ومرتدٍand one clad بقناعin a veil الشيبgray hair جاذبهcontended with him
ومرتدٍ بقناع الشيب جاذبه
منfrom أطيبيهhis two sweetest delights عنانthe reins اللذةpleasure القدمold age
من أطيبيه عنان اللذة القدم
And one clad in a veil of gray hair, challenged
With the mask of old age, still alluring
by old age for the reins of pleasure drawn from his two sweetest delights.
The most beautiful, leading pleasure by the reins
قضىhe died ولمand did not يقضfulfill منfrom عصرthe time of الصباyouth أرباًa desire
قضى ولم يقض من عصر الصبا أرباً
كأنماas though هوit فيin أجفانهhis eyelids حلمa dream
كأنما هو في أجفانه حلم
He died, yet fulfilled no desire from his days of youth,
He has lived fully but not fully, since the spring of youth
as though youth were a dream behind his eyelids.
As though it were but a dream behind his eyelids
لوif كنتI was أعلمI knew أنthat الدهرtime يعقبنيwould bring me afterward
لو كنت أعلم أن الدهر يعقبني
بؤسيmy misery لماwould not have اخترتI chose أنthat تهدىbe bestowed ليon me النعمblessings
بؤسي لما اخترت أن تهدى لي النعم
If I had known that time would bring me
Had I known fate would reward me thus
my misery, I would not have chosen to be granted blessings.
With woe, I'd not have chosen to receive its gifts
وحاسدٍand an envier سرهpleased him أنيthat I ابتدأتI began بهwith him
وحاسدٍ سره أني ابتدأت به
لماwhen تيقنhe became certain أنيthat I منهagainst him منتقمtaking revenge
لما تيقن أني منه منتقم
And an envier, pleased that I began with him
And an envier whose secret was that I began with him
when he became certain I would take revenge on him.
Once sure I'd have revenge on him one day
لقدindeed سعىhe strove طالباًseeking نقصيmy diminishment فزدتyet I grew بهthrough him
لقد سعى طالباً نقصي فزدت به
فضلاًin merit وكانand was دليلthe proof of الصحةhealth السقمsickness
فضلاً وكان دليل الصحة السقم
He indeed strove, seeking to diminish me, yet through him I grew
He sought my loss, so I excelled, and he
in merit, and sickness was the proof of health.
Showed health's greatest proof is illness and decay
Sol 6.1