لعلكperhaps you بالشِّعبِin the ravine تعلوascend اليفاعاthe high ground
لعلك بالشِّعبِ تعلو اليفاعا
فتؤنسَand so glimpse منfrom نارthe fire of هندٍHind شُعاعاa ray
فتؤنسَ من نار هندٍ شُعاعا
Perhaps you will climb the high ground in the ravine,
Perhaps you rise above the cliffs,
and glimpse a ray from Hind's fire.
And are cheered by an Indian fire's gleam,
تميميَّةa woman of Tamim لمnot يكنwas خطمهاher bridling
تميميَّة لم يكن خطمها
فؤادَكyour heart بالوعدwith promises إلاanything but خداعاdeceit
فؤادَك بالوعد إلا خداعا
A woman of Tamim—her bridling
A Tameemi woman whose cheek was never scratched,
of your heart with promises was nothing but deceit.
Except by the deceit of your promise.
غدتshe became in the morning نظراًa sight لكfor you تُرويslaking العيونَthe eyes
غدت نظراً لك تُروي العيونَ
وأمستand became in the evening أحاديثtales تُرعِيdrawing attention سماعاa hearing
وأمست أحاديث تُرعِي سماعا
By morning she was a sight for you, slaking the eyes;
You became a sight that sates all eyes,
by evening, tales that drew a listening ear.
And talk that appeases every ear.
حذتmatched أمُّUmm (mother of) ظبيةَZabyah أمَّthe mother of النجومِthe stars
حذت أمُّ ظبيةَ أمَّ النجومِ
ضياءًin radiance لطالبهاfor her seeker وارتفاعاand loftiness
ضياءً لطالبها وارتفاعا
Umm Zabyah matched the mother of the stars
Like a wild doe, the moon's mother,
in radiance for her seeker, and in loftiness.
You shone for your seeker, rising high.
ومنand دونهاbefore her البلدُthe land المقشعرُّbristling
ومن دونها البلدُ المقشعرُّ
يردّturns ظباءَthe gazelles of المهارىMahri riding camels ضباعاinto hyenas
يردّ ظباءَ المهارى ضباعا
Before her lies a bristling land
While beyond, the shuddering land
that turns gazelle-like Mahri camels into hyenas.
Repelled the ravenous beasts.
إذاif رمتَهyou seek it شجرتهhedge it round الرماحُthe spears
إذا رمتَه شجرته الرماحُ
فسدّتand so bar عليكagainst you الثناياthe mountain passes اطلاعاascent
فسدّت عليك الثنايا اطلاعا
If you make for it, spears hedge it round,
If you pelt it, its trees turn to spears
barring you from climbing through its mountain passes.
Closing off the ravines before you.
زرودُZarud وماand not جرَّstretched حبلاًa cord زروZaru- (beginning of Zarud)
زرودُ وما جرَّ حبلاً زرو
دُ-d (completing Zarud) بينيbetween me وبينكand between you إلاexcept انقطاعاseverance
دُ بيني وبينك إلا انقطاعا
Zarud—Zarud stretched no cord
They turned away, and did not approach,
between me and you but one of severance.
Bringing naught between us but parting.
أعيذI seek protection for هواكyour love وأخذيand my taking بهthrough it الthe (article continuing into the next line)
أعيذ هواك وأخذي به ال
وثيقةfirm pledge منfrom كاشحa spiteful foe أنthat يطاعاhe be obeyed
وثيقة من كاشح أن يطاعا
I seek protection for your love and for the binding
I beseech your love—take hold of it—
pledge I take through it, from a spiteful foe being obeyed;
A pact inviolate, it must be obeyed!
ووقفتَناand our halt وهيwhile it is بكرُthe first of اللقاءthe meeting
ووقفتَنا وهي بكرُ اللقاء
علىon أجأٍAja أنlest تكونit become الوداعاthe farewell
على أجأٍ أن تكون الوداعا
and for our halt, the first of our meetings,
Our halt there at first meeting
on Aja, from becoming our farewell.
