وَلَرُبّما سَلَّتْ لنا من مائِها

وَلَرُبّما سَلَّتْ لنا من مائِها

سَيفاً وكانَ عَنِ النّواظِرِ مُغمَدا

سَيفاً وكانَ عَنِ النّواظِرِ مُغمَدا

And many a time it drew for us from its water

Sometimes she offers us from her waters

a sword that had been sheathed from sight.

A sword, though to the eyes concealed;

طَبَعَتهُ لُجِيّاً فَذابَت صَفَحةٌ

طَبَعَتهُ لُجِيّاً فَذابَت صَفَحةٌ

مِنهُ وَلَو جَمَدت لَكانَ مُهَنَّدا

مِنهُ وَلَو جَمَدت لَكانَ مُهَنَّدا

It forged it of silver; then a flat side melted

Its steel is tempered keen by her,

away from it—had it solidified, it would have been an Indian-forged blade.

And were it rigid, would be peeled.