طاوِل بِهِمَّتِكَ الزَمانَ وَحيدا

طاوِل بِهِمَّتِكَ الزَمانَ وَحيدا

فَأَرى مَداكَ عَلى الأَنامِ بَعيدا

فَأَرى مَداكَ عَلى الأَنامِ بَعيدا

Vie alone with Time through your resolve;

With your lofty ambition, you have endured time alone,

for I see your reach far above mankind.

So I see your outreach to people is far-reaching.

وَلَقَد بَلَغتَ بِبَعضِ سَعيِكَ رُتبَةً

وَلَقَد بَلَغتَ بِبَعضِ سَعيِكَ رُتبَةً

أَعيَت عَلى مَن لَم يَدَع مَجهودا

أَعيَت عَلى مَن لَم يَدَع مَجهودا

Indeed, with only some of your striving you attained a rank

And you have attained, with some of your efforts, a rank

that eluded those who left no effort unspent.

That would overwhelm one who did not strive tirelessly.

فَليَيأَسِ الشَرَفَ الَّذي أُوتيتَهُ

فَليَيأَسِ الشَرَفَ الَّذي أُوتيتَهُ

مَن لا يَقومُ مَقامَكَ المَحمودا

مَن لا يَقومُ مَقامَكَ المَحمودا

Let him despair of the honor you were granted,

So let the ignoble despair of attaining the nobility

who cannot occupy your praiseworthy station.

You have been granted, one who cannot match your praiseworthy stature.

فَالعِزُّ يَأبى أَن يُنيلَ يَسيرَهُ

فَالعِزُّ يَأبى أَن يُنيلَ يَسيرَهُ

مَن لا يَكونُ عَلى الجِلادِ جَليدا

مَن لا يَكونُ عَلى الجِلادِ جَليدا

For glory refuses to grant its slightest share

For glory disdains to give its easiest portion

to anyone not steadfast in combat.

To one who is not stalwart when steel meets steel.

وَمُحَمِّلُ الأَيّامِ ما لَم تَحتَمِل

وَمُحَمِّلُ الأَيّامِ ما لَم تَحتَمِل

يُفني الحَياةَ مُخَيِّباً مَكدودا

يُفني الحَياةَ مُخَيِّباً مَكدودا

He who burdens the days with what they cannot bear

And he who loads the days with more than they can bear

squanders his life, unsuccessful and exhausted.

Wears out life, returning disappointed and subdued.

أَنّى يَنالُ مَحَلَّةَ الجَوزاءِ مَن

أَنّى يَنالُ مَحَلَّةَ الجَوزاءِ مَن

لا يَستَطيعُ مِنَ الصَعيدِ صُعودا

لا يَستَطيعُ مِنَ الصَعيدِ صُعودا

How can one reach al-Jawza's station,

How can one attain the stars of Gemini, who

who cannot rise from the ground?

Cannot ascend the ground's ascent?

قَد شاعَ مَجدُكَ فَهوَ أَشهَرُ في الوَرى

قَد شاعَ مَجدُكَ فَهوَ أَشهَرُ في الوَرى

مِن أَن تَرومَ لَهُ عِداكَ جُحودا

مِن أَن تَرومَ لَهُ عِداكَ جُحودا

Your glory has spread: among mankind it is too renowned

Your glory has spread, so it is more famous in the world

for your enemies to attempt to deny it.

Than for you to wish for, other than it, denial.

فَلَوِ اِبتَغَيتُ بِما أَقولُ شَهادَةً

فَلَوِ اِبتَغَيتُ بِما أَقولُ شَهادَةً

لَوَجَدتُ أَهلَ الخافِقَينِ شُهودا

لَوَجَدتُ أَهلَ الخافِقَينِ شُهودا

If I sought testimony for what I say,

So if I sought, in what I say, testimony,

I would find the people of both horizons as witnesses.

I would find all mankind to bear witness.

