المجد مجدك طارفاً وتليدا

المجد مجدك طارفاً وتليدا

والفضل فضلك دانياً وبعيدا

والفضل فضلك دانياً وبعيدا

Glory is yours, newly won and inherited,

Your glory is glorious, charming and lasting,

and excellence is yours, near and far.

And your merit is merit, close and far,

ولك المديح الصدق أجلوه كما

ولك المديح الصدق أجلوه كما

قد كنت تجلو للحروب جنودا

قد كنت تجلو للحروب جنودا

For you I bring forth truthful praise, just as

And for you is sincere praise - make it shine as

you once arrayed troops for war.

You made armies shine for wars,

وأسير باسمك أملأ الوادي كما

وأسير باسمك أملأ الوادي كما

قد كنت تملؤه قنا وبنودا

قد كنت تملؤه قنا وبنودا

I go forth with your name, filling the valley, as

And I march in your name, filling valleys as

you once filled it with lances and banners.

You filled them with spears and flags.

وأشرد المغرور مقهوراً كما

وأشرد المغرور مقهوراً كما

شرَّدتَ عن مصر العدا تشريدا

شرَّدتَ عن مصر العدا تشريدا

And I drive the conceited man away, vanquished, as

And I defeat the arrogant oppressed as

you utterly drove the enemies away from Egypt.

You expelled the enemies from Egypt completely.

من فاته في شيبه وشبابه

من فاته في شيبه وشبابه

ما نلت من رتب الفخار وليدا

ما نلت من رتب الفخار وليدا

One who, in old age and youth, never gained

Whoever missed in his old age and youth

the ranks of glory you attained as a child;

What you reached of ranks of pride and birth,

من نال دنياه شقياً باغياً

من نال دنياه شقياً باغياً

وجمعتها عف الضمير سعيدا

وجمعتها عف الضمير سعيدا

one who gained his worldly fortune, wicked and oppressive,

Whoever attained his life evilly and covetously

while you amassed yours, pure of conscience and happy.

And you collected it with a content conscience,

ملكته فهو برقِّها مستسلم

ملكته فهو برقِّها مستسلم

يأتي المعاصي عامداً مشهودا

يأتي المعاصي عامداً مشهودا

It possessed him, and he submits to its bondage,

He owns it so he is its glittering prisoner,

committing sins deliberately, in full view.

Committing sins deliberately witnessed.

يزجى لقتل الأبرياء لصوصه

يزجى لقتل الأبرياء لصوصه

إذ كنت تفترس العصاة الصيدا

إذ كنت تفترس العصاة الصيدا

He sends his thieves to kill the innocent,

His thieves kill innocent people

while you preyed upon the haughty rebels.

While you were hunting down rebels for game.

ويشيد للذكر القبيح العار إذ

ويشيد للذكر القبيح العار إذ

شدت المآثر مبدئاً ومعيدا

شدت المآثر مبدئاً ومعيدا

He builds a legacy of infamy and shame, while

And he erects for the despicable shame, when

you built up glorious deeds, time and again.

You tied glories, originating and repeating,

وتراه رعديداً إذاً سُئل الندى

وتراه رعديداً إذاً سُئل الندى

وإذا استعين على الأذى صنديدا

وإذا استعين على الأذى صنديدا

You see him craven when asked for bounty,

You see him thundering, so if asked for help

but a champion when enlisted to do harm.

And if aided against harm, mean,

وإذا رأى لقريبه أو جاره

وإذا رأى لقريبه أو جاره

حسباً غدا خصماً له وحسودا

حسباً غدا خصماً له وحسودا

And if he sees in his kinsman or neighbor

And if he saw repute or status for his kin

noble standing, he becomes his foe and envier.

Or neighbor, he becomes their enemy and envier the next day,

وإذا دعا فإلى الذنوب وإن سطا

وإذا دعا فإلى الذنوب وإن سطا

فعلى الأرامل واليتيم مبيدا

فعلى الأرامل واليتيم مبيدا

If he calls, it is to sin; and if he attacks,

And if he prays, then to sins, and when he rules

he falls upon widows and the orphan, destroying them.

Then over widows and orphans, destroying,

تأبى عليه سجية الغدار أن

تأبى عليه سجية الغدار أن

يرعى لموليه الجميل عهودا

يرعى لموليه الجميل عهودا

A traitor's nature will not let him

The nature of the treacherous refuses

honor pledges to one who has shown him kindness.

