هَلْis there فيin الْخَلاعَةِdissipation وَالصِّبَاand youthful passion مِنْany بَاسِharm
هَلْ في الْخَلاعَةِ وَالصِّبَا مِنْ بَاسِ
بَيْنَbetween الْخَلِيجِal-Khalij (the canal) وَرَوضَةِand the garden of الْمِقْيَاسِal-Miqyas (the Nilometer)
بَيْنَ الْخَلِيجِ وَرَوضَةِ الْمِقْيَاسِ
Is there any harm in revelry and youthful passion
Is there any harm in revelry and youth
Between al-Khalij and Rawdat al-Miqyas?
Between the Gulf and the garden of measurement?
أَرْضٌa land كَسَاهَاclothed it النِّيلُthe Nile مِنْfrom إِبْدَاعِهِits artistry
أَرْضٌ كَسَاهَا النِّيلُ مِنْ إِبْدَاعِهِ
وَلِبَاسِهِand its raiment الْمَوْشِيِّembroidered أَيَّwhat a لِباسِgarment
وَلِبَاسِهِ الْمَوْشِيِّ أَيَّ لِباسِ
A land the Nile has clothed with its own artistry
A land clothed by the Nile with its creativity
And its embroidered raiment—what a robe!
And its dark uniform, what a uniform!
فَكَأَنَّمَاand as though هَوَتِfell الْمَجَرَّةُthe Milky Way بَيْنَهَاin its midst
فَكَأَنَّمَا هَوَتِ الْمَجَرَّةُ بَيْنَهَا
فَتَشَكَّلَتْand took shape فِيin جُمْلَةِthe whole array of الأَغْرَاسِplantings
فَتَشَكَّلَتْ فِي جُمْلَةِ الأَغْرَاسِ
It is as though the Milky Way had fallen in its midst
So it is as if the galaxy poured itself between them
And taken shape in its array of plantings.
And was shaped into a collection of saplings
يَتَلَهَّبُblaze النُّوَّارُthe blossoms فِيin أَطْرَافِهَاits edges
يَتَلَهَّبُ النُّوَّارُ فِي أَطْرَافِهَا
فَتَخَالُهُso you take it for قَبَساًa firebrand مِنَamong الأَقْبَاسِfirebrands
فَتَخَالُهُ قَبَساً مِنَ الأَقْبَاسِ
Blossoms blaze along its edges,
The light flickers at its edges
So you would take them for a burning brand.
Mistaking it for a spark of sparks
لَوْلاbut for مِسَاسُthe touch of الطَّلِّthe dew أَحْرَقَwould burn ضَوْؤُهُits light
لَوْلا مِسَاسُ الطَّلِّ أَحْرَقَ ضَوْؤُهُ
ذَيْلَthe hem of الْخَمَائِلthe thickets رَطْبِهَاtheir tender growth وَالْعَاسِيand the dried growth
ذَيْلَ الْخَمَائِل رَطْبِهَا وَالْعَاسِي
But for the dew's touch, their light would burn
Were it not for the touching of the morning dew, its glare
The skirts of the thickets, green and withered alike.
Would have burned the train of the thick-lipped, unbroken horses
تَصْبُوyearn الْعُيُونُthe eyes إِلَىtoward سَنَاهُits radiance فَتَرْتَمِيso they fling themselves
تَصْبُو الْعُيُونُ إِلَى سَنَاهُ فَتَرْتَمِي
مَهْوَىthe plunging of الْفَرَاشَةِthe moth لامِعُthe gleam of النَّبْرَاسِthe lamp
مَهْوَى الْفَرَاشَةِ لامِعُ النَّبْرَاسِ
Eyes yearn for their radiance and fling themselves
The eyes pour towards its brilliance and then wander
As a moth plunges toward a lamp's gleam.
