كانَت قُبَيلَ العَصرِ مَركَبَةٌ

تَجري بِمَن فيها مِنَ السَفرِ

In the late afternoon a carriage

It was just before late afternoon, a carriage

Carried its passengers on their journey

Was speeding along with its passengers,

ما بَينَ مُنخَفِض وَمُرتَفِعٍ

عال وَبَينَ السَهل وَالوَعرِ

Through the ups and downs of hills

Traversing between the lowlands and the heights,

And between hard and easy terrain

Between the level plains and the rugged terrain,

وَتَخُطُّ بِالعَجَلاتِ سائِرَةً

في الأَرضِ إِسطارا وَلا تَدري

Rolling smoothly on its wheels

Etching lines upon the earth with its wheels as it moved,

Leaving tracks in the earth unaware

Inscribing rows, yet unaware of what it wrote.

كَتَبَت بِلا حِبر وَعَزَّ عَلى

الأَقلامِ حَرفٌ دونَ ما حِبرِ

It wrote without ink, too hard

It wrote without ink, though it is rare for

For pens, letters without any ink

Pens to trace a letter lacking ink.

سَيّارَةٌ في الأَرضِ ما فَتِأَت

كَالطَيرِ مِن وَكرٍ إِلى وَكرِ

A vehicle roaming the land restless

A vehicle roaming the earth, never ceasing,

Like a bird flitting from nest to nest

Like a bird flitting from nest to nest,

تَأبى وَتَأنَفُ أَن يَلِمَّ بِها

تَعَب وَأَن تَشكو سِوى الزَجرِ

Disdaining weariness or complaint

Refusing and disdaining to be touched by fatigue,

Except for the whip's strict urge

Or to complain of anything save the driver's urge.

حَمَلَت مِن الرُكّابِ كُلَّ فَتىً

حَسَنَ الرُواء وَكُلَّ ذي قَدرِ

Bearing youths, all fine and worthy

Carrying among its passengers every handsome youth

Some speaking of hopes still ahead

Of fine appearance, and men of high standing.

يَتَحَدَّثونَ فَذاكَ عَن أَمَلٍ

آت وَذا عَن سالِفِ العُمرِ

Others of life already passed

Conversations flowing, one speaking of a hope

Conversing as it glided on unswerving

To come, and another of days long past.

يَتَحَدَّثون وَتِلكَ سائِرَةٌ

بِالقَومِ لا تَلوي عَلى أَمرِ

As if it set a goal to meet the sun

They conversed while it carried the group onward,

Where it sinks while the land still glows

Heeding nothing else in its course,

فَكَأَنَّما ضَرَبَت لَها أَجَلاً

أَن تَلتَقي وَالشَمسَ في خِدرِ

Until when it reached the wilderness

As though it had appointed a fixed time

Stretching out yellowed at its edges

To meet the sun within its setting chamber.

حَتّى إِذا صارَت بِداحِيَةٍ

مَمدودَةٍ أَطرافَها صُفرِ

A wheel broke off and tumbled down

Until, upon reaching a vast, open wasteland

Shattering a rock into splinters

Stretching out with desolate, yellowed horizons,

سَقَطَت مِنَ العَجَلاتِ واحِدَةٌ

فَطَحَطَّمَت إِرَباً عَلى الصَخرِ

The passengers grew uneasy, disturbed

One of the wheels detached and fell,

By the adversity they now faced

Shattering into fragments against the rock.

فَتَشاءَمَ الرُكّاب وَاِضطَرَبوا

مِمّا أَلَمَّ بِهِم مِنَ الضَرِّ

Scattered, their order now dispersed

The passengers were filled with dread and turmoil

How many patterns unravel into chaos!

At the calamity that had befallen them.

وَتَفَرَّقوا بَعدَ اِنتِظامِهِمِ

بَدَدا وَكَم نَظمٍ إِلى نَثرِ

The sun poured out its rays to clothe

They scattered in disarray after being united,

The earth's surface in a coat of dust

For how often does order dissolve into chaos?

وَالشَمسُ قَد سالَت أَشِعَّتُها

تَكسو أَديمَ الأَرضِ بِالتِبرِ

The horizon glowed red as if

The sun poured forth its flowing rays,

Enraged at fate and passing days

Cladding the earth's surface in liquid gold.

