الشِّعْرُ زَيْنُ الْمَرْءِ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ

وَسِيلَةً لِلْمَدْحِ وَالذَّامِ

Poetry is the glory of man, unless it be

A vehicle for flattery or blame.

قَدْ طَالَمَا عَزَّ بِهِ مَعْشَرٌ

وَرُبَّمَا أَزْرَى بِأَقْوَامِ

Full oft a clan is honored by a verse,

While other times a people it defames.

فَاجْعَلْهُ فِيمَا شِئْتَ مِنْ حِكْمَةٍ

أَوْ عِظَةٍ أَوْ حَسَبٍ نَامِي

So make of it whate'er you will - be it

Wisdom, counsel, virtues to acclaim,

وَاهْتِفْ بِهِ مِنْ قَبْلِ إِطْلاقِهِ

فَالسَّهْمُ مَنْسُوبٌ إِلَى الرَّامِي

And aim your words before you loose your tongue,

For arrows bear the marks of whence they came.