إِن يَكُ سَيفٌ خانَ أَو قَدَرٌ أَبى

إِن يَكُ سَيفٌ خانَ أَو قَدَرٌ أَبى

وَتَأخيرُ نَفسٍ حَتفُها غَيرُ شاهِدِ

وَتَأخيرُ نَفسٍ حَتفُها غَيرُ شاهِدِ

If a sword failed, or fate refused,

If fate betrays or destiny denies

and a soul was granted respite, its death not at hand,

And late one comes his death not witnessing

فَسَيفُ بَني عَبسٍ وَقَد ضَرَبوا بِهِ

فَسَيفُ بَني عَبسٍ وَقَد ضَرَبوا بِهِ

نَبا بِيَدَي وَرقاءَ عَن رَأسِ خالِدِ

نَبا بِيَدَي وَرقاءَ عَن رَأسِ خالِدِ

so too the sword of Banu Abs, though they struck with it,

Then Banu Abs sword that struck the blow

glanced off Khalid’s head in Warqa’s hands.

At Widhra's hands did Nabigh's head go flying

كَذاكَ سُيوفُ الهِندِ تَنبو ظُباتُها

كَذاكَ سُيوفُ الهِندِ تَنبو ظُباتُها

وَيَقطَعنَ أَحياناً نِياطَ القَلائِدِ

وَيَقطَعنَ أَحياناً نِياطَ القَلائِدِ

Likewise the swords of India: their edges glance off,

Like Indian swords that when revealed do roar

and at times they sever the necks where necklaces hang.

And cut, though gentle, necklaces in pieces

وَلَو شِئتُ قَدَّ السَيفُ ما بَينَ أَنفِهِ

وَلَو شِئتُ قَدَّ السَيفُ ما بَينَ أَنفِهِ

إِلى عَلَقٍ تَحتَ الشَراسيفِ جامِدِ

إِلى عَلَقٍ تَحتَ الشَراسيفِ جامِدِ

And had I wished, the sword would have cleft him from his nose

If I had wanted I could make the sword stretch from its tip

to the congealed blood beneath his lower ribs.

To below the armor lying still hard-frozen