Sol 6.1

  1. قد صحّ أنّ العقربيّ لعقرب

    نسبوهُ وهو لغيرها لم يُنسب

    It has been confirmed that al-ʿAqrabī is indeed a scorpion.

    They traced his descent to it, and to no other was he traced.

  2. هُو عقربٌ لذعاتُهُ بلسانه

    فإذا بدا لك خُذ بنعلك واضرب

    He is a scorpion whose stings are delivered with his tongue.

    So when he appears before you, seize your sandal and strike.

  3. أعطيتهُ جُعلا ليحرس منزلي

    فأجابني برضى ولم يتقّطب

    I gave him a fee to guard my home.

    So he answered me willingly and did not frown.

  4. فثناهُ عن جُعلي أراذل مثلهُ

    كلٌّ بتعنيف لهُ وتأنّب

    Then scoundrels like him turned him away from my fee,

    Each one harshly rebuking and reproaching him.

  5. فذممتهم في العذل ثُمّ مدحتهم

    لزواله عنّي بمدح مُطنب

    So I censured them for their reproaches, then praised them

    For his leaving me, with lengthy praise,

  6. إذ كان عذلهمُ الّذي عذلوا به

    صدّا لداري من دُخول العقرب

    For their reproach, with which they rebuked him, was

    A barrier keeping the scorpion from entering my house.