To observe for his good patron pacts,

لا يعرف الشيطان إلا صدره

لا يعرف الشيطان إلا صدره

بيتاً له دون الهدى مسدودا

بيتاً له دون الهدى مسدودا

The devil knows only his breast

He does not know Satan but his own chest

as a home for himself, barred against guidance.

As a house for him, blocked off from guidance,

ما زال يغويه ويقسو قلبه

ما زال يغويه ويقسو قلبه

حتى غدا حجراً أصم صلودا

حتى غدا حجراً أصم صلودا

He keeps leading him astray, and his heart grows hard,

He still tempts him and hardens his heart

until it becomes a solid, unyielding stone.

Until he becomes deaf, stubborn stone,

وجفا فما نجى غناه معسراً

وجفا فما نجى غناه معسراً

يشكو إليه ولا أغاث كميدا

يشكو إليه ولا أغاث كميدا

He grew callous: his wealth rescued no needy man

He disappointed so his singing did not save an insolvent

who pleaded with him, nor did he aid the grief-stricken.

Complaining to him, nor did he relieve a suppressed one,

يصغي إلى الواشين محتفلاً بما

يصغي إلى الواشين محتفلاً بما

نقلوا ويهوى الشاتم العربيدا

نقلوا ويهوى الشاتم العربيدا

He listens to slanderers, making much of what

He listens to slanderers, celebrating what

they report, and loves the foul-mouthed carouser.

They conveyed, and he loves the abusive babbler,

متباهياً بالإثم معترفاً به

متباهياً بالإثم معترفاً به

يستعذب التأنيب والتفنيدا

يستعذب التأنيب والتفنيدا

Boasting of sin and admitting it,

Boasting of sin, confessing it,

he relishes censure and rebuke.

Sweetening rebuke and prosecution.

ومن البلية أن أراه ساكناً

ومن البلية أن أراه ساكناً

قصراً يضم جوارياً وعبيدا

قصراً يضم جوارياً وعبيدا

And it is a calamity that I should see him dwelling

And of the afflictions that I see him settled

in a palace housing slave girls and bondsmen.

In a palace that houses concubines and slaves!

أبعلمه أم فضله وجهاده

أبعلمه أم فضله وجهاده

يمسي لذي الشرف الرفيع نديدا

يمسي لذي الشرف الرفيع نديدا

Is it by his learning, or his merit and striving,

Do I teach him his grace and his jihad

that he becomes a peer of one of lofty honor?

That he spends evenings for the noble?

وهو المذمم مسلكاً ومساعياً

وهو المذمم مسلكاً ومساعياً

وهو المحقر نسبة وجدودا

وهو المحقر نسبة وجدودا

Yet he is condemned in conduct and endeavors,

He is the blamer of conduct and efforts

and despised in lineage and ancestry.

And he is the despiser of lineage and ancestors!

لا للعلى والدين والأوطان ما

لا للعلى والدين والأوطان ما

أضحى يشيِّدُ بيننا تشييدا

أضحى يشيِّدُ بيننا تشييدا

Not for glory, faith, or country is what

There is none for sublime, religion or nation that

he now so busily builds among us.

He built among us construction,

يمسي ويصبح لا يريد لنفسه

يمسي ويصبح لا يريد لنفسه

إلا من المال الحرام مزيدا

إلا من المال الحرام مزيدا

Evening and morning, he wants for himself nothing

Spending mornings and evenings only wanting

but more ill-gotten wealth.

From ill-gotten money increase,

لو كان فيه رحمة ما بات عن

لو كان فيه رحمة ما بات عن

إحسانه أغلى بنيه مذودا

إحسانه أغلى بنيه مذودا

Had he any mercy, he would not have left

Had there been mercy in him, he would not have spent his night away

his dearest son barred from his kindness.

From generosity to his own children, expelled,

حتَّامَ يأتي المخزيات مجاهراً

حتَّامَ يأتي المخزيات مجاهراً

وإلامَ يلقى اللاعنين جليدا

وإلامَ يلقى اللاعنين جليدا

How long will he openly commit shameful deeds?

To the point he shamelessly commits indecencies

And how long will he face his cursers unflinching?

And why does he meet blasphemers brazenly?

طابت له في السيئات حياته

طابت له في السيئات حياته

أم ظن للطاغي الظلوم خلودا

أم ظن للطاغي الظلوم خلودا

Has life amid evil deeds grown sweet to him,

His life was pleasant for him in evil

or does he think an unjust tyrant lives forever?

