تِلْكَthat المَنَارَةُthe beacon فِيin المَكَانِthe place الْعَالِيlofty
تِلْكَ المَنَارَةُ فِي المَكَانِ الْعَالِي
تَرْمِيassails الدجَىthe darkness بِشُعَاعِهَاwith its ray الجَوَّالِroaming
تَرْمِي الدجَى بِشُعَاعِهَا الجَوَّالِ
That beacon in the lofty place
That lighthouse in its lofty place
Assails the darkness with its roaming ray.
Casts its roving beams into the gloom of night.
شَيَّدُتُمَاهَاyou two built it زِينَةًas adornment وَهِدَايَةًand guidance
شَيَّدُتُمَاهَا زِينَةً وَهِدَايَةً
لِلنَّاسِfor people مِنْsince حِجَجٍyears مَضَيْنَthat passed طِوَالِlong
لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ حِجَجٍ مَضَيْنَ طِوَالِ
You two erected it as adornment and guidance
You built it as an ornament and a guide
For people, long years ago.
For people on prolonged pilgrimage.
مِرْآتُهَاits mirror عُلْوِيَّةlofty كَشَّافَةٌrevealing
مِرْآتُهَا عُلْوِيَّة كَشَّافَةٌ
لِغَوامِضِof the mysteries of الأَشْيَاءِthings والأَحْوَالِand circumstances
لِغَوامِضِ الأَشْيَاءِ والأَحْوَالِ
Its mirror is set on high, revealing
Its elevated mirror is revealing,
The mysteries of things and circumstances.
Disclosing the obscure facets of things.
عَيْنٌan eye تُطَالِعُexamines سِرَّthe secret of كلِّevery حقِيقَةٍtruth
عَيْنٌ تُطَالِعُ سِرَّ كلِّ حقِيقَةٍ
وَتَرُودُand explores كُلَّevery مَظِنَّةlikely place بِسُؤْالِwith a question
وَتَرُودُ كُلَّ مَظِنَّة بِسُؤْالِ
An eye that reads the secret of every truth,
An eye surveying the secret of every truth,
And probes every likely place with a question.
And refuting each conjecture with a question.
وَقَفَstood النُّبوغُgenius وَرَاءَهَاbehind it مُسْتَشْرِفاًpeering toward
وَقَفَ النُّبوغُ وَرَاءَهَا مُسْتَشْرِفاً
كُنْهَthe essence of الْبَقَاءِpermanence وَغَايَةَand the goal of التَّرْحَالِjourneying
كُنْهَ الْبَقَاءِ وَغَايَةَ التَّرْحَالِ
Genius stood behind it, peering toward
Genius stood behind it, gazing ahead
The essence of permanence and the journey's end.
At the essence of eternity and the goal of journeying,
يَسْمُوsoars إِلىto نَجْمِthe star of السَّماءِheaven وَيَنْثَنِيand turns back
يَسْمُو إِلى نَجْمِ السَّماءِ وَيَنْثَنِي
فَيَزُورُthen visits نَجمَthe low-growing plant of الأَرْضِthe earth فِيin الأَدْغَالِthe thickets
فَيَزُورُ نَجمَ الأَرْضِ فِي الأَدْغَالِ
It soars to heaven's star, then turns back
Soaring to the stars of heaven and swooping down
To visit earth's star—the herb among the thickets.
To visit the star of earth in the thickets,
يَجْتَازُtraverses أَجْوَازَthe expanses of الْغُيُوبِthe unseen فَيَجْتَلِيthen beholds
يَجْتَازُ أَجْوَازَ الْغُيُوبِ فَيَجْتَلِي
فِيهَاwithin them شُمُوساًsuns لَمْnot يَدُرْنَoccurred بِخَالِto any mind
فِيهَا شُمُوساً لَمْ يَدُرْنَ بِخَالِ
It traverses the expanses of the unseen, beholding
Crossing the domains of the unseen, discovering
Suns within them that never crossed a mind.
