أضرَّharmed بكyou الوجدُlonging لمّاwhen تَمادىran unchecked
أضرَّ بك الوجدُ لمّا تَمادى
وَصارَand became صلاحكyour well-being فيهin it فَساداruin
وَصارَ صلاحك فيه فَسادا
Longing harmed you when it ran unchecked,
Love's torment, when prolonged, did aggrieve you,
and in it your well-being turned to ruin.
And seeking relief therein brought you distress.
وَقاضَكand exchanged for you بعدafter الكرىsleep والهجوand slumber (first part)
وَقاضَك بعد الكرى والهجو
عslumber (completion) حكمthe decree الهوىof passion بالهجوعِfor sleep السهاداsleeplessness
ع حكم الهوى بالهجوعِ السهادا
And after sleep and slumber, it gave you—
So, after estrangement and censure galore,
love's decree—sleeplessness in exchange for sleep.
You were sentenced by passion for sleeplessness.
كأنّas though جفونَكyour eyelids قَدindeed أَقسَمتhad sworn
كأنّ جفونَك قَد أَقسَمت
هنالكَthere ألّاnot to تذوقَtaste الرُقاداslumber
هنالكَ ألّا تذوقَ الرُقادا
As though your eyelids had sworn
Your lids, it appears, have covenanted there
there never to taste sleep.
Henceforth to know not the taste of repose.
أَياO مُخبريmy informant عَنabout فريقٍa company طوتfolded up
أَيا مُخبري عَن فريقٍ طوت
بِهِمwith them أذرعُthe forelegs اليعمُلاتِof tireless she-camels الوهاداthe lowlands
بِهِم أذرعُ اليعمُلاتِ الوهادا
O you who tell me of a company for whom
O you, who inform me about a group
the forelegs of tireless she-camels folded up the lowlands,
With whom the hands of Time are at close quarters:
أَعدrepeat فيin الأحاديثthe stories ليfor me عنهمُabout them
أَعد في الأحاديث لي عنهمُ
فإنّيfor I أحبّlove لهfor it أنto يُعاداbe repeated
فإنّي أحبّ له أن يُعادا
repeat their stories to me,
Recount to me tales of them, for tales of theirs
for I love to hear the telling repeated.
I do love to hear told and retold.
فَريقٌa company تخيّلتI imagined أسرابهُits flocks
فَريقٌ تخيّلت أسرابهُ
شموساًsuns تصوّرنthey took form بيضاًfair-skinned خراداbashful maidens
شموساً تصوّرن بيضاً خرادا
A company whose flocks I imagined
A band, it seems, whose troops I imagined
as suns taking the form of fair, bashful maidens.
As gleaming suns, as pearls of white flawless.
فَوso, by اللهGod لمnot أَنسَI forget يومthe day الوداfarewell (first part)
فَو الله لم أَنسَ يوم الودا
عِfarewell (completion) سرّاًa secret دعانيsummoned me لهنّto them ونادىand called aloud
عِ سرّاً دعاني لهنّ ونادى
By God, I have not forgotten, on the day of farewell,
God! Never the day of parting have I forgot,
a secret that summoned me to them and called aloud.
When he called me aside and invited me.
دَعانيsummoned me إِليهنّto them مُستملكاًtaking possession
دَعاني إِليهنّ مُستملكاً
مَقاديmy reins فملّكهنّthen gave them المقاداthe reins
مَقادي فملّكهنّ المقادا
It summoned me to them, taking possession
He summoned me to them, his sovereign
of my reins, then giving them the reins.
Right confirmed, to give them sovereignty absolute.
غديّةَearly in the morning سارواthey departed وَأَنفاسناand our breaths
غديّةَ ساروا وَأَنفاسنا
تصعّدrose مَثنىin pairs معاًtogether أوor فراداsingly
تصعّد مَثنى معاً أو فرادا
The morning they departed, our breaths
On the morn we set out, and our spirits,
rose in pairs together, or singly.
As singles or couples, soared up apace.
