ساجِلْ بفصِّك مَنْ أرَدْتَ وباهِهِ

ساجِلْ بفصِّك مَنْ أرَدْتَ وباهِهِ

فكفى به كدًّا لِقَلْبِ الحاسِدِ

فكفى به كدًّا لِقَلْبِ الحاسِدِ

With your ringstone, rival whomever you wish, and vie with him in pride;

Write with your eloquence whoever you wish to satirize

for it is torment enough for the envier’s heart.

For it is enough as anguish to the envious heart

متألقٌ فيه الفِرْنَدُ كأنّه

متألقٌ فيه الفِرْنَدُ كأنّه

وَجْهَيْ غداةِ قِرىً وَضَيْفٍ قاصدِ

وَجْهَيْ غداةِ قِرىً وَضَيْفٍ قاصدِ

The lustre glitters within it, as though it were

In it the blade shines as if it were

my face on a morning of hospitality, with a guest approaching.

The face of hospitality the morning after hosting a guest

لو أن ظَمْأَي منه عُلَّتْ لارْتَوَتْ

لو أن ظَمْأَي منه عُلَّتْ لارْتَوَتْ

من ماءِ جوهره المَعِيْنِ البَارِدِ

من ماءِ جوهره المَعِيْنِ البَارِدِ

If my thirst were given another draught from it, it would be quenched

If my thirst were quenched by it, it would be sated

by the cool, flowing water of its substance.

By the cold, flowing water of its essence

بَهَرَ العُيُونَ إضاءةً في زُرْقَةٍ

بَهَرَ العُيُونَ إضاءةً في زُرْقَةٍ

فكأنّني مُتَخَتِّمٌ بعُطَارِدِ

فكأنّني مُتَخَتِّمٌ بعُطَارِدِ

It dazzled the eyes with radiance amid blueness,

It dazzles the eyes with illumination in its blueness

so it is as though I wear Mercury as a ring.

As if I were imprinting it with a seal ring of sapphire