إِذا لَم تَلحَقِ الكَرَمَ المَساعي

لَحِقتُ بِهِ عَلى الهِمَمِ السِراعِ

If exertion cannot reach excellence

I will reach it with lofty determination

وَإِن لَم يَتَّسِع أَدَبٌ فَزُرني

تَجِد مِنّي أَخا أَدَبٍ وَساعِ

And if culture cannot accommodate me

You will find in me a cultured and generous brother

فَتى إِن أَعوَزَ الوُرّادُ مَرعىً

فَأَنغُمُهُ المَوارِدُ وَالمَراعي

O youth, if the meadows lack pasturage

The springs and pastures will provide it bounteously

إِذا بَعُدَ الثَناءُ عَلى أُناسِ

تَناوِلِهِ مِنَ المِنَنِ الرِفاعِ

When praise is beyond some people’s reach

Grant it to them generously and sublimely