أخٌa brother لِيَof mine مَشكُورُpraised المَسَاعِيthe endeavors وَسَيِّدٌand a nobleman
أخٌ لِيَ مَشكُورُ المَسَاعِي وَسَيِّدٌ
تَسُرُّdelight بَوَادِيهِhis outward qualities إذَاwhen سَاءَكَdisplease you الصَّحبُthe companions
تَسُرُّ بَوَادِيهِ إذَا سَاءَكَ الصَّحبُ
A brother of mine, praised for his endeavors, and a noble man,
A brother to me whose efforts are appreciated and a lord
A brother of mine, praised in endeavors, and a master,
Whose outward qualities delight when companions displease you,
Whose valleys delight when companionship becomes unbearable
Whose open countenance gladdens when companions bring grief.
ألَمَّcame by يُجَالِينِيprobes me جَلاَءَthe probing of مُجَرّبٍan experienced man
ألَمَّ يُجَالِينِي جَلاَءَ مُجَرّبٍ
عَلَىdespite أنَّهُthat he is حَقَّاtruly بِيَabout me العَالِمُthe knowledgeable one الطَّبُّthe expert
عَلَى أنَّهُ حَقَّا بِيَ العَالِمُ الطَّبُّ
Came to probe me with an experienced man's scrutiny,
Has he not made me face the testing of an experienced person
He came to test and appraise me with the scrutiny of the seasoned,
Though he truly knows me and is a skilled judge.
On the basis that he is truly the kindest person to me
Though he is truly the knowledgeable, expert master of my worth.
يُطَالِعُexamines فِيin سُبلِthe paths of البَلاَغَةِeloquence مَذهَبِيmy course
يُطَالِعُ فِي سُبلِ البَلاَغَةِ مَذهَبِي
وَهَلand whether يَستَوِيare alike مَنهَاof them لِيَto me الحَزنُthe rugged ground وَالسُّهبُand the plains
وَهَل يَستَوِي مَنهَا لِيَ الحَزنُ وَالسُّهبُ
He examines my course along the paths of eloquence,
He examines my style of eloquence
He examines my path in the ways of eloquence,
And whether their rugged ground and plains are alike to me,
Can grief and joy be the same to me?
And whether the rugged terrain and flat plains are alike to me;
وَكَيفَand how أنَاI فِيهَأin them إذَاwhen مَاemphasis تَشَعَّبَتthey branch out
وَكَيفَ أنَا فِيهَأ إذَا مَا تَشَعَّبَت
وَضَاقَand narrows عَلَىfor طُلاَّبِهَاtheir seekers المَنهَجُthe path الرَّحبُthe broad
وَضَاقَ عَلَى طُلاَّبِهَا المَنهَجُ الرَّحبُ
And how I fare there when those paths branch out,
And how can I be patient when it branches out
And how I fare within them when its branches diverge,
And the broad road narrows for those who seek them.
And the vast path becomes narrow for its seekers
And the broad highway narrows upon those who seek it.
فَلُحتُso I appeared لَهُto him خربتan expert guide (uncertain reading) غفلtrackless country وَمَجهَلٍand unknown land
فَلُحتُ لَهُ خربت غفل وَمَجهَلٍ
يَضَلَّloses its way لَدَيهِin its presence النَّجمُthe star وَالقَشَمُand the vulture النَّكبُcrooked-winged (uncertain)
يَضَلَّ لَدَيهِ النَّجمُ وَالقَشَمُ النَّكبُ
I appeared to him as an expert guide through trackless wilderness [reading uncertain],
I shone to him, I ruined the negligence and ignorance
So I appeared to him as a trackless expanse and uncharted wilderness,
Where the star and the crooked-winged vulture lose their way.
In which the star and the shooting star go astray
Wherein the guiding star and the swiftest steed go astray.
فَيَاso O أيُّهَاyou القَأضِيthe judge المُبَجَّلُthe honored وَالَّذِيand the one whose
فَيَا أيُّهَا القَأضِي المُبَجَّلُ وَالَّذِي
مَوَارِدُهُhis drinking-places منfrom سريa stream (uncertain reading) البَاردِthe cool العَذبُthe sweet
مَوَارِدُهُ من سري البَاردِ العَذبُ
O honored judge, you whose
So O esteemed judge, you who
O revered Judge, whose fountains of wisdom
Drinking-places draw from a cool, sweet stream,
Draw water from the fresh, cool springs
Flow with cool, sweet, subterranean springs,
وَمَنand the one who دَانsubmitted أربَابُthe masters of العُلُومِlearning بأسرِهِمall of them
وَمَن دَان أربَابُ العُلُومِ بأسرِهِم
لَهُto him بِصَرِيحِin outright الرّقّوَهوَbondage, and he is لَهُمfor them رَبُّa master
لَهُ بِصَرِيحِ الرّقّوَهوَ لَهُم رَبُّ
And to whom the masters of learning, all of them, submit
And those whom the masters of science yield to altogether
And to whom all masters of knowledge submit
In outright bondage, while you are their master:
Plainly and humbly, and He is their Lord
In utter subservience, while he reigns as their lord:
أعِيذُكَI shield you أنfrom تَرتَابَdoubting أنَّنِيَthat I am الذِيthe one who
أعِيذُكَ أن تَرتَابَ أنَّنِيَ الذِي
أتَىcame سَابِقاًahead وَالكُلُّwhile everyone يَنجُرُdrags along أوor يحبُوcrawls
أتَى سَابِقاً وَالكُلُّ يَنجُرُ أو يحبُو
I would shield you from doubting that I am the one
I seek refuge in you from doubting that I am the one
I seek refuge for you from doubting that I am the one
Who comes first while all the rest drag themselves or crawl.