غاضَت يَنابيعُ الكِرامِ بِعارِضٍ

غاضَت يَنابيعُ الكِرامِ بِعارِضٍ

أَوفى عَلى جودِ الغَمائِمِ جودا

أَوفى عَلى جودِ الغَمائِمِ جودا

The springs of the generous dried up before a raincloud

The springs of nobility have dried up due to one

whose bounty surpassed the bounty of clouds.

Who rivals clouds in generosity's downpour.

تُزجي عَواصِفُهُ سَحائِبَ لِلمُنى

تُزجي عَواصِفُهُ سَحائِبَ لِلمُنى

بيضاً وَسُحباً لِلمَنايا سودا

بيضاً وَسُحباً لِلمَنايا سودا

Its tempests drive clouds for wishes—

His tempests drive clouds of wishes for good fortune,

white ones—and black clouds for death.

White, while for misfortunes, black.

مُثعَنجِرٌ كَفُّ المُظَفَّرِ أُفقُهُ

مُثعَنجِرٌ كَفُّ المُظَفَّرِ أُفقُهُ

لَم يُبقِ ذا عُدمٍ وَلا مَزؤودا

لَم يُبقِ ذا عُدمٍ وَلا مَزؤودا

A torrential cloud, its horizon al-Muzaffar's palm,

His victorious palm leaves nothing without and nothing denied,

it left no one destitute or terrified.

So the people of Syria have taken refuge from fear of harm

فَاِعتاضَ أَهلُ الشامِ مِن خَوفِ الرَدى

فَاِعتاضَ أَهلُ الشامِ مِن خَوفِ الرَدى

أَمناً وَمِن عَدَمِ اليَسارِ وُجودا

أَمناً وَمِن عَدَمِ اليَسارِ وُجودا

Thus the people of Syria exchanged fear of death

And lack of plenty, in security and abundance,

for security, and lack of wealth for abundance,

With the most noble traits, following them, not usurping superiority arbitrarily.

بِأَغَرَّ ما أَمَّ المَناقِبَ تابِعاً

بِأَغَرَّ ما أَمَّ المَناقِبَ تابِعاً

فيها وَلا أَخَذَ العُلى تَقَليدا

فيها وَلا أَخَذَ العُلى تَقَليدا

through a radiant man who never sought noble deeds as a follower

But you establish what you build with resolve

in them, nor took high rank by imitation.

That ever spurns the watering place of the seekers.

لَكِن يُؤَسِّسُ ما بَنى عَن هِمَّةٍ

لَكِن يُؤَسِّسُ ما بَنى عَن هِمَّةٍ

أَبَداً تَعافُ المَنهَلَ المَورودا

أَبَداً تَعافُ المَنهَلَ المَورودا

Instead, he lays the foundations of what he builds with a resolve

Your munificence still precedes its time,

that always spurns a watering place already frequented.

Bounteously, and your sword precedes your threats.

مازالَ يَسبِقُ جودُهُ ميعادَهُ

مازالَ يَسبِقُ جودُهُ ميعادَهُ

كَرَماً وَيَسبِقُ سَيفُهُ التَهديدا

كَرَماً وَيَسبِقُ سَيفُهُ التَهديدا

His bounty has always preceded his promised time,

Until you revealed your determination, which did not cease

out of generosity, and his sword has preceded his threat,

To destroy the tyrannous enemy and stubborn foe.

حَتّى أَبانَ عَنِ اِعتِزامِ لَم يَزَل

حَتّى أَبانَ عَنِ اِعتِزامِ لَم يَزَل

لِلمالِ وَالباغي العَنيدِ مُبيدا

لِلمالِ وَالباغي العَنيدِ مُبيدا

until he revealed a determination that has never ceased

And time has bent to you and ceased its tyranny,

to annihilate wealth and the obstinate aggressor.

Submitting, becoming obedient to what you desire.

وَعَتا الزَمانُ فَكَفَّ مِن غُلوائِهِ

وَعَتا الزَمانُ فَكَفَّ مِن غُلوائِهِ

فَعَنا وَصارَ لِما يُريدُ مُريدا

فَعَنا وَصارَ لِما يُريدُ مُريدا

Time grew unruly, and he curbed its excess,

O sword whose rebellion and loyalty

so it bowed and came to want whatever he wanted.

