حدّث عَن العُرب حتىّ تطربَ العَجَمُ

سَمعاً وَيسمعَ مَن في اذنهِ صممُ

Speak of the Arabs until the non-Arabs are enraptured

Listening, even those deaf hear of their valor

مَهما تكرَّر لهم ذكراً يَزِد طَرَباً

كَما تَزيد اذا كرَّرتها الكَلِمُ

However much their mention is repeated, it increases their zeal

As words gain power when reiterated as diction

ما مثلهُم في الوغى الّا سيوفُهُم

كَلّا ولا مثلها الّا أَكفُّهُمُ

None can match them in the fray but their blades

Nay, none equal their skill but their hands

راموا العَلآءَ فَنالوا فوق ما طلبوا

وَطالَما قصَّرت بالطالب الهممُ

They sought greatness and gained more than they asked

While those with lesser ambitions always fall short

فَمَن يخافُ أَذاهم لا يُقاربهُم

وَمَن يُداني حماهم لا يَخافُهُمُ

Whoever fears their wrath avoids their company

Whoever enjoys their protection has nought to dread

فالمَجدُ صار حَقيراً بعد مجدهمِ

وَالسيف وَالرمح وَالقرطاسُ وَالقَلَمُ

Glory itself seems paltry after their glory

Sword, spear, pen and paper their instruments be

يا حبَّذا حسن ايامٍ لهم سلفت

وَحَبَذا تلكُمُ الاطلالُ والخيَمُ

How blessed were the days of their past that went by

How splendid their ruins and tents that still lie

كَمِ اِشتَهينا لَو أَنّا بينهم قِدَماً

حَتىّ أُعيد الينا ذلك القِدَمُ

How we yearn to tread where once they had been

And follow in the steps where their feet walked in

روايةٌ شخِّصوا فيها فَلوا حضروا

توهَّموا أَنَّ مرآةً امامَهمُ

In legends of them they come alive once more

Were they present today, they'd find their likeness galore

فاهَت بِمَدحتها الاقلام ناطقةً

كَفى بأَن مدَحتها الالسُن البكُمُ

Pens tire in their praise though they speak without pause

Their glory sung by even the tongues of the mute