Who came first while all else lags behind or crawls
Who arrived foremost, while all others crawled or limped behind;
وَمِثلَيand one like me إذَاwhen جَدَّstrive الرّجَالُthe men وَاتعَبُواand exhaust
وَمِثلَي إذَا جَدَّ الرّجَالُ وَاتعَبُوا
نُفُوسَهُمthemselves سَعياًin pursuit وَكَدَّهُمُand wears them down الخطبُhardship
نُفُوسَهُم سَعياً وَكَدَّهُمُ الخطبُ
One like me, when men strive and exhaust
And the likes of me, when men strive and weary
And one like me, when men strive earnestly and exhaust
Themselves in pursuit, and hardship wears them down,
Their souls striving and their circumstances become difficult
Their souls in pursuit, worn down by grave matters,
تَقَدَّمَadvanced سَبقاًahead ثَانِياًdrawing back مِنsome of عِنَانِهِhis reins
تَقَدَّمَ سَبقاً ثَانِياً مِن عِنَانِهِ
وَغَادَرَand left مَنwhoever جَارَاهُraced him فِيin رَهجِهِhis dust يَكبُوstumbling
وَغَادَرَ مَن جَارَاهُ فِي رَهجِهِ يَكبُو
Takes the lead even with his reins drawn back,
I advance, coming second in the lead
Surges ahead, pulling at the reins with ease,
And leaves whoever races him stumbling in his dust.
And leave behind those who raced me in their exhaustion
Leaving behind all who raced him, stumbling in his dust.
أمِثلُكَwould one like you يَعشُوbe blind عَنto مَكَانِيmy standing وَيَمتَرِيand doubt
أمِثلُكَ يَعشُو عَن مَكَانِي وَيَمتَرِي
بِأنِّيَthat I am مِنamong أفلاَكِthe spheres of ذَاthis الأدَبِliterature القُطبِthe pole
بِأنِّيَ مِن أفلاَكِ ذَا الأدَبِ القُطبِ
Would someone like you be blind to my standing and doubt
Do I live oblivious to my standing and boast
Could one like you be blind to my standing, or doubt
That I am the pole of the spheres of this literary art?
That I am from the celestial realm of the highest order
That I am the celestial pole in the firmament of letters?
أيَخفَىcould be hidden? عَلَيكَfrom you البَدرُthe full moon لَيلَةَon the night of تَمِّهِits fullness
أيَخفَى عَلَيكَ البَدرُ لَيلَةَ تَمِّهِ
وَلَمand not يَستَتِرwas concealed عَنكَfrom you البَيَازِكُthe meteors (uncertain spelling) وَالشُّهبُand the shooting stars
وَلَم يَستَتِر عَنكَ البَيَازِكُ وَالشُّهبُ
Is the full moon hidden from you on the night of its fullness,
Can the full moon on the night of its fullness
Could the full moon on the night of its perfection be hidden from you,
When meteors and shooting stars have not been concealed from you?
Be hidden from you, and the meteors and comets concealed?
When neither distant meteors nor blazing shooting stars escape your sight?
وَأنتَand you الذِيthe one who يَلقَىfinds الخَفِيَّاتِhidden things ظَاهِراًmanifest
وَأنتَ الذِي يَلقَى الخَفِيَّاتِ ظَاهِراً
بِعَينشwith an eye (corrupt spelling) نُهًىreason لَمnot تُرجَwere expected مِنfrom دُونِهَاbefore it الحُجبُthe veils
بِعَينش نُهًى لَم تُرجَ مِن دُونِهَا الحُجبُ
You are the one who finds hidden things manifest,
You before whom the unseen becomes manifest
And you are the one who perceives hidden secrets clearly,
With reason's eye, before which no veils were expected.
With your insight that no veils can withstand
With an eye of intellect before which no veil is ever drawn.
فَكَيفَthen how بَمَاwith what وَازَىmatched الجَهُولَthe ignorant person تَمَكُّناًin mastery
فَكَيفَ بَمَا وَازَى الجَهُولَ تَمَكُّناً
ذُوُوpossessors of العِلمِknowledge فِيهِin it وَاستَوَىand are equal السّودُthe black وَالصُّهبُand the tawny
ذُوُو العِلمِ فِيهِ وَاستَوَى السّودُ وَالصُّهبُ
What, then, of matters where the ignorant are matched in mastery
So how can that which competes with ignorance in stability
How then with matters where the scholar and the ignorant stand equal
By the learned, and the black and tawny are alike?
While those of knowledge equal the white and the black in it
In mastery, and the black and the ruddy camels are alike?
وَحَاشَايَand far be it from me أنthat يَمتَدَّshould spread زَهوٌpride بِمَنطِقِيthrough my speech
وَحَاشَايَ أن يَمتَدَّ زَهوٌ بِمَنطِقِي
وَأنand that يَستَفِزَّshould drive away الحِلمَforbearance فِيin قَولِيَmy speech العُجبُconceit
وَأن يَستَفِزَّ الحِلمَ فِي قَولِيَ العُجبُ
Far be it from me that pride should swell my speech,
And far be it from me that vain glory should extend through my speech
Far be it from me that vain pride should expand in my speech,
Or that conceit should drive forbearance from what I say.
And that calm should be provoked by my words of pride
Or that conceit should agitate forbearance in my words.
