يَزدادُincreases فيin غِيِّthe waywardness of الصِباyouth وَلَعُهhis infatuation
يَزدادُ في غِيِّ الصِبا وَلَعُه
فَكَأَنَّماso it is as though يُغريهِincites him مَنwhoever يَزَعُهrestrains him
فَكَأَنَّما يُغريهِ مَن يَزَعُه
His infatuation grows in youth's waywardness,
His passion grows intense in youth's delirium,
as though the one who restrains him only incites him.
As if what provokes him also lures him on.
وَإِذاand when تَقولُyou say الصَبرُpatience يَحجُزُهُholds him back
وَإِذا تَقولُ الصَبرُ يَحجُزُهُ
أَلوىswept away بِصَبرِthe patience of مُتَيَّمٍa lovesick man جَزَعُهhis anguish
أَلوى بِصَبرِ مُتَيَّمٍ جَزَعُه
And when you say, "Patience will restrain him,"
When patience would restrain him he is distraught
a lovesick man's anguish sweeps his patience away.
With the anguished grief of one bereft of hope.
وَلَقَدand indeed نَهىwarned لَوif كانَhe were مُنتَهِياًdesisting
وَلَقَد نَهى لَو كانَ مُنتَهِياً
فَودٌa temple يُنازِعُvies with شَيبَهُits gray hair نَزَعُهits receding hairline
فَودٌ يُنازِعُ شَيبَهُ نَزَعُه
He has indeed been warned—if only he would desist—
He was forbidden but if he had obeyed
by a temple whose balding vies with its grayness.
A passion contests with his graying locks.
مالُبَثُhow long is the stay of رَيعانِthe prime of الشَبابِyouth إِذاwhen
مالُبَثُ رَيعانِ الشَبابِ إِذا
نُذُرُthe portents of المَشيبِgraying تَلاحَقَتfollowed one another شُروعُهits beginnings
نُذُرُ المَشيبِ تَلاحَقَت شُروعُه
How long can youth's prime last, when
How short the springtide of youth's heyday is
the portents of graying arrive, onset upon onset?
Before the omens of gray hairs appear!
وَالخَيبُand disappointment فيهِin it عَلىdespite نَقيضَتِهِits contrary nature
وَالخَيبُ فيهِ عَلى نَقيضَتِهِ
مَسلىsolace أَخيfor one afflicted with بَثٍّsorrow وَمُرتَدَعُهand his restraint
مَسلى أَخي بَثٍّ وَمُرتَدَعُه
And disappointment in it, despite its contrary nature,
And for the hapless, anguish is increased
is a sorrowing man's solace and restraint.
By a scoffing fool, a vaunting impudent one.
بَرقٌlightning بِذيat Dhu سَلَمٍSalam يُؤَرِّقُنيkeeps me sleepless
بَرقٌ بِذي سَلَمٍ يُؤَرِّقُني
خَفَقانُهُits flickering وَتَشوقُنيand stirs my longing لُمَعُهits gleams
خَفَقانُهُ وَتَشوقُني لُمَعُه
Lightning at Dhu Salam keeps me sleepless
A lightning flash at Salma startles me—
with its flickering, and its gleams stir my longing.
Its fluttering and brilliance make me yearn.
وَلَرُبَّand many a لَهوٍpleasure قَدindeed أَشادَspoke in praise بِهِof it
وَلَرُبَّ لَهوٍ قَد أَشادَ بِهِ
مُصطافُthe summer retreat of ذيDhu سَلَمٍSalam وَمُرتَبَعُهand its spring haunt
مُصطافُ ذي سَلَمٍ وَمُرتَبَعُه
And many a pleasure has been celebrated
And many a sport and jest were being made
by Dhu Salam's summer retreat and spring haunt.
By the merry throng at Salma's spring.
عَسَتِmay well الإِضافَةُpoverty أَنthat يُنالَbe gained بِهاthrough it
عَسَتِ الإِضافَةُ أَن يُنالَ بِها
جِدَةٌwealth وَنَكَّلَand checked ضارِياًّa ravening beast شِبَعُهits satiety
جِدَةٌ وَنَكَّلَ ضارِياًّ شِبَعُه
Poverty may well be the means to gain
Perchance to gain there a new friend; but no!
wealth; satiety has checked a ravening beast.
His mawkish appetite is satiated.
