لَقَد عَلِمَ الأَقوامُ أَن قَد فَرَرتُمُ

وَلَم تَبتَدوها لِلمَعاشِرِ أَوَّلا

The people have known that you fled,

And did not initiate it for the companions first.

فَكونوا كَداعٍ كَرَّةً بَعدَ فَرَّةٍ

أَلا رُبَّ مَرءٍ فّرَّ ثُمَّتَ أَقبَلا

So be like a frequent caller, after fleeing,

Beware, many a man flees then returns.

فَإِن أَنتُمُ لَم تَفعَلوا فَتَبَدَّلوا

بِكُلِّ سِنانٍ مَعشَرَ الغَوثِ مِغزَلا

If you do not do so, then change,

With every spear, company of help, spindle.

وَبِالدِرعِ ذاتِ السَرد دَرجاً وَعَيبَةً

وَبِالسَيفِ مِرآةً وَبِالقَوسِ مَكحَلا

And with the coat of mail interlinked, steps and shame,

And with the sword a mirror, and with the bow kohl.

وَأَعطوهُمُ حُكمَ الصَبِيِّ بِأَهلِهِ

وَإِنّي أَرجو أَن يَقولوا بِأَنَّ لا

And give them the judgement of a boy among his family,

And I hope they will say that no.