إنّاindeed we نُعلّلُare lulled كلّناall of us بمحالِwith the impossible
إنّا نُعلّلُ كلّنا بمحالِ
ونُغَرُّand we are deceived بالغدواتby mornings والآصالِand evenings
ونُغَرُّ بالغدوات والآصالِ
Indeed, we are all lulled with the impossible,
We all make excuses for the impossible,
And deceived by mornings and evenings.
And are fooled by hopes and dreams.
وكأنّناand as though we نرعىgraze on القَواءَbarren ground منfrom الطَّوىhunger
وكأنّنا نرعى القَواءَ من الطَّوى
أبداًforever ونكرعand we drink deeply منfrom ظماًthirst فيin آلِa mirage
أبداً ونكرع من ظماً في آلِ
As though, from hunger, we graze on barren ground,
It’s as though we graze on mirages in the wilderness,
Forever, and from thirst drink deep from a mirage.
Always drinking from a figment of imagination.
يهوىlongs for الفتىthe young man طولlength of البقاءlife ودونهand barring his way
يهوى الفتى طول البقاء ودونه
وَلَعُthe avid pursuit of الرّدىdeath وتعرّضُand the interception of الآجالِappointed ends
وَلَعُ الرّدى وتعرّضُ الآجالِ
A man longs for length of life, but barring his way are
The youth yearns for longevity, yet below him
Death's avid pursuit and the ambush of appointed ends.
Lies the pit of doom and the assault of fate.
وتقودهand lead him آمالُهhis hopes ووراءَهاand behind them
وتقوده آمالُه ووراءَها
قَدَرٌa fate يحطّمshatters غَرْبَةَthe keen edge of الآمالِhopes
قَدَرٌ يحطّم غَرْبَةَ الآمالِ
And his hopes lead him, while behind them lies
His hopes lead him on while behind him
A fate that shatters hopes' keen edge.
Is a destiny that shatters the strangers of dreams.
والمرءُand man بينamid مصيبةٍan affliction فيin النفسthe self أوor
والمرءُ بين مصيبةٍ في النفس أو
فيin الأهلthe family أوor فيin الحالcircumstances أوor فيin المالِwealth
في الأهل أو في الحال أو في المالِ
And man is caught amid affliction—in himself, or
Man is caught between a tragedy of the soul,
In family, in circumstance, or in wealth.
Or of family, life, or wealth and riches.
ولئنْand even if عفتْhave spared عنهhim الحوادثmisfortunes إنّهindeed he
ولئنْ عفتْ عنه الحوادث إنّه
رهنٌa hostage لبعضto some تقلّبِchange of الأحوالِconditions
رهنٌ لبعض تقلّبِ الأحوالِ
And even if misfortunes spare him, he is
And if disasters spare him, he still remains
Hostage to some turn of circumstance.
Subject to the vagaries of all things.
وسجيّةٌand an ingrained trait للدّهرof Time فيamong أبنائِهِits sons
وسجيّةٌ للدّهر في أبنائِهِ
إِلحاقُconsigning كلِّevery مؤثَّلٍfirmly established thing بزوالِto extinction
إِلحاقُ كلِّ مؤثَّلٍ بزوالِ
And it is Time's nature toward its sons
It is the way of fate with her children
To bring everything firmly established to extinction.
To make every fortunate one meet his end.
للَّهto God مُفتَقَدٌone sorely missed تحيّفgnawed away فقدُهُhis loss
للَّه مُفتَقَدٌ تحيّف فقدُهُ
منat جانبيَّboth my sides وحزّand cut فيinto أوصالِيmy joints
من جانبيَّ وحزّ في أوصالِي
God, how sorely missed is he whose loss has gnawed
I have lost a dear one. His loss distorts me.
At both my sides and cut into my joints.
It has cloven my sides and pierced my joints.
وأصمّand deafened ناعيهhis death-announcer الغداةthis morning مسامعيmy ears
وأصمّ ناعيه الغداة مسامعي
ورمىand struck سوادَthe dark core of جوانحيmy breast بخَبالِwith madness
ورمى سوادَ جوانحي بخَبالِ
His death-announcer deafened my ears this morning,
At dawn, his caller deafens my hearing;
And struck the dark core of my breast with madness.
