فتى إن أُجِد في مدحه فلأنني

وجدت مجالاً فيه للقول واسعا

O youth! If I excel in praising him, it is because

I have found ample scope in him for poetic speech.

وإن لا أُجِد في مدحه فلأنني

وثقت به حتى اختصرت الذرائعا

And if I fail in praising him, it is because

I have trusted in him to the point of eschewing pretexts.

ومن يتكل لا يحتفل في ذريعة

ولا يَسعَ إلا خافض البال وادعا

He who depends on another seldom contrives a pretext

Or aims at anything but humility and prayer.

كفى طالباً عرفاً إذا أمَّ أهله

من المدح ما أعفى به الشعر طائعا

It suffices the seeker of reputation, when his people's protector

Praises him with poetry that spares the poet his toil.

على أنه لو زارهم غير مادح

كفاه بهم دون الشوافع شافعا

Indeed, even if an unattached person were to visit them,

He would suffice them, without advocates, as an advocate.

أبا حسن إن لا أكن قلت طائلاً

فإنيَ لم أُنهض من الفكر واقعا

O Abu Hasan! Even if I have said nothing of consequence,

I did not set out in reflection unprepared.

مدحتك مدح المستنيم إلى امرئٍ

كريم فقلت الشعر وسنان هاجعا

I praised you with the praise of one made drowsy with wine

For a generous man, and so recited poetry, my passions aroused.

وإن أك قد أحسنت فيه فإنه

بما أحسنت قبلي يداك الصنائعا

And if I have done well in it, that is because

of what your skilled hands did well before me.

فعلت فأبدعت البدائع فاعلاً

فأبدع فيك القائلون البدائعا

You acted, creating marvels, so the poets speaking of you

Marvelously created marvels about you.

فلا زلت تسدي صالحاً وأُنيرُهُ

فتحسن متبوعاً وأحسن تابعا

You continue to show moral rectitude, and I elucidate it,

So you are admirable to follow, and I admirably follow.