هُمُ منَعوا مِنّا الخيالَ الّذي يَسْري

هُمُ منَعوا مِنّا الخيالَ الّذي يَسْري

فلا وَصْلَ إلاّ ما تَصوَّر في الفِكْرِ

فلا وَصْلَ إلاّ ما تَصوَّر في الفِكْرِ

They barred from us the apparition that travels by night;

They have prevented me from the imagination that flows

so there is no union except what takes shape in thought.

So there is no union except what is imagined in thought

فيا مالكي منْعَ الجُفونِ من الكرَى

فيا مالكي منْعَ الجُفونِ من الكرَى

ألم تمَلِكوا منْعَ الفؤادِ منَ الذّكر

ألم تمَلِكوا منْعَ الفؤادِ منَ الذّكر

O you who command the keeping of eyelids from sleep,

O you who have power over preventing the eyelids from seeing

could you not command the keeping of the heart from remembrance?

Have you not the power to prevent the heart from remembering?

أَبِيتُ وسُمّارُ المُنَى بي مُطِيفةٌ

أَبِيتُ وسُمّارُ المُنَى بي مُطِيفةٌ

وبحرُ البُكا بالطّيْفِ مُمتَنِعُ العَبر

وبحرُ البُكا بالطّيْفِ مُمتَنِعُ العَبر

I pass the night, the companions of hopes circling me,

I spend the night while the places of farewell circle around me

and the sea of weeping is impassable to the phantom.

And the sea of tears with the specter is inaccessible to cross

وقد وَتّدَ اللّيلُ النُّجومَ مُخَيّماً

وقد وَتّدَ اللّيلُ النُّجومَ مُخَيّماً

وطَنَّب أجفاني إليها يَدُ الهَجر

وطَنَّب أجفاني إليها يَدُ الهَجر

Night has pitched its camp, pegging down the stars,

And the night has pitched the stars as tents

and estrangement's hand has roped my eyelids to them.

And the hand of separation has gestured my eyelids to them

وغادَر في خَدَّيَّ غُدْراً من البُكا

وغادَر في خَدَّيَّ غُدْراً من البُكا

تَولُّعُ ربِّاتِ الغدائرِ بالغَدر

تَولُّعُ ربِّاتِ الغدائرِ بالغَدر

And pools of weeping were left upon my cheeks

And it has left betrayal on my cheeks from weeping

by the tressed ladies' passion for treachery.

The burning of the cheeks of the beauties with betrayal

لقد أصبَحَتْ سمراءَ والسُّمْرُ بيننا

لقد أصبَحَتْ سمراءَ والسُّمْرُ بيننا

فماذا لَقِينا من سَمِيّاتِها السُّمر

فماذا لَقِينا من سَمِيّاتِها السُّمر

She has indeed become a dusky beauty, with brown spears between us;

In the morning she became dark-skinned while the night was between us

what have we suffered from her brown namesakes!

So what did we get from her dark-skinned faces in the night?

ولم أنْسَها يومَ الرَّحيلِ وقد لَوتْ

ولم أنْسَها يومَ الرَّحيلِ وقد لَوتْ

بتَسليمةِ التّوديع حاشيةَ السِّتر

بتَسليمةِ التّوديع حاشيةَ السِّتر

I have not forgotten her on departure day, when she turned back

I did not forget her on the day of departure when

the curtain's edge in a farewell salute.

She bid farewell with a smile behind the veil

وقلبي مع الرَكْبِ اليمانينَ رائحٌ

وقلبي مع الرَكْبِ اليمانينَ رائحٌ

لقىً بين أيدي العيسِ في البلَدِ القَفر

لقىً بين أيدي العيسِ في البلَدِ القَفر

And my heart departs with the Yemeni caravan,

While my heart goes with the Yemeni caravan

a castoff before the pale camels in the barren land.

Having met in front of the enemies in the barren land

أقولُ وإلْفي للوداعِ مُعانِقي

أقولُ وإلْفي للوداعِ مُعانِقي

ولى دَمعةٌ غَيّضْتُها فهْي في نَحْري

ولى دَمعةٌ غَيّضْتُها فهْي في نَحْري

I say, as my beloved embraces me in farewell,

I say while my companions bid me farewell

with a tear I held back still lodged in my throat:

And a teardrop that I held back is in my throat

أدِرْ لي كؤوسَ اللَّثْمِ صِرْفاً لعلّه

أدِرْ لي كؤوسَ اللَّثْمِ صِرْفاً لعلّه

تَسيرُ المطايا عند سُكْري ولا أدْري

تَسيرُ المطايا عند سُكْري ولا أدْري

Pass me cups of undiluted kisses, so perhaps

Pour for me cups of wine to drink

the mounts will leave while I am drunk, and I will not know.

