قالواthey said أجادexcelled البحتريُّal-Buhturi
قالوا أجاد البحتريُّ
كماjust as أجادexcelled أبوfather of (Abu) نواسNuwas
كما أجاد أبو نواس
They said: al-Buhturi excelled,
They said Al-Buhturi excelled
just as Abu Nuwas excelled.
As Abu Nuwas excelled before
فأجبتso I replied كانواthey were فيamong أناbeginning of أناس, meaning 'people'
فأجبت كانوا في أنا
سٍcompletion of أناس, meaning 'people' همthey ولسناand we are not فيamong أُناسِpeople
سٍ هم ولسنا في أُناسِ
So I replied: they were among peo-
I replied they were in ego
ple, while we are not among people.
While we are not in people anymore
وإذاand if نظرتyou reflect فماthen not أجاbeginning of أجاد, meaning 'excelled'
وإذا نظرت فما أجا
دcompletion of أجاد, meaning 'excelled' سوىexcept المواهبtalents فيin القياسcomparison
د سوى المواهب في القياس
And if you reflect, none excel-
And when I looked, none excelled
led except talents, in comparison.
Except talents in comparison