إن اللئيم على حقارة قدره

لَينال من عِرض الكريم منالا

The base fellow in his lowly state

Attains from the noble man's virtue

يؤذيه وهو بطبعه متنزه

عنه فيقصر رفعة وجلالا

Hurting him, while he by nature is aloof

From it, so his loftiness and glory falls short

كالكلب يُقلق بالنباح ضبارما

والكبر يمنعه عليه مصالا

Like a dog disturbing fierce lions

With barking, and superiority prevents it from having power over him

والفضل يحمي أهله عن خطة

فيها يساوون اللئام خصالا

And merit protects its people from a scheme

In which the base are equal in attributes

كم من كلاب بالنفوس وإنها

لتظن من صور الجسوم رجالا

How many dogs in souls, though they

Seem from bodily forms to be men