سَلاask, you two ظاهِرَthe outward aspect of الأَنفاسِthe breaths عَنabout باطِنِthe inward depths of الوَجدِanguish
سَلا ظاهِرَ الأَنفاسِ عَن باطِنِ الوَجدِ
فَإِنَّfor indeed الَّذيwhat أُخفيI conceal نَظيرُthe counterpart of الَّذيwhat أُبديI reveal
فَإِنَّ الَّذي أُخفي نَظيرُ الَّذي أُبدي
Ask, you two, the outward breath about the anguish within;
The sighs reveal not the inner passion,
for what I conceal is like what I reveal:
For that kept hidden is like that displayed.
زَفيراًa sigh تَهاداهُpassed it among themselves الجَوانِحُthe inner ribs كُلَّماwhenever
زَفيراً تَهاداهُ الجَوانِحُ كُلَّما
تَمَطّىit stretched بِقَلبيthrough my heart ضاقَgrew too narrow عَنfor مَرِّهِits passage جِلديmy skin
تَمَطّى بِقَلبي ضاقَ عَن مَرِّهِ جِلدي
a sigh passed from rib to rib, whenever
My sides convulse each time desire stirs my heart,
it stretches through my heart, my skin cannot contain its passage.
My skin grows too tight for its contents.
وَكَيفَand how يُرَدُّare held back الدَمعُthe tears ياO عَينِeye بَعدَماafter
وَكَيفَ يُرَدُّ الدَمعُ يا عَينِ بَعدَما
تَعَسَّفَforced its way through أَجفانيmy eyelids وَجارَand transgressed عَلىupon خَدّيmy cheek
تَعَسَّفَ أَجفاني وَجارَ عَلى خَدّي
And how can tears be held back, O eye, once
How can the tears, O eye, be held back now
they have forced their way through my eyelids and trespassed upon my cheek?
That my eyelids are overridden and stream down my cheek?
وَإِنِّيَand indeed I إِنif أَنضَحI sprinkle جَوايَmy burning grief بِعَبرَةٍwith a tear
وَإِنِّيَ إِن أَنضَح جَوايَ بِعَبرَةٍ
يَكُنit becomes كَخَبِيِّlike the hidden embers of النارِfire يُقدَحُis kindled بِالزَندِwith the fire-stick
يَكُن كَخَبِيِّ النارِ يُقدَحُ بِالزَندِ
And if I sprinkle my burning grief with a tear,
If I pour forth my tears like fire kindled by flint
it becomes like hidden embers kindled with a fire-stick.
My branches will wither from the spark.
فَهَذيso these جُفونيmy eyelids مِنfrom دُموعِيَmy tears فيin حَياًrain
فَهَذي جُفوني مِن دُموعِيَ في حَياً
وَهَذاand this جَنانيmy heart مِنfrom غَليلِيَmy burning thirst فيin وَقدِa blaze
وَهَذا جَناني مِن غَليلِيَ في وَقدِ
So these eyelids of mine are steeped in the rain of my tears,
Thus my eyelids shield my eyes in this life
and this heart of mine is ablaze with my burning thirst.
And my soul shields my anguish in its flame.
حَلَفتُI swore بِماby what وارىconcealed السِتارُthe curtain وَماand what هَوَتinclined
حَلَفتُ بِما وارى السِتارُ وَما هَوَت
إِلَيهِtoward it رِقابُthe necks of العيسِpale camels تُرقِلُtrotting أَوor تَخديstriding swiftly
إِلَيهِ رِقابُ العيسِ تُرقِلُ أَو تَخدي
I swore by what the curtain veils, and that toward which inclined
I swear by what the veil covers and by
the necks of pale camels, trotting or striding swiftly:
The necks of the young women inclining or straight.
لَقَدindeed ذَهَبَdeparted العَيشُlife الرَقيقُgentle بِذاهِبٍwith one who departed
لَقَد ذَهَبَ العَيشُ الرَقيقُ بِذاهِبٍ
هُوَhe الغارِبُthe high crest المُجزولُhewn away مِنfrom ذُروَةِthe summit of المَجدِglory
هُوَ الغارِبُ المُجزولُ مِن ذُروَةِ المَجدِ
life's gentle ease departed with one who departed,
That gentle life has gone with one who goes,
the high crest hewn away from the summit of glory.
