أَيُّماwhat a خُلَّةٍfriendship وَوَصلٍand a bond قَديمِlong-standing
أَيُّما خُلَّةٍ وَوَصلٍ قَديمِ
صَرَمَتهُsevered it مِنّاfrom us ظِباءُthe gazelles of الصَريمِthe thicket
صَرَمَتهُ مِنّا ظِباءُ الصَريمِ
What friendship, what long-established bond
Whatever separation and love of old,
the gazelles of the thicket have severed with us!
Whose bitterness the drenching rains have worn away,
نافِراتٍfleeing مِنَfrom المَشيبِgray hair وَقَدand already كُنthey were (beginning)
نافِراتٍ مِنَ المَشيبِ وَقَد كُن
نَthey were (completion) سُكوناًat ease إِلىwith الشَبابِyouth المُقيمِabiding
نَ سُكوناً إِلى الشَبابِ المُقيمِ
Shunning gray hair, though they once
Defiantly turning from hoariness, though once
rested content with youth while it remained.
We took tranquility into enduring youth,
وَإِذاand when ماemphatic particle الشبابُyouth بانَdeparted فَقُلthen say ماwhatever
وَإِذا ما الشبابُ بانَ فَقُل ما
شِئتَyou wish فيabout غائِبٍan absent one بَطيءِslow in القُدومِreturning
شِئتَ في غائِبٍ بَطيءِ القُدومِ
And when youth departs, say what
When youth departs, say what you will about
you will of an absent one slow to return.
One gone, returning slow, our hopes in clouds obscured,
غُمَّwas concealed عَنّاfrom us مَكانُthe whereabouts of مَنthe one بِالغَميمِat al-Ghamim
غُمَّ عَنّا مَكانُ مَن بِالغَميمِ
وَتَناءىand grew distant مَرامُthe attainment of ذاكَthat الريمِgazelle
وَتَناءى مَرامُ ذاكَ الريمِ
Hidden from us is the whereabouts of the one at al-Ghamim,
His purpose drifted far beyond our reach,
and that gazelle has grown far beyond our reach.
No more that perilous thread for us to grasp.
وَحَسيرٌand one exhausted مِنَby السُهادِsleeplessness لَوif only إِسطاhe could (beginning)
وَحَسيرٌ مِنَ السُهادِ لَو إِسطا
عَhe could (completion) لَيلَهُhis night بِلَيلِfor the night of السَليمِthe snakebitten man
عَ لَيلَهُ بِلَيلِ السَليمِ
And one worn out by sleeplessness—if only he could
Longing, should fates allow, to pass with him
exchange his night for a snakebitten man's night!
One night for many of the faithful kind.
خَلِّياهُyou two, leave him وَوَقفَةٌand a pause فيamong الرُسومِthe dwelling traces
خَلِّياهُ وَوَقفَةٌ في الرُسومِ
يَخلُhe may be freed مِنfrom بَعضِsome of بَثِّهِhis anguish المَكتومِconcealed
يَخلُ مِن بَعضِ بَثِّهِ المَكتومِ
Leave him to linger among the traces of dwellings;
A wayside halt where rules of law take pause,
he may be freed of some of his concealed anguish.
Some buried griefs escape their sealed doom,
وَدَعاهُand you two, leave him لاdo not تُسعِداهُyou two, console him بِدَمعٍwith tears
وَدَعاهُ لا تُسعِداهُ بِدَمعٍ
حَسبُهُenough for him فَيضُthe flood of دَمعِهِhis tears المَسجومِstreaming
حَسبُهُ فَيضُ دَمعِهِ المَسجومِ
Leave him; do not console him with your tears:
Spare him your tears, his own suffice to swell
the flood of his own streaming tears suffices.
In streams unleashed and flood the sandy wastes.
