إذاwhen ألجمواthey bridle الجودthe swift steeds العتاقthe purebred وأسلمتand are handed over
إذا ألجموا الجود العتاق وأسلمت
إلىto كلevery ضربlean اللحمof flesh عاريbare الأشاجعthe knuckles
إلى كل ضرب اللحم عاري الأشاجع
When they bridle the swift, purebred steeds, and these are handed over
If the generous are held back and I am left
To every lean-fleshed, bare-knuckled man,
To every blow of flesh, with shoulders bare,
جميلfair المحياof face ينصفreaches halfway down الدرعthe coat of mail ساقهhis shin
جميل المحيا ينصف الدرع ساقه
وإنand though كانit is ذيالاlong and trailing علىon كلevery دارعmail-clad man
وإن كان ذيالا على كل دارع
Fair of face, whose coat of mail reaches halfway down his shin,
Fair-faced, girding his coat of mail mid-thigh,
And though it trails long on every other mail-clad man.
Though he be but a rear-guard over all mail-coats.