أَلا اَبلِغ سُلَيماً وَأَشياعَها

أَلا اَبلِغ سُلَيماً وَأَشياعَها

بِأَنّا فَضَلنا بِرَأسِ الهُمامِ

بِأَنّا فَضَلنا بِرَأسِ الهُمامِ

Lo, tell Sulaym and its allies

Convey to Sulaima and her friends

that we surpassed them with the champion’s head;

That we have excelled as valiant warriors,

وَأَنّا صَبَحناهُمُ غارَةً

وَأَنّا صَبَحناهُمُ غارَةً

فَأَروَتهُمُ مِن نَقيعِ السِمامِ

فَأَروَتهُمُ مِن نَقيعِ السِمامِ

and that we assailed them in a dawn raid

And we raided them at dawn

that quenched their thirst with an infusion of venom.

Quenching them with the purest wine.

وَعَبساً صَبَحنا بِثَهلانِهِم

وَعَبساً صَبَحنا بِثَهلانِهِم

بِكَأسٍ وَلَيسَ بِكَأسِ المُدامِ

بِكَأسٍ وَلَيسَ بِكَأسِ المُدامِ

And ʿAbs we assailed at dawn at their Thahlan,

Frowning, we greeted them at daybreak

with a cup—and not a cup of wine.

With a cup, not a cup for revelry,

وَثَعلَبَةُ الرَوعِ قَد عايَنوا

وَثَعلَبَةُ الرَوعِ قَد عايَنوا

خُيولاً عَلَيها أُسودُ الأَجامِ

خُيولاً عَلَيها أُسودُ الأَجامِ

And Thaʿlaba of Terror have indeed beheld

And the cunning foxes witnessed

horses bearing lions of the thickets.

Horses, on them the darkest armor,

يَلوذونَ مِنّا حِذارَ اللِقا

يَلوذونَ مِنّا حِذارَ اللِقا

فَضَرباً وَطَعناً وَحُسنَ النِظامِ

فَضَرباً وَطَعناً وَحُسنَ النِظامِ

They seek refuge from us, fearing the encounter—

They flee from us, fearing the encounter,

then blows and spear-thrusts, and a splendid array.

Striking, stabbing and excellent discipline.

وَسُقنا لِرائِمِهِم سُجَّداً

وَسُقنا لِرائِمِهِم سُجَّداً

بِأَحداجِها وَذَواتِ الحِزامِ

بِأَحداجِها وَذَواتِ الحِزامِ

And we drove them, bowed down, for the one seeking them,

We offered to their wives unveiled

with their camel-litters and the girdled ones.

With their anklets and belted robes.