وَكَمand many a جَولَةٍturn لاnot يُحسِنُperforms well البَغلُthe mule مِثلَهاits like
وَكَم جَولَةٍ لا يُحسِنُ البَغلُ مِثلَها
أَتَتcame عَجَلاًin haste لَمdid not يَجنِbring about مَكروهَهاits harm جانِa wrongdoer
أَتَت عَجَلاً لَم يَجنِ مَكروهَها جانِ
And many a turn no mule could match
Came in haste, its harm unprovoked by any wrongdoer;
وَفَكٍّand many a jaw إِذاwhen غَنّىhe sings يُحَرِّكُmoves لِحيَةًa beard
وَفَكٍّ إِذا غَنّى يُحَرِّكُ لِحيَةً
كَمِثلِjust like ذُنابىthe tail of صَعوَةٍa wren لَيسَis not بِالوانيat all flagging
كَمِثلِ ذُنابى صَعوَةٍ لَيسَ بِالواني
And many a jaw that, when he sings, sets a beard moving
Like a wren's tail, never flagging.