فديتك لو لم تكن لي قريبا

وكنت أمرأ أجنبياً غريبا

I would sacrifice myself for you, even if you were not close to me

And if you were a foreign stranger

مع البر منك وما تنجز

به مستخفاً اليك اللبيبا

With kindness from you, and what you accomplish

Making light of it, calling the intelligent to you

لما أن جعلت لخلقٍ سوا

ك مثل نصيبك مني نصيبا

If I had not made for any other creation

A portion like your share from me, a portion

وكنت المقدم ممن أود

وازداد حقك عندي وجوبا

And you were the foremost of those I love

And your right with me has increased and become obligatory

تلطف لما قد تكلمت فيه

فما زلت في الحاج شهماً نجيبا

Refine what you have spoken about

For I have not ceased being nobly steadfast in love

وراوض أبا حسنٍ ان رأيت

واحتل برفقك حتى يجيبا

And convince Abu Hasan if you see

And take gently until he responds

فان هو صار الى ما تريد

والا استعنت عليه الحبيبا

If he agrees to what you want

Otherwise seek help against him, O beloved

ومن لا يخالف ما أشتهيه

لتلفيه من غير شكٍ مجيبا

And whoever does not oppose what I desire

You will surely find him obedient without any doubt

يودك خاقان وداً عجيبا

كذاك الأديب يود الاديبا

The ruler loves you with a wondrous love

Just as the literary man loves the literary man

وانت تكافيه لابل تزيـ

ـد عليه وتجمع فيه ضروبا

And you reciprocate him, no, you

Increase upon him and gather in him diverse kinds

تثيب أخاك على الود منه

وذو اللب يأنف ألا يثيبا

You reward your brother for his affection

While one of discernment disdains not to reciprocate

ولا سيما اذ براه الاله كالبدر

يدعو اليه القلوبا

Especially when the Divine has blessed him like the full moon

Calling hearts to him

يرى المتمني له ردفه

كثيباً وأعلاه يحكي القضيبا

The longing one sees his prominence

Like a hill, and its top telling of a banner

وقد فاق في العلم والفهم منه

كما تم ملحاً وحسناً وطيبا

And he has surpassed in knowledge and understanding

As salt is perfect, beautiful and good

ويبلغ فيما يقولون ليس

يعاف اذا ناولوه القضيبا

And he attains in what they say none

Can equal if they extend to him the banner

ولكنه وافق الزاهدين

فخاب وقد ظن أن لن يخيبا

But he agreed with the ascetics

So he failed while he thought he would not fail

وان ركب المرء فيه هواه

عاث فتطهيره ان يتوبا

And if a man in it follows his desire

He wreaks corruption - his purification is to repent

اذ زارت الشاة ذئباً طبيبا

فلا تأمنن على الشاة ذيبا

When the ewe visited the wolf, a healer

Do not trust the wolf over the ewe

وعند الطبيب شفاء السقيم

اذا أعتل يوماً وجاء الطبيبا

And with the healer is the cure of the sick

When he falls ill one day and comes to the healer

ولست ترى فارساً في الأنا

م الا وثوبا يجيد الركوبا

And you will not see a horseman among people

Except with a robe skilled at riding