سَلِمْتَyou would have survived لَوَif أَنَّthat السَّهْمَthe arrow سَهْمُan arrow of مُقَاتِلِa warrior
سَلِمْتَ لَوَ أَنَّ السَّهْمَ سَهْمُ مُقَاتِلِ
وَلَكِنَّand yet مَاwhat أَصْمَاكَstruck you dead سَهْمُan arrow of مُخَاتِلِa deceiver
وَلَكِنَّ مَا أَصْمَاكَ سَهْمُ مُخَاتِلِ
You would have survived had the arrow been a warrior's arrow.
You would have survived had the arrow been that of a warrior,
But what struck you dead was a deceiver's arrow.
But alas, the dart that rendered you speechless was that of a flirt.
تَغَافَلَgrew heedless مِنْكَof yours الرَّأْيُjudgment ظَرْفَةَa blink مُقْلَةٍan eye
تَغَافَلَ مِنْكَ الرَّأْيُ ظَرْفَةَ مُقْلَةٍ
فَخُوِلِسْتَهَاso you were ambushed in it وَالدَّهْرُand Time لَيْسis not بِغَافِلِheedless
فَخُوِلِسْتَهَا وَالدَّهْرُ لَيْس بِغَافِلِ
Your judgment lapsed for the blink of an eye,
Prudence was negligent of your astute mind
So you were ambushed in that blink; Time is never heedless.
So you fell for it while time remains never remiss.
وَقَدْand indeed عَلِمَknew المَوْتُDeath الَّذِيwho بِتَّyou had become حَرْبَهُhis foe
وَقَدْ عَلِمَ المَوْتُ الَّذِي بِتَّ حَرْبَهُ
مِرَاسَكَyour prowess فِيin دَفْعِwarding off الرَّزَايَاcalamities الجَلاَئِلgrave
مِرَاسَكَ فِي دَفْعِ الرَّزَايَا الجَلاَئِل
And Death, whose foe you had become, knew
Death knew well the war you waged against it
Your prowess in warding off grave calamities.
And your resistance to repel grave misfortunes.
وَلَكِنَّهَاand yet they are الأَعمَارُlifespans إِنْif هِيَthey عُوجِلَتْare cut short
وَلَكِنَّهَا الأَعمَارُ إِنْ هِيَ عُوجِلَتْ
فَلاَthen no حوْلَpower فِيin رَدِّrepelling القَضَاءِfate's decree المُعَاجِلِswift
فَلاَ حوْلَ فِي رَدِّ القَضَاءِ المُعَاجِلِ
But if these spans of life are cut short,
But lives, if cut short, leave no power
There is no power to repel fate's swift decree.
To repeal the swift decree of fate.
قَضَاءٌa decree بِإِفْنَاءِwith extinguishing الْحَيَاةِlife مُوَكَّلٌcharged
قَضَاءٌ بِإِفْنَاءِ الْحَيَاةِ مُوَكَّلٌ
إِلَىuntil أَنْthat يَكُونَbecomes المَوْتُDeath آخِرُthe last زَائِلِone to perish
إِلَى أَنْ يَكُونَ المَوْتُ آخِرُ زَائِلِ
A decree charged with extinguishing life,
It is fated to end life, such is its charge
Until Death itself is the last to perish.
Till death itself expires and departs.
فَلَيْسَso is not بِمُنْجٍa deliverer مِنْهُfrom it قَلْبُthe heart of مُنَاضِلٍa fighter
فَلَيْسَ بِمُنْجٍ مِنْهُ قَلْبُ مُنَاضِلٍ
إِلَىto آخِرِthe last of الأَنْفَاسِbreaths أَوor عَزْمُthe resolve of بَاسِلِa valiant man
إِلَى آخِرِ الأَنْفَاسِ أَو عَزْمُ بَاسِلِ
So no fighter's heart can save one from it,
No valiant heart till its last breath
Even to the last breath, nor a valiant man's resolve,
Or resolute soul can evade its grip.
وَلاَnor حِرْصُthe protective care of أَحْنَىthe most tender of الوَالِدَاتِmothers عَلَىfor ابْنِهَاher son
وَلاَ حِرْصُ أَحْنَى الوَالِدَاتِ عَلَى ابْنِهَا
وَلاَnor جُهْدُthe efforts of أَوْفَىthe most faithful بَرَّةٍa virtuous woman فِيamong الْعقَائِلِnoblewomen
وَلاَ جُهْدُ أَوْفَى بَرَّةٍ فِي الْعقَائِلِ
Nor the most tender mother's care for her son,
No mother's devotion to her son
Nor the efforts of the most faithful, virtuous noblewoman.
