أقِمْ في القولِ من نفسي دَليلا

أقِمْ في القولِ من نفسي دَليلا

فإن الصدقَ ما زرعَ القَبولا

فإن الصدقَ ما زرعَ القَبولا

Take my own self as evidence in speech,

Establish truth from my soul as proof,

for truth is what has sown acceptance.

For truthfulness plants acceptance.

وأكدارُ المشاربِ ليسَ تَشْفي

وأكدارُ المشاربِ ليسَ تَشْفي

غليلَ فتىً يَعافُ السّلسَبيلا

غليلَ فتىً يَعافُ السّلسَبيلا

The murk of drinking waters cannot quench

And cups of drink do not cure

the burning thirst of a youth who spurns Salsabil.

The anguish of a youth who shuns the easy path.

إذا استخبرتَ أوْ خيرتَ فاقصدْ

إذا استخبرتَ أوْ خيرتَ فاقصدْ

حُزونَ الصّدقِ واجْتنبِ السُهولا

حُزونَ الصّدقِ واجْتنبِ السُهولا

If you seek news or are given a choice, seek

If you ask or choose, then intend

truth's rugged ground, and shun the level plains.

The grief of truth and avoid negligence.

وخبِّرْ حيَّنا سعداً بأنّا

وخبِّرْ حيَّنا سعداً بأنّا

تركنا العذلَ يَزْدَرِدُ العَذولا

تركنا العذلَ يَزْدَرِدُ العَذولا

And tell our tribe, Sa'd, that we

And inform Saad when glad

have left reproach to swallow the reproacher.

That we left complaining to ramble confused.

وخوَّفَنا السَماوةَ هادِياها

وخوَّفَنا السَماوةَ هادِياها

فَصيّرنا الهميمَ بها كَفيلا

فَصيّرنا الهميمَ بها كَفيلا

Its two guides frightened us with al-Samawah,

And we frightened Al-Samawa, guiding it,

so we made the tireless mount our guarantor there.

So we made the slanderer responsible for it.

وجارَيْنا النّوى حتى تَرَكنا

وجارَيْنا النّوى حتى تَرَكنا

مُكِلاً من قوائِهما كَليلا

مُكِلاً من قوائِهما كَليلا

And we raced separation until we left

And we ran with determination until we left

the wearier of others exhausted by the strength of both.

A heavy burden from its leaders exhausted.

فهلْ أبقتْ لهم جَفْناً مريضاً

فهلْ أبقتْ لهم جَفْناً مريضاً

وهل تركت لهم خداً أسِيلا

وهل تركت لهم خداً أسِيلا

Has it left them a languid eyelid?

Did it leave behind ailing eyelids for them

And has it left them a smooth cheek?

And did it leave for them a submissive cheek?

ومَنْ هامَ الغَرامُ بهِ فإنّا

ومَنْ هامَ الغَرامُ بهِ فإنّا

بحيث نُعَلِّمُ الصبَّ الذهولا

بحيث نُعَلِّمُ الصبَّ الذهولا

As for whoever passion is enamored of, we

And whoever passion ravished, we

are where we teach the ardent lover forgetfulness.

Teach the youngster bewilderment.

بأرضِ الرومِ نَعتَنِقُ المَواضي

بأرضِ الرومِ نَعتَنِقُ المَواضي

ونَمْتَهِدُ المُسوّمَةَ الفُحولا

ونَمْتَهِدُ المُسوّمَةَ الفُحولا

In Roman lands we embrace keen blades,

In the land of Rome we embrace meadows

and make marked stallions our bedding.

And pursue the valiant heroes.

ونُنشئُ من دمائِهم سَحاباً

ونُنشئُ من دمائِهم سَحاباً

تُكشِّفُ من قَساطِلها نُحولا

تُكشِّفُ من قَساطِلها نُحولا

And we raise clouds from their blood,

And from their blood we form clouds

whose billowing dust unveils lean steeds.

That uncover from their vessels skulls.

