ومرتدٍ بقناع الشيب جاذبه

ومرتدٍ بقناع الشيب جاذبه

من أطيبيه عنان اللذة القدم

من أطيبيه عنان اللذة القدم

And one clad in a veil of gray hair, challenged

With the mask of old age, still alluring

by old age for the reins of pleasure drawn from his two sweetest delights.

The most beautiful, leading pleasure by the reins

قضى ولم يقض من عصر الصبا أرباً

قضى ولم يقض من عصر الصبا أرباً

كأنما هو في أجفانه حلم

كأنما هو في أجفانه حلم

He died, yet fulfilled no desire from his days of youth,

He has lived fully but not fully, since the spring of youth

as though youth were a dream behind his eyelids.

As though it were but a dream behind his eyelids

لو كنت أعلم أن الدهر يعقبني

لو كنت أعلم أن الدهر يعقبني

بؤسي لما اخترت أن تهدى لي النعم

بؤسي لما اخترت أن تهدى لي النعم

If I had known that time would bring me

Had I known fate would reward me thus

my misery, I would not have chosen to be granted blessings.

With woe, I'd not have chosen to receive its gifts

وحاسدٍ سره أني ابتدأت به

وحاسدٍ سره أني ابتدأت به

لما تيقن أني منه منتقم

لما تيقن أني منه منتقم

And an envier, pleased that I began with him

And an envier whose secret was that I began with him

when he became certain I would take revenge on him.

Once sure I'd have revenge on him one day

لقد سعى طالباً نقصي فزدت به

لقد سعى طالباً نقصي فزدت به

فضلاً وكان دليل الصحة السقم

فضلاً وكان دليل الصحة السقم

He indeed strove, seeking to diminish me, yet through him I grew

He sought my loss, so I excelled, and he

in merit, and sickness was the proof of health.

Showed health's greatest proof is illness and decay