أَعِدْrepeat عَلَىto السَّمْعِthe ear ذِكْرَthe mention of الْبَانِthe bān trees وَالْعَلَمِand the hill
أَعِدْ عَلَى السَّمْعِ ذِكْرَ الْبَانِ وَالْعَلَمِ
وَاعْذِرْand pardon شَآبِيبَthe torrents of دَمْعِيmy tears إِنْif جَرَتْthey flow بِدَمِwith blood
وَاعْذِرْ شَآبِيبَ دَمْعِي إِنْ جَرَتْ بِدَمِ
Repeat to my ears the mention of the bān trees and the hill,
Remind the hearing of the mention of al-Ban and al-Alam
and pardon my torrents of tears if they flow with blood.
And excuse the gushing of my tears if they flow in blood
مَلاعِبٌhaunts لِلصِّبَاof youth أَقْوَتْhave become deserted وَمَاyet have not بَرِحَتْceased to be
مَلاعِبٌ لِلصِّبَا أَقْوَتْ وَمَا بَرِحَتْ
مَلاعِبَاًhaunts لِلأَسَىfor grief وَالأَعْيُنِand for eyes السُّجُمِstreaming with tears
مَلاعِبَاً لِلأَسَى وَالأَعْيُنِ السُّجُمِ
Haunts of youth lie deserted, yet still remain
Joys for youth that grew stronger and did not cease
haunts for grief and tear-streaming eyes.
To be joys for sorrow and downcast eyes
كَانَتْthey were لَنَاfor us سَكَناًa dwelling حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen قَوِيَتْthey became deserted
كَانَتْ لَنَا سَكَناً حَتَّى إِذَا قَوِيَتْ
مِنَّاof us غَدَتْthey became سَكَناًa dwelling لِلرِّيحِfor the wind وَالدِّيَمِand the steady rains
مِنَّا غَدَتْ سَكَناً لِلرِّيحِ وَالدِّيَمِ
They were our home until they stood empty
They were homes for us until when they grew strong from us
of us, becoming a home for wind and steady rains.
They became homes for the wind and ruin
لَمْnot أَتَّخِذْI have taken بَعْدَهَاafter them دَارَاًa house أُقِيمُI dwell بِهَاin it
لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ بَعْدَهَا دَارَاً أُقِيمُ بِهَا
إِلَّاexcept that تَذَكَّرْتُI recalled أَيَّامِيmy days بِذِيat Dhū سَلَمِSalam
إِلَّا تَذَكَّرْتُ أَيَّامِي بِذِي سَلَمِ
Never since have I taken a house to dwell in
After them I did not take a house to stay in
without recalling my days at Dhū Salam.
Except I remembered my days in Salami
وَكَيْفَand how أَنْسَىcould I forget دِيَارَاًdwellings قَدْindeed نَشَأْتُI grew up بِهَاin them
وَكَيْفَ أَنْسَى دِيَارَاً قَدْ نَشَأْتُ بِهَا
فِيin مَنْبِتِthe seedbed of الْعِزِّhonor بَيْنَamong الأَهْلِfamily وَالْحَشَمِand retainers
فِي مَنْبِتِ الْعِزِّ بَيْنَ الأَهْلِ وَالْحَشَمِ
And how could I forget dwellings where I grew up,
And how can I forget homelands in which I grew up
in the seedbed of honor, among family and retainers?
In the plantation of glory between family and in-laws
يَاO مَنْزِلاًdwelling لَمْnot يَدَعْleft وَشْكُthe swiftness of الْفِرَاقِparting بِهِin it
يَا مَنْزِلاً لَمْ يَدَعْ وَشْكُ الْفِرَاقِ بِهِ
إِلَّاexcept رُسُوماًtraces كَوَحْيِlike the tracings of الْخَطِّscript بِالْقَلَمِwith a pen
إِلَّا رُسُوماً كَوَحْيِ الْخَطِّ بِالْقَلَمِ
O dwelling, where swift parting left
O dwellings that when parting from them
only traces, like script drawn with a pen!
Nothing remained but drawings like handwriting of pens
أَيْنَwhere الَّذِينَare those who بِهِمْthrough them كَانَتْused to be نَوَاظِرُنَاour eyes
أَيْنَ الَّذِينَ بِهِمْ كَانَتْ نَوَاظِرُنَا
تَرْعَىfeast upon الْمَحَاسِنَbeauties مِنْfrom فَرْعٍtresses إِلَىto قَدَمِa foot
تَرْعَى الْمَحَاسِنَ مِنْ فَرْعٍ إِلَى قَدَمِ
Where are those who once offered our eyes
Where are those whose sights
a feast of beauty, from tresses to feet?
