أرسلت نضوا حقيراً

أرسلت نضوا حقيراً

ولو قدرت لزدته

ولو قدرت لزدته

I sent a paltry, emaciated mount;

I sent a humble gift

And had I been able, I would have added to it.

And if I could, I would have given more

لو أنه ابن خروف

لو أنه ابن خروف

نحويّ مصر بعثته

نحويّ مصر بعثته

Had it been Ibn Kharuf,

If only he were a lamb's son

Egypt’s grammarian, I would have sent him.

I would have sent him to scholarly Egypt