وَلَكِنَّand yet لِيfor me فِيin يُوسُفَJoseph خَيرَthe best أسوَةٍexample
وَلَكِنَّ لِي فِي يُوسُفَ خَيرَ أسوَةٍ
وَلَيسَand there is no عَلَىupon مَنwhoever بَالنَّبِيّby the Prophet's example ائتَسَىmodeled himself ذَنبُsin
وَلَيسَ عَلَى مَن بَالنَّبِيّ ائتَسَى ذَنبُ
But in Joseph I have the finest example,
Rather I have in Joseph the best example
Yet in Joseph I find the finest exemplar,
And whoever follows the Prophet's example incurs no sin.
And no fault lies with one who emulates the Prophet
And no sin falls upon whoever emulates a prophet,
يَقُولُhe says وَقَالَand he spoke الحَقُّthe truth وَالصّدقُand honesty إنَّنِيindeed I
يَقُولُ وَقَالَ الحَقُّ وَالصّدقُ إنَّنِي
حَفِيظٌa trustworthy keeper عَلِيمٌknowledgeable مَاnot عَلَىupon صَادِقٍan honest person عَتبُblame
حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ مَا عَلَى صَادِقٍ عَتبُ
He says—and what he spoke was truth and honesty—'Indeed I
He says, and truth and honesty said, that I
When he said—speaking pure truth and honesty: "Indeed, I am
Am a trustworthy keeper, knowledgeable'; no honest man deserves blame.
Am a guardian, knowing - no truthful one is blamed
A guardian, knowledgeable"—and no blame rests upon the truthful.
فَلَوthen if كُسِيَwere clothed الفُولاَذُthe steel حِدَّةَthe sharpness of خَاظِرِيmy mind (corrupt spelling)
فَلَو كُسِيَ الفُولاَذُ حِدَّةَ خَاظِرِي
تَسَاوَىwould be equal لَدَيهِto it اللَّحمُflesh وَالحَجَرُand stone الصُّلبُhard
تَسَاوَى لَدَيهِ اللَّحمُ وَالحَجَرُ الصُّلبُ
If steel were clothed in the sharpness of my mind,
If steel were to acquire the sharpness of my thoughts
For if steel were clad in the sharpness of my intellect,
Flesh and hard stone would be alike to it.
Flesh and solid stone would be equal before it
Soft flesh and solid stone would be cut by it alike.
وَلَوand if كَانَwere لِلنِّيرَانِfor the fires بَعضُsome of ذَكَائِهِits brilliance
وَلَو كَانَ لِلنِّيرَانِ بَعضُ ذَكَائِهِ
وَفَاضَتand flooded عَلَيهِover it لُجَّةthe depths of البَحرِthe sea لَمnot يَخبُwould die out
وَفَاضَت عَلَيهِ لُجَّة البَحرِ لَم يَخبُ
And if fires had some of its brilliance,
And if fire had any of its intelligence
And if fire possessed a fraction of its fiery brilliance,
And the sea's depths flooded it, it would not be extinguished.
And the sea's fury overflowed onto it, it would not be extinguished
It would not be extinguished though the depths of the ocean flooded over it.
وَمَاand no اختَصَّclaimed exclusively عِلمٌa science دُونَrather than عِلمٍanother science بِوِجهَتِيwith my attention
وَمَا اختَصَّ عِلمٌ دُونَ عِلمٍ بِوِجهَتِي
بَلَىrather مَسرَحِيmy pasture فِيin كُلِّهَاall of them الوَاسِعُbroad الخَصبfertile
بَلَى مَسرَحِي فِي كُلِّهَا الوَاسِعُ الخَصب
No branch of knowledge, rather than another, has claimed my attention;
No branch of knowledge is specialized with my disposition
No single branch of knowledge alone claims my direction;
Rather, in all of them my pasture is broad and fertile.
Rather my domain in all is vast and fertile
Rather, in all of them, my pasture is vast and fertile.
تَظَلُّremain فُنُونُthe branches of العِلمِknowledge تَجلَىbeing revealed إذَاwhen غَدَتthey come
تَظَلُّ فُنُونُ العِلمِ تَجلَى إذَا غَدَت
بِأيدِيin the hands of رِجالٍmen وَهيَand they are مَنجُولَةٌbrandished (uncertain reading) غَصبُkeen swords (uncertain reading)
بِأيدِي رِجالٍ وَهيَ مَنجُولَةٌ غَصبُ
The branches of knowledge keep shining forth when they come
The disciplines of knowledge begin to shine when they fall
The arts of knowledge shine unveiled, whereas when they fall
Into men's hands as brandished, keen-edged swords [reading uncertain].
Into the hands of men, and had been seized wrongfully
Into other men's hands, they are seized and disfigured by force.
وَمَاand no عَزَّنِيeluded me وَالحَمدُand praise لِلَّهِto God مَطلَبٌa pursuit
وَمَا عَزَّنِي وَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ مَطلَبٌ
مِنَof العِلمِknowledge مِمَّاfrom what أبقَتِleft behind العُجمُthe non-Arabs وَالعُربُand the Arabs
مِنَ العِلمِ مِمَّا أبقَتِ العُجمُ وَالعُربُ
No pursuit has eluded me—praise be to God—
I have not been saddened - praise be to God - by any
No quest in knowledge has ever eluded me, praise be to God,
In the learning left behind by non-Arabs and Arabs.
Quest for knowledge that the non-Arabs and Arabs left
From all that the non-Arabs and the Arabs have left behind.
