أَتَتْهُ المَنايا حِينَ تمَّ تَمامُهُ

أَتَتْهُ المَنايا حِينَ تمَّ تَمامُهُ

وأَقْصَرَ عنه كُلُّ قِرْنٍ يُطاولُهْ

وأَقْصَرَ عنه كُلُّ قِرْنٍ يُطاولُهْ

Death came to him when he had attained perfection.

Death came to him when his perfection was complete

And every rival who vied with him drew back from him.

And every proud rival was too short for him

وكانَ كليثِ الغابِ يَحْمي عَرِينَهُ

وكانَ كليثِ الغابِ يَحْمي عَرِينَهُ

وتَرْضَى بِهِ أَشْبالُهُ وحَلائِلُهْ

وتَرْضَى بِهِ أَشْبالُهُ وحَلائِلُهْ

And he was like a lion of the forest, guarding his den.

He was like a lion defending his lair

And his cubs and his wives were pleased with him.

His cubs and mates were content with him

غَضُوبٌ حَلِيمٌ حين يُطلَب حِلْمُهُ

غَضُوبٌ حَلِيمٌ حين يُطلَب حِلْمُهُ

وسمٌّ زُعافٌ لا تُصابُ مَقاتِلُهْ

وسمٌّ زُعافٌ لا تُصابُ مَقاتِلُهْ

Quick to anger, yet forbearing when his forbearance was sought,

Wrathful yet forbearing when his forbearance was sought

And a deadly poison whose vital spots could not be struck.

Deadly poison no warriors could match