مَنَwho عَذيريmy defender منagainst القَويthe strong one الضَّعِيْفِthe weak one
مَنَ عَذيري من القَوي الضَّعِيْفِ
غَلَبتْنيshe overcame me بدَمعِهاwith her tears المَذْروفِshed
غَلَبتْني بدَمعِها المَذْروفِ
Who will defend me against the strong yet weak one?
My excuse, from the strong against the weak,
She overcame me with her shed tears.
She has overcome me with her flowing tears.
كلَّماwhenever اضطَرَّنيforced me الزَّمانُtime الىinto فَقْloss (start)
كلَّما اضطَرَّني الزَّمانُ الى فَقْ
دِloss (end) المُصَافيthe faithful friend وفُرقَةِand separation from المأْلوفِthe familiar companion
دِ المُصَافي وفُرقَةِ المأْلوفِ
Whenever time forced me into the loss
Whenever time compels me to the nobility of manners
of a faithful friend, and separation from a familiar companion,
And the separation of the familiar,
أَلزمتنيbound me جِنايةُthe wrongdoing of الدَّهرِtime والناand people (start)
أَلزمتني جِنايةُ الدَّهرِ والنا
سُpeople (end) أُسارىcaptives of خُطوبهits calamities والصُّرُوفِand vicissitudes
سُ أُسارى خُطوبه والصُّرُوفِ
The wrong done by time held me bound—and people
The injustice of fate has obliged me, and people
are captives of its calamities and vicissitudes.
Are captives of its misfortunes and calamities,
وعدوand an enemy يرميaccuses وَقَاريmy dignity بالتيof arrogance (start)
وعدو يرمي وَقَاري بالتي
هِarrogance (end) وحِلميand my forbearance بالجُبْنِof cowardice والتَّعنيفِand harsh reproach
هِ وحِلمي بالجُبْنِ والتَّعنيفِ
And an enemy accuses my dignity of arrogance,
And an enemy who casts my dignity with insult
and my forbearance of cowardice, with harsh reproach.
And my forbearance with cowardice and reproach.
لمdid not أُكلِّفهُI burden him ماwhat علاهexceeded him ولاnor يَعْknow (start)
لم أُكلِّفهُ ما علاه ولا يَعْ
لمُknow (end) عُذريmy excuse والظُّلمُand injustice فيin التكليفِimposing burdens
لمُ عُذري والظُّلمُ في التكليفِ
I did not burden him with what exceeded him, nor does he know
I did not charge him with transcending bounds or
my excuse; injustice lies in imposing burdens.
Know my excuse, while oppression is in the charge.
وكثيرٌand much منof الاشارةِinsinuation يَغتاcorrupts (start)
وكثيرٌ من الاشارةِ يَغتا
لُcorrupts (end) مُعَادَthe retelling of الحَديثِthe account بالتَّحريفِthrough distortion
لُ مُعَادَ الحَديثِ بالتَّحريفِ
And much insinuation corrupts
And much intimation distorts the return
a retold account through distortion.
Of speech with misrepresentation.
ياO غياثَsuccor of الأَنامِhumankind أَسعَدَكَmay He make you happy اللَّGod (start)
يا غياثَ الأَنامِ أَسعَدَكَ اللَّ
هُGod (end) بتحويلكَwith your renewal السعيدِauspicious الشَّريفِnoble
هُ بتحويلكَ السعيدِ الشَّريفِ
O succor of humankind, may God bring you happiness
O succor of mankind, may God make you happy
with your auspicious, noble renewal.
With your blessed, noble endeavor,
وتوافىand came in full accord لكَto you الزَّمانُtime ولاقاand met
وتوافى لكَ الزَّمانُ ولاقا
كَyou بطرفٍwith an eye عنto كيدهِits guile مَطروفِblinded
كَ بطرفٍ عن كيدهِ مَطروفِ
May time come to you in full accord, and meet
And time comes to you devoid of any
you with an eye blinded to its own guile.
Of its plots, totally averted.
أَنتَyou باقيenduring الضياءِin radiance فيهِwithin it وعينُand the orb of الشْthe sun (start)
أَنتَ باقي الضياءِ فيهِ وعينُ الشْ
شَمسsun (end) يُمْحَىis erased ضِياؤُهاits radiance بالكُسُوفِby eclipse
شَمس يُمْحَى ضِياؤُها بالكُسُوفِ
Your light endures within it, while the orb of the
You remain the lasting light in it, and the eye
sun has its radiance erased by eclipse.
