1. His father is a chirping nightingale, and his nickname
Is "father of hawk", though the nickname seems absurd,
١. أبوه بلبلٌ ضاوٍ ويُكْنى
أبا صقرٍ فكنيتهُ مُحالَهْ
2. He generously offers his honor to be insulted,
Yet is miserly about his turban and his gown.
٢. يجودُ بعِرْضهِ للشتمِ عفواً
ويبخلُ بالقُلامةِ والخُلالهْ
3. And you see the vulgar have wealth that's protected
By unviolated reputations, though degraded.
٣. وللأوغادِ أموالٌ تراها
مصوناتٍ بأعراضٍ مُذالَهْ
4. No father raised him to be so noble
As to expend his honor and guard his money.
٤. ولم يكُ مَنْ نماهُ أبٌ كريمٌ
ليبذُلَ عرضه ويصونَ مالهْ
5. He boasts of lineage though it wearied his father,
For a man may be incapable, but not lineage.
٥. تمحّلَ نِسبةً أعيت أباه
وكان المرءُ يعجزُ لا المحالَهْ