سَرَقَstole اللصُّthe thief وهوwhile he is رَبُّmaster of الدهاءِcunning
سَرَقَ اللصُّ وهو رَبُّ الدهاءِ
بعضsome مالٍmoney ممنfrom whom (garbled here) جيبthe pocket of عبدa slave to الثراءِwealth
بعض مالٍ ممن جيب عبد الثراءِ
The thief, a master of cunning, stole
The thief, a master of cunning, stole
some money from the pocket of a slave to wealth,
Some wealth from the pocket of Abdel Theraa
باحتيالٍwith guile ودربةٍand practice واحترازٍand caution
باحتيالٍ ودربةٍ واحترازٍ
كانhe was منهاthrough them أليفِfamiliar with الفa thousand عناءِhardships
كان منها أليفِ الف عناءِ
with guile, practice, and caution,
Through trickery, wariness and precaution
through which he had known a thousand hardships.
He endured a thousand burdens
لبسَhe donned الخوفَfear واكتسىand clothed himself in الرُعبَterror القىhe cast
لبسَ الخوفَ واكتسى الرُعبَ القى
بيديهwith his two hands حياتهُhis life للبلاءِinto peril
بيديه حياتهُ للبلاءِ
He donned fear and clothed himself in terror; he cast
He wore fear and clothed terror
his life into peril with his own hands.
His life in his hands amid trials
كانit was هذاthis التماسَseeking قُوتِsustenance for عيالٍdependents
كان هذا التماسَ قُوتِ عيالٍ
ضاقbecame narrow عنهاfor them بالبؤسthrough misery رَحبُthe breadth of الفضاءِthe open expanse
ضاق عنها بالبؤس رَحبُ الفضاءِ
This was to seek food for dependents
He sought sustenance for his family
for whom misery had narrowed the spacious world.
When dire poverty had straitened spaciousness
يالحيoh, may ... curse اللهGod خلَّةًdestitution مذwhen المَّتit struck
يالحي الله خلَّةً مذ المَّت
دفعتهُit drove him للخطةto the course الشنعاءِthe hideous
دفعتهُ للخطة الشنعاءِ
Oh, may God curse destitution! When it struck,
If only God had prevented him from the moment
it drove him to that hideous course.
He was driven to this heinous scheme
لاno لعمريby my life ماكانwould not have been ذيّاكthat man لصّاًa thief
لا لعمري ماكان ذيّاك لصّاً
لوif تربىhe had been raised منamong معشرٍa company of فضلاءِvirtuous people
لو تربى من معشرٍ فضلاءِ
No, by my life, that man would not have been a thief
By my life, he was no thief
had he been raised among virtuous people,
Had he been raised among honorable men
هذَّبوهُthey refined him واكسبوهُand gave him نشاطاًvigor
هذَّبوهُ واكسبوهُ نشاطاً
واجتنابَand avoidance of الأضرارِharm والأسواءِand evils
واجتنابَ الأضرارِ والأسواءِ
who refined him and gave him vigor
They would have refined him and imbued him with vigor
and avoidance of harm and evils,
And avoidance of harm and evils
علَّموهُthey taught him علىupon النفوسِone's own self اعتماداًreliance
علَّموهُ على النفوسِ اعتماداً
يُنتجproduces الدأبperseverance للغنىtoward wealth والنماءِand growth
يُنتج الدأب للغنى والنماءِ
and taught him self-reliance
They would have taught him to rely on souls
that breeds perseverance toward wealth and growth.
To produce diligence for prosperity and growth
إنindeed جرثومةَthe germ of الرذائلِvices فيناwithin us
إن جرثومةَ الرذائلِ فينا
ولَدَتwas born منfrom تهاونِneglect of الآباءfathers
ولَدَت من تهاونِ الآباء
Indeed, the germ of vice within us
The germ of vices within us
was born of fathers' neglect.
