لَقَد صَدَقوا وَالراقِصاتِ إِلى منى

لَقَد صَدَقوا وَالراقِصاتِ إِلى منى

بِأَنَّ مَوَدّاتِ العدى لَيسَ تَنفَعُ

بِأَنَّ مَوَدّاتِ العدى لَيسَ تَنفَعُ

They spoke truly—by the camels swaying toward Mina—

They spoke truly, by the dancing-girls, unto Mina,

that the affections of enemies bring no benefit.

That cordiality to a foe brings no advantage.

وَلَو اِنَّني دارَيتُ دَهرِيَ حَيَّةً

وَلَو اِنَّني دارَيتُ دَهرِيَ حَيَّةً

اِذا اِستَمكَنَت يَوماً مِنَ اللَسعِ تلسعُ

اِذا اِستَمكَنَت يَوماً مِنَ اللَسعِ تلسعُ

And even if I treated a snake gently all my life,

Though I were to pass my days prudent as a snake,

if one day it had the chance to sting, it would sting.

If able some day to sting, that day she stings.