هَذاthis كِتابيmy letter عَنconcerning كَمالِcompleteness of سَلامَةwell-being
هَذا كِتابي عَن كَمالِ سَلامَة
عِنديwith me وَحالِand a condition شَرحِهاits account فيin الجُملَةِthe summary
عِندي وَحالِ شَرحِها في الجُملَةِ
This is my letter, reporting perfect well-being
This is my book on the perfection of Salama
on my part, and a state summed up in brief:
In it, I explain my state in summary
هَمٌّworry وَإِقتارٌand poverty وَعُمرٌand a lifetime ذاهِبٌpassing away
هَمٌّ وَإِقتارٌ وَعُمرٌ ذاهِبٌ
وَفِراقُand separation from أَوطانٍhomelands وَفَقدُand loss of أَحِبَّةِloved ones
وَفِراقُ أَوطانٍ وَفَقدُ أَحِبَّةِ
worry, poverty, and a life passing away,
There is worry, poverty, and fleeting life
separation from homelands and loss of loved ones.
And separation from homelands and loss of loved ones
ياO إِخوَتيmy brothers وَإِذاand if صَدَقتُI speak truly فَأَنتُمُthen you
يا إِخوَتي وَإِذا صَدَقتُ فَأَنتُمُ
مِنamong إِخوَةِbrothers of الأَيّامِthe days لاnot مِنamong إِخوَتيmy brothers
مِن إِخوَةِ الأَيّامِ لا مِن إِخوَتي
O my brothers—though, if I speak truly, you are
O my brothers! If I am truthful, then you
brothers of the days, not brothers of mine.
Are brothers of the days, not brothers of mine
بُعداًaway! لِآماليwith my hopes الَّتيwhich عَلَّقتُهاI pinned them
بُعداً لِآمالي الَّتي عَلَّقتُها
بِكُمُon you فَجارَتso they veered فيon السَّبيلِthe road وَضَلَّتِand went astray
بِكُمُ فَجارَت في السَّبيلِ وَضَلَّتِ
Away with the hopes I pinned
Away with the hopes that I pinned on you
on you: they veered off the road and went astray.
For they strayed on the path and were lost
أَأَغِيبُam I to be absent? عَنfrom حَلَبٍAleppo ثَلاثَةَthree أَشهُرٍmonths
أَأَغِيبُ عَن حَلَبٍ ثَلاثَةَ أَشهُرٍ
لَمdid not تَكتُبواyou write فيهاduring them إِليَّto me بِلَفظَةِwith a word
لَم تَكتُبوا فيها إِليَّ بِلَفظَةِ
Am I to be absent from Aleppo for three months,
Shall I be absent from Aleppo three months
without your writing me a single word?
Without you writing me a single word?
حَتّىto the point that كَأَنِّيas though I قَدalready جَنَيتُcommitted an offense عَلَيكُمُagainst you
حَتّى كَأَنِّي قَد جَنَيتُ عَلَيكُمُ
ماsomething that أَستَحِقُّI deserve بِهِfor it عَظيمَgreat الجَفوَةِestrangement
ما أَستَحِقُّ بِهِ عَظيمَ الجَفوَةِ
So much so that it is as though I had wronged you
It's as if I have wronged you
in a way meriting such great estrangement.
To deserve such great estrangement
لاneither حُرمَةَsanctity of الآدابِletters راعَيتُمyou respected وَلاnor
لا حُرمَةَ الآدابِ راعَيتُم وَلا
حَقَّright of الإِخاءbrotherhood وَلاnor ذِمامَbond of الصُّحبَةِcompanionship
حَقَّ الإِخاء وَلا ذِمامَ الصُّحبَةِ
You respected neither the sanctity of letters, nor
You observed neither the sanctity of morals
the rights of brotherhood, nor the bond of companionship.