Was born of the heedlessness of fathers
صبيَةٌyoung boys بعضهمsome of them يسبقoutstrip البعضthe others
صبيَةٌ بعضهم يسبق البعض
هزالاًin emaciation بفعلbecause of سوءpoor quality of الغذاءِnourishment
هزالاً بفعل سوء الغذاءِ
Young boys, some outstripping others
Some of the boys precede others in emaciation
in emaciation through poor nourishment;
Due to poor diet
وبناتٌand girls تسموsurpass الملائكِthe angels حسناًin beauty
وبناتٌ تسمو الملائكِ حسناً
باكياتٌweeping يرزحنare weighed down تحتbeneath الشقاءِmisery
باكياتٌ يرزحن تحت الشقاءِ
and girls surpassing the angels in beauty,
And girls fairer than angels
weeping, bowed beneath misery,
Weeping under misery
حَولَaround أُمٍa mother تقرَّحتbecame ulcerated مقلتاهاher two eyes
حَولَ أُمٍ تقرَّحت مقلتاها
منfrom عواديthe ravages of الاقلالpoverty والأرزاءِand calamities
من عوادي الاقلال والأرزاءِ
around a mother whose eyes have ulcerated
Around a mother with ulcerous eyelids
from the ravages of want and calamity.
From the adversities of scarcity and meagerness
تلبسshe wears العُريnakedness لاno كساءٌgarment يقيهاprotects her
تلبس العُري لا كساءٌ يقيها
لفحةُthe blast of البردcold لاno وقودfuel for اصطلاءِwarming oneself
لفحةُ البرد لا وقود اصطلاءِ
She wears nakedness; no garment shields her
Wearing nakedness, no gown covers her
from cold's blast; there is no fuel for warmth.
The bite of cold, no kindling warmth
كمhow many نهارٍdays كمhow many ليلةnights قدindeed قضتهاshe spent them
كم نهارٍ كم ليلة قد قضتها
بينamid نوحٍwailing وحسرةand anguish ودعاءِand prayer
بين نوحٍ وحسرة ودعاءِ
How many days, how many nights she has passed
How many days, how many nights she spent
amid wailing, anguish, and prayer!
Between wailing, regret, and supplication
شُرُفاتلإbalconies (garbled spelling) بلاwithout سُدُولٍcurtains وسَقفٌand a roof
شُرُفاتلإ بلا سُدُولٍ وسَقفٌ
دامit continued بالوَكفِwith leaking ممطراًraining سُحبَclouds of ماءِwater
دام بالوَكفِ ممطراً سُحبَ ماءِ
Balconies without curtains, and a roof
Tattered, without gowns or roof
that forever rains clouds of water through its leaks.
Rained upon by clouds' water
لاno بساطٌrug ولاand no فِرَاشٌbed وَstart of 'soft' (word fragment) ثيرٌrest of 'soft' (word fragment)
لا بساطٌ ولا فِرَاشٌ وَ ثيرٌ
لاno سرَاجٌlamp ينيلprovides بعضَsome الضياءِlight
لا سرَاجٌ ينيل بعضَ الضياءِ
No rug, and no soft bed,
No rug, no bed, no pillow
no lamp to offer a little light.
No lamp gaining some glow
ظُلُماتٌdarkness صَوَاعقٌthunderbolts وبروقٌand lightning
ظُلُماتٌ صَوَاعقٌ وبروقٌ
ورياحٌand winds تهبُّblow فصلin the season of الشتاءwinter
ورياحٌ تهبُّ فصل الشتاء
Darkness, thunderbolts, and lightning,
Darkness, lightning and thunder
and winds that blow in winter.
And winds blowing in winter
اصبحbecame القبرthe grave عندهاto her خيرَthe best صرحٍpalace
اصبح القبر عندها خيرَ صرحٍ
والمماتand death المماتdeath عينَthe very essence of الهناءِbliss
والممات الممات عينَ الهناءِ
To her, the grave became the finest palace,
The grave became in her eyes a better palace
and death, death itself, the very essence of bliss.
And death itself the essence of bliss
قَعدَsat الزَوجُthe husband برهةًa while دونwithout صُنعwork
قَعدَ الزَوجُ برهةً دون صُنع
فيهِin which كَسبٌearnings كسائِرlike the other البلداءِdullards
فيهِ كَسبٌ كسائِر البلداءِ
Her husband sat a while without work
The husband sat idle, without work
that brought earnings, like the other dullards.
Like the rest of the peasants
صارhe became لصاًّa thief يرجوhoping for بذكthereby (garbled spelling) نجاةًdeliverance
صار لصاًّ يرجو بذك نجاةً
منfrom بلاءِthe scourge of الاعسارinsolvency واللأواءِand hardship
من بلاءِ الاعسار واللأواءِ
He became a thief, hoping thereby for deliverance
He became a thief hoping through scandal
from the scourge of insolvency and hardship.
