1. وَكانَت نِهابا تَلافَيتُها

    بِكَرّي عَلى المُهرِ في الأَجرَعِ

    And it was plunder I had recovered,

    By my charge on the colt across the sandy plain,

  2. وَإيقاظِيَ القَومَ أَن يَرقدوا

    إِذا هَجَعَ الناسُ لَم أَهجَعِ

    And by rousing the men lest they sleep;

    When the people slept, I did not sleep.

  3. فَأَصبَحَ نَهبي وَنَهبُ العُبَي

    دِ بَينَ عُيَينَةَ وَالأَقرَعِ

    So my spoils and al-ʿUbayd’s spoils ended up

    Between ʿUyaynah and al-Aqraʿ.

  4. وَقَد كُنتُ في الحَربِ ذا تُدرَأُ

    فَلَم أُعطَ شَيئاً وَلَم أُمنَعِ

    And in battle I had been a staunch defender,

    Yet I was given nothing, nor was I denied,

  5. إِلّا أَفائِلَ أُعطيتُها

    عَديدَ قَوائِمِها الأَربَعِ

    Except for young camels I was given,

    As many as their four legs.

  6. وَما كانَ حِصنٌ حابِسٌ

    يَفوقانِ مِرداسَ في مَجمَعِ

    Nor did Ḥiṣn and Ḥābis

    Surpass Mirdās in any gathering.

  7. وَما كُنتُ دونَ اِمرِىءٍ مِنهُما

    وَمَن تَضَعِ اليَومَ لا يُرفَعِ

    Nor was I inferior to either of them;

    And whoever you lower today will not be raised.