تَسَلطَنَ بِالحَدباءِ عَبدٌ بِلُؤمِهِ

بَصِيرٌ بَلى عَن نَيلِ مَكرُمَةٍ عَمِ

A servant rules with ignorance, blinded in folly,

Yet somehow aware when seeking an honored gain,

إِذا أَيقَظَتهُ لَفظَةٌ عَرَبِيَّةٌ

إِلى المَجدِ قالَت أَرمَنِيَّتُهُ نَمِ

When an Arabic phrase awakens him

To glory, his Armenian soul says, sleep!