وفارسٍ في غمارِ الموت منغمسٍ

إذا تَألَّى على مكروهة صَدقا

A knight immersed in the turmoil of death,

When he complained of adversity in truth,

غَشِّيتُه وهو جأواءَ باسلةٍ

عَضبا أصاب سواءَ الرأس فانفلقا

I covered him while he was bold and steadfast,

Anger struck evenly on the head and split them,

بضربة لم تكن مني مُخالَسةً

ولا تعجَّلتُها جُبنا ولا فَرقا

With a blow that was not a stab from me,

Neither did I hasten it in cowardice or separation.

فإن تكن عبرتي ظلت أكفكفها

فربَّ قرن أمَلتُ الرَّأس والعنقا

If my lesson remains obscured I will restrain it,

For I have often bowed my head and neck.