سَرَتshe came by night بِمَلامٍwith reproach حينَwhen هَوَّمَdozed عُذَّليmy reproachers
سَرَت بِمَلامٍ حينَ هَوَّمَ عُذَّلي
مَلامَةَreproach لاnot قالِone who hates وَلاnor مُتَبَدِّلِone who changes affection
مَلامَةَ لا قالِ وَلا مُتَبَدِّلِ
She came by night with reproach when my reproachers dozed,
My destiny reproached me when misfortunes assailed,
reproach born neither of hatred nor a change of heart.
Reproaches that admit no words nor change,
رَأَتshe saw رَجُلاًa man خاضَplunged into الغِنىwealth ثُمَّthen أَعقَبَتthere followed
رَأَت رَجُلاً خاضَ الغِنى ثُمَّ أَعقَبَت
حَوادِثُcalamities تُفنيerode عِفَّةَthe self-restraint of المُتَجَمِّلِone who keeps up appearances
حَوادِثُ تُفني عِفَّةَ المُتَجَمِّلِ
She saw a man who had plunged into wealth; then came
I saw a man who enjoyed riches, then reverses befell him,
calamities that erode the self-restraint of one who keeps up appearances.
Events that ruin the virtue of one who dresses finely,
كِلينيleave me إِلىto هَمٍّa care كَفىhas made needless العَذلَreproach أَهلُهُits bearer
كِليني إِلى هَمٍّ كَفى العَذلَ أَهلُهُ
قَرينَةِcompanion to عَزمٍa resolve بِالهُمومِwith cares مُوَكَّلِcharged
قَرينَةِ عَزمٍ بِالهُمومِ مُوَكَّلِ
Leave me to a care whose bearer needs no further reproach,
Lean me toward a care that suffices one so reproached,
companion to a resolve entrusted with cares.
The mate of a purpose attended by worries,
يُصيبُattains أَخوthe man of العَجزِhelplessness الغِنىwealth وَهُوَwhile he is وادِعٌat ease
يُصيبُ أَخو العَجزِ الغِنى وَهُوَ وادِعٌ
وَيُخطِئُand it eludes جُهدَthe effort of القُلَّبِthe resourceful one المُتَحَيِّلِthe ingenious one
وَيُخطِئُ جُهدَ القُلَّبِ المُتَحَيِّلِ
The helpless man attains wealth while at ease,
The brother of weakness attains wealth while tranquil,
yet it eludes the efforts of the resourceful and ingenious.
Yet the striving of the crafty plotter goes astray,
دَعينيlet me أَقِفhold back عَزميmy resolve مَعَwith العُدمِpoverty قانِعاًcontent
دَعيني أَقِف عَزمي مَعَ العُدمِ قانِعاً
وَوَجهيand my face جَديدُfresh الصَونِsafeguarding لَمnot يَتَبَذَّلِbecome debased
وَوَجهي جَديدُ الصَونِ لَم يَتَبَذَّلِ
Let me restrain my resolve, content with poverty,
Let me stand, my resolve content with poverty,
and my face's honor still fresh, never debased.
My face newly guarded, not debased,
فَإِنَّfor indeed الفَتىa man ماas long as عاشَhe lives رَهنُa hostage to تَقَلُّبٍchange
فَإِنَّ الفَتى ما عاشَ رَهنُ تَقَلُّبٍ
مُدالٌsubject to reversals بِصَرفىby the two turns of دَهرِهِhis age المُتَحَوِّلِever-changing
مُدالٌ بِصَرفى دَهرِهِ المُتَحَوِّلِ
For a man, as long as he lives, is hostage to change,
For the youth lives not unless host to vicissitude,
his fortunes turned by the two shifts of his ever-changing age.
Buffeted through his fortune’s caprice,
أَقولُI say لِمَأفونِto one feeble in البَديهَةِready wit طائِرٍflying
أَقولُ لِمَأفونِ البَديهَةِ طائِرٍ
مَعَwith الحِرصِgreed لَمnot يَغنَمgained anything وَلَمand not يَتَمَوَّلِamassed wealth
مَعَ الحِرصِ لَم يَغنَم وَلَم يَتَمَوَّلِ
I say to one of feeble wit, flying headlong
I say to the keen-witted bird, bad luck go with you,
with greed, yet gaining nothing and amassing no wealth:
For with greed you have gained nothing and owned nothing,
سَلِask الناسَpeople إِنّيindeed I سائِلُone who asks اللَهَGod وَحدَهُHim alone
سَلِ الناسَ إِنّي سائِلُ اللَهَ وَحدَهُ
وَصائِنُand guarding عِرضيmy honor عَنfrom فُلانٍso-and-so وَعَنand from فُلِsuch-and-such a man
وَصائِنُ عِرضي عَن فُلانٍ وَعَن فُلِ
Ask people; I ask God alone,
Ask people. I ask God alone,
and guard my honor from so-and-so and such-and-such.
