إنَّ التي نُجلُكَ قد نَالها

غيرُ التي قد نلتَها منّي

The one you adore has been won

By another, not me, whom you've shunned

فتى أبوه أَنت نعم الفتى

صدّق والده ظني

My boy you're a man - how you've grown!

Your father was right, I'm outdone

أَلَمْ تكنْ لا شيءَ حتى إذا

نسَلتَه أَصبحت ذا شأنِ

Born worthless, with honour you're clad

A worthy opponent you've had

وكل عزٍّ لَكَ تُزهى به

أنك كنتَ الديكَ في القُنّ

Your triumphs all stem from the fact

That a cockerel once filled your dad

قلْ لابنِكَ النابغِ في علمه

مقالةً يَنْقلها عنّي

So say to your genius of a son

As my envoy these words to him run

يقوّل الدهر أساليبه

فصار يُمني الأصلَ للغصنِ

Fortune's wheel is a fickle old crone

Who gives roots as gifts to the cones