كانَ اِبنُ حَربٍ عَظيمَ القَدرِ في الناسِ

كانَ اِبنُ حَربٍ عَظيمَ القَدرِ في الناسِ

حَتّى رَماهُ بِما فيهِ اِبنُ عَبّاسِ

حَتّى رَماهُ بِما فيهِ اِبنُ عَبّاسِ

Ibn Harb was held in high esteem among the people,

Ibn Harb was mighty esteemed among the people

Until Ibn Abbas assailed him for the faults within him.

Until Ibn Abbas assailed him with what was in him

ما زالَ يَهبِطُهُ طَوراً وَيُصعِدُهُ

ما زالَ يَهبِطُهُ طَوراً وَيُصعِدُهُ

حَتّى اِستَقادَ وَما بِالحَقِّ مِن باسِ

حَتّى اِستَقادَ وَما بِالحَقِّ مِن باسِ

He kept bringing him down at times and raising him up,

He kept demeaning and elevating him alternately

Until he yielded—and there is no harm in truth.

Until he recovered, though in truth unharmed

لَم يَترُكَن خُطَّةً مِمّا يُذَلِّلُهُ

لَم يَترُكَن خُطَّةً مِمّا يُذَلِّلُهُ

إِلّا كَواهُ بِها في فَروَةِ الراسِ

إِلّا كَواهُ بِها في فَروَةِ الراسِ

He left no tactic that would humble him

He left him no vulnerable spot that he did not expose

Without branding him with it upon his scalp.

Covering his very scalp with them