إنّيindeed I لرحّالٌsurely a frequent traveler إذاwhen الهمّsorrow برَكkneels down
إنّي لرحّالٌ إذا الهمّ برَك
رحبbroad اللبانthe chest عندat ضيقnarrowness المعتركthe battlefield
رحب اللبان عند ضيق المعترك
I am indeed a wanderer when sorrow kneels down.
When cares afflict me, I take to the wilderness,
Broad of chest when the battlefield grows narrow.
The fragrant gum tree is spacious when the struggle is narrow,
عُسريmy hardship علىupon نفسيmyself وسريand my secret مشتركshared
عُسري على نفسي وسري مشترك
لاdo not تهلكdestroy النفسthe soul علىover شيءٍsomething هلكhas perished
لا تهلك النفس على شيءٍ هلك
My hardship is mine to bear, and my secret is shared.
My secret is hard for me, but shared with others,
Do not destroy your soul over something that has perished.
Let no soul perish for something already lost,
فليسfor there is no للهمّfor sorrow لماfor what فاتhas passed درَكrecovery
فليس للهمّ لما فات درَك
لاdo not تنكرَنdisapprove of (emphatic) ضراعتيmy humility لاno أمّmother لكfor you
لا تنكرَن ضراعتي لا أمّ لك
For sorrow cannot recover what has passed.
Worry can redeem nothing once past,
Do not disapprove of my humility—may you have no mother!
Do not deny my courtesy, I wish you no ill,
رُبَّmany a زمانٍtime ذُلُّهُits abasement أرفقُgentler بكon you
رُبَّ زمانٍ ذُلُّهُ أرفقُ بك
لاno عارshame إنif ضامكَoppresses you دهرُtime أوor ملكa king
لا عار إن ضامكَ دهرُ أو ملك
Many are the times whose abasement is gentler on you.
Many a low time, being gentle is best for you,
There is no shame if time or a king oppresses you.
No shame if fate or kings oppress you.