Was on barren ground, where we bade farewell.
أسامI am offered a price فأُرخصُso I cheapen بيعَthe sale of الصِّباyouth
أسام فأُرخصُ بيعَ الصِّبا
وأُغليand I set too high a price بحبّكُمُon my love for you أنthat يباعاit be sold
وأُغلي بحبّكُمُ أن يباعا
I am offered a price, and cheapen the sale of youth,
I bid farewell to youth’s prime
but hold my love for you too dear to be sold.
And hold dear your love, though it be sold.
نزعتI cast off الشبابَyouth فماand not زادنيincreased me
نزعت الشبابَ فما زادني
مشيبيَmy gray hair نحوكِtoward you إلاexcept نزاعاyearning
مشيبيَ نحوكِ إلا نزاعا
I cast off youth; nothing was added to me
I put off my youth, but my greying
by my gray hair except yearning for you.
Only drew me, striving, nearer you.
ظلِلتُI remained بنجدٍin Najd يفرُّflees الغراpassion (beginning of the word)
ظلِلتُ بنجدٍ يفرُّ الغرا
مُ-m (completing 'passion') منfrom أضلعيmy ribs وأجدُّand I intensify اتباعاpursuit
مُ من أضلعي وأجدُّ اتباعا
I remained in Najd, passion fleeing
I took shade in Nejd, though its oven
from my ribs, while I pursued it ever harder.
Drove me out, and I hurried away.
وأنشدand I adjure خرقاءَKharqa بالعاشقينby the lovers
وأنشد خرقاءَ بالعاشقين
تمدshe extends إلىtoward القتلkilling كفّاًa hand صَناعاskillful
تمد إلى القتل كفّاً صَناعا
I adjure Kharqa by the lovers—
I recite Kharqa’s verse about lovers—
she stretches toward killing a skillful hand.
Her hand reaches out to kill, working death.
إذاif استبطأتْshe finds slow منout of دجىthe darkness of ليلةٍa night
إذا استبطأتْ من دجى ليلةٍ
صباحاًdawn أماطتdraw aside يداهاher two hands القناعاthe veil
صباحاً أماطت يداها القناعا
If, amid a night's darkness, she finds
If she misses, at dusk, the dawn
dawn tardy, her two hands draw aside her veil.
She will bare her arms again from her cloak.
أَلاَbehold بكرَتْshe came early تستطيبُshe finds sweet الملامَreproach
أَلاَ بكرَتْ تستطيبُ الملامَ
وتأمُلُand she hopes جاهلةًignorantly أنto تطاعاbe obeyed
وتأمُلُ جاهلةً أن تطاعا
Look, she came early, finding reproach sweet,
Beware the young girl who savors blame
and foolishly hoping to be obeyed.
And foolishly hopes to be obeyed!
تقولshe says مِراحَكyour exuberance فافطُنso take heed لهof it
تقول مِراحَك فافطُن له
متىwhenever فاتit passes لمnot تستطعهyou can manage it ارتجاعاrecovery
متى فات لم تستطعه ارتجاعا
She says, 'Your high spirits—take heed of them;
She says, ‘Set out!’ So heed her.
once they pass, you cannot call them back.
When chance is gone, you cannot reclaim it.
تَغنَّمْseize the opportunity منfrom العيشlife إبَّانَهits proper season
تَغنَّمْ من العيش إبَّانَه
وخذand take منهfrom it حظكyour share ساعاًan hour فساعاthen another hour
وخذ منه حظك ساعاً فساعا
Seize life's proper season,
Seize from life its heyday,
and take your share of it, hour by hour.'
Take your share, hour after hour.