The fading twilight sun at its zenith’s edge.
وَإِنّيand indeed I إِذاwhen قالواthey said مَضىhe departed لِسَبيلِهِon his way
وَإِنّي إِذا قالوا مَضى لِسَبيلِهِ
وَهيلَand was heaped عَليهِupon him التُربُthe earth مِنfrom جانِبِthe side of اللَحدِthe burial niche
وَهيلَ عَليهِ التُربُ مِن جانِبِ اللَحدِ
And I, when they say, 'He has gone his way,'
When they say he has departed his course
and earth is heaped upon him from beside the grave's niche,
And dust settles on him from the side of his grave,
كَساقِطَةٍlike one whose hand has fallen إِحدىone of يَدَيهِhis two hands إِزاءَهُbefore him
كَساقِطَةٍ إِحدى يَدَيهِ إِزاءَهُ
وَقَدand already جَبَّهاsevered it صَرفُthe vicissitudes of الزَمانِtime مِنَat الزَندِthe wrist
وَقَد جَبَّها صَرفُ الزَمانِ مِنَ الزَندِ
am like a man with one hand fallen before him,
It is as if one of his hands lies severed before him
which time's vicissitudes have severed at the wrist.
While fate made the other hand but a stump.
وَقَدand indeed رَمَتِstruck الأَيّامُthe days مِنfrom حَيثُwhere لاnot أَرىI see
وَقَد رَمَتِ الأَيّامُ مِن حَيثُ لا أَرى
صَميمِيَmy very core بِالداءِwith affliction العَنيفِviolent عَلىwith عَمدِdeliberate intent
صَميمِيَ بِالداءِ العَنيفِ عَلى عَمدِ
And the days have struck, from where I cannot see,
Time has cast at me, from where I see not,
my very core with fierce affliction, deliberately.
My heart’s core with piercing, deliberate blow.
فَلاso do not تَعجَباwonder, you two أَنّيthat I نَحَلتُI grew thin مِنَfrom الجَوىburning grief
فَلا تَعجَبا أَنّي نَحَلتُ مِنَ الجَوى
فَأَيسَرُfor the mildest of ماwhat لاقَيتُI encountered ماwhat حَزَّcut فيinto الجِلدِthe skin
فَأَيسَرُ ما لاقَيتُ ما حَزَّ في الجِلدِ
So do not wonder, you two, that burning grief has wasted me;
So wonder not that I have shed my skin,
for the mildest of what I endured was what cut into the skin.
For lighter than it is what scratched my hide.
وَلَوand if أَنَّthat رُزءاًa calamity غاضَdrained away ماءًwater لَكانَهthis would be it
وَلَو أَنَّ رُزءاً غاضَ ماءً لَكانَه
وَجَفَّتand dried up لَهُbecause of it خُضرُthe green الغُصونِboughs مِنَof الرَندِlaurel
وَجَفَّت لَهُ خُضرُ الغُصونِ مِنَ الرَندِ
And if any calamity could drain away water, this would be it,
Had a bouquet wilted, its green would have faded,
and the green laurel boughs would wither because of it.
As the spark flashes when struck from flint.
سَقىmay water قَبرَهُhis grave مُستَمطِرٌa rain-cloud ذوhaving غِفارَةٍa cloud-veil
سَقى قَبرَهُ مُستَمطِرٌ ذو غِفارَةٍ
يَجُرُّit drags عَليهِover it عُرفَthe mane of مَلآنَa brimming cloud مُربَدِdusky
يَجُرُّ عَليهِ عُرفَ مَلآنَ مُربَدِ
May a mantled rain-cloud water his grave,
A raincloud waters his grave, a forgiveness
trailing over it the mane of a brimming, dusky cloud.
Drawing behind it the train of a twisting channel.
إِذاwhen قُلتُI said قَدalready خَفَّتgrew light مَتاليهِits trailing masses أَرزَمَتthey rumbled
إِذا قُلتُ قَد خَفَّت مَتاليهِ أَرزَمَت
وَأَجلَبَand it clamored بِالبَرقِwith lightning المُشَقِّقِrending وَالرَعدِand thunder
وَأَجلَبَ بِالبَرقِ المُشَقِّقِ وَالرَعدِ
Whenever I say its trailing masses have grown light, they rumble,
When I say his aspirations have weakened,
and it clamors with rending lightning and thunder.
