إذا مدحَ الأقوامُ قَرْماً بسؤْددٍ

إذا مدحَ الأقوامُ قَرْماً بسؤْددٍ

وأعلَوْا لهُ ذِكْرا ونَثُّوا لهُ فَضْلا

وأعلَوْا لهُ ذِكْرا ونَثُّوا لهُ فَضْلا

When people praise a noble leader for his eminence,

When people praise an unworthy man

and exalt his renown and proclaim his excellence,

And exalt his name and attribute to him merit,

مَدحْتُ ابنَ عَبّادٍ لأنَّي لا أرى

مَدحْتُ ابنَ عَبّادٍ لأنَّي لا أرى

لهُ في النَّدى نِدّا ولا في العُلا شَكْلا

لهُ في النَّدى نِدّا ولا في العُلا شَكْلا

I praise Ibn Abbad, for I do not see

I praise Ibn Abbad because I do not see

a peer to him in generosity, nor an equal in lofty rank.

Anyone comparable to him in virtue or nobility.

كريمٌ إذا ما جرَّدَ العَزمَ ماضياً

كريمٌ إذا ما جرَّدَ العَزمَ ماضياً

لأُكْرومةٍ أزرى بِمنْ جرَّدَ النَّصْلا

لأُكْرومةٍ أزرى بِمنْ جرَّدَ النَّصْلا

A generous man: when he unsheathes his keen resolve

He is generous whenever he decides firmly

for a noble deed, he puts whoever unsheathes a blade to shame.

To perform a glorious deed. He surpasses those who wield the sword.

ظريفُ السَّجايا حُلوَةٌ حركاتُهُ

ظريفُ السَّجايا حُلوَةٌ حركاتُهُ

كأنَّ لهُ في كُلِّ جارِحَةٍ عَقْلا

كأنَّ لهُ في كُلِّ جارِحَةٍ عَقْلا

Refined in character, graceful in his movements,

Refined and subtle are his qualities, charming his gestures,

as though he had a mind in every limb.

As if each part of his body had a mind of its own.