أُنبِئتُ أَنَّ العَبدَ أَمسِ اِبنَ زَهدَمٍ

أُنبِئتُ أَنَّ العَبدَ أَمسِ اِبنَ زَهدَمٍ

يَطوفُ وَلِلغيني لَهُ كُلُّ تِنبالِ

يَطوفُ وَلِلغيني لَهُ كُلُّ تِنبالِ

I was told that yesterday the slave, Ibn Zahdam,

I'm told the slave yesterday, son of Zahdam

was going about, and every contemptible runt was maligning me for him (uncertain reading).

Wanders while to the coward each hill is a dread

فَإِنَّ بُغائي إِن أَرَدتَ بُغايَتي

فَإِنَّ بُغائي إِن أَرَدتَ بُغايَتي

عِراضُ الصَحاري لا اِختِباءٌ بِأَدغالِ

عِراضُ الصَحاري لا اِختِباءٌ بِأَدغالِ

For the place to seek me, if you wish to find me,

So if you want me, son of Zahdam, you must meet me

is the broad expanse of the deserts, not a hiding place in thickets.

On open plains not lurking in copses instead

أَتَيتَ اِبنَةَ المَرّارِ تَهتِكَ سِترَها

أَتَيتَ اِبنَةَ المَرّارِ تَهتِكَ سِترَها

وَلا يُبتَغى تَحتَ الحَوِيّاتِ أَمثالي

وَلا يُبتَغى تَحتَ الحَوِيّاتِ أَمثالي

You came to al-Marrar’s daughter, tearing away her veil,

To defile a maiden of Merrar you came here

and men like me are not sought beneath saddle cushions.

Men like me aren't found under tent roof o'erhead

فَإِنَّكَ لَو لاقَيتَني يا اِبنَ زَهدَمٍ

فَإِنَّكَ لَو لاقَيتَني يا اِبنَ زَهدَمٍ

رَجَعتَ شُعاعِيّاً عَلى رَسمِ تِمثالِ

رَجَعتَ شُعاعِيّاً عَلى رَسمِ تِمثالِ

For had you met me, O son of Zahdam,

If you should meet me, son of Zahdam, face to face

you would have returned distraught, like the outline of a statue.

You'd return but a statue, all courage has fled