أَتى ثَعالَةَ يَوماً

أَتى ثَعالَةَ يَوماً

مِنَ الضَواحي حِمارُ

مِنَ الضَواحي حِمارُ

One day there came to Thaʿālah

The donkey came to Tha'labah one day

A donkey from the outskirts.

From the outskirts, and said: "If you are

وَقالَ إِن كُنتَ جاري

وَقالَ إِن كُنتَ جاري

حَقّاً وَنِعمَ الجارُ

حَقّاً وَنِعمَ الجارُ

And said, “If you are my neighbor

Truly my neighbor, and a good neighbor,

Truly—and what a fine neighbor!—

Tell me, for I am gloomy, worried, confused -

قُل لي فَإِنّي كَئيبٌ

قُل لي فَإِنّي كَئيبٌ

مُفَكِّرٌ مُحتارُ

مُفَكِّرٌ مُحتارُ

Tell me, for I am sorrowful,

Yesterday in the procession, when we

Pondering and perplexed.

Walked on, and the elders passed,

في مَوكِبِ الأَمسِ لَمّا

في مَوكِبِ الأَمسِ لَمّا

سِرنا وَسارَ الكِبارُ

سِرنا وَسارَ الكِبارُ

In yesterday’s procession, when

Did I let down my master? Was it shameful?

We went along, and the dignitaries went along,

Did I commit a serious wrong?"

طَرَحتُ مَولايَ أَرضاً

طَرَحتُ مَولايَ أَرضاً

فَهَل بِذَلِكَ عارُ

فَهَل بِذَلِكَ عارُ

I threw my master to the ground.

Tha'labah said: "No, donkey, no."

So is there disgrace in that?

وَهَل أَتَيتُ عَظيماً

وَهَل أَتَيتُ عَظيماً

فَقالَ لا يا حِمارُ

فَقالَ لا يا حِمارُ

And have I done something grave?”

So he said, “No, donkey.”