مَتَى يَهبُطا سُهباً فَليسَ حِمَارُهُ
وإن كانَ عِلجاً مُضمَرَ الكَشحِ طالِعا
Whenever the two descend upon an open plain, his wild ass will not—
Whenever the two descend to an open plain, its wild ass will not,
even if it is a powerful, lean-flanked brute—come out alive.
even if a sturdy beast, lean of flank, escape.
تَرَدَّينَ ثَوباً واستَغَاثَ بِمغوَلٍ
يُضيفُ ويُعطي الغَربَ غَرباً مُنازِعا
They wrapped themselves in a mantle, and he sought aid from a concealed dagger
They donned a robe, and he sought aid from his dagger-like member,
that plays host and answers fury with fury in the struggle.
Swerving and answering vigor with rival vigor.
فَلمَّا استَدارَ وأستَدَرنَ بِرَيِّقٍ
يُحَلنَ بهِ دُونَ الغُبارِ شَوافِعا
When he wheeled and they circled him at his blade’s gleam,
Then, when he wheeled and they wheeled with fresh vigor,
they closed in around him beneath the dust-cloud, pair after pair.
They were driven round by him ahead of the dust, each accompanied by her young.
Sol 6.1