قَسماً بسؤدُدِك القديمِ

ووضوح منهجك القويمِ

I swear by your ancient felicity,

and the clarity of your straight path,

وضياءِ رأيك واضحاً

يجلو دجى الخطْبِ البَهيمِ

and the brilliance of your clear opinion

that dispels the gloom of ignorant discourse,

وشمائِلٍ تُثْني علي

كَ ثَنا الربيعِ على الغُيومِ

and praiseworthy qualities that compliment me

as springtime compliments the clouds,

ومناقبٍ تُغني سما

ءَ المَكرُماتِ عنِ النجومِ

and virtues that sing to the sky

of glorious deeds instead of stars,

لقد انفردْتَ ببارضِ ال

مجدِ المؤثّلِ والجَميمِ

You have uniquely attained the field

of splendid and beautiful glory,

ورفَعْتَ فيها مثلَ أبنيةِ ال

عُلا كرَماً وكانت كالرّسومِ

and erected lofty edifices in it

like great statues that seem drawn,

وفعلْتَ فيها مثل فِعْ

لِ البُرْءِ في جسدِ السّقيمِ

and done in it deeds like those

of the healthy in the body of the sick,

وذبَبْتَ عن أرجائِها

ذبّ الغَيورِ عن الحريمِ

and warded off those jealous

of its corners like the jealous ward off the harem,

وكسوتَ أربابَ البلا

غةِ حلّةَ الشرفِ الجسيمِ

and clothed the masters of eloquence

in the robe of tremendous nobility,

عُقِدَتْ عليك برغم مَنْ

عاداكَ ألويةُ العلومِ

Despite the enemies that opposed you

the banners of knowledge were tied to you,

فاجعلْ يدَ الإحسانِ أع

ظمَ منّةً لك في حميمي

So let the hand of kindness be to you

a greater favor from me intimately,

واعلَمْ بأني خادمٌ

لك في الحديثِ وفي القديمِ

And know that I am your servant

in the new and old discourse,

بالأمسِ كنتُ مخصَّصاً

واليوم صِرْتُ مع العُمومِ

Yesterday I was specialized

and today I am with the generality,

حتى كأنّي قد عدَلْ

تُ عن الصّراطِ المستقيمِ

As though I have turned

from the straight path.