إِن تَصحَبِ السُلطانَ كُن مُحتَرِسا

مُتقِنَ آدابِ الصَباحِ وَالمَسا

If you accompany the sultan, be vigilant,

Mastering the etiquette of morn and eve,

وَكُن لِما يُؤثِرُهُ مُقتَبِسا

وَاِخضَع إِذا لانَ وَلِن إِذا قَسا

And emulate whatever he prefers.

Be yielding if he's gentle, or harsh if he's severe,

وَلا تَكُن طَلقاً إِذا ما عَبَسا

وَلا تَكُن مُستَوحِشاً إِن أَنِسا

Don't be forthright if he's glum,

Or lonely if he's companionable,

وَلا تَزُر حَضرَتَهُ مُختَلِسا

ولا تُشَمِّتهُ إِذا عَطَسا

Don't frequent his court uninvited,

Or gloat if he happens to sneeze,

وَأَوضِح لَهُ الأَمرَ إِذا ما اِلتَبَسا

مِن غَيرِ جَعلِ رَأيِهِ مُنعَكِسا

Clarify matters for him if obscured,

Without reversing his opinion outright,

وَلا تُشِع سِرّاً لَهُ مُحتَبَسا

وَلا تَبِت في عَيشِهِ مُنغَمِسا

Don't divulge secrets held in his trust,

Or revel in his livelihood,

وَلا تُشارِكهُ بِأَحوالِ النِسا

لَم تَدرِ ما في نَفسِهِ قَد هَجَسا

Or discuss affairs of his women―

You cannot know what in his soul lies hidden―

فَإِنَّهُ كَاللَيثِ يُخفي الشَرَسا

حَتّى إِذا ريعَ حِماهُ اِفتَرَسا

For he is like a lion hiding his claws

Until, when his sanctuary is violated, he pounces.