تَلَبَّسَ لي يَومَ التَقَينا عوَيمِرٌ

بِجابَلَقٍ في جِلدِ أَخنَسَ باسِلِ

On the day we met, Uwaimir donned

A gabardine of smooth suede worn by a mute camel driver,

وَأَوعَدَني حَتّى ظَنَنتُ بِأَنَّهُ

مُصيبي بِمِثلِ القَتلِ أَو هوَ قاتِلي

And made promises that led me to think

He would slay me or else become my slayer.

إِذا قُلتُ أَنصِفني وَلا تَظلِمَنَّني

رَمى كُلَّ حَقٍّ مِن سواه بِباطِلِ

When I said "Be just and oppress me not,"

He flung aside all truth but his own false notions.

فَباطَلتُهُ حَتّى ارعَوى وَهوَ كارِهٌ

وَقَد يَرعَوي ذو الشَغبِ بَعدَ التَجادُلِ

I refuted him until he was confounded, though he remained averse,

For the contentious are often abashed after arguing.

وَإِنَّكَ لَم تَعطِف عَلى الحَقِّ جاهِلاً

بِمِثلِ خَصيمٍ عالِمٍ مُتَجاهِلِ

Never did you show mercy to an ignorant foe

Like a learned adversary feigning ignorance.