لُمتُ الزَمانَ عَلى تَأخيرِ مُطَّلَبي

لُمتُ الزَمانَ عَلى تَأخيرِ مُطَّلَبي

فَقالَ ما وَجهُ لَومي وَهُوَ مَحظورُ

فَقالَ ما وَجهُ لَومي وَهُوَ مَحظورُ

I blamed Time for delaying what I sought.

I blamed fate for delaying what I seek

So it said: What grounds have you to blame me, when that is forbidden?

It said, why blame me for what is forbidden?

فَقُلتُ لَو شِئتَ ما فاتَ الغِنى أَمَلي

فَقُلتُ لَو شِئتَ ما فاتَ الغِنى أَمَلي

فَقالَ أَخطَأتَ بَل لَو شاءَ سابورُ

فَقالَ أَخطَأتَ بَل لَو شاءَ سابورُ

So I said: Had you wished, wealth would not have eluded my hope.

I said, had you wished, my hope would not have passed in vain

So it said: You are mistaken—rather, had Sabur wished it.

It said, you erred; nay, had Sapur willed.

عُذ بِالوَزيرِ أَبي نَصرٍ وَسَل شَطَطاً

عُذ بِالوَزيرِ أَبي نَصرٍ وَسَل شَطَطاً

أَسرِف فَإِنَّكَ في الإِسرافِ مَعذورُ

أَسرِف فَإِنَّكَ في الإِسرافِ مَعذورُ

Seek refuge with the vizier Abu Nasr, and ask to excess.

Seek aid from the vizier Abu Nasr and pursue your fancies

Be extravagant, for you are excused in your extravagance.

Indulge yourself, for in indulgence you have excuse

وَقَد تَقَبَّلتُ هذا النُصحَ مِن زَمَني

وَقَد تَقَبَّلتُ هذا النُصحَ مِن زَمَني

وَالنُصحُ حَتّى مِنَ الأَعداءِ مَشكورُ

وَالنُصحُ حَتّى مِنَ الأَعداءِ مَشكورُ

And I have indeed accepted this counsel from my Time.

I have long accepted this advice from my time

And counsel, even from enemies, is worthy of thanks.

Advice is welcomed even from enemies.

وَما لِطَرفِ رَجائي عَنكَ مُنصَرِفُ

وَما لِطَرفِ رَجائي عَنكَ مُنصَرِفُ

وَهَل يُفارِقُ جُرمُ المُشتَري النورُ

وَهَل يُفارِقُ جُرمُ المُشتَري النورُ

And my hope's gaze cannot turn away from you.

My hopeful glances cannot turn away from you

And does light ever leave the orb of Jupiter?

Can a purchased slave leave the light?