أعلىthe loftiest المطالبِaims أدناهاthe nearest of them إلىto العَطَبruin
أعلى المطالبِ أدناها إلى العَطَب
وأمجدُand the most glorious السُّبلpaths أقصاهاthe farthest of them عنfrom الأدبِliterary learning
وأمجدُ السُّبل أقصاها عن الأدبِ
The loftiest aims lie nearest to ruin,
The highest of demands is the lowest in grace
And the most glorious paths lie farthest from literary learning.
And the most glorious of paths is the furthest from propriety
ولاand not أرىI see فيamong الورىhumankind شيئينtwo things بينهماbetween them both
ولا أرى في الورى شيئين بينهما
كبُعدlike the distance ماwhat lies بينbetween هذاthis العلمlearning والنَّشَبِand wealth
كبُعد ما بين هذا العلم والنَّشَبِ
Nor do I see among humankind two things whose separation
I see not in existence two things more distant
Is like the distance between this learning and wealth.
Than this knowledge and that ignorance
وربماand sometimes أشرفَrose المجدودُthe fortunate man فيin دَعةٍease
وربما أشرفَ المجدودُ في دَعةٍ
علىto مراتبَranks قدindeed أعيَتproved unattainable علىto الطَّلَبstriving
على مراتبَ قد أعيَت على الطَّلَب
And sometimes the fortunate man rises at ease
And perhaps the most honorable in poverty
To ranks that have proved beyond striving’s reach.
Ranks above stages that have exhausted seekers
Sol 6.1