ذاكَthat واديvalley الأَراكِthe arak trees فَاِحبِسso halt قَليلاًawhile
ذاكَ وادي الأَراكِ فَاِحبِس قَليلاً
مُقصِراًcurbing, cutting short مِنfrom صَبابَةٍyearning أَوor مُطيلاprolonging
مُقصِراً مِن صَبابَةٍ أَو مُطيلا
That is the valley of the arak trees; halt awhile,
That valley of Al-Arak, so stay awhile
whether curbing your yearning or prolonging it.
Whether shortened from youth or prolonged
قِفstand مَشوقاًyearning أَوor مُسعِداًsharing another's grief أَوor حَزيناًsorrowful
قِف مَشوقاً أَو مُسعِداً أَو حَزيناً
أَوor مُعيناًhelping أَوor عاذِراًexcusing أَوor عَذولاreproaching
أَو مُعيناً أَو عاذِراً أَو عَذولا
Stand yearning, or sharing grief, or sorrowful,
Stop longing, happy, or sad
or helping, or excusing, or reproaching.
Or helping, excusing, or turning away
إِنَّindeed بَينَbetween الكَثيبِthe dune فَالجَزعِand the valley bend فَالآand the cairns (first part)
إِنَّ بَينَ الكَثيبِ فَالجَزعِ فَالآ
رامِcompletion of 'cairns' رَبعاًa dwelling لِآلِfor the family of هِندٍHind مُحيلاdeserted
رامِ رَبعاً لِآلِ هِندٍ مُحيلا
Between the dune, the valley bend, and the cairns,
Between the sand dune, the rugged ground, and the slopes
there is a deserted dwelling of Hind's kin.
There is a place for the family of Hind to lodge
أَبلَتِwore away الريحُthe wind وَالرَوائِحُand the evening breezes وَالأَيّاand the days (first part)
أَبلَتِ الريحُ وَالرَوائِحُ وَالأَيّا
مُcompletion of 'days' مِنهُof it مَعالِماًlandmarks أَوor طُلولاruined traces
مُ مِنهُ مَعالِماً أَو طُلولا
The wind, the evening breezes, and the days have worn away
The wind, the fragrances, and the days
its landmarks, or the traces of its ruins.
Have erased its features, or made them fade
وَخِلافُand contrary to الجَميلِkindness قَولِكَyour saying لِلذاto one remembering (first part)
وَخِلافُ الجَميلِ قَولِكَ لِلذا
كِرِcompletion of 'one remembering' عَهدَthe former days of الأَحبابِthe loved ones صَبراًpatience جَميلاgracious, beautiful
كِرِ عَهدَ الأَحبابِ صَبراً جَميلا
And it is unkind to tell one who recalls
Better than beauty, is to tell the rememberer
the days of loved ones, 'Be patient with good grace.'
To be patient with the days of loved ones
لاdo not تَلُمهُblame him عَلىfor مُواصَلَةِthe continuous flow of الدَمthe tears (first part)
لا تَلُمهُ عَلى مُواصَلَةِ الدَم
عِcompletion of 'tears' فَلُؤمٌfor it is baseness لَومُreproaching الخَليلِthe friend الَخَليلاthe friend
عِ فَلُؤمٌ لَومُ الخَليلِ الَخَليلا
Do not blame him for the unceasing flow of tears;
Do not blame him for continuing to shed tears
for it is base for a friend to reproach a friend.
For it would be base to blame a sincere friend
عَلَّperhaps ماءَthe water of الدُموعِthe tears يُخمِدُextinguishes ناراًa fire
عَلَّ ماءَ الدُموعِ يُخمِدُ ناراً
مِنfrom جَوىthe burning anguish of الحُبِّlove أَوor يَبُلُّmoistens, slakes غَليلاa burning thirst
مِن جَوى الحُبِّ أَو يَبُلُّ غَليلا
Perhaps the water of tears will quench a fire
The water of tears can extinguish a fire
of love's anguish, or slake a burning thirst.