وَالأُفقُ مُحمَرٌّ كَأَنَّ بِهِ

حَنَقاً عَلى الأَيّام وَالدَهرِ

And the people's hearts perturbed

The horizon blushed red, as though harboring

Were restless as if on hot coals

Rage against the passing days and fate itself.

وَالقَومُ واجِفَةٌ قُلوبُهُمُ

قَلَقاً كَأَنَّهُم عَلى الجَمرِ

Among them a buxom maiden

The group stood with hearts trembling

Alluring, with a witty tongue

In anxiety, as if standing upon hot coals.

قَد كانَ بَينَ الجَمعِ ناهِدَةُ

الثَديَينِ ذاتُ مَلاحَةٍ تُغري

Wept copious tears like a weakened vine

Among the crowd was a young maiden

As the sun sank in the west

Of blossoming beauty and captivating grace.

تَبكي بُكاءَ القانِطين وَما

أَسخى دُموعَ الغادَةِ البِكرِ

Dropping pearls and petals of roses

Weeping the tears of the despairing; oh, how

Two suns - were it not for their bond -

Profusely flow the tears of a maiden unwed.

وَقَفَت وَشَمسُ الأُفقِ غارِبَةٌ

تَذري عُلىً كَالوَردِ كَالقَطرِ

Would not have wept for separation

She stood as the sun dipped below the horizon,

She turned her eyes in panic

Shedding tears like dew upon roses.

شَمسانَ لَولا أَنَّ بَينَهُما

صِلَةٌ لَمّا بَكَتا مِنَ الهَجرِ

Like a startled gazelle in fright

Two suns they seemed; were it not for a bond

When a youth like the dawn -

Between them, they would not weep at parting.

وَتُديرُ عَنينَها عَلى جَزَعٍ

كَالظَبيِ مُلتَفِتاً مِنَ الذُعرِ

Nay, he surpassed the dawn - approached

Turning her eyes about in sheer alarm,

And said: How strange! Why do you weep,

Like a gazelle glancing back in terror,

وَإِذا فَتىً كَالفَجرِ طَلعَتُهُ

بَل رُبَّما أَربى عَلى الفَجرِ

Moon-faced beauty?

When suddenly a youth appeared, bright as the dawn,

She replied: I fear the night will trap me

Nay, perhaps surpassing the dawn in radiance.

وافى إِلَيها قائِلاً عَجَباً

مِمَّ البُكاءُ شَقيقَةَ البَدرِ

How desolate is the darkness in this waste!

He approached her, asking in wonderment:

What I dread most is my blood spilled

"Why do you weep, O sister of the full moon?"

قالَت أَخافُ اللَيلَ يَدهَمُني

ما أَوحَشَ الظَلماءِ في القَفرِ

By the wicked traitor's villainous hand.

She replied, "I fear the night overtaking me;

Woe is me! Henry the accursed -

How desolate is the darkness in this wasteland."

وَأَشَدُّ ما أَخشاهُ سَفكُ دَمي

بِيَدِ الأَثيمِ اللِصِّ ذي الغَدرِ

Though you know not - is the son of Death!

"And what I dread most is the spilling of my blood

He lies in ambush so no foot

At the hands of the sinful, treacherous thief."

هِنري اللَعين وَما الفَتى هِنري

إِلّا اِبنُ أُمِّ المَوتِ لَو تَدري

Or breeze can pass by unopposed

"Henry the Accursed—and who is this Henry

My wretched fate! The road that leads

But the very son of Death itself, if you but knew?"

رَصَدَ السَبيلَ فَما تَمُرُّ بِهِ

قَدَم وَلا النَسَماتُ إِذ تَسري

Me home lies in the grasp of the unworthy.

"He stalks this path, letting pass

Truly I know my feet hurry me

Neither footstep nor the drifting breeze."

وا شَقوَتي إِنَّ الطَريقَ إِلى

سَكَني عَلى مُستَحسَنِ النَكرِ

Relentlessly towards my grave

"Oh, woe is me! For the road to my home

The youth retorted: Do not despair!

Lies across this path of peril and dread."

إِنّي لَأَعلَمُ إِنَّما قَدَمي

تَسعى حَثيثاً بي إِلى القَبرِ

Your fear will not avail you, pure one.

"And I know with certainty that my steps

Take courage and rely on me

Are hastening me towards the grave."

قالَ الفَتى هَيهاتِ خَوفُكِ لَن

يُجديكِ شَيئاً رَبَّةَ الطُهرِ

For I will protect you from Henry.