وَالفَسلُand the base man يَسلُبُهُrobs him of عَزيمَتَهُhis resolve
وَالفَسلُ يَسلُبُهُ عَزيمَتَهُ
أَدنىthe slightest وُجودِfinding كِفايَةٍsufficient provision تَسَعُهsuffices him
أَدنى وُجودِ كِفايَةٍ تَسَعُه
And the base man is robbed of his resolve
Indolence makes demands upon his will
by merely finding enough to meet his needs.
Too slight to satisfy his wants.
لايَلبَثُdoes not take long المَمنوعُwhat is withheld تَطلُبَهُyou seek it
لايَلبَثُ المَمنوعُ تَطلُبَهُ
حَتّىuntil يَثوبَreturns إِلَيكَto you مُمتَنِعُهits elusive part
حَتّى يَثوبَ إِلَيكَ مُمتَنِعُه
Once you seek what is withheld, it is not long
He seeks the coveted till the defiant
before its elusive part returns to you.
Returns repentant, obedient to you.
وَالنَيلُand bounty دَينٌa debt يُستَرَقُّone is enslaved بِهِby it
وَالنَيلُ دَينٌ يُستَرَقُّ بِهِ
فَاِطلُبso seek لِرِقِّكَfor your bondage عِندَwith مَنwhomever تَدَعُهyou leave it
فَاِطلُب لِرِقِّكَ عِندَ مَن تَدَعُه
And a gift is a debt by which one is enslaved;
The Nile is a debt to be stolen from it;
so seek the one with whom you would lodge your bondage.
So seek from its keeper where you may find it.
وَأَرىand I see المَطاياthe mounts لاقُصورَno failing بِهاin them
وَأَرى المَطايا لاقُصورَ بِها
عَنin facing لَيلِthe night of سامَرّاءَSamarra تَدَّرِعُهthey don it as armor
عَن لَيلِ سامَرّاءَ تَدَّرِعُه
And I see the mounts, not unequal
And I see the riders unsaddled at night
to Samarra's night, which they don as armor.
In Samarra, doffing their coats of mail,
يَطلُبنَthey seek عِندَfrom فَتىthe young nobleman of رَبيعَةَRabi'a ماwhat
يَطلُبنَ عِندَ فَتى رَبيعَةَ ما
عِندَwith الرَبيعِspring تَخايَلَتlooked splendid بُقَعُهits patches of land
عِندَ الرَبيعِ تَخايَلَت بُقَعُه
They seek from Rabi'a's young nobleman what
Seeking in Springtide at Rabī'ah's abode
spring holds, its patches arrayed in splendor.
The glory its meadows displayed.
وَالخِضرُand al-Khidr مِلءُthe fullness of يَدَيكَyour two hands مِنof كَرَمٍgenerosity
وَالخِضرُ مِلءُ يَدَيكَ مِن كَرَمٍ
يُبديهِhe displays it إِفضالاًas largesse وَيَبتَدِعُهand originates it
يُبديهِ إِفضالاً وَيَبتَدِعُه
And al-Khidr fills your hands with generosity
Green nearly fills your hands through your bounty
that he displays as bounty and devises anew.
Which you bestow and ever originate.
ذَهَبَتturned إِلىtoward الخَطّابِal-Khattab شيمَتُهُhis character
ذَهَبَت إِلى الخَطّابِ شيمَتُهُ
فَغَداso he came to يُهيبُcalls onward بِهاto it وَيَتَّبِعُهand follows him
فَغَدا يُهيبُ بِها وَيَتَّبِعُه
His character has turned toward al-Khattab;
Gone are his virtues into begging,
so he urges it onward and follows him.
Now he intimidates and tracks them down.
يَدَعُsets aside اِختِياراتِthe preferences of البَخيلِthe miser وَمِنand out of
يَدَعُ اِختِياراتِ البَخيلِ وَمِن
حُبِّlove of العُلاglory يَدَعُhe gives up الَّذيwhatever يَدَعُهhe gives it up
حُبِّ العُلا يَدَعُ الَّذي يَدَعُه
He sets aside the miser's preferences, and out of
He shuns the miser's choices and spurns
love of glory gives up whatever he gives up.
Out of ambition those who spurn him.
أَدَّتfulfilled مَخايِلُهُhis promising signs حَقيقَتُهُhis true worth
أَدَّت مَخايِلُهُ حَقيقَتُهُ
سَومَthe offering of الخَريفِautumn أَراكَهُshowed it to you قَزَعُهits scattered clouds
سَومَ الخَريفِ أَراكَهُ قَزَعُه
His true worth has borne out his promise,
His delusions have revealed his truth:
like autumn's offering, shown you by its scattered clouds.
