إذا ساء ظنٌّ بمسترفَدٍ

أطال القصيدَ له المادحُ

When expectations of one solicited for bounty are poor,

the panegyrist lengthens his ode to him;

وقِدْماً إذا استبعِد المستقَى

أطال الرِّشاءَ له الماتحُ

and since ancient times, when the water-seeker found the water far down,

the well-drawer lengthened the rope for him.