إن رقى سُلَّمَ الفضائلِ راقٍ

فيه عُجبٌ به تمامُ شروطِهْ

If he climbed the ladder of virtues high

In it is wonder with its perfect rungs

جذبته يد التجاريب يَهوي

فكأن الصعود شرطُ هبوطهْ

drew him the hand of experience to fall

As though the ascent condition of descent

فكما سرَّنا صعودُ تُقاهُ

ساءنا اليومَ شرُّ سقوطهْ

So as his rise gladdened us before

His fall today saddens and stings