تطلبت أقدار الرجال ولم تكن

تطلبت أقدار الرجال ولم تكن

بذي أدب لا صائك اللَه من غرّ

بذي أدب لا صائك اللَه من غرّ

You aspired to the stature of great men, though you were not

You sought the stature of men, though you were not

a man of refinement—may God not shield you, gullible fool!

a man of refinement—may God not [protect?] you from deception!

أتحسب أن المجد سهل طلابه

أتحسب أن المجد سهل طلابه

فتطلبه باللؤم ويلك والكبر

فتطلبه باللؤم ويلك والكبر

Do you think that glory is easy to pursue,

Do you think glory is easy to pursue,

and seek it through baseness—woe to you—and arrogance?

so you seek it through baseness—woe to you—and arrogance?