هَنِيئاً لِرَيَّا ما تَضُمُّ الْجَوَانِحُ

هَنِيئاً لِرَيَّا ما تَضُمُّ الْجَوَانِحُ

وَإِنْ طَوَّحَتْ بِي في هَواهَا الطَّوائِحُ

وَإِنْ طَوَّحَتْ بِي في هَواهَا الطَّوائِحُ

May Rayya rejoice in what my ribs enfold,

Welcome to Rayya, whose bosom contains delight!

Though the calamities of loving her have hurled me far.

Though the winds may toss me violently in her passion

فَتاةٌ لَهَا فِي مَنْصِبِ الْحُسْنِ سُورَةٌ

فَتاةٌ لَهَا فِي مَنْصِبِ الْحُسْنِ سُورَةٌ

تُقَصِّرُ عَنْها الْغِيدُ وَهْيَ رَواجِحُ

تُقَصِّرُ عَنْها الْغِيدُ وَهْيَ رَواجِحُ

A maiden with preeminence in the station of beauty,

A damsel who in the position of beauty has an aspect

Graceful maidens fall short of her, though they too excel.

Beside which both highland and lowland are insignificant

أَحَاطَ عَلَى مِثْلِ الْكَثِيبِ إِزارُهَا

أَحَاطَ عَلَى مِثْلِ الْكَثِيبِ إِزارُهَا

ودَارَتْ عَلَى مِثْلِ الْقَناةِ الْوَشائِحُ

ودَارَتْ عَلَى مِثْلِ الْقَناةِ الْوَشائِحُ

Her waist-wrap encircled a form like a sand dune,

Her waist-wrapper encompassed a sand-hill

And the sashes wound around a form like a spear-shaft.

And her plaits encircled a watercourse

فَفِي الْغُصْنِ مِنْها إِنْ تَثَنَّتْ مَشابِهٌ

فَفِي الْغُصْنِ مِنْها إِنْ تَثَنَّتْ مَشابِهٌ

وفي الْبَدْرِ مِنْها إِنْ تَجَلَّتْ مَلامِحُ

وفي الْبَدْرِ مِنْها إِنْ تَجَلَّتْ مَلامِحُ

So in the branch are likenesses of her when she sways,

So in the branch if she bent there were resemblances

And in the full moon are her features when she shines forth.

And in the full moon if she uncovered her face there were features

مَحَاسِنُ رَبَّاتِ الْحِجَالِ كَثِيرَةٌ

مَحَاسِنُ رَبَّاتِ الْحِجَالِ كَثِيرَةٌ

وَلَكِنَّها إِنْ وازَنَتْها مَقابِحُ

وَلَكِنَّها إِنْ وازَنَتْها مَقابِحُ

The charms of the ladies of curtained chambers are many,

The beauties of secluded ladies are many

But if weighed against her, they are blemishes.

But if they were weighed against her, they would be defects

كَأَنَّ اهْتِزازَ الْقُرْطِ فِي صَفْحِ جِيدِها

كَأَنَّ اهْتِزازَ الْقُرْطِ فِي صَفْحِ جِيدِها

سَنَا كَوْكَبٍ فِي مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ لائِحُ

سَنَا كَوْكَبٍ فِي مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ لائِحُ

As though the earring's quiver beside her neck

It seemed that the shaking of the earring in her smooth cheek

Were a star's light gleaming at the break of dawn.

Was a star rising at dawn, shining

لَها ذُكْرَةٌ عِنْدِي وَطَيْفٌ كِلاهُما

لَها ذُكْرَةٌ عِنْدِي وَطَيْفٌ كِلاهُما

بِتِمْثَالِها غادٍ عَليَّ ورائِحُ

بِتِمْثَالِها غادٍ عَليَّ ورائِحُ

I hold a memory of her and a phantom, both

She has an image to me and an apparition, both

Visiting me with her likeness, morning and evening.

