وَذِي جَبَرُوتٍ لا يَرَى غَيْرَ نَفْسِهِ

عَظِيماً وَلا يُصْغِي إِلى قَوْل مُصْحِبِ

With autocracy, seeing none but himself

As grand, listening to no companion's words,

نَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ نَظْرَةً فَتَطامَنَتْ

غَوارِبُهُ وانْقادَ بَعْدَ التَّجَنُّبِ

I looked at him, and his roughness

Softened, and he yielded after aloofness.

وَمَا كُنْتُ لَوْلا أَنْ رَأَى كِبْرَ شَأْنِهِ

لأُصْدِرَهُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلٍ وَمَرْحَبِ

Had I not seen his haughtiness,

I'd not have welcomed him, lacking kin and friends,

وَلَكِنَّنِي سَهْلٌ لِمَنْ رَامَ خُلَّتِي

وَصَعْبٌ عَلَى ذِي الْكِبْرِياءِ الْمُغَلَّبِ

But I'm easy with who seeks my company,

And hard on the arrogant prisoner of pride.

وَلَوْ أَنَّهُ اسْتَوْلَى عَلَيْهِ شَقَاؤُهُ

لَطَارَتْ بِهِ في الناسِ عَنْقَاءُ مُغْرِبِ

Had ill fortune overpowered him,

He'd have wildly fled the people in the Maghrib,

وَلَكِنَّهُ أَلْقَى إِلَيَّ زِمَامَهُ

فَسِرْتُ بِهِ سَيْرَ الذَّلُولِ الْمُهَذَّبِ

But he handed me his reins,

So I led him like a meek and refined steed.

وَلَيْسَ يَسُودُ المَرْءُ إِلَّا بِحِلْمِهِ

عَلَى قَوْمِهِ وَالصَّفْحِ عَنْ كُلِّ مُذْنِبِ

None rules but by his wisdom

Over his people, and forgiving each sinner.