إِذا كانَ أَردى الزَمان بِمِثلِهِ

إِذا كانَ أَردى الزَمان بِمِثلِهِ

وَلَم يَبقَ في عودٍ لَهُ طَمَعٌ بَعدُ

وَلَم يَبقَ في عودٍ لَهُ طَمَعٌ بَعدُ

If Time has struck down one such as he,

When time's adversity was at its worst

and no hope of his return remains now,

And no hope remained in any branch

فَلا بُتِرَت بُتُر وَلا فنِيَت قَنا

فَلا بُتِرَت بُتُر وَلا فنِيَت قَنا

وَلا زَأرت أَسُدٌ وَلا صَهلَت جردُ

وَلا زَأرت أَسُدٌ وَلا صَهلَت جردُ

then may keen swords never be broken, nor spears perish,

No she-camel was cut off or perished

nor lions roar, nor sleek steeds neigh;

No lion roared or horse neighed

وَلا زالَ ملذوعاً عَلى سَيِّد حشا

وَلا زالَ ملذوعاً عَلى سَيِّد حشا

ولا انفكّ مَلطوماً عَلى مِلكٍ خَدُّ

ولا انفكّ مَلطوماً عَلى مِلكٍ خَدُّ

and may a heart never cease to burn with grief for a lord,

Nor ceased being maltreated by the chief of a tribe

nor may a cheek cease to be slapped in mourning for a king.

Nor being cursed upon a despotic king