ولم يدبغونا على تحلىءٍ
فيرمقُ أمر ولم يغملوا
They never subdued us, for all their mustering;
they keep every matter in view and never neglect it.
وإن يأود المر يلقْوا له
ثِقافاً وإن يحكُمُوا يعدلوا
If a man bends awry, they bring him
a straightening-iron; and when they judge, they judge justly.
وتنأى قعورُهم في الأمور
على من يُسِمّ ومن يُسمِلُ
The depths of their counsel in affairs recede
beyond whoever would mark them out or plumb them.
ولكنني راعب صدعهم
رقوءٌ لما بينهم مسملُ
Yet I desire their division,
watchfully awaiting the fraying of what binds them.
ولا يدمسُ الأمر فيما يَلُون
على المنطقات ولا يُدَملُ
In what they govern, they conceal no matter
from the girdled women, nor do they hush it up.
Sol 5.6