سَفَهٌfolly مِنكُماfrom you two وَإِفراطُand excess of لُؤمٍmeanness
سَفَهٌ مِنكُما وَإِفراطُ لُؤمٍ
أَنthat تَلوماyou two blame فيfor الحُبِّlove غَيرَone not مُليمِat fault
أَن تَلوما في الحُبِّ غَيرَ مُليمِ
It is folly from you two, and excessive meanness,
Folly in you two, wild excess of blame,
to blame for love one who has done no wrong.
To chide a love that spares the weak rebuke.
تِلكَthat lady ذاتُpossessing الخَدِّthe cheek المُوَرَّدِrose-flushed وَالمُبand the smile (beginning)
تِلكَ ذاتُ الخَدِّ المُوَرَّدِ وَالمُب
تَسَمِthe smile (completion) العَذبِsweet وَالحَشاand the waist المَهضومِslender
تَسَمِ العَذبِ وَالحَشا المَهضومِ
She of the rose-flushed cheek and
That soft cheek, reddened like the veil of dawn,
the sweet smile and slender waist—
Sweet stream to sip from, meadows rich in flowers,
غادَةٌa tender maiden ماnot يُغِبُّvisits intermittently مِنهاof her خَيالٌa phantom
غادَةٌ ما يُغِبُّ مِنها خَيالٌ
يَقتَضينيexacts from me الجَوىheartache إِقتِضاءَthe exaction of الغَريمِa creditor
يَقتَضيني الجَوى إِقتِضاءَ الغَريمِ
a tender maiden whose phantom never stays away,
A phantom she, whose image stays though gone,
exacting heartache from me as a creditor exacts his due.
I pine in separation like one robbed of rights.
لَوif رَآهاthey saw her المُعَنِّفونَthe reproachers عَلَيهاon her account
لَو رَآها المُعَنِّفونَ عَلَيها
لَغَداthen would befall بِالصَحيحِthe healthy one ماwhat بِالسَقيمِthe sick one
لَغَدا بِالصَحيحِ ما بِالسَقيمِ
If those who reproach me for her saw her,
Did censors watch her closely, soon enough
the healthy would suffer what the sick man suffers.
The hale would envy all the sick man claims.
إِنَّنيindeed I لاجِئٌseeking refuge إِلىin عَزَماتٍfirm resolves
إِنَّني لاجِئٌ إِلى عَزَماتٍ
مُعدِياتٍgiving aid عَلىagainst طُروقِthe nightly onset of الهُمومِcares
مُعدِياتٍ عَلى طُروقِ الهُمومِ
I seek refuge in firm resolves
To firm resolves I come for help, that ride
that aid me against the nightly onset of cares.
Roughshod across the paths of agony,
يَتَلاعَبنَthey play بِالفَيافيacross the wastelands وَيوديand they waste away (beginning)
يَتَلاعَبنَ بِالفَيافي وَيودي
نَthey waste away (completion) بِنَقيِthe marrow of المُسَوَّماتِthe branded camels الكومِhigh-humped
نَ بِنَقيِ المُسَوَّماتِ الكومِ
They play across the wastelands and wear away
Toying with loose threads, bringing down with ease
the marrow of branded, high-humped camels.
The over-weakly sewn and patched abodes.
التَراميbounding onward بَعدَafter الوَجيفِthe rapid trot إِذاwhen إِستُؤwas begun anew (beginning)
التَرامي بَعدَ الوَجيفِ إِذا إِستُؤ
نِفَwas begun anew (completion) خَرقٌan open desert وَالوَخدُand long striding قَبلَbefore الرَسيمِthe brisk gait
نِفَ خَرقٌ وَالوَخدُ قَبلَ الرَسيمِ
Bounding after a rapid trot, whenever a new
Once signs of ruin come, what use to mend
waste is entered, and striding before the brisk gait.
A ripped seam while the cheek shows wear before?
