شَرَيتُ القَنا مِن قَبلِ أَن يُشتَرى القَنا

شَرَيتُ القَنا مِن قَبلِ أَن يُشتَرى القَنا

وَنِلتُ المُنى مِن كُلِّ أَشوَسَ عابِسِ

وَنِلتُ المُنى مِن كُلِّ أَشوَسَ عابِسِ

I bought lances before lances were ever bought,

I bought spears before spears were bought,

and won my heart’s desire from every fierce, scowling foe.

and won my desires from every fierce, scowling foe.

فَما كُلُّ مَن يَشري القَنا يَطعَنُ العِدا

فَما كُلُّ مَن يَشري القَنا يَطعَنُ العِدا

وَلا كُلُّ مَن يَلقى الرِجالَ بِفارِسِ

وَلا كُلُّ مَن يَلقى الرِجالَ بِفارِسِ

Not everyone who buys lances thrusts them at his foes,

For not everyone who buys spears stabs his enemies,

nor is everyone who faces warriors a knight.

nor is everyone who faces warriors a true horseman.

خَرَجتُ إِلى القَرمِ الكَمِيِّ مُبادِراً

خَرَجتُ إِلى القَرمِ الكَمِيِّ مُبادِراً

وَقَد هَجَسَت في القَلبِ مِنّي هَواجِسي

وَقَد هَجَسَت في القَلبِ مِنّي هَواجِسي

I hastened forth against the lordly armored champion,

I rushed out to face the armored champion,

while forebodings whispered in my heart.

while my forebodings had already stirred within my heart.

وَقُلتُ لِمُهري وَالقَنا يَقرَعُ القَنا

وَقُلتُ لِمُهري وَالقَنا يَقرَعُ القَنا

تَنَبَّه وَكُن مُستَيقِظاً غَيرَ ناعِسِ

تَنَبَّه وَكُن مُستَيقِظاً غَيرَ ناعِسِ

I said to my colt, as lance rang against lance:

And I said to my colt, as spear clashed against spear:

“Take heed; stay wide awake, never drowsy.”

“Be alert, and stay awake, not drowsy.”

فَجاوَبَني مُهري الكَريمُ وَقالَ لي

فَجاوَبَني مُهري الكَريمُ وَقالَ لي

أَنا مِن جِيادِ الخَيلِ كُن أَنتَ فارِسي

أَنا مِن جِيادِ الخَيلِ كُن أَنتَ فارِسي

My noble colt answered me and said:

Then my noble colt answered me and said:

“I am one of the finest steeds—you be my rider.”

“I am among the finest horses; you be my rider.”

وَلَمّا تَجاذَبنا السُيوفَ وَأُفرِغَت

وَلَمّا تَجاذَبنا السُيوفَ وَأُفرِغَت

ثِيابُ المَنايا كُنتُ أَوَّلَ لابِسِ

ثِيابُ المَنايا كُنتُ أَوَّلَ لابِسِ

And when we crossed swords, and there were spread

And when we crossed swords, and out were poured

the robes of death, I was the first to don them.

the garments of death, I was the first to don them.

وَرُمحي إِذا ما اِهتَزَّ يَومَ كَريهَةٍ

وَرُمحي إِذا ما اِهتَزَّ يَومَ كَريهَةٍ

تَخِرُّ لَهُ كُلَّ الأُسودِ القَناعِسِ

تَخِرُّ لَهُ كُلَّ الأُسودِ القَناعِسِ

When my spear quivers on a day of bitter battle,

And whenever my spear quivers on a day of battle,

every mighty lion falls before it.

all the thick-necked lions fall before it.

وَما هالَني يا عَبلَ فيكِ مَهالِكٌ

وَما هالَني يا عَبلَ فيكِ مَهالِكٌ

وَلا راعَني هَولُ الكَمِيِّ المُمارِسِ

وَلا راعَني هَولُ الكَمِيِّ المُمارِسِ

No deadly peril for your sake has daunted me, O ʿAbla,

No perils faced for your sake, O Abla, have daunted me,

nor has the terror of the seasoned armored champion.

nor has the terror of the seasoned, armored warrior alarmed me.

فَدونَكَ يا عَمروُ بنَ وُدٍّ وَلا تَحُل

فَدونَكَ يا عَمروُ بنَ وُدٍّ وَلا تَحُل

فَرُمحِيَ ظَمآنٌ لِدَمِّ الأَشاوِسِ

فَرُمحِيَ ظَمآنٌ لِدَمِّ الأَشاوِسِ

Then face me, ʿAmr ibn Wudd, and do not retreat:

So come forward, O Amr ibn Wudd, and do not turn aside,

for my spear stands surety for the blood of fierce warriors.

for my spear is thirsty for the blood of fierce warriors.