قَالَHeلَهُ:said to him:
He said to him:
عَمَّنFrom whomحَمَلْتَdid you takeالْحِكْمَةَ؟wisdom?
From whom did you take wisdom?
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
عَنْFromعِدَّةٍa numberمِنَofالْفَلَاسِفَةِ.philosophers.
From a number of philosophers.
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
فَمَاSo what isأَفْضَلُthe bestالْحِكْمَةِ؟wisdom?
So what is the best wisdom?
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
مَعْرِفَةُKnowledgeالْمَرْءِof a manبِقَدْرِهِ.of his own worth.
Knowledge of a man of his own worth.
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
فَمَاSo whatتَقُولُdo you sayفِيaboutالْحِلْمِ؟forbearance?
So what do you say about forbearance?
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
حِلْمُThe forbearanceالْإِنْسَانِof a personمَاءُis the water ofوَجْهِهِ.his face (dignity).
The forbearance of a person is the water of his face.
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
فَمَاSo whatتَقُولُdo you sayفِيaboutالْمَالِwealthوَفَضْلِهِ؟and its virtue?
So what do you say about wealth and its virtue?
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
أَفْضَلُThe bestالْمَالِwealthمَاis thatأُعْطِيَfrom which is givenمِنْهُout of itالْحَقُّ.what is due.
The best wealth is that from which what is due is given.
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
فَمَاSo what isأَفْضَلُthe bestالْعَطِيَّةِ؟gift?
So what is the best gift?
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
أَنْThatيُعْطَىit is givenقَبْلَbeforeالسُّؤَالِ.the request.
That it is given before the request.
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
فَأَخْبِرْنِيSo inform meعَمَّاabout whatبَلَوْتَyou have testedمِنَofالزَّمَانِtimeوَتَصَرُّفِهِand its turningوَرَأَيْتَand you have seenمِنْofأَخْلَاقِthe moralsأَهْلِهِ.of its people.
So inform me about what you have experienced of time and its turns, and what you have seen of the morals of its people.
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
بَلَوْنَاWe testedالزَّمَانَtimeفَوَجَدْنَاهُand we found itصَاحِباًto be a companionوَلَاand it does notيَعْتِبُblameمَنْwhoeverعَاتَبَهُ،blames it,
We tested time and found it to be a companion that does not blame the one who blames it,
وَوَجَدْنَاand we foundالْإِنْسَانَmanصُورَةًto be a formمِنْfromصُوَرِthe forms ofالْحَيَوَانِanimals,
and we found man to be a form among animal forms,
يَتَفَاضَلُونَthey excel one anotherبِالْعُقُولِ،through intellects,
they excel one another through intellects,
وَوَجَدْنَاand we foundالْأَحْسَابَlineagesلَيْسَتْnot to beبِالْآبَاءِthrough fathersوَالْأُمَّهَاتِand mothers,
and we found that lineages are not through fathers and mothers,
وَلَكِنَّهَاbut rather theyهِيَareأَخْلَاقٌpraiseworthyمَحْمُودَةٌ،morals,
but rather they are praiseworthy morals,
وَفِيand inذَلِكَthatيَقُولُ،he says,
and concerning that he says,
أَوْorقَالَhe saidأَقُولُ:I say:
or he said, I say:
لَقَدْIndeedحَلَبْتُI milkedالزَّمَانَtimeأَشْطُرَهُits halves......ثُمَّthenمَحَصْتُI purifiedالصَّرِيحَthe pure milkمِنْfromحَلَبْmilking
I have milked time through all its phases ... then I extracted the purest of its milking.
فَلَمْSo I did not seeأَرَseeالْفَضْلَvirtueوَالْمَعَالِيand gloryفِيin......قَوْلِthe sayingالْفَتَىof the youthإِنَّنِيthat I amمِنَfromالْعَرَبْthe Arabs
Nor did I see virtue and glory in ... a young man's saying 'I am of the Arabs'.
حَتَّىUntilنَرَىwe seeسَامِياًone aspiringإِلَىtoخُلُقٍa character......يَذُودُwho defendsمَحْمُودَهُits praised traitsعَنِagainstالنَّسَبْlineage
Until we see one aspiring to a character, defending its praised traits against [mere] lineage.
