رَموا بِمَرامي بَغيِهِم فَاِتَّقَيتُها

وَقُلتُ لَهُم بَيني وَبَينَكُمُ الدَهرُ

They aimed their schemes at me so I was wary,

And said to them, between you and I is time -

كَأَنّي بِكُم لا تَستَطيعونَ حيلَةً

وَلَيسَ لَكُم نَهيٌ يُطاعُ وَلا أَمرُ

As though with you no stratagem avails me

Nor prohibition heeded nor command obeyed.