قالوا النحاس مثاله بشر

نفس وروح حية وجسد

They said brass was an example of a human

A living soul, spirit, and body

وأراد تدبير الدواء على

هذا المثال الحق كل أحد

And they wanted to create a medicine on

This true example, everyone thought

وتبلّدوا فيها وما عرفوا

كيف الطريق والطريق جدد

And they were confused and did not know

The way, though the way was new

جمعوا الغرائب من طبائعهم

بالدفن أو بالسحق تسحق يد

They gathered strange things from their natures

To bury or crush and destroy by hand

حتى إذا سبكوا دواءهم

طرحوا عليه دواءهم ففسد

Until when they concocted their medicine

They cast their medicine upon it, and it spoiled

لا منه صبغ أمّلوه ولا

فيه على نار السبوك جلد

It took on no dye they hoped for, nor

Upon the fire of melting, any firmness

ولو أنهم جمعوا الغرائب في ال

تدبير انجح طالب ووجد

And if they had gathered strange things in

Management, the seeker would have succeeded and found

أو ما رأوا حكماءنا جمعوا

بين الغرائب نسبة وولد

Or did they not see our wise ones gathered

Between strange things a ratio and birth

جعلوا أسافلها أعاليها

حتى ترقّى هابط وصعد

They made its lows its highs

So that the descending might climb and ascend

وتَرَوَّحَ الجسد الغليظ بمي

قات وتمت للمزاج مدد

And the thick body was refreshed with the

Infusions and the temperament was restored

وتَجَسَّدَ الروح اللطيف به

ذا حَلَّ مالاقى وذاك عقد

And the subtle spirit was embodied in this

Solution, it met with that and that knotted

حتى إذا تجت إناثهُم

في البحر قام جنينها وقعد

Until when their females dissolved

In the sea, the embryo stood and sat

ومضى عليها مدة فنشا

من ذلك التزويج خير ولد

And time passed over it, then it brought forth

From that union, good children