مَنwho قائِلٌone who speaks لِلزَمانُِto Time ماwhat أَرَبُهits purpose
مَن قائِلٌ لِلزَمانُِ ما أَرَبُه
فيin خُلُقٍa habit مِنهُof it قَدalready خَلاhas passed عَجَبُهits strangeness
في خُلُقٍ مِنهُ قَد خَلا عَجَبُه
Who will ask Time what its purpose is
Who can tell Time what has cheered its manners,
in a habit of its that has ceased to astonish?
Of a trait long past filled with wonder?
يُعطىis given إِمرُؤٌa man حَظَّهُhis share بِلاwithout سَبَبٍa cause
يُعطى إِمرُؤٌ حَظَّهُ بِلا سَبَبٍ
وَيُحرَمُand is denied الحَظَّthe share مُحصَدٌfirmly twisted سَبَبُهhis cord; means
وَيُحرَمُ الحَظَّ مُحصَدٌ سَبَبُه
A man is given his share without a cause,
A man is given his share without cause,
while one whose cord is firmly twisted is denied his share.
While he who earned it loses his share,
نَجهَلُwe fail to recognize نَفعَthe benefit of الدُنياthe world فَنَدفَعُهُso we repel it
نَجهَلُ نَفعَ الدُنيا فَنَدفَعُهُ
وَقَدand at times نَرىwe see ضَرَّهاits harm فَنَجتَنِبُهso we avoid it
وَقَد نَرى ضَرَّها فَنَجتَنِبُه
We fail to recognize the world's benefit and repel it,
We are ignorant of the good in this life, so we shun it,
yet at times we see its harm and avoid it.
Yet we see its harm, and avoid that,
لاlet ... not يَيأَسَdespair المَرءُa person أَنthat يُنَجِّيَهُit may save him
لا يَيأَسَ المَرءُ أَن يُنَجِّيَهُ
ماwhat يَحسِبُthink الناسُpeople أَنَّهُthat it is عَطَبُهhis ruin
ما يَحسِبُ الناسُ أَنَّهُ عَطَبُه
Let no man despair of being saved
Let no man despair that it will save him
by what people think will be his ruin.
What people think has caused his ruin,
يَسُرُّكَdelights you الشَيءُa thing قَدmay يَسوءُdisplease وَكَمand how often
يَسُرُّكَ الشَيءُ قَد يَسوءُ وَكَم
نَوَّهَbrought renown يَوماًone day بِخامِلٍto an obscure man لَقَبُهhis title
نَوَّهَ يَوماً بِخامِلٍ لَقَبُه
What delights you may displease you; and how often
A thing may cheer you, then go ill, and how often
has a title one day brought an obscure man renown.
A worthless man was titled honourable one day!
رَأَيتُI saw خَيرَthe good of الأَيّامِthe days قَلَّgrew scant فَعِنـso with (beginning)
رَأَيتُ خَيرَ الأَيّامِ قَلَّ فَعِنـ
ـدَwith (ending) اللَهِGod أُخرىthe latter part of الأَيّامِthe days أَحتَسِبُهI seek its reward
ـدَ اللَهِ أُخرى الأَيّامِ أَحتَسِبُه
I saw the good of days grow scant; so with
I saw the best of days was little, so I reckon
God I seek its reward in the latter days.
With God, there are other days I endure,
وَاِستُؤنِفَand was resumed الظُلمُinjustice فيin الصَديقِthe friend فَهَلso is there
وَاِستُؤنِفَ الظُلمُ في الصَديقِ فَهَل
حُرٌّa freeborn man يَبيعُsells الإِنصافُfairness أَوor يَهِبُهgives it
حُرٌّ يَبيعُ الإِنصافُ أَو يَهِبُه
Injustice has begun anew in friendship; is there
Injustice was renewed against the righteous man, is there
a noble man who will sell fairness, or give it?
A free man who would sell or give away equity?
عِنديI have مُمِضٌّa stinging dose مِنَof الهَناءِmange-treating tar إِذاwhen
عِندي مُمِضٌّ مِنَ الهَناءِ إِذا
عِرّيضُa troublemaker قَومٍa tribe أَحَكَّهُmakes him itch جَرَبُهhis mange
عِرّيضُ قَومٍ أَحَكَّهُ جَرَبُه
I have a stinging dose of tar for when
I have with me an eraser, when
a tribe's troublemaker is set itching by his mange.
