ولوand if لمnot يكنhe were يدريknow بماof what جهلwas ignorant of الورىhumankind
ولو لم يكن يدري بما جهل الورى
منof الفضلexcellence لمnot تنفقfind a market عليهwith him الفضائلvirtues
من الفضل لم تنفق عليه الفضائل
And had he not known what humankind did not know
Though he knew not what excellence the world was ignorant of,
Of excellence, virtues would have found no market with him.
Excellences would not have been spent upon him,
لئنeven if كانhe was مناfrom us قابa span قوسa bow فبينناthen between us
لئن كان منا قاب قوس فبيننا
فراسخleagues منowing to إجلالهreverence for him ومراحلand journey-stages
فراسخ من إجلاله ومراحل
Though he is a bow’s length from us, between us lie
If between us there was but a bowshot, yet between us
Leagues and journey-stages, owing to reverence for him.
Are miles of his greatness and stages.
Sol 6.1