وَخَيَّرَها أَبوها بَينَ شَيخٍ

كَثيرِ المالِ أَو حَدَثٍ فَقيرِ

Her father offered her the choice between

An old man of great wealth or a poor youth

فَقالَت خُطَّتا خَسفٍ وَما إِن

أَرى مِن حُظوؤٍ لَلمُستَخيرِ

She said: "My destiny is ordained and I do not

See any good fortune for one who deliberates

وَلَكِن إِن عَزَمتَ فَكُلُّ شَيءٍ

أَحَبُّ إلي مِن وَجهِ الكَبيرِ

But if you are determined, then anything

Is more beloved to me than the old man's face

لِأَنَّ المَرءَ بَعدَ الفَقرِ يُثري

وَهَذا لا يَعودُ إشلى صَغيرِ

For a man may become wealthy after poverty

Yet he can never return to being young