1. I wept for Shaddad the day he turned away
Oh, for the eloquence of the free and noble Arab!
١. بَكَيْتُ عَلى شَحَادَةَ يَوْمَ وَلَّى
فَيَا لِلْخُطَبِ فِي الحُرِّ الأَرِيبِ
2. And for the cultured mind when it draws
Upon its knowledge, and upon the eloquent tongue!
٢. وَفِي الذَهْنِ الأَدِيبِ إِذَا اسْتُمِدَّتْ
مَعَارِفُهُ وَفِي اللَّسُنِ الخَطيبِ
3. Of that excellent band who lived honorably
And excelled in valor and in the unseen future,
٣. مِنْ النَّفَرِ الأُلَى عَاشَوا كِرَاماً
وَبَرُّوا فِي الشَّهَادَةِ وَالمَغِيبِ
4. And nurtured in themselves such traits
Of perfection, nobility and excellence.
٤. وَرَبُّوا مَنْ نَمَوْهُ عَلَى خَصَالِ
غُوَالٍ فِي النَّجِيبَةِ وَالنَّجيبِ