عَجبت مِن حَبشيٍّ لا حِراكَ بِهِ

عَجبت مِن حَبشيٍّ لا حِراكَ بِهِ

لا يُدرك الثَأر إِلا وَهُوَ مَذبوح

لا يُدرك الثَأر إِلا وَهُوَ مَذبوح

I marvel at an Abyssinian with no movement in him,

I marveled at an Abyssinian with no movement in him.

who never attains blood vengeance except when he himself is slaughtered.

He takes revenge only when he is slaughtered.

طَوراً يَرى وَهُوَ بَينَ الشُرب مُضطَجع

طَوراً يَرى وَهُوَ بَينَ الشُرب مُضطَجع

رَخو اللصاق وَطَوراً وَهُوَ مَشبوح

رَخو اللصاق وَطَوراً وَهُوَ مَشبوح

At times he is seen reclining among the drinking company,

At times he is seen lying among the drinkers,

his coverlet hanging loose; at others, he lies face-down.

Loosely joined, and at times stretched taut.