Nor kin's fidelity can change destinies.
وَمَنْand whoever لَمْdoes not يَمُتْdie بِالدَّاءِof illness فَالطِّبُّthen medicine لَمْhas not يَزَلْceased
وَمَنْ لَمْ يَمُتْ بِالدَّاءِ فَالطِّبُّ لَمْ يَزَلْ
سِلاَحَthe weapon of المَنَايَاdeath فِيin يَدَيْthe two hands of كُلِّevery جَاهِلِignorant person
سِلاَحَ المَنَايَا فِي يَدَيْ كُلِّ جَاهِلِ
And for one whom illness does not kill, medicine remains
If not by disease, medicine always armed
Death's weapon in every ignorant man's hands.
Death's hands to reap each fool and sage.
لَهُto it الوَيْلُwoe مِنْfrom لَيْلٍa night طَوِيلٍlong وَسَاعَةٍand an hour
لَهُ الوَيْلُ مِنْ لَيْلٍ طَوِيلٍ وَسَاعَةٍ
حَسِبْنَاwe thought المَدىthe span of time فِيin سَيْرِهَاits passage المُتثاقِلsluggish
حَسِبْنَا المَدى فِي سَيْرِهَا المُتثاقِل
Woe to that long night, and that hour
Woe to him, from long nights and hours
Whose sluggish passage we thought an eternity.
We thought the journey prolonged and sluggish
نَرَىwe see شُهْبَهُits shooting stars وَالدَّمْعُand tears يَغشىveil عُيُونَنَاour eyes
نَرَى شُهْبَهُ وَالدَّمْعُ يَغشى عُيُونَنَا
تَلُوحُappear وَتَخْفَىand vanish كَالدمُوعِlike tears السَّوَائِلِflowing
تَلُوحُ وَتَخْفَى كَالدمُوعِ السَّوَائِلِ
We see its shooting stars, while tears veil our eyes,
Seeing its meteors while tears filled our eyes
Appearing and vanishing like flowing tears.
Showing and hiding like falling tears.
وَنَسْمعُand we hear مِنْهُfrom it فِيin السُّكُونِthe stillness تَنَهُّداًa sigh
وَنَسْمعُ مِنْهُ فِي السُّكُونِ تَنَهُّداً
وَذَاكَand that صَدَىthe echo of أَنْفَاسِنَاour breaths فِيamong المَخَايِلِthe clouds
وَذَاكَ صَدَى أَنْفَاسِنَا فِي المَخَايِلِ
And in the stillness we hear from it a sigh,
Hearing its sighs in the stillness
And that is the echo of our breaths among the clouds.
Echoes of our breath in the ruins.
وَقَفْنَاwe stood بِهِin it نقضِيwe carry out وَدَاعthe farewell to حَبِيبِنَاour beloved
وَقَفْنَا بِهِ نقضِي وَدَاع حَبِيبِنَا
حَيارَىbewildered كَاشْبَاحٍlike ghosts بَوَاكٍweeping ثَوَاكِلِbereaved
حَيارَى كَاشْبَاحٍ بَوَاكٍ ثَوَاكِلِ
We stood there to bid our beloved farewell,
We stopped with it to bid farewell to our beloved
Bewildered, like weeping, bereaved ghosts.
Bewildered specters, weeping, disconsolate.
نَنَادِيwe call out to أَبرَّthe most devoted of الأَصْدِقَاءِfriends وَلَمْand did not يكنْuse to
نَنَادِي أَبرَّ الأَصْدِقَاءِ وَلَمْ يكنْ
يُخَيِّبُdisappoint إِذْwhen يُدْعَىcalled upon رَجَاءًa hope لآمِلِfor a hopeful person
يُخَيِّبُ إِذْ يُدْعَى رَجَاءً لآمِلِ
We call out to the most devoted of friends, who never
We called the most loyal of friends, and he wouldn't
Dashed a hopeful soul's hopes when called upon.
Fail to answer when called, a hopeful refuge.
نُنَادِيwe call out to أَبَاfather of جِبْرِيلَJibril بِاسْمِby the name of وَحِيدِهِhis only child
نُنَادِي أَبَا جِبْرِيلَ بِاسْمِ وَحِيدِهِ
وَقَدْand indeed كَانَhe was لاَnot يُعْتَاقُkept away عَنْهُfrom him بِشَاغِلby a distraction
وَقَدْ كَانَ لاَ يُعْتَاقُ عَنْهُ بِشَاغِل
We call Abu Jibril by his only child's name,
We called Abu Jibreel by his only name
And no distraction ever kept him from his child.
