أَلَمdid you not تَربَعlinger عَلىat الطَلَلِthe ruined dwelling المُريبِdoubt-provoking
أَلَم تَربَع عَلى الطَلَلِ المُريبِ
عَفاfaded away بَينَbetween المُحَصَّبِal-Muḥaṣṣab فَالطَلوبِand al-Ṭalūb
عَفا بَينَ المُحَصَّبِ فَالطَلوبِ
Did you not linger at the ruins that stirred doubt,
Did you not see him sitting upon the ruined abode,
effaced between al-Muḥaṣṣab and al-Ṭalūb,
Among the traces between Makkah and At-Taloub?
بِمَكَّةَin Mecca دارِساًworn away دَرَجَتpassed عَلَيهِover it
بِمَكَّةَ دارِساً دَرَجَت عَلَيهِ
خِلافَafter the departure of الحَيِّthe tribe دَيلُthe train of صَباًan east wind دَؤوبِunceasing
خِلافَ الحَيِّ دَيلُ صَباً دَؤوبِ
in Mecca, worn away, over which swept,
In Makkah, where he frequented its paths,
after the tribe departed, the train of a ceaseless east wind?
The remains of a life have passed away to a persistent love.
فَأَقفَرَso it became deserted غَيرَexcept for مُنتَضِدٍpiled stones وَنُؤيٍand a surrounding trench
فَأَقفَرَ غَيرَ مُنتَضِدٍ وَنُؤيٍ
أَجَدَّrenewed الشَوقَlonging لِلقَلبِfor the heart الطَروبِthe impassioned
أَجَدَّ الشَوقَ لِلقَلبِ الطَروبِ
So it lay deserted, save for piled stones and a surrounding trench.
So it became desolate, with no pillar or pillar erected,
It rekindled longing in the impassioned heart.
Yearning has overcome the enamored heart.
كَأَنَّas though الرَبعَthe dwelling-site أُلبِسَwas clothed عَبقَرِيّاًrich patterned fabric
كَأَنَّ الرَبعَ أُلبِسَ عَبقَرِيّاً
مِنَof الجَنَدِيِّJanadī cloth أَوor بَزِّthe cloth of الجَروبِal-Jarūb
مِنَ الجَنَدِيِّ أَو بَزِّ الجَروبِ
As though the dwelling were clothed in richly patterned fabric,
As if the open desert was clothed
of Janadī weaving or the cloth of al-Jarūb.
With a soldier’s uniform or a spotted cloak.
كَأَنَّas though مَقَصَّthe track of رامِسَةٍan effacing wind عَلَيهِupon it
كَأَنَّ مَقَصَّ رامِسَةٍ عَلَيهِ
مَعَwith الحِدثانِtime's vicissitudes سَطرٌa written line فيon عَسيبِa palm stalk
مَعَ الحِدثانِ سَطرٌ في عَسيبِ
As though the track of an effacing wind upon it,
As if the remains of an ancient encampment upon it,
with time's vicissitudes, were a line inscribed on a palm stalk.
Along with signs of settlement in a fertile valley.
لِنُعمٍbelonging to Nuʿm إِذwhen تَعاوَدَهُrevisited him هُيامٌlove-madness
لِنُعمٍ إِذ تَعاوَدَهُ هُيامٌ
بِهِin him أَعياproved intractable عَلىfor الحاويthe charmer الطَبيبِthe physician
بِهِ أَعيا عَلى الحاوي الطَبيبِ
Nuʿm's dwelling—when love-madness revisited him,
Due to a blessing, when a life of comfort pursued him,
a sickness within him that baffled the healing charmer.
He wearied over the protector, the Physician.
لَعَمرُكَby your life إِنَّنيindeed I مِنregarding دَينِthe debt of نُعمٍNuʿm
لَعَمرُكَ إِنَّني مِن دَينِ نُعمٍ
لَكَالداعيsurely like one calling إِلىto غَيرِnot المُجيبِone who answers
لَكَالداعي إِلى غَيرِ المُجيبِ
By your life, in claiming what Nuʿm owes me,
By your life, I am of the religion of the blessing of comfort,
I am surely like one calling to someone who will not answer.