مَاWhatيَنْفَعُbenefitsالْمَرْءَa manفِيinفَكَاهَتِهِhis boastfulness......مِنْofعَقْلِthe intellectجِدٍّof a grandfatherمَضَىwho passed awayوَعَقْلِand the intellect ofأَبْa father
What does a man benefit in his boasting ... from the intellect of a passed grandfather and the intellect of a father?
مَاMan isالْمَرْءُnothingإِلَّاexceptابْنُthe sonنَفْسِهِof himselfفَبِهَاso through it......يُعْرَفُhe is knownعِنْدَatالتَّحْصِيلِthe gatheringلِلنُّوبْfor adversities
Man is but the son of his own self; through it he is known when hardships are gathered.
حَتَّىUntilإِذَاwhenالْمَرْءُmanغَالَdestroysمَهْجَتَهُhis soul......أَلْفَيْتَهُyou find himتُرْبَةًdustمِنَfromالتُّرَبْthe dust
Until when man's soul perishes, you find him to be just dust from the dust.
وَوَجَدْنَاAnd we foundأَبْلَغَthe most eloquentالْعِظَاتِadmonitionsالنَّظَرَto be lookingإِلَىatمَحَلِّthe abodeالْأَمْوَاتِ،of the dead,
And we found the most eloquent of admonitions to be looking at the abode of the dead,
وَأَحْمَدَand the most commendableالْبَلَاغَةِeloquenceالصَّمْتَ،to be silence,
and the most commendable eloquence to be silence,
وَوَجَدْنَاand we foundلِأَهْلِfor the people ofالْحَزْمِdeterminationحِذَاراًa severeشَدِيداًcautionوَبِذَلِكَand through thatنَجْوٌis salvationمِنَfromالْمَكْرُوهِ،the disliked,
and we found that for the people of determination there is severe caution, and through that is salvation from evil,
وَالْكَرَمُand generosityحُسْنُis the goodness ofالْاصْطِبَارِ،patience,
and generosity is good patience,
وَالْعِزُّand gloryسُرْعَةُis the speed ofالْانْتِصَارِ،victory,
and glory is quickness of victory,
وَالتَّجْرِبَةُand experienceطُولُis length ofالْاعْتِبَارِ،taking lessons,
and experience is long-standing reflection,
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
خَبِرْنِيInform meهَلْdidنَظَرْتَyou lookفِيintoالنُّجُومِ؟the stars?
Inform me, did you look into the stars?
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
مَاI did notنَظَرْتُlookفِيهَاinto themإِلَّاexceptفِيمَاin whatأَرَدْتُI intendedبِهِby itالْهِدَايَةَguidanceوَلَمْand I did notأَنْظُرْlookفِيمَاin whatأَرَدْتُI intendedبِهِby itالْكَهَانَةَ،divination,
I did not look into them except for what I intended by it as guidance, and I did not look into what I intended by it as divination,
وَقَدْand indeedقُلْتُI saidفِيconcerningالنُّجُومِ:the stars:
and indeed I said concerning the stars:
عِلْمُThe science ofالنُّجُومِthe starsعَلَىtoالْعُقُولِintellectsوَبَالٌis a ruinوَبَلاءُand trial,
The science of the stars to intellects is a ruin and trial, and seeking something unattainable is straying.
وَطُلَّابُand seekers ofشَيْءٍsomethingلَاnotيُنَالُattainedضَلَالُis error
and seekers of something unattainable is straying.
مَاذَاWhat isطِلَابُكَyour seeking ofعِلْمَknowledge ofشَيْءٍa thingأُغْلِقَتْclosedمِنْfromدُونِهِbefore itالْأَفْلَاكُthe spheresلَيْسَit is notيُنَالُattained
What is your seeking knowledge of a thing before which the spheres are closed and not attained?