He who wouldn't be distracted by any preoccupation.
فَتَىyoung man of المَجْدِglory إِنَّindeed القَوْمَthe men جَالواranged forth وَسَاجَلُواand vied
فَتَى المَجْدِ إِنَّ القَوْمَ جَالوا وَسَاجَلُوا
وَأَرخَىand loosened عِنَانَthe reins of الرَّأْيِjudgment كلُّevery مُطَاوِلِcontender
وَأَرخَى عِنَانَ الرَّأْيِ كلُّ مُطَاوِلِ
O youth of glory, the men have ranged forth and vied,
Oh noble one, the people disputed and contended
And every contender has loosened the reins of judgment.
Each unleashing the reign of opinion, procrastinating.
فَأَيْنَso where الَّذِيthe one who كَانَwas المُقَدَّمَforemost فِيهِمُamong them
فَأَيْنَ الَّذِي كَانَ المُقَدَّمَ فِيهِمُ
وَكَانَand was وَدِيعَgentle of النَّفْسِsoul عَفَّpure in الشَّمَائِلcharacter traits
وَكَانَ وَدِيعَ النَّفْسِ عَفَّ الشَّمَائِل
Where, then, is he who stood foremost among them,
Where is he who led them?
And was gentle of soul and pure in character?
He of gentle spirit, flawless qualities.
وَأَيْنَand where الَّذِيthe one who صَمْصَامُهُhis keen sword دُونَinferior to عَزْمِهِhis resolve
وَأَيْنَ الَّذِي صَمْصَامُهُ دُونَ عَزْمِهِ
مَضَاءٍin keenness إِذَاwhen مَاever (emphatic) اسْتَلَّهَhe drew it فِيin المَعَاضِلِknotty problems
مَضَاءٍ إِذَا مَا اسْتَلَّهَ فِي المَعَاضِلِ
And where is he whose sword fell short of his resolve
Where is he whose sword matches his resolve?
In keenness, when he drew it against knotty problems?
Resolute when wielding it in battles.
وَأَيْنَand where الَّذِيthe one who كَانَتْwere بوَادِرَthe first flashes of فِكْرِهِhis thought
وَأَيْنَ الَّذِي كَانَتْ بوَادِرَ فِكْرِهِ
تَخَطُّفَthe darting of بَرْقٍlightning فِيamid قُطُوبِthe frowns of المَشَاكِلproblems
تَخَطُّفَ بَرْقٍ فِي قُطُوبِ المَشَاكِل
And where is he whose flashes of thought were
Where is he whose first thoughts
Lightning darting amid the frowns of problems?
Flashed like lightning in the darkest dilemmas?
وَأَيْنَand where الَّذِيthe one who فِيin كُلِّevery مِصْرٍcity يحُلُّهُhe stays in it
وَأَيْنَ الَّذِي فِي كُلِّ مِصْرٍ يحُلُّهُ
لَهُfor him المَنْزِلُthe station المَرْفُوعُexalted بَيْنَamong المَنَازِلِstations
لَهُ المَنْزِلُ المَرْفُوعُ بَيْنَ المَنَازِلِ
And where is he who, in every city he entered,
Where is he who in every land he visited
Held an exalted station among all stations?
Had the highest abode among men?
وَأَيْنَand where الَّذِيthe one who مِيعَادُهُhis promise غَيْرُnot مُخْلَفٍbroken
وَأَيْنَ الَّذِي مِيعَادُهُ غَيْرُ مُخْلَفٍ
وَتَسْبِقُand precede مِنْهُfrom him القَوْلَwords غُرُّshining الفَعَائِلdeeds
وَتَسْبِقُ مِنْهُ القَوْلَ غُرُّ الفَعَائِل
And where is he whose promise was never broken,
Where is he whose word was sure to precede action
And whose shining deeds preceded his words?
Outdoing the boldest deeds?
أَلاَbehold فِيin سَبِيلthe path of اللهِGod أَوْفَىthe most faithful مُفَارقٍone who parts
أَلاَ فِي سَبِيل اللهِ أَوْفَى مُفَارقٍ
وَفِيand in ذِمَّةِthe keeping of العَلْيَاءِlofty glory أَكْرَمُthe noblest رَاحِلِone who departs
وَفِي ذِمَّةِ العَلْيَاءِ أَكْرَمُ رَاحِلِ
Ah, on God's path, the most faithful of the departed,
Alas, for God's cause a fulfilling departure
And in glory's keeping, the noblest of those gone;
And in care of the sublime, a noble traveler.
