دعانِي إلى بيتِه سَيِّدٌ

دعانِي إلى بيتِه سَيِّدٌ

له الخُلُقُ الأشرَفُ الأظرَفُ

له الخُلُقُ الأشرَفُ الأظرَفُ

A gentleman invited me to his house—

A gentleman invited me to his house;

a man of the noblest, most charming character.

His character is most noble and charming.

فلازَمْتُ بَيتي ولاطَفْتُهُ

فلازَمْتُ بَيتي ولاطَفْتُهُ

بعذرٍ هُوَ الأظرفُ الأطرفُ

بعذرٍ هُوَ الأظرفُ الأطرفُ

So I stayed at home and courteously replied

So I kept to my house and treated him courteously,

with an excuse—the wittiest and most ingenious:

With an excuse most charming and original:

عُطارِدُ نجمي ولا شَكَّ أنَّ

عُطارِدُ نجمي ولا شَكَّ أنَّ

عُطارِدَ في بَيتِهِ أشرَفُ

عُطارِدَ في بَيتِهِ أشرَفُ

“Mercury is my star, and there is no doubt

Mercury is my star, and there is no doubt that

that Mercury, in its own house, is more exalted.”

Mercury is nobler in its own house.