مَدَدتُ يَدي يَوماً إِلى فَرخِ باخِلٍ

مَدَدتُ يَدي يَوماً إِلى فَرخِ باخِلٍ

كَما يَفعَلُ الخِلُّ الصَديقُ المُؤانِسُ

كَما يَفعَلُ الخِلُّ الصَديقُ المُؤانِسُ

One day I stretched out my hand to a miser's fledgling,

I reached out my hand one day to a miser's chick

As an intimate, companionable friend would do.

As a sincere, companionable vinegar would do

فَأَوما إِلى غَلمانِهِ فَتَواثبوا

فَأَوما إِلى غَلمانِهِ فَتَواثبوا

إِلَيَّ وَوَجهُ النَذلِ إِذ ذاكَ عابِسُ

إِلَيَّ وَوَجهُ النَذلِ إِذ ذاكَ عابِسُ

Then he signaled to his servant boys, and they sprang

Then his servants leapt up towards me

At me, while the scoundrel's face was then scowling.

With scowling, mean faces

فَهذا لِبَطني حينَ أَسقُطُ دائِسٌ

فَهذا لِبَطني حينَ أَسقُطُ دائِسٌ

وَذاكَ لِجنبي حين أَنهَضُ رافِسُ

وَذاكَ لِجنبي حين أَنهَضُ رافِسُ

So this one tramples my belly when I fall,

So this one's for my belly when I fall flat

And that one kicks my side when I rise.

And that one's for my side when I rise up kicking

فَأَنشَدتُ بَيتاً قالَهُ ذو صَرامَةٍ

فَأَنشَدتُ بَيتاً قالَهُ ذو صَرامَةٍ

وَقَد ناوَشتَه بِالرِماحِ الفَوارِسُ

وَقَد ناوَشتَه بِالرِماحِ الفَوارِسُ

So I recited a verse spoken by a man of resolve,

Then I recited a verse spoken by one of firmness

While horsemen were assailing him with spears:

Whom the valiant horsemen had attacked with spears

وَمَن يَطلُبِ المالَ المُمَنَّع بِالقَنا

وَمَن يَطلُبِ المالَ المُمَنَّع بِالقَنا

يَعِش مُثرِياً أَو يُودِ فيمَن يُمارِسُ

يَعِش مُثرِياً أَو يُودِ فيمَن يُمارِسُ

And whoever seeks wealth well guarded by spears

And he who seeks wealth denied with a spear

Will live wealthy, or perish among those he fights.

Will live enriched or wish for death in battle