سا ئِل سَدوسَ الَّتي أَفنى كَتائِبها

طَعنُ الرِماحِ الَّتي في رُؤسِها شُهُبُ

The cavalry of Sadus that destroyed his legions,

The spears in their heads like shooting stars,

إِن لَم تُلاقوا بِنا جُهداً فَقَد شَهِدَت

فُرسانُكُم أَنَّني بِالصَبرِ مُعتَصِبُ

If you do not meet us in battle, your horsemen have witnessed

That I stand fast with patience.

يا وَيلَ أُمِّكُم مِن جَمعِ سادَتِنا

كَتائِباً كَالرُبى وَالقَطرِ يَنسَكِبُ

Woe to you from our chieftains gathered

In columns, pouring down like heavy rain.

أَبا عُقَيلٍ فَلا تَنحَر بِسادَتِكُم

فَأَنتُم أَنتُم وَالدَهرُ يَنقَلِبُ

Abu Uqail, do not slaughter your chieftains,

For you are you, and time keeps changing.

فَإِن سَلِمنا فَإِنّا سائِرونَ لَكُم

بِكُلِّ هِندِيَّةٍ في حَدِّها شُطَبُ

If we make peace, we will come for you

With every Indian sword in its sheath,

وَكُلِّ جَرداءَ مِثلِ السَهمِ يَكنُفُها

مِن كُلِّ ناحِيَةٍ لَيثٌ لَهُ حَسَبُ

And every bare-flanked mare, surrounded

On all sides by a lion with pedigree.

لا تَحسَبوا أَنَّنا يا قَومُ نُفلِتُكُم

أَو تَهرُبونَ إِذا ما أَعوَزَ الهَرَبُ

Do not think, O people, that we will let you slip away

Or flee when flight becomes necessary.

كَلّا وَرَبِّ القِلاصِ الراقِصاتِ ضُحىً

تَهوي بِها فِتيَةٌ غُرٌّ إِذا اِنتُدِبوا

No, by the Lord of the swaying anklets at dawn,

Which spirited youths pursue when called upon.