خُذ في الأشعَارِ عَلَى الخَبَبِ

خُذ في الأشعَارِ عَلَى الخَبَبِ

فَقُصورُكَ عَنهُ مِن العَجَبِ

فَقُصورُكَ عَنهُ مِن العَجَبِ

Take up verse in the khabab (trotting) meter;

Take in poetry from the tips

for your falling short in it is astonishing.

Your falling short of it is a wonder

هَذَا وَبَنُو الآدابِ قَضَوا

هَذَا وَبَنُو الآدابِ قَضَوا

لَكَ بِالعَليَاءِ مِن الرُّتَبِ

لَكَ بِالعَليَاءِ مِن الرُّتَبِ

This, though the men of letters have accorded

This, while the people of culture have decreed

you the loftiest of ranks.

For you the highest of ranks