مَديحُكَ مَنْ تَعْفُوه تَحْسبُ رفْدَهُ

مَديحُكَ مَنْ تَعْفُوه تَحْسبُ رفْدَهُ

مَنِيعاً متى لم تُرْقِه بالمدائِحِ

مَنِيعاً متى لم تُرْقِه بالمدائِحِ

Praising the man whose favors you seek, you deem his bounty

Your praise of one you pardon makes you think

Unattainable unless you charm him with praises.

You've gained, though he stays stingy till your songs delight him.

ومَنْ ظنَّ بالممدوح ذاك فإنه

ومَنْ ظنَّ بالممدوح ذاك فإنه

بِنيَّته هاجٍ له غيرُ مادحِ

بِنيَّته هاجٍ له غيرُ مادحِ

And whoever thinks that of the man he praises is

He who supposes that the praised one feels

In his intent, his satirist, not his praiser.

That way is raging pointlessly, no praiser.