لاdo not تُسمِعِlet hear الأَقباطَthe Copts قافِيَةًa rhyme
لا تُسمِعِ الأَقباطَ قافِيَةً
فَالقَومُfor these folk أَنعامٌlivestock لَهُمthey have نَعَمُlivestock
فَالقَومُ أَنعامٌ لَهُم نَعَمُ
Do not let the Copts hear a rhyme.
Do not let the Copts hear rhyme
For these folk are livestock, with livestock of their own.
For they are cattle, enjoying bounty
جَرَّبتَهُمyou tested them فَوَجَدتُand I found أَظرُفَهُمthe wittiest of them
جَرَّبتَهُم فَوَجَدتُ أَظرُفَهُم
كَاللِفتِlike a turnip ماno لِبَياضِهِin its whiteness دَسَمُfat
كَاللِفتِ ما لِبَياضِهِ دَسَمُ
You tested them, and I found the wittiest of them
You have tested them, and found their cleverest
Like a turnip: its whiteness has no fat.
To be like turnips, with no richness in their pallor
Sol 6.1