لماwhen تناهتit reached the utmost فيin البلاغةِeloquence ربتةًrank (apparently intended: رتبةً)
لما تناهت في البلاغةِ ربتةً
غنيتit needed nothing عنof الإطراءpraise بالإطرابِby giving delight
غنيت عن الإطراء بالإطرابِ
When it attained the highest rank in eloquence,
When I reached the peak of eloquence,
It needed no praise, for it gave delight.
I no longer needed flattery, bewildered.
وعلتand it rose علىabove أوجthe zenith of الفصاحةeloquence تزدهيshining proudly
وعلت على أوج الفصاحة تزدهي
بمحاسنwith the beauties of الإغراءallure والإغرابand novelty
بمحاسن الإغراء والإغراب
And it rose above eloquence’s zenith, resplendent
I rose to the summit of eloquence, thriving,
With the beauties of allure and novelty.
With the beauties of allurement and estrangement.
لاno طاقةٌstrength منfrom بعدهاafter it لأوليfor those endowed with النهىreason
لا طاقةٌ من بعدها لأولي النهى
إنif يدخلواthey enter فيinto مثلthe like of هذاthis البابgate
إن يدخلوا في مثل هذا الباب
After it, those endowed with reason lack the strength
After this, those who forbid have no power
Should they enter through such a gate.
If they enter into this subject.