Or did he reckon the unjust oppressor eternity?

مات الطغاة دعاته وحماته

مات الطغاة دعاته وحماته

وأراه بعدهم استمر وحيدا

وأراه بعدهم استمر وحيدا

The tyrants—his champions and protectors—have died,

The tyrants died, their callers and protectors

and I see him living on alone after them.

And I see him after them persist, alone,

يا ويله ما باله لا يتقي

يا ويله ما باله لا يتقي

بأس الإله ولا يخاف وعيدا

بأس الإله ولا يخاف وعيدا

Woe to him! What ails him, that he neither fears

Oh what a pity! Why does he not fear

God's might nor dreads His warning?

Might of God nor dread threats?

فمتى تحل به العقوبة والردى

فمتى تحل به العقوبة والردى

ويصيبه ما قد أصاب ثمودا

ويصيبه ما قد أصاب ثمودا

When, then, will punishment and death descend upon him,

So when will punishment and ruin afflict him

and what befell Thamud befall him?

And what has struck Thamud strike him?

لم يبغ عفو مليكه عما جنى

لم يبغ عفو مليكه عما جنى

إلا ليدعوه الأنام عميدا

إلا ليدعوه الأنام عميدا

He sought his king's pardon for his wrongdoing

He did not seek his King’s pardon for what he stole

only so that people would call him a leader.

Except to call him patron of people,

ماذا يفيد العفو عنه بعد ما

ماذا يفيد العفو عنه بعد ما

أفنى الحياة مضللاً مرِّيدا

أفنى الحياة مضللاً مرِّيدا

What good is pardoning him after

Of what benefit is pardoning him after

he has spent his life a rebellious deceiver?

He wasted a lifetime, misguided and misguiding?

مهلاً فإني خائف أن يدعى

مهلاً فإني خائف أن يدعى

عرش البلاد وحكمها الممدودا

عرش البلاد وحكمها الممدودا

But wait: I fear he may claim

Wait! I fear he would be appointed

the country's throne and its far-reaching rule.

Throne of the country and its extended rule!

لو كنت من أهل القضاء مُحَكَّماً

لو كنت من أهل القضاء مُحَكَّماً

صيَّرتُه عن أرض مصر طريدا

صيَّرتُه عن أرض مصر طريدا

Were I appointed an arbiter among the judges,

If I were among the judges, I would sentence him away

I would banish him from the land of Egypt,

From Egypt’s land exiled,

وطرحته في السجن يبكي كابنِهِ

وطرحته في السجن يبكي كابنِهِ

ويجر فيه سلاسلاً وقيودا

ويجر فيه سلاسلاً وقيودا

and cast him into prison to weep like his son,

And I would throw him in prison crying for his son

and drag chains and fetters there.

And dragging chains and shackles in it,

وجعلت للسوط الأليم بكفِّه

وجعلت للسوط الأليم بكفِّه

وبرأسه وخدوده أخدودا

وبرأسه وخدوده أخدودا

I would have the agonizing whip carve, upon his palm,

And I would make the painful whip split

his head and his cheeks, a furrow.

His palm, head and cheeks in gulches

وأخذت بالثأر الكبير لمعشر

وأخذت بالثأر الكبير لمعشر

وردوا بغلظته الحمام ورودا

وردوا بغلظته الحمام ورودا

And I would exact mighty vengeance for a people

And I would take just vengeance for the group

whom his brutality had brought to death.

His cruelty returned doves and roses,

وحرمته ما اغتاله حتى أرى

وحرمته ما اغتاله حتى أرى

حق العباد إليهم مردودا

حق العباد إليهم مردودا

I would strip him of what he stole, until I saw

And I would deprive him of what he plundered

the people's rights restored to them.

Until I return the people’s rights to them,

وشفيت غل الساخطين عليه بل

وشفيت غل الساخطين عليه بل

أطفأت من مهج الكرام وقودا

أطفأت من مهج الكرام وقودا

I would soothe the rancor of those angered at him—nay,

And I would heal the resent of those against him, but

I would quench the blaze in noble hearts.

Rather extinguish the zeal of the generous their firewood

وأشد ما أبدى شماتتهم به

وأشد ما أبدى شماتتهم به

غرض له أضحى به مجهودا

غرض له أضحى به مجهودا

What most brought out their gloating over him

And I would make the dearest of their gloating over him

was an ambition that left him worn out.

