أَوَماand have you not رَأَيتَyou saw وَقائِعَthe assaults of الدَهرِTime
أَوَما رَأَيتَ وَقائِعَ الدَهرِ
أَفَلاthen will you not تُسيءُyou think ill الظَنَّthe opinion بِالعُمرِof life's span
أَفَلا تُسيءُ الظَنَّ بِالعُمرِ
And have you not seen the assaults of Time?
Have you not seen how fate's events transpire?
Then will you not distrust life's span?
Should you not then think ill of life's tenure?
بَيناwhile الفَتىthe young man كَالطودِlike a mountain تَكنُفُهُsurround it
بَينا الفَتى كَالطودِ تَكنُفُهُ
هَضَباتُهُits hills وَالعَضبِand the keen sword ذيpossessing الأَثرِthe blade's markings
هَضَباتُهُ وَالعَضبِ ذي الأَثرِ
While a young man stands like a mountain, ringed
While the youth stood like a towering mountain,
by its hills, and like a keen sword with markings,
Surrounded by his strong men with weapons glittering,
يَأبىhe rejects الدَنِيَّةَbaseness فيamong عَشيرَتِهِhis clan
يَأبى الدَنِيَّةَ في عَشيرَتِهِ
وَيُجاذِبُand he contends with الأَيديthe hands عَلىover الفَخرِglory
وَيُجاذِبُ الأَيدي عَلى الفَخرِ
he scorns baseness among his clan,
Refusing baseness among his tribe,
and wrestles hand against hand for glory.
Vying in glory and pride,
وَإِذاand when أَشارَhe gestures إِلىto قَبائِلِهِhis tribes
وَإِذا أَشارَ إِلى قَبائِلِهِ
حَشَدَتthey rallied إِلَيهِto him بِأَوجُهٍwith faces غُرِّradiant
حَشَدَت إِلَيهِ بِأَوجُهٍ غُرِّ
And when he gestures to his tribes,
Whenever he summoned his tribes,
they rally to him with radiant faces.
They gathered to him eagerly in throngs,
يَتَرادَفونَthey follow one another عَلىupon الرِماحِthe spears كَأَنَّهُمas though they were
يَتَرادَفونَ عَلى الرِماحِ كَأَنَّهُم
سَيلٌa torrent يَعُبُّsurges وَعارِضٌand a raincloud يَسريtravels by night
سَيلٌ يَعُبُّ وَعارِضٌ يَسري
They follow one another upon the spears, as though they were
Charging upon the spears as though they were
a surging torrent and a raincloud traveling by night.
A torrent raging and a stream flowing,
إِنَّif نَهنَهواthey are restrained زادواthey increase مُقارَبَةًcloseness
إِنَّ نَهنَهوا زادوا مُقارَبَةً
فَكَأَنَّماso it is as though يَدعونَthey are summoned بِالزَجرِby rebuke
فَكَأَنَّما يَدعونَ بِالزَجرِ
If held back, they press closer still,
If they were forbidden, they were more obstinate
so it is as though rebuke were a summons.
As though called to dispersed places.
عَدَدُthe number of النُجومِthe stars إِذاwhen دُعِيa summons is made بِهِمُfor them
عَدَدُ النُجومِ إِذا دُعِي بِهِمُ
يَتَزاحَمونَthey crowd together تَزاحُمَlike the crowding of الشَعرِhair
يَتَزاحَمونَ تَزاحُمَ الشَعرِ
As numerous as the stars, when summoned,
When numbered like the stars if called upon,
they crowd together as densely as hairs.
They crowded together like hair disheveled.
عَقَدواthey tied عَلىfor الجُلّىthe greatest ordeal مَآزِرَهُمtheir waistcloths
عَقَدوا عَلى الجُلّى مَآزِرَهُم
سُبطَsupple الأَنامِلِthe fingers طَيّبيpure الأُزرِthe loincloths
سُبطَ الأَنامِلِ طَيّبي الأُزرِ
They tie their waistcloths for the greatest ordeal,
They girded their loins for death itself
supple-fingered, with unstained loincloths.
The offspring of heroes, of goodly stock.
زَلَّslipped الزَمانُTime بِوَطءِunder the tread of أَخمَصِهِthe hollow of his foot
زَلَّ الزَمانُ بِوَطءِ أَخمَصِهِ
وَمَواطِىُand the footholds of الأَزمانِtimes لِلعَثرِfor stumbling
وَمَواطِىُ الأَزمانِ لِلعَثرِ
Time slipped beneath the tread of his foot,
Time slipped by the tread of his heel
and Time's footholds are places for stumbling.
