ما في مُعاشَرَةِ اِبنُ أَكثَمَ ساعَةً

خَطَرٌ لِذي عَقلٍ وَلا مَجنونِ

There is not an hour's worth in associating with Ibn Aktham

For one of sense or even a madman

أَعمى لَهُ بَصَرٌ يَعيبُ صَديقَهُ

يَأتي المَثالِبَ في خَفاً وَسُكونِ

A blind man with sight finding fault with his friend

He comes with subtle harms in silence

يُبدي لِنا زِيَّ القُضاةِ وَسَمتَهُم

وَأَجَلُّ طُعمَتِهُ مِنَ التَقين

He shows us the mien of judges and their traits

Yet his finest bite is from the backbiter

كَم ثَمَّ مِن وَصفٍ يَسُرُّكَ حاضِراً

وَمَعَ المَغيبِ فَلَيسَ بِالمَأمونِ

How much is there in a description that pleases you present

Yet with the absent it is not to be trusted

حَتّى إِذا حَذِقَ القِيادَةَ كُلَّها

باعَ القِيانَ وَجَدَّ في التَعيّنِ

Until mastering leadership entirely

He sold leaders and excelled in appointments

وَقَضى مَظالِمَ جَدِّهِ مُتَحَرِّياً

فَتَخَلَّصَ اللوطيُّ بِالمَأبونِ

And avenged the oppressions of his grandfather

So the mercenary escaped with the condemned