تَرَكْتُ العُلا وَالعِيسُ يَنْفُخْنَ في البُرَى

لِمُتَّشِحٍ بِالذُّلِّ إِذْ قَلَّ مالُهُ

I left glory behind, though the wind blows it about the meadows,

For one wrapped in humility when his wealth grew scarce,

وَقَدْ كُنْتُ أُزْجِي الأَرْحَبِيَّ على الوَجَى

فَأَنْزِلُ عَنْهُ وَالكَلالُ عِقالُهُ

Once I would race the wide plain on a steed,

But now I dismount from him when tiredness is his bridle,

فَأَلْقَيْتُ إِذْ لَمْ يَبْقَ في الأَرْضِ مَسْرَحٌ

رِحالي فَقُلْ في الطَّرْفِ ضاقَ مَجالُهُ

So I cast off when no wide space was left on earth,

My belongings, and say to my soul - its expanse narrowed,

وَإِنِّي لَأَرْضَى مِنْ زَماني بِبُلْغَةٍ

وَعِرْضِي مَصُونٌ لَمْ يَشِنْهُ ابْتِذالُهُ

And I am content in my time with eloquence,

My honor kept safe, not cheapened by vulgarity,

بِشُرْبٍ كَوَلْغِ الذِّئْبِ راعَتْهُ نَبْأَةٌ

وَأَكْلٍ كَنَوْشِ الصَّقْرِ مِمّا يَنالُهُ

Drinking in gulps like a wolf who heard news,

And eating like a falcon from what it obtains.