1. وَخَيَّرَها أَبوها بَينَ شَيخٍ

    كَثيرِ المالِ أَو حَدَثٍ فَقيرِ

    And her father gave her the choice between an old man

    of great wealth or a poor young man.

  2. فَقالَت خُطَّتا خَسفٍ وَما إِن

    أَرى مِن حُظوؤٍ لَلمُستَخيرِ

    She said, “Two degrading choices, and I

    see no advantage for the chooser.

  3. وَلَكِن إِن عَزَمتَ فَكُلُّ شَيءٍ

    أَحَبُّ إلي مِن وَجهِ الكَبيرِ

    But if you are determined, then anything

    is dearer to me than the old man's face,

  4. لِأَنَّ المَرءَ بَعدَ الفَقرِ يُثري

    وَهَذا لا يَعودُ إشلى صَغيرِ

    for a man may grow rich after poverty,

    and this one will never be young again.”