وتعذُلنيand she reproaches me فيfor اطراحcasting aside الرجالmen
وتعذُلني في اطراح الرجال
سكوناًfinding repose إلىin وحدتيmy solitude وانقطاعاand withdrawal
سكوناً إلى وحدتي وانقطاعا
She reproaches me for casting men aside,
You blame me for consorting with men
finding peace in my solitude and withdrawal.
Quietly, keeping my distance from all.
ولمand not تدرshe knew أنيthat I صبغتdyed الزماtime (beginning of the word)
ولم تدر أني صبغت الزما
نَ-n (completing 'time') لونيهِits two colors ضرّاًsuffering harm بهfrom it وانتفاعاand gaining benefit
نَ لونيهِ ضرّاً به وانتفاعا
She did not know that I had dyed time
You did not know I dyed this age
in both its colors—suffering from it and profiting.
To its color, harming and profiting myself.
وكاثرتُand I sought abundance in مُتعةَthe enjoyment of لذّاتهits pleasures
وكاثرتُ مُتعةَ لذّاته
فلمbut not أرI saw ذلكthat إلاanything but متاعاpassing enjoyment
فلم أر ذلك إلا متاعا
I sought abundant enjoyment in its pleasures,
I multiplied pleasures for their own sake,
but saw in that only passing enjoyment.
Seeing in them only passing joy.
ولوand if شئتُI wished ماnot ضاعwas wasted فيَّon me العتابُreproach
ولو شئتُ ما ضاع فيَّ العتابُ
فإنكِfor you لاnot تنقلينyou change الطباعاnatures
فإنكِ لا تنقلين الطباعا
If I wished, reproach would not be wasted on me;
If I wished, reproach would not waste me.
for you cannot change people's natures.
You do not alter anyone’s nature!
وكمand how many منof أخa brother قلتI said أحرزتُهI secured him
وكم من أخ قلت أحرزتُه
فلماbut when ملأتُI filled يديmy hand منهwith him ضاعاhe was lost
فلما ملأتُ يدي منه ضاعا
How many a brother I said I had secured,
How many a brother I thought I had gained,
yet, once I had him firmly in hand, he was lost.
But when my hand was full, he slipped away.
أعالجI struggle to mend منهin him علىdespite صحتيmy soundness
أعالج منه على صحتي
خروقاًrents أكرُّI return repeatedly عليهاto them الرِّقاعاpatches
خروقاً أكرُّ عليها الرِّقاعا
Though I am sound, I struggle with his
I bandage with it my health
rents, applying patches again and again.
In tatters, heaping rags upon it.
أريدI wish لأشعَبَto mend أضغانَهhis grudges
أريد لأشعَبَ أضغانَه
وتأبىand refuses الزجاجةُthe glass vessel إلاanything but انصداعاcracking
وتأبى الزجاجةُ إلا انصداعا
I wish to mend the rifts of his rancor,
I want to heal its splitting veins,
but the glass vessel insists on cracking.
But the flask insists on shattering.
حمىmay protect اللّهGod قوماًa people علىdespite نأيهمtheir distance
حمى اللّه قوماً على نأيهم
إذاwhen أبطأis slow النصرhelp جاءواthey come سراعاswiftly
إذا أبطأ النصر جاءوا سراعا
May God protect a people who, despite their distance,
God protect a people in their seclusion.
come swiftly when help is slow.
Slow to anger, they charge swiftly to aid.
تضمّgathers الحفيظةُprotective zeal إحسانهمtheir good deeds
تضمّ الحفيظةُ إحسانهم
علىaround المجدglory أنlest يتركوهthey leave it مُضاعاneglected
على المجد أن يتركوه مُضاعا
Their sense of honor gathers their good deeds
Their forbearance hides excellence
around glory, lest they leave it neglected.
Lest they leave glory neglected.
بصائرُهمtheir convictions جُمَّعٌunited بينهمamong them
بصائرُهم جُمَّعٌ بينهم
ولوand even if أصبحواthey become بالتعاديthrough mutual hostility شَعاعاscattered
ولو أصبحوا بالتعادي شَعاعا
Their convictions remain united among them,
Though parted, their insight binds them.
even if mutual hostility scatters them.