Suns there that knew no rising or decline,
يَرْنُوgazes إِلىat الذَّرِّthe particles الدَّقِيقِminute مِنَof الثَّرَىthe soil
يَرْنُو إِلى الذَّرِّ الدَّقِيقِ مِنَ الثَّرَى
فَيَرَىthen sees دَرَارِيَbrilliant stars لَمْnot تُضَأwere lit بِذُبَالِby wicks
فَيَرَى دَرَارِيَ لَمْ تُضَأ بِذُبَالِ
It gazes at the minute particles of soil,
Peering at minute particles of dust in the soil
And sees brilliant stars unlit by wicks.
And seeing young plants not yet lit with gleaming dew,
يُلْقِيcasts ابْتِسَاماًa smile وَالْخِضَمُّwhile the vast sea مُقَطَّبٌis frowning
يُلْقِي ابْتِسَاماً وَالْخِضَمُّ مُقَطَّبٌ
وَالمَوْجُand the waves فَوْقَabove حُدُودِهِits bounds مُتَعَالِيrising high
وَالمَوْجُ فَوْقَ حُدُودِهِ مُتَعَالِي
It casts a smile while the vast sea frowns,
Smiling while the salt spray is being whipped up
And the waves rise above its bounds.
And the waves mounting beyond their bounds,
فَيَنُمُّthen discloses وَجْهُthe face of اللُّجِّthe deep عَمَّاof what فِيin الْحَشَىthe inward depths
فَيَنُمُّ وَجْهُ اللُّجِّ عَمَّا فِي الْحَشَى
وَتُصَادُand are caught مِنْfrom أَصْدَافِهِنَّtheir shells لآلِيpearls
وَتُصَادُ مِنْ أَصْدَافِهِنَّ لآلِي
Then the face of the deep betrays what lies within,
Till the rough face of the sea forgets its rage
And pearls are caught from their shells.
And there is a harvesting of its shells and pearls.
مَاnot زَالَceased يَقْتنِصُhunting الأَوَابِدَelusive wonders دَائِباًtirelessly
مَا زَالَ يَقْتنِصُ الأَوَابِدَ دَائِباً
بِحَبَائِلٍwith snares مِنْfrom نُورِهَاits light وَحِبَالِand cords
بِحَبَائِلٍ مِنْ نُورِهَا وَحِبَالِ
It keeps hunting elusive wonders, tirelessly,
It continues tirelessly to snare marvels,
With snares and cords made from its light.
With strands of its light and cables,
وَيُعِيرُand lends مِنْfrom حَسَنَاتِهَاits graces قَلْبَيْكُمَاyour two hearts
وَيُعِيرُ مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهَا قَلْبَيْكُمَا
آيَاتِwonders of سِحْرٍmagic لِلْعُقُولِfor minds حَلالِlawful
آيَاتِ سِحْرٍ لِلْعُقُولِ حَلالِ
And lends your two hearts, from its graces,
And loans two hearts like yours
Wonders of magic lawful to the mind.
Miracles of magic for alert minds,
فَتُوَافِيَانِso you both come to الْقَارِئِينَthe readers عَلَىin صَدًىthirst
فَتُوَافِيَانِ الْقَارِئِينَ عَلَى صَدًى
مِنْهُمْon their part بِمَاwith what يُرْوَىis recounted مِنْof الأَقْوَالِsayings
مِنْهُمْ بِمَا يُرْوَى مِنْ الأَقْوَالِ
Thus you both come to readers in their thirst,
So they meet the readers with an echo
With the sayings that are recounted.
Of what is recounted in words,
وَتُطَالِعَانِand you both acquaint أُولِيthose possessing النُّهىunderstanding بِطَرائِفٍwith novelties
وَتُطَالِعَانِ أُولِي النُّهى بِطَرائِفٍ
تَلِجُenter القُلُوبَthe hearts بِلُطْفِwith the gentleness of الاِسْتِرْسَالِeasy flow
تَلِجُ القُلُوبَ بِلُطْفِ الاِسْتِرْسَالِ
And present to people of understanding novelties
And show the people of discrimination novelties
That enter hearts with gently flowing ease.
