وفارسٍ في غمارِ الموت منغمسٍ

وفارسٍ في غمارِ الموت منغمسٍ

إذا تَألَّى على مكروهة صَدقا

إذا تَألَّى على مكروهة صَدقا

And many a horseman, immersed in the depths of death,

A knight immersed in the turmoil of death,

who, whenever he swore to face a dreaded ordeal, kept his word.

When he complained of adversity in truth,

غَشِّيتُه وهو جأواءَ باسلةٍ

غَشِّيتُه وهو جأواءَ باسلةٍ

عَضبا أصاب سواءَ الرأس فانفلقا

عَضبا أصاب سواءَ الرأس فانفلقا

I assailed him while he was amid a fierce, dark-armored host,

I covered him while he was bold and steadfast,

with a keen sword that struck the middle of his head, splitting it open,

Anger struck evenly on the head and split them,

بضربة لم تكن مني مُخالَسةً

بضربة لم تكن مني مُخالَسةً

ولا تعجَّلتُها جُبنا ولا فَرقا

ولا تعجَّلتُها جُبنا ولا فَرقا

with a blow of mine that was no sneak attack;

With a blow that was not a stab from me,

nor did I rush it out of cowardice or fear.

Neither did I hasten it in cowardice or separation.

فإن تكن عبرتي ظلت أكفكفها

فإن تكن عبرتي ظلت أكفكفها

فربَّ قرن أمَلتُ الرَّأس والعنقا

فربَّ قرن أمَلتُ الرَّأس والعنقا

And if I have kept wiping away my tears,

If my lesson remains obscured I will restrain it,

many a rival's head and neck have I bent.

For I have often bowed my head and neck.