هَل للوزيرِ أدامَ اللهُ دولتَه

في صاحب ٍيتحرَّى نُصْحَ مَنْ صَحِبا

Does the minister, may God prolong his rule,

Have a companion seeking counsel from his friends?

وعارفٍ بفنونِ الشِّعرِ يَنقُدُها

نَقْدَ الصيَّارِفَةِ الأوراقَ والذَّهَبا

One knowledgeable in the disciplines of poetry, critiquing it

Like money-changers appraise coins and gold?

طافَ الذكاءُ به يوماً يكلِّفُهُ

فكادَ يُضرِمُ في أثوابِه اللَّهَبَا

Intellect visited him one day and nearly

Lit a fire in his clothes.

لو أنّ صاحِبَه يوماً يكلِّفُه

ثِقْلَ الجِبالِ إذا ما عدَّه تَعِبا

If only his companion would task him one day

With the weight of mountains, if he counts it tiring.

فَخُذْهُ يَرْضَ الذي تُوليه من حَسَنٍ

ولو نفى الأصفرَين الظَّمْأ والسَّغَبا

So take what pleases you of his benevolence,

Even if it denies the thirsty and famished their wants.