ما كُنتُ أَحسِبُني جَباناً قَبلَ ما

ما كُنتُ أَحسِبُني جَباناً قَبلَ ما

لاقَيتُ لَيلَةَ جانِبِ الأَنهارِ

لاقَيتُ لَيلَةَ جانِبِ الأَنهارِ

I had not thought myself a coward before

I did not think myself a coward before when

I met, one night beside the rivers,

I met at the riverside a lion in the night,

لَيثاً كَأَنَّ عَلى يَدَيهِ رِحالَةً

لَيثاً كَأَنَّ عَلى يَدَيهِ رِحالَةً

جَسِدَ البَراثِنَ مُؤجَدَ الأَظفارِ

جَسِدَ البَراثِنَ مُؤجَدَ الأَظفارِ

A lion, as though a leather saddle lay upon his forelegs,

Like a traveler in its clutches, fully armed

With blood-caked paws and stoutly formed claws.

With claws that tear flesh and bones apart.

لَمّا سَمِعتُ لَهُ زَمازِمَ أَقبَلَت

لَمّا سَمِعتُ لَهُ زَمازِمَ أَقبَلَت

نَفسي إِلَيَّ وَقُلتُ أَينَ فِراري

نَفسي إِلَيَّ وَقُلتُ أَينَ فِراري

When I heard his rumbling growls, there came

When I heard its fierce growls, my soul recoiled

My soul to me, and I said, 'Where can I flee?'

And said: where can you run and hide your fright?

فَضَرَبتُ جِروَتَها وَقُلتُ لَها اِصبِري

فَضَرَبتُ جِروَتَها وَقُلتُ لَها اِصبِري

وَشَدَدتُ في ضيقِ المَقامِ إِزاري

وَشَدَدتُ في ضيقِ المَقامِ إِزاري

So I steeled it and told it, 'Stand firm,'

I whipped its neck and said: have patience, wait,

And in that straitened plight I tightened my waistcloth.

And in the narrow spot I tightened my belt.

فَلَأَنتَ أَهوَنُ مِن زِيادٍ جانِباً

فَلَأَنتَ أَهوَنُ مِن زِيادٍ جانِباً

فَاِذهَب إِلَيكَ مُخَرِّمَ السُفّارِ

فَاِذهَب إِلَيكَ مُخَرِّمَ السُفّارِ

For you are surely less formidable in disposition than Ziyad;

For you are less than Ziyad, depart from me,

So be off with you, ripper of travelers!

Destroyer of light cavalry and warrior's heart!