So that the horses may walk during my intoxication and I know not

فلي عَبراتٌ إن أحسَّتْ بِبَيْنِكم

فلي عَبراتٌ إن أحسَّتْ بِبَيْنِكم

إذنْ تَركَتْ بحراً لكم جانبَ البَرّ

إذنْ تَركَتْ بحراً لكم جانبَ البَرّ

For I have tears that, if they sense your parting,

For I have sorrows, if they sense your separation

would leave a sea for you beside dry land.

Then they have left a sea for you by the shore

أأحبابَنا هَبْكمْ عُذِرْتُم على النَّوى

أأحبابَنا هَبْكمْ عُذِرْتُم على النَّوى

فهل لصُدودِ الطَّيْفِ باللّيلِ من عُذر

فهل لصُدودِ الطَّيْفِ باللّيلِ من عُذر

O our beloved ones, suppose you were excused for going far away,

O our loved ones, you were excused for the intention

is there any excuse for the phantom's avoidance at night?

But is there an excuse for the ghosts at night?

وما لِسَمائي بعدكمْ حار بَدْرُها

وما لِسَمائي بعدكمْ حار بَدْرُها

ألم يتَعلَّمْ سرعةَ السَّيْرِ من بَدري

ألم يتَعلَّمْ سرعةَ السَّيْرِ من بَدري

And what ails my sky, its full moon bewildered since you left?

And why has my sky darkened since you left?

Has it not learned swiftness of travel from my full moon?

Has it not learned the speed of my moon?

ولِمْ ثَقُلَتْ ريحُ الصَّبا مُذْ رحلْتُم

ولِمْ ثَقُلَتْ ريحُ الصَّبا مُذْ رحلْتُم

وكانتْ برَدْعِ المِسْكِ طَيِّيةَ النَّشر

وكانتْ برَدْعِ المِسْكِ طَيِّيةَ النَّشر

And why has the east wind grown sluggish since you departed,

And why has the eastern wind grown heavy since you traveled?

though it had been sweetly fragrant with a trace of musk?

It used to have the softness of musk in its waving

رَحلتُمْ فقرَّبتُمْ مشيبي من الصِّبا

رَحلتُمْ فقرَّبتُمْ مشيبي من الصِّبا

هموماً وباعدتُمْ عِشائي منَ الفَجر

هموماً وباعدتُمْ عِشائي منَ الفَجر

You departed and brought my graying close to youth

You traveled, so you brought my old age closer

through sorrows, and set my evening far from dawn.

With worries, and took my evening away from dawn

فبينَ بياضَيْ عارضِي لَمْعُ بارقٍ

فبينَ بياضَيْ عارضِي لَمْعُ بارقٍ

وبين بياضَيْ ليلتي مَوعِدُ الحَشر

وبين بياضَيْ ليلتي مَوعِدُ الحَشر

Between the two whitenesses of my beard lies a lightning flash,

So between the whiteness of my cheek is the gleam of lightning

and between my night's two whitenesses, the appointed Resurrection.

And between the whiteness of my night is the promise of the resurrection

فهل من نَقيبٍ للّيالي مُوكَّلٍ

فهل من نَقيبٍ للّيالي مُوكَّلٍ

بأنْ يَنفِيَ النّومَ الدَّعِيَّ من العَصر

بأنْ يَنفِيَ النّومَ الدَّعِيَّ من العَصر

Is there a registrar appointed over the nights,

Is there a scout assigned to the nights

to banish sleep, that impostor, from time,

To dispel heavy sleep from the mid-afternoon?

فيأخذُ مُذْ بِنتُمْ ليالِيَّ قاطِعاً

فيأخذُ مُذْ بِنتُمْ ليالِيَّ قاطِعاً

ذَوائبَها لم يَنتسِبْنَ إلى عُمري

ذَوائبَها لم يَنتسِبْنَ إلى عُمري

who would take my nights since you parted, cutting off

To take, since you left, my nights, severing

their forelocks—they bear no kinship with my life?

