وتَدْرِي سِباعُ الطَّيْرِ أَنَّ كُمَاتَهُ

إِذا لَقِيَتْ صِيدَ الكُماةِ سِباعُ

The beasts of prey know well when eagles stoop

On quarry worthy of the swooper's beak,

لَهُنَّ لُعَابٌ في الهَوَاءِ وهِزَّةٌ

إِذا جَدَّ بينَ الدّارِعين قِراعُ

Their talons in the welkin find a scope,

When warriors like opposing armies meet.

تَطِيرُ جِياعاً فَوْقَهُ وتردها

ظُبَاهُ إِلى الأَوْكَارِ وَهْيَ شِباعُ

They scare the hungry birds that soar above,

And drive them to their nests, their maws replete

تَمَلَّكَ بالإِحْسَانِ رِبْقَةَ رِقِّهِا

فهُنَّ رَقِيقٌ يُشْتَرَى ويُبَاعُ

With kindness she will render soft the touch

Of her sharp claws-such pets are bought and sold.

وأَلْحَمَ مِن أَفْرَاخِهَا فَهيَ طَوْعُهُ

لَدَى كُلِّ حَرْب والمُلُوك تُطَاعُ

The flesh of eaglets serves them at their wish

In every war the kings are obey'd and told.

تُمَاصِعُ جَرْحاها فيُجْهِزُ نَقْرُهَا

عَلَيْهِمْ وللطَّيْرِ العِتَاقِ مِصَاعُ

Their wounds are bandaged that their claws may tear

The foe, and set the birds of freedom free.