كَريمٌ يَغضُّ الطَرف فَضل حَيائهِ

كَريمٌ يَغضُّ الطَرف فَضل حَيائهِ

وَيَدنو وأَطراف الرِماح دَوانِ

وَيَدنو وأَطراف الرِماح دَوانِ

A noble man, he lowers his gaze from the fullness of his modesty;

A noble man lowers his gaze out of abundant modesty;

yet he advances when the spearpoints are close at hand.

And he advances while the spearpoints are near.

وَكالسَيفِ إِن لايَنتَهُ لانَ متنُهُ

وَكالسَيفِ إِن لايَنتَهُ لانَ متنُهُ

وَحدّاه إِن خاشَنتَهُ خَشِنان

وَحدّاه إِن خاشَنتَهُ خَشِنان

And like a sword: if you treat him gently, his temper grows pliant,

And like a sword, if you treat him gently, his back is supple;

but its two edges, if you treat him harshly, are harsh.

And his two edges, if you treat him roughly, are harsh.