Lightning cracks and thunder roars in protest!
حُسامٌa keen sword جَلاcleared away عَنهُfrom it الزَمانُtime فَصَمَّمَتso they cut clean through
حُسامٌ جَلا عَنهُ الزَمانُ فَصَمَّمَت
مَضارِبُهُits striking edges حيناًfor a time وَعادَand returned إِلىto الغِمدِthe sheath
مَضارِبُهُ حيناً وَعادَ إِلى الغِمدِ
A keen sword that time laid bare, then struck clean through
A sword whose edge time has tarnished and blunted
with its edges for a time, then returned to the sheath.
Rests a while in its sheath then back again slides.
سِنانٌa spearhead تَحَدَّتهُchallenged it الدُروعُthe coats of armor بِزُغفِهاwith their ample mail
سِنانٌ تَحَدَّتهُ الدُروعُ بِزُغفِها
فَبَدَّدَso it shattered أَعيانَthe very substance of المُضاعَفِdouble mail وَالسَردِand linked armor
فَبَدَّدَ أَعيانَ المُضاعَفِ وَالسَردِ
A spearhead challenged by armor with its ample mail,
A spear those coats of mail dared with their rings
and it shattered the substance of double mail and linked armor.
Scattering the points gathered and pressed as one.
جَوادٌa noble steed جَرىran حَتّىuntil اِستَبَدَّhad sole claim بِغايَةٍto a finish
جَوادٌ جَرى حَتّى اِستَبَدَّ بِغايَةٍ
تُقَطِّعُcuts off أَنفاسَthe breaths of الجِيادِnoble steeds مِنَfrom الجَهدِexertion
تُقَطِّعُ أَنفاسَ الجِيادِ مِنَ الجَهدِ
A noble steed that ran until it alone reached a finish
A steed that raced on till the goal was attained,
that cuts off steeds' breath through sheer exertion.
Stopping short the breath in the lungs of racers.
سَحابٌa cloud عَلاrose حَتّىuntil تَصَوَّبَpoured down مُزنُهُits rain-laden masses
سَحابٌ عَلا حَتّى تَصَوَّبَ مُزنُهُ
وَأَقلَعَand cleared away لَمّاwhen عَمَّspread everywhere بِالعيشَةِwith a life الرَغدِof ease
وَأَقلَعَ لَمّا عَمَّ بِالعيشَةِ الرَغدِ
A cloud that rose until its rain-laden masses poured down,
A cloud climbed up till its rain was let loose,
and cleared away once it had spread a life of ease to all.
Raining the time of plenteous life.
رَبيعٌa spring تَجَلَّىappeared وَاِنجَلىand passed away وَوَراءَهُand behind it
رَبيعٌ تَجَلَّى وَاِنجَلى وَوَراءَهُ
ثَناءٌpraise كَماjust as يُثنىpraise is given عَلىto زَمَنِthe season of الوَردِroses
ثَناءٌ كَما يُثنى عَلى زَمَنِ الوَردِ
A spring that appeared and passed, leaving behind it
A spring shone bright and behind it
praise such as is given to the season of roses.
Praise, like the praise for the time of flowers.
نَعَضُّwe bite عَلىover المَوتِdeath الأَنامِلَthe fingertips حَسرَةًin sorrow
نَعَضُّ عَلى المَوتِ الأَنامِلَ حَسرَةً
وَإِنand although كانَit is لاnot يُغنيaverts عَناءًsuffering وَلاnor يُجديhelps
وَإِن كانَ لا يُغني عَناءً وَلا يُجدي
We bite our fingertips in sorrow over death,
In grief we bite the fingers for death
even though it averts no suffering and brings no benefit.
Though biting avails not, nor brings gain.
وَهَلand does ...? يَنفَعُbenefit المَكلومَthe wounded man عَضُّthe biting of بَنانِهِhis fingertips
وَهَل يَنفَعُ المَكلومَ عَضُّ بَنانِهِ
وَلَوand even if ماتَhe died مِنfrom غَيظٍrage عَلىagainst الأُسدِthe lions الوَردِtawny
وَلَو ماتَ مِن غَيظٍ عَلى الأُسدِ الوَردِ
And does biting his fingertips benefit the wounded man,
Can the stricken avail himself by biting his fingers,
even if he dies of rage against the tawny lions?
