رجونا بديوان المعدّيّ راحةً

رجونا بديوان المعدّيّ راحةً

فلم تندَ منهُ راحةٌ وبنسانُ

فلم تندَ منهُ راحةٌ وبنسانُ

We hoped for relief at al-Maʿaddī’s bureau,

We sought in al-Mu'addib's Diwan

Yet neither palm nor fingers [conjectural reading] were moistened by it.

Rest, though rest in it there is none;

وكائن به من صارخ متضوّر

وكائن به من صارخ متضوّر

وذي حاجةٍ يقضي به ويهان

وذي حاجةٍ يقضي به ويهان

And how many there cry out, writhing in pain,

Yet, had it not been a record

And how many a needy man dies there and is humiliated!

Of war made real and battles won,

ولو لم يكن ديوان حربٍ محققاً

ولو لم يكن ديوان حربٍ محققاً

لما كان فيهِ صارمٌ وسنان

لما كان فيهِ صارمٌ وسنان

Had it not truly been a bureau of war,

Swords within its lines would not gleam

There would have been no Ṣārim or Sinān—a keen sword or spearhead—within it.

Nor spears in its verses be shown.