Even if hostile, they are friendly beams.
إذاwhen كشحواthey harbor hostility بالصدورin their breasts احتمواthey guard themselves
إذا كشحوا بالصدور احتموا
بألسنهمwith their tongues أنlest يخوضواthey plunge into القذاعاfoul abuse
بألسنهم أن يخوضوا القذاعا
When their breasts harbor enmity, they keep
With their breasts they ward off harm
their tongues from plunging into foul abuse.
And parry foulness with their tongues.
تُلينsoften الضروراتُnecessities شُمْسَthe unruly ones of النفوسsouls
تُلين الضروراتُ شُمْسَ النفوس
ويأبونand they refuse فيin الضرّadversity إلاanything but امتناعاresistance
ويأبون في الضرّ إلا امتناعا
Necessity softens the most unruly souls,
Hardships soften the soul’s sun,
yet in adversity they insist on resistance.
But in woe they persist, refusing surrender.
إذاif قيلit is said عيشواlive شِباعَwith full البطونbellies
إذا قيل عيشوا شِباعَ البطون
وفيand in الشِّبَعsatiety الذلُّhumiliation ماتواthey die جياعاhungry
وفي الشِّبَع الذلُّ ماتوا جياعا
If told, 'Live with full bellies,'
If told, ‘Live replete, bellies filled!’
when fullness means abasement, they die hungry.
In plenty they die starving.
بنيsons of كلِّevery معترَفٍacknowledged man منكَرٍfearsome
بني كلِّ معترَفٍ منكَرٍ
إذاwhen سُلَّhe is unsheathed راقhe dazzles وإنand if هُزَّhe is brandished راعاhe terrifies
إذا سُلَّ راق وإن هُزَّ راعا
Sons of every man renowned yet fearsome:
Sons of every knowing, noble tribe,
unsheathed, he dazzles; brandished, he terrifies.
Speak smoothly if asked, and firmly if pressed.
تَقولshe tells وليداًas an infant لهhim أمُّهhis mother
تَقول وليداً له أمُّه
إذاwhen ماever (emphasis) أكبّتshe bends over عليهhim رَضاعاto nurse
إذا ما أكبّت عليه رَضاعا
His mother tells him while he is an infant,
You say to Weed, as his mother shrieks,
as she bends over him to nurse:
Clutching him to her breast to suckle:
رِدِgo down to الموتَdeath أوor كنbe عَقوقاًan undutiful son وعشْand live
رِدِ الموتَ أو كن عَقوقاً وعشْ
إذاif أنتyou كنتَare جواداًgenerous شجاعاbrave
إذا أنت كنتَ جواداً شجاعا
'Meet death, or be an undutiful son and live,
‘Turn back death or be thankless! Live,
if you are generous and brave.'
Brave one, if you are truly bold!’
بأبناءwith the sons of أيّوبَAyyub حُطَّwas brought to rest السماحُgenerosity
بأبناء أيّوبَ حُطَّ السماحُ
فحَلَّso it unfastened العيابَthe baggage sacks وألقَىand laid down البَعَاعاthe load
فحَلَّ العيابَ وألقَى البَعَاعا
Generosity was brought to rest with the sons of Ayyub;
The forgiving rain down on Ayyoub’s sons,
it unfastened its sacks and laid down its load.
Who meet harm with bounty, not rancor.
وجاوزand it passed beyond أيديَهُمtheir hands شاكراًgiving thanks
وجاوز أيديَهُم شاكراً
بناناًfingertips رِطاباًmoist وبُوعاًand armspans وِساعاwide
بناناً رِطاباً وبُوعاً وِساعا
It passed beyond their hands, giving thanks
Their hands reward beyond measure
for moist fingertips and wide armspans.
Mushrooms, truffles, bustards, and grouse.