A goal he reached with effort exhausted,

يبدي الولاء تصنعاً ليناله

يبدي الولاء تصنعاً ليناله

فيرده ويصد عنه صدودا

فيرده ويصد عنه صدودا

He makes a show of loyalty to attain it,

He shows loyalty falsely to gain it

only to be rebuffed and met with utter aversion.

So it is rejected and barred from him

ويقلد الأمراء في آدابهم

ويقلد الأمراء في آدابهم

فتسيء شدة جهله التقليدا

فتسيء شدة جهله التقليدا

He imitates princes in their manners,

And he imitates princes in their manners

but his extreme ignorance spoils the imitation.

So the severity of his ignorance corrupts imitation.

لم ألق عمري مادحاً متملقاً

لم ألق عمري مادحاً متملقاً

في مصر كرَّمه وكان رشيدا

في مصر كرَّمه وكان رشيدا

Never in my life have I met a fawning panegyrist

I have not met in my life a praising sycophant

in Egypt who honored him and was sound in judgment.

In Egypt whom he honored and was rightly-guided,

أوزير مصر لك التحية والرضى

أوزير مصر لك التحية والرضى

ولك الثناء مردداً ترديدا

ولك الثناء مردداً ترديدا

O Minister of Egypt, to you greetings and goodwill,

O vizier of Egypt - to you greetings and consent

and praise, repeated again and again.

And praise to you echoing and repeating!

لو كان أرشده الإله إلى الذي

لو كان أرشده الإله إلى الذي

يرضى مليكك لاصطفاك ودودا

يرضى مليكك لاصطفاك ودودا

Had God guided him to what

Had God guided him to one whom

pleases your king, he would have chosen you as a devoted friend.

Your king would be pleased with as a loving loyalist,

لم ننس عهد وزارة قضيته

لم ننس عهد وزارة قضيته

يقظاً تؤيد أمرها تأييدا

يقظاً تؤيد أمرها تأييدا

We have not forgotten the ministerial term you served,

We do not forget the era of your ministry which

vigilant, giving its work firm support.

Awake, its command you reinforce supporting,

فظفرت من مولى البلاد بنعمة

فظفرت من مولى البلاد بنعمة

ردت قديم الأجر فيك جديدا

ردت قديم الأجر فيك جديدا

Thus you won a favor from the country's sovereign

So you won your master’s favor - a boon

that made your old reward new again.

That made your old reward in you renewed!

أولى بمثلك أن يقلد صدره

أولى بمثلك أن يقلد صدره

لو أنصفوه من النجوم عقودا

لو أنصفوه من النجوم عقودا

One such as you deserves to have his breast adorned—

It suits the likes of you that your chest be appointed

if they did him justice—with necklaces of stars.

Garlands of stars, if they did you justice,

لا زلت تدعونا إلى النهج الذي

لا زلت تدعونا إلى النهج الذي

تبدي به إخلاصك المحمودا

تبدي به إخلاصك المحمودا

May you never cease calling us to the path on which

You still invite us to the approach in which

you display your praiseworthy devotion.

You show your commended sincerity,

وتقيم فينا للمُمَلَّكِ واجباً

وتقيم فينا للمُمَلَّكِ واجباً

قد كان قبلك بيننا مفقودا

قد كان قبلك بيننا مفقودا

And you uphold among us a duty to the crowned king

And you establish in us the ruler’s obligation

that, before you, was missing among us.

Which had before you been among us absent,

تحيي ليوم جلوسه التذكار مف

تحيي ليوم جلوسه التذكار مف

ترضاً له في كل آن عيدا

ترضاً له في كل آن عيدا

You revive the memory of his accession day,

You celebrate the anniversary of his assumption

ordaining a festival for it, time after time.

So pleasing to him always festive!

تقضي الليالي مقبلات بالمنى

تقضي الليالي مقبلات بالمنى

بيضاً ويقضيها عدوك سودا

بيضاً ويقضيها عدوك سودا

May you pass the nights as they come bearing hopes,

You spend nights advancing with wishes

white, while your enemy passes them black.

White - and your enemy spends them black,

فاقبل مدائح شاعر بل طائر

فاقبل مدائح شاعر بل طائر

أمسى بمدحك صادحاً غريدا

أمسى بمدحك صادحاً غريدا

Accept, then, the praises of a poet—nay, a bird

So accept the praises of a poet, nay flying thing,

that has become a loud, melodious singer of your praise.

Who spends evenings praising you, singing!