Sol 6.1

  1. إذا لم يكن صدر المجالس سيدا

    حكيما تصدره الخصال النفائس

    If the man at the head of gatherings is not a noble lord,

    a wise man whose precious virtues place him foremost,

  2. فكل امرئ أمسى شريفا بغيره

    فلا خير فيمن صدرته المجالس

    then any man who has become noble through another—

    there is no good in one whom gatherings have placed foremost.

  3. وكم قائل ما لي رأيتك راجلا

    كأنك من تلك المكارم بائس

    And many a man has said, “Why do I see you on foot,

    as though you were bereft of those noble qualities?”

  4. وقال أجبني عن سؤالي بحكمة

    فقلت له من أجل أنك فارس

    And he said, “Answer my question with wisdom.”

    So I told him, “Because you are a horseman.”