لواني بما وعد البحتريُّ

وما كان يلوي إذا ما وعَدْ

My colours promised what al-Buhturi had promised

And he was not one to break a promise

ولكنه قارَعَ النائبات

فأفنى التلاد وحلَّ العقدْ

But misfortunes assailed him

Destroying wellbeing and undoing ties

وما زال يصبر صبرَ الكرامِ

في الحقِ في المال حتى نفدْ

Yet he persevered with nobility's patience

In righteousness and wealth until depleted

ويعصي العواذل حتى أطاع

ويُسرف في البذل حتى اقتصد

And defied temptations until obeying them

And was excessive in generosity until economizing

وقد يرحل العَوْد بعد الكلالِ

ويحمد من بعد ما قيل قدْ

So the loved one may leave after intimacy

And one once blamed may later be praised