تَوَهَّمَhe pictured لَيلىLayla وَأَظعانَهاand her caravan women
تَوَهَّمَ لَيلى وَأَظعانَها
ظِباءَantelopes الصَريمِal-Sarim وَغِزلانَهاand its gazelles
ظِباءَ الصَريمِ وَغِزلانَها
He pictured Layla and her caravan women
Laila imagined the gazelles and their young,
as the antelopes of al-Sarim and its gazelles.
The fleet mountain goats and the deer.
بَرَزنَthey appeared عَشِيّاًat dusk فَقُلتُso I said اِستَعَرborrowed (continued)
بَرَزنَ عَشِيّاً فَقُلتُ اِستَعَر
نَthey (feminine plural ending) كُثبَdunes السَراةِal-Sarat وَقُضبانَهاand its boughs
نَ كُثبَ السَراةِ وَقُضبانَها
They appeared at dusk, and I said, “They borrowed
They went out in the evening, so I said, “Borrow
the dunes of al-Sarat and its boughs.”
The sandy hills and their rises.”
وَأَسرَينَand they traveled by night لَيلاًat night فَخِلناso we imagined بِهِنin them (continued)
وَأَسرَينَ لَيلاً فَخِلنا بِهِن
نَcompletion of 'in them' مَثنىin pairs النُجومِthe stars وَوُحدانَهاand their solitary ones
نَ مَثنى النُجومِ وَوُحدانَها
They traveled by night, and we fancied them
And they led me at night, so we were left with
the stars, in pairs and singly.
The paired stars and their solitude.
صَوادِفُwomen turning away جَدَّدنَthey renewed بَعدَafter الهَوىlove
صَوادِفُ جَدَّدنَ بَعدَ الهَوى
مِطالَdelaying repayment الدُيونِthe debts وَلَيّانَهاand evading their repayment
مِطالَ الدُيونِ وَلَيّانَها
Turning away, they renewed after love
New moons that renewed after love
the deferral of debts and delays in paying them.
Prolonged my debts and my promises.
جَحَدنَthey disowned جَديدَnewness of الهَوىlove بَعدَماafter
جَحَدنَ جَديدَ الهَوى بَعدَما
عَرَفنَthey knew الصَبابَةَardent longing عِرفانَهاfull knowledge of it
عَرَفنَ الصَبابَةَ عِرفانَها
They disowned new love after
They denied the new love after they
knowing longing in all its fullness.
Knew passionate love and its ways.
وَكُنتُand I was اِمرَأًa man لَمnot أَزَلcease تابِعاًfollowing
وَكُنتُ اِمرَأً لَم أَزَل تابِعاً
وِصالَintimacy with الغَوانيbeautiful women وَهِجرانَهاand their estrangement
وِصالَ الغَواني وَهِجرانَها
And I was a man who has always followed
And I was a man who always followed
beautiful women’s intimacy and their estrangement.
Union with the loves and their abandonment.
أُحِبُّI love عَلىin كُلِّevery ماwhatsoever (emphasis) حالَةٍstate
أُحِبُّ عَلى كُلِّ ما حالَةٍ
إِساءَةَill-treatment by لَيلىLayla وَإِحسانَهاand her kindness
إِساءَةَ لَيلى وَإِحسانَها
I love, in every state whatsoever,
I love in every situation
Layla’s ill-treatment and her kindness.
Laila’s wrong and her kindness.
أَراكِI regard you وَإِنand although كُنتِyou are ظَلّامَةًmost unjust
أَراكِ وَإِن كُنتِ ظَلّامَةً
صَفِيَّةَchosen companion of نَفسيmy soul وَخُلصانَهاand its confidante
صَفِيَّةَ نَفسي وَخُلصانَها
I regard you, though you are most unjust,
I see you, though you are darkness
as my soul’s chosen companion and confidante.
The sincerity of my soul and its loyalty.
وَيُعجِبُنيand it pleases me فيكِin you أَنto أَستَديI perpetuate (continued)
وَيُعجِبُني فيكِ أَن أَستَدي
مَcompletion of 'I perpetuate' صَباباتِlongings of نَفسيmy soul وَأَشجانَهاand its sorrows
مَ صَباباتِ نَفسي وَأَشجانَها
And what pleases me in you is to keep alive
And I like in you that I unleash
my soul’s longings and its sorrows.
The passions of my soul and its sorrows.
