تَمثل لي شَخص الزَمان وَزارَني

تَمثل لي شَخص الزَمان وَزارَني

وَلَم يَك طَرف النجم عَني بِناعسِ

وَلَم يَك طَرف النجم عَني بِناعسِ

Time took bodily form before me and visited me,

Time personified appeared to me in a vision

And the star's eye was not drowsy as it watched me.

And the star's eye did not blink nor sleep

فَقُلت لَهُ مِن أَين أَظفر بِالمُنى

فَقُلت لَهُ مِن أَين أَظفر بِالمُنى

وَأَحظى عَلى رَغم العِدا بِالنفائس

وَأَحظى عَلى رَغم العِدا بِالنفائس

So I said to him, 'Where may I gain what I wish for

I asked him from where do I gain what I wish

And obtain precious things despite my foes?'

And attain treasures despite hostility

فَقالَ بِلا سؤل تَفوز بِما تَشا

فَقالَ بِلا سؤل تَفوز بِما تَشا

سَريعاً مِن الباشا مُدير المَدارس

سَريعاً مِن الباشا مُدير المَدارس

So he said, 'Without asking, you will gain whatever you wish,

He said without asking you will win what you want

Swiftly, from the Pasha, the director of schools.'

Swiftly from the Pasha director of schools