وَكَمْ صَاحَ في الأَبطالِ هَلْ مِن مُبارِزٍ

وَكَمْ صَاحَ في الأَبطالِ هَلْ مِن مُبارِزٍ

فَأخرسَ كُلٌّ عن إجبابتهِ أَنَا

فَأخرسَ كُلٌّ عن إجبابتهِ أَنَا

How often he cried among the champions, “Is there a challenger?”

How many heroes did he call out, "Is there anyone who will duel?"

So each was struck dumb, unable to answer him, “I!”

Yet each was silenced from answering him, "It is I!"

وَكلَّمَهُمْ بِالسَّمْهرِيَّةِ والظُّبَا

وَكلَّمَهُمْ بِالسَّمْهرِيَّةِ والظُّبَا

وَمَا كَلَّمَ الأَبطالَ إلاَّ وَبَيَّنَا

وَمَا كَلَّمَ الأَبطالَ إلاَّ وَبَيَّنَا

And he spoke to them with stout spears and sword-edges,

He addressed them in poetry and lion imagery,

and never addressed the champions without making his meaning clear.

And did not address the heroes except to make clear,

فَغَنُّوا جَواباً والسَّوابِغُ فَوقَهُمْ

فَغَنُّوا جَواباً والسَّوابِغُ فَوقَهُمْ

مُجَاوِبةً وَقْعَ الصَّوارِمِ والقَنا

مُجَاوِبةً وَقْعَ الصَّوارِمِ والقَنا

So they sang in reply, the full-length coats of mail upon them

They sang back an answer, with swords raised above them,

echoing the blows of keen swords and lances.

Responding to the clashing of blades and spears.

فََأنطَقَ أَفْواهَ الجِراحِ وقد حَكتْ

فََأنطَقَ أَفْواهَ الجِراحِ وقد حَكتْ

بِها فَضَلاتٍ مِن مَواضِيهِ السَّنَا

بِها فَضَلاتٍ مِن مَواضِيهِ السَّنَا

Then he made the mouths of wounds speak; and there was mirrored

So he gave voice to the mouths of wounds, which had traced

within them, by fragments of his keen blades, the radiance.

Upon them noble deeds from his sharp blades.