To escape the woe of insolvency and affliction
رَقَبَhe watched الصيرفيَّthe money changer بعدafter انصرافٍdeparture
رَقَبَ الصيرفيَّ بعد انصرافٍ
وهوas he يمشيwalked فيin السوقthe market وقتat the time of العشاءِevening
وهو يمشي في السوق وقت العشاءِ
He watched the money changer after his departure,
He stalked the banker after leaving
as he walked through the market at nightfall.
Walking in the market at nightfall
فدناthen he approached منهُnear him والفؤادand the heart هلوعٌfearful
فدنا منهُ والفؤاد هلوعٌ
فيon طريقٍa road خَلَتwas empty منof الرقباءِwatchers
في طريقٍ خَلَت من الرقباءِ
Then he drew near him, his heart full of dread,
He approached him, heart trembling
on a road empty of watchers.
On a deserted road, lacking overseers
مدَّhe extended كفًّاa hand بخفةٍnimbly نحوtoward جيبٍa pocket
مدَّ كفًّا بخفةٍ نحو جيبٍ
فيهin it ألفٌa thousand منof فضَّةٍsilver بيضاءِwhite
فيه ألفٌ من فضَّةٍ بيضاءِ
He swiftly stretched a hand toward a pocket
He swiftly extended a hand to a pocket
holding a thousand coins of white silver.
Containing a thousand silvery coins
سلبhe stole المالthe money ثمthen اسرعhastened يعدوrunning
سلب المال ثم اسرع يعدو
بينbetween يأسوخشيةٍdespair and fear ورجاءand hope
بين يأسوخشيةٍ ورجاء
He took the money, then hurried away at a run,
He stole the money then hurried away
between despair and fear, and hope.
Between despair and hope
بلغَhe reached البيتَthe house بعدَafter جهدٍtoil مُذِيبٍmelting
بلغَ البيتَ بعدَ جهدٍ مُذِيبٍ
آمناًsafe مِنfrom سعايةِdenunciations by النظراءِhis peers
آمناً مِن سعايةِ النظراءِ
He reached home after toil that melted him away,
He reached home after melting exertion
safe from his peers' denunciations,
Safe from the surveillance of onlookers
بفؤادٍwith a heart يبغيseeking الكفافَbare sufficiency ليحيىso he might live
بفؤادٍ يبغي الكفافَ ليحيى
وضميرٍand a conscience يخافfearing سُخطَthe wrath of السماءِheaven
وضميرٍ يخاف سُخطَ السماءِ
with a heart seeking enough to live on,
With a heart seeking subsistence to live
and a conscience fearing heaven's wrath.
And a conscience fearing divine wrath
وَلجَhe entered الدارَthe house طافِحَbrimming الوجهِin the face بِشراًwith joy
وَلجَ الدارَ طافِحَ الوجهِ بِشراً
حاسباًreckoning نَفسهُhimself منamong الأغنياءِthe rich
حاسباً نَفسهُ من الأغنياءِ
He entered the house, his face brimming with joy,
He entered the house, face overflowing with glad tidings
reckoning himself among the rich.
Deeming himself one of the wealthy
افرغhe poured out المالthe money ضاحكاًlaughing بينbetween ايديthe hands of
افرغ المال ضاحكاً بين ايدي
فتيةٍyoung boys يجهلونdo not know طعمَthe taste of الحساءbroth
فتيةٍ يجهلون طعمَ الحساء
Laughing, he poured out the money before
He poured out the money laughing before
young boys who did not know the taste of broth.
Lads unaware of the taste of broth
فَرِحَrejoiced الكلُّeveryone بالغنىin wealth بعدafter فقرِpoverty
فَرِحَ الكلُّ بالغنى بعد فقرِ
ثمthen نامواthey slept بغبطةٍin happiness وعزاءِand consolation
ثم ناموا بغبطةٍ وعزاءِ
All rejoiced in wealth after poverty,
They all rejoiced at the riches after poverty
then slept in happiness and consolation.
