قالوا نرى نفراً عند الملوك سموا

قالوا نرى نفراً عند الملوك سموا

وما لهم همة تسمو ولا وزع

وما لهم همة تسمو ولا وزع

They said: We see some men who have risen high at kings' courts,

They said, "We see people high with kings though they

Yet they have no aspiration that soars, nor moral restraint.

Have not the spirit to be high nor dignity."

وأنت ذو همة في الفضل عالية

وأنت ذو همة في الفضل عالية

فلم ظمئت وهم في الجاه قد كرعوا

فلم ظمئت وهم في الجاه قد كرعوا

And you have a lofty aspiration toward excellence;

And you are one of lofty spirit in excellence,

Why, then, have you gone thirsty while they have drunk deeply of prestige?

Then why are you athirst while they in honor have drunk full?

فقلت باعوا نفوساً واشتروا ثمناً

فقلت باعوا نفوساً واشتروا ثمناً

وصنت نفسي فلم أخضع كما خضعوا

وصنت نفسي فلم أخضع كما خضعوا

I replied: They sold their souls and obtained a price in return;

I said, "They sold themselves and took a paltry price.

And I guarded my soul, so I did not submit as they submitted.

I kept myself and would not bow as they bowed down."

قد يكرم القرد إعجاباً بخسته

قد يكرم القرد إعجاباً بخسته

وقد يهان لفرط النخوة السبع

وقد يهان لفرط النخوة السبع

A monkey may be honored out of admiration for its baseness,

The ape is sometimes honored for his antic tricks,

And a lion may be humiliated for its excessive pride.

The lion brought to shame for pride that is too great.