Of the sun, its light erased by eclipse.
ذاكَthat حتىuntil تَفنىperish السنونthe years وتُفنيand you exhaust
ذاكَ حتى تَفنى السنون وتُفني
هاthem ألوفاًin thousands مكْسُوعَةًfollowed بأُلُوفِby thousands
ها ألوفاً مكْسُوعَةً بأُلُوفِ
So may it be, until the years perish and you exhaust
That is, until years pass away and in their passing
them, thousands followed by thousands.
Destroy thousands amassed in thousands.
وتَرىand you see فيin ابنكَyour son الأميرthe prince بويهٍBuwayh
وتَرى في ابنكَ الأمير بويهٍ
والمناياand deaths مأْمورةٌcommanded بوقُوفِto halt
والمنايا مأْمورةٌ بوقُوفِ
And may you see in your son, Prince Buwayh—
And in your son, the Prince Buyid, you see
while Death is commanded to halt—
Death commanded to halt.
ماwhat رآهhe saw it أَبوكَyour father فيكَin you لِلَفِّin the mingling of الthe
ما رآه أَبوكَ فيكَ لِلَفِّ ال
خيلِcavalry بالخَيْلِwith cavalry وانتقاضِand the breaking of الصُّفُوفِranks
خيلِ بالخَيْلِ وانتقاضِ الصُّفُوفِ
what your father saw in you, in the mingling of
What your father saw in you, catching horsemen
cavalry with cavalry and the breaking of ranks.
With horse and breaking ranks.
طَلْعَةُthe appearance of البدرِthe full moon فيin الدُجُنَّةِthe darkness تُغْنيspares
طَلْعَةُ البدرِ في الدُجُنَّةِ تُغْني
كَyou بعِرفانِهاthrough recognizing it عنfrom التَّعريفِintroduction
كَ بعِرفانِها عن التَّعريفِ
The full moon's appearance in the darkness spares
The crescent's emergence in the darkness makes you
you the need for introduction, once you recognize it.
Needless of any introduction.
وجريءٍand a bold one كالشبلِlike a lion cub رشَّحَهُhe readied him الليthe lion (start)
وجريءٍ كالشبلِ رشَّحَهُ اللي
ثُlion (end) لصيدِto hunt الرجالِmen حولَaround الغَرِيفِthe thicket
ثُ لصيدِ الرجالِ حولَ الغَرِيفِ
And a bold one, like a cub readied by the
And bold as a cub, the lion whelped him
lion to hunt men around the thicket.
To hunt men, around the hillsides.
مستخفٍmaking light of things تَرىyou see الكبيرَthe weighty منin الأَمthe affair (start)
مستخفٍ تَرى الكبيرَ من الأَم
رِaffair (end) صَغيراًas small والخوفَand fear غيرَnot مخُوفِfeared
رِ صَغيراً والخوفَ غيرَ مخُوفِ
Making light of things, you see the weighty in an affair
Disdainful, you see the great in command
as small, and fear as nothing to fear.
As small, fear itself not fearsome.
خلقَcreated اللهُGod للمعاليfor noble deeds قناةًa spear-shaft
خلقَ اللهُ للمعالي قناةً
غيرَnot محتاجةٍneeding الىto التثقيفِstraightening
غيرَ محتاجةٍ الى التثقيفِ
God created for noble deeds a spear-shaft
God created for glory a conduit
needing no straightening.
Needing no education.
وحساماًand a keen sword كأَنَّهُas though it حينَwhen يصفيgives pure devotion
وحساماً كأَنَّهُ حينَ يصفي
كَto you يُراجيكَtoasts you (uncertain reading) منfrom سُلافِthe choicest vintage of السُّيوفِswords
كَ يُراجيكَ من سُلافِ السُّيوفِ
And a keen sword that, when it gives its pure devotion
And a sword that, when it fends for you
to you, seems to toast you with the choicest vintage of swords [reading uncertain],
Begs from the sheaths of swords.
كشعاعِlike the rays of الشَّمسِthe sun المضئيةِshining فيupon الماwater (start)
كشعاعِ الشَّمسِ المضئيةِ في الما
ءِwater (end) تَلَوَّىcurls عليهِover it ريحُthe wind of الخَرِيفِautumn
ءِ تَلَوَّى عليهِ ريحُ الخَرِيفِ
Like the shining sun's rays upon
Like the ray of the brilliant sun in water
water, over which the autumn wind curls.
