حَرَمُthe sanctuary الجَمالِof beauty عَلىupon سَريرِكِyour bed يَحلُمُdreams
حَرَمُ الجَمالِ عَلى سَريرِكِ يَحلُمُ
وَعَلَيكِand upon you مِنfrom سورِthe wall الهَوىof love مُتَرَدَّمُa broken section
وَعَلَيكِ مِن سورِ الهَوى مُتَرَدَّمُ
The sanctuary of beauty dreams upon your bed,
The sanctuary of beauty lies dreaming upon your bed,
And upon you rests a crumbling stretch of love's wall.
With remnants of passion's wall crumbling over you.
وَالشَمسُand the sun تِبرٌgold dust فيin أَديمِكِyour skin كُلَّماwhenever
وَالشَمسُ تِبرٌ في أَديمِكِ كُلَّما
شَبَّblazed النَهارُthe day نَماgrew وَأَينَعَand ripened مَوسِمُa season
شَبَّ النَهارُ نَما وَأَينَعَ مَوسِمُ
And the sun is gold dust in your skin; whenever
The sun gleams like silk on your skin whenever
Day blazes up, a season grows and ripens.
The day grows older, blossoming in its season.
لُبنانُLebanon ياO ريفَcountryside السَماءِof heaven وَثَغرَهاand its mouth
لُبنانُ يا ريفَ السَماءِ وَثَغرَها
فيin كُلِّevery شِبرٍspan مِنof تُرابِكَyour soil مُلهَمُan inspired one
في كُلِّ شِبرٍ مِن تُرابِكَ مُلهَمُ
Lebanon, O heaven's countryside and mouth,
Lebanon, O countryside of the sky and its lips -
In every span of your soil is an inspired soul.
In every inch of your soil an inspiration smolders.
ماnot أَنتَyou بِالبَلَدِa country اليَتيمِorphaned وَإِنَّماbut rather
ما أَنتَ بِالبَلَدِ اليَتيمِ وَإِنَّما
فيin كُلِّevery عَينٍeye لاdoes not تَراكَsee you تَيَتُّمُorphanhood
في كُلِّ عَينٍ لا تَراكَ تَيَتُّمُ
You are no orphaned land; rather,
You are not a forsaken country, though every eye
In every eye that does not see you lies orphanhood.
That cannot behold you becomes an orphan.
لَكَfor you فيin الفُضولِbounty عَلىupon الطَبيعَةِnature ذِمَّةٌa debt
لَكَ في الفُضولِ عَلى الطَبيعَةِ ذِمَّةٌ
وَعَلىand upon الجَمالِbeauty مُؤَخَّرٌa deferred payment وَمُقَدَّمُand an advance payment
وَعَلى الجَمالِ مُؤَخَّرٌ وَمُقَدَّمُ
For your bounty, nature owes you a debt,
You have a moral duty to be lavish upon nature
And beauty owes you payments, deferred and in advance.
And to precede and succeed all beauty.
فَمنَfor from الشِتاءِwinter أَبٌa father يَدِبُّstirs بِصُلبِهِin his loins
فَمنَ الشِتاءِ أَبٌ يَدِبُّ بِصُلبِهِ
جَيشٌan army مِنَof الخَضَرِgreen growth الجَنِيِّripe عَرَمرَمُvast
جَيشٌ مِنَ الخَضَرِ الجَنِيِّ عَرَمرَمُ
For from winter comes a father, through whose loins stirs
So winter moves in, hard-boned, with an army
A vast army of ripe green growth.
Of tender greenery swarming like locusts.
وَمِنَand from الرَبيعِspring أَجِنَّةٌembryos لَمnot يَختَمِرhas ripened
وَمِنَ الرَبيعِ أَجِنَّةٌ لَم يَختَمِر
فيin مِثلِهاtheir like نورٌlight وَلَمand not يَطهَرhas grown pure دَمُblood
في مِثلِها نورٌ وَلَم يَطهَر دَمُ
And from spring come embryos; never has
And spring has fruits that no light has ever ripened
Light ripened in their like, nor blood grown pure.
In their equal - light without clarity of blood.
