ذِكرُmemory of الصِباyouth مِنهُfrom it ليfor me هاجَتwere stirred صَباباتُardent longings
ذِكرُ الصِبا مِنهُ لي هاجَت صَباباتُ
سِهامُهاtheir arrows فيin الحَشاthe inmost breast مِنهاfrom them إِصاباتُwounds
سِهامُها في الحَشا مِنها إِصاباتُ
The memory of youth has stirred longings in me;
The memory of my youth stirred up passions in me
their arrows have left wounds deep within my breast.
Its arrows in my soul left wounds
إِذاwhen تَغَنَّتsing حَماماتُdoves of الحِمىthe sanctuary أُصُلاًin the evenings
إِذا تَغَنَّت حَماماتُ الحِمى أُصُلاً
حامَتcircled بِهَتكِwith the violation of حِمىthe sanctuary of سِرّيmy secret الحماماتُthe doves
حامَت بِهَتكِ حِمى سِرّي الحماماتُ
When the doves of the sanctuary sing at dusk,
When the doves of love cooed
the doves circle, intent on breaching my secret's sanctuary.
They violated the sanctuary of my secret longings
خَيماتُtents of لَيلِthe night of شَبابيmy youth قُوِّضَتwere dismantled سَحَراًbefore dawn
خَيماتُ لَيلِ شَبابي قُوِّضَت سَحَراً
فَطَنَّبَتso spread their guy ropes لِصَباحِfor the morning of الشَيبِgray hair خَيماتُtents
فَطَنَّبَت لِصَباحِ الشَيبِ خَيماتُ
The tents of my youth's night were struck before dawn;
The tents of my youth's night were struck down at dawn
then tents spread their ropes for the morning of gray hair.
And the tents for the morning of old age were pitched
فَوَلَّتِso turned away البيضُthe fair women عَنّيfrom me غَيرَwithout لاوِيَةٍturning back
فَوَلَّتِ البيضُ عَنّي غَيرَ لاوِيَةٍ
فَكُنتُso I became قَيساًQays نَأَتwithdrew عَنهُfrom him الرُقَيّاتُthe Ruqayyas
فَكُنتُ قَيساً نَأَت عَنهُ الرُقَيّاتُ
So the fair women turned away from me, never looking back;
The eggs left me, not destined to hatch
and I became a Qays from whom the Ruqayyas had withdrawn.
So I became Qais, abandoned by the fair ones
قَدalready غادَرَleft العَبَراتِthe tears الشَيبُgray hair فانِيَةًspent
قَد غادَرَ العَبَراتِ الشَيبُ فانِيَةً
وَفيand in مَذَّمَتِهِits condemnation تَفنَىare exhausted العِباراتُexpressions
وَفي مَذَّمَتِهِ تَفنَى العِباراتُ
Gray hair has left my tears spent;
Old age left behind grief as fleeting
and words are exhausted in condemning it.
And in its determination, expressions fade away
كَيفَhow السَبيلُthe way إِلىto صَفوِthe serenity of الحَياةِlife وَفيwhile in
كَيفَ السَبيلُ إِلى صَفوِ الحَياةِ وَفي
رَأسيmy head مِنَof الشَعَراتِthe hairs البيضِthe white حَيّاتُserpents
رَأسي مِنَ الشَعَراتِ البيضِ حَيّاتُ
How can one reach life's serenity, when
How can I reach the essence of life when
my head holds serpents of white hair?
In my hair are snakes of white?
وَلَّتdeparted لذاذاتُpleasures of عَيشيmy life وَالشَبابُand youth وَهَلand are ...?
وَلَّت لذاذاتُ عَيشي وَالشَبابُ وَهَل
مَعَwith المَشيبِgraying تُرىone wonders اللذّاتُthe pleasures لذّاتُpleasures
مَعَ المَشيبِ تُرى اللذّاتُ لذّاتُ
My life's pleasures and my youth have fled; and are
The pleasures of my life have passed and youth - could it be
pleasures still pleasures, I wonder, when the hair is gray?
That with old age there are lasting pleasures?
قَدalready حانَthe time has come تَسليمُthe closing salutation of مَنone who أَدّىperformed الصَلاةَthe prayer وَقَدand already
قَد حانَ تَسليمُ مَن أَدّى الصَلاةَ وَقَد
مَضَتhave passed مِنَafter السَجدَةِthe prostration الأُخرىthe final التَحِيّاتُthe greetings
مَضَت مِنَ السَجدَةِ الأُخرى التَحِيّاتُ
It is time for the closing salutation of one who has prayed, and already
It is time to submit for one who has completed his prayers and
the greetings after the final prostration have been recited.
