ماذاwhat يَهيجُكَstirs you مِنfrom دارٍa dwelling بِمَحنِيَةٍat a valley bend
ماذا يَهيجُكَ مِن دارٍ بِمَحنِيَةٍ
كَالبُردِlike a striped cloak غَيَّرَchanged مِنهاof it الجِدَّةَfreshness العُصُرُthe ages
كَالبُردِ غَيَّرَ مِنها الجِدَّةَ العُصُرُ
What in a dwelling at a valley bend stirs you,
What arouses your interest in a house of affliction
Like a striped cloak whose freshness the ages have worn away?
Whose new look has been changed by the cold
عَفَّتeffaced مَعارِفَهاits recognizable landmarks ريحٌa wind تُنَسِّفُهاsweeps it away
عَفَّت مَعارِفَها ريحٌ تُنَسِّفُها
حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّas though بَقاياremnants رَسمِهاits traces سُطُرُwritten lines
حَتّى كَأَنَّ بَقايا رَسمِها سُطُرُ
A wind that sweeps it away has erased its familiar landmarks,
Its landmarks have been erased by a devastating wind
Until its surviving traces seem like lines of writing.
As if its vestiges were but lines
أَزرىdetracted بِجِدَّتِهاfrom its freshness بَعديafter my departure وَغَيَّرَهاand changed it
أَزرى بِجِدَّتِها بَعدي وَغَيَّرَها
هوجُraging الرِياحِthe winds الَّتيthat تَغدوgo forth at dawn وَتَبتَكِرُand come early
هوجُ الرِياحِ الَّتي تَغدو وَتَبتَكِرُ
After I left, its freshness was marred and it was altered
I visited it after its new look changed
By raging winds that go forth at dawn and come early.
By the winds that blow night and day
دارٌa dwelling لِواضِحَةِbelonging to a radiant one الخَدَّيَنِthe two cheeks ناعِمَةٍdelicate
دارٌ لِواضِحَةِ الخَدَّيَنِ ناعِمَةٍ
غَرثىslender الوَشاحِthe sash لَهاshe has فيin دَلِّهاher coquetry خَفَرُmodesty
غَرثى الوَشاحِ لَها في دَلِّها خَفَرُ
A dwelling of a radiant-cheeked, delicate woman,
A house of a soft-cheeked graceful woman
Slender beneath her sash, with modesty in her coquetry.
A guard of her wraps guards her wraps
كَأَنَّهاas though she were دُرَّةٌa pearl أَغلىbid a high price التِجارُthe merchants بِهاfor it
كَأَنَّها دُرَّةٌ أَغلى التِجارُ بِها
مَكنونَةٌkept hidden رَبِحواthey profited فيهاon it وَماand not خَسِرواthey lost
مَكنونَةٌ رَبِحوا فيها وَما خَسِروا
As though she were a pearl for which merchants bid high,
As if it were a pearl the merchants competed for
Kept hidden; they profited from it and suffered no loss.
Treasured, they profited without losing
قُلsay لِلخَليفَةِto the caliph موسىMusa إِنَّthat نائِلَهُhis bounty
قُل لِلخَليفَةِ موسى إِنَّ نائِلَهُ
جَزلٌabundant هَنِيٌّwelcome وَماand no فيin سَيبِهِhis largesse كَدَرُtaint
جَزلٌ هَنِيٌّ وَما في سَيبِهِ كَدَرُ
Tell the caliph Musa that his bounty
Tell the Caliph Musa that his attainment
Is abundant and welcome, with no taint in his largesse.
Is abundant, pleasant, with no trace of turmoil
مُتَوَّجٌcrowned بِالهُدىwith guidance بِالحَمدِin praise مُلتَحِفٌwrapped
مُتَوَّجٌ بِالهُدى بِالحَمدِ مُلتَحِفٌ
مُسَربَلٌrobed بِالنَدىin generosity بِالمَجدِwith glory مُتَّزِرُgirded
مُسَربَلٌ بِالنَدى بِالمَجدِ مُتَّزِرُ
Crowned with guidance, wrapped in praise,
Adorned with guidance, clad with praise
Robed in generosity, girded with glory.