وَماand not سَرَّنيpleased me أَنَّthat قَلبيmy heart أُعيwas lent (continued)
وَما سَرَّني أَنَّ قَلبي أُعي
رَcompletion of 'was lent' عَزاءَconsolation of القُلوبِthe hearts وَسُلوانَهاand their forgetfulness
رَ عَزاءَ القُلوبِ وَسُلوانَها
Nor would it please me for my heart to be lent
And it did not please me that my heart was lent
the consolation of hearts and their forgetfulness.
Consolation for hearts and their comfort.
سَرىtraveled by night البَرقُthe lightning يَلمَعُflashing فيin مُزنَةٍa raincloud
سَرى البَرقُ يَلمَعُ في مُزنَةٍ
تَمُدُّextends إِلىtoward الأَرضِthe earth أَشطانَهاits ropes
تَمُدُّ إِلى الأَرضِ أَشطانَها
Lightning traveled by night, flashing in a raincloud
Lightning flashed in a rain-cloud
that stretched its ropes down to the earth.
Stretching its forks to the ground.
فَلاso do not تَسأَلَنask (emphatic) بِاِستِواءِat the equinox of الزَماthe season (continued)
فَلا تَسأَلَن بِاِستِواءِ الزَما
نِcompletion of 'the season' وَقَدand already وافَتِhas reached الشَمسُthe sun ميزانَهاits Libra (the Scales)
نِ وَقَد وافَتِ الشَمسُ ميزانَها
So do not ask, at the season’s equinox,
So do not ask about the equinox now that
when the sun has entered Libra,
The sun has reached its balance.
شَبيبَةَyouth of لَهوٍrevelry تَلَقَّيتُهاI welcomed it
شَبيبَةَ لَهوٍ تَلَقَّيتُها
فَسايَرتُso I accompanied بِالراحِwith wine رَيعانَهاits prime
فَسايَرتُ بِالراحِ رَيعانَها
of revelry’s youth, which I welcomed,
A youthful playfulness I encountered
keeping company with its prime through wine.
So I went along with the wind and its breezes.
وَلاand no أَريَحِيَّةَopenhearted high spirits حَتّىuntil تُرىyou are seen
وَلا أَريَحِيَّةَ حَتّى تُرى
طَروبَmerry reveler of العَشِيّاتِthe evenings نَشوانَهاtheir drunken reveler
طَروبَ العَشِيّاتِ نَشوانَها
There is no openhearted joy until you are seen
And no comfort until you see
as the evenings’ merry, drunken reveler.
The niceties of evenings and their joy.
وَلَيسَتand it is not مُداماًwine إِذاif أَنتَyou لَمdo not
وَلَيسَت مُداماً إِذا أَنتَ لَم
تُواصِلkeep up مَعَwith الشَربِthe drinking companions إِدمانَهاhabitual drinking of it
تُواصِل مَعَ الشَربِ إِدمانَها
And it is not wine if you do not
And it is no wine if you do not
keep drinking it with your drinking companions.
Continue drinking and its addiction.
وَكَمand how many بِالجَزيرَةِin al-Jazira مِنof رَوضَةٍa garden
وَكَم بِالجَزيرَةِ مِن رَوضَةٍ
تُضاحِكُexchanges smiles with دِجلَةُthe Tigris ثِغبانَهاits pools
تُضاحِكُ دِجلَةُ ثِغبانَها
And how many a garden in al-Jazira
And how many meadows in the island
has pools with which the Tigris exchanges smiles!
The Tigris smiles at their thickets!
تُريكَit shows you اليَواقيتَrubies مَنثورَةًscattered
تُريكَ اليَواقيتَ مَنثورَةً
وَقَدand already جَلَّلَhas mantled النورُblossom ظُهرانَهاits broad surfaces
وَقَد جَلَّلَ النورُ ظُهرانَها
It shows you rubies strewn about,
It shows you scattered gems
with blossoms mantling its broad surfaces.
As the light crowns its heights.
غَرائِبُwonders تَخطَفُsnatch لَحظَthe gaze of العُيونِthe eyes
غَرائِبُ تَخطَفُ لَحظَ العُيونِ
إِذاwhen جَلَتِunveils الشَمسُthe sun أَلوانَهاtheir colors
إِذا جَلَتِ الشَمسُ أَلوانَها
Wonders that snatch the eyes’ gaze,
Wonders that seize the glance of eyes
when the sun unveils their colors.
