وَمَحَلَّةٍ شَملَ المَكارِهَ أَهلُها

وَمَحَلَّةٍ شَملَ المَكارِهَ أَهلُها

وَتَقَلَّدوا مَسنوءَةَ الأَسماءِ

وَتَقَلَّدوا مَسنوءَةَ الأَسماءِ

And a quarter whose people have embraced odious ways,

And a quarter whose people embraced all that is hateful,

A dwelling whose people have taken on disgrace,

And taken loathsome names upon themselves—

And wore disgraceful names about their necks.

And assumed the garb of ill repute,

دارٌ يُهابُ بِها اللِئام وَتُتَّقى

دارٌ يُهابُ بِها اللِئام وَتُتَّقى

وَتَقِلُّ فيها هَيبَةُ الكُرَماءِ

وَتَقِلُّ فيها هَيبَةُ الكُرَماءِ

A dwelling wherein the base are feared, and which is shunned,

An abode where the ignoble are feared and guarded against,

A house the base fear and evade,

While reverence for the noble dwindles there.

And there the noble inspire little awe.

Wherein the awe of the honourable wanes,

وَيَقولُ عِلجٌ ما أَرادَ وَلا تَرى

وَيَقولُ عِلجٌ ما أَرادَ وَلا تَرى

حُرّاً يَقولُ برقَّةٍ وَحَياءِ

حُرّاً يَقولُ برقَّةٍ وَحَياءِ

A coarse boor says whatever he pleases, while you do not see

And a boor says whatever he wishes, while you do not see

And the lowly says what he wills without seeing

A noble freeman speak with gentleness and modesty.

A noble man speaking with gentleness and modesty.

A free man speak with gentleness and modesty,

وَيَرِقُّ عَن مَسِّ الملاحَةِ وَجهُهُ

وَيَرِقُّ عَن مَسِّ الملاحَةِ وَجهُهُ

فَيَصونُهُ بِالصَمتِ وَالإِغضاءِ

فَيَصونُهُ بِالصَمتِ وَالإِغضاءِ

At beauty’s touch, his face grows tender,

And his face is too tender for the touch of wrangling,

His face flinches from the touch of ribaldry,

So he guards it with silence and lowered eyes.

So he guards it with silence and a lowered gaze.

So he guards it with silence and averting.