1. When Fate saw him a revered king,
It attacked him with a trial, but he met it with his resolve.
١. وَلما رآهُ الدَهرُ مَلكاً مُعَظَّماً
رَماهُ بِأَمرٍ فَاتَّقاهُ بِأَنفِهِ
2. Had another been attacked with what it had attacked him,
He would have fled quickly, shielding his back.
٢. وَلو غَيرُهُ يُرمى بِما كانَ قَد رَمى
لَولّى سَريعاً وَاتقاهُ بِرِدفِهِ
3. Thus the valiant warrior in battle -
He is only struck from the front, never from behind.
٣. كَذا الباسلُ الضِرغامُ في الحَربِ إِنَّما
يُصابُ بِوَجهٍ لا يُصابُ بِخَلفِهِ