The final prostrations of worship have passed
جِنايَةُthe crime of الشَيبِgray hair عِنديin my view لاno خِلافَdispute أَتىhas arisen
جِنايَةُ الشَيبِ عِندي لا خِلافَ أَتى
فيconcerning أَنَّهاthat it قَصَّرَتfell short عَنهاof it الجِناياتُthe crimes
في أَنَّها قَصَّرَت عَنها الجِناياتُ
Gray hair's crime, in my view—no dispute has arisen
The crime of old age is undeniable, it has
that all other crimes fall short of it.
Fallen short of all other crimes
فَكَيفَso how أَضحَكُI laugh أَوor أُثنيI praise عَلىupon زَمَنٍan age
فَكَيفَ أَضحَكُ أَو أُثني عَلى زَمَنٍ
فيهِin it الضَواحِكُthe premolars أَودَتperished وَالثَنِيّاتُand the incisors
فيهِ الضَواحِكُ أَودَت وَالثَنِيّاتُ
How, then, can I laugh or praise an age
So how can I laugh or praise a time
in which the premolars and incisors have perished?
When all laughter and praise have perished?
ياO عاذِليmy reproacher ماnot العُيونُthe eyes البابِلِيّاتُthe Babylonian
يا عاذِلي ما العُيونُ البابِلِيّاتُ
يَنفُثنَthey breathe out سِحراًsorcery لَناfor us إِلّاnothing but بَلِيّاتُafflictions
يَنفُثنَ سِحراً لَنا إِلّا بَلِيّاتُ
O my reproacher, the Babylonian eyes
O you who blame me, what are these Babylonian eyes
that breathe sorcery upon us are nothing but afflictions.
That cast a spell on us but cause anguish?
قَدalready صِرنَthey have come to يَفرِكنَنيthey loathe me بَعدَafter الوِدادِaffection فَحَبso the cores (continued)
قَد صِرنَ يَفرِكنَني بَعدَ الوِدادِ فَحَب
باتُcompletion of 'cores' القُلوبِthe hearts اِنسَرتwere stripped away عَنهاfrom them المَحَبّاتُthe affections
باتُ القُلوبِ اِنسَرت عَنها المَحَبّاتُ
They have come to loathe me after affection; so the cores
They have come to grate me after love, so the
of hearts have had their loves stripped away.
Heart's affection for them has faded away
وَعُدنَand they have taken to يَدعونَنيthey call me عَمّاًan uncle مُهازأَةًmockingly
وَعُدنَ يَدعونَني عَمّاً مُهازأَةً
ياalas خَيبَةَthe dismay of العَمِّthe uncle تَدعوهُcall him الصَبِيّاتُthe young girls
يا خَيبَةَ العَمِّ تَدعوهُ الصَبِيّاتُ
And they have taken to calling me 'uncle' in mockery;
And they invite me, mocking, "Uncle!"
alas for the 'uncle' whom young girls call by that name!
Oh the shame of being called uncle by young girls!
لأَشكُوَنَّI shall surely complain of مَشيبيmy graying كاتِباًwriting بِيَديwith my hand
لأَشكُوَنَّ مَشيبي كاتِباً بِيَدي
إِلىto وَزيرٍa minister بِهِthrough him تُمحىare erased الشِكاياتُthe complaints
إِلى وَزيرٍ بِهِ تُمحى الشِكاياتُ
I shall surely complain of my gray hair, writing with my own hand,
I will complain of my old age in writing
to a minister through whom complaints are erased.
To a minister whose petitions are erased
ذاكَthat الوَزيرُthe minister الأَجَلُّthe most august الصاحِبُal-Sahib بنُson of عَلِيAli (continued)
ذاكَ الوَزيرُ الأَجَلُّ الصاحِبُ بنُ عَلِي
يٍcompletion of 'Ali' الَّذيwho بِاِسمِهِby his name تُزهىare glorified الوزاراتُthe ministries
يٍ الَّذي بِاِسمِهِ تُزهى الوزاراتُ
That most august minister, al-Sahib ibn Ali,
That supreme minister, Sahib bin Ali
whose name brings glory to ministries;
Whose name adorns all ministries
مَنone who لَيسَdo not تَثبُتُendure إِلّاexcept لِلوَلِيِّfor the loyal ally لَهُto him
مَن لَيسَ تَثبُتُ إِلّا لِلوَلِيِّ لَهُ
إِذاwhen أَتَتcome بِالرِضىwith approval مِنهُfrom him الوِلاياتُthe offices
إِذا أَتَت بِالرِضى مِنهُ الوِلاياتُ
he whose appointments endure only for those loyal to him,
He whose succession is uncontested, for him
when the offices come with his approval.