هَيْهَاتَFar from itمَاdoesأَحَدٌanyoneبِغَامِضِwith obscureقَدْرِهِits measureيَدْرِيknowكَمِhow manyالْأَرْزَاقُprovisionsوَالْآجَالُand lifespans are
Far is it that anyone with obscure estimation knows the amount of provisions and lifespans,
إِلَّاExceptالَّذِيthe Oneفَوْقَaboveالسَّمَاءِthe skyمَكَانُهُis His placeفَلِوَجْهِهِso to His faceالْإِكْرَامُis honorوَالْإِجْلَالُand majesty
Except the One whose place is above the heaven, so to His face belongs honor and majesty.
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
فَهَلْThen didنَظَرْتَyou lookفِيintoزَجْرِthe omen-taking ofالطَّيْرِ؟birds?
Then did you look into the omen-taking of birds?
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
نَحْنُWeمَعَاشِرَcommunity ofالْعَرَبِArabsمُولَعُونَare fond ofبِزَجْرِtaking omens fromالطَّيْرِ.birds.
We, the community of Arabs, are fond of taking omens from birds.
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
فَمَاSo what isأَعْجَبُthe most wondrousمَاwhatرَأَيْتَهُyou sawمِنْهُ؟of it?
So what is the most wondrous thing you saw of it?
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
شَخَصْتُI set outأَنَاIوَصَاحِبٌand a companionلِيof mineمِنَfromالْعَرَبِthe Arabsإِلَىtoبَعْضِsomeالْمُلُوكِkings
I and a companion of mine from the Arabs set out to some king,
فَأَلْفَيْنَاهُand we found himيُرِيدُintendingغَزْوَto invadeقَوْمٍa peopleكَانُواwho wereعَلَىuponدِينِthe religion ofالنَّصْرَانِيَّةِChristianity
and we found him intending to invade a people who were upon the Christian religion.
فَخَرَجَSo he went outحَتَّىuntilإِذَاwhenكَانَhe wasعَلَىatفَرَاسِخَparasangsمِنْfromمَدِينَتِهِhis city
So he went out until, when he was at a distance of parasangs from his city,
أَمَرَhe orderedبِضَرْبِthe pitching ofفَسَاطِيطِهِhis tentsوَأْرُوقَتِهِand pavilionsلِتَتَوَافَىso that would gatherإِلَيْهِto himجُنُودُهُhis soldiers
he ordered the pitching of his tents and pavilions so that his soldiers would gather to him.
وَضُرِبَAnd there was pitchedبِهِfor himفِسْطَاطٌa tentعَلَىonشَاطِئِthe bank ofنَهْرٍa river
A tent was pitched for him on the bank of a river,
وَأَمَرَand he orderedبِخِبَاءٍa boothفَضُرِبَto be pitchedلِيfor meوَلِصَاحِبِي،and for my companion,
and he ordered a booth to be pitched for me and my companion.
فَبَيْنَاSo whileنَحْنُweكَذَلِكَwere thusإِذْwhenأَقْبَلَapproachedطَائِرَانِtwo birdsأَسْوَدُone blackوَأَبْيَضُand one white
While we were thus, two birds approached, one black and one white,
وَأَنَاwhile Iوَصَاحِبِيand my companionنَرْمُقُهُمَاwere watching themحَتَّىuntilإِذَاwhenكَانَاthey wereرَأْسَهُat his head
and my companion and I were watching them until when they were above his head,
رَفْرَفَاthey flutteredوَشَرْشَرَاand chirpedثُمَّthenغَابَاthey disappeared
they fluttered and chirped, then disappeared.
ثُمَّThenرَجَعَاthey returnedأَيْضاًalsoحَتَّىuntilإِذَاwhenكَانَاthey wereقَرِيباًnearمِنْهُhim
Then they returned also until when they were near him,
طَوَيَاهُthey circled himثُمَّthenأَقْبَلَاthey advancedنَحْوَنَاtowards usفَوَقَفَاand stoppedثُمَّthenرَتَعَا.grazed/pecked.
they circled him, then advanced towards us, stopped, and pecked.
فَقَالَSo saidصَاحِبِي:my companion:
My companion said:
مَاI have notرَأَيْتُseenكَالْيَوْمِlike todayطَائِرَيْنِtwo birdsأَعْجَبَmore wondrousمِنْهُمَاthan themفَأَيُّهُمَاso which of themأَنْتَdo youمُخْتَارٌ؟choose?
