ركبتُ فصاحوا الصَّلاةَ الصَّلا

ة من بين كهل ومن أمْردِ

I rode, and they cried out prayers,

Prayers amid aged men and beardless youth,

كأَنَّهُمُ أبصروا آيةً

جلاها النَّبيُّون في مشْهدِ

As though they had seen a sign

Revealed by prophets at a shrine.

ومن قبل ذلك ما راعهُمْ

سوادُ خِضاب أبي الأسودِ

Before that, their awe was not roused

By the blackness of my father's dye,

كذا يعجبُ الناس من كل ما

يكون إذا كان لم يُعْهَدِ

So are men amazed by anything

Unfamiliar, howsoever it may be.

بدأتُ فكانتْ لهُمْ نَفْرةٌ

وإن عُدتُ عادوا مع العُوَّدِ

I began, and they were startled,

And if I repeat, they repeat, as trained.

ولا بأس بالقول ما لم يكن

مع القول كائنَةٌ من يَدِ

No harm in words, unless with them

Deeds flow from a hand.

فإن كنتُم حاملي رُجْلَتي

ألا فاحرسُوني من الجَلْمَدِ

If you bear my legs,

Beware the slippery ground.

فمَا الرَّجْمُ بالمعْوِزي منْهُمُ

وما ذاك بالأجْودِ الأجْوَدِ

Not by disablement comes pelting from them.

That is not the way of the generous.

أكلِّفُكُمْ مُؤناً جمَّةً

من العُرْفِ والشكر بالمرْصَدِ

I charge you a burden complete

Of favor and thanks in store,

وكلُّ مَؤونةِ ذي حِرفَةٍ

مُضاعفةُ الثِّقْلِ للأنْكدِ

And every burden of a craft

Doubles the weight for the anguished.