1. Behind enemy lines a bold leader charges,
A staunch ally whose valiance astounds,

2. With two swords whose divine strength lays waste,
A goblet whose wine forbidden confounds,

3. A cloak donning honor's purest white,
A breastplate fortifying with might profound,

4. Guiding banners o’er the open plain,
Schooling youths in the art of war's redounds,

5. When Abu-l-Hayja’s scion furrowed his brow,
In the meadows, demise itself did beam and frown,

6. His sword surges to the fight, voracious and swift,
But even swifter proving in its cleaving renown,

7. In severing, if the keen blades failed to deter,
In bonding, though between its edges misery hath bound,

8. His Syrian foes so thickly clustered around,
As though flames greedy to pierce did hem him round,

9. The Romans so made much of him they shrunk
Their elders by his valor thus confound,

10. So the crowns of their sovereigns for Mu'ayyad
Bowed, for before his turban their tops abound!

11. Independent of bold troops, by himself enough,
The troops in need of him, their bulwark sound,

12. When earnestly pursuing his morn and eve,
You'd see the horizons either flourish or ground,

13. He fared and the land was ablaze, watching his pace,
So he advanced on the blaze, fierce to propound!

14. His traits stand revealed and his nature refined,
The dawn itself not brighter or clear profound,

15. From smooth tongues’ blue he brings forth stars
That fill the horizon with auspice to astound,

16. His clouds flash twixt paths, though only blood
Would meet his lightning’s strike and resound,

17. If their tents nigh the bay then collapsed o’er-run,
Behind looms an army dreadful renowned,

18. Holding to Msharrafiya, none could deny
Safety from him, no unassailable mound,

19. The corners of earth stuffed full with his victims,
The choicest from cups and the best cuts around!

20. They glimmer twixt shades at night, and shine bright
Come day, though then they darken and dumbfound,

21. Their arrow-slits tapping the battle-drum beat,
Their banners murmuring loftily with sound,

22. Horses swarmed the plain, until it did seem
Mountains protectively roamed that ground,

23. Assailing the foe with the star faded out,
Continuing though the blackest night profound,

24. They squeezed both flanks of Arsanas, and its troops
Were smashed, from it turning routed unbound!

25. Ever the lions have before you defeat,
And for the deer with you safety is found!

26. For delegations you have gifts prepared,
And travelers places to rest on each round,

27. For kinsmen, homelands, for praise, smiles,
You've checked the enemy, as lions try hounds!

28. You’ve contended until none on earth remain
Who'd refuse you, and given until none can be found!

29. Each day the mortals radiant passes on,
Followed by one ever darker that’s bound,

30. With feats that outdo all prior feats combined,
Speeding past them, enumerated and renowned,

31. You've ruled over both the Bedouins and the Tribes,
Handing themselves over to you in sum,

32. All their energies, save their zeal for you,
Forbidden to them, inviolable profound,

33. What prey would fear a lion whose roar affrights
All foes, and still rest easy within his surround?

34. What guest would doubt a host whose nails have ripped
His enemies, yet from you have clipped and sound?

35. Indeed, I have seen the best man leading others,
One generous when adversity has frowned,

36. How can people attain the glory of a tribe
When glory itself flows out from them unbound!

37. You understood so you gave much and more,
While the uncomprehending, though they gave, confound

38. Our praises stand for you so long as they flow,
Adorned through our minds' working by renown's crown,

39. Our hopes flee if you're distant, but forward race
With bounty when you're near, solid and sound,