ورأت صروفُ الدهر ذلك فرصةً

ورأت صروفُ الدهر ذلك فرصةً

فتبادرَت نحوي تروحُ وتَغتَدي

فتبادرَت نحوي تروحُ وتَغتَدي

The turns of time saw in that an opportunity;

And the vicissitudes of time saw that as an opportunity,

they rushed upon me, coming at evening and setting out at dawn.

so they rushed toward me, coming evening and morning.

أمِنَت بذاك الشُّغلِ كل معارضٍ

أمِنَت بذاك الشُّغلِ كل معارضٍ

إذ لم يُعارض أحمدُ بنُ محمدِ

إذ لم يُعارض أحمدُ بنُ محمدِ

That preoccupation made them feel safe from every defender,

Because of that preoccupation, they felt safe from every opponent,

for Ahmad ibn Muhammad did not oppose them.

since Ahmad ibn Muhammad did not oppose them.

وتناصرَت فتباشرَت وسمعتُها

وتناصرَت فتباشرَت وسمعتُها

فأجبتُها لا تَعجَلي وتأبَّدي

فأجبتُها لا تَعجَلي وتأبَّدي

They joined forces, then rejoiced—and I heard them;

And they joined forces, then rejoiced together, and I heard them;

so I answered them: “Do not hurry; remain forever.

so I answered them: “Do not hurry, and abide forever!

أتراهُ يُسلمني وقد جاورتُه

أتراهُ يُسلمني وقد جاورتُه

هيهاتَ ليس لذاكَ بالمتعوِّدِ

هيهاتَ ليس لذاكَ بالمتعوِّدِ

Do you think he will surrender me, now that I have entered his protection?

Do you think he will abandon me, now that I have become his neighbor?

Far from it—that is not his accustomed way.”

Far from it! He is not accustomed to that.”