عظَّمتَ طيبَك لما نِلتَ مَنزلَةٌ

عظَّمتَ طيبَك لما نِلتَ مَنزلَةٌ

وخِلتَ أنَّكَ فُقْتَ السّادةَ الغُرَرا

وخِلتَ أنَّكَ فُقْتَ السّادةَ الغُرَرا

You made much of your fragrance when you attained a rank.

You magnify your generosity when you attain high rank,

And imagined you had surpassed the illustrious lords.

And imagine you have surpassed the noble lords.

وقلتَ إنَّكَ أهداهُمْ وأسبَقُهُمْ

وقلتَ إنَّكَ أهداهُمْ وأسبَقُهُمْ

ومن ضَلالِ الخُصى أن تَسْبَقَ

ومن ضَلالِ الخُصى أن تَسْبَقَ

And said you were the best-guided and foremost among them.

You say you have guided and preceded them,

And it is folly for testicles to take the lead.

Yet it is the folly of the ignorant to think they lead.