أَنعَتُ كَلباً لَيسَ بِالمَسبوقِ

مُطَهَّماً يَجري عَلى العُروقِ

I eulogize a dog unsurpassed

I describe a hound that can never be outdone,

Pure-bred coursing through the veins

A perfect specimen, in whose veins noble currents run.

جاءَت بِهِ الأَملاكُ مِن سَلوقٍ

كَأَنَّهُ في المِقوَدِ المَمشوقِ

Brought by angels from Saluq

Brought forth by princes from Saluq's ancient breed,

As if carved into the polished bow

Straining, sleek and slender, against the holding lead.

إِذا عَدا عَدوَةً لا مَعوقٍ

يَلعَبُ بَينَ السَهلِ وَالخُروقِ

When charging a foe nothing holds him back

When he dashes forward, no hurdle bars his way,

Playing between the plain and the rugged hills

Between the flatlands and the rifts he finds his play.

يَشفي مِنَ الطَردِ جَوى المَشوقِ

فَالوَحشُ لَو مَرَّت عَلى العَيّوقِ

His zeal for the chase cures all longing

He heals the hunter's heart of its burning, deep desire;

If a beast passed by mount Ayyuq

For even if the quarry fled to Capella's fire,

أَنزَلَها دامِيَةَ الحُلوقِ

ذاكَ عَلَيهِ أَوجَبُ الحُقوقِ

He brings it down bloody-mouthed

He would bring it down with a throat stained bloody red;

Such are his most sacred rights

This is the most sacred duty placed upon his head,

لِكُلِّ صَيّادٍ بِهِ مَرزوقِ

Every hunter's livelihood secured by him

That every hunter by his skill is richly fed.