بَرَزَتcame forth بزينتِهاin her adornment إليكَto you الشامُSyria
بَرَزَت بزينتِها إليكَ الشامُ
وافترَّand parted بشراًin delight ثغرُهاher mouth البسّامُever-smiling
وافترَّ بشراً ثغرُها البسّامُ
Syria has come forth to you in her adornment,
Sham has appeared to you adorned,
And her ever-smiling mouth has parted in delight.
Her smiling lips have shone radiantly.
فتجاوبَand answered one another الأَطيارُthe birds بينamong رياضِهاher gardens
فتجاوبَ الأَطيارُ بين رياضِها
منهاfrom her عليكَupon you تحيةٌa greeting وَسلامand peace
منها عليكَ تحيةٌ وَسلام
And the birds answered one another among her gardens,
The birds sang amongst her gardens in turn
From her, a greeting and peace to you.
Greetings and peace to you from them.
صوتُvoice النسيمُthe breeze أمامَbefore حاجبِthe brow of شمسِهاher sun
صوتُ النسيمُ أمامَ حاجبِ شمسِها
هذاكthat إيماءٌa gesture وذاكand that كلامspeech
هذاك إيماءٌ وذاك كلام
The breeze's voice before her sun's brow—
The voice of the breeze in front of the sun's brow
The one is a gesture, and the other speech.
This is a gesture, that is speech.
شهدتْshe beheld بطلعتكin your appearance (ابنIbn (son of) ثابتThabit) وافداًarriving as a guest
شهدتْ بطلعتك (ابن ثابت) وافداً
أتعودُdo they return? (بابنwith Ibn (son of) الحارثِal-Harith) الأحلامdreams
أتعودُ (بابن الحارثِ) الأحلام
In your appearance she beheld Ibn Thabit arriving as a guest;
She witnessed your arrival, O Ibn Thabit
Do dreams bring Ibn al-Harith back?
Do dreams of Ibn Al-Harith return?
ياO شاعراًpoet والدهرُand Time بعضُone of رواتهhis reciters
يا شاعراً والدهرُ بعضُ رواته
باتتْhave come to عليكover you تَحاسَدُenvy one another الأقوامthe peoples
باتتْ عليك تَحاسَدُ الأقوام
O poet, with Time among his reciters,
O poet, while fate cheats some of its storytellers
The peoples have come to envy one another over you.
The tribes have become envious of you.
للعبقريةfor genius فيin قريضِكyour poetry طابعٌa stamp
للعبقرية في قريضِك طابعٌ
وعليهand upon it منfrom آيsigns النبوغِbrilliance وسامa badge
وعليه من آي النبوغِ وسام
Genius has its stamp upon your verse,
Genius has a stamp on your poetry
And it bears a badge proclaiming brilliance.
And the insignia of brilliance upon it.
لاحتْappeared عليهupon it نفحةٌa breath قدسيةٌsacred
لاحتْ عليه نفحةٌ قدسيةٌ
أدىled إليهاto it الوحيُrevelation والإلهامand inspiration
أدى إليها الوحيُ والإلهام
A sacred breath appeared upon it,
A sacred breath has shone from it
To which revelation and inspiration led.
Revelation and inspiration led to it.
فكأنَّماso, as though المعنىthe meaning رحيقُthe nectar of مدامةٍwine
فكأنَّما المعنى رحيقُ مدامةٍ
واللفظُand the wording شَفّافاًtransparent عليهover it جامa goblet
واللفظُ شَفّافاً عليه جام
So it is as though the meaning were the nectar of wine,
It is as if meaning were sweet wine
And the wording a transparent goblet holding it.
And the words transparently in a cup.
صوَّرتَyou portrayed خائنةَthe treachery of العيونِthe eyes لناfor us وماand what
صوَّرتَ خائنةَ العيونِ لنا وما
تخفيconceal الصدورُthe breasts وماand what تعيهcomprehends it إلهامinspiration
تخفي الصدورُ وما تعيه إلهام
You portrayed for us the eyes' treachery, and what
You pictured for us the traitorous eyes and what
The breasts conceal, and what inspiration comprehends.
