وخرقاءُ قد تاهَتْ على من يرومُها

وخرقاءُ قد تاهَتْ على من يرومُها

بمَرْقَبِها العالي وجانِبها الصَّعْبِ

بمَرْقَبِها العالي وجانِبها الصَّعْبِ

And a foolish one has vaunted herself above whoever seeks her,

The ruins have wandered astray over one who seeks them,

with her lofty lookout and her inaccessible flank.

With their lofty watchtower and steep side.

يَزِرُّ عَليها الجَوّ جَيْبَ غَمامِهِ

يَزِرُّ عَليها الجَوّ جَيْبَ غَمامِهِ

ويُلْبِسُها عقداً بأنْجمه الشهبِ

ويُلْبِسُها عقداً بأنْجمه الشهبِ

The sky buttons over her the neckline of its clouds,

The air pours its clouds' bosom down upon them,

and adorns her with a necklace of its gleaming stars.

And dresses them with a necklace of its shooting stars.

إِذا ما سَرى بَرْقٌ بَدَتْ من خلاله

إِذا ما سَرى بَرْقٌ بَدَتْ من خلاله

كَما لاحَتِ العَذْراءُ من خِلَلِ الحجبِ

كَما لاحَتِ العَذْراءُ من خِلَلِ الحجبِ

Whenever lightning travels by night, she appears through it,

When lightning flashes through them,

as a virgin appears through gaps in the veils.

She appears as a maiden glimpsed through a veil.

فكم ذي جُنودٍ قد أَماتَ بِعَضْبِهِ

فكم ذي جُنودٍ قد أَماتَ بِعَضْبِهِ

وذي سَطَواتٍ قد أَبانَ عَلى عَقْبِ

وذي سَطَواتٍ قد أَبانَ عَلى عَقْبِ

For how many a lord of armies he has slain with his keen sword,

So many a man of armies has killed with his wrath,

and many a man of fierce onslaughts he has driven back on his heels.

And so many a man of power has shown his might.

سَمَوْتَ لَها بالرأَي يشرق في الدُّجى

سَمَوْتَ لَها بالرأَي يشرق في الدُّجى

ويَقْطَعُ في الجُلَّى ويَصْدَعُ في الهضبِ

ويَقْطَعُ في الجُلَّى ويَصْدَعُ في الهضبِ

You rose toward her with judgment that shines in the darkness,

You planned for them with enlightened reason shining in the gloom,

and decides in grave crises and cleaves through the rocky heights.

Piercing the darkness, cleaving the hills.

فأَبرزتَها مَنْهوكة الجَيْبِ بِالقَنا

فأَبرزتَها مَنْهوكة الجَيْبِ بِالقَنا

وغادَرْتَها مَلْصُوقَةَ الخَدِّ بالتُربِ

وغادَرْتَها مَلْصُوقَةَ الخَدِّ بالتُربِ

Then you brought her forth, her neckline worn through by spears,

Then you brought them out with their breasts drained by the canal,

and left her with her cheek pressed to the dust.

Leaving them clasped to the cheek by dust.