بَديعُ الخَلقِ مَوفورُ الخُطوطِ

لَطيفُ الخَصرِ كَالفَرَسِ الرَبيطِ

Of perfect creation and abundant in grace,

A marvel of creation, with contours rich and fine,

Slender of waist like a finely bred mare,

With slender waist, like a tethered steed in line.

أَبوهُ مِن أَكابِرِ قِبطِ مِصرٍ

تَسامى عَن مُناسَبَةِ النَبيطِ

His father among the grandees of Egyptian Copts,

His father is of Egypt's Coptic noble brand,

Too noble for base company,

Far risen above the lineage of the common band.

سَقاني صَفوَ ماءِ النيلِ وَهناً

بِراحٍ مِن كُرومِ قُرى سُيوطِ

She gave me to drink the pure water of the Nile, delicately,

He served me pure Nile water in the quiet night,

With a breeze from the vineyards of Suyut's villages,

Infused with wine from Asyut's vines so bright.

لَها حالانِ مِن طَعمٍ وَريحٍ

وَلَونٌ في الزُجاجَةِ كَالسَليطِ

It had two states in taste and fragrance,

Two qualities it holds: of flavor and of scent,

And a color in the bottle like chicory,

Its color in the glass like golden oil is pent.

خَلَوتُ بِهِ أُنازِعُهُ شَمولاً

وَأَنشِدُهُ مِنَ البَحرِ البَسيطِ

I conversed with it intimately, sipping slowly,

Alone with him, sharing the chilled vintage sweet,

And recited to it from the Simple meter.

I sang him verses from the Basit's rhythmic beat.