حَلِيفِيmy ally وَمُحيِيand reviver of هِمَّتِيmy resolve وَمُنِيرُهَاand its illuminator
حَلِيفِي وَمُحيِي هِمَّتِي وَمُنِيرُهَا
وَرَافِعُand raiser of ذِكرِيmy renown حَيثُمَاwherever اتَّصَلَtravels onward الرَّكبُthe caravan
وَرَافِعُ ذِكرِي حَيثُمَا اتَّصَلَ الرَّكبُ
It is my ally, reviving my resolve and illuminating it,
My ally, reviver of my zeal and its illuminator
It is my ally, the reviver and illuminator of my resolve,
And raising my renown wherever caravans make their way.
And lifter of my mention wherever the caravan traveled
Exalting my renown wherever traveling caravans unite.
وَأنسِيَand my companion مُذsince خَمسٍfive وَعِشرِينَand twenty حِجَّةًyears
وَأنسِيَ مُذ خَمسٍ وَعِشرِينَ حِجَّةً
أرُوحُI go at evening وَأغدُوand I go at dawn وَهوَand it is صَارِمِيَmy sword الغَصبُkeen-edged (uncertain reading)
أرُوحُ وَأغدُو وَهوَ صَارِمِيَ الغَصبُ
And my companion for twenty-five years:
And my companion since twenty five pilgrimages
And my intimate companion for five and twenty years,
I go at evening and dawn, and it is my keen-edged sword.
I go and return while it is my drawn sword
Through my evenings and mornings, my sharp, unforgiving sword.
وَخِطَّتِيَand my office العُليَاlofty الَّتِيwhich لَستُI am not أتَّقِيI fear
وَخِطَّتِيَ العُليَا الَّتِي لَستُ أتَّقِي
حَيَاتِيَthroughout my life مِنهَأfrom it العَزلُdismissal مَاas long as رَتَعَgrazes الضَّبُthe lizard
حَيَاتِيَ مِنهَأ العَزلُ مَا رَتَعَ الضَّبُ
And my lofty office, from which I do not fear
And my lofty approach which I do not fear for my life
And my supreme station, from which I never fear
Dismissal throughout my life, so long as the lizard grazes.
To abandon - what harm did isolation bring?
Deposition in my lifetime, as long as the lizard roams the earth.
وَمَالٌand wealth عَمِيمٌabundant لَستُI am not أخشَىI fear نَفَادَهُits exhaustion
وَمَالٌ عَمِيمٌ لَستُ أخشَى نَفَادَهُ
بِإنفَاقِهِby spending it لاَno بَلrather يَزيدُit grows وَيَنصَبُّand pours forth
بِإنفَاقِهِ لاَ بَل يَزيدُ وَيَنصَبُّ
And abundant wealth whose exhaustion I do not fear
And an abundant wealth I do not fear its depletion
And an abundant wealth whose exhaustion I never fear
Through spending it—no, it grows and pours forth.
By spending it - rather it increases and flows
By spending; nay, it only multiplies and pours forth.
سَمَوتُI rose بِنَفسِيthrough myself لاَnot بِمَجدthrough glory هَوَتfell بِهwith it
سَمَوتُ بِنَفسِي لاَ بِمَجد هَوَت بِه
مِنَof الزَّمَنِtime العَدَّاءِhostile آلاَتُهُits instruments الحُدبُcrooked
مِنَ الزَّمَنِ العَدَّاءِ آلاَتُهُ الحُدبُ
I rose through my own worth, not through glory cast down
I transcended myself, not with glory which
I elevated myself by my own soul, not through an ancestral glory
By the crooked instruments of hostile time.
The hostile time targeted with its instruments
Cast down by the crooked, hostile blows of relentless time.
عَلَىalthough أنَّنِيthat I لَوif شِئتُI wished قُلتُcould speak مُصَدَّقاًbeing believed
عَلَى أنَّنِي لَو شِئتُ قُلتُ مُصَدَّقاً
وَأقبَحُand the ugliest قَولٍspeech مَاis what ألَمَّtouches بِهِit الكَذبُfalsehood
وَأقبَحُ قَولٍ مَا ألَمَّ بِهِ الكَذبُ
Though, if I wished, I could speak and be believed,
Though I could have said, claiming so, and the ugliest saying
Though were I to boast of ancestry, I would speak truthfully,
And the ugliest speech is that which falsehood touches.
Is that which is touched by lies
For the ugliest speech is that which is tainted by falsehood.
وَلَكِنَّهُbut it is the case مَنwhoever لَمnot يُشِدbuilds up مَاwhat حَلاَpleases لَهُhim
وَلَكِنَّهُ مَن لَم يُشِد مَا حَلاَ لَهُ
رَغَاbellows فِيin مَبَانِيهِhis buildings وَضعضَعَهَاand shakes them السَّقبُthe camel calf
رَغَا فِي مَبَانِيهِ وَضعضَعَهَا السَّقبُ
Yet whoever does not build up what he cherishes—
But one who does not fortify what befalls him
Yet whoever fails to build what sweetens his own name
A camel calf bellows in his buildings and shakes them.
Babbles in his structures and weakness shakes them
Merely roars amidst his ruined foundations, shaken by collapse.
