وربَّ حزنٍ القلب عن سفه

وربَّ حزنٍ القلب عن سفه

كما يصون إناءَ واهياً صدأه

كما يصون إناءَ واهياً صدأه

And many a sorrow [protects] the heart from folly,

By my Lord, grief guards the heart from folly

As a fragile vessel is protected by its rust.

As a frail vessel is shielded from rust

وما انقضى عن لذاذات الهوى عجلا

وما انقضى عن لذاذات الهوى عجلا

سيّان غايته عندي ومبتدأه

سيّان غايته عندي ومبتدأه

And whatever has swiftly passed from the delights of love—

Nor did the pleasures of passion pass hastily

Its end and its beginning are alike to me.

To me, the end and beginning are the same