1. I dedicate to my lord and master this narration
Of what my mind has woven in verse and prose
١. أَجَزتُ لِسَيِّدي وَمَليكِ رِقّي
رِوايَةَ ما حَوى مِن نَسجِ فِكري
2. Of the serious and the jest I have created
Of the poetry and prose I have composed
٢. وَما أَنشَأتُ مِن جِدٍّ وَهَزلٍ
وَما أَبدَعتُ مِن نَظمٍ وَنَثرِ
3. In doing so I aim only for acceptance
Of the edict he indicated I obey
٣. وَلَم أَقصِد بِذاكَ سِوى قَبولي
لِمَرسومٍ أَشارَ بِهِ وَأَمري
4. Were all my knowledge attributed to him
It would be but a drop in the sea
٤. وَلو نَسَبوا إِلَيهِ جَميعَ عِلمي
لَكانَ كَنُقطَةٍ في لُجِّ بَحرِ