وَأَهدَيتَهُ زَمِناً فانِياً

وَأَهدَيتَهُ زَمِناً فانِياً

فَلا لِلرُكوبِ وَلا لِلثَمَن

فَلا لِلرُكوبِ وَلا لِلثَمَن

And you gave him a lame, worn-out mount,

And you gifted him a fleeting time

neither fit for riding nor worth selling.

Neither for riding nor for price

حَمَلتَ عَلى زَمَنٍ شاعِراً

حَمَلتَ عَلى زَمَنٍ شاعِراً

فَسَوفَ تُكافا بِشِعرٍ زَمِن

فَسَوفَ تُكافا بِشِعرٍ زَمِن

You mounted a poet on a lame beast,

You carried a poet through time

so you will be repaid with lame verse.

So time will reward you with poetry

أَبا الفَضلِ ذَمّاً وَغُرماً مَعاً

أَبا الفَضلِ ذَمّاً وَغُرماً مَعاً

فَما كُنتَ تَرجو بِهَذا الغَبَن

فَما كُنتَ تَرجو بِهَذا الغَبَن

O Abu al-Fadl—blame and loss together!

O Abu Fadl, blamed and fooled together

So what were you hoping for with this bad bargain?

You did not expect this loss