1. Blame me less, for talk would be prolonged,
And the obstinate are not wont to comply,

2. When a man's will does not dispel his doubts,
Nor does he take the matter into his hands, his endeavour is puny,

3. No downpour has made me fail to protect my honour,
But I will say, together with my chastity:

4. May God protect the neighbours of youth and its pact,
Watering it from the evil of cold stars.

5. It has been to me a place of joy for company
And a resting place for me has it been, and a harbour.

6. Abode of joys and seat of pleasure
When living is fresh and time heedless.

7. Then leave talk of the days of youth and its goodness,
Every state but turns over.

8. And say how excellent are the cheeks of riders at dawn
When they swarm after gloom over the plateau!

9. And O love! A delirium under a straying
When it is said the noonSiesta draws nigh.

10. And the rending of the veils of darkness when night comes,
Stirred by a lively youth made slender by love!

11. They snatch the horses of valour with festivals
At the stillness of the pebbles from their hooves ringing.

12. The bared one of the stallions bares their cheeks,
As their swift mares pace along unheld.

13. By them we gain merit towards the Sacred House; haply
A heavy crime there may be pardoned.

14. It is the inviolate sanctuary wherein whoso enters
No foeman has means of access unto him.

15. How many a stumbling whereat "Forgive!' is said
And the burdens are lifted from the sinner.

16. And how many a weeping whereat firm resolve dissolves
And sighs that in the breast smoulder!

17. Then, my God, be gracious in accepting him that comes
A visitant; for grace is from Thee plenteous.

18. And guard our faith, and aid it with confirmed aid
Through him whose banner to the Muslims is comely;

19. Through him who of world and religion has been guardian,
At the sublime heights where evidence arose.

20. Sincere of proof, resolved in his resolve, none gainsays him
Save by his decree the Friend.

21. He struggles in God's way claiming but His good pleasure,
pardoning them; unto them He gentle is.

22. And dares the deadly perils knowing that beyond them
Glory lies;-all else here below is false.

23. He founded the standard of law in the East,and valour
From him towards the West extended aspiring.

24. And he gave the faces of earth's surface honour and pride By his steeds and his swords white banners bore.
So he came at the religion's vengeance 'gainst every rebel,

25. and revived the forms of glory now past and gone
And cleansed God's House from each heretic's taint;

26. Upon them fuIminates scholar and ignorant.
Thus the face of truth shone bright while error's visage

27. paled;
Right was firm, wrong failed.

28. Whoso makes God's law govern his rule, and says only
"God saith" and "The Apostle has spoken in truth

29. Has a guidance vouchsafed him shall lead to salvation
And the House of Eternity ere he die shall enjoy.

30. God be thy Helper, 0 Abd al-'Aziz ibn Faysal,
In upholding the guidance and gaining the goal!

31. Thou it wast reinforced Muhammad's law, and its way
Made straight; a cable God's Book to save from severance.

32. Thou exaltedst the House of magnification that in it
For all Muslims shall ever a refuge remain;

33. Lauds high as the sky is in glory a star.
Shining bright, never soiling, still rise to their goal;

34. Running their course through all regions like wind.
and attentive ears inclining towards them in awe.

35. In farthest East are they pride, in farthest West
To tribes of them is glory and high renown.

36. And if war be stirred, and to flesh-rending they proceed.
Others than wine shall slake then the thirsty swords' drought.

37. There set them up a market of lancesRTCurved, gleaming,
Where this one is hurt and that one stricken and killed,

38. With brown blades baring the throats, snorting chargers
Joyfully browsing 'neath their bridles’ restraint.

39. When their dwellings thou raidest at morn, another day
Seest them in yet other dwellings take rest.

40. Against them the banners' ombre closely o’ershadow
The steeds that ever the valiant clans have fed.

41. Then say unto such as fain change what is decreed,
"Gently! the mead of the wicked is but loss."

42. Full inwardness of the matter shalt thou learn if thou seek
And be thyself humbled and brought to thy knee.

43. How ignorant the man who takes the booby for a noble hawk.
And steeds the jousting knights ride compares with geldings!

44. There he Imagined, as his fancy dictated,
Safe in his mountain fastness, secure from alarm;

45. Saying, "When comes that Imam's army then of a truth
By my hands and my sharp-ground sword shall they fall."

46. But when he saw them move as locusts swarming
With a terror the pulse making direly to quail,

47. He turned and wished the solid ground might swallow his frame
With brow bespattered by cold sweat and cries of despair.

48. So God give thee noble virtues, O Ibn al-Akrams twain,
Whose glory still grows and more high shall rise!

49. And left us in thee no wise bereft one defensive still,
Zealous, protector of heroes' seed though they die.

50. Curb of glory—but slacken thy grip thereon—
And torrent of bounty and gifts flooding free!

51. Gentle of habit to kindly men, but poison active
To the foeman that brings evil and breaks his oath.

52. Fearless resolve is he that rides the steed of high emprise,
Spurring to death and wounds though blood run at its pace!

53. Saud, God continue thy fortunes’ fair field! Rise high! Rise high! With lofty steps mount to heaven’s place!
There shalt thou win God's good pleasure in wisdom's debate,

54. Though wordy wranglers little shall speak to the point.
There shalt thou win it in reason sound, though men offer

55. other Solutions foolish, and the wise word little esteem.
So brace thou with him the Caliphate's bond, verily

56. Worthy the choice for which we have named him heir.
Thus in him we shall ever find traits to delight us, his fame

57. Still rising to earth's farthest end shall unfold.
Now all men from East to West have I tried and sifted.

58. My judgment on them directing with care manaifold.
But my assay eliminating, proving, testing them all

59. Showed me in thee the sound metal, in them but base dross.
Next, glib cheap orators, easy of phrase, form alone

60. Dragon-like soaring through every land at their pleasure
Boasting of thee in all quarters thy votaries

61. Be they vow long or short, they praise to the full.
For thou hast clad me in bounty of thine attributes

62. Rankling deep in the jealous breast with their smart.
Herald repeats it in regions far and listeners hear

63. Rushing on like the winds, welcomed and loved.
Now should my years prolong, from thee the like they'd hear

64. With life and high fortune thine such glories enfold!
And, my God, bless Thy Chosen One, while the leaves stir

65. Or clouds pace on earth watering its hillslopes and dales!
Bless Thy Chosen and bless his elect Companions all,

66. And them that walk in the path by his guidance made plain!