1. Not from inherited lineage comes glory’s gain
Unless with toil and strife is honour’s prize attained.

2. When the firestick beareth not, what boots its name
And the noble house from whose stock the good-for-nought came?

3. Thou art, forsooth, a branch of those high-stationed lords
Yet with the meanest wood thou art well equipoised.

4. Honour the brave stance takers with lives put at stake
Not the sires and dams whoseIssueshowed their make.

5. Thou soughtest my aidance to laud thee in rhyme;
On deeds of sires hoping greatness in time:

6. A vain thing is such hope. If I hymned thy sires,
Their glory expired and praise with it expires!

7. Shall I base thy meed on what meninhooded gained,
To one whose sires such reward with toil attained?

8. Never! By Allah, shall Abdallah's actions weigh
‘Gainst Caab's son, my due from thee to pay.

9. On thine acts rely not another's who's gone
Deem not renown inherit by lineage alone

10. Man earns for himself. His sires' deeds are bygone
Though noble the line of his ancestry's drawn