إذا حَيَوانٌ كانَ طُعمَةَ ضِدِّهِ

إذا حَيَوانٌ كانَ طُعمَةَ ضِدِّهِ

تَوقَّاهُ كالفار الّذي يتَّقي الهرّا

تَوقَّاهُ كالفار الّذي يتَّقي الهرّا

If an animal is prey to its foe,

If an animal were the prey of its foe

it guards against it, like the mouse that avoids the cat.

It would avoid it like the mouse avoids the cat

ولاشَكَّ أنَّ المَرءَ طُعمَةُ دَهرِهِ

ولاشَكَّ أنَّ المَرءَ طُعمَةُ دَهرِهِ

فما بالُهُ يا ويحَهُ يأمَنُ الدَّهْرا

فما بالُهُ يا ويحَهُ يأمَنُ الدَّهْرا

And there is no doubt that man is prey to his time;

And without doubt man is the prey of fate

so why—alas for him—does he feel safe from time?

So why, alas, does he feel safe from fate's traps