Of love's ardour, or remove anguish
وَبُكاءُand weeping over الدارِthe dwelling مِمّاamong things that يَرُدُّreduces, brings back الthe (beginning of 'the longing')
وَبُكاءُ الدارِ مِمّا يَرُدُّ ال
شَوقَlonging ذِكراًa memory وَالحُبَّand love نِضواًan exhausted creature ضَئيلاfrail
شَوقَ ذِكراً وَالحُبَّ نِضواً ضَئيلا
And weeping over the dwelling can reduce
And the weeping of the abode is what repels
longing to remembrance, and love to a frail, exhausted creature.
Yearning with remembrance, and love with little comfort
لَمnot يَكُنwas يَومُناour day طَويلاًlong بِنَعماat Nu'man (first part)
لَم يَكُن يَومُنا طَويلاً بِنَعما
نَcompletion of 'Nu'man' وَلَكِنbut كانَwas البُكاءُthe weeping طَويلاlong
نَ وَلَكِن كانَ البُكاءُ طَويلا
Our day at Nu'man was not long,
Our day was not long with bliss
but the weeping was long.
But the crying was long
قادled (apparently intended: 'indeed') وَجَدناwe found مُحَمَّدَMuhammad اِبنِson of عَلِيٍّAli
قاد وَجَدنا مُحَمَّدَ اِبنِ عَلِيٍّ
غايَةَthe utmost height of المَجدِglory قائِلاًspeaking وَفَعولاand much given to action
غايَةَ المَجدِ قائِلاً وَفَعولا
Indeed, we found Muhammad ibn Ali
We found Muhammed son of Ali
the summit of glory, in speech and deed.
The epitome of glory, saying and doing
وَلَقَيناand we encountered شَمائِلاًcharacter traits تَنثُرُscattering المِسthe musk (first part)
وَلَقَينا شَمائِلاً تَنثُرُ المِس
كَcompletion of 'musk' سَحيقاًfinely powdered كَماjust as لَقيناwe encountered الشُمولاwine
كَ سَحيقاً كَما لَقينا الشُمولا
And we found virtues scattering musk,
And we saw traits that scattered musk
finely powdered, as when we encountered wine.
As we saw clothes in disarray
وَرَأَيناand we saw سيماsigns of نَدىًbounty وَسَماحٍand generosity
وَرَأَينا سيما نَدىً وَسَماحٍ
لَمnot نُرِدwe sought بَعدَهاafter them عَلَيهِof it دَليلاproof
لَم نُرِد بَعدَها عَلَيهِ دَليلا
And we saw signs of bounty and generosity,
We saw a mark of dew and leniency
after which we sought no further proof of it.
After which we did not want evidence
أَشعَرِيُّan Ash'ari حَباهُbestowed upon him عيسىIsa اِبنُson of موسىMusa
أَشعَرِيُّ حَباهُ عيسى اِبنُ موسى
شَرَفاًan honor باتَcame to be لِلسِماكِto al-Simak, a star رَسيلاa peer
شَرَفاً باتَ لِلسِماكِ رَسيلا
An Ash'ari, to whom Isa ibn Musa granted
An Ash'ari whom Isa son of Musa endowed
an honor that became a peer of al-Simak.
With nobility that reached the highest summit
وَجَواداًand a generous man لَوif أَنَّthat عافيهِhis petitioners رامواsought
وَجَواداً لَو أَنَّ عافيهِ راموا
بُخلَهُhis stinginess لَمnot يَرَواthey would find إِلَيهِto it سَبيلاa way
بُخلَهُ لَم يَرَوا إِلَيهِ سَبيلا
And a generous man: if his petitioners sought
And generosity - had the stingy sought
stinginess in him, they would find no way to it.
