تخلَّى عن أبي حَرْبٍ فَوَلَّى

بِهَيْدَةَ قابِضٌ قَبْلَ القتالِ

He deserted Abu Harb and fled away,

Grasping his sword before the battle.

ونجَّى قابِضاً وَرْدٌ سَبُوحٌ

يمرُّ كأَنَّهُ مِرِّيخُ غالِ

A smooth-flowing torrent saved the grasping one,

Passing as if it were the evening star.

نَفَحْتَ بهِ اليَمِينَ فَظَلَّ يَهْوِي

هويَّ الصّقْرِ في يَوْمِ الظّلالِ

With it you struck the right hand so it kept falling

Like a hawk's swoop on a shaded day.

فجاءَ كأنّما يَهْوِي لِنَحْبٍ

طَوِيلَ المَتْنِ مرتَفِعَ القَذالِ

So it came as if swooping down on an eagle

With a long trunk, lofty in its plumage.

ولَمّا أَنْ رَأَيْتَ الخَيْلَ تَرْدِي

تُبارِي بالخُدودِ شَبا العَوالي

And when you saw the horses coursing along,

Racing with the smooth cheeks of the hillocks,

عَلى زَبَدِ القوائمِ أعْوجيٍّ

حَثِيثِ الركْضِ مُنْكَفِتِ التوالي

On the foam of the crooked fetlocks

Swift of gallop, folding back in succession,

حَباكَ بِهِ ولَم يَخْذلْكَ لمّا

رآكَ مُحارِفاً ضِمنَ الشِّمالِ

It guarded you and did not fail you when

It saw you mingled among the left wing.

فإنّك لَوْ رَكَضْتَ خَلاك ذَمٌّ

وفارَقَكَ ابنُ عَمِّكَ غَيْرَ قالِ

For had you galloped it would have left you to blame

And your cousin would have deserted you.

أَلمْ تَعْلَمْ جَزاكَ اللّهُ شرّاً

بأنَّ المَوْتَ مَنْهاةُ الرِّجالِ

Do you not know - may God requite you ill -

That death is the goal of men?

فَتَضْرِبَ ضَرْبَةً يَسْمُو إليها

حَدِيثُ القَوْمِ في الرُّفقِ العجالِ

So strike a blow the report of which will rise

High in the talk of the people in turmoil.

فَلا وأبيكَ يا ابْن أبي عُقَيْلٍ

تبلُّكَ بَعْدَها عِنْدِي بلالِ

No, by your father, O son of Abi 'Uqail,

After it you will no longer be soaked in urine for me.

نسيتَ وِصالَه وصَدَرتَ عنه

كَما صَدَرَ الأَزَبُّ عن الظِّلالِ

You forgot his company and turned away from him

As the wild cows turn away from the shadows.