ذَهَبَ الرِجالُ المُقتَدى بِفِعالِهِم

وَالمُنكِرونَ لِكُلِّ أَمرِ مُنكَرِ

The men whose deeds were models to be followed have passed away,

As have those who denounced every reprehensible act.

وَبَقيتُ في خَلَفٍ يَزَيِّنُ بَعضُهُم

بَعضاً لِيَدفَعَ مُعوِراً عَن مُعوِرِ

I remain among a successor generation who embellish one another with praise,

Shielding one man of vice from another of vice.

سَلَكوا بِنِيّاتِ الطَريقِ فَأَصبَحوا

مُتَنَكِّبينَ عَنِ الطَريقِ الأَكبَرِ

They pursued the obscure byways, and thus became

Wanderers veering far from the Great Road.