يأبَى احتمالَ الضَيم لي خُلقٌ

يأبَى احتمالَ الضَيم لي خُلقٌ

فيه على ما رابَنِي صَلَفُ

فيه على ما رابَنِي صَلَفُ

My character refuses to endure oppression;

My nature refuses to bear injustice

In it is proud disdain for whatever troubles me.

In it, despite what has afflicted me, is disdain

سهلُ العريكةِ حين تُنصِفُه

سهلُ العريكةِ حين تُنصِفُه

صعبُ المَقَادَةِ حين يُعتَسَفُ

صعبُ المَقَادَةِ حين يُعتَسَفُ

Gentle in temper when you treat it fairly,

Easy to deal with when he acts justly

Hard to lead when it is treated unjustly.

Hard to control when he is overbearing

خُلُقٌ نَماهُ أغَرُّ أروعُ ميْ

خُلُقٌ نَماهُ أغَرُّ أروعُ ميْ

مونُ النقيبَةِ ماجدٌ أَنِفُ

مونُ النقيبَةِ ماجدٌ أَنِفُ

A character nurtured by an illustrious, awe-inspiring man,

A nature nurtured by the finest, noblest wine

Of blessed disposition, noble and scornful of dishonor,

The courage of battle, proud and high-minded

من معشرٍ طابت مغارِسُهُم

من معشرٍ طابت مغارِسُهُم

فَسما لهم فوق السُّها شَرفُ

فَسما لهم فوق السُّها شَرفُ

From a people whose roots are wholesome,

Of a people whose roots were wholesome

So their honor rose above al-Suhā.

Nobility ascended over them to the highest place

قومٌ إذا عُدّتْ مناقِبُهم

قومٌ إذا عُدّتْ مناقِبُهم

كادت لهنَّ الشمسُ تنكَسِفُ

كادت لهنَّ الشمسُ تنكَسِفُ

A people—when their virtues are counted,

A people, if their virtues were counted

The sun is almost eclipsed before them.

The sun itself would nearly eclipse

لو حاولُوا الأفلاكَ ما قَصُرتْ

لو حاولُوا الأفلاكَ ما قَصُرتْ

عنها أكفُّهُمُ ولا ضَعُفُوا

عنها أكفُّهُمُ ولا ضَعُفُوا

Had they sought the celestial spheres, never would

If they tried for the cosmos, they would not fall short

Their hands fall short of them, nor would they falter.

Neither their palms nor their strength would fail

لا عيبَ فِيهمْ غير أنَّهُمُ

لا عيبَ فِيهمْ غير أنَّهُمُ

في جُودِهم لعُفَاتِهم سَرَفُ

في جُودِهم لعُفَاتِهم سَرَفُ

They have no fault, except that they

No fault in them but that they

Are extravagant in their generosity to those who seek their bounty.

In their generosity were excessive spendthrifts

أُثْنِي بِعلمي فيهمُ وهُمُ

أُثْنِي بِعلمي فيهمُ وهُمُ

فوقَ الثّناءِ وفوقَ ما أَصِفُ

فوقَ الثّناءِ وفوقَ ما أَصِفُ

I praise them as I know them, yet they are

I speak with my knowledge about them while they

Above praise and above what I describe.

Are beyond praise and beyond description