And guard my honor from So-and-so and from So-and-so,
إِذاwhen رَكِبَrides اللَيلُnight الضِعافَthe weak رِكبتُهُI ride it
إِذا رَكِبَ اللَيلُ الضِعافَ رِكبتُهُ
زَميليmy fellow rider السُرىnight travel وَالرِدفُand the pillion rider عَزميmy resolve وَمُنصُليand my blade
زَميلي السُرى وَالرِدفُ عَزمي وَمُنصُلي
When night rides the weak, I ride it;
When night rides the weak, I ride it,
night travel is my fellow rider, my resolve and blade riding pillion.
My companions being travel and my ready mount,
وَقَدand already عَجَمَتhave tested مِنّيin me الخُطوبُcalamities اِبنَa son of هِمَّةٍhigh resolve
وَقَد عَجَمَت مِنّي الخُطوبُ اِبنَ هِمَّةٍ
مَتىwhen ماever يُرِبهُunsettles him مَنزِلُthe abode of السوءِevil يَرحَلِhe departs
مَتى ما يُرِبهُ مَنزِلُ السوءِ يَرحَلِ
Calamities have tested me and found a son of high resolve:
Misfortunes have hastened from me, son of resolve,
whenever an evil abode unsettles him, he departs.
Whenever the abode of evil startles him, he departs,
إِذاwhen ضافَهُvisits him هَمُّa care قَراهُhe entertains it with عَزيمَةًfirm resolve
إِذا ضافَهُ هَمُّ قَراهُ عَزيمَةً
هِيَit الهَمُّthe care ماas long as لَمnot يَغشَhe reaches وِرداًa watering-place فَيَنزِلِand then alights
هِيَ الهَمُّ ما لَم يَغشَ وِرداً فَيَنزِلِ
When care visits him, he entertains it with a resolve
When cares guest him, his purpose hosts them;
that remains his care until he reaches a watering-place and alights.
As long as they have not pitched camp, they do not alight,
أَخوa man of العَزمِresolve لاnot يَبنيbuilds عَلىon الهَونِhumiliation بَيتَهُhis house
أَخو العَزمِ لا يَبني عَلى الهَونِ بَيتَهُ
عَروفَwell versed in السُرىnight travel فيin كُلِّevery بَيداءَdesert مَجهَلِuncharted
عَروفَ السُرى في كُلِّ بَيداءَ مَجهَلِ
A man of resolve does not build his house on humiliation,
The brother of resolve builds not his home on baseness;
well versed in night travel through every uncharted desert.
Well known on the roads in every desolate waste,
إِذاwhen شاءَhe wishes قادَتهُlead him إِلىto حَمدِthe praise of ماجِدٍa noble man
إِذا شاءَ قادَتهُ إِلى حَمدِ ماجِدٍ
عَزائِمُresolves لَمnot تُزجَرbeen checked بِطائِرِby a bird أَخيَلِa roller (omen-bird)
عَزائِمُ لَم تُزجَر بِطائِرِ أَخيَلِ
Whenever he wishes, he is led to the praise of a noble man
When he desires, his resolutions lead him
by resolves never checked by an ill-omened roller-bird.
To the praise of glorious deeds, not deterred by cowards,
بَلَغناwe attained بِسَهلِthrough Sahl ثَروَةٍwealth وَوَسيلَةٍand a means of access
بَلَغنا بِسَهلِ ثَروَةٍ وَوَسيلَةٍ
إِلىto وَفرِan abundance of مالٍwealth واسِعٍample وَتَفَضُّلِand bounty
إِلى وَفرِ مالٍ واسِعٍ وَتَفَضُّلِ
Through Sahl we gained wealth and a means of access
We attained, through an easy abundance and means,
to abundant, ample riches and bounty.