If he is pleased, authority is smoothed
لَوif أُنزِلَتwere revealed آيَةٌa verse بَعدَafter النَبِيِّthe Prophet إِذَنthen
لَو أُنزِلَت آيَةٌ بَعدَ النَبِيِّ إِذَن
لأُنزِلَتwould surely be revealed فيconcerning صَفِيِّSafi (chosen one of) الدينِal-Din (the faith) آياتُverses
لأُنزِلَت في صَفِيِّ الدينِ آياتُ
If a verse were revealed after the Prophet, then
If after the Prophet a verse were to descend
verses would surely be revealed concerning Safi al-Din.
It would descend regarding Safi al-Din
فيin كَفِّهِhis palm قَلَمٌa pen واهاًah, how wondrous! لَهُfor it قَلَماًa pen
في كَفِّهِ قَلَمٌ واهاً لَهُ قَلَماً
بِهِthrough it الأَمانِيُّthe wishes تَبدوappear وَالمَنِيّاتُand deaths
بِهِ الأَمانِيُّ تَبدو وَالمَنِيّاتُ
A pen is in his palm—ah, what a pen!
In his hand is a pen, woe to that remarkable pen
Through it wishes appear, and deaths as well.
By which hopes and wishes come true
مازالَhas remained فيamong الناسِpeople عَبدُAbd (servant of) اللَهِAllah (God) أَكرَمَmore honored عِنin the sight of (continued)
مازالَ في الناسِ عَبدُ اللَهِ أَكرَمَ عِن
دَcompletion of 'in the sight of' اللَهِGod مِنthan كُلِّevery مَنone who فيهِمamong them سِياداتُlordly ranks
دَ اللَهِ مِن كُلِّ مَن فيهِم سِياداتُ
Abd Allah remains, among men, more honored in the sight of
Abdullah still remains among the people as the most
God than all those among them who hold lordly rank.
Noble to God among all the elite
فَالمَسجِدُso the mosque الجامِعُcongregational المَعمورُflourishing حينَwhen دَعاcalled الthe (word fragment)
فَالمَسجِدُ الجامِعُ المَعمورُ حينَ دَعا ال
وَزيرُminister لَبَّتهُanswered him آياتٌsigns مُبيناتُclear
وَزيرُ لَبَّتهُ آياتٌ مُبيناتُ
As for the flourishing congregational mosque, when the
So the Great Mosque, filled with worshippers, when
minister called, clear signs answered him.
The minister appealed to it, clear verses echoed
فَأفعَمso he filled الصَحنَthe courtyard إِحساناًbeneficence وَمَكرُمَةًand generosity
فَأفعَم الصَحنَ إِحساناً وَمَكرُمَةً
فَلِلدُعاءِso for supplication لَهُfor him صيتٌrenown وَأَصواتُand voices
فَلِلدُعاءِ لَهُ صيتٌ وَأَصواتُ
So he filled its courtyard with beneficence and generosity;
He amplified the courtyard with kindness and honor
so prayers for him gain renown and rise in many voices.
So supplications for him loudly resound
تَرخيمُهُits marble-cladding ضِدّthe opposite of تَرخيمtruncation of النِداءِvocative address فَفيso in
تَرخيمُهُ ضِدّ تَرخيم النِداءِ فَفي
هاذاكَthat نَقصٌdiminution وَفيand in هَذاthis زِيازاتُadditions (apparent misspelling)
هاذاكَ نَقصٌ وَفي هَذا زِيازاتُ
Its marble-cladding contrasts with shortening a vocative, for
His recitations counter the calls to prayer, thus
that involves loss, while this brings additions.
In the former some lack, in the latter embellishments
فيin دَولَةِthe reign of العادِلِal-Adil (the Just) المَلكِthe king المَهيبِthe awe-inspiring رَأَيsaw (continued)
في دَولَةِ العادِلِ المَلكِ المَهيبِ رَأَي
ناwe (verb suffix) الذيبَthe wolf فيin القَفرِthe wilderness لَمdid not تَحفَلpay heed بِهِto it الشاةُthe sheep
نا الذيبَ في القَفرِ لَم تَحفَل بِهِ الشاةُ
In the reign of al-Adil, the awe-inspiring king, we saw
In the reign of the just king, the formidable one, we saw
the wolf in the wilderness, and the sheep paid it no heed.