نطيعُ اللهَ في خوضِ المَنايا

نطيعُ اللهَ في خوضِ المَنايا

وسيفَ الدولةِ الملكَ الجَليلا

وسيفَ الدولةِ الملكَ الجَليلا

We obey God in plunging into death,

We obey God in plunging into deaths

and Sayf al-Dawlah, the majestic king.

And the sword of the State, the noble king.

إذا طلبتْ ملوكُهُم لدينا

إذا طلبتْ ملوكُهُم لدينا

ذُحولَ الحَربِ زدْناهُم ذُحولا

ذُحولَ الحَربِ زدْناهُم ذُحولا

When their kings demand from us

If their kings sought from us

war's blood-debts, we add to their blood-debts.

The migration of war, we increased migration.

إذا ما أرسَلوا جيْشاً إليْنا

إذا ما أرسَلوا جيْشاً إليْنا

رَدَدْنا من دمائِهم رَسولا

رَدَدْنا من دمائِهم رَسولا

Whenever they send an army against us,

If they sent an army to us

we send back a messenger made of their blood,

We sent back from their blood a messenger.

يسيلُ إليهم فإذا أتاهُم

يسيلُ إليهم فإذا أتاهُم

رأوا فيه الجَماجمَ والخَصيلا

رأوا فيه الجَماجمَ والخَصيلا

flowing toward them; when it reaches them,

It flows to them, so when it came to them

they see skulls and chunks of flesh within it.

They saw in it skulls and bones.

وقال لنا الزمانُ ظَلمتُموهُمْ

وقال لنا الزمانُ ظَلمتُموهُمْ

فقلنا للزّمانِ دع الفُضولا

فقلنا للزّمانِ دع الفُضولا

And Time said to us, "You have wronged them."

And time said to us, "You wronged them,"

We said to Time, "Leave off your meddling."

So we said to time, "Stop the superfluity."

سَرى بالخيلِ يَمنعها المَخالي

سَرى بالخيلِ يَمنعها المَخالي

وتمنعُهُ التمهلَ والنُزُولا

وتمنعُهُ التمهلَ والنُزُولا

He rode by night with the horses, denying them feedbags,

It traveled with horses, the places prevent it

while they denied him lingering and dismounting.

And its leisure and descent prevent it.

نَسينا النُطقَ هيبةَ شَفرتيهِ

نَسينا النُطقَ هيبةَ شَفرتيهِ

كما نسِيَتْ من الدّأبِ الصّهيلا

كما نسِيَتْ من الدّأبِ الصّهيلا

We forgot speech in awe of his two cutting edges,

We forgot eloquence in awe of its blade

as they, from ceaseless exertion, forgot to neigh.

As the horses forgot their whinnying.

وطوفَ في بلادِ الرومِ حتى

وطوفَ في بلادِ الرومِ حتى

توهّمناهُ قد ضَلّ السَبيلا

توهّمناهُ قد ضَلّ السَبيلا

And he ranged through Roman lands until

And it roamed the land of Rome until

we imagined he had lost the road.

We imagined it had lost its way.

وكيف يضِلُّ في سبلِ المَعالي

وكيف يضِلُّ في سبلِ المَعالي

فتىً جعلَ الحُسامَ له دَليلا

فتىً جعلَ الحُسامَ له دَليلا

But how can he stray on the paths of glory,

But how can it get lost in the ways of glory,

a youth who has made the keen sword his guide?

A lad who made the sword his guide?

كأنّ حصونَهم نادتْ نِداه

كأنّ حصونَهم نادتْ نِداه

أو اختارتْ لساكنِها بَديلا

أو اختارتْ لساكنِها بَديلا

As though their fortresses had called upon his bounty,

As if their citadels called out

or chosen a replacement for their inhabitant,

Or chose for its dwellers another.

