أضاف المؤّدب أصحابهُ

أضاف المؤّدب أصحابهُ

وأقراهُمُ الجوع بعد الخطى

وأقراهُمُ الجوع بعد الخطى

The schoolmaster hosted his companions,

The teacher took his friends

and served them hunger after their walk.

And hunger made them close after the journey

وبات الترابُ وطاء لهم

وبات الترابُ وطاء لهم

وبردُ الخريف عليهم غطا

وبردُ الخريف عليهم غطا

And dust became their bedding for the night,

The dust became their bed

and autumn’s chill a blanket over them.

And autumn's cold their blanket

وأزعجهم قبل وقت الأذان

وأزعجهم قبل وقت الأذان

وكلّفهم تعبا مُفرطا

وكلّفهم تعبا مُفرطا

And he roused them before the time of the call to prayer,

It woke them before the call to prayer

and burdened them with excessive toil.

And made them exceedingly tired

وجاؤوا ثقال المطا والحشا

وجاؤوا ثقال المطا والحشا

فعادُوا خفاف الحشا والمطا

فعادُوا خفاف الحشا والمطا

They came heavy of back and belly,

They came burdened with provisions and luggage

then returned light of belly and back.

But returned unburdened of luggage and provisions