To captivate hearts with gentle intimation
فِيwithin دِفَّتيْthe two covers of سِفْرٍa volume تَضَمَّنcontained مَاwhat غَلاَis precious
فِي دِفَّتيْ سِفْرٍ تَضَمَّن مَا غَلاَ
مِنْof حِكْمَةِthe wisdom of الأَحْقَابِthe ages وَالأَجْيَالِand generations
مِنْ حِكْمَةِ الأَحْقَابِ وَالأَجْيَالِ
Within a volume's two covers, containing what is precious
In two books comprising all the distilled
Of the wisdom of ages and generations.
Wisdom of eras and generations,
مُتَجَدِّدٍrenewing عَدَدَas often as الشُّهورِthe months رَبِيعُهُits spring
مُتَجَدِّدٍ عَدَدَ الشُّهورِ رَبِيعُهُ
حُلْوُsweet الجَنَىthe fruit وَبِكُلِّand with every حُسْنٍbeauty حَالِيadorned
حُلْوُ الجَنَى وَبِكُلِّ حُسْنٍ حَالِي
Its spring renews itself with every month,
Renewed in number with the months, its spring
Sweet in fruit and adorned with every beauty.
Sweet and lovely, of every charm possessed.
لَوْif نُضِّدَتْwere stacked أَوْرَاقُهُits pages مِنْfrom كَثْرَةabundance
لَوْ نُضِّدَتْ أَوْرَاقُهُ مِنْ كَثْرَة
طَالَتْwould tower عَلَىabove مُتَطَاوِلِthe tallest of الأَجْبَالِthe mountains
طَالَتْ عَلَى مُتَطَاوِلِ الأَجْبَالِ
If its countless pages were stacked,
If its pages were collected for their multitude,
They would tower above the tallest mountains.
They would extend up the towering mountains.
أَنْشَأْتُمَاهَاyou two founded it لِلعُلُومِfor the sciences مَجَلَّةًas a journal
أَنْشَأْتُمَاهَا لِلعُلُومِ مَجَلَّةً
كسِبَتْgained طَرَائِفهَاits novelties فُنُونَvarieties of جَمَالِbeauty
كسِبَتْ طَرَائِفهَا فُنُونَ جَمَالِ
You two founded it as a journal for the sciences;
You created it as a journal for the sciences,
Its novelties have gained manifold forms of beauty.
Its elegant style has won the arts of beauty.
سَهِرَتْkept vigil عُيُونُكُمَاthe eyes of you both عَلَىover إِتْقَانِهَاits perfecting
سَهِرَتْ عُيُونُكُمَا عَلَى إِتْقَانِهَا
فَمِنَthus among السُّطورِthe lines بِهَاin it سَوَادُthe blackness of لَيَالِيnights
فَمِنَ السُّطورِ بِهَا سَوَادُ لَيَالِي
Your eyes kept vigil to perfect it;
Your eyes kept vigil perfecting it,
Thus in its lines lies the blackness of nights.
So that in its lines is the blackness of sleepless nights,
وَمِنَand of المِدَادthe ink دَمٌblood أُرِيقَwas shed وَإِنْeven though بَدَاit appeared
وَمِنَ المِدَاد دَمٌ أُرِيقَ وَإِنْ بَدَا
مُتَنَوِّعَvaried in الأَلْوَانِcolors وَالأَشْكَالِand forms
مُتَنَوِّعَ الأَلْوَانِ وَالأَشْكَالِ
And some of its ink is blood poured out, though it appears
And from the ink blood was spilt, though it appears
Varied in colors and forms.
Multi-colored and figured.
يَعْقُوبُYaqub فِيin إِحْيَاءِreviving مَجْدِthe glory of بِلادِهِhis country
يَعْقُوبُ فِي إِحْيَاءِ مَجْدِ بِلادِهِ
وَبَقَاءِand the preservation of تَالِدِهَاits ancient heritage مِنَamong الأَبْدَالِthe saintly elect
وَبَقَاءِ تَالِدِهَا مِنَ الأَبْدَالِ
Yaqub, in reviving his country's glory
Jacob, in reviving the glory of his country
And preserving its heritage, is one of the saintly elect.