Their braids, which have not belonged to my life

فأيُّ فتىً جلّى الغداةَ شِكايتي

فأيُّ فتىً جلّى الغداةَ شِكايتي

جلَوتُ لِما يوليهِ عند الرِّضا شُكرى

جلَوتُ لِما يوليهِ عند الرِّضا شُكرى

Whichever noble youth lays bare my complaint this morning—

So which young man has remedied my complaint at dawn

I shall reveal my thanks for what he grants when pleased—

I will reward what pleases him with gratitude

لدى مَلكٍ في الشُّمِّ من آلِ هاشمٍ

لدى مَلكٍ في الشُّمِّ من آلِ هاشمٍ

نَدي الوجْهِ سامي الطّرفِ مرتَهنِ البِشر

نَدي الوجْهِ سامي الطّرفِ مرتَهنِ البِشر

before a king among the lofty of Hashim's house,

With a king among the Hashimites in Damascus

dewy-faced, lofty of gaze, bound to cheerfulness.

Whose face is brilliant, whose glance is noble, taken as a pledge

مَهيبٌ لدى النّادي مُرجَّى لدى النّدى

مَهيبٌ لدى النّادي مُرجَّى لدى النّدى

فيُمناهُ من يُمْنٍ ويُسراهُ من يُسر

فيُمناهُ من يُمْنٍ ويُسراهُ من يُسر

Held in awe in council, looked to for generosity,

He is awe-inspiring in the council, hoped for in intimacy

his right hand is of good fortune, his left of ease.

So may he be brought good fortune and victory

تُشيرُ إليه هاشمٌ بأكُفِّها

تُشيرُ إليه هاشمٌ بأكُفِّها

إشارةَ أيدي النّاظرينَ إلى البَدر

إشارةَ أيدي النّاظرينَ إلى البَدر

Hashim's clan points to him with its palms,

The Hashimites point to him with their palms

as watchers' hands point to the full moon.

Like the hands of onlookers pointing to the moon

وتأْوي إليه إن ألمّتْ مُلِمّةٌ

وتأْوي إليه إن ألمّتْ مُلِمّةٌ

ويأْوي جَناحُ الطّيْرِ ليلاً إلى الوَكْر

ويأْوي جَناحُ الطّيْرِ ليلاً إلى الوَكْر

And it takes refuge in him when a calamity strikes,

And they take refuge in him if a disaster befalls

as a bird's wing takes refuge in its nest at night.

Like the wing of a bird takes refuge in its nest at night

يُظاهِرُ بينَ الرَّأْيِ والسّيفِ دونهمْ

يُظاهِرُ بينَ الرَّأْيِ والسّيفِ دونهمْ

كما شَيّعَ ابْنُ الغابةِ النّابَ بالظُّفر

كما شَيّعَ ابْنُ الغابةِ النّابَ بالظُّفر

He combines counsel and sword in their defense,

He supports them between opinion and sword

as the forest's son reinforces his fang with his claw.

As the son of Ghabya escorted the leopard with victory

تكاد الرّماحُ السُّمْرُ وهْي ذَوابلٌ

تكاد الرّماحُ السُّمْرُ وهْي ذَوابلٌ

تَعودُ بكَفّيهِ إلى الوَرَقِ الخُضر

تَعودُ بكَفّيهِ إلى الوَرَقِ الخُضر

The brown spears, though withered, almost

The spears, while they are thick, nearly

return to green leaves in his two palms.

Return by his palms to being green sticks

ويُعطي عِنانَ البرقِ ضمْنَ سحائبٍ

ويُعطي عِنانَ البرقِ ضمْنَ سحائبٍ

إذا هَزَّ عِطْفَ الأعوجِيّةِ بالحُضر

إذا هَزَّ عِطْفَ الأعوجِيّةِ بالحُضر

And he gives lightning free rein amid clouds,

And he gives free rein to lightning among the clouds

when he stirs the Aʿwaj-bred mare's flank to a gallop.

