لوif كنتُI were مثلlike ابنson of أبيfather of طاهرٍTahir
لو كنتُ مثل ابن أبي طاهرٍ
لمnot أدَّعِI claim الشعرpoetry بلbut rather النَجْدَهْbravery
لم أدَّعِ الشعر بل النَجْدَهْ
If I were like Ibn Abi Tahir,
If I were like the son of Abi Tahir
I would lay claim not to poetry, but to bravery.
I would not claim poetry, but excellence
حسبُكenough for you منof نجدتهhis bravery أنهthat he
حسبُك من نجدته أنه
يُنْشِدُhe recites مثليto someone like me شعْرَهhis poetry وحْدَهُby himself
يُنْشِدُ مثلي شعْرَه وحْدَهُ
You need no more proof of his bravery than that he
It is enough of his excellence that
Recites his poetry to one like me, all by himself.
He recites poetry like me alone
أماdo you not تُراهthink he خافfeared خَسْفيmy laying low بهof him
أما تُراه خاف خَسْفي به
عنas a result of لطمةa slap مِنِّيَfrom me أوْor قَفْدَهْa cuff on the nape
عن لطمة مِنِّيَ أوْ قَفْدَهْ
Did he not fear, do you think, my laying him low
Do you not see he fears my disparagement of him
With a slap from me, or a cuff on the nape?
Or a blow from me
لَشدَّindeed, how greatly ماexclamatory particle أقدَمhe ventured بؤساًwoe لهto him
لَشدَّ ما أقدَم بؤساً له
بلاwithout سلاحٍa weapon وبلاand without عُدَّهْequipment
بلا سلاحٍ وبلا عُدَّهْ
How boldly he ventured—woe to him!—
How much misery I would bring upon him
Without a weapon and without equipment.
Without any weapons or equipment
Sol 6.1