وَلَكَand yours is الشَبابُyouth كَريمَةٌgenerous أَغصانُهُits branches
وَلَكَ الشَبابُ كَريمَةٌ أَغصانُهُ
فيin الصَيفِsummer تَرتَزِقُreceive sustenance الجِنانُthe gardens وَتولَمُand are feasted
في الصَيفِ تَرتَزِقُ الجِنانُ وَتولَمُ
And yours is youth, its branches bountiful;
For you, youth is a generous branch whose boughs
In summer the gardens are sustained and feasted.
In summer are fed by gardens and grafted.
وَإِذاand when الخَريفُautumn تَكَمَّشَتhave shriveled أَعراقُهُits roots
وَإِذا الخَريفُ تَكَمَّشَت أَعراقُهُ
أَجرىset flowing الفُتوَّةُyouthful vigor فيكَin you حَتّىeven المَأتَمُthe funeral
أَجرى الفُتوَّةُ فيكَ حَتّى المَأتَمُ
And when autumn's roots have shriveled,
And when autumn shrinks its veins,
Even the funeral sets youthful vigor flowing through you.
Vigor flows in you even unto mourning.
لَكَfor you مِنfrom شَبابِكَyour youth أُسرَةٌa family مَيمونَةٌblessed
لَكَ مِن شَبابِكَ أُسرَةٌ مَيمونَةٌ
فَأَبٌthus a father يَفيضُoverflows نَدىًwith dew وَأُمٌّand a mother تَراَمُnurtures
فَأَبٌ يَفيضُ نَدىً وَأُمٌّ تَراَمُ
From your youth you have a blessed family:
Lucky youths nurture you like a blessed family,
Thus, a father spilling dew, and a nurturing mother.
A father spilling dew, a mother rising high.
ماnot اليُتمُorphanhood أَنthat تُشقيكَmakes you suffer أُمٌّa mother أَوor أَبٌa father
ما اليُتمُ أَن تُشقيكَ أُمٌّ أَو أَبٌ
اليُتمُorphanhood أَنthat تُزريكَdegrades you عَينٌan eye أَوor فَمُa mouth
اليُتمُ أَن تُزريكَ عَينٌ أَو فَمُ
Orphanhood is not a mother or father making you suffer;
No orphanhood can bring you misery through a mother
Orphanhood is an eye or mouth that degrades you.
Or father, no orphanhood of an eye or mouth.
إِنَّindeed اليَتيمَthe orphan مَنِthe one whose اِمَّحىwas erased وجدانُهُhis conscience
إِنَّ اليَتيمَ مَنِ اِمَّحى وجدانُهُ
هُوَhe مَنthe one who يَسوقُdrives الظُلمَinjustice لاnot مَنthe one who يُظلَمُis wronged
هُوَ مَن يَسوقُ الظُلمَ لا مَن يُظلَمُ
Indeed, the orphan is the one whose conscience is erased:
The true orphan is one whose conscience has died,
He is the one who drives injustice, not the one wronged.
He who deals out injustice, not he who suffers it.
هُوَhe حاكِمٌa ruler يَشقىsuffers اليَتيمُthe orphan بِعَهدِهِunder his rule
هُوَ حاكِمٌ يَشقى اليَتيمُ بِعَهدِهِ
جَوراًunjustly وَمِنand from خُبزِbread اليَتامىof the orphans يُطعَمُhe is fed
جَوراً وَمِن خُبزِ اليَتامى يُطعَمُ
He is a ruler beneath whose reign the orphan suffers
He's a ruler whom orphans suffer under,
Injustice, while he is fed from the orphans' bread.
Unjustly, and he feeds upon the bread of orphans.
الخَزُّthe silk cloth يُنكَرُis rejected إِنif أَتىcomes بِنَصيحَةٍwith counsel
الخَزُّ يُنكَرُ إِن أَتى بِنَصيحَةٍ
وَالعَنكَبوتُand the spider إِذاwhen تَثَعلَبَacts like a fox يُكرَمُis honored
وَالعَنكَبوتُ إِذا تَثَعلَبَ يُكرَمُ
Silk is rejected if it offers counsel,
Reproach turns shameful if given as advice
And the spider, when it plays the fox, is honored.
While a sly fox, when acting pious, is honored.