Used to shepherd beauties from head to foot
وَدَّعْتُI bade farewell to شَطْرَhalf of حَيَاتِيmy life يَوْمَthe day of فُرْقَتِهِمْparting from them
وَدَّعْتُ شَطْرَ حَيَاتِي يَوْمَ فُرْقَتِهِمْ
وَصَافَحَتْنِيand clasped my hand يَدُthe hand of الأَحْزَانِgriefs وَالْهَرَمِand old age
وَصَافَحَتْنِي يَدُ الأَحْزَانِ وَالْهَرَمِ
I bade farewell to half my life the day they parted,
I bid goodbye to half my life the day they parted
and the hand of grief and old age clasped mine.
And the hand of sorrow and old age shook my hand
فَيَاso O أَخَاbrother of الْعَذْلِreproach لاdo not تَعْجَلْhasten بِلائِمَةٍwith a rebuke
فَيَا أَخَا الْعَذْلِ لا تَعْجَلْ بِلائِمَةٍ
عَلَيَّon me فَالْحُبُّfor love مَعْدُودٌis counted مِنَamong الْقِسَمِfate's allotments
عَلَيَّ فَالْحُبُّ مَعْدُودٌ مِنَ الْقِسَمِ
So, O brother of reproach, do not rush to cast blame
So O brother of fairness, do not be quick to blame
on me, for love is counted among fate's allotments.
For love is counted from the shares
أَسْرَفْتَyou have gone too far فِيin اللَّوْمِblame حَتَّىso that لَوْeven if أَصَبْتَyou struck بِهِwith it
أَسْرَفْتَ فِي اللَّوْمِ حَتَّى لَوْ أَصَبْتَ بِهِ
مَقَاطِعَthe decisive points of الْحَقِّtruth لَمْnot تَسْلَمْyou would escape مِنَfrom التُّهَمِsuspicions
مَقَاطِعَ الْحَقِّ لَمْ تَسْلَمْ مِنَ التُّهَمِ
You have gone so far in blame that, even if it struck
You have been excessive in the blame until if you obtained it
the very heart of truth, you would not escape suspicion.
On the precincts of truth, you would not be safe from suspicions
فَارْحَمْso pity شَبَابَthe youth of فَتَىًa young man أَلْوَتْmade away بِنَضْرَتِهِwith his bloom
فَارْحَمْ شَبَابَ فَتَىً أَلْوَتْ بِنَضْرَتِهِ
أَيْدِيthe hands of الضَّنَىwasting sickness فَغَدَاso he became لَحْماًflesh عَلَىupon وَضَمِa butcher's block
أَيْدِي الضَّنَى فَغَدَا لَحْماً عَلَى وَضَمِ
So pity a young man's youth, whose bloom was ravaged
So have mercy on the youth of a gallant lad
by wasting sickness's hands, till he became flesh on a butcher's block.
Whose softness the hands of agony made into flesh and fragments
تَاللَّهِby God مَاnot غَدْرَةُbetrayal of الْخُلَّانِclose friends مِنْof أَرَبِيmy desire
تَاللَّهِ مَا غَدْرَةُ الْخُلَّانِ مِنْ أَرَبِي
وَلاnor التَّلَوُّنُfickleness فِيin الأَخْلاقِcharacter مِنْamong شِيَمِيmy traits
وَلا التَّلَوُّنُ فِي الأَخْلاقِ مِنْ شِيَمِي
By God, betraying friends is no desire of mine,
By God, the betrayal of sweethearts is not of my manners
nor is fickleness in character among my traits.
Nor is fickleness in character one of my traits
فَكَيْفَso how أُنْكِرُcould I disown وُدّاًan affection قَدْalready أَخَذْتُI have taken بِهِfor it
فَكَيْفَ أُنْكِرُ وُدّاً قَدْ أَخَذْتُ بِهِ
عَلَىto الْوَفَاءِfidelity عُهُوداًpledges بَرَّةَfaithful to الْقَسَمِthe oath
عَلَى الْوَفَاءِ عُهُوداً بَرَّةَ الْقَسَمِ
How, then, could I disown an affection for which I have made
So how can I deny a love that I have taken
pledges of fidelity, true to their oath?
