قالَ السَلوقي مَرَّةً لِلجَواد

قالَ السَلوقي مَرَّةً لِلجَواد

وَهوَ إِلى الصَيدِ مَسوقُ القِياد

وَهوَ إِلى الصَيدِ مَسوقُ القِياد

The Saluki once said to the steed,

Al-Saluki once said to his steed

As he was being led by the reins to the hunt:

As he was led to the hunt, reins in the lead:

بِاللَهِ قُل لي يا رَفيقَ الهَنا

بِاللَهِ قُل لي يا رَفيقَ الهَنا

فَأَنتَ تَدري لي الوَفا في الوِداد

فَأَنتَ تَدري لي الوَفا في الوِداد

“By God, tell me, O companion in joy—

"For God's sake, tell me O friend of delight

For you know my loyalty in friendship—

You know in me loyalty and love unite

أَلَستَ أَهلَ البيدِ أَهلَ الفَلا

أَلَستَ أَهلَ البيدِ أَهلَ الفَلا

أَهلَ السُرى وَالسَيرِ أَهلَ الجِهاد

أَهلَ السُرى وَالسَيرِ أَهلَ الجِهاد

Are you not suited to deserts, suited to wilderness,

Are you not the noble steed of the chase?

Suited to night journeys and travel, suited to battle?

The stalwart mount of the trail and race?

أَلَم تَكُن رَبَّ الصِفاتِ الَّتي

أَلَم تَكُن رَبَّ الصِفاتِ الَّتي

هامَ بِها الشاعِرُ في كُلِّ واد

هامَ بِها الشاعِرُ في كُلِّ واد

Did you not possess the qualities

Were you not gifted the traits ideal

That enthralled the poet in every valley?”

That stir the poet's verse with zeal?

قالَ بَلى كُلَّ الَّذي قُلتهُ

قالَ بَلى كُلَّ الَّذي قُلتهُ

أَنا بِهِ المَشهورُ بَينَ العِباد

أَنا بِهِ المَشهورُ بَينَ العِباد

He said, “Yes; all that you have said

"Yes," said the horse "All you say rings true

Is what I am renowned for among people.”

These gifts I bear, and my fame they accrue"

قالَ فَما بالُكَ يا صاحِبي

قالَ فَما بالُكَ يا صاحِبي

إِذا دَعا الصَيدُ وَجَدَّ الطِراد

إِذا دَعا الصَيدُ وَجَدَّ الطِراد

He said, “Then what ails you, my friend,

"Why then, my friend" said the poet, distressed

When the hunt calls and the chase grows fierce,

"When the hunt calls, the hawks take wing with zest

تَشكو فَتُشكيكَ عَصا سَيِّدي

تَشكو فَتُشكيكَ عَصا سَيِّدي

إِنَّ العَصا ما خُلِقَت لِلجَواد

إِنَّ العَصا ما خُلِقَت لِلجَواد

That you complain, and my master's stick gives you cause to complain?

Do you balk and jib at your master's crop

Surely the stick was not made for a noble steed!

No whip, for the steed, was ever meant or wrought

وَتَنثَني في عَرَقٍ سائِلٍ

وَتَنثَني في عَرَقٍ سائِلٍ

مُنَكَّسَ الرَأسِ ضَئيلَ الفُؤاد

مُنَكَّسَ الرَأسِ ضَئيلَ الفُؤاد

And you turn back, streaming with sweat,

Bucking and plunging in sweat profuse

Head bowed, faint of heart,

Head hung low, and courage obtuse

وَذا السَلوقي أَبَداً صابِرٌ

وَذا السَلوقي أَبَداً صابِرٌ

يَنقادُ لِلمالِكِ أَيَّ اِنقِياد

يَنقادُ لِلمالِكِ أَيَّ اِنقِياد

While this Saluki is ever patient,

While I, Al-Saluki, patient remain

Submitting to the owner in utter obedience.”

And docile to my master's rein"

فَقالَ مَهلاً يا كَبيرَ النُهى

فَقالَ مَهلاً يا كَبيرَ النُهى

ما هَكَذا أَنظارُ أَهلِ الرَشاد

ما هَكَذا أَنظارُ أَهلِ الرَشاد

Then he replied, “Easy now, O you of great intellect!

The horse replied "Gentle teacher of hearts

That is not how those with sound judgment see things.

The enlightened look beyond surface parts

السِرُّ في الطَيرِ وَفي الوَحشِ لا

السِرُّ في الطَيرِ وَفي الوَحشِ لا

في عَظمِ سيقانِكَ يا ذا السَداد

في عَظمِ سيقانِكَ يا ذا السَداد

The secret lies in birds and in wild beasts, not

The rapture of birds and animals free

In the bones of your legs, O wise one.

Is not found in your shanks, steadfast as they be

ما الرِجلُ إِلّا حَيثُ كانَ الهَوى

ما الرِجلُ إِلّا حَيثُ كانَ الهَوى

إِنَّ البُطونَ قادِراتٌ شِداد

إِنَّ البُطونَ قادِراتٌ شِداد

The foot goes only where desire leads;

Passion flies where desire leads

Indeed, bellies are powerful and strong.

For the belly commands, and hunger heeds

أَما تَرى الطَيرَ عَلى ضَعفِها

أَما تَرى الطَيرَ عَلى ضَعفِها

تَطوي إِلى الحَبِّ مِئاتَ البِلاد

تَطوي إِلى الحَبِّ مِئاتَ البِلاد

Do you not see the birds, despite their weakness,

See how birds, though fragile of frame

Crossing hundreds of lands to reach the grain?”

Cross continents, when love lights aflame"