قالَ الوُشاةُ بَدَت في الخَدِّ لِحيَتُهُ

فَقُلتُ لا تُكثِروا ما ذاكَ عائِبُهُ

The slanderers said a beard appeared on his cheek

The slanderers remarked, "Upon his cheek, the beard has appeared,"

So I said don't exaggerate what's wrong with that?

But I replied, "Say no more; in this no blemish lies."

الحُسنُ مِنهُ عَلى ما كُنتُ أَعهَدُهُ

وَالشَعرُ حِرزٌ لَهُ مِمَّن يُطالِبُهُ

Beauty in him is as I've always known it

"His beauty stands upon the very promise I once knew,"

And the hair is a shield for him from those who'd fault him

"And hair is but a fortress from those who seek his favor."

أَبهى وَأَكثَرُ ما كانَت مَحاسِنُهُ

أَن زالَ عارِضُهُ وَاِخضَرَّ شارِبُهُ

More radiant and abundant were his charms

"His charms are more brilliant and abundant than they were,"

His cheek lost its flush and his beard turned green

"Now that his sideburns show and his mustache blooms dark."

وَصارَ مَن كانَ يَلحى في مَوَدَّتِهِ

إِن سيلَ عَنّي وَعَنهُ قالَ صاحِبُهُ

And he who once scraped to gain his affection

And he who used to blame me for my devotion to him,

Will surely part from me and him, said his friend

When asked of us, now answers, "He is his true companion."