وَلَسنا بِأَوَّلِ مَن فاتَهُ

عَلى رِفقِهِ بَعضُ ما يُطلَبُ

Nor are we the first whose care

Some of what we seek eludes;

وَقَد يُدرِكُ الأَمرَ غَيرُ الأَريبِ

وَقَد يُصرَعُ الحُوَّلُ القُلَّبُ

Yet the wary still attain their share,

And the rash are brought to ruin.

وَلَكِن لَها آمِرٌ قادِرٌ

إِذا حاوَلَ الأَمرَ لا يُغلَبُ

But for this a ruler sits

Who, if he wills, cannot be overcome.