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Originally Posted by sun surfer
I know the sections you mean in the Haddawy. I thought maybe they were verses from the Quran? Or some other similar famous verses during the periods this was being written?
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The verses are definitely not from the Qur'an. BTW, in 2010 Islamist lawyers in Egypt have
called for Arabian Nights to be banned.
Many verses in the book are actually by famous poets, for example the very first verse in the book is by
Jarir ibn ‘Atiya.
Unfortunately, several translators tried to match the original rhyme scheme at the expense of readability.
Here are three translations of the same poem:
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Originally Posted by John Payne
She shines out in the dusk, and lo! the day is here,
And all the trees flower forth with blossoms bright and clear,
The sun from out her brows arises, and the moon,
When she unveils her face, cloth hide for shame and fear.
All living things prostrate themselves before her feet,
When she unshrouds and all her hidden charms appear;
And when she flashes forth the lightnings of her glance,
She maketh eyes to rain, like showers, with many a tear.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Richard Burton
She rose like the morn as she shone through the night
And she gilded the grove with her gracious sight.
From her radiance the sun taketh increase when
She unveileth and shameth the moonshine bright.
Bow down all beings between her hands
As she showeth charms with her veil undight.
And she floodeth cities with torrent tears
When she flasheth her look of levin light.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Malcolm C. Lyons
She shone in the darkness, and day appeared
As the trees shed brightness over her.
Her radiance makes suns rise and shine,
While, as for moons, she covers them in shame.
When veils are rent and she appears,
All things bow down before her.
As lightning flashes from her sanctuary,
A rain of tears floods down.
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