بلغت المدى المأمول فيما تجاهدُ

بلغت المدى المأمول فيما تجاهدُ

فهل وجد الأقران ما أنت واجدُ

فهل وجد الأقران ما أنت واجدُ

You have reached the hoped-for goal in your striving.

You have reached the hoped for goal through your striving,

Have your peers attained what you have attained?

So have peers found what you have found?

وهل كان ما مكنت إلا ممهداً

وهل كان ما مكنت إلا ممهداً

لما أنت ناويه وما أنت قاصد

لما أنت ناويه وما أنت قاصد

And was what you secured anything but a preparation

And was what empowered you anything but paving

for what you intend and what you seek?

The way for what you intend and what you aim for?

نأيت فكان الشوق فيما تركته

نأيت فكان الشوق فيما تركته

وكان الرضا فيما به أنت عائد

وكان الرضا فيما به أنت عائد

You went far away, and longing lay in what you left behind;

You came, so yearning was in what you left,

and contentment lay in what you are bringing back.

And contentment was in what you returned to.

وجاء من الأنباء ما قرب المدى

وجاء من الأنباء ما قرب المدى

إليك وشاهدنا به ما تشاهد

إليك وشاهدنا به ما تشاهد

News came that shortened the distance

And news came that brought the goal closer

to you; through it we witnessed what you witness.

To you, and we saw through it what you see.

وزرت الدهاة القادرين فرحبوا

وزرت الدهاة القادرين فرحبوا

كأنك بالوادي ومن فيه وافد

كأنك بالوادي ومن فيه وافد

You visited the shrewd and powerful, and they welcomed you,

You visited the skillful leaders, so they welcomed

as though you had come with the Valley and all its people.

You as if you were in the valley and a new arrival to it.

تجدد ذكرى أربع بينهم خلت

تجدد ذكرى أربع بينهم خلت

وقد ألزمتك العهد تلك المعاهد

وقد ألزمتك العهد تلك المعاهد

You renew memories of four years passed among them;

The memory of four who passed among them renewed,

those seats of learning had bound you to a pledge.

And the covenant obliged you, those pacts.

تناولت فيه علمهم وهو عدة

تناولت فيه علمهم وهو عدة

لك اليوم تلقاهم بها وتجالد

لك اليوم تلقاهم بها وتجالد

There you acquired their knowledge, now a resource

You took their knowledge, and it is equipment

for you today, with which you meet them and do battle.

For you today as you meet them and fight.

وقد كان نخب الحب أفضل ما انتهى

وقد كان نخب الحب أفضل ما انتهى

إليك وأشهى ما احتوته الموائد

إليك وأشهى ما احتوته الموائد

The toast of love was the finest thing brought

The elite of love was the best of what came

to you, and the sweetest thing the tables held.

To you, and the most delicious of what the banquets contained.

مآدب ما شاقتك إلا وقبلها

مآدب ما شاقتك إلا وقبلها

شروط السلام المرتجى والقواعد

شروط السلام المرتجى والقواعد

Banquets enticed you only when they were preceded by

Feasts that did not burden you but rather

the terms of the hoped-for peace and its foundations.

Came before them conditions of hoped-for peace and principles.

فما طبت نفساً بالذي أنت آكل

فما طبت نفساً بالذي أنت آكل

كما طبت نفساً بالذي أنت عاقد

كما طبت نفساً بالذي أنت عاقد

You were not as content in spirit with what you ate

So you did not please a soul with what you eat

as you were with the pact you were concluding.

As you pleased a soul with what you conclude.

طلعت عليهم بالأحاديث حرة

طلعت عليهم بالأحاديث حرة

فلم تمس إلا وهي فيهم عقائد

فلم تمس إلا وهي فيهم عقائد

You appeared before them with unfettered words;

You appeared before them with free conversations

by evening those words were convictions among them.

Yet only touched what already were their creeds.

أقروا بما لا يستطيعون نقضه

أقروا بما لا يستطيعون نقضه

وقد سكنت أسدٌ ونامت أساود

وقد سكنت أسدٌ ونامت أساود

They acknowledged what they could not refute,

They acknowledged what they cannot refute

and lions grew still, and black serpents slept.

And so a lion settled and lionesses slept.

وردوا إليك الحق والحق غالب

وردوا إليك الحق والحق غالب

ودهرك معوان وحظك صاعد

ودهرك معوان وحظك صاعد

They restored your right to you, and right prevails;

They returned the truth to you, and the truth prevails,

your age is a staunch helper, and your fortune rises.

