ليسَ الفضيلةُ في الذين طِباعُهم

ليسَ الفضيلةُ في الذين طِباعُهم

من خَلقِهِنَّ جميلةُ الأَخلاقِ

من خَلقِهِنَّ جميلةُ الأَخلاقِ

Virtue does not lie in those whose natures

Virtue does not lie in those whose natures

are, from their very creation, beautiful in character.

have been of good character since their creation.

فكانهم لم يُخطِئُوا في آدمٍ

فكانهم لم يُخطِئُوا في آدمٍ

جَدِّ الورى فضلاً من الخَلَّاقِ

جَدِّ الورى فضلاً من الخَلَّاقِ

For it is as though they bore no share in Adam’s sin,

So it is as though they had not sinned in Adam,

mankind’s forefather—by grace of the Creator.

the forefather of mankind, by grace from the Creator.

لكنها في من حواها جاهداً

لكنها في من حواها جاهداً

بالإِجتِهادِ وكَثرةِ الاعراقِ

بالإِجتِهادِ وكَثرةِ الاعراقِ

Rather, it lies in one who embraces it, striving hard,

But it lies in whoever acquires it by striving,

through diligence and much exhausting toil.

through diligence and copious sweat.

إِسكَندَرٌ فاقَ المُلوكَ لانهُ

إِسكَندَرٌ فاقَ المُلوكَ لانهُ

ما حاز مُلكاً مُورَثاً كالباقي

ما حاز مُلكاً مُورَثاً كالباقي

Alexander surpassed the kings because

Alexander surpassed kings because he

he possessed no inherited kingdom like the rest;

did not gain an inherited kingdom like the rest.

لكنهُ بحُروبهِ وذِراعهِ

لكنهُ بحُروبهِ وذِراعهِ

حازَ التملُّكَ والدمِ المُهَراقِ

حازَ التملُّكَ والدمِ المُهَراقِ

rather, through his wars and the strength of his arm,

But through his wars and his arm,

he won dominion—with blood poured out.

he won dominion—and through the blood that was shed.