مَن لِلمُلوك بِشأو الأَصيَد البَطَل

مَن لِلمُلوك بِشأو الأَصيَد البَطَل

هَيهاتَ جاءَتكم مهدية الدولِ

هَيهاتَ جاءَتكم مهدية الدولِ

Who among kings can match the stature of the proud champion?

Who can bring kings to the stature of the proud, valiant hero?

Far from it! She has come to you, a gift from Fortune’s turns.

Far from it! The bestower of kingdoms has come to you.

خَطَبتُ قُرطبةَ الحَسناء إِذ مَنَعَت

خَطَبتُ قُرطبةَ الحَسناء إِذ مَنَعَت

من جاءَ يَخطُبُها بالبيض وَالأَسَلِ

من جاءَ يَخطُبُها بالبيض وَالأَسَلِ

I sought fair Córdoba’s hand when she rebuffed

I wooed fair Córdoba when she had repelled

whoever came to woo her with swords and spears.

whoever came to woo her with bright swords and spears.

وَكَم غَدَت عاطِلا حَتّى عَرضتُ لَها

وَكَم غَدَت عاطِلا حَتّى عَرضتُ لَها

فَأَصبَحت في سُرى الحُلي وَالحُلَلِ

فَأَصبَحت في سُرى الحُلي وَالحُلَلِ

Many a morning she went unadorned, until I presented myself to her;

And long she went unadorned, until I presented myself to her;

then she awoke arrayed in the finest jewelry and robes.

then she awoke amid a night procession of jewels and robes.

عِرسُ المُلوك لَنا في قَصرِها عُرُسٌ

عِرسُ المُلوك لَنا في قَصرِها عُرُسٌ

كُلّ المُلوك بِهِ في مَأتَم الوَجَلِ

كُلّ المُلوك بِهِ في مَأتَم الوَجَلِ

The bride of kings is ours—in her palace, a wedding feast;

The bride of kings—in her palace we have a wedding feast;

every king, because of it, is at a funeral wake of dread.

all kings, because of it, are at a wake of dread.

فَراقِبوا عَن قَريبٍ لا أَبا لَكُمُ

فَراقِبوا عَن قَريبٍ لا أَبا لَكُمُ

هُجوم لَيثٍ بِدرعِ البأس مُشتَمِلِ

هُجوم لَيثٍ بِدرعِ البأس مُشتَمِلِ

So watch, before long—may you be fatherless—for

So await, before long—may you have no father!—

the onslaught of a lion clad in valor’s armor.

the charge of a lion clad in the armor of might.