1. The virtues of a people led by
Qudamah the eunuch have vanished.
١. لَقَد ذَهَبَت خَيراتُ قَومٍ يَسودُهُم
قُدامَةُ خُصيا قَنبَلِيٍّ مُهَمَّلِ
2. I forbade a miser access with threats,
and he had from me nothing but dust and fleas.
٢. مَنَعتُ قَلوصاً بِالمَطالي وَلَم يَكُن
بِنابَيكَ مِنها غَيرُ تُربٍ وَجَندَلِ
3. A black, slender mare has become too strong for you,
though wombs may quicken from any old bag of bones.
٣. وَعَزَّت عَلَيكَ الفَحلَ سَوداءُ جَونَةٌ
وَقَد تَنجُلُ الأَرحامُ مِن كُلِّ مَنجَلِ