وَلَقد بَعَثتُ مِن الكَلامِ قَوافياً

وَلَقد بَعَثتُ مِن الكَلامِ قَوافياً

تَحوِي مِن السحرِ الحلالِ بَدائِعا

تَحوِي مِن السحرِ الحلالِ بَدائِعا

Indeed, I have sent forth verses wrought of speech,

And indeed, from speech I sent forth rhymed verses,

containing marvels of enchantment, innocent and lawful.

Containing marvels of lawful magic.

نادَت عَصِيّاً لِلمَقالَةِ صَعبَها

نادَت عَصِيّاً لِلمَقالَةِ صَعبَها

فَأَجابَها سَهلُ المَقادَةِ طائِعا

فَأَجابَها سَهلُ المَقادَةِ طائِعا

They summoned what was stubborn and difficult to express,

They called to what was stubborn and intractable in speech;

and what was tractable answered them obediently—

So it answered them, easy to lead and willing.

جَوابَةً يَعنى الرُواةُ بِحفظِها

جَوابَةً يَعنى الرُواةُ بِحفظِها

فَتهزُّ ذا إِنشادِها وَالسامِعا

فَتهزُّ ذا إِنشادِها وَالسامِعا

far-ranging verses that transmitters take care to preserve,

Far-ranging verses that reciters take care to memorize,

stirring both the one who recites them and the listener.

They stir both their reciter and the listener.

وَتَوَدُّ الحاظٌ للذَّةِ سَمعِها

وَتَوَدُّ الحاظٌ للذَّةِ سَمعِها

مِن غيرَةٍ أَن لَو خُلِقنَ مَسامِعا

مِن غيرَةٍ أَن لَو خُلِقنَ مَسامِعا

Even glances wish, for the delight of hearing them—

And eyes wish, for the delight of hearing them,

out of jealousy—if only they had been created ears.

Out of envy, that they had been created ears.

نَقَر البِلادَ فَيَستَوي في سَمعِها

نَقَر البِلادَ فَيَستَوي في سَمعِها

ما كانَ مِنها دانياً أَو شاسِعا

ما كانَ مِنها دانياً أَو شاسِعا

They roam the lands, so that in hearing them are equal

They have traversed the lands, and are heard alike

all places, whether near or far.

In those that are nearby or far away.