أُسائلُI question ربعاًa dwelling لَهمof theirs قدalready تعفّاwas effaced
أُسائلُ ربعاً لَهم قد تعفّا
وَقَدand already زايلوهُthey left it نوىًseparation وَاِبتِعاداand distance
وَقَد زايلوهُ نوىً وَاِبتِعادا
I question a dwelling of theirs, now effaced,
I question a meadow of theirs turned desolate
which they had forsaken for separation and distance.
Though they had but newly quit it in haste.
سَقاهُmay it water it حياlife-giving rain المزنِof rainclouds منas a مربعٍspring abode
سَقاهُ حيا المزنِ من مربعٍ
وَرايحهُand its evening shower مستهلّاًpouring down وَغاداand coming at dawn
وَرايحهُ مستهلّاً وَغادا
May the clouds' life-giving rain water that spring abode,
The red snapdragons fed it clear wine from goblets,
its evening showers pouring down, and its morning showers.
While the basil sweet breathe forth profusely and fades.
وَصافَحهُand may it clasp its hand مِنfrom ربيعspring إِلىto
وَصافَحهُ مِن ربيع إِلى
ربيعspring واِنحسمand may it be cut short شهرthe month جُمادىJumada
ربيع واِنحسم شهر جُمادى
And may it clasp its hand, from spring to
The narcissi tenderly, season by season,
spring, and may the month of Jumada be cut short.
Embraced it from Spring well into July.
فَياso, O ويحَalas for قلبيmy heart إِلىuntil كمhow long أناI
فَيا ويحَ قلبي إِلى كم أنا
عليهِfor it أُحاذرI fear مِنof أَنthat يُصاداit be ensnared
عليهِ أُحاذر مِن أَن يُصادا
Alas for my heart! How long must I
Alas, my poor heart! How oft must I charge it
fear for it, lest it be ensnared?
Not to break should rejection come nigh?
وَفيand among كمhow many أقسِّمهshall I divide it إذwhen بعدماafter
وَفي كم أقسِّمه إذ بعدما
غَداit became بديداًscattered فيin الغرامِpassion ونادىand cried aloud
غَدا بديداً في الغرامِ ونادى
And among how many shall I divide it, now that
How oft must I adjure it, now they have turned
it lies scattered in passion and cries aloud?
My affliction in love to proclaim and decry?
أَأمنحهshall I give it هنداًto Hind أمor فرتناFartana
أَأمنحه هنداً أم فرتنا
وَأَسماand Asma وعاتكةand Atika أَوor سُعاداSu'ad
وَأَسما وعاتكة أَو سُعادا
Shall I give it to Hind, or Fartana,
Shall I offer it Hinda, or Fitna,
and Asma and Atika, or Su'ad?
Asma, or Su'ad for its mad desires?
فهنَّfor they اللّواتيare those who رسمنَinscribed الهوىpassion
فهنَّ اللّواتي رسمنَ الهوى
بِقلبيin my heart وأَعلقنَand fastened فيهwithin it الوداداaffection
بِقلبي وأَعلقنَ فيه الودادا
For they are the ones who inscribed passion
For they are my idols of love, they who traced
in my heart and fastened affection within it.
Out its labyrinths twisty and torturous.
وَهنَّand they منَfrom الوجدِlonging أَوقدنkindled ليfor me
وَهنَّ منَ الوجدِ أَوقدن لي
ضِراماًa blaze سوىbeyond ماwhat جفنّيmy eyelids (unclear reading) وداداaffection
ضِراماً سوى ما جفنّي ودادا
And they kindled for me, out of longing,
They it was who kindled the fires of yearning
a blaze beyond what my eyelids ... affection [wording unclear].
Now scorching my lids that had shut out all cheer;
وَهنَّand they منَfrom الوجدِlonging أوقدنkindled ليfor me
وَهنَّ منَ الوجدِ أوقدن لي
ضِراماa blaze أذابَmelted الحشاthe inmost parts والفؤاداand the heart
ضِراما أذابَ الحشا والفؤادا
And they kindled for me, out of longing,
Who kindled fires a-flame with high flames
a blaze that melted my inmost being and heart.
