قد يفِي للصديقِ غير أمينِهْ

قد يفِي للصديقِ غير أمينِهْ

ويخونُ الصديقَ غيرُ ظنينِهْ

ويخونُ الصديقَ غيرُ ظنينِهْ

One other than a friend's trusted man may keep faith with him,

A friend may fail his faithful friend

And one he does not suspect may betray him.

And a friend suspect what is not true

ويرى غائبَ الصواب غَبيٌّ

ويرى غائبَ الصواب غَبيٌّ

ويغيبُ الصوابُ عن مُسْتَبِينه

ويغيبُ الصوابُ عن مُسْتَبِينه

A fool may see the hidden right course,

A fool sees good sense absent

While the right course eludes one who discerns it.

And good sense is lost on the obstinate

نَذَرَتْ عصبةٌ بأنّيَ أستو

نَذَرَتْ عصبةٌ بأنّيَ أستو

في رغيفاً وجانباً مِنْ قرينه

في رغيفاً وجانباً مِنْ قرينه

A band took alarm that I was consuming

A group swore that I was equal

A loaf, and a portion of its companion.

To a loaf of bread, a friend at my side

فتداعتْ تداعِيَ القَوْمِ في الثَّل

فتداعتْ تداعِيَ القَوْمِ في الثَّل

لَة للَّيث طالعاً من عرينه

لَة للَّيث طالعاً من عرينه

So they called one another as men among a flock do,

So they rushed like lions on a herd

Against a lion emerging from its lair.

A great lion emerging from its den

ثم صاحوا السلاَح فانصاتَ كهلٌ

ثم صاحوا السلاَح فانصاتَ كهلٌ

فيلسوفٌ وبندُهم في يمينه

فيلسوفٌ وبندُهم في يمينه

Then they cried, 'To arms!' and a middle-aged man came forward—

Then they shouted for weapons, but an old

A philosopher, their banner in his right hand.

Philosopher, their ropes in his hand, fell silent

قلتُ لا بأْس إنَّ في ابنِ أبي القا

قلتُ لا بأْس إنَّ في ابنِ أبي القا

سم شُغْلاً عن غَثِّكُمْ بسمينه

سم شُغْلاً عن غَثِّكُمْ بسمينه

I said, 'No matter: in Ibn Abi al-Qa-

I said no matter, truly the son of Abi Al-Qasim

sim I find distraction from your lean fare through his rich fare.

Has occupation enough with his plumpness

لا تخافُوا وأيقنوا أيها القو

لا تخافُوا وأيقنوا أيها القو

م بِبَيْعِي خسيسَكُمْ بِثَمينه

م بِبَيْعِي خسيسَكُمْ بِثَمينه

Do not fear; be certain, O peo-

Fear not my people, be assured

ple, that I trade your paltry fare for his precious fare.'

That I sell you cut-rate to the highest bidder

بأبي من غنَيْتُ عن كُلِّ غُزْر

بأبي من غنَيْتُ عن كُلِّ غُزْر

غيرِ عذْبٍ بعذبه ومعينه

غيرِ عذْبٍ بعذبه ومعينه

May my father be his ransom! I need no abundant water

By the one who enriched me beyond all

That is not sweet, thanks to his sweet water and flowing spring.

Sweet flowing springs and fountains

بأبي من غَنيتُ عن كل زُورٍ

بأبي من غَنيتُ عن كل زُورٍ

وغُرورٍ بحقه ويقينه

وغُرورٍ بحقه ويقينه

May my father be his ransom! I need no falsehood

By the one who enriched me beyond all

Or deception, thanks to his truth and certainty.

Lies and deceptions, with truth and certainty

سوءةً سوءةً لحاقرِ حُرٍّ

سوءةً سوءةً لحاقرِ حُرٍّ

وهواناً معجَّلاً لمُهينه

وهواناً معجَّلاً لمُهينه

Shame, shame on whoever scorns a noble man,

Evil, evil to him who scorns the noble

And swift humiliation on whoever dishonors him!

And hastens vile disgrace upon the disgraced

سوءةَ سوءةَ لشاهدِ وُدٍّ

سوءةَ سوءةَ لشاهدِ وُدٍّ

غرَّني من مُكَمِّنِ وكمينه

غرَّني من مُكَمِّنِ وكمينه

Shame, shame on an outward show of affection

Evil, evil to him who befriends for show

That deceived me about a plotter and his ambush!

And tricks me from his lurking, hidden place