إِذا اِستَقَلَّت بِكَ الرِكابُ
فَحَيثُ لا دَرَّتِ السَحابُ
When the mounts set off bearing you away,
may they carry you where the clouds never pour rain.
زالَت سِراعاً وَزُلتَ يَجري
بِبَينِكَ الظَبيُ وَالغُرابُ
The mounts speed swiftly away, and you go racing on,
with quick trot and raven attending your departure—
بِحَيثُ لا يُرتَجى إِيابٌ
وَحَيثُ لا يَبلُغُ الكِتابُ
to a place from which no return is hoped,
and which no letter can reach.
فَقَبلَ مَعروفِكَ اِمتِنانٌ
وَدونَ مَعروفِكَ العَذابُ
For before your favor comes the vaunting of it,
and barring the way to your favor stands torment.
وَخَيرُ أَخلاقِكَ اللَواتي
تَعافُ أَمثالَها الكِلابُ
The best of your qualities are those
whose like even dogs disdain.
Sol 5.6