Even if he dies from rage at the lion of meadows?
عَوارٍborrowed things مِنَfrom الدُنياthe world يُهَوِّنُlightens فَقدَهاtheir loss
عَوارٍ مِنَ الدُنيا يُهَوِّنُ فَقدَها
تَيَقُّنُناour certainty أَنَّthat العَوارِيَborrowed things لِلرَدِّare to be returned
تَيَقُّنُنا أَنَّ العَوارِيَ لِلرَدِّ
Loans from this world—their loss is softened
Calamities of fortune make its loss easier to bear,
by our certainty that borrowed things must be returned.
Convincing us misfortunes occur naturally.
يَنالُreaches الرَدىdeath مَنone whom يَعرِضُstand as a barrier الهَضبُmountains دونَهُin front of him
يَنالُ الرَدى مَن يَعرِضُ الهَضبُ دونَهُ
وَلَوand even if كانَhe were فيin غَورٍa lowland مِنَof الأَرضِthe earth أَوor نَجدِa highland
وَلَو كانَ في غَورٍ مِنَ الأَرضِ أَو نَجدِ
Death reaches one before whom mountains stand as a barrier,
Fate befalls him whom the high plain exposes,
even if he is in the earth's lowlands or highlands.
Were he in a gorge deep down in the earth or wilderness.
وَيَسلَمُand survives مَنone who تُسقىare watered الأَسِنَّةُthe spearheads حَولَهُaround him
وَيَسلَمُ مَن تُسقى الأَسِنَّةُ حَولَهُ
بِأَيديby the hands of الكُماةِarmored champions المُعلِمينَwearing battle insignia عَلىon الجُردِsleek horses
بِأَيدي الكُماةِ المُعلِمينَ عَلى الجُردِ
And one survives while spearheads are watered around him
And he is unharmed whom spears surround,
by the hands of insignia-bearing warriors mounted on sleek steeds.
In the hands of youths, reddened with training.
فَماso not ذاكَthat man إِنif لَمnot يَلقَhe meets حَتفاًdoom بِخالِدٍimmortal
فَما ذاكَ إِن لَم يَلقَ حَتفاً بِخالِدٍ
وَلاnor ذاthis man مِنَfrom الحَتفِdeath المُطِلِّlooming overhead عَلىat بُعدِa distance
وَلا ذا مِنَ الحَتفِ المُطِلِّ عَلى بُعدِ
Yet that man, if he has not met his doom, is not immortal,
What loss if he attains not the fate of an immortal?
nor is this one far from looming death.
Who has attained, or will attain, endless fate?
لَئِنif indeed ثَلَمَتhave breached مِنّيfrom me اللَياليthe nights عَشائِريmy clansmen
لَئِن ثَلَمَت مِنّي اللَيالي عَشائِري
فَماthen not ثَلَمواthey breached إِلّاexcept مِنَfrom الحَسَبِancestral honor العِدِّdeep-rooted
فَما ثَلَموا إِلّا مِنَ الحَسَبِ العِدِّ
If the nights have made a breach in my kin,
My tribes have robbed me of nights, yet
they have breached only deep-rooted ancestral honor.
They left my eyes no tears, wringing them dry.
شَجَونيthey grieved me وَلَمand did not يُبقواleave لِعَينِيَfor my eye بَلَّةًany moisture
شَجَوني وَلَم يُبقوا لِعَينِيَ بَلَّةً
مِنَof الدَمعِtears إِلّاexcept اِستَفرَغوهاthey drained it مِنَthrough الوَجدِanguish
مِنَ الدَمعِ إِلّا اِستَفرَغوها مِنَ الوَجدِ
They grieved me and left not a drop in my eye
They have saddened me, leaving no sorrow for my eye
of tears without draining it away through anguish.
Save what they have wrung out from my passion.
عَزاءَكَhold to your consolation فَالأَيّامُfor the days أُسدٌlions مُذِلَّةٌhumbling
عَزاءَكَ فَالأَيّامُ أُسدٌ مُذِلَّةٌ
تَعُطُّtear الفَتىthe young man عَطَّas the tearing of المَقاريصِshears لِلبُردِof a striped cloak
تَعُطُّ الفَتى عَطَّ المَقاريصِ لِلبُردِ
Take comfort: the days are lions that lay men low,
Your consolation?—days are lions
tearing a man as shears tear a striped cloak.
