قل لذي الدلّ تولَبِ

يا فداكَ الردى أبي

Say to the one whose affections turn

Say to the coy one, "You wild young foal,"

My father ransomed you from ruin

May my father be a ransom for your life,

أنتَ واللَهِ مركبٌ

موطأٌ خير مركب

You are, by God, a ship

By God, you are truly a magnificent mount,

A harbor better than any ship

A smooth-riding steed, the finest of vessels.

ما ترى كان صائراً

لكَ لو قلتَ أقربِ

Do you not see you would have headed

What do you think would come to pass,

To me, had you but said: Come nearer

If you were to whisper to me, "Come close"?

فإذا ما دنوت مقترب

باً قلتَ لي اركب

So when you come close

And once I had drawn myself near to you,

Say to me: Get on!

You said to me invitingly, "Ride!"

فوقَ سرجٍ سرجتهُ

فوق حقوَيكَ مُذهَبِ

Onto a saddle I adorned

Upon a saddle that I have cinched,

Above your shoulders gilded

Set above your hips, gleaming like gold,

لا يُعلّى بكمنجا

تٍ ولا عودِ قَبقب

Not elevated by any pommel

Not heightened by the sound of violins,

Or inlaid wood of a high saddle

Nor by the strumming of the wooden lute,

فوق قرموزٍ تح

ت قطنٍ مُضرّبِ

But on a soft cloth of cotton

But atop a crimson cushion placed

Above a belly round and plump

Beneath padding of quilted cotton,

وحرامٍ بعُكنةٍ

فوق بطنٍ مقبَّبِ

And a bit scented of amber

And a waistband hugging a fold of flesh

Bear me upon your ride

Above a belly, rounded and domed,

ولجامٍ من العبيرِ

أشيلِ المركبِ

That suffers neither from sun

With a bridle woven of fragrant scent

Nor from ruggedness of ascents

To guide the vessel, riding high,

لا يُعاني من الشما

سِ ولا من تصعّبِ

So when you have me mount it

Showing no stubbornness or shying away,

Say: This is the son of Mahallabi

Nor offering any resistance at all,

فإذا ما ركبتَهُ

قلتَ ذا ابنُ المهلّبِ

So that when you firmly ride upon it,

You cry, "Here is the son of Muhallab!"