إِذا لَم أَرِد تَعجيلَ حاجَةِ صاحِبٍ

مَنَعتُ وَبَعضُ المَنعِ خَيرٌ مِنَ المَطلِ

When I do not wish to hasten a friend's request

I withhold, and some withholding is better than giving in.

وَعَدتَ وَلَم تُكرَه وَأَخلَفتَ طائِعاً

لَعَمري لَقَد بالَغتَ في البُخلِ وَالجَهلِ

You promised, yet were not compelled, and willingly failed -

By my life! You have reached the height of meanness and ignorance.