And casts the blackness of gloom over my wings.
وأزارنيand brought to visit me وفدَa delegation of الهمومsorrows يسمْنَنِيimposing on me
وأزارني وفدَ الهموم يسمْنَنِي
شَطَطَthe remoteness of المُنىwishes فينلْنand so they attain كلَّevery مَنالِgoal
شَطَطَ المُنى فينلْن كلَّ مَنالِ
And brought a delegation of sorrows to visit me, afflicting me
The throng of worries besiege me, fattening me,
With wishes beyond reach, while they attain every goal.
As wishes run wild, toppling all that can be attained.
وأباتَنِيand made me spend the night قَلِقَrestless on الوسادthe pillow كأنّنيas though I اِسprefix of 'I laid beneath myself'
وأباتَنِي قَلِقَ الوساد كأنّني اِس
تَبْطَنْتُI laid beneath myself (continued word) للجنبينfor both flanks شوكَthorns of سَيالِseyal acacia
تَبْطَنْتُ للجنبين شوكَ سَيالِ
And made me pass the night restless on my pillow, as though I had
Insomnia keeps me restless, as if I slept
Laid seyal-acacia thorns beneath both my sides.
On a bed of thorns flaying my sides.
يبدوshows غَراميmy consuming grief والتّجلّدُwhile composure مقصديmy aim
يبدو غَرامي والتّجلّدُ مقصدي
ويُجيبنيand answers me دمعيmy tears بغيرwithout سؤالِa question
ويُجيبني دمعي بغير سؤالِ
My consuming grief shows, though composure is my aim,
My love shows, though patience is my goal,
And my tears answer me without a question.
And my tears answer me without being asked.
ومتىand whenever طلبتُI seek الصّبرpatience عنهfor his loss وجدتُهI find it
ومتى طلبتُ الصّبر عنه وجدتُه
فيin حَيِّزِthe realm of الإعوازِwant والإقلالِand scarcity
في حَيِّزِ الإعوازِ والإقلالِ
And whenever I seek patience for his loss, I find it
Whenever I seek patience from it, I find it
In the realm of want and scarcity.
In the realm of frustration and paucity.
ياO نازحاًfar-departed one غدرتْbetrayed بهhim غدّارةٌa traitress
يا نازحاً غدرتْ به غدّارةٌ
لاnot يُتَّقَىcan be warded off مكروههاher harm بنزالِby combat
لا يُتَّقَى مكروهها بنزالِ
O far-departed one, betrayed by a traitress
O you who migrated, betrayed by a treacherous one
Whose harm cannot be warded off in combat.
Whose harm cannot be avoided by migration!
طالتْreached بهhim أيديthe hands of الخطوبcalamities ورُزؤُهand the loss of him
طالتْ به أيدي الخطوب ورُزؤُه
أبقىleft ذُراthe summits of العلياءglory غيرno longer طوالِlofty
أبقى ذُرا العلياء غير طوالِ
Calamities stretched their hands to him; his loss
The strokes of fate have been long for him, and his adversity
Left the summits of glory no longer high.
Remains even when the noble are gone.
رَفَعواthey raised جَوانبthe sides of نعشهhis bier فكأنّماso it was as though
رَفَعوا جَوانب نعشه فكأنّما
رفعواthey raised بهwith him جبلاًa mountain منamong الأجبالِmountains
رفعوا به جبلاً من الأجبالِ
They raised the sides of his bier, as though
They carried his bier as though
With him, they lifted a mountain among mountains.
They bore a mountain of mountains.
وطوَوْاand they closed عليهover him صفائحاًslabs ماnot نُضِّدَتْwere laid in tiers
وطوَوْا عليه صفائحاً ما نُضِّدَتْ
إلّاexcept علىupon الإنعامِbeneficence والإفضالِand bounty
إلّا على الإنعامِ والإفضالِ
And closed slabs over him that were laid
And they wrapped him in panels that are not
On nothing but beneficence and bounty.
Laid except for favors and generosity.