فَإنthen if شِئتَyou wish فِيin عِلمِthe knowledge of الدّيَانَةِreligion تَلقَنِيyou will find me
فَإن شِئتَ فِي عِلمِ الدّيَانَةِ تَلقَنِي
نِقَاباًa penetrating investigator لَهُof it لَمnot يَخفَis hidden عَنِّيfrom me لَهُin it نَقبُa passage
نِقَاباً لَهُ لَم يَخفَ عَنِّي لَهُ نَقبُ
If you wish, in religious knowledge you will find me
So if you wish, question me about religious knowledge
So if you wish, in the science of religion you will find me
A penetrating investigator, with no passage in it hidden from me.
An aperture that has not been hidden from me, it has a hole
Its keen scrutinizer, with none of its deep paths hidden from me.
وَأمَّاand as for أفَانِينُthe branches of الحَدِيثِhadith فَإنَّنِيthen indeed I
وَأمَّا أفَانِينُ الحَدِيثِ فَإنَّنِي
أنَاI am بَحرُهَاtheir sea الطَّامِيswelling وَيُنبُوعُهَاand their spring السَّكبُflowing
أنَا بَحرُهَا الطَّامِي وَيُنبُوعُهَا السَّكبُ
As for the branches of hadith, I
As for the springs of hadeeth, I
And as for the branches of Prophetic Traditions,
Am their swelling sea and their flowing spring.
Am their turbulent sea and their pouring well
I am its overflowing sea and its gushing spring.
وَقَيَّدتand I recorded مِنof فُتيَاthe rulings of ذَويthose versed in الفِقهِjurisprudence ضَابِطاًmastering
وَقَيَّدت مِن فُتيَا ذَوي الفِقهِ ضَابِطاً
بِحِفظِيَin my memory مَاwhat طَالَتhad long endured بِهِwith it قَبلَهَاbefore it الحِقبُthe ages
بِحِفظِيَ مَا طَالَت بِهِ قَبلَهَا الحِقبُ
I have recorded the jurists' rulings, mastering
And I compiled from the jurists' opinions a framework
And I have mastered and recorded the edicts of the jurists with precision,
In memory what long ages had carried before them.
By my memory, of what eons had elapsed with it
Retaining in my memory what took long ages to compile.
وَإنand if لاَذَtake shelter طُلاَّبُthe students of الكَلاَمِtheology بِجَانِبِيat my side
وَإن لاَذَ طُلاَّبُ الكَلاَمِ بِجَانِبِي
فَإنَّيَthen indeed I am سَاقِيهِمtheir cupbearer وَكُلُّهُمُand all of them شَربُdrinkers
فَإنَّيَ سَاقِيهِم وَكُلُّهُمُ شَربُ
If students of theology take shelter at my side,
And if students of dialectics stand by my side
And if seekers of scholastic theology take shelter at my side,
I am their cupbearer, and all of them are drinkers.
Then I am their drink and all of them imbibe
I am their cupbearer, while they are all eager drinkers.
وَعِلمِيand my knowledge بِمَاof what فِيis in سِرّthe secret of خَصمِيmy opponent كَعِلمِهlike his knowledge
وَعِلمِي بِمَا فِي سِرّ خَصمِي كَعِلمِه
فَمَاso nothing غَأبَescaped عَنِّيfrom me مِنهُof it سَهلٌeasy وَلاَnor صَعبُhard
فَمَا غَأبَ عَنِّي مِنهُ سَهلٌ وَلاَ صَعبُ
My knowledge of my opponent's secrets is like his own:
And my knowledge of what is in secret with my opponent is like his knowledge
And my knowledge of what lies in my adversary's mind equals his own;
Nothing in them, easy or hard, has escaped me.
So nothing, difficult or easy, was hidden from me
Neither the plain nor the intricate of it is veiled from me.
وَإنand if تُذكَرِare mentioned الأشعَأرُpoems لَمnot يَكُwas خَارِجاًcoming out
وَإن تُذكَرِ الأشعَأرُ لَم يَكُ خَارِجاً
أمَامِيahead of me جَريرٌJarir فِيin الرّهَانِthe race وَلاَnor كَعبُKa'b
أمَامِي جَريرٌ فِي الرّهَانِ وَلاَ كَعبُ
If poetry is mentioned, none has emerged
And if poetry is mentioned, Jarir would not be
And if poetry is mentioned, neither Jarir
Ahead of me in the race—not Jarir, nor Ka'b.
Ahead of me in wagering, nor Ka'b
Nor Ka'b could outpace me in the race.
وَمَاand not ضَرَّharmed شِعرِيmy poetry انthat منوunclear token شهرmonth / made known (unclear context) والذيand the one who
وَمَا ضَرَّ شِعرِي ان منو شهر والذي
وَلَمand not يَحظَgained بِيof me عِلماًknowledge تَمِيمٌTamim وَلاَnor كَلبُKalb
وَلَم يَحظَ بِي عِلماً تَمِيمٌ وَلاَ كَلبُ
My poetry has not been harmed by [the remaining text is unclear],
And my poetry was not harmed that it grew popular while
And it harms not my poetry if its fame was withheld
Nor have Tamim or Kalb gained knowledge of me.
Tameem and Kalb did not gain knowledge of me
And neither Tamim nor Kalb possessed knowledge of my worth.
وأمّاand as for تُسَائِلyou inquire بِاللُّغَاتabout languages وَنَحوهَاand their grammar
وأمّا تُسَائِل بِاللُّغَات وَنَحوهَا
فَمَاso nothing غَابَescaped عَنِّيfrom me مِنهُof it سَهلٌeasy وَلاَnor صَعبُhard
فَمَا غَابَ عَنِّي مِنهُ سَهلٌ وَلاَ صَعبُ
As for asking about languages and their grammar,
And if you ask about languages and grammar
And if you inquire into philology and grammar,
Nothing in it, easy or hard, has escaped me.
