, and adorning himself through it.
سعىhe strove إلىtoward الغايةthe goal القصوىthe utmost فأدركهاand reached it
سعى إلى الغاية القصوى فأدركها
لماwhen تباعدfell far away عنهاfrom it سعيthe striving of ساعيهاits seeker
لما تباعد عنها سعي ساعيها
He strove toward the utmost goal and reached it,
He strove for the highest goal until reaching it,
when its seeker's striving fell far short of it.
When seeking it exceeded the efforts of its seeker.
مرددever renewing الجودbounty ماnot اعتلتgrew inaccessible لهbelonging to him مننfavors
مردد الجود ما اعتلت له منن
فيناamong us ولاnor احتجبتwere concealed عنfrom عينthe eye of راجيهاone who hopes for them
فينا ولا احتجبت عن عين راجيها
Ever renewing his bounty, his favors have never become inaccessible
He showers generosity, however much grace he bestows on us,
among us, nor hidden from the eye of one who hopes for them.
Never veiling it from the eyes of those who seek it.
خِرقa generous noble تدلpoint عليهto him منfrom سجيَّتهhis nature
خِرق تدل عليه من سجيَّته
خلائقٌqualities مثلlike صفوِthe clarity of الراحwine صافيهاtheir purity
خلائقٌ مثل صفوِ الراح صافيها
A generous noble, revealed by his innate
Traits he has which show his nature -
qualities, their purity like the clarity of wine.
Pure, like the wafting of gentle winds.
سهلgentle in الخليقةnature ميمونauspicious لهhe has شيمqualities
سهل الخليقة ميمون له شيم
ترىyou see المعاليhigh virtues مثولاembodied فيin معانيهاtheir meanings
ترى المعالي مثولا في معانيها
Gentle in nature and auspicious, he has qualities
Gentle of manner, auspicious of conduct,
in whose essence you see high virtues embodied.
You see high ideals manifest in his character.
بذَّhe outstripped الجيادَthe thoroughbreds إلىtoward المعروفِgood deeds مبتدراrushing ahead
بذَّ الجيادَ إلى المعروفِ مبتدرا
سبقاtaking the lead وأقبلand began يحثوscooping and scattering فيonto نواصيهاtheir forelocks
سبقا وأقبل يحثو في نواصيها
He outstripped the thoroughbreds, rushing toward good deeds,
He surges forth spontaneously toward benevolence,
taking the lead, then began flinging dust upon their forelocks.
Racing ahead, spurring on its forelocks.
لهhe has أحاديثtales of جودbounty لاno ارتيابdoubt بهاabout them
له أحاديث جود لا ارتياب بها
إحسانهhis beneficence الغمرoverflowing فيthroughout الآفاقthe horizons يرويهاrecounts them
إحسانه الغمر في الآفاق يرويها
He has tales of bounty about which there is no doubt:
His is speech of munificence, no doubt in it -
his overflowing beneficence recounts them throughout the horizons.
His benevolence inundating the horizons, watering them.
وهمّةand a resolve كثهابlike a meteor (uncertain reading) الرجمof stoning يركبهاhe rides it
وهمّة كثهاب الرجم يركبها
إلىtoward العدوthe enemy فيبنضيهاthen wears it out (uncertain reading) ويمضيهاand drives it onward
إلى العدو فيبنضيها ويمضيها
And a resolve like a stoning meteor, which he rides
He has determination like a hurling arrow -
toward the enemy, wearing it out and driving it onward.
He mounts it against the enemy, hurling and propelling it.
تموتdie آمالthe hopes of عافيناour petitioners فينشرهاand he revives them
تموت آمال عافينا فينشرها
وينشرand spreads out الدهرtime أحداثاcalamities فيطويهاand he folds them away
وينشر الدهر أحداثا فيطويها
Our petitioners' hopes die, and he revives them;
It kills the hopes of those who oppose us, scattering them,
time spreads out calamities, and he folds them away.
As fate scatters events, gathering them up.
منfrom دوحةٍa great tree بسقَتgrew tall أغصانهاits branches وحلَتand grew sweet
من دوحةٍ بسقَت أغصانها وحلَت
عندat القطافِharvest مَجانيهاits fruits لجانيهاfor their gatherer
عند القطافِ مَجانيها لجانيها
He is of a great tree whose branches towered; sweet became
From a bouquet whose branches were watered and became lush
its fruits, at harvest, for their gatherer.