And the terrains of time over obstacles trip.
نَزَعَhe cast off الإِباءَdefiance وَكانَand it had been شَملَتَهُhis cloak
نَزَعَ الإِباءَ وَكانَ شَملَتَهُ
وَأَقَرَّand he submitted إِقراراًa submission عَلىin صُغرِabasement
وَأَقَرَّ إِقراراً عَلى صُغرِ
He cast off defiance, which had been his cloak,
He took away coyness which was his mantle
and submitted in abasement.
And approved readily of being small.
صَدعُthe rift of الرَدىdeath أَعياbaffled تَلاحُمَهُits mending
صَدعُ الرَدى أَعيا تَلاحُمَهُ
مَنthe one who أَلحَمَfused الصدَفَينِthe two mountain faces بالقِطرِwith molten copper
مَن أَلحَمَ الصدَفَينِ بالقِطرِ
The rift of death—its mending baffled
The notice of fate reminded of its disunion
the man who fused two mountain faces with molten copper.
As the bivalve is joined together by mucilage.
جَرَّdrove الجِيادَthe steeds عَلىon الوَجىsore hooves وَمَضىand went on
جَرَّ الجِيادَ عَلى الوَجى وَمَضى
أَمَماًstraight ahead يُدَقُّpounding السَهلَthe plain بِالوَعَرِwith rugged ground
أَمَماً يُدَقُّ السَهلَ بِالوَعَرِ
He drove his steeds on sore hooves and went on,
He dragged his steeds over the plain and sped
straight ahead, pounding the plain with rugged ground,
Aiming while the level land is cracked by ruggedness.
حَتّىuntil التَقَىmet بِالشَمسِwith the sun مَغمَدُهُhis sheath
حَتّى التَقَى بِالشَمسِ مَغمَدُهُ
فيin قَعرِthe depths of مُنقَطِعٍa remote reach مِنَof البَحرthe sea
في قَعرِ مُنقَطِعٍ مِنَ البَحر
until his sheath met the sun
Until his sword's scabbard in the depths
in the depths of a remote reach of the sea.
Of a disconnected sea met the sun.
ثُمَّthen اِنثَنَتturned away كَفُّthe hand of المَنونِDeath بِهِwith him
ثُمَّ اِنثَنَت كَفُّ المَنونِ بِهِ
كَالضِغثِlike a bundle of stalks بَينَbetween النابِthe fang وَالظُفرِand the claw
كَالضِغثِ بَينَ النابِ وَالظُفرِ
Then Death's hand turned away with him,
Then the hand of death snatched him
like a bundle of stalks between fang and claw.
As dry wood is seized by the fang and claw.
لَمnot تَشتَجِرinterlock عَنهِin his defense الرِماحُthe spears وَلاnor
لَم تَشتَجِر عَنهِ الرِماحُ وَلا
رَدَّhe repelled القَضاءَfate بِمالِهِwith his wealth الدَثرِabundant
رَدَّ القَضاءَ بِمالِهِ الدَثرِ
Spears did not interlace to shield him, nor
The spears did not ward him off,
did he repel fate with his abundant wealth.
Nor did his wealth turn the ordained away.
جَمَعَhe gathered الجُنودَthe armies وَراءَهُbehind him فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though
جَمَعَ الجُنودَ وَراءَهُ فَكَأَنَّما
لاقَتهُshe met him وَهُوَwhile he was مُضَيَّعُunguarded الظَهرِin the rear
لاقَتهُ وَهُوَ مُضَيَّعُ الظَهرِ
He gathered armies behind him, yet it was as though
He gathered soldiers behind him so it was as though
she met him with his rear unguarded.
Misfortune met him while his back vulnerable.
وَبَنىand he built الحُصونَthe fortresses تَمَتُّعاًfor enjoyment فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though
وَبَنى الحُصونَ تَمَتُّعاً فَكَأَنَّما
أَمسىhe spent the evening بِمَضيَعَةٍin a forsaken wasteland وَلاand did not يَدريknow
أَمسى بِمَضيَعَةٍ وَلا يَدري
And he built fortresses for his ease, yet it was as though
He built fortresses luxuriously but it was as though
he spent the night in a defenseless waste, unaware.
He spent the night not knowing it was a waste.
