لَئِن كانَ أَحسَنَ في وَصفِها

لَقَد تَرَكَ الحُسنَ في الوَصفِ لَك

Though he showed great skill in describing the view,

He has conceded the beauty of description to you.

لِأَنَّكَ بَحرٌ وَإِنَّ البِحارَ

لَتَأنَفَ مِن مَدحِ هَذي البِرَك

For you are an ocean, and the high seas themselves

Would disdain to be praised by the measure of pools.

كَأَنَّكَ سَيفُكَ لا ما مَلَكتَ

يَبقى لَدَيكَ وَلا ما مَلَك

You are like your sword: neither that which you owned

Remains in your hand, nor that which it seized.

فَأَكثَرُ مِن جَريِها ما وَهَبتَ

وَأَكثَرُ مِن مائِها ما سَفَك

For more than their currents is the flow of your gifts,

And more than their waters is the blood you have shed.

أَسَأتَ وَأَحسَنتَ عَن قُدرَةٍ

وَدُرتَ عَلى الناسِ دَورَ الفَلَك

You harm and you heal with the power you wield,

And revolve over men like the celestial sphere.