أأترك إن قلت دراهم خالد

أأترك إن قلت دراهم خالد

زيارته إني إذاً للئيم

زيارته إني إذاً للئيم

If Khalid’s dirhams grew few, would I abandon

Should I abandon—if Khalid's dirhams dwindle—

visiting him? Then indeed I would be base.

my visits to him? Then I would indeed be base.

وقد يسلع المرء الكريم اصطناعه

وقد يسلع المرء الكريم اصطناعه

ويعتل نقد المرء وهو كريم

ويعتل نقد المرء وهو كريم

Even a noble man may be wounded by his own acts of generosity,

And a noble man's generosity may wound him,

and a man’s cash may ail while he remains noble.

and a man's ready cash may fail, though he is generous.

فليت ببرديه لنا كان خالد

فليت ببرديه لنا كان خالد

وكان لبكر في الثراء تميم

وكان لبكر في الثراء تميم

Would that Khalid, in his two cloaks, were ours,

So would that Khalid, in his two cloaks, were ours,

and that Tamim, in his wealth, were Bakr’s.

and Tamim, with its wealth, were Bakr's.

فيصبح فينا سابق متمهل

فيصبح فينا سابق متمهل

ويصبح في بكر أغم بهيم

ويصبح في بكر أغم بهيم

Then among us would arise a forerunner who takes his time,

Then among us would be a winning steed, unhurried,

and among Bakr a white-blazed, solid-black one.

and among Bakr, a shaggy, unmarked horse.