That consumed bridle and rider like fuel set afire.
كَتبنَthey wrote الهوىlove ليfor me سطوراًin lines وماand did not اِتused (first part)
كَتبنَ الهوى لي سطوراً وما اِت
تَخذنَthey used (completion) سِوىnothing but ماءthe water قلبيof my heart مداداas ink
تَخذنَ سِوى ماء قلبي مدادا
They wrote love for me in lines, and did not
They inscribed lines of passion, they only
use any ink but the water of my heart.
Who made of my heart's blood the red of their ink.
وَبيand in me وصبٌan ailment لَوif سرىcoursed بالجماthrough lifeless matter (first part)
وَبي وصبٌ لَو سرى بالجما
دِlifeless matter (completion) منfrom حرّهits heat لأذابَit would surely melt الجماداlifeless matter
دِ من حرّه لأذابَ الجمادا
I bear a sickness which, if it coursed through lifeless matter,
By my life, were its secret revealed to a rock
would melt that matter with its heat.
Of solid stone, even that rock would run molten!
سَقىmay water اللّهGod عصرَthe days الصِباof boyhood وَالشباand youth (first part)
سَقى اللّه عصرَ الصِبا وَالشبا
بyouth (completion) مِنfrom معصراتrainclouds الملاهيof amusements عِهاداrecurring showers
ب مِن معصرات الملاهي عِهادا
May God water the days of boyhood and youth
God watered the days of my youth from a vineyard
with recurring showers from pleasure's rainclouds.
Of pleasures, whose vintage enraptures the mind.
عَصرٌa time بهِin it طالماhow often نلتُI obtained منof
عَصرٌ بهِ طالما نلتُ من
لذيذِthe sweetness الهوىof love وبلغتand I attained المُراداthe desired goal
لذيذِ الهوى وبلغت المُرادا
A time when I so often gained
Those days whose sweet tensions I oft did enjoy,
love's sweetness and attained my desire.
And whose goals in love's fancies fulfilled had.
وَجرّرتand I trailed أَذيالthe hems تيهيof my pride بهin it
وَجرّرت أَذيال تيهي به
وَأَجريتand I raced فيamid ملهياتيmy amusements جياداfine steeds
وَأَجريت في ملهياتي جيادا
And in it I trailed the hems of my pride,
Those days when I dragged in the dust the long skirts
and raced fine steeds amid my pleasures.
Of my loose robe, and gave my fillies their heads.
تولّىit passed away وولّتand departed بشاشاتهits joys
تولّى وولّت بشاشاته
ونهنهand checked منّيfrom me البياضُwhiteness السواداblackness
ونهنه منّي البياضُ السوادا
It passed away, and its gladness passed with it,
But those days have verily taken their leave,
and whiteness drove blackness away from me.
And no more beam their smiles on me.
أَرىI see زَمنيmy age لمnever أَخلI imagined أنّهُthat it
أَرى زَمني لم أَخل أنّهُ
تودّدcourted ليtoward me بعدafter منهfrom it إلّاexcept بعاداestrangement
تودّد لي بعد منه إلّا بعادا
I look at my age; I have never thought
All I see is a time become harsh and unfriendly,
its wooing me after its estrangement anything but estrangement.
Starkly unwilling e'er again to show me its grace.
وَماand never إنindeed شكوتI complained منهُfrom it الخطوcalamities (first part)
وَما إن شكوت منهُ الخطو
بcalamities (completion) إلّاbut رَمىit hurled بالخطوبِwith calamities وزاداand added more
ب إلّا رَمى بالخطوبِ وزادا
I never complained of its calamities
As soon as I utter one pitiful peep of complaint,
but it hurled more calamities at me, and increased them.
It loads me instead with redoubled distress.
تنكّرit grew estranged ليtoward me بعدafter صفوthe purity الوداof affection (first part)
تنكّر لي بعد صفو الودا
دِaffection (completion) واللطفِand kindness واِبتزّنيand stripped me of ماwhat أفاداit had bestowed
دِ واللطفِ واِبتزّني ما أفادا
It grew estranged from me after pure affection
Estranged now, when once it would show me good will,
and kindness, and stripped me of what it had bestowed.
