أَفدنيinform me عنabout الدنياthe world فانيَfor I ماnot ادريI know
أَفدني عن الدنيا فانيَ ما ادري
طِلابُpursuit of المَعاليhigh honors اوor معتَّقةُwell-aged الخمرِwine
طِلابُ المَعالي او معتَّقةُ الخمرِ
Tell me about this world, for I do not know:
is it the pursuit of high honors, or well-aged wine?
طلابُpursuit of المَعاليhigh honors فيin سوادِthe blackness of مِدادهاits ink
طلابُ المَعالي في سوادِ مِدادها
اوor الخمرُwine فيin بيضاءthe whiteness of اكؤُسهاits cups تجريflows
او الخمرُ في بيضاء اكؤُسها تجري
The pursuit of high honors in the blackness of its ink,
or wine flowing in the whiteness of its cups?
هماthey both مذهباthe two paths of الدنياthe world اللَذانِwhich two عليهماconcerning them both
هما مذهبا الدنيا اللَذانِ عليهما
تخالفتِhave differed الآراءِopinions منsince سالفbygone الدهرِtime
تخالفتِ الآراءِ من سالف الدهرِ
These are the world's two paths, over which
opinions have differed since ages long past.
قَدindeed انقسماthe two have divided فيamong الناسpeople فالناسُso people فيهماover them both
قَد انقسما في الناس فالناسُ فيهما
قَدindeed اِنقَسَمواthey have divided ماthe range بينbetween زيدٍZayd الىto عمروAmr
قَد اِنقَسَموا ما بين زيدٍ الى عمرو
They have divided humankind, and over them people
have split, from Zayd to Amr.
فمنso, among طالبٍa seeker بالعقلthrough reason رفعةَthe elevation of ذيone possessing الحجىunderstanding
فمن طالبٍ بالعقل رفعةَ ذي الحجى
ومنand among راغِبٍone desiring بالطَبعِby instinct فيin لَذَّةthe pleasure of الغِرِّthe naive man
ومن راغِبٍ بالطَبعِ في لَذَّة الغِرِّ
Some seek, through reason, the eminence of the wise;
others, by instinct, desire the pleasure of the naive.
فَذَلكَso that one يَستَقريstudies الورىhumankind مُرضياًpleasing لهمto them
فَذَلكَ يَستَقري الورى مُرضياً لهم
وَذَلكand that one يُرضيpleases نَفسهُhimself غيرَwithout مُستقرِinquiring
وَذَلك يُرضي نَفسهُ غيرَ مُستقرِ
The former studies mankind, seeking to please them;
the latter pleases himself, without such inquiry.
وَبَينهماand between them ماwhat lies بينbetween عَقلٍa mind مهذَّبٍcultivated
وَبَينهما ما بين عَقلٍ مهذَّبٍ
وَماand what lies بينbetween طَبعٍa nature بالظواهرِby appearances مغترّdeceived
وَما بين طَبعٍ بالظواهرِ مغترّ
Between them lies the difference between a cultivated mind
and a nature deceived by outward appearances.
وَماand not اِجتمعاthe two have met الّاexcept عَلىupon سرجthe saddle of سابحٍa swimming steed
وَما اِجتمعا الّا عَلى سرج سابحٍ
يَسيرُit moves كسيرِlike the movement of الفُلكِفيthe ships in لَججِthe deep swells of البحرِthe sea
يَسيرُ كسيرِ الفُلكِفي لَججِ البحرِ
They meet only upon the saddle of a swimming steed
that moves like ships through the sea's deep swells.
يسيرit runs وَماand not تَدريyou know لقدحِbecause of the sparks struck by نِعالِهِits horseshoes
يسير وَما تَدري لقدحِ نِعالِهِ
أَفيis it in الليلةِthe night الدَلماءِpitch-dark امor ليلةِthe night of البدرِthe full moon
أَفي الليلةِ الدَلماءِ ام ليلةِ البدرِ
It runs, and the sparks struck by its shoes leave you unsure
whether it is a pitch-dark night or a full-moon night.
