عَلَيك بِما بِهِ الشّعراءُ تَرضى

عَلَيك بِما بِهِ الشّعراءُ تَرضى

فَمَن مَدحوا بِهِ مَدحاً أَجادوا

فَمَن مَدحوا بِهِ مَدحاً أَجادوا

Hold fast to whatever pleases the poets;

Follow what pleases poets,

for whomever they praise thereby, they praise well.

For when they praise well, it's with merit.

وَحاذِر سُخطَهم ما دُمتَ حيّاً

وَحاذِر سُخطَهم ما دُمتَ حيّاً

فَللشّعراءِ أَلسِنَةٌ حِدادُ

فَللشّعراءِ أَلسِنَةٌ حِدادُ

And beware their anger as long as you live,

And beware their wrath while you live,

for poets have sharp tongues.

For poets wield sharp, cutting tongues.