The youth replied, "Nay! Your fear will not

She said: I fear to impose

Avail you anything, O mistress of purity."

فَتَشَجَّعي وَعَلَيَّ فَاِتَّكِلي

فَأَنا الَّذي يَحميكِ مِن هِنري

On your delicate, tender youth.

"Take heart and place your trust in me,

But he assured her: Do not fret or doubt

For I am the one who shall shield you from Henry."

قالَت أَخافُ مِنَ الخَأونِ عَلى

هَذا الشَبابِ الناعِمِ النَضرِ

That I am confident of victory.

She said, "I fear what that traitor might do

Reassured, the ship of the desert sailed on

To such tender, blooming youth as yours."

فَأَجابَها لا تَجزَعي وَثِقي

أَنّي عَلى ثِقَةٍ مِنَ النَصرِ

As if untouched by any flaw

He answered, "Do not despair, but trust

And the restless night surged

That I am certain of my victory."

عادَت كَأَن لَم يَعرُها خَلَلٌ

تَخِدُ القِفارَ سَفينَةُ البَرِّ

Like the soul's turmoil in the heart

The ship of the desert returned to its course as if unharmed,

As though hopes were boundless

Cutting across the wastelands once more.

وَاللَيلُ مُعتَكِرٌ يَجيشُ كَما

جاشَت هُمومُ النَفسِ في الصَدرِ

And the sea rose and ebbed

The night was pitch-black, surging like

Its stars shone out

The tumultuous worries within a human breast.

فَكَأَنَّهُ الآمالُ واسِعَةٌ

وَالبَحرُ في مَد وَفي جَزرِ

Gleaming pearls and brilliant jewels

Vast as boundless hopes, it seemed

The moon rose in spite of

Like the sea in its ebb and flow.

وَكَأَنَّ أَنجُمُه وَقَد سَطَعَت

دَمعُ الدَلال وَناصِعُ الدُرِّ

Lofty clouds trying to hide its light

And its stars, shining forth, appeared

Shedding beams with the hue

Like tears of coquetry or brilliant pearls.

وَالبَدرُ أَسفَرَ رُغمَ شامِخَةٍ

قَد حاوَلَت تَطويهِ كَالسِرِّ

Of smooth skin and lips' sheen

The full moon revealed its face, despite the towering clouds

As if the fair one rose

That sought to hide it like a secret.

أَلقى أَشِعَّتُهُ فَكانَ لَها

لَونُ اللُجَين وَلُؤلُؤُ الثَغرِ

From her bedchamber or a castle's doll

It cast its beams, possessing the hue

And the wings of darkness recoiled

Of silver and the luster of pearly teeth.

فَكَأَنَّهُ الحَسناءُ طالِعَةٌ

مِن خِدرِها أَو دُميَةُ القَصرِ

In shame, while the moon revealed all

Looking like a beauty emerging from her boudoir,

The paths were illuminated

Or a statue gracing a palace hall.

وَكَأَنَّما جُنحُ الظَلامِ جَنى

ذَنباً فَجاءَ البَدرُ كَالعُذرِ

For the mount, once vague as the sea

As if the wing of darkness had committed a sin,

Galloping like an arrow in flight

And the moon had come to offer apology.

وَضَحَت مَسالِكُ لِلمَطِيَّةِ قَد

كانَت شَبيهَ غَوامِضِ البَحرِ

Or a phantom rushing on its way

The paths became clear for the carriage,

While the riders reveled and rejoiced

Which had been as obscure as the depths of the sea.

فَغدَت تُحاكي السَهمَ مُنطَلِقاً

في جَريِها وَالطَيفَ إِذ يَسري

Chanting the finest poetry

It began to rival a speeding arrow in its course,

Until when they reached a pass

Or a phantom passing in the night.

وَالقَومُ في لَهو وَفي طَرَبٍ

يَتَناشَدونَ أَطايِبَ الشِعرِ

The mare halted, rousing from a stupor

The travelers were in mirth and joy,

Lizette and her companion dismounted

Reciting to one another the finest verses.

حَتّى إِذا صارَت بِمُنعَرِجٍ

وَقَفَت كَمُنتَبِهٍ مِنَ السُكرِ

Following afoot after the trail

Until, reaching a winding bend, it halted

The excellent steed dashed off

Like one suddenly sobering from intoxication.

فَتَرَجَّلَت ليزا وَصاحِبَها

وَمَشَت وَأَعقَبَها عَلى الأَثرِ

Continuing its gallop and flight

Lisa dismounted with her companion;

The beauty walked on, downcast

She walked on, and he followed in her footsteps.

