وَرُبَّ غاوٍ رَمَيتُ مَنطِقَهُ

وَرُبَّ غاوٍ رَمَيتُ مَنطِقَهُ

بِسَكتَةٍ وَالحُلومُ تَعتَرِكُ

بِسَكتَةٍ وَالحُلومُ تَعتَرِكُ

And many a misguided man—I struck at his speech

Many a boaster have I silenced

With silence, while minds clashed.

With but a smile, though rage was choking me,

وَلِلفَتى مِن وَقارِهِ جُنَنٌ

وَلِلفَتى مِن وَقارِهِ جُنَنٌ

إِن كَثُرَت مِن عَدوٍ الشِكَكُ

إِن كَثُرَت مِن عَدوٍ الشِكَكُ

And a young man has shields in his dignity

And many a zealot burns with heresy’s fire

If an enemy's weapons are many.

If doubts about his creed begin to strike;

ثارَ بِهِ الجَهلُ فَاِبتَسَمتُ لَهُ

ثارَ بِهِ الجَهلُ فَاِبتَسَمتُ لَهُ

وَرُبَّ جانٍ عِقابُهُ الضَحِكُ

وَرُبَّ جانٍ عِقابُهُ الضَحِكُ

Folly flared in him, so I smiled at him;

But I have smiled when madness filled their eyes

And many a wrongdoer has laughter for his punishment.

For often laughter is the best reply.