وصاحب أنس تعشق الفضل نفسه

وصاحب أنس تعشق الفضل نفسه

وحسبك ذو النفس يتيمها الفضل

وحسبك ذو النفس يتيمها الفضل

And a boon companion whose soul is enamored of virtue;

A companion of intimacy you love excellence itself

Enough for you is one whose soul virtue enthralls.

And excellence suffices you, orphaned of excellence as you are

أخو فطنة لم يمزج الغش وده

أخو فطنة لم يمزج الغش وده

ولا هز من عطفي رصانته الجهل

ولا هز من عطفي رصانته الجهل

A man of discernment whose affection deceit has never tainted;

A brother of wisdom has mixed no deceit with his character

Nor has ignorance shaken either flank of his composure.

Nor has ignorance made his firm kindness totter

وقد لقبوه الشمس جهلاً بقدره

وقد لقبوه الشمس جهلاً بقدره

ولم أر شمساً قبلة كلها ظل

ولم أر شمساً قبلة كلها ظل

And they have dubbed him the sun, ignorant of his worth;

And they have named him the Sun out of ignorance of his worth

And never before him have I seen a sun that is wholly shade.

Yet I have not seen a sun whose only aspect is shade