وصُحبةِ قومٍ لو يُقاس أجلُّهُمْ

وصُحبةِ قومٍ لو يُقاس أجلُّهُمْ

الى الكَلْبِ كان الكلبُ أعلى وأرأسا

الى الكَلْبِ كان الكلبُ أعلى وأرأسا

And the company of a people—if their noblest were compared

And the company of people whose lifetimes

to a dog, the dog would be loftier and more eminent.

If compared to a dog, the dog would be superior and of higher rank

شكا الدهرُ منهم علةً جوفَ بطنِه

شكا الدهرُ منهم علةً جوفَ بطنِه

فصيّرها في طيّ أعراضِهم فُسا

فصيّرها في طيّ أعراضِهم فُسا

Time complained of an ailment from them deep within its belly,

Time complained of an ailment in its hollow belly

so it turned it into farts within the folds of their reputations.

So it placed it in the folds of their dispositions, rotten

عصَتْ وعسَتْ أعوادُهم حين ساقَنا

عصَتْ وعسَتْ أعوادُهم حين ساقَنا

إليهم وكم قالوا لنا إذْ عسا عسى

إليهم وكم قالوا لنا إذْ عسا عسى

Their branches refused to yield and hardened when it drove us

Their sticks disobeyed and faltered when we led

to them; and how often they told us, when it grew harsh, 'Perhaps.'

Them to it, and how much they said to us when it faltered, faltered