فأعطَتهُ الذي تَحوي عَطاءً

فأعطَتهُ الذي تَحوي عَطاءً

جَزيلاً مثلَ ما يُعطى جَزيلا

جَزيلاً مثلَ ما يُعطى جَزيلا

they gave him what they held—a gift

So it gave what it contains of bounty

lavish, like the lavish bounty bestowed.

Plentifully, as plentifully given.

كأنّ بلادَهمْ ضَمّتْ عليهِ

كأنّ بلادَهمْ ضَمّتْ عليهِ

جوانِحَها مخافةَ أنْ يَزولا

جوانِحَها مخافةَ أنْ يَزولا

As though their lands folded around him

As if their country gathered for it

their ribs, for fear that he might depart.

Its limbs, fearing that it might leave.

تُطيَّبُ من روائِحِه المَغاني

تُطيَّبُ من روائِحِه المَغاني

وتَروى من سحائبِه الطُلولا

وتَروى من سحائبِه الطُلولا

His fragrances perfume the dwellings,

The melodies are scented from its fragrances

and his clouds water the ruined campsites.

And the hills are watered from its clouds.

كأنّ الخيلَ من مرحٍ ولهوٍ

كأنّ الخيلَ من مرحٍ ولهوٍ

تُنزعهُ إذا تركَ الرّحيلا

تُنزعهُ إذا تركَ الرّحيلا

As though the horses, in mirth and play,

As if the horses in play and amusement

tug him onward whenever he abandons the march.

Were restrained when it stopped traveling.

دِقاقاً كالأهلّةِ في الأعادي

دِقاقاً كالأهلّةِ في الأعادي

تُعلِّمُ من ذوابِلهِ النّحُولا

تُعلِّمُ من ذوابِلهِ النّحُولا

Slender as crescents among his enemies,

Slim like the crescent during enemies

they teach leanness drawn from his slender spears.

Teaching its dangling straps to dangle.

بدربِ القُلّتينِ رَنونَ حُوراً

بدربِ القُلّتينِ رَنونَ حُوراً

وأرسَلها على هِنْزِيْطَ حُولا

وأرسَلها على هِنْزِيْطَ حُولا

At the pass of al-Qullatayn they gazed, bright-eyed,

At Darb Al-Qiltatayn, it dispatched nymphs

and he loosed them upon Hinzit, their eyes askew.

And unleashed them upon Hinzeit horses.

يُخوضها الفُراتَ فتىً يُلاقي

يُخوضها الفُراتَ فتىً يُلاقي

بوجهِ الموتِ في الغمراتِ سُولا

بوجهِ الموتِ في الغمراتِ سُولا

A youth drives them through the Euphrates, meeting

A lad who plunges into the Euphrates

his desire in death's face amid the perilous depths.

Meeting death's face in the deep tumult.

ولو أنّ الفراتَ عَصى عليهِ

ولو أنّ الفراتَ عَصى عليهِ

لردّ السّيلَ عنه أنْ يَسيلا

لردّ السّيلَ عنه أنْ يَسيلا

Had the Euphrates defied him,

Had the Euphrates disobeyed him

he would have turned its torrent back from him, halting its flow.

It would have sent the torrent back not to flow.

فما ضحِكَتْ بحِصنِ الرّانِ حتى

فما ضحِكَتْ بحِصنِ الرّانِ حتى

بكتْ حلبٌ ورجعتِ العَويلا

بكتْ حلبٌ ورجعتِ العَويلا

Scarcely had they laughed at the fortress of al-Ran when

So it did not laugh at Hisn Al-Ran

Aleppo wept and echoed its wailing.

Until Aleppo cried and the wailing returned.

فكرّتْ نحوَ عولتها رُجوعاً

فكرّتْ نحوَ عولتها رُجوعاً

كتكرارِ الليوثِ حمَتْ شُبولا

كتكرارِ الليوثِ حمَتْ شُبولا

So they wheeled back toward its lament,

It retreated toward its den, returning

like lions charging back to defend their cubs,

Like the lions' reversal when their cubs howled.