Passing by me with her likeness

عَجِبْتُ لِعَيْنِي كَيْفَ تَظْمَأُ دُونَها

عَجِبْتُ لِعَيْنِي كَيْفَ تَظْمَأُ دُونَها

وإِنْسَانُها في لُجَّةِ الْمَاءِ سابِحُ

وإِنْسَانُها في لُجَّةِ الْمَاءِ سابِحُ

I marvel at my eye—how can it thirst without her,

I was astonished that my eye thirsted for her

While its pupil swims in water's depths?

While her person was in the depths of the water, swimming

أَحِنُّ لَهَا شَوْقاً وَدُونَ مَزارِهَا

أَحِنُّ لَهَا شَوْقاً وَدُونَ مَزارِهَا

مَسَالِكُ يَأْوِيهَا الرَّدَى وَمَنَادِحُ

مَسَالِكُ يَأْوِيهَا الرَّدَى وَمَنَادِحُ

I yearn for her with longing, and between me and a visit to her

I yearn for her with passion, and before her dwelling

Lie paths where death takes shelter, and wide expanses:

Are pathways which misguidance and calamities frequent

فَيَافٍ يَضِلُّ النَّجْمُ فِي قُذُفاتِها

فَيَافٍ يَضِلُّ النَّجْمُ فِي قُذُفاتِها

وتَظْلَعُ فِيها النَّائِجَاتُ الْبَوَارِحُ

وتَظْلَعُ فِيها النَّائِجَاتُ الْبَوَارِحُ

Deserts in whose far reaches the star loses its way,

A wasteland where the star goes astray in its undulating terrain

And in which the roaring, scorching winds limp;

And in it prey wanders distractedly

وَلُجَّةُ بَحْرٍ كُلَّما هَبَّ عَاصِفٌ

وَلُجَّةُ بَحْرٍ كُلَّما هَبَّ عَاصِفٌ

مِنَ الرِّيحِ دَوَّى مَوْجُهَا المُتَنَاطِحُ

مِنَ الرِّيحِ دَوَّى مَوْجُهَا المُتَنَاطِحُ

And a sea's depths: whenever there blows a fierce gust

And the turbulence of a sea wherein whenever the wind

Of wind, its clashing waves thunder.

Blows violently its waves clash

فَقَلْبِيَ تَحْتَ السَّرْدِ كَالنَّارِ لافِحٌ

فَقَلْبِيَ تَحْتَ السَّرْدِ كَالنَّارِ لافِحٌ

وَدَمْعِيَ فَوْقَ الْخَدِّ كالْمَاءِ سافِحُ

وَدَمْعِيَ فَوْقَ الْخَدِّ كالْمَاءِ سافِحُ

So my heart beneath the mail burns like fire,

So my heart beneath my ribs burns like fire

And my tears pour over my cheek like water.

And my tear upon my cheek flows like water

وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مَطْلُوقَ الْعِنَانِ لَما ثَنَت

وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مَطْلُوقَ الْعِنَانِ لَما ثَنَت

هَوايَ الْفَيَافِي والْبِحَارُ الطَّوافِحُ

هَوايَ الْفَيَافِي والْبِحَارُ الطَّوافِحُ

And were I given free rein, they would not check

If I were freed, neither the waterless wastes nor the oceans

My longing—the deserts and the brimming seas.

With the floods would deter my passion and desire

ولَكِنَّنِي في جَحْفَلٍ لَيْسَ دُونَهُ

ولَكِنَّنِي في جَحْفَلٍ لَيْسَ دُونَهُ

بَراحٌ لِذِي عُذْرٍ وَلا عَنْهُ بَارِحُ

بَراحٌ لِذِي عُذْرٍ وَلا عَنْهُ بَارِحُ

But I am in a mighty army, from which there is no

But I am in shackles, beyond which there is

Leave for one with an excuse, nor anyone departing from it.

