إذاif كنتyou were لوif دامlasted السوادthe blackness of the hair وأخلقتْand wore away
إذا كنت لو دام السواد وأخلقتْ
محاسنَكyour charms الأيامُthe days قيلit would be said كبيرold
محاسنَك الأيامُ قيل كبير
If, even were your hair to stay black and time to wear away
If your beauty remains as the days pass
Your charms, you would be called old,
And you grow in age, they will call you old
فكيفthen how ترجّيyou hope بالخضابthrough hair dye وإفكِهand its deceit
فكيف ترجّي بالخضاب وإفكِه
وأنتwhile you are كبيرold أنto يقالbe called صغيرyoung
وأنت كبير أن يقال صغير
Then how can you hope, through hair dye and its deceit,
Why then would you dye your hair black
Though you are old, to be called young?
And remove your wrinkles, though old, to seem young?
Sol 6.1