رَوى لِيَ أَخبارَ الفَتى المُتَشاعِرِ

رَوى لِيَ أَخبارَ الفَتى المُتَشاعِرِ

أَخٌ طاهِرُ الأَخلاقِ زاكي العَناصِرِ

أَخٌ طاهِرُ الأَخلاقِ زاكي العَناصِرِ

News of the young man posing as a poet was told to me

A friend of noble traits and purest heart

by a brother of pure character and noble stock.

Recounted to me tales of one true to his art

فَقُلتُ لَهُ إِنَّ السُيوفَ كَثيرَةٌ

فَقُلتُ لَهُ إِنَّ السُيوفَ كَثيرَةٌ

وَلَكِن كَهامٌ لا يَكونَ كَباتِرِ

وَلَكِن كَهامٌ لا يَكونَ كَباتِرِ

So I said to him: Indeed, swords are many,

I said, though many swords in battle clash

but a blunt blade is not like a keen one.

No sword compares to Dhu'l-Faqar's shining arc

فَأَهوَن بِهِ إِن كانَ عَيراً فَإِنَّهُ

فَأَهوَن بِهِ إِن كانَ عَيراً فَإِنَّهُ

سَيَكبو إِذا ما رامَ إِدراكَ ضامِرِ

سَيَكبو إِذا ما رامَ إِدراكَ ضامِرِ

So make light of him if he is an ass, for surely he

And if my friend proves but an ass that brays

will stumble when he tries to catch a lean steed.

When the ferocious lion stirs and comes to war

وَدَعهُ يَقُل في شِعرِنا ما يَشاؤُهُ

وَدَعهُ يَقُل في شِعرِنا ما يَشاؤُهُ

فَما يَضَعُ الحَسناءَ قَولُ الضَرائِرِ

فَما يَضَعُ الحَسناءَ قَولُ الضَرائِرِ

And let him say about our poetry whatever he wishes,

Let him speak of our verse as he desires

for rival wives' words do not diminish a beautiful woman.

No slander makes the graceful beauty mar