رُبوعٌdwellings لَكُمof yours بِالأَجرِat al-Ajr عَينٌa spring وَأَطلالُand ruined traces
رُبوعٌ لَكُم بِالأَجرِ عَينٌ وَأَطلالُ
سَقاهُنَّmay it water them مُنهَلُّpouring down الشآبيبِthe showers هَطّالُtorrential
سَقاهُنَّ مُنهَلُّ الشآبيبِ هَطّالُ
Your dwellings at al-Ajr: a spring and ruined traces.
Spacious lands where ruins with fountains lie,
May pouring, torrential showers water them.
Watered by youthful downpours from the sky.
بِحَيثُwhere يَبيتُspends the night الطَلحُthe acacia وَالضالُand the wild lote tree مِنكُمُfrom you
بِحَيثُ يَبيتُ الطَلحُ وَالضالُ مِنكُمُ
قَريباًnearby بِنَفسيwith my life as ransom ذَلِكَthat الطَلحُthe acacia وَالضالُand the wild lote tree
قَريباً بِنَفسي ذَلِكَ الطَلحُ وَالضالُ
Where acacia and wild lote trees spend the night beside you,
Where antelopes and strays nightly repose,
near at hand—my life for that acacia and those lote trees!
My soul, those antelopes and strays, are close.
مَنازِلُdwellings آجالٍherds مِنَof العيسِpale camels لَمdid not يَطُلlast long
مَنازِلُ آجالٍ مِنَ العيسِ لَم يَطُل
لَهُنَّfor them وَلاnor لِلعيسِfor the pale camels فيهِنَّwithin them آجالُlifespans
لَهُنَّ وَلا لِلعيسِ فيهِنَّ آجالُ
Dwellings of herds of pale camels: no long span
Stages for bands of nomads brief in stay,
was granted them, or the camels dwelling in them.
For them no length, nor permanence have they.
لَقَدindeed أَنهَجَتbecame threadbare بَعديafter me كَماas أَنهَجَbecame threadbare الصِباyouth
لَقَد أَنهَجَت بَعدي كَما أَنهَجَ الصِبا
فَهُنَّso they وَأَيّامُand the days الشَبيبَةِof youth أَسمالُrags
فَهُنَّ وَأَيّامُ الشَبيبَةِ أَسمالُ
They have grown threadbare since I left, as youth has;
As the winds blew after me, blowing my days,
they and the days of youth are rags.
My youth and its times are swarms gone astray.
أَياO رَبعُdwelling أَضناكَhas wasted you البِلىdecay وَلِيَand for me الهَوىpassion
أَيا رَبعُ أَضناكَ البِلى وَلِيَ الهَوى
فَماso there is no لَكَfor you إِبلالٌrecovery وَلاnor لِيَfor me إِبلالُrecovery
فَما لَكَ إِبلالٌ وَلا لِيَ إِبلالُ
O dwelling, decay has wasted you, and passion has wasted me.
O dwelling, what decay made you thus decline?
There is no recovery for you, and no recovery for me.
Yet you show no decline, nor I repine.
وَقَفناwe stopped وَأَوقَفناand held us back الدُموعُthe tears حَبيسَةًpent up
وَقَفنا وَأَوقَفنا الدُموعُ حَبيسَةً
عَلَيكَbefore you وَإِنّاand indeed we بِالدُموعِwith tears لَبُخّالُare surely miserly
عَلَيكَ وَإِنّا بِالدُموعِ لَبُخّالُ
We stopped, and our pent-up tears held us fast
Sparing with tears are you, I lavish and kind.
before you—though we are indeed miserly with tears.
Have the years pouring wine down made you wise?
سَقَتكَmay they water you العِهادُthe recurring rains الغُرُّthe bright ones هَلwill أَنتَyou مُخبِرٌa teller
سَقَتكَ العِهادُ الغُرُّ هَل أَنتَ مُخبِرٌ
عَنِabout الحَيِّthe tribe إِنّيindeed I عَنهُمُabout them لَكَto you سَآلُan insistent asker
عَنِ الحَيِّ إِنّي عَنهُمُ لَكَ سَآلُ
May bright, recurring rains water you; will you tell me
Of the living, for you I question and surmise.
about the tribe? I keep asking you about them.
