قيلit was said إنthat الوزيرthe vizier قدalready قالcomposed شعراًa poem
قيل إن الوزير قد قال شعراً
يجمعgathers together الجهلignorance شملهُits parts ويعمهand pervades it
يجمع الجهل شملهُ ويعمه
They say the vizier has composed a poem
It was said that the vizier had composed a poem.
that gathers ignorance whole and crowns it with a turban.
Ignorance gathers its parts together and pervades it.
ثمthen أخفاهhe hid it فهوso he is كالهرlike a cat يخراshits
ثم أخفاه فهو كالهر يخرا
فيin زواياcorners البيوتthe houses ثمthen يطمهhe buries it
في زوايا البيوت ثم يطمه
Then he hid it—for he is like a cat that shits
Then he hid it—he is like a cat that shits
in the corners of houses, then covers it over.
in the corners of houses, then buries it.
ليتنيif only I كنتI was حاضراًpresent حينwhen يرويhe recites
ليتني كنت حاضراً حين يروي
هit فأفسوso I fart silently فيinto راحتيmy palm وأشمهand make him smell it
ه فأفسو في راحتي وأشمه
If only I had been present when he recited
If only I were present when he recites
it—so I could fart into my palm and make him smell it.
it, so I could fart silently into my palm and make him smell it.