When plucked, freely plucked by the plucker.
يعدّhe counts فيin الفخرِglory للعباسfor al-‘Abbas أولهاits first
يعدّ في الفخرِ للعباس أولها
مجداas glory وللمقتفيand for al-Muqtafi باللهby God ثانيهاits second
مجدا وللمقتفي بالله ثانيها
In pride he counts al-‘Abbas as its first
He counts in pride al-'Abbas first among them,
glory, and al-Muqtafi bi-llah as its second.
Glory, and the follower of God comes second.
اعطوthey gave الوزارةthe vizierate عون‘Awn الدينal-Din سائهاhe governed it (uncertain reading)
اعطو الوزارة عون الدين سائها
بالعدلwith justice منهfrom him فاعطىso was given القوسthe bow ياريهاits maker (uncertain reading)
بالعدل منه فاعطى القوس ياريها
They gave the vizierate to ‘Awn al-Din, who governed it
They gave governance to the aide Awn al-Din, so he
with his justice; thus the bow was given to its maker.
Ruled justly, and thus guided its bow rightly.
تغنيهsuffice him آراؤهhis counsels والحربwhile war مظلمةdark in الthe
تغنيه آراؤه والحرب مظلمة ال
أرجاءreaches ماwhat ليسdoes not يغنيهsuffice him عواليهاits spearheads
أرجاء ما ليس يغنيه عواليها
His counsels provide him—while war is dark throughout the
His views invigorate me, though war is dark,
reaches—with what its towering spearheads cannot.
Its expanses bring no aid but his lofty hills.
بهthrough him جوائزrewards عنديwith me قدindeed حكمتI have judged لهاconcerning them
به جوائز عندي قد حكمت لها
معdespite الفصاحةeloquence أنيthat I لاnot أجازيهاrepay them
مع الفصاحة أني لا أجازيها
I have gifts from him, and have judged concerning them,
For him, I have rewards which I have decreed -
despite my eloquence, that I cannot repay them.
Along with eloquence, though I cannot equal it.
سقيتwatered آمالناour hopes مننfavors بعدafter ماthat ظمئتthey thirsted
سقيت آمالنا منن بعد ما ظمئت
ماءthe water of المكارمnoble deeds فاخضرتand grew green مراعيهاtheir pastures
ماء المكارم فاخضرت مراعيها
Favors watered our hopes after they had thirsted,
We quenched our hopes, after they thirsted,
with the water of noble deeds, and their pastures grew green.
With the water of bounty, so its pasture became green.
إذاwhen تيممتyou turned toward أرضاa land أخصبتit became fertile وربتand swelled
إذا تيممت أرضا أخصبت وربت
تلاعهاits hill-slopes الغبنunclear in context واهتزتand stirred روابيهاits uplands
تلاعها الغبن واهتزت روابيها
When you turn toward a land, it grows fertile, and its
If I survey a land, it becomes fertile and flourishing,
hill-slopes [unclear epithet] swell, while its uplands stir.
Its barrenness disappears, its poles shake.
وكيفand how لاnot والربيعwhile spring الطلقradiant يضحكsmiles فيin
وكيف لا والربيع الطلق يضحك في
ربوعهاits dwellings والندىand dew/bounty ينحوheads toward نواحيهاits quarters
ربوعها والندى ينحو نواحيها
And how could it not, when radiant spring smiles in
How not, when radiant Spring smiles in its meadows,
its dwellings, and bounty's dew seeks its quarters?
And the dew tilts toward its sides?
فانهضso arise فقدfor indeed أذنتhas submitted بالطوعwillingly راضيةcontented
فانهض فقد أذنت بالطوع راضية
لكto you البريةcreation قاصيهاits farthest ودانيهاand its nearest
لك البرية قاصيها ودانيها
Arise, for it has willingly and gladly submitted
So arise - I have consented willingly -
to you—all creation, far and near.
For you, the wilderness, its near and far parts.