The calumny of a people has etched its injuries,
وَليand I have مِنَof اِثنَينِtwo واحِدٌone أَبَداًalways
وَلي مِنَ اِثنَينِ واحِدٌ أَبَداً
عِرضُthe honor of عَزيزِa mighty one among الرِجالِmen أَوor سَلَبُهhis belongings as spoil
عِرضُ عَزيزِ الرِجالِ أَو سَلَبُه
One of two things is always mine:
And I have of the two, one, never
a mighty man's honor, or his belongings as spoil.
The honour of the noble, or loss of it,
وَخَيرُand the best of ماwhat اِختَرتُI chose أَوor تُخُيِّرَwas chosen ليfor me
وَخَيرُ ما اِختَرتُ أَو تُخُيِّرَ لي
رِضاthe favor of شَريفٍa nobleman يَسوؤُنيgrieves me غَضَبُهhis anger
رِضا شَريفٍ يَسوؤُني غَضَبُه
And the best thing I chose, or that was chosen for me,
The best I chose, or was chosen for me,
is the favor of a nobleman whose anger grieves me.
Is the consent of a noble who I fear his wrath,
وَصاحِبٍand a friend ذاهِبٍdeparting بِخُلَّتِهِwith his friendship
وَصاحِبٍ ذاهِبٍ بِخُلَّتِهِ
وَلّىturned away بِهاwith it وَاِنثَنَيتُand I turned back أَطَّلِبُهI seek him
وَلّى بِها وَاِنثَنَيتُ أَطَّلِبُه
And a friend, departing with his friendship,
And a friend, gone with his sulkiness,
turned away with it, and I turned back to seek him.
Who turned away with it while I sought him,
يُرصِدُhas in store ليfor me إِنif وَصَلتُهُI keep ties with him مَلَلَthe weariness of الـthe (continued)
يُرصِدُ لي إِن وَصَلتُهُ مَلَلَ الـ
جافيaloof man وَأَشتاقُand I yearn حينَwhen أَجتَنِبُهI avoid him
جافي وَأَشتاقُ حينَ أَجتَنِبُه
He reserves for me, if I keep ties with him, the weariness of
He lays in wait for me: if I join him, the
the aloof man; yet I yearn for him when I avoid him.
Rude one is bored, and I long when I avoid him,
ـفَلَستُso I do not أَدريknow أَبُعدُwhether the remoteness of شُقَّتِهِhis abode
ـفَلَستُ أَدري أَبُعدُ شُقَّتِهِ
أَشَقُّmore painful رُزءاًas an affliction عَلَيَّto me أَمor صَقَبُهhis nearness
أَشَقُّ رُزءاً عَلَيَّ أَم صَقَبُه
So I do not know whether his distant abode
So I know not which gives me more misery,
is a heavier affliction to me, or his nearness.
His wretched company or his separation,
تارَكتُهُI let him go ناصِراًfavoring هَواهُhis desire عَلىover
تارَكتُهُ ناصِراً هَواهُ عَلى
هَوايَmy desire فيهِfor him حَتّىuntil اِنقَضىhad passed أَرَبُهhis need
هَوايَ فيهِ حَتّى اِنقَضى أَرَبُه
I let him go, favoring his desire over
I left him supporting his own passions
my desire for him, until his need had passed—
Against mine in it, until his era ended,
هَجَرَthe parting of أَخيone afflicted with لَوعَةٍanguish يُريshows جَلَداًfortitude
هَجَرَ أَخي لَوعَةٍ يُري جَلَداً
وَهُوَwhile he is مَريضُsick الحَشاat heart لَهاbecause of it وَصَبُهhis illness
وَهُوَ مَريضُ الحَشا لَها وَصَبُه
with the parting of a man in anguish who shows fortitude,
My brother shunned me in resentment, showing
though sick at heart, his illness born of that anguish.
Fortitude, while sick with love for it and melted by it,
فاضَلَdistinguished in worth بَينَamong الأَخَوانِfriends; brothers عُسريmy hardship وَعَنand against
فاضَلَ بَينَ الأَخَوانِ عُسري وَعَن
ظَلماءِthe darkness of لَيلٍa night تَفاضَلَتoutshone one another شُهُبُهits bright stars
ظَلماءِ لَيلٍ تَفاضَلَت شُهُبُه
My hardship revealed my friends' differing worth; and against
So he distinguished between the brothers - my plight and from
the darkness of a night its bright stars outshone one another.