No relief for one excused, nor departing early for one blamed

يُكافِحُنِي شَوْقِي إِذا اللَّيْلُ جَنَّنِي

يُكافِحُنِي شَوْقِي إِذا اللَّيْلُ جَنَّنِي

وأَغْدُو عَلَى جَمْعِ العِدَا فَأُكَافِحُ

وأَغْدُو عَلَى جَمْعِ العِدَا فَأُكَافِحُ

My longing battles me when night enfolds me,

My passion battles me when the night maddens me

And at dawn I march against the enemy host and fight.

And I rise up against the enemies, so I battle

خَصِيمانِ هَذا بِالْفُؤَادِ مُخَيِّمٌ

خَصِيمانِ هَذا بِالْفُؤَادِ مُخَيِّمٌ

وَذلكَ عَنْ مَرْمَى الْقَذِيفَةِ نازِحُ

وَذلكَ عَنْ مَرْمَى الْقَذِيفَةِ نازِحُ

Two foes: this one camps within my heart,

Two opponents, one established in my innermost being

And that one is distant, beyond a projectile's range.

The other keeping away from the range of missiles

وَمَا بِيَ ما أَخْشَاهُ مِنْ صَوْلَةِ الْعِدا

وَمَا بِيَ ما أَخْشَاهُ مِنْ صَوْلَةِ الْعِدا

لَوَ انَّ الْهَوَى يُولِي يَداً أَوْ يُسامِحُ

لَوَ انَّ الْهَوَى يُولِي يَداً أَوْ يُسامِحُ

And what ails me is not fear of the enemy's onslaught,

I have no fear of the onslaught of enemies

If only love would lend a hand or show mercy.

If passion would only lend a hand or make peace

فَيَا رَوْضَةَ الْمِقْياسِ حَيَّاكِ عارِضٌ

فَيَا رَوْضَةَ الْمِقْياسِ حَيَّاكِ عارِضٌ

مِنَ الْمُزْنِ خَفَّاقُ الْجَنَاحَيْنِ دَالِحُ

مِنَ الْمُزْنِ خَفَّاقُ الْجَنَاحَيْنِ دَالِحُ

So, garden of the Nilometer, may a raincloud greet you,

So O garden of the standard, greeting to you, a carrier pigeon

From the rainclouds, its two wings beating, heavy-laden;

Flapping its wings in joy, alluring, from the eyrie,

ضَحُوكُ ثَنايَا الْبَرْقِ تَجْرِي عُيُونُهُ

ضَحُوكُ ثَنايَا الْبَرْقِ تَجْرِي عُيُونُهُ

بِوَدْقٍ بِهِ تَحْيَا الرُّبَا وَالصَّحَاصِحُ

بِوَدْقٍ بِهِ تَحْيَا الرُّبَا وَالصَّحَاصِحُ

Smiling with teeth of lightning, its eyes stream

Laughing, the folds of lightning - its eyes

With rain that brings hills and open plains to life.

Flow with a sweet rain blessing the meadows and canals!

تَحُوكُ بِخَيْطِ الْمُزْنِ مِنْهُ يَدُ الصَّبَا

تَحُوكُ بِخَيْطِ الْمُزْنِ مِنْهُ يَدُ الصَّبَا

لَها حُلَّةً تَخْتَالُ فِيهَا الأَبَاطِحُ

لَها حُلَّةً تَخْتَالُ فِيهَا الأَبَاطِحُ

The east wind's hand weaves with that cloud's thread

The morning breeze weaves for it with strands of dew

A robe for her, in which the gravelly flats strut.

Raiment wherein young female ostriches strut

مَنَازِلُ حَلَّ الدَّهْرُ فِيهَا تَمائِمي

مَنَازِلُ حَلَّ الدَّهْرُ فِيهَا تَمائِمي

وصَافَحَنِي فيها الْقَنا وَالصَّفائِحُ

وصَافَحَنِي فيها الْقَنا وَالصَّفائِحُ

Dwellings where time untied my amulets,

The abodes where the cycle of time halted - my emblems

And there spears and sword-blades shook my hand.

