لَو نُكِحَ اللَيثُ في اِستِهِ خَضَعا

وَماتَ جوعاً وَلَم يَنَل طَمَعا

If the lion in its lair is tamed,

And dies of hunger, its hopes unclaimed,

كَذَلِكَ السَيفُ عِندَ هِزَّتِهِ

لَو بَصَقَ الناسُ فيهِ ما قَطَعا

Like the sword in its sheath, with none to wield,

Though spat on by all, it would never yield.