وَما كُنتُ أَرضى بِالقَريضِ فَضيلَةً

وَما كُنتُ أَرضى بِالقَريضِ فَضيلَةً

وَإِن كانَ مِمّا تَرتَضيهِ الأَفاضِلُ

وَإِن كانَ مِمّا تَرتَضيهِ الأَفاضِلُ

And I have never been content with verse as a distinction,

I never thought poetry was virtue

even though it is among what the virtuous approve.

Though nobles love a well-turned verse,

وَلَستُ أُذيعُ الشِعرَ فَخراً وَإِنَّما

وَلَستُ أُذيعُ الشِعرَ فَخراً وَإِنَّما

مُحاذَرَةً أَن تَدَّعيهِ الأَراذِلُ

مُحاذَرَةً أَن تَدَّعيهِ الأَراذِلُ

Nor do I make poetry public out of pride, but only

I do not boast when poems come,

for fear that the ignoble might claim it as their own.

Lest ignoble men make false claims.