مدحتُI praised مَعاشراًgroups of people عُرَراًcontemptible men
مدحتُ مَعاشراً عُرَراً
حسبتI thought بأنهمthat they were غررُmen of distinction
حسبت بأنهم غررُ
I praised groups of contemptible men,
I praised a group of people blindly
thinking they were men of distinction.
Thinking they were gems
فماyet they did not رَفَدواthey gave gifts ولاnor وعدواthey promised
فما رَفَدوا ولا وعدوا
ولاnor اعتلّواthey offered excuses ولاnor اعتذرواthey apologized
ولا اعتلّوا ولا اعتذروا
Yet they neither gave gifts nor made promises,
But they did not repay or promise
nor offered excuses nor apologized.
Nor apologize or make excuses