فإِنَّfor indeed الدَهرَtime مؤتَنِفٌbeginning anew جَديدٌnew
فإِنَّ الدَهرَ مؤتَنِفٌ جَديدٌ
وَشَرُّand the worst الخَيلِof horses أَقصَرُهاthe shortest of them عِناناin rein-length
وَشَرُّ الخَيلِ أَقصَرُها عِنانا
For time is renewed and fresh;
Time ever renews its youthful tide,
And the worst of horses is the one with the shortest rein;
But the fleetest steed hath the shortest rein,
وَشَرُّand the worst الناسِof people كُلُّevery فَتىًyoung man إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle
وَشَرُّ الناسِ كُلُّ فَتىً إِذا ما
مَرَتهُtested him الحَربُwar بَعدَafter العَصبِfirmness لاناgrew soft
مَرَتهُ الحَربُ بَعدَ العَصبِ لانا
And the worst of men is any young man who, when
And the noblest man, when once words subside,
War tests him, grows soft after being firm.
Proves ever the weakest in battle's strain.