1. أُعْجِبَتْ بي بين نادي قَومِها

    أُمُّ سعدٍ فمضَتْ تسألُ بي

    She was taken with me in her people's assembly—

    Umm Sa'd—and went asking about me.

  2. سَرَّها ما عَلِمتْ من خُلُقي

    فأرادتْ عِلمَا ما حَسَبي

    What she learned of my character delighted her,

    So she wished to know what my ancestral standing was.

  3. لا تخالي نَسَباً يخفِضُني

    أنا مَن يُرضيكِ عند النسبِ

    Do not think my lineage diminishes me;

    I am one who will please you when lineage is considered.

  4. قَوْمِيَ استولَوْا على الدهرِ فَتىً

    ومَشَوْا فوق رءوسِ الحِقَبِ

    My people mastered Time while it was young,

    And walked above the heads of the ages.

  5. عمَّموا بالشمسِ هاماتِهُمُ

    وبَنوْا أبياتَهم بالشهُبِ

    They turbaned their heads with the sun,

    And built their dwellings with shooting stars.

  6. وأَبى كِسرَى على إيوانهِ

    أين في الناس أبٌ مثلُ ابي

    And my father is Kisra in his vaulted hall;

    Where among humankind is a father like mine?

  7. سَوْرةُ الملكِ القُدامَى وعَلَى

    شَرَفِ الإسلامِ لي والأدبِ

    The might of ancient kingship, and the heights

    Of Islam's honor and letters, are mine.

  8. قد قَبستُ المجدَ من خيرِ أبٍ

    وقبَستُ الدينَ من خيرِ نبي

    I have borrowed glory's flame from the best of fathers,

    And borrowed faith's flame from the best of prophets.

  9. وضَممتُ الفخرَ من أطرافِهِ

    سوددَ الفرسِ ودينَ العرب

    And gathered pride from all its reaches—

    The nobility of the Persians and the faith of the Arabs.