1. The highest kingdoms are built on foundations,
And spears among those who love them are like kisses.

2. No swords will settle in their realms,
Until they shake the ages before they shake the hills.

3. The prince desired something, so the length
Of spears, horses' hands, and camels fulfilled it.

4. And a determination roused by courageous ambition,
Beneath which the soil seemed as insignificant as gravel.

5. There are storms on the Euphrates, and in Aleppo,
A ferocity towards the encounter of victory.

6. His tongues recite the books which were decisive,
And he makes the horses replacements for messengers.

7. He meets kings, so he meets nothing but rewards,
And they prepared nothing for him except gifts.

8. The Caliph protected his violated lands with heroes,
Protecting fame like an Indian protects his ankle bracelet.

9. The doer did not do the deed out of its intensity,
And the speaker did not neglect his words nor diminish them.

10. The one who launched the army, his passion overwhelmed,
The light of day, so noon seemed like dawn.

11. The atmosphere is too narrow for its shining one,
And the sun blinking in it is the most confused of the blinkers.

12. He obtains further than it while it is watching,
So it only meets him with anxiety and unease.

13. He exposed his sword instead of the afflictions upon him,
And aided wisdom between the self and perfidy.

14. He made assumption responsible for secrets, so
The consciences of the people of the plains and mountains were revealed to him.

15. He is the brave one who considers stinginess a form of cowardice,
And he is the generous one who considers cowardice a form of stinginess.

16. He returns from every conquest without boasting,
While others not celebrating have provided for him.

17. Time does not grant him his ambitions through its tyranny,
Nor does any coat of mail protect the wound of a hero.

18. When I bestow a robe of honor upon a noble one,
I find it more beautifully adorned by him than robes of honor.

19. In the intoxication of chanting it there is harm,
Like the winds harming rose bushes.

20. Every eye has seen its fill of you,
And the best of swords have tried the elite of states.

21. You are not wearied by enemies, neither in war
Nor in opinions, from making mistakes.

22. And how many men without land because of their multitudes
Whose gathering you left a land without men!

23. Your glance continued to flow in their blood
Until you walked the gait of the satiated drinker.

24. O you who travel, while the opinion of onlookers
And the heart’s opinion in affection are judges for him!

25. Indeed happiness lies in what you are doing,
Whether travelling or not travelling.

26. Race the steeds according to what you were racing them,
And take your own self in your original morals.

27. They glance with tearful eyes whose arguments
Are the striking of the horsemen with the frayed swords.

28. You never raided with them except for victory,
Nor ever arrived with them except to hope.