جَفاhe forsook طَرَبَthe mirth of الفِتيانِthe young men وَهوَthough he is طَروبُfond of mirth
جَفا طَرَبَ الفِتيانِ وَهوَ طَروبُ
وَأَعقَبَهُand overtook him قُربَnear الشَبابِyouth مَشيبُgray hair
وَأَعقَبَهُ قُربَ الشَبابِ مَشيبُ
He forsook the young men's mirth, though he is fond of mirth.
Harshness troubled the youth though frolic it was,
And gray hair overtook him while youth was still near.
And swiftly old age succeeded their prime.
تَجافَتturned away عُيونُthe eyes of البيضِfair-skinned women عَنهُfrom him وَرُبَّماthough often
تَجافَت عُيونُ البيضِ عَنهُ وَرُبَّما
مَدَدنَthey extended إِلَيهِto him الوَصلَloving union وَهوَwhile he was حَبيبٌbeloved
مَدَدنَ إِلَيهِ الوَصلَ وَهوَ حَبيبٌ
Fair women's eyes turned away from him, though often
The bright eyes turned from him, yet would he be,
They had offered him love when he was beloved.
At times, to the lover an intimate friend.
لَعَمريby my life لَنِعمَindeed excellent is الصاحِبِthe companion الشَيبُgray hair واعِظاًas an admonisher
لَعَمري لَنِعمَ الصاحِبِ الشَيبُ واعِظاً
وَإِنeven though كانَthere was مِنهُbecause of it لِلعُيونِfor the eyes نُكوبُaversion
وَإِن كانَ مِنهُ لِلعُيونِ نُكوبُ
By my life, gray hair is indeed a fine companion as an admonisher,
In truth, a noble companion is old age, wise monitor,
Though it makes eyes turn away.
Though to the eyes it be hated eclipse.
خَليطُa companion of نُهىًreason مُنتابُa frequent guest of حُلمٍforbearance وَإِنَّهُyet indeed it
خَليطُ نُهىً مُنتابُ حُلمٍ وَإِنَّهُ
عَلىdespite ذاكَthat مَكروهُdisliked الخِلاطِcompanionship مُريبُdisquieting
عَلى ذاكَ مَكروهُ الخِلاطِ مُريبُ
A companion of reason, a frequent guest of forbearance—yet it
Blent counsels of wisdom, choicest, sincere,
Is, for all that, unwelcome company and disquieting.
Yet deemed by the thoughtless a mixture impure.
Sol 6.1