The wolf in the desert unheeded by the sheep
مَلكٌa king لِصارِمِهِfor his keen sword وَالرُمحِand the spear فيin ثَغرِthe mouth of الthe (word fragment)
مَلكٌ لِصارِمِهِ وَالرُمحِ في ثَغرِ ال
أَعداءِenemies بِالثَغرِat the frontier ضَرباتٌblows وَطَعناتُand thrusts
أَعداءِ بِالثَغرِ ضَرباتٌ وَطَعناتُ
A king whose keen sword and spear, in the enemies'
A king by his resolute sword - with it thrust
mouths at the frontier, deliver blows and thrusts.
Into the throats of enemies - strikes and stabs
يَرميhe shoots بِأَسهُمِهِwith his arrows يَومَon the day of النِزالِbattle فَماso no
يَرمي بِأَسهُمِهِ يَومَ النِزالِ فَما
تَرُدُّهُنَّward them off الدُروعُthe coats of mail السَابِرِيّاتُthe Sabiri ones
تَرُدُّهُنَّ الدُروعُ السَابِرِيّاتُ
He shoots his arrows on the day of battle; no
On the day of battle he shoots his arrows, and
Sabiri coats of mail can ward them off.
They are not repelled by shields of tempered steel
فَالمُلكُso the kingdom لاno أَوَدٌcrookedness فيهِin it وَلاand no خَلَلٌflaw
فَالمُلكُ لا أَوَدٌ فيهِ وَلا خَلَلٌ
يَوماًon any day فَدامَتso may they endure لَهُfor him ماas long as شاءَhe wishes دَولاتُreigns
يَوماً فَدامَت لَهُ ما شاءَ دَولاتُ
Thus the kingdom has neither crookedness nor flaw
The kingdom has no defects or flaws
on any day; may his reigns endure as long as he wishes.
As long as he wills, may its reign endure!
قُلsay لِلفرنجِto the Franks الأولىthose who فيin عُقرِthe heart of دارِهِمtheir home
قُل لِلفرنجِ الأولى في عُقرِ دارِهِم
غُزواwere invaded فَجاسَتso swept خِلالَthrough الدارِthe dwelling غاراتُraids
غُزوا فَجاسَت خِلالَ الدارِ غاراتُ
Tell the Franks who, in the heart of their own home,
Say to the Franks: Attack first the heart of their homes
were invaded, as raids swept through their dwelling:
So raids penetrated the homes' midst
عودواreturn إِلىto حِمصَHoms فَالسَيفُfor the sword الَّذيwhich زَهَقَتperished
عودوا إِلى حِمصَ فَالسَيفُ الَّذي زَهَقَت
بِهِby it نُفوسُكُمُyour lives يَدعوcalls بِأَنthat تاتواyou come
بِهِ نُفوسُكُمُ يَدعو بِأَن تاتوا
Return to Homs! The sword that took
Return to Homs! For the sword that destroyed
your lives calls for you to come.
Your souls calls you to come
قَدalready أَصبَحَhas become اِبنُIbn (son of) عَلِيٍّAli راقِياًascending رُتَباًranks
قَد أَصبَحَ اِبنُ عَلِيٍّ راقِياً رُتَباً
حُسّادُهُنَّthose who envy them عَلىfor البَأوِgrandeur السَماواتُthe heavens
حُسّادُهُنَّ عَلى البَأوِ السَماواتُ
Ibn Ali has now ascended to ranks
The son of Ali has attained the highest ranks
whose grandeur the heavens themselves envy.
While his envious enemies dwell in misery
مُعَوَّداًaccustomed لفعالِto deeds of الخَيرِgoodness قَدَّمَهُhe sent it ahead
مُعَوَّداً لفعالِ الخَيرِ قَدَّمَهُ
قُدّامَهُahead of him فَلَهُso he has فيin الخَيرِgoodness عاداتُhabits
قُدّامَهُ فَلَهُ في الخَيرِ عاداتُ
Accustomed to deeds of goodness, he has sent it
Accustomed is he to good deeds, preceding him,
ahead of himself; for doing good is his custom.
