وَأَغَرَّ يُسفِرُ لِلعَوالي وَالعُلى

وَأَغَرَّ يُسفِرُ لِلعَوالي وَالعُلى

عَن حُرِّ وَجهٍ بِالحَياءِ مُلَثَّمِ

عَن حُرِّ وَجهٍ بِالحَياءِ مُلَثَّمِ

And a radiant man who unveils, before lofty spears and glory,

The dawn allures to heights sublime, remote,

a noble face veiled in modesty.

From bashful face the veil is half afloat,

يَسري فَيَمسَحُ لِلدُجى عَن صَفحَةٍ

يَسري فَيَمسَحُ لِلدُجى عَن صَفحَةٍ

غَرّاءَ تَصدَعُ كُلَّ لَيلٍ مُظلِمِ

غَرّاءَ تَصدَعُ كُلَّ لَيلٍ مُظلِمِ

He journeys by night, uncovering for the darkness a face

Gliding, and wiping off the shades of night

radiant, cleaving every dark night.

From the fair page of morning grey and smote.

جَذلانَ تَحسِبُ وَجهَهُ مُتَهَلِّلاً

جَذلانَ تَحسِبُ وَجهَهُ مُتَهَلِّلاً

في هَبوَةِ الهَيجاءِ غُرَّةَ أَدهَمِ

في هَبوَةِ الهَيجاءِ غُرَّةَ أَدهَمِ

Jubilant, you would think his beaming face,

The pearls of dew roll off her cheeks that shine

amid the dust of battle, the white blaze of a black steed.

Like purest pearl in necklace black of note:

زَرَّ الحَديدُ عَلَيهِ جَيبَ حَمامَةٍ

زَرَّ الحَديدُ عَلَيهِ جَيبَ حَمامَةٍ

وَرقاءَ في غَبَشِ العَجاجِ الأَقتَمِ

وَرقاءَ في غَبَشِ العَجاجِ الأَقتَمِ

Iron buttoned about him a dove’s collar,

Spear-thrusts the polished surface overlay

ash-gray, amid the gloom of dusky, swirling dust.

Of steel-mail vest on breast of young gazelle:

فَكَأَنَّ جِلدَةَ حَيَّةٍ خُلِعَت بِهِ

فَكَأَنَّ جِلدَةَ حَيَّةٍ خُلِعَت بِهِ

يَومَ الكَريهَةِ فَوقَ عَطفي ضَيغَمِ

يَومَ الكَريهَةِ فَوقَ عَطفي ضَيغَمِ

So it was as though a snake’s skin had been shed upon him

The cupping man hath withdrawn the blood therefrom,

on the day of battle, over a lion’s shoulders.

On day of bitterness for wives of Lot.