A copious wealth and overflowing plenty,
كَفىit sufficed غَيرَexcept أَنَّthat الحادِثاتِcalamities تَخَرَّمَتswept away
كَفى غَيرَ أَنَّ الحادِثاتِ تَخَرَّمَت
طَريفَnewly acquired الغِنىwealth وَاِستَأثَرَتand laid sole claim بِالمُؤَثَّلِto the long-established wealth
طَريفَ الغِنى وَاِستَأثَرَت بِالمُؤَثَّلِ
It sufficed, but calamities swept away
It suffices—save that reversals have pierced
newly acquired riches and claimed the long-established store.
The sweetness of wealth and monopolized the feeble one,
وَعِندَand with أَبيAbu يَحيىYahya غِناًwealth لاnot يَمُنُّهُhe holds it over others
وَعِندَ أَبي يَحيى غِناً لا يَمُنُّهُ
وَعَودٌand renewed giving مَتىwhen ماever يُدبِرِretreats المالُwealth يُقبِلِcomes forward
وَعَودٌ مَتى ما يُدبِرِ المالُ يُقبِلِ
And with Abu Yahya is wealth he never holds over others,
And my father possesses wealth that none denies him
and renewed giving that advances whenever money retreats.
And a habit—whenever goods run short—of returning,
عَرَضتُI offered لَهُto him عَرضَthe offer of الإِخاءِbrotherhood فَرَبَّهُso he nurtured it
عَرَضتُ لَهُ عَرضَ الإِخاءِ فَرَبَّهُ
بِنِعمَةِwith the kindness of مَحمودِone praised for الصَنائِعِgood deeds مُجمِلِgracious
بِنِعمَةِ مَحمودِ الصَنائِعِ مُجمِلِ
I offered him brotherhood, and he nurtured it
I proposed to him the pact of brotherhood; so he reared me
with the kindness of one gracious and praised for his good deeds.
Through the blessing of his praised craftsmanship,
جَوادٌa generous man تَغاواهُbanded against him العَواذِلُthe reproving women بَينَهاamong themselves
جَوادٌ تَغاواهُ العَواذِلُ بَينَها
وَيُقصِرنَyet they hold back عَنهُfrom him هَيبَةَwith the awe of المُتَذَلِّلِone humbled
وَيُقصِرنَ عَنهُ هَيبَةَ المُتَذَلِّلِ
A generous man: reproving women band against him among themselves,
A generous man whom coquettes vie over
yet draw back from him with a humbled person's awe.
And from whom they fall short in awe of one who grovels,
يَرَينَthey see مَكانَgrounds for اللَومِblame ثُمَّthen يَهَبنَهُthey stand in awe of him
يَرَينَ مَكانَ اللَومِ ثُمَّ يَهَبنَهُ
فَيُمسِكنَso they refrain عَنfrom غاوٍone astray لَدَيهاin their eyes مُعَذَّلِmuch reproached
فَيُمسِكنَ عَن غاوٍ لَدَيها مُعَذَّلِ
They see grounds for blame, then stand in awe of him,
They see the place of blame, then he grants it;
so refrain from one they deem wayward and much to be reproached.
Thus he checks himself from one to whom he accorded favor,
لَهُhe has بَدَهاتٌspontaneous outpourings مِنof فِعالٍdeeds وَقَولُهُand his word
لَهُ بَدَهاتٌ مِن فِعالٍ وَقَولُهُ
هُوَit الفِعلُthe deed إِلّاexcept for رَيثَthe brief delay of وَعدٍa promise مُعَجَّلِswiftly fulfilled
هُوَ الفِعلُ إِلّا رَيثَ وَعدٍ مُعَجَّلِ
His deeds come unprompted, and his word
He has spontaneous boons and his words
is the deed itself, save the brief delay of a swiftly fulfilled promise.
Are action unless appointment of a promise accelerated,
فَتىa man of كَرَمٍgenerosity يُعطيhe gives وَإِنeven if قَلَّis scant مالُهُhis wealth
فَتى كَرَمٍ يُعطي وَإِن قَلَّ مالُهُ
وَلاand not يَتَّقيhe fends off طُلّابَهُhis petitioners بِالتَعَلُّلِwith excuses
وَلا يَتَّقي طُلّابَهُ بِالتَعَلُّلِ
A man of generosity, he gives though his wealth be scant,
A noble man gives though his money be little
and does not fend off his petitioners with excuses.