So his virtuous habits go before him
لِلأَولِياءِfor the allies وِلاياتٌoffices بِهاthrough them لَبِسواthey donned الthe (word fragment)
لِلأَولِياءِ وِلاياتٌ بِها لَبِسوا ال
آلاتِregalia مِنهُfrom him وَلِلأَعداءِand for the enemies وَيلاتُwoes
آلاتِ مِنهُ وَلِلأَعداءِ وَيلاتُ
His allies have offices through which they have donned the
For the loyal, authority by which they are adorned
regalia from him; and his enemies have woes.
And for enemies, torments
ياO ناصِرَdefender of المَذهَبِthe doctrine المَيمونِblessed ناصِرُهits defender
يا ناصِرَ المَذهَبِ المَيمونِ ناصِرُه
أَبشِرrejoice فَبِالفَتحِso with victory جاءَتكَhave come to you البِشاراتُthe glad tidings
أَبشِر فَبِالفَتحِ جاءَتكَ البِشاراتُ
O defender of the doctrine, whose defender is blessed,
O supporter of the blessed denomination, its supporter -
rejoice! Glad tidings of victory have come to you.
Rejoice, for the conquests have brought you good tidings
لَكَfor you الثَناءُthe praise الَّذيwhich مِنهُbecause of it يُذَبّحُare slit open ماwhat lies
لَكَ الثَناءُ الَّذي مِنهُ يُذَبّحُ ما
بَينَamong المَحافِلِthe assemblies مِنfrom دارينDarin فاراتُmusk pods
بَينَ المَحافِلِ مِن دارين فاراتُ
Yours is the praise for which, amid
Yours is the praise by which is sacrificed
the assemblies, musk pods from Darin are slit open.
Whatever enmities lie between the two abodes
أَطلَعتَyou revealed وَجهَكَyour face مِصباحاًas a lamp يُضيءُshines لَناfor us
أَطلَعتَ وَجهَكَ مِصباحاً يُضيءُ لَنا
وَطَيلَسانُكَand your mantle لِلمِصباحِfor the lamp مِشكاةُa niche
وَطَيلَسانُكَ لِلمِصباحِ مِشكاةُ
You have revealed your face, a lamp that shines for us,
Your face rises like a lantern, illuminating us
and your mantle is a niche for the lamp.
And your hat like a lantern case
ياO قالَةَspeakers of الشِعرِpoetry صونوهُsafeguard it فَماfor no أَحَدٌanyone
يا قالَةَ الشِعرِ صونوهُ فَما أَحَدٌ
فيin الشامِal-Sham تُبنىare built لَهُfor him بِالمَدحِin praise أَبياتُverses
في الشامِ تُبنى لَهُ بِالمَدحِ أَبياتُ
O poets, safeguard it, for no one
O paregons of poetry, preserve it, for no one
in al-Sham has verses built for him in praise,
In Damascus has verses built up for him in praise
سِوىexcept الوَزيرِthe minister الَّذيwho تَعنوbow لَهُbefore him هِمَمٌambitions
سِوى الوَزيرِ الَّذي تَعنو لَهُ هِمَمٌ
ماno فَوقَabove غاياتِهاtheir utmost aims فيin المَجدِglory غاياتُaims
ما فَوقَ غاياتِها في المَجدِ غاياتُ
except the minister, before whom bow ambitions
Except the minister whose ambitions transcend
whose utmost goals in glory have no goals above them.
Aspirations, beyond which no aspirations rise
هُوَhe الَّذيwho عَرَكَتrubbed أُذنَthe ear of الزَمانِTime بِصُلwith coarse (continued)
هُوَ الَّذي عَرَكَت أُذنَ الزَمانِ بِصُل
بِcompletion of 'coarse' المِلحِthe salt يُمناهُhis right hand حَتّىuntil تابَrepented مفتاتُthe presumptuous one
بِ المِلحِ يُمناهُ حَتّى تابَ مفتاتُ
He is the one who rubbed Time's ear with coarse
It is he whose ear persistently pesters fate
salt, with his right hand, until that presumptuous one repented.
Until it yields to his bits of salt
لاmay not زالَcease فيamid نِعَمٍblessings مَحروسَةٍprotected أَبَداًforever
لا زالَ في نِعَمٍ مَحروسَةٍ أَبَداً
مِنَfrom المَخوفِwhat is feared وَلاand may no وافَتهُbefall him آفاتُafflictions
مِنَ المَخوفِ وَلا وافَتهُ آفاتُ
May he remain forever amid blessings protected
May he remain forever in protected bliss
from what is feared, and may no afflictions befall him.
Safe from fears, untouched by afflictions
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.