تَغنى العُلَيْليُّ في مجلسٍ

فما زال يُصفَع حتى خَرِسْ

The bard sang at a gathering

Al-Ulayli sang out in a gathering,

And kept getting slapped until he was mute

But kept getting slapped until he fell silent.

وظَلْنا نُمازحُه باللِّطامِ

وقفدِ القذال إلى أن نَعِسْ

We kept teasing him with impudence

We continued to jest with him through blows,

And the ruffian kept on until he fell asleep

And cuffs to the neck until he grew drowsy.

فغنَّيتُهُ حين دام البلاء

وكادت مفاصلُه تنبجسْ

So I sang him away from harm

Then I sang to him as the torment dragged on,

When his joints were about to come apart

And his joints were on the verge of snapping apart.

ودرَّت حماليقُهُ والتوى

كما يلتوي حين يُثنى الهَرِسْ

His cheeks twisted and contorted

His eyes rolled back and his body contorted,

As a shriveled weed twists and contorts

Just as a dry thorn-branch twists when it is bent.

عليك السلام أبا مُنْتنٍ

فإني أعدُّك فيمن رُمس

Greetings to you, foul-smelling father

Peace be upon you, O father of stench,

For I count you among the accursed

For I count you among those laid in the grave.