انعت مهرا سبط الفرات

انعت مهرا سبط الفرات

ورداً طمرّاً مدمج السراة

ورداً طمرّاً مدمج السراة

I describe a colt, a grandson of al-Furāt,

She mounts her steed unrestrained, like rose buds tightly packed,

Bay and fleet, compact and well-knit along the back.

In the morning heading forth, breasts swaying as she trots,

يغدو بنهد في اللجام عات

يغدو بنهد في اللجام عات

نعائماً عشرا مطرّدات

نعائماً عشرا مطرّدات

He rides out at dawn on a powerful steed, unruly at the bit,

With ten gentle swayings, anklets jingling as she walks,

After ten ostriches driven into flight,

She obeyed and surrendered, O Sovereign Lady.

صك العراقيب هجنّعات

صك العراقيب هجنّعات

فانصاع وانصعن موليات

فانصاع وانصعن موليات

Close-hocked, lanky and long-necked.

Nothing but gifts and generosity,

Then he sped off, and they sped away, turning tail.

Until they gathered closely quarrelling,

ما كان الا هاكه وهات

ما كان الا هاكه وهات

حتى اجتمعن متناغصات

حتى اجتمعن متناغصات

It took no more than 'Take it!' and 'Give it here!'

With calumny and betrayal from the guards,

Before they bunched together, jostling one another,

Disturbing the breast of the slumbering dovecote,

بالسهب والغدر من الحماة

بالسهب والغدر من الحماة

واختلّ حضناً هيقةٍ شوشات

واختلّ حضناً هيقةٍ شوشات

On the steppe and broken ground of al-Ḥamāh.

So she fell from the back of the litter,

And he pierced the flank of a fleet hen-ostrich;

Without exaltation or prayer,

فانعقرت من اخر الهيقات

فانعقرت من اخر الهيقات

بغير تكبير ولا صلاة

بغير تكبير ولا صلاة

Then she fell stricken at the rear of the hen-ostriches,

As if opposed to the riders.

Without a cry of 'God is greatest' or a prayer,

كأنهاخالفة السراة

كأنهاخالفة السراة

As though she were a rear tent-pole of the chiefs.