قُلْ لِمَنْ يَشْتَهى المَديحَ ولَكِنْ

قُلْ لِمَنْ يَشْتَهى المَديحَ ولَكِنْ

دُونَ مَعْروفه مِطالٌّ ولَيُّ

دُونَ مَعْروفه مِطالٌّ ولَيُّ

Tell the one who longs for praise—but

Say to the one who craves praise, but

before his favor lie stalling and delay:

whose bounty is barred by delay and evasion:

سَوْفَ أَهْجوكَ بَعْدَ مَدْحٍ وتَحْري

سَوْفَ أَهْجوكَ بَعْدَ مَدْحٍ وتَحْري

كٍ وعَتَبٍ وآَخِرُ الدّاءِ كَيُّ

كٍ وعَتَبٍ وآَخِرُ الدّاءِ كَيُّ

I shall satirize you, after praise and prod—

I shall lampoon you after praise and urging

—ding and reproach; the last remedy is cautery.

and reproach; the last remedy for illness is cautery.