وَذِي خِلالٍ كَأَنَّ اللهَ صَوَّرَهَا

وَذِي خِلالٍ كَأَنَّ اللهَ صَوَّرَهَا

مِنْ صِبْغَة اللُّؤْمِ أَوْ مِنْ حَمْأَةِ الرَّيَبِ

مِنْ صِبْغَة اللُّؤْمِ أَوْ مِنْ حَمْأَةِ الرَّيَبِ

And a man whose traits seem to have been fashioned by God

With charms as though God had shaped her

From the dye of baseness, or from the mire of suspicion.

Out of ambergris or out of sunless gloom

نَالَ الْعَلاءَ وَلَكِنْ خَابَ رَاِئدُهُ

نَالَ الْعَلاءَ وَلَكِنْ خَابَ رَاِئدُهُ

عَنْ نُجْعَةِ الْفَضْلِ والآدابِ والْحَسَبِ

عَنْ نُجْعَةِ الْفَضْلِ والآدابِ والْحَسَبِ

He attained high rank, yet his scout failed

She won high rank, but her guide missed

In seeking the pastures of virtue, refinement, and ancestral honor.

The abode of learning, manners, and pedigree

هَجَوْتُهُ رَغْبَةً في الصِّدْقِ إِذْ نَفَرَتْ

هَجَوْتُهُ رَغْبَةً في الصِّدْقِ إِذْ نَفَرَتْ

شَمَائِلِي عَنْ مَقَالِ الْمَدْحِ فِي الْكَذِبِ

شَمَائِلِي عَنْ مَقَالِ الْمَدْحِ فِي الْكَذِبِ

I lampooned him out of a desire for truth, since

I lampooned him, seeking sincerity, when my nature

My nature recoiled from words of false praise.

Recoiled from eulogizing with lies