ساروا إِلَينا بِنصفِ اللَيلِ فَاِحتَمَلوا

ساروا إِلَينا بِنصفِ اللَيلِ فَاِحتَمَلوا

فَلا رَهينَةَ إِلّا سَيدٌ صَمَدُ

فَلا رَهينَةَ إِلّا سَيدٌ صَمَدُ

They marched to us at midnight, then carried captives away;

They came to us at midnight bearing their burdens

So every hostage was a chief to whom people turn for aid.

No hostage save a steadfast lord remaining

سيروا رُويداً فَإِنّا لَن نَفوتَكُم

سيروا رُويداً فَإِنّا لَن نَفوتَكُم

وَإِنَّ ما بَينَنا سَهلٌ لَكُم جَدَدُ

وَإِنَّ ما بَينَنا سَهلٌ لَكُم جَدَدُ

Go slowly, for we shall not elude you;

Walk on gently, for we'll not slip away from you

And indeed, between us lies easy, level ground for you.

Though between us is a plain, smooth and pleasant

إِنَ الغَزالَ الَّذي تَرجونَ غِرَّتَهُ

إِنَ الغَزالَ الَّذي تَرجونَ غِرَّتَهُ

جَمعٌ يَضيقُ بِهِ العَتكانِ أَو أُطَدُ

جَمعٌ يَضيقُ بِهِ العَتكانِ أَو أُطَدُ

Indeed, the gazelle whose unguarded moment you hope for

The deer you long to hunt has taken cover

Is a host too vast for al-ʿAtakān or Uṭad.

Among a herd too cramped for an archer's bow

مُستَحقِبو حَلَقَ الماذي بِخُفرَتِهِ

مُستَحقِبو حَلَقَ الماذي بِخُفرَتِهِ

ضَربٌ طِلِخفٌ وَطَعنٌ بَينَهُ خَضَدُ

ضَربٌ طِلِخفٌ وَطَعنٌ بَينَهُ خَضَدُ

They bear rings of fine mail on their backs; in its defense

Guardians of the pool of Mādhī in their mail

Are mighty blows and spear-thrusts, with shattering amid them.

A band of heroes, thrusting, stabbing and hewing