أُمَيمَ سَلِي عَني مَعَدّاً وَيَعْرُباً

فَما أَنا عَمَّا يُعْقِبُ المَجْدَ ذاهِلُ

My friend, ask me, energetic and eloquent,

For I'm not oblivious to what follows glory.

هَلِ الطّارِقُ المُعْتَرُّ يَهْتِفُ في الدُّجَى

بِمثْلي إِذا اسْتَغْوَتْهُ بِيدٌ مَجاهِلُ

Does the bold attacker cry out in the darkness

Like me, when seized by ignorant hands?

وَيَأْلَفُني وَهْوَالغَريبُ كَأَنَّهُ

نَسِيبي وَسَيْفِي مِنْ دَمِ الكُومِ نَاهِلُ

He grows intimate with me, though a stranger, as if

He were my kinsman, while my sword drips with blood.

فَمِنْ أُنْسِهِ بي كادَ يَحْسَبُني الوَرى

قَليلَ القِرَى وَالبَيْتُ بِالضَّيْفِ آهِلُ

Because of his intimacy with me, people almost think me

Lonely, though my house welcomes guests.