The hearts conceal and inspiration discerns.
أُخذٌcharms منfrom السحرِmagic الحلالlawful نفثتَهاyou breathed them forth
أُخذٌ من السحرِ الحلال نفثتَها
فكأنهاso, as though they were عندduring النشيدِthe chanting مدامwine
فكأنها عند النشيدِ مدام
Charms of lawful magic you breathed forth,
Taken from permitted sorcery you breathed into it
So they seem like wine when chanted.
As if at the melody of song it is wine.
أَدركتَyou attained منamong غايِthe utmost reaches of الخلودimmortality مكانةًa station
أَدركتَ من غايِ الخلود مكانةً
بعدتْwas distant فماso never طمعتْaspired بهاto it (الأهرامthe Pyramids)
بعدتْ فما طمعتْ بها (الأهرام)
You attained a station at immortality's utmost reach,
You attained from the zenith of immortality a rank
So far beyond reach that the Pyramids never aspired to it.
After which the pyramids have no more ambition.
واشتدَّand grew strong أَسرُthe frame of الشعرِpoetry فيكin you وَطالماand for so long
واشتدَّ أَسرُ الشعرِ فيك وَطالما
كانتhad been تساورassailing جسمَهits body الأَسقامailments
كانت تساور جسمَه الأَسقام
Poetry's frame grew strong in you, though for so long
The bond of poetry in you has grown strong, and for long
Ailments had assailed its body.
Illnesses have beset its body.
تبنيyou build منfrom الأبياتِthe verses كلَّevery ممردٍa polished palace
تبني من الأبياتِ كلَّ ممردٍ
منof شأْنِهits nature التشييدُlofty construction والإِحكامand firm workmanship
من شأْنِه التشييدُ والإِحكام
From verses you build each polished palace,
You construct from verses each stronghold
Whose hallmark is lofty construction and firm workmanship.
Meet for founding and consolidating.
فيin كلevery بيتٍverse غادةٌa maiden تنويلهاher favors
في كل بيتٍ غادةٌ تنويلها
ووصالُهاand union with her إلاexcept عليكَto you حرامforbidden
ووصالُها إلا عليكَ حرام
In every verse there is a maiden, whose favors
In each verse a young gazelle yielding to you
And union are forbidden to all but you.
While joining with her is forbidden you.
فكأنهاso, as though she فيin البيتِthe verse تشرقshines زهرةa blossom
فكأنها في البيتِ تشرق زهرة
وَكأنهand as though it منfrom حولهاaround her أكمامcalyxes
وَكأنه من حولها أكمام
So she seems a blossom shining in the verse,
It is as if in the verse a flower rises radiantly
And the verse like calyxes surrounding her.
While around her are wraps.
حَدَّثْتَyou spoke عنof ذاتِthe essence of الإِلهGod بكلof all ماthat
حَدَّثْتَ عن ذاتِ الإِله بكل ما
ليستْdo not تحيطencompass بدركِهin grasping it الأَفهامunderstandings
ليستْ تحيط بدركِه الأَفهام
You spoke of the essence of God, of all that
You told of the Divine Essence with all that
No understanding can encompass or grasp.
Minds cannot encompass of its perception.
وَكشفتَand you unveiled سرَّthe secret of النفسthe soul وَهوwhile it was مقنعٌveiled
وَكشفتَ سرَّ النفس وَهو مقنعٌ
ضلتْlost محجةَthe path to كنهِهِits true nature الأَوهامimaginings
ضلتْ محجةَ كنهِهِ الأَوهام
And you unveiled the soul's secret, though it was veiled;
And you revealed the secret of the soul, while it is veiled,
Imaginings lost the path to its true nature.