يُعطيكَgives you مِنfrom طَرَفِthe tip اللِسانِof the tongue حَلاوَةًsweetness
يُعطيكَ مِن طَرَفِ اللِسانِ حَلاوَةً
وَيَروغُand slips away مِنكَfrom you كَماas يَروغُslips away الأَرقَمُthe speckled serpent
وَيَروغُ مِنكَ كَما يَروغُ الأَرقَمُ
He gives you sweetness from the tip of his tongue,
His tongue gives you honeyed sweetness
And slips away from you as the speckled serpent slips away.
While he slithers from you like a snake.
كُلُّevery اِمرىءٍperson شَطرانِtwo halves فيunder سُلطانِهِhis rule
كُلُّ اِمرىءٍ شَطرانِ في سُلطانِهِ
رَأسٌa head لَهُto him يُحنىis bowed وَقَلبٌand a heart يُشتَمُis insulted
رَأسٌ لَهُ يُحنى وَقَلبٌ يُشتَمُ
Under his rule, every person is split in two:
Every man in power is two people:
A head bowed to him, and a heart reviled.
A head to bow and a heart to loathe.
فيat كُلِّevery مَأدُبَةٍbanquet يَسيلُflows لُعابُهُhis saliva
في كُلِّ مَأدُبَةٍ يَسيلُ لُعابُهُ
كَالهِرِّlike a cat يُؤمَنُis not feared شَرُّهُhis harm إِذwhen يُلقَمُhe is fed
كَالهِرِّ يُؤمَنُ شَرُّهُ إِذ يُلقَمُ
At every banquet his saliva runs;
At every feast, his saliva flows
Like a cat, his harm is not feared when he is fed.
Like a mule's - its harm believed tamed when fed.
عَسَلُhoney الزَبيبِof raisins يَسيلُflows مِنfrom أَحداقِهِhis eyes
عَسَلُ الزَبيبِ يَسيلُ مِن أَحداقِهِ
وَعَلىand upon سَريرَتِهِhis inner self يَجِفُّdries الحِصرِمُunripe grapes
وَعَلى سَريرَتِهِ يَجِفُّ الحِصرِمُ
The honey of raisins flows from his eyes,
The sap of his dates flows from his gums
While unripe grapes dry upon his inner self.
While his mustache above dries up.
يَخشىfears لِضَعفِbecause of the weakness of يَقينِهِhis conviction هَمسَthe whisper الصَدىof the echo
يَخشى لِضَعفِ يَقينِهِ هَمسَ الصَدى
وَيَرىand sees الشفاهَthe lips كَأَنَّهاas though they تَتَهَكَّمُmock
وَيَرى الشفاهَ كَأَنَّها تَتَهَكَّمُ
His weak conviction makes him fear an echo's whisper,
He fears the whispers of echoes due to his weak faith
And he sees lips as though they mock him.
And sees lips as if they're mocking him.
وَلَهُand he has مِنَfrom الأَبوابِthe doors أَنظارٌgazes تَرىsee
وَلَهُ مِنَ الأَبوابِ أَنظارٌ تَرى
وَمِنَand from السُقوفِthe ceilings مَسامِعٌears تَتَفَهَّمُunderstand
وَمِنَ السُقوفِ مَسامِعٌ تَتَفَهَّمُ
From the doors he has eyes that watch,
From doors he has watchful eyes
And from the ceilings, ears that understand.
And listening ears in the ceilings.
ياO حاكِماًruler فيon أَيِّwhich يَومٍday تَستَحيwill you feel shame
يا حاكِماً في أَيِّ يَومٍ تَستَحي
أَوَلَستَand are you not تَدريaware كَيفَwhat أَنتَyou are وَتَعلَمُand know
أَوَلَستَ تَدري كَيفَ أَنتَ وَتَعلَمُ
O ruler, on what day will you feel shame?
O Governer! What day will you feel shame?
And do you not know what you are, and understand?
Do you not know how you are and understand?
هُوَhe مُرشِدٌa guide خُبزُbread السَماءِof heaven طَعامُهُhis food
هُوَ مُرشِدٌ خُبزُ السَماءِ طَعامُهُ
يُصغيlistens إِلىto أَسرارِهاits secrets فَيُتَرجِمُthen interprets
يُصغي إِلى أَسرارِها فَيُتَرجِمُ
He is a guide; heaven's bread is his food.
