يُقالُ إِنَّ اللَيثَ في ذي الشِدَّه

رَأى مِنَ الذِئبِ صَفا المَوَدَّه

It is said that the lion in his mightiness

Saw the wolf's sincerity and affection

فَقالَ يا مَن صانَ لي مَحَلّي

في حالَتَي وِلايَتي وَعَزلي

He said: "O you who protected my place

In my reign and dismissal

إِن عُدتُ لِلأَرضِ بِإِذنِ اللَهِ

وَعادَ لي فيها قَديمُ الجاهِ

If I return to the land by God's will

And my former glory is restored

أعطيكَ عِجلَينِ وَأَلفَ شاةِ

ثُمَّ تَكونُ والِيَ الوُلاةِ

I will give you two calves and a thousand sheep

Then you will be the governor of governors

وَصاحِبَ اللِواءِ في الذِئابِ

وَقاهِرَ الرُعاةِ وَالكِلابِ

And the bearer of the banner among wolves

The subduer of shepherds and dogs

حَتّى إِذا ما تَمَّتِ الكَرامَه

وَوَطِئَ الأَرضَ عَلى السَلامَه

Until when the generosity is complete

And he steps on the land in safety

سَعى إِلَيهِ الذِئبُ بَعدَ شَهرِ

وَهوَ مُطاعُ النَهيِ ماضي الأَمرِ

The wolf came to him after a month

While he commands prohibition and executes orders

فَقالَ يا مَن لا تُداسُ أَرضُه

وَمَن لَهُ طولُ الفَلا وَعَرضُه

So he said: "O you whose land is not trampled

And who has the length and breadth of glory

قَد نِلتَ ما نِلتَ مِنَ التَكريمِ

وَذا أَوانِ المَوعِدِ الكَريمِ

You have attained what you attained of honor

And this is the time of the precious promise"

قالَ تَجَرَّأتَ وَساءَ زَعمُكُما

فَمَن تَكونُ يا فَتى وَما اِسمُكا

He said: "You have transgressed, your claim is bad

Who are you, young man, and what is your name?"

أَجابَهُ إِن كانَ ظَنّي صادِقاً

فَإِنَّني والي الوُلاةِ سابِقا

He replied: "If my assumption is right

Then I am the former governor of governors"