The speculations of its essence went astray.
ذهنُthe mind of الرئيسِthe Master (أبيAbu (father of) عليAli) مرهفاًkeen
ذهنُ الرئيسِ (أبي علي) مرهفاً
عنfrom دركهgrasping it قَدْindeed عادَreturned وَهوwhile it was كهامblunt
عن دركه قَدْ عادَ وَهو كهام
The Master's mind—Abu Ali's—though keen,
The astute mind of the Chief, my father,
Turned back from grasping it with its edge dulled.
Turned away while it was in a stupor.
بأَبيwith my father as ransom وَأُميand my mother (مصرَEgypt) ماذاwhat أَنجبتْhas she borne
بأَبي وَأُمي (مصرَ) ماذا أَنجبتْ
بكَin you منof إِمامٍa master ماwhat شاءwished إِمامa master
بكَ من إِمامٍ ما شاء إِمام
May my father and mother ransom Egypt! What has she borne
By my father and mother, Egypt, what a peerless
In you—a master such as a master might wish for!
Imam she brought forth in you, as imam desired!
فاجمعso gather مشتتَthe scattered parts of شملهاher company فلربماfor often
فاجمع مشتتَ شملها فلربما
قامتْhave taken مقامَthe place of سيوفِهاher swords الأَقلامthe pens
قامتْ مقامَ سيوفِها الأَقلام
So gather her scattered ranks, for often
So gather its scattered group, perhaps
Pens have taken the place of her swords.
The pens will take the place of its swords.
كمhow many مِنْof مقامٍa stand كنتyou were محموداًpraised بهin it
كم مِنْ مقامٍ كنت محموداً به
فيin موقفٍan ordeal زَلَّتْslipped بهin it الأَقدامfeet
في موقفٍ زَلَّتْ به الأَقدام
How many a stand has earned you praise,
How many a sublime rank you attained
In an ordeal where feet slipped.
When feet slipped in an occasion.
مصرُEgypt العزيزةُdear والشآمand Syria عَلَىin الولاloyalty
مصرُ العزيزةُ والشآم عَلَى الولا
إلفانِtwo lovers ضمَّهماjoined them both هوىpassion وَغرامand love
إلفانِ ضمَّهما هوى وَغرام
Dear Egypt and Syria are, in loyalty,
Precious Egypt and Sham are to the viceroy
Two lovers joined by passion and love.
Passion and love that joined them.
واللهby God ماnot نقضتْshe broke لهاto her عهداًa pledge وَلمand did not
والله ما نقضتْ لها عهداً وَلم
يخْفرْbe violated لمصرٍfor Egypt فيin الشآمSyria ذمامa covenant
يخْفرْ لمصرٍ في الشآم ذمام
By God, she has broken no pledge to her, nor
By God, she broke no covenant, nor
Has Egypt's covenant been violated in Syria.
Did the bridle fail Egypt in Sham.
منsince عهدthe time of عمروAmr لمnot تحلّbefall عظيمةٌa calamity
من عهد عمرو لم تحلّ عظيمةٌ
فيin مصرEgypt إلاّexcept شاركتهاshared with her الشامSyria
في مصر إلاّ شاركتها الشام
Since Amr's time, no calamity has befallen
Since the covenant of Amr no glorious one
Egypt without Syria sharing it with her.
Reigned in Egypt but Sham shared her rule.
انظرlook تجدْyou will find (بدمشقin Damascus) ماwhat يعياis powerless بهbefore it
انظر تجدْ (بدمشق) ما يعيا به
قلمُthe pen of البليغِthe eloquent writer وَيبهتُand bewilders الرسّامthe painter
قلمُ البليغِ وَيبهتُ الرسّام
Look: in Damascus you will find what defeats
Behold, in Damascus you will find that with which
The eloquent writer's pen and bewilders the painter.
The eloquent pen is bewildered, and the artist.