Have made men in the world wretched and prosperous!

يا سَيفَ مَن عِصيانُهُ وَوَلاؤُهُ

يا سَيفَ مَن عِصيانُهُ وَوَلاؤُهُ

جَعَلا شَقيّاً في الوَرى وَسَعيدا

جَعَلا شَقيّاً في الوَرى وَسَعيدا

O sword of him, disobedience and allegiance to whom

Leave the enemy—their soldiers have become,

have made men wretched and happy among mankind,

Not rallying to al-Muhallab, stripped.

خَلِّ العَدُوَّ فَقَد غَدا أَنجادُهُم

خَلِّ العَدُوَّ فَقَد غَدا أَنجادُهُم

لَم يُضمِروا لُمِهَنَّدٍ تَجريدا

لَم يُضمِروا لُمِهَنَّدٍ تَجريدا

Leave the enemy: their champions now

Your feats have filled hearts with fear,

harbor no thought of unsheathing an Indian blade.

Leaving no room for rancor.

مَلَأَت وَقائِعُك القُلوبَ مَخافَةً

مَلَأَت وَقائِعُك القُلوبَ مَخافَةً

ضاقَت بِها عَن أَن تُجِنَّ حُقودا

ضاقَت بِها عَن أَن تُجِنَّ حُقودا

Your battles filled their hearts with fear,

And you have raised a fire which, whenever kindled,

leaving them too cramped to harbor grudges.

Increases the enemy’s fire, extinguishing it.

وَرَفَعتَ ناراً كُلَّما أَوقَدتَها

وَرَفَعتَ ناراً كُلَّما أَوقَدتَها

زادَت بِها نارُ العَدوِّ خُمُودا

زادَت بِها نارُ العَدوِّ خُمُودا

You raised a fire which, whenever you kindled it,

It is the fire of Abraham for the defiant enemy,

made the enemy's fire die down still further.

But for the defiant it is fueled.

هِيَ نارُ إِبراهيمَ لِلباغي النَدى

هِيَ نارُ إِبراهيمَ لِلباغي النَدى

لَكِن عَلى الباغي تُشَبُّ وُقودا

لَكِن عَلى الباغي تُشَبُّ وُقودا

It is Abraham's fire for the seeker of bounty,

They fled, and if you penetrated deeply seeking them,

but against the aggressor it is kindled into a blaze.

The king of the Romans would not protect a fugitive from you.

وَلَّوا وَلَو أَوغَلتَ تَطلُبُ إِثرَهُم

وَلَّوا وَلَو أَوغَلتَ تَطلُبُ إِثرَهُم

لَم يَحمِ مَلكُ الرومِ مِنكَ طَريدا

لَم يَحمِ مَلكُ الرومِ مِنكَ طَريدا

They fled; had you pressed on to pursue their trail,

And if in the past you followed their tracks,

the king of the Romans could not have protected a fugitive from you.

You would follow a path that destroys all life.

وَلَوِ اِتَّبَعتَ مُوَلِّياً فيما مَضى

وَلَوِ اِتَّبَعتَ مُوَلِّياً فيما مَضى

لَتَبُعتَهُم سَيراً يُبيدُ البيدا

لَتَبُعتَهُم سَيراً يُبيدُ البيدا

Had you pursued a fleeing man in days gone by,

With steeds you race them down every rugged terrain,

you would have followed them on a march that devoured the deserts,

Racing racers and mounts swift as lightning.

بِالمُقرَباتِ مُقَرِّباتٍ نَحوَهُم

بِالمُقرَباتِ مُقَرِّباتٍ نَحوَهُم

لا تَعرِفُ الإيضاعَ وَالتَخويدا

لا تَعرِفُ الإيضاعَ وَالتَخويدا

on prized steeds bringing you nearer to them,

Shedding coat on coat of mail from them and donning

knowing neither swift pacing nor a swaying run.

Coat above coat of mail over hides over hides.