And your time assists you, and your fortune ascends.

وأحكمت في صحو النهار وسائلاً

وأحكمت في صحو النهار وسائلاً

ترامت بها تلك الليالي الرواعد

ترامت بها تلك الليالي الرواعد

In the clear light of day you made firm the means

You determined at dawn means by which

that those thunderous nights had hurled afar.

Those stormy nights were pierced.

وضجت بما نلت الممالك كلها

وضجت بما نلت الممالك كلها

وقد جل ما كابدته وتكابد

وقد جل ما كابدته وتكابد

All the kingdoms resounded with what you won;

It roared with what you obtained, all the kingdoms,

great is what you have endured and still endure.

Great is what you endured and struggled through.

وأكبرَتِ النصر الذي تستتمه

وأكبرَتِ النصر الذي تستتمه

ولم ينتقل جيشٌ ولم يخطُ قائد

ولم ينتقل جيشٌ ولم يخطُ قائد

They acclaimed the victory you are bringing to completion,

And you made greater the victory you perfect,

though no army moved and no commander took a step.

And no army deployed, and no leader marched.

وما البطل المغوار من مارس الوغى

وما البطل المغوار من مارس الوغى

ولكنه من مرنته الشدائد

ولكنه من مرنته الشدائد

The intrepid hero is not merely one who has experienced battle,

Not the brave warrior who stirs up turmoil,

but one whom hardships have seasoned.

Rather it is one whose patience the adversities honed.

كسبت العدو العاقل اليوم بعدما

كسبت العدو العاقل اليوم بعدما

مضى زمن وهو المصرُّ المعاند

مضى زمن وهو المصرُّ المعاند

Today you won over the reasonable enemy, after

You gained today the rational enemy after

a time had passed with him obstinate and defiant.

An era passed with him the stubborn opponent.

وصادقت من لو أدرك الناس كلهم

وصادقت من لو أدرك الناس كلهم

صداقته لم يبق في الأرض حاقد

صداقته لم يبق في الأرض حاقد

You befriended one such that, if all people gained

And you befriended one whom if all people attained

his friendship, none on earth would still bear rancor.

His friendship, no hater would remain on earth.

سيخرج من كل المدائن جنده

سيخرج من كل المدائن جنده

وما هو مطرود وما أنت طارد

وما هو مطرود وما أنت طارد

His troops will leave every city,

His armies will emerge from all cities,

yet he is not expelled, nor are you expelling him.

And he is not expelled, and you are no chaser.

ومنك له حول القناة مضارب

ومنك له حول القناة مضارب

بأمرك تُحمَى سُبْلُهُ والمراصد

بأمرك تُحمَى سُبْلُهُ والمراصد

You grant him encampments around the Canal;

And for him around the canal are your settlements

at your command his routes and the watchposts are protected.

By your command, his roads and huts protected.

وحسبك ود الند منه وحسبه

وحسبك ود الند منه وحسبه

مرافق في الوادي له وموارد

مرافق في الوادي له وموارد

His friendship as an equal suffices you; for him suffice

And suffice you the affection of the comrade, and suffice him

facilities and resources of his in the Valley.

An accompanying guide in the valley, provider.

ولا صلح إلا صلحك العادل الذي

ولا صلح إلا صلحك العادل الذي

تساوت به للجانبين الفوائد

تساوت به للجانبين الفوائد

There is no peace but your just peace, through which

And no peace but your just peace in which

the benefits are equal for both sides.

The benefits are equal for both sides.

أيخشَى على النيل الوفي سدوده

أيخشَى على النيل الوفي سدوده

مريبٌ وقد آلت إليك المقالد

مريبٌ وقد آلت إليك المقالد

Can its dams arouse fear for the faithful Nile

Does a doubter fear for the Nile’s dams

in a doubter, now that the keys of power have passed to you?

While power lies with you?

تصرِّفُه بين الشقيقين بعد ما

تصرِّفُه بين الشقيقين بعد ما

نبت بالشقيقين الخطوب النواكد

نبت بالشقيقين الخطوب النواكد

You direct it between the two brothers, after

You regulate it between the twin siblings after

grim calamities had dealt harshly with the two brothers.

Hostilities sprouted between the twins.

فهل ترجع اليوم القرون التي خلت

فهل ترجع اليوم القرون التي خلت

فيشهد لابن اليوم جدٌّ ووالد

فيشهد لابن اليوم جدٌّ ووالد

Will the vanished centuries return today,

So will the passed eras return today

so grandfather and father may bear witness for today's son?