The moth's plunge towards the shining lantern
لَوْif شَامَbeheld بَهْجَتَهَاits splendor وَحُسْنَand the beauty of رُوَائِهَاits appearance
لَوْ شَامَ بَهْجَتَهَا وَحُسْنَ رُوَائِهَا
فِيمَاas أَظُنُّI think لَحَارَwould surely be bewildered عَقْلُthe mind of إِيَاسِIyas
فِيمَا أَظُنُّ لَحَارَ عَقْلُ إِيَاسِ
Were its splendor and lovely aspect to be seen,
If he had sensed its splendor and the goodness of its meadows
The mind of Iyas, I think, would be bewildered.
I think the mind of Iyas would have been confused
مَلْهَىa pleasure-ground for أَخِيone given to طَرَبٍrapture وَمَلْعَبُand a playground of صَبْوَةٍyouthful desire
مَلْهَى أَخِي طَرَبٍ وَمَلْعَبُ صَبْوَةٍ
وَثَرَىand a land of بُلَهْنِيَةٍease وَدَارُand a home for أُنَاسِpeople
وَثَرَى بُلَهْنِيَةٍ وَدَارُ أُنَاسِ
A pleasure-ground for the joyful, a playground of youthful desire,
A playground for my pleasure-loving brother and a court for childhood
And a land of ease, a home for human company.
And the land of Bulhaniya and the house of society
مَاnot كُنْتُI was فيin عُمْرِيmy life لأَغْدُوَto set out نَحْوَهَاtoward it
مَا كُنْتُ في عُمْرِي لأَغْدُوَ نَحْوَهَا
حَتَّىuntil أَبِيتَI spend the night بِهَاin it صَرِيعَfelled by الْكَاسِthe cup
حَتَّى أَبِيتَ بِهَا صَرِيعَ الْكَاسِ
Never in my life would I set out for it
I would not have traveled towards it in my life
Without spending the night there, felled by the cup.
Until I spent the night drunk by it
ياO سَاقِيَيَّmy two cupbearers تَنَبَّهَاwake up, both of you فَلَقَدْfor indeed بَدَاhas appeared
يا سَاقِيَيَّ تَنَبَّهَا فَلَقَدْ بَدَا
فَلَقُthe break of الصَّبَاحِmorning وَلاتَand it is not حِينَa time for نُعَاسِdrowsiness
فَلَقُ الصَّبَاحِ وَلاتَ حِينَ نُعَاسِ
O my two cupbearers, wake, for now appears
Oh my two cupbearers, be alert for the crack of dawn has appeared
The break of dawn—this is no time for drowsiness.
And drowsiness has disappeared at the time of morning
طُوفَاgo round, both of you عَلَيَّto me بِهَاwith it فَقَدْfor indeed نَمَّhas betrayed الصَّبَاthe east wind
طُوفَا عَلَيَّ بِهَا فَقَدْ نَمَّ الصَّبَا
أَثْنَاءَduring رَوْحَتِهِits passing بِسِرِّwith the secret of الآسِthe myrtle
أَثْنَاءَ رَوْحَتِهِ بِسِرِّ الآسِ
Bring it round to me, for the east wind has betrayed
Circle around me with it for the morning breeze has slept
The myrtle's secret in its passing.
During its stroll with the secret of the mill
مِنْof خَمْرَةٍa wine أَفْنَىconsumed الزَّمَانُtime شَبَابَهَاits youth
مِنْ خَمْرَةٍ أَفْنَى الزَّمَانُ شَبَابَهَا
فِيin مُخْدَعٍa hidden chamber بِقَرَارَةِin the depths of الدِّيمَاسِthe cellar
فِي مُخْدَعٍ بِقَرَارَةِ الدِّيمَاسِ
A wine whose youth time has consumed
With a wine whose youth time wasted
In a hidden chamber deep within the cellar.
In a cellar in the darkness of Dimas
حُبِسَتْit was confined عَنِfrom الأَبْصَارِeyes حَتَّىuntil أَنَّهَاthat it
حُبِسَتْ عَنِ الأَبْصَارِ حَتَّى أَنَّهَا
لَمْdid not تَدْرِknow غَيْرَother than الدَّيْرِthe monastery وَالشَّمَّاسِand the deacon
لَمْ تَدْرِ غَيْرَ الدَّيْرِ وَالشَّمَّاسِ
It was kept from sight so long that
Secluded from sights until indeed
It knew only the monastery and the deacon.