Covenants of loyalty upon, of solemn oath
إِنْif لَمْnot يَكُنْthere is لِلْفَتَىfor a young man عَقْلٌa mind يَصُونُhe safeguards بِهِwith it
إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْفَتَى عَقْلٌ يَصُونُ بِهِ
عَلائِقَthe bonds of الْوُدِّaffection ضَاعَتْis lost ذِمَّةُthe sanctity of الْحُرَمِinviolable ties
عَلائِقَ الْوُدِّ ضَاعَتْ ذِمَّةُ الْحُرَمِ
If a young man has no mind with which to guard
If the lad does not have a mind by which he protects
the bonds of love, the sanctity of inviolable ties is lost.
The bonds of affection, the sanctity of the forbidden would be wasted
وَأَيْنَand where مَنْone whose تَمْلِكُholds captive الأَحْرَارَfreeborn men شِيمَتُهُhis character
وَأَيْنَ مَنْ تَمْلِكُ الأَحْرَارَ شِيمَتُهُ
وَالْغَدْرُwhile treachery فِيamong النَّاسِpeople دَاءٌa disease غَيْرُnot مُنْحَسِمِeradicated
وَالْغَدْرُ فِي النَّاسِ دَاءٌ غَيْرُ مُنْحَسِمِ
And where is one whose character holds free men captive,
And where is he whose noble traits
when treachery among people is a disease never cured?
Make the free yield, while betrayal among people is an incurable disease
فَانْفُضْso shake free يَدَيْكَyour two hands مِنَof الدُّنْيَاthe world فَلَسْتَfor you do not تَرَىsee
فَانْفُضْ يَدَيْكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا فَلَسْتَ تَرَى
خِلاًa close friend وَفِيّاًfaithful وَعَهْدَاًand a pledge غَيْرَnot مُنْصَرِمِsevered
خِلاً وَفِيّاً وَعَهْدَاً غَيْرَ مُنْصَرِمِ
So shake your hands free of the world, for you will not find
So rid your hands of this world for you will no longer see
a faithful friend or an unbroken pledge.
A loyal friend or trusted ally or an unbreached covenant
هَيْهَاتَfar beyond reach لَمْnot يَبْقَremains فِيin الدُّنْيَاthe world أَخُوa man of ثِقَةٍtrustworthiness
هَيْهَاتَ لَمْ يَبْقَ فِي الدُّنْيَا أَخُو ثِقَةٍ
يَرْعَىcherishes الْمَوَدَّةَaffection أَوْor يُلْقِيextends يَدَthe hand of السّلَمِpeace
يَرْعَى الْمَوَدَّةَ أَوْ يُلْقِي يَدَ السّلَمِ
Alas! No trustworthy man remains in the world
Alas, there remains no trusted brother in this world
to cherish affection or extend the hand of peace.
Who would preserve affection or extend a hand of peace
فَلاso let not يَغُرَّنْكَdeceive you مِنْof وَجْهٍa face بَشَاشَتُهُits cheerfulness
فَلا يَغُرَّنْكَ مِنْ وَجْهٍ بَشَاشَتُهُ
فَالنَّارُfor fire كَامِنَةٌlies hidden فِيin نَاخِرِthe rotten wood of السَّلَمِthe salam tree
فَالنَّارُ كَامِنَةٌ فِي نَاخِرِ السَّلَمِ
So let no face's cheerful look deceive you,
So let no smiling face deceive you
for fire lies hidden in the rotting wood of the salam tree.
For fire lies dormant in the butting end of a snake
تَغَيَّرَhave changed النَّاسُpeople عَمَّاfrom what كُنْتُI used to أَسْمَعُهُhear it
تَغَيَّرَ النَّاسُ عَمَّا كُنْتُ أَسْمَعُهُ
وَاسْتَحْكَمَand has taken firm hold الْغَدْرُtreachery فِيamong السَّادَاتِmasters وَالْحَشَمِand retainers
وَاسْتَحْكَمَ الْغَدْرُ فِي السَّادَاتِ وَالْحَشَمِ
People have changed from what I used to hear of them,
People have changed from what I used to hear
and treachery has taken firm hold among masters and retainers.