The oppressors of a dark night their locks distinguished them,
وَعُدَّتيand my provision لِلهُمومِagainst cares إِنif طَرَقَتthey visit
وَعُدَّتي لِلهُمومِ إِن طَرَقَت
تَوخيدُswift long-striding ذاكَthat المَطِيِّriding-camels أَوor خَبَبُهits trot
تَوخيدُ ذاكَ المَطِيِّ أَو خَبَبُه
My provision against cares, should they come,
And my equipment against worries if they knocked
is the long, swift stride of those mounts, or their trot.
Is to tether that steed or fetter it,
ساقَتdrove بِناus along نَكبَةُa misfortune مُذَمَّمَةٌreviled
ساقَت بِنا نَكبَةُ مُذَمَّمَةٌ
فيناamong us وَدَهرٌand an age رَخيصَةٌcheap نُوَبُهits calamities
فينا وَدَهرٌ رَخيصَةٌ نُوَبُه
A misfortune drove us onward, one reviled
A loathsome setback befell us
among us, and an age whose calamities come cheap.
And Time's epochs, cheap are its bendings,
فَهَلis there, then لِضَيفِfor the guest of العِراقِIraq مِنany صَفَدٍgift
فَهَل لِضَيفِ العِراقِ مِن صَفَدٍ
عِندَwith عَميدِthe chief of العِراقِIraq يَرتَقِبُهhe awaits it
عِندَ عَميدِ العِراقِ يَرتَقِبُه
Is there, then, a gift for Iraq's guest
Has an exile in Iraq a refuge
that he may await from Iraq's chief?
With the chief of Iraq, hoping for it?
وَمُستَسِرّينَand men hiding themselves فيin الخُمولِobscurity بَلَوtested (beginning)
وَمُستَسِرّينَ في الخُمولِ بَلَو
ناهُمwe ... them (ending) فَذَمَّthen condemned الحَرامَunlawful gain مُكتَسِبُهits acquirer
ناهُم فَذَمَّ الحَرامَ مُكتَسِبُه
And men concealed in obscurity—we tested
And they who slumbered in laziness
them; unlawful gain was condemned by its acquirer.
It tested them, so the unlawful earnings condemned their owner,
كانواthey were كَشَوكِlike the thorns of القَتادِthe qatad shrub يَسخَطُis displeased راits herdsman (beginning)
كانوا كَشَوكِ القَتادِ يَسخَطُ را
عيهِits herdsman (ending) وَيَأبىand refuses رِضاهُapproval of it مُحتَطِبُهits wood-gatherer
عيهِ وَيَأبى رِضاهُ مُحتَطِبُه
They were like the thorns of qatad, displeasing its
They were like the thorns of qatād, its shepherd is angered
herdsman, while its wood-gatherer refuses it approval.
And its harvester refuses to reap it,
لاnot أَحفِلُI heed المَرءَa man أَوunless تُقَدِّمُهُelevate him
لا أَحفِلُ المَرءَ أَو تُقَدِّمُهُ
شَتّىvaried خِصالٍqualities أَشَفُّهاthe finest of them أَدَبُهhis refinement
شَتّى خِصالٍ أَشَفُّها أَدَبُه
I pay a man no heed unless he is distinguished
I do not heed or favour a man
by varied qualities, the finest being his refinement.
For diverse traits, the noblest of them his manners,
وَلَستُand I do not أَعتَدُّreckon لِلفَتىfor a young man حَسَباًnoble standing
وَلَستُ أَعتَدُّ لِلفَتى حَسَباً
حَتّىuntil يُرىis seen فيin فِعالِهِhis deeds حَسَبُهhis noble standing
حَتّى يُرى في فِعالِهِ حَسَبُه
Nor do I credit a young man with nobility
Nor do I account a youth by lineage
until his nobility is visible in his deeds.
Until his actions show his lineage,
مِثلُlike إِبنِson of (Ibn) بِسطامٍBistam الَّذيwho شَرُفَتwere noble
مِثلُ إِبنِ بِسطامٍ الَّذي شَرُفَت
أَبداؤُهُhis beginnings ثُمَّthen تُمِّمَتwere perfected عُقَبُهhis later stages
أَبداؤُهُ ثُمَّ تُمِّمَت عُقَبُه
Like Ibn Bistam: noble were
The like of the son of Bistaam, whose beginnings were
his beginnings, and then his later stages were perfected.
