1. Time is like a poet who exaggerates, and we
Are like rhymes - some scanned short, some long.
١. الدَهرُ كَالشاعِرِ المُقوي وَنَحنُ بِهِ
مِثلُ الفَواصِلِ مَخفوضٌ وَمَرفوعُ
2. It never rejoiced at its own beauty
Unless it was paired with an ugly deed.
٢. ما سَرَّ يَوماً بِشَيءٍ مِن مَحاسِنِهِ
إِلّا وَذاكَ بِسوءِ الفِعلِ مَشفوعُ
3. And man desires this world and loves
His wealth, though he is driven toward what displeases him.
٣. وَالمَرءُ يَرغَبُ في الدُنِّيا وَيُعجِبُهُ
غِناهُ وَهُوَ إِلى ما ساءَ مَدفوعُ