إلى بَحرٍ بمَرْعَشَ من حَديدٍ

إلى بَحرٍ بمَرْعَشَ من حَديدٍ

فأوردَها شرائعَهُ سُيولا

فأوردَها شرائعَهُ سُيولا

toward a sea of iron at Mar'ash,

To a sea armored with iron

and he led them to its watering places in torrents.

So it made it drink its torrents.

فقالوا هاكَ قُسطِنْطِينَ خُذهُ

فقالوا هاكَ قُسطِنْطِينَ خُذهُ

ونَهنه من أعنّتِها قَليلا

ونَهنه من أعنّتِها قَليلا

They said, "Here is Constantine: take him,

And they said, "Here, Constantine, take it

and rein them in a little."

And save it from much of its trouble."

فرفّعَ من جُسومِهم عَجاجاً

فرفّعَ من جُسومِهم عَجاجاً

وجشّمَها إلى الفلكِ القَفولا

وجشّمَها إلى الفلكِ القَفولا

Then he raised from their bodies a dust-cloud,

So he raised his ghosts against them

and forced those bodies on a homeward journey to the heavens.

And it threw them to the revolving heaven.

وفي ظهرِ الأُحَيْدِبِ حمّلَتْهُمْ

وفي ظهرِ الأُحَيْدِبِ حمّلَتْهُمْ

خِفاف سيوفِه عبئاً ثَقيلا

خِفاف سيوفِه عبئاً ثَقيلا

And on the ridge of al-Uhaydib they were laden

And on Mount Uhaydir it burdened them

by his light swords with a heavy burden.

With the lightness of its swords a heavy load.

تألفتِ الجَماجمُ والهوادي

تألفتِ الجَماجمُ والهوادي

كما تتألفُ الغُررُ الحُجولا

كما تتألفُ الغُررُ الحُجولا

Skulls and necks joined together,

The skulls and the valleys mingled

as forehead blazes join white stockings.

As precious pearls mingle.

تركتَ الثائرَ العجلانَ منهم

تركتَ الثائرَ العجلانَ منهم

وقد نصّلَ الطليعةَ والرّعيلا

وقد نصّلَ الطليعةَ والرّعيلا

You left their headlong avenger,

You left the raging, crazed ones among them

having outstripped the scouts and the vanguard,

Having picked out the vanguard and the stragglers.

يُلاقي الرمحَ بينَ حَشاهُ سيفاً

يُلاقي الرمحَ بينَ حَشاهُ سيفاً

تحدّرَ من مفارقهِ عَجولا

تحدّرَ من مفارقهِ عَجولا

with a sword meeting a spear within his innards,

Meeting the spear amidst its innards with a sword

having plunged swiftly from the crown of his head.

Sliding from its edges swift.

وقد جعلوا بَراكاءَ المَنايا

وقد جعلوا بَراكاءَ المَنايا

لأسؤقِهم وأرجلهم كُبولا

لأسؤقِهم وأرجلهم كُبولا

And they had made death's crushing weight

It pounds the chest, embracing it, pleased,

shackles for their shins and feet.

And it is not pleased when the singer sings.

تَخالُهم وقد نزلوا قُعودا

تَخالُهم وقد نزلوا قُعودا

وتحسِبهم وقد ركبوا نُزولا

وتحسِبهم وقد ركبوا نُزولا

You think them seated when they have dismounted,

As if they, when they were war-weary,

and think them dismounted when they have mounted.

Walked into its swords distracted.

فمضروبٌ يردُّ السيفَ صَلتاً

فمضروبٌ يردُّ السيفَ صَلتاً

على يافوخِ ضاربهِ جَهولا

على يافوخِ ضاربهِ جَهولا

One struck down returns his naked sword

So the struck returns the sword a blessing

upon his assailant's crown, recklessly.

Upon the cheek of his ignorant striker.