Then slept in felicity and comfort
اشرفَlooked down الجارُthe neighbor بغتةًsuddenly فوقfrom atop سطحٍa rooftop
اشرفَ الجارُ بغتةً فوق سطحٍ
مذwhen وعىhe understood السرَّthe secret عادَhe became كالحَرباءِlike a chameleon
مذ وعى السرَّ عادَ كالحَرباءِ
Suddenly, the neighbor looked down from a rooftop;
The neighbor suddenly looked out from his roof
once he grasped the secret, he turned chameleon-like.
Returning like war itself when he discovered the secret
كمhow many لئيمٍa scoundrel منof مثلthe likes of ذاthis one يتزيىdresses himself in
كم لئيمٍ من مثل ذا يتزيى
زِيَّthe garb of أهلpeople of الاخلاصsincerity وهوwhile he is مُرآءِيa hypocrite
زِيَّ أهل الاخلاص وهو مُرآءِي
How many a scoundrel like this dresses
How many despicable souls pretend
in the garb of sincere people, though he is a hypocrite!
To be sincere when they are deceitful
يَزرعُhe sows الشرَّevil موضعَin the place of الخيرِgood بغياًout of malice
يَزرعُ الشرَّ موضعَ الخيرِ بغياً
انماindeed البغيُmalice شيمةthe trait of اللؤماءِthe vile
انما البغيُ شيمة اللؤماءِ
He sows evil in the place of good, out of malice;
Sowing evil in place of good out of hatred
malice is indeed the trait of the vile.
Though hatred is the trait of fools
راحhe went يسعىبجارهِto inform against his neighbor دونwithout نفعٍbenefit
راح يسعىبجارهِ دون نفعٍ
لذويto those possessing الحكمauthority تحتbeneath سترthe veil of الخفاءِsecrecy
لذوي الحكم تحت ستر الخفاءِ
He went to denounce his neighbor, for no gain,
He went to inform on his neighbor to no avail
to those in power, under a veil of secrecy.
To the authorities anonymously
قَرَعknocked on البابthe door شرطةٌpolice بعدafter نصفthe middle of
قَرَع الباب شرطةٌ بعد نصف
الليلthe night هبَّsprang up النيامُthe sleepers بالبرداءِwith chills
الليل هبَّ النيامُ بالبرداءِ
Police knocked at the door after the middle of
The police knocked on the door past midnight
the night; the sleepers sprang up shivering.
The sleepers rose hurriedly in their gowns
عاينواthey saw الطُرقthe streets عاصَّةًcrowded (garbled spelling) بالوفٍwith thousands (garbled spelling)
عاينوا الطُرق عاصَّةً بالوفٍ
يزعجونَthey disturb الآفاقَthe horizons بالضوضاءِwith clamor
يزعجونَ الآفاقَ بالضوضاءِ
They saw the streets teeming with thousands,
They inspected the streets noisily in crowds
who disturbed the horizons with their clamor.
Disturbing the horizons with their clamour
غادرواthey left النومَsleep ركَّضاًrunning دونwithout سترٍcovering
غادروا النومَ ركَّضاً دون سترٍ
غيرَexcept سِترthe covering of السماءِthe sky والظلماءِand darkness
غيرَ سِتر السماءِ والظلماءِ
They left sleep at a run, without covering,
They left their sleep running without cover
except the cover of the sky and darkness.
Save heaven's cover and darkness
بعضهمsome of them بالزحامin the crush يسحقcrush بعضاًothers
بعضهم بالزحام يسحق بعضاً
سائلينَasking الشُرطيَّthe policeman بالايماءِby gestures
سائلينَ الشُرطيَّ بالايماءِ
In the crush, some trampled others,
Some, crushed by the crowds, trampled others
questioning the policeman with gestures:
Asking the policeman with gestures
أيwhat ويلٍwoe وايّand what خطبٍcalamity دهاناbefell us
أي ويلٍ وايّ خطبٍ دهانا
تلكsuch حالthe state of الفضولidle curiosity فيamong الجهلاءِthe ignorant
تلك حال الفضول في الجهلاءِ
'What woe, what calamity has struck us?'
What woe and what news disturbed us
Such is the idle curiosity of the ignorant.