Frolicked there, and pure wine-jars greeted me there

وإِنَّ أَحَقَّ الأَرْضِ بِالشُّكْرِ مَنْزِلٌ

وإِنَّ أَحَقَّ الأَرْضِ بِالشُّكْرِ مَنْزِلٌ

يَكونُ بِهِ لِلْمَرْءِ خِلٌّ مُنَاصِحُ

يَكونُ بِهِ لِلْمَرْءِ خِلٌّ مُنَاصِحُ

And the place on earth most worthy of gratitude is a dwelling

The land most deserving of thanks is a lodging

Where one has a friend who offers sincere counsel.

Wherein a man has a sincere adviser for a comrade

فَهَلْ تَرْجِعُ الأَيَّامُ فيهِ بِمَا مَضَتْ

فَهَلْ تَرْجِعُ الأَيَّامُ فيهِ بِمَا مَضَتْ

ويَجْرِي بِوَصْلٍ مِنْ أُمَيْمَةَ سانِحُ

ويَجْرِي بِوَصْلٍ مِنْ أُمَيْمَةَ سانِحُ

Will the days return there with what has passed,

Will the days return therein with what has passed

And will a lucky omen bring union with Umayma?

And will there be intimacy with Umaymah again renewing our pact

لَعَمْرِي لَقَدْ طَالَ النَّوَى وَتَقَاذَفَتْ

لَعَمْرِي لَقَدْ طَالَ النَّوَى وَتَقَاذَفَتْ

مَهَامِهُ دُونَ الْمُلْتَقَى ومَطاوِحُ

مَهَامِهُ دُونَ الْمُلْتَقَى ومَطاوِحُ

By my life, separation has lasted long, and far-flung lie

By my life, hopes have grown long and its ambitions

Deserts and distant wastes before reunion.

Have been tossed about, short of the meeting place

وأَصْبَحْتُ في أَرْضٍ يَحَارُ بِها الْقَطا

وأَصْبَحْتُ في أَرْضٍ يَحَارُ بِها الْقَطا

وَتَرْهَبُها الْجِنانُ وَهْيَ سَوارِحُ

وَتَرْهَبُها الْجِنانُ وَهْيَ سَوارِحُ

And I find myself in a land where sandgrouse lose their way,

And I have awakened in a land that confuses the guide

And the jinn fear it, though they roam freely.

And terrifies the demons, and they are distracted

بَعِيدَةُ أَقْطَارِ الدَّيامِيمِ لَوْ عَدَا

بَعِيدَةُ أَقْطَارِ الدَّيامِيمِ لَوْ عَدَا

سُلَيْكٌ بِها شَأْواً قَضَى وَهْوَ رازِحُ

سُلَيْكٌ بِها شَأْواً قَضَى وَهْوَ رازِحُ

Far-reaching are its waterless deserts; were he to run

Its regions are distant from the lands of pasturage; if only

A course through it, Sulayk would perish, exhausted.

A horseman travelling had accomplished his purpose and departed satisfied!

تَصِيحُ بِها الأَصْدَاءُ فِي غَسَقِ الدُّجَى

تَصِيحُ بِها الأَصْدَاءُ فِي غَسَقِ الدُّجَى

صِيَاحَ الثَّكَالَى هَيَّجَتْها النَّوائِحُ

صِيَاحَ الثَّكَالَى هَيَّجَتْها النَّوائِحُ

Owls cry there in the deep darkness of night,

In it echoes cry like bereaved women

With the cry of bereaved mothers roused by wailing women.

