أَلا قُل لِرُكنِ الدينِ ذي الفَضلِ وَالحَجا

مَقالَةَ غَيرانٍ عَلَيهِ إِذا زالا

Say to the pillar of religion, of excellence and glory,

The words of a critic against him, should they transgress:

زُبالَة لا بَأسٌ لَدَيهِ وَلا نَدى

بِنَيلٍ وَلا رَأياً لَدَيهِ وَلا أَصلا

"Worthless rubbish to him, neither worthy nor eminent,

With neither sense nor wisdom, neither origin nor root.

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ المَرءَ يُعرَفُ دائِماً

بِصاحِبِهِ فَاِبعِد بِهِ صاعِباً نَدلا

Do you not see that a man is known always

By his companion? So avoid the fool and ignoble.

عَهِدتُكَ مَيّالاً إِلى الطيبِ ما الَّذي

بَدا لَكَ حَتّى صِرتَ تَحتَكِمُ الزَبَلا

I knew you inclined toward goodness - what has appeared to you

That you judge by garbage?"