وكمand how often قابلتُI greeted تزكيّاapparently “a Turk” (intended: تركيًّا) بمدحيwith my praise
وكم قابلتُ تزكيّا بمدحي
فكادَso he nearly لماbecause of what أُحاولُI seek منهfrom him يُخنَقis choked
فكادَ لما أُحاولُ منه يُخنَق
And how often I have greeted a Turk with my praise,
How many a Tazkiyyah I met with my praise
only for him nearly to choke at what I seek from him.
Yet when I tried with him, he was about to choke
ويلطُمنيand he slaps me إذاwhen ماemphatic particle قُلتُI said ألطَنgold (alṭan)
ويلطُمني إذا ما قُلتُ ألطَن
ويرمقنيand he eyes me إذاwhen ماemphatic particle قلتُI said بِرَمقto give (birmaq)
ويرمقني إذا ما قلتُ بِرَمق
And he slaps me whenever I say “alṭan”—“gold,”
And hits me when I say nonsense
and glares at me whenever I say “birmaq”—“give.”
And stares at me when I say gracefully
وتسقُطُand falls حُرمتيmy dignity أبداforever لديهِin his estimation
وتسقُطُ حُرمتي أبدا لديهِ
فلوso if أنيthat I عَطشتُI became thirsty لقالhe would say بشمَقshoe (bashmaq)
فلو أني عَطشتُ لقال بشمَق
And my dignity is forever diminished in his eyes;
And my dignity always drops with him
so if I were thirsty, he would say “bashmaq”—“shoe.”
If I got thirsty, he would say with contempt
Sol 6.1