الغوطتانِthe two Ghoutas محيطةٌencircling كلتاهماboth of them
الغوطتانِ محيطةٌ كلتاهما
بدمشقaround Damascus تُخفىare hidden فيهماwithin them both الآكامthe hills
بدمشق تُخفى فيهما الآكام
The two Ghoutas both encircle
The two Ghoutas surround it, both of them,
Damascus; hills are hidden within them.
Concealing the meadows within them.
زندانِtwo forearms مدَّهماhe stretched them both أخوa man of شوقٍlonging إلىtoward
زندانِ مدَّهما أخو شوقٍ إلى
مشتاقةٍa yearning woman فدنتْthen she drew near فتمَّand was completed لزامan embrace
مشتاقةٍ فدنتْ فتمَّ لزام
Two forearms stretched by a yearning lover toward
The prison of their reaching out in longing
A yearning woman; she drew near, and the embrace was complete.
To an ardently desiring beloved, so the bond was completed.
والغوطتانِand the two Ghoutas عَلَىupon محيَّاthe face of جلقٍJilliq
والغوطتانِ عَلَى محيَّا جلقٍ
منof سندسٍfine silk عندat الشروقِsunrise لثامa veil
من سندسٍ عند الشروقِ لثام
And the two Ghoutas upon Jilliq's face
The two Ghoutas upon a face of polished beauty
Are a veil of fine silk at sunrise.
Are at dawn a wrapper of silk.
نسجتْwove لهاfor her شمسُthe sun of الصباحِmorning خيوطَهاits threads
نسجتْ لها شمسُ الصباحِ خيوطَها
برداًa mantle عليهupon it طرائقٌstripes وَسهامand arrows
برداً عليه طرائقٌ وَسهام
The morning sun wove its threads for her,
The morning sun wove its threads for it
Into a mantle bearing stripes and arrows.
With graces and arrows upon them.
والبدرُand the full moon أَلبسهاclothed her إِزاراًa wrap أبيضاًwhite
والبدرُ أَلبسها إِزاراً أبيضاً
منof نورِهits light فكأَنهso, as though it were إِحرامa pilgrim's garb
من نورِه فكأَنه إِحرام
And the full moon clothed her in a white wrap
And the moon clothed it in a white loincloth
Of its light, as though it were a pilgrim's garb.
Of its light, as if it were sacral dress.
هلwhether كانwas غصنٌa branch فيin خمائلِthe groves of (جلَّقJilliq)
هل كان غصنٌ في خمائلِ (جلَّق)
نايٌa flute وَأنفاسُand the breaths of النسيمِthe breeze زنامZunam
نايٌ وَأنفاسُ النسيمِ زنام
Was a branch within Jilliq's groves
Was there a branch in the thickets of Jallaq
A flute, and the breeze's breaths Zunam?
A flute, and the breaths of the breeze, a tune?
هيshe صفوةُthe choice of اللهِGod البديعthe Originator بأرضهupon His earth
هي صفوةُ اللهِ البديع بأرضه
فإِذاso if صبوتُI yearned لهاfor her فكيفthen how أُلامam I blamed
فإِذا صبوتُ لها فكيف أُلام
She is the choice of God, the Originator, upon His earth;
It is God’s choicest in His earth,
So if I yearn for her, how can I be blamed?
So how can I blame it if I pour forth to it?
طافَwent round الخليلُal-Khalil بهاaround her وَباركand blessed حولهاher surroundings
طافَ الخليلُ بها وَبارك حولها
نوحٌNoah وَخارand chose بهاthere الإقامةَresidence (سامُShem)
نوحٌ وَخار بها الإقامةَ (سامُ)
Al-Khalil walked about her, and her surroundings were blessed
Khalil roamed around it and blessed its environs.
By Noah; Shem chose to make his home there.
Noah sighed for it, and Sam made residence there.
