وَمَولَىً كَذِئبِ السوءِ لَو يَستَطيعُني

وَمَولَىً كَذِئبِ السوءِ لَو يَستَطيعُني

أَصابَ دَمي يَوماً بِغَيرِ فَتيلِ

أَصابَ دَمي يَوماً بِغَيرِ فَتيلِ

And a kinsman, like an evil wolf—if he could overpower me,

And to an evil guardian if only he could subdue me

Would shed my blood one day without a thread's worth of cause.

One day my blood was shed without a wick

وَأَعرَضَ عَمّا ساءَهُ وَكَأَنَّما

وَأَعرَضَ عَمّا ساءَهُ وَكَأَنَّما

يُقادُ إِلى ما ساءَني بِدَليلِ

يُقادُ إِلى ما ساءَني بِدَليلِ

And he turns away from what harms him, yet it is as though

And he turned away from what displeased him as if

He is led by a guide to whatever harms me.

He is being led to what displeased me with evidence

مُجامَلَةً مِنّي وَإَثرامِ غَيرِهِ

مُجامَلَةً مِنّي وَإَثرامِ غَيرِهِ

بِلا حَسَنٍ مِنهُ وَلا بِجَميلِ

بِلا حَسَنٍ مِنهُ وَلا بِجَميلِ

Out of courtesy from me, and knocking out another's teeth [wording uncertain],

Out of courtesy from me and honoring another

With neither kindness nor graciousness from him.

Without merit from him or favor

وَوَشِئتُ لَولا الحُلمُ جَدَّعتُ أَنفَهُ

وَوَشِئتُ لَولا الحُلمُ جَدَّعتُ أَنفَهُ

بِايعابِ جَدعٍ باديءٍ وَعَليلِ

بِايعابِ جَدعٍ باديءٍ وَعَليلِ

And I wished—were it not for forbearance—to cut off his nose,

And I wished if not for patience I would have broken his nose

With complete mutilation, 'beginning and ailing' [phrase unclear],

With a thick, solid strike that is painful and sickening

حِفاظاً عَلى أَحلامِ قَومٍ زُرِيتُهُم

حِفاظاً عَلى أَحلامِ قَومٍ زُرِيتُهُم

رَزانٍ يَزينونَ النَدِيَّ كَهولِ

رَزانٍ يَزينونَ النَدِيَّ كَهولِ

Out of respect for the forbearance of men 'I disparaged' [reading uncertain],

To preserve the dreams of a people I was intimate with

Sober-minded, mature men who adorn the assembly.

Who adorn amiability like worn out ropes