خلِّleave الكئيبَthe sorrowful man يقاسيto suffer ماwhat يقاسيهِhe suffers it
خلِّ الكئيبَ يقاسي ما يقاسيهِ
ويسبلand he lets flow الدَّمعtears قطراin drops منfrom مآقيهِthe corners of his eyes
ويسبل الدَّمع قطرا من مآقيهِ
Leave the sorrowful man to suffer what he suffers,
Leave the sorrowful one to suffer his sorrows,
and let tears stream in drops from the corners of his eyes.
And let tears flow as drops from his afflictions.
لاdo not تلحهreproach him إنif بكىhe weeps أوor حنَّhe sighs with longing منfrom ولهٍlove's bewilderment
لا تلحه إن بكى أو حنَّ من ولهٍ
ودعهand leave him يرسبُto sink وجداًin yearning فيamid ملاهيهِhis diversions
ودعه يرسبُ وجداً في ملاهيهِ
Do not reproach him if he weeps or sighs in love's bewilderment,
Do not pester him if he weeps or grieves from anguish,
and leave him to sink in yearning amid his diversions.
Let him drift in ecstasy amid his diversions.
وليسand it is not إنif صدَّhe turns away عنfrom هاديهhis guide منany عجبwonder
وليس إن صدَّ عن هاديه من عجب
فالصبُّfor the lovesick man ليسdoes not يرىregard هاديهhis guide هاديهِhis guide
فالصبُّ ليس يرى هاديه هاديهِ
And it is no wonder if he turns away from his guide,
It's no wonder if he's distracted from his guide,
for the lovesick man does not regard his guide as his guide.
For the enthralled cannot see his guide leading.
صبٌّa lovesick man علىon ظهرِthe back of نضوa worn-out mount الغيّerror مركبُهhis mount
صبٌّ على ظهرِ نضو الغيّ مركبُه
والوجدُand passion قائدُهhis leader والشوقُand longing حاديهِhis camel-driver
والوجدُ قائدُه والشوقُ حاديهِ
Lovesick, he rides the back of error's worn-out beast;
He rides the steed of passion in the dark night,
and passion is his leader, and longing his camel-driver.
Ecstasy is his leader and yearning his guide.
لمdid not يبقremain منof روحِهhis spirit إلّاexcept حشاشتهits last remnant
لم يبق من روحِه إلّا حشاشته
تردَّدتfluttered منهfrom him فيat أقصىthe uppermost reach of تراقيهِhis collarbones
تردَّدت منه في أقصى تراقيهِ
Nothing remains of his spirit but its last flicker,
Nothing remains of his soul except his whim,
fluttering within him at the uppermost reach of his collarbones.
Which ebbs and flows to its furthest extremes.
يميتهُkills him فيin هواهhis love هجرُthe desertion of قاتِلهhis slayer
يميتهُ في هواه هجرُ قاتِله
والوصلand union بعدَafter خروجthe departure of الرّوحِthe spirit يحييهِrevives him
والوصل بعدَ خروج الرّوحِ يحييهِ
His slayer's desertion kills him in his love,
His love kills him in his passion, while union
and union revives him after his spirit has departed.
After the soul's departure brings him back to life.
ياO صاحبيَّmy two companions اِنظرانيwait for me, both of you ساعةًa moment وقِفاand halt, both of you
يا صاحبيَّ اِنظراني ساعةً وقِفا
ليfor me فيat مقامٍa dwelling تعفَّىbecame effaced بعدَafter أهليهِits inhabitants
لي في مقامٍ تعفَّى بعدَ أهليهِ
O my two companions, wait for me a moment, and halt
My friend, look at me standing reverently -
for me at a dwelling effaced after its people departed.
For one whose hand the reins have left I pay respects.