It did not know anything but the monastery and the deacon
يَنْزُوleap لِوَقْعِat the impact of الْمَاءِthe water دُرُّthe pearls of حَبَابِهَاits bubbles
يَنْزُو لِوَقْعِ الْمَاءِ دُرُّ حَبَابِهَا
نَزْوَthe leap of الْمَعابِلِbroad-headed arrows طِرْنَthey flew عَنْfrom أَقْواسِbows
نَزْوَ الْمَعابِلِ طِرْنَ عَنْ أَقْواسِ
The pearls of its bubbles leap at the falling water,
The pearls of its bubbles drip
Like broad-headed arrows flying from bows.
With the dripping of the pipes, the buzzing from the bows
فَإِذَاand when تَعَاوَرَهَاrepeatedly assails it الْمِزَاجُthe mixing-water تَوَجَّسَتْit takes fright
فَإِذَا تَعَاوَرَهَا الْمِزَاجُ تَوَجَّسَتْ
حَذَرَin fear of الْمَهَانَةِdebasement أَيَّمَاthe utmost إِيجَاسِdread
حَذَرَ الْمَهَانَةِ أَيَّمَا إِيجَاسِ
And when the mixing-water assails it, it takes fright,
So when the temperature troubled it, it recoiled
Dreading debasement with the deepest dread.
Fearing any disgrace or confusion
تُشْتَفُّis sipped to the dregs مِنْfrom تَحْتِbeneath الْحَبَابِthe bubbles كَأَنَّهَاas though it were
تُشْتَفُّ مِنْ تَحْتِ الْحَبَابِ كَأَنَّهَا
ياقُوتَةٌa ruby قَدْalready رُصِّعَتْwas studded بِالْمَاسِwith diamonds
ياقُوتَةٌ قَدْ رُصِّعَتْ بِالْمَاسِ
It is sipped from beneath the bubbles, as though it were
She peeks out from under the bubbles as if
A ruby studded with diamonds.
She were a ruby adorned with diamonds
مَاnever حُلَّis untied بَيْنَamong الْقَوْمِthe company عَقْدُthe knot of وِكائِهاits wineskin's tie
مَا حُلَّ بَيْنَ الْقَوْمِ عَقْدُ وِكائِها
لِلشُّرْبِfor drinking إِلَّاexcept that آذَنَتْit gives notice بِعُطَاسِwith a sneeze
لِلشُّرْبِ إِلَّا آذَنَتْ بِعُطَاسِ
Its wineskin's knot is never loosed among the company
The people do not conclude a drinking party with it
For drinking, but it announces itself with a sneeze.
Unless it sneezes to give permission
لاdo not let يَخْدَعَنَّكَdeceive you فيabout الْمُدَامَةِwine جَاهِلٌan ignoramus
لا يَخْدَعَنَّكَ في الْمُدَامَةِ جَاهِلٌ
إِنَّindeed الْمُدَامَةَwine نُهْزَةُa prize for الأَكْيَاسِthe discerning
إِنَّ الْمُدَامَةَ نُهْزَةُ الأَكْيَاسِ
Let no ignoramus deceive you about wine:
Let no ignorant man deceive you about drinking
Wine is a prize for the discerning.
Drinking trips up the purses
إِنَّindeed الْمُدَامَwine أَسَاسُthe foundation of كُلِّevery طَرِيفَةٍnovel delight
إِنَّ الْمُدَامَ أَسَاسُ كُلِّ طَرِيفَةٍ
فَاجْعَلْso set بِنَاءَthe edifice of اللَّهْوِpleasure فَوْقَupon أَساسِa foundation
فَاجْعَلْ بِنَاءَ اللَّهْوِ فَوْقَ أَساسِ
Wine is the foundation of every novel delight;
Drinking is the foundation of all amusement
So set pleasure's edifice upon a foundation.
