تَقَلَّدَت إِبريقاً وَعَلَّقَت َجعبَةً

تَقَلَّدَت إِبريقاً وَعَلَّقَت َجعبَةً

لِتُهلِكَ حَيّاً ذا زُهاءِ وَجامِلِ

لِتُهلِكَ حَيّاً ذا زُهاءِ وَجامِلِ

She girded herself with a gleaming sword and slung a quiver

She slung on a pitcher and hung a quiver,

to destroy a populous clan with herds of camels.

To destroy a tribe possessing pride and camels.

فَلا تَحسَبَنّي مُستَعِدّاً لِنَفرَةِ

فَلا تَحسَبَنّي مُستَعِدّاً لِنَفرَةِ

وَإِن كُنتُ نَطّاطاً كَثيرَ المَجاهِلِ

وَإِن كُنتُ نَطّاطاً كَثيرَ المَجاهِلِ

So do not think me ready to take flight,

So do not reckon me ready to take flight,

even though I am a restless roamer through many trackless wastes.

Though I am a bounding traveler of many wilds.

فَسِر قَصدَ سَيري يا اِبنَ سَمراءَ إِنَّني

فَسِر قَصدَ سَيري يا اِبنَ سَمراءَ إِنَّني

صَبورٌ عَلىتِلكَ الرُقى وَالهَتامِلِ

صَبورٌ عَلىتِلكَ الرُقى وَالهَتامِلِ

So follow my course, son of Samra'; indeed I am

So walk my pace, O son of the dark one, for I am

patient with those incantations and muttered spells.

Patient against those spells and whisperings.

فَسارَ بِهِ حَتّى أَتى بَيتَ أُمِّهِ

فَسارَ بِهِ حَتّى أَتى بَيتَ أُمِّهِ

مُقيماً بِأَعلى الرَيبِ عِندَ الأَفاكِلِ

مُقيماً بِأَعلى الرَيبِ عِندَ الأَفاكِلِ

So he went with him until he reached his mother's tent,

He journeyed with him till he reached his mother's tent,

standing in upper al-Rayb, beside al-Afakil.

Dwelling at the height of peril, amidst the tremors.

فَخَرَّ وَجالَ المُهرُ ذاتِ شِمالِهِ

فَخَرَّ وَجالَ المُهرُ ذاتِ شِمالِهِ

كَسَيفِ السَرَندى لاحَ في كَفِّ صاقِلِ

كَسَيفِ السَرَندى لاحَ في كَفِّ صاقِلِ

Then he fell, and the colt wheeled to his left,

Then he fell, and the colt wheeled to his left,

like a bold warrior's sword flashing in a polisher's palm.

Like the sword of the bold, flashing in a polisher's hand.

عَلى حالَةٍ لا يَعرِفُ الوَردَ رَبُهُ

عَلى حالَةٍ لا يَعرِفُ الوَردَ رَبُهُ

مِنَ الأَبلَقِ المَشهورِ وَسطَ القَنابِلِ

مِنَ الأَبلَقِ المَشهورِ وَسطَ القَنابِلِ

In such a state that its master cannot tell the bay

In a plight where its master distinguishes not the roan

from the piebald, conspicuous amid the cavalry squadrons.

From the famous piebald amidst the troops.

وَلَكِنَّ قَومي شَبرَقوها فُجاءَةً

وَلَكِنَّ قَومي شَبرَقوها فُجاءَةً

بِأَورَقَ لا لَغبٍ وَلا مُتَخاذِلِ

بِأَورَقَ لا لَغبٍ وَلا مُتَخاذِلِ

But my people tore her to shreds without warning

But my people tore them to shreds suddenly,

with a gray one, neither weary nor faltering.

With an ashen might, neither weary nor faltering.