يا أيها الطاعونُ إنَّ حماةَ مِنْ

خيرِ البلادِ ومِنْ أعزِّ حصونِها

O plague, you have reached the protectors

Of the best of lands and its strongest fortresses

لا كنتَ حينَ شَمَمْتَها فسمَمْتَها

ولثمْتَ فاها آخذاً بقرونها

You were not so bold when you sensed them at first

And took hold of them, grasping their horns