لقد طَمِعَ البِشريُّ فيَّ ولم يكنْ

لِيَطْمَعَ فيَّ المرءُ وهو لبيبُ

He was greedy for my praise, though no wise man

Would covet what I say - such empty words.

خلعتُ عليه من ثنائيَ خِلعةً

تَحِنُّ إليها أنفُسٌ وقلوبُ

I draped on him a mantle of fine phrases,

That souls and hearts might yearn for in their dreams.

فقطَّبَ حتى خِلتُ أن قد وَسَمْتُهُ

وذو اللؤمِ فيه ضُجْرَةٌ وقطوبُ

At last I wearied, seeing he thought me serious,

Though in his dullard's mind naught stirred but gloom.

وقاسَمَني جودَ الأمير كأنَّما

له في القوافي السائراتِ نَصيبُ

He claimed his share of flowing verse, as though

The noble prince controlled the rhyme's sweet stream.