وَما مِن دونِ عِرضِكَ لِلقَوافي

وَما مِن دونِ عِرضِكَ لِلقَوافي

شَبا قُفلٍ يُشَدُّ وَلا رِتاجِ

شَبا قُفلٍ يُشَدُّ وَلا رِتاجِ

And between your honor and the rhymes there are no

No verse but yours can bind rhymes' keys,

Teeth of a lock to be fastened, nor any gate.

No girding-place for padlocks sure,

لَجَجتَ فَعادَ ذاكَ عَلَيكَ ذَمّاً

لَجَجتَ فَعادَ ذاكَ عَلَيكَ ذَمّاً

وَأَسبابُ البَلاءِ مِنَ اللَجاجِ

وَأَسبابُ البَلاءِ مِنَ اللَجاجِ

You persisted stubbornly, and that brought reproach upon you;

You chid: reproach returned was thine;

And the causes of affliction spring from stubbornness.

Causes of evil come from obstinacy's line.