It plays me but sourly its charms to evince.
وَفوّقand nocked ليagainst me سهمَهُits arrow راشقاًshooting
وَفوّق لي سهمَهُ راشقاً
وجرّدand unsheathed ليagainst me منهُfrom itself بيضاًwhite blades حداداsharp
وجرّد لي منهُ بيضاً حدادا
It nocked its arrow to shoot at me,
It sharpens its arrows and strips me of arms,
and unsheathed against me its keen white blades.
Then assails me in armor hideous black.
عرفتI knew بهِof it غيرَbut أنّيthat I لهfor it
عرفت بهِ غيرَ أنّي له
صبرتُI was patient علىamid الحادثاتِcalamities اِعتِماداtrustingly
صبرتُ على الحادثاتِ اِعتِمادا
I knew it; yet I still relied on it,
Thus I know very well its caprice though forbear,
patiently enduring the calamities.
Putting always my trust in the turn of its wheel;
يريشُit feathers ويبريand pares عَلىalthough أنّهُit
يريشُ ويبري عَلى أنّهُ
يُعاودُreturns فيماto what بهwith which كانَit had been جاداgenerous
يُعاودُ فيما به كانَ جادا
It feathers and pares, yet it
For it yet may relent, and with kindness surprise me,
returns to reclaim what it once bestowed.
May yet turn the days in which once it took pride.
فَكمfor how many فيهِwithin it مِنa مترفٍpampered man قدalready قضىhas perished
فَكم فيهِ مِن مترفٍ قد قضى
وَماand not منهfrom it يوماًever تزوّدَtook provisions زاداprovisions
وَما منه يوماً تزوّدَ زادا
How many a pampered man has perished in it,
Oh, the feats of illusion that vanished away!
without once taking provisions from it!
And no single bright day has it left as my stay!
وَكلّand every اِمرئٍperson مِنamong جميعall الورىhumankind
وَكلّ اِمرئٍ مِن جميع الورى
أسيرٌa captive لأحداثهِto its vicissitudes لنnever يفاداbe ransomed
أسيرٌ لأحداثهِ لن يفادا
And every person among all humankind
For each man of mankind is Time's thrall, nor shall any
is captive to its vicissitudes, never to be ransomed.
Contrive to escape from its prisoning chains.
وَماand not المرءa person إلّاexcept كمثلِlike الشهاa firebrand (first part)
وَما المرء إلّا كمثلِ الشها
بِfirebrand (completion) بعدَafter الوقودِburning يصيرُhe becomes رماداashes
بِ بعدَ الوقودِ يصيرُ رمادا
And man is just like a firebrand:
Man's estate is as ashes when fuel is spent,
after burning, he turns to ashes.
Or a ruin when bolstering pillars collapse.
وَبيداءand a wilderness قفراءbarren كلّفتهاI imposed it
وَبيداء قفراء كلّفتها
أموناًa trusty she-camel منَamong العيسِpale camels جرفاًmassive سناداtall
أموناً منَ العيسِ جرفاً سنادا
And a barren wilderness—I assigned its crossing to
It is wilderness, arid, where once did encamp
a trusty pale she-camel, massive and tall.
A rich tribe of nomads their black goats and white.
أَلاcome! فَاِطلبنّso surely seek الغنىwealth واِتّخذand take
أَلا فَاِطلبنّ الغنى واِتّخذ
لكَfor yourself العيسَpale camels دونَinstead of المهادِbedding مهاداa bed
لكَ العيسَ دونَ المهادِ مهادا
Come, seek wealth, and take
Seek you riches! Let nomads and luxury be
pale camels for your bed instead of bedding.
Your endeavour, but never a bare life of need!
