وَلِيتُ الْحُكْمَ خَمْساً وهْيَ خُمْسٌ

وَلِيتُ الْحُكْمَ خَمْساً وهْيَ خُمْسٌ

لِعُمْرِي والصِّبا في الْعُنْفُوانِ

لِعُمْرِي والصِّبا في الْعُنْفُوانِ

I held judicial office for five years—a fifth

I wish the rule were mine, five years or ten

of my life, while youth was in its prime.

In youth and prime of vigor among men.

فَلَمْ يَضَعِ الأَعادِي قَدْرَ شاني

فَلَمْ يَضَعِ الأَعادِي قَدْرَ شاني

وَلاَ قالُوا فُلانٌ قَدْ رَشاني

وَلاَ قالُوا فُلانٌ قَدْ رَشاني

So my enemies did not diminish my standing,

Then foes had never brought my state to naught

Nor did they say that so-and-so had bribed me.

Nor enemies declared, "See, he is distraught!"