Noble, then his outcome was perfected,
ماnot دارَrevolved لِلمَكرُماتِfor noble deeds مِنany فَلَكٍcelestial sphere
ما دارَ لِلمَكرُماتِ مِن فَلَكٍ
إِلّاexcept وَزاكىand pure فَعالِهِhis deeds قُطُبُهits axis
إِلّا وَزاكى فَعالِهِ قُطُبُه
No sphere of noble deeds ever turns
The sphere of virtues goes not around
without his pure conduct as its axis.
Except its pole matches its deeds,
يَنقادُsubmits طَوعاًwillingly لَهُto him إِذاwhen حَشَدَتthey throng
يَنقادُ طَوعاً لَهُ إِذا حَشَدَت
عَلَيهِaround it تِلكَthose الأَشباهُpeers تَجتَذِبُهdrawing it to themselves
عَلَيهِ تِلكَ الأَشباهُ تَجتَذِبُه
It submits willingly to him whenever they throng
It is willingly led by him when
about it—those peers who seek to draw it toward themselves.
Those rivals throng, pulling him,
تَنافَسَvied الناسُpeople فيهِover him أَسعَدَهُمthe happiest of them
تَنافَسَ الناسُ فيهِ أَسعَدَهُم
عِندَهُمin their eyes مَنwhoever يَخُصُّهُsingles him out نَسَبُهhis lineage
عِندَهُم مَن يَخُصُّهُ نَسَبُه
People vied over him; happiest among them,
People compete for him, happiest of them
in their eyes, was whoever could claim him as kin.
He who his lineage specifically includes him,
يُبهِجُgladdens عُجمَthe non-Arabs of البِلادِthe land فَوزُهُمُtheir gaining
يُبهِجُ عُجمَ البِلادِ فَوزُهُمُ
بِهِof him وَتَأسىand grieve لِفَوتِهِat losing him عَرَبُهits Arabs
بِهِ وَتَأسى لِفَوتِهِ عَرَبُه
The land's non-Arabs are gladdened by their gaining
His success makes the foreigners of towns joyous
him; its Arabs grieve at their loss of him.
While his loss brings sadness to the Arabs,
مَنwhoever يَتَصَرَّعwrestles فيin إِثرِpursuit of مَكرُمَةٍa noble deed
مَن يَتَصَرَّع في إِثرِ مَكرُمَةٍ
فَدَأبُهُthen his habit فيin إِبتِغائِهاseeking it دَأَبُهhis toil
فَدَأبُهُ في إِبتِغائِها دَأَبُه
Whoever wrestles in pursuit of a noble deed—
Who earnestly seeks a favor
his habit in seeking it is toil.
His habit in seeking it becomes his habit,
كَمhow often راحَhe went forth طَلقاًcheerful وَراحَand went forth تالِدُهُhis inherited wealth
كَم راحَ طَلقاً وَراحَ تالِدُهُ
مَطِيَّةًas a mount لِلحُقوقِfor rightful claims تَعتَقِبُهriding it in succession
مَطِيَّةً لِلحُقوقِ تَعتَقِبُه
How often he went forth cheerful, while his inherited wealth went
How many set out freely while their mounts went
as a mount for rightful claims that ride it in succession.
Slowly seeking rights, following it,
تُحسَبُare thought فيamid وَفرِهِhis abundant wealth يَداهُhis two hands يَدَيthe two hands of
تُحسَبُ في وَفرِهِ يَداهُ يَدَي
عَدُوِّهِhis enemy أَوor لِغَيرِهِbelonging to someone other than him نَشَبُهhis property
عَدُوِّهِ أَو لِغَيرِهِ نَشَبُه
You would think, amid his wealth, his hands were those of
His open hands are counted in his abundance
his enemy—or that his possessions belonged to another.
As his enemy's hands, or like them in generosity,
مالٌwealth إِذاwhen الحَمدُpraise عيضَis received in exchange مِنهُfor it غَداbecomes
مالٌ إِذا الحَمدُ عيضَ مِنهُ غَدا
مُنهُبهُone offering it as spoil غانِماًa gainer وَمُنتَهِبُهand its plunderer
مُنهُبهُ غانِماً وَمُنتَهِبُه
Wealth that, when exchanged for praise, makes
Wealth - when praise spills from it - becomes
the one who offers it as spoil a gainer, and its plunderer too.
