وَكانَت لِعَباسٍ ثَلاثٌ نَعدُّها

وَكانَت لِعَباسٍ ثَلاثٌ نَعدُّها

إِذا ما جناب الحيِّ أَصبَحَ أَشهبا

إِذا ما جناب الحيِّ أَصبَحَ أَشهبا

And Abbas had three things we count,

Abbas had three swift mounts, which we number,

whenever the tribe’s grounds turned ashen:

That face dawn with a coat the hue of ember.

فسلسلةٌ تنهى الظَلومَ وَجفنَةٌ

فسلسلةٌ تنهى الظَلومَ وَجفنَةٌ

تُباحُ فَيَكسوها السِنامَ المزغَّبا

تُباحُ فَيَكسوها السِنامَ المزغَّبا

a chain that restrains the oppressor, and a bowl

A chain-link bridle checks their headlong pace,

open to all, which he tops with a camel’s downy hump;

A saddle-cloth they wear in battle’s clamor.

وَحلةُ عَصبٍ ما تَزالُ مُعدّةً

وَحلةُ عَصبٍ ما تَزالُ مُعدّةً

لعارٍ ضَريكٍ ثَوبُهُ قَد تَهبَّبا

لعارٍ ضَريكٍ ثَوبُهُ قَد تَهبَّبا

and a robe of striped cloth, always kept ready

And a third, a steed unbridled, ready stands

for a naked pauper whose garment has become tattered.

His rider’s raiment ripped by sword and lance.