رأيتُ رجالاً ناكسينَ رُؤوسَهم

رأيتُ رجالاً ناكسينَ رُؤوسَهم

ولم يكُ رأسي للرجال بناكسِ

ولم يكُ رأسي للرجال بناكسِ

I saw men with their heads bowed,

I saw men bowing their heads,

but my own head was never bowed before men.

yet my head was not bowed before men.

رَأَوا فارساً كالصَقرِ يَخطَفُ عندما

رَأَوا فارساً كالصَقرِ يَخطَفُ عندما

أَمَرَّ عليهم كلّ رَطبٍ ويابسِ

أَمَرَّ عليهم كلّ رَطبٍ ويابسِ

They saw a horseman, falcon-like, snatching prey whenever

They saw a horseman, like a falcon, snatching when

I swept among them—tender and tough alike.

he made all things, moist and dry, bitter for them.

ينادي بأعلى الصوت من دعوةٍ له

ينادي بأعلى الصوت من دعوةٍ له

فقلتُ ومَن ذا قيل جمرةُ فارسِ

فقلتُ ومَن ذا قيل جمرةُ فارسِ

He called at the top of his voice for someone to answer his challenge.

He calls at the top of his voice with a challenge of his own.

I asked, “Who is this?” They said, “The Ember of Persia.”

So I said, “And who is that?” They said, “Persia’s firebrand.”

وأنتَ أَبو ثورٍ فقلتُ أجل أنا

وأنتَ أَبو ثورٍ فقلتُ أجل أنا

هُمَامٌ وإِنّي قاتلٌ للفوارسِ

هُمَامٌ وإِنّي قاتلٌ للفوارسِ

“And you are his father—a bull.” I said, “Indeed, I am

“And you are Abu Thawr?” I said, “Yes, I am

a dauntless man, and a slayer of horsemen.

a man of valor, and indeed I am a slayer of horsemen.

ولكنّني شيخٌ وفيَّ بَقيَّةٌ

ولكنّني شيخٌ وفيَّ بَقيَّةٌ

هي اليومَ خيرٌ من شباب ابنِ حابسِ

هي اليومَ خيرٌ من شباب ابنِ حابسِ

But I am an old man, and some strength yet remains in me,

But I am an old man, and some strength remains in me;

worth more today than the youth of Ibn Ḥābis.

it is better today than Ibn Habis’s youth.

ذَرُوني وذاك الفارسيَّ فإِنّني

ذَرُوني وذاك الفارسيَّ فإِنّني

سأَخطَفُهُ خَطفَ العُقابِ المُخالِسِ

سأَخطَفُهُ خَطفَ العُقابِ المُخالِسِ

Leave me to that Persian, for I

Leave me with that Persian, for indeed I

shall seize him as a stealthy eagle seizes its prey.

shall snatch him as the stealthy eagle snatches.

فإن بَدَرَت كَفِّي إِليه بضربةٍ

فإن بَدَرَت كَفِّي إِليه بضربةٍ

فتِلكَ وَرَبِّ إِحدى الدَّهارس

فتِلكَ وَرَبِّ إِحدى الدَّهارس

If my hand reaches him first with a blow,

So if my hand reaches him first with a blow,

then that, by my Lord, will be one of fate’s crushing calamities.

then that, by my Lord, is one of the dire calamities.

وَإِن بَدَرَت كفَّاهُ كفّيَ سُرعَةً

وَإِن بَدَرَت كفَّاهُ كفّيَ سُرعَةً

فَخَلُّوا عن الشيخِ الكبيرِ المُمارسِ

فَخَلُّوا عن الشيخِ الكبيرِ المُمارسِ

But if his two hands outstrip mine in speed,

And if his two hands outstrip my hand in speed,

then let the seasoned old man be.”

then leave the seasoned old man alone.”