And the continuity of its gifts from one generation to the next,
هُوَhe فَيْلَسُوفٌa philosopher سِيرَةًin conduct وَسَرِيرَةًand inner character
هُوَ فَيْلَسُوفٌ سِيرَةً وَسَرِيرَةً
مُتَطَابِقُmatching in الأَقْوَالِwords وَالأَفعَالِand deeds
مُتَطَابِقُ الأَقْوَالِ وَالأَفعَالِ
He is a philosopher in conduct and in inward character,
Is a philosopher in his conduct and in private,
His words and deeds in accord.
Matching word with deed.
أَدْنىclosest among الرِّجَالِmen إِلَىto الكَمَالِperfection وَلَمْand not يَكُنْwas
أَدْنى الرِّجَالِ إِلَى الكَمَالِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ
فِيin العَصْرِthe age شَيْءٌanything مُغْرِياًenticing بِكَمَالِtoward perfection
فِي العَصْرِ شَيْءٌ مُغْرِياً بِكَمَالِ
The closest of men to perfection, though there was not
The closest of men to perfection, nor was there
Anything in the age to entice one toward perfection.
In his time a thing more tempting than perfection.
وَفَتَىand the gallant of المَوَاقِفِgreat occasions فَارِسٌFaris مَاwhat a فَارِسٌknight
وَفَتَى المَوَاقِفِ فَارِسٌ مَا فَارِسٌ
فِيin حَوْمَةan arena أَدَبِيَّةliterary وَسِجَالِand debate
فِي حَوْمَة أَدَبِيَّة وَسِجَالِ
And Faris, the gallant of great occasions—what a knight!
And the stalwart at critical moments a horseman that no horseman
In the literary arena and in debate.
In the feverish midst of a literary fray.
حَلاَّلُsolver of مُعْضِلَةِthe difficulty of الأمُورِaffairs إِذَاwhen غَدَتْthey become
حَلاَّلُ مُعْضِلَةِ الأمُورِ إِذَا غَدَتْ
وَالوَجْهُwhile the solution قَدْalready أَعْيَاproved too difficult عَلَىfor الحُلاَّلِthe solvers
وَالوَجْهُ قَدْ أَعْيَا عَلَى الحُلاَّلِ
Solver of difficult affairs, when
Solver of the riddle of affairs when they become
Their solution has baffled the solvers.
Knotty, and the adept is wearied by solving.
هَلْis there بَيْنَamong أَقْطَابِthe masters of الفَصَاحَةِeloquence مِثْلُهُhis equal
هَلْ بَيْنَ أَقْطَابِ الفَصَاحَةِ مِثْلُهُ
سَبَّاقُfirst to غَايَاتٍgoals بِكُلِّin every مَجَالِfield
سَبَّاقُ غَايَاتٍ بِكُلِّ مَجَالِ
Is there among the masters of eloquence his equal,
Is there between the champions of eloquence his peer,
First to every goal in every field?
Forestalling the farthest goals in every sphere?
يَاO فَرْقَدَيْtwin stars of أَدَبٍletters وَنُبْلٍand nobility أَدْرَكَاattain, you two
يَا فَرْقَدَيْ أَدَبٍ وَنُبْلٍ أَدْرَكَا
أَسْمَىthe loftiest of المُنَىwishes مِنْof رِفْعَةٍeminence وَجَلاَلِand grandeur
أَسْمَى المُنَى مِنْ رِفْعَةٍ وَجَلاَلِ
O twin stars of letters and nobility, may you attain
O twin knights of literature and nobility who have attained
The loftiest hopes of eminence and grandeur.
The highest wishes of sublime glory!