مُقوَرَّةً تَردي بِكُلِّ مَفازَةٍ

مُقوَرَّةً تَردي بِكُلِّ مَفازَةٍ

تُردي السَوابِقَ وَالمَطايا القودا

تُردي السَوابِقَ وَالمَطايا القودا

Lean-flanked, they gallop across every desert

In a brave platoon—even if not lead to battle—

that kills racing horses and long-necked mounts.

Your prowess alone suffices as equipment and manpower.

نَزَعَت كُسىً مِن نَيِّها وَتَسَربَلَت

نَزَعَت كُسىً مِن نَيِّها وَتَسَربَلَت

مِن نَقعِها فَوقَ الجُلودِ جُلودا

مِن نَقعِها فَوقَ الجُلودِ جُلودا

They shed the coverings of their fat and clad themselves

Bearing polished iron blades and armored

in skins of their own dust over their hides.

With thick-woven coats of mail.

في فَيلَقٍ لَو لَم تَقُدهُ إِلى العِدى

في فَيلَقٍ لَو لَم تَقُدهُ إِلى العِدى

لَكَفاكَ بَأسُكَ عُدَّةً وَعَديدا

لَكَفاكَ بَأسُكَ عُدَّةً وَعَديدا

In an army—had you not led it against the foes,

So let them remain where their abode has settled

your valor would have sufficed you for equipment and numbers.

As long as iron remains iron.

حَمَلَت ضَراغِمُهُ الحَديدَ مُذَلَّقا

حَمَلَت ضَراغِمُهُ الحَديدَ مُذَلَّقا

وَتَدَرَّعَت حَزماً بِهِ مَسرودا

وَتَدَرَّعَت حَزماً بِهِ مَسرودا

Its lions carried sharpened steel

And let them beware of the resolve that barred them

and prudently armored themselves in its interlinked mail.

From establishing pillars in Syria.

فَليَلبَثوا حَيثُ اِستَقَرَّت دارُهُم

فَليَلبَثوا حَيثُ اِستَقَرَّت دارُهُم

وَأَرَدتَ مادامَ الحَديدُ حَديدا

وَأَرَدتَ مادامَ الحَديدُ حَديدا

Let them stay where their dwelling has settled

It has severed their ropes—cords that never ceased

and where you have willed, as long as iron remains sharp.

To snare kings as though game.

وَليَحذَروا الهِمَمَ الَّتي مَنَعَتهُمُ

وَليَحذَروا الهِمَمَ الَّتي مَنَعَتهُمُ

مِن أَن يُقيموا بِالشَآمِ عَمودا

مِن أَن يُقيموا بِالشَآمِ عَمودا

Let them beware the resolves that prevented them

How often have you raided them at dawn

from raising a tent pole in Syria.

In a raid that made them cry “woe is me!”

نَقَضَت حِبالَهُمُ حَبائِلُ لَم تَزَل

نَقَضَت حِبالَهُمُ حَبائِلُ لَم تَزَل

قِدماً تَصيدُ بِها المُلوكَ الصيدا

قِدماً تَصيدُ بِها المُلوكَ الصيدا

Their ropes were undone by snares with which you have long

You left no Bakr virgin for the Lord of Hunaydah

been hunting proud kings.

Nor virgins of Bani `Atwah untouched.

وَلَطالَما صَبَّحتَهُم في غارَةٍ

وَلَطالَما صَبَّحتَهُم في غارَةٍ

أَلفَوا بِها أُمَّ اللُهَيمِ وَلودا

أَلفَوا بِها أُمَّ اللُهَيمِ وَلودا

How often you struck them at dawn in a raid,

They thought it was the neighing of steeds and the thunder's rumbling

in which they found Umm al-Luhaym—Death—prolific.

When clouds gathered and lightning struck.

لَم تُبقِ في بَكرٍ لِرَبِّ هُنَيدَةٍ

لَم تُبقِ في بَكرٍ لِرَبِّ هُنَيدَةٍ

بَكراً وَلا لِبَني عَتودَ عَتودا

بَكراً وَلا لِبَني عَتودَ عَتودا

It left, among Bakr, for the owner of a hundred camels

And whenever you unsheathe a spear, you do not return it

not one young camel, nor for Banu Atud one goat-kid.

