غالَsnatched away الرَدىdeath شِبلَa lion cub غيلٍa thicket كانَwas فيهِin him غِنىsupport
غالَ الرَدى شِبلَ غيلٍ كانَ فيهِ غِنى
إِذاif أَعالَhad many dependents أَبوfather of الأَشبالِthe lion cubs أَوor عالاgrew poor
إِذا أَعالَ أَبو الأَشبالِ أَو عالا
Death snatched away a lion cub of the thicket, who could have provided support
The wild bulls' fight was rich with bounty
Destruction seized a cub of the thicket, in whom lay sufficiency,
If the cubs’ father had many dependents or grew poor.
When the cubs' father struck out at them, or soared on high
When the father of the pride was burdened by dependents or by want.
لَوif لَمnot تُقلمclip يَدُhand of المانيfate أَظافِرُهُhis claws
لَو لَم تُقلم يَدُ الماني أَظافِرُهُ
قادَhe would have led الأُسودَthe lions إِلىto الأَحبالِthe snares أَوwild goats (first part of split أوعالا) عالاwild goats (second part of split أوعالا)
قادَ الأُسودَ إِلى الأَحبالِ أَو عالا
Had fate’s hand not clipped his claws,
Had the protector not clipped his talons
Had the hand of Fate not clipped his talons,
He would have led lions into snares like wild goats.
He would have led the lions to the ropes, or soared on high
He would have led lions to the snares or risen to the heights.