Oh you that seek to slay me, be gentle I pray,
أَمُزمِعَةٌare you resolved بِالبَينِthrough parting قَتليkilling me تَرَفَّقيbe gentle
أَمُزمِعَةٌ بِالبَينِ قَتلي تَرَفَّقي
فَفيfor in الرِفقِgentleness إِحسانٌkindness لَدَيكِin you وَإِجمالُand graciousness
فَفي الرِفقِ إِحسانٌ لَدَيكِ وَإِجمالُ
Are you resolved to kill me by parting? Be gentle;
Gentleness in you would be kinder in every way.
for in gentleness you show kindness and grace.
The night has stolen all, even the stars are dull,
سَلَبتِyou robbed الدُجىthe darkness ماwhat فيهِin it حَتّىeven نُجُومُهُits stars
سَلَبتِ الدُجى ما فيهِ حَتّى نُجُومُهُ
لِنَحرِكِfor your throat عِقدٌa necklace وَالأَهِلَّةُand the crescents أَحجالُanklets
لِنَحرِكِ عِقدٌ وَالأَهِلَّةُ أَحجالُ
You robbed the darkness of all it held: even its stars
Only here, a necklace glitters, anklets pull.
are a necklace for your throat, and the crescents are anklets.
In valleys of lush trees, I divined if I might
تَفاءَلَتُI took a good omen فيin واديthe valley الأَراكِof arak trees لَعَلَّنيperhaps I
تَفاءَلَتُ في وادي الأَراكِ لَعَلَّني
أَراكِsee you فَلَمbut did not يَصدُقprove true بِرُؤيَتِكَin seeing you الفالُthe omen
أَراكِ فَلَم يَصدُق بِرُؤيَتِكَ الفالُ
I took a hopeful omen in the Valley of Arak, that I might
Behold you, but the auguries proved not right.
see you; but the omen of seeing you proved false.
I yearn for the Hijaz and its distant parts,
أَحِنُّI yearn إِلىfor أَهلِthe people الحِجازِof the Hijaz وَدُونَهُمand before them
أَحِنُّ إِلى أَهلِ الحِجازِ وَدُونَهُم
مَفاوِزُvast deserts فيهاin them لِلتَعامُلِfor dealings إِعمالُexertion
مَفاوِزُ فيها لِلتَعامُلِ إِعمالُ
I yearn for the people of the Hijaz; between us lie
Spaces where hearts may mingle and commerce starts.
vast deserts where dealings demand exertion.
When flocks flap wings towards your lands, my heart
وَأَنظُرُand I watch خَفقَthe flickering الآلِof the mirage مِنfrom نَحوِthe direction أَرضِكُمof your land
وَأَنظُرُ خَفقَ الآلِ مِن نَحوِ أَرضِكُم
فَيَخفِقُso it flutters قَلبيmy heart كُلَّماwhenever خَفَقَflickered الآلُthe mirage
فَيَخفِقُ قَلبي كُلَّما خَفَقَ الآلُ
And I watch the mirage flicker toward your land;
Flaps with them, every flap a wound and a dart.
my heart flutters whenever the mirage flickers.
Burning with passion, my legs fettered stay,
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَمُشتاقٌam truly longing وَعِنديand with me صَنيعَةٌa favor
وَإِنّي لَمُشتاقٌ وَعِندي صَنيعَةٌ
تَغُلُّshackles رِكابيmy mounts وَالصَنائِعُand favors أَغلالُfetters
تَغُلُّ رِكابي وَالصَنائِعُ أَغلالُ
And I do indeed yearn, yet a favor is upon me
Fettered by crafts, for crafts like shackles weigh.
that shackles my mounts; favors are fetters.
Near a king, forgot my loved ones, his love
لَدىwith مَلِكٍa king أَنسىmade forget الأَحِبَّةَthe loved ones حُبُّهُhis love
لَدى مَلِكٍ أَنسى الأَحِبَّةَ حُبُّهُ
فَأَصبَحَso there became ليfor me عَنهُمaway from them بِنُعماهُthrough his bounty إِشغالُa distraction
فَأَصبَحَ لي عَنهُم بِنُعماهُ إِشغالُ
With a king whose love has made me forget my loved ones,
Morning found me busy, their thought thereof.
his bounty has become my distraction from them.
