وأسودَ اللَّون وافانا وقد جنحتْ

شمسُ الأصيل فوافى وافدُ الظُّلمِ

The dusk had already settled in when the one with the black complexion came upon us.

The sun of nobility had set, and the visitor of darkness arrived.

فقلتُ منْ وابنُ من هذا فإنَّ لهُ

عقلاً وعقلُ الفتى من أشرف الشّيَم

I asked: whose son is this? For he possesses intellect -

and a young man's intellect is one of the noblest traits.

فقيلَ ذا ابنُ أبي قيراطَ من ذهبٍ

فقلتُ بل هو مثقالٌ من الفحم

It was said: This is the son of Abu Quirat made of gold.

I said: No, he is but a weighed out piece of charcoal.