قَد راحَ نَحوَ العِراقِ مَشخَلَبَه

قَد راحَ نَحوَ العِراقِ مَشخَلَبَه

قُصارُهُ السِجنُ بَعدَهُ الخَشَبَه

قُصارُهُ السِجنُ بَعدَهُ الخَشَبَه

Mashkhalabah has set off toward Iraq;

Mashkhalabah has set out toward Iraq.

his journey’s end is prison, and after it the gallows-beam.

His fate is prison, and after it the gibbet.

يَركَبُها صاغِراً بِلا قَتَبٍ

يَركَبُها صاغِراً بِلا قَتَبٍ

وَلا خِطامٍ وَحَولَهُ جَلَبَه

وَلا خِطامٍ وَحَولَهُ جَلَبَه

He will mount it abased, without a camel-saddle,

He mounts it, abased, without a pack saddle,

and without a bridle, with an uproar all around him.

nor a halter, with clamor all around him.

فَقُل لِدَعجاءَ إِن مَرَرتَ بِها

فَقُل لِدَعجاءَ إِن مَرَرتَ بِها

لَن يُعجِزَ اللَهَ هارِبٌ طَلَبَه

لَن يُعجِزَ اللَهَ هارِبٌ طَلَبَه

Then tell Daʿdāʾ, should you pass by her:

So tell Daʿjaʾ, if you pass by her:

No fugitive He pursues will ever elude God.

No fugitive whom God pursues will ever elude Him.

قَد جَعَلَ اللَهُ بَعدَ غَلبَتِكُم

قَد جَعَلَ اللَهُ بَعدَ غَلبَتِكُم

لَنا عَلَيكُم يا دُلدُلُ الغَلَبَة

لَنا عَلَيكُم يا دُلدُلُ الغَلَبَة

After your victory, God has now granted

God has granted, after your victory,

us victory over you—O Duldul!

victory to us over you, O Duldul.

لَستَ إِلى هاشِمٍ وَلا أَسَدٍ

لَستَ إِلى هاشِمٍ وَلا أَسَدٍ

وَلا إِلى نَوفَلٍ وَلا الحَجَبَه

وَلا إِلى نَوفَلٍ وَلا الحَجَبَه

You are descended neither from Hāshim nor Asad,

You are not of Hashim, nor of Asad,

nor from Nawfal, nor from the Keepers of the Kaaba.

nor of Nawfal, nor of the doorkeepers.

لَكِنَّما أَشجَعٌ أَبوكَ سَلِ

لَكِنَّما أَشجَعٌ أَبوكَ سَلِ

الكِلبِيَّ لا ما يُزَوِّقُ الكَذَبَه

الكِلبِيَّ لا ما يُزَوِّقُ الكَذَبَه

Rather, Ashjaʿ is your father—ask

Rather, Ashjaʿ is your father—ask

the Kalbite woman, not whoever embellishes the lie.

al-Kalbi, not the tales the liars embellish.