أنُكِّبُ عن عُذري وإبرازِ حُجَّتي

أنُكِّبُ عن عُذري وإبرازِ حُجَّتي

ولي ألسُنٌ بالاحتجاجِ فِصاحُ

ولي ألسُنٌ بالاحتجاجِ فِصاحُ

I turn aside from offering my excuse and presenting my argument,

I turn away from my excuse and statement of my case,

though I have tongues eloquent in pleading my case.

Though eloquent tongues can plead and intercede.

ومثلُكَ يلقى عندَ حادِثِ هَفْوَةٍ

ومثلُكَ يلقى عندَ حادِثِ هَفْوَةٍ

بخفضِ جَناحٍ والثراسفاحُ

بخفضِ جَناحٍ والثراسفاحُ

And one such as you, when a lapse occurs, is met

One such as you, if he trips just once, is given

with a lowered wing—and [the final word is unclear as written].

A lowered wing, a hushed voice, discreet mercy.