ربعٌan abode نحيّيهwe greet it إجلالاًin reverence لمنfor one whom وجدتgrieved
ربعٌ نحيّيه إجلالاً لمن وجدت
أيديthe forefeet of المطيِّthe riding camels بهfor him أنthat لاnot نحيِّيهِwe greet him
أيدي المطيِّ به أن لا نحيِّيهِ
An abode we greet, honoring one for whom
A halt we honor out of awe for one who found
the camels' forefeet grieved at our not greeting him.
My hands unfit to even greet him anymore.
عَهديmy memory بهof it وظباءwhile the gazelles of القفرthe wilderness ناصبةwere laying
عَهدي به وظباء القفر ناصبة
منهنّfrom themselves للأسدfor lions أشراكthe snares of الهوىlove فيهِin it
منهنّ للأسد أشراك الهوى فيهِ
I remember it when the desert gazelles were laying
My pact with him - while the bare plains held
snares of love there for lions, with themselves as bait.
Pits for the lion of love to snare him.
وَكَمand how often قدindeed سحبتI trailed بهin it ذيلَthe hem of الشبابِyouth وقدand already
وَكَم قد سحبت به ذيلَ الشبابِ وقد
جرَّرتI trailed فيهin it بأذيالٍwith hems لساميهِof its exalted one
جرَّرت فيه بأذيالٍ لساميهِ
And how often I trailed there the hem of youth, and
How often have I dragged the tail of youth with him,
trailed through it the hems of its exalted one.
Pulling him along by the train of my garment's hem.
وَكمand how often سحبتI trailed بهin it ذيلَthe hem of الشبابِyouth وكمand how often
وَكم سحبت به ذيلَ الشبابِ وكم
جنيتُI plucked غصنَthe branch of الهَوىlove فيهِin it وغانيهِand its fair beloved
جنيتُ غصنَ الهَوى فيهِ وغانيهِ
And how often I trailed there the hem of youth, and how often
How often have I plucked the branch of passion with him,
I plucked love's branch there and its fair beloved.
And gathered the bloom of love through him and his songs.
أيَّامin the days of روضthe garden of الصِّباyouth خضرgreen شقائقُهits anemones
أيَّام روض الصِّبا خضر شقائقُه
موشيّةembroidered بالبهاwith splendor منهfrom it حواشيهِits borders
موشيّة بالبها منه حواشيهِ
In days when youth's garden had green anemones,
The days of youth's garden - green are its anemones,
its borders embroidered with its own splendor.
Adorned with splendor along its edges.
عصرٌan age مضىpassed وتقضَّىand ended طيبthe sweetness of لذَّتهits delight
عصرٌ مضى وتقضَّى طيب لذَّته
ماhow كانit was أحلىsweet وماand how أبهىsplendid لياليهِits nights
ما كان أحلى وما أبهى لياليهِ
An age gone by, its sweet delight exhausted—
A bygone era whose sweet delight has waned -
how sweet it was, and how splendid its nights!
How beautiful, how marvelous were its nights!
أفديI would ransom الحبيبَthe beloved الّذيwho نحويtoward me سرىjourneyed by night سحراًbefore dawn
أفدي الحبيبَ الّذي نحوي سرى سحراً
كأنَّهas though he البدرُthe full moon وافىarrived فيin تجلِّيهِits radiance
كأنَّه البدرُ وافى في تجلِّيهِ
I would ransom the beloved who journeyed to me by night before dawn,
I would ransom the beloved who crept to me at night
as though he were the full moon arriving in its radiance.
As if he were the full moon rising in its brilliance.
أفديهِI would ransom him منas a زائرٍvisitor جاءcame الخيالُthe dream-vision بهwith him
أفديهِ من زائرٍ جاء الخيالُ به
منfrom بعدِafter طولِthe length of الجفاestrangement أفديهِI would ransom him أفديهِI would ransom him
من بعدِ طولِ الجفا أفديهِ أفديهِ
I would ransom him, a visitor brought by a dream,
I would ransom him - after long estrangement
after long estrangement—I would ransom him, ransom him.
Imagination brought him back - I ransom him, ransom him!