وَبَرىand he fashioned المَعابِلَbroad-headed arrows لِلعِدىfor the enemies فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though
وَبَرى المَعابِلَ لِلعِدى فَكَأَنَّما
لِحِمامِهِfor his death كانَwas الَّذيwhat يَبريhe fashions
لِحِمامِهِ كانَ الَّذي يَبري
And he fashioned broad-headed arrows for his foes, yet it was as though
And he aimed the catapults against the foe
what he fashioned was for his own death.
As though it was for his pigeons he aimed.
هَذاthis is عُبَيدُUbayd اللَهِAllah حينَwhen رَمىhe aimed at
هَذا عُبَيدُ اللَهِ حينَ رَمى
عَرضَthe expanse of العُلىglory وَأَبىand refused to yield عَلىto الدَهرِTime
عَرضَ العُلى وَأَبى عَلى الدَهرِ
This is Ubayd Allah, when he aimed at
This was Ubaydullah when he threw
the expanse of glory and defied Time.
Honor’s bait and refused time’s captivity.
وَرَمَتand cast بِهِhim العَيّوقَal-Ayyuq (Capella) هِمَّتُهُhis ambition
وَرَمَت بِهِ العَيّوقَ هِمَّتُهُ
فَوَطيso he trod رِقابَthe necks of الأَنجُمِthe stars الزُهرِradiant
فَوَطي رِقابَ الأَنجُمِ الزُهرِ
And his ambition cast him up to al-Ayyuq,
And his aspiration tossed him into fate’s calamity
so he trod the necks of the radiant stars.
So he trod the necks of the bright stars.
غَلَبَتsurpassed مَآثِرُهُhis glorious deeds النُجومَthe stars عَلىin
غَلَبَت مَآثِرُهُ النُجومَ عَلى
عَرَضاتِهاtheir arenas وَبَدأنَand they began بِالبَدرِwith the full moon
عَرَضاتِها وَبَدأنَ بِالبَدرِ
His glorious deeds surpassed the stars in
His achievements surpassed
their own arenas, and began with the full moon.
The stars in their settings starting with the full moon.
وَتَناذَرَand warned one another of الأَعداءُthe enemies صَولَتَهُhis onslaught
وَتَناذَرَ الأَعداءُ صَولَتَهُ
فَأَباتَso he made spend the night أَشجَعَهُمthe bravest of them عَلىin ذُعرِterror
فَأَباتَ أَشجَعَهُم عَلى ذُعرِ
His enemies warned one another of his onslaught,
The enemies warned each other of his assault
so he made their bravest spend the night in terror.
But the bravest of them refused to panic.
قادَتguided حَزامَتُهُhis prudence المَنونَDeath فَلَمyet did not
قادَت حَزامَتُهُ المَنونَ فَلَم
تَمنَعrepel مَضارِبَthe striking edges of بيضِهِhis white swords البُترِcleaving
تَمنَع مَضارِبَ بيضِهِ البُترِ
His prudence guided Death, yet
His attacking band led death but could not
the edges of his white, cleaving swords could not repel her.
Prevent the striking of its white forelock.
نَكَصَتrecoiled أَسِنَّتُهُhis spearheads وَأَحجَمَand drew back جُندُهhis troops
نَكَصَت أَسِنَّتُهُ وَأَحجَمَ جُندُه
جَزعاًin panic لَمَطلَعِat the advent of ذَلِكَthat الأَمرِcalamity
جَزعاً لَمَطلَعِ ذَلِكَ الأَمرِ
His spearheads recoiled, and his troops drew back,
His swords recoiled and his soldiers
in panic at the advent of that calamity.
Fearfully recoiled at that matter.
قَدindeed كانَhe was مَشهوراًrenowned إِذاwhen ذُكِرَتwere mentioned
قَد كانَ مَشهوراً إِذا ذُكِرَت
خُطَطُthe ordeals of الوَغىbattle وَمَواقِفُand the stands of الصَبرِendurance
خُطَطُ الوَغى وَمَواقِفُ الصَبرِ
He was renowned whenever there was mention of
He had been famous whenever the battle
the ordeals of battle and the stands of endurance,
Was mentioned and the stands of patience.
مُتَهَلَّلاًbeaming فيin كُلِّevery نائِبَةٍmisfortune
مُتَهَلَّلاً في كُلِّ نائِبَةٍ
تَضَعُplaces القُطوبَfrowns مَواضِعَin the places of البِشرِcheerfulness
تَضَعُ القُطوبَ مَواضِعَ البِشرِ
beaming in every misfortune
Exulting in every calamity
that puts frowns in the place of smiles.
