1. وَلَو كُنتَ ذا عَقلٍ رَجَحتَ وَلَم تَكُن

    لِتَبطَرَ بِالنَعما وَلَو نِلتَ مَرْغَبا

    And had you possessed reason, you would have been level-headed and would not

    have grown insolent in prosperity, even had you won what you desired.

  2. فَيا غَضّ نَبتٍ حَرَّكتهُ مِنَ الصّبا

    نَفيحةُ ريحٍ فَالتَوى مُتَقَلِّبا

    So, O tender shoot, stirred by an easterly

    puff of wind, then bending and swaying!

  3. مَتى كُنتُ عَدلَ الطودِ مِن آلِ مالِكٍ

    وَهَل ضَرعٌ شَختٌ يُعادِلُ أَغلَبا

    When was I a match for the mountain of Malik's house?

    And can a scrawny weakling match a thick-necked lion?