لسعدfor Sa'd بقلبيin my heart منof الشّوقlonging ماas much as
لسعد بقلبي من الشّوق ما
منof الحسنbeauty فيin وجههhis face قدalready جمعhas been gathered
من الحسن في وجهه قد جمع
For Sa'd, my heart holds as much longing
With longing in my heart for Saad is what
As the beauty gathered in his face.
Of beauty in his face he has gathered
غزالa gazelle بأبيضwith the white sword of ألحاظهhis glances
غزال بأبيض ألحاظه
وأسمرand the dusky spear of ذاكthat القوامstature ادّرعclad himself in armor
وأسمر ذاك القوام ادّرع
A gazelle who, with his glances' gleaming sword
A gazelle with his white glances
And that stature's dusky spear, has armed himself.
And that dark slender figure armored
فلوso if قابلhe faced الجيشthe army فيin حربهhis war
فلو قابل الجيش في حربه
بذاكwith that السّلاحweaponry لهُagainst him ماnot امتنعresisted
بذاك السّلاح لهُ ما امتنع
Were he to face the army in his war,
If he were to face the army in its war
With that weaponry, it could not resist him.
With that weapon, it would not resist
ألاtake heed قلsay لمنto whoever رامsought قتلkilling العداthe enemies
ألا قل لمن رام قتل العدا
فقاتلthen fight بسعدusing Sa'd وإلاor else فدعthen desist
فقاتل بسعد وإلا فدع
Now tell whoever seeks to slay the enemy:
Say to one who wanted to kill the enemy
Fight using Sa'd—or else desist.
Fight with Saad, else leave off