وقد زعمَ الناسُ أنَّ السعيد

وقد زعمَ الناسُ أنَّ السعيد

بضدّ اسمه قطُّ لم يسعدِ

بضدّ اسمه قطُّ لم يسعدِ

And people have claimed that al-Sa‘id,

People claimed that he who's named "Happy"

contrary to his name, has never been fortunate.

Has never known happiness, how crappy!

وقالوا لقد قال فيه الشريفُ

وقالوا لقد قال فيه الشريفُ

قبائحَ في أمسه الأنكد

قبائحَ في أمسه الأنكد

And they said: al-Sharif indeed said of him

The noble one spoke of his cursed past,

vile things on his ill-fated yesterday.

Ugly words that left him aghast.

وليس يُبالي بصفع اللسان

وليس يُبالي بصفع اللسان

من لا يبالي بصفع اليد

من لا يبالي بصفع اليد

And the tongue’s slaps do not trouble

He who cares not for blows from hands,

one who is untroubled by the hand’s slaps.

Won't care either for slander's brands.