أعارَهُ النَّرجْسُ من لَوْنِهِ

تفضُّلاً وازدَادَ مِنْ طِيبِهِ

The narcissus lent him its color out of generosity, and became even more fragrant,

While the gossip suited what he affiliated himself with, according to his inferior name and composition.

وناسَبَ النَّمَّامَ لما انْتَمَى

إِلَى اسْمِهِ الأَدْنى وتركِيبِهِ

Neither one can compete with the other, except that they wallow in the wind of their proximity.

If only Abd al-Malik, whom time disciplined with its discipline, hoped for us,

وما يُجاري واحداً منهما

إِلّا كَبَا فِي ريحِ تَقْرِيبِهِ

He would have come hastily, outpacing those who used to slight him.

ولوْ رَجا عبدَ المليكِ الَّذِي

تأَدَّبَ الدهرُ بتَأديبِهِ

لجاءَنا مُبْتَدِراً سابِقاً

يُزري بمَنْ قَدْ كَانَ يُزْرِي بِهِ