بيَّنتهُ يهوى الطيورَ ويُو

بيَّنتهُ يهوى الطيورَ ويُو

فيهنَّ من جَبلٍ ومِن سَهلِ

فيهنَّ من جَبلٍ ومِن سَهلِ

I made him known: he loves birds, and fills out—

He showed his love for birds and their nests

Their number from mountain and from plain.

Among the mountains and the plains alike

ولَه بذلكَ مِن عَمالَتِه

ولَه بذلكَ مِن عَمالَتِه

شُغلٌ وما أَخلاهُ من شُغلِ

شُغلٌ وما أَخلاهُ من شُغلِ

And in this, as part of his employment, he has

And in this he found, from his work

An occupation—and how free of work he is!

Preoccupation, though not devoid of work

ولقَد مَرَرتُ بدارِهِ عَبَثاً

ولقَد مَرَرتُ بدارِهِ عَبَثاً

فَسَمِعتُ مثلَ كوائِرِ النَّحلِ

فَسَمِعتُ مثلَ كوائِرِ النَّحلِ

Indeed, I passed his house idly,

And I did pass by his house unthinkingly

Then heard a sound like that of beehives.

Hearing within a humming like that of bees

فرَجَعتُ أطلُبُ ما أمتُّ به

فرَجَعتُ أطلُبُ ما أمتُّ به

فوَجَدتُه قَد حيزَ من قَبلي

فوَجَدتُه قَد حيزَ من قَبلي

So I returned, seeking something by which to claim a connection,

So I returned seeking what I could praise

But found it had already been secured before me.

And found he had already won it before me

فَمدحتُهُ أحكي فَواختَهُ

فَمدحتُهُ أحكي فَواختَهُ

وكتبتُ وهيَ كأنَّها تُملي

وكتبتُ وهيَ كأنَّها تُملي

So I praised him, mimicking his ringdoves,

And so I praised him, speaking his virtues

And wrote while they seemed to dictate.

And wrote as if taking dictation