ولست وأن قلت القريض بشاعر

ولست وأن قلت القريض بشاعر

فأعطي ما قد قلته القل والكثرا

فأعطي ما قد قلته القل والكثرا

I am no poet, though I have composed verse;

I am no poet, though I have spoken verse,

so I offer what I have uttered, little and much.

To be given little or much for what I have said.

ولكن بحر العلم بين أضالعي

ولكن بحر العلم بين أضالعي

طمى فرمى من دره النظم والنثرا

طمى فرمى من دره النظم والنثرا

Rather, an ocean of knowledge within my ribs

But the sea of knowledge between my ribs

swelled and cast forth from its pearls both verse and prose.

Has overflowed, casting forth verse and prose from its pearls.

ولو كان لي مال بذنت رقابه

ولو كان لي مال بذنت رقابه

لمن يعتفيكم أو يذيع لكم شكرا

لمن يعتفيكم أو يذيع لكم شكرا

And if I had wealth, its necks would grow fat

If I had wealth, I would [give away] its necks,

for whoever comes seeking from you or proclaims thanks to you.

To whoever seeks your bounty or proclaims gratitude to you.

فقد قنعت والحمد لله همتي

فقد قنعت والحمد لله همتي

وفزت وما أبغي بمدحكم أجرا

وفزت وما أبغي بمدحكم أجرا

For my aspiration has been satisfied—praise be to God—

For my ambition is content—praise be to God—

and I have triumphed; I seek no reward for praising you.

And I have succeeded; I seek no reward for praising you.

وما طلبي الا السرير وانما

وما طلبي الا السرير وانما

سريت اليكم ابتغي بكم النصرا

سريت اليكم ابتغي بكم النصرا

My quest is for nothing but the throne; I have only

I ask for nothing but the throne; and only

journeyed by night to you, seeking victory through you.

To seek victory with your aid have I journeyed to you by night.