ومن أعجب الأَشياء حِرفتُك التي

ومن أعجب الأَشياء حِرفتُك التي

شُهرت والضيق في الخُلق وَالرِزقِ

شُهرت والضيق في الخُلق وَالرِزقِ

Among the strangest things are your ill fortune, which

And of the strangest things is your profession which

is notorious, and your narrowness of temper and livelihood.

Became famous, though you are narrow in disposition and sustenance

ولستَ أديباً لا وَلا كاتباً ولا

ولستَ أديباً لا وَلا كاتباً ولا

جليساً على الصَهباءُ مُستَطيب الخُلق

جليساً على الصَهباءُ مُستَطيب الخُلق

And you are not a man of letters—no—nor a writer, nor

You are no writer, nor scribe, nor are you

a pleasant-tempered companion over tawny wine.

A companion of the noble and good-natured people

غَرائِب لم تُجمع لخَلق من الوَرى

غَرائِب لم تُجمع لخَلق من الوَرى

وأَغربُ منها أَن تُعدَّ من الخَلق

وأَغربُ منها أَن تُعدَّ من الخَلق

Strange traits never brought together in any mortal;

Wonders that were not gathered for any person in creation

and stranger than these is that you should be counted among humankind.

And stranger than it is that you are counted among people