قد كان طبع أبي دلامة إنه

قد كان طبع أبي دلامة إنه

يهجو لأن الهجو وفق جنانه

يهجو لأن الهجو وفق جنانه

Indeed, Abu Dulama’s nature was such that he

My father's nature was to satirize, for

lampooned, for satire accorded with his heart.

Satire was well-suited to his talents.

لكنما هذا الخبيص نهاه إذ

لكنما هذا الخبيص نهاه إذ

مزجت حلاوته بمر لسانه

مزجت حلاوته بمر لسانه

But this khabīṣ sweetmeat restrained him when

But that miser restrained himself when

its sweetness was mixed with the bitterness of his tongue.

The sweetness of his tongue was mixed with bitterness.