إنif كنتyou are ذاpossessing حسنbeauty فكنthen be ذاpossessing شوكةa thorn; defensive might
إن كنت ذا حسن فكن ذا شوكة
تحميمblackening; likely a typo for “protects you” منfrom أهلpeople of المطامعcovetous desires أولاfirst of all
تحميم من أهل المطامع أولا
If you possess beauty, then possess a thorn,
If you have beauty, have thorns as well
[To protect you] from the covetous, first of all.
To protect you first from greedy foes
قدindeed نقبsearched through القمرthe moon السماءthe sky منازلاdwelling places
قد نقب القمر السماء منازلا
يختارit chooses منهاfrom them ماwhat يلينis yielding لينزلاso it may alight
يختار منها ما يلين لينزلا
The moon has searched the sky for dwelling places,
The moon has pierced the sky with lodgings
Choosing what is yielding among them, so it may alight.
Choosing the softest place to stay
ورأىand it saw السماكal-Simāk فخافso it was afraid منهof him رامحاًbearing a spear
ورأى السماك فخاف منه رامحاً
لكنهbut it اقتحمstormed السماكal-Simāk الأعزلاthe unarmed
لكنه اقتحم السماك الأعزلا
And it saw al-Simāk bearing a spear and feared him,
Seeing the fish, the spear-bearer was wary
But it stormed al-Simāk the Unarmed.
Yet the unarmed fish attacked with zeal
Sol 6.1