تساءلني أمّ البنين وإنها

تساءلني أمّ البنين وإنها

لأعلمُ من تحت السماء بأحوالي

لأعلمُ من تحت السماء بأحوالي

Umm al-Banin questions me, though she

The mother of sons asked me, and she

Umm al-Banin questions me, though she is the one most knowledgeable under the heavens regarding my condition.

knows my circumstances better than anyone beneath the sky.

Knows best under the sky about my state,

Do you not know, O mistress of the secluded tent, that I dispel the people's sorrows on the day of my roaming?

ألم تعلمي يا ربّة الخدرِ أنني

ألم تعلمي يا ربّة الخدرِ أنني

أجلّي همومَ القوم في يوم تجوالي

أجلّي همومَ القوم في يوم تجوالي

Do you not know, O mistress of the secluded chamber, that I

"Do you not know, O mistress of the tents, that I

I plunge into the straits of death without fear, and I protect the women of the tribe on the day of terror.

dispel the people's cares on the day I roam?

Bear the worries of the people on the day I wander,

They place their trust in me wherever I am present, more than the wearer of anklets trusts her own husband.

وأغشى مضيق الموت لا متهيّباً

وأغشى مضيق الموت لا متهيّباً

وأحمي نساء الحي في يوم تهوال

وأحمي نساء الحي في يوم تهوال

And I enter death's narrow pass, unafraid,

And brave the straits of death without fear

I am a Commander when my army advances, and the one who kindles the fire of war when no one else dares stoke it.

And protect the tribe's women on a day of terror.

And protect the women of the tribe on the day of panic?

When I encounter the cavalry, I am the first to charge, and if my companions retreat, I am the last to leave.

يثقن النسابي حيثما كنت حاضراً

يثقن النسابي حيثما كنت حاضراً

ولا تثقن في زوجها ذات خلخال

ولا تثقن في زوجها ذات خلخال

Women trust in me wherever I am present,

The women trust me wherever I am present

I defend them against the destruction they fear, so all creation offers thanks for my noble deeds.

Yet no anklet-wearing woman trusts in her husband.

And do not trust their bangled husbands.

I lead the battle banners into the fray intact, and bring them back, riddled by spears, resembling a sieve.

أميرٌ إذا ما كان جيشيَ مقبلاً

أميرٌ إذا ما كان جيشيَ مقبلاً

وموقدُ نار الحرب إذ لم يكن صالي

وموقدُ نار الحرب إذ لم يكن صالي

I am a commander when my army advances,

I am a prince when my army approaches

It is the custom of leaders to seek shelter in their armies, yet my army seeks shelter in me, and my heroes are guarded by me.

And I kindle war's fire when none will face its flames.

And the fire of war is blazing when I am not tardy.

Behind me, horsemen shield themselves on the day of the thrust—horsemen you would deem like lion cubs in the heat of war.

إذا ما لقيت الخيل إنّي لأول

إذا ما لقيت الخيل إنّي لأول

وإن جال أصحابي فإني لها تال

وإن جال أصحابي فإني لها تال

Whenever I meet the cavalry, I am indeed the first,

When I meet the horses I am the first to advance

When my horses neigh, complaining of their wounds, I tell them: "Have patience, like my own patience and endurance."

And if my companions turn back, I follow at their rear.

And if my companions waver I urge them on.

On the day of panic, I freely offer a noble soul, though in times of peace, it is dearer than the most precious treasure.

أدافع عنهم ما يخافون من ردى

أدافع عنهم ما يخافون من ردى

فيشكر كلّ الخلق من حسن أفعالي

فيشكر كلّ الخلق من حسن أفعالي

I shield them from the death they fear,

I defend them from whatever they fear

Ask the French army about me, and you will learn that their dooms are dealt by my sword and my spear.

So all creation gives thanks for the goodness of my deeds.

So all people thank my good deeds.

Ask the night about me, how often I have pierced its darkness, mounted on a lean-flanked steed, well-balanced and tall.

