وَرُبَّ غاوٍ رَمَيتُ مَنطِقَهُ

بِسَكتَةٍ وَالحُلومُ تَعتَرِكُ

Many a boaster have I silenced

With but a smile, though rage was choking me,

وَلِلفَتى مِن وَقارِهِ جُنَنٌ

إِن كَثُرَت مِن عَدوٍ الشِكَكُ

And many a zealot burns with heresy’s fire

If doubts about his creed begin to strike;

ثارَ بِهِ الجَهلُ فَاِبتَسَمتُ لَهُ

وَرُبَّ جانٍ عِقابُهُ الضَحِكُ

But I have smiled when madness filled their eyes

For often laughter is the best reply.