Spoils for its victor and its pillager,
وَبَينَماand while المُشكِلاتُdifficult problems رائِدَةٌseeking
وَبَينَما المُشكِلاتُ رائِدَةٌ
مُيَسَّراًone equipped لِلصَوابِfor sound judgment يَقتَضِبُهdevising it at once
مُيَسَّراً لِلصَوابِ يَقتَضِبُه
And while difficult problems seek
And while problems lead the way,
one equipped for sound judgment, devising it at once,
The right path is facilitated, its knots untied,
تيحُis made available لَهاto them وادِعاًserene تَمَهُّلُهُhis deliberation
تيحُ لَها وادِعاً تَمَهُّلُهُ
فيin مُرهِقِthe pressing part of الأَمرِthe affair واسِعاًbroad لَبَبُهhis understanding
في مُرهِقِ الأَمرِ واسِعاً لَبَبُه
he is made available to them, serene in his deliberation,
Allow it latitude, peaceful its procrastination
amid pressing affairs, broad in understanding.
In confusing affairs, capacious its gate,
كَأَنَّas though إِسراعَهُhis haste تَرَسُّلُهُhis unhurried pace
كَأَنَّ إِسراعَهُ تَرَسُّلُهُ
قَرارَfrom steadiness of جَأشٍheart أَوor جِدَّهُhis earnestness لَعِبُهhis play
قَرارَ جَأشٍ أَو جِدَّهُ لَعِبُه
It is as if his haste were his leisurely pace,
As if its haste is its composure,
so steady is his heart—or his earnestness were his play.
Or the resolve of one startled, or its playing is its amusement,
دَنّىbrought near الأَقاصيdistant places إِبساسُthe gentle coaxing of مُتَّئِدٍa deliberate man
دَنّى الأَقاصي إِبساسُ مُتَّئِدٍ
يَستَنزِلُdraws down الدَرَّthe milk ثُمَّthen يَحتَلِبُهmilks it
يَستَنزِلُ الدَرَّ ثُمَّ يَحتَلِبُه
A deliberate man's gentle coaxing brought distant places near;
The furthest regions are grasped by a feaster
he draws the milk down, then milks it.
Who extracts the pearls then imbibes it,
يُغنيsuffices غِناءَwith the effectiveness of الجُيوشِarmies فيin طَلَبِseeking الـthe (continued)
يُغني غِناءَ الجُيوشِ في طَلَبِ الـ
فَيءِspoils; public revenue إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle تَناصَرَتreinforce one another كُتُبُهhis letters
فَيءِ إِذا ما تَناصَرَت كُتُبُه
He does the work of armies in seeking the
It sings the chant of armies seeking
spoils, when his letters reinforce one another.
Booty when its standards were joined,
ـظَلَّhe remained وَظَلَّand remained العُمّالُthe officials حَيثُwhere هُمُthey
ـظَلَّ وَظَلَّ العُمّالُ حَيثُ هُمُ
حاضِرَpresent in ماwhat دَبَّرواthey administered وَهُمwhile they were غَيَبُهthose absent from him
حاضِرَ ما دَبَّروا وَهُم غَيَبُه
He remained, while the officials remained where they were—
It remained, and the workers remained, wherever they were,
present in what they administered, though they were absent from him.
Present for what they arranged though absent from it,
مُراهِقٌreaching رَأسَthe head of أَمرِهِhis business وَأَخوand a man of العَجthe incapacity (beginning)
مُراهِقٌ رَأسَ أَمرِهِ وَأَخو العَج
زِincapacity (ending) يَليهِcomes to him مِنof أَمرِهِhis business ذَنَبُهits tail
زِ يَليهِ مِن أَمرِهِ ذَنَبُه
He reaches his business at its head, while the man of
One who leads his command though still a teenager,
incapacity has its tail come to him.
And a venerable one succeeds him in it from his task,
فَلَيسَso there is no يَعروarises خَطبٌa grave affair يُرادُis sought بِهِfor it السُلـthe sovereign (beginning)
فَلَيسَ يَعرو خَطبٌ يُرادُ بِهِ السُلـ
ـطانَsovereign (ending) إِلّاexcept مَأخوذَةٌalready taken أُهَبُهits preparations
ـطانَ إِلّا مَأخوذَةٌ أُهَبُه
No grave affair arises that calls for the
So no discourse is intended for the Sultan
sovereign without its preparations already in hand.
Unless taken gently, seizing its forelock,
أَقلامُthe pens of كُتّابِهِhis scribes مُوَجَّهَةٌare directed
أَقلامُ كُتّابِهِ مُوَجَّهَةٌ
لِلرَأيِtoward the judgment يَختارُهُhe chooses it وَيَنتَخِبُهand selects it
لِلرَأيِ يَختارُهُ وَيَنتَخِبُه
His scribes' pens are directed
Its writers' pens are directed
toward the judgment he chooses and selects.
