دَعاني الرَشيدُ إِلى دَعوَةٍ

دَعاني الرَشيدُ إِلى دَعوَةٍ

لَهُ جَمَعَت بَينَ كُلِّ الأُمَم

لَهُ جَمَعَت بَينَ كُلِّ الأُمَم

Al-Rashid invited me to a banquet

Al-Rashid invited me to a banquet

that brought every nation together for him.

of his that brought together all the nations.

وَأَقبَلَ يَنهَقُ فيها الفَصيحُ

وَأَقبَلَ يَنهَقُ فيها الفَصيحُ

بِنَغماتِهِ فَحَمِدنا الصَّمَم

بِنَغماتِهِ فَحَمِدنا الصَّمَم

Then the “eloquent” fellow began braying there;

And al-Fasih came braying there

at his melodies, we gave thanks for deafness.

with his melodies, so we gave thanks for deafness.

وَمَرَّ يُرَدِّدُ شِعرَ الرَشيدِ

وَمَرَّ يُرَدِّدُ شِعرَ الرَشيدِ

فَما أَحَدٌ ثَمَّ إِلّا اِنزَكَم

فَما أَحَدٌ ثَمَّ إِلّا اِنزَكَم

And on he went, repeating al-Rashid’s verse—

And he went on repeating al-Rashid’s verse,

there was no one there who did not flee.

so no one there escaped a stuffy nose.