يا من يُكاثِرُ بالدَّفَا

تِر حَشْوُهَا حَشْوَ المَسَاوِرْ

O you who boasts of abundant prose,

Its stuffing is like bracelets' padding,

لو كُنْتُ أَجْمَعُ عَيْنَ ما

يَخْتَارُ مِن غُرَرِ النَّوَادِرْ

If I were to collect the essence of what

Is chosen from the gems of rarities,

عينٌ مِنَ الأخْبَارِ أَوْ

عِلْمٌ مِنَ الأَمْثَالِ سَائِرْ

An essence of news or flowing proverbs,

Or filling my pages other than what

أو مُوعِياً صُحُفِي سِوَى

ما أَبْتَغِيْهِ من الجُمَاهِرْ

I seek from the masses,

It would collect what no camel load

لَجَمَعَتْ ما لا يستقلْ

لُ بِحَمْلِهِ كومُ الأباعِرْ

Of valuables could carry.

So boast and exaggerate your relation,

فافْخَرْ وكاثِرْ بالقَرِيْ

حَةِ إنَّها فَخْرُ المَفَاخِرْ

It is truly the pride of prides.

And know that knowledge is what

واعلَمْ بأنّ العِلْمَ ما

أوْعَيْتَ في صُحُفِ الضَّمائِرْ

You have retained in your conscience's pages.