وَطرفٍ رُدَّ عَنهُ الطرفُ لَمّا

تَلألأَ صُبح غُرّته وَحيّا

A glance averted when the dawn did gleam,

Radiant in beauty, bursting into beam,

سَليل سَوابق نجبٍ إِذا ما

عَدا شاهدت مِنهُ عَبقَريّا

Scion of nobles, when his steed draws nigh,

Genius and brilliance in his mien you spy.

لَو اِنَّ النَجم سابقه لَأَمسى

عَلى أَثريه منبتّاً قَصيّا

If he outstripped the stars, they soon would wane

Before his lead, though lofty was their gain.

هُوَ العَربيّ كَم بَهرت لَدَينا

مَجاريه الحَميدة أَعجَميّا

O Arab son, what wonders you evince,

Outshining foreign tongues and eloquence!

فَأَسرع مِن صبا سحر مَهبّاً

وَأَبدَع مِن سَنا قَمرٍ محيّا

Swifter than zephyr in the witching hour,

More brilliant than the moon in silver shower.

جَرى وَالبَرق في حَلبات سَبق

فَجَلّاه وَأَوضحه جَليّا

He raced as lightning flashes through the sky,

Eclipsing, outshining them, to stand on high.

وَلَو أَطلقت مِنهُ عِنان عَزم

لَكادَ بِنَعلِهِ يطأُ الثريّا

If but his will unbridled course allowed,

With just his sandal he would crush the proud.