زارتvisited سعادُSu'ad وشهبُwhile the bright stars of الجوِّthe sky شاخصةwere staring
زارت سعادُ وشهبُ الجوِّ شاخصة
بأعينwith eyes ناظراتٍgazing فيinto دياجيهِits deep darkness
بأعين ناظراتٍ في دياجيهِ
Su'ad visited while the sky's bright stars stared
Good fortune and the stars of the night sky visited me,
with watchful eyes into its deep darkness.
With expectant eyes amidst its darkness.
وأقبلتand she approached ليtoward me تهادىswaying gently فيin مجاسدهاher saffron-dyed robes
وأقبلت لي تهادى في مجاسدها
بمنظرٍwith an appearance مكتسٍclothed بالحسنِin beauty عاريهِits nakedness
بمنظرٍ مكتسٍ بالحسنِ عاريهِ
And she came toward me, swaying in her saffron-dyed robes,
She came to me, coquetting in her gatherings,
a sight whose nakedness was clothed in beauty.
Dressed in beauty, though clad only in charm.
أبدَتshe expressed عتاباًreproach علىover طولِthe length of النَوىseparation ولهاand she had
أبدَت عتاباً على طولِ النَوى ولها
لفظspeech يحاكيresembles لبالبهاher pearls (uncertain reading) لباليهِits pearls (uncertain reading)
لفظ يحاكي لبالبها لباليهِ
She voiced reproach for the long separation, and hers was
She chided my lengthy estrangement, and she had
speech whose pearls resembled her own [uncertain reading].
Words that echoed the laments of my heart.
فقمتُso I rose ألثمُto kiss صدغَهاher temple ومبسمَهاand her smiling mouth
فقمتُ ألثمُ صدغَها ومبسمَها
وأحتسيand I sip عسلاًhoney عذباًsweet لجانيهِto its gatherer
وأحتسي عسلاً عذباً لجانيهِ
So I rose to kiss her temple and her smiling mouth,
So I rose to kiss her cheek and her smile,
and sip honey sweet to the one who gathers it.
And sipped the sweetest intoxicating nectar from her mouth.
فَجالthen flowed ماءthe water of الحياmodesty فيover وجههاher face خجلاًfrom shyness
فَجال ماء الحيا في وجهها خجلاً
واِصفرّand turned yellow لوناًin hue بتوريدwith rose-red coloring وتمويهِand a wash of color
واِصفرّ لوناً بتوريد وتمويهِ
Then modesty's water coursed over her face in shyness,
The water of life blushed on her face in shyness,
and it turned yellow in hue, with rose-red coloring and a wash of tint.
Her complexion turning pale in embarrassment and denial.
وجهa face تضاحكlaughed فيهِin it الدُّرُّpearls مبتسماًsmiling
وجه تضاحك فيهِ الدُّرُّ مبتسماً
ماwhat lies بينbetween أبيضهits white حُسناًin beauty وقانيهِand its deep crimson
ما بين أبيضه حُسناً وقانيهِ
A face in which pearls laughed, smiling,
A face whose pearls smile amidst its beauty and perfection,
between its beautiful white and deep crimson.
With radiant charm between its fairness and luminescence.
فالجلّنارso pomegranate blossom يناغيcoos to غضَّthe tender نرجسهits narcissus
فالجلّنار يناغي غضَّ نرجسه
ورائقand the lovely الوردrose دانٍnear منto أقاحيهِits daisies
ورائق الورد دانٍ من أقاحيهِ
So pomegranate blossom coos to its tender narcissus,
As the narcissus flirts with the rose's tender sprout,
and the lovely rose lies close to its daisies.
And the fragrance of roses humbly bows before it.
غيداءa slender, graceful woman ليِّنةsupple الأعطافof limb مائسةswaying
غيداء ليِّنة الأعطاف مائسة
كأنّهاas though she غصنa branch of بانthe bān tree فيin تثنِّيهِits bending
كأنّها غصن بان في تثنِّيهِ
A slender woman, supple-limbed and swaying,
A delicate, gentle-limbed gazelle, so delicate,
as though she were a bān-tree branch as it bends.