ومَطعونٍ مشى في الرُمْحِ يَسْعى

ومَطعونٍ مشى في الرُمْحِ يَسْعى

لطاعنهِ فجدّلَهُ قَتيلا

لطاعنهِ فجدّلَهُ قَتيلا

And one pierced walks along the spear, rushing

And the pierced walked on the spear, hastening

toward his spearman, and fells him dead.

To his stabber, so he made him a corpse.

يدُقُّ الصّدرَ مُعتنقاً فيرضى

يدُقُّ الصّدرَ مُعتنقاً فيرضى

ولا يرضى إذا دقَّ التّليلا

ولا يرضى إذا دقَّ التّليلا

He crushes the breast in an embrace and is satisfied,

It pounds the chest, hugging it, pleased,

but is not satisfied when he crushes the neck.

And it is not pleased when the waker awakens.

كأنّهُمُ وقد ثَمِلوا ضِراباً

كأنّهُمُ وقد ثَمِلوا ضِراباً

تَساقوا في سُيوفِهم شَمولا

تَساقوا في سُيوفِهم شَمولا

As though, drunk with sword-blows,

As if they, when laden with blows,

they had served one another wine in their swords.

Walked into their swords randomly.

فلمّا لم يدعْ رُمحاً طويلاً

فلمّا لم يدعْ رُمحاً طويلاً

يُقصِّدُهُ ولا سيفاً نَحيلا

يُقصِّدُهُ ولا سيفاً نَحيلا

Then, when he had left no long spear

So when it left no long spear

to shatter, nor a slender sword,

That it intended, nor thin sword,

ولا طِرفاً يُقَحِّمُهُ مَهولاً

ولا طِرفاً يُقَحِّمُهُ مَهولاً

ولا ملِكاً يُغادِرُهُ ذَليلا

ولا ملِكاً يُغادِرُهُ ذَليلا

nor a noble steed to drive into danger,

No nipple that it plunged confused,

nor a king to leave abased,

Nor king that it spared disgraced,

وملّ الموتُ أنْفُسَ من يُعادي

وملّ الموتُ أنْفُسَ من يُعادي

فجاءَ إليهِ منها مُستَقيلا

فجاءَ إليهِ منها مُستَقيلا

and Death grew weary of his enemies' souls,

And death was fed up with those who opposed,

and came to him seeking release from them,

So it came to it resigning,

فدَى من كانَ أسلمَهُ سِواهُ

فدَى من كانَ أسلمَهُ سِواهُ

بما كانَ السِّنانُ لهُ مُنيلا

بما كانَ السِّنانُ لهُ مُنيلا

he ransomed those whom others had abandoned,

It ransomed those whose salvation was its sword

with what the spearhead had bestowed on him.

With what the blades had ripening.

وقالوا عن مَلَطْيَةَ لا مَحيصٌ

وقالوا عن مَلَطْيَةَ لا مَحيصٌ

يُسَلّمُ من مُحيّاكَ النُصولا

يُسَلّمُ من مُحيّاكَ النُصولا

They said, "There is no escape from Malatyah

And they said about Malatya, "There is no escape

that can shield the blades from your countenance."

To surrender to your descending eagles."

ودونَ مَلَطْيَةَ الشُّم اللواتي

ودونَ مَلَطْيَةَ الشُّم اللواتي

ثَباتُ الطّرفِ يَصحبُها ذَليلا

ثَباتُ الطّرفِ يَصحبُها ذَليلا

Before Malatyah stand the lofty heights, beside which

And before Malatya are the northern ladies

even a steady gaze attends them humbled.

Whose gaze is accompanied by humiliation.

تكادُ تَميلُ من شَوقٍ إليهِ

تكادُ تَميلُ من شَوقٍ إليهِ

فتَمْنَعُها المهابةُ أنْ تَميلا

فتَمْنَعُها المهابةُ أنْ تَميلا

They almost lean toward him in longing,

They almost incline toward it in longing

but awe prevents them from leaning.

But awe prevents them from inclining.

