لَيسَ فيها مُرُوَّةٌ لِشَريفٍ

لَيسَ فيها مُرُوَّةٌ لِشَريفٍ

غَيرَ هَذا القِناعِ بِالطَيلَسانِ

غَيرَ هَذا القِناعِ بِالطَيلَسانِ

There is no chivalry in it for a nobleman,

This honored veil reveals no glimpse

There is no chivalry here for the noble soul,

Except this veiling with a taylasan shawl.

Of loveliness beneath its flowing folds.

Save for this masking with the scholar's shawl,

وَبَينا في عُصبَةٍ مِن قُرَيشٍ

وَبَينا في عُصبَةٍ مِن قُرَيشٍ

يَشتَهونَ المَديح بِالمَجّانِ

يَشتَهونَ المَديح بِالمَجّانِ

And while among a band of Quraysh,

Yet once I joined a band of Quraysh peers

And here we stand amidst a Qurayshi band,

Who crave praise free of charge.

Who each desired but fulsome praise and gold.

Who covet praise, yet seek it free of charge.