Whose weeping the misfortunes roused

تَرَدَّتْ بِسَمُّورِ الْغَمامِ جِبالُها

تَرَدَّتْ بِسَمُّورِ الْغَمامِ جِبالُها

ومَاجَتْ بِتَيَّارِ السُّيُولِ الْبَطَائِحُ

ومَاجَتْ بِتَيَّارِ السُّيُولِ الْبَطَائِحُ

Its mountains donned the sable of clouds,

Its mountains were clad in the armour of clouds

And the lowlands surged with the current of floods.

And its torrents were stirred into fury by the floodwaters

فَأَنْجادُها لِلْكَاسِراتِ مَعَاقِلٌ

فَأَنْجادُها لِلْكَاسِراتِ مَعَاقِلٌ

وَأَغْوَارُها لِلْعاسِلاتِ مَسَارِحُ

وَأَغْوَارُها لِلْعاسِلاتِ مَسَارِحُ

So its highlands are strongholds for birds of prey,

Its caves are fortresses for destructive women

And its lowlands are roaming grounds for loping wolves.

And its deep valleys are a playground for women seeking diversion

مَهَالِكُ يَنْسَى الْمَرْءُ فِيها خَلِيلَهُ

مَهَالِكُ يَنْسَى الْمَرْءُ فِيها خَلِيلَهُ

ويَنْدُرُ عَنْ سَوْمِ الْعُلا مَنْ يُنَافِحُ

ويَنْدُرُ عَنْ سَوْمِ الْعُلا مَنْ يُنَافِحُ

Deadly places where a man forgets his close friend,

Death-places where a man forgets his companion

And one who fights falls away from the pursuit of glory.

And whoever contends for elevation holds back

فَلا جَوَّ إِلَّا سَمْهَرِيٌّ وقاضِبٌ

فَلا جَوَّ إِلَّا سَمْهَرِيٌّ وقاضِبٌ

وَلا أَرْضَ إِلَّا شَمَّرِيٌّ وَسابِحُ

وَلا أَرْضَ إِلَّا شَمَّرِيٌّ وَسابِحُ

No air is there but a stiff lance and a cutting sword,

Only a hot wind and a cool one blow

And no ground but an agile warrior and a galloping steed.

And only a rugged and smooth earth exist

تَرانَا بِهَا كَالأُسْدِ نَرْصُدُ غارَةً

تَرانَا بِهَا كَالأُسْدِ نَرْصُدُ غارَةً

يَطِيرُ بِهَا فَتْقٌ مِنَ الصُّبْحِ لامِحُ

يَطِيرُ بِهَا فَتْقٌ مِنَ الصُّبْحِ لامِحُ

You see us there like lions, awaiting a raid,

We lie in wait for a raid like lions

Sent flying by a gleaming rift of dawn.

With a sudden attack at dawn gleaming

مَدافِعُنَا نُصْبُ الْعِدَا ومُشاتُنَا

مَدافِعُنَا نُصْبُ الْعِدَا ومُشاتُنَا

قِيَامٌ تَلِيها الصَّافِناتُ الْقَوارِحُ

قِيَامٌ تَلِيها الصَّافِناتُ الْقَوارِحُ

Our cannons face the enemy, and our infantry

Our weapons are trained on the enemies, and our swords

Stand, followed by poised, full-grown steeds.

Are keen blades, followed by the well-fitting scabbards

ثَلاثَةُ أَصْنَافٍ تَقِيهنَّ ساقَةٌ

ثَلاثَةُ أَصْنَافٍ تَقِيهنَّ ساقَةٌ

صِيَالَ الْعِدَا إِنْ صاحَ بِالشَّرِّ صَائِحُ

صِيَالَ الْعِدَا إِنْ صاحَ بِالشَّرِّ صَائِحُ

Three divisions, shielded by a rear guard

Three types whom the warriors' assault protects:

From the enemy's onslaught, if a crier sounds the alarm.

