إِذا كنتَ للسُلطانِ خِدْنَاً فلا تُشِرْ

إِذا كنتَ للسُلطانِ خِدْنَاً فلا تُشِرْ

عليه بما يُؤذي به الدهرَ مسلما

عليه بما يُؤذي به الدهرَ مسلما

If you are the ruler's confidant, do not advise

If you are a servant of the sultan do not point out

him to do anything by which he might ever harm a Muslim.

Anything that may hurt or offend your fellow man.

فقد جاء في أمثالهم أنَّ ثعلباً

فقد جاء في أمثالهم أنَّ ثعلباً

وذئباً أصابا عندَ ليثٍ تقدُّمَا

وذئباً أصابا عندَ ليثٍ تقدُّمَا

For it is told in their parables that a fox

For it is said among their proverbs that a fox

and a wolf gained high standing with a lion.

And a wolf who visited a weakened lion

أضرَّ به جُوعٌ طويلٌ فشَفَّهُ

أضرَّ به جُوعٌ طويلٌ فشَفَّهُ

وأبقى له جِلداً رقيقاً وأعظُما

وأبقى له جِلداً رقيقاً وأعظُما

Prolonged hunger had afflicted him and wasted him away,

Whose gnawing hunger left him thin of skin

and left him with thin skin and bones.

Yet still possessing jaws of might and strength.

ففازَ لديهِ الذئبُ يوماً بخلوةٍ

ففازَ لديهِ الذئبُ يوماً بخلوةٍ

فقال كفاكَ الثعلبُ اليومَ مطعما

فقال كفاكَ الثعلبُ اليومَ مطعما

Then one day the wolf gained a private audience with him

The wolf found a moment alone and said

and said, "The fox will suffice for your meal today.

"This fox has fed you enough for today.

فكُلْهُ وأطعِمْهُ فما هو شكلُنَا

فكُلْهُ وأطعِمْهُ فما هو شكلُنَا

ولستُ أرى في أكلهِ لك مأثما

ولستُ أرى في أكلهِ لك مأثما

So eat him and serve him as food, for he is not of our kind,

Eat him yourself and have no qualms

and I see no sin for you in eating him."

For I see no sin in making him your meal."

فلما أحسَّ الثُعْلُبانُ بكيدِه

فلما أحسَّ الثُعْلُبانُ بكيدِه

تطبَّبَ عندَ اللَّيثِ واحتال مُقدِما

تطبَّبَ عندَ اللَّيثِ واحتال مُقدِما

Then, when the fox became aware of his plot,

When the two foxes sensed the wolf's deceit

he played the physician before the lion and boldly devised a ruse,

One went to the lion feigning to be sick

وقال أرى بالمَلْكِ داءً مماطِلاً

وقال أرى بالمَلْكِ داءً مماطِلاً

تهدَّمَ منه جسمُه وتحطَّمَا

تهدَّمَ منه جسمُه وتحطَّمَا

and said, "I see in the king a lingering illness

And said "I see the king bears a lingering illness

that has made his body crumble and fall apart.

That has wasted his body and weakened his bones

وفي كَبِدِ الذئب الشِفاءُ لدائِه

وفي كَبِدِ الذئب الشِفاءُ لدائِه

فإِنْ نالَ منها يَنْجُ منه مُسَلَّما

فإِنْ نالَ منها يَنْجُ منه مُسَلَّما

And in the wolf's liver lies the cure for his illness;

Yet in the wolf's liver lies the cure

if he gets some of it, he will escape the illness unharmed."

And if you take it you will quickly recover."

فصادفَ ذا منه قَبولاً فعندَها

فصادفَ ذا منه قَبولاً فعندَها

أحال على الذئب الخبيث فصمَّما

أحال على الذئب الخبيث فصمَّما

This met with his approval, and then

The lion agreed and commanded the wicked wolf

he pounced upon the wicked wolf and struck decisively.

Who escaped running as fast as he was able.

فأفلتَ ممسوخَ الإِهابِ مرمَّلاً

فأفلتَ ممسوخَ الإِهابِ مرمَّلاً

فلما رآه الثُعْلُبانُ تبسَّمَا

فلما رآه الثُعْلُبانُ تبسَّمَا

The wolf escaped, his hide mangled and bloodstained.

When the two foxes saw him they smiled and said

Then, when the fox saw him, he smiled

"Oh you who wear the robe of treachery

وصاحَ بهِ يا لابسَ الثوبِ قانياً

وصاحَ بهِ يا لابسَ الثوبِ قانياً

متى تخلُ بالسُلطانِ فاسكت لتسلما

متى تخلُ بالسُلطانِ فاسكت لتسلما

and cried out to him, "O wearer of a crimson robe,

When will you stop betraying the sultan? Be silent and you may yet be safe."

whenever you are alone with the ruler, keep silent to stay safe!"