وَذَاكَand that الشَّبَابُyouth الغَضُّtender وَالْهِمَّةُand ambition الَّتِيwhich
وَذَاكَ الشَّبَابُ الغَضُّ وَالْهِمَّةُ الَّتِي
تَدُوسُtramples إِلىtoward غَايَاتِهَاits goals كُلَّevery حَائِلobstacle
تَدُوسُ إِلى غَايَاتِهَا كُلَّ حَائِل
And that tender youth, and the ambition that
That youth and determination which
Tramples every obstacle on its way to its goals;
Trampled all obstacles towards its goals.
وَتِلْكَand those الْعُيونُeyes النَّاطِقَاتُspeaking لِحَاظُهَاtheir glances
وَتِلْكَ الْعُيونُ النَّاطِقَاتُ لِحَاظُهَا
بِأَجْلَىwith clearer بَيَاناًeloquence مِنْthan مَقَالَةِthe speech of قَائِلِa speaker
بِأَجْلَى بَيَاناً مِنْ مَقَالَةِ قَائِلِ
And those eyes whose glances spoke
Those eloquent eyes whose glances
With an eloquence clearer than any speaker's words;
Spoke clearer than a speaker's words.
وَذَاكَand that الفُؤَادُheart الثَّبْتُsteadfast فِيin كُلِّevery أَزْمَةٍcrisis
وَذَاكَ الفُؤَادُ الثَّبْتُ فِي كُلِّ أَزْمَةٍ
إِذَاwhen مَرَّتِpassed الأَحْدَاثُevents مَرَّthe passing of الزْلاَزِلِearthquakes
إِذَا مَرَّتِ الأَحْدَاثُ مَرَّ الزْلاَزِلِ
And that heart, steadfast in every crisis,
That steadfast heart in every crisis
When events swept by like earthquakes.
When events shook like quakes.
بِشَارَةُBishara جَلَّgrew great الخَطْبُthe calamity فِيكَin your loss وَإِنَّهُand indeed it
بِشَارَةُ جَلَّ الخَطْبُ فِيكَ وَإِنَّهُ
لَخَطْبٌtruly a calamity عَمِيمٌall-encompassing لِلْعُلَىfor lofty honor وَالْفَضَائِلِand virtues
لَخَطْبٌ عَمِيمٌ لِلْعُلَى وَالْفَضَائِلِ
Bishara, great is the calamity of your loss; indeed,
Glad tidings despite the gravity of events
It is a sweeping calamity for lofty honor and virtue.
For lofty virtues abound in you.
فَإِنْso if تَبْكِweeps مِصْرٌEgypt فَهْيَthen she تَبْكِيweeps مُصَابَهَاher loss
فَإِنْ تَبْكِ مِصْرٌ فَهْيَ تَبْكِي مُصَابَهَا
بِأَرْوَعَof an admirable man مَيْمُونِblessed in النَّقِيبَةِcharacter فَاضِلِvirtuous
بِأَرْوَعَ مَيْمُونِ النَّقِيبَةِ فَاضِلِ
So if Egypt weeps, she weeps for her loss
If Egypt mourns, it mourns the loss
Of an admirable, virtuous man of blessed character.
Of its finest young nobleman.
وَإِنْand if تَبْكِweeps سُورِيَّاSyria فَقَدْfor indeed كُنْتَyou were رُكْنَهَاher pillar
وَإِنْ تَبْكِ سُورِيَّا فَقَدْ كُنْتَ رُكْنَهَا
وَكُنتَand you were أَبَرَّthe most dutiful ابْنٍson لأَجْزَعِto the most distraught ثَاكِلِbereaved mother
وَكُنتَ أَبَرَّ ابْنٍ لأَجْزَعِ ثَاكِلِ
And if Syria weeps, you were indeed her pillar,
If Syria cries, you were its pillar
And you were the most dutiful son of the most distraught bereaved mother.
And the finest son to the most aggrieved mother.
وَإِنْand if تَبْكِweep أَربابُthe masters of الصَّحَائِفِthe newspapers تَرْحَةًin sorrow
وَإِنْ تَبْكِ أَربابُ الصَّحَائِفِ تَرْحَةً
فَقَدْfor indeed يَعْرِفُknow التَّالُونَthose who follow فَضْلَthe merit of الأَوَائِلthose who came first
فَقَدْ يَعْرِفُ التَّالُونَ فَضْلَ الأَوَائِل
And if the masters of the press weep in sorrow,
If the writers grieve, they know well
For those who follow know the merit of those who came first.
The superiority of the early predecessors.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.