So build the structure of amusement on a foundation
لاnever تَجْمَعُbring together الأَيَّامُthe days كَيْفَhowever تَصَرَّفَتْthey turn
لا تَجْمَعُ الأَيَّامُ كَيْفَ تَصَرَّفَتْ
فِيin الْقَلْبِthe heart بَيْنَbetween الْخَمْرِwine وَالْوَسْوَاسِand anxious brooding
فِي الْقَلْبِ بَيْنَ الْخَمْرِ وَالْوَسْوَاسِ
The days, however they may turn, cannot bring together
The days do not gather how they passed
Wine and anxious brooding within the heart.
In the heart between wine and temptations
فَاسْتَوثِقَاso make sure, both of you أَخَوَيَّmy two brothers مِنْof شَأْنَيْكُمَاyour respective affairs
فَاسْتَوثِقَا أَخَوَيَّ مِنْ شَأْنَيْكُمَا
وَذَرَاand leave, both of you الْمَطِيَّthe riding-camels تَمُورُswaying بِالأَحْلاسِwith the saddlecloths
وَذَرَا الْمَطِيَّ تَمُورُ بِالأَحْلاسِ
So make sure of your affairs, my two brothers,
So verify, my two brothers, your affairs
And leave the riding-camels swaying beneath their saddlecloths.
And leave the horse wandering with anklets
إِنَّindeed الْفَلاةَthe desert لَهَاit has رِجَالٌmen غَيْرُنَاother than us
إِنَّ الْفَلاةَ لَهَا رِجَالٌ غَيْرُنَا
يَبْغُونَthey seek نَيْلَto attain الْيُسْرِwealth بِالإِفْلاسِthrough impoverishment
يَبْغُونَ نَيْلَ الْيُسْرِ بِالإِفْلاسِ
The desert has its men, other than us,
The desert has men other than us
Who seek to win wealth through impoverishment.
Who seek affluence through bankruptcy
إِنَّindeed الْغِنيwealth وَالْفَقْرَand poverty فيamong هَذَاthis الْوَرَىhumankind
إِنَّ الْغِني وَالْفَقْرَ في هَذَا الْوَرَى
لَمُقَدَّرٌsurely ordained وَاللَّهُand God ذُوpossessor of قِسْطَاسِa just balance
لَمُقَدَّرٌ وَاللَّهُ ذُو قِسْطَاسِ
Wealth and poverty among these mortals
Wealth and poverty in this world
Are surely ordained, and God holds the scales of justice.
Are predestined, and Allah has the scales of justice
فَعَلامَso why يُبْلِيwear out الْمَرْءُa man جِدَّةَthe freshness of عُمْرِهِhis life
فَعَلامَ يُبْلِي الْمَرْءُ جِدَّةَ عُمْرِهِ
مُتَقَلِّبَاًveering بَيْنَbetween الرَّجَاhope وَالْيَاسِand despair
مُتَقَلِّبَاً بَيْنَ الرَّجَا وَالْيَاسِ
So why should a man wear out his life's freshness,
Why does man wear out the vigor of his life
Veering between hope and despair?
Fluctuating between hope and despair?
أَوَand ...? لَيْسَis not أَنَّthat الْعَيْشَlife لُبْسُthe wearing of عَبَاءَةٍa cloak
أَوَ لَيْسَ أَنَّ الْعَيْشَ لُبْسُ عَبَاءَةٍ
وَسِدَادُand enough to allay مَسْغَبَةٍhunger وَنَغْبَةُand the sip of حَاسِيone who sips
وَسِدَادُ مَسْغَبَةٍ وَنَغْبَةُ حَاسِي
And is life not merely the wearing of a cloak,
Is not living the wearing of a cloak
A morsel to stave off hunger, and a sip of drink?
And the repairing of a water-skin and the outcome of a soothsayer?