When he brandishes the curved swords with might

وما ثار ذو شِبلَيْنِ من دونِ غِيلِه

وما ثار ذو شِبلَيْنِ من دونِ غِيلِه

بعَينَيْنِ كالمَقْدودَتَينِ منَ الجَمر

بعَينَيْنِ كالمَقْدودَتَينِ منَ الجَمر

No sire of two cubs ever flared up to defend his thicket,

None with forked tongues has rebelled without his flames

with eyes like two slivers carved from embers,

With eyes like two embers flung from burning coal

كإذْكائه دونَ الخلافةِ طَرْفَه

كإذْكائه دونَ الخلافةِ طَرْفَه

مُدِلاًّ برأْيٍ يَقرُنُ النَّصْلَ بالنَّصر

مُدِلاًّ برأْيٍ يَقرُنُ النَّصْلَ بالنَّصر

like him when he kindles his gaze in defense of the caliphate,

Like his kindling underneath the caliphate, glancing

confident in counsel that joins the blade with victory.

Expressing an opinion matching the sword with victory

ومَن مثْلُ ذي الفَخْرَينِ فَخْرٍ بنفسه

ومَن مثْلُ ذي الفَخْرَينِ فَخْرٍ بنفسه

وفَخرٍ بمَنْ أبقَوا له غايةَ الفَخر

وفَخرٍ بمَنْ أبقَوا له غايةَ الفَخر

Who is like the possessor of two glories: glory in himself,

And who is like the one with two prides - pride in himself

and glory in those who left him the utmost glory?

And pride in those who have preserved for him the epitome of pride

حلَلْتَ من العّباسِ جَدِّك يا ابنَهُ

حلَلْتَ من العّباسِ جَدِّك يا ابنَهُ

بحيثُ يُرىَ العبَاسُ مِن جَدِّه عَمْرو

بحيثُ يُرىَ العبَاسُ مِن جَدِّه عَمْرو

You hold with al-ʿAbbas, your forefather, O his son,

You have inherited the noble traits from your grandfather Abbas

the place al-ʿAbbas holds with his forefather ʿAmr.

So that Abbas appears noble from his grandfather Amr

فتىً كلُّ حُبِّ المجدِ غُرّةُ وجههِ

فتىً كلُّ حُبِّ المجدِ غُرّةُ وجههِ

فوشّحه بِيضاً بأيّامِه الغُرّ

فوشّحه بِيضاً بأيّامِه الغُرّ

A youth whose radiant brow is all love of glory;

A young man whom the love of glory is the youth of his face

and he adorned it in white with his radiant days.

So adorn him in white in his youthful days

فيُقْمِرُ هذا اللّيلُ بالبدرِ وَحْدَه

فيُقْمِرُ هذا اللّيلُ بالبدرِ وَحْدَه

ولكنّه بَدْرٌ معَ الأنجُمِ الزُّهر

ولكنّه بَدْرٌ معَ الأنجُمِ الزُّهر

This night is lit by the full moon alone,

Thus this night is illuminated by the moon alone

but he is a full moon among brilliant stars:

But it is a moon among brilliant stars

ملوكٌ تَسامَوا للعُلا وأَئمّةٌ

ملوكٌ تَسامَوا للعُلا وأَئمّةٌ

أُولو العزْمِ في أزمانهمْ وأُولو الأَمر

أُولو العزْمِ في أزمانهمْ وأُولو الأَمر

kings who rose to exalted rank, and imams,

Kings who have risen to supremacy, and imams

men of resolve in their times, and men of command.

Of resolve in their times, and those in authority

تَبدَّى اللَّيالي في تَتابُعِ مُلكِهمْ

تَبدَّى اللَّيالي في تَتابُعِ مُلكِهمْ

كما يتَبدَّى السّلْكُ من خَلَلِ الدُّرّ

كما يتَبدَّى السّلْكُ من خَلَلِ الدُّرّ

Nights show through the succession of their reigns,

The nights appeared continuous in their reign

as thread shows through the gaps between pearls.

As the string appears through the pearls

ولم يُرَ كالعبّاسِ قِدْماً وهاشمٍ

ولم يُرَ كالعبّاسِ قِدْماً وهاشمٍ

شَبيهانِ مَجْداً في مُلوك بني النّضر

شَبيهانِ مَجْداً في مُلوك بني النّضر

Never of old were there seen, like al-ʿAbbas and Hashim,

None were seen like Abbas and Hashim

two peers in glory among the kings of Banu al-Naḍr.

Similar in glory among the kings of the Arabs

فهذا الّذي تُغْنِي عنِ القَطْرِ كَفُّه

فهذا الّذي تُغْنِي عنِ القَطْرِ كَفُّه

وهذا الذي يَأْتي مُحَيّاهُ بالقَطر

وهذا الذي يَأْتي مُحَيّاهُ بالقَطر

This one's palm makes rain unnecessary,

This one whose palm spares the rain

and that one's countenance brings rain.