يُسابِقit races ماwhatever يسريruns منof الريحِthe wind وَفقَهُin its favor
يُسابِق ما يسري من الريحِ وَفقَهُ
وَيَهزِمُand routs ماwhatever منof جيشهاits army ضِدَّهُagainst it يسريruns
وَيَهزِمُ ما من جيشها ضِدَّهُ يسري
It races whatever wind blows in its favor,
and routs whatever of the wind's army blows against it.
فَمُنقَعطُso the stopping-point of الرَيحينthe two winds حاشاexcept عِنانَهُits reins
فَمُنقَعطُ الرَيحين حاشا عِنانَهُ
وَراكَبَهُand its rider بينَbetween المؤَخَّرthe hindquarters وَالصَدرِand the chest
وَراكَبَهُ بينَ المؤَخَّر وَالصَدرِ
The breaking-point of both winds—excepting its reins
and rider—lies between its hindquarters and chest.
وَمُجتَمَعُand the meeting-place of الضدَّينthe two opposites مُطَّلَبِthe pursuit of العُلىheights
وَمُجتَمَعُ الضدَّين مُطَّلَبِ العُلى
وَكأسِand the cup of الطِلامنهُwine, of it علىupon ذلكthat الظَهرِback
وَكأسِ الطِلامنهُ على ذلك الظَهرِ
And the meeting-place of the two opposites—the pursuit of heights
and a cup of wine—is upon that back of its.
عليهِupon it لُباناتُthe desires of النفوسsouls قضاؤُهاtheir fulfillment
عليهِ لُباناتُ النفوس قضاؤُها
نعمyes وَعليهِand upon it مُعظَمُmost of المجدglory وَالفَخرand pride
نعم وَعليهِ مُعظَمُ المجد وَالفَخر
Upon it the desires of souls find their fulfillment;
yes, and upon it rests the greater part of glory and pride.
مَجِنُّكyour shield مِنهُof it راسُهُits head تَّتَقيyou protect yourself بِهِwith it
مَجِنُّك مِنهُ راسُهُ تَّتَقي بِهِ
وَمنand from ذيلِهِits tail دَرعٌarmor دِلاصٌsmooth منof الشَعرِhair
وَمن ذيلِهِ دَرعٌ دِلاصٌ من الشَعرِ
Its head is your shield; with it you protect yourself,
and from its tail comes smooth armor made of hair.
وَبينَand among صنوفِthe kinds of الخيلhorses ماthat which انتَyou are ترسُهُits shield
وَبينَ صنوفِ الخيل ما انتَ ترسُهُ
تَقيهِyou protect it وفيand among فرسانهاtheir riders اعظُمthe greatest part of السرِّthe mystery
تَقيهِ وفي فرسانها اعظُم السرِّ
Among the kinds of horses are some whose shield you are,
protecting them; the greatest secret lies in their riders.
فَماso not كُلُّevery مهرٍcolt يأَمَنfeels safe المرءُthe man فوقُهُupon it
فَما كُلُّ مهرٍ يأَمَن المرءُ فوقُهُ
وَلَيسَand not اميناًtrustworthy كُلُّevery عالٍone mounted علىupon مهرِa colt
وَلَيسَ اميناً كُلُّ عالٍ على مهرِ
Not every colt makes the man upon it feel secure,
nor is every man mounted on a colt trustworthy.
وَمَنand who كأَمينٍlike Amin عندناamong us غيرُother than رهطِهِhis clan
وَمَن كأَمينٍ عندنا غيرُ رهطِهِ
وَمَنand who مثلهمlike them الّاexcept الأُسودlions لدىat الكَرِّthe charge
وَمَن مثلهم الّا الأُسود لدى الكَرِّ
And who among us is like Amin, except his own clan?
And who is like them, except lions when they charge?
