1. He promised a visit, then broke his word
It would not have harmed him, had he been fair
١. وعد الزيارة ثم أخلَفْ
ما ضرّهُ لو كان يُنصِفْ
2. He was hostile towards me, and thought
Tears would stream from my eyes
٢. وسَطا عليّ وظنّ أنّ
الدمعَ من عينيهِ يذْرِفْ
3. By God, were it not for propriety
I would have cast off all pretense
٣. واللهِ لولا حرمةٌ
لطرحتُ أسبابَ التكلّفْ
4. And drawn from the scabbard of satire
A sharp blade upon the vein of praise
٤. وسلَلْتُ من غِمْدِ الهِجا
ءِ على وَريدِ المدحِ مُرهَفْ