والله لولا كرمي وخيري

وخشيتي عقوبة الأمير

By God, were it not for my nobility and goodness,

and my fear of the emir’s punishment,

ورهبة الجلواذ والترتور

لجلت عن شيخ بني البعير

and dread of the constable and the bailiff,

I would have bolted from the old man of Banū al-Baʿīr,

جول قلوص صعبة عسير

تضرب حنوي قتب مأسور

as a stubborn, intractable young she-camel bolts,

striking the two curved sides of a firmly lashed pack saddle.