آلَيتُ ما مُثري الزَمانِ وَإِن طَغى

آلَيتُ ما مُثري الزَمانِ وَإِن طَغى

مُثرٍ وَلا مَسعودُهُ مَسعودُ

مُثرٍ وَلا مَسعودُهُ مَسعودُ

I have sworn: time's rich man, however arrogant, is not

I have endured what time has stirred though it was overwhelming

truly rich, nor is its fortunate man truly fortunate.

Neither stirred nor fortunate is one whom time has blessed

ما سَرَّ غاوينا الجَهولَ وَإِنَّما

ما سَرَّ غاوينا الجَهولَ وَإِنَّما

هَتَفَ الحَمامُ بِهِ وَناحَ العودُ

هَتَفَ الحَمامُ بِهِ وَناحَ العودُ

Our ignorant, wayward man was not gladdened; rather,

Our ignorance did not cheer the reckless though the dove lamented over it and the lute mourned

the doves called to him, and the lute lamented.

Its brimming cups and the music of its strings are lightning and thunder for events

كاساتُهُ المَلأى وَعَزفُ قِيانِهِ

كاساتُهُ المَلأى وَعَزفُ قِيانِهِ

لِلحادِثاتِ بَوارِقٌ وَرُعودُ

لِلحادِثاتِ بَوارِقٌ وَرُعودُ

His brimming cups and his singing slave girls' music

Glory has perished among many tribes while glory remains aloft in the air of the sky

are lightning flashes and thunder heralding calamities.

A moon is imaged then its light is erased and Mars goes into exile then returns

هَلِكَت سُعودٌ في القَبائِلِ جَمَّةٌ

هَلِكَت سُعودٌ في القَبائِلِ جَمَّةٌ

وَأَقامَ في جَوِّ السَماءِ سُعودُ

وَأَقامَ في جَوِّ السَماءِ سُعودُ

Many Saʿds among the tribes have perished,

Do not burden me much for I am frail, though ascending the trail before riders

while the Suʿūd stars have remained in the expanse of heaven.

The promise is anticipated and success for the likes of us

بَدرٌ يُصَوَّرُ ثُمَّ يَمحُقُ نورُهُ

بَدرٌ يُصَوَّرُ ثُمَّ يَمحُقُ نورُهُ

وَيُغَرِّبُ المِرّيخُ ثُمَّ يَعودُ

وَيُغَرِّبُ المِرّيخُ ثُمَّ يَعودُ

A full moon is formed, then its light wanes;

That the hoped for continues in its procrastination

and Mars sets in the west, then returns.

And of wonders is a people's assumption that

لا تَحمِلَن ثِقلاً عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّني

لا تَحمِلَن ثِقلاً عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّني

وَهناً وَقُدّامَ الرِكابِ صَعودُ

وَهناً وَقُدّامَ الرِكابِ صَعودُ

Do not lay a burden on me, for I

The young man is discouraged by futility while still sitting

am frail, and ahead of the riding camels lies an ascent.

وَالوَعدُ يُرقَبُ وَالنَجاحُ لِمِثلِنا

وَالوَعدُ يُرقَبُ وَالنَجاحُ لِمِثلِنا

أَن يَستَمِرَّ بِمَطلِهِ المَوعودُ

أَن يَستَمِرَّ بِمَطلِهِ المَوعودُ

And the promise is awaited, and success for the likes of us

is that what is promised remains deferred.

وَمِنَ العَجائِبِ ظَنُّ قَومٍ أَنَّهُ

وَمِنَ العَجائِبِ ظَنُّ قَومٍ أَنَّهُ

يُثني الفَتى بِالغَيِّ وَهُوَ قَعودُ

يُثني الفَتى بِالغَيِّ وَهُوَ قَعودُ

And among the wonders is some people's belief that

a youth matures through vice, though still a young camel.