Nor the right of brotherhood, nor the reins of companionship
وَكَأَنَّنيand it is as though I بِكُمُwith you إِذاwhen لَفَّقتُمُyou patched together
وَكَأَنَّني بِكُمُ إِذا لَفَّقتُمُ
عُذراًan excuse كَمِثلِlike الحاجَةِthe need المَعروفَةِfamiliar
عُذراً كَمِثلِ الحاجَةِ المَعروفَةِ
I can almost picture you, when you patch together
It's as if, when you cobble together
an excuse like that familiar need:
An excuse, it will resemble a well-known need
قُلتُمyou said شُغِلناwe were occupied بِالحِصارِwith the siege وَصَدَّناand hindered us
قُلتُم شُغِلنا بِالحِصارِ وَصَدَّنا
ماwhat كانَoccurred بَعدَكَafter you مِنfrom مُعِزِّMu'izz الدَّولَةِal-Dawla
ما كانَ بَعدَكَ مِن مُعِزِّ الدَّولَةِ
you say, ‘We were occupied by the siege, and hindered
You'll say, "We were busy with the siege, and after you
by what came from Mu'izz al-Dawla after you left.’
What remained of the dignitaries of the state"
وَصَدَقتُمُand you spoke truly فَبِأَيِّthen by what حُكمruling صُدِّرَتwere sent out
وَصَدَقتُمُ فَبِأَيِّ حُكم صُدِّرَت
كُتُبُletters of التُّجارِthe merchants خِلالَduring تِلكَthat التَّوبَةِrepentance
كُتُبُ التُّجارِ خِلالَ تِلكَ التَّوبَةِ
Granted you spoke truly—under what ruling, then, were sent out
And you'd be truthful - so by what logic
the merchants' letters during that repentance?
Were the merchants' letters allowed during that repentance?
أَعجزتُمُwere you unable? عَنto مِثلِthe like of ماwhat هَمُّواthey intended بِهِto do it
أَعجزتُمُ عَن مِثلِ ما هَمُّوا بِهِ
بُعداًaway! لِمَنwith whoever هُوَhe دونَهُمbelow them فيin الهِمَّةِresolve
بُعداً لِمَن هُوَ دونَهُم في الهِمَّةِ
Were you unable to do what they resolved to do?
You failed to do what they intended
Away with whoever falls below them in resolve!
Away with one inferior to them in resolve
طابbecame appealing التَّنَصُّرُconversion to Christianity مِنكُمُbecause of you فَتَوَقَّعواso expect
طاب التَّنَصُّرُ مِنكُمُ فَتَوَقَّعوا
بَعدَafter الصِّيامِthe fast حَديثَnews of مَعمودِيَّتيmy baptism
بَعدَ الصِّيامِ حَديثَ مَعمودِيَّتي
You have made conversion to Christianity appealing; so expect
Staying Christian seemed good to you, so you expected
after the fast, news of my baptism.
After fasting, talk of my baptism
لَوif شِئتُI wished أَهرُبُto flee مَرَّةonce مِنfrom عِندِكُمyour company
لَو شِئتُ أَهرُبُ مَرَّة مِن عِندِكُم
ماnot كُنتُI would be أَقصِدُheading for غَيرَother than قُسطَنطينِيَةِConstantinople
ما كُنتُ أَقصِدُ غَيرَ قُسطَنطينِيَةِ
If ever I wished to flee from your company,
If I wanted, I'd flee there from you
I would head nowhere but Constantinople.
For I wouldn't intend anywhere but Constantinople
وَلأَكتُبَنَّand I will surely write إِذاwhen نَشَطتI feel inclined إِلَيكُمُto you
وَلأَكتُبَنَّ إِذا نَشَطت إِلَيكُمُ
مِنfrom دَيرِthe monastery of أَرمانوسَArmanus بِالرُّومِيَّةِin Greek
مِن دَيرِ أَرمانوسَ بِالرُّومِيَّةِ
And whenever I feel inclined, I will surely write to you
And I'd write to you when I went
from the monastery of Armanus, in Greek.