باكhasten (uncertain reading) المواهبgifts نقداpaid immediately لاnot مؤجلةdeferred
باك المواهب نقدا لا مؤجلة
كفعلlike the deed of غيركsomeone other than you ينساهاhe forgets them وينسيهاand makes others forget them
كفعل غيرك ينساها وينسيها
Hasten your gifts, in hand, not deferred,
Pour out gifts in cash, not postponed,
as others do, forgetting them and making them forgotten.
Unlike others who forget and neglect them.
جدbe generous ليto me باجردwith a sleek stallion أوor جرداءa smooth-coated mare سابحةswimming along
جد لي باجرد أو جرداء سابحة
تنصرaids الريحthe wind شوطاfor a lap أنto تجاريهاrace her
تنصر الريح شوطا أن تجاريها
Grant me a sleek stallion or a smooth-coated mare, swimming in her stride,
Grant me a swift camel filly challenging the winds,
that lends the wind help for a lap, so it may race her.
That rivals them however much they blow.
إنif لمnot أهدّI shatter بهاwith her ركنthe pillar of العدوّthe enemy فلاthen may not
إن لم أهدّ بها ركن العدوّ فلا
ملكتI command عندat مثارِthe rising of النقعِbattle-dust هاديهاher neck
ملكت عند مثارِ النقعِ هاديها
If I do not shatter the enemy's pillar with her, then may I not
If I do not hurl the foe's column with it,
command her neck when the battle-dust rises.
Then I have no guide to lead it to pasture.
ليعلمso they may know الناسthe people أنَيthat I am شاعرa poet بطلa hero
ليعلم الناس أنَي شاعر بطل
لاnot مثلَlike منone who يتعاطىlays claim to ذلكthat تمويهاdeceptively
لا مثلَ من يتعاطى ذلك تمويها
So people may know that I am a poet and a hero,
Let people know I am a valiant poet,
not like one who claims this merely as a sham.
Not like those who pretend to such arts.
واسمعand listen بمطربةto an enchanting poem الألفاظthe words محكمةٍfinely wrought
واسمع بمطربة الألفاظ محكمةٍ
الحسنُbeauty قائدُهاits leader والطبعُand natural talent هاديهاits guide
الحسنُ قائدُها والطبعُ هاديها
And hear a finely wrought poem of enchanting words:
And hear an enchanting eloquence, precise,
beauty its leader, natural talent its guide.
Beauty its guide, nature its leader.
تروىit is recited فلاand not يسأمtires of التكرارrepetition سامعهاits listener
تروى فلا يسأم التكرار سامعها
ولاnor يملّgrows weary منfrom الإِضجارtedium راويهاits reciter
ولا يملّ من الإِضجار راويها
It is recited, and its listener never tires of repetition,
It narrates but no listener grows weary of repetition,
nor does boredom make its reciter weary.
Nor any reciter tire of chanting it.
ترفَّعتit rose عنabove عطاياthe gifts of الباخلينmisers فماyet not
ترفَّعت عن عطايا الباخلين فما
يزالceases يغصبهاseizing it by force منone who ليسdoes not يرضيهاsatisfy it
يزال يغصبها من ليس يرضيها
It has risen above the gifts of misers, yet
She spurned the gifts of the miserly, so he still
one who does not satisfy it keeps seizing it by force.
Forcibly seizes what she does not permit.
أغليتهاI made it dear بعدafter رخصcheapness فاعتلتand it rose وسمَتand soared
أغليتها بعد رخص فاعتلت وسمَت
قدراًin worth ولاand never زلتmay you cease معليهاraising it ومغليهاand making it dear
قدراً ولا زلت معليها ومغليها
I made it dear after cheapness, and it rose and soared
I made her precious after cheapness, so she became proud,
in worth; may you never cease raising it and making it dear.
Maintaining her worth, though I made her yet more precious.
أقولI say منfrom بعدafter ماthat أحببتI came to love دولتكمyour reign
أقول من بعد ما أحببت دولتكم
أنافعيwill it benefit me? عندwith ليلىLayla فرطُthe excess of حبيهاmy love for her
أنافعي عند ليلى فرطُ حبيها
I say, now that I have come to love your reign:
I say, after having loved your state:
Will my overwhelming love of her avail me with Layla?
My usefulness to Layla is the excess of my love for her.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.