ولمّا حلّ كَركَرَ مُستَهلاً

ولمّا حلّ كَركَرَ مُستَهلاً

يُضيفُ إلى الفراتِ نَداهُ نِيلا

يُضيفُ إلى الفراتِ نَداهُ نِيلا

And when he alighted at Karkar, pouring forth bounty,

And when Karakar was captured, unleashing

his generosity added a Nile to the Euphrates.

Its caller to the Euphrates as booty,

تقولُ إذا رأيتَ السَّفْنَ فيه

تقولُ إذا رأيتَ السَّفْنَ فيه

أظنُّ الحيَّ قد رفَعَ الحُمولا

أظنُّ الحيَّ قد رفَعَ الحُمولا

When you see the ships upon it, you say,

It says, when you see the ships in it,

"I think the tribe has lifted its laden litters."

"I think the living had raised the load."

حَشاهُ كلُّ مَركوبٍ رَكوبٍ

حَشاهُ كلُّ مَركوبٍ رَكوبٍ

تذرّعَ هادياً فيه ضَليلا

تذرّعَ هادياً فيه ضَليلا

Every ridden mount, itself a rider, filled it,

Its innards every ship sailing

taking an errant guide there as its means.

Clothed, lost in it, a guide.

فسالَمَهُمْ ولم يتركْ فَتاةً

فسالَمَهُمْ ولم يتركْ فَتاةً

وحارَبَهُمْ ولم يتركْ حَليلا

وحارَبَهُمْ ولم يتركْ حَليلا

He made peace with them and left not a maiden,

So it greeted them and left no maiden

and fought them and left not a husband.

And fought them and left no pregnant one.

ومن أوالِهم فكّ الأسارَى

ومن أوالِهم فكّ الأسارَى

وعن أزواجِهم أعطى البُعولا

وعن أزواجِهم أعطى البُعولا

From their burning distress he freed the captives,

And of their homes it undid the captives

and on their wives' behalf he gave back the husbands.

And of their wives it gave the lonely ones gifts.

يَراهُ كلُّ مأسورٍ فَيدعو

يَراهُ كلُّ مأسورٍ فَيدعو

ألا حَسبي به وكفى وكيلا

ألا حَسبي به وكفى وكيلا

Every captive sees him and cries,

Every captive sees it, so he prays,

"Behold, he suffices me, and is sufficient as a guardian."

“My sufficiency is in it, enough is it as protector.”

فِداؤُكَ مَنْ فَديتَ من البَرايا

فِداؤُكَ مَنْ فَديتَ من البَرايا

وإنْ كانوا لأنْ تُفْدى قَليلا

وإنْ كانوا لأنْ تُفْدى قَليلا

May those you ransomed among mankind be your ransom,

Your ransom is whoever you ransomed from perdition,

though they are too few to ransom you.

Even if they were few to be ransomed.

فأنتَ خلقتهم خلقاً جَديداً

فأنتَ خلقتهم خلقاً جَديداً

وصيّرتَ السّماحَ بِهم كَفِيلا

وصيّرتَ السّماحَ بِهم كَفِيلا

For you have created them anew,

You created them a new creation,

and made generosity their guarantor.

And you made generosity responsible for them.

تَزيدُ بحسنِهِ الدُنيا ضِياءً

تَزيدُ بحسنِهِ الدُنيا ضِياءً

وأبصارُ الملوكِ بهِ كُلولا

وأبصارُ الملوكِ بهِ كُلولا

By its beauty you add radiance to the world,

With its beauty, it increases the world radiance,

and with it dim the eyes of kings.

And the eyes of kings by it are delighted.

ولم أرَ مثلَ هذا اليومِ يوماً

ولم أرَ مثلَ هذا اليومِ يوماً

يَرُدُّ فوارسَ الأيّامِ مِيلا

يَرُدُّ فوارسَ الأيّامِ مِيلا

Never have I seen a day like this,

And I have not seen a day like this day,

that sends the horsemen of other days reeling.

Repelling the horsemen of days inclined.

