ألا كلُّ ما قالَ الرُّواةُ وأَنْشدوا

ألا كلُّ ما قالَ الرُّواةُ وأَنْشدوا

بها غيرَ ما قالَ السَّلُوليُّ بَهْرَجُ

بها غيرَ ما قالَ السَّلُوليُّ بَهْرَجُ

Lo, all that the transmitters said and recited

All that the reciters recited and sang

About her, except what al-Saluli said, is counterfeit.

Is nonsense except what was said by al-Saluli

كأنَّكِ وَرْهاءُ العِنَانيْنِ بَغْلَة

كأنَّكِ وَرْهاءُ العِنَانيْنِ بَغْلَة

رأَتْ حُصُناً فعارضَتْهنَّ تَشْحْجُ

رأَتْ حُصُناً فعارضَتْهنَّ تَشْحْجُ

You are like a she-mule, witless at both reins,

As if you were an obstinate she-mule

That saw stallions and challenged them, braying.

Who saw a fortress and contended with its defenders