Like the one who calls to other than the Responder.
وَماand not نُعمٌNuʿm وَلَوeven though عُلِّقتُI was enamored of نُعماًNuʿm
وَما نُعمٌ وَلَو عُلِّقتُ نُعماً
بِجازِيَةِone who repays النَوالِkindness وَلاnor مُثيبِone who rewards
بِجازِيَةِ النَوالِ وَلا مُثيبِ
And Nuʿm, though I have fallen in love with Nuʿm,
And blessing – even if I hung with it – is not
neither repays kindness nor rewards it.
With the generosity of gifts, nor a Grantor.
وَماand not تَجزيshe repays بِقَرضِfor a loan of الوُدِّaffection نُعمٌNuʿm
وَما تَجزي بِقَرضِ الوُدِّ نُعمٌ
وَلاnor تَعِدُshe promises النَوالَfavor إِلىfor قَريبِa near time
وَلا تَعِدُ النَوالَ إِلى قَريبِ
Nor does Nuʿm repay a loan of affection,
And blessing does not reward with a friendly gesture,
nor promise favor any time soon.
Nor promises the gift to a neighbor.
إِذاwhen نُعمٌNuʿm نَأَتwithdrew بَعُدَتbecame distant وَتَعدوand intervene
إِذا نُعمٌ نَأَت بَعُدَت وَتَعدو
عَوادٍhindrances أَنthat تُزارَshe be visited مَعَalong with الرَقيبِthe watcher
عَوادٍ أَن تُزارَ مَعَ الرَقيبِ
When Nuʿm withdraws, she is distant, and there intervene
When blessing comes with distance and exceeds
hindrances to visiting her, along with the watcher.
The limit, that it be visited along with an overseer.
وَإِنand if شَطَّتbecame far off بِهاwith her دارٌa dwelling تَعَيّاgrew intractable
وَإِن شَطَّت بِها دارٌ تَعَيّا
عَلَيهِfor him أَمرُهُhis affair بالَthe plight of الغَريبِthe stranger
عَلَيهِ أَمرُهُ بالَ الغَريبِ
And if her dwelling carries her far away, he is bewildered
And if an abode is adorned with it, its affair is
by his plight—the plight of a stranger.
Wonderful to him, without strange.
أُسَمّيهاI name her لِتُكتَمَso she is concealed بِاِسمِby the name of نُعمٍNuʿm
أُسَمّيها لِتُكتَمَ بِاِسمِ نُعمٍ
وَيُبديand reveals القَلبُthe heart عَنabout شَخصٍa person حَبيبِbeloved
وَيُبدي القَلبُ عَن شَخصٍ حَبيبِ
I call her by the name Nuʿm to keep her concealed,
I called it blessing, to hide it with the name
yet the heart discloses a beloved figure.
While my heart reveals about a beloved person.
وَأَكتُمُand I conceal ماwhat أُسَمّيهاI call her وَتَبدوand appear
وَأَكتُمُ ما أُسَمّيها وَتَبدو
شَواكِلُهُits signs لِذيto one possessing اللُبِّunderstanding الأَريبِthe shrewd
شَواكِلُهُ لِذي اللُبِّ الأَريبِ
And I conceal what I call her, yet there appear
I hide what I named, yet its features appear
its telltale signs to a shrewd, discerning mind.
To the possessor of an insightful heart.
فَإِمّاthen if تُعرِضيyou turn away عَنّاfrom us وَتُعديand are swayed
فَإِمّا تُعرِضي عَنّا وَتُعدي
بِقَولِby the words of مُماذِقٍa dissembler مَلِقٍa flatterer كَذوبِa habitual liar
بِقَولِ مُماذِقٍ مَلِقٍ كَذوبِ
So if you turn away from us and are swayed
So either you turn away from us and ignore,
by the words of a double-dealing, fawning liar,
With the words of a taster, a gentle liar.