وَاِستَأنَفَت تِلكَ المَطِيَّةُ ما

قَد كانَ مِن كَر وَمِن فَرِّ

No rambling or arrogance remained

While the carriage resumed its struggle,

Where could she ramble when assailed

Charging forward and retreating in turn.

مَشَتِ المَليحَة وَهيَ مُطرِقَةٌ

ما ثَمَّ مِن تيه وَلا كِبرِ

By cares, some as heavy as stone?

The beauty walked with head bowed low,

She tasted no wine, mistaking it

With neither arrogance nor haughty pride.

أَنّى تَتيه وَقَد أَناخَ بِها

هَم وَبَعضُ الهَمِّ كَالوَقرِ

For what gives joy when spirits burn low

How could she be proud, when worry burdened her?

In a forest whose twisting paths

For some cares weigh as heavy as lead.

لَم تَحتَثي خَمرا وَتَحسَبُها

مِمّا بِها نَشوى مِنَ الخَمرِ

Mimic its colors, folds and growth

She had tasted no wine, yet one would deem her

Winding paths widened just barely

Intoxicated, from the weight of her distress.

في غابَةٍ تَحكي ذَوائِبَها

في لَونِها وَاللَف وَالنَشرِ

For the wolf and leopard to prowl

In a forest that mimicked her flowing tresses

As dark as the darkest night

In color, in tangles, and in spread.

ضاقَت ذَوائِبُها فَما اِنفَرَجَت

إِلّا لِسَيرِ الذِئب وَالنَمرِ

Though many a night shines bright

Its branches were so thick they barely parted

The shining moon contended with it

Save for the passage of the wolf and tiger.

كَاللَيلَةِ اللَيلاءِ ساجِيَةً

وَلَرُبَّ لَيلٍ ساطِعٍ غِرِّ

As the infidel contends unbelief

Dark and still as the gloomiest night,

It bent protectively over a gazelle

Though some nights are bright yet beguiling.

قَد حاوَلَ القَمَرُ المُنيرُ بِها

ما حاوَلَ الإيماُ في الكُفرِ

And wild cat - have you seen stranger bedfellows?

The bright moon struggled within that gloom,

A falcon and pigeon - how bizarre

Like faith struggling against disbelief.

تَحنو عَلى ظَبي وَقَسوَرَةٍ

أَرَأَيتُمُ سِرَّينِ في صَدرِ

The pigeon takes refuge with the falcon!

Enclosing a gazelle and a lion together;

Yet she escaped unharmed

Have you ever seen two such secrets in one breast?

صَقر وَوَرقاء وَمِن عَجَبٍ

أَن تَحتَمي الوَرقاءُ بِالصَقرِ

Despite the evil in its nature

A falcon and a dove; and what a wonder

She walked on, followed by one whose sins

That the dove seeks shelter with the falcon.

هَذا وَأَعجَبُ أَنَّها سَلِمَت

مِنهُ عَلى ما فيهِ مِن غَدرِ

And burdens were hardly minute

Yet stranger still, she remained unharmed

Long was their trek, long their march

By him, despite his treacherous nature.

ظَلَّت تَسير وَظَلَّ يَتبَعُها

ما نَمَّ مِن إِثم وَلا وِزرِ

But the night is ever fleeting

She walked on, and he trailed behind

When dawn broke, darkness lifted

With no hint of sin or wicked intent.

طالَ الطَريق وَطالَ سَيرَهُما

لَكِنَّ عُمرَ اللَيلِ في قِصَرِ

Like a veil, the land could be seen

The path was long, and long was their journey,

The woods where she wandered

But the lifespan of the night was dwindling.

حَتّى إِذا سَفَرَ الصَباح وَقَد

رُفِعَ الظَلام وَكانَ كَالسِترِ

Were about to reveal her, shameless, to the river

Until the morning broke, unveiling its face

She turned to her companion, eyes brimming

And lifting the darkness like a heavy curtain.

وَالغابُ أَوشَكَ أَن يَبوحَ بِها

وَبِهِ بِلا حَذَرٍ إِلى النَهرِ

With magic, face blooming with joy

And the forest was about to yield them up

And said: No danger remains

To the riverbank, unguarded and exposed.

نَظَرَت إِلَيهِ بِمُقلَةٍ طَفَحَت

سِحرا وَوَجهٍ فاضَ بَِلبِشرِ

For us to fear or heed!