As if she's a tender branch bending in the breeze.
لاnot زلتmay I cease أصبوyearning إليهاfor her ماas long as حييتُI live كماjust as
لا زلت أصبو إليها ما حييتُ كما
يصبوyearns فلاحFalah إلىto إكرامِhonoring عافيهِone seeking his bounty
يصبو فلاح إلى إكرامِ عافيهِ
May I never cease yearning for her while I live, just as
I still yearn for her as long as I live, just as
Falah yearns to honor one who seeks his bounty.
A farmer yearns for the safety of his bountiful crop.
متوَّجa crowned one فيin اِرتكابundertaking المشكلاتdifficult deeds حظيhe gained favor
متوَّج في اِرتكاب المشكلات حظي
بأوَّلِwith the first of الحمدِpraise عنfor سعيstriving وتاليهِand what follows it
بأوَّلِ الحمدِ عن سعي وتاليهِ
A crowned one, who in undertaking hard deeds has gained
Triumphant in taking on challenges, Fortune
the first praise and what follows it for his striving.
Smiled on him as the foremost in praise and stature.
رقاhe climbed مراتبَranks منof سمكthe height of العُلاglory وسمتand rose
رقا مراتبَ من سمك العُلا وسمت
بهwith him سماءُthe heaven of المعاليnoble deeds فيin معاليهِhis lofty achievements
به سماءُ المعالي في معاليهِ
He climbed the ranks of glory's heights, and there rose
He rose up the ranks of lofty heights, and thereby
with him the heaven of noble deeds, in his lofty achievements.
Ascended the heavens of grandeur in his loftiness.
وصارand he came to be فيin رتبةٍa station شمَّاءtowering عاليةٍlofty
وصار في رتبةٍ شمَّاء عاليةٍ
ماno فيat نهايتهاits summit خلقcreated being يباريهِrivals him
ما في نهايتها خلق يباريهِ
And he attained a towering, lofty station,
He attained a sublime, brilliant station,
at whose summit no created being rivals him.
Which no creature can parallel in the ends of its bounds.
نورٌa light تصوَّرtook form فيin إجلالِهits majesty بشراًas a human
نورٌ تصوَّر في إجلالِه بشراً
سبحانَglory be to باريهhis Maker بلrather سبحانَglory be to باريهِhis Maker
سبحانَ باريه بل سبحانَ باريهِ
A light that, in its majesty, took human form—
A light imagined, in its veneration, some human -
glory be to his Maker—rather, glory be to his Maker!
Glory to its Creator! Nay, Glory to its Creator!
ياO أَيُّهاyou الملكُthe king القرمُthe noble chief الهمامُthe valiant hero ومنand you whose
يا أَيُّها الملكُ القرمُ الهمامُ ومن
خطَّتhave inscribed لهfor him الحمدَpraise والعلياand eminence مواضيهِhis keen swords
خطَّت له الحمدَ والعليا مواضيهِ
O king, noble chief, valiant hero, and you whose
O King, O brave lion, O protector, who
keen swords have inscribed for him praise and eminence.
Was destined for praise and the most noble paths.
ملكٌa king تفرَّدis unrivaled فيin عزٍّmight تفرَّدis unrivaled فيin
ملكٌ تفرَّد في عزٍّ تفرَّد في
ماwhat قَدalready تكسَّبهhe acquired it والمجدand glory ثانيهِhis companion
ما قَد تكسَّبه والمجد ثانيهِ
A king unrivaled in might, unrivaled in
A King who triumphed with unique might, unique
what he has won, with glory his companion.
In all he earned, while glory trails him.
أفقهshow understanding لمنto him who قدalready حباكbestowed on you النَّظمَverse متَّسقاًwell-ordered
أفقه لمن قد حباك النَّظمَ متَّسقاً
تُنبيproclaim بصفوِthe clarity of الحجاunderstanding منهin him معاليهِhis excellences
تُنبي بصفوِ الحجا منه معاليهِ
Show understanding to him who has bestowed well-ordered verse on you;
May he grant success to the one who gifted him this poem,
his excellences proclaim the clarity of his mind.
