ما كانَ ذَنبي في الفَرَزدَقِ أَن هَجا

ما كانَ ذَنبي في الفَرَزدَقِ أَن هَجا

فَهَجَوتَهُ فَتَخَيَّرَ الأَمثالا

فَهَجَوتَهُ فَتَخَيَّرَ الأَمثالا

How was I to blame when al-Farazdaq lampooned you?

What was my fault against Al-Farazdaq that he satirized,

So you lampooned him, and he chose his exemplars.

So I satirized him and he chose the finest speech.

فَغَدَوتُما وَكِلاكُما مَتَبَرِّعٌ

فَغَدَوتُما وَكِلاكُما مَتَبَرِّعٌ

نَدَبَ المَوالي إِذ أَرادَ نِضالا

نَدَبَ المَوالي إِذ أَرادَ نِضالا

So you both went forth, each of you a volunteer,

We both arose early, each volunteering,

summoning his kinsmen when he sought a contest.

When the confederates desired combat.

فَدَعا الفَرَزدَق حاجِبا وَعُطارِدا

فَدَعا الفَرَزدَق حاجِبا وَعُطارِدا

والأَقرَعَينِ وَحابِسا وَعِقالا

والأَقرَعَينِ وَحابِسا وَعِقالا

Al-Farazdaq called upon Hajib and Utarid,

Al-Farazdaq called for Hajib, Utārid,

and the two Aqraʿs, Habis, and Iqal.

The two ‘Aqra’s, Habīs and ‘Iqāl.

وَدَعَوتَ قُنَّةَ وَالمَعيد وَقَرهَداً

وَدَعَوتَ قُنَّةَ وَالمَعيد وَقَرهَداً

وَالمُعرِضينِ وَخَيطَفا وَثِمالا

وَالمُعرِضينِ وَخَيطَفا وَثِمالا

And you called upon Qunnah, al-Muʿid, and Qarhad,

While you called Qunnas, Al-Ma’īd, Qarhad,

and the two Muʿrids, Khaytaf, and Thimal.

The abstainers, Khayṭaf and Thimāl.

سَبَقَ الفَرَزدَقُ بِالمَكارِمِ وَالعُلى

سَبَقَ الفَرَزدَقُ بِالمَكارِمِ وَالعُلى

وابنُ المَراغَةِ يَنعَتُ الأَطلالا

وابنُ المَراغَةِ يَنعَتُ الأَطلالا

Al-Farazdaq took the lead in noble deeds and high honor,

Al-Farazdaq preceded in generosity and nobility,

while the son of al-Maraghah describes the ruins.

While the son of Marāgha enumerates ruins.