1. جحى استعان طبيباً

    وكان في العين قُمْرَه

    Juha sought a physician’s help,

    And there was an affliction in his eye.

  2. دموعه قاطراتٌ

    وراح يطلب قطره

    His tears were dripping,

    And he went seeking an eyedrop.

  3. قال الحكيم وأبدى

    مَلامحاً مكفهرّه

    The physician spoke, displaying

    A grim expression,

  4. يقلّب الكفّ آناً

    ويقلبُ الجفن مرّه

    Turning his palm one moment

    And the eyelid the next:

  5. الداء داء خطير

    إنّي أُحاذر شرّه

    “The ailment is a grave one;

    I fear its harm.

  6. فما احمرارٌ كهذا

    إلاّ توقُّدَ جمَره

    For redness such as this

    Is but the blazing of its embers.”

  7. وعاد يخطِر زَهواً

    مستكبراً ما أسرّه

    And he resumed strutting proudly,

    Making much of what he kept concealed,

  8. يُلقي المخاوفَ شتّى

    بنظرةٍ تِلْوَ نظره

    Casting fears of every kind

    With glance after glance,

  9. مقطباً حاجِبَيه

    كمن يعالج فِكرَه

    Knitting his brows

    Like one wrestling with his thoughts:

  10. هل يستعين بنصلٍ

    أم يستعين بإِبَرِه

    Should he resort to a blade,

    Or resort to his needles?

  11. نادى جحى ببنيه

    والضحك يملأ ثغرَهُ

    Juha called out to his sons,

    Laughter filling his mouth,

  12. وقال في الطب قولاً

    يبقى على الدهر عِبرَه

    And spoke of medicine in words

    That would endure as a lesson for all time:

  13. يا آلة النفع سحقاً

    قد صرت آلةَ أُجْرَه

    “O instrument of good, be damned!

    You have become an instrument for earning fees.”