الناسpeople أشباهalike فإنbut if خطبa calamity عراbefalls
الناس أشباه فإن خطب عرا
حطlowers الدنيthe base وشادand raises قدرthe worth الأفضلof the best
حط الدني وشاد قدر الأفضل
People resemble one another—but when calamity comes,
People are alike; but when calamity strikes,
It brings the base man low and exalts the nobler one’s rank.
It lowers the base and raises the worth of the best.
كالعودlike wood مشيتهits gait (probably a typo for 'alike') فإنthen if حرقتهyou burn it
كالعود مشيته فإن حرقته
كرهbecomes unpleasant الدخانthe smoke وطابand becomes sweet عرفthe fragrance المنذلsandalwood (probable intended reading)
كره الدخان وطاب عرف المنذل
His bearing is like wood: if you set it afire,
Like wood, outwardly alike [uncertain reading]; if you burn it,
The smoke is loathsome, but sweet is the scent of mandal-wood.
The smoke is foul, but sandalwood’s fragrance [probable reading] is sweet.
Sol 6.1