And that one who comes to life with the rain

فدَتْكَ نظامَ الحَضرتَيْنِ منَ الوَرى

فدَتْكَ نظامَ الحَضرتَيْنِ منَ الوَرى

أكفُّ رجالٍ لا تَريشُ ولا تَبْري

أكفُّ رجالٍ لا تَريشُ ولا تَبْري

May you be ransomed, O bond of the two courts, from among mankind,

May the system of your two noble presences from the people

by men's hands that neither fletch nor whittle.

Be ransomed by the palms of men that do not tremble or languish

وما حِليةُ الأَشرافِ إلاّ مآثرٌ

وما حِليةُ الأَشرافِ إلاّ مآثرٌ

وهل حِلْيةٌ للمشرفيِّ سوى الأثر

وهل حِلْيةٌ للمشرفيِّ سوى الأثر

Noble men's only adornment is their glorious deeds;

And the adornment of nobles is nothing but deeds

what adorns a Mashrafi sword but its watered pattern?

And what adornment for the noble except influence?

ويا ذِروةَ الخُطّابِ عزّاً وقد سعَتْ

ويا ذِروةَ الخُطّابِ عزّاً وقد سعَتْ

إليك هوىً فاطْرَبْ لغانيةٍ بِكْر

إليك هوىً فاطْرَبْ لغانيةٍ بِكْر

O pinnacle of suitors in honor, she has hastened

O pinnacle of eloquence, passion has inclined

to you in love: rejoice in a virgin beauty.

To you in love, so be elated for an unmarried maiden

فما تَرتضِي إلاّ علاءكَ بَعْلَها

فما تَرتضِي إلاّ علاءكَ بَعْلَها

وما تَبتغِي إلاّ العنايةَ من مَهر

وما تَبتغِي إلاّ العنايةَ من مَهر

She accepts only your eminence as her husband,

For she will not accept but your nobility as her spouse

and seeks no dowry but your care.

And she seeks no concern but care as her dowry

وأنّى تَرى كُفْوءاً كريماً من الوَرى

وأنّى تَرى كُفْوءاً كريماً من الوَرى

إذا عدَلَتْ بالوُدِّ عنك ابنةُ الفِكر

إذا عدَلَتْ بالوُدِّ عنك ابنةُ الفِكر

Where could she find a noble equal among mankind,

And where do you see a suitable noble person in the world

if the daughter of thought turned her love away from you?

If she matches you in love instead of the daughter of thought?

ولي خاطرٌ يُغْري بِوأْدِ بناتِه

ولي خاطرٌ يُغْري بِوأْدِ بناتِه

على حُسْنِها من فَقْدِه كرَمَ الصِّهر

على حُسْنِها من فَقْدِه كرَمَ الصِّهر

And I have a mind that urges the burial of its daughters alive,

But the face of your highness appeared radiant

despite their beauty, for lack of a generous son-in-law.

So today no beauty remains in her tent

ولكنْ تَجلّى وجْهُ عَلياكَ طالعاً

ولكنْ تَجلّى وجْهُ عَلياكَ طالعاً

فلم تَبْقَ منه اليومَ حسناءُ في خِدر

فلم تَبْقَ منه اليومَ حسناءُ في خِدر

But the face of your eminence rose into view,

And I have not presented praise to the world, nor do I see

so no beauty of its making remains in seclusion today.

My loyalty to you as anything but provision for my Hereafter

ولم أُهدِ للدّنيا ثنائي ولا أرَى

ولم أُهدِ للدّنيا ثنائي ولا أرَى

ولائي لكم إلاّ لآخِرتي ذُخري

ولائي لكم إلاّ لآخِرتي ذُخري

I did not offer my praise for this world's sake, nor do I see

How often have I been generous with my dear soul for you

my loyalty to you as anything but my treasure for the next.

Like the generosity of my brother benevolence to the delegation abundantly

وكم جُدْتُ بالنّفْسِ العزيزةِ فيكمُ

وكم جُدْتُ بالنّفْسِ العزيزةِ فيكمُ

كجودِ أخي الإحسانِ للوَفْدِ بالوَفر

كجودِ أخي الإحسانِ للوَفْدِ بالوَفر

How often I have given my precious soul freely for you,

And I will not silence the envious except with a glance

as a man of kindness gives abundant wealth to a delegation.

