حكى عائبي رجلي فقلت له اتئد

حكى عائبي رجلي فقلت له اتئد

رفقت به حلما وأوسعته ضحكا

رفقت به حلما وأوسعته ضحكا

My detractor imitated my leg, so I told him: Take it slowly.

My critics blamed my walk, so I replied

I treated him gently, out of forbearance, and laughed at him heartily.

With gentleness and laughter I put them aside

وقلت له لا تحكني متكلّفا

وقلت له لا تحكني متكلّفا

فمشي بها عند انطلاقي بها أحكى

فمشي بها عند انطلاقي بها أحكى

And I told him: Do not strain to imitate me,

And said "Do not judge me so pretentiously"

For my gait on that leg, when I set off on it, is a truer imitation.

Yet they still talked as I walked naturally

وكم بين مطبع إلى متكلف

وكم بين مطبع إلى متكلف

وكم بين ذي حق إلى قائل إفكا

وكم بين ذي حق إلى قائل إفكا

And how great the difference between one acting naturally and one who strains!

What a gap between sincerity and pretense!

And how great the difference between one in the right and one who speaks falsehood!

What a gap between truth and nonsense!