تَناساهُ فتشأَى الشمسُ بعداً

تَناساهُ فتشأَى الشمسُ بعداً

وتذكرهُ فتَبتدِرُ الذبولا

وتذكرهُ فتَبتدِرُ الذبولا

The sun feigns forgetting it and draws far away,

It forgot it, so the sun shunned distance,

but remembers it and hastens to fade.

And remembered it, so the withering hurried.

إذا ما جئْتَ والأملاكُ جمعاً

إذا ما جئْتَ والأملاكُ جمعاً

غدوتَ نَباهَةً وغَدَوْا خُمولا

غدوتَ نَباهَةً وغَدَوْا خُمولا

When you and the kings come together,

If you came and the kings altogether

you emerge distinguished, and they obscure.

You rose as clarity and they rose confused.

أحقّهم ببذلِ المالِ فينا

أحقّهم ببذلِ المالِ فينا

فتىً يُمسي لمهجتهِ بَذولا

فتىً يُمسي لمهجتهِ بَذولا

Most deserving among them of giving us wealth

The one among them most deserving to spend wealth on us

is a youth lavish with his own lifeblood.

Is a lad who stays up late with his mind wandering.

وأولاهم بأنْ يُسمى جَواداً

وأولاهم بأنْ يُسمى جَواداً

فتىً يهَبُ الرّغائِبَ والعُقولا

فتىً يهَبُ الرّغائِبَ والعُقولا

And most deserving among them to be called generous

And the foremost of them to be called generous

is a youth who bestows coveted gifts and minds.

Is a lad who gives hopes and minds.

رَعى روضَ الأسِنّةِ مُستميتاً

رَعى روضَ الأسِنّةِ مُستميتاً

يظُنُّ حياتَهُ كَلاً وَبيلا

يظُنُّ حياتَهُ كَلاً وَبيلا

He grazed the meadow of spearheads, courting death,

He grazed the garden of tongues eagerly,

thinking his life a burdensome, ruinous weight.

Deeming his life meager and fleeting.

تُريكَ بَنانُهُ في كلِّ يومٍ

تُريكَ بَنانُهُ في كلِّ يومٍ

طِعاناً مُحْيِياً ونَدى قَتولا

طِعاناً مُحْيِياً ونَدى قَتولا

His fingertips show you every day

Its structure shows you every day

life-giving spear-thrusts and death-dealing bounty,

Stabbing enlivening and the call of war.

وفضلاً يَستفيدُ الدهرُ منهُ

وفضلاً يَستفيدُ الدهرُ منهُ

كريمَ الطّبعِ والخُلق الجَميلا

كريمَ الطّبعِ والخُلق الجَميلا

and excellence from which Time learns

And a merit that time benefits from

nobility of nature and beautiful character.

Of noble nature and beautiful manners.

يرى النّيلَ المُحصّلَ منه وعداً

يرى النّيلَ المُحصّلَ منه وعداً

وتُعجِلُهُ العَطايا أنْ يَقولا

وتُعجِلُهُ العَطايا أنْ يَقولا

He considers bounty already received from him a promise,

He sees the Nile, fulfilled from him a promise,

and his gifts leave him no time to speak.

And the gifts hasten him to speak.

يُصيِّرُ كلَّ مِقدامٍ جَباناً

يُصيِّرُ كلَّ مِقدامٍ جَباناً

ويجعلُ كلَّ مِعطاءٍ بَخيلا

ويجعلُ كلَّ مِعطاءٍ بَخيلا

He makes every bold man a coward,

He makes every bold one a coward

and every lavish giver a miser.

And makes every giver stingy.

سألتُ الدهرَ عما قلتُ فيهِ

سألتُ الدهرَ عما قلتُ فيهِ

فما قالتْ صروفُ الدهرِ لي لا

فما قالتْ صروفُ الدهرِ لي لا

I asked Time about what I said of him,

I asked time about what I said of it

and Time's changes never answered me, "No."

But the turns of time did not say “no” to me.