Nothing, difficult or easy, was hidden from me
Neither their straightforward nor their difficult aspects escape me.
وَمَاand not إنَّindeed شَأنِيmy standing عِندَin ذَلِكَthat سَابِقٌforemost
وَمَا إنَّ شَأنِي عِندَ ذَلِكَ سَابِقٌ
عَلَىalthough أنَّنِيthat I لَمnot يُغرنِيhas enticed me التَّعبُtoil وَالوَطبُand the milk-skin
عَلَى أنَّنِي لَم يُغرنِي التَّعبُ وَالوَطبُ
And my standing in that is not foremost,
And my position in that is not preceding
Nor was my stride in that ever surpassed,
Though neither toil nor the milk-skin has enticed me [wording unclear].
Despite that fatigue and affliction did not tempt me
Though toil and exhaustion could never distract me.
وَحَسبُكَand enough for you بِيin me فِيin ذيthese الأعَارِيضِmeters مَمنَعاًan impregnable stronghold
وَحَسبُكَ بِي فِي ذي الأعَارِيضِ مَمنَعاً
إذَاwhen عُدَّتِare counted الأوتَادُthe metrical pegs وَالشَّطرُand the hemistich وَالضَّربُand the closing foot
إذَا عُدَّتِ الأوتَادُ وَالشَّطرُ وَالضَّربُ
I suffice you as a stronghold in these meters,
It is enough that in rhythmic composition I forbid
And suffice it that in poetic meters I am an impregnable fortress,
When the metrical pegs, hemistich, and closing foot are counted.
When strings are counted, and refrain, and tempo
When watids, hemistichs, and rhyming feet are weighed.
وَإنand if شِئتَyou wish أخبَارَthe chronicles of الدهُورِthe ages فَإِنَّنِيthen indeed I
وَإن شِئتَ أخبَارَ الدهُورِ فَإِنَّنِي
أنَاI am جَامِعُthe compiler of التَّارِيخhistory مُذsince نَبَتَsprang up الهُضبُthe hills
أنَا جَامِعُ التَّارِيخ مُذ نَبَتَ الهُضبُ
If you wish for the chronicles of the ages, I
And if you mention history, then I
And if you seek the chronicles of the ages,
Am the compiler of history since the hills first sprang up.
Am its collector since the hillocks sprouted
I am the gatherer of history since the hills first rose from the earth.
فَمَاso no غَابَescaped عَنِّيfrom me أمرُaffair of مَلكٍa king مسونهunclear token
فَمَا غَابَ عَنِّي أمرُ مَلكٍ مسونه
وَلاَand not شَدَّpassed by (uncertain reading) دُونِيbeyond me أمرُa matter of سِلمٍpeace وَلاَnor حَربُwar
وَلاَ شَدَّ دُونِي أمرُ سِلمٍ وَلاَ حَربُ
No affair of a king has escaped me [final word unclear],
No command of a ruled king was hidden from me
No affair of a monarch has eluded me,
Nor has any matter of peace or war passed me by.
Nor was any matter of Sulaym or war concealed from me
Nor has any matter of peace or war remained barred from me.
سَوَاءٌalike عَلَىto ذِكرِيmy memory قَرِيبٌnear وَنَازِحٌand distant
سَوَاءٌ عَلَى ذِكرِي قَرِيبٌ وَنَازِحٌ
وَمَنand whoever حَمَلَتcarried أرضٌthe earth وَمَنand whoever ضَمَّهُembraced him التُّربُthe dust
وَمَن حَمَلَت أرضٌ وَمَن ضَمَّهُ التُّربُ
The near and the distant are alike to my memory,
Equal to my mention are the near and the remote
Alike to my memory are the near and the far-off,
Those borne by the earth and those embraced by its dust.
And those whom earth carried and those dust covered
Those walking upon the earth and those embraced by the dust.
وَإنand if تُذكَرِare mentioned الأنسَابُgenealogies كُنتُI would be نَقِيبَهَاtheir expert
وَإن تُذكَرِ الأنسَابُ كُنتُ نَقِيبَهَا
وَلمand not يَخفَwas hidden عَنfrom ذِكرَايَmy memory حَيٌّa clan وَلاَnor شِعبُa tribe
وَلم يَخفَ عَن ذِكرَايَ حَيٌّ وَلاَ شِعبُ
If genealogies are mentioned, I am their expert,
And if genealogies are mentioned, I was their investigator
And if genealogies are recounted, I am their foremost arbiter;
And no clan or tribe has been hidden from my memory.
And no living soul or branch was hidden from my mention
No clan or tribe is hidden from my recollection.
وَلَوand if أنَّthat رُسطَالِيسَAristotle حَيwere alive بَدَدتُّهُI would rout him
وَلَو أنَّ رُسطَالِيسَ حَي بَدَدتُّهُ
وَمَاand not عَاشَhe lived إلاَّexcept وَهوَwhile he was لِيto me بِالحَرَىin truth تِربُa peer
وَمَا عَاشَ إلاَّ وَهوَ لِي بِالحَرَى تِربُ
If Aristotle were alive, I would rout him,
Had Aristotle been alive I would have refuted him
And were Aristotle alive today, I would refute his arguments,
And throughout his life he was, in truth, my peer.
He did not live except that he was for me like ashes
Nor could he live except as my humble peer at best.
