يا أخي غابت المروءةُ عنَّا

هَدَّ بنيانها رحيلُ الكِرامِ

O my brother, chivalry has gone from us

Its edifice destroyed by the departure of the noble ones

قُلْ لمَنْ يشتري المَهانةَ دِرْعاً

كي تقي جِسْمَهُ سيوفَ اللِّئامِ

Say to whoever would buy dishonor as a shield

To protect his body from the swords of villains

ليْسَ في الخوفِ للذَّليلِ حياةٌ

أنتَ ميْتٌ وإنْ تَعِشْ ألفَ عامِ

For the craven there is no life in fear

You are dead even if you live a thousand years

خَدَعَتْنا زخارفُ القَوْلِ حتَّى

لَمْ تَفُزْ مُقْلَةٌ بِطيبِ المَنامِ

Sweet words have deceived us until

No eyelid is moistened with the balm of dreams