لنجلfor the son of أَبيAbu (father of) المَعاليal-Ma‘ali (lofty honors) حسنfine فهمٍunderstanding
لنجل أَبي المَعالي حسن فهمٍ
وَطَبعand a natural gift كَالزلالlike limpid water العَذبsweet صافيclear
وَطَبع كَالزلال العَذب صافي
The son of Abu al-Ma‘ali has fine understanding,
For my father's son, of keen intellect
And a natural gift as clear as sweet, limpid water.
And pure nature like clear sweet water
تُطاوعهُobey him المَعانيthe meanings حينَwhen يَنشيhe composes
تُطاوعهُ المَعاني حينَ يَنشي
وَتَخدمهُand serve him النكاتthe witty conceits مَعwith القَوافيthe rhymes
وَتَخدمهُ النكات مَع القَوافي
Meanings obey him when he composes,
Meanings obey him whenever he composes
And witty conceits serve him alongside the rhymes.
And ideas serve him along with rhymes
Sol 6.1