That makes the poles the place of mortals.
يَرقىhe ascends إِلىto أَمَدِthe utmost reach of المَكارِمِnoble deeds وَالعُلىand glory
يَرقى إِلى أَمَدِ المَكارِمِ وَالعُلى
لَمnot تَختَزِلهُcut him short مَوانِعُthe hindrances of الكِبرِold age
لَم تَختَزِلهُ مَوانِعُ الكِبرِ
He climbed to the utmost reach of noble deeds and glory,
He rose to the farthest extent of glory
not cut short by the hindrances of old age.
Unrestricted by the hindrances of greatness.
لَوif لَمnot يُعارِضهُopposed him الحِمامُdeath إِذاthen
لَو لَم يُعارِضهُ الحِمامُ إِذا
لَمضىhe would have gone on عَلىin غُلوائِهِhis headlong course يَجريrunning
لَمضى عَلى غُلوائِهِ يَجري
Had death not crossed his path, then
Had he not been opposed by destiny
he would have raced on in his headlong course.
He would have continued his aggressiveness.
أَودىhe perished وَماbut did not أَودَتperish مَناقِبُهُhis virtues
أَودى وَما أَودَت مَناقِبُهُ
وَمِنَand among الرِجالِmen مُعَمَّرُlong-lived الذِكرِin remembrance
وَمِنَ الرِجالِ مُعَمَّرُ الذِكرِ
He perished, but his virtues did not perish;
His achievements caused his destruction
and some men live long in remembrance.
Yet of men his remembrance is immortalized.
طَوَتِfolded away اللَياليthe nights بَعدَafter مَصرَعِهِhis fall
طَوَتِ اللَيالي بَعدَ مَصرَعِهِ
نارَthe fire of القِرىhospitality وَمُعرَّسَand the resting place of السَفرِtravelers
نارَ القِرى وَمُعرَّسَ السَفرِ
After his fall, the nights folded away
The nights after his death consumed
the fire of hospitality and the travelers' resting place.
The fire of encampments and the saddles.
خُلِّيَmy close friend وَتِربُand the age-mate of أَبيmy father لَقَدindeed سَلَبَتstole
خُلِّيَ وَتِربُ أَبي لَقَد سَلَبَت
مِنّيَfrom me النَوائِبُcalamities أَنفَسَthe most precious الذُخرِtreasure
مِنّيَ النَوائِبُ أَنفَسَ الذُخرِ
My friend and my father's age-mate! Calamities have stolen
My father's cousin is gone and has robbed
from me my most precious treasure.
Misfortunes from me of the finest treasure.
قَدindeed كانَhe was مِنamong عُدَديmy resources إِذاwhen طَرَقَتarrived by night
قَد كانَ مِن عُدَدي إِذا طَرَقَت
بِزلاءُa dire calamity ضاقَgrew narrow بِهاbecause of it حِمىthe sanctuary of الصَدرِthe breast
بِزلاءُ ضاقَ بِها حِمى الصَدرِ
He was one of my supports whenever there came by night
He had been one of my number when
a dire calamity that cramped the breast's sanctuary.
Adversity whose ordeal straitened the breast struck.
وَهُوَand such is الزَمانُTime عَلىthrough تَقَلُّبِهِits changes
وَهُوَ الزَمانُ عَلى تَقَلُّبِهِ
يَنويintends العُقوقَbetrayal بِنِيَةِwith an intention of البِرِّkindness
يَنوي العُقوقَ بِنِيَةِ البِرِّ
And such is Time, through all its changes:
Yet time in its vicissitudes
it plans betrayal with an intent of kindness.
Intends disloyalty with the intention of righteousness.
كَمhow many a زَفرَةٍsigh خَرساءَvoiceless
كَم زَفرَةٍ خَرساءَ
مُتَمَسِّكاًholding fast بِعَلائِقِto the bonds of الأَجرِreward
مُتَمَسِّكاً بِعَلائِقِ الأَجرِ
How many a voiceless sigh—
How many silent sighs
as I clung to the bonds of reward—
Clinging to the fetters of reward!