Without piercing the side of every fortress and artery.

ظَنّوا بِها نَقعَ الجِيادِ وَوَقعَها

ظَنّوا بِها نَقعَ الجِيادِ وَوَقعَها

عِندَ المُغارِ سَحائِباً وَرُعودا

عِندَ المُغارِ سَحائِباً وَرُعودا

In it, they mistook the steeds' dust and hoofbeats,

And whenever you loose an arrow, it has no hesitation

at the place of attack, for clouds and thunder.

To plunge at the meeting into breasts.

وَمَتى مَدَدتَ قَناً فَما أَورَدتَها

وَمَتى مَدَدتَ قَناً فَما أَورَدتَها

مِن كُلِّ باغِ ثُغرَةً وَوَريدا

مِن كُلِّ باغِ ثُغرَةً وَوَريدا

When have you leveled spears and not brought them to drink

Or which day of calamity have you witnessed and it was not

from every aggressor's throat hollow and jugular vein?

A day most gut-wrenching and witnessed?

وَمَتى سَلَلتَ ظُبىً فَما كانَت لَها

وَمَتى سَلَلتَ ظُبىً فَما كانَت لَها

هاما تُهُم عِندَ اللِقاءِ غُمودا

هاما تُهُم عِندَ اللِقاءِ غُمودا

When have you unsheathed blades without their having

By my life, they found your wing with their loyalty

their heads as scabbards at the clash?

Barren, so when they took refuge, refuge destroyed them.

أَم أَيَّ يَومِ وَغىً شَهِدتَ فَلَم يَكُن

أَم أَيَّ يَومِ وَغىً شَهِدتَ فَلَم يَكُن

يَوماً أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلاً مَشهودا

يَوماً أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلاً مَشهودا

Or what day of battle have you witnessed that was not

And you were more truthful than them in time of peril

a white-blazed, white-stockinged, celebrated day?

As foe and more hurtful to the enemy as a threat.

عَمري لَقَد وَجَدوا جَناكَ بِنُصحِهِم

عَمري لَقَد وَجَدوا جَناكَ بِنُصحِهِم

أَرياً فَحينَ جَنَوا جَنوهُ هَبيدا

أَرياً فَحينَ جَنَوا جَنوهُ هَبيدا

By my life, through their loyalty they found your fruit

And I see the state of Mubayyinah as astray from its reason

honey; but when they transgressed, they reaped it as bitter colocynth seeds.

When it did not hurl stones at that wing.

فَرَأَوكَ أَصدَقَ مِنهُمُ عِندَ النَدى

فَرَأَوكَ أَصدَقَ مِنهُمُ عِندَ النَدى

وَعداً وَأَنكى في العُدوِّ وَعيدا

وَعداً وَأَنكى في العُدوِّ وَعيدا

So they saw you truer than themselves, when giving,

It attained through your proximity honor and eminence

in promise, and more devastating to the enemy in threat.

And aspired with your dividing sword, cutting and parrying.

وَأَرى جَنابَ مُبينَةً عَن رُشدِها

وَأَرى جَنابَ مُبينَةً عَن رُشدِها

إِذ لَم تَرُم عَن ذا الجَنابِ مَحيدا

إِذ لَم تَرُم عَن ذا الجَنابِ مَحيدا

I see Janab demonstrating her good judgment,

You bestowed on it gifts that make free men

since she sought no departure from this court.

Slaves, so Abu Samawah’s reign endured,

نالَت بِقُربِكَ عِزَّةً وَنَباهَةً

نالَت بِقُربِكَ عِزَّةً وَنَباهَةً

وَهَمَت بِسَيفِكَ طارِفاً وَتَليدا

وَهَمَت بِسَيفِكَ طارِفاً وَتَليدا

She gained might and renown through nearness to you,

Fulfilling for his father the restoration promised him.

and through your sword overflowed with wealth, new and inherited.

