أسفتI grieved علىover كتابa book طالwas prolonged منهof it الthe (continued in the next line)
أسفت على كتاب طال منه ال
تنقلpassing from hand to hand فيamong الورىhumankind بيعاby sale وإرثاand inheritance
تنقل في الورى بيعا وإرثا
I grieved over a book; long had been its
passing among people through sale and inheritance.
بكتهwept for it عيونeyes أحرفهits letters ورقتand grew tender
بكته عيون أحرفه ورقت
لهtoward it الأوراقthe pages حينwhen رأتهthey saw it رثاworn out
له الأوراق حين رأته رثا
The eyes of its letters wept for it, and tender grew
the pages toward it when they saw it worn out.