تنهدت لمَّا أذكرتني النواهدُ

تنهدت لمَّا أذكرتني النواهدُ

زمان الصبى والعيش ريَّان مائد

زمان الصبى والعيش ريَّان مائد

I sighed when the budding-breasted maidens reminded me

I sighed when the trysts reminded me

Of the days of youth, when life was lush and swaying,

Of the days of youth and a life of bliss spread,

وغيداء أمَّا عيبها فهو ردفها

وغيداء أمَّا عيبها فهو ردفها

ثقيلٌ وأمَّا ثغرها فهو بارد

ثقيلٌ وأمَّا ثغرها فهو بارد

And of a graceful woman—as for her flaw, it was her rump:

And a lover whose only fault was her coldness,

Heavy; and as for her mouth, it was cool.

And whose only flaw was her frigid mouth.

بأغزال شعري في بديع صفاتها

بأغزال شعري في بديع صفاتها

ومدح رئيس الشام تسري القصائد

ومدح رئيس الشام تسري القصائد

With my verse’s love lyrics on her wondrous qualities

With the gazelles of my poetry in the beautiful array of her qualities,

And praise of the chief of al-Sham, the poems journey forth.

And praising the ruler of Syria, the poems flowed.

رئيسٌ وفَى حقّ المعالي فحبذا

رئيسٌ وفَى حقّ المعالي فحبذا

مهيبٌ وهوبٌ شاملُ الجود زاهد

مهيبٌ وهوبٌ شاملُ الجود زاهد

A chief who has given lofty virtues their due—how splendid:

A ruler who fulfilled the rights of glorious deeds, excellent is he,

Awe-inspiring, lavish in giving, all-embracing in bounty, ascetic.

Awe-inspiring and generous, embracing righteousness, ascetic.

له قلمٌ في صدرِ محراب درجه

له قلمٌ في صدرِ محراب درجه

لباريه في كلِّ المقاصد ماجد

لباريه في كلِّ المقاصد ماجد

He has a pen at the fore of his scroll’s prayer niche,

He has a pen in the niche of the degree of his Lordship,

Illustrious in every undertaking for its shaper.

Victorious in all purposes, glorious.

كريم الورى يا ابن الكرام إذا انتمى

كريم الورى يا ابن الكرام إذا انتمى

ليهنك عيدٌ للسعودِ معاود

ليهنك عيدٌ للسعودِ معاود

Noble among mortals, O son of nobles when ancestry is traced,

O noble son of the noble, whenever he is affiliated

May a festival returning with good fortune bring you joy;

Your feast brings you joy, renewed for prosperity.

كذا ألف عيدٍ شرف اسمك زينهُ

كذا ألف عيدٍ شرف اسمك زينهُ

وهنئتِ الدنيا بأنكَ خالد

وهنئتِ الدنيا بأنكَ خالد

Likewise a thousand festivals, adorned by the honor of your name;

Thus a thousand feasts, your name adorns it,

And may the world be congratulated that you are everlasting.

And congratulations to the world that you are eternal.