إِذاwhen الأُسدُthe lions ماسَتswaggered فيin الحَديدِiron armor وَسَوَّمَتand donned battle-marks
إِذا الأُسدُ ماسَت في الحَديدِ وَسَوَّمَت
تَميمٌTamīm وَجاءَتand came بِالبُحورِwith the seas الخَضارِمِvast
تَميمٌ وَجاءَت بِالبُحورِ الخَضارِمِ
When the lions strut in iron armor—and, loosing its marked cavalry,
When the lions swagger in iron, and, arrayed for battle,
Tamim advances with seas vast and fathomless—
Tamīm comes with vast seas,
فَماthen not الناسُthe people فيamong حَيَّيهِماtheir two clans غَيرُother than حُشوَةٍrabble
فَما الناسُ في حَيَّيهِما غَيرُ حُشوَةٍ
إِذاwhen سَكَنَfell silent الأَصواتُthe voices غَيرَexcept الغَماغِمِthe low murmurs
إِذا سَكَنَ الأَصواتُ غَيرَ الغَماغِمِ
then, compared with those two tribes, all other men are mere filler,
Then among their two clans, the people are nothing but rabble,
when every voice falls silent save those of the mighty lords.
When the voices fall silent, save for low murmurs.
