وكلand every أديبman of letters لهhe has آلةa tool
وكل أديب له آلة
وهديٌand a bearing يدلّpoints علىto همّتهhis ambition
وهديٌ يدلّ على همّته
And every man of letters has a tool,
And every writer has a style
And a bearing that reveals his ambition.
And guidance that shows his ambition
وماand not المرءa man إلاexcept بإخوانهthrough his brothers
وما المرء إلا بإخوانه
وإنand even if كانhe is يعبطis envied (likely intended: يغبط) فيin نعمتهhis prosperity
وإن كان يعبط في نعمته
A man is nothing without his brothers,
And a man is nothing without his brethren
Even if he is envied for his prosperity.
Though he may revel in his bounty
ولمand did not أرI see مثلthe like of فتىa young man عاقلwise
ولم أر مثل فتى عاقل
يداريmanages tactfully الأمورaffairs علىaccording to فطنتهhis discernment
يداري الأمور على فطنته
I have never seen the like of a wise young man
And I've never seen a wise youth
Who handles affairs tactfully with his discernment,
Who handles affairs with his wit
فيحزيso rewards (likely intended: فيجزي) الصديقthe friend بإحسانهfor his kindness
فيحزي الصديق بإحسانه
ويجزيand repays العدوthe enemy علىduring غفلتهhis inattention
ويجزي العدو على غفلته
Rewarding his friend for his kindness,
Rewarding his friend with kindness
And repaying his enemy when he is off guard,
And repaying his enemy's neglect
ويلبسand dons للدهرfor the age أثوابهits garments
ويلبس للدهر أثوابه
ويسجدand prostrates himself للقردbefore the monkey فيduring دولتهits reign
ويسجد للقرد في دولته
And donning the garments of the age,
Donning the garb of fate
And prostrating himself before the monkey while it rules.
And bowing to the ape in its glory
Sol 6.1