To deny it, they would find no way
خَلَّفَleft behind الفَوتَoutstripping لِلجِيادِto the thoroughbreds وَأَلقىand cast
خَلَّفَ الفَوتَ لِلجِيادِ وَأَلقى
فيin مَدىthe course of المَجدِglory غُرَّةًa white forehead blaze وَحُجولاand white stockings
في مَدى المَجدِ غُرَّةً وَحُجولا
He left outstripping to the thoroughbreds, and set
He left opportunities for the steeds and threw
a white blaze and white stockings upon glory's course.
Himself into the expanse of glory, unveiled and galloping
بَلَغَattained المَكرُماتِnoble deeds طولاًlengthwise وَعَرضاًand breadthwise
بَلَغَ المَكرُماتِ طولاً وَعَرضاً
وَتَناهَتand reached their utmost إِلَيهِin him, to him عَرضاًbreadthwise وَتُلاand [lengthwise] (text unclear)
وَتَناهَت إِلَيهِ عَرضاً وَتُلا
He attained noble deeds in their length and breadth,
Honor reached its length and width
and they reached their utmost in him, in breadth and [length].
And extended to him in width and folds
وَبَنوand the sons of الأَشعَرِal-Ash'ar الَّذيwho مَلَأَfilled الأَرthe earth (first part)
وَبَنو الأَشعَرِ الَّذي مَلَأَ الأَر
ضَcompletion of 'earth' رِجالاًwith men وَنَجدَةَنand valor وَخُيولاand horses
ضَ رِجالاً وَنَجدَةَن وَخُيولا
And the sons of al-Ash'ar, who filled the earth
And the clan of Ash'ar who filled the earth
with men, valor, and horses,
With men, helpers, and horses
شَوكَةٌa fighting force ماnever أَصابَتِstruck الدَهرَTime إِلّاwithout
شَوكَةٌ ما أَصابَتِ الدَهرَ إِلّا
تَرَكَتleft فيin الغِرارِthe cutting edge مِنهُof it فُلولاnotches
تَرَكَت في الغِرارِ مِنهُ فُلولا
are a force that never struck Time without
A resilient clan - whenever it hit time
leaving notches in its cutting edge.
It only left ruins in the desolate places
رادَةُpioneers of المَجدِglory أَوَّلاًfirst وَأَخيراًand last
رادَةُ المَجدِ أَوَّلاً وَأَخيراً
وَأُولوand possessors of المَجدِglory واحِداًsingly وَقَبيلاand as a tribe
وَأُولو المَجدِ واحِداً وَقَبيلا
Pioneers of glory, first and last,
The pursuit of glory, first and last
and possessors of glory, singly and as a tribe.
And the glorious ones are one clan
وَنُجومٌand stars إِذاwhen تَوَقَّدنَthey blazed فيin الخَطthe crisis (first part)
وَنُجومٌ إِذا تَوَقَّدنَ في الخَط
بِcompletion of 'crisis' تَوَهَّمتَyou imagined فيamong النُجومِthe stars أُفولاa setting
بِ تَوَهَّمتَ في النُجومِ أُفولا
And stars that, when they blaze in a crisis,
And stars - when they shine forth
make you imagine the other stars have set.
You imagine the falling of stars in the stars
فَكَأَنَّso as though الأُصولَthe roots كانَتwere فُروعاًbranches
فَكَأَنَّ الأُصولَ كانَت فُروعاً
وَكَأَنَّand as though الفُروعَthe branches كانَتwere أُصولاroots
وَكَأَنَّ الفُروعَ كانَت أُصولا
So it is as though the roots had become branches,
It is as if the origins were branches
and the branches had become roots.
And the branches were origins
وَمِحِبّونَand lovers لِلرَسولِof the Messenger وَأَهلِand the people of الthe (beginning of 'the House')
وَمِحِبّونَ لِلرَسولِ وَأَهلِ ال
بَيتِHouse حُبّاًa love يُرضونَthey please فيهِthrough it الرَسولاthe Messenger
بَيتِ حُبّاً يُرضونَ فيهِ الرَسولا
And lovers of the Messenger and the people of his
And the lovers of the Messenger and People of the House
House, with a love that pleases the Messenger.