That treat the bold like red fleecy coats for winter.
إِذاwhen أَورَدَتهُthey bring him to drink نَهلَةًa first draught مِنof نَعيمِهاtheir bliss
إِذا أَورَدَتهُ نَهلَةً مِن نَعيمِها
أَعادَتهُthey send him back حَرّانَburning with thirst الضُلوعِin the ribs مِنَfrom الوِردِthe watering-place
أَعادَتهُ حَرّانَ الضُلوعِ مِنَ الوِردِ
When they lead him to a first draught of their bliss,
When, from their bounty, they let him taste pleasure
they send him back from the watering-place with ribs burning with thirst.
They return him scorched of ribs from blows.
أَغَلَّmore penetrating إِلىinto القَلبِthe heart المَنيعِwell-defended مِنَthan القَناlances
أَغَلَّ إِلى القَلبِ المَنيعِ مِنَ القَنا
وَأَجرىand swifter إِلىtoward الآحالِwild herds مِنthan قُضُبِthe blades of الهِندِIndia
وَأَجرى إِلى الآحالِ مِن قُضُبِ الهِندِ
They pierce the guarded heart more deeply than lances,
They allure the staunch of heart away from resolve
and race at wild herds more swiftly than Indian blades.
And conduce the joints to flex like bends of Indian reeds.
أَرادَintended بِكَagainst you الحُسّادُthe envious أَمراًa scheme فَرَدَّهُbut turned it back
أَرادَ بِكَ الحُسّادُ أَمراً فَرَدَّهُ
عَليهِمupon them سَفاهُthe folly of الرَأيِjudgment وَالرَأيُand judgment قَدmay يُرديbring ruin
عَليهِم سَفاهُ الرَأيِ وَالرَأيُ قَد يُردي
The envious devised a scheme against you, but it was turned
The envious wished you ill but their poor counsel
back upon them by foolish judgment—and judgment can bring ruin.
Only brought failure; counsel can lead one astray.
فَلاso let not يُغمِدَنَّsheathe السَطوَforce وَالحِلمَand forbearance ضائِرٌa harm-doer
فَلا يُغمِدَنَّ السَطوَ وَالحِلمَ ضائِرٌ
وَقَدand already نَزَعَsevered الأَعداءُthe enemies آصِرَةَthe bond of الوُدِّaffection
وَقَد نَزَعَ الأَعداءُ آصِرَةَ الوُدِّ
So let no aggressor sheathe your might and forbearance,
So let no harm keep sheathed your valiance and forbearance
when enemies have severed the bond of affection.
Now that enemies have unbound the ties of affection.
هُمُthey قَعقَعواmade a threatening clatter بَغياًin aggression عَليكَagainst you وَأَجلَبواand raised a clamor
هُمُ قَعقَعوا بَغياً عَليكَ وَأَجلَبوا
فَآبواso they returned وَماand did not قامواcarry out بِحَلٍّany untying وَلاnor عَقدِtying
فَآبوا وَما قاموا بِحَلٍّ وَلا عَقدِ
They made a threatening clatter in aggression against you and clamored,
They shook and pawed the ground insolently against you
then returned, having neither untied nor tied a thing.
Then left without gaining a thing concluded or bound.
وَقَدand indeed رَكِبوهُthey mounted it مَرَّةًa time بَعدَafter مَرَّةٍa time
وَقَد رَكِبوهُ مَرَّةً بَعدَ مَرَّةٍ
فَياso oh لِذَلولِfor the docile beast of البَغيِaggression مِنas مَركَبٍa mount مُرديruinous
فَيا لِذَلولِ البَغيِ مِن مَركَبٍ مُردي
And they rode it time after time—
Again and again they rode it but, shame,
ah, the docile beast of aggression—what a ruinous mount!
So plummeting the fall from their ridden endeavor!