And so a son's ancestor and father testify for him?

هنالِكَ من تكريم قدرك ما هُنا

هنالِكَ من تكريم قدرك ما هُنا

ينافس منك الأقربين الأباعد

ينافس منك الأقربين الأباعد

There your worth is honored as it is here;

Therefrom honoring your value not here

those far from you vie with those nearest to you.

Rivals what your close and distant vie in.

ويرفعك الشعب الذي بك عزه

ويرفعك الشعب الذي بك عزه

وفيك سجاياه وفيك المحامد

وفيك سجاياه وفيك المحامد

The people, whose glory lies in you, exalt you;

And the people whose might is through you exalt you,

in you are their character traits, and in you their virtues.

In you their attributes, in you the praise.

ويحشد لاستقبالك الملك كله

ويحشد لاستقبالك الملك كله

وإن ليوم الفصل ما هو حاشد

وإن ليوم الفصل ما هو حاشد

The whole realm gathers to welcome you,

And the whole kingdom masses to receive you,

and what it musters is indeed for the day of decision.

For the day of decision has its crowds.

أتى يتلقى اليوم منك مصيره

أتى يتلقى اليوم منك مصيره

وقد حملته أنفس وسواعد

وقد حملته أنفس وسواعد

It has come today to receive its destiny from you,

It comes today to receive from you its fate

borne by souls and arms.

As you carried it, souls and arms.

ولو شمل الدنيا مرادك كله

ولو شمل الدنيا مرادك كله

لما كان في الدنيا مسود وسائد

لما كان في الدنيا مسود وسائد

If your whole purpose embraced the world,

And if your entire will encompassed the world,

there would be neither subject nor master in the world.

Then the world would have no darkened, oppressed ruler.

قضى ملك الوادي على كلِّ مرجفٍ

قضى ملك الوادي على كلِّ مرجفٍ

فلم يبق مرتاب ولم يبق جاحد

فلم يبق مرتاب ولم يبق جاحد

The Valley's king quelled every spreader of alarm;

The king of the valley judged every agitator

no doubter remained, and no denier remained.

So no doubter remained, and no denier.

وأهداك ما أرضى العلى وهو عالم

وأهداك ما أرضى العلى وهو عالم

بأنك إلا في هداياه زاهد

بأنك إلا في هداياه زاهد

He bestowed on you what pleased glory, knowing

And he gifted you what pleases the Exalted, and He knows

that you are indifferent to all gifts but his.

That you are ascetic except in His gifts.

وكان لزاماً أن يرى ما رأيته

وكان لزاماً أن يرى ما رأيته

لدولته منه حسيب وناقد

لدولته منه حسيب وناقد

And what you saw was bound to be seen

And it was necessary that He see what you saw

by appraiser and critic of his service to his state.

For His state from Him the reckoner and critic.

أللغاضب الباغي عليك بقية

أللغاضب الباغي عليك بقية

من العذر إلا أنه لك حاسد

من العذر إلا أنه لك حاسد

Has the angry aggressor against you any remnant

Does the transgressor who aggresses you have any

of an excuse, except that he envies you?

Excuse left save he envies you?

تحملت عنه عزمه وهمومه

تحملت عنه عزمه وهمومه

وساءك منه أنه لك كائد

وساءك منه أنه لك كائد

You shouldered his resolve and his cares for him,

You took on from him his determination and worries,

and it grieved you that he schemed against you.

And it was evil from him that he schemed against you.

وظن جديد الأمر جاءك خاذلاً

وظن جديد الأمر جاءك خاذلاً

فجاء جديد الأمر وهو المساعد

فجاء جديد الأمر وهو المساعد

He thought the new turn of affairs would come to forsake you;

And the newly appointed thought you failed him

but the new turn of affairs came as a helper.

Yet the newly appointed came, and he is the aide.

ولم تجد العمال إلا كغيرهم

ولم تجد العمال إلا كغيرهم

أماجد لاقاهم على الخير ماجد

أماجد لاقاهم على الخير ماجد

You found the Labour men no different from others:

And you found the workers only like others:

noble men whom a noble man met in goodwill.

Glories met them in doing good as excelling.

تقربت منه كابراً وتقربوا

تقربت منه كابراً وتقربوا

فما طال ميعاد ولا حال واعد

فما طال ميعاد ولا حال واعد

You drew near him, a man of stature, and they drew near;

You drew near the elder humbly, and they drew near.

no appointed time dragged on, and no promiser wavered.

So neither term prolonged, nor state promised.

