كَفَيتُ حَزيماً وَمُرّانَها

كَفَيتُ حَزيماً وَمُرّانَها

مِراساً وَخَلَّيتُهُم لِلفَخارِ

مِراساً وَخَلَّيتُهُم لِلفَخارِ

I spared Hazim and their spears

I have spared the bridle and testing of her,

the ordeal of combat, and left them to boast.

The file, and I have left them to the potter.

فَلا تَدعوَنْهُم إِلى نَجدَةٍ

فَلا تَدعوَنْهُم إِلى نَجدَةٍ

وَلَكِن فَهَيِّب بِهِم مَن تُجاري

وَلَكِن فَهَيِّب بِهِم مَن تُجاري

So never summon them to a deed of valor,

So do not call them to help,

but use them to frighten whomever you compete with.

But frighten with them those you compete with.

زَعانِفُ سودٌ كَخُبثِ الحَدي

زَعانِفُ سودٌ كَخُبثِ الحَدي

دِ يَكفي الثَلاثَةَ شِقُّ الإِزارِ

دِ يَكفي الثَلاثَةَ شِقُّ الإِزارِ

Black riffraff, like the dross of iron—

Black fins like the malice of dung beetles—

half a waistcloth suffices for three.

It is enough that the three rend the loincloth.