I have not seen two birds more wondrous than them today, so which of the two do you choose?
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:الْأَسْوَدُ.The black one.
I said: The black one.
قَالَ:He said:الْأَبْيَضُThe white oneأَعْجَبُهُمَاis the more wondrous of themإِلَيَّ،to me,فَمَاso whatتَأَوَّلْتَهُمَا؟do you interpret them as?
He said: The white one is the more wondrous of them to me, so how do you interpret them?
قُلْتُ:I said:اللَّيْلُThe nightوَالنَّهَارُand the dayيَطْوِيَانِwill foldهَذَاthisالرَّجُلَmanفِيinسَفَرِهِhis journeyفَيَمُوتُ،and he will die,
I said: The night and the day will cut short this man's journey, and he will die.
وَتَأَوَّلْتُAnd I interpretedاخْتِيَارَكَyour choice ofالْأَبْيَضَthe white oneأَنَّكَthat youتَنْصَرِفُwill returnبِيَدٍwith a handبَيْضَاءَwhiteمُخْفِقَةًdeprivedمِنَofالْمَالِ.wealth.
And I interpreted your choice of the white one as meaning that you will return empty-handed, deprived of wealth.
فَإِذَاAnd beholdهُوَheقَدْindeedغَضِبَ.grew angry.
And behold, he grew angry.
فَلَمَّاSo whenجَنَّاbecame darkاللَّيْلُthe nightبَعَثَsentإِلَيْنَاto usالْمَلِكُthe kingلِنَسْمُرَto converse at nightعِنْدَهُwith him
When night fell, the king sent for us to converse with him at night,
فَإِذَاand beholdصَاحِبِيmy companionقَدْhadأَخْبَرَهُtold himبِالْخَبَرِ،the story,
and behold, my companion had told him the story.
فَسَأَلَنِيSo he asked meفَأَخْبَرْتُهُand I told himوَصَدَقْتُهُ.and told him the truth.
So he asked me, and I told him and spoke the truth.
فَغَضِبَSo he grew angryوَقَالَ:and said:هَذِهِThis isحَمِيَّةٌbiasمِنْكَfrom youلِأَهْلِtowards the people ofدِينِكَ.your religion.
He grew angry and said: This is bias from you towards the people of your religion.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:أَمَّاAs forأَنَاmeفَقَدْindeedصَدَقْتُكَ.I told you the truth.
I said: As for me, I have indeed told you the truth.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedبِحَبْسِيmy imprisonmentوَمَضَىand proceededلِوَجْهِهِ،on his way,
So he ordered my imprisonment and proceeded on his way.
فَلَمْAnd he did notيَتَجَاوَزْgo farإِلَّاexceptقَلِيلاًa littleحَتَّىuntilمَاتَ،he died,
He had not gone far until he died,
فَأَوْصَىand he bequeathedلِيto meبِعِشْرِينَtwentyنَاقَةًshe-camelsوَقَالَ:and said:قَاتَلَMay God fightاللَّهُGodقَسّاً!Qass!
and he bequeathed to me twenty she-camels and said: May God fight Qass!
لَقَدْIndeedمَحَضَنِيhe offered me pureالنَّصِيحَةَ.advice.
Indeed he offered me pure advice.
فَانْصَرَفْتُSo I returnedمِنْfromسَفَرِيmy journeyذَلِكَthatبِعِدَّةٍwith a numberمِنَofالْإِبِلِcamelsوَانْصَرَفَand returnedصَاحِبِيmy companionمُخْفِقاًempty-handedمِنَofالْمَالِ.wealth.
So I returned from that journey of mine with a number of camels, and my companion returned empty-handed of wealth.
قَالَSaidالْمَلِكُ:the king:وَمَاAnd whatرَأَيْتَdid you seeأَيْضاًalsoمِنَofالزَّجْرِomen-takingأَعْجَبَ؟more wondrous?
The king said: What else did you see of omen-taking that was more wondrous?