كُلُّeach مَهزوزَةِwith swaying المِقَذَّينِthe two ear-roots تُلفىis found
كُلُّ مَهزوزَةِ المِقَذَّينِ تُلفى
رَوحَةَthe pace of الجَأبِthe wild ass خَلفَهاbehind her وَالظَليمِand the male ostrich
رَوحَةَ الجَأبِ خَلفَها وَالظَليمِ
Each, with trembling ear-roots, is found
Each saddle-bag the carriers swing around,
leaving the wild ass's pace and the ostrich's behind.
Wrapping the slant cloth on behind for shade,
جُنَّحاًleaning forward كَالسِهامِlike arrows يَحمِلنَthey carry رَكباًriders
جُنَّحاً كَالسِهامِ يَحمِلنَ رَكباً
طُلَّحاًexhausted مِنby سَآمَةٍweariness وَسُهومِand wan dejection
طُلَّحاً مِن سَآمَةٍ وَسُهومِ
Leaning like arrows, they carry riders
Wings like arrows bearing burdens that
worn out by weariness and dejection.
Exude the worst fatigue and listlessness.
ماnot لَهُمfor them عَرجَةٌa stop وَإِنand even if نَأَتِgrew distant الشَقَّthe journey (beginning)
ما لَهُم عَرجَةٌ وَإِن نَأَتِ الشَقَّ
ةُthe journey (completion) غَيرُexcept الأَغَرِّthe illustrious إِبراهيمِIbrahim
ةُ غَيرُ الأَغَرِّ إِبراهيمِ
They have no stopping place, however distant the
No stopping-place have they, though ledges crack,
journey, except with illustrious Ibrahim.
None but the rock split open for Ishmael.
طالِبيseeking مُنفِسٍa precious prize وَلَنand will not يَكرُمَbe noble المَطthe object sought (beginning)
طالِبي مُنفِسٍ وَلَن يَكرُمَ المَط
لَبُthe object sought (completion) حَتّىuntil يَكونَit is عِندَwith كَريمِa noble man
لَبُ حَتّى يَكونَ عِندَ كَريمِ
Seeking a precious prize; the object sought is not noble
Seekers of pasture, but desire earns naught
until it lies with a noble man.
Until it waits upon a generous host.
نَشَدواthey sought فيamong بَنيthe sons of المُدَبِّرِal-Mudabbir عَهداًa pledge
نَشَدوا في بَني المُدَبِّرِ عَهداً
غَيرَnot مُستَقصِرٍfound wanting ولاnor مَذمومِcensured
غَيرَ مُستَقصِرٍ ولا مَذمومِ
They sought a pledge among Banu al-Mudabbir,
They pledged in Banu Mudabbar's line an age
one neither found wanting nor censured.
Free of defect or any bitter blame.
لَمnot يَكُنwas ماءُthe water of بَحرِهِمtheir sea بِأُجاجٍbitterly salty
لَم يَكُن ماءُ بَحرِهِم بِأُجاجٍ
لاno وَلاnor نَبتُthe vegetation of أَرضِهِمtheir land بِوَخيمِunwholesome
لا وَلا نَبتُ أَرضِهِم بِوَخيمِ
The water of their sea was not bitterly salt;
Nor was the water of their sea bitter,
no, nor was their land's growth unwholesome.
Nor earth bringing forth aught of foul repute.
فيin المَحَلِّthe station الجَليلِexalted مِنamong رُتبَةِthe ranks of المُلkingship (beginning)
في المَحَلِّ الجَليلِ مِن رُتبَةِ المُل
كِkingship (completion) إِستَقَلَّتit rose وَالمَذهَبِand the path المُستَقيمِupright
كِ إِستَقَلَّت وَالمَذهَبِ المُستَقيمِ
In the exalted station among the ranks of kingship
Nobly situated in the sovereign's rank,
it rose, and on the upright path
And on the path so straight and clear defined,
لِلنَدىfor generosity الأَوَّلِearliest الأَخيرِlatest الَّذيwhich بَرَّexcelled (beginning)
لِلنَدى الأَوَّلِ الأَخيرِ الَّذي بَرَّ
زَexcelled (completion) وَالسُؤدُدِand nobility الحَديثِnew المُقيمِenduring
زَ وَالسُؤدُدِ الحَديثِ المُقيمِ
of generosity, first and last, which excelled,
To the first call, the last, that shines, abides,
and of new, enduring nobility.
