رأى العُداةَ ومنهم من دنا ونأى

رأى العُداةَ ومنهم من دنا ونأى

فاستعملَ الماضيين السيفَ والقلَما

فاستعملَ الماضيين السيفَ والقلَما

He saw the foes, some drawing near and others going far away;

He saw the enemies, some close, some distant,

so he wielded both keen weapons—the sword and the pen.

So he used the sword against the aggressors, and the pen against the others,

فلا الذي فَرَّ منهُم في البلادِ نَجَا

فلا الذي فَرَّ منهُم في البلادِ نَجَا

ولا الذي جاء يبغي حربَهُ سَلما

ولا الذي جاء يبغي حربَهُ سَلما

So neither the one among them who fled through the lands escaped,

Neither those who fled across the land could escape,

nor did the one who came seeking war against him remain safe.

Nor those who came desiring peace instead of war