1. أتود أنك تجتني ثمر العلا

    عفواً وأنك في طباع الجوهري

    Do you wish to reap the fruit of eminence

    Without effort, though you share al-Jawhari's nature,

  2. أو كالذي فسدت قَعيدةُ بيته

    فأحالَ يضرب ظهر طيرٍ أبتر

    Or are like the man whose wife went astray,

    So he took to beating the back of a tailless bird?

  3. لا والذي جعل البيانَ مقسماً

    بين الورى وأجلَّ حظَّ البحتري

    No, by Him who apportioned eloquence

    Among humankind and made al-Buhturi's share great:

  4. ما ودَّ ذا ذو مِرّةٍ ولو أنه

    نالت يداه عطارداً والمشتري

    No man of sound judgment would wish this, even if

    His hands reached Mercury and Jupiter.