1. Alas! Many a scheming flatterer
Drags to me the tails of greed,
١. أَلا رُبَّ مُحتالِ عَذلٍ غَدا
يَجُرُّ إِلَيَّ ذُيولَ الطَمَع
2. So I deafen my ears to his prolixity
And am stifled by what he has done.
٢. فَأَبرَمَ سَمعي بِتَطويلِهِ
وَضَيَّقَ صَدري بِما قَد صَنَع
3. So I turn a cold shoulder to his bucket
And cut short his guile with guile.
٣. فَوَشَحتُ بِالدَلوِ آذانَهُ
وَقَطَّعتُ أَخدَعَهُ بِالخُدَع