1. فَدَيْتَ الدُّيوكَ بِذِبحٍ عَظيمِ

    وَأَنقَذتَهُمْ مِن عَذابٍ أَلِيمِ

    You ransomed the roosters with a mighty sacrifice,

    And saved them from painful torment.

  2. فَنارِي لَهُمْ مِثلُ نارِ الخَليلِ

    وَنارُكَ لي مِثلُ نارِ ا لكليمِ

    For my fire is to them like Abraham's fire,

    And your fire to me is like Moses' fire.

  3. وَذُو العُرْفِ تَاللّهِ في جَنّةٍ

    فَكُنْ واثِقاً بالأَمانِ العَظيمِ

    And the crested one, by God, is in paradise,

    So rest assured of great safety.

  4. لَقَد صَفَّقوا طَرَباً بِالجنَاحِ

    كتَصفِيقِ شَادٍ بِصَوْتٍ رَخِيمِ

    Indeed, they clapped their wings in delight,

    Like the clapping of a mellow-voiced singer.

  5. مَشَوْا كالطَّواوِيسِ في مَلْبَسٍ

    بَهِىِّ البُرودِ بَهِيجِ الرُّقومِ

    They walked like peacocks in attire

    Of splendid striped robes and delightful patterns.

  6. وَجَادَتْ بِهِمْ راحَةٌ كالغَمامِ

    فَجاءَتْ بأَحسنِ رَوْضٍ وَسِيمِ

    And a palm like a raincloud bestowed them,

    Thus bringing the loveliest of fair meadows.

  7. وَكَمْ أَيقظوا نائماً بِالأَذانِ

    غدا بِجَلاءِ الظَّلامِ البَهيمِ

    And how many a sleeper they have roused with the call to prayer,

    At dawn, dispelling the pitch-black darkness.

  8. كأَني أُشاهِدُهُمْ كالقُضَاةِ

    لِسَمْتٍ عَلِيهِمْ كَسَمْتِ الحَلِيمِ

    I seem to see them as judges,

    For their bearing is like a forbearing man's.

  9. وَإلا أَزِمّةُ دارٍ غَدَتْ

    بِهِمْ حُرُماً أُمَنَا لِلحَريمِ

    Or else chamberlains of a house that has become

    Through them a sanctuary—trusted keepers of the harem.

  10. وَنِعْمَ الفِداءُ لَهُمْ قد بَعَثْتَ

    من الفائقات ذَواتِ الشُُّحُومِ

    And what a splendid ransom you have sent for them—

    From the choicest, laden with fat.

  11. أَعَدْنَ ا لشَّبابَ إلى مَطبخِي

    وقد كانَ شَابَ بِحَمْلِ الهُمُومِ

    They restored youth to my kitchen,

    Which had grown gray beneath its load of cares.

  12. وَعَادَتْ قُدُوريَ زِنجيَّةً

    فَأَعجِبْ بِزنْجِيةٍ عِندَ رومِ

    And my pots have turned black as a Zanj woman—

    So marvel at a Zanj woman among Romans!

  13. وَطَالَ لِسَانٌ لِنارِي بهِ

    خَصَمْتُ خُطوباً غدَتْ مِن خُصُومِ

    And my fire's tongue grew long; with it

    I outargued calamities that had become my foes.

  14. وَأَمسيْتُ ضَيْفَكَ في مَنْزِلي

    وَمَن فيهِ ضَيْفٌ يضيفِ الكريمِ

    And I have become your guest in my own home,

    And whoever is there is a guest of the generous man.

  15. وَقَد أَنبتتْ صَدَقاتُ الوَزِيرِ

    لَهُمْ مَا لَهُمْ مِن دَمٍ أو لُحومِ

    And the vizier's alms have caused to grow

    For them whatever blood or flesh they possess.