And one who rejected the favor, his deeds made him

قَلَّدتَها مِنَناً شَفَعنَ صَنائِعاً

قَلَّدتَها مِنَناً شَفَعنَ صَنائِعاً

يَجعَلنَ أَحرارَ الرِجالِ عَبيدا

يَجعَلنَ أَحرارَ الرِجالِ عَبيدا

You adorned her with favors added to benefactions

Flee in fear of you through the land, an outcast.

that turn free men into slaves.

And long has the inauspiciousness of stars singled out

وَمَدَدتَ باعَ أَبي سَماوَةَ مُنجِزاً

وَمَدَدتَ باعَ أَبي سَماوَةَ مُنجِزاً

لِأَبيهِ في اِستِصلاحِهِ المَوعودا

لِأَبيهِ في اِستِصلاحِهِ المَوعودا

You extended Abu Samawa's reach, fulfilling

A people, while for others granting good fortune.

for his father the promise to set him right.

One who came exulting to power has now departed,

وَنَأى بِمَن كَفَرَ الصَنيعَةَ فِعلُهُ

وَنَأى بِمَن كَفَرَ الصَنيعَةَ فِعلُهُ

فَغَدا لِخَوفِكَ في البِلادِ شَريدا

فَغَدا لِخَوفِكَ في البِلادِ شَريدا

His own deed carried far away the man who denied the benefaction,

Expelled from that seat, driven away.

so fear of you left him wandering through the lands.

And the flints of those whose views were distorted

وَلَطالَما خَصَّت نُحوسُ كَواكِبٍ

وَلَطالَما خَصَّت نُحوسُ كَواكِبٍ

قَوماً وَكُنَّ لآِخَرينَ سُعودا

قَوماً وَكُنَّ لآِخَرينَ سُعودا

How often the ill fortunes of stars have singled out

Until your long shadow tilted.

one people, while bringing others good fortune.

How many tyrannies has your resolute determination made cower

أَضحى يَرودُ الَمحلَ مَغرورٌ مَضى

أَضحى يَرودُ الَمحلَ مَغرورٌ مَضى

عَن ذا المَحَلِّ مُحَلَّأً مَطرودا

عَن ذا المَحَلِّ مُحَلَّأً مَطرودا

A deluded man now roams barren ground, having departed

In fear, dread, and awe of something awesome and formidable!

from this station, driven off and expelled.

How many a king has it made turn back, repelled,

وَوَرى زِنادُ مَنِ اِعتَلَت آراؤُهُ

وَوَرى زِنادُ مَنِ اِعتَلَت آراؤُهُ

حَتّى تَقَيَّلَ ظِلَّكَ المَمدودا

حَتّى تَقَيَّلَ ظِلَّكَ المَمدودا

The firesteel of one whose judgments rose high sparked,

Who, were it not for you, would not have been pushed back!

until he took his noonday rest in your outspread shade.

So I wish you well throughout days for a nation

كَم آمَنَت سَطَواتُ عَزمِكَ خائِفاً

كَم آمَنَت سَطَواتُ عَزمِكَ خائِفاً

وَجِلاً وَراعَت أَروَعاً صِنديدا

وَجِلاً وَراعَت أَروَعاً صِنديدا

How many a frightened man the onslaughts of your resolve have made safe,

That attains through your proximity every day a celebration.

trembling, while terrifying an imposing, mighty champion!

And for a state of which you have become the chosen one,

وَتَخَرَّمَت مَلِكاً وَرَدَّت ذاهِباً

وَتَخَرَّمَت مَلِكاً وَرَدَّت ذاهِباً

لَولاكَ لَم يَكُ مِثلُهُ مَردودا

لَولاكَ لَم يَكُ مِثلُهُ مَردودا

They have cut down a king and restored one who had departed,

Growing in might and soldiers.

whose like could not have been restored but for you.