فَكَمthen how many مِنof ناصِحٍan adviser فيconcerning آلِthe family of نُعمٍNuʿm
فَكَم مِن ناصِحٍ في آلِ نُعمٍ
عَصَيتُI disobeyed وَذيand one possessing مُلاطَفَةٍgentle persuasion نَسيبِa kinsman
عَصَيتُ وَذي مُلاطَفَةٍ نَسيبِ
how many an adviser concerning Nuʿm's family
How many counselors in the family of blessing
have I defied, and many a kindly kinsman!
I have disobeyed, and gentle relatives!
فَهَلّاthen why not تَسأَليyou ask أَفناءَthe clans of سَعدٍSaʿd
فَهَلّا تَسأَلي أَفناءَ سَعدٍ
وَقَدand indeed تَبدوbecomes evident التَجارِبُexperience لِلَّبيبِto the discerning
وَقَد تَبدو التَجارِبُ لِلَّبيبِ
Why not ask the clans of Saʿd?
Why do you not ask the courtyards of Sa’d
For experience becomes plain to the discerning.
When experiences appear to the intelligent?
سَبَقناwe took the lead بِالمَكارِمِin noble deeds وَاِستَبَحناand we overran
سَبَقنا بِالمَكارِمِ وَاِستَبَحنا
قُرىvillages ماwhat lies بَينَbetween مَأرِبَMaʾrib فَاِلدُروبِand al-Durūb
قُرى ما بَينَ مَأرِبَ فَاِلدُروبِ
We took the lead in noble deeds and overran
We surpassed in nobility, and we took as booty
the villages between Maʾrib and al-Durūb,
The towns between Marib and Ed-Duroob.
بِكُلِّwith every قِيادِrein of سَلهَبَةٍa long-limbed mare سَبوحٍswimming-gaited
بِكُلِّ قِيادِ سَلهَبَةٍ سَبوحٍ
وَساميand high of الطَرفِgaze ذيpossessing حُضرٍa swift gallop نَجيبِnoble-bred
وَسامي الطَرفِ ذي حُضرٍ نَجيبِ
with every long-limbed, swimming-gaited mare under rein,
With every brave, generous leader
and every high-gazing, swift-running thoroughbred.
Of an eminent gaze and noble visage.
وَنَحنُand we فَوارِسُhorsemen of الهَيجاbattle إِذاwhen ماever
وَنَحنُ فَوارِسُ الهَيجا إِذا ما
رَئيسُthe chief of القَومِthe people أَجمَعَresolved لِلهُروبِto flee
رَئيسُ القَومِ أَجمَعَ لِلهُروبِ
And we are the horsemen of battle whenever
We are the horsemen of valor when
the people's leader resolves to flee.
The chieftain of the people gather for flight.
نُقيمُwe stand firm عَلىagainst الخُطوبِcalamities فَلَنso never تَراناyou see us
نُقيمُ عَلى الخُطوبِ فَلَن تَرانا
نُشَلُّwe are driven off نَخافُwe fear عاقِبَةَthe outcome of الخُطوبِcalamities
نُشَلُّ نَخافُ عاقِبَةَ الخُطوبِ
We stand firm against calamities, so you will never see us
We stand firm in calamities, so you will not see us
driven off, fearing the outcome of calamities.
Fleeing, fearing the outcome of disasters.
وَيَمنَعُand protects سِربَناour band فيin الحَربِwar شُمٌّproud men
وَيَمنَعُ سِربَنا في الحَربِ شُمٌّ
مَصاليتٌfearless warriors مَساعِرُkindlers لِلحُروبِof wars
مَصاليتٌ مَساعِرُ لِلحُروبِ
And our band in war is guarded by proud men,
In war, our flock is protected by
fearless warriors, kindlers of wars.
Swords that are unsheathed for wars.
وَيَأمَنُand is safe جارُناour neighbor فيناamong us وَتُلقىand are found
وَيَأمَنُ جارُنا فينا وَتُلقى
فَواضِلُناour bounties بِمُحتَفَظٍin a protected place خَصيبِfertile
فَواضِلُنا بِمُحتَفَظٍ خَصيبِ
And our neighbor is safe among us, and there are found
And our neighbor feels safe among us, and
our bounties in a well-guarded, fertile haven.
