مَبَادِي الشِّعْرِ في حِكَمٍ وَفَخْرٍ

مَبَادِي الشِّعْرِ في حِكَمٍ وَفَخْرٍ

وَوَصْفِ الخُوْدِ والظَّبْيِ الغَرِيرِ

وَوَصْفِ الخُوْدِ والظَّبْيِ الغَرِيرِ

Poetry begins with wise sayings and boasting,

The beginnings of poetry are in wisdom and pride

And descriptions of the fair maiden and the guileless gazelle.

And describing the cheeks and the lively gazelle

وَآخِرُهُ سُؤَالٌ وابتِذالٌ

وَآخِرُهُ سُؤَالٌ وابتِذالٌ

وَمَدْحٌ لِلجَليلِ وَلِلحَقِيرِ

وَمَدْحٌ لِلجَليلِ وَلِلحَقِيرِ

And its end is begging and self-abasement,

And its end is begging and importunity

And praise for the exalted and the lowly,

And praising the mighty and the lowly

كَماشٍ في المَطَالِبِ مُنْتَهاهُ

كَماشٍ في المَطَالِبِ مُنْتَهاهُ

وَغَايتُه إلى نَبْشِ القُبُورِ

وَغَايتُه إلى نَبْشِ القُبُورِ

Like one pursuing gain, whose final end

Like a seeker whose goal

And goal is to dig up graves.

Is to dig up graves