وَلُذand take refuge بالمظفّرwith al-Muzaffar وَاِستجدهِand seek his bounty
وَلُذ بالمظفّر وَاِستجدهِ
يفدكَhe will grant you الطريقَthe road معاًtogether والبلاداand the lands
يفدكَ الطريقَ معاً والبلادا
Take refuge with al-Muzaffar and seek his bounty;
Win victory! Make your own good fortune!
he will grant you the road and the lands together.
Command road and dominion! a king be acclaimed!
مَليكٌa king علىin عسرهِhis hardship والغنىand wealth
مَليكٌ على عسرهِ والغنى
يَرىhe considers الجودَgenerosity ديناًa religion لهُfor himself واِعتقاداand a creed
يَرى الجودَ ديناً لهُ واِعتقادا
A king who, in hardship and wealth,
Spend freely your silver when means run distressed!
sees generosity as his religion and creed.
See high generosity as solemn faith bound!
تَرعرعَhe grew up مكتهلاًalready mature وَاِرتَقىand ascended
تَرعرعَ مكتهلاً وَاِرتَقى
مَنارَthe beacon المفاخرِof glories طفلاًas a child وساداand became lord
مَنارَ المفاخرِ طفلاً وسادا
He grew up already mature, and climbed
A sapling at first, it shot up a tall palm,
the beacon of glories while a child, and ruled.
Reached high on the ladder of glory though young.
جَوادٌa generous man تتابعَfollowed one another آباؤهُhis fathers
جَوادٌ تتابعَ آباؤهُ
إِلىtoward المكرماتِnoble deeds جَواداًgenerous man جواداgenerous man
إِلى المكرماتِ جَواداً جوادا
A generous man whose fathers followed one another
Of generous breed, and its sires too displayed
toward noble deeds, generous man after generous man.
Their worth down long lines in most generous kind.
بَنىhe built بيتَa house مجدٍof glory لهfor himself سامياًlofty
بَنى بيتَ مجدٍ له سامياً
أَقامَhe raised لهُfor it مِنfrom نداهُhis bounty عماداa pillar
أَقامَ لهُ مِن نداهُ عمادا
He built himself a lofty house of glory,
A mansion he built, tow'ring to heaven, and raised
and set up a pillar for it from his bounty.
Its pillars from virtues his nature had formed.
أباعثهاO sender of them للعداةِto the enemies شراباًas a drink
أباعثها للعداةِ شراباً
تدافعنَthey surged forward بيضاًwhite blades وسمراًand brown صِعاداspear-shafts
تدافعنَ بيضاً وسمراً صِعادا
O you who send them to the foe as a draught,
To his foes I could proffer a deathly black draft
surging onward, white blades and brown spear-shafts!
That would smite them with pallor and coal-colored fear.
وَمنand one who لَوhad ثمودٌThamud وعادٌand ʿAd بقواthey survived
وَمن لَو ثمودٌ وعادٌ بقوا
عَليهِagainst him لأردىhe would surely destroy ثَموداًThamud وعاداand ʿAd
عَليهِ لأردى ثَموداً وعادا
And one who, had Thamud and ʿAd lived on
And were Thamud and 'Ad bound against him combined,
to face him, would have destroyed Thamud and ʿAd.
I would scatter their throngs as though milling locusts.
فَماfor not فيin الحميّةِprotective zeal جسّاسهاits Jassas
فَما في الحميّةِ جسّاسها
بشاكٍfully armed وَلاnor منhe who أَجارsheltered الجراداthe locusts
بشاكٍ وَلا من أَجار الجرادا
For, in protective zeal, its Jassas
Nay, in love with brave death stands no weakling who'd quaver
is unarmed, as is he who sheltered the locusts.
At friend or at stranger - no coward who'd flee.
فَمَنthen who ذاis it يُساميكَcan rival you مِنfrom بعدafter ماthat
فَمَن ذا يُساميكَ مِن بعد ما
رقيتَyou ascended مِنof المجدِglory سبعاًseven [heavens] شداداmighty
رقيتَ مِن المجدِ سبعاً شدادا
Then who can rival you, after
So who dare vie with you now you have gained
you have ascended seven mighty [heavens] of glory?
Such a crown of high glory invincible strength?
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.