When the sun uncovers its colors.
إِذاwhen غَرَّدَwarble الطَيرُthe birds فيهاin it ثَنَتturns
إِذا غَرَّدَ الطَيرُ فيها ثَنَت
إِلَيكَtoward you الأَغانِيُّthe songs أَلحانَهاtheir melodies
إِلَيكَ الأَغانِيُّ أَلحانَها
When birds warble there, the songs turn
When the birds sing in it, the songs
their melodies toward you.
Incline their melodies to you.
تَسيرُrun along العِماراتُthe settlements أَيسارَهاits left-hand sides
تَسيرُ العِماراتُ أَيسارَها
وَيَعتَرِضُand stands athwart القَصرُthe palace أَيمانَهاits right-hand sides
وَيَعتَرِضُ القَصرُ أَيمانَها
Settlements run along its left flank,
The buildings walk their ease
and the palace stands athwart its right.
As the palace interrupts their right.
وَتَحمِلُand charges دِجلَةُthe Tigris حَملَthe charge of الجَموحِan unruly horse
وَتَحمِلُ دِجلَةُ حَملَ الجَموحِ
حَتّىuntil تُناطِحُbutts against أَركانَهاits corners
حَتّى تُناطِحُ أَركانَها
The Tigris charges like an unruly horse
And the Tigris carries the burden of passion
until it butts against its corners.
Until it knocks against its pillars.
كَأَنَّas though العَذارىmaidens تَمَشّىwalk about بِهاthrough it
كَأَنَّ العَذارى تَمَشّى بِها
إِذاwhen هَزَّتِshakes الريحُthe wind أَفنانَهاits boughs
إِذا هَزَّتِ الريحُ أَفنانَها
As though maidens were strolling through it,
As if the maidens walked in it
when the wind shakes its boughs.
When the wind shook their scarves.
تعانَقُembrace one another لِلقُربِbecause of closeness شَجراؤُهاits trees
تعانَقُ لِلقُربِ شَجراؤُها
عِناقَthe embrace of الأَحِبَّةِlovers أَسكانَهاtheir soulmates
عِناقَ الأَحِبَّةِ أَسكانَها
Its trees embrace because they stand so close,
Its trees embrace each other
as lovers embrace their soulmates.
In the embrace of lovers and their homes.
فَطَوراًso at times تُقَوِّمُstraightens مِنهاof them الصَباthe east wind
فَطَوراً تُقَوِّمُ مِنها الصَبا
وَطَوراًand at times تُمَيِّلُbends أَغصانَهاits branches
وَطَوراً تُمَيِّلُ أَغصانَها
At times the east wind straightens them,
Sometimes the morning straightens them
and at times bends its branches.
And sometimes it tilts their branches.
جُنوحٌleaning تُنَقِّلُthey shift أَفياءَهاtheir shadows
جُنوحٌ تُنَقِّلُ أَفياءَها
كَماas جَرَّتِdragged الخَيلُthe horses أَرسانَهاtheir halters
كَما جَرَّتِ الخَيلُ أَرسانَها
Leaning, they shift their shadows,
Swaying boats that move their planks
as horses drag their halters.
As the horses pulled their reins.
رِباعُabodes أَخيa man of كَرَمٍgenerosity مُغرَمٍdevoted
رِباعُ أَخي كَرَمٍ مُغرَمٍ
بِأَنto يَصِلَcontinue الدَهرَfor all time غِشيانَهاvisits to them
بِأَن يَصِلَ الدَهرَ غِشيانَها
The abodes of a generous man, devoted
Encampments of my generous, enamored brother
to continuing his visits to them for all time.
To join the time its coverings.
أُلوفِdeeply attached to الدِيارِthe homes فَإِنand if أَجمَعَhe resolves on الthe (article for next word)
أُلوفِ الدِيارِ فَإِن أَجمَعَ ال
تَرَحُّلَdeparture حَرَّمَhe forbids إيطانَهاsettling in them
تَرَحُّلَ حَرَّمَ إيطانَها
Fond of his homes; yet if he resolves on
Thousands of homes, so if he gathered
departure, he forbids himself to settle in them.
He would not abandon its pegs.
