لَمّا دَعا داعي أَبي الأَشبالِ
مُبَشِّراً بِأَوَّلِ الأَنجالِ
When the caller called the cubs of the lion
Announcing the birth of the first cub,
سَعَت سِباعُ الأَرضِ وَالسَماءِ
وَاِنعَقَدَ المَجلِسُ لِلهَناءِ
The beasts of the earth and sky rejoiced
And gathered for celebration.
وَصَدَرَ المَرسومُ بِالأَمانِ
في الأَرضِ لِلقاصي بِها وَالداني
The decree was issued, promising safety
Throughout the land, far and near.
فَضاقَ بِالذُيولِ صَحنُ الدار
مِن كُلِّ ذي صوفٍ وَذي مِنقارِ
The courtyard was crowded with tails
Of woolly and beaked creatures.
حَتّى إِذا اِستَكمَلت الجَمعِيَّه
نادى مُنادي اللَيثِ في المَعِيَّه
When all had assembled,
The lion's caller loudly proclaimed:
هَل مِن خَطيبٍ مُحسِنٍ خَبير
يَدعو بِطولِ العُمرِ لِلأَمير
"Is there a skilled orator among you
To wish the prince long life?"
فَنَهَضَ الفيلُ المُشيرُ السامي
وَقالَ ما يَليقُ بِالمَقام
The eminent elephant rose
And spoke fittingly.
ثُمَّ تَلاهُ الثَعلَبُ السَفيرُ
يُنشِدُ حَتّى قيلَ ذا جَرير
Next was the fox, the ambassador,
Who recited beautifully, called the new Jareer.
وَاِندَفَعَ القِردُ مُديرُ الكاسِ
فَقيلَ أَحسَنتَ أَبا نُواسِ
Then the ape, the butler, came forth
And was told: "Well done, Abu Nuwas!"
وَأَومَأَ الحِمارُ بِالعَقيرَة
يُريدُ أَن يُشَرِّفَ العَشيرَه
The donkey gestured with his ear
Wishing to honor his clan.
فَقالَ بِاِسمِ خالِقِ الشَعير
وَباعِثِ العَصا إِلى الحَمير
He spoke in the name of the Creator of barley
And Sender of the stick to the donkeys.
فَأَزعَجَ الصَوتُ وَلِيَّ العَهدِ
فَماتَ مِن رَعدَتِهِ في المَهدِ
His voice disturbed the heir apparent
Who died of fright in his crib.
فَحَمَلَ القَومُ عَلى الحِمارِ
بِجُملَةِ الأَنيابِ وَالأَظفارِ
So the beasts attacked the donkey
With fangs and claws.
وَاِنتُدِبَ الثَعلَبُ لِلتَأبين
فَقالَ في التَعريضِ بِالمِسكين
The fox was commissioned to eulogize
And subtly blamed the victim:
لا جَعَلَ اللَهُ لَهُ قَراراً
عاشَ حِماراً وَمَضى حِمارا
"May God give you no rest,
You lived a donkey and died a donkey."
