بَغلٌ أَتى الجَوادَ ذات مَرَّه

وَقَلبُهُ مُمتَلِئٌ مَسَرَّه

A mule approached the thoroughbred one day

With joy filling his heart making him gay

فَقالَ فَضلي قَد بَدا يا خِلّي

وَآنَ أَن تَعرِفَ لي مَحَلّي

He said my excellence has now come to light

And it's time you recognize my might

إِذ كُنتَ أَمسِ ماشِياً بِجانِبي

تَعجَبُ مِن رَقصِيَ تَحتَ صاحِبي

When yesterday you walked by my side

You wondered at my prancing stride

أَختالُ حَتّى قالَتِ العِبادُ

لِمَن مِنَ المُلوكِ ذا الجَوادُ

I strutted as folk exclaimed aloud

To which monarch belongs this proud steed?

فَضَحِكَ الحِصانُ مِن مَقالِهِ

وَقالَ بِالمَعهودِ مِن دلالِهِ

The stallion laughed at his silly claim

And said as was typical of his vain

لَم أَرَ رَقصَ البَغلِ تَحتَ الغازي

لَكِن سَمِعتُ نَقرَةَ المِهمازِ

I never saw the mule dance with pride

Just heard the braying of an ass beside