قُلْتُ:I said:رَأَيْتُI sawمَرَّةًonceعِنْدَatالْمَلِكِthe kingالْهُمَامِthe resoluteأَبِيAbuقَابُوسَQabus
I said: I saw once at the resolute king Abu Qabus
وَقَدْwhenخَرَجَthere revoltedعَلَيْهِagainst himخَارِجٌa rebelمِنْfromمُضَرَMudarيُرِيدُwantingمُلْكَهُhis kingdom
when a rebel from Mudar revolted against him, wanting his kingdom,
وَقَدْand he hadحَشَدَgatheredلَهُfor himفَبَعَثَso he sentإِلَىtoبَعْضِsomeعُمَّالِهِof his governors
and he had mustered [forces] against him. So he sent to some of his governors
فِيtoتَوْجِيهِdispatchأَرْبَعِمِائَةِfour hundredفَارِسٍhorsemenوَوَجَّهَنِيand he dispatched meمَعَwithالرَّسُولِthe messenger
to dispatch four hundred horsemen, and he dispatched me with the messenger,
وَأَمَرَنَاand he ordered usبِالشَّدِّto attackعَلَىuponأَيْدِيهِمْtheir handsفِيinجَمْعِgathering ofالْخَيْلِhorsesوَالرِّجَالِ،and men,
and he ordered us to join forces with them in gathering horses and men.
وَكَانَAnd the messengerالرَّسُولُwasشَاعِراً،a poet,
The messenger was a poet.
فَبَيْنَاSo whileنَحْنُweنَسِيرُwere travelingإِذْwhenسَنَحَتْthere appearedلَنَاto usظِبَاءٌgazelles
While we were traveling, some gazelles appeared to us,
أَعْنِزٌdoesesفِيهَاamong whichتَيْسٌwas a buckيَقُدُمُهَا،leading them,
does among which was a buck leading them.
وَكَانَAnd Abu Qabusأَبُوwasقَابُوسَpromisingيُوَاعِدُto meet himلِقَائِهِon such and suchفِيa day,يَوْمِandكَذَاsuchوَكَذَا،and such,
Abu Qabus had promised to meet him on such and such a day.
فَنَحْنُSo weنَقُولُwere sayingإِنْifكَانَthe kingالْمَلِكُhas gone outقَدْon suchخَرَجَand suchفِيa day,يَوْمِthen he isكَذَاtodayفَهُوَin suchالْيَوْمِand such a placeفِيand we have approachedمَوْضِعِwhile we are leadingكَذَاa massiveوَقَدْarmy.أَقْبَلْنَاSo the messengerوَنَحْنُbeganنَقُودُto recite:جَيْشاًaعَرَمْرَماً،bفَأَنْشَأَcالرَّسُولُdيَقُولُ:e
So we were saying: If the king has gone out on such-and-such a day, he is today in such-and-such a place, and we have approached while leading a massive army. So the messenger began to recite:
أَلَاAhلَيْتَwould thatشِعْرِيI knewمَاwhatتَقُولُsayالسَّوَانِحُthe right-to-left passing animals......أَغَادٍis departingأَبُوAbuقَابُوسَQabusأَمْorهُوَis heرَائِحٌreturning
Ah, would that I knew what the passing omens say: Is Abu Qabus departing or is he returning?
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
فَنَظَرْتُSo I lookedإِلَىatالتَّيْسِthe buckعِنْدَuponفَرَاغِهِhis finishingمِنْofهَذَاthisالْبَيْتِverse
So I looked at the buck upon his finishing of this verse,
فَدَخَلَand he enteredفِيintoمَكْنَسِهِhis covertحَتَّىuntilتَوَارَىhe disappearedفِيهِ،in it,
and it entered its covert until it disappeared in it,
فَدَخَلَنِيso there entered meمِنْfromذَلِكَthatمَاwhatلَمْI was notأَقْدِرْableعَلَىtoأَنْthatأُمْسِكَcontrolنَفْسِيmyselfحَتَّىuntilاسْتَرْجَعْتُ.I said 'Indeed to God we belong'.
so I was struck by such dread from that which I could not control myself until I uttered 'To God we belong'.