ألاAh! منwho لقلبٍfor a heart قدindeed دعاهsummoned it تجاسرهits daring
ألا من لقلبٍ قد دعاه تجاسره
وضاقتand narrowed بهfor it بعدafter الورودcoming to water مصادرهits ways out
وضاقت به بعد الورود مصادره
Ah, who will aid a heart summoned by its own daring,
And whose ways out narrowed after it came to water?
تغافلfeigned indifference عنهtoward it الدهرTime فاغترso it was beguiled بالمنىby hopes
تغافل عنه الدهر فاغتر بالمنى
فلماthen when أضاعit abandoned الحزمprudence كرتcharged عساكرهits armies
فلما أضاع الحزم كرت عساكره
Time feigned indifference to it, so it was beguiled by hopes.
Then, when it abandoned prudence, Time’s armies charged.
فأصبحso it became كالمأسورlike a captive طالتgained ascendancy عداتهits enemies
فأصبح كالمأسور طالت عداته
عليهover it وذلتand were humbled بعدafter عزٍّglory عشائرهits clans
عليه وذلت بعد عزٍّ عشائره
So it became like a captive; its enemies gained ascendancy
Over it, and its clans were humbled after glory.
تجرتgrew bold عليهagainst it النائباتcalamities فأصبحتso they began
تجرت عليه النائبات فأصبحت
بكلwith every الردىruin غيرexcept الحمامdeath تبادرهthey rush upon it
بكل الردى غير الحمام تبادره
Calamities grew bold against it, and began
To rush upon it with every ruin short of death.
وقدand indeed كانused to صرفvicissitudes الدهرof Time يقبلcome نحوهtoward it
وقد كان صرف الدهر يقبل نحوه
إذاwhenever جالroamed فيin بحرٍa sea منof الفكرthought خاطرهits mind
إذا جال في بحرٍ من الفكر خاطره
And indeed, Time’s vicissitudes would come toward it
Whenever its mind roamed in a sea of thought.
Sol 6.1