And seeks no pretext against those who ask of him,
طَليقٌcheerful إِذاwhen المَعروفُkindness أَصبَحَhave become أَهلُهُits practitioners
طَليقٌ إِذا المَعروفُ أَصبَحَ أَهلُهُ
كَأَنَّas though بِهِمupon them مِنfrom حَملِهِbearing it مَسَّa touch of أَفكَلِshivering
كَأَنَّ بِهِم مِن حَملِهِ مَسَّ أَفكَلِ
He is cheerful when those who dispense kindness have become
Unconstrained, when beneficence has met its people,
as though bearing it had struck them with a shivering fit.
As if, through them, some of its burden touched him,
تَرىyou see الجودَgenerosity يَجريflowing فيacross صَفيحَةِthe broad surface of وَجهِهِhis face
تَرى الجودَ يَجري في صَفيحَةِ وَجهِهِ
وَإِنeven if كانَhe is فيin جَدبٍa drought-stricken tract مِنَof الأَرضِland مُمحِلِbarren
وَإِن كانَ في جَدبٍ مِنَ الأَرضِ مُمحِلِ
You see generosity flowing across the broad surface of his face,
You see generosity flowing on the platter of his face
even when he is in a barren, drought-stricken land.
Though the land be arid where he dwells,
تَضَيَّفَنيcame as my guest مَعروفُهُhis kindness فَقَرَيتُهُso I entertained it
تَضَيَّفَني مَعروفُهُ فَقَرَيتُهُ
ذَخيرَةَa store of مَضمونِassured الثَناءِpraise المُنَخَّلِfinely sifted
ذَخيرَةَ مَضمونِ الثَناءِ المُنَخَّلِ
His kindness came to me as a guest; I entertained it
His bounty hosted me, so I embraced it—
with a store of assured, finely sifted praise.
A treasury guaranteed as praised storehouses,
هُوَhe المَرءُthe man إِنif تُرهِقهُyou press after him يَرجِعكَsends you back شَأوُهُhis course
هُوَ المَرءُ إِن تُرهِقهُ يَرجِعكَ شَأوُهُ
بَهيراًbreathless وَإِنand if تَنزِلyou settle عَلىupon القَصدِmoderation يَنزِلِhe settles
بَهيراً وَإِن تَنزِل عَلى القَصدِ يَنزِلِ
He is the man: if you press after him, his course sends you back
He is the man: if straits should crush him, his repute returns you
breathless; if you settle for a moderate pace, he settles too.
A sea, and if you alight at moderation, he alights,
يَقولُhe speaks فَيَعلوso prevails قَولُهُhis word وَهوَwhile he is مُنصِفٌfair
يَقولُ فَيَعلو قَولُهُ وَهوَ مُنصِفٌ
وَيَمنَعُand he withholds مَحموداًpraised وَإِنand if يُعطِhe gives يُجزِلِhe gives lavishly
وَيَمنَعُ مَحموداً وَإِن يُعطِ يُجزِلِ
He speaks and his word prevails, while he remains fair;
He speaks, so his words rise high, and he is equitable,
he withholds and is praised; if he gives, he gives lavishly.
He refuses praise though he give generously,
وَإِنand if خَصَّhe singles out لَمnot تَعدُgoes beyond الصَنيعَةُthe favor أَهلَهاthose deserving it
وَإِن خَصَّ لَم تَعدُ الصَنيعَةُ أَهلَها
وَإِنand if عَمَّhe gives to all أَعطىhe gives غَيرَnot نَزرٍa scant amount مُقَلَّلِstinted
وَإِن عَمَّ أَعطى غَيرَ نَزرٍ مُقَلَّلِ
If he favors a few, his favor never misses those who deserve it;
If he singled out, the benefaction sought not its people,
if he gives to all, he gives no scant, stinted sum.
And if he generalized, he gave beyond a meager measure,
فَجاوِرso dwell beside بَنيthe sons of الصَبّاحِal-Sabbah تَعقِدyou bind yourself بِذِمَّةٍunder a pledge of protection
فَجاوِر بَني الصَبّاحِ تَعقِد بِذِمَّةٍ
وَتَأوِand take refuge إِلىin حِصنٍa fortress مَنيعٍimpregnable وَمَعقِلِand a stronghold
وَتَأوِ إِلى حِصنٍ مَنيعٍ وَمَعقِلِ
So dwell beside Banu al-Sabbah: you will enter a covenant of protection,
So dwell as Bani Sabah’s neighbor, pledged
and shelter in an impregnable fortress and stronghold.
