تالله ما أخرتُ مدحك ضلَّةً

وإنَّك للصَّدرُ الأجلُّ المقدَّمُ

I have not delayed praising you out of error,

Though you are the most revered, exalted in my heart.

ولكنَّهُ سرُّ الفصاحة شينهُ

وشينُ ذويهِ حين يخفى ويكتم

But the secret of eloquence is disgraced by it,

And its people disgraced when it's hidden and concealed.

وأجبتُ منه أن ينمَّ فلم أجد

له مثل أن يطوى وبالمسك يختم

I tried to make it sleep but could not find

A way to fold it up and seal it with musk.