1. فَتَورَيا زَحفاً على القَتلَى على

    جَدَدِ الطَّرِيقِ وذَاكَ جَهلاً يَهرَعُ

    So the two hid, crawling over the slain upon

    The level road, while he hurried on, unaware.

  2. حَتَّى تَناءَى قَيدَ ثَلمٍ قاطِعاً

    مِمَّا تُثَلِّمُهُ البِغالُ وَتقَقطَعُ

    Until he had gone a furrow's length away, traversing

    One of those that mules plow and cut.

  3. إِنَّ البِغَال لِشَقِّ قَلبِ الأَرض في ال

    مِحراثِ من بَقَرِ الزِّراعَةِ أَنفَعُ

    Indeed, mules, for cleaving the earth's heart at the

    Plow, are more useful than farming oxen.

  4. فَتَقَفَّياهُ فَحَلَّ وَقعُ خُطَاهُما

    في سَمعِهِ فَلَوى الخُطَى يَسَّمَّعُ

    Then the two followed him, and the sound of their footsteps came

    To his ears; he checked his steps to listen,

  5. أَمَلاً بِاَنَّ سُعَاةَ هَكطُرَ وُجِّهَت

    بَلَحاقِهِ فَأَتَت تَجُدُّ وَتُسرِعُ

    Hoping that Hector's couriers had been sent

    To catch up with him, and had come pressing on and hurrying.

  6. لكِن على مَرمَى القَنا عَرَفَ العِدى

    فَجَرى وَكُلٌّ مِنهُما يَتَتَبَّعُ

    But at spear's range he recognized the foes,

    And ran, with each of the two pursuing.

  7. كالخَيطَلَينِ مُثَقَّفَينِ تَأَثَّرا

    في الغابِ أَرنَبَةً وَخِشفاً يَرتَعُ

    Like two trained hunting cats that tracked

    In the woods a hare and a grazing fawn:

  8. ذو النَّابِ بالنَّابش الحَدِيدِ مُرَوِّعٌ

    وَالخِشفُ يَثأَجُ واثباً يَرَوَّعُ

    The fanged beast terrifies with its sharp, raking claw,

    And the fawn bleats, leaping in terror.

  9. فَصَلاهُ عَن جَيشِ الطَّراوِدِ نائِياً

    حَتَّى على العُسَّاسِ أَوشَكَ يُدفَعُ

    They cut him off, far from the Trojans' army,

    Until he was almost driven upon the sentries.

  10. دَفَعَت فَلاسُ ذِيُومِذاً بِعَزِيمَةٍ

    كي لا يَصُولَ عَلَيهِ قَرمٌ أَمنَعُ

    Pallas urged Diomedes forward with resolve,

    Lest a mightier champion charge upon him

  11. وَيَكُونَ ذَاكَ القَرمُ أَوَّلَ طاعِنٍ

    وذِيُومِذٌ بالطَّعنِ تالٍ يَتبَعُ

    And that champion be the first to thrust,

    And Diomedes follow, next to strike.

  12. هَزَّ القَناةَ وقالَ قِف ولا فَخُذ

    تُؤتِيكَ أُنبِئُكَ الحِمامَ مُقَرَّبا

    He brandished the spear and said, 'Halt—or else receive it:

    It brings you, I tell you, death close at hand!'

  13. فَرَمى يُصَرِّحُ فَوقَ كاهِلِهِ بها

    عَمداً فَغاصت في الثَّرى تَتَرَعرَعُ

    So he hurled it clear above his shoulder,

    Deliberately; it sank into the soil, quivering.

  14. فانهَدَّ مُمتَقِعاً وَأَوقِفَ هالِعاً

    مُصطكَّةً أَسنانُهُ يَتَلَعلَعُ

    Then he crumpled, pale, and was halted in terror,

    His teeth chattering as he stammered.

  15. وَثَبا عَلَيهِ وَمِن يَدَيهِ أَمسَكا

    هُ فَقالَ يَشهَقُ باكِياً يَتَخَضَّعُ

    The two sprang upon him and, by his hands, seized

    Him; he spoke, gasping, weeping, pleading humbly.