Dead flies in perfume make it stink, And a little foolishness decomposes much wisdom.

Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.

As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

Dead flies can make even perfume stink. In the same way, a little foolishness can spoil wisdom.

Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.

As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.

Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give off a foul odor; so a little foolishness [in one who is esteemed] outweighs wisdom and honor.

Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.