وَصاحِبٌ كانَ يَلقاني فَيَحسِبُني

وَصاحِبٌ كانَ يَلقاني فَيَحسِبُني

فَظَّ الطِباعِ كَثيرَ العُجبِ وَالنَزَقِ

فَظَّ الطِباعِ كَثيرَ العُجبِ وَالنَزَقِ

And a companion used to meet me and suppose me

And a companion used to meet me and think me

harsh by nature, full of conceit and caprice.

Harsh in disposition, full of conceit and rashness.

عاقَرتُهُ مِن عُقارِ الوُدِّ صافِيَةً

عاقَرتُهُ مِن عُقارِ الوُدِّ صافِيَةً

مَمزوجَةً بِزُلالِ الوُدِّ وَالمَلَقِ

مَمزوجَةً بِزُلالِ الوُدِّ وَالمَلَقِ

I shared with him a pure draught from affection’s wine,

I shared with him a pure draught of affection’s wine,

blended with the limpid water of friendship and winning courtesy.

Mixed with the limpid water of affection and flattery.

فَظَلَّ مُعتَذِراً مِمّا تَخَيَّلَهُ

فَظَلَّ مُعتَذِراً مِمّا تَخَيَّلَهُ

وَقَبَّلَ الأَرضَ لَمّا أَن بَلا خُلُقي

وَقَبَّلَ الأَرضَ لَمّا أَن بَلا خُلُقي

Then he kept apologizing for what he had imagined,

So he kept apologizing for what he had imagined,

and kissed the ground once he had tested my character.

And kissed the ground once he had come to know my character.