1. I pretended to be wealthy and relieved my worries,
My passion overwhelmed me, leading me astray,

2. Oh how my great worries have flown away!
Gray hairs appeared before their time.

3. After that, I prepared ten fine horses,
Galloping freely, seeking plunder and spoils,

4. Ten special steeds, unmatched and peerless,
That no one had broken in before me.

5. We raided the divided tribes,
Like a flock of swooping eagles,

6. Raiding dovecotes and homes,
Or ships raging in the sea that made waves tremble.

7. The first is elegant and stoutly built,
Swifter by land than ships by sea,

8. None from Qastamuni could outrun it,
It takes Damascus and its suburbs in a flash.

9. The second, shining white among the steeds,
Would not sell for a thousand liras,

10. Like lightning, none can match its downpour,
Following thunder claps from behind clouds.

11. The third is salty, full of spirit,
A mare quicker than a wolf in attack,

12. None from Qastamuni could catch it,
Without spurs, my horse wouldn’t even approach it.

13. The fourth is black as a raven’s wing,
Terrifying, scattering the bedouins,

14. Never carrying riders unwillingly,
Forbidden for any to mount against its will.

15. The fifth has a long, flaming tail,
A mare faster than a perfect steed,

16. However far it comes from Nejd,
It circles Damascus before the gates shut.

17. The sixth is yellow, bright yellow,
My knowledge, outrunning the blowing wind,

18. Its riders are from the Qastamuni sunset,
Reaching Damascus by dawn without tiring.

19. The seventh is bright blue, like the sky,
A mare galloping with the wind howling,

20. Its riders become euphoric and enraptured,
However much it hurts, it takes away my grief.

21. The eighth is red like embers,
Chasing away the darkness people flee from,

22. Led by Nimr’s valley unto the peak,
And watered from my river’s abundance.

23. The ninth is green like the wolf’s fur,
Hot-tempered, cutting through the lands, taming them,

24. Since it was created, it never turned away from raids,
Grazing lambs whose bones were not yet hard.

25. The tenth is the lead mare of the steeds,
A steamship cutting through the land violently,

26. Taking your breakfasts away from your nests,
Faster than a spinning wheel the day it breaks.

27. Ten mares fully measured and appraised,
From my ten meadows with fragrant winds,

28. Protect them, O guardians of the virgins!
None surpass them but the noble steeds.

29. I came to the land where my dear one dwells and bought
Ten firmares beyond your dreams,

30. And embroidered textiles woven so finely,
With bracelets like glittering gold dazzling me.

31. And I came to the land of Rum with its soldiers,
And bought ten horses there prancing so proudly,

32. And ten swords with handles that shine,
Wear them, O riders, I present them to you!

33. Ten old horses like wrathful lions,
Gird yourselves with them, O courageous heroes!

34. May none of you live who fears death,
Make my children happy and relieve my worries!

35. Take the tripped arrows, O nimble quivers,
Above our mares like hail pouring down,

36. Without strong necks you cannot carry them,
And the starlings fly like hail pouring down,

37. Without strong necks you cannot carry them,
And the starlings in the meadows set me free.

38. O quivers above the steeds’ croups,
The road, oh lord, has perils and wonders,

39. And here I advise you, for I have grown old,
Before advice, the price makes me despondent.

40. On the first day, wake them at dawn,
On the second day, set out to profit,

41. On the third day, expect the torches,
Behind them, your steeds startle me.

42. At night, travel, O people of generosity, and walk,
Lest the darkness of night catches you sleeping,

43. But wake at the watering place, rouse yourselves,
The land of Turks, its mountains terrify me.

44. Prepare, O people of hooves pounding the earth,
Atop your wheeled carts for traveling,

45. If you are overtaken on the road of destiny,
It doesn’t matter if its edges scrape me.

46. From there unto Kythrea, O people of the steeds,
Come closer after ten requests,

47. You are atop the battle steeds,
Your camels have become so thin to me.

48. From Marash you must take the road,
And from Mardin's plain journey on, O friend,

49. In Diyarbakır expect the banner and yearn,
By day its river Euphrates waters me.

50. From there unto Aleppo, O people of the steeds,
Hama and Homs, mount the hot-blooded steeds!

51. You have reached it, O courageous faces,
Without spurs, your driving hardly suffices me.

52. Behold, Goliath’s spring bids you peace,
O people of the steeds, I have no blame for you,

53. Just if you wish, send me your railings,
And rest, leaving your mares to graze me.

54. Your steeds have stayed with generosity in Damascus,
Reviving the spirit of springtime hospitality,

55. They betrayed us, O brother, though we believed in them,
His eyes must shed tears of blood for me.

56. Spread the perfumes, let generosity fragrance,
Abu Hassan customers of the virgins,

57. Intoxicated, like an intoxicating perfume,
I am aflame, so throw me on the fire!

58. O brother, since the day the betrayers abandoned you,
My heart burns with embers of sorrow,

59. But my wish, if it would bring you back to me,
My heart would find peace from the sciences that preoccupied me.

60. I would find peace if I saw you, even from afar,
None but you, O pillar of my clan,

61. But fate did not allow what I wished for today,
Who believes in destiny visits the afflicted.

62. Let not grief remain, leave it and cast it away,
None but the Lord of the Throne deserves your hopes,

63. If your star in the sky has a blessed course,
Days of fortune must come to me.

64. Nothing but the decree of our Exalted Lord
Can bring you what is behind barriers and seas,

65. Be strong, my beloved, and restrain the fire,
After the day of sorrow, song must come to me.

66. I conclude my words with the prophet Lot and Shuaib,
Interceding for us against its heat and horrors,

67. Saving us from a fate those who know no shame do not comprehend,
Muttering, snarling, the words and meter trouble me.