لم أشأ أن أفاجئَ القوم بالنص

ح فجاريتهم لكي يألفوني

I did not want to shock the people with the text

But match their ways so they accept me

أنسوا بي فلمتهم في الضلالا

ت وجادلتهم برفق ولين

They became accustomed to me though I led them astray

And argued with them gently and softly

فتناءوا عني ولم يستطيعوا

حولاً عن هوى وطبع مكين

They turned away from me yet could not

Turn from passion and ingrained nature

ما استفادوا من حكمتي مثل ما قل

دتهم في غواية ومجون

They did not benefit from my wisdom as much as I

Misled them in delusion and immorality

أنا لولا حرصي تناسيت طبعي

وتعودت كل أمر مشين

If not for my restraint I would forget my nature

And get used to whatever is disgraceful

وعجيبٌ عيشُ الفتى وحده بال

عقل في معشر شديد الجنون

Strange is the life of a reasonable man alone

Among a horde deep in madness