كرامnoble men ترىyou see سِرّthe secret of أعراضهمtheir honor
كرام ترى سِرّ أعراضهم
مصوناًsafeguarded وسرَّand the secret of غناهمtheir wealth مذاعاspread abroad
مصوناً وسرَّ غناهم مذاعا
Noble men: you see the secrets of their honor
Nobles whose honor you see guarded,
guarded, and the secret of their wealth spread abroad.
Whose plenty remains open and shared.
إذاwhen أجدبواthey suffer drought خصَّهمaffects them alone جدبُهمtheir drought
إذا أجدبوا خصَّهم جدبُهم
وإنand if أخصبواthey prosper كانit is خِصباًabundance جِماعاshared by all
وإن أخصبوا كان خِصباً جِماعا
When they suffer drought, their drought affects them alone;
When lean, their leanness clothes them.
when they prosper, their abundance is shared by all.
When prosperous, they prosper together.
إذاwhen الخطبthe crisis أعجزdefeats بريَthe sharpening of السيوswords (beginning of the word)
إذا الخطب أعجز بريَ السيو
ف-f (completing 'swords') جاءوهthey come to it بارينsharpening فيهto deal with it اليراعاreed pens
ف جاءوه بارين فيه اليراعا
When a crisis defeats the sharpening of swords,
When speeches leave the eloquent dumbfounded,
they come to it, sharpening reed pens to meet it:
The fluent-tongued come bearing their burdens.
قواطعcutting blades يُغمدنthey sheathe سِرَّthe secret of الصدورbreasts
قواطع يُغمدن سِرَّ الصدور
ويُشهرنand they unsheathe حيَّاتِserpents of موتٍdeath تساعيracing one another
ويُشهرن حيَّاتِ موتٍ تساعي
cutting blades that sheathe the secrets of breasts
Blades who sheathe the secret in their breasts
and unsheathe death's serpents, racing one another.
And bare envenomed deaths that stalk and kill.
إذاwhen كذَبتْprove false فيin اللقاءbattle الرماspears (beginning of the word)
إذا كذَبتْ في اللقاء الرما
حُ-h (completing 'spears') قامواthey rise بهاwith them يصدُقونproving true المِصاعاin combat
حُ قاموا بها يصدُقون المِصاعا
When spears prove false in battle,
When the spear lies about encounters,
they rise with these, proving true in combat.
They stand by it speaking truly.
ظُباًsharp edges فيagainst الأعاديenemies تسيءthey do ill الصنيعَin their dealing
ظُباً في الأعادي تسيء الصنيعَ
فيُحسنso excel at أربابُهاtheir masters الاصطناعاbestowing favors
فيُحسن أربابُها الاصطناعا
Blades that do ill to enemies,
A deer misbehaving with enemies—
while their masters excel in bestowing favors.
Her masters respond with good treatment.
إذاwhen شهدواthey face قارعاتthe battering blows of الخطوبcrises
إذا شهدوا قارعات الخطوب
بهاwith them خلتهمyou would think them يشهدونto be witnessing القِراعاthe clash of arms
بها خلتهم يشهدون القِراعا
When they face the battering blows of crises,
When they witness courageous women suffer,
armed with these, you would think them in a clash of arms.
Their company makes them share the blows.
معالٍlofty achievements يزيدincreases أبوAbu طالبٍTalib
معالٍ يزيد أبو طالبٍ
سَنَاthe radiance of شمسِهاtheir sun قوّةًin strength واتساعاand breadth
سَنَا شمسِها قوّةً واتساعا
Lofty achievements: Abu Talib increases
Lofty Ziyad Abu Talib
the radiance of their sun in strength and breadth.
Whose sun of might grows ever stronger,
ولماand when رأىhe saw كيفhow طيبُthe excellence of الأصولthe roots
ولما رأى كيف طيبُ الأصول
وَفَىhe fulfilled مكرماًacting nobly وأطابand made excellent افتراعاhis ascent
وَفَى مكرماً وأطاب افتراعا
When he saw how fine the roots were,
When he saw his ancestors were noble
he fulfilled their worth nobly, and rose to fine heights.
