أَلا حَبَّذا الناعي وَأَهلاً وَمَرحَباً

كَأَنَّكَ قَد بَشَّرتَني بِغُلامِ

Behold—how welcome the bearer of death-tidings! Welcome, and most welcome!

It is as though you had brought me glad tidings of a boy.

وَكَم دَولَةٍ لِلجَورِ مِن قَبلِ هَذِهِ

مَضَت وَاِنقَضَت عَنّا بِغَيرِ سَلامِ

How many a dominion of tyranny, before this one,

Has passed and ended, departing from us without farewell.

وَهَل يَحمِلُ الضَيمَ الفَتى وَهوَ آخِذٌ

بِقائِمِ سَيفٍ أَو عِنانِ لِجامِ

Can a valiant youth endure humiliation while grasping

A sword’s hilt—or the reins of a bridle?