He generous whose land riches on poor bestows,
كَريمٌgenerous أَقَلُّthe least الكَسبِgain فيin أَرضِهِhis land الغِنىwealth
كَريمٌ أَقَلُّ الكَسبِ في أَرضِهِ الغِنى
وَأَيسَرُand the least شَيءٍthing فيamong مَواهِبِهِhis gifts المالُmoney
وَأَيسَرُ شَيءٍ في مَواهِبِهِ المالُ
A generous man: the least gain in his land is wealth,
Whose plenty makes giving the simplest of woes.
and money is the least of his gifts.
His virtues like stars are resplendent and bright,
مَناقِبُهُhis virtues مِثلُlike النُجومُthe stars زَواهِرٌradiant
مَناقِبُهُ مِثلُ النُجومُ زَواهِرٌ
وَأَفعالُهُand his deeds عِندَamong الأَماثِلِthe finest men أَمثالُexemplary models
وَأَفعالُهُ عِندَ الأَماثِلِ أَمثالُ
His virtues, like the stars, are radiant;
His deeds by the best tenets guided upright.
his deeds are models among the finest men.
Beggar or prince, his guest makes no differentiation,
إِذاwhen نَزَلَalight الأَضيافُthe guests أَوor نُوزِلَare faced in combat القَناthe spears
إِذا نَزَلَ الأَضيافُ أَو نُوزِلَ القَنا
تَساوىare equal نَزيلٌa guest فيin ذُراهُhis shelter وَنَزّالُand a combatant
تَساوى نَزيلٌ في ذُراهُ وَنَزّالُ
When guests alight, or spears are met in combat,
Loss or gain, equal in his estimation.
a guest in his shelter and a challenger are treated alike.
When armies oppose, his sharp swords prove right,
لَهُhe has صارِمٌa keen sword دَلَّتattested فُلولٌnicks بِحَدِّهِin its edge
لَهُ صارِمٌ دَلَّت فُلولٌ بِحَدِّهِ
عَلىto أَنَّهُthat it لِلجَيشِof the army بِالجَيشِwith the army فَلّالُa mighty breaker
عَلى أَنَّهُ لِلجَيشِ بِالجَيشِ فَلّالُ
He has a keen sword: the nicks in its edge attest
Each side in battle discern him knight.
that, in army-to-army combat, it shatters hosts.
Ask his kin, when war makes its earnest call,
إِذاwhen سَلَّهُhe draws it فيin مَعرَكٍa battle مِنfrom قِرابِهِits sheath
إِذا سَلَّهُ في مَعرَكٍ مِن قِرابِهِ
تَشابَهَresembled each other مَسلولٌa drawn blade هُناكَthere وَسَلّالُand the sword-drawer
تَشابَهَ مَسلولٌ هُناكَ وَسَلّالُ
When he draws it from its sheath in battle,
Asker and asked both ready to fall.
the drawn blade and its drawer resemble each other there.
By him the sword is vain, his arm mightier,
وَماand not السَيفُthe sword إِلّاexcept دُونَهُbeneath him وَهُوَand he بِالنَدىthrough generosity
وَما السَيفُ إِلّا دُونَهُ وَهُوَ بِالنَدى
لِراجِيهِfor whoever hopes in him مُحيٍّlife-giving وَالمُهَنَّدand the Indian-steel sword قَتّالُdeadly
لِراجِيهِ مُحيٍّ وَالمُهَنَّد قَتّالُ
Yet the sword is beneath him: through generosity,
Vanquishing and felling the duplicitous.
he gives life to whoever hopes in him, while the Indian-steel blade kills.
O Abu Salih, you reaped high traits and more,
أَباAbu صالِحٍSalih حُزتَyou have attained المَكارِمَnoble virtues وَالتَقَتand came together
أَبا صالِحٍ حُزتَ المَكارِمَ وَالتَقَت
إِلىtoward الفَخرِglory أَعمامٌpaternal uncles عَلَيكَupon you وَأَخوالُand maternal uncles
إِلى الفَخرِ أَعمامٌ عَلَيكَ وَأَخوالُ
Abu Salih, you have attained noble virtues, and united
Sires and uncles who your pride fanned before.
in bringing you glory are your paternal and maternal uncles.