وأرَوْهthey buried him غيرَnot مضاجعٍa bedfellow لدنيّةٍto baseness
وأرَوْه غيرَ مضاجعٍ لدنيّةٍ
ونَعَوْهand announced his death غيرَnot مدنَّسِstained الأذيالِthe garment-hems
ونَعَوْه غيرَ مدنَّسِ الأذيالِ
They buried him, never a bedfellow to baseness,
They showed him other than a lowly grave,
And announced his death, his garment-hems unstained.
And mourned him with unsoiled garments.
وتصدّعواand they dispersed عنfrom جانبيهhis sides وإنّهthough he
وتصدّعوا عن جانبيه وإنّه
عَطَنُthe watering-place of الوفودِdelegations ومجمعُand the gathering-place of الأقوالِchieftains
عَطَنُ الوفودِ ومجمعُ الأقوالِ
And they dispersed from his sides, though he had been
They parted ways at his tomb, which is
The watering-place of delegations, the gathering-place of chieftains.
The concourse of visitors and conversations.
مَنْwho للذّمارِfor honor إذاwhen الفحولُthe bull camels تهادَرَتْroar at one another
مَنْ للذّمارِ إذا الفحولُ تهادَرَتْ
وخلطنand they mingle بينbetween تخبّطٍwild flailing وصِيالِand charging
وخلطن بين تخبّطٍ وصِيالِ
Who will guard honor when the bull camels roar at one another,
Who will lead the singers when the stalwarts are gone,
And mingle flailing blows with furious charges?
Lost in confusion and wailing?
مَنْwho للوفودfor the delegations تصامتواhave fallen silent عنfor lack of حجّةٍan argument
مَنْ للوفود تصامتوا عن حجّةٍ
مَنْwho للخصومِfor the adversaries تفارغواhave devoted themselves لجدالِto debate
مَنْ للخصومِ تفارغوا لجدالِ
Who will aid delegations fallen silent for lack of an argument?
Who will answer the guests when they dispute over no argument?
Who will face adversaries wholly given to debate?
Who will attend to the opponents when they disengage from debate?
مَنْwho للضّرِيكfor the destitute man إذاwhen غداhe sets out in the morning فيin أزْمَةٍhardship
مَنْ للضّرِيك إذا غدا في أزْمَةٍ
صِفْرَempty of اليدينboth hands وراحand returns at evening بالأموالِwith riches
صِفْرَ اليدين وراح بالأموالِ
Who will aid the pauper who goes out at dawn in hardship,
Who will help the destitute when he is in dire need,
Empty-handed, and returns at evening with riches?
Empty-handed, stripped of his money?
مَنْwho للجيوشfor the armies يقودهاwill lead them فيُعيدهاthen bring them back
مَنْ للجيوش يقودها فيُعيدها
محفوفةًsurrounded بالسَّبْىِby captives والأنفالِand spoils
محفوفةً بالسَّبْىِ والأنفالِ
Who will lead the armies and bring them back
Who will lead the armies and restore them
Ringed with captives and spoils?
Laden with captives and spoils?
مَنْwho للخيولِfor the horses يُثيرهاwill rouse them مِقْوَرَّةًlean-flanked
مَنْ للخيولِ يُثيرها مِقْوَرَّةً
مثلَlike الدَّبىyoung locusts هاجَتْهُstirred them ريحُa wind from شمالِthe north
مثلَ الدَّبى هاجَتْهُ ريحُ شمالِ
Who will rouse the horses, lean-flanked,
Who will provoke the steeds snorted in fury
Like young locusts stirred by a north wind?
As the north wind stirred their passion?
مَنْwho للقَناfor the spears يرويwill water صدورَthe breasts of صِعادهtheir shafts
مَنْ للقَنا يروي صدورَ صِعاده
فيin كلِّevery رَوْعٍterror of battle منfrom دمِthe blood of الأبطالِchampions
في كلِّ رَوْعٍ من دمِ الأبطالِ
Who will wield the spears, watering the breasts of their shafts
Who will water the breasts of the valiant in every
In every battle's terror with the blood of champions?
