لَو كُنتُ هيابا أَو اِبن لَئيمَةٍ

لَو كُنتُ هيابا أَو اِبن لَئيمَةٍ

لَأَعطَيتُ ما تَرضى بِهِ سَخَطَ الخَصمِ

لَأَعطَيتُ ما تَرضى بِهِ سَخَطَ الخَصمِ

Had I been a coward, or the son of a base woman,

Had I been a coward or the son of a base woman,

I would surely have given you whatever pleased you, for fear of an adversary’s wrath.

I would have given what would appease the adversary’s wrath.

وَلَكِن تَمَطَّت بي حَصانٌ نَجيبَةٌ

وَلَكِن تَمَطَّت بي حَصانٌ نَجيبَةٌ

جَميلُ المُحَيّا مِنَ النِساءِ بَني غَنمِ

جَميلُ المُحَيّا مِنَ النِساءِ بَني غَنمِ

But a chaste, noble-born woman bore me,

But a chaste, noble-born woman bore me,

fair of face, from among the women of Banu Ghanm.

Fair of face, among the women of Banu Ghanm.