رِجالٌmen لهمfor them بينamong الاسودlions مهابَةٌawe
رِجالٌ لهم بين الاسود مهابَةٌ
تَخافُهُمُthey fear them خَوفَwith the fear of الوَرىhumankind أُسُدَlions of القفرِthe wilderness
تَخافُهُمُ خَوفَ الوَرى أُسُدَ القفرِ
Men who command awe among lions,
which fear them as mankind fears the lions of the wasteland.
لَقَدindeed أَلِفواthey have grown accustomed to حِفظkeeping الذمامcovenants سَجيَّةًas an innate trait
لَقَد أَلِفوا حِفظ الذمام سَجيَّةً
فَراعواso they safeguarded حقوقَthe rights of النَوعhumankind كالآخذlike one taking الثأرِvengeance
فَراعوا حقوقَ النَوع كالآخذ الثأرِ
They have made the keeping of covenants second nature,
and guard the rights of humankind like one exacting vengeance.
أَماnoblemen (first fragment) جدُnoblemen (last fragment) صيدٌproud lords منamong كرامthe noble ones of الوجودexistence منfrom
أَما جدُ صيدٌ من كرام الوجود من
عَشائرthe clans of لبنانٍLebanon أُليpossessors of النهيrestraint والامرِand command
عَشائر لبنانٍ أُلي النهي والامرِ
Proud noblemen, among the noblest beings, from
Lebanon's clans, wielders of restraint and command.
عِصابةُa band of اشرافٍnobles أَعالٍexalted أَعزَّةٍmighty
عِصابةُ اشرافٍ أَعالٍ أَعزَّةٍ
ذووthose exercising الامرِcommand بالمَعروفfor right conduct وَالنَهيand prohibition عَنagainst مُنكَرِwrongdoing
ذوو الامرِ بالمَعروف وَالنَهي عَن مُنكَرِ
A company of nobles, exalted and mighty,
who command what is right and forbid what is wrong.
ذووpossessors of النَسَبlineage المأثورrenowned والحسَبِand ancestral honor الَّذيwhich
ذوو النَسَب المأثور والحسَبِ الَّذي
بِهِthrough it كمَلواthey became complete كالشطرlike a half يُقرَنis joined بالشطرِwith a half
بِهِ كمَلوا كالشطر يُقرَن بالشطرِ
Men of renowned lineage and ancestral honor, by which
they are made complete, like one half joined to another.
همُthey نكَدُthe bane of; Nakad الاعداءِenemies حتىّuntil تلقَّبواthey were surnamed
همُ نكَدُ الاعداءِ حتىّ تلقَّبوا
بهwith it فاسمهمso their name يَرميstrikes الاعاديَfoes بالذعرِwith terror
به فاسمهم يَرمي الاعاديَ بالذعرِ
They are their enemies' bane—Nakad—so much that they were named
for it; their name strikes their foes with terror.
وَهمand they سندthe support of الأَحلافallies فيin كُلِّevery أَزمَةٍcrisis
وَهم سند الأَحلاف في كُلِّ أَزمَةٍ
وادنىand nearer الىto نفعٍbenefit وابعدُand farther عنfrom ضَرِّharm
وادنى الى نفعٍ وابعدُ عن ضَرِّ
They are their allies' support in every crisis,
nearest to doing good and farthest from doing harm.
وَهُمand they خَيرُthe best of أَحلاسsaddle-cloths of الخيولhorses فَراسَةًin horsemanship
وَهُم خَيرُ أَحلاس الخيول فَراسَةً
والعَبُand more playful منهاthan them فوقهاupon them عندat ماthe time when تجريthey run
والعَبُ منها فوقها عند ما تجري
In horsemanship, they are the finest who cling to horses like saddle-cloths,
and more playful than the horses, upon their backs as they run.
فمنso, among ضاربٍone striking سيفاًa sword ومنand among طاعنٍone thrusting قناًlances
فمن ضاربٍ سيفاً ومن طاعنٍ قناً
اذاwhen التقتِmeet الابطالchampions فيin الكَرِّthe charge وَالفَرِّand retreat
اذا التقتِ الابطال في الكَرِّ وَالفَرِّ
Some strike with swords, and some thrust with lances,
when champions meet in charge and retreat.
