1. إذا ما هَمَمْتَ بكَشْفِ الظُّلَمْ

    وحِفظ الثُّغورِ وسَدِّ الثُّلَمْ

    If ever you resolve to dispel the darkness,

    to guard the frontiers and seal the breaches,

  2. فعوِّلْ على خَلَّتَيْنِ اثنَتَ

    يْنِ خَرْقِ الحُسامِ ورِفْقِ القَلَمْ

    then rely upon two qualities:

    the sword’s piercing force and the pen’s gentleness.