وقالوا نريد أخا فطنة

بعلم القياس وأسراره

They said, “We want a wise brother,

Skilled in analogies and their secrets.

وكل لبيب أخي فطنة

يسائل عن شرح أخباره

Every intelligent person is my wise brother.

All ask about explaining his news.

لأيّة حال يحبّ الصغير

ويحتاط سائر أوطاره

Why does the little one love

And be cautious in all his states?”

فقلت وقد أكثروا في المرا

بطول الخطاب وإقصاره

I said, since they went on at length

With long speech and brevity,

يحبّ الصغير لإقباله

ويقصى الكبير لإدباره

“The little one loves for his rising status,

And the elder is shunned for his fading away.”