قدindeed كانwas للمجدِfor glory الموطدِfirmly established ركنُهits pillar
قد كان للمجدِ الموطدِ ركنُه
منfrom (قاسيونQasioun) ذروَةa summit وَسنامand a crest
من (قاسيون) ذروَة وَسنام
Glory, whose pillar was firmly rooted, once had
The pillar of firmly rooted glory
In Qasioun a summit and a lofty crest.
Was from Qasioun a summit and high place.
قمْrise واستلمْand touch reverently دورَthe abodes of الخلافةِthe caliphate إِنهاindeed they
قمْ واستلمْ دورَ الخلافةِ إِنها
أَمسىhas come to be لهاfor them بيدِin the hand of الردىdeath استسلامsurrender
أَمسى لها بيدِ الردى استسلام
Rise and touch the abodes of the caliphate: they
Arise, and assume the office of caliphate, it has
Have now surrendered into the hand of death.
Fallen by the course of time into surrender.
طفْwalk around فيin زواياهاtheir corners وَعظِّمْand exalt شأْنهاtheir standing
طفْ في زواياها وَعظِّمْ شأْنها
منof شأْنهاtheir standing التعظيمreverence والإكرامand honor
من شأْنها التعظيم والإكرام
Walk through their corners and exalt their standing;
Wander in its retreats and hallow its precincts,
Reverence and honor befit their standing.
It is meet to hallow and honor it.
ماذاwhat دهىbefell الخضراءَal-Khadra صوَّحَwithered غصنهاher branch
ماذا دهى الخضراءَ صوَّحَ غصنها
وَعلاand covered محيّاهاher face الوسيمَhandsome قتامdark dust
وَعلا محيّاها الوسيمَ قتام
What befell al-Khadra? Her branch has withered,
What has thrilled the verdant, its branch quivering,
And dark dust has covered her handsome face.
And its handsome and lofty expanse filled with mist?
فكأنهاso, as though she لمnot يأْتلقْshone فيin أُفِقهاher horizon
فكأنها لم يأْتلقْ في أُفِقها
عمرُUmar الخلبفةُthe caliph والإِمامُand the Imam هشامHisham
عمرُ الخلبفةُ والإِمامُ هشام
As though there had never shone upon her horizon
As if in its horizon the era of Caliph Omar
Umar the Caliph and the Imam Hisham.
And Imam Hisham never shone forth.
أَعززْhow grievous عَلىto الخلفاءِthe caliphs ذلthe humiliation of بلادِهمtheir lands
أَعززْ عَلى الخلفاءِ ذل بلادِهم
وَلوeven though انهمthey تحتَbeneath الترابِthe earth رمامdecayed remains
وَلو انهم تحتَ الترابِ رمام
How grievous to the caliphs their lands' humiliation,
Make more precious to the Caliphs the abasement of their lands
Though they are crumbling remains beneath the earth.
Even if they are beneath the dust, decomposed.
قلsay للذيto him who وَسعتْembraced سياستُهhis governance الورىall mankind
قل للذي وَسعتْ سياستُه الورى
ضاقتْgrew too narrow سياستهاtheir governance بناfor us الأيامthe days
ضاقتْ سياستها بنا الأيام
Say to him whose governance embraced all mankind:
Say to him whose governance encompassed the world,
The days' governance has grown too narrow for us.
Its eras have become too narrow for us.
واعطفْand turn لقبرِtoward the tomb of أبيAbu (father of) المظفرal-Muzaffar ساعياًhastening
واعطفْ لقبرِ أبي المظفر ساعياً
أَفَلَمْdid they not? يعزَّgrow mighty بسعيهthrough his striving الإِسلامIslam؟
أَفَلَمْ يعزَّ بسعيه الإِسلام؟
And turn toward Abu al-Muzaffar's tomb, hastening;
And turn with reverence to Abu al-Muzaffar’s tomb,
Did not Islam gain might through his striving?
Did not his efforts ennoble Islam?
