خَف يا كَريمُ عَلى عِرضٍ تُعَرِّضُهُ

خَف يا كَريمُ عَلى عِرضٍ تُعَرِّضُهُ

لِعائِبٍ فَلَئيمٌ لا يُقاسُ بِكا

لِعائِبٍ فَلَئيمٌ لا يُقاسُ بِكا

Fear, O noble one, for the honor you expose

Go easy, O generous one, on a reputation that you expose

to a faultfinder—for a base man cannot be compared with you.

To the insults of a despicable slanderer who cannot compare to you

إِنَّ الزُجاجَةَ لَمّا حُطِّمَت سُبِكَت

إِنَّ الزُجاجَةَ لَمّا حُطِّمَت سُبِكَت

وَكَم تَكَسَّرَ مِن دُرٍّ فَما سُبِكا

وَكَم تَكَسَّرَ مِن دُرٍّ فَما سُبِكا

Indeed, when the glass vessel was shattered, it was recast;

For when a glass is shattered it can be reforged

and how many pearls were shattered, yet not recast!

And how many gems have been smashed yet not reassembled