Still present, not yet gone to far domains.
هِيَit أَكرومَةٌa noble distinction نَمَتgrew مِنfrom بَنيthe sons of ساSasan (beginning)
هِيَ أَكرومَةٌ نَمَت مِن بَني سا
سانَSasan (completion) فيin خَيرِthe finest مَنصِبٍlineage وَأَرومِand stock
سانَ في خَيرِ مَنصِبٍ وَأَرومِ
It is a noble distinction sprung from the sons of
A garden it from San'a's slopes has grown
Sasan, in the finest lineage and stock.
In most auspicious ground of bountiful rain,
لِلصَريحِfor the trueborn الصَريحِthe trueborn وَالأَشرَفِand the noblest الأَشرَthe noblest (beginning)
لِلصَريحِ الصَريحِ وَالأَشرَفِ الأَشرَ
فِthe noblest (completion) إِنif عُدَّreckoned وَالصَميمِand the pure of stock الصَميمِthe pure of stock
فِ إِن عُدَّ وَالصَميمِ الصَميمِ
For the truly trueborn, and the noblest of the
Most pure in lineage, of lineage pure,
noble, if reckoned, and the purest of the pure.
If reckoned well, and truly to the core.
وَإِذاand when ماemphatic particle حَلَلتَyou alight رَبعِthe dwelling of أَبيAbu إِسحاIshaq (beginning)
وَإِذا ما حَلَلتَ رَبعِ أَبي إِسحا
قَIshaq (completion) أَلفَيتَهُyou find him مَوُطّاreadily accessible الحَريمِthe precinct
قَ أَلفَيتَهُ مَوُطّا الحَريمِ
Whenever you alight at the dwelling of Abu
Should you alight in Abu Ishaq's land,
Ishaq, you find his precincts easy to enter.
Modesty itself would greet you at his shrine,
وَمَتىand whenever شِمتَyou scan for rain from غَيمَهُhis cloud لَمnot تُهَجِّنyou disparage
وَمَتى شِمتَ غَيمَهُ لَم تُهَجِّن
صَوبَthe downpour of شُؤبوبِهِits rainburst الأَجَشِّdeep-voiced الهَزيمِthundering
صَوبَ شُؤبوبِهِ الأَجَشِّ الهَزيمِ
Whenever you scan his cloud, you will not fault
Once you but scent his rain cloud, you shall not
the downpour of its deep-voiced, thundering shower.
Dread the ungainly fury of its storm.
مُستَبِدٌّsole possessor بِهِمَّةٍof an ambition جَعَلَتهُhas made him
مُستَبِدٌّ بِهِمَّةٍ جَعَلَتهُ
فيin عُلُوِّthe loftiness of المَرمىthe aim شَريكَa peer of الجومِthe stars (probable reading)
في عُلُوِّ المَرمى شَريكَ الجومِ
Unrivaled in an ambition that has made him
With purpose fixed that raised him high as peers
a peer of the [stars] in loftiness of aim.
At archery compete to pierce the clouds.
وَخِلالٍand virtues لَوِif إِستَزَدتَyou sought to add إِلَيهاto them
وَخِلالٍ لَوِ إِستَزَدتَ إِلَيها
مِثلَهاtheir like ماnot وَجَدَتهاyou found them فيin الغُيومِthe clouds
مِثلَها ما وَجَدَتها في الغُيومِ
And virtues, were you to seek to add to them
And with a nature, were you to add to it
their like, you would not find them in the clouds.
