1. يُقالُ إِنَّ اللَيثَ في ذي الشِدَّه

    رَأى مِنَ الذِئبِ صَفا المَوَدَّه

    It is said that the lion, in this distress,

    Found pure affection in the wolf.

  2. فَقالَ يا مَن صانَ لي مَحَلّي

    في حالَتَي وِلايَتي وَعَزلي

    So he said, 'O you who preserved my station for me,

    Both when I ruled and when I was deposed,

  3. إِن عُدتُ لِلأَرضِ بِإِذنِ اللَهِ

    وَعادَ لي فيها قَديمُ الجاهِ

    If I return to the land by God's leave,

    And my former prestige there returns to me,

  4. أعطيكَ عِجلَينِ وَأَلفَ شاةِ

    ثُمَّ تَكونُ والِيَ الوُلاةِ

    I will give you two calves and a thousand sheep;

    Then you shall be governor of governors,

  5. وَصاحِبَ اللِواءِ في الذِئابِ

    وَقاهِرَ الرُعاةِ وَالكِلابِ

    And bearer of the banner among the wolves,

    And vanquisher of the shepherds and dogs.'

  6. حَتّى إِذا ما تَمَّتِ الكَرامَه

    وَوَطِئَ الأَرضَ عَلى السَلامَه

    At last, when the honor was complete,

    And he set foot safely on the land,

  7. سَعى إِلَيهِ الذِئبُ بَعدَ شَهرِ

    وَهوَ مُطاعُ النَهيِ ماضي الأَمرِ

    A month later, the wolf approached him,

    Whose prohibitions were obeyed and whose commands prevailed.

  8. فَقالَ يا مَن لا تُداسُ أَرضُه

    وَمَن لَهُ طولُ الفَلا وَعَرضُه

    So he said, 'O you whose land is not trampled,

    And to whom the wilderness belongs in length and breadth,

  9. قَد نِلتَ ما نِلتَ مِنَ التَكريمِ

    وَذا أَوانِ المَوعِدِ الكَريمِ

    You have indeed gained the honor you have gained,

    And now is the time for the generous promise.'

  10. قالَ تَجَرَّأتَ وَساءَ زَعمُكُما

    فَمَن تَكونُ يا فَتى وَما اِسمُكا

    He said, 'You have grown bold, and yours is a sorry claim!

    Who are you, then, young man, and what is your name?'

  11. أَجابَهُ إِن كانَ ظَنّي صادِقاً

    فَإِنَّني والي الوُلاةِ سابِقا

    He answered him, 'If my belief is correct,

    Then I am the former governor of governors.'