وَما ضَرَّهُم غِبَّ الأَحاديثِ أَنَّها

وَما ضَرَّهُم غِبَّ الأَحاديثِ أَنَّها

سَتَبقى وَأَيَّامُ الحَياةِ قَلائِلُ

سَتَبقى وَأَيَّامُ الحَياةِ قَلائِلُ

And what harm did it do them, in the wake of the tales, that they

It harms them not that talk is brief, for life

Will endure, while the days of life are few?

Will still go on, though days remaining few.

فَلَولا اتِّقائِي واِرتِقائي عَنِ الخَنى

فَلَولا اتِّقائِي واِرتِقائي عَنِ الخَنى

لَقُلتُ وَلَكِنَّ الكَريمَ يُجامِلُ

لَقُلتُ وَلَكِنَّ الكَريمَ يُجامِلُ

So, were it not for my restraint and my rising above vile speech,

Were't not for nobleness and self-respect,

I would have spoken—and yet the noble man is courteous.

I would have spoken - but the noble feigns.