وشاعر سوء يهضب القول ظالم — أبو الأسود الدؤلي

وَشاعِرِ سَوءٍ يَهضِبُ القَولَ ظالِمٍ

كَما اقتَمَّ أَعشى مُظلِمَ اللَيلِ حاطِبُ

And many a vile, unjust poet pours forth words,

Like a dim-sighted wood-gatherer gathering in the dark of night.

عَرَضتُ لَهُ بَعدَ الأَناةِ فَرُعتُهُ

بِخَدباءَ قَد تَرفَضُّ عَنها المَجاوِبُ

I confronted him after forbearance, and terrified him,

With a mighty, gaping thrust that sends shields flying apart.

تَنَقَّيتُها دُهريَّةً ذاتَ مَصدَقٍ

لَها أَثَرٌ يَومَ المَغَبَّةِ لاحِبُ

I chose it, enduring through the ages and of proven force,

Its mark is clear when the consequences come.

فَضَضتُ بِها ما كانَ جَمَّعَ قَبلها

كَما انفَضَّ عَن شَمسِ النَهارِ الكَواكِبُ

With it I scattered what he had amassed before it,

As the stars scatter away from the sun of day.