إذا قامت لأهل الجهل سوق

ومل العلم والأدب الوثيق

When the ignorant people's market stands,

And knowledge and intimacy are scarce,

وأوهنت المكارم والمعالي

وماذق في صداقته الصديق

And virtues and excellences weaken,

And the friend finds no friendship in his friendship,

وولي رعية الأغنام ذئب

يفرّق جمعها والفعل موق

And the wolf becomes the shepherd of the flock,

Splitting them, though stopped for the moment,

وقال الصالحون فردّ فيهم

مقالهم وعالهم العقوق

And when the righteous speak he goes against them,

Gainsaying their words and maltreating them,

هنالكم يضنّ بما حواه

من الأدب الفتى البرّ الصدوق

Then the truly virtuous youth withholds

What arts and letters his mind does hold.