زحف الرخا بحُسامه مسلولا

زحف الرخا بحُسامه مسلولا

فغدا الغلا بحسامه منصولا

فغدا الغلا بحسامه منصولا

Ease advanced with its sword unsheathed,

The stream flowed with its swords drawn

so high prices were struck down by its sword.

So the prices became raised with their swords sheathed

وسرت جنود البسط تنشر طيّه

وسرت جنود البسط تنشر طيّه

لمّا انثنى شمل العنا مغلولا

لمّا انثنى شمل العنا مغلولا

The troops of cheer marched, unfurling its folds,

And the armies of furniture spread out their folds

when hardship's host turned back in chains.

When the circle of intimates was bound in shackles

والقلب أضحى بالسرور مُشَبّبا

والقلب أضحى بالسرور مُشَبّبا

لما تبدى بالهنا موصولا

لما تبدى بالهنا موصولا

And the heart was kindled with joy,

And the heart has become adorned with joy

when it appeared joined to happiness.

When it was connected with bliss

كم قد تواصل بالغلا هم وقد

كم قد تواصل بالغلا هم وقد

أمسى بحمد إلهنا مفصولا

أمسى بحمد إلهنا مفصولا

Many a worry had been linked to high prices, and now

How much sorrow was connected with prices and

has been cut off, praise be to our God.

Became separated by the praise of our God

فالدهر ليس بدائم في حاله

فالدهر ليس بدائم في حاله

إذ شبّهوه خيال ظل خيلا

إذ شبّهوه خيال ظل خيلا

For time does not remain in one condition,

For time is not constant in its state

since they likened it to an imagined shadow-play.

When they likened it to the mirage of a horse’s shadow

كم حيلة يأتي تعاذير بها

كم حيلة يأتي تعاذير بها

فيجي أبوالقطط القطط مُحيلا

فيجي أبوالقطط القطط مُحيلا

How many a trick it brings excuses for!

How many tricks does it come up with excuses

Then Abu al-Qitat brings the cats, working tricks.

So the tomcat comes while the cats are confused

وله طُبيلي أي وزُماري فذا

وله طُبيلي أي وزُماري فذا

طقطق ددك دف دف وذا لي لولا

طقطق ددك دف دف وذا لي لولا

And he has my little drum—ay!—and my piper; this one goes

It has two drums, oh! and a flute, so

'Taq-taq, dadak, duff duff,' and that one, 'li lula.'

It rattles tak tak, dum dum and la la la

ولربما وقعت مُشاشاة ترى

ولربما وقعت مُشاشاة ترى

لاثنين صارا سائلاً ومسولا

لاثنين صارا سائلاً ومسولا

And sometimes, you see, an exchange takes place

And sometimes a skirmish occurs which you see

between two who become questioner and questioned.

Between two who became questioning and answering

فيقول ذاك أخذت شك يا كُبيش

فيقول ذاك أخذت شك يا كُبيش

قل لي من أيش ويجيب ذاك يقولا

قل لي من أيش ويجيب ذاك يقولا

Then that one says, 'You've become doubtful, Kubaysh;

So that one says you took my doubt, oh Kubaysh

tell me, from what?' And that one answers, saying:

Tell me from where, and that one replies saying

من ذا زيال عمرك خيال ساعة وزال

من ذا زيال عمرك خيال ساعة وزال

يكفاك سواك أوسل تنال قال هولا

يكفاك سواك أوسل تنال قال هولا

'From this ziyal: your life is a phantom—an hour, and gone;

From who is this imagination, your life is an illusion of an hour and it's gone

someone else suffices you; or ask and receive'—he said, 'hula.'

It's enough for you, ask yourself you'll get the answer, he said surprised

ويزول فلك سرعة فكأنما

ويزول فلك سرعة فكأنما

فعلوا وقالوا ما جرى ما قيلا

فعلوا وقالوا ما جرى ما قيلا

And a sphere vanishes swiftly, so it is as though

And it disappears quickly as if

what they did and said never happened, was never spoken.

They did and said what happened, what was said

وكذا الغلاء وإن علا يمضي فلا

وكذا الغلاء وإن علا يمضي فلا

تقلق ولا تكن في البلا عجلولا

تقلق ولا تكن في البلا عجلولا

Likewise high prices, even if they rise, pass away; so do not

And so are the high prices, even if they rise, they will pass so

worry, nor be over-hasty amid affliction.

Don't worry and don't be hasty in affliction