فَحَتّىso until مَتىwhen تُغضيyou close your eyes مِراراًrepeatedly عَلىupon القَذىthe grit
فَحَتّى مَتى تُغضي مِراراً عَلى القَذى
وَتَلحَظُكَand eye you الأَضغانُgrudges مِنfrom مُقَلٍeyes رُمدِinflamed
وَتَلحَظُكَ الأَضغانُ مِن مُقَلٍ رُمدِ
So how long will you keep closing your eyes upon the grit,
How long will you close your eyes to bitter provocation
while grudges watch you from inflamed eyes?
And your glance fix on one whose sight is dimmed?
فَإِنfor if لاnot تَصِلyou strike out تُصبِحwill become عِداكَyour enemies كَثيرَةًnumerous
فَإِن لا تَصِل تُصبِح عِداكَ كَثيرَةً
عَليكَagainst you وَداءُand the malady of الطَعنِstabbing إِنif هِبتَهُyou fear it يُعديspreads
عَليكَ وَداءُ الطَعنِ إِن هِبتَهُ يُعدي
For if you do not strike, your enemies will multiply
If you do not reconcile, your foes will multiply against you
against you; the malady of stabbing spreads if you fear it.
And the sin of blaming, if you indulge it, spreads.
وَهَلand was ...? كانَwas ذاكَthat البُعدُdistance إِلّاanything but تَنَزُّهاًkeeping oneself untainted
وَهَل كانَ ذاكَ البُعدُ إِلّا تَنَزُّهاً
عَلىabove المُضمِرِthe one harboring البَغضاءِhatred وَالحاسِدِand the envier الوَغدِbase
عَلى المُضمِرِ البَغضاءِ وَالحاسِدِ الوَغدِ
And was that distance anything but keeping yourself unsullied,
Was not that distance but withdrawing
above one harboring hatred and the base envier?
From the scheming hateful and wretchedly envious?
وَجِئتَand you came مَجيءَas the coming of البَدرِthe full moon أَخلَقَgrew worn ضَوءُهُits light
وَجِئتَ مَجيءَ البَدرِ أَخلَقَ ضَوءُهُ
فَعادَthen it returned جَديدَrenewed النَورِin light بِالطالِعِwith the rising السَعدِauspicious
فَعادَ جَديدَ النَورِ بِالطالِعِ السَعدِ
And you came like the full moon, whose light had worn thin,
You came like the rising full moon whose light
then returned with renewed radiance at an auspicious rising.
Returns the skies their pristine greeting at dawn.
وَكَمand how many مِنof عَدوٍّan enemy قَدalready سَرىcrept فيكَwithin you كَيدُهُhis plotting
وَكَم مِن عَدوٍّ قَد سَرى فيكَ كَيدُهُ
سُرىthe creeping of السُمِّpoison مِنfrom رَقطاءَa speckled serpent ذاتِhaving قَراًa back جَعدِcoiled
سُرى السُمِّ مِن رَقطاءَ ذاتِ قَراً جَعدِ
And how many an enemy's plot has crept within you,
How your cunning enemies have hatched plots against you,
like venom from a speckled serpent with a coiled back!
Like venom flows in the blood of a leprous humpback!
فَأَغفَلتَهُso you ignored him ثُمَّthen اِنتَضَيتَyou unsheathed عَزيمَةًa resolve
فَأَغفَلتَهُ ثُمَّ اِنتَضَيتَ عَزيمَةً
نَزَعتَyou removed بِهاwith it مِنfrom قَلبِهِhis heart حُمَّةَthe venom of الحِقدِhatred
نَزَعتَ بِها مِن قَلبِهِ حُمَّةَ الحِقدِ
So you ignored him, then unsheathed a resolve
You ignored, then rose up with resolve
with which you drew the venom of hatred from his heart.
And pulled from their hearts the heat of hatred.
وَذيand one possessed of خَطَلٍfoolish babble أَوجَرتَهُyou forced him to swallow مِنكَfrom you غُصَّةًa choking mouthful
وَذي خَطَلٍ أَوجَرتَهُ مِنكَ غُصَّةً
فَأَطرَقَso he bowed his head مِنهاbecause of it لاnot يُعيدُrepeats وَلاnor يُبديbegins speech
فَأَطرَقَ مِنها لا يُعيدُ وَلا يُبدي
And many a babbler you forced to swallow a choking mouthful from you,
The squint-eyed you have provoked with your deeds
so he bowed his head because of it, neither repeating nor beginning a word.
And he turns away unable to repeat or express.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.