وما كان السمؤل في وفاء

وما كان السمؤل في وفاء

وقد بلغت حفيظته الخطوب

وقد بلغت حفيظته الخطوب

Nor was al-Samaw’al, in faithfulness,

The questioner would not doubt his loyalty

When calamities had tested his sense of honor,

Though dire adversity his soul might probe

غداة ابتاع مكرمة بثكل

غداة ابتاع مكرمة بثكل

وقد يوفي بذمته الكئيب

وقد يوفي بذمته الكئيب

On the morning he bought a noble deed with bereavement—

When from Makramah in her widow's weeds

And the grief-stricken may be true to his pledge—

He'll faithfully his plighted word fulfil

ولا ابن محلِّم وأبو بُجير

ولا ابن محلِّم وأبو بُجير

وعُجب من وفائهما عجيب

وعُجب من وفائهما عجيب

Nor Ibn Muhallim and Abu Bujayr,

Nor Ibn Muhalhil, nor Abu Bajir

And wondrous is the wonder at their faithfulness.

More wondrous proofs of constancy could show