أَلْفيتُ مِنْكَ مُرُوءَة لَمْ أَلْفِهَا

أَلْفيتُ مِنْكَ مُرُوءَة لَمْ أَلْفِهَا

فِيمَنْ لهُمْ بِالْفَضْلِ ذِكْرٌ شَائِعُ

فِيمَنْ لهُمْ بِالْفَضْلِ ذِكْرٌ شَائِعُ

I found in you a nobility I had not found

I found nobility in you I never found

Among those widely renowned for excellence.

In men of fame, however far and wide.

وَعَجِبْتُ لِلأَدَبِ الرَّفِيعِ تُجِيدُه

وَعَجِبْتُ لِلأَدَبِ الرَّفِيعِ تُجِيدُه

لَهْواً وَجِدُّ سِوَاكَ فِيهِ صَنائِعُ

لَهْواً وَجِدُّ سِوَاكَ فِيهِ صَنائِعُ

And I marveled at the lofty literary art you master

And I marvel how one given to jest and whim

For amusement, while others’ earnest work in it is mere artifice.

Can have good taste and talent so applied.