قلsay للذيto him who غلبconquered الحوادثَcalamities بأْسُهhis valor
قل للذي غلب الحوادثَ بأْسُه
إِنّاindeed we بأَيديin the hands of الحادثاتcalamities نضامare oppressed
إِنّا بأَيدي الحادثات نضام
Say to him whose valor conquered calamities:
Say to him who overcame events with his might,
We are oppressed in the hands of calamities.
“We are in the hands of events, overpowered.”
فجعتْwas bereaved بفقدِby the loss of التاجِthe crown (جِلَّقُJilliq) وانطوتْand were furled
فجعتْ بفقدِ التاجِ (جِلَّقُ) وانطوتْ
منfrom بعدِafter نشرٍunfurling تاكمُthose الأَعلامthe banners
من بعدِ نشرٍ تاكمُ الأَعلام
Jilliq was stricken by the loss of her crown, and furled were
Jallaq was bereaved by loss of the crown, and folded up
Those banners after being unfurled.
After being spread out, the flags scattering.
والبدرُand the full moon أَفجعmost grievous ماwhat يكونcan be خسوفهits eclipse
والبدرُ أَفجع ما يكون خسوفه
فيon ليلةٍa night زهراءَradiant وَهوwhile it is تمامfull
في ليلةٍ زهراءَ وَهو تمام
The full moon's eclipse is most grievous
The moon, how disconsolate is its eclipse
On a radiant night, when it is full.
On a brilliant night, at its fullest phase!
(شوقيShawqi) وَإِنيand indeed I مستجيرٌseeking refuge عائذٌseeking shelter
(شوقي) وَإِني مستجيرٌ عائذٌ
بكin you إِنْif منانيafflict me العيُّfaltering والإِفحامand speechlessness
بك إِنْ مناني العيُّ والإِفحام
Shawqi, I seek refuge and shelter
Shawqi, I take refuge, pleading,
In you, if faltering and speechlessness afflict me.
With you, if blame and testing afflict me.
منwho ذاthat one يقولspeaks وَأَنتwhile you منهof him بمشهدin view
من ذا يقول وَأَنت منه بمشهد
أَفليسso is it not غايةَthe utmost end of أَمرِهhis endeavor الإِبهامobscurity
أَفليس غايةَ أَمرِه الإِبهام
Who can speak while you stand within his sight?
Who can speak, while you are present,
Is not obscurity the utmost he can achieve?
Is not the course of his affair ambiguity?
أقدمتَyou ventured حيثwhere ارتاعtook fright كلُّevery مفوَّهٍeloquent speaker
أقدمتَ حيث ارتاع كلُّ مفوَّهٍ
قدmay يركبundertake الأَمرَthe undertaking المخوفَdreaded غلامa boy
قد يركب الأَمرَ المخوفَ غلام
You ventured where every eloquent speaker took fright;
You came forward where every eloquent one feared,
A boy may brave a dreaded undertaking.
A boy may ride the formidable situation.
ياO أيهاyou الحفلgathering المعظَّمhonoring قَدْرَthe stature of منone who
يا أيها الحفل المعظَّم قَدْرَ من
كانتْwere تُعظَّمُvenerated قبلهbefore him الأصنامthe idols
كانتْ تُعظَّمُ قبله الأصنام
O gathering that honors the stature of one
O you venerable gathering, honoring one
Before whose time idols were venerated,
Whose like idols were honored aforetimes.
وَلَوهturn toward him وَجْهَكمُyour faces وحيّواand greet قبلةًa direction of prayer
وَلَوه وَجْهَكمُ وحيّوا قبلةً
كَرُمَتْis noble وأَنتمْwhile you للسلامfor greeting قيامstanding
كَرُمَتْ وأَنتمْ للسلام قيام
Turn your faces toward him, and salute a qibla
I bid you welcome, greet a sanctuary,
Held in honor, while you stand in greeting.
You arose for peace, so greet in return.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.