يُسَافِرُtravels عِلمِيmy knowledge حَيثُwherever سَافضرتُI traveled (corrupt spelling) ظَاعِناًjourneying
يُسَافِرُ عِلمِي حَيثُ سَافضرتُ ظَاعِناً
وَيَصحَبُنِيand accompanies me حَيثُwherever استَقَلَّتdeparted بِيَbearing me الرَّكبُthe caravan
وَيَصحَبُنِي حَيثُ استَقَلَّت بِيَ الرَّكبُ
My knowledge travels wherever I journey,
My knowledge travels wherever I traveled, wandering about
My knowledge journeys wherever I travel abroad,
And accompanies me wherever the caravan bears me away.
And accompanies me wherever the caravan lightened its load
Accompanying me wherever the mounts carry me.
مَحَلَّتُهُits dwelling صَدرِيmy breast وَمَسكَنُand the abode of عُمرِهِits lifetime
مَحَلَّتُهُ صَدرِي وَمَسكَنُ عُمرِهِ
بِحَيثُwhere التَقَىmeet مِنِّيwithin me التَّرَائِبُthe breastbones وَالتِّربُand the abdominal membrane (uncertain reading)
بِحَيثُ التَقَى مِنِّي التَّرَائِبُ وَالتِّربُ
Its dwelling is my breast, and its lifelong abode
Its place is my chest and the dwelling of its life
Its abode is my breast and its lifelong dwelling
Is where my breastbones and abdominal membrane meet [reading uncertain].
Where my sides meet from me, and the dust
Where my collarbones and ribs meet within.
إذَاwhen مَاemphasis الجَنوبُthe sides استَوطَأتsettle comfortably فِيin ضِجَاعِهَاtheir beds
إذَا مَا الجَنوبُ استَوطَأت فِي ضِجَاعِهَا
فَعَنهُso because of it نَبَاrecoils عَنfrom مَضجَعِيmy resting-place مِنِّيَof me الجَنبُthe side
فَعَنهُ نَبَا عَن مَضجَعِي مِنِّيَ الجَنبُ
When sides settle comfortably upon their beds,
When slumber settles into its bed
When others find comfort in the soft repose of their sides,
Because of it, my side recoils from my resting-place.
It alerts about my bedding - I turn my side from it
My flank recoils from the resting-place, restless for truth.
أنَاI am الشَّمسُthe sun فِيin جَوّthe firmament of العُلُومِlearning مُنِيرَةٌshining
أنَا الشَّمسُ فِي جَوّ العُلُومِ مُنِيرَةٌ
وَلَكِنَّand yet عَيبِيmy fault أنَّis that مَطلَعِيَmy rising-place الغَربُthe West
وَلَكِنَّ عَيبِي أنَّ مَطلَعِيَ الغَربُ
I am the sun, shining in the firmament of learning,
I am the sun in the atmosphere of sciences, illuminating
I am the sun shining in the skies of knowledge,
But my fault is that my rising-place is the West.
But my defect is that my rise is the west
But my only flaw is that my rising is in the West.
وَلَوand if أنَّهُthat it is مِنfrom جَانِبِthe side of الشَّرقِthe East طَالِعٌrising
وَلَو أنَّهُ مِن جَانِبِ الشَّرقِ طَالِعٌ
لَجَدَّwould surely intensify عَلَىupon مَاwhat ضَاعَwas lost منof ذِكرِيَmy renown النَّهبُplunder
لَجَدَّ عَلَى مَا ضَاعَ من ذِكرِيَ النَّهبُ
If it were rising from the eastern side,
If it were rising from the east
Yet had it risen from the horizon of the East,
The fame of mine now wasted would be eagerly snatched up.
It would find what was lost of my mention returned
Men would have rushed in plunder to seize all my neglected fame.
وَلِيand I have نَحوَtoward أكنَافِthe regions of العِرَاقِIraq صَبَابَةٌpassionate longing
وَلِي نَحوَ أكنَافِ العِرَاقِ صَبَابَةٌ
وَلاَand no غَروَwonder أنthat يَستَوحِشَfeels lonely الكَلِفُthe enamored الصَّبُّthe ardent lover
وَلاَ غَروَ أن يَستَوحِشَ الكَلِفُ الصَّبُّ
I have a passionate longing for the regions of Iraq,
And I have some yearning towards the sides of Iraq
And I harbor a deep longing for the lands of Iraq,
And no wonder that the ardently enamored feel lonely.
No wonder the frigid longs for the morning warmth
And no wonder that the ardent, impassioned lover feels desolate.
فَإنthen if يُنزِلِsets down الرَّحمَانُthe Most Merciful رَحلِيَmy baggage دُونَهُمnear them
فَإن يُنزِلِ الرَّحمَانُ رَحلِيَ دُونَهُم
فَحِينَئِذٍthen at that time يَمضِيdeparts التَّأسُّفُregret وَالكَربُand anguish
فَحِينَئِذٍ يَمضِي التَّأسُّفُ وَالكَربُ
If the Most Merciful sets my baggage down near them,
If the Merciful should settle my belongings among them
So if the Merciful brings my caravan to their gates,
Then regret and anguish will depart.
Then sorrow and anguish would pass
Then at last all regret and sorrow will depart.
فَكَمso how many قَائِلٍa speaker أغفَلتُهُI neglected him وَهوَwhile he was حَاضِرٌpresent
فَكَم قَائِلٍ أغفَلتُهُ وَهوَ حَاضِرٌ
وَأطلُبُand I seek مَاwhat عَنهُfrom him تَجِيءُbring بِهِit الكُتبُthe books
وَأطلُبُ مَا عَنهُ تَجِيءُ بِهِ الكُتبُ
How many a speaker have I ignored while he was present,
How many have I neglected while present
For how often is one neglected while present among his people,
While seeking whatever the books bring from him!