The like, you would not find it in the clouds.
اِتَّبِعهاfollow them فَقَدfor indeed رَأَيتَyou have seen عِياناًwith your own eyes
اِتَّبِعها فَقَد رَأَيتَ عِياناً
أَثَرَيهاtheir two effects عَلىupon العِدىthe enemies وَالعَديمِand the destitute
أَثَرَيها عَلى العِدى وَالعَديمِ
Follow them, for you have seen with your own eyes
Follow in its footsteps, you have seen with eyes
their twin effects on enemies and the destitute.
Its traces on the high and low alike.
الأَغَرُّthe bright-faced الوَضّاحُthe radiant توريkindle fire يَداهُhis two hands
الأَغَرُّ الوَضّاحُ توري يَداهُ
حينَwhen يَكبوfails زَندُthe fire-stick of الأَغَمِّthe dark-browed البَهيمِthe gloomy
حينَ يَكبو زَندُ الأَغَمِّ البَهيمِ
The bright-faced, radiant man—his hands kindle fire
Dazzling white the hands he spreads that grasp
when the dark-browed, gloomy man's fire-stick fails.
The reins when evil's blackest night descends.
عابِسٌstern فيin حَياطَةِguarding الفَيءِthe revenues يَلقىhe confronts
عابِسٌ في حَياطَةِ الفَيءِ يَلقى
مُبتَغىone seeking نَقصِهِits diminution بِوَجهٍwith a face شَتيمِforbidding
مُبتَغى نَقصِهِ بِوَجهٍ شَتيمِ
Stern in guarding the revenues, he confronts
Scowling in the battle's rage he seeks
any seeking to diminish them with a forbidding face.
To heal humiliation with curses and threats.
يُؤثِرُhe chooses البُؤسَhardship فيin مُباشَرَةِhandling الأَمthe affairs (beginning)
يُؤثِرُ البُؤسَ في مُباشَرَةِ الأَم
رِthe affairs (completion) وَفيand at جَنبِهِhis side مَكانُa place of النَعيمِease
رِ وَفي جَنبِهِ مَكانُ النَعيمِ
He chooses hardship in handling affairs,
He chooses misery in his rule, while joy
though beside him lies a place of ease.
Is his companion and at hand to claim.
نافِرُrestless الجَأشِat heart لاnot تَقِرُّis still حَشاهُhis breast
نافِرُ الجَأشِ لا تَقِرُّ حَشاهُ
أَوuntil يُؤَدّيhe redresses ظُلامَةَthe grievance of المَظلومِthe wronged
أَو يُؤَدّي ظُلامَةَ المَظلومِ
Restless at heart, his breast will not be still
Grim his face that will not smile, or make
until he redresses the wrong of the wronged.
Amends for all the wrongs done to the oppressed.
وَقورٌdignified تَحتَbeneath السَكينَةِcalm ماnot يَرraises (beginning)
وَقورٌ تَحتَ السَكينَةِ ما يَر
فَعُraises (completion) وَمِنand from طَرفِهِhis gaze ضَجاجُthe clamor of الخُصومِthe disputants
فَعُ وَمِن طَرفِهِ ضَجاجُ الخُصومِ
Dignified beneath his calm, he does not lift
Dignified, beneath stillness he contains
his gaze at the clamor of disputants.
The cries and quarreling heard in his court.
زادَناmay He grant us more اللَهُGod مِنof مَواهِبِهِHis gifts فيin
زادَنا اللَهُ مِن مَواهِبِهِ في
كَyou وَمِنand of فَضلِهِHis bounty لَدَيكَin your keeping العَميمِabundant
كَ وَمِن فَضلِهِ لَدَيكَ العَميمِ
May God grant us more of His gifts in
May God grant you an increase of His gifts
you, and of His abundant bounty in your keeping.
And of His grace with you ever magnify.
