قالوا لنا البدر مكسوف فقلت إذن

جاء الكحيل الذي يعنو له القمر

They said the full moon is eclipsed, so I said:

Then the kohl that the moon is jealous of has arrived.

فإن طلعة ميخائيل شمس ضحىً

والشمس من نورها الأقمار تستتر

For Michael's face is a radiant sun,

And the sun and the moons take cover in its light.

فقال أفصحهم صفه لتظر نو

عي الحساب ببيت فيه تفتخر

The most eloquent among them described it to behold:

With a verse it prides itself on its beauty.

فإنه الشمس شمس العصر قلت أجل

والبحر والقطر والصمصامة الذكر

I said it's the sun of the time, indeed,

The sea, the rain, the nightingale glorify it.

فأرخوه عباباً لا نظير له

شهمٌ سخٍ سيد حساده كثروا

So they released a peerless rain,

A brave, generous chief, numerous are his envious foes.