حَلَفتُ بربّ الراقصاتِ عشيةً

وحيثُ تُناخُ البُدن دافَعَها العَقل

I swore by the Lord of the dancing girls one evening,

Where the bodies swayed, their minds subdued,

لئن فاتني ريبُ الزمانِ بمالكٍ

وقد كملت فيه المروءة والعَقلُ

That if the turn of time cheated me of Mālik,

Though I was complete in manliness and mind,

ففاتَ ولو قيل الفداء فديتُهُ

وما عزَّ مالٌ عن فداه ولا أهل

I would ransom him, though to ransom were to lose all-

Wealth is no substitute for ransoming one held dear.

لَنِعمَ مُناخُ الضيفِ ان جاء طارقاً

اذا أخمَد النيران او حاردَ المَحل

How good a resting place is the guest's if he arrives by night

When the fires are dead, the tents folded!

ونِعمَ محلٌّ الجار حلَّ بأهلِهِ

اذا ما بدا كعب المصونة والحجل

How good a neighbor's camp if he halts with his family

When the anklets of the secluded women jingle!

ونعم اخو العاني اذا القيدُ عَضَّهُ

واسرع في ضاحي سواعده الغُلُّ

How excellent a brother in time of need when shackles

Chafe his legs and urgently he yearns for freedom!

حَييٌ بَذِيُّ أي ذاك التمستَهُ

وذو لبدٍ شَثنٍ براثنُهُ عَبل

Living he sought me out, that estimable man,

His knees exposed by his slit robe.

وان جاءَ طاري الليل يخبط طارقاً

تَهلَّلَّ معروفٌ خلائقهُ جَزلُ

When a night visitor comes knocking at the tents,

Good deeds, like heavy rains, come down in floods.

خو ثقةٍ لا يعتري الذمّ ناره

اذا لم يكن في القوم شربٌ ولاَ أكلُ

A brother you can trust will kindle no slander‐

Not where the men are noble, caring, and sober.