قُصورُ الجَدِّ مَع طولِ المَساعي

وَقَولُ الناسِ لَم يَنجَح فُلانُ

The palaces of my ancestors with all their striving

And people saying so-and-so did not succeed

أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِن سَعيٍ هَجينٍ

وَإِن بَلَغَ العُلى جَدٌّ هِجانُ

Are dearer to me than an effort that is doomed,

Even if the supreme goal is reached by despised endeavor

يُذَمُّ لِيَ الزَمانُ إِذا أَلامَت

يَداهُ وَلا يُذَمُّ بِيَ الزَمانُ

Time would blame me if harm came to it through my hands,

But time cannot be blamed for what befalls me