Autumn's bargaining has exposed him naked.
فَردٌpeerless وَإِنeven though أَثرَتgrew wealthy عَشيرَتُهُhis clan
فَردٌ وَإِن أَثرَت عَشيرَتُهُ
مِنin عُدَّةٍresources وَتَناصَرَتand supported one another شِيَعُهhis partisans
مِن عُدَّةٍ وَتَناصَرَت شِيَعُه
Peerless, though his clan abounds
A single man, though aided by his clan,
in resources and his partisans support one another.
Bound by kinship and its partisans,
تُخشىare feared الأَعِنَّةُthe reins حَيثُwhere يَجمَعُهاhe gathers them
تُخشى الأَعِنَّةُ حَيثُ يَجمَعُها
وَالسَيلُand the torrent يُخشىis feared حَيثُwhere مُجتَمَعُهits gathering place
وَالسَيلُ يُخشى حَيثُ مُجتَمَعُه
The reins are feared where he gathers them,
You dread the hostile hordes when massed,
and the torrent is feared where it gathers.
And torrents, when tumultuously amassed.
فَتَرىso you see الأَعاديthe enemies مالَهُمthey have no شُغُلٌoccupation
فَتَرى الأَعادي مالَهُم شُغُلٌ
إِلّاexcept تَوَهُّمُguessing مَوقِعٍa place يَقَعُهhe strikes it
إِلّا تَوَهُّمُ مَوقِعٍ يَقَعُه
So you see the enemies occupied with nothing
You see how enemies are distracted by
but guessing the place where he will strike.
Naught but fantasies of where you stand exposed.
وَأَغَرَّand a radiant nobleman يَرفَعُهُexalts him أَبوهُhis father وَكَمand how many
وَأَغَرَّ يَرفَعُهُ أَبوهُ وَكَم
لِكَريمِfor a nobleman قَومٍof a people مِنof أَبٍa father يَضَعُهbrings him low
لِكَريمِ قَومٍ مِن أَبٍ يَضَعُه
And a radiant nobleman whom his father exalts—yet many
How many a noble's son has been misled
a noble tribesman has a father who brings him low.
By a father whose guidance would debase him!
إِنif سَرَّكَpleases you اِستيفاءُtaking the full measure of سُؤدِدِهِhis nobility
إِن سَرَّكَ اِستيفاءُ سُؤدِدِهِ
بِالرَأيِwith reason تَبحَثُهُyou examine it وَتَنتَزِعُهand draw it out
بِالرَأيِ تَبحَثُهُ وَتَنتَزِعُه
If it pleases you to measure his nobility in full,
If you want to reclaim his fee complete
probing it with reason and drawing it forth,
Seek it judiciously, wrest it from him.
فَاِطلُبthen seek بِعَينِكَwith your eye أَيَّةًwherever لَحِقَتit reaches
فَاِطلُب بِعَينِكَ أَيَّةً لَحِقَت
ضَوءَthe light of الغَزالَةِthe sun أَينَwhere مُنقَطَعُهits end
ضَوءَ الغَزالَةِ أَينَ مُنقَطَعُه
then search with your eye, wherever it reaches:
Look carefully for a stray gazelle
where does the light of the sun end?
To know where the glow of twilight lures her.
شادَتbuilt أَراقِمُهُhis Arāqim لَهُfor him شَرَفاًan eminence
شادَت أَراقِمُهُ لَهُ شَرَفاً
يَعلوrises فَماso never يَنحَطُّsinks مُرتَفِعُهits summit
يَعلو فَما يَنحَطُّ مُرتَفِعُه
His Arāqim have built him an eminence
His features have endowed him with nobility
that rises, its summit never sinking.
High above the range of things that fall.
وَالسَيفُand the sword إِنif نَقِيَتis pure حَديدَتُهُits iron
وَالسَيفُ إِن نَقِيَت حَديدَتُهُ
فيin الطَبعِforging طابَproved sound وَلَمand not يُخَفwas feared طَبَعُهits rust
في الطَبعِ طابَ وَلَم يُخَف طَبَعُه
And the sword, if its iron is pure
A sword—if its steel retains its purity
in forging, proves sound, with no fear of rust.
Will have an excellent temper never flawed.
وَيُشيرُand points مُتَّبِعُone who follows الرِجالِmen إِلىtoward
وَيُشيرُ مُتَّبِعُ الرِجالِ إِلى
قَمَرٍa moon كَثيرٍmany مِنهُمُamong them تَبَعُهhis followers
قَمَرٍ كَثيرٍ مِنهُمُ تَبَعُه
And one who follows men points toward
Those who appraise men point toward
a moon whose followers among them are many.
