لَقَد أَصبَحَ الجُرَذُ المُستَغيرُ

أَسيرَ المَنايا صَريعَ العَطَب

The wretched rat, once an impudent thief,

The raiding rat has surely come to be

Now lies dead, victim of cruel fate.

A prisoner of death, by ruin felled.

رَماهُ الكِنانِيُّ وَالعامِرِيُّ

وَتَلّاهُ لِلوَجهِ فِعلَ العَرَب

The Kenani struck him down in battle,

The Kinani and the Amiri struck him down,

While the Amiri finished him off in haste.

And flung him on his face, in Arab style.

كِلا الرَجُلَينِ اِتَّلا قَتلَهُ

فَأَيُّكُما غَلَّ حُرَّ السَلَب

Both men attacked and righteously slew him,

Both men have claimed the credit for his death,

But which of them robbed him, that daring knave?

So which of you made off with the choice spoils?

وَأَيُّكُما كانَ مِن خَلفِهِ

فَإِنَّ بِهِ عَضَّةً في الذَنَب

And which gave chase from behind, evilly eager?

And which of you was pressing from behind?

For in his tail remains a bitter sting.

For look, he bears a bite upon his tail.