وَلكِنْ إذا جُزْتُ الصِّراطُ فإنّني

وَلكِنْ إذا جُزْتُ الصِّراطُ فإنّني

عَلَى الغَثِّ مِنْ تِلْكَ الهناتِ سَعيدُ

عَلَى الغَثِّ مِنْ تِلْكَ الهناتِ سَعيدُ

But if I cross the Bridge, then I

Yet if I cross the path, then I am happy

am happy despite those paltry failings.

With the overflowing rain from those clouds.

فإنْ كُنْتَ سحْبانَ بنَ وائِلَ لَمْ أَفُزْ

فإنْ كُنْتَ سحْبانَ بنَ وائِلَ لَمْ أَفُزْ

بِزُخْرُفِ قَوْلي فالمقَامُ شَدِيدُ

بِزُخْرُفِ قَوْلي فالمقَامُ شَدِيدُ

For if you were Sahban ibn Wa'il, I would not prevail

If you are Suhban bin Wail, I did not succeed

through the ornament of my speech, for the situation is grave.

With the ornament of my words, for the position is severe.

فَعِيُّ الفَتَى إنْ فَازَ لَيْسَ بِضائِرٍ

فَعِيُّ الفَتَى إنْ فَازَ لَيْسَ بِضائِرٍ

وإنْ لَمْ يَفُزْ ذو السَّبْقِ فَهُوَ بَليدُ

وإنْ لَمْ يَفُزْ ذو السَّبْقِ فَهُوَ بَليدُ

So a young man's ineloquence, if he succeeds, does him no harm;

The youth is not harmed if he succeeds,

and if the frontrunner does not succeed, then he is dull-witted.

And if he does not succeed, the one with a head start is slow.

وأَيُّ غَناءٍ لامْرىءٍ ذي بَلاغَةٍ

وأَيُّ غَناءٍ لامْرىءٍ ذي بَلاغَةٍ

وما ذَاكَ يُغْنِي طارِفٌ وتَلِيدُ

وما ذَاكَ يُغْنِي طارِفٌ وتَلِيدُ

And what benefit is there for a man of eloquence,

What song is there for a man of eloquence?

when neither newly acquired nor inherited wealth can help him?

That does not enrich a gentle-natured and well-bred man.