From the Monastery of St. Romanos in Rome
ياO ابنَson of المُقَلَّدِal-Muqallad وَالكَلامُand the speech جَميعُهُall of it
يا ابنَ المُقَلَّدِ وَالكَلامُ جَميعُهُ
عَطفٌdirected عَلَيكَtoward you وَأَنتَand you رَأسُhead of الزُّمرَةِthe band
عَطفٌ عَلَيكَ وَأَنتَ رَأسُ الزُّمرَةِ
O son of al-Muqallad, all these words
O son of the pretender - and the speech is all
turn toward you, for you are the head of the band.
Inclined toward you, for you're the head of the band
أَجَلَبتَهاyou rallied it وَبَرِئتَand you disclaimed مِنfrom تَبِعاتِهاits consequences
أَجَلَبتَها وَبَرِئتَ مِن تَبِعاتِها
هذيthese فِعالُdeeds of الشَّيخِthe old man والِدَfather of مُرَّةِMurra
هذي فِعالُ الشَّيخِ والِدَ مُرَّةِ
You rallied them, then disclaimed their consequences;
You provoked it, yet absolved yourself of its consequences
these are the deeds of the old man, father of Murra.
That is the work of an old man of villainy
بِاللَّهِby God خَبِّرنيtell me لأَيَّةِfor what عِلَّةٍreason
بِاللَّهِ خَبِّرني لأَيَّةِ عِلَّةٍ
أَعرَضتَyou turned away عَنfrom عَهديmy charge لَكُمto you وَوَصِيَّتيand my counsel
أَعرَضتَ عَن عَهدي لَكُم وَوَصِيَّتي
By God, tell me: for what reason
For God's sake, tell me why
did you turn away from my charge to you and my counsel?
You disregarded my covenant with you and my will
أَلوَصلِwas it for intimacy with? مُؤنِسِكَyour companion الَّذيwhom أَحضَرتَهُyou summoned him
أَلوَصلِ مُؤنِسِكَ الَّذي أَحضَرتَهُ
وَجَعَلتَand you made خِدمَتَهُhis service بِرَسمِfor the purpose of الخُلوَةِseclusion
وَجَعَلتَ خِدمَتَهُ بِرَسمِ الخُلوَةِ
Was it for the company of your intimate, whom you summoned
Did you forget my companion whom you brought
and assigned to serve in private?
And whose service you made as if an intimate affair?
ماnot هَكَذاin this way يَتَناصَفُdeal fairly with one another الخِلَّانُintimate friends فيunder
ما هَكَذا يَتَناصَفُ الخِلَّانُ في
حُكمrule of المَوَدَّةِaffection بَينَهُمbetween them وَالخُلَّةِand close friendship
حُكم المَوَدَّةِ بَينَهُم وَالخُلَّةِ
This is not how friends deal fairly
Those devoted do not share thus
under the rule of mutual affection and close friendship.
In the rule of affection and privacy between them
كُنbe كَيفَhowever شِئتَyou wish فَإِنَّfor indeed قُربَكَyour nearness بَعدَهاafter it
كُن كَيفَ شِئتَ فَإِنَّ قُربَكَ بَعدَها
حَدُّutmost of الرَّجاءِhope وَغايَةُand the goal of الأمنِيَّةِdesire
حَدُّ الرَّجاءِ وَغايَةُ الأمنِيَّةِ
Be as you wish; for, after that, being near you
Be as you wish, for your nearness after this
is the utmost of hope and the goal of desire.
Is the limit of hope and the apex of desire
أَماas for أَخوكَyour brother أَبوAbu العَلاءal-'Ala' فَإِنَّنيfor I
أَما أَخوكَ أَبو العَلاء فَإِنَّني
ماnot زِلتُI ceased أَعرِفُI know مِنهُfrom him لُؤمَbaseness of العِشرَةِcompanionship
ما زِلتُ أَعرِفُ مِنهُ لُؤمَ العِشرَةِ
As for your brother Abu al-'Ala', I
As for your brother Abu al-'Ala, I still
have always known his baseness in companionship.
