1. O chief of the tribes, though you are captive,
The valiant white swords have long held others captive for you

2. When you delayed paying the ransom above their heads
The red forelocks wove braids for it

3. O you who, when the steed bears down in battle
Says: don your sandals of thick leather

4. You were no easy prey on the day of battle
Had you but found open ground for the Cumayt

5. A free soul and great resolves bore you away
And the mountains seemed to you shortened from their peaks

6. You saw the saddle-backs in the valley of `Ara`ir
And the Byzantines as wild beasts and the mountains as sand dunes

7. They took you by surprise in the defiles
Like frightened women screaming from every side

8. Why did you not call on your brother, while he wields the sword
Able to ward off the direst calamity and repel mortal dangers

9. Why did you not call on Abu Firas, for he
Is one who, when the prize is hard to reach, attains it

10. His horses answered your need though too late
Galloping like fleet gazelles unleashed

11. A king, when times trip and fall, gives you rest
From the worries of the days, lightening their weight

12. The sword of the Dawla continues to be the ruinous blade
That meets the mighty and sustains heavy burdens

13. With seasoned horses, and swords that strike fire
With thrusting spears, and men quick to charge

14. A warrior who breaks the stubborn when they come back
And kills the enemies if they dare persist

15. We formed ranks at Kharsanah and cut through the cavalry
While the tribesmen took spoil around Qumayra

16. High hopes led them to you, but the gulf intervened
And prevented their crossing.

17. Tomorrow his horses will come to free you
Bearing heroes and heavily caparisoned.

18. Your cousin is not the protector of poets helpless
Before kings, releasing them from their chains