1. It is folly plundered from the hand of fate, so plunder it,
Or else, if nothing from fate is plundered, then yourself plunder.
١. هُوَ العَبشُ نُهبى مِن يَدِ الدَهرِ فَاِنهَبِ
وَإِلّا وَلَم يَذهَب مِنَ الدَهرِ فَاِذهَبِ
2. I was not one who blamed passion in love,
Nor did I shorten what I donned, rather I drew it out.
٢. وَما كُنتُ مِمَن يَعذِلُ الصَبَّ في الهَوى
وَلا قُلبتُ قَصِّر ما لَبِستَ بَل اِسحَبِ
3. The striking of fate against one's life is no cause for doubt
When will it discipline well one undisciplined?
٣. وَما ضَربُ زَيدِ الدَهرِ عَمراً لِريبَةٍ
مَتى يُحسِنُ التَأديبَ غَيرُ مُؤَدَّبِ
4. You granted him gentle intimacy and protected him from harm.
Would that you had not hated nor avoided.
٤. وَهَبتَ لَهُ واواً وَجَنَّبتَهُ أَذى
فَلَيتَكَ لَم تُبغِض وَلَم تَتَجَنَّبِ
5. Men uncover no worries except by them.
Can darkness be uncovered except by a star?
٥. وَما كَشَفَ الناسُ الهُمومَ بِغَيرِها
وَهَل تُكشَفُ الظَلماءُ إِلّا بِكَوكَبِ