Recognize in him the obscenity of companionship
قَدindeed كُنتُI used to أَعدَمُlack فيin الحُضورِpresence سُؤالَهُhis asking
قَد كُنتُ أَعدَمُ في الحُضورِ سُؤالَهُ
عَنّيabout me فَكَيفَso how يَكونُwould he be عِندَin الغَيبَةِabsence
عَنّي فَكَيفَ يَكونُ عِندَ الغَيبَةِ
Even when present, I would miss his asking
I used to, when present, not ask him
after me—what would he be like in my absence?
About me - so how could he be in absence?
وَمَتىand when يَحِنُّwould he yearn وَماand not يَزالُhe ceases مُرَنَّحاًswaying
وَمَتى يَحِنُّ وَما يَزالُ مُرَنَّحاً
فيin نَشوَةٍexhilaration وَمُطَوَّحاًand reeling فيin سَكرَةِdrunkenness
في نَشوَةٍ وَمُطَوَّحاً في سَكرَةِ
And when could he yearn, when he is forever swaying
When will he yearn, still hunkered down
in exhilaration and reeling in drunkenness?
In intoxication and sprawled out in drunkenness?
وَلِخَلِّكَand for your friend الخَمرِيِّwine-loving عُذرٌan excuse واضِحٌclear
وَلِخَلِّكَ الخَمرِيِّ عُذرٌ واضِحٌ
عِنديin my view فَلَستُso I am not أَلومُهُblaming him فيfor الجَفوَةِcoldness
عِندي فَلَستُ أَلومُهُ في الجَفوَةِ
And your wine-loving friend has a clear excuse
For your drunken companion, the excuse is clear
in my eyes, so I do not blame him for his coldness.
To me - so I don't blame him for estrangement
وَالذَّنبُand the fault ليis mine فيماin what جَناهُhe committed فَإِنَّنيfor I
وَالذَّنبُ لي فيما جَناهُ فَإِنَّني
رُمتُI sought المُروءَةَnoble conduct مِنfrom تُجارِmerchants of الكوفَةِKufa
رُمتُ المُروءَةَ مِن تُجارِ الكوفَةِ
The fault is mine in what he did, for I
The sin is mine for what he gained
sought noble conduct from the merchants of Kufa.
For I cast off manliness among the Kufan merchants
وَمِنَand among العَجائِبِthe wonders أَنthat يَكونَshould be مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad
وَمِنَ العَجائِبِ أَن يَكونَ مُحَمَّدٌ
وَهوَand he القَديمُlong-standing العَهدِacquaintance بِالقَدموسَةِwith al-Qadmusa
وَهوَ القَديمُ العَهدِ بِالقَدموسَةِ
Among the wonders is that Muhammad,
And of the wonders is that Muhammad
long acquainted with al-Qadmusa,
While ancient of ties with the deaconry
يَنسىforgets هَوايَmy affection فَماso not أَمُرُّI pass بِبالِهِthrough his mind
يَنسى هَوايَ فَما أَمُرُّ بِبالِهِ
شُغلاًbeing occupied بِتِلكَwith that العُصبَةِband السُّوقِيَّةِvulgar
شُغلاً بِتِلكَ العُصبَةِ السُّوقِيَّةِ
should forget my affection, so I never cross his mind,
Forgets my love - so he doesn't pass through his mind
being occupied with that vulgar band.
Busy with that rabble of the market
ياO صاحِبَowner of الخُفَّينِthe two boots قَدalready ذَهَباthey both went إِلىto
يا صاحِبَ الخُفَّينِ قَد ذَهَبا إِلى
عِندَthe place of المُبارِزِal-Mubariz وَالشَّبابِand the youths المُصمَتِsolid; sturdy
عِندَ المُبارِزِ وَالشَّبابِ المُصمَتِ
O owner of the two boots, they have gone
O barefoot one, they went to
to al-Mubariz and the sturdy youths.
