فَعَنَّ لَنَا سِرْبٌ كَأَنَّ نِعَاجَهُ
عَذَارَى دَوَارٍ فِي مُلَاءٍ مُذَيَّلِ
“A herd appeared before us; its females resembled maidens at the dawār, dressed in flowing, trailing robes.”
Fa-ʿanna lanā means that the herd suddenly came into view. Sirb is a herd or group, while niʿājuhu here refers to the female wild cattle.
The hunting horse and its quarry now occupy the same scene. Yet the poet first presents the quarry’s appearance and coloring; active pursuit belongs to the verses that follow.