ضَمُرَتgrew faint بِجِرَّتِهاwith its cud عَليكَover you وَفيand in
ضَمُرَت بِجِرَّتِها عَليكَ وَفي
أَحشائِهاits innards كَلَواعِجِlike the searing of الجَمرِembers
أَحشائِها كَلَواعِجِ الجَمرِ
grew faint, chewing its cud over you, while
In their silence they harbored against you
within it were pangs like the scorching of embers.
In their interiors embers of coal.
لَوif أَنَّthat ماwhat أَنحىbore down عَليكَupon you يَدٌa hand
لَو أَنَّ ما أَنحى عَليكَ يَدٌ
راعَتكَfrightened you بِالإِنباضِwith a bowstring's twang عَنwith intent to عَقرِwound
راعَتكَ بِالإِنباضِ عَن عَقرِ
Had what bore down on you been a hand
Had what turned away from you been a hand
that frightened you with a bowstring's twang aimed at wounding,
That warded you from the deadly immolation -
لَوَقَفتُI would have stood بَينَكُماbetween you two لِأَعكِسَto turn back سَهِمَهاits arrow
لَوَقَفتُ بَينَكُما لِأَعكِسَ سَهِمَها
عَنfrom نَحرِكَyour throat الباديexposed إِلىto نَحريmy throat
عَن نَحرِكَ البادي إِلى نَحري
I would have stood between you two, to turn its arrow
I would have stood between you two to turn aside
from your exposed throat toward my own.
Its arrow from your exposed neck to my neck.
وَلَوand if أَنَّهاit were سَمراءُa brown spear مُشرَعَةٌleveled
وَلَو أَنَّها سَمراءُ مُشرَعَةٌ
أُعطَيتُI would have offered حَدَّthe sharp edge of سِنانِهاits spearhead صَدريmy breast
أُعطَيتُ حَدَّ سِنانِها صَدري
And had it been a leveled brown spear,
And had it been a brown calamity unleashed
I would have offered my breast to its sharp point.
I would have offered it my chest to pierce.
وَسَمَحتُand I would have yielded دونَكَin your defense بِالحَياةِlife عَلىdespite
وَسَمَحتُ دونَكَ بِالحَياةِ عَلى
ضَنِّيَmy jealous attachment بِهاto it وَكَرائِمِand the choicest الوَفرِwealth
ضَنِّيَ بِها وَكَرائِمِ الوَفرِ
And I would have yielded life in your defense, despite
And I would have been lavish with my life for your sake
my attachment to it—and my choicest wealth too;
Out of my delight in bounty and nobility.
أَوor بالِغاًattaining بِالنَفسِwith my life مَعذِرَةًan excuse
أَو بالِغاً بِالنَفسِ مَعذِرَةً
وَالسَعيُand striving بَينَbetween النُجحِsuccess وَالعُذرِand excuse
وَالسَعيُ بَينَ النُجحِ وَالعُذرِ
or spent my life to earn an excuse—
Or seeking by my soul an excuse,
for striving lies between success and excuse.
As one strives between success and excuse.
لَكِنbut رَمَتكَshot you أَشُدُّthe strongest رامِيَةٍfemale archer
لَكِن رَمَتكَ أَشُدُّ رامِيَةٍ
سَهماًin arrow's force وَأَهداهاand the most unerring of them إِلىtoward العَقرِa mortal wound
سَهماً وَأَهداها إِلى العَقرِ
But she who shot you was the strongest archer
But the firmest archeress shot you
in arrow's force, and the surest at dealing mortal wounds.
An arrow and guided it to the mortal spot.
بَلَغتَكَshe reached you مِنfrom خَلفِbehind الدُروعِthe coats of mail وَمِنand from
بَلَغتَكَ مِن خَلفِ الدُروعِ وَمِن
خَلَلِthe gaps in القَناthe spears وَالعَسكَرِand the army المَجرِvast
خَلَلِ القَنا وَالعَسكَرِ المَجرِ
She reached you behind the coats of mail, and through
It reached you from behind the armor and
the gaps in the spears and the vast army.
Between the gaps of the spear and the swirling dust.
حَمَلَmay bear الغَمامُthe cloud جَديدَfresh رَيَّقِهِits first rain
حَمَلَ الغَمامُ جَديدَ رَيَّقِهِ
فَسَقىso may it water مُغَيَّبَthe one hidden in ذَلِكَthat القَبرِgrave
فَسَقى مُغَيَّبَ ذَلِكَ القَبرِ
May the cloud bear its fresh, first rain
The clouds carried the new-washed wounds
and water the one hidden in that grave.
