1. ما اِزدَدتُ في أَدَبي حَرفاً أُسِرُّ بِهِ

    أَلا تَبَيَّنتُ حَرفاً تَحتَهُ شومُ

    Never have I added to my learning a letter that delights me

    Without discerning a letter beneath which lies ill fortune.

  2. إِنَّ المُقَدَّمَ في حَذَقٍ بِصَنعَتِهِ

    أَنّى تَوَجَّهَ فيها فَهوَ مَحرومُ

    Indeed, the man foremost in mastery of his craft—

    Wherever he turns within it, he is left deprived.