And I seek what reports would bring about books
Only to have men seek after what the books record of him?
هُنَالِكَthen يُدرَىit is known أنَّthat لِلبُعدِdistance has قِصَّةًa story
هُنَالِكَ يُدرَى أنَّ لِلبُعدِ قِصَّةً
وَأنَّand that فَسَادَthe corruption of العِلمِlearning آفَتُهُits blight القُربُcloseness
وَأنَّ فَسَادَ العِلمِ آفَتُهُ القُربُ
Then it is known that distance has its story,
There it will be realized that distance has a story
Then it is known that distance weaves its own renown,
And that closeness is the blight that corrupts learning.
And that the corruption of knowledge has proximity as its detriment
And the bane that corrupts true knowledge is being too near.
فَيَاso O عَجَباًwonder مَنwhoever غَابَis absent عَنهُمfrom them تَشَوَّقُواthey long
فَيَا عَجَباً مَن غَابَ عَنهُم تَشَوَّقُوا
لَهُfor him وَدَنَواand they drew near لِمُزمِنِto a long-time resident (uncertain) دَرَاهِمdirhams (context unclear) ذَنبُa fault
لَهُ وَدَنَوا لِمُزمِنِ دَرَاهِم ذَنبُ
How strange: whoever is absent from them, they long
So strange are those who when absent, they yearned
O wonder of wonders: for him who is absent they yearn,
For him, and draw near to a long-time resident [ending unclear].
For him, and drew near to the sinner with coins of sin
Yet they scorn the one near, as though proximity were a fault!
وَإنَّand indeed مَكَاناًa place ضَاقَwas too narrow عَنِّيfor me لَضَيِّقٌis truly narrow
وَإنَّ مَكَاناً ضَاقَ عَنِّي لَضَيِّقٌ
عَلَىalthough أنَّهُthat it is فَيحٌspacious مَذَاهِبُهُits paths سُهبُbroad plains
عَلَى أنَّهُ فَيحٌ مَذَاهِبُهُ سُهبُ
A place that is too narrow for me is truly narrow,
A place too narrow for me is constricting
Indeed, any land that proves too narrow for me is confined,
Though it is spacious and its paths are broad plains.
Though its horizons are spacious and its directions vast
Even if its expanses are wide and its tracts open plains.
وَإنَّand indeed رِجَالاًmen ضَيَّعُونِيneglected me لَضُيَّعٌare truly worthless
وَإنَّ رِجَالاً ضَيَّعُونِي لَضُيَّعٌ
وَإنَّand indeed زَمَاناًan age لَمnot أنَلI attained خِصبَهُits abundance جَدبُbarren
وَإنَّ زَمَاناً لَم أنَل خِصبَهُ جَدبُ
Men who have neglected me are truly worthless,
And men who lost me are lost
And men who have squandered me are the truly ruined,
And an age whose abundance I have not enjoyed is barren.
And a time whose fertility I did not attain is barren
And an age whose abundance I have not attained is utter drought.
وَلَوand if إنَّنِيthat I خضاطَبتُhad addressed (corrupt spelling) فَيamong النَّاسِthe people جَاهِلاًan ignorant man
وَلَو إنَّنِي خضاطَبتُ فَي النَّاسِ جَاهِلاً
لَقِيلَit would be said دَعَأوٍclaims لاَnot يَقُومstands لَهَاfor them طُنبُa tent-rope
لَقِيلَ دَعَأوٍ لاَ يَقُوم لَهَا طُنبُ
Had I addressed an ignorant man among the people,
If I had addressed the people ignorantly
Had I addressed an ignorant fool among the people,
They would have said, 'Claims with no tent-rope to support them.'
It would be said, "This claim stands on no sand dune"
It would be dismissed as idle boasts that have no pillar to stand on.
وَلَكِنَّنِيand yet I خَاطَبتُaddressed أعلَمَthe most learned of مَنthose who مَشَىwalked
وَلَكِنَّنِي خَاطَبتُ أعلَمَ مَن مَشَى
وَمَنand one who كُلُّevery عِلمٍscience فَهوَthen he is فِيهِin it لَنَاfor us حَسبُsufficient
وَمَن كُلُّ عِلمٍ فَهوَ فِيهِ لَنَا حَسبُ
But I have addressed the most learned man who walks,
But I addressed the most knowledgeable of those who walked
Yet I have addressed the most learned of all who walk the earth,
One who, in every science, is sufficient for us.
For whom all knowledge, we have enough of it
One in whom every branch of knowledge is our highest pride.
يُصَدّقُنِيbelieves me فِيin وَصفِهِdescribing him كُلُّevery سَامِعٍlistener
يُصَدّقُنِي فِي وَصفِهِ كُلُّ سَامِعٍ
يَقِيناًwith certainty وَلاَand not يَأبَىdenies لِسَانٌa tongue وَلاَnor قَلبُa heart
يَقِيناً وَلاَ يَأبَى لِسَانٌ وَلاَ قَلبُ
Every listener affirms what I say in describing him,
Every listener believes me in describing him
Every listener confirms my praise of him with certainty,
With certainty; no tongue or heart denies it.
With certainty, no tongue or heart refuses
Nor does any tongue or heart ever deny it.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model. Gemini 3.5 Flash is a user-supplied attribution. The original record does not identify its model.