قالَ الوُشاةُ بَدَت في الخَدِّ لِحيَتُهُ

قالَ الوُشاةُ بَدَت في الخَدِّ لِحيَتُهُ

فَقُلتُ لا تُكثِروا ما ذاكَ عائِبُهُ

فَقُلتُ لا تُكثِروا ما ذاكَ عائِبُهُ

The slanderers said, “His beard has appeared on his cheek.”

The slanderers said a beard appeared on his cheek

The slanderers remarked, "Upon his cheek, the beard has appeared,"

So I said, “Do not go on so; that does not mar him.”

So I said don't exaggerate what's wrong with that?

But I replied, "Say no more; in this no blemish lies."

الحُسنُ مِنهُ عَلى ما كُنتُ أَعهَدُهُ

الحُسنُ مِنهُ عَلى ما كُنتُ أَعهَدُهُ

وَالشَعرُ حِرزٌ لَهُ مِمَّن يُطالِبُهُ

وَالشَعرُ حِرزٌ لَهُ مِمَّن يُطالِبُهُ

His beauty remains as I have known it,

Beauty in him is as I've always known it

"His beauty stands upon the very promise I once knew,"

and his hair guards him against those who pursue him.

And the hair is a shield for him from those who'd fault him

"And hair is but a fortress from those who seek his favor."

أَبهى وَأَكثَرُ ما كانَت مَحاسِنُهُ

أَبهى وَأَكثَرُ ما كانَت مَحاسِنُهُ

أَن زالَ عارِضُهُ وَاِخضَرَّ شارِبُهُ

أَن زالَ عارِضُهُ وَاِخضَرَّ شارِبُهُ

His charms were at their loveliest and most abundant

More radiant and abundant were his charms

"His charms are more brilliant and abundant than they were,"

when his cheek hair vanished and his mustache turned green.

His cheek lost its flush and his beard turned green

"Now that his sideburns show and his mustache blooms dark."

وَصارَ مَن كانَ يَلحى في مَوَدَّتِهِ

وَصارَ مَن كانَ يَلحى في مَوَدَّتِهِ

إِن سيلَ عَنّي وَعَنهُ قالَ صاحِبُهُ

إِن سيلَ عَنّي وَعَنهُ قالَ صاحِبُهُ

And he who once reproached me for loving him has come to this:

And he who once scraped to gain his affection

And he who used to blame me for my devotion to him,

if asked about me and him, he says, “His companion.”

Will surely part from me and him, said his friend

When asked of us, now answers, "He is his true companion."