وَما لِلهَيرُدانِ وَلا عِلِيٍّ

وَما لِلهَيرُدانِ وَلا عِلِيٍّ

لَفيفِ السَيفِ إِذ رُهِقا نَصيرُ

لَفيفِ السَيفِ إِذ رُهِقا نَصيرُ

Neither al-Hayrudān nor ʿIliyy,

Neither Hayzuran nor Ali, wielders of the sword,

The sword’s companion, had a helper when both were hard-pressed,

Had any helper when they were overpowered.

سِوى شِريانَةٍ خَطَمَت بِكُلٍّ

سِوى شِريانَةٍ خَطَمَت بِكُلٍّ

لَها في كَفِّ نازِعِها خَطيرُ

لَها في كَفِّ نازِعِها خَطيرُ

Save a shiryān-wood bow that prevailed over every

Save for a single old woman who bit hard

Rival it had in its drawer’s palm.

With every tooth in her mouth as she fought.

إِذا طَرَحَت وَراءَ القَومِ سَهماً

إِذا طَرَحَت وَراءَ القَومِ سَهماً

مَضى صَرَداً وَأَتبَعَهُ البَصيرُ

مَضى صَرَداً وَأَتبَعَهُ البَصيرُ

When it cast an arrow beyond the people,

Whenever she launched an arrow behind the warriors

It passed clean through, and blood followed it.

It sped sure and straight, followed by the keen-sighted.