He's a guide whose food comes from the heavens
He listens to its secrets and then interprets them.
And listens to its secrets which he interprets.
سُوَرُchapters التَقىof piety تُتلىare recited عَلىon فَمِهِhis mouth وَفيand in
سُوَرُ التَقى تُتلى عَلى فَمِهِ وَفي
وِجدانِهِhis conscience الهاريrotting تَفُحُّhisses جَهَنَّمُhell
وِجدانِهِ الهاري تَفُحُّ جَهَنَّمُ
Chapters of piety are recited upon his lips, while in
The walls of piety are read upon his mouth, yet inside
His rotting conscience, hell hisses.
His fiery conscience, hell blazes.
الدينُreligion حانوتٌa shop يَبيعُhe sells بِهِin it الرَجاhope
الدينُ حانوتٌ يَبيعُ بِهِ الرَجا
وَاللَهُand God نَهبٌplunder فيin حِماهُhis sanctuary مُقَسَّمُdivided
وَاللَهُ نَهبٌ في حِماهُ مُقَسَّمُ
Religion is a shop in which he sells hope,
Religion is a shop where he sells false hope
And God is plunder divided within his sanctuary.
And God is spoils among his gang divided.
وَلَهُand he has كَلامٌspeech فيon السِياسَةِpolitics فاصِلٌdecisive
وَلَهُ كَلامٌ في السِياسَةِ فاصِلٌ
خَطَأُthe fault الشَرائِعِof the laws أَنthat يُعابَhe is criticized فَتُرجَمُso they are stoned
خَطَأُ الشَرائِعِ أَن يُعابَ فَتُرجَمُ
He has a decisive say in politics;
In politics he has a conclusive argument:
The laws' fault is to censure him, and so they are stoned.
It's wrong for religious law to be criticized and translated.
أَأَباO father اليَتامىof the orphans وَالحَياةُand life قَصيرَةٌshort
أَأَبا اليَتامى وَالحَياةُ قَصيرَةٌ
ماذاwhat يُعَلِّمُكَteaches you اليَتيمُthe orphan الأَعظَمُgreatest
ماذا يُعَلِّمُكَ اليَتيمُ الأَعظَمُ
O father of orphans—and life is short—
O bereaver of orphans, and life is short -
What does the greatest orphan teach you?
What does the Greatest Orphan teach you?
لَكَfor you فيin الجَحيمِhell مَتىwhenever تَهِمُّyou aspire إِلىto السَماheaven
لَكَ في الجَحيمِ مَتى تَهِمُّ إِلى السَما
فيin كُلِّevery إِسطَبلٍstable يُحَمحِمُneighs مِرجَمُa hoof-pounding steed
في كُلِّ إِسطَبلٍ يُحَمحِمُ مِرجَمُ
In hell, whenever you aspire to heaven, there is for you
In every stable, a prod awaits you in hell
In every stable a hoof-pounding steed that neighs.
Whenever you yearn for the heavens.
هُوَhe عاشِقٌa lover لَمnot يَدرِhas known شِيَمُthe ways الهَوىof love
هُوَ عاشِقٌ لَم يَدرِ شِيَمُ الهَوى
فَإِذاand when أَحَسَّhe feels فَعِرقُهُthen his vein المُتَأَثِّمُsinful
فَإِذا أَحَسَّ فَعِرقُهُ المُتَأَثِّمُ
He is a lover who has never known love's ways;
He's a lover who never learned the behavior of passion.
And when he feels, his sin-stained vein is
When he feels it, his sinful sweat breaks out.
روحٌa soul مُهَرَّأَةٌtattered وَلَحمٌand flesh جائِعٌhungry
روحٌ مُهَرَّأَةٌ وَلَحمٌ جائِعٌ
وَفَمٌand a mouth يَنِمُّtells tales وَمُقلَةٌand an eye تَتَضَرَّمُblazes
وَفَمٌ يَنِمُّ وَمُقلَةٌ تَتَضَرَّمُ
A tattered soul and hungry flesh,
A tattered soul, famished flesh, a mouth that sleeps,
A tale-bearing mouth and a blazing eye.
And blinking eyes full of crumbs.
