إِذا ما رَأَيتُم ناشىءَ الحَيِّ مِنكُمُ

إِذا ما رَأَيتُم ناشىءَ الحَيِّ مِنكُمُ

يُمَسَّحُ مِثلَ الهِندِكيِّ المُحَمَّمِ

يُمَسَّحُ مِثلَ الهِندِكيِّ المُحَمَّمِ

If ever you see a youth of your clan from among you,

If ever you see a youth of your clan among you

keeping up his stroking like the soot-blackened, hulking Hindikī,

being stroked like a coal-black Indian,

مُكِبّاً عَلى الساقَينِ يَمسَحُ رَأسَهُ

مُكِبّاً عَلى الساقَينِ يَمسَحُ رَأسَهُ

نِغاءَ الصَبيِّ بِاليَدَينِ وَبِالفَمِ

نِغاءَ الصَبيِّ بِاليَدَينِ وَبِالفَمِ

making himself loom tall on two legs, stroking his head

bent over the two shins, stroking his head,

with both hands, while his mouth gives a small child’s whine—

as one caresses a child, with both hands and mouth,

فَقوموا عَلى الأَبوابِ مِنهُ وَهَجهِجوا

فَقوموا عَلى الأَبوابِ مِنهُ وَهَجهِجوا

فَإِنَّ الفَتى أَفجِر بِشَخصٍ وَأَغلِمِ

فَإِنَّ الفَتى أَفجِر بِشَخصٍ وَأَغلِمِ

then you two stand guard at the doors against him and shoo him away;

then guard the doors against him and drive him off with shouts,

for the young man is more wanton in person, and more lustful.

for the youth—how depraved a person he is, and how lustful!