قَدْ جَاءَنَا الوَرِقُ الذِي وَفَّرْتَهُ

وَالظَّبْيُ والسَّرْجُ المُحَلَّى والفَرَسْ

The paper you gifted has come to me

And the gazelle, the scented saddle, and the horse

والبَغْلَةُ الشَّقْرَاءُ والخِلَعُ الَّتِي

كَانَتْ كَعِرْضَكَ لَيْسَ فِيْهِ مِنْ دَنَسْ

The blondish mule, and the robe that

Was as pure as you, without any blemish

فِي رِيْحِهَا أَرَجٌ يَضُوعُ كَأَنَّهُ

مِنْ عُودِ نَبْعَتِكَ الكَرِيْمِ المُغْتَرَسْ

In its scent, a fragrance diffuses like

The incense from your generous planted tree

والفَصُّ يَلْمَعُ فِي الظَّلاَمِ كَأَنَّهُ

مِنْ نُورِ وَجْهِكَ أَوْ ذَكَائِكَ يُقْتَبَسْ

And the gem shines in the darkness as if

It were the light of your face or your brilliance from which it is lit

لَكِنْ أَبَتْ لِي أَنْ أَرُوحَ وَأَعْتَدِي

كَلاَّ عَلَى الإِخْوَانِ أَخْلاَقٌ شُمُسْ

But it refused me to be delighted and boast

No, the brothers have virtuous sun-like morals

لاَ أَسْتَلِذُّ العَيْشَ لَم أَدْأَبْ لَهُ

طَلَبَاً وَسَعْيَاً فِي الهَوَاجِرِ والغَلَسْ

I don’t enjoy life unless I strive

Seeking and endeavoring through emigration and adventuring

وَأَرَى حَرَاماً أَنْ يَواتِيَنِي الغِنَى

حَتَّى يُحَاوَلَ بِالْعَنَاءِ وَيُلْتَمَسْ

And I see it as forbidden that wealth comes to me

Until it is attained with hardship and sought out

فَاصْرِفْ نَوَالَكَ عَن أَخِيْكَ مُوَقَّراً

فَالَّلْيثُ لَيْسَ يُسِيْغُ إِلاَّ مَا افْتَرَسْ

So turn your gifts away from your honored brother

For the lion only savors what he has preyed upon