1. In the ancient times we had
A king who wanted to enter the darkness
١. في قديم الدهر قد كان لنا
ملك رام دخول الظلمات
2. To shine light from it and let
Its people see his power in adversity
٢. ليشع النور منها ويرى
أهلها قدرته عند الثبات
3. Then he would be succeeded by one of them
A blossoming son, sublime in attributes
٣. ثم يسخلف فيهم مثلهم
ولداً أزهر علوي الصفات
4. They asked him for peace but he refused
For them to taste with him the spirit of life
٤. طلبوا الصلح إليه فأبى
أن يذوقوا معه روح الحياة
5. So he saw six countries
And saw six tyrannical kings
٥. فرأى ستة بلدان بها
ورأى ستة أملاك عتاة
6. And called the cook until he came
With a knife to cut up the meat
٦. ودعا الطباخ حتى جاءه
بالمدى مشحودة فيها البتات
7. He cut the pieces one
By one so they were like crumbs
٧. فصل الأعضاء منها قطعة
قطعة فهي كأمثال الفتات
8. He extracts with the marks for them
A buttress that comes out from that rubble
٨. فهو يستخرج بالطبع لها
ودكاً يخرج من ذاك الرفات
9. And the king came with oils for them
In the scent of musk from the aroma of flowers
٩. وأتى الملك بأدهان لهم
في ذكاء المسك من طيب الشذاة
10. Then when the king was anointed with it
Its scent was diffused by those breaths
١٠. ثم لما دهن الملك بها
نَعَّمَته ريح تلك النفحات
11. So he became youthful from
Old age so he makes the youths
١١. فغدا وهو طري السن من
بعد شيب فهو يُصبي الصَّبَوات
12. And dispelled the earthly shadow that
Was in him so he is luminous in attributes
١٢. ونفى الظلَّ الترابيَّ الذي
كان فيه فهو نوريّ السمات
13. Then he made one of his descendants his successor
Eternal, fearing no doubt of death
١٣. ثم ولاّها فتى من نسله
خالداً لا يتقي ريب الممات
14. Oh what an anointing that whoever touched it
The fire was killed with patience and resolve
١٤. يا لها من دهنة من مَسّها
قاتل النار بصبر وثبات
15. The people harbored resentment towards him
Calling him the water of life
١٥. رَمَزَ القوم عليه ضنةً
فهم يدعونه ماء الحياة