ومنand among ممتطٍone riding ظهرَthe back of الحصانthe stallion تخالهُyou imagine him
ومن ممتطٍ ظهرَ الحصان تخالهُ
عَلىupon السرجthe saddle برجاًa tower ثبَّتتهُhas fixed it يدthe hand of النصرِvictory
عَلى السرج برجاً ثبَّتتهُ يد النصرِ
Others mount a stallion's back, and you imagine them
a tower upon the saddle, planted firm by victory's hand.
وَمنand among ذيone possessing يَراعٍa reed pen كالقَناlike lances غيرexcept أَنَّهُthat it
وَمن ذي يَراعٍ كالقَنا غير أَنَّهُ
يُعَوَّضُsubstitutes عنfor حُمرthe redness of الدِماblood اسودَthe blackness of الحبرِink
يُعَوَّضُ عن حُمر الدِما اسودَ الحبرِ
Others wield a reed pen like a lance, except that it
substitutes black ink for red blood.
اذاwhen طعنَit pierces الاوراقَthe pages سالَflows نجيعُهُits lifeblood
اذا طعنَ الاوراقَ سالَ نجيعُهُ
وَلَمand not يؤذِهاharm them عكسَunlike الرُدَينيَّةِthe Rudayni spears السمرِbrown
وَلَم يؤذِها عكسَ الرُدَينيَّةِ السمرِ
When it pierces the pages, its lifeblood flows,
yet it does not hurt them, unlike the brown Rudayni spears.
كأَنَّas though مُطاعينَthrusters of القناlances وَهوand it مُشبهٌresembling
كأَنَّ مُطاعينَ القنا وَهو مُشبهٌ
لَهاto them سامَتhad tormented القرطاسَthe paper يأَخذُit takes بالوترrevenge
لَها سامَت القرطاسَ يأَخذُ بالوتر
As though the spear-thrusters—and it resembles
their spears—had tormented the paper, which now takes revenge.
ديارُهُمُtheir dwellings قامَتstood لإِيواءِto shelter طارقa night visitor
ديارُهُمُ قامَت لإِيواءِ طارق
وَتأمينand making safe ذيone with خَوفٍfear وإِغناءِand enriching ذيone with فَقرِpoverty
وَتأمين ذي خَوفٍ وإِغناءِ ذي فَقرِ
Their homes stand ready to shelter the night visitor,
to make the fearful safe and enrich the poor.
اذاwhen زرتَهُمyou visit them أَلفيتَyou find حولَaround بيوتهمtheir houses
اذا زرتَهُم أَلفيتَ حولَ بيوتهم
عِتاقَpurebred المَذاكيfull-grown steeds فيin يَدِthe grasp of العددِthe multitude المَجرِvast
عِتاقَ المَذاكي في يَدِ العددِ المَجرِ
When you visit them, you find around their houses
purebred, full-grown steeds in the grasp of a vast multitude.
لِضَيفهمِfor their guest البشرُgladness الَّذيwhich لهمُthey have بِهِin him
لِضَيفهمِ البشرُ الَّذي لهمُ بِهِ
لطيبbecause of the goodness of سجاياهمtheir dispositions فبِشرٌso gladness علىupon بِشرِgladness
لطيب سجاياهم فبِشرٌ على بِشرِ
Their guest shares the joy they take in him,
thanks to their kindly nature: joy upon joy.
يَرىhe sees كلَّevery أُنسٍfriendliness عندهمamong them وَطَلاقَةٍand open welcome
يَرى كلَّ أُنسٍ عندهم وَطَلاقَةٍ
مِنfrom الكَلِمِwords الغَرّاءِradiant والأَوجهِand faces الغُرِّbright
مِن الكَلِمِ الغَرّاءِ والأَوجهِ الغُرِّ
He finds among them every friendliness and open welcome,
in radiant words and shining faces.