And betrayal has taken grip among the nobles and protectors
وَظَلَّand has become أَعْدَلُthe most just of مَنْthose whom تَلْقَاهُyou meet مِنْamong رَجُلٍmen
وَظَلَّ أَعْدَلُ مَنْ تَلْقَاهُ مِنْ رَجُلٍ
أَعْدَىmore predatory عَلَىtoward الْخَلْقِpeople مِنْthan ذِئْبٍa wolf عَلَىtoward غَنَمِsheep
أَعْدَى عَلَى الْخَلْقِ مِنْ ذِئْبٍ عَلَى غَنَمِ
And the justest of the men you meet has become
And the most unjust of those you meet
more predatory toward people than a wolf toward sheep—
Remains more transgressive upon people than a wolf amongst sheep
مِنْfrom among كُلِّevery أَشْوَهَhideous man فِيin عِرْنِينِهِhis nose-bridge فَطَسٌflatness
مِنْ كُلِّ أَشْوَهَ فِي عِرْنِينِهِ فَطَسٌ
خَالٍdevoid مِنَof الْفَضْلِvirtue مَمْلُوءٍfilled مِنَwith النَّهَمِravenous greed
خَالٍ مِنَ الْفَضْلِ مَمْلُوءٍ مِنَ النَّهَمِ
each a hideous man with a flattened nose-bridge,
Every uglier worn from his lairs so conceited
devoid of virtue, filled with ravenous greed.
Empty of merit, filled with greed
سُودُblack الْخَلائِقِin character دَلَّاجُونَnight-prowlers مَاطُبِعُواthroughout their lives
سُودُ الْخَلائِقِ دَلَّاجُونَ مَاطُبِعُوا
عَلَىafter الْمَحَارِمِforbidden deeds هَدَّاجُونَshambling فِيthrough الظُّلَمِthe darkness
عَلَى الْمَحَارِمِ هَدَّاجُونَ فِي الظُّلَمِ
Black in character, all their lives they prowl by night
Black at heart, deceitful by nature
after forbidden deeds, shambling through the darkness.
Bent on violating sanctities, misleading in the dark
لاnot يُحْسِنُونَthey deal well with التَّقَاضِيsettling claims فِيconcerning الْحُقُوقِrights وَلاnor
لا يُحْسِنُونَ التَّقَاضِي فِي الْحُقُوقِ وَلا
يُوفُونَthey fulfill بِالْعَهْدِthe pledge إِلَّاexcept خِيفَةَfor fear of النِّقَمِretribution
يُوفُونَ بِالْعَهْدِ إِلَّا خِيفَةَ النِّقَمِ
They show no fairness in settling claims of right, nor
They do not do justice in rights nor
keep a pledge except from fear of retribution.
Fulfill pacts except in fear of vengeance
صُفْرُyellow الْوُجُوهِof face مِنَfrom الأَحْقَادِgrudges تَحْسِبُهُمْyou would think them
صُفْرُ الْوُجُوهِ مِنَ الأَحْقَادِ تَحْسِبُهُمْ
وَهُمْthough they are أَصِحَّاءُhealthy فِيin دِرْعٍa coat of mail مِنَof السَّقَمِsickness
وَهُمْ أَصِحَّاءُ فِي دِرْعٍ مِنَ السَّقَمِ
Their faces yellow with rancor, you would think them,
Their yellow faces from hatred you would think them
though healthy, clad in a coat of mail made of sickness.
Healthy, armored by disease
فَلاso no ذَمَامَةَsense of honor فِيin قَوْلٍword وَلاnor عَمَلٍdeed
فَلا ذَمَامَةَ فِي قَوْلٍ وَلا عَمَلٍ
وَلاand no أَمَانَةَtrustworthiness فِيin عَهْدٍpledge وَلاnor قَسَمِoath
وَلا أَمَانَةَ فِي عَهْدٍ وَلا قَسَمِ
So there is no honor in word or deed,
So no integrity in word or deed
and no trustworthiness in pledge or oath.
Nor honesty in pact or oath
بَلَوْتُI have experienced مِنْهُمْin them خِلالاًtraits لَوْif وَسَمْتَyou branded بِهَاwith them
بَلَوْتُ مِنْهُمْ خِلالاً لَوْ وَسَمْتَ بِهَا
وَجْهَthe face of الْغَزَالَةٍthe sun لَمْnot تُشْرِقْit would shine عَلَىupon عَلَمِa hill
وَجْهَ الْغَزَالَةٍ لَمْ تُشْرِقْ عَلَى عَلَمِ
I have known in them traits that, were you to brand with them
I have tasted the fruits of their trees that if you marked them
the face of the sun, it would not shine upon a hill.