إِذاwhen هَمَّhe intends لَمnot يَختَلِجdiverts عَزمَهُhis resolve
إِذا هَمَّ لَم يَختَلِج عَزمَهُ
مَقاصيرُsecluded chambers يَعتادُhe frequents أَكنانَهاtheir sheltered recesses
مَقاصيرُ يَعتادُ أَكنانَها
When he forms an intention, his resolve is not diverted
When he decided, his resolve was not shaken
by secluded chambers whose retreats he frequents.
By the spans he was used to in his homes.
مُطِلٌّwatchful عَلىover بَغَتاتِsudden turns of الأُمورِaffairs
مُطِلٌّ عَلى بَغَتاتِ الأُمورِ
عَباhe marshaled لِلمُلِمّاتِagainst calamities أَقرانَهاtheir matching opponents
عَبا لِلمُلِمّاتِ أَقرانَها
Watchful over sudden turns of affairs,
One who looks upon the unknowns of matters,
he marshals against calamities those who can match them.
A master to the masters and their peers.
تُعِدُّprepare المَواليthe retainers لَهُfor him نَصرَهاtheir support
تُعِدُّ المَوالي لَهُ نَصرَها
وَتوليand give المُعادينَthe enemies خِذلانَهاtheir abandonment
وَتولي المُعادينَ خِذلانَها
His retainers prepare their support for him,
The loyalties prepare their help for him
and consign his enemies to abandonment.
And misfortunes befall his enemies.
وَتَحتاطُand guard مِنout of شَفَقٍanxious care حَولَهُaround him
وَتَحتاطُ مِن شَفَقٍ حَولَهُ
كَماas حاطَتِguarded العَينُthe eye إِنسانَهاits pupil
كَما حاطَتِ العَينُ إِنسانَها
They guard all around him with anxious care,
And they are careful around him out of affection
as the eye guards its pupil.
As the eye protected its pupil.
نَقِيُّunstained السَرابيلِin garments قَدindeed أَوضَحَتhas made clear
نَقِيُّ السَرابيلِ قَد أَوضَحَت
طَريقَتُهُhis way القَصدُupright بُرهانَهاits proof
طَريقَتُهُ القَصدُ بُرهانَها
Unstained in his garments; made manifest
The honest one, his way showed
is the proof of his upright course.
The right course and its proof.
تَوَلّىhe assumed charge of الأُمورَaffairs فَماand did not أَخفَرَviolate الthe (article for next word)
تَوَلّى الأُمورَ فَما أَخفَرَ ال
أَمانَةَtrust فيهاin them وَلاnor خانَهاbetray it
أَمانَةَ فيها وَلا خانَها
He took charge of affairs, and neither violated
He assumed responsibility so he did not waste
the trust in them nor betrayed it.
The trust in it, nor did he betray it.
يَبيتُhe spends the night عَلىbeside الفَيءِthe public revenues مِنout of عِفَّةٍself-restraint
يَبيتُ عَلى الفَيءِ مِن عِفَّةٍ
رَهيفَlean الجَوانِحِin the ribs طَيّانَهاhollow within them
رَهيفَ الجَوانِحِ طَيّانَها
He spends the night beside the revenues, yet from self-restraint
He stays overnight in moral restraint
his ribs are lean and his belly empty.
As the eyelids envelop their eyes.
إِذاwhen فُرَصُopportunities for المَجدِglory عَنَّتpresent themselves لَهُto him
إِذا فُرَصُ المَجدِ عَنَّت لَهُ
تَغَنَّمَhe seizes as a gain بِالحَزمِwith firm judgment إِمكانَهاthe openings they offer
تَغَنَّمَ بِالحَزمِ إِمكانَها
When opportunities for glory present themselves to him,
When chances for glory came to him
he seizes what they offer with sound resolve.
He seized them with wisdom and its possibilities.
وَذيand many a man of هِمَّةٍambition قُلتُI said لاdo not تَلتَمِسseek
وَذي هِمَّةٍ قُلتُ لا تَلتَمِس
عُلاهُhis heights لِتَبلُغَto reach أَعنانَهاtheir utmost bounds
عُلاهُ لِتَبلُغَ أَعنانَها
To many an ambitious man I said, “Do not seek
And I said to one with resolve, do not seek
his heights, hoping to reach their utmost bounds.
Its heights so you can reach its summit.