Bent by the blowing autumn wind.
عَجِبواthey marveled لارتياحهat his delight بالعطاياin giving gifts
عَجِبوا لارتياحه بالعطايا
وارتياحُand the delight of الكريمِthe generous man غيرُnot طَرِيفِnovel
وارتياحُ الكريمِ غيرُ طَرِيفِ
They marveled at his delight in giving gifts,
They marveled at his pleasure with gifts,
yet a generous man's delight is nothing new.
While the generous feels no novelty.
خبرٌa tale ماwhat سمعتI heard لوif جاءَنيit came to me فيin الthe
خبرٌ ما سمعت لو جاءَني في ال
صحفِpages لمdid not أَتَّهِمI suspect سِوىanything but التصحيفِa scribal error
صحفِ لم أَتَّهِم سِوى التصحيفِ
The tale I heard—had it reached me in the
A report I never heard, had it come to me
pages, I would have suspected only a scribal error.
In script, I would suspect only a scribal error.
منof أَحاديثِthe tales of معشرٍa company of people قَمَرواwagered العزْhonor (start)
من أَحاديثِ معشرٍ قَمَروا العزْ
زَhonor (end) ويمand did not (apparent typo) يشعرواthey notice بجدعِthe cutting-off of الأُنوفِnoses
زَ ويم يشعروا بجدعِ الأُنوفِ
Of the tales of people who wagered their honor
From the tales of a people who cherished
and did not notice their noses being cut off.
Glory, unaware of losing their noses.
اِخوةٌbrothers نحنwe بالمَشَقَّةِwith difficulty سقناwe drove
اِخوةٌ نحن بالمَشَقَّةِ سقنا
همthem الىto المكرمَاتِnoble deeds سَوقَthe driving of العَنِيفِthe harsh driver
هم الى المكرمَاتِ سَوقَ العَنِيفِ
Brothers are we; with difficulty we drove
Brothers we are, in trial we drove them
them toward noble deeds, as a harsh driver drives.
To bounties, driving the unwilling.
وقسرناهمand we forced them علىto صِلَةِmaintain ties of الأرkinship (start)
وقسرناهم على صِلَةِ الأر
حامِkinship (end) قَسْرَthe forcing of القِسيِّbows بالتعطِيفِby bending
حامِ قَسْرَ القِسيِّ بالتعطِيفِ
And we forced them to honor ties of
And coerced them to the loyalty of kin
kinship, as bows are forced to bend.
With the coercion of the strong using kindness.
انif تكونواyou are أَبْدَالكمyour substitutes فيin المَعاليnoble deeds
ان تكونوا أَبْدَالكم في المَعالي
وأَبيتمand you refused الاَّanything but اتباعِfollowing الحَليفِthe ally
وأَبيتم الاَّ اتباعِ الحَليفِ
If you are your own substitutes in noble deeds,
If only you could take their place in glory
and you refused anything but following the ally,
And refuse to follow the ally.
فاعرفوهاthen recognize it وكيفand how يُنكَرُis denied شَيءٌa thing
فاعرفوها وكيف يُنكَرُ شَيءٌ
وصفُهُits description لاnot يُحيطencompasses بالموصُوفِwhat is described
وصفُهُ لا يُحيط بالموصُوفِ
then recognize it—how can a thing be denied
So know it, how can something be denied
when its description cannot encompass what is described?
When its description encompasses the described?
عنafter قليلٍa little while تَرونهاyou will see it وتَرونَand you will see الthe
عن قليلٍ تَرونها وتَرونَ ال
نقعَdust منfrom بَعْدِهاafter it مكانَin the place of الرَّدِيْفِthe pillion rider
نقعَ من بَعْدِها مكانَ الرَّدِيْفِ
Soon you will see it, and see the
Before long you will see it, and see
dust in its wake, serving as a rider seated behind.
The gaping void after it, in place of close support.
لاdo not أُعَنِّيI weary أَسماعكمyour ears بالمواعيwith promises (start)
لا أُعَنِّي أَسماعكم بالمواعي
دِpromises (end) فانَّfor indeed الوعيدَthreatening كيدُthe stratagem of الضَّعِيفِthe weak one
دِ فانَّ الوعيدَ كيدُ الضَّعِيفِ
I do not weary your ears with promises,
I do not mean to trouble your hearing with threats,
for threats are the stratagem of the weak.