ماnothing بَينَbetween غَدرَتِهِhis betrayal وَبَينَand between يَمينِهِhis oath
ما بَينَ غَدرَتِهِ وَبَينَ يَمينِهِ
إِلّاexcept تَسَلُّفُborrowing in advance حاجَةٍa need تَتَكَتَّمُhides itself
إِلّا تَسَلُّفُ حاجَةٍ تَتَكَتَّمُ
Between his betrayal and his oath
Between his treachery and oath, nothing lies
Lies only an advance on a need kept secret.
But advancing a hidden desire.
فَحَذارِso beware مِنof جُرحِthe wound الهَوىof love فَجِراحُهُfor its wounds
فَحَذارِ مِن جُرحِ الهَوى فَجِراحُهُ
يَبقىremains الأَذىthe hurt فيهاin them وَيَفنىand vanishes المَرهَمُthe salve
يَبقى الأَذى فيها وَيَفنى المَرهَمُ
Beware, then, of love's wound: its wounds—
So beware the wound of passion, for its injuries
The hurt remains in them, while the salve fades away.
Remain painful while medicine fades away.
تَاللَهِby God عَصرُكَyour age ياO جَميلُJamil فَعَصرُناfor our age
تَاللَهِ عَصرُكَ يا جَميلُ فَعَصرُنا
فيهِin it رُقِيٌّrefinement لِلهَوىfor love وَتَقَدُّمُand progress
فيهِ رُقِيٌّ لِلهَوى وَتَقَدُّمُ
By God, your age, O Jamil! For our age
By God, your era is beautiful, and so ours
Has refinement and progress in love.
Progresses in passion and advances in it!
الفاجِرُthe profligate الزَنديقُthe heretic فَحلٌa stud راشِدٌmature
الفاجِرُ الزَنديقُ فَحلٌ راشِدٌ
وَالعاشِقُand the lover العُذرِيُّchaste أَبلَهُa fool مُسقَمُsickly
وَالعاشِقُ العُذرِيُّ أَبلَهُ مُسقَمُ
The profligate heretic is a mature stud,
The sinful heretic is an upright scholar
And the chaste lover is a sickly fool.
While the platonic lover is a sickly fool.
ياO بُثنُButhn كَمhow يَحلوis sweet زَمانُكِyour age حينَماwhen
يا بُثنُ كَم يَحلو زَمانُكِ حينَما
تَصفوis true لَناto us لَيلىLayla وَتَغدُرُand betrays مَريَمُMaryam
تَصفو لَنا لَيلى وَتَغدُرُ مَريَمُ
O Buthn, how sweet your age is when
O critics, how sweet your time was when
Layla is true to us, and Maryam betrays us.
Layla was chaste for us and Mary full of grace!
ماذاwhat عَسىmight الواشونَthe tale-bearers أَنto يَتَحَدَّثواsay
ماذا عَسى الواشونَ أَن يَتَحَدَّثوا
إِلّاexcept يَقولواthey say إِنَّهُthat he بِكِof you مُغرَمُis enamored
إِلّا يَقولوا إِنَّهُ بِكِ مُغرَمُ
What could the tale-bearers possibly say
What more can those who blame expect to say
Except that he is enamored of you?
Except that he is infatuated with you?
هُوَhe تاجِرٌa merchant أَدنىthe lowest وَأَبخَسُand cheapest سِلعَةٍcommodity
هُوَ تاجِرٌ أَدنى وَأَبخَسُ سِلعَةٍ
وِجدانُهُhis conscience يُعطيهِhe gives it لاdoes not يَتَلَعثَمُstammer
وِجدانُهُ يُعطيهِ لا يَتَلَعثَمُ
He is a merchant; the lowest and cheapest commodity
He is a merchant, the meanest and cheapest
Is his conscience: he gives it away without a stammer.
Whose conscience gives him away without stuttering.
حَجَرٌa stone تَحَجَّرَتِhave turned to stone العُيونُthe eyes بِعَينِهِin his sight
حَجَرٌ تَحَجَّرَتِ العُيونُ بِعَينِهِ
فَالناسُso people نَقدٌcash وَالمَصائِبُand calamities أَسهُمُshares
فَالناسُ نَقدٌ وَالمَصائِبُ أَسهُمُ
He is a stone; in his sight, eyes have turned to stone.
