1. He who is elevated in rank bears no malice,
Nor does he who is quick to anger attain eminence.

2. He who is subservient to a people, agreeing with them
When they are unjust and appeasing them when they complain,

3. I was once wont to pasture their camels,
But today I guard their honor, whenever they stumble.

4. Praise be to the clan of Abs! They are noble stock,
The noblest stock of Arabs.

5. If they blame my dark skin, it is to me a pedigree
When the war-fires blaze, if lineage fails me.

6. If you know, O Nu'man, that against you my hand
Falls short, time's turns may change.

7. Today, O Nu'man, you will know what man
Faces your brother, whom passion has led astray.

8. Verily, serpents, though smooth to the touch,
When they writhe have sharp fangs.

9. A warrior plunging into the fray with a smile,
Though the spear-heads tear his flesh.

10. When he unsheathes his sword, his strokes flash light,
The air glows red and the darkness splits.

11. My charger bears me witness that I plunge into the foe,
My stabbing is like the spark's glowing ember.

12. When I meet the foe on the battlefield,
I leave their deluded throng to be plundered.

13. Mine are the souls, the birds have the flesh,
The beasts get the bones, the horsemen the booty.

14. God forfend from my eyes the sight of Ghatarif
On foot they are devils, demons when mounted.

15. Black hyenas, though no leopards they,
With monkey-paws and lances of bamboo.

16. Against them hobble piebalds bandy-legged
With leg bracelets round their necks like turbans.

17. Never have I ceased to plunge into the horsemen's breasts,
Stabbing till saddle and saddle-cloth squelch with blood.

18. Had the blind but eyes to see, the mute but mouths to speak,
The deaf to hear the horses' hoof-beats on the day of pursuit,

19. The slashes, stabs, pens and books would bear me witness.