وَأَخٍ أَملى عَلَيهِ اِختِلاطُ ال

دَهرِ طولَ التَقليبِ وَالتَصريفِ

A brother whom the vicissitudes of time

Have long tossed about, transforming him,

أَصلَحَتهُ لِيَ المُروءَةُ حَتّى

أَفسَدَتهُ اِستِطالَةُ المَعروفِ

My generosity reformed until

My favors’ length corrupted him.

بَغَّضَتهُ الأَيّامُ مَدحي فَأَعفى

شُكرِيَ الجَزلُ مِن نَداهُ الطَفيفِ

The days made him hate my praise, so I forgave

His sparse gratitude for my copious gifts.

لَيسَ جَدعُ الأُنوفِ جَدعاً وَلَكِن

بَعضُ مَن نَصطَفيهِ جَدعُ الأُنوفِ

Not all high-minded are high-minded, but

Only some we single out as high-minded.

لَو بِأُسدِ العَريفِ نيطَت عُرى المَن

نِ لَذَلَّت رِقابُ أُسدِ العَريفِ

If the lion’s reins were held by lions,

The necks of lions would bow to lions.

وَطَري في فُجاءَةِ الرَدِّ ما يَع

لَمُ مِن هِمَّةٍ وَنَفسٍ عَزوفِ

I have, when suddenly opposed, a spirit

That knows no fear or hesitant resolve.

ضِئضِئي مِن بَني عَدِيِّ بنِ عَمرٍو

غَيرَ أَنّي في مِثلِها مِن ثَقيفِ

I am from the clan of ʿAdī ibn ʿAmr,

Though in their likes I am of Thaqīf.

لا تَتِه إِن أَطالَ هَزَّكَ مَدحي

وَاِعذِرَن لَستَ بَعدَها مِن سُيوفي

Do not blame me if my praise has wearied you;

Forgive me, for after it my sword is not yours.