وَخَلِّand leave الجِبالَthe mountains فَلاfor neither قُدسَهاtheir Quds
وَخَلِّ الجِبالَ فَلا قُدسَها
أَطَقتَcould you overcome وَلاnor اِسطَعتَcould you master ثَهلانَهاtheir Thahlan
أَطَقتَ وَلا اِسطَعتَ ثَهلانَها
Leave the mountains alone: neither their Quds
And leave the mountains, for you cannot sanctify
could you overcome, nor could you master their Thahlan.”
What you cannot bear or climb its slopes.
مَواريثُinheritances مِنof شَرَفٍhonor لَمnot يُضِعhe neglected
مَواريثُ مِن شَرَفٍ لَم يُضِع
بُناهاtheir foundations وَلَمand not يَطَّرِحcast aside شانَهاtheir dignity
بُناها وَلَم يَطَّرِح شانَها
Inheritances of honor—he has not neglected
Inheritances from honor that did not diminish
their foundations, nor cast aside their dignity.
Its structure or overthrow its status.
إِذاwhen اِنتَحَلَlay claim to القَومُthe people أَسماءَهاtheir names
إِذا اِنتَحَلَ القَومُ أَسماءَها
وَجَدناهُand we found him مُلِّكَgranted possession of أَعيانَهاtheir very substance
وَجَدناهُ مُلِّكَ أَعيانَها
When people lay claim to their names,
When the people claimed its names
we find him granted their very substance.
We found him possessing its nobles.
سَتُثنيwill praise بِآلائِكَfor your favors الصالِحاthe good (continued)
سَتُثني بِآلائِكَ الصالِحا
تِplural ending of 'good' مَدائِحُpanegyrics أَسلَفتَyou prepaid أَثمانَهاtheir prices
تِ مَدائِحُ أَسلَفتَ أَثمانَها
Your good favors will be extolled
Your good qualities will exclude
by panegyrics whose prices you paid in advance.
The praises you paid for in advance.
عَلىwith اليُمنِgood fortune يَسَّرتَyou readied لِليَعمَلاfor the hardy she-camels (continued)
عَلى اليُمنِ يَسَّرتَ لِليَعمَلا
تِplural ending of 'she-camels' عُراهاtheir halter-loops وَلِلخَيلِand for the horses فُرسانَهاtheir riders
تِ عُراها وَلِلخَيلِ فُرسانَها
With good fortune, you readied for the hardy she-camels
For prosperity, you made it easy to put to work
their halter-loops, and for the horses their riders.
Its naked ones and for horses its horsemen.
أَلاah لَيتَwould that شِعرِيَmy knowing هَلwhether أَطرُقَنI shall visit by night (continued)
أَلا لَيتَ شِعرِيَ هَل أَطرُقَن
نَemphatic verb ending قُصورَthe palaces of البَليخِthe Balikh وَأَفدانَهاand its grand mansions
نَ قُصورَ البَليخِ وَأَفدانَها
Ah, would that I knew: shall I visit by night
Oh, I wish I knew! Did they rest
the palaces of the Balikh and its grand mansions?
In Balikh’s palaces and its bowers?
وَهَلand whether أَرَيَنَّI shall surely see عَلىon حاجَةٍan errand
وَهَل أَرَيَنَّ عَلى حاجَةٍ
صَوامِعَhermitages of زَكّىZakka وَرُهبانَهاand their monks
صَوامِعَ زَكّى وَرُهبانَها
And shall I ever see, while on an errand,
And did they see someone in need
the hermitages of Zakka and their monks?
The mosques of Zakko and its monks?
وَهَلand whether أَطلُعَنَّI shall surely appear عَلىabove الرَقَّتَينِal-Raqqatayn (the two Raqqas)
وَهَل أَطلُعَنَّ عَلى الرَقَّتَينِ
بَخيلٍwith horses أُخايِلُI vie in proud stride with سَرعانَهاtheir swiftest
بَخيلٍ أُخايِلُ سَرعانَها
And shall I appear above al-Raqqatayn,
And were they aware of the two soft ones
with horses, matching their swiftest in proud stride?
A miser, charming and quick to help?
مَشوقٌfilled with longing تَذَكَّرَremembered أُلّافَهُhis dear companions
مَشوقٌ تَذَكَّرَ أُلّافَهُ
وَنَفسٌand a soul تَتَبَّعُpursues أَوطانَهاits homelands
وَنَفسٌ تَتَبَّعُ أَوطانَها
A longing man who remembered his dear companions,
A longing one recalled his friends
and a soul pursuing its homelands.
And a soul sought its homelands.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.