Such is the curiosity of ignoramuses
امسكواthey seized اللصthe thief بعدafter ضربٍbeating وشتمٍand insults
امسكوا اللص بعد ضربٍ وشتمٍ
كبَّلوهthey shackled him ساقوهُthey drove him للايذاءِfor torment
كبَّلوه ساقوهُ للايذاءِ
They seized the thief after blows and insults,
They seized the thief after beating and cursing
shackled him and drove him away to be tormented,
Shackled and dragged him spitefully
بينamid ندبٍlamentation يفتّتshatters القلبَthe heart حُزناًwith sorrow
بين ندبٍ يفتّت القلبَ حُزناً
وعويلand the wailing of الأولادِthe children بعدafter النساءِthe women
وعويل الأولادِ بعد النساءِ
amid lamentation that shattered the heart with grief,
Between sobbing that rends hearts with sorrow
and the children's wailing after the women's.
And the wailing of women and children
ليسhe does not يدريknow أيقظةٌis it wakefulness? أمor منامٌa dream
ليس يدري أيقظةٌ أم منامٌ
ماwhat رأىhe saw منof مصيبةٍa calamity دهماءِdire
ما رأى من مصيبةٍ دهماءِ
He did not know whether it was waking or a dream,
Unaware whether awake or dreaming
this dire calamity he had witnessed.
Of the sudden calamity he saw
طرحوهُthey threw him فيinto السجنthe prison بينamong مئاتٍhundreds
طرحوهُ في السجن بين مئاتٍ
منof رجالٍmen زَعانفٍriffraff سفهاءِfoolish
من رجالٍ زَعانفٍ سفهاءِ
They flung him into prison among hundreds
They threw him in prison among hundreds
of men who were riffraff and fools.
Of coarse, foolish evil men
حرَّضوهُthey urged him علىto ارتكابcommitting الدناياbase deeds
حرَّضوهُ على ارتكاب الدنايا
والمعاصيand sins حتىeven لسفكِto shedding الدماءِblood
والمعاصي حتى لسفكِ الدماءِ
They urged him to commit vile deeds
They provoked him to commit sins
and sins, even to shed blood.
And transgressions even bloodshed
كانhe used to قبلاًbefore يخافُfear سرقةَstealing مالٍmoney
كان قبلاً يخافُ سرقةَ مالٍ
اصبحhe became اليومtoday أجراَthe boldest (garbled spelling) الأشقياءِof the villains
اصبح اليوم أجراَ الأشقياءِ
Before, he had feared stealing money;
Once fearing the theft of money
today he became the boldest of villains.
Today he socialized with the wretched
تلكsuch حالthe condition of السجونprisons مذfor ألفa thousand عامٍyears
تلك حال السجون مذ ألف عامٍ
فيin بلادthe lands of الجُهَالِthe ignorant والأغبياءand the foolish
في بلاد الجُهَالِ والأغبياء
Such has been the state of prisons for a thousand years
Such has been the state of prisons for a millennium
in the lands of the ignorant and foolish.
In the lands of ignoramuses and fools
انماonly السجنprison رادعٌa deterrent لذويهِfor its inmates
انما السجن رادعٌ لذويهِ
عنfrom فعالthe deeds of الطغامthe rabble والاردياءِand the wicked
عن فعال الطغام والاردياءِ
Prison serves only to deter its inmates
But prison deters its inmates
from the deeds of the rabble and the wicked.
From the actions of tyrants and villains
فيهِwithin it علمٌlearning صنائعٌtrades واشتغالٌand work
فيهِ علمٌ صنائعٌ واشتغالٌ
يكسبgives المرءa person حالةthe bearing of الادباءthe cultivated
يكسب المرء حالة الادباء
Within it are learning, trades, and work
It has education, trades, and work
that give a person the bearing of the cultivated.
To earn the ethics of the cultured
محكَمsound الوضعin design مُتقنmasterful الصُنعin construction زاهٍsplendid
محكَم الوضع مُتقن الصُنع زاهٍ
صالحُsuitable for العيشliving جالبٌa bringer للرخاءِof well-being
صالحُ العيش جالبٌ للرخاءِ
Well designed, skillfully built, and splendid,
Well structured, meticulously designed, radiant
fit for living, conducive to well-being,
Wholesome life, bringing prosperity
فيهِwithin it كُتبٌbooks تهذّبrefine الخُلقcharacter قسراًforcibly
فيهِ كُتبٌ تهذّب الخُلق قسراً
فيهِwithin it طبٌّmedicine يزيلُcures أَعضلَthe most intractable داءِailment
فيهِ طبٌّ يزيلُ أَعضلَ داءِ
within it are books that forcibly refine character;
It has books that forcibly refine manners
within it is medicine that cures the most intractable ailment.
