أَصبَحتُ غَيرَ مُمَيَّزٍ مِن عالَمٍ

مِثلَ البَهائِمِ كُلُّهُم مُتَحَيِّرُ

I have become indistinguishable from a world,

Like animals, all of them confused.

يَتَخَيَّرونَ عَلى المَليكِ قَضاءَهُ

سَفِهَ الغُواةُ وَلَيسَ فيهِم خَيِّرُ

They condemn the king's judgment,

The foolish and among them there is no wise one.

فَاِكفُف لِسانَكَ أَن تُعَيِّرَ وَاِعلَمَن

أَن لَيسَ يَأمَنُ ما يَعيبُ مُعَيِّرُ

Restrain your tongue from mocking and know

That he who finds fault is not safe from blame.

ما حَطَّ رُتبَتَكَ الحَسودُ وَما الَّذي

ضَرَّ الأَميرَ بِأَن يُقالَ أُمَيِّرُ

Envy has not lowered your status, nor has what

They say harmed the prince if called a commander.

وَسُهَيلٌ اللَمّاحُ صُغِّرَ لَفظُهُ

فَاِنظُر أَهَيَّرَهُ بِذاكَ مُهَيِّرُ

Though Suhayl the jester's name was belittled,

See if that detracted the one who belittled.

وَعَهِدتُني زَمَنَ الشَبيبَةِ ذاكِياً

قَبسي فَأَخمِدَ وَالخُطوبُ تُغَيِّرُ

I knew myself in the days of youth to be bright,

My fire is extinguished and hardships bring change.

لا يَستَطيعُ الناسُ دَفعَ فَضيلَةٍ

بِالقَدرِ صَيَّرَها إِلَيكَ مُصَيِّرُ

People cannot prevent a merit,

Fate has destined it for you, the Planner.

هَذي الكَواكِبُ لِلمَليكِ شَواهِدٌ

مِنها الخَفيِّ لِناظِرٍ وَالنَيِّرُ

These stars are witnesses for the king,

Among them the hidden for the beholder and the clear.

نِمنا وَما رَقَدَت وَحَلَّ مُقيمُنا

وَالنَجمُ في أُفُقِ السَماءِ يُسَيَّرُ

We slept and our dwelling settled,

As the star traverses the horizon of the sky.

وَالمَرءُ حَيّاهُ المَشيبُ فَشانَهُ

عِندَ الحَبائِبِ وَهوَ نَضرٌ شَيِّرُ

A man, his life is whitened so his distinction,

Is with the maidens though he be fresh and youthful.

آلَيتُ لا يَدري بِما هُوَ كائِنٌ

مُتَفائِلٌ بِالأَمرِ أَو مُتَطَيِّرُ

I have despaired, not knowing what will happen,

Hopeful or apprehensive of the matter.

كَالدارِ صَبَّحَها سِوى قُطّانُها

فَثَوَوا بِها وَتَحَمَّلَ المُتَدَيِّرُ

Like a house that was deserted except by its caretaker,

So they took refuge in it and the waverer endured.