Our virtues are met with a fertile raincloud.
وَنَعلَمُand we know أَنَّناthat we سَنَبيدُshall perish يَوماًone day
وَنَعلَمُ أَنَّنا سَنَبيدُ يَوماً
كَماjust as قَدalready بادَperished مِنamong عَدَدِthe multitude of الشُعوبِpeoples
كَما قَد بادَ مِن عَدَدِ الشُعوبِ
And we know that one day we shall perish,
We know that one day we will perish
as many among the peoples have already perished.
As many nations before us have perished.
فَنَجتَنِبُso we avoid المَقاذِعَdisgraceful deeds حَيثُwherever كانَتthey are
فَنَجتَنِبُ المَقاذِعَ حَيثُ كانَت
وَنَكتَسِبُand we earn العَلاءَeminence مَعَalongside الكَسوبِthe diligent achiever
وَنَكتَسِبُ العَلاءَ مَعَ الكَسوبِ
So we shun disgraceful deeds wherever they are,
So we avoid lowliness wherever it was
and earn eminence alongside those who strive for it.
And acquire loftiness along with earning.
وَلَوand if سُئِلَتwere asked بِناabout us البَطحاءُal-Baṭḥāʾ قالَتit would say
وَلَو سُئِلَت بِنا البَطحاءُ قالَت
هُمُthey أَهلُpeople of الفَواضِلِbounties وَالسُيوبِand gifts
هُمُ أَهلُ الفَواضِلِ وَالسُيوبِ
And were al-Baṭḥāʾ asked about us, it would say:
If the open land was asked about us, it would say
"They are people of bounty and lavish gifts."
“They are the people of virtues and courage.”
وَيُشرِقُand shines بَطنُthe valley of مَكَّةَMecca حينَwhen نُضحيwe spend the morning
وَيُشرِقُ بَطنُ مَكَّةَ حينَ نُضحي
بِهِin it وَمُناخُand the camels' resting-place واجِبَةِfallen الجَنوبِthe flanks
بِهِ وَمُناخُ واجِبَةِ الجَنوبِ
And Mecca's valley shines when we spend the morning
The belly of Makkah shines when we sacrifice
there, as does the resting-place of camels fallen on their sides.
With it, and the sacrificial camels of pilgrimage.
وَأَشعَثَand a disheveled man إِنif دَعَوتَyou call أَجابَhe answers وَهناًlate at night
وَأَشعَثَ إِن دَعَوتَ أَجابَ وَهناً
عَلىdespite طولِprolonged الكَرىdrowsiness وَعَلىand despite الدُؤوبِunceasing toil
عَلى طولِ الكَرى وَعَلى الدُؤوبِ
And many a disheveled man, if you call, responds late at night,
Ash’ath – if you called him – responded, bent over
despite prolonged drowsiness and unceasing toil.
For ages, enduring.
وَكانَand was وَسادَهُhis pillow أَحناءُthe curved parts of رَحلٍa camel saddle
وَكانَ وَسادَهُ أَحناءُ رَحلٍ
عَلىon أَصلابِthe backs of ذِعلِبَةٍa nimble she-camel هَبوبِswift-moving
عَلى أَصلابِ ذِعلِبَةٍ هَبوبِ
And his pillow was the curved frame of a camel saddle,
His pillow was the sand dunes
upon the back of a nimble, fleet she-camel.
On the humps of burdened, roaring camels.
أُقيمُI spend بِهِwith him سَوادَthe blackness of اللَيلِnight نَصّاًdriving at full speed
أُقيمُ بِهِ سَوادَ اللَيلِ نَصّاً
إِذاwhen حُبَّis preferred الرُقادُsleep عَلىover الهُبوبِwaking
إِذا حُبَّ الرُقادُ عَلى الهُبوبِ
I spend the blackness of night with him, driving at full speed,
I spend the darkness of night wakeful
when sleep is preferred to waking.
When sleep settles upon the blowing wind.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.