1. Alas! O day of al-Hubyal,
When death bared its fangs,

2. And war cried out to the banners,
And tumult called to its people,

3. When the sea surged with horses frothing,
Throwing riders with their mounts.

4. Those who would flee have fled
From its fires, all exposed in their shame.

5. They see me though spears are leveled,
Each hinted by his nickname.

6. No cowardly lion in his den,
Warding off troops from his lair,

7. Snoring, roaring, inciting the blacks,
His forepaws and fangs prepared.

8. Braver than I on the morn of Hubyal,
When fright dressed itself in gowns.

9. With my sword I repelled the violent assailants,
In their tracks and on their heels.

10. And what delighted me in the encounter
Was the flight of the king and his noblemen.

11. I pressed them again and again, and soon
Death is not painful for its victim.

12. As if they were a flock of birds
Frightened of the barking of dogs.

13. I grasped the tallest of them in the tumult
So stick to your weapon, lad!

14. Like the kite with the fox in its claws
That she gripped in her talons.

15. He fell to grief in surrender,
Shielding his soul in rags.

16. And so Quda'i remained under the dust,
As his family poured out their laments-

17. The women crying and wailing for him,
Scratching their cheeks in grief.

18. I sacrificed him to the wolves of Murit,
And none could ransom him with treasure.

19. I bought glory at the price of myself,
And praise belongs to its seeker.

20. And he who contends with me in glory,
With the fires of war and their heat,

21. Then I, by God on High, am worthier of it
So spare yourself what you hoped for.

22. Leave the Glorious One to His riders,
Who kindles war after tranquility,

23. And who makes the horses race madly
To the praiser's gate for his odes,

24. The food of riders with narcissus wine
And pure drink in goblets,

25. Who protects the innocent from harm
When fright wraps itself in gowns,

26. Who lays bare the sea's depths like
Clouds shedding their rain in torrents,

27. Who waters with sword and reddened blade,
As generosity is his nature.

28. Ask the people, each will guide you to me,
So you may know the true from the false.