1. Woe to a people who challenged me in their ignorance,
And ignorance implicates people in grave error.

2. They showed me their forbearance - did they not know
That rhymes do not tolerate inelegance?

3. They said, "Do you insult a madman?" I said to them,
"A toucher must be reproached and pushed away."

4. I have the cure of Abi Hafs and his prescription
If that task wearies even Buqrat.

5. How many like him, wretched, to whom I have reached
Lengths within lengths in the arena of toil -

6. I distracted him from his livelihood with passions
Since I had little care for him.

7. Leave me and Abi Hafs - I will let him go,
A barber, a bleeder, even a quack.

8. Better for him than my insults
A preoccupation that restores his surplus dirham.