أَلا يا قَيسُ لا تَسِمنَ دِرعي

فَما مِثلي يُساوِمُ بَالدُروعِ

Alas, O Qays, do not bargain for my coat of mail,

For one like me does not barter with coats of mail.

فَلَولا خَلَّةٍ لِأَبي جَوَىًّ

وَأَنّي لَستُ عَنها بِالنَزوعِ

Had it not been for a slip of my father Jawwa,

And that I cannot do without it,

لَأَبَت بِمِثلِها عَشرٌ وَطِرفٌ

لَحوقُ الأَطلِ جَيّاشُ تَليعِ

Ten or more like it would have been offered

At the noise of the running of the piebald one.

وَلَكِن سَمِّ ما أَحبَبتَ فيها

فَلَيسَ بِمُنكِرٍ غِبنَ البُيوعِ

But name your price for what you wish of it,

For loss in barter is no disgrace.

فَما هِبَةُ الدُروعِ أَخا بَغيضٍ

وَلا الخَيلُ السَوابِقِ بِالبَديعِ

Gifts of mail coats, my brother, are not unpleasant,

Nor are racing horses uncomely.