Medicine that heals the worst malady
فيهِwithin it قومٌpeople ليرشدواto guide كلَّevery غاوٍwayward person
فيهِ قومٌ ليرشدوا كلَّ غاوٍ
بحديثٍwith speech ذيpossessing حكمةٍwisdom وجلاءِand clarity
بحديثٍ ذي حكمةٍ وجلاءِ
Within it are people to guide every wayward soul
It has people to guide every stray
with speech full of wisdom and clarity.
With wise and lucid talk
هكذاsuch السجنprison فيin بلادِlands حَبَاهاendowed them
هكذا السجن في بلادِ حَبَاها
مالكوهاtheir rulers ذرائعَthe means of الارتقاءِadvancement
مالكوها ذرائعَ الارتقاءِ
Such is prison in lands gifted
Thus is prison in gifted lands
by their rulers with the means of advancement,
Whose owners espouse advancement
لاnot كسجنٍlike a prison حوىcontaining جحيمَa hell of شرورٍevils
لا كسجنٍ حوى جحيمَ شرورٍ
فيهِwithin it تنموgrow نقائصُthe failings of الادنياءِthe base
فيهِ تنمو نقائصُ الادنياءِ
not like a prison containing a hell of evils,
Unlike a prison containing a hell of evils
where the failings of the base flourish.
Where the flaws of the vile proliferate
زوجةُthe wife of اللصّthe thief بادرَتhastened بعدَafter شهرٍa month
زوجةُ اللصّ بادرَت بعدَ شهرٍ
نحوtoward مَغنىthe residence of رئيسِthe chief of رَهطthe company of القضاءِthe judiciary
نحو مَغنى رئيسِ رَهط القضاءِ
A month later, the thief's wife hastened
After a month, the thief's wife headed
toward the residence of the chief of the judges.
To the sanctuary of the chief of judges
حالَbarred دونaccess to اللقاءِthe audience حُجَّابdoorkeepers بابٍthe door
حالَ دون اللقاءِ حُجَّاب بابٍ
نَفَحَتshe gave بليرةٍwith a lira صفراءِyellow
نَفَحَت بليرةٍ صفراءِ
Doorkeepers barred her from an audience;
A chamberlain with jaundiced complexion barred her way
she gave them a yellow lira.
They entered her into a chamber with a throne
ادخلوهاthey admitted her مقصورةًinto a chamber ذاتhaving عرشٍa throne
ادخلوها مقصورةً ذات عرشٍ
فوقهُupon it ماكرٌa schemer كثيرُfull of الرياءِhypocrisy
فوقهُ ماكرٌ كثيرُ الرياءِ
They admitted her to a chamber with a throne,
Above it a deceitful pompous man
on which sat a schemer steeped in hypocrisy.
She kissed the hem of his garment and knelt
قبَّلتshe kissed هدبَthe fringe of ذيلهِhis robe's hem ثمthen خَرَّتshe fell prostrate
قبَّلت هدبَ ذيلهِ ثم خَرَّت
فرماهاthen he cast at her بنظرةِa look of الكبرياءِarrogance
فرماها بنظرةِ الكبرياءِ
She kissed the fringe of his robe, then fell prostrate;
So he glanced at her haughtily
he cast at her a look of haughty pride.
She asked him to release her sinful husband
سألتهُshe asked him for فكاكَthe release of زَوجٍa husband أثيمٍguilty
سألتهُ فكاكَ زَوجٍ أثيمٍ
رحمةًout of mercy بالبناتِfor the daughters والابناءِand the sons
رحمةً بالبناتِ والابناءِ
She begged him to release her guilty husband,
Out of mercy for her daughters and sons
out of mercy for the daughters and sons.
And tried to bribe him with some hundreds of coins
وحَبَتهُand she gave him بعضَsome المئاتِhundreds نقوداًin cash
وحَبَتهُ بعضَ المئاتِ نقوداً
فاحتواهاso he took it بغلظةٍwith harshness وجفاءِand coldness
فاحتواها بغلظةٍ وجفاءِ
And she gave him several hundred in cash,
But he refused her harshly and coldly
so he took it with harshness and coldness.
