إِنّي أَتَيتُ بَني المُهَل

هِلِ آنِفاً بِهِجائِكا

I came to the sons of Muhal-

-hil just now, with a satire of you,

فَاِستَوحَشوا مِن ذاكُمُ

أَنِفينَ مِن عِرفانِكا

But they were appalled by that,

Disdaining even to recognize you.

فَشَهِدتُ أَنَّ مُهَلهِلاً

كَبَنيهِ في إِنكارِكا

So I bore witness that Muhalhil

Is like his sons in disowning you.

فَهَلُمَّ بَيِّنَةً تُقي

مُ شَهادَةً بِوَلائِكا

So bring forth a proof that sets

Up a testimony of your kinship.

فَلَقَد رَضيتُ بِشاهِدٍ

مِن شاهِدَينِ بِذَلِكا

For I have agreed to accept one witness

Instead of the usual two for this.

أَو لا فَمَن أَهجو إِذا

أَنكَرتَ عِندَ دُعائِكا

Or else, whom do I satirize if

You are rejected when you claim your name?

سَيّانَ قُلتُ الشِعرَ في ال

جِعلانِ أَو ضُرَبائِكا

It is the same whether I speak verse on the

Dung beetles or on the likes of you.