مَائِدَةُ الفَضْلِ عَلَى بُخْلِهِ

مَائِدَةُ الفَضْلِ عَلَى بُخْلِهِ

أَحْسَنُ مِنْ زهْرَةِ بُسْتَانِهِ

أَحْسَنُ مِنْ زهْرَةِ بُسْتَانِهِ

Al-Fadl’s table, despite his stinginess,

The Table of Virtue

is lovelier than his garden’s bloom.

Is lovelier than his garden in flower

يُخْضِرُ فِيْهَا كُلِّ مَا يُشْتَهَى

يُخْضِرُ فِيْهَا كُلِّ مَا يُشْتَهَى

مِنْ طَيِّبٍ فِي غَيْرِ إِبَّانِهِ

مِنْ طَيِّبٍ فِي غَيْرِ إِبَّانِهِ

He makes all that is desired flourish upon it—

Bearing whatever fruits the heart desires—

fine fare, even out of season.

Choice delicacies in abundance for all.

لَكِنَّهُ يَمْنَعُ أَضْيَافَهُ

لَكِنَّهُ يَمْنَعُ أَضْيَافَهُ

مِنْهَا فَيُبْقِيْهَا لِغِلْمَانِهِ

مِنْهَا فَيُبْقِيْهَا لِغِلْمَانِهِ

But he bars his guests

Yet to his guests he denies them, keeping them

from it, reserving it for his servant boys.

Only for his slave boys and servants

فَهُمْ يَفُوزُونَ بِحَلْوَائِهِ

فَهُمْ يَفُوزُونَ بِحَلْوَائِهِ

وَمُسْتَبِدُّونَ بِحُمْلاَنِهِ

وَمُسْتَبِدُّونَ بِحُمْلاَنِهِ

So they win his sweets

So they may feast on his sweetmeats

and have his lambs all to themselves.

And gorge themselves on his fruits,

ثُمَّتَ يَخْلُونَ بِتَمْزِيْقِ مَا

ثُمَّتَ يَخْلُونَ بِتَمْزِيْقِ مَا

ضَنَّ بِهِ مِنْهُ لإِخْوَانِهِ

ضَنَّ بِهِ مِنْهُ لإِخْوَانِهِ

Then they withdraw to tear apart what

Then gleefully tear to bits and destroy

he had withheld from his companions.

What he grudgingly spared even his brothers,

فَلاَ يُبْقُونَ عَلَى رَغْمِهِ

فَلاَ يُبْقُونَ عَلَى رَغْمِهِ

شَيْئَاً لأُنْثَاهُ وَصِبْيَانِهِ

شَيْئَاً لأُنْثَاهُ وَصِبْيَانِهِ

So, against his will, they do not leave

Leaving nothing for his women and babes.

a thing for his woman and his children.

Ceaselessly they spite and provoke him,

وَلاَ يَزَالُونَ يُزِنُّونَهُ

وَلاَ يَزَالُونَ يُزِنُّونَهُ

عِلْمَاً بِمَا قَدْ بَانَ مِنْ شَانِهِ

عِلْمَاً بِمَا قَدْ بَانَ مِنْ شَانِهِ

And they never cease accusing him,

For they know well what has come to pass.

knowing what has already become clear about his character.