On the cheek of a gazelle, she would not shine a standard
لَمْnot أَدْرِI know هَلْwhether نَبَغَتْhas arisen فِيon الأَرْضِthe earth نَابِغَةٌa new calamity
لَمْ أَدْرِ هَلْ نَبَغَتْ فِي الأَرْضِ نَابِغَةٌ
أَمْor هَذِهِthis شِيمَةُthe nature of الدُّنْيَاthe world مِنَsince الْقِدَمِancient times
أَمْ هَذِهِ شِيمَةُ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْقِدَمِ
I do not know whether a new calamity has arisen on earth,
I did not know if some prodigy was born in this earth
or this has been the world's nature from of old.
Or if this was the nature of life since ancient times
لاnot يُدْرِكُattains الْمَجْدَglory إِلَّاexcept مَنْone who إِذَاwhen نَهَضَتْrouses
لا يُدْرِكُ الْمَجْدَ إِلَّا مَنْ إِذَا نَهَضَتْ
بِهِhim الْحَمِيَّةُthe spirit of honor لَمْnot يَقْعُدْsits down عَلَىin رَغَمِhumiliation
بِهِ الْحَمِيَّةُ لَمْ يَقْعُدْ عَلَى رَغَمِ
None attains glory but one who, when roused
Glory cannot be attained except by one who when
by the spirit of honor, will not sit in humiliation.
Ambition grips him, he does not sit back out of spite
لَوْif لَمْnot يَكُنْthere were فِيin الْمَسَاعِيendeavors مَاsomething that يَبِينُbecomes evident بِهِthrough it
لَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي الْمَسَاعِي مَا يَبِينُ بِهِ
فَضْلُthe merit of الرِّجَالِmen تَسَاوَىwould be equal النَّاسُpeople فِيin الْقِيَمِworth
فَضْلُ الرِّجَالِ تَسَاوَى النَّاسُ فِي الْقِيَمِ
If striving offered no way to reveal
If the efforts did not show the merit
men's merit, all people would be equal in worth.
Of men, people would be equal despite their price
فَأَيُّso what غَامِضَةٍmystery لَمْnot تَجْلُهَاunveil it فِطَنِيmy insights
فَأَيُّ غَامِضَةٍ لَمْ تَجْلُهَا فِطَنِي
وَأَيُّand what باذِخَةٍtowering height لَمْnot تَعْلُهَاclimb it قَدَمِيmy foot
وَأَيُّ باذِخَةٍ لَمْ تَعْلُهَا قَدَمِي
So what mystery have my wits not unveiled?
So what puzzling thing did not my insight uncover
And what towering height has my foot not climbed?
And what conspicuous affair did not my steps ascend
وَكَيْفَand how لاnot تَسْبِقُoutstrips الْمَاضِينَthe ancients بَادِرَتِيmy spontaneous inspiration
وَكَيْفَ لا تَسْبِقُ الْمَاضِينَ بَادِرَتِي
وَالسَّمْهَرِيَّةُwhile the stout lances تَخْشَىfear الْفَتْكَdeadly assault مِنْfrom قَلَمِيmy pen
وَالسَّمْهَرِيَّةُ تَخْشَى الْفَتْكَ مِنْ قَلَمِي
And how should my swift inspiration not outstrip the ancients,
And how could my initiative not outpace the latecomers
when the lances fear the deadly assault of my pen?
When the Samhari pen fears the deceit of my pen
لِكُلِّfor every عَصْرٍage رِجَالٌmen يُذْكَرُونَare remembered بِهِin connection with it
لِكُلِّ عَصْرٍ رِجَالٌ يُذْكَرُونَ بِهِ
وَالْفَضْلُand merit بِالنَّفْسِin the person لَيْسَis not الْفَضْلُmerit بِالْقِدَمِin antiquity
وَالْفَضْلُ بِالنَّفْسِ لَيْسَ الْفَضْلُ بِالْقِدَمِ
Every age has men remembered in connection with it,
For every age has men who are remembered through it
and merit lies in the person, not in antiquity.
But merit lies in the self, not in ancientness
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.