Saying, why not placate some of my comrades
قالhe said هلاَّwhy not ارضيتِyou appeased بعضَsome of رفاقيmy colleagues
قال هلاَّ ارضيتِ بعضَ رفاقي
فقوامُfor the sustenance of الرؤوسthe heads بالاعضاءِthrough the limbs
فقوامُ الرؤوس بالاعضاءِ
He said, 'Why not appease some of my colleagues?
For leaders depend on their members
For heads are sustained by their limbs.'
She left with copious tears flowing
خرجتshe went out تسبلُshe shed الدموعَtears غِزاراًabundantly
خرجت تسبلُ الدموعَ غِزاراً
نحوtoward قاضٍa judge يعتزُّglories بالفحشاءِin indecency
نحو قاضٍ يعتزُّ بالفحشاءِ
She left, pouring forth copious tears,
To a judge proud of obscenity
toward a judge who gloried in indecency.
He wanted her to gain his approval
رامَhe demanded منهاof her لكيso that تنالَshe might gain رضاهُhis favor
رامَ منها لكي تنالَ رضاهُ
ماwhat يرومُseeks السفيهُthe fool منfrom حسناءِa beautiful woman
ما يرومُ السفيهُ من حسناءِ
To obtain his favor, he demanded of her
As the fool desires from a beauty
what a fool demands of a beautiful woman.
She was appalled, wailed, then retreated
هالهاhorrified her الأمرُthe matter أعولتshe wailed ثمthen وَلَّتshe turned away
هالها الأمرُ أعولت ثم وَلَّت
دونwithout جدوىbenefit منfrom فاسدِone corrupt in soul الحوباءِthe soul
دون جدوى من فاسدِ الحوباءِ
The matter appalled her; she wailed, then turned away,
Futilely, from the corrupt charlatan
without help from that corrupt soul.
Her husband and fellow thieves remained jailed
لزمremained in السجنَprison زوجُهاher husband ولصوصُand the thieves of اthe- (article fragment)
لزم السجنَ زوجُها ولصوصُ ا
لحقjustice (word continuation) فازواthey won بسؤددٍwith mastery وعُلاءِand high rank
لحق فازوا بسؤددٍ وعُلاءِ
Her husband remained in prison, while the thieves of
And attained misery and agony
justice won mastery and exalted rank.
The big thieves became judges
واللصوصُand the thieves الكِبارgreat صارواbecame قُضاةًjudges
واللصوصُ الكِبار صاروا قُضاةً
للُّصوصِfor the thieves الصغارpetty اهلpeople of الشقاءِmisery
للُّصوصِ الصغار اهل الشقاءِ
And the great thieves became judges
Of petty thieves, people of woe
over the petty thieves, the people of misery.
They seized money by force and plundered
سلبواthey seized المالَwealth عنوةًby force واستباحواand violated مstray letter mīm
سلبوا المالَ عنوةً واستباحوا م
العرضhonor جهراًopenly وهمwhile they are منamong العظماءthe great
العرض جهراً وهم من العظماء
They seized wealth by force and violated
Honor publicly, being of notables
honor openly, while they were among the great.
And when asked who merits high station
واذاand when قيلَit was asked منwho لَنيلto attain المعاليhigh honors
واذا قيلَ من لَنيل المعالي
قيلَit was said هذاthis one وذاكَand that one دونwithout امتراءِdoubt
قيلَ هذا وذاكَ دون امتراءِ
And when asked who could attain high honors,
It's said this and that one, without doubt
they said, 'This one and that one,' without doubt.
And when the virtuous are counted one day
واذاand when عُدّwas counted مَعشَرُthe company of الفضلِvirtue يَوماًone day
واذا عُدّ مَعشَرُ الفضلِ يَوماً
حسبوهمthey counted them منamong أفضلthe best of العقلاءِthe wise
حسبوهم من أفضل العقلاءِ
And when the company of the virtuous is counted one day,
They're deemed among the wisest minds
they count them among the best of the wise.
Can this and the like bring rectitude?
أبهذاis it through this? ومثلand the like of هذاthis صلاحٌreform
أبهذا ومثل هذا صلاحٌ
لاno وربّby the Lord of الأنباءtidings والانبياءand the prophets
لا وربّ الأنباء والانبياء
Can this and the like of this bring reform?
No, by the Lord of tidings and prophets!
No, by the Lord of tidings and prophets!
Partial English translation: 135 of 136 Arabic lines translated.