The knight and the silent youth
وَعَلَيكَand you owe أَجرُfee for الحِملِcarrying فَانقُدُهso pay it فَماfor no
وَعَلَيكَ أَجرُ الحِملِ فَانقُدُه فَما
فيهِabout it خِلافdisagreement عِندَamong أَهلِpeople of القِبلَةِthe prayer-direction
فيهِ خِلاف عِندَ أَهلِ القِبلَةِ
You owe the carrying fee, so pay it; for there is
And the burden's reward is upon you - so lead it, for
no dispute over this among the people of the qibla.
Among the people of the direction there's no dispute
وَبِحَقِّand by the claim of دينارٍDinar عَلَيكَupon you فَإِنَّهُfor he
وَبِحَقِّ دينارٍ عَلَيكَ فَإِنَّهُ
إِنif كُنتَyou are تَهواهُyou love him أَجَلَّmost solemn إِليَّةِoath
إِن كُنتَ تَهواهُ أَجَلَّ إِليَّةِ
And by Dinar's claim upon you—for he,
And by the right of a debt upon you, it
if you love him, is the most solemn oath—
If you desire it, is most binding upon you
أَبلِغconvey أَباAbu الحَسَنِal-Hasan السَّلامَgreetings وَقُلand tell لَهُto him
أَبلِغ أَبا الحَسَنِ السَّلامَ وَقُل لَهُ
هَذاthis الجَفاءcoldness عَداوَةٌhostility لِلشِّيعَةِtoward the Shi'a
هَذا الجَفاء عَداوَةٌ لِلشِّيعَةِ
convey my greetings to Abu al-Hasan, and tell him:
Give greetings to Abu al-Hasan and tell him
‘This coldness is hostility toward the Shi'a.
This estrangement is enmity to the Shia
فَلأَطرُقَنَّso I shall surely assail بِماfor what صَنَعتَyou did مُكابِراًdefiantly
فَلأَطرُقَنَّ بِما صَنَعتَ مُكابِراً
وَأَبُثُّand I spread ماwhat لاقَيتُI suffered مِنكَfrom you لِنُكتَةِfor a pointed jest
وَأَبُثُّ ما لاقَيتُ مِنكَ لِنُكتَةِ
I shall surely assail you, defiantly, for what you have done,
I will be silent with what you've obstinately done
and spread what I suffered from you for a pointed jest.
And relate what I endured from you as a jest
وَلأَجلِسَنَّكَand I will surely seat you لِلقَضِيَّةِfor the case بَينَناbetween us
وَلأَجلِسَنَّكَ لِلقَضِيَّةِ بَينَنا
فيon يَومthe day of عاشوراءAshura بِالشَّرقِيَّةِin al-Sharqiyya
في يَوم عاشوراء بِالشَّرقِيَّةِ
I shall surely seat you for the case between us
And I will make you sit for the case between us
on Ashura, in al-Sharqiyya,
On Ashura in the east
حَتّىuntil أَثيرَI stir up عَلَيكَagainst you مِنهاfrom it فِتنَةًturmoil
حَتّى أَثيرَ عَلَيكَ مِنها فِتنَةً
تُنسيكَmakes you forget يَومَthe day of خَزانَةِthe treasury of الصُّوفِيَّةِthe Sufis
تُنسيكَ يَومَ خَزانَةِ الصُّوفِيَّةِ
until I stir up from it a turmoil against you
Until I stir up for you from it a tribulation
that makes you forget the day of the Sufis' treasury.’
That makes you forget the day of the Sufi raid
دَعleave ذاthis وَقُلand tell ليto me أَنتَyou ياO ابنَson of مُحَسِّنٍMuhassin
دَع ذا وَقُل لي أَنتَ يا ابنَ مُحَسِّنٍ
وَجَفاءand coldness of مِثلِكَsomeone like you مِنpart of تَمامcompletion of المِحنَةِthe ordeal
وَجَفاء مِثلِكَ مِن تَمام المِحنَةِ
Leave that aside; now you, son of Muhassin, tell me—
Leave this and tell me - you, son of a benefactor
the coldness of one like you completes the ordeal.
