أمُورُ عَبيدِ دَوما عَجيبَةٌ

ولَكنَّ هذَا العبدَ أمرُه أعجَبُ

Ubayd’s affairs are always strange,

but this slave’s affair is stranger still.

ولَم يدرِ أنَّ العبدَ عبدٌ ولو مَشَى

بأقدامِه مِن خالِص التِّبرِ قَبقَبُ

He did not know that a slave is a slave, even if

clogs of pure gold should walk upon his feet.

وَأنتَنُ ما يبدُو لنَا مُتَطِّيباً

وليسَ بِمُجدٍ في الصِّنَانِ تَطَيُّبُ

Foulest of all is he who appears before us perfumed;

and perfuming oneself is no use against armpit stench.