A stone whose eyes have hardened the people to stone,
For people are cash, and calamities are shares.
So people are cash and misfortunes are arrows.
حَتّىeven دُموعُtears البائِسينَof the wretched شَهِيَّةٌappetizing
حَتّى دُموعُ البائِسينَ شَهِيَّةٌ
فيin قَلبِهِhis heart إِنif كانَthere is فيهاin them مَغنَمُprofit
في قَلبِهِ إِن كانَ فيها مَغنَمُ
Even the tears of the wretched are appetizing
Even the tears of the wretched are appetizing
To his heart, if there is profit in them.
To his heart, if there is profit in them.
ياO تاجِراًmerchant تَعلوrise بِهِwith him أَسعارُهُhis prices
يا تاجِراً تَعلو بِهِ أَسعارُهُ
مِقدارَin proportion to ماhow much يَدنىsinks الضَميرُthe conscience المُجرِمُcriminal
مِقدارَ ما يَدنى الضَميرُ المُجرِمُ
O merchant, whom his prices lift
O merchant whom prices rise with
In proportion as his criminal conscience sinks,
However low his corrupt conscience sinks!
سَتَذوبُyou will melt away فيin الدُنياthe world كَأَنَّكَas though you تَركَةٌan inheritance
سَتَذوبُ في الدُنيا كَأَنَّكَ تَركَةٌ
بِيَدِin the hand of المُبَذِّرِthe spendthrift أَوor كَأَنَّكَas though you دِرهَمُa dirham
بِيَدِ المُبَذِّرِ أَو كَأَنَّكَ دِرهَمُ
You will melt away in the world like an inheritance
You will melt away in life as if you're an inheritance
In a spendthrift's hand, or as though you were a dirham.
In the hands of a squanderer or a single coin.
هُوَhe شاعِرٌa poet إِنif لَمnot يَذُقhas tasted أَلَمَthe pain الهَوىof love
هُوَ شاعِرٌ إِن لَم يَذُق أَلَمَ الهَوى
يَكفيكَsuffice for you مِنهُfrom him أَحرُفٌletters تَتَأَلَّمُache
يَكفيكَ مِنهُ أَحرُفٌ تَتَأَلَّمُ
He is a poet; if he has not tasted love's pain,
He's a poet - if he hasn't tasted the pain of passion,
Letters of his that ache are enough for you.
It's enough that you have letters that ache.
ماnot الشِعرُpoetry إِلّاexcept حِليَةٌan ornament بَرّاقَةٌglittering
ما الشِعرُ إِلّا حِليَةٌ بَرّاقَةٌ
خَزَفٌpottery يَغُرُّكَdeceives you أَوor زُجاجٌglass يوهِمُcreates illusions
خَزَفٌ يَغُرُّكَ أَو زُجاجٌ يوهِمُ
Poetry is nothing but a glittering ornament:
What's poetry but flashy trinkets,
Pottery that deceives you, or glass that deludes.
Ceramics that tempt or glass that deceives?
صُوَرُimages الحَياةِof life كَثيرَةٌmany أَلوانُهاtheir colors
صُوَرُ الحَياةِ كَثيرَةٌ أَلوانُها
وَأَحَبُّهاand the dearest of them ماwhat قَدhas حَواهُcontained it المُعجَمُthe lexicon
وَأَحَبُّها ما قَد حَواهُ المُعجَمُ
Life's images have many colors,
Life's images are colorful but the ones I love most
And dearest among them is what the lexicon has held.
Are those preserved in the dictionary.
إِنَّindeed اليَتامىthe orphans مَنthose whom يَمُجُّهُمُspits them out الوَرىhumankind
إِنَّ اليَتامى مَن يَمُجُّهُمُ الوَرى
لَيسَare not اليَتامىthe orphans مَنthose whom يَضُمُّtakes in المَيتَمُthe orphanage
لَيسَ اليَتامى مَن يَضُمُّ المَيتَمُ
Indeed, the orphans are those whom humankind spits out;
The true orphans are those the people spurn -
The orphans are not those the orphanage takes in.
Not those the bereaved shelter and defend.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.