لَقَد عَلِمَت قَيسُ اِبنُ عَيلانَ أَنَّنا

لَقَد عَلِمَت قَيسُ اِبنُ عَيلانَ أَنَّنا

بِنا يُدرَكُ الثَأرُ الَّذي قَلَّ طالِبُه

بِنا يُدرَكُ الثَأرُ الَّذي قَلَّ طالِبُه

Indeed, Qays ibn ‘Aylān has learned that we

Qays ibn ‘Aylan certainly knew that we

Are those through whom the vengeance that few seek is won;

With us is attained the vengeance scarcely sought by its seeker,

وَأَنّا نَزَعنا المُلكَ مِن عُقرِ دارِهِ

وَأَنّا نَزَعنا المُلكَ مِن عُقرِ دارِهِ

وَنَنتَهِكُ القَرمَ المُمَنَّعَ جانِبُه

وَنَنتَهِكُ القَرمَ المُمَنَّعَ جانِبُه

And that we wrested sovereignty from the heart of its abode,

And that we snatched away the kingdom from the midst of his abode

And assail the mighty chief whose flank is well defended;

And we violate the forbidden sanctuary despite its keeper,

وَأَنّا فَتَكنا بِالأَغَرِّ اِبنِ رائِقٍ

وَأَنّا فَتَكنا بِالأَغَرِّ اِبنِ رائِقٍ

عَشِيَّةَ دَبَّت بِالفَسادِ عَقارِبُه

عَشِيَّةَ دَبَّت بِالفَسادِ عَقارِبُه

And that we slew the illustrious Ibn Rā’iq,

And that we contended against the evildoer son of Rā’iq

On the evening his scorpions crept, spreading corruption.

In the evening when his sins set moving his hornets,

أَخَذنا لَكُم بِالثَأرِ ثارَ عُمارَةٍ

أَخَذنا لَكُم بِالثَأرِ ثارَ عُمارَةٍ

وَقَد نامَ لَم يَنهَد إِلى الثَأرِ صاحِبُه

وَقَد نامَ لَم يَنهَد إِلى الثَأرِ صاحِبُه

We exacted vengeance for you—vengeance for ‘Umāra—

We have taken vengeance for you a vengeance for ‘Umārah

While its claimant slept and did not rise to seek vengeance.

While he who should have sought vengeance slept, unstirring.