هَنِيْئَاً لِأًصْحَابِ السُّيُوفِ بَطَالَةً

تُقْضَّى بِهَا أَيَّامُهُمْ فِي التَّنَعُّمِ

Congratulations to the sword bearers for their idleness

With which they spend their days in luxury

فَكَمْ فِيْهِمُ مِنْ دَائِمِ الأَمْنِ لَمْ يُرَعْ

بِحَرْبٍ وَلَمْ يَنْهَدْ لِقِرْنٍ مُصَمِّمِ

How many of them live in perpetual safety

Without fighting in wars or charging with intent spears

يَرُوحُ وَيَغْدُو عَاقِدَاً فِي نِجَادِهِ

حُسَامَاً سَلِيْمَ الحَدِّ لَمْ يَتَثَلَّمِ

Going and coming with swords girded in scabbards

Blades smooth and unnotched by blows

وَيَمْكُثُ لاَ يَلْقَى عَدُوَّاً فَإِنْ غَزَا

فَوَاحِدَةً فِي الدَّهْرِ لَيْسَ بِتَوْأَمِ

Remaining without meeting a foe, and if they march to war

It is but once in an age, not oft repeated

وَلَكِنْ ذَوُو الأَقْلاَمِ فِي كُلِّ سَاعَةٍ

سُيُوفُهُمُ لَيْسَتْ تَجِفُّ مِنَ الدَّمِ

But the men of letters, their swords at every hour

Are never dry of blood