And watered the hidden grave.
لَولاwere it not for مُشارَكَةُthe sharing of المَدامِعِtears فيin
لَولا مُشارَكَةُ المَدامِعِ في
سُقياهُwatering him قَلَّwould be scant لَهُfor him نَدىthe moisture of القَطرِrain
سُقياهُ قَلَّ لَهُ نَدى القَطرِ
Were tears not sharing in
Had my tears not shared in watering it
watering him, the rain's moisture would be too scant.
Scarce upon it would the dew drops fall.
لَوif أَنبَتَتmade sprout تُرَبُthe grave-soils of الرِجالِmen عَلىaccording to
لَو أَنبَتَت تُرَبُ الرِجالِ عَلى
قَدرِthe measure of العُلىglory وَنَباهَةِand the eminence of القَدرِrank
قَدرِ العُلى وَنَباهَةِ القَدرِ
If men's grave-soils sprouted according to
If the soil of men produced according to
the measure of glory and eminence of rank,
The extent of highness and brilliance of worth,
نَبَتَتwould have sprouted عَليهِover him مِنfrom شَجاعَتِهِhis courage
نَبَتَت عَليهِ مِن شَجاعَتِهِ
تِلكَthose الجَنادِلُboulders بِالقَناwith spears السُمرِbrown
تِلكَ الجَنادِلُ بِالقَنا السُمرِ
from his courage, over him would have sprouted
It would have grown from his valor
those boulders, bearing brown spears.
Those date palms with the reddish-brown spearwood.
إِنَّindeed التَوَقّيtaking precautions فَرطُthe utmost مُعجِزَةٍhelplessness
إِنَّ التَوَقّي فَرطُ مُعجِزَةٍ
فَدَعِso let القَضاءَfate يَقُدُّcut أَوor يَفريrend
فَدَعِ القَضاءَ يَقُدُّ أَو يَفري
Indeed, caution is the height of helplessness;
Seeking safety is excessive of preventing fate
so let fate cut or rend.
So let ordainment lead or run its course!
لَوif مالَswayed بِالقَرنَينِthe two opponents خَوفُهُماtheir fear
لَو مالَ بِالقَرنَينِ خَوفُهُما
لِلمَوتِof death ماnot اِضطَغناthey would harbor rancor عَلىover الوِترِa blood debt
لِلمَوتِ ما اِضطَغنا عَلى الوِترِ
If two rivals were swayed by their fear
If fear of the two death knells
of death, they would not nurse hatred over a blood debt.
Inclined them to death, they would not vie in glory.
أَوor عَدَّداthey reckoned ماwhat فيin الخِطالِlong spears إِذاthen
أَو عَدَّدا ما في الخِطالِ إِذا
لَتَوادَعاthey would make peace أَبَداًforever عَلىdespite غِمرِrancor
لَتَوادَعا أَبَداً عَلى غِمرِ
Or if they reckoned the dangers of long spears, then
Or reckoned what the resolve contains when
they would make peace forever, despite their rancor.
They bid farewell forever in haste.
نَحميwe avoid المَطاعِمِfoods لِلبَقاءِto survive وَذيand these
نَحمي المَطاعِمِ لِلبَقاءِ وَذي
الآجالُappointed deaths مِلءُfilling فُروجِهاtheir openings تَجريflow
الآجالُ مِلءُ فُروجِها تَجري
We avoid foods to preserve life, yet these
We protect food for survival while
appointed deaths flow, filling every gap in them.
The one of fixed terms, their interiors flow.
لَوif كانَwere حِفظُguarding النَفسِlife يَنفَعُناbenefited us
لَو كانَ حِفظُ النَفسِ يَنفَعُنا
كانَwould be الطَبيبُthe physician أَحَقَّmore entitled بِالعُمرِto long life
كانَ الطَبيبُ أَحَقَّ بِالعُمرِ
If guarding life did us any good,
If preserving the self could avail us
the physician would have the best claim to long life.
The healer would be most deserving of life.
المَوتُdeath داءٌan illness لاno دَواءَremedy لَهُfor it
المَوتُ داءٌ لا دَواءَ لَهُ
سيّانِalike ماwhat يوبيcauses sickness وَماand what يَمريis wholesome
سيّانِ ما يوبي وَما يَمري
Death is an illness with no remedy;
Death is a malady with no remedy for it,
alike are what sickens and what is wholesome.
The perishing and the surviving are equal.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.