1. قُلتُ لَها حينَ أَكثَرَت عَذَلي

    وَيحَكِ أَزرَت بِنا المُروءاتُ

    I said to her, when she reproached me at length:

    “Alas for you—our chivalrous virtues have brought us low.”

  2. قالَت فَأَينَ الأَملاكُ قُلتُ لَها

    لا تَسأَلي عَنهُمُ فَقَد ماتوا

    She asked, “Then where are the kings?” I said to her:

    “Do not ask about them; they have died.”

  3. قالَت وَلِم ذاكَ قُلتُ فَاِعتَبِري

    هذا وَزيرُ الإِمامِ زَيّاتُ

    She asked, “And why is that?” I said, “Then take heed:

    Here is al-Zayyāt, the Imam’s vizier.”