Since threats are the stratagem of the weak.
قدindeed لَصِقناwe clung بظلِّto the shade of خُرَّةَKhurra فَيرُوFiruz (start)
قد لَصِقنا بظلِّ خُرَّةَ فَيرُو
زَFiruz (end) كماjust as يَلصَقُclings الشَّظَىthe splint bone بالوَظِيفِto the cannon bone
زَ كما يَلصَقُ الشَّظَى بالوَظِيفِ
We have clung to the shade of Khurra Firuz,
We have stuck to the shade of the silk-cotton tree,
as the splint bone clings to the cannon bone.
As shreds stick to the patcher.
وَغَنِينَاand we have no need بهthrough him عنof السيرِjourneying والطيand flying (start)
وَغَنِينَا به عن السيرِ والطي
رِflying (end) وزيَّافَةِand a swaying she-camel العَشيِّat evening خَنُوفِsidling
رِ وزيَّافَةِ العَشيِّ خَنُوفِ
And through him we have no need of journeying or flying,
And been enriched by it over traveling and
nor of a swaying, sidling she-camel at evening,
The begging night of the doleful beggar.
تَخلِطُshe mixes الجِدَّearnestness بالمزاحِwith play وتُعطيكَand gives you
تَخلِطُ الجِدَّ بالمزاحِ وتُعطيكَ
أَنْدِلاًunclear as written ثاغِبَa pool of السُّرىnight travel والوَجيفِand swift trotting
أَنْدِلاً ثاغِبَ السُّرى والوَجيفِ
mixing earnestness with play, and giving you
It mixes jest with seriousness, and gives you
[Unclear word], a pool of night travel and swift trotting.
A tattered, patched gown and rags.
وكأَناand as though we فيin روضةٍa meadow منof نَدَاهُhis bounty
وكأَنا في روضةٍ من نَدَاهُ
وَشَّحتهاclothed it الأَنواءُthe rains بالتفويفِin variegated stripes
وَشَّحتها الأَنواءُ بالتفويفِ
And it is as though we were in a meadow of his bounty,
As if we are in a meadow, whose softness
which the rains have clothed in variegated stripes.
The breeze has clad in whispers.
زَلَّslipped عنهاfrom it معwith اضلُحىforenoon (apparent typo) لُؤلُؤُthe pearls of الطَّلْdew (start)
زَلَّ عنها مع اضلُحى لُؤلُؤُ الطَّلْ
لِdew (end) وَهَمَّتْand were about to أَجفانُهاits eyelids بِجفوفِdry
لِ وَهَمَّتْ أَجفانُها بِجفوفِ
At forenoon the pearls of dew slipped from it,
The oyster's pearl slipped off it, and its
and its eyelids were on the verge of drying.
Eyelids dreamed of blinking.
يَجتَديhe seeks gifts والتَّليدُand the inherited wealth منof مالناour wealth الthe
يَجتَدي والتَّليدُ من مالنا ال
أَقدمoldest فيin بِرِّهِhis generosity زكاةُthe alms due on الطَّريفِnewly acquired wealth
أَقدم في بِرِّهِ زكاةُ الطَّريفِ
He seeks gifts, while the inherited portion of our
It is generous, and the best of our old wealth
oldest wealth is, amid his bounty, the alms due on the new.
In benevolence, the alms of the fresh and new.
ليسis not ذَنبيmy offense الىagainst عُفاتِكَseekers of your bounty الاَّexcept
ليس ذَنبي الى عُفاتِكَ الاَّ
أَننيthat I منكَwith you بالمَحَلِّin a position اللطيفِfavored
أَنني منكَ بالمَحَلِّ اللطيفِ
My only offense against those who seek your bounty
My guilt toward your chastity is only
is that I hold a favored place with you.
That I am in your sweet company.
حَسَدُونيthey envied me علىfor الكَرامةِhonor والبِشْand cordiality (start)
حَسَدُوني على الكَرامةِ والبِشْ
رِcordiality (end) ولمand did not يَحسِدُواthey envy علىfor المَعْرُوفِbounty
رِ ولم يَحسِدُوا على المَعْرُوفِ
They envied me the honor and the cordial
They envied me nobility and good news,
welcome, but did not envy me the bounty.
And did not envy me for kindness.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.