1. أقول لركبٍ كالقداح تعاقروا

    كؤوس السرى والليل مرخي الذلاذل

    I say to riders, slender as arrow-shafts, who have drunk together

    The cups of night travel, while night lets down its trailing hems,

  2. خفافٍ على أكوار خوصٍ كأنها

    أهلَّةُ جوٍّ أو قسيِّ مَعابلِ

    Light upon the saddles of narrow-eyed camels that seem

    Like crescents in the sky or bows for broad-headed arrows.

  3. تكاد مطايا العزم تخطو إلى العُلى

    بهم قبل عصف الناجيات الذوامل

    The mounts of resolve almost stride toward the heights

    Bearing them, ahead of the rush of swift, trotting camels.

  4. إذا نشقوا من ناسم العز نفْحةً

    أمالوا إليها من صدور الرواحل

    Whenever they breathe a waft from the breeze of glory,

    They turn the breasts of their riding-camels toward it:

  5. جنابَ بهاء الدين أَمُّوا فإنه

    ظهيرٌ لمخذولٍ ونجْحٌ لآمل

    Make for the court of Baha al-Din, for he

    Is a support to the forsaken and fulfillment for the hopeful,

  6. فتىً غير ممنوع الغنى عن عُفاتِه

    ولا لكريم العِرْض منه بباذل

    A young man whose wealth is not withheld from his petitioners,

    Nor one to give away his noble honor.

  7. جريءُ على حرب الخطوب فؤادهُ

    إذا ما رمت أحداثهُ بالزلازل

    His heart is bold in battling calamities,

    When his misfortunes assail him with earthquakes.

  8. عصامٌ لملهوفٍ وحلمٌ لجاهلٍ

    وعنُفٌ لأعداءٍ وجودٌ لسائلِ

    A lifeline for the distressed, forbearance for the ignorant,

    And sternness for enemies, generosity for a petitioner.

  9. إذا صالَ أرْدى قرنه وحسامهُ

    ويُزري نَداهُ بالحيا والحوافل

    When he charges, he and his sword fell his opponent,

    And his bounty puts rain and milk-laden camels to shame.

  10. وما خزريٌ لهْذمٌ هجمَتْ به

    صناعُ يدٍ في رأس أغيْدَ ذابل

    And no keen Khazar spearhead, thrust by

    A deft hand into the tip of a supple, slender shaft,

  11. طريرٌ كناب الأفعوان مؤُلَّلٌ

    أُمرَّ وأمْهَتْهُ أكفُّ الصياقل

    Sharp as a viper’s fang, finely pointed,

    Hardened and polished by burnishers’ hands,

  12. يؤمُّ به طعن النحور حين تنتضى

    إلى رفد معدام وحرب منازل

    With which one seeks to pierce throats when it is drawn

    To aid a penniless man and battle an adversary