And take refuge in an unassailable, guarded fortress,
تَعَلَّمknow بِأَنّيthat I لَمnot أُغالِكَoverpraise you مِدحَةًin a eulogy
تَعَلَّم بِأَنّي لَم أُغالِكَ مِدحَةً
وَلَمand not أَتَعَرَّضsought نائِلاًa gift مِنfrom مُمَوَّلِa wealthy man
وَلَم أَتَعَرَّض نائِلاً مِن مُمَوَّلِ
Know that I have not overstated my praise of you,
Know that I have not flattered you with praise
nor sought a gift from a wealthy man.
Nor approached you seeking largesse from a patron,
وَلَستُand I am not بِهَجّاءٍa satirist إِذاwhen السَيبُbounty راثَنيkeeps me waiting
وَلَستُ بِهَجّاءٍ إِذا السَيبُ راثَني
وَلاnor حامِلٍone who carries مَدحيmy praise عَلىupon غَيرِother than مَحمِلِits fitting place
وَلا حامِلٍ مَدحي عَلى غَيرِ مَحمِلِ
I am no satirist when bounty keeps me waiting,
I am no railer if past deeds should rail against me
nor do I place my praise where it does not belong.
Nor one who carries my praise of what bears it not,
سَبَقتَyou were first إِلىto شُكريthanking me وَكُنتَand you were مُفَوَّهاًeloquent
سَبَقتَ إِلى شُكري وَكُنتَ مُفَوَّهاً
فَلَمso not أَجحَدِI denied النُعمىthe favor وَلَمand not أَتَقَوَّلِI fabricated words
فَلَم أَجحَدِ النُعمى وَلَم أَتَقَوَّلِ
You were first to thank me, and eloquent in doing so;
You preceded me in thanks and were forthcoming,
so I have not denied the favor or invented words.
So I did not deny blessings or act miserly,
أُقَصِّرُI fall short عَنof أَشياءَsome things وَالشُكرُwhile gratitude جاهِدٌstrives hard
أُقَصِّرُ عَن أَشياءَ وَالشُكرُ جاهِدٌ
وَحَسبُكَand enough for you مِنof شُكرِthanks اِمرِئٍa man غَيرَnot مُؤتَلِsparing effort
وَحَسبُكَ مِن شُكرِ اِمرِئٍ غَيرَ مُؤتَلِ
I fall short in some things, though gratitude strives hard;
I fall short of things, but gratitude struggles on,
enough for you are the thanks of a man who spares no effort.
And it suffices you from one thanking who is not derelict,
حَلَفتُI swear لَقَدindeed أَعطَيتَنيyou gave me غَيرَwithout being سائِلٍa petitioner
حَلَفتُ لَقَد أَعطَيتَني غَيرَ سائِلٍ
وَأَعذَرتُand I did my utmost فيin المَعروفِkindness غَيرَnot مُبَخَّلِdeemed miserly
وَأَعذَرتُ في المَعروفِ غَيرَ مُبَخَّلِ
I swear: you gave me without my asking,
I swear you have given me without my asking
and I have done my utmost in kindness, not judged a miser.
And pardoned in kindness without being grudging,
وَإِنّيand indeed I لَمَغبوطٌtruly envied بِقُربِكَfor nearness to you ذوpossessed of غِنىًwealth
وَإِنّي لَمَغبوطٌ بِقُربِكَ ذو غِنىً
وَإِنeven though عَرَكَتنيhave ground me down الحادِثاتُcalamities بِكَلكَلِwith a breast
وَإِن عَرَكَتني الحادِثاتُ بِكَلكَلِ
I am indeed envied for my nearness to you, a man of wealth,
Happy am I to be near you, rich man,
though calamities have ground me beneath their breast.
Though mishaps pelt me with gravel,
مَعاريضُindirect allusions لاnot الشَكوىcomplaint يُحاوِلُintends رَبُّهاtheir author
مَعاريضُ لا الشَكوى يُحاوِلُ رَبُّها
وَلاnor أَنتَyou فيهاin them لِلثَناءِregarding praise بِمَعزِلِapart
وَلا أَنتَ فيها لِلثَناءِ بِمَعزِلِ
These are allusions; their author does not mean to complain,
They are purebreds whose Lord trials do not court
nor are you excluded from praise within them.
Nor are you among them for praise set apart,
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.