1. لا يَفرَحَن في ذا الزَمانِ بِخِلعَةٍ

    والٍ هُوَ المَعزولُ وَالمَصروفُ

    Let none rejoice, in this age, over a robe of honor—

    a governor: he is the one deposed and dismissed.

  2. هِيَ زينَةٌ تَعلو الجَزورُ فَإِن تَلُح

    صِح يا سَمينُ عَلَيهِ يا مَعلوفُ

    It is an ornament that crowns the slaughter-camel; if it comes into view,

    cry out to him, “O fat one! O well-fed one!”

  3. ما يُطعِمُ الجَزّارُ شاةً حَبَّةً

    حُبّاً فَفي تِلكَ الحُبوب حُتوفُ

    The butcher never feeds a sheep a single grain

    out of love; for in those grains lie deaths.