يا أَيُّها المُتَمَنّي أَن تَكونَ فَتىً

مِثلَ اِبنِ لَيلى لَقَد خَلّى لَكِ السُبُلا

O you who wish to be a gallant youth

Like the son of Layla, the paths are left open for you

إِن تُرحلِ العيسِ كَي تَسعى مَساعيهِ

يُشفَق عَلَيكَ وَتَعمَل دونَ ما عَمَلا

If you journey to where Jesus went on his quests

He will have mercy on you though you do less than he has done

لَو سِرتَ في الناسِ أَقصاهُم وَأَقرَبَهُم

في شُقَّةِ الأَرضِ حَتّى يُحرِثوا الإِبِلا

If you went among people, the furthest and the nearest

In the most remote parts of earth where they graze camels

تَبفي فَتىً فَوقَ ظَهرِ الأَرضِ ما وَجَدوا

مِثلَ الَّذي غَيَّبوا في بَطنِها رَجُلا

You would not find, across the face of the earth, a youth

Like the one they buried deep inside it, that valiant man

إِعدُد ثَلاثَ خِصالٍ قَد عُرِفنَ لَهُ

هَل سَبَّ مِن أَحَدٍ أوسُبَّ أَو بَخلا

Count three virtues recognized in him

Did he insult anyone, or was he insulted, or was he stingy?