1. فَإِن تَنجُ مِنها يا أَبانُ مُسَلَمّاً

    فَقَد أَفلَتَ الحَجّاجَ خَيلُ شَبيبِ

    So if you escape it, O Aban, unharmed,

    For Shabib's cavalry let al-Hajjaj slip away.

  2. وَكادَ غَداةَ الدَيرِ يُنفِذُ حِضنَهُ

    غُلامٌ بِطَعنِ القِرنِ جِدُّ طَبيبِ

    And that morning at the monastery, his flank was nearly pierced

    By a youth, very skilled at stabbing an opponent.

  3. وَأُنسَوهُ وَصفَ الدَيرِ لَمّا رَآهُمُ

    وَحَسَّنَ خَوفُ المَوتِ كُلَّ مَعيبِ

    And they made him forget the monastery's description when he saw them,

    And fear of death made every shameful thing seem good.