إِذاwhen اِجتَمَعَتgather عَلياthe nobility of مَعَدٍّMaʿadd وَمُذحَجٍand Madhḥij
إِذا اِجتَمَعَت عَليا مَعَدٍّ وَمُذحَجٍ
بِمَعرَكَةٍin a battle كُبرىmighty فَإِنّيthen indeed I أَميرُهاits commander
بِمَعرَكَةٍ كُبرى فَإِنّي أَميرُها
When the nobles of Maʿadd and Madhḥij gather
When 'Ulayya and Muḍḥij unite
When the high nobility of Ma'add and Madhhij assemble
in a mighty battle, I am its commander.
In a great battle, I am their commander.
For a mighty battle, then I am its commander;
مُسلِمَةًleaving unharmed أَكفالَthe hindquarters of خَيليmy horses فيin الوَغىthe fray
مُسلِمَةً أَكفالَ خَيلي في الوَغى
وَمَكلومَةًand wounded لِبانُهاtheir breasts وَنُحورُهاand their throats
وَمَكلومَةً لِبانُها وَنُحورُها
My horses’ hindquarters remain unharmed in the fray,
My horses charge into the fray submissively,
The hindquarters of my steeds remain unscathed in the fray,
while their breasts and throats are wounded.
Their chests and necks bound tight.
While their chests and throats are riddled with wounds;
حَرامٌforbidden عَلىfor أَرماحِناour spears طَعنُstabbing مُدبرٍone who retreats
حَرامٌ عَلى أَرماحِنا طَعنُ مُدبرٍ
وَتَندَقُّand splinter مِنهاof them فيin الصُدورِthe chests صُدورُهاtheir points
وَتَندَقُّ مِنها في الصُدورِ صُدورُها
It is forbidden for our spears to stab one who retreats,
It is taboo for our spears to stab one who flees.
It is forbidden for our spears to strike a retreating back,
and their points splinter within chests.
Rather they plunge into chests as adversaries charge.
But their shafts shatter deep within the chests of men.
Sol 6.1