لا بُدَّ لِلروحِ أَن تَنأى عَنِ الجَسَدِ

فَلا تُخَيِّم عَلى الأَضغانِ وَالحَسَدِ

The spirit must shun the body,

Let it not brood on grudges and envy,

وَاِجعَل لِعَزمَتِكَ الظَلماءَ ناجِيَةً

نُجومُها كَعُلوبِ النِسعِ وَالمَسَدِ

Make your dark resolve eloquent,

Its stars like the claws of eagle and lion.

فَهَل تُحاذِر مِن طَعنِ السِماكِ رَداً

أَم بِالهِلالِ تُوَقّى مَخلِبَ الأَسَدِ

Will you then take heed against the stab of critics

Or with the crescent parry the lion’s claw?

مَن لا يُسئِد وَيَسنِد في حَنادِسِهِ

وَيُسدِ خَيراً إِلى العافينَ لا يَسُدِ

He who gives not foundation and prop to his tents,

Who dams not good to the prospering – dams not.

حَملُ المَدَجَّجِ تَركاً فَوقَ هامَتِهِ

أَشَفُّ لِلرَأسِ مِن وَضعٍ عَلى الوُسُدِ

To bear the coat of mail atop his stature

Is better for the head than to rest on pillows.

وَضَربَةُ القِرنِ في الهَيجاءِ مُنتَصِراً

أَولى بِهِ مِن خِصامِ الجيرَةِ الفُسُدِ

And the blow of the horn, triumphant in fray,

Befits him more than disputing an envious tribe.

وَمُغرَمٌ بِالمَخازي طّالِبٌ صَلَةً

مُغَرّى بِتَنفيقِ أَشعارٍ لَهُ كُسُدِ

And loving the wine-skins, seeking a draught,

Is nobler than composing vapid verse.