The enemies' horses if the war-cry comes from one provoking strife

فَلَسْتَ تَرَى إِلَّا كُماةً بَوَاسِلا

فَلَسْتَ تَرَى إِلَّا كُماةً بَوَاسِلا

وَجُرْداً تَخُوضُ الْمَوْتَ وَهْيَ ضَوابِحُ

وَجُرْداً تَخُوضُ الْمَوْتَ وَهْيَ ضَوابِحُ

So you see none but brave armored warriors,

You see only bodies in coats of mail

And sleek steeds wading through death as they pant.

And troops plunging into death distractedly

نُغِيرُ عَلى الأَبْطَالِ والصُّبْحُ باسِمٌ

نُغِيرُ عَلى الأَبْطَالِ والصُّبْحُ باسِمٌ

وَنَأْوِي إِلَى الأَدْغَالِ واللَّيْلُ جَانِحُ

وَنَأْوِي إِلَى الأَدْغَالِ واللَّيْلُ جَانِحُ

We raid the champions while dawn smiles,

We attack the champions when dawn is smiling

And shelter in the thickets as night descends.

And we retreat to the thickets when night falls

بَكَى صاحِبِي لَمَّا رَأَى الْحَرْبَ أَقْبَلَتْ

بَكَى صاحِبِي لَمَّا رَأَى الْحَرْبَ أَقْبَلَتْ

بِأَبْنَائِها والْيَوْمُ أَغْبَرُ كالِحُ

بِأَبْنَائِها والْيَوْمُ أَغْبَرُ كالِحُ

My companion wept when he saw war advancing

My companion wept when he saw war arrive

With her sons, while the day was dusty and scowling.

With its children, while the day was dusty, turbid

ولَمْ يَكُ مَبْكاهُ لِخَوْفٍ وَإِنَّما

ولَمْ يَكُ مَبْكاهُ لِخَوْفٍ وَإِنَّما

تَوَهَّمَ أَنِّي في الْكَرِيهَةِ طَائِحُ

تَوَهَّمَ أَنِّي في الْكَرِيهَةِ طَائِحُ

His weeping was not from fear, but only because

His weeping was not from fear, but rather

He imagined I would fall in battle.

He imagined I was confused in the fray

فَقَالَ اتَّئِدْ قَبْلَ الصِّيَالِ ولا تَكُنْ

فَقَالَ اتَّئِدْ قَبْلَ الصِّيَالِ ولا تَكُنْ

لنَفْسِكَ حَرْبَاً إِنَّنِي لَكَ ناصِحُ

لنَفْسِكَ حَرْبَاً إِنَّنِي لَكَ ناصِحُ

So he said, ‘Be deliberate before the charge, and do not be

So he said: collect yourself before the assault and do not

Your own enemy; I am your sincere adviser.

Make war upon yourself - I sincerely advise you

أَلَمْ تَرَ مَعْقُودَ الدُّخَانِ كَأَنَّمَا

أَلَمْ تَرَ مَعْقُودَ الدُّخَانِ كَأَنَّمَا

عَلَى عَاتِقِ الْجَوْزَاءِ مِنْهُ سَرائِحُ

عَلَى عَاتِقِ الْجَوْزَاءِ مِنْهُ سَرائِحُ

Have you not seen the knotted smoke, as though

Have you not seen the smoke gathered as if

Tresses of it lay upon Orion's shoulder?

Dishevelled tresses were upon the neck of Virgo?

وقَدْ نَشَأَتْ لِلْحَرْبِ مُزْنَةُ قَسْطَلٍ

وقَدْ نَشَأَتْ لِلْحَرْبِ مُزْنَةُ قَسْطَلٍ

لَهَا مُسْتَهِلٌّ بِالْمَنِيَّةِ راشِحُ

لَهَا مُسْتَهِلٌّ بِالْمَنِيَّةِ راشِحُ

And a cloud of battle-dust has risen for war,

And for war an ominous sphere like a citadel has risen

Whose downpour drips with death.