With a love that pleases the Messenger
سَلَبواstripped أَبيضَwhite (apparently 'gleaming swords') بَزَّهاtheir garments, their sheaths فَأَقامواand so upheld
سَلَبوا أَبيضَ بَزَّها فَأَقاموا
بِظُباهاwith their sword edges التَأويلَinterpretation وَالتَنزيلاand revelation
بِظُباها التَأويلَ وَالتَنزيلا
They stripped the gleaming swords of their sheaths, and upheld
They took its white skin so they remained
with their edges, interpretation and revelation.
With its interpretation and revelation
تَحسِبُyou would suppose الشيبَthe gray-haired men فيin الوَقيعَةِthe battle شُبّاyoung men (first part)
تَحسِبُ الشيبَ في الوَقيعَةِ شُبّا
ناًcompletion of 'young men' إِذاwhen صافَحَshook hands with الصَقيلُthe polished blade الصَقيلاthe polished blade
ناً إِذا صافَحَ الصَقيلُ الصَقيلا
You would take the gray-haired men in battle for youths
You reckon the white hair from the calamity as youth
when polished steel shakes hands with polished steel.
When the polished meets the polished
فَإِذاso when حارَبواthey fought أَذَلّواthey humbled عَزيزاًa mighty one
فَإِذا حارَبوا أَذَلّوا عَزيزاً
وَإِذاand when سالَمواthey made peace أَعَزّواthey exalted ذَليلاa lowly one
وَإِذا سالَموا أَعَزّوا ذَليلا
So when they fight, they humble the mighty,
So when they fight they humiliate the mighty
and when they make peace, they exalt the lowly.
And when they make peace they honor the disgraced
وَإِذاand when عِزُّthe might of مَعشَرٍa people زالَvanished يَوماًone day
وَإِذا عِزُّ مَعشَرٍ زالَ يَوماً
مَنَعَprevented السَيفُthe sword عِزَّهُمtheir might أَنfrom يَزولاvanishing
مَنَعَ السَيفُ عِزَّهُم أَن يَزولا
And when a people's might fades one day,
And if the glory of a group departs one day
the sword keeps their own might from fading.
The sword prevents their glory from vanishing
ياO أَباfather of جَعفَرٍJa'far لَقَدindeed راحَhas become إِفضاbeneficence (first part)
يا أَبا جَعفَرٍ لَقَد راحَ إِفضا
لُكَcompletion of 'beneficence' + your خَطباًa grave ordeal عَلىfor الكِرامِthe generous جَليلاgreat
لُكَ خَطباً عَلى الكِرامِ جَليلا
O Abu Ja'far, your bounty has indeed become
Oh Abu Ja'far, your superiority has departed
a mighty trial for the generous.
Eloquently upon the generous, gloriously
رَدَّmade مَعروفُكَyour kindness الكَثيرَthe plentiful قَليلاlittle
رَدَّ مَعروفُكَ الكَثيرَ قَليلا
وَأَرىand made appear جودُكَyour bounty الجَوادَthe generous man بَخيلاmiserly
وَأَرى جودُكَ الجَوادَ بَخيلا
Your kindness has made the plentiful seem little,
Your abundant kindness returned little
and your bounty has made the generous seem miserly.
And I see your generosity making the generous miserly
لاnot أَظُنُّI think البُخّالَthe misers يوفونَكَgive you in full الشُكthanks (first part)
لا أَظُنُّ البُخّالَ يوفونَكَ الشُك
رَcompletion of 'thanks' وَلَوeven if كانَit were بُكرَةًin the morning وَأَصيلاand in the evening
رَ وَلَو كانَ بُكرَةً وَأَصيلا
I do not think the misers can thank you fully,
I do not think the misers will thank you
even if their thanks are offered morning and evening.