Be delighted as the Imam his steed reins
لِيَهنِكِmay it delight you تَشريفُthe honoring الإِمامِthe Imam بِسُبَّقٍwith racers
لِيَهنِكِ تَشريفُ الإِمامِ بِسُبَّقٍ
مِنَof الخَيلِthe horses فيin قانٍcrimson مِنَof التِبرِgold تَختالُprancing
مِنَ الخَيلِ في قانٍ مِنَ التِبرِ تَختالُ
May the Imam's honoring you bring you joy, with fleet
To ride the soft dune, his glory attains.
horses prancing in crimson gold.
Night hurried to you, starry, to exalt your name,
خَبَطنَthey beat their way إِلَيكَtoward you اللَيلَthe night حَتّىuntil تَكَلَّلَتbecame crowned
خَبَطنَ إِلَيكَ اللَيلَ حَتّى تَكَلَّلَت
لَهُنَّfor them هَوادٍnecks بِالنُجومِwith stars وَأَكفالُand croups
لَهُنَّ هَوادٍ بِالنُجومِ وَأَكفالُ
They trod the night toward you, until crowned
Crowns and tiaras all vouchsafe the same.
with stars were their necks and croups.
Most noble station of the noblest man alive,
كُسينَthey were clothed أَجَلَّthe finest العَبقَريّpatterned brocade أَجِلَّةًsaddlecloths
كُسينَ أَجَلَّ العَبقَريّ أَجِلَّةً
تَدُلُّshow وَتُنبيand announce أَنَّthat ذَلِكَthat إِجلالُhonoring
تَدُلُّ وَتُنبي أَنَّ ذَلِكَ إِجلالُ
They were clothed in saddlecloths of the finest patterned brocade,
Tokens which speak, declare, and strive,
showing and proclaiming that this is high honor.
Domes like the sand dunes rounded in design,
هِيَthey are القُبُّthe lean steeds بارَتهاrivaled them قِبابٌdomed canopies كَأَنَّهاas though they
هِيَ القُبُّ بارَتها قِبابٌ كَأَنَّها
عَلىupon حُتُفِdooms (text unclear) الأَحمالِthe burdens فيto العَينِthe eye أَجمالُcamels
عَلى حُتُفِ الأَحمالِ في العَينِ أَجمالُ
These are lean steeds; domed canopies rival them, as though they
Beautiful in the eye like pearls that shine.
were camels to the eye, atop the 'dooms of burdens.'
Flags of glory that unfurled before each hater
وَأَعلامُand banners عِزٍّof glory أَعلَمَتinformed كُلَّevery حاسِدٍenvier
وَأَعلامُ عِزٍّ أَعلَمَت كُلَّ حاسِدٍ
بِأَنَّكَthat you لاnot يَعدُوكَpasses you by سَعدٌgood fortune وَإِقبالُand prosperity
بِأَنَّكَ لا يَعدُوكَ سَعدٌ وَإِقبالُ
And banners of glory have informed every envier
Say none can match your fortune or luck alter.
that good fortune and prosperity do not pass you by.
Raiment of pure silk you wore that trails
وَمِنand from خالِصِpure العِقيانِgold ثَوبٌa robe لَبِستَهُyou wore it
وَمِن خالِصِ العِقيانِ ثَوبٌ لَبِستَهُ
تُجَرُّare trailed لَهُfor it فَوقَabove المَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way أَذيالُhems
تُجَرُّ لَهُ فَوقَ المَجَرَّةِ أَذيالُ
And you have worn a robe of pure gold,
Over the horizon, glory never fails.
whose hems are trailed above the Milky Way.