A moon, though many of them are moons.
يَبهىshines splendidly عَلىbefore أَلحاظِthe glances of أَعيُنِهِمtheir eyes
يَبهى عَلى أَلحاظِ أَعيُنِهِم
مَرأىًas a sight يَزيدُincreases عَلَيهِbeyond it مُستَمَعُهwhat is heard of him
مَرأىً يَزيدُ عَلَيهِ مُستَمَعُه
He shines before the glances of their eyes,
Dazzling to their eyes is a vision that
a sight surpassed by what is heard of him.
Excites the eager quest of any who hear it.
تَتلواfollow مَناجِحُهُhis successes مَواعِدَهُhis promises
تَتلوا مَناجِحُهُ مَواعِدَهُ
كَالشَهرِlike the month يَتلوfollow بَيضَهُits white nights دُرَعُهits dark-opening nights
كَالشَهرِ يَتلو بَيضَهُ دُرَعُه
His successes follow his promises,
His handsome deeds succeed his promises,
like the month's dark-opening nights following its white ones.
As the crescent succeeds the moon's white halo.
أَأَخافُshould I fear فيover أَلفٍa thousand تَلَكُّؤَhesitation مَنone who
أَأَخافُ في أَلفٍ تَلَكُّؤَ مَن
حَمَلَbore الأُلوفَthousands فَلَمand not يُخَفwas feared ظَلَعُهhis limping
حَمَلَ الأُلوفَ فَلَم يُخَف ظَلَعُه
Should I fear hesitation over a thousand from one
Why should I fear, commanding a thousand,
who has borne thousands, without fear of limping?
The delay of one whom his burden does not strain?
وَسِواكَand one other than you ياِبنَO son of الأَكرَمينَthe noblest عُلاًin eminence
وَسِواكَ ياِبنَ الأَكرَمينَ عُلاً
وَهَبَgave النَوالَbounty وَكَرَّand turned back يَرتَجِعُهreclaims it
وَهَبَ النَوالَ وَكَرَّ يَرتَجِعُه
And one unlike you, O son of those noblest in rank,
And but for you, O best of noble lords,
gave bounty, then turned back to reclaim it.
Most high, most open-handed, who requites me,
لافَضلُكَnot your bounty المَرجوُّhoped for مِنهُfrom him وَلاnor
لافَضلُكَ المَرجوُّ مِنهُ وَلا
مَعروفُكَyour kindness المَعروفُwell-known يَصطَنِعُهhe bestows it
مَعروفُكَ المَعروفُ يَصطَنِعُه
Your bounty is not to be expected from him, nor
I have no wish for your bounty, no
does he bestow your well-known kindness:
Favor of yours sought out presumptuously.
لِحزٌa grasping miser يُقيمُequates المالَthe money يُرزَؤُهُhe is deprived of it
لِحزٌ يُقيمُ المالَ يُرزَؤُهُ
رِفداًas a gift مَقامَin the place of الضِرسِa molar يَقتَلِعُهhe wrenches it out
رِفداً مَقامَ الضِرسِ يَقتَلِعُه
a miser who equates the money taken from him
A flashing cheek patch adds a trifle
as a gift with a molar he wrenches out.
To take the place of a missing molar.
مُثرٍa rich man وَقَلَّand little is غَناءُthe benefit of ثَروَتِهِhis wealth
مُثرٍ وَقَلَّ غَناءُ ثَروَتِهِ
عَنfor عامِدٍone setting out لِجَداهُfor his bounty يَنتَجِعُهseeks him for aid
عَن عامِدٍ لِجَداهُ يَنتَجِعُه
A rich man, yet his wealth avails little
A wealthy man whose means are a lean source
to one seeking his bounty, who comes to him for aid.
Of glory, for all his heaps will vie for them.
وَالبَحرُand the sea تَمنَعُهُprevents it مَرارَتُهُits bitterness
وَالبَحرُ تَمنَعُهُ مَرارَتُهُ
مِنfrom أَنthat تَسوغَgo down easily لِشارِبٍfor a drinker جُرَعُهits draughts
مِن أَن تَسوغَ لِشارِبٍ جُرَعُه
And the sea's bitterness prevents
The bitter sea denies its drinker
its draughts from going down easily for a drinker.
Access to drain it in a single draft.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.