سَما الخَطيبانِ في المَعالي

وَجازَ شَأواهُما السِماكا

The two orators vied in sublime speech,

And their contention went beyond bounds.

جالا فَلَم يَترُكا مَجالاً

وَاِعتَرَكا بِالنُهى عِراكا

They strove without restraint

And grappled fiercely in debate.

فَلَستُ أَدري عَلى اِختِباري

مَن مِنهُما جَلَّ أَن يُحاكى

I know not, from my test of them,

Which one deserves more to be emulated.

فَوَحيُ عَقلي يَقولُ هَذا

وَوَحيُ قَلبي يَقولُ ذاكا

My reason whispers, “This one,”

While my heart murmurs, “That one.”

وَدِدتُ لَو كُلُّ ذي غُرورٍ

أَمسى لِنَعلَيهِما شِراكا

Would that every vainglorious being

Became a shoe-strap for them both!