يَهْنِيكُمَاmay gladden you both شَرَفُthe honor of المَقَامِthe station وَخَيْرُهُand its best part
يَهْنِيكُمَا شَرَفُ المَقَامِ وَخَيْرُهُ
عَلْيَاءُthe loftiness of قَدْرِكُمَاthe worth of you both بِغَيْرِwithout تَعَالِhaughtiness
عَلْيَاءُ قَدْرِكُمَا بِغَيْرِ تَعَالِ
May the honor of your station gladden you both; its finest part
May the glory of your position delight you, and its good,
Is your lofty standing, free of haughtiness.
The loftiness of your worth beyond all presumption!
وَالعِيدُand the jubilee عِيدُthe anniversary of النِّصفٍhalf مِنْof مِئَةٍa hundred مَضَتْthat passed
وَالعِيدُ عِيدُ النِّصفٍ مِنْ مِئَةٍ مَضَتْ
فِيin خِدْمةٍservice هِيَit is مَضْرِبُthe subject of الأَمْثَالِproverbs
فِي خِدْمةٍ هِيَ مَضْرِبُ الأَمْثَالِ
And the jubilee marks half a century spent
And the feast is the midpoint of a hundred years elapsed
In service that is held up as an example.
In a service that is proverbial.
عِيدٌa festival بِلاَدُthe lands of الشَّرْقِthe East فِيهِin it بَلْدَةٌone town
عِيدٌ بِلاَدُ الشَّرْقِ فِيهِ بَلْدَةٌ
وَلأَهْلِهِand for its people فِيهِin it اشْتِرَاكُthe sharing of الآلِa family
وَلأَهْلِهِ فِيهِ اشْتِرَاكُ الآلِ
A festival in which the lands of the East are one town,
A feast the East's countries share, one its cities
And its people share in it as one family.
And for its inhabitants a common bond.
وَإِذَاand when ذَكَرْنَاwe recall العيدَthe jubilee فَلْنَذْكُرthen let us remember أَخاًa brother
وَإِذَا ذَكَرْنَا العيدَ فَلْنَذْكُر أَخاً
لَكُمَاof you both يُنَادِيهِcalls to him المَكَانُthe place الخَالِvacant
لَكُمَا يُنَادِيهِ المَكَانُ الخَالِ
And when we recall the jubilee, let us remember a brother
And speaking of the feast, let us speak of a brother
Of you both, whom the vacant place calls.
The place calls to without company.
لَمْnot يَنْصُرِchampioned العِرْفَانَlearning نُصْرَتَهُas he championed it امْرُؤءٌany man
لَمْ يَنْصُرِ العِرْفَانَ نُصْرَتَهُ امْرُؤءٌ
بِشَمَائِلٍwith noble traits خُلِقَتْfashioned لَهَاfor it وَخِلاَلِand qualities
بِشَمَائِلٍ خُلِقَتْ لَهَا وَخِلاَلِ
No man championed learning as he did,
No man backed gratitude as he backed it
With virtues and qualities fashioned for that service.
With attributes created for it and its refinements.
إِنْif فَاتَeluded عَيْنَيْهِhis two eyes شَهَادَةُwitnessing يَوْمِهِhis day
إِنْ فَاتَ عَيْنَيْهِ شَهَادَةُ يَوْمِهِ
هَذَاthis رَآهُhe saw it بِأَعْيُنِthrough the eyes of الأَشْبَالِthe lion cubs
هَذَا رَآهُ بِأَعْيُنِ الأَشْبَالِ
If his eyes were denied witnessing this day,
If the testimony of his day misses him,
He saw it through the eyes of his lion cubs.
The little ones see him with their eyes.
صَحْبٌcompanions كَمَاas شَاءَwilled الوَفَاءُloyalty ثَلاَثَةٌthree
صَحْبٌ كَمَا شَاءَ الوَفَاءُ ثَلاَثَةٌ
كَانُواthey were لأَهْلِfor the people of الشَّرْقِthe East خَيْرَthe finest مَثَالِexample
كَانُوا لأَهْلِ الشَّرْقِ خَيْرَ مَثَالِ
Three companions, as loyalty willed,
A fellowship—how faithful were three!—
They were the finest example for the people of the East.
