1. O majesty of the age in knowledge,
And beauty of the age in wisdom,

2. O Abu Bakr, and who is named
Like Abu Bakr,

3. If another surpasses him in prose,
He surpasses the like of what surpassed him in verse,

4. For he surpassed him in knowledge,
And he surpassed him in understanding,

5. My master complains to you
Of one of you who is purblind,

6. Who met you and met
You with his best behavior,

7. Then since he left you
He hasn't tasted the flavor of sleep,

8. And he licks the wounds
Of sorrow from your manners,

9. You both handle me as if I
Was spreading darkness,

10. Unless you think that he
Won't attain high rank,

11. He hopes for nothing else
I don't see any blemish in that,

12. So he started bearing the pain
Of denial and advancing,

13. He's no poet to be
Rebuffed by the vilest people,

14. So if they favor him,
The gentlemen tap their feet,

15. And if they deprive him,
He fills the horizons with insults,

16. He's not of that kind, but the bold
And resolute urge him on,

17. He knocked on your door, and gave
His name to the doorman,

18. He turned a deaf ear,
After the gentleness of my words,

19. So the most silent of creatures turned away,
The deafiest to hearing, blindest to sight,

20. And the expanse of the earth in his eyes
Was like a dirham gone blind,

21. Grieving at what he faced,
Biting his hand in regret,