Whose excellent traits it highlights from his grandeur.
قدindeed جاءَhe came يقطعُtraversing آفاقَthe horizons of البلادِthe lands إلىup to
قد جاءَ يقطعُ آفاقَ البلادِ إلى
أنthat لوَّحتهscorched him الذَواريthe sweeping winds فيin مواهيهِhis complexion (uncertain reading)
أن لوَّحته الذَواري في مواهيهِ
He came traversing the horizons of the lands, until
He came to traverse the horizons of every land
the sweeping winds scorched his complexion [uncertain reading].
Until the mountain peaks waved to him at their passes.
وصارَand he departed عنfrom أفرخٍfledglings والكلّand all منfrom ولهٍlove's distress
وصارَ عن أفرخٍ والكلّ من ولهٍ
متيَّمenthralled القلبat heart غمرimmersed in الشوقِlonging ظاميهِthirsting for him
متيَّم القلب غمر الشوقِ ظاميهِ
And he departed from his fledglings, all, in love's distress,
And he became, for every chick, a doting mother,
enthralled at heart, immersed in longing, thirsting for him.
While pining hearts drowned in oceans of passion.
والدَمعand tears منهfrom him ومنهمand from them واكفflowing هتنٌtorrential
والدَمع منه ومنهم واكف هتنٌ
مسترسلٌflowing unchecked بينهمamong them لمdid not يرقَsubside جاريهِits flowing stream
مسترسلٌ بينهم لم يرقَ جاريهِ
And tears from him and from them flowed in torrents,
With tears flowing from them, from him, stifled wails
pouring unchecked among them, their flowing stream unstilled.
Poured forth between them, no stream contained.
حتّىuntil أتيتI arrived لهمfor them أمٌّa mother تعلّلهمconsoling them
حتّى أتيت لهم أمٌّ تعلّلهم
إلّاonly بإسمكwith your name إذas ظلَّتshe kept تصدِّيهِechoing it
إلّا بإسمك إذ ظلَّت تصدِّيهِ
Until I arrived, their mother was consoling them
Until I came to them, a mother who consoles them
with nothing but your name, which she kept echoing.
Only by your name, as it shredded her heart.
فعلَّلتهمso she consoled them بذاwith this كانتshe was تعلّلهمconsoling them
فعلَّلتهم بذا كانت تعلّلهم
وقدand already شجاanguished قلبهاher heart بالوجدِwith longing شاجيهِwhat grieved it
وقد شجا قلبها بالوجدِ شاجيهِ
So she comforted them with this; thus she kept soothing them,
She consoled them as she was wont to console,
while what grieved her heart anguished it with longing.
While grief itself cleaved her heart in two.
وبشَّرتهمand she gave them glad tidings بماof what كانتshe was تؤمِّلهhoping for it
وبشَّرتهم بما كانت تؤمِّله
منكَfrom you الغداةَin the morning وماand what كانتshe was ترجِّيهِawaiting it
منكَ الغداةَ وما كانت ترجِّيهِ
And she gave them glad tidings of what she hoped
She gave them good tidings of what she hoped from you
to receive from you in the morning, and what she awaited.
In the morn, and all that she wished for and desired.
فاِنعمso bestow لهupon him منكfrom you بالفسحانwith al-Fasḥān (unidentified term) فيin عجلٍhaste
فاِنعم له منك بالفسحان في عجلٍ
واِقضِand fulfill مآربَهhis needs واِصدقand make true أمانيهِhis wishes
واِقضِ مآربَه واِصدق أمانيهِ
So promptly grant him al-Fasḥān from you [unidentified term],
So delight him with your hospitality promptly,
and fulfill his needs, and make his wishes come true.
And fulfill his needs, and answer his prayers.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.