أتتنيcame to me سطورlines منكfrom you بينamong أفاضلeminent men
أتتني سطور منك بين أفاضل
قضواthey judged ليin my favor بفضلwith the distinction of السبقprecedence فيin النظمverse والنثرand prose
قضوا لي بفضل السبق في النظم والنثر
Lines from you reached me among eminent men,
Lines from you came to me amid the virtuous
Who had judged me preeminent in verse and prose.
Who had preceded me with excellence in verse and prose
فأوهتso they undermined لديهمin their eyes فيin الفصاحةeloquence منصبيmy rank
فأوهت لديهم في الفصاحة منصبي
ولكنbut لتأهيليfor deeming me worthy لهاof them رفعتthey raised قدريmy standing
ولكن لتأهيلي لها رفعت قدري
They undermined my rank in eloquence in those men's eyes,
So I felt inadequate compared to them in eloquence
Yet, because I was deemed worthy of them, they raised my standing.
But to make myself worthy of it, I raised my worth
Sol 6.1