And I wish joy upon one whose birth has elevated an abode

فَاِسلَم عَلى مَرِّ الزَمانِ لِأُمَّةٍ

فَاِسلَم عَلى مَرِّ الزَمانِ لِأُمَّةٍ

تَلقى بِقُربِكَ كُلَّ يَومٍ عيدا

تَلقى بِقُربِكَ كُلَّ يَومٍ عيدا

So remain safe through the passage of Time for a people

To whose vale the full moon of the sky is envious,

who find a festival every day in your presence,

Since the best of created kind has particularly blessed him

وَلِدَولَةٍ قَد صِرتَ مُنتَجَباً لَها

وَلِدَولَةٍ قَد صِرتَ مُنتَجَباً لَها

زادَت وَعَزَّت مَنعَةً وَجُنودا

زادَت وَعَزَّت مَنعَةً وَجُنودا

and for a dynasty for which you have become the chosen one,

With a gift he loved not for a grown man nor newborn.

which has grown and become mighty in defenses and armies.

And he has given him a name from your traits heralding

وَاِسعَد بِمَولودٍ سَما لِمَحَلَّةٍ

وَاِسعَد بِمَولودٍ سَما لِمَحَلَّةٍ

أَمسى لَها بَدرُ السَماءِ حَسودا

أَمسى لَها بَدرُ السَماءِ حَسودا

Rejoice in a newborn who has risen to a station

Thereby a matter that will not cease being praiseworthy.

of which heaven's full moon has become envious,

Fortunate is he for whom the leader of the age hopes

إِذ خَصَّهُ خَيرُ الأَنامِ بِنِعمَةٍ

إِذ خَصَّهُ خَيرُ الأَنامِ بِنِعمَةٍ

لَم يَحبُها كَهلاً وَلا مَولودا

لَم يَحبُها كَهلاً وَلا مَولودا

since the best of mankind singled him out for a favor

His circumstances will be prosperous.

he bestowed on neither mature man nor newborn,

Good tidings—may God gladden you with their newness,

وَأَنالَهُ اِسماً مِن صِفاتِكَ مُؤذِناً

وَأَنالَهُ اِسماً مِن صِفاتِكَ مُؤذِناً

مِنهُ بِأَمرٍ لا يَزالُ حَميدا

مِنهُ بِأَمرٍ لا يَزالُ حَميدا

and gave him a name drawn from your qualities, foretelling

For you have worn, through them, new splendor.

in him a destiny forever praiseworthy.

And may He show you praiseworthy, attaining an utmost extent

سَعِدَ الَّذي يَرجو إِمامُ العَصرِ أَن

سَعِدَ الَّذي يَرجو إِمامُ العَصرِ أَن

سَيَكونُ في حالاتِهِ مَسعودا

سَيَكونُ في حالاتِهِ مَسعودا

Blessed is he of whom the Imam of the age hopes that

In kingdom that a praiseworthy one despaired of attaining.

he will be fortunate in all his circumstances.

His merits will be recounted, and his basin will give drink

نِعَمٌ يُهَنّيكَ الإِلَهُ جَديدَها

نِعَمٌ يُهَنّيكَ الإِلَهُ جَديدَها

فَلَقَد لَبِستَ بِها الفَخارَ جَديدا

فَلَقَد لَبِستَ بِها الفَخارَ جَديدا

Blessings—may God grant you joy in their renewal;

To the thirsty, whoever desires drink.

for through them you have donned fresh glory.

And in his presence, you will see for me a son, a poet

وَيُريكَ مَحموداً مُبَلَّغَ غايَةٍ

وَيُريكَ مَحموداً مُبَلَّغَ غايَةٍ

في المُلكِ أَعجَزَ نَيلُها مَحمودا

في المُلكِ أَعجَزَ نَيلُها مَحمودا

May He show you Mahmud brought to a height

Like myself, excellent in praise, excellent.

in kingship that Mahmud was unable to attain.

O Chosen One of the kingdom, which was an obstinate determination

تُروى مَناقِبُهُ وَيَروي حَوضُهُ

تُروى مَناقِبُهُ وَيَروي حَوضُهُ

عِندَ المَعاطِشِ مَن أَرادَ وُرودا

عِندَ المَعاطِشِ مَن أَرادَ وُرودا

His noble deeds are recounted, and his basin quenches

Then returned to assault his descendants!

in parched places whoever wishes to come and drink.

