تَرَكْتُ العُلا وَالعِيسُ يَنْفُخْنَ في البُرَى

تَرَكْتُ العُلا وَالعِيسُ يَنْفُخْنَ في البُرَى

لِمُتَّشِحٍ بِالذُّلِّ إِذْ قَلَّ مالُهُ

لِمُتَّشِحٍ بِالذُّلِّ إِذْ قَلَّ مالُهُ

I left glory—while the pale camels snorted through their nose-rings—

I left glory behind, though the wind blows it about the meadows,

To one cloaked in humiliation when his wealth dwindled.

For one wrapped in humility when his wealth grew scarce,

وَقَدْ كُنْتُ أُزْجِي الأَرْحَبِيَّ على الوَجَى

وَقَدْ كُنْتُ أُزْجِي الأَرْحَبِيَّ على الوَجَى

فَأَنْزِلُ عَنْهُ وَالكَلالُ عِقالُهُ

فَأَنْزِلُ عَنْهُ وَالكَلالُ عِقالُهُ

And I used to drive the Arhabi camel onward despite its aching feet,

Once I would race the wide plain on a steed,

Then dismount from it, exhaustion its hobble.

But now I dismount from him when tiredness is his bridle,

فَأَلْقَيْتُ إِذْ لَمْ يَبْقَ في الأَرْضِ مَسْرَحٌ

فَأَلْقَيْتُ إِذْ لَمْ يَبْقَ في الأَرْضِ مَسْرَحٌ

رِحالي فَقُلْ في الطَّرْفِ ضاقَ مَجالُهُ

رِحالي فَقُلْ في الطَّرْفِ ضاقَ مَجالُهُ

So I cast down—when no roaming-ground remained on earth—

So I cast off when no wide space was left on earth,

My saddles; say of the thoroughbred that its range has narrowed.

My belongings, and say to my soul - its expanse narrowed,

وَإِنِّي لَأَرْضَى مِنْ زَماني بِبُلْغَةٍ

وَإِنِّي لَأَرْضَى مِنْ زَماني بِبُلْغَةٍ

وَعِرْضِي مَصُونٌ لَمْ يَشِنْهُ ابْتِذالُهُ

وَعِرْضِي مَصُونٌ لَمْ يَشِنْهُ ابْتِذالُهُ

And I am indeed content with the bare sustenance my days afford,

And I am content in my time with eloquence,

While my honor is guarded, unsullied by debasement,

My honor kept safe, not cheapened by vulgarity,

بِشُرْبٍ كَوَلْغِ الذِّئْبِ راعَتْهُ نَبْأَةٌ

بِشُرْبٍ كَوَلْغِ الذِّئْبِ راعَتْهُ نَبْأَةٌ

وَأَكْلٍ كَنَوْشِ الصَّقْرِ مِمّا يَنالُهُ

وَأَكْلٍ كَنَوْشِ الصَّقْرِ مِمّا يَنالُهُ

With a drink like the lapping of a wolf startled by a faint sound,

Drinking in gulps like a wolf who heard news,

And a meal like a falcon's snatching at whatever it can reach.

And eating like a falcon from what it obtains.