أَطعَمَني بَيضَةً وَناوَلَني

أَطعَمَني بَيضَةً وَناوَلَني

مِن بَعدِها ذُقتُ فَقدَهُ قَدَحا

مِن بَعدِها ذُقتُ فَقدَهُ قَدَحا

He fed me an egg and handed me

He fed me an egg, and after

a cup afterward—may I taste the loss of him!

I tasted it, he handed me a cup.

وَقالَ أَيَّ الأَصواتُ يا اِبنَ أَخي

وَقالَ أَيَّ الأَصواتُ يا اِبنَ أَخي

تُريدُ إِنّي أَراكَ مُقتَرِحا

تُريدُ إِنّي أَراكَ مُقتَرِحا

And he said, “Which songs, my nephew,

"Dear nephew," he said, "which voice

do you want? I see you have a request.”

Do you wish for? I see you are suggesting."

فَقُلتُ مقلىً وَصَوتُ جَردَقَةٍ

فَقُلتُ مقلىً وَصَوتُ جَردَقَةٍ

إِن جازَ ذا الإِقتراحُ أَو صَلُحا

إِن جازَ ذا الإِقتراحُ أَو صَلُحا

So I said, “A frying pan, and the sound of a round loaf,

"Broiled," I joked, "and crunchy fried,

if this request is permissible or suitable.”

If that suggestion's allowed, or right."

فَاِشتَطَّ مِن ذاكِ وَاِمتَلا غَضَبا

فَاِشتَطَّ مِن ذاكِ وَاِمتَلا غَضَبا

وَكانَ سَكرانَ طافِحاً فَصَحا

وَكانَ سَكرانَ طافِحاً فَصَحا

At that he flew into a rage and was filled with anger;

At that he was enraged, filled with wrath,

he had been utterly drunk, but then sobered up.

Though drunk, overflowing, he was lucid.

فَقُلتُ إِنّي مَزَحتُ قالَ كَذا

فَقُلتُ إِنّي مَزَحتُ قالَ كَذا

رَأَيتُ حُرّاً بِمِثلِ ذا مَزَحا

رَأَيتُ حُرّاً بِمِثلِ ذا مَزَحا

So I said, “I was joking.” He said, “Is this how

"I jested," I said. "I've seen a freeman jest the same,"

I have seen a gentleman joke about such a thing?”

He said. That's how I saw a joke taken.