Raiding with the blood of heroes?
مَنْwho للسّيوفfor the swords يفلّwill notch حدَّthe edge of شفارهاtheir blades
مَنْ للسّيوف يفلّ حدَّ شفارها
بالضّربِby striking بينbetween كواهلٍshoulders وقِلالِand crowns
بالضّربِ بين كواهلٍ وقِلالِ
Who will wield the swords, notching their blades' edges
Who will blunt the sharp edges of swords
With blows between shoulders and crowns?
With blows between shoulders and napes?
كشفتْuncovered بطونُthe depths of الأرضِthe earth شمسthe sun of ظهورهاits surfaces
كشفتْ بطونُ الأرضِ شمس ظهورها
واِستَضجعتْand laid down جوّاًa sky لهاof its own فيin جالِan earthen bank
واِستَضجعتْ جوّاً لها في جالِ
The earth's depths uncovered the sun of its surface,
The belly of earth has revealed its shining sun,
And laid a sky of its own to rest in an earthen bank.
And it lies prostrated in the open.
هيهاتin vain! ضلّfailed عنagainst القضاءِfate وصرفِهِand its turns
هيهات ضلّ عن القضاءِ وصرفِهِ
كيدُthe stratagem of الشّجاعِthe brave man وحيلةُand the device of المحتالِthe schemer
كيدُ الشّجاعِ وحيلةُ المحتالِ
In vain! Against fate and its turns fail
Alas! The plots of the brave and tricks of the cunning
The brave man's stratagem and the schemer's cunning.
Are lost to the decree of fate and its dispensation!
أَأباO Abu عليٍّAli لنnever will تُراعَyou be stricken بمثلهاby its like
أَأبا عليٍّ لن تُراعَ بمثلها
فاِصبِرْso be patient لهاwith it ولَصَبْرُand surely the patience of غيركanyone other than you غالِcostly
فاِصبِرْ لها ولَصَبْرُ غيرك غالِ
O Abu Ali, you will never be stricken by its like;
O Abu Ali, none shall be watched over like you!
So bear it patiently; for anyone else, patience is hard-won.
So be patient, though the patience of others is dear.
ياO حاملَbearer of الأثقالِburdens ماwhat حُمّلْتَهyou were made to bear it
يا حاملَ الأثقالِ ما حُمّلْتَه
ثِقلٌa burden وليسand is not كسائرlike the rest of الأثقالِburdens
ثِقلٌ وليس كسائر الأثقالِ
O bearer of burdens, what you have been made to bear
O bearer of burdens, yours is no easy load;
Is a burden unlike other burdens.
It is not like other burdens.
فذُدِso drive away الدّموعtears عنfrom الجفونthe eyelids وطالماand how often
فذُدِ الدّموع عن الجفون وطالما
جمدتْthey congealed فلمand did not تقطرْdrip علىin the face of الأهوالِterrors
جمدتْ فلم تقطرْ على الأهوالِ
So drive tears back from your eyelids; how often
Hold back the tears from your eyelids, after
They have congealed, not dripping in the face of terrors!
They have frozen and ceased to fall for calamities.
ومتىand whenever طوىfolded up عنكaway from you السُّلوُّsolace سبيلَهits path
ومتى طوى عنك السُّلوُّ سبيلَه
فاِلبَسْthen put on لمنfor whoever يلقاكmeets you ثوبَthe garment of السّاليone consoled
فاِلبَسْ لمن يلقاك ثوبَ السّالي
And whenever solace folds its path away from you,
And when sadness turns away from you,
Wear, for those who meet you, the garment of one consoled.
Don the garb of the one who meets you.
وتعزَّand take solace عمّنْfor one لاnothing يعزّيbrings solace بعدهُafter him
وتعزَّ عمّنْ لا يعزّي بعدهُ
إلّاexcept مكارمُnoble deeds أُبقيتْleft behind ومعاليand lofty virtues
إلّا مكارمُ أُبقيتْ ومعالي
And take comfort for one after whom nothing consoles
And find solace from one who cannot console you,
Save noble deeds left behind, and lofty virtues.
Except by retained virtues and glories.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.