وَفخرهُمand their pride بالفَضلِin virtue والجاهِand standing والنَدىand generosity
وَفخرهُم بالفَضلِ والجاهِ والنَدى
وَبيضٍand white swords وَسُمرٍand brown spears لاnot ببيضٍin silver ولاnor صُفرِgold
وَبيضٍ وَسُمرٍ لا ببيضٍ ولا صُفرِ
Their pride lies in virtue, standing, and generosity,
in white swords and brown spears, not silver or gold.
الىto مثلهمtheir like تُزجىَare driven الرِكابُriding-camels وَفيهمِand about them
الى مثلهم تُزجىَ الرِكابُ وَفيهمِ
يُقالis spoken الثَناpraise بالصدقِtruthfully لاnot مذهَبِthe manner of الشِعرِpoetry
يُقال الثَنا بالصدقِ لا مذهَبِ الشِعرِ
To men like these the riding-camels are driven, and of them
praise is spoken truthfully, not in the manner of poetry.
وَمَنand whoever أَلِفَhas grown accustomed to الصدقَtruth الصَريحَplain لِسانهُhis tongue
وَمَن أَلِفَ الصدقَ الصَريحَ لِسانهُ
فكُلُّso all الثناpraise فيهِabout him ثناpraise of صادقٍa truthful man حُرِّfreeborn
فكُلُّ الثنا فيهِ ثنا صادقٍ حُرِّ
And he whose tongue is accustomed to plain truth—
all the praise he gives him is an honest, freeborn man's praise.
وَكُلُّand every أَمينٍtrustworthy man فالامانةُso trust حقُّهُis his due
وَكُلُّ أَمينٍ فالامانةُ حقُّهُ
منfrom الناسpeople يوفاهاit is paid him in full مَعwith الحمدpraise والشكرand gratitude
من الناس يوفاها مَع الحمد والشكر
Every trustworthy man is owed trust
by people, paid in full with praise and thanks.
فدىًa ransom للامينِfor Amin النَفسُthe soul منيfrom me لانهُfor he
فدىً للامينِ النَفسُ مني لانهُ
برتبتهاat its rank عِنديin my esteem فذخرٌso a treasure فدىas ransom for ذُخرِa treasure
برتبتها عِندي فذخرٌ فدى ذُخرِ
My soul be a ransom for Amin, for he
ranks with it in my esteem: one treasure ransoming another.
أَمينٌAmin; trustworthy عَلىin حفظpreserving المودَّةaffection وَالوَلاand loyalty
أَمينٌ عَلى حفظ المودَّة وَالوَلا
فَكانَso was رَشيداًwise منwhoever دَعاهُcalled him علىwith خُبرِknowledge
فَكانَ رَشيداً من دَعاهُ على خُبرِ
Amin is faithful in preserving affection and loyalty;
wise was the man who named him so with knowledge.
فَتىًa young man منamong ذَويthose possessing الإِقدامcourage فيin كُلِّevery همَّةendeavor
فَتىً من ذَوي الإِقدام في كُلِّ همَّة
فَلَمso not يتأَخَّرhe lagged behind فيin سوىanything except العصرthe era والعمرِand age
فَلَم يتأَخَّر في سوى العصر والعمرِ
A young man of courage in every endeavor,
he lags behind only in his era and his years.
حوىhe possessed منamong صفاتthe qualities of الفضلexcellence افضلهاtheir finest وقدand indeed
حوى من صفات الفضل افضلها وقد
حوتthey gained منهُfrom him ماwhat منهاfrom them حوىhe gained منof عُلىthe heights of القدرِworth
حوت منهُ ما منها حوى من عُلى القدرِ
He has gathered the finest qualities of excellence, and
they have gained from him the high worth he gained from them.
شُجاعٌbrave لَدىin الهيجاbattle جَبانٌtimid لدىin الاذىdoing harm
شُجاعٌ لَدى الهيجا جَبانٌ لدى الاذى
كَريمٌgenerous لَدىwith مالٍwealth بَخيلٌmiserly لدىwith سرِّa secret
كَريمٌ لَدى مالٍ بَخيلٌ لدى سرِّ
Brave in battle, timid when it comes to doing harm;
generous with money, miserly with secrets.