ماnot تَصَرَّفتَyou administered affairs فيin الوِلايَةِthe governorship إِلّاexcept that
ما تَصَرَّفتَ في الوِلايَةِ إِلّا
فُزتَyou won مِنof حَمدِهاits praise بِحَظٍّwith a share جَسيمِgreat
فُزتَ مِن حَمدِها بِحَظٍّ جَسيمِ
You never exercised the governorship without
However you dispose rule, you gain thereby
winning a great share of its praise.
High praise and fortune of enormous share.
لَمnot تَزَلyou cease مِنof عُيوبِهاits faults أَبيَضَwhite الثَوthe robe (beginning)
لَم تَزَل مِن عُيوبِها أَبيَضَ الثَو
بِthe robe (completion) وَمِنand of دائِهاits sickness صَحيحَsound الأَديمِthe skin
بِ وَمِن دائِها صَحيحَ الأَديمِ
Your robe has always stayed white despite its faults,
You've kept it free of flaws, wearing the cloak
and your skin sound despite its sickness.
Of virtue, while all around spreads sickness' gown.
هَذِهِthis البَصرَةُBasra اِستَغاثَتcried for help إِلىfor ذَبdefense (beginning)
هَذِهِ البَصرَةُ اِستَغاثَت إِلى ذَب
بِكَyour defense (completion) عَنهاon her behalf وَسَيبِكَand your bounty المَقسومِallotted
بِكَ عَنها وَسَيبِكَ المَقسومِ
This Basra has cried out for
Basra cried out for your deliverance
your defense of her and your allotted bounty.
From ruin, and you came, like fate decreed.
قُمتَyou stood فيهاin her مَقامَthe stance of مُستَعذِبِone savoring الماthe water (beginning)
قُمتَ فيها مَقامَ مُستَعذِبِ الما
ءَthe water (completion) مَصيفاًin summer وَمُستَرِقِّand one enjoying the gentleness of النَسيمِthe breeze
ءَ مَصيفاً وَمُستَرِقِّ النَسيمِ
You stood within her as one savoring water
You were a cool refreshing draught for it,
in summer, and delighting in the gentle breeze.
Sweet scented East wind driving off disease.
وَدَفَعتَand you repelled العَظيمَthe mighty calamity عَنهاfrom her وَلاand not يَدrepels (beginning)
وَدَفَعتَ العَظيمَ عَنها وَلا يَد
فَعُrepels (completion) كُرهَthe harm of العَظيمِthe mighty calamity غَيرُexcept العَظيمِthe mighty man
فَعُ كُرهَ العَظيمِ غَيرُ العَظيمِ
You repelled the mighty calamity from her; none can
You turned great danger from it, for none withstands
repel a mighty calamity's harm but a mighty man.
Great danger but one who holds himself as great.
نازِلاًalighting فيamong بَنيthe sons of المُهَلَّبِal-Muhallab وَالفِتand rebellion (beginning)
نازِلاً في بَني المُهَلَّبِ وَالفِت
نَةُrebellion (completion) تَسطوravages عَلىupon سَوامِthe grazing herds of المُسيمِthe herdsman
نَةُ تَسطو عَلى سَوامِ المُسيمِ
Alighting among Banu al-Muhallab, while
Staying with Banu Muhallab, while attacks
rebellion ravaged the herdsman's grazing herds,
Plundered the tents of the defenseless tribes.
كُنتَyou were فيهِمamong them فَكُنتُso I was أَوفَرَmost abundant حَظٍّfortune
كُنتَ فيهِم فَكُنتُ أَوفَرَ حَظٍّ
خُصَّتِwas favored الأُزدُAzd فيهِin it دونَrather than تَميمِTamim
خُصَّتِ الأُزدُ فيهِ دونَ تَميمِ
you were among them, and I had the richest fortune,
Among them you were singled out for greatest luck,
one granted in this to Azd, not Tamim.
The Azd above Tamim in favor there.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.