لَئِن نالَتِ الأَملاكُ مُلكاً بِحَظِّها

فَقَد نِلتُمُ ما نِلتُمُ بِمَساعِ

Though angels gain a kingdom by their fortune,

You've gained what you have gained by your endeavour.

وَهَذا عِيانُ المَجدِ فيكُم فَما الَّذي

يَزيدُكُمُ مُدّاحُكُم بِسَماعِ

This glory manifest in you - so what can

A praising eulogist add by his hearing?

دَفَعتَ الأَذى عَنّا وَمَتَّعتَ بِالمُنى

وَما كانَتِ الدُنيا لَنا بِمَتاعِ

You've kept all harm from us and brought us joy;

For us the world was never a true treasure.

وَوَاللَهِ ما كُلِّفتُ في المَدحِ كُلفَةً

وَهَل هُوَ إِلّا الصِدقُ وَهوَ طِباعي

By God, I've never been assigned this praise

As duty - Truth alone's my very nature.