قَد أَغتَدي بِزُرَّقٍ صَبيحٍ

مَحضٍ لِمَن يَنسِبُهُ صَريحِ

With a fresh, bright complexion at dawn

I set out early with a bright-faced sparrowhawk,

Evident to whoever examines him closely.

Pure-bred for those who trace his lineage true,

صَلتِ الخُدودِ واضِحٍ مَليحٍ

وَلَيسَ ما يُغمَزُ كَالصَحيحِ

The cheeks' prayer is clear and beautiful,

Smooth of cheek, distinct, and fair of form,

Not what is implied like what is correct.

For the flawed is never equal to the sound,

بِكَفِّ ضَنّانٍ بِهِ شَحيحِ

مِمّا اِشتَرى بِالثَمَنِ الرَبيحِ

With a miser's palm that purchased it

Held in a hand that guards him jealously,

With an exorbitant price,

Prized among those bought for profitable gain,

فَلَم يَزَل بِالنَهمِ وَالتَقديحِ

وَرَشِّهِ بِالماءِ وَالتَلويحِ

He did not stop blowing and making fun

Ceaselessly trained with restraint and urging calls,

Sprinkling it with water and waving,

Sprayed with water, taught by the waving lure,

حَتّى اِنطَوى إِلّا جَنانَ الروحِ

وَعَرَفِ الصَوتِ وَوَحيِ الموحي

Until he retired except for the soul's gardens,

Until he wasted thin, save for his spirit’s core,

And knew the voice and the inspirer's revelation.

Knowing the voice and the master’s subtle sign,

فَكَم وَكَم مِن طُوَّلٍ طَموحِ

لَم يُنجِهِ طُمورُهُ في اللوحِ

So how much and how much of ambitious height

How many a long-legged, high-ambitious bird,

Did its ambition not deliver on the tablet,

Was not saved by its soaring in the sky,

مِن فَلَتاتِ صَلَتاتٍ شيحِ

تُرجِلُهُ الريحُ بِكَفِّ الريحِ

From the slips and lapses of feeble prayers

From sudden, sharp, and zealous swooping strikes,

That the wind topples with the wind’s palm

That the wind brings down with the wind's own hand,

وَضَربَةٍ بِنَيزَكٍ مَذروحِ

فَاِصطادَ قَبلَ الأَينِ وَالتَبريحِ

And a blow with a shaken spear

And a blow from a beak like a poisoned spear,

So he hunted before the time of dispersal

So he hunted, before fatigue or strain could set,

خَمسينَ مُستَحيىً إِلى مَذبوحِ

خَمسينَ مُستَحيىً إِلى مَذبوحِ

Fifty shy ones to the slaughter

Fifty, some taken alive and others slain,

Fifty shy ones to the slaughter

Fifty, some taken alive and others slain.