While estrangement like yours is the essence of ordeals
كانَتwas وَزارتُكَyour vizierate الَّتيwhich دَبَّرتَنيyou directed me
كانَت وَزارتُكَ الَّتي دَبَّرتَني
فيهاin it كَمِثلِlike الخِدمَةِthe service الرَّحبِيَّةِRahbi
فيها كَمِثلِ الخِدمَةِ الرَّحبِيَّةِ
Your vizierate, under which you directed me,
Your ministry in which you placed me
was like the Rahbi service.
Was like sublime service
صاحَcried الغُرابُthe crow بِهاover it فَفَرَّقَso scattered شَملناour fellowship
صاحَ الغُرابُ بِها فَفَرَّقَ شَملنا
قَدَرٌa fate رَمَتshot فيهِin it الخُطوبُcalamities فَاصمَتِthen struck dead
قَدَرٌ رَمَت فيهِ الخُطوبُ فَاصمَتِ
The crow cried over it; our fellowship was scattered
The crow cawed in it, so it scattered our unity
by a fate in which calamities took aim and struck dead.
Fate in which disasters were mute
ماnot كانَwas حَقُّكَyour right أَنto تَمَلَّgrow weary وَإِنَّماand only
ما كانَ حَقُّكَ أَن تَمَلَّ وَإِنَّما
تاريخُdate of وَصلِكَyour connection مِنfrom حِصارِthe siege of القَلعَةِthe citadel
تاريخُ وَصلِكَ مِن حِصارِ القَلعَةِ
You had no right to grow weary of me, when
It wasn't your right to be bored - rather
your bond with me dates only from the siege of the citadel.
The date of your connection was from the siege of the citadel
وَلَقَدand indeed ذَكَرتُكَI remembered you فيin عقابِmountain passes of هِرَقلَةٍHeraclea
وَلَقَد ذَكَرتُكَ في عقابِ هِرَقلَةٍ
وَجِبالand mountains of نيقِيَّةٍNicaea وَثَلجِand snow of الحِمَّةِal-Himma
وَجِبال نيقِيَّةٍ وَثَلجِ الحِمَّةِ
Indeed, I remembered you in the mountain passes of Heraclea,
I remembered you in the punishment of Heraclius
the mountains of Nicaea, and the snows of al-Himma.
And the mountains of Nicea and the snow of highlands
وَصَديقُكَand your friend الخَبَّازُthe baker مَشغولٌbusy عَلىover
وَصَديقُكَ الخَبَّازُ مَشغولٌ عَلى
أَدبارِهِhis backside بِالقِصَّةِwith the affair المَكتومَةِconcealed
أَدبارِهِ بِالقِصَّةِ المَكتومَةِ
And your friend the baker is busy over
And your baker friend is busy
his backside, with that concealed affair.
With the concealed tale behind him
حَيرانُbewildered يَطلُبُhe seeks مَوضِعاًa place يَخلوto be alone بِهِwith him
حَيرانُ يَطلُبُ مَوضِعاً يَخلو بِهِ
فيهِin it وَذَلِكَand that مِنpart of تَمامِcompletion of المِحنَةِthe ordeal
فيهِ وَذَلِكَ مِن تَمامِ المِحنَةِ
Bewildered, he seeks a place to be alone with him
Perplexed, seeking a place to be alone in
there—and that completes the ordeal.