As if one robe of fine gauze were not enough,
كَأَنَّكَas though you لَمdid not تَقنَعcontent yourself بِسِربالِwith a robe غازِلٍof a spinner
كَأَنَّكَ لَم تَقنَع بِسِربالِ غازِلٍ
فَوافاكَso came to you مِنfrom نُورِthe light الغَزالَةِof the sun سِربالُa robe
فَوافاكَ مِن نُورِ الغَزالَةِ سِربالُ
As though you were not content with a spinner's garment,
The robe of gazelles decks you, pure and tough.
a robe of the sun's light came to you.
Since you bore the responsibility of command,
وَقُلِّدَتand you were girded عَضباًwith a keen sword مُذsince حَمَلتَyou bore نِجادَهُits baldric
وَقُلِّدَت عَضباً مُذ حَمَلتَ نِجادَهُ
تُحَمِّلُshouldered (reading uncertain) عَنكَfor you الدَهرُTime ماwhat أَنتَyou حَمّالُone who bears burdens
تُحَمِّلُ عَنكَ الدَهرُ ما أَنتَ حَمّالُ
And you were girded with a keen sword; since you bore its baldric,
Fate itself from all your burdens frees your hand.
Time has shouldered for you whatever burdens you bear.
Salah bin Muhammad's efforts are now repaid,
لَقَدindeed فازَsucceeded مَسعىthe endeavor صالِحSalih بِنِson of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
لَقَد فازَ مَسعى صالِح بِنِ مُحَمَّدٍ
وَفازَتand succeeded ظُنونٌexpectations صادِقاتٌtrue وَآمالُand hopes
وَفازَت ظُنونٌ صادِقاتٌ وَآمالُ
The endeavor of Salih ibn Muhammad has indeed succeeded,
True hopes fulfilled, goals and dreams made.
and true expectations and hopes have succeeded.
He sees what's hidden from every eye but his lord's,
يَرىhe sees ماwhat يُرىis seen فيin الغَيبِthe unseen حَتّىso much so that كَأَنَّهُas though he
يَرى ما يُرى في الغَيبِ حَتّى كَأَنَّهُ
عَلىupon كُلِّevery شَيءٍthing فيin ضَميرِكَyour mind نَزّالُone who alights
عَلى كُلِّ شَيءٍ في ضَميرِكَ نَزّالُ
He perceives things unseen, so that it is as though he
To all your secrets and thoughts firmly anchored.
had settled into every thought within your mind.
Purest fragrance of clouds are yours, condensed of late,
صَفاwas pure لَكُمُtoward you صَفوَwith the purity of الغَمامِthe clouds وَأَخلَصَتand became sincere
صَفا لَكُمُ صَفوَ الغَمامِ وَأَخلَصَت
سَرائِرُهُhis inner thoughts إِنَّindeed السَرائِرَinner thoughts أَعمالُdeeds
سَرائِرُهُ إِنَّ السَرائِرَ أَعمالُ
He was pure toward you as the clouds are pure, and sincere
Secrets now clear, within you coagulate.
are his inner thoughts; indeed, inner thoughts are deeds.
You brought strength to a people of diverse ken,
لَقَدindeed عَزَّgrew mighty قَومٌa people شايَعوكَsupported you وَحُصِّنَتand were fortified
لَقَد عَزَّ قَومٌ شايَعوكَ وَحُصِّنَت
ثُغورٌfrontier strongholds عَلَيهاupon them مِنfrom سُيُوفِكَyour swords أَقفالُlocks
ثُغورٌ عَلَيها مِن سُيُوفِكَ أَقفالُ
Indeed, the people who rallied to you grew mighty; fortified
With your sword an impregnable fortress then.
are frontier strongholds, with your swords as locks upon them.
While you are intact Islam need never refrain,
فَلاso let not يَجزَعِfear الإِرلامُIslam (apparently intended) ماas long as دُمتَyou remain سالِماًsafe
فَلا يَجزَعِ الإِرلامُ ما دُمتَ سالِماً
فَقَدfor indeed عَزَّgrew mighty غَيلٌa thicket فيهِwithin it مِثلُكَone like you رِئبالُa lion
فَقَد عَزَّ غَيلٌ فيهِ مِثلُكَ رِئبالُ
Let Islam not fear while you remain safe,
A people with one like you will not wane.
for a thicket is mighty when a lion like you is within it.
