قالواthey said المديحpraise تزلّفingratiation
قالوا المديح تزلّف
محضpure ومنهand at it تأفّفواthey grumbled
محض ومنه تأفّفوا
They said, “Praise is ingratiation—
They say praise is mere flattery
pure and simple,” and grumbled at it.
Pure sycophancy from which they recoiled
والكلّand everyone يرجوhopes for مدحهpraise of himself
والكلّ يرجو مدحه
باللّهby God أينwhere المنصفthe fair-minded one
باللّه أين المنصف
Yet everyone hopes to be praised.
Yet they all seek praise for themselves
By God, where is the fair-minded one?
By God, where is justice?
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.