عَليمٌknowledgeable باحوالabout the circumstances of الزَمانthe age محنَّكٌseasoned
عَليمٌ باحوال الزَمان محنَّكٌ
يَرىhe sees اوجُهَthe faces of الاسرارsecrets منthrough مقلةthe eye of الفِكرِthought
يَرى اوجُهَ الاسرار من مقلة الفِكرِ
Knowing the circumstances of the age, seasoned by experience,
he sees the faces of mysteries through the eye of thought.
خَبيرٌversed باسرارin the secrets of المعارفlearning شاعِرٌa poet
خَبيرٌ باسرار المعارف شاعِرٌ
بَصيرٌskilled بسبكin casting النظمverse فيin قالبthe mold of النثرِprose
بَصيرٌ بسبك النظم في قالب النثرِ
Versed in the secrets of learning, a poet,
skilled at casting verse in the mold of prose.
اذاwhen مَسَّhe touches عوداًa lute كادit nearly منfrom عزّةٍpride بِهِin him
اذا مَسَّ عوداً كاد من عزّةٍ بِهِ
يرنُّrings بِلاwithout ضَربٍstriking عليهِupon it ولاnor تقرِplucking (unclear spelling)
يرنُّ بِلا ضَربٍ عليهِ ولا تقرِ
When he touches a lute, it almost, from pride in him,
rings without being struck or plucked.
تسامىhe rose الىto حيثُwhere النجومُthe stars منof العُلىthe heights
تسامى الى حيثُ النجومُ من العُلى
أَلستَdo you not تَرىsee فيin كَفّهِhis palm ريشةَthe feather of النَسرِthe eagle
أَلستَ تَرى في كَفّهِ ريشةَ النَسرِ
He has risen in eminence to where the stars are;
do you not see the eagle's feather in his palm?
حوىhe possessed الاسمَرينِthe two brown things الرمَحَthe spear بالقَلمwith the pen التقىmet
حوى الاسمَرينِ الرمَحَ بالقَلم التقى
كَذاlikewise الابيضَينِthe two white things السيفthe sword معwith طيّبgoodness of الذِكرrepute
كَذا الابيضَينِ السيف مع طيّب الذِكر
He possesses the two brown things: the spear has met the pen;
likewise the two white things: the sword and a fair name.
نَسيبٌnoble-born حَسيبٌof honored ancestry ماجِدٌillustrious بالقَلمwith the pen التقىmet
نَسيبٌ حَسيبٌ ماجِدٌ بالقَلم التقى
رَفيعةِlofty أَعراقٍbloodlines مؤَصلَّةِfirmly established الجذرِthe root
رَفيعةِ أَعراقٍ مؤَصلَّةِ الجذرِ
Noble-born, of honored ancestry, illustrious—joined with the pen—
of lofty bloodlines, firmly rooted at their source.
سَلامٌpeace علىupon وجهthe face of الامينAmin منfrom امرىٍa man
سَلامٌ على وجه الامين من امرىٍ
خَليلٍKhalil; a friend لَهُto him فيin السِرِّprivate مِنهُfrom him ونفيand withholding الجهرِpublic speech
خَليلٍ لَهُ في السِرِّ مِنهُ ونفي الجهرِ
Peace upon Amin's face, from a man,
Khalil, his friend, offered privately, with public speech withheld.
سَلامٌpeace وَبَردٌand coolness نارُthe fire of حُبيهِlove for him (unclear form) اذfor اناI am الthe (al-)
سَلامٌ وَبَردٌ نارُ حُبيهِ اذ انا ال
خَليلُKhalil (the friend) وحاشاand far be حبَّهُhis love منfrom لظىthe blaze of الجمرِcoals
خَليلُ وحاشا حبَّهُ من لظى الجمرِ
The fire of love for him is peace and coolness, for I am al-
Khalil; far be his love from the blaze of burning coals.
Translation model: Sol 6.1