1. إن اللئيم على حقارة قدره

    لَينال من عِرض الكريم منالا

    Indeed, the base man, despite his paltry worth,

    does assail the noble man's honor.

  2. يؤذيه وهو بطبعه متنزه

    عنه فيقصر رفعة وجلالا

    He harms him, though the noble is by nature aloof

    from him, and refrains out of nobility and dignity.

  3. كالكلب يُقلق بالنباح ضبارما

    والكبر يمنعه عليه مصالا

    Like a dog whose barking disturbs a mighty lion,

    while pride prevents the lion from attacking it.

  4. والفضل يحمي أهله عن خطة

    فيها يساوون اللئام خصالا

    And virtue shields its possessors from a course

    in which they would match the base in character.

  5. كم من كلاب بالنفوس وإنها

    لتظن من صور الجسوم رجالا

    How many dogs there are in spirit, though they

    are surely taken for men because of their bodily forms!