Wrapped in dew, dressed in glory
موسىMusa الَّذيwho بَذَلَbestowed المَعروفَkindness يُنهِبُهُlets it be freely taken
موسى الَّذي بَذَلَ المَعروفَ يُنهِبُهُ
فيamong الناسِthe people فَالجودُso generosity مِنfrom كَفَّيهِhis two palms يَنهَمِرُpours forth
في الناسِ فَالجودُ مِن كَفَّيهِ يَنهَمِرُ
Musa, who bestowed kindness, making it free for the taking
Musa who spent good deeds that loot him
Among the people—generosity pours from his two palms.
Among people, so generosity overflows from his palms
أَشَمُّproudly high-nosed تَنميهِgive him his lineage آباءٌforefathers جَحاجِحَةٌmighty chiefs
أَشَمُّ تَنميهِ آباءٌ جَحاجِحَةٌ
شُمُّhigh-nosed الأُنوفِthe noses عَلىdespite ماwhat نابَهُمbefell them صَيَرواapparently 'they endured' (unclear spelling)
شُمُّ الأُنوفِ عَلى ما نابَهُم صَيَروا
A proudly high-nosed man, descended from forefathers who were mighty chiefs,
I smell the upbringing of resolute forefathers
High-nosed, they [endured] whatever befell them.
Keen of scent regarding what they attained
لَنwill not يُؤمِنَgrant safety الناسُthe people مَنthose whom لَمdid not يُؤمِنواthey protect أَبَداًever
لَن يُؤمِنَ الناسُ مَن لَم يُؤمِنوا أَبَداً
وَاللَهُand God يُؤمِنُgrants safety مَنthose whom آوَواthey sheltered نَصَرواthey aided
وَاللَهُ يُؤمِنُ مَن آوَوا نَصَروا
People will never grant safety to those they have not protected,
People will never believe those who never believed
And God grants safety to those they sheltered and aided.
And Allah gives faith to those who supported and protected
لاnot يَكسِرُbreak الناسُthe people ماwhat شَدّواthey secured جَبائِرَهُits splints
لا يَكسِرُ الناسُ ما شَدّوا جَبائِرَهُ
وَلَيسَnor is يُجبَرُmended طولَthroughout الدَهرِall time مَنanyone whom كَسَرواthey broke
وَلَيسَ يُجبَرُ طولَ الدَهرِ مَن كَسَروا
People cannot break what they have bound with splints,
People do not break what they tied strongly
Nor, through all time, is anyone they have broken ever mended.
And those broken are not mended for long
أَنتَyou الدَعامَةُthe supporting pillar ياO موسىMusa إِذاwhen اِحتَدَمَتblazed fiercely
أَنتَ الدَعامَةُ يا موسى إِذا اِحتَدَمَت
نيرانُهاits fires وَحُماةُand the champions الحَربِof war تَجتَزِرُslaughter
نيرانُها وَحُماةُ الحَربِ تَجتَزِرُ
You are the pillar, O Musa, when fiercely blaze
You are the pillar, O Musa, when its
The fires of war, and its champions slaughter.
Fires are raging and war igniters are kindling
وَإِنand if غَضِبتَyou grow angry فَماthen there is no فيamong الناسِthe people مِنany بَشَرٍhuman being
وَإِن غَضِبتَ فَما في الناسِ مِن بَشَرٍ
إِلّاexcept عَلىin خَطَرperil ماnot مِثلُهُlike it خَطَرُa peril
إِلّا عَلى خَطَر ما مِثلُهُ خَطَرُ
And if you grow angry, there is no human being
If you get angry, then no human among people
But faces a peril unlike any other peril.
