يقولُون زَيدٌ لِمْ تَركْتَ مديحَهُ

يقولُون زَيدٌ لِمْ تَركْتَ مديحَهُ

وقد ظَهَرتْ مثل النجومِ معاليهِ

وقد ظَهَرتْ مثل النجومِ معاليهِ

They say, “Why have you stopped praising Zayd,

They say, "Zayd, why have you stopped praising him

when his lofty merits have appeared like the stars?”

Though his virtues shine brightly like stars?"

فقلتُ لهم ما ذاكَ جهلاً لِحقّهِ

فقلتُ لهم ما ذاكَ جهلاً لِحقّهِ

عَلَيَّ ولكنْ خِفتُ أن لا أوفّيه

عَلَيَّ ولكنْ خِفتُ أن لا أوفّيه

So I told them, “It was not from ignorance of his claim

I said, "It's not from ignorance of his merit

upon me, but I feared I would not do him justice.

That I've stopped, but fear I cannot do justice."

وماذا عَسَى المدَّاحُ فيه يقولُهُ

وماذا عَسَى المدَّاحُ فيه يقولُهُ

وكلّ غلوٍّ فيه دون الذي فيه

وكلّ غلوٍّ فيه دون الذي فيه

And what could a panegyrist possibly say of him,

What can a praiser say that's adequate?

when every exaggeration about him falls short of what is in him?”

Any praise is less than he deserves.