اسمع المدح الذي لو قيل في

اسمع المدح الذي لو قيل في

أحد غيرك قالوا سرقا

أحد غيرك قالوا سرقا

Hear the praise that, were it spoken of

Hear the praise that if said of

Anyone but you, they would say, 'It was stolen.'

Another besides you, they would say he stole it

جاء يستهديك مهراً أدهماً

جاء يستهديك مهراً أدهماً

يركب الفارس منه غسقا

يركب الفارس منه غسقا

It has come asking you for a jet-black colt,

He came seeking your guidance, a russet stallion

On which the horseman rides the darkness of night.

That the knight mounts at dusk

كالدجى تبصر من غرتهِ

كالدجى تبصر من غرتهِ

فوق أطباق دجاه فلقا

فوق أطباق دجاه فلقا

He is like night; in his white forehead-mark you see

You see it through its mane

A dawn above the layers of his darkness.

Above the saddlebows cleaving the dark

جل أن يحلق مطلوباً و من

جل أن يحلق مطلوباً و من

طلب الريح عليه لحقا

طلب الريح عليه لحقا

He is beyond being overtaken when pursued; and whoever

Too noble to be sought yet one who

Chases the wind upon him catches it.

Seeks the wind will find it abreast

تراه واقفاً في سرجه

تراه واقفاً في سرجه

يتلظى من ذكاه قلقا

يتلظى من ذكاه قلقا

You see him standing in his saddle,

You see it standing in its stall

Restlessly blazing with his fiery vigor.

Seething with spirit restive

فإذا طار به المشي مضى

فإذا طار به المشي مضى

وهو كالريح يشق الطرقا

وهو كالريح يشق الطرقا

Then, when his gait sends him flying, he speeds on,

Then when it takes to the course it flies

And he is like the wind, cleaving the roads.

Like the wind rending roads

كالسحاب الجون إلا أنه

كالسحاب الجون إلا أنه

ليس يسقي الأرض إلا عرقا

ليس يسقي الأرض إلا عرقا

Like the dark clouds, except that he

Like a rain cloud but that it

Waters the earth with nothing but sweat.

Waters the earth only with sweat

جمع الأمرين يعدو المرطى

جمع الأمرين يعدو المرطى

في مدى السبق ويمشي العنقا

في مدى السبق ويمشي العنقا

He combines both: he runs at a swift gallop

Joining both qualities galloping the plain

Along the racecourse, and walks at an easy pace.

In the domain of racing and walking with poised neck