كُنتُ أَذُمُّ اِبنَ مالِكٍ فَإِذا

كُنتُ أَذُمُّ اِبنَ مالِكٍ فَإِذا

ذاكَ سَماءٌ عِندَ اِبنِ نَيسانِ

ذاكَ سَماءٌ عِندَ اِبنِ نَيسانِ

I used to disparage Ibn Malik, but behold:

I used to blame the son of Malik, but then

That man is heaven compared with Ibn Naysan.

That one is a sky next to the son of Naysan

قَد قيلَ ما يَحمَدُ المُجَرِّ

قَد قيلَ ما يَحمَدُ المُجَرِّ

بُ لِلأَوَّلِ حَتّى يُجَرِّبَ الثاني

بُ لِلأَوَّلِ حَتّى يُجَرِّبَ الثاني

It has been said: the experienced man gives no praise

It has been said, do not praise the beginner

to the first until he tries the second.

Until you have tried the next

قَطَنتُ في آمِدٍ أُؤَمِّلُهُ

قَطَنتُ في آمِدٍ أُؤَمِّلُهُ

وَأَيُّ خَيرٍ في ظِلِّ قَطّانِ

وَأَيُّ خَيرٍ في ظِلِّ قَطّانِ

I settled in Amid, placing my hopes in him.

I resided in hope which I wished for

And what good is there in a cotton merchant’s shade?

And what good is there in the shadow of cotton