And that is the essence of ordeals
وَاقرَand convey السَّلامَgreetings عَلىto الفَقيهِthe jurist وَقُلand tell لَهُto him
وَاقرَ السَّلامَ عَلى الفَقيهِ وَقُل لَهُ
وَهوَand he العتادُthe armament لِدَفعِfor warding off كُلِّevery مُلِمَّةِcalamity
وَهوَ العتادُ لِدَفعِ كُلِّ مُلِمَّةِ
Give my greetings to the jurist, and tell him—
Give greetings to the jurist and tell him
he is the armament for warding off every calamity—
While he is prepared to repel every calamity
حاشاكَfar be it from you أَنto تَصِفَdescribe الوِدادَaffection وَأَهلَهُand its people
حاشاكَ أَن تَصِفَ الوِدادَ وَأَهلَهُ
وَيَكونَand is حُبُّكَyour love كُلُّهُall of it بِالقوَّةِin potentiality
وَيَكونَ حُبُّكَ كُلُّهُ بِالقوَّةِ
‘Far be it from you to describe affection and its people
Far be it from you to describe affection and its people
while all your love remains merely potential.
While your love is entirely by force
ماwhat كانَwould ضَرَّكَhave harmed you لَوif بَعَثتَyou sent تَحِيَّةًa greeting
ما كانَ ضَرَّكَ لَو بَعَثتَ تَحِيَّةً
وَكَتَبتَand wrote خَمسَةَfive أَسطُرٍlines فيon رُقعَةِa slip of paper
وَكَتَبتَ خَمسَةَ أَسطُرٍ في رُقعَةِ
What harm would it have done you to send a greeting
It wouldn't have harmed you to send a greeting
and write five lines on a slip of paper?
And write five lines in a note
أَبِمِثلِis it with the like of? هَذاthis يَخصِبُgrows fertile البُستانُthe garden أَوor
أَبِمِثلِ هَذا يَخصِبُ البُستانُ أَو
يَزدادُincreases حُسنَbeauty of الدَّارِthe house فيin السَّهلِيَّةِal-Sahliyya
يَزدادُ حُسنَ الدَّارِ في السَّهلِيَّةِ
Is this how the garden grows fertile, or
Does the garden thrive with the like of this?
the house in al-Sahliyya grows more beautiful?’
Or the beauty of the abode increase in the plains?
وَاعلِمand inform أَباAbu الحَسَنِal-Hasan الوَكيلَthe agent صَديقَهُhis friend
وَاعلِم أَبا الحَسَنِ الوَكيلَ صَديقَهُ
حَمديmy gratitude لِتِلكَfor that القِصَّةِaffair المَشكورَةِpraiseworthy
حَمدي لِتِلكَ القِصَّةِ المَشكورَةِ
And inform Abu al-Hasan the agent, his friend,
Let Abu al-Hasan the minister's friend Hamdi know
of my gratitude for that praiseworthy affair.
For that esteemed deed
وَوَقَفتُand I came upon مِنهُfrom him عَلىupon كِتابٍa letter واحِدٍone
وَوَقَفتُ مِنهُ عَلى كِتابٍ واحِدٍ
تاريخُهُits date لِلنِّصفِfor the middle مِنof ذيDhu القِعدَةِal-Qa'da
تاريخُهُ لِلنِّصفِ مِن ذي القِعدَةِ
I came upon a single letter from him,
I received from him one letter
dated the middle of Dhu al-Qa'da.
Dated halfway through Dhu al-Qi'dah
فَوَجَدتُهُso I found it مُتَضَمِّناًcontaining ذِكريmention of me بِلاwithout
فَوَجَدتُهُ مُتَضَمِّناً ذِكري بِلا
خَبَرٍnews أسَكِّنُI soothe مِنهُthrough it بَعضَsome of اللَّوعَةِburning yearning
خَبَرٍ أسَكِّنُ مِنهُ بَعضَ اللَّوعَةِ
I found it containing mention of me, without
I found it containing mention of me without
any news to soothe some of my burning yearning.
News to somewhat soothe a bit of homesickness
عَمَلاًa deed كَبيراًgreat أَيthat is بِأَنّيin that I سالِكfollowing
عَمَلاً كَبيراً أَي بِأَنّي سالِك
طُرُقَpaths of التِّجارَةِtrade لازِمٌkeeping لِمَعيشَتيto my livelihood
طُرُقَ التِّجارَةِ لازِمٌ لِمَعيشَتي
A great achievement!—namely, that I am following
As if, my friend, I am busy
the paths of trade, attending to my livelihood.