Even if it was early and late
جَعَلَتهُمmade them مِنof, among غَيرِهِمothers than themselves دُفَعٌoutpourings مِنfrom
جَعَلَتهُم مِن غَيرِهِم دُفَعٌ مِن
كَyou (completing 'from you') أَفادَتearned حَمداًpraise وَأَعطَتand gave جَزيلاlavishly
كَ أَفادَت حَمداً وَأَعطَت جَزيلا
Outpourings from you made them other than themselves,
Your giving from other than them gave praise
winning praise and bestowing lavish gifts.
And bestowed abundantly
كَمhow many لِجَدواكَfor your bounty مِنof مَقامٍan occasion لَعَمريby my life
كَم لِجَدواكَ مِن مَقامٍ لَعَمري
كانَwas مِنfor, of رَيِّقِthe first rain of السَحابِthe clouds بَديلاa substitute
كانَ مِن رَيِّقِ السَحابِ بَديلا
How often has your bounty, by my life,
How many positions of your generosity
taken the place of the clouds' first rain!
Were like the dripping of clouds alternatively
عِندَwith, beside وَجهٍa face طَلقٍcheerful, open إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) تَبَدّىit appeared
عِندَ وَجهٍ طَلقٍ إِذا ما تَبَدّى
لِحُزونِto the rugged ground of الخُطوبِtroubles عادَتthey became سُهولاlevel plains
لِحُزونِ الخُطوبِ عادَت سُهولا
With a cheerful face that, whenever it appears,
In the presence of a serene face - if it appeared
turns the rugged ground of troubles into level plains.
To the sorrowful it returned eased
يَئِسَdespaired الحاسِدونَthe envious مِنكَof you وَكانواand they had been
يَئِسَ الحاسِدونَ مِنكَ وَكانوا
أَسَفاًin anguish يَنظُرونَlooking نَحوَكَtoward you حولاsquint-eyed
أَسَفاً يَنظُرونَ نَحوَكَ حولا
The envious despaired of matching you; they had been
The envious have despaired of you and were
looking toward you in anguish, with squinting eyes.
Regretfully looking toward you perplexed
وَرَأَواand they saw أَنَّهُمthat they إِذاif وَصَلواتِthey reached those… (wording irregular)
وَرَأَوا أَنَّهُم إِذا وَصَلواتِ
كَcompletion of 'those' (wording irregular) المَساعيthe achievements بِالفِكرِin thought ذابواthey melted away نُحولاemaciated
كَ المَساعي بِالفِكرِ ذابوا نُحولا
And they saw that, if they reached
And they saw that when they compared
those achievements in thought, they would melt away, emaciated.
Their efforts to you mentally, they melted away
فَثَنواso they turned عَنكَaway from you أَعيُناًeyes وَقُلوباًand hearts
فَثَنوا عَنكَ أَعيُناً وَقُلوباً
لَمnot يَرُدّواthey brought back إِلّاexcept حَسيراًweary كَليلاdulled
لَم يَرُدّوا إِلّا حَسيراً كَليلا
So they turned their eyes and hearts away from you,
So they turned their eyes and hearts away
bringing them back only weary and dulled.
Not looking back except degraded and despised
وَكَفانيand sufficed me عَلىas evidence of الَّذيthe one who يوجَدُis found الفَضexcellence (first part)
وَكَفاني عَلى الَّذي يوجَدُ الفَض
لُcompletion of 'excellence' لَدَيهِwith him بِالحاسِدينَby means of the envious دَليلاas proof
لُ لَدَيهِ بِالحاسِدينَ دَليلا
And to show in whom excellence is found,
And it suffices me - He who bestows superiority
the envious are proof enough for me.
Is with you a proof against the envious
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.