Is safe from a danger like yours
ماno مُخدِرٌlair-dwelling خَدِرٌden-lurking مُستَأسِدٌferocious أَسَدٌa lion
ما مُخدِرٌ خَدِرٌ مُستَأسِدٌ أَسَدٌ
ضُبارِمٌmassive and powerful خادِرٌhidden in its den ذوpossessing صَولَةٍa fierce attack زَئِرُroaring
ضُبارِمٌ خادِرٌ ذو صَولَةٍ زَئِرُ
No lair-dwelling, den-lurking, ferocious lion,
No drowsy, no docile, no lion, no young lion
Massive, hidden in its den, fierce in attack and roaring,
No sleepy, no ferocious with might roaring
غَضَنفَرٌa mighty lion غَضِفٌdroop-eared قِرضابَةٌravenous ثَقِفٌdeft
غَضَنفَرٌ غَضِفٌ قِرضابَةٌ ثَقِفٌ
مُستَرعِبٌterror-striking لِقُلوبِto the hearts الناسِof people مُصطَبَرُfaced with fortitude
مُستَرعِبٌ لِقُلوبِ الناسِ مُصطَبَرُ
A mighty lion, droop-eared, ravenous and deft,
No angry, no biter, no fighter, no thick
Terrifying human hearts, to be faced with fortitude,
Terrifying people’s hearts, enduring
ذوpossessing بُرثُنٍa claw شَرِثٍragged ضَخمٌmassive مُزَوَّرُهُits chest
ذو بُرثُنٍ شَرِثٍ ضَخمٌ مُزَوَّرُهُ
خُبَعثَنُthickset الخَلقِbodily build فيin أَخلاقِهِits disposition زَعَرُsavagery
خُبَعثَنُ الخَلقِ في أَخلاقِهِ زَعَرُ
With a ragged claw, its chest immense,
With a wide chest and body, his appearance augmented
Thickset in build, with savagery in its disposition,
Evil-natured, in morals and deeds disdainful
جَأبُthick الشَراسيفِthe rib ends رَحبُroomy الجَوفِthe belly مُفتَرِسٌpredatory
جَأبُ الشَراسيفِ رَحبُ الجَوفِ مُفتَرِسٌ
عِندَduring التَجاوُلِcircling combat لِلأَقرانِagainst the rivals مُهتَصِرُcrushing
عِندَ التَجاوُلِ لِلأَقرانِ مُهتَصِرُ
With massive rib ends and a roomy belly, a predator,
Driving off the brave, wide-bellied, predating
Crushing its rivals when they circle in combat,
When the peers meet, overpowering
عَفَرنَسٌa mighty lion أَهرَتُwide-gaping الشِدقَينِthe two mouth corners ذوpossessing حَنَقٍrage
عَفَرنَسٌ أَهرَتُ الشِدقَينِ ذو حَنَقٍ
لِلقِرنِagainst the adversary عِندَat لِقاthe meeting الأَقرانِthe rivals مُقتَسِرُoverpowering
لِلقِرنِ عِندَ لِقا الأَقرانِ مُقتَسِرُ
A mighty lion, wide-gaping, filled with rage,
Bleary-eyed, angry when the peers meet
Overpowering its adversary when rivals meet,
Able to subdue the peers when they clash
جَهمُgrim المُحَيّاthe face هَموسٌsoft-footed لاnot يُنَهنِهُهُrestrains it
جَهمُ المُحَيّا هَموسٌ لا يُنَهنِهُهُ
صَوتُthe sound الرِجالِof men وَلاnor لِلزَجرِat rebuke يَنزَجِرُis deterred
صَوتُ الرِجالِ وَلا لِلزَجرِ يَنزَجِرُ
Grim-faced, soft-footed, not restrained by
Deaf, not hindered by men’s voices
The voices of men, nor deterred by rebuke,
Or chiding, does not refrain from aggression
فيin خَطمِهِits muzzle خَنَسٌa snubbed shape فيin أَنفِهِits nose فَطَسٌflatness
في خَطمِهِ خَنَسٌ في أَنفِهِ فَطَسٌ
كَأَنَّماas though وَجهُهُits face مِنfrom هَضبَةٍa rocky hill حَجَرُa stone
كَأَنَّما وَجهُهُ مِن هَضبَةٍ حَجَرُ
