تقولُ لي أختُ عَبسٍ ما أرى إِبلاً

تقولُ لي أختُ عَبسٍ ما أرى إِبلاً

وأنت تزعم مَن والاك صِنديدُ

وأنت تزعم مَن والاك صِنديدُ

A woman of ʿAbs says to me, “I see no camels,”

A woman of ʿAbs says to me, “I see no camels,

“yet you claim that whoever stands by you is a mighty champion.”

yet you claim that whoever allies himself with you is a mighty warrior.”

فقلتُ يكفي مكانُ اللومِ مُطَّرِدٌ

فقلتُ يكفي مكانُ اللومِ مُطَّرِدٌ

فيه القَتيرُ بسَمرِ القَينِ مَشدودُ

فيه القَتيرُ بسَمرِ القَينِ مَشدودُ

I answered, “In place of reproach, a thrusting spear is enough—

I said, “In place of reproach, a straight spear suffices,

its ironwork fastened tight with the smith’s dark rivets—

its metal fittings fastened with the smith’s nails,

وشِكَّةٌ صاغَها وَفراءَ كامِلَةً

وشِكَّةٌ صاغَها وَفراءَ كامِلَةً

وصارِمٌ من سيوف الهندِ مَقدودُ

وصارِمٌ من سيوف الهندِ مَقدودُ

and a suit of arms he fashioned, ample and complete,

and battle-gear he forged, ample and complete,

and a keen blade, fashioned from the swords of India.

and a keen sword from India, finely shaped.

إنِّي ليرعَى رجالٌ لي سوامَهُمُ

إنِّي ليرعَى رجالٌ لي سوامَهُمُ

لي العقائل منها والمقاحِيدُ

لي العقائل منها والمقاحِيدُ

Indeed, men are tending their grazing herds for me;

Indeed, men pasture their herds for me;

mine are the choicest among them, and the hardiest camels.”

mine are the choicest among them and the high-humped camels.”