وأورد رايات الطعان صحيحةً

وأورد رايات الطعان صحيحةً

وأصدرها بالرمى تمثال غربال

وأصدرها بالرمى تمثال غربال

And I bring the banners into spear-fighting intact,

And I launch the piercing banners intact

Ask the deserts, the wastelands, and the hills about me, and the plains and rugged grounds—how much I have traversed in my travels.

And bring them out shot through, like a sieve.

And return them with arrows like a sieve.

For my ambition lies only in clashing with the enemy, and defeating mighty champions with my own heroes.

ومن عادة السادات بالجيش تحتمي

ومن عادة السادات بالجيش تحتمي

وبي يحتمي جيشي وتحرسُ أبطالي

وبي يحتمي جيشي وتحرسُ أبطالي

And lords are wont to take shelter with the army,

The masters seek protection with the army,

So do not mock me, and know that I am the one who is feared, even when I have become dust beneath the soil.

But my army finds protection in me, and my champions are guarded through me.

While my army and its heroes seek protection in me.

وبي تتّقي يوم الطعان فوارسٌ

وبي تتّقي يوم الطعان فوارسٌ

تخالينهم في الحرب أمثال أشبال

تخالينهم في الحرب أمثال أشبال

And through me horsemen find protection on the day of spear-fighting,

Horsemen avoid me in war

You would think them like lion cubs in battle.

Though they pretend to be lion cubs in battle.

إذا ما اشتكت خيلي الجراحَ تحمحماً

إذا ما اشتكت خيلي الجراحَ تحمحماً

أقول لها صبرا كصبري وإجمالي

أقول لها صبرا كصبري وإجمالي

Whenever my horses complain of wounds with soft neighs,

When my horses neigh from their wounds

I tell them: 'Patience, like my patience and composure.'

I tell them, 'Patience, like mine and keep going.'

وأبذل يوم الروع نفسا كريمة

وأبذل يوم الروع نفسا كريمة

على أنها في السلم أغلى من الغالي

على أنها في السلم أغلى من الغالي

And on the day of terror I offer up a noble life,

And on the day of panic I sacrifice a noble soul

Though in peace it is dearer than the dearest.

That is more precious to me in peace than what is most precious.

وعنّي سلي جيشَ الفرنسيس تعلمي

وعنّي سلي جيشَ الفرنسيس تعلمي

بأن مناياهم بسيفي وعسّالي

بأن مناياهم بسيفي وعسّالي

And ask the French army about me; you will learn

Ask the French army about me, and you will know

That their deaths come by my sword and my quivering lance.

That their fate is by my sword and my archers.

سلي الليل عني كم شققت أديمه

سلي الليل عني كم شققت أديمه

على ضامر الجنبين معتدل عال

على ضامر الجنبين معتدل عال

Ask the night about me: how often I have torn its skin,

Ask the night about me, how often I tore its veil

On a lean-flanked steed, well-proportioned and tall.

With my waist wrapped and high on the saddle.

سلي البيد عني والمفاوز والربى

سلي البيد عني والمفاوز والربى

وسهلا وحزنا كم طويتُ بترحالي

وسهلا وحزنا كم طويتُ بترحالي

Ask the deserts about me, the wastes and the hills,

Ask the expanse about me, the desert, the hills and plains,

And level and rugged ground—how much I have traversed in my travels!

And the valleys and sorrows - how often I crossed them wandering.

فما همّتي إلا مقارعة العدا

فما همّتي إلا مقارعة العدا

وهزمي أبطالاً شداداً بأبطالي

وهزمي أبطالاً شداداً بأبطالي

For my only aim is to clash with the enemy,

My only thought is to battle the enemy

And to rout mighty champions with my champions.

And defeat fierce and mighty warriors with my warriors.

فلا تهزئي بي واعلمي أنني الذي

فلا تهزئي بي واعلمي أنني الذي

أهاب ولو أصبحتُ تحت الثرى بالي

أهاب ولو أصبحتُ تحت الثرى بالي

So do not mock me, and know that I am the one

So do not mock me, and know that I am the one

Who is feared, even if I lie decayed beneath the soil.

Who is feared, even if I lie under the earth wounded."