حَديثُ الناسِ أَكثُرُهُ مُحالُ

وَلَكِن لِلعِدى فيهِ مَجالُ

Most of what people say is nonsense

But there is scope for enmity in it

وَأَعلَمُ أَنَّ بَعضَ الظَنِّ إِثمٌ

وَلَكِن لِليَقينِ بِهِ اِحتِمالُ

And I know that some doubt is sinful

But certainty allows for it

وَكُنتُ عَذَرتُكُم وَالقَولُ نَزرٌ

فَما عُذري وَقَد كَثُرَ المَقالُ

I used to excuse you though the saying was slight

What is my excuse now that talk has increased

وَقُلتُم قيلَ ما لا كانَ عَنّا

فَمَن لي أَن يَكونَ وَلا يُقالُ

And you said what was not said about us

Who can exist yet not be talked of

فَيا مَن ضاعَ فيهِ نَفيسُ عُمري

وَقُوِّضَ فيهِ مالي وَالرِجالُ

So for him in whom my precious life was wasted

And for him my money and men were destroyed

وَكَم قَد رامَهُ ضِدّي بِسوءٍ

فَراحَ وَآلُهُ في الحَربِ آلُ

And how much his enemy wished him ill

But his enemy's family was destroyed in war

سَأَلتُكَ لا تَدَع لِلقَولِ وَجهاً

فَيَكثُر حينَ أَذكُرُكَ الجِدالُ

I asked you not to give any occasion for talk

So that dispute may increase when I remember you

وَإِنّي مَع صُدودِكَ وَالتَجَنّي

وَفيٌّ لَيسَ لي عَنكَ اِنتِقالُ

And though I avoid you and withdraw

I am loyal and have no way to leave you

أَغارُ إِذا سَرى بِحِماكَ بَرقٌ

وَأَغضَبُ كُلَّما طَرَقَ الخَيالُ

I am jealous when lightening flashes about your tent

And angry whenever imagination knocks

وَأُوثِرُ أَن يَنالَ دَمي وَوَفري

وَمَحبوبي عَزيزٌ لا يُنالُ

And I prefer that my blood and devotion be spilt

And my beloved is precious and cannot be attained

لِأَنّي لا أَخونُ عُهودَ خِلٍّ

وَلَو حَفَّت بِيَ النُوَبُ الثِقالُ

Because I do not betray the covenants of a friend

Even if the heavy misfortunes beset me

وَإِنّي إِن حَلَفتُ لَهُ يَميناً

فَما غَيرُ الفِعالِ لَها شِمالُ

And if I swear an oath to him

None but the doer has the left hand

فَيا مَن سَرَّني بِاللَفظِ مِنهُ

وَلَكِن ساءَني مِنهُ الفِعالُ

So for him whose words pleased me

But whose actions displeased me

إِلى كَم أَلتَقيكَ بِوَجهِ بِشرٍ

وَفي طَيّ الحَشا داءٌ عُضالُ

How long will I meet you with a smiling face

While deadly disease lurks beneath

وَأَحمِلُ مِن عُداتِكَ كُلَّ يَومٍ

حَديثاً لَيسَ تَحمِلُهُ الجِبالُ

And everyday I endure from your enmity

Talk no mountains can bear

وَأَسمَعُ مِن وُشاةِ الحَيِّ فينا

كَلاماً دونَ مَوقِعِهِ النِبالُ

And from the spies of the quarter I hear about us

Talk that even arrows do not deserve

وَأُرسِلُ مَع ثِقاتِكَ مِن حَديثي

عِتاباً دونَهُ السِحرُ الحَلالُ

And I send with your trusted ones from my conversation

Reproach that even lawful magic falls short of

وَمَهما لَم يَكُن في السَيفِ أَصلٌ

لِجَوهَرِهِ فَما يُجدي الصِقالُ

And however much the sword lacks substance

Polishing is no use for its essence

جَعَلتَ جَميعَ إِحساني ذُنوباً

وَطالَ بِكَ التَعَتُّبُ وَالدَلالُ

You made all my kindness sin

Complaint and pleading dragged on with you

وَقُلتَ بِكَ اِنهَتَكتُ وَذاكَ زورٌ

وَإِنَّ الزورَ مَوقِعُهُ مُحالُ

And you said violation occurred, yet that is a lie

And lies have no place

فَما نَفعي بِحُسنٍ في خَليلٍ

إِذا لَم يَصفُ لي مِنهُ الخِلالُ

So what use is a good natured friend

If he does not show good character to me

إِذا عَدِمَ الفَتى خُلقاً جَميلاً

يَسودُ بِهِ فَلا خُلِقَ الجَمالُ

If a man lacks good character

Beauty is of no value