Its muzzle snubbed, its nose flattened,
With a flat nose, snub nose, his face like
As though its face were a stone from a rocky hill,
A plateau of stone, expressionless
ذوpossessing أَلَّةٍa spear قَيسَرِيٌّmighty حينَwhen تَبرِزُهُyou bring it forth
ذو أَلَّةٍ قَيسَرِيٌّ حينَ تَبرِزُهُ
غَشَمشَمِيٌّrecklessly fierce فَلاso not يُبقيit spares وَلاnor يَذَرُit leaves
غَشَمشَمِيٌّ فَلا يُبقي وَلا يَذَرُ
Spear-armed, powerful when you bring it forth,
Owner of a twisted mouth, when battles emerge
Fiercely reckless, sparing nothing and leaving nothing—
He snarls, leaves no survivors
بِبالِغٍable to attain عُشرَa tenth عُشرٍof a tenth مِنof شَجاعَتِهِhis courage
بِبالِغٍ عُشرَ عُشرٍ مِن شَجاعَتِهِ
إِذاwhen تَنازَلَتِentered combat الأَبطالُthe champions وَاِشتَجَرواand they clashed
إِذا تَنازَلَتِ الأَبطالُ وَاِشتَجَروا
Can attain a tenth of a tenth of his courage,
With unprecedented courage when warriors
When champions face one another and clash.
Parley and the heroes clash
بَلrather أَنتَyou أَجرَأُbolder مِنهُthan it فيin تَقَدُّمِهِits advance
بَل أَنتَ أَجرَأُ مِنهُ في تَقَدُّمِهِ
وَأَنتَand you أَقدَمُmore intrepid مِنهُthan it حينَwhen يَجتَئِرُit roars
وَأَنتَ أَقدَمُ مِنهُ حينَ يَجتَئِرُ
Rather, you are bolder than it when it presses forward,
But you are braver than him when advancing
And you are more intrepid than it when it roars.
And older than him when raging
بَلrather لَوif يُلاقيكِmeets you أَضحىwould become اللَيلُthe night (as written) مِنfrom فَرَقِterror
بَل لَو يُلاقيكِ أَضحى اللَيلُ مِن فَرَقِ
وَخيفَةًand fear مِنكَof you لاfirst fragment of 'met' قىsecond fragment of 'met' يَومَهُits day القَدَرُfate
وَخيفَةً مِنكَ لا قى يَومَهُ القَدَرُ
Rather, were it to meet you, the night would, from terror,
In fact, if he met you, from fear of you
And fear of you, have its appointed day met by fate.
The night would lose its darkness and value
ياO خَيرَbest مَنof those whose عَقَدَتtied كَفّاهُhis two palms حُجزَتَهُhis waistband
يا خَيرَ مَن عَقَدَت كَفّاهُ حُجزَتَهُ
وَخَيرَand best مَنof those whom قَلَّدَتهُentrusted him with أَمرَهاits affairs مُضَرُMudar
وَخَيرَ مَن قَلَّدَتهُ أَمرَها مُضَرُ
O best of those whose hands have tied their own waistbands,
O best of those whose palms held his reigns
And best of those whom Mudar entrusted with its affairs,
And the best of those he appointed as leaders of Mudar
إِلّاexcept النَبِيَّthe Prophet رَسولَthe messenger اللَهِof God أَنَّfor لَهُhe has
إِلّا النَبِيَّ رَسولَ اللَهِ أَنَّ لَهُ
فَضلاًexcellence وَأَنتَand you بِذاكَin that الفَضلِexcellence تَفتَخِرُtake pride
فَضلاً وَأَنتَ بِذاكَ الفَضلِ تَفتَخِرُ
Except the Prophet, the messenger of God, for he has
Except the Prophet, Allah’s Messenger, for he
Excellence—and in that excellence you take pride.
Has merit you pride yourself in boasting
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.