أعارَهُ النَّرجْسُ من لَوْنِهِ

أعارَهُ النَّرجْسُ من لَوْنِهِ

تفضُّلاً وازدَادَ مِنْ طِيبِهِ

تفضُّلاً وازدَادَ مِنْ طِيبِهِ

The narcissus lent it some of its hue,

The narcissus lent him its color out of generosity, and became even more fragrant,

generously, and it gained more of its fragrance.

While the gossip suited what he affiliated himself with, according to his inferior name and composition.

وناسَبَ النَّمَّامَ لما انْتَمَى

وناسَبَ النَّمَّامَ لما انْتَمَى

إِلَى اسْمِهِ الأَدْنى وتركِيبِهِ

إِلَى اسْمِهِ الأَدْنى وتركِيبِهِ

And it was kin to the nammam herb when traced

Neither one can compete with the other, except that they wallow in the wind of their proximity.

to its nearest name and its composition.

If only Abd al-Malik, whom time disciplined with its discipline, hoped for us,

وما يُجاري واحداً منهما

وما يُجاري واحداً منهما

إِلّا كَبَا فِي ريحِ تَقْرِيبِهِ

إِلّا كَبَا فِي ريحِ تَقْرِيبِهِ

And it never keeps pace with either of the two

He would have come hastily, outpacing those who used to slight him.

without stumbling in the wind of that one's canter.

ولوْ رَجا عبدَ المليكِ الَّذِي

ولوْ رَجا عبدَ المليكِ الَّذِي

تأَدَّبَ الدهرُ بتَأديبِهِ

تأَدَّبَ الدهرُ بتَأديبِهِ

And had it placed its hopes in ʿAbd al-Malīk, who

by his instruction taught Time itself manners,

لجاءَنا مُبْتَدِراً سابِقاً

لجاءَنا مُبْتَدِراً سابِقاً

يُزري بمَنْ قَدْ كَانَ يُزْرِي بِهِ

يُزري بمَنْ قَدْ كَانَ يُزْرِي بِهِ

it would have come to us hastening, in the lead,

casting scorn on whoever had once cast scorn on it.