دَعانِيَ حِصنٌ لِلفِرارِ فَساءَني

مَواطِنُ أَن يُثنى عَلَيَّ فَأُشتَما

A fortress called me to take refuge, how odious that was to me

It is the habit for me to be praised, then reviled

فَقُلتُ لِحِصنٍ نَحِّ نَفسَكَ إِنَّما

يَذودُ الفَتى عَن حَوضِهِ أَن يَهَدَّ ما

So I said to the fortress, save yourself, truly

The gallant man protects his stance from being razed

تَأَخَّرتُ اَستَبقي الحَياةَ فَلَم أَجِد

لِنَفسي حَياةً مِثلَ أَن أَتَقَدَّما

I lingered to preserve life but found

No life for myself except to press forward

سَيَكفيكَ أَطرافَ الأَسِنَّةِ فارِسٌ

إِذا ريعَ نادى بِالجَوادِ وَبِالحِمى

It will suffice you, tips of tongues, a horseman

When he neighs calling for the steed and the preserve

إِذا المَرءُ لَم يَغشَ المَكارِهَ أَوشَكَت

حِبالُ الهُوَينى بِالفَتى أَن تَجَذَّما

When a man does not brave adversities, the ropes

Of disgrace are quick to tie down the man