هَل للوزيرِ أدامَ اللهُ دولتَه

هَل للوزيرِ أدامَ اللهُ دولتَه

في صاحب ٍيتحرَّى نُصْحَ مَنْ صَحِبا

في صاحب ٍيتحرَّى نُصْحَ مَنْ صَحِبا

Does the vizier—may God perpetuate his rule—

Does the minister, may God prolong his rule,

have need of a companion who strives to give sincere counsel to those he befriends,

Have a companion seeking counsel from his friends?

وعارفٍ بفنونِ الشِّعرِ يَنقُدُها

وعارفٍ بفنونِ الشِّعرِ يَنقُدُها

نَقْدَ الصيَّارِفَةِ الأوراقَ والذَّهَبا

نَقْدَ الصيَّارِفَةِ الأوراقَ والذَّهَبا

and is versed in the arts of poetry, appraising them

One knowledgeable in the disciplines of poetry, critiquing it

as money-changers assay silver coins and gold?

Like money-changers appraise coins and gold?

طافَ الذكاءُ به يوماً يكلِّفُهُ

طافَ الذكاءُ به يوماً يكلِّفُهُ

فكادَ يُضرِمُ في أثوابِه اللَّهَبَا

فكادَ يُضرِمُ في أثوابِه اللَّهَبَا

Intelligence circled him one day, taxing him,

Intellect visited him one day and nearly

and nearly kindled a flame within his clothes.

Lit a fire in his clothes.

لو أنّ صاحِبَه يوماً يكلِّفُه

لو أنّ صاحِبَه يوماً يكلِّفُه

ثِقْلَ الجِبالِ إذا ما عدَّه تَعِبا

ثِقْلَ الجِبالِ إذا ما عدَّه تَعِبا

Were his companion one day to burden him

If only his companion would task him one day

with the weight of mountains, he would not count it toil.

With the weight of mountains, if he counts it tiring.

فَخُذْهُ يَرْضَ الذي تُوليه من حَسَنٍ

فَخُذْهُ يَرْضَ الذي تُوليه من حَسَنٍ

ولو نفى الأصفرَين الظَّمْأ والسَّغَبا

ولو نفى الأصفرَين الظَّمْأ والسَّغَبا

So take him; he will be content with whatever kindness you grant him,

So take what pleases you of his benevolence,

even if it only banishes the two yellow ones—thirst and hunger.

Even if it denies the thirsty and famished their wants.