Beyond Damascus, your gallant youth remain
وَمِنand from دُونِbefore هَذاthis الشامِSyria أَنتَyou وَفِتيَةٌand young men
وَمِن دُونِ هَذا الشامِ أَنتَ وَفِتيَةٌ
مَرادِسَةٌMirdasids شَمُّlofty العَرانينِnoses أَبطالُheroes
مَرادِسَةٌ شَمُّ العَرانينِ أَبطالُ
And defending this Syria are you and young men,
Scenting wars, stride o'er the reins.
Mirdasid heroes with lofty noses.
They bare the blades with azure sheen, deny
إِذاwhen أَشرَعواthey level زُرقَthe blue الأَسِنَّةِspearheads حَرَّمواthey bar
إِذا أَشرَعوا زُرقَ الأَسِنَّةِ حَرَّموا
مَوارِدَهُمtheir watering places وَالماءُand the water أَزرَقُblue سَلسالُsweetly flowing
مَوارِدَهُم وَالماءُ أَزرَقُ سَلسالُ
When they level their blue spearheads, they bar
Their pools to others, though the streams comply.
their watering places, though the water is blue and sweetly flowing.
Wise save on days that crave some madness in the vein,
أَولواpossessors الحِلمِof forbearance إِلّاexcept فيin الكَريهَةِbattle إِنَّهُمindeed they
أَولوا الحِلمِ إِلّا في الكَريهَةِ إِنَّهُم
إِذاwhen شَهِدواthey witness يَومَthe day الكَريهَةِof battle جُهّالُimpetuous
إِذا شَهِدوا يَومَ الكَريهَةِ جُهّالُ
Men of forbearance, except in battle; indeed, they
When carnage calls, all wisdom they disdain.
are impetuous when they witness the day of battle.
Seeking the best, the best they did obtain,
أَنالُواthey gave فَنالواand so attained مُنتَهىthe utmost الحَمدِpraise إِنَّنيindeed I
أَنالُوا فَنالوا مُنتَهى الحَمدِ إِنَّني
رَأَيتُI saw رِجالاًmen قَدindeed أَنالواgave فَماbut did not نالواattain
رَأَيتُ رِجالاً قَد أَنالوا فَما نالوا
They gave, and so won the utmost praise; indeed, I
I saw men who, when others earthly bliss attain,
have seen men who gave, yet won none.
No bliss themselves obtain.
وَماand not الناسُpeople عِندَamong الناسِpeople إِلّاexcept مَعاشِرٌcompanies
وَما الناسُ عِندَ الناسِ إِلّا مَعاشِرٌ
إِذاwhen وُزِنُواthey are weighed بِالناسِagainst people كُلِّهِمall of them مالُواthey tip the scales
إِذا وُزِنُوا بِالناسِ كُلِّهِم مالُوا
In men's eyes, true men are only those companies
For people are to people naught but bands,
who tip the scales when weighed against all mankind.
Measured by the sum of people, in the balance stand.
بُحُورٌseas بُدُورٌfull moons وَالدُسُوتُand thrones مَطالِعٌrising places
بُحُورٌ بُدُورٌ وَالدُسُوتُ مَطالِعٌ
غُيُوثٌrains لُيوثٌlions وَالذَوابِلُand slender spears أَغيالُthickets
غُيُوثٌ لُيوثٌ وَالذَوابِلُ أَغيالُ
Seas, full moons—and thrones are their rising places;
Daring lions, bristling wolves, cliffs with peering eyes,
rains, lions—and slender spears are their thickets.
Pouncing raptors, sweeping down from the skies.
إِذاif لَمَسواthey touch شَطراًa portion مِنَof الأَرضِthe earth لَمسَةًa single touch
إِذا لَمَسوا شَطراً مِنَ الأَرضِ لَمسَةً
بِأَيمانِهِمwith their right hands لَمdoes not يُفسِدِblight الأَرضَthe earth إِمحالُdrought
بِأَيمانِهِم لَم يُفسِدِ الأَرضَ إِمحالُ
If they touch a portion of the earth just once
Where their hands touch, no hand can ever defile,
with their right hands, drought will not blight that land.
By their faith they cleanse earth, cleanse it by their style.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.