سَأَلتُ الرَئيسَ اِبنَ المُؤَيَّدِ مَرَّةً

سَأَلتُ الرَئيسَ اِبنَ المُؤَيَّدِ مَرَّةً

مُجِدّاً بِهِ في زِيِّ مَن راحَ يَلعَبُ

مُجِدّاً بِهِ في زِيِّ مَن راحَ يَلعَبُ

Once I asked the chief, Ibn al-Muʾayyad,

I once asked the chief Ibn al-Mu'ayyad,

seeking bounty from him in the guise of one who had gone out to jest:

earnest with him, in the guise of someone jesting:

بِأَيِّ الخِلالِ المَغربيُّ إِلَيكُمُ

بِأَيِّ الخِلالِ المَغربيُّ إِلَيكُمُ

ترَقّى وَما فيهِ خِلالٌ تُحَبَّبُ

ترَقّى وَما فيهِ خِلالٌ تُحَبَّبُ

“By what virtues has al-Maghribī, in your eyes,

By what qualities has the Maghribi, in your esteem,

risen so high, when he has no trait that wins affection?”

risen, though he has no endearing qualities?

فَقالَ وَلَم يُبدِ اِحتِشاماً وَلا حَياً

فَقالَ وَلَم يُبدِ اِحتِشاماً وَلا حَياً

بِوَجهٍ وَقاحٍ وَهوَ في الضِحكِ يُغربُ

بِوَجهٍ وَقاحٍ وَهوَ في الضِحكِ يُغربُ

He replied, showing neither reserve nor modesty,

Then he said, showing neither reserve nor shame,

brazen-faced and laughing without restraint:

with a brazen face, laughing uproariously:

لَهُ فَضلَةٌ في جِسمِهِ عَن إِهابِهِ

لَهُ فَضلَةٌ في جِسمِهِ عَن إِهابِهِ

تَجيءُ كَما جاءَ الأَتِيُّ وَتَذهَبُ

تَجيءُ كَما جاءَ الأَتِيُّ وَتَذهَبُ

“He has a spare length of flesh that juts beyond his hide;

He has an appendage on his body, beyond his skin,

it comes like a torrent sweeping in from afar, then goes.”

which comes as the torrent comes, and goes.