تَاللَّهِby God لَوْif عَلِمَknew الرِّجَالُmen بِمَكْرِهَاof its treachery
تَاللَّهِ لَوْ عَلِمَ الرِّجَالُ بِمَكْرِهَا
عِلْمِيas I know it لَبَاعُوهَاthey would surely sell it بِغَيْرِwithout مِكَاسِhaggling
عِلْمِي لَبَاعُوهَا بِغَيْرِ مِكَاسِ
By God, if men knew its treachery
By Allah, if men knew her plot
As I do, they would sell it without haggling.
They would sell her without bargaining
هِيَit سَاعَةٌan hour تَمْضِيpasses وَتَأْتِيand comes سَاعَةٌan hour
هِيَ سَاعَةٌ تَمْضِي وَتَأْتِي سَاعَةٌ
وَالدَّهْرُand time ذُوpossessor of غِيَرٍreversals بِهَذَاfor these النَّاسِpeople
وَالدَّهْرُ ذُو غِيَرٍ بِهَذَا النَّاسِ
It is an hour that passes, and another hour comes,
She is an hour that passes and another hour comes
And time is full of reversals for humankind.
And time keeps changing for these people
فَخُذَاso take, both of you مِنَfrom الأَيَّامِthe days مَاwhatever سَمَحَتْthey were generous بِهِwith it
فَخُذَا مِنَ الأَيَّامِ مَا سَمَحَتْ بِهِ
لِلنَّفْسِto the soul قَبْلَbefore تَعَذُّرٍinaccessibility وَشِمَاسِand restiveness
لِلنَّفْسِ قَبْلَ تَعَذُّرٍ وَشِمَاسِ
So take from the days whatever they freely give
So take from the days what they have allowed
To the soul, before they grow withholding and restive.
For the self before hardship and thirst
وَإِذَاand if أَرَابَكُمَاdisquiets you both الزَّمَانُtime بِوَحْشَةٍwith loneliness
وَإِذَا أَرَابَكُمَا الزَّمَانُ بِوَحْشَةٍ
فَاسْتَمْخِضَاهُthen milk it, both of you الْيُسْرَease بِالإِيْنَاسِthrough friendly reassurance
فَاسْتَمْخِضَاهُ الْيُسْرَ بِالإِيْنَاسِ
And if time disquiets you both with loneliness,
And if time treats you with loneliness
Then milk ease from it with friendly coaxing.
Wring ease out of it with coaxing
إِنَّindeed الرَّوَائِمَthe motherly she-camels لاdo not تَدُرُّyield milk لَبُونُهَاtheir milk-giving females
إِنَّ الرَّوَائِمَ لا تَدُرُّ لَبُونُهَا
إِلَّاexcept بِلِينِwith the gentleness of الْمَسْحِstroking وَالإِبْسَاسِand soothing calls
إِلَّا بِلِينِ الْمَسْحِ وَالإِبْسَاسِ
For tender, nursing camels will not give milk
Camels in heat are not milked
Except with gentle stroking and soothing calls.
Except with soft touch and gentleness
فَلَرُبَّfor many a صَعْبٍhard task حَادَturned سَهْلاًeasy بَعْدَمَاafter
فَلَرُبَّ صَعْبٍ حَادَ سَهْلاً بَعْدَمَا
قُطِعَتْwere severed عَلَيهِover it مَرَائِرُthe tightly twisted cords of الأَنْفَاسِbreath
قُطِعَتْ عَلَيهِ مَرَائِرُ الأَنْفَاسِ
For many a hard task has turned easy, after
So how much rugged terrain became easy after
The cords of breath had been severed in striving for it.
The veins of the soul were cut off
مَاnot كُلُّeverything مَاthat طَلَبَsought الْفَتَىthe young man هُوَit مُدْرَكٌattainable
مَا كُلُّ مَا طَلَبَ الْفَتَى هُوَ مُدْرَكٌ
إِنَّindeed الأُمُورَaffairs بِحِكْمَةٍby wisdom وَقِيَاسِand measure
إِنَّ الأُمُورَ بِحِكْمَةٍ وَقِيَاسِ
Not everything a young man seeks is attainable;
Not everything the youth desires is attainable
Affairs are governed by wisdom and due measure.
Affairs are by wisdom and measuring
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.