You have guided me by the course of your nobility along a path

وَتَرى بِحَضرَتِهِ لِيَ اِبناً شاعِراً

وَتَرى بِحَضرَتِهِ لِيَ اِبناً شاعِراً

مِثلي مُجيداً في الثَناءِ مَجيدا

مِثلي مُجيداً في الثَناءِ مَجيدا

May you see in his presence a poet-son of mine,

Whose distance tries the eloquent ones’ eloquence.

like me, masterful in praise and illustrious.

So if I fall short, my excuse is clear:

يا مُصطَفى المُلكِ الَّذي كانَ النَدى

يا مُصطَفى المُلكِ الَّذي كانَ النَدى

هِمّاً فَعاوَدَ في ذَراهُ وَليدا

هِمّاً فَعاوَدَ في ذَراهُ وَليدا

O Mustafa al-Mulk, through whom bounty, once

I am not most eloquent in praising the heavens.

a decrepit elder, returned as a newborn in his shelter,

And if I speak, the easiest thing I see

أَنهَجتَني مِن نَهجِ فَضلِكَ مَسلَكاً

أَنهَجتَني مِن نَهجِ فَضلِكَ مَسلَكاً

تَثني مَسافَتُهُ البَليغَ بَليدا

تَثني مَسافَتُهُ البَليغَ بَليدا

you opened for me, along the path of your excellence, a road

Of your achievements makes even the taciturn speak.

whose length turns the eloquent man into a dullard.

I have found them to be scattered jewels

فَلَئِن حَصِرتُ فَإِنَّ عُذري واضِحٌ

فَلَئِن حَصِرتُ فَإِنَّ عُذري واضِحٌ

أَن لَستُ أَبلُغُ لِلسَما تَحديدا

أَن لَستُ أَبلُغُ لِلسَما تَحديدا

So if I am tongue-tied, my excuse is plain:

And it is for rhymes to string them into necklaces.

I cannot set bounds to the sky.

So to you belongs the unmatched, and you have found its harmony,

وَلَئِن نَطَقتُ فَإِنَّ أَيسَرَ ما أَرى

وَلَئِن نَطَقتُ فَإِنَّ أَيسَرَ ما أَرى

مِن مَأثُراتِكَ يُنطِقُ الجُلمودا

مِن مَأثُراتِكَ يُنطِقُ الجُلمودا

And if I speak, the slightest thing I see

While to me belongs praise, and I have found the unmatched.

of your glorious deeds makes solid rock speak.

The world has thanked me for this praise and my method in it,

أَلفَيتُهُنَّ جَواهِراً مَنثورَةً

أَلفَيتُهُنَّ جَواهِراً مَنثورَةً

وَعَلى القَوافي أَن يَصِرنَ عُقودا

وَعَلى القَوافي أَن يَصِرنَ عُقودا

I found them scattered jewels,

So I was the praiser and the praised.

and it falls to the rhymes to become necklaces.

I have been rewarded for my gratitude with equal gratitude,

فَلَكَ الفَريدُ وَقَد وَجَدتَ نِظامَهُ

فَلَكَ الفَريدُ وَقَد وَجَدتَ نِظامَهُ

وَلي الثَناءُ وَقَد وَجَدتُ فَريدا

وَلي الثَناءُ وَقَد وَجَدتُ فَريدا

The precious pearls are yours, and you have found them strung;

Increasing what you bestow on me.

the praise is mine, and I have found a peerless man.

حَمِدَ الوَرى لِيَ ذا الثَناءَ وَمَذهَبي

حَمِدَ الوَرى لِيَ ذا الثَناءَ وَمَذهَبي

فيهِ فَكُنتُ الحامِدَ المَحمودا

فيهِ فَكُنتُ الحامِدَ المَحمودا

People praised me for this praise and my manner

of giving it, so I became the praiser who was praised.

جوزيتُ عَن شُكري بِشُكرٍ مِثلِهِ

جوزيتُ عَن شُكري بِشُكرٍ مِثلِهِ

فَعَدَدتُ ما تُسدي إِلَيَّ مَزيدا

فَعَدَدتُ ما تُسدي إِلَيَّ مَزيدا

I was rewarded for my thanks with thanks like them,

so I counted what you bestow on me as further bounty.