1. The East wept, O best of the greatest souls
Upon you with a stream of pouring tears

2. The arrows of fate struck his face by surprise
So he returned with a face downcast and gloomy

3. His death was announced, so its lands were devastated
In affliction, and its earth overflowed with calamities

4. Except that today the sword of the nation has been neglected
A dove, so no prepared right hand took aim

5. That lion has been absent from his den of might
While every fierce lion lies in wait

6. If his den of glory has been lonely without him
I have been consoled by his lofty pillars

7. They assailed him in peace – the greatest harm
Upon a hero is the treachery of the peaceful

8. They consider the killing of reformers to be spoils
While it is nothing but a means to sins

9. So if he has been slain, his day
Still lives on between resolve and determination

10. And if he has been slain, he returns victorious
With the goodness of his principles and ending

11. Bearing the burdens of leadership, advising
Administering the affairs of the king with wisdom

12. So excellent the minister of the sword who gives him his due
When the coward’s hand trembles with the sword

13. And excellent the minister of sword and pen
Whose gatherings the necks of pages frequent

14. Today he who their fingers pointed to in counsel is gone
And they have returned confused and perplexed

15. So who will adorn the glorious steeds of battle?
And who will ascend the towering summits?

16. And who will guard the frontiers of the Muslims
And defend them from every aggressive invader?

17. He was the central pearl of the necklace
That contained a gem no string could ever thread

18. We have lost you, Mahmud, refined of endeavors
No critic's blame ever pursued you

19. In every club they still praise and commend you
A meadow breeze or a gentle morning dew

20. And you there, critic complaining of one gone
You blamed but with the most wretched rhymes

21. And though you have assumed a lofty station
Impregnable and unreachable by any ladder

22. You blamed Mahmud Pasha resentfully
But Mahmud was not hurt by the blame of a critic

23. So leave the savior of nations and conqueror
Whose enemies bore witness to his virtues

24. And say, walking the path of truth, we
Have lost a towering pillar of great feats

25. You forgot his achievements and efforts
That illuminated stars in the darkest nights

26. He had a day brighter than polished Indian swords
For which history will establish its highest customs

27. Did he not remove the anguish that choked the horizon
Of a nation that lived in the grip of an unjust ruler?

28. He erected the castle of justice when his sword tore down
The citadels of despots, the castle of injustice

29. Did he not daringly unleash the army of volunteers
With a will whose might and determination shook mountains?

30. With it the army was greatly strengthened in numbers and equipment
Frightening the hearts of the most ferocious armies

31. But then one unfit assumed command over him
And he slept while the Balkans were not dormant about him

32. Was the killing of the organizer by planning?
So you console the killer of an organizer

33. Had he not resisted, destruction would not have occurred
But he did not stop resisting

34. He confronted the torrent of upheaval with risk
Through the current of that escalating incident

35. Did you not see them? They did not completely kill the leader
For he had been a source of crimes among them

36. But taking revenge was prevented
By events not hidden from any knowledgeable person

37. Even if he did not prevent engaging in politics
Whose free gift was sweet to the taster

38. That structure had been founded before him
And after him every destroyer was blinded