She gazed at him with eyes brimming with charm,

See, dawn is about to wipe out

And a face radiant with joy.

قالَت لَهُ لَم ةَبقَ مِن خَطَرٍ

جَمٍّ نُحاذِرُه وَلا نَذرِ

The bright stars' glow

She said to him, "No great danger remains

And I see it creeping into darkness -

For us to fear, nor any ill omen."

أُنظُر فَإِنَّ الصُبحَ أَوشَكَ أَن

يَمحو ضِياءَ الأَنجُمِ الزُهرِ

Can this be the creep of gray in your hair?

"Look! The dawn is about to erase

I hear the birds' voices rise

The brilliance of the shining stars."

وَأَراهُ دَبَّ إِلى الظَلامِ فَهَل

هَذا دَبيبُ الشَيبِ في الشَعرِ

Among the date palms, stray camels and lote trees.

"I see it creeping into the darkness; is this

The youth replied: Was I ever in danger?

Like the creeping of gray into dark hair?"

وَأَسمَعُ فَأَصواتُ الطُيورِ عَلَت

بَينَ النَقا وَالضال وَالسِدرِ

She exclaimed: How strange! Do you not know?

"And listen! The voices of the birds have risen

So he told her: I was never in danger,

Amidst the dunes, the wild trees, and the lotus."

قالَ الفَتى أَو كُنتُ في خَطَرٍ

قالَت لَهُ عَجَباً أَلَم تَدرِ

For my companion was none but Henry!

The youth asked, "Were you then in danger?"

She recoiled in terror but he said:

She replied in wonder, "Did you not know?"

فَأَجابَها ما كانَ في خَطَرٍ

مَن كانَ صاحِبُهُ الفَتى هَنري

Do not panic; listen to my tale!

He answered her, "There was never danger for one

I was never evil, nor am I

Who was accompanied by the youth Henry."

فَتَقَهقَرَت فَزَعاً فَقالَ لَها

لا تَهلَعي وَاِصغي إِلى حُرِّ

A man who finds evil pleasant

She recoiled in terror, but he said to her:

Rather I am an age that passes

"Do not fear, but listen to a free man's words."

ما كُنتُ بِالشِرّيرِ قَط وَلا

الرَجُلُ الَّذي يَرتاحُ لِلشَرِّ

As ages have passed among men

"I was never wicked, nor was I ever

Indeed I brought danger to a band

A man who found pleasure in evil deeds."

لَكِنَّني دَهرٌ يَجوزُ عَلى

دَهرٍ يَجوزُ عَلى بَني الدَهرِ

Itself dangerous to the helpless

"But I am a fate imposed upon fate,

They killed my father wrongfully

A destiny visited upon the sons of time."

بَل إِنَّني خَطَرٌ عَلى فِأَةٍ

مِنها عَلى خَطَرٍ ذَوي الضُرِّ

So I killed them lawfully

"I am but a danger to a certain faction

To me, justice means its course should run

Who themselves are a danger to the weak."

قَتَلوا أَبي ظُلماً فَقَتَلتُهُمُ

عَدل وَحَسبِيَ العَدلُ أَن يَجري

No safety between them and me

"They killed my father unjustly, so I killed them in justice,

No safety between wolf and rat

And it suffices me that justice be done."

لا سِلمَ ما بَيني وَبَينَهُمُ

لا سِلمَ بَينَ الهِر وَالفَأرِ

They will see, in death, just vengeance

"There is no peace between me and them,

With none to intercede or prevent reprisal

Just as there is no peace between cat and mouse."

سَيَرَونَ في المَوتِ مُنتَقِماً

لا شافِعَ في الأَخذِ بِالثَأرِ

By God, I never forgot you, Father!

"They shall see in death an avenger

Nor was placated for your murder

Who accepts no intercession in taking his due."

تَاللَهِ ما أَنساكَ يا أَبَتي

أَبَدا وَلا أُغضي عَلى الوِترِ

She said: You have stirred my ardour

"By God, I shall never forget you, Father,

So I am yours, whatever my fate

Nor shall I rest until the debt is paid."

قالَت لَقَد هَيَّجتَ لي شَجَناً

فَإِلَيكَ ما قَد كانَ مِن أَمري

The King summoned my father and brother

She said, "You have stirred a deep sorrow within me,

Together to the palace

So listen now to the tale of my own plight."

