إِنّي رَأَيتُ أَبا الأَشبالِ قَد ذَهَبَت

إِنّي رَأَيتُ أَبا الأَشبالِ قَد ذَهَبَت

يَداهُ حَتّى تُلاقي الشَمسَ وَالقَمَرا

يَداهُ حَتّى تُلاقي الشَمسَ وَالقَمَرا

Indeed, I have seen Abu al-Ashbal—so high have risen

I saw the father of cubs whose hands

His hands that they meet the sun and moon.

Reached out to the sun and moon.

التارِكُ القِرنِ تَحتَ النَقعِ مُنجَدِلاً

التارِكُ القِرنِ تَحتَ النَقعِ مُنجَدِلاً

إِذا تَلاحَقَ وِردُ المَوتِ فَاِعتَكَرا

إِذا تَلاحَقَ وِردُ المَوتِ فَاِعتَكَرا

He who leaves his foe sprawled beneath the battle-dust,

The one who sheds his horns under the swaying trees,

When the throng at death's watering-place converges and seethes.

When the roses of death chase one another.

لا مُكبِرٌ فَرَحاً فيما يُسَرُّ بِهِ

لا مُكبِرٌ فَرَحاً فيما يُسَرُّ بِهِ

فَإِن أَلَمَّت عَلَيهِ أَزمَةٌ صَبَرا

فَإِن أَلَمَّت عَلَيهِ أَزمَةٌ صَبَرا

Not carried away with joy at what delights him;

He is not boastful when pleased,

And if hardship befalls him, he endures patiently.

And when distressed by crises, he is patient.

وَقَد شَكَرتُ أَبا الأَشبالِ ما صَنَعَت

وَقَد شَكَرتُ أَبا الأَشبالِ ما صَنَعَت

يَداهُ عِندي وَخَيرُ الناسَ مَن شَكَرا

يَداهُ عِندي وَخَيرُ الناسَ مَن شَكَرا

And I have thanked Abu al-Ashbal for what was done

I thanked the father of cubs for what his hands

By his hands for me—and the best of people are those who give thanks.

Had done for me, and the best people are the grateful.

لَقَد تَدارَكَني مِنهُ بِعارِفَةٍ

لَقَد تَدارَكَني مِنهُ بِعارِفَةٍ

حَتّى تَلاقى بِها ما كانَ قَد دَثَرا

حَتّى تَلاقى بِها ما كانَ قَد دَثَرا

Indeed, he came to my aid with a kindness of his,

He supported me with his noble character

So that, through it, what had crumbled was made whole again.

Until it embraced what had been concealed.

فَما لِجودِ أَبي الأَشبالِ مِن شَبَهٍ

فَما لِجودِ أَبي الأَشبالِ مِن شَبَهٍ

إِلّا السَحابُ وَإِلّا البَحرُ إِذ زَخَرا

إِلّا السَحابُ وَإِلّا البَحرُ إِذ زَخَرا

So Abu al-Ashbal's generosity has no likeness,

The generosity of the father of cubs

Save the clouds, and the sea when it surges.

Resembles only the clouds and the sea when overflowing.

كُلٌّ يُوائِلُ ما اِمتَدَّت غَوارِبُهُ

كُلٌّ يُوائِلُ ما اِمتَدَّت غَوارِبُهُ

إِذا تَكَفكَفَ مِنهُ المَوجُ وَاِنحَدَرا

إِذا تَكَفكَفَ مِنهُ المَوجُ وَاِنحَدَرا

All seek refuge while its crests stretch out,

Each extends what its waves include

When its waves fold back upon themselves and tumble down.

When the waves subside and flow down.

لَيسا بِأَجوَدَ مِنهُ عِندَ نائِلِهِ

لَيسا بِأَجوَدَ مِنهُ عِندَ نائِلِهِ

إِذا تَرَوَّحَ لِلمَعروفِ أَو بَكَرا

إِذا تَرَوَّحَ لِلمَعروفِ أَو بَكَرا

Neither is more generous than he in bestowing gifts,

Neither are more generous than him for the asker

When he sets out to do good in the afternoon or early morning.

When the favours spread or are first gained.