Kept his word and chose the finest course,
فتىًa young man ملءُfilling كفكyour palm إنif جئتهyou come to him
فتىً ملءُ كفك إن جئته
وفاءًwith loyalty إذاwhen العَضْدُthe upper arm خانbetrays الذراعاthe forearm
وفاءً إذا العَضْدُ خان الذراعا
A young man who, if you come to him, fills your palm
A youth whose palm fills when you greet him,
with loyalty when the upper arm betrays the forearm.
Whose arm, if faithless, the forearm makes good.
ربيعspringtime الجنابthe domain إذاwhen ماever (emphasis) الرياwinds (beginning of the word)
ربيع الجناب إذا ما الريا
حُ-h (completing 'winds') أَلصقنَthey press down بالوَهَداتِinto the hollows التِّلاعاthe heights
حُ أَلصقنَ بالوَهَداتِ التِّلاعا
Springtime in his domain, even when the winds
Desert rain, sticking to the furrows,
press the heights down into the hollows.
Gluing the pebbles fast together.
إذاwhen فضَّhe distributes نافلةَthe voluntary bounty of الأعطياتِgifts
إذا فضَّ نافلةَ الأعطياتِ
توهّمhe imagines يَقسِمhe is dividing حقاًa right مشاعاheld in common
توهّم يَقسِم حقاً مشاعا
When he distributes his freely given gifts,
When it exceeds the extra gifts
he thinks he is dividing a common entitlement.
You'd think it fairly shares one pasture.
فلوso if جئتyou came تسألهasking him for نفسَهhis very self
فلو جئت تسأله نفسَه
لخالكhe would think you كلَّفتهhad charged him with ماwhat استطاعاhe could manage
لخالك كلَّفته ما استطاعا
If you came asking him for his very self,
Were you to ask him for his soul,
he would think you had asked what he could manage.
He would tax himself beyond his strength.
إذاwhen نفرتflee حسناتُthe fine qualities of الرجالmen
إذا نفرت حسناتُ الرجال
شذوذاًas scattered strays أنسنَthey grow tame عليهwith him اجتماعاgathered together
شذوذاً أنسنَ عليه اجتماعا
When men's fine qualities flee
When the good deeds of men are few
as scattered strays, they gather tamely with him.
And strange, their gathering brings them joy.
فضائلُvirtues قَرَّحهنmade them fully mature الكمالُperfection
فضائلُ قَرَّحهن الكمالُ
وإنand although عَدَّhe counts أعوامَthe years of عُمرٍa life جذاعاyoung colts
وإن عَدَّ أعوامَ عُمرٍ جذاعا
Virtues brought to full maturity by perfection,
The Summoner chipped their virtues,
though by his life's years he is still a young colt.
Though the years told out a dried-up palm trunk.
فَداكmay ... be your ransom قصيرُthe one short in المعاليlofty achievements أشلُّcrippled
فَداك قصيرُ المعالي أشلُّ
إذاwhen قاسhe measures فِترَa finger-span of عُلاًglory طُلتَyou reach باعاan armspan
إذا قاس فِترَ عُلاً طُلتَ باعا
May the crippled man of stunted glory be your ransom:
Your great deeds mock one who falls short
when he measures a finger-span of glory, you reach an armspan.
When calculating the height of the towering sky.
تعلَّقhe attached himself فيto نسبٍa lineage كنتَyou were منهwithin it
تعلَّق في نسبٍ كنتَ منه
سَراةَthe choicest part of الأديمِthe hide وكانand he was الكُراعاthe shank
سَراةَ الأديمِ وكان الكُراعا
He attached himself to a lineage in which you were
You traced your line to what you came from—
the choicest part of the hide, and he the shank.
