كمmany a طمعcovetous desire لماwhen اقتضاهsought to fulfill it الفتىthe young man
كم طمع لما اقتضاه الفتى
أزرىbrought low وماand did not شدstrengthen لهfor him أزراstrength
أزرى وما شد له أزرا
Many a covetous desire, when a young man sought to fulfill it,
How much ambition when the youth demands
brought him low and lent him no strength.
I help though he has not helped me
ماnot حملتcarried نفسٌa soul جنينthe embryo المنىof wishes
ما حملت نفسٌ جنين المنى
فيin الحرصgreed إلاexcept وضعتlowered قدراstanding
في الحرص إلا وضعت قدرا
No soul has carried the embryo of wishes
No soul conceived the unborn wish
in greed without lowering its standing.
With greed except to meet its fate
Sol 6.1