كلُّevery امرىءٍman مدحhe praised امرأًa man لنوالهfor his bounty
كلُّ امرىءٍ مدح امرأً لنواله
فأطالand he prolonged فيهabout him فقدthen indeed أرادhe intended هجاءَهُsatire of him
فأطال فيه فقد أراد هجاءَهُ
Every man who praises another for his bounty
Every man praises a man for his generosity,
and prolongs that praise has meant to satirize him.
So if he exaggerates, he intends to insult him.
لوif لمdid not يقدِّرhe reckoned فيهin him بُعْدَthe remoteness of المُسْتقَىthe water-source
لو لم يقدِّر فيه بُعْدَ المُسْتقَى
عندupon الورودcoming to water لَمَاwould not have أطالhe lengthened رشاءَهُhis well-rope
عند الورود لَمَا أطال رشاءَهُ
Had he not reckoned his water-source far below,
If he did not appreciate the remoteness of the goal
on coming to draw water, he would not have lengthened his well-rope.
When bestowing gifts, he would not exaggerate his praise.
غيريexcept me فإنيfor indeed I لاnot أطيلI prolong مدائحيmy poems of praise
غيري فإني لا أطيل مدائحي
إلاexcept لأوفيso I may give in full منthe one whom مدحتُI praised ثناءَهُpraise of him
إلا لأوفي من مدحتُ ثناءَهُ
Except me, for I do not prolong my poems of praise
But I do not exaggerate my eulogies
except to give the one I praise his full due of praise.
Except to give the one I praise his due.
وأَعُدُّand I consider ظلماًan injustice أنto أُقِلَّI lessen مديحَهُpraise of him
وأَعُدُّ ظلماً أن أُقِلَّ مديحَهُ
عمداًdeliberately وأَسخطُand I resent أنْthat يُقِلَّhe lessens عطاءَهُhis bounty
عمداً وأَسخطُ أنْ يُقِلَّ عطاءَهُ
And I deem it unjust to lessen my praise of him
And I would consider it an injustice to intentionally minimize his praise,
deliberately, and I resent his lessening his bounty.
And be angry if he were to minimize his gifts.
Sol 6.1