1. يَا جَارِيَ الْمَحْبُوبِ مَا أَلْطَفَكْ

    قَدْ فَاتَنِي يَا جَارُ أَنْ أَعْرُفَكْ

    O my beloved neighbor, how kind you are!

    I had failed, O neighbor, to know you.

  2. أَوْلَيْتَنِي مُمْتَدِحاً مَا اقْتَضَتْ

    بِلاَغَةُ الْوَضْفِ فَمَا أَوْصَفَكْ

    In praising me, you bestowed what was called for

    By eloquent description—how well you describe!

  3. مَا أَنَا مَنْ شَرَّفَ أَوْطَانَهُ

    ذَاكَ خيَالٌ نَظْمُهُ شَرَّفَكْ

    I am not the one who brought honor to his homelands;

    That is a fancy; setting it in verse has brought you honor.

  4. سُبْحَانَ مَنْ أعْطَاكَ هَذَا الحِجَى

    وَفِي المَعَانِي فِطْرَةً صَرَّفكْ

    Glory to Him who gave you this wisdom,

    And, by innate gift, set you to work with meanings.

  5. إِيهِ فَتَى الفُتْيَانِ أَنَّ الَّذِي

    أَوْلاَكَ هَذَا الجاهَ قَد أَنْصَفَكْ

    Say on, youth of youths: he who

    Bestowed this prestige upon you has indeed done you justice.

  6. عِشْ وَاسْمُ في الْقَوُمِ فَمَا مِنْ فَتىً

    فِي كُلِّ فَضْلٍ وَاقِفٍ مَوِقفَكْ

    Live, and rise among the people, for there is no youth

    Who stands your equal in every excellence.