غَدَوتُ لِلصَيدِ بِغُضفٍ كَالقَتَد

غَدَوتُ لِلصَيدِ بِغُضفٍ كَالقَتَد

وَاللَيلُ قَد رَقَّ عَلى وَجهِ البَلَد

وَاللَيلُ قَد رَقَّ عَلى وَجهِ البَلَد

I went out at dawn to hunt with lop-eared hounds like saddle frames,

I set out for the hunt at dawn astride a slender steed

while night had thinned over the face of the land,

While night still gently laid its veil upon the land

وَاِبتَلَّ سِربالُ النَسيمِ وَبَرَد

وَاِبتَلَّ سِربالُ النَسيمِ وَبَرَد

وَالفَجرُ في لَيلِ الظَلامِ يَتَّقِد

وَالفَجرُ في لَيلِ الظَلامِ يَتَّقِد

and the breeze’s robe grew damp and cool,

The morning breeze blew cool amid the darkness

and dawn blazed in the night’s darkness.

And dawn kindled softly in the night's black gown

غَواضِفٍ مُسَهِّلاتٍ لِلأَمَد

غَواضِفٍ مُسَهِّلاتٍ لِلأَمَد

لَمّا عَدَونَ وَعَدَت خَيلُ الطَرَد

لَمّا عَدَونَ وَعَدَت خَيلُ الطَرَد

Lop-eared hounds, making light of the distance:

With smooth-gaited fillies, racing o’er the plains

when they raced and the horses of the chase raced,

When they bolted, and the horses pursued their course

وَتُقتَفى الأَرجُلُ وَالأَيدي تُعِد

وَتُقتَفى الأَرجُلُ وَالأَيدي تُعِد

أَبرَقَ بِالرَكضِ الفَضاءُ وَرَعَد

أَبرَقَ بِالرَكضِ الفَضاءُ وَرَعَد

and the hindlegs were followed while the forelegs made ready,

Their hooves kicked up dust, their hands prepared

the open expanse flashed and thundered with the galloping;

The open plain did thunder with their headlong pace

وَقامَ شَيطانُ الغَمامِ وَقَعَد

وَقامَ شَيطانُ الغَمامِ وَقَعَد

وَطارَ نَقعٌ في السَماءِ وَرَكَد

وَطارَ نَقعٌ في السَماءِ وَرَكَد

and the demon of the clouds rose and sat down,

While the devil of the storm arose and took his seat

and dust flew into the sky and hung still.

A gust blew through the sky, and settled calmly

مِثلَ القَريبِ عِندَها ما قَد بَعُد

مِثلَ القَريبِ عِندَها ما قَد بَعُد

To them, what was far away was like what was near.

That which had seemed far to it was now brought near