وَمَحَلَّةٍ شَملَ المَكارِهَ أَهلُها

وَمَحَلَّةٍ شَملَ المَكارِهَ أَهلُها

وَتَقَلَّدوا مَسنوءَةَ الأَسماءِ

وَتَقَلَّدوا مَسنوءَةَ الأَسماءِ

And a quarter whose people have embraced odious ways,

A dwelling whose people have taken on disgrace,

And taken loathsome names upon themselves—

And assumed the garb of ill repute,

دارٌ يُهابُ بِها اللِئام وَتُتَّقى

دارٌ يُهابُ بِها اللِئام وَتُتَّقى

وَتَقِلُّ فيها هَيبَةُ الكُرَماءِ

وَتَقِلُّ فيها هَيبَةُ الكُرَماءِ

A dwelling wherein the base are feared, and which is shunned,

A house the base fear and evade,

While reverence for the noble dwindles there.

Wherein the awe of the honourable wanes,

وَيَقولُ عِلجٌ ما أَرادَ وَلا تَرى

وَيَقولُ عِلجٌ ما أَرادَ وَلا تَرى

حُرّاً يَقولُ برقَّةٍ وَحَياءِ

حُرّاً يَقولُ برقَّةٍ وَحَياءِ

A coarse boor says whatever he pleases, while you do not see

And the lowly says what he wills without seeing

A noble freeman speak with gentleness and modesty.

A free man speak with gentleness and modesty,

وَيَرِقُّ عَن مَسِّ الملاحَةِ وَجهُهُ

وَيَرِقُّ عَن مَسِّ الملاحَةِ وَجهُهُ

فَيَصونُهُ بِالصَمتِ وَالإِغضاءِ

فَيَصونُهُ بِالصَمتِ وَالإِغضاءِ

At beauty’s touch, his face grows tender,

His face flinches from the touch of ribaldry,

So he guards it with silence and lowered eyes.

So he guards it with silence and averting.