أأترك إن قلت دراهم خالد

زيارته إني إذاً للئيم

If Khalid’s dirhams grew few, would I abandon

visiting him? Then indeed I would be base.

وقد يسلع المرء الكريم اصطناعه

ويعتل نقد المرء وهو كريم

Even a noble man may be wounded by his own acts of generosity,

and a man’s cash may ail while he remains noble.

فليت ببرديه لنا كان خالد

وكان لبكر في الثراء تميم

Would that Khalid, in his two cloaks, were ours,

and that Tamim, in his wealth, were Bakr’s.

فيصبح فينا سابق متمهل

ويصبح في بكر أغم بهيم

Then among us would arise a forerunner who takes his time,

and among Bakr a white-blazed, solid-black one.