عجبت للدهر في تصرفه

عجبت للدهر في تصرفه

وكل افعال دهرنا عجب

وكل افعال دهرنا عجب

I marveled at Time's ways,

I'm amazed at the turns of fate,

and all the deeds of our age are astonishing.

And all the acts of our time are strange.

يعاند الدهر كل ذى ادب

يعاند الدهر كل ذى ادب

كأنما ناك أمه الادب

كأنما ناك أمه الادب

Time opposes every man of learning,

Fate contends with every man of dignity,

as though learning had fucked its mother.

As if good manners themselves gave birth to it.