قِيلَ لي لمْ ذَمَمْتَ كُلَّ البَرَايَا

قِيلَ لي لمْ ذَمَمْتَ كُلَّ البَرَايَا

وهجَوْتَ الأنَامَ هَجْواً قَبِيحا

وهجَوْتَ الأنَامَ هَجْواً قَبِيحا

I was asked, “Why did you disparage all creatures

They said to me, why do you blame all mankind

and lampoon humankind with vile satire?”

And revile people with ugly reviling?

قلت هَبْ أَنَّني كذبْتُ عليهم

قلت هَبْ أَنَّني كذبْتُ عليهم

فأرونِي من يستحقُّ المديحا

فأرونِي من يستحقُّ المديحا

I said, “Suppose that I lied about them;

I said, suppose I lied about them,

then show me who deserves praise.”

Show me who deserves praise!