أَرىI see الشَّيْخَthe old man يَكْرَهُloathes فيin نَفسِهِhimself
أَرى الشَّيْخَ يَكْرَهُ في نَفسِهِ
مَشِيباًgray hair أفاضَhas poured عَلَيهِover him النهاراdaylight
مَشِيباً أفاضَ عَلَيهِ النهارا
I see the old man loathe within himself
I see the old man hating in himself
gray hair that has poured daylight over him,
The greyness that the days have poured upon him,
وضَعفاًand weakness يَهُدُّsaps قُوَىthe powers of جِسْمِهِhis body
وضَعفاً يَهُدُّ قُوَى جِسْمِهِ
ويَنقُلُand moves مِنهُfrom him خُطاهُhis steps قصاراshort
ويَنقُلُ مِنهُ خُطاهُ قصارا
and weakness that saps his body's strength
And weakness that makes his body frail
and makes the steps he takes short.
And shortens his strides.
فَكَيفَso how يُجَشِّمُهاhe imposes it طِفلةًa young girl
فَكَيفَ يُجَشِّمُها طِفلةً
يطيرflies بهاwith her القلبُthe heart عنهfrom him نِفاراin aversion
يطير بها القلبُ عنه نِفارا
How, then, can he impose himself on a young girl,
How can he desire a young girl
whose heart sends her flying from him in aversion?
Whose heart flutters away from him in disgust?
وعارٌand a disgrace علىfor الشَّيخِthe old man تقريبُهُhis bringing close
وعارٌ على الشَّيخِ تقريبُهُ
فتاةًa maiden ترىconsiders قُرْبَةًcloseness منهto him عاراa disgrace
فتاةً ترى قُرْبَةً منه عارا
And it is shameful for the old man to bring near
Shame on the old man who woos
a maiden who deems closeness to him a disgrace.
A girl who sees nearness to him as disgrace!
وقدand indeed جُبِلَwere formed by nature الغانياتُthe beautiful women الصّغارُthe young
وقد جُبِلَ الغانياتُ الصّغارُ
علىto بُغْضِهِنّtheir hatred of الشيوخَold men الكباراadvanced in years
على بُغْضِهِنّ الشيوخَ الكبارا
And young beauties have been formed by nature
Young girls are created
to hate old men of advanced years.
To hate old men, however great.
Sol 6.1