فَقالَت الأيكيَّه
مَقالة سريَّه
The wise owl spoke
In secret tones
إِن علو الهمه
متعبة وَنقمه
"Lofty ambitions
Are toilsome vexations
قَد قالَ أَهل الحكمه
إِن الخُمول نعمه
The wise have stated
Indolence is blessed
إِذا وَلَيت فَاِعدل
فَالعَدل دَأب المقبل
When holding office be just
For justice is best
وَهوَ مَلاك العمل
بِه بَقاء الدول
The root of all good
By which kingdoms have stood
الملك بِالرجال
وَالجُند بِالأَموال
The king through men
The army through pay
وَالمال بِالعمارَه
يحصل كَالتِّجاره
Commerce through building
As business makes way
وَإِنَّما العُمران
بِالعَدل يا إِنسان
Construction depends
On justice, fellow man
عمارة البِلاد
والرفق بِالعِباد
Improving the land
And being mild to your band
مِن عادة المُلوك
وَالنهب للصعلوك
Is the way of great kings
While plunder sin brings
وَإِنَّما لا يعدل
مُستهدم مُستَعجل
No justice from one
Who grabs ere he's done
يَحوش قَبل العَزل
ذُخراً لِوَقت الأَزَل
Amassing ahead
Against his time of dread
كَسارِقٍ أَو سالب
أَو غاصِبٍ أَو ناهب
Like thief, bandit or looter
Caring not what he ruins
وَلا يُبالي ما خرب
مِن البِلاد وَعطب
Of cities and boons
But a king with wisdom
أَما الَّذي بِلاده
يَرثها أَولاده
Securing his kingdom
For sons yet to come
وَملكه كَملكه
مُستَهجن في فَتكه
From plunder shall shun
And show righteous rage
وَهوَ جَدير بِالغَضَب
من عامل إِذا نَهَب
When officials engage
In pillage and theft
فَأدِّب العمالا
وَهذَّب الأَعمالا
Chastise them, correct their ways
And supervision raise
تكثر لَكَ الأَموال
حَيثُ بِها تَنال
To increase your treasure
For it you should measure
لا تخدَع الرِّجال
إِلا إِذا ما نالوا
Deceit avoids among men
Unless by their ken
أَو رَغِبوا أَو رهِبوا
أَو أَدرَكوا ما طَلبوا
They're tempted or cowed
Or attained what they vowed
أَرغب فَما بِالرَّهبه
تَصفو لَكَ المَحبه
With reward, not fear
Shall you loyalty steer
وَالحَرب بِالإِكراه
مِن أَعظَم الدواهي
Force breeds but resentment
So rule by contentment
هَزل المُلوك جد
سَهو المُلوك عَمد
A king's jest is solemn
His slip an omen