From the supreme Imamate stance in my matter

ولن أَكبُتَ الحُسّادَ إلاّ بنَظْرةٍ

ولن أَكبُتَ الحُسّادَ إلاّ بنَظْرةٍ

من المَوقفِ الأَسْمَى الإماميِّ في أَمري

من المَوقفِ الأَسْمَى الإماميِّ في أَمري

I shall not humble the envious except through a glance

So unite me through it, O son of the most generous

from the imam's highest station toward my affairs.

For you are none but the compassionate one from that breast

فصِلْني بهِ يا ابنَ الأكارمِ مُدنِياً

فصِلْني بهِ يا ابنَ الأكارمِ مُدنِياً

فما أنت إلاّ الباعُ من ذلكَ الصَّدر

فما أنت إلاّ الباعُ من ذلكَ الصَّدر

So bring me close and connect me with it, O son of noble men;

And live nobly for the religion - no nobleman has weakened

you are but the outstretched arm of that breast.

And blood - as long as the meadow flows from plentiful rain

وعشْ شَرفاً للدِّينِ ما حَنَّ شارِفٌ

وعشْ شَرفاً للدِّينِ ما حَنَّ شارِفٌ

ودُمْ ما تَروَّى الروَّضُ من دِيَمٍ غُزر

ودُمْ ما تَروَّى الروَّضُ من دِيَمٍ غُزر

Live as an honor to the faith as long as an aged she-camel cries,

And take for the right hand of the state his palm that forgives

and endure as long as gardens drink their fill of abundant, lasting rains.

The secrets of meanings composed from the essence of poetry

وخُذْ ليمينِ الدّولةِ السّمْحِ كَفُّه

وخُذْ ليمينِ الدّولةِ السّمْحِ كَفُّه

سِرارَ مَعانٍ صيغَ من خالصِ الشِّعر

سِرارَ مَعانٍ صيغَ من خالصِ الشِّعر

And receive, for the Right Hand of the State, whose palm is generous,

To you every noble person concludes, like

a secret discourse of meanings fashioned from pure poetry.

The mouths of valleys flow to the sea

إليك اقتباساً يَنْتهِي كُلُّ فاضلٍ

إليك اقتباساً يَنْتهِي كُلُّ فاضلٍ

كما مَجَّ أفواهُ الشِّعابِ إلى البَحر

كما مَجَّ أفواهُ الشِّعابِ إلى البَحر

Every man of merit comes to you seeking illumination,

O you who grant nobility to the noble for the people

as the mouths of ravines pour into the sea.

And quench the gnostic with gnosis for the free

فيا فاضِلاً يُولي الفواضلَ للورَى

فيا فاضِلاً يُولي الفواضلَ للورَى

ويا عارِفاً يَروِي العوارِفَ للحُرّ

ويا عارِفاً يَروِي العوارِفَ للحُرّ

O man of excellence who bestows benefits upon mankind,

When a person learns the chronicles of those passed

O knowing man who recounts gracious deeds to the freeborn!

You would think he lived in the first epochs of time

إذا ما درَى الإنسانُ أخبارَ مَنْ مضَى

إذا ما درَى الإنسانُ أخبارَ مَنْ مضَى

فتَحسَبُه قد عاشَ في أوَّلِ الدَّهر

فتَحسَبُه قد عاشَ في أوَّلِ الدَّهر

If a man knows the tales of those who have passed,

And think he lived the last of his lifetimes

you think him to have lived at time's beginning;

To the resurrection, if the beautiful is remembered

وتَحسَبُه قد عاش آخِرَ دَهْرِه

وتَحسَبُه قد عاش آخِرَ دَهْرِه

إلى الحشْرِ إن أبقَى الجميلَ من الذِّكر

إلى الحشْرِ إن أبقَى الجميلَ من الذِّكر

and you think him to have lived out the rest of his time,

Whoever lived some of time lived all of it

until the Resurrection, if he leaves a fair remembrance.

Nobly and forbearingly, so take advantage of the longest life

فقد عاش كُلَّ الدَّهرِ مَن عاش بَعضَهُ

فقد عاش كُلَّ الدَّهرِ مَن عاش بَعضَهُ

كريماً حليماً فاغتَنِمْ أَطْولَ العُمر

كريماً حليماً فاغتَنِمْ أَطْولَ العُمر

He has thus lived all time who lived a part of it

generous and forbearing: so seize the longest life.