With a beginning in death, hasty

فَلا رَأْيَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ بِنَجْوَةٍ

فَلا رَأْيَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ بِنَجْوَةٍ

فَإِنَّكَ مَقْصُودُ الْمَكَانَةِ واضِحُ

فَإِنَّكَ مَقْصُودُ الْمَكَانَةِ واضِحُ

So there is no counsel but to stay on safe high ground,

So I have no view other than you should survive

For you are a target, your station plain to see.’

For you are clearly the object of high standing

فَقُلْتُ تَعَلَّمْ إِنَّما هِيَ خُطَّةٌ

فَقُلْتُ تَعَلَّمْ إِنَّما هِيَ خُطَّةٌ

يَطُولُ بِها مَجْدٌ وتُخْشَى فَضَائِحُ

يَطُولُ بِها مَجْدٌ وتُخْشَى فَضَائِحُ

I replied, ‘Know this: it is but a course of action

I said: you must learn it is only a strategy

Through which glory rises high, and disgrace is feared.

By which glory becomes long, though disgraces are feared

فَمَا كُلُّ ما تَرْجُو مِنَ الأَمْرِ ناجِعٌ

فَمَا كُلُّ ما تَرْجُو مِنَ الأَمْرِ ناجِعٌ

وَلا كُلُّ ما تَخْشَى مِنَ الْخَطْبِ فَادِحُ

وَلا كُلُّ ما تَخْشَى مِنَ الْخَطْبِ فَادِحُ

Not all you hope for in an undertaking brings benefit,

Not everything you hope for in the matter will happen

Nor is every calamity you fear crushing.

Nor everything you fear of calamity occur

فَقَدْ يَهْلَكُ الرِّعْدِيدُ في عُقْرِ دارِهِ

فَقَدْ يَهْلَكُ الرِّعْدِيدُ في عُقْرِ دارِهِ

ويَنْجُو مِنَ الْحَتفِ الْكَمِيُّ الْمُشايِحُ

ويَنْجُو مِنَ الْحَتفِ الْكَمِيُّ الْمُشايِحُ

For a coward may perish in the depths of his home,

For the mighty may perish in the depths of his house

While the resolute armored warrior escapes death.

And the slight one rubbing his elbows may escape from death

وَكُلُّ امْرِئٍ يَوْماً مُلاقٍ حِمَامَهُ

وَكُلُّ امْرِئٍ يَوْماً مُلاقٍ حِمَامَهُ

وإِنْ عَارَ في أَرْسَانِهِ وَهْوَ جَامِحُ

وإِنْ عَارَ في أَرْسَانِهِ وَهْوَ جَامِحُ

And every person one day meets his death,

And every man one day meets his appointed time

Even if he bolts in his halters, running wild.

Even if he is disgraced while in his prime

فَمَا بارِحٌ إِلَّا مَعَ الْخَيْرِ سَانِحٌ

فَمَا بارِحٌ إِلَّا مَعَ الْخَيْرِ سَانِحٌ

ولا سَانِحٌ إِلَّا مَعَ الشَّرِّ بارِحُ

ولا سَانِحٌ إِلَّا مَعَ الشَّرِّ بارِحُ

So every ill omen is auspicious when accompanied by good,

None depart early but those reconciled to good

And every good omen is ominous when accompanied by evil.

None are intimate but those reconciled to evil, later leaving

فَإِنْ عِشْتُ صافَحْتُ الثُّرَيَّا وإِنْ أَمُتْ

فَإِنْ عِشْتُ صافَحْتُ الثُّرَيَّا وإِنْ أَمُتْ

فَإِنَّ كَرِيماً مَنْ تَضُمُّ الصَّفَائِحُ

فَإِنَّ كَرِيماً مَنْ تَضُمُّ الصَّفَائِحُ

So if I live, I shall shake hands with the Pleiades; if I die,

So if I live, I will enjoy intimacy and if I die

Then noble is the man the grave-slabs enfold.’

It will be noble, enclosed in the earth