أَيُّ جَهلٍ مُشِيرَ لِيقِيَةٍ أَغ
رَاكَ حَتَّى استَهدَفتَ أَيُّ جُنُونِ
What ignorance counsels the fool who attacked you?
What madness you and infamy since you were a lad!
أَنتَ والكرُّ فيهِ مُذ كُنتَ غُرًّا
قَد تَوَرَّطتَ وَرطَةَ المَغبُونِ
You have fallen into the trap of the wretched.
Who said you're from Zafas' lineage?
مانَ مَن قالَ أَنتَ مِن نَسلِ زَفسٍ
أَينَ أَبناءُ زَفَسَ مِن سَرفِدُونِ
Where are the sons of Zafas from Serfendun?
With Heraclius my father you're enough as an example,
بِهِرَقلٍ أَبي كَفاكَ مِثالاً
قلبُ لَيثٍ وَهَولُ كُلِّ القُرُونِ
The heart of a lion and awe of all eras.
You were told before how he came long ago
قَبلُ أُنبِئتَ كَيفَ جاءَ قَدِيماً
طامِعاً في جيادِ لَومِيدُونِ
Greedy for the steeds of Lomidun,
With six ships and little equipment
بِسَفينٍ سِتٍ وَنَزرٍ قَلِيلٍ
أَمطَرَ الوَيلَ في حِما إِليُونِ
He rained woe on the wall of Ilion.
How different you are from the vanished valor
أَينَ شَتَّانَ أَنتَ وَالحَتفُ أَفنى
مِنكَ قَوماً وَأَنتَ بادِي الشُّجُونِ
That destroyed a people while you whine.
No use in your lineage of cowards,
لَيسَ في رِفدِكَ الطَّرَاوِدِ جَدوَى
وَلَئِن صُلتَ فالرَّدى بِيَميني
And if you fight on, ruin is in my right hand.
Serfendun said, made distinct by rage:
قالَ سَرفِيدُونٌ ومَيَّزَهُ الغَي
ظُ نَعم بالحَديثِ قَد أَنبأُ وني
"Yes, good sir, you have informed me.
Heraclius razed Ilion, no -
فهرَقلٌ قَد دَكَّ إِليُونَ لا بَل
دَكَّها حُمقٌ لَومِدُونَ الرَّعُونِ
The stupid Lomiduns, those shepherds, razed it.
Heraclius did not keep his promise, but
لِهِرَقلٍ ما بَرَّ بالوَعدِ لكِن
مَنَعَ الخَيلَ عَنهُ مَنعَ الضَّنِينِ
They denied him the horses, denied the envious.
He attacked him though earlier he had
وَرَماهُ وَكانَ قَبلُ دَعاهُ
مِن بَعِيدٍ بِسَهمِ شَتمٍ مُهِينِ
Summoned him from afar with vile insult.
You and your armor are in my fist.
إِنَّما أَنتَ وَالسِّنانُ بِكَفِّي
سَوفَ تُصمَى بِرَأسِ نَصلِي السِّنينِ
You will be smashed by my sharp spear blade,
And by the Lord of Hell your soul will be flung
وَلِرَبِّ الجَحيمِ نفسُكَ تُزجي
وَلي الفخرُ بِالمَنارِ المَصُونِ
While glory in the guarded pillar is mine."
