تَعَزُّ أَبا العَبّاسِ عَن خَيرِ هالِكٍ

بِأَكرَمِ حَيٍّ كانَ أَو هُوَ كائِنُ

You scorned Abul Abbas for a perished good man,

Take solace, O Abu al-Abbas, for the best of those who perished,

Though the living be nobler, or yet to be born.

By the noblest of the living who has been or is to be.

حَوادِثُ أَيّامٍ تَدورُ صُروفُها

لَهُنَّ مَساوٍ مَرَّةً وَمَحاسِنُ

The days and their changes but turn in a round,

The accidents of days, whose shifting fortunes cycle round,

To their Maker returning for weal or for scorn.

Bring forth at times a bitterness, and at times a grace.

وَفي الحَيُّ بِالمَيتِ الَّذي غَيَّبَ الثَرى

فَلا أَنتَ مَغبونٌ وَلا المَوتُ غابِنُ

And life cannot lose the dead man whom earth

In the living lies a ransom for the dead whom dust has veiled,

Has hidden; nor death be deluded of her command.

So neither are you cheated, nor is Death the one who cheats.