بَكىwept صاحِبيmy companion لَمّاwhen رَأىhe saw الدَربَthe pass دونَناbefore us
بَكى صاحِبي لَمّا رَأى الدَربَ دونَنا
وَأَيقَنَand became certain أَنّاthat we لاحِقانَboth going to join بِقَيصَراwith Caesar
وَأَيقَنَ أَنّا لاحِقانَ بِقَيصَرا
My companion wept when he saw the pass before us,
My friend wept when he saw the road ahead
And became certain that we two would reach Caesar.
And knew we'd soon meet Caesar face-to-face
فَقُلتُso I said لَهُto him لاdo not تَبكِweep عَينَكَyour eye إِنَّماonly
فَقُلتُ لَهُ لا تَبكِ عَينَكَ إِنَّما
نُحاوِلُwe strive for مُلكاًkingship أَوor نَموتُwe die فَنُعذَراand thus we are excused
نُحاوِلُ مُلكاً أَو نَموتُ فَنُعذَرا
So I said to him, 'Do not let your eye weep; we only
I said "Do not let tears fall from your eyes
Strive for kingship, or die and thus be excused.'
We'll win a kingdom or excuse our fate"