قل للعروضيّ عبدِ

الإله يا خلَصاني

Say to the prosodist, 'Abd

al-Ilah, O my intimate friend,

بحقّ تلك السما

تِ عند مولى عِنانِ

By the right of those traits

possessed by the master of 'Inan,

ببعضِ أسماءِ فصلٍ

مشطّبٍ هندواني

And by certain names of a cutting,

ridged sword of Indian steel,

ويا يزيدُ بحقّ الحورا

ءِ زين القيانِ

And O Yazid, by the right of the houri,

the adornment of the singing girls,

وسميع بن عبّا

دِ الأغرّ الهجانِ

And to Sami' bin 'Abbad,

the illustrious, the pure-bred,

بحقّ تلك التي لم

ترع من الهجرانِ

By the right of her who did not

heed the pain of separation,

أما طلتم جميعاً

إلى أبي عثمانِ

Have you not all turned your gaze

towards Abu 'Uthman?