كَمMany منof خليلٍa close friend كانَwas عندِيto me شهْدَةًa honeycomb
كَم من خليلٍ كانَ عندِي شهْدَةً
حتّىuntil بلَوْتُI experienced المرَّthe bitterness منof أخلاقِهِhis character
حتّى بلَوْتُ المرَّ من أخلاقِهِ
How many a friend once seemed a taste of honey to me,
Many a close friend was a honeycomb to me,
How many a friend of mine his sweetness lent me,
How many a friend was once like honeycomb to me,
until I tested the bitterness of his character—
until I experienced the bitterness of his character.
Until the bitter in his make showed slow;
Until I tested the bitterness of his character;
كالمِلحlike salt يُحسَبُis thought to be سُكَّراًsugar فيin لونهِits color
كالمِلح يُحسَبُ سُكَّراً في لونهِ
أَوor حجمهِits size ويَحولُand it changes عندat مَذاقِهِits taste
أَو حجمهِ ويَحولُ عند مَذاقِهِ
like salt mistaken for sugar by its color
Like salt, mistaken for sugar because of its color
Like salt, in look white, witless folk suppose it,
Like salt, taken for sugar by its color,
or its shape, yet proving otherwise when tasted.
or its size, yet proving otherwise when tasted.
Yet when it's torn, its bitter taste they know.
Or its grain, yet it transforms upon the tasting.
Sol 6.1