هَمَمتُ بِأَمرٍ أَن يَكونَ صَريمَةً

هَمَمتُ بِأَمرٍ أَن يَكونَ صَريمَةً

زَماعاً وَأن لا يُدركَ المَهْلَ زاجِرُ

زَماعاً وَأن لا يُدركَ المَهْلَ زاجِرُ

I intended a deed to be carried out with decisive resolve,

I have resolved to undertake a matter that will be perilous

with firm determination, leaving no restrainer time to intervene.

And swift, before the period of respite runs out

وَما الفَتكُ بِالأَمرِ الَّذي أَنتَ ناظِرٌ

وَما الفَتكُ بِالأَمرِ الَّذي أَنتَ ناظِرٌ

بِهِ عاجِزَ الأَصحابِ مِمَّنْ تُؤامِرُ

بِهِ عاجِزَ الأَصحابِ مِمَّنْ تُؤامِرُ

And bold action is not a deed in which you wait

And success lies not in the matter you are observing

for the irresolute companion among those you consult.

Which even intimate advisers confess incapability

وَما الفَتكُ إِلَّا بِالَّذي لَيسَ قَبلَهُ

وَما الفَتكُ إِلَّا بِالَّذي لَيسَ قَبلَهُ

إِمارٌ وَلَم تُجمع عَلَيهِ المَشاوِرُ

إِمارٌ وَلَم تُجمع عَلَيهِ المَشاوِرُ

And bold action is only a deed preceded by no

But rather in that which previously had no precedent

consultation, with no counsels gathered over it.

Nor gathered consensus through deliberation