To the opinion he chooses and selects,
يَحمِلُhe bears عَنهُمon their behalf ماwhat لاnot يَفونَthey fulfill بِهِit
يَحمِلُ عَنهُم ما لا يَفونَ بِهِ
كافيa support for كُفاةٍcapable men يُريحُهُمgives them rest تَعَبُهhis toil
كافي كُفاةٍ يُريحُهُم تَعَبُه
He shoulders for them what they cannot accomplish,
It carries for them what they cannot do,
a mainstay of capable men; his toil gives them rest.
Sufficient substitutes that ease their burden,
مُنتَظَرٌawaited إِذنُهُhis permission وَإِنand even though سَئِمَتgrew weary
مُنتَظَرٌ إِذنُهُ وَإِن سَئِمَت
نَفسُthe soul of أَبِيٍّan unbending man وَطالَand grew long مُرتَقَبُهhis waiting
نَفسُ أَبِيٍّ وَطالَ مُرتَقَبُه
His permission is awaited, though weary grows
Awaited is its permission, though the soul of one quick and impatient,
an unbending man's soul, and his waiting grows long.
And its expectation prolonged, tires,
إِذاwhen بَداhe appears لِلعُيونِto the eyes حَوَّلَهاturns them
إِذا بَدا لِلعُيونِ حَوَّلَها
ساطِعَradiant بِشرِcheerfulness يَروقُهاdelights them لَهَبُهits flame
ساطِعَ بِشرِ يَروقُها لَهَبُه
When he appears before the eyes, they are turned toward him
If it appears to the eyes, it turns them
by radiant cheerfulness whose flame delights them.
Radiant, pleasing them its flare,
وَإِنand if أَتىcomes دونَهُbefore him الحِجابُthe veil فَلَنthen never will
وَإِن أَتى دونَهُ الحِجابُ فَلَن
تَستُرَconceal عَنهُمfrom them آلاءَهُhis favors حُجُبُهhis veils
تَستُرَ عَنهُم آلاءَهُ حُجُبُه
And if a veil comes between him and them, never
And if the veil comes beneath it, still
will his veils conceal his favors from them.
Its blessings are not hidden from them by its veils,
يَهتالُهُpours over him المَجدُglory مِنfrom جَوانِبِهِhis sides
يَهتالُهُ المَجدُ مِن جَوانِبِهِ
كَالماءِlike water يَهتالُpours down عَفوَهُits abundant flow صَبَبُهits downward slope
كَالماءِ يَهتالُ عَفوَهُ صَبَبُه
Glory pours over him from every side,
Glory takes it by storm from its sides
as water's slope pours down its abundant flow.
As water takes its flowing freely by storm, its pouring,
إِنif قالَhe said أَوor قُلتُI said لَمnot يُخَفis feared كَذِبيmy falsehood
إِن قالَ أَو قُلتُ لَم يُخَف كَذِبي
فيin حِفظِhonoring أُكرومَةٍa noble favor وَلاnor كَذِبُهhis falsehood
في حِفظِ أُكرومَةٍ وَلا كَذِبُه
If he speaks or I speak, no lie is feared from me
If it spoke or I spoke, my lies were not hidden
in honoring a noble favor, nor from him.
In preserving a coveted thing, nor were its lies,
أَوor اِستَبَقناwe raced one another المَجازِياتِreciprocal recompenses فَلَنthen never will
أَو اِستَبَقنا المَجازِياتِ فَلَن
يَذهَبَgo شِعريmy poetry لَغواًto waste وَلاnor ذَهَبُهhis gold
يَذهَبَ شِعري لَغواً وَلا ذَهَبُه
Or if we vie in exchanging recompense, never
Or if we raced for rewards, so my poetry will not
will my poetry be wasted, nor his gold.
Vanish frivolously, nor will its gold,
يَتبَعُfollows تَأميلَهُhope placed in him الثَراءُriches كَماjust as
يَتبَعُ تَأميلَهُ الثَراءُ كَما
أَتبَعُfollowed غُزراًabundant rain مِنfrom ديمَةٍsteady rain عُشُبُهits grass
أَتبَعُ غُزراً مِن ديمَةٍ عُشُبُه
Riches follow hope placed in him, just as
Prosperity follows its inclination,
a copious fall of steady rain is followed by the grass it brings.
As grass follows a downpour from a cloudburst,
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.