بَعَثَ المَليكُ إِلى أَبي فَمَضى

وَأَخي مَعاً تَوّاً إِلى القَصرِ

My father lies in his grave

"The King summoned my father, so he went

My brother in prison's shackles

With my brother, straight to the palace."

فَإِذا أَبي في القَبرِ مُرتَهَنٌ

وَإِذا أَخي في رِبقَةِ الأَسرِ

O my arms, you are severed!

"Then suddenly, my father was hostage to the grave,

Time's betrayal deserves severance

And my brother in the shackles of captivity."

يا ساعِدَيَّ بُتِرتُما وَيَدُ

الدَهرِ الخَأونِ أَحَقُّ بَِلبَترِ

My tusks and claws are blunted

"Oh, my two arms, you have been severed!

After you, with neither fang nor talon

Yet the hand of treacherous Fate deserved it more."

نابي وَظِفري بِتُّ بَعدَكُما

وَحدي بِلا ناب وَلا ظِفرِ

Woe unto the injustice of time upon us!

"My fang and claw you were; without you

And woe unto all who are fooled!

I am left alone, defenseless and weak."

وَيلاهُ مِن جورِ الزَمانِ بِنا

وَالوَيلُ مِنهُ لِكُلِّ مُغتَرِّ

We are like death grazing

"Woe unto us from the cruelty of Time,

On our souls, ceaseless and persisting

And woe from it to all who are deceived."

وَكَأَنَّنا وَالمَوتُ يَرتَعُ في

أَرواحِنا مَرعى وَمُستَمري

When she finished, wonderment seized him

"As if we are but a pasture for Death

Bewildered, as if spellbound

Where it grazes upon our very souls."

لَمّا اِنتَهَت وَإِذا بِهِ دَهِشٌ

حَيرانُ كَالمَأخوذِ بِالسِحرِ

He wanted to speak but dumbness held him

When she finished, he stood there amazed,

Eloquence confined under duress

Bewildered, like one under a spell.

شاءَ الكَلامَ فَنالَهُ خَرَسٌ

كُلُّ البَلاغَةِ تَحتَ ذا الحَصرِ

Just so, she was entranced

He sought to speak, but silence seized him,

By her inclination for this strange youth

And all eloquence failed in that constraint.

وَكَذَلِكَ الغَيداءُ أَذهَلَها

مَيلٌ إِلى هَذا الفَتى الغِرِّ

Sister! she cried, drawing near to him

Likewise, the maiden was stunned

With the wide-eyed gaze of joy

By a sudden pull toward this daring youth.

قالَت أَخي وَاللَه وَاِقتَرَبَت

تَرنو إِلَيهِ بِمُقلَةِ العَفرِ

And as he removed his cloak

She cried, "By God, my brother!" and drew near,

Concealment lifted to reveal all

Gazing at him with the eyes of a doe.

وَإِذا بِهِ أَلقى عَباءَتَهُ

بَرَحَ الخَفاءُ بِها عَنِ الجَهرِ

Sister! Victor! My soul! My twin, my treasure!

And suddenly he cast aside his cloak,

They embraced and the youth wept for joy

Revealing the truth for all to see.

صاحَت أَخي فَِكتورُ وا طَرَبي

روحي شَقيقي مُهجَتي ذُخري

For steam is born of heat

She shouted, "My brother Victor! Oh, what joy!

And down both cheeks tears fell

My soul, my kin, my heart's blood, my treasure!"

وَتَعانَقا فَبَكى الفَتى فَرَحاً

إِنَّ البُخارَ نَتيجَةُ الحَرِّ

Like drops atop flower buds

They embraced, and the youth wept for joy,

Tell those who complain of fate:

For steam is but the product of the heat.

وَتَساقَطَت في الخَدِّ أَدمُعُها

كَالقَطرِ فَوقَ نَواضِرِ الزَهرِ

There must be sweet and bitter

And her tears fell upon his cheek

Show patience if faced with calamities

Like dew dropping onto fresh blossoms.

قُل لِلأُلى يَشكونَ دَهرَهُمُ

لا بُدَّ من حُلو وَمِن مُرِّ

For hardship surely ends in ease

Say to those who complain of their fate:

"There must be the sweet along with the bitter."

صَبراً إِذا جَلَلٌ أَصابَكُمُ

فَالعُسرُ آخِرُهُ إِلى اليُسرِ

"Have patience if calamity befalls you,

For hardship leads, in the end, to ease."