مرَّتْpassed by نساءٌwomen كالظباlike gazelles خلفَهاbehind them
مرَّتْ نساءٌ كالظبا خلفَها
أدهمُa dark-skinned man يحميهاhe protects them منَfrom الكيدِguile
أدهمُ يحميها منَ الكيدِ
Women like gazelles passed by; behind them
Women passed by like gazelles behind her
a dark-skinned man protected them from guile.
Dark-skinned protecting her from harm
قالواthey said لِمَاfor what تصلحُare suitable قلتُI said الظباthe gazelles
قالوا لِمَا تصلحُ قلتُ الظبا
للصيدِfor hunting والأدهمُand the dark-skinned man للقيدِfor fetters
للصيدِ والأدهمُ للقيدِ
They asked, “What are they fit for?” I said, “The gazelles
They asked "Why bring them together?" I said "The gazelle
are for hunting, and the dark-skinned man for fetters.”
Is for hunting, the dark one for tying."