إِنّي حَلَفتُ بِصارِعٍ لِاِبنٍ لَهُ
إِسحاقَ فَوقَ جَبينِهِ المَتلولِ
I swear by a wrestling champion, a son to him
Isaac, above whose smooth forehead
وَلَقَد حَلَفتُ بِمُقبِلينَ إِلى مِنىً
جاؤوا عَصائِبَ فَوقَ كُلِّ سَبيلِ
And I swear by pilgrims coming to Minā
They came in droves over every route
شُعثِ الرُؤوسِ مُلَبَّدينَ رَمَت بِهِم
أَنقاءُ كُلِّ تَنوفَةٍ وَهُجولِ
Disheveled heads, covered in worn-out clothes
The best of every tribe and clan
أَن قَد مَضَت لي مِنكَ حُسنُ صَنيعَةٍ
وَالراقِصاتِ بِنُمرُقٍ وَشَليلِ
That you have done good by me
And by dancing girls in fine dresses and anklets
يا مالِ هَل لَكَ في أَسيرٍ قَد أَتَت
تِسعونَ فَوقَ يَدَيهِ غَيرَ قَليلِ
O chief, do you have an imprisoned captive
On whom ninety lashes were inflicted
فَتَجُزَّ ناصِيَتي وَتُفرِجَ كُربَتي
عَنّي وَتُطلِقَ لي يَداكَ كُبولي
So you may loosen my fetters and relieve my worries
Free me from you and release my shackled hands
يا مالِ هَل أَنا مُهلِكي ما لَم أَقُل
وَلِيُعرَفَنَّ مِنَ القَصائِدَ قيلي
O chief, will I be destroyed if I do not say
So my poems may be distinguished when recited
إِنَّ اِبنَ جَبّارَي رَبيعَةَ مالِكاً
لِلَّهِ سَيفُ صَنيعَةٍ مُسلولِ
Indeed the son of the tyrants of Rabīʿah, Mālik
To Allah belongs a sword of fine making when drawn
ما زالَ في آلِ المُعَلّى قَبلَهُ
سَيفٌ لِكُلِّ خَليفَةٍ وَرَسولِ
It did not cease to be among the dynasty of Al Muʿallā
A sword for every successor and messenger
وَلَقَد وَرِثتَ بِمُنذِرٍ وَبِمالِكٍ
مَلَكَي رَبيعَةَ رَأسِ كُلِّ خَليلِ
And you inherited through Munḍir and through Mālik
The kingdom of Rabīʿah, the best of every friend
لا تَأخُذَنَّ عَلَيَّ قَولَ مُحَدِّثٍ
ضَغِنٍ عَلى وَتَرٍ بِهِ مَتبولِ
Do not believe the words of a slandering tale-carrier
Plucking on a string with fingers unclean
وَالخَيلُ تَعرِفُ مِن جَذيمَةَ أَنَّها
تَعدو بِكُلِّ سَمَيدَعٍ بُهلولِ
And horses know that Jadīmah
Gallop with every elegant and beautiful mare
جاراتُهُم يَعلَمنَ حَقّاً أَنَّهُم
فِتيانُ يَومِ كَريهَةٍ مَشمولِ
Their neighbors know truly that they
Are the young men of an awful war day when called
المُطعِمونَ إِذا الصَبا بَرَدَت لَهُم
وَالطاعِنونَ نُحورَ كُلِّ قَبيلِ
Those who feed others when winter grows cold for them
And who pierce the chests of every tribe
وَكَأَنَّ جارَ بَني المُعَلّى مُشرِفٌ
مِن رَأسِ رَهوَةَ فَوقَ أُمِّ وُعولِ
And it is as if a neighbor of the Banū Al Muʿallā is overlooking
From the top of the hill above Umm Wuʿūl
اِسقوا فَقَد مَلَأَ المُعَلّى حَوضَكُم
بِذَنوبِ مُلتَهِمِ الذِنابِ سَجيلِ
Quench your thirst, for Al Muʿallā has filled your basin
With the sins of their debauched wine-drinker Sajīl
وَلَقَد أُمِرتَ إِذا أَتاكَ مُحَدِّثٌ
بِعَضيهَةٍ بِبَيانِ غَيرِ جَهولِ
And you were ordered, whenever a tale-carrier came to you
With some nonsense in unclear words
