ربَّmany a صديقfriend كلغزlike the riddle of سيدناour master
ربَّ صديق كلغز سيدنا
بخالصِwith pure الودّaffection ثمthen ينتقلhe changes
بخالصِ الودّ ثم ينتقل
Many a friend is like our master's riddle:
Many a friend is like our master's riddle:
all pure affection—then he changes;
sincere in affection, then he changes.
كدرهمlike a dirham وجههhis face يشفّreveals عنabout النقthe coin- (word continues)
كدرهم وجهه يشفّ عن النق
دِ-age (completing coinage) خلاصاًas pure وقلبهand his heart زغلadulterated metal
دِ خلاصاً وقلبه زغل
like a dirham whose face reveals the silv—
Like a dirham, his face shows the coinage
—er as pure, while its heart is debased.
to be pure, while his heart is debased.