With the paths of trade, compelled by my livelihood
ماnot كُنتُI was أَطلُبُseeking مِنهُfrom him إِلَّاexcept ذِكرَmention of أَخnews (first fragment)
ما كُنتُ أَطلُبُ مِنهُ إِلَّا ذِكرَ أَخ
بارِnews (second fragment) الجَماعَةِthe company دونَrather than حالِcondition of البَلدَةِthe town
بارِ الجَماعَةِ دونَ حالِ البَلدَةِ
I wanted from him only mention of the news
I didn't want from him except mention of the news
of our company, not the state of the town.
Of the group, apart from the state of the town
ياO قَومُmy people ماwhat باليis the matter with me ثَقلتُI became a burden عَلَيكُمُupon you
يا قَومُ ما بالي ثَقلتُ عَلَيكُمُ
مِنfrom بَعدِafter تِلكَthat النِّيَّةِintention المَحروسَةِguarded
مِن بَعدِ تِلكَ النِّيَّةِ المَحروسَةِ
My people, why have I become a burden to you
O people, why have I become burdensome
after that carefully guarded intention?
After that protected intention?
وَأَظُنُّand I think شَوقَكُمُyour longing إِليَّfor me كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَأَظُنُّ شَوقَكُمُ إِليَّ كَأَنَّهُ
شَوقُlonging of اليَهودِthe Jews إِلىfor زَمانِa time of الفِتنَةِturmoil
شَوقُ اليَهودِ إِلى زَمانِ الفِتنَةِ
And I think your longing for me is like
I reckon your longing for me is like
the Jews' longing for a time of turmoil.
The Jews' longing for the time of tribulation
شاهَدتُI witnessed بَعدَكُمُafter leaving you عَجائِبَwonders جَمَّةmany
شاهَدتُ بَعدَكُمُ عَجائِبَ جَمَّة
وَرَأَيتُand I saw كُلَّevery طَريفَةٍcurious thing وَغَريبَةِand strange thing
وَرَأَيتُ كُلَّ طَريفَةٍ وَغَريبَةِ
After leaving you, I witnessed many wonders
After you I witnessed wondrous things in multitudes
and saw every curious and strange thing.
And I saw every trifle and oddity
وَلَقيتُand I met قَوماًpeople ماnot أَبوAbu الفَضلِal-Fadl بنِibn
وَلَقيتُ قَوماً ما أَبو الفَضلِ بنِ
الانباريِّal-Anbari إِلَّاbut دونَهُمbelow them فيin الخِسَّةِbaseness
الانباريِّ إِلَّا دونَهُم في الخِسَّةِ
And I met people beside whom Abu al-Fadl ibn
And I met a people - what's Abu al-Fadl ibn
al-Anbari falls short in baseness.
Al-Anbari but inferior to them in meanness?
لَوif جامِعٌgathering رُسُلَapostles of المَسيحِChrist إِلَيهِمto them
لَو جامِعٌ رُسُلَ المَسيحِ إِلَيهِم
الإِنجيلُthe Gospel ماnot ذادوهُمُthey would deter them عَنfrom فِريَةِa falsehood
الإِنجيلُ ما ذادوهُمُ عَن فِريَةِ
Were Christ's apostles brought together with them by
If the messenger of the Gospel gathered to them
the Gospel, they would not keep them from falsehood.
The Gospel, it wouldn't increase them from wickedness
أَتلوI recite الحَديثَthe hadith عَلَيهِمُto them فَكَأَنَّنيso it is as though I
أَتلو الحَديثَ عَلَيهِمُ فَكَأَنَّني
قَدalready صِرتُI became مِنهُمone of them فيin خِطابِdiscourse of القُوَّةِpotentiality
قَد صِرتُ مِنهُم في خِطابِ القُوَّةِ
I recite the hadith to them, as though I
I recite hadith to them, but it's as if I
had become one of them in the discourse of potentiality.
Have become like them in commanding force
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.