أتى ببراهينٍ غدا كلُّ جاحدٍ

ببرهانه بين البرية مفحما

He came with proofs, and every denier

Was confounded by his proof in the wilderness

فألزمه بالحقّ والحقّ قوله

فأسْلَمَ من بعد الجحود وسلّما

So I compelled him with the truth, and the truth is his saying

Thus he surrendered after denial, and submitted

فطوراً تراه للأمور مسدّداً

وطوراً تراه للعلوم معلّما

Sometimes you see him directing matters rightly

And sometimes you see him teaching sciences

فلله ما صنّفت كل مصنّف

سرى منجداً في العالمين ومتهما

So to God belongs whatever each author has composed

Flowing smoothly in the world, and being blamed

ومن مشكلات بالعلوم عرفتها

فأعربت عما كانَ فيهم معجما

And from the problems in sciences I knew

So I expressed what was ambiguous in them

وأبكيت أقلام البراعة والنهى

فأرضيت حد السيف حتَّى تبسما

And I made the pens of excellence and prohibition weep

So I pleased the edge of the sword until it smiled

وما نلت عما شان بالمجد خالياً

وما زلت بالعلم اللّدنيّ مفعما

And I did not attain, empty of glory, what was proper for glory

And I did not cease, full of gentle knowledge

تفرَّدت في علم وفهم وحكمة

فها أنت والعلياء أصبحت توأما

You were singled out in knowledge, understanding and wisdom

So here you are, and the scholars, have become twins

وإن جئتَنا في آخر الدهر رحمة

إذا عُدَّت الأمجاد كنت المقدما

And if you come to us at the end of time a mercy

When glories are counted, you will be the first

وحسبك ما في الناس مثلك سيد

أنال مقلاًّ أو تكرّم معدما

And it suffices you, O master, that among the people is your likeness

To gain little or to be generous when destitute

وكم نثرت نثراً بلاغتك الَّتي

أردت بها دُرَّ المعالي منظما

And how much you have scattered your eloquence

With which you wanted to string the pearls of glories

وقد أخرستني من علاك فصاحة

ألست تراني أخرس النطق أبكما

You have made me speechless with your sublime eloquence

Do you not see me, speechless and dumbfounded?