1. أُفاضِلُ الدنيا وَان بَرَّزوا

    لَم يَبلُغوا غايَةَ اِستاذِها

    The world's eminent men, even if they excel,

    have not reached the heights of its master.

  2. أَما تَرى أَمصارَ جمَّةً

    وَلا تَرى مِصراً كَبَغدادِها

    Do you not see cities aplenty,

    yet see no city like its Baghdad?