אָמְרָה שְׂמַח בַּעֲבוּר הִגִּיעֲךָ אֵל אֱלֵי שָׁנִים חֲמִשִּׁים בְּעוֹלָמָךְ
וְלֹא יָדְעָה כִּי אֵין חֲלֻקָּה בְּעֵינַי בֵּין יְמוֹתַי אֲשֶׁר עָבְרוּ וּבֵינוֹת יְמֵי נֹחַ אֲשֶׁר אֶשְׁמְעָה
אֵין לִי בְעוֹלָם לְבַד שָׁעָה אֲנִי בָהּ וְהִיא תַּעֲמֹד כְּרֶגַע וְאַחַר כֵּן כְּעָב נָסְעָה
قالت اسعد لأن وصّلك الله الى خمسين سنة في عالمك
ولا تدري ان ليس اختلاف في اعيني بين أيامي الّتي مرّت وبين أيام نوح الّتي سمعتها
ليس لي شئ في العالم الا ساعة انا فيها وهى تستمر لحظة وبعدما كغيمة مضى
أبو إسحاق إسماعيل بن النغريلة
וְלֹא יָדְעָה כִּי אֵין חֲלֻקָּה בְּעֵינַי בֵּין יְמוֹתַי אֲשֶׁר עָבְרוּ וּבֵינוֹת יְמֵי נֹחַ אֲשֶׁר אֶשְׁמְעָה
אֵין לִי בְעוֹלָם לְבַד שָׁעָה אֲנִי בָהּ וְהִיא תַּעֲמֹד כְּרֶגַע וְאַחַר כֵּן כְּעָב נָסְעָה
قالت اسعد لأن وصّلك الله الى خمسين سنة في عالمك
ولا تدري ان ليس اختلاف في اعيني بين أيامي الّتي مرّت وبين أيام نوح الّتي سمعتها
ليس لي شئ في العالم الا ساعة انا فيها وهى تستمر لحظة وبعدما كغيمة مضى
أبو إسحاق إسماعيل بن النغريلة
But she didn´t discern: there´s no difference between my past and Noah´s, of which I´ve heard.
I´ve nothing in the world except the present, it lasts but a moment, then like a cloud, it passes.
English and Arabic translations by Mark F Westergreen
Comments:
The following quote is from the Jewish Encyclodedia: "Samuel's poetic compositions are distinguished for their elevation of
thought; but they are devoid of elegance of form. It became proverbial
to say, "Cold as the snow of Hermon, or as the songs of the Levite
Samuel" (Dukes, "Naḥal Ḳedumim," p. 5)."
I do not agree with that verdict at all. I would´nt say this short piece is the greatest thing I´ve ever read, nevertheless, it´s following the rules of Arabic poetry within the Hebrew language, v. From Arabic to Hebrew , and its theme lies squarely in the tradition of Qohelet.
An understanding of the word سنة / שנה , and the disparity between the poet´s age and Noah´s purported lifespan reveals the ironic twist of this short poem. I also encourage readers to consult all entries in BDB under the following roots שנה - ישן as well. Perhaps both go back to an original bi-lateral root שן that carried the sense change, sleep, another year, old.
Here is a short commentary on Google Books by: Shulamit Elizur, שולמית אליצור
I provide the following translation of her comments for those who do not read Hebrew:
Opening with a quote by someone creates an expectation of a reply, and breaking the expected pattern by the lack of a response may signify something important. This can be demonstrated using one of the poems of Samuel HaNagid from his collection "Son of Qohelet". The poem opens with "She said" followed by a quote from an anonymous interlocutor directed to the poet. The words of the reaction in response to her ought to be written in direct speech. But the poet chose not to do so: He has no answer at all for the interlocutor, instead he reports his reflections upon hearing her words, thus eliminating and mocking them. Breaking the debate format occurs apparently in order to teach that what was heard at the beginning of the poem does not deserve a response. The interlocutor "doesn´t know" what the poet knows, so there is no way she´ll understand the reflective reply.
Links for line #1
BDB: v. Hiph`il under נגע
Conjugation chart
I do not agree with that verdict at all. I would´nt say this short piece is the greatest thing I´ve ever read, nevertheless, it´s following the rules of Arabic poetry within the Hebrew language, v. From Arabic to Hebrew , and its theme lies squarely in the tradition of Qohelet.
An understanding of the word سنة / שנה , and the disparity between the poet´s age and Noah´s purported lifespan reveals the ironic twist of this short poem. I also encourage readers to consult all entries in BDB under the following roots שנה - ישן as well. Perhaps both go back to an original bi-lateral root שן that carried the sense change, sleep, another year, old.
Here is a short commentary on Google Books by: Shulamit Elizur, שולמית אליצור
I provide the following translation of her comments for those who do not read Hebrew:
Opening with a quote by someone creates an expectation of a reply, and breaking the expected pattern by the lack of a response may signify something important. This can be demonstrated using one of the poems of Samuel HaNagid from his collection "Son of Qohelet". The poem opens with "She said" followed by a quote from an anonymous interlocutor directed to the poet. The words of the reaction in response to her ought to be written in direct speech. But the poet chose not to do so: He has no answer at all for the interlocutor, instead he reports his reflections upon hearing her words, thus eliminating and mocking them. Breaking the debate format occurs apparently in order to teach that what was heard at the beginning of the poem does not deserve a response. The interlocutor "doesn´t know" what the poet knows, so there is no way she´ll understand the reflective reply.
Links for line #1
BDB: v. Hiph`il under נגע
Conjugation chart
