وَذي صَلَفٍ وَقَد سِرتُ خَلفَهُ

وَذي صَلَفٍ وَقَد سِرتُ خَلفَهُ

أَخو الجَهلِ لا يَلوِيَ عَلى مَن تَعَذَّرا

أَخو الجَهلِ لا يَلوِيَ عَلى مَن تَعَذَّرا

And a haughty fellow, behind whom I had walked—

The one of warped mind, though I walked behind,

A fool pays no heed to one who makes excuses.

Ignorance's brother twists not against one made inaccessible.

فَغَنَّيتُهُ لَمّا أَظَلَّ عِذارُهُ

فَغَنَّيتُهُ لَمّا أَظَلَّ عِذارُهُ

أَخو الحُبِّ لا يَلوي عَلى مَن تَعَذَّرا

أَخو الحُبِّ لا يَلوي عَلى مَن تَعَذَّرا

So I sang to him when his cheek-down cast its shade:

So I sang to him when his excuse took shadow:

A lover pays no heed to one whose cheek-hair has grown.

Love's brother twists not against one made inaccessible.