هَل بِالحَوادِثِ وَالأَيامِ مِن عَجَبِ

أَم بِاِبنِ جُدعانَ عَبدِ اللَهِ مِن كَلَبِ

Is there wonder in events and days gone by

Or in Ibn Jud'an, Abdullah's dog's sharp cry?

اِستٌ حَميتٌ وَهى في عِكمِ رَبَّتَهِ

في يَومِ حَرباً شَديدِ الشَرِّ وَالهَرَبِ

A protector he, though timid when nearby,

On a day of fierce battle and men's mad flight.

إِذا لَقيتَ بَني حَربٍ وَإِخوَتَهُم

لا يَأكُلونَ عَطينَ الجِلدِ وَالأُهُبِ

When you meet the Bani Harb and their ilk,

Who relish tough skin and pure camel's milk,

لا يَنكِلونَ وَلا تُشوي رَماحُهُمُ

مِنَ الكُماةِ ذَوي الأَبدانِ وَالجُبَبِ

Whose spears, when they charge, like lightning strike

Men whose bodies and robes form a mighty dyke,

فَاِقعُد بَطيناً مَعَ الأَقوامِ ما قَعَدوا

وَإِن غَزَوتَ فَلا تَبعَد مِنَ النَصَبِ

Sit quiet if they sit, do not stand out.

If you march with them, stay in their battle rout.

فَلَو ثَقِفتُكَ وَسطَ القَومِ تَرصُدُني

إِذاً تَلَبَّسَ مِنكَ العَرضُ بِالحَقبِ

If I found you midst the folk to trap me lying,

Your honor would surely end up fried and dying.

وَما سَمِعتُ بِصَقرٍ ظَلَّ يَرصُدُهُ

مِن قَبلِ هَذا بِجَنبِ المَرجِ مِن خَرَبِ

No falcon before, by this shrine winging high

Have I known to ambush me from the plain close by.