Who were the best example for the East.
بَدَأُواthey began جِهَادَهُمْtheir struggle وَسَارُواand traveled سَيْرَهُمْtheir course
بَدَأُوا جِهَادَهُمْ وَسَارُوا سَيْرَهُمْ
يَبْغُونَseeking مَطْلُوباًan objective عَزِيزَhard of مَنَالِattainment
يَبْغُونَ مَطْلُوباً عَزِيزَ مَنَالِ
They began their struggle and traveled their course,
They began their struggle and pursued their course,
Seeking an objective difficult to attain.
Yearning for a precious hardly gained goal.
صَبْراًpatience عَلَىwith الأَيَّامِthe days حَتَّىuntil أَقْبَلَتْthey turned favorable
صَبْراً عَلَى الأَيَّامِ حَتَّى أَقْبَلَتْ
مِنْfrom كلِّevery وَجْهٍdirection أَيَّماwhat a إِقْبَالِfavorable turn
مِنْ كلِّ وَجْهٍ أَيَّما إِقْبَالِ
They endured the days until those days favored them,
Patience for the days until there came
From every side, with the fullest favor.
From every side whatever destiny would bring.
أَخْلاَقُvirtues of جِدٍّearnestness لاnot تَتِمُّare completed بِغَيْرِهَاwithout them
أَخْلاَقُ جِدٍّ لا تَتِمُّ بِغَيْرِهَا
فِيamong الْعَالَمِينَhumankind جَلاَئِلُthe mighty الأَعْمَالِdeeds
فِي الْعَالَمِينَ جَلاَئِلُ الأَعْمَالِ
Virtues of resolve, without which cannot be accomplished
The ethics of commitment are not perfected without them
The mighty deeds of all humankind.
Among both worlds' momentous deeds.
لَيسَare not الكِبَارُthe great ones مِنَamong الرِّجَالِmen هُمُthey الأُولَىthose who
لَيسَ الكِبَارُ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ هُمُ الأُولَى
ضَرَبُواstruck الطَّلىnecks فَدُعُواand were called كِبَارَgreat رِجَالِmen
ضَرَبُوا الطَّلى فَدُعُوا كِبَارَ رِجَالِ
The great among men are not those
The great of men are not preferable
Who smote necks and were called great men.
They have enjoyed favor, now leave great men alone!
قَدْmay يَحْسَبُdeem الْعِزَglory الرَّفِيعَlofty مُجَازِفٌa reckless man
قَدْ يَحْسَبُ الْعِزَ الرَّفِيعَ مُجَازِفٌ
فِيin طَرْقِهِhis raiding غِيلاًa thicket عَلَىagainst الرِّئْبَالِthe lion
فِي طَرْقِهِ غِيلاً عَلَى الرِّئْبَالِ
A reckless man may think exalted glory lies
An aspiring adventurer may mistake
In raiding a thicket to attack a lion.
In his paths the rumbling thunder for sublimity.
أَوْor يَقْحَمُplunges into المَوْتَdeath الجَسُورُthe daring man وَعَلَّهُand perhaps he
أَوْ يَقْحَمُ المَوْتَ الجَسُورُ وَعَلَّهُ
قَدْindeed جَرَّأَتْهُemboldened him عَقِيدَةُbelief in الآجَالِappointed lifespans
قَدْ جَرَّأَتْهُ عَقِيدَةُ الآجَالِ
Or a daring man plunges into death, though perhaps
Or the defiant suicidal may court death thinking
Belief in appointed lifespans has emboldened him.
His firm belief in fate has emboldened him.
أَمَّاas for الأْولَىthose who دَأَبُواlabored tirelessly وَذَبُواand defended حِسْبةًout of devotion
أَمَّا الأْولَى دَأَبُوا وَذَبُوا حِسْبةً
لإِنَارَةٍfor enlightenment وَهُدًىand guidance وَكَشْفِand the dispelling of ضَلاَلِerror
لإِنَارَةٍ وَهُدًى وَكَشْفِ ضَلاَلِ
But those who toiled and defended out of devotion,
But the preferable were constant and sacrificed themselves
For enlightenment, guidance, and the dispelling of error,
To cast light and guide and dispel misguidance.