Old rags and a leaf of parchment.
إذاif ماever (emphasis) عُدلتَyou are compared بهwith him لمnot يزنhe could balance against
إذا ما عُدلتَ به لم يزن
كyou (object suffix) مثقالَa weight of مجدٍglory ولاnor كالhe measures صاعاa sa' measure
ك مثقالَ مجدٍ ولا كال صاعا
If you were weighed against him, he could not balance
Weighed with it, you are not worth
you with any weight of glory, nor measure out a sa'.
A mote of glory, a single grain.
ومختلِفِand one changeable in الودّaffection خاللتُهI befriended him
ومختلِفِ الودّ خاللتُه
فكانso ... became هواهhis love عدواًan enemy مطاعاobeyed
فكان هواه عدواً مطاعا
I befriended a man of shifting affection,
I broke with my fickle friend,
and his love became an enemy obeyed.
So his love became enmity.
أراسلُI keep in touch with نابتةَthe sprout of العرقthe root منهof his
أراسلُ نابتةَ العرق منه
فضولاًneedlessly ويقطعwhile he severs منيfrom me النخاعاthe spinal marrow
فضولاً ويقطع مني النخاعا
I keep in touch with the shoot of his root,
I discard the excess he drips
needlessly, while he severs my spinal marrow.
While he cuts off my trickling leaks.
بكthrough you اعتضتُّI gained recompense منfor كلevery مسلوبةstolen thing
بك اعتضتُّ من كل مسلوبة
تغصَّبنيهاforcibly seized it from me الزمانُtime انتزاعاby wrenching away
تغصَّبنيها الزمانُ انتزاعا
In you I found recompense for everything stolen
Through you I tore from all I was robbed of
that time had forcibly torn away from me.
As time ripped it away against my will,
ودافعتُand I repelled هَجمةَthe onslaught of أحداثهits mishaps
ودافعتُ هَجمةَ أحداثه
وماand not كانit was يملكable to صدّيward me off دفاعاin defense
وما كان يملك صدّي دفاعا
I repelled the onslaught of its mishaps;
And drove back the assault of events,
it had no defense with which to ward me off.
Though it had no power to defend me.
فإنso if هوit كافَىrepaid البلاءbeneficence الثناءُpraise
فإن هو كافَى البلاء الثناءُ
ضمنتُI pledged نهوضاًrising to the task بهto it واضطلاعاand shouldering it
ضمنتُ نهوضاً به واضطلاعا
If praise indeed repays beneficence,
So if praise can reward ordeal,
I pledge to rise to it and shoulder it fully.
I am determined to undertake it, lift it up.
وسيّرتُهنّand I sent them forth خِماصlean البطوbellies (beginning of the word)
وسيّرتُهنّ خِماص البطو
ن-n (completing 'bellies') لاnot يبتغينthey seek سواكanyone but you انتجاعاfor pasturage
ن لا يبتغين سواك انتجاعا
I sent them forth, their bellies lean,
I sent them, the wine-skins,
seeking pasturage from none but you.
Seeking none but you to fill them.
يقعنthey alight بعيداًfar away إذاwhen ماever (emphasis) قطعنthey traverse
يقعن بعيداً إذا ما قطعن
بأوعيةin the vessels of الشِّعرpoetry خَرقاًwilderness وقاعاand plains
بأوعية الشِّعر خَرقاً وقاعا
They alight far afield whenever they cross
They stray far when they cut through
wilderness and plains in vessels of verse.
The desert of poetry, seeking pasture.
إذاif ماever (emphasis) خطرنthey saunter علىover روضةٍa garden
إذا ما خطرن على روضةٍ
بعرضكthrough your honor زِدنَthey add عليهاto it رُداعاfragrant coloring
بعرضك زِدنَ عليها رُداعا
If they saunter over a garden,
If they chance upon a meadow
through your honor they add to it a fragrant tint.
Yours, they add more lies to it.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.