1. Who can prevent the lion from being proud or leaping?
Of what use is the sword if you unsheathe it then put it aside?

2. Who can hold the throne if its pillars tremble?
It is shaken by violent storms and horrors then overturned.

3. Who can protect the crown if fate hurls it aloft
Tossing it through the air or pouring it down?

4. Who can guard the kingdom if the ruthless despoilers
Of the Almighty King have plundered and robbed?

5. O House of Osman, of Turks and Arabs,
What people equals the Turks and Arabs?

6. Guide the caliphate through consultation and do not allow
Strife to spread through the realms of the kingdom.

7. If the polity raises barriers around itself
The ultimate disgrace is to fail to reach one’s goal.

8. That which was just and unjust
Has passed away, hidden behind the veil of time.

9. Do not recall what of your affairs is past, and leave aside
The judgments of yesterday and what they brought.

10. Do not conceal the truth, be content with your caliph,
And grant him fully the rights due from devotion.

11. But for his defenses the enemies would be poised
To seize the kingdom and take it as spoils.

12. Like jackals they imagined the lion weak
And saw in his strength something bizarre.

13. They have no defense against it should it rouse to attack,
And can only flee or face death.

14. Protect the Crescent, magnify its glory as a sign—
Without it there is no glory if it fades or goes.

15. The Conqueror, holy warrior, strengthened it
And endowed it with might to drive attackers away.

16. Father of caliphs, doubly crowned, our inheritor
Of the Crescent’s kingdom, this glory and nobility.

17. The sleep of boats in their sheaths is foolishness
While it is reefs that should be feared if they surge.

18. O Crown of Osman, today we keep our pact,
Renew the bond, excite love and passion anew.

19. Without your bond, if hope for us failed
In another, we would face ruin and decay.

20. But the sweetest pact for a people is the latest,
And truest love is a love that conquers doubt.

21. Great was the gulf, suspicions came between us—
But for passion, kinship and lineage would not remain.

22. Today we refute what detractors told us
And spurn conjecture be it truth or lies.

23. Which of the champions shook the world they acted in
And left the spinning dome of heaven in fear?

24. Like the lions of the forest they sprang forth
With their threshing sledges aflame with anger.

25. Swiftly they surged, fanning the sparks within,
Their valor feeds the blaze of purpose.

26. Prudent their counsel, apt their plans, for everything
They set out to achieve they secured the means.

27. They spared blood, else but for God blood would have flowed
To flood the plains and soak the hills.

28. Acclaim the virtuous elite in celebration,
And voice thanks to the elect and chosen ones.

29. Court the radiant-cheeked beauties, unveiled,
Dawning upon us, putting the full moons to shame.

30. Rising to meet the heroes, quick to call them,
And orbiting their footsteps, a sacred bond.

31. Veiled though glory called them and they rushed to answer—
To majesty itself there is a veil.

32. Daughters of my people do not forget excellence
Or neglect to give thanks and praise.

33. Mothers of the guardians of the realm urging them on
To meet foes, and so gain victory.

34. Good tidings of the Orient: that day is coming,
And God bless the favors He granted!