لَئن أَنتَ ناصَرتَ بَدرَ الدُجى

لَئن أَنتَ ناصَرتَ بَدرَ الدُجى

وَنازَعَت شَمس الضُحى أَوجَها

وَنازَعَت شَمس الضُحى أَوجَها

Even if you championed the full moon of night

Though you helped the full moon rise in the gloomy dark,

and vied with the morning sun for its zenith,

And competed with the sun at the break of dawn,

لَما كُنتَ أَفضَل في حالَةٍ

لَما كُنتَ أَفضَل في حالَةٍ

مِنَ الكَلبِ كَلّا وَلا أَوجَها

مِنَ الكَلبِ كَلّا وَلا أَوجَها

you would certainly be no better in any circumstance

You would be no better than a dog, no, not at all,

than a dog—no, nor more distinguished.

If this was the state of your character.