ومثلك إنساناً وجدت كبيرهم

ومثلك إنساناً وجدت كبيرهم

فما هو عملاق ولا هو مارد

فما هو عملاق ولا هو مارد

You found their leader a human being like yourself;

And the like of you as man found their greatest

he is no giant, nor is he a demon.

Yet he is no giant nor demon.

إذا اختلفت آراؤهم في شؤونهم

إذا اختلفت آراؤهم في شؤونهم

فرأيهمُ في شأنك اليوم واحد

فرأيهمُ في شأنك اليوم واحد

Though their opinions differ over their own affairs,

If their views differed regarding their affairs,

their view of your cause today is one.

Their view of your matter today is one.

وقد فقد الرهط المكان الذي له

وقد فقد الرهط المكان الذي له

ولا يسترد الرهط ما هو فاقد

ولا يسترد الرهط ما هو فاقد

The faction has lost the position it held,

And the group lost the position it had

and the faction will not regain what it has lost.

And no group reclaims what it lost.

وأغضبه ترك الفريسة فاعتدى

وأغضبه ترك الفريسة فاعتدى

عليك وأعياه الذي أنت صائد

عليك وأعياه الذي أنت صائد

Leaving its prey enraged it, and it attacked

And the abandoning of prey enraged him, so he aggressed

you; what you are catching had proved beyond its power.

Upon you, and what you hunt exhausted him.

تردد بين المسلكين فما به

تردد بين المسلكين فما به

لشيعته إلا الظنون الشوارد

لشيعته إلا الظنون الشوارد

It wavered between the two paths, holding nothing

He wavered between the two paths, so in it

for its followers but wild conjectures.

For his partisans were only the straying assumptions.

يطيش به صبيانه في خلائهم

يطيش به صبيانه في خلائهم

وتهذي به صحْف خساسٌ كواسد

وتهذي به صحْف خساسٌ كواسد

Its boys drive it to folly in their seclusion,

His youth in their privacy lead him astray

and base, unsold newspapers rave about it.

And degrade him, vile newspapers, defamers.

أمن يتولى الحكم والحكم صالح

أمن يتولى الحكم والحكم صالح

كمن يتولى الحكم والحكم فاسد

كمن يتولى الحكم والحكم فاسد

Is one who assumes office when government is sound

Is one who assumes rule but the rule corrupts

like one who assumes office when government is corrupt?

Like one who rules justly and properly?

ولو ذكر المحروم ما أنت زارع

ولو ذكر المحروم ما أنت زارع

لما فاته بعض الذي أنت حاصد

لما فاته بعض الذي أنت حاصد

Had the deprived man remembered what you are sowing,

And if the deprived mentioned what you plant,

some of what you are reaping would not have eluded him.

He would miss some of what you harvest.

ولو شئت للباغي المسيء عقوبة

ولو شئت للباغي المسيء عقوبة

لما فارقتْ تلك الرقابَ المقاود

لما فارقتْ تلك الرقابَ المقاود

Had you wished punishment for the wrongdoing aggressor,

And if you willed punishment for the transgressor,

the halters would never have left those necks.

Those summoned necks would not leave the swords.

وقد يجد الأعذار عندك مخطئٌ

وقد يجد الأعذار عندك مخطئٌ

إذا عدم الأعذار عندك عامد

إذا عدم الأعذار عندك عامد

One who errs may find excuses with you,

But one in error may find excuses with you

when a deliberate offender finds none with you.

When with you an intentional has no excuses.

تنبَّأتُ بالعقبى التي لك فضلها

تنبَّأتُ بالعقبى التي لك فضلها

وجاءتك مني بالغيوب القصائد

وجاءتك مني بالغيوب القصائد

I foretold the outcome for which the credit is yours;

I prophesied the outcome which you excel in,

my poems came to you with tidings of the unseen.

And it came to you from me in poems.

وإني بشير الملك والملك واثقٌ

وإني بشير الملك والملك واثقٌ

بأنك في دست الوزارة خالد

بأنك في دست الوزارة خالد

I am the king's herald of good news, and the king is confident

And I am the herald of the kingdom, and the kingdom confident

that you will endure in the ministerial seat,

That with you in power enduring.

وحكمك وهو الحق والعدل نافذ

وحكمك وهو الحق والعدل نافذ

وقدرك عند الشعب والعرش زائد

وقدرك عند الشعب والعرش زائد

and your rule—truth and justice—prevails,

And your rule, as it is truth and justice, prevails,

and your standing with the people and the throne keeps rising.

And your destiny with people and throne ascends.