بَدَتْ في المرْطِ عاتكِةٌ تَهَادَى

بَدَتْ في المرْطِ عاتكِةٌ تَهَادَى

فمادتْ كالقُضيِّب حين مادا

فمادتْ كالقُضيِّب حين مادا

Atikah appeared in her mantle, walking with a graceful sway.

A beautiful gazelle appeared in the meadow, swaying

And she swayed like a slender twig when it sways.

She stretched like a stick when it is bent

وأومضَ ثغرُها فجَلاَ بياضاً

وأومضَ ثغرُها فجَلاَ بياضاً

وأسْبَلَ شعْرُها فجلاَ سوادا

وأسْبَلَ شعْرُها فجلاَ سوادا

Her mouth gleamed, revealing whiteness.

And her mouth flashed, revealing whiteness

And her hair flowed down, revealing blackness.

And her hair cascaded, revealing blackness

وهزّضتْ مِنْ نواهدِها رِماحاً

وهزّضتْ مِنْ نواهدِها رِماحاً

ومن أجفانها قُضُباً حِدادا

ومن أجفانها قُضُباً حِدادا

She brandished spears from her budding breasts,

She shook spears from her delicate limbs

And sharp blades from her eyelids.

And clubs from her eyelids

فقلتُ لصَاحبي صُدْها فَنَادى

فقلتُ لصَاحبي صُدْها فَنَادى

أرى العَنْقاء تكبر أنْ تُصادا

أرى العَنْقاء تكبر أنْ تُصادا

I said to my companion, 'Catch her!' and he called out:

So I said to my companion, "Aim for her!" and he called out

'I see the phoenix as too proud to be caught.'

"I see the gazelle too proud to be hunted."

فقلت له ترى كيفَ الثنايَا

فقلت له ترى كيفَ الثنايَا

فقال أظنها درراً بدادا

فقال أظنها درراً بدادا

I said to him, 'Do you see what her front teeth are like?'

So I said to him, "See how she curves?"

He said, 'I think them pearls, each set apart.'

And he said, "I think she is scattering pearls."

فقلتُ فما سَهامُ اللحظ منهاَ

فقلتُ فما سَهامُ اللحظ منهاَ

فقال إذا رنتْ رمتِ الفؤادا

فقال إذا رنتْ رمتِ الفؤادا

I said, 'Then what of the arrows of her glance?'

So I said, "What of the arrows of her glances?"

He said, 'When she gazes, she strikes the heart.'

And he said, "When she sings, she pierces hearts."

فقلتُ حبيبة رَجعتْ عدوّاً

فقلتُ حبيبة رَجعتْ عدوّاً

فقال أعيذها من أن تُعادى

فقال أعيذها من أن تُعادى

I said, 'A beloved has become an enemy.'

So I said, "The darling has turned hostile."

He said, 'I seek protection for her from being treated as an enemy.'

And he said, "I seek refuge for her from enmity."

فقلتُ فخِلِها عنا فغنَّا

فقلتُ فخِلِها عنا فغنَّا

أردتُ وغير قلبك ما أرادا

أردتُ وغير قلبك ما أرادا

I said, 'Then leave her be, away from us,' and he sang:

So I said, "Leave her be and let us sing."

'I wished it, but one other than your heart did not.'

I intended something else, but my heart refused.

لئن قَدَمَتْ مخول الشعر قبلي

لئن قَدَمَتْ مخول الشعر قبلي

أراني في مقدمها جوادا

أراني في مقدمها جوادا

Though poetry's [stallions?] preceded me,

If she arrives before I greet the encampment,

I see myself a fine steed at their forefront.

I will ride to her vanguard on a steed.

فدَعْ عنك القرائح واقترحْني

فدَعْ عنك القرائح واقترحْني

تجدْ مني زهيراً أوْ زيادا

تجدْ مني زهيراً أوْ زيادا

So set poetic talents aside and ask me to improvise;

Leave off your compositions and prompt me.

You will find in me a Zuhayr or a Ziyad.

You will find me Zuhair or Ziyad.

إذا اسْتَسْقَى الغمامَ ولم يجلجل

إذا اسْتَسْقَى الغمامَ ولم يجلجل

فنور الدين إنْ سألوه جادا

فنور الدين إنْ سألوه جادا

If one asks the clouds for rain and they do not thunder,

When the clouds draw water but do not rumble,

Then Nur al-Din gives freely if they ask him.

Nur al-Din, if asked, is generous.

ونور الدين لو لم يُدْعَ لَبَّى

ونور الدين لو لم يُدْعَ لَبَّى

ولو لم يستزدّ وَاللهِ زادا

ولو لم يستزدّ وَاللهِ زادا

And Nur al-Din would answer even if he were not called;

And Nur al-Din, even if not called, would race

And even if not asked for more, by God, he would give more.

And if not given more, by God, would still excel.