قَد كُنتُ أَغضَبُ أَن أُسَبَّ فَسَبَّني

عَبدُ المَقامَةِ مَوهَبُ بنُ رِباحِ

I used to get upset when insulted, so he insulted me,

Abd al-Muqammis Mawhib ibn Ribah.

عَبدٌ مِنَ الهُجُنِ اللِئامِ نَمى بِهِ

فَحلٌ لَئيمٌ أَصلُهُ لِسَفاحِ

A slave of the most despicable breed grew in him

An ignoble, vile scoundrel descended from bandits.

جَلَبَتهُ شارِيَةُ التِجارِ مِنَ اِرضِهِ

فَأَتَوا بِأَسوَدَ مُنتِنِ الأَرواحِ

The slave-traders brought him from his land,

So they came with a foul-smelling black beast.

فَشَراهُ مَن يَبغي الرَباحَ بِمالِهِ

قِرداً خَبيثاً ثائِرَ الصُمّاحِ

He who seeks profit with his money bought him,

An evil spiteful ape with flaring nostrils.