وَشَرَوْاand purchased بِرَاحَتِهِمْwith their comfort هَنَاءَthe well-being of بِلاَدِهِمْtheir country
وَشَرَوْا بِرَاحَتِهِمْ هَنَاءَ بِلاَدِهِمْ
فَهُمُso they are لَعَمْرِيby my life خِيرَةُthe choicest of الأَبْطَالِheroes
فَهُمُ لَعَمْرِي خِيرَةُ الأَبْطَالِ
And bought their country's well-being with their own comfort—
They bought their countries' peace with their own,
They, by my life, are the choicest heroes.
They are my life the finest heroes!
لَهُمُtheirs is الوِلاَيَةُsovereignty وَالْقُلُوبُand hearts عُرُوشُهُمْtheir thrones
لَهُمُ الوِلاَيَةُ وَالْقُلُوبُ عُرُوشُهُمْ
وَلَهُمْand theirs مَكَانَتُهُمْtheir standing مِنْin الإِجْلاَلِreverence
وَلَهُمْ مَكَانَتُهُمْ مِنْ الإِجْلاَلِ
Theirs is sovereignty, and hearts are their thrones;
Theirs is the guardianship and hearts are their thrones,
And theirs is their due measure of reverence.
Theirs their status of veneration!
يَاO مَنْyou whom مَدَحْتُهُمَاI praised them both فَلَمْyet did not تَفِdo justice مِدْحَتِيmy praise
يَا مَنْ مَدَحْتُهُمَا فَلَمْ تَفِ مِدْحَتِي
بِلُبَانَةٍto a longing وَالْعُذْرِand pardon مِنْfor إِقْلاَلِيmy scant offering
بِلُبَانَةٍ وَالْعُذْرِ مِنْ إِقْلاَلِي
O you two whom I praised, though my praise could not fulfill
You whom I praised but my praise does not measure up,
My longing—pardon my meager offering.
With courtesy my excuse for falling short.
قَدْindeed قَامَhas risen مَجْدُكُمَاthe glory of you both كَطَوْدٍlike a mountain شَامِخٍtowering
قَدْ قَامَ مَجْدُكُمَا كَطَوْدٍ شَامِخٍ
مَاذَاwhat يُمَثِّلcan portray مِنْهof it لَمْعُthe shimmer of الآلِa mirage
مَاذَا يُمَثِّل مِنْه لَمْعُ الآلِ
Your glory has risen like a towering mountain;
Your glory stands tall as a firmly anchored
What of it can a mirage's shimmer portray?
Mountain, what are gleaming swords compared to it!
وَهَلِand is الرَّوِيُّthe rhyme وَإِنْeven if تَسَلْسَلَit flows شَافياًsoothingly
وَهَلِ الرَّوِيُّ وَإِنْ تَسَلْسَلَ شَافياً
كَالرِّدِّlike the water مِنْfrom يَنْبُوعِهِits spring السَّلسَالِsweet-flowing
كَالرِّدِّ مِنْ يَنْبُوعِهِ السَّلسَالِ
And can rhyme, though it flows with soothing ease,
As for the flowing stream, though it babbles
Match the water from its limpid spring?
Is it like the cascade from its fount?
لَاno بِدْعَwonder فِيin تَقْصِيرِthe falling short of شِعْرِيmy poetry دُونَهُbeneath it
لَا بِدْعَ فِي تَقْصِيرِ شِعْرِي دُونَهُ
شَتَّانَhow far apart بَيْنَbetween حَقيقَةٍreality وَخَيَالِand imagination
شَتَّانَ بَيْنَ حَقيقَةٍ وَخَيَالِ
No wonder my verse falls short of it;
No innovation in my poetry's falling short
How far apart are reality and imagination!
Wide is the gap between reality and dreams!
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.