لِيَ مِن سِرِّ بَنِي العَب

لِيَ مِن سِرِّ بَنِي العَب

بَاسِ خِلٌّ وَجَلِيسُ

بَاسِ خِلٌّ وَجَلِيسُ

I have, among the noblest of the sons of al-ʿAb—

I have a secret from the Abbasids

—bās, a close friend and companion.

A friend and companion

فَإِذا جَالَستَهُ لَم

فَإِذا جَالَستَهُ لَم

تَدرِ مَن مِنَّا الجَلِيسُ

تَدرِ مَن مِنَّا الجَلِيسُ

So when you sit with him, you do not

So when you sit with him, you won't know

know which of us is the companion.

Who of us is the companion