كَرِيمٌ يَغُضُّ الطَّرْفَ فَضْلَ حَيائِهِ

كَرِيمٌ يَغُضُّ الطَّرْفَ فَضْلَ حَيائِهِ

ويَدْنُو وأَطْرافُ الرّماحِ دَوانِي

ويَدْنُو وأَطْرافُ الرّماحِ دَوانِي

A noble man—the fullness of his modesty lowers his gaze;

yet he advances when the spearpoints draw close.

وكالسَّيفِ إنْ لايَنْتَهُ لانَ مَتْنُهُ

وكالسَّيفِ إنْ لايَنْتَهُ لانَ مَتْنُهُ

وحَدَّاهُ إنْ خاشَنْتَهُ خشنانِ

وحَدَّاهُ إنْ خاشَنْتَهُ خشنانِ

He is like a sword: deal gently with him, and his broad side yields;

but his two edges, if you deal harshly with him, are unyielding.