باليمن ركبُك يغتدي ويروحُ

باليمن ركبُك يغتدي ويروحُ

ويغيب محمودَ الثرى ويلوحُ

ويغيب محمودَ الثرى ويلوحُ

With good fortune your cavalcade sets out at dawn and returns at dusk.

Your journey to Yemen embarks and returns

It vanishes and reappears, its very dust praised.

And the blessed earth obscures then reveals Mahmoud

نعمت بقربك أنفس ذهبت بها

نعمت بقربك أنفس ذهبت بها

في بُعدك الأشواق والتبريح

في بُعدك الأشواق والتبريح

Souls rejoice in your nearness, souls once carried away

We enjoyed your proximity, though souls departed with it

By longing and anguish while you were far.

In your absence, longing and farewells persist

لك وحدك الوادي الخصيب ونيله

لك وحدك الوادي الخصيب ونيله

ولربك التقديس والتسبيح

ولربك التقديس والتسبيح

Yours alone are the fertile valley and its Nile,

To you alone belongs the fertile valley and its Nile

And to your Lord belong sanctification and glorification.

And to your Lord belong sanctification and praise

فمجاهد لك في البلاد تعينه

فمجاهد لك في البلاد تعينه

بمؤذن لك في العباد يصيح

بمؤذن لك في العباد يصيح

So you aid a warrior of yours throughout the lands

So the fighter for your cause in the land, aid him

With a muezzin calling out for you among the people.

With a caller to you among the servants proclaiming

شهدت بنجدتك الممالك واقتدى

شهدت بنجدتك الممالك واقتدى

بك في المشارق أعجم وفصيح

بك في المشارق أعجم وفصيح

Kingdoms have testified to your valor, and your example is followed

The kingdoms witnessed your victory and emulated you

In eastern lands by the foreign-tongued and the eloquent.

In the east, non-Arabs and eloquent speakers

يا خير أركان الخلافة إن ما

يا خير أركان الخلافة إن ما

تبديه برهانٌ لمصرَ صحيح

تبديه برهانٌ لمصرَ صحيح

O best of the caliphate's pillars, surely what

O best pillar of the caliphate, verily what

You reveal is sound proof for Egypt.

You show is evidence true to Egypt

وأبرَّ أعوان الخليفة حسبُهُ

وأبرَّ أعوان الخليفة حسبُهُ

في الأمر والتدبير منك نصيح

في الأمر والتدبير منك نصيح

And most dutiful of the caliph's helpers—sufficient for him

And most dutiful of the caliph’s supporters, his judgement

In command and governance is a loyal counselor like you.

In matters and governance, you advise sincerely

أرضاك منه ثناؤُهُ الغالي كما

أرضاك منه ثناؤُهُ الغالي كما

أرضاه منك ولاؤك المشروح

أرضاه منك ولاؤك المشروح

His lofty praise pleased you, just as

You pleased him with your precious praise, just as

Your plainly expressed loyalty pleased him.

You pleased him with your pledged loyalty

وأجبت دعوته وأنت موفق

وأجبت دعوته وأنت موفق

والدهر سلم والمجاز فسيح

والدهر سلم والمجاز فسيح

You answered his summons, blessed with success,

And you answered his call, divinely guided

The times at peace, the passage wide.

With time peaceful and horizons vast

ودخلت عاصمة الخلافة شيقاً

ودخلت عاصمة الخلافة شيقاً

والصلحُ مَرْضِيُّ الشروطِ مليح

والصلحُ مَرْضِيُّ الشروطِ مليح

And entered the caliphate's capital full of longing,

And you entered the capital delighted

With a fair peace whose terms were welcome.

With the blessed peace treaty and fine conditions

حيَّى جلالك عسكر وسفائن

حيَّى جلالك عسكر وسفائن

ومدائن ومعاقل وصروح

ومدائن ومعاقل وصروح

Troops and ships saluted your majesty,

Hail your might, soldiers and ships

And cities, strongholds, and lofty buildings.

And cities, fortresses and palaces

مشهودة فيها شمائلُك التي

مشهودة فيها شمائلُك التي

أجملتها ونضارُك الممنوح

أجملتها ونضارُك الممنوح

Your virtues are manifest in them—the virtues

Bearing your famed traits

You perfected—and the gold you bestowed.

Which you beautified, and your radiance endowed

كم شد مغوارٌ عزائمه بها

كم شد مغوارٌ عزائمه بها

ونجا أسير واستطبَّ جريح

ونجا أسير واستطبَّ جريح

How many a bold warrior strengthened his resolve through these,

How many restless souls steeled themselves by them

A captive escaped, and a wounded man found treatment.

And prisoners escaped, wounded were healed

ذكروا بعهدك عهد جدك والتقت

ذكروا بعهدك عهد جدك والتقت

آثاره وصنيعك الممدوح

آثاره وصنيعك الممدوح

They recalled your grandfather's reign in yours, and together came

They recalled your grandfather’s era in your rule

His legacy and your praiseworthy deeds.

His footsteps met your praised works

أنسوا بنجواك التي أخفيتها

أنسوا بنجواك التي أخفيتها

حيناً وجئت بها لمصر تبوح

حيناً وجئت بها لمصر تبوح

They took comfort in your secret counsel, which you concealed

They forgot the victories you hid

For a time, then came to disclose to Egypt.

For a time, then proclaimed to Egypt

عقبى التجارب وهي غُرٌّ سمحة

عقبى التجارب وهي غُرٌّ سمحة

وثمار ذاك الرأي وهو صريح

وثمار ذاك الرأي وهو صريح

The outcome of experience, radiant and generous,

Fruits of hardship and noble generosity

And the fruits of that judgment, frank and clear.

And results of that sincere wisdom

حَدِّثْ عن الشرق الذي مكنته

حَدِّثْ عن الشرق الذي مكنته

هذا الحديث الحلو فهو صريح

هذا الحديث الحلو فهو صريح

Speak of the East that you have strengthened;

Tell us of the orient you empowered

Tell this sweet tale, for it is frank.

With this sweet truthful discourse

واشرح لنا سبل السلامة بعدما

واشرح لنا سبل السلامة بعدما

أعيى العدى التجنيد والتسليح

أعيى العدى التجنيد والتسليح

And explain to us the paths to safety, now that

And explain to us the paths to safety, after

Conscription and armament have exhausted the foes.

The enemy tired of recruitment and arming

ماذا جنى جار عليهم مشفق

ماذا جنى جار عليهم مشفق

كم بات وهو العائل المفدوح

كم بات وهو العائل المفدوح

What wrong had a neighbor, compassionate toward them, done?

What did the caring neighbor reap

How often he passed the night, impoverished and sorely burdened!

Who spent the night while the admirable provider

غفل الحماة عن الذمار وأدبروا

غفل الحماة عن الذمار وأدبروا

حتى أبيح ذمارهم وأبيحوا

حتى أبيح ذمارهم وأبيحوا

The defenders neglected all they held sacred and turned away,

The protectors neglected the predators and fled

Until it—and they themselves—became fair prey.

Until their predators were permitted and they were preyed upon

وتخاذلوا حتى إذا دفعوا الأذى

وتخاذلوا حتى إذا دفعوا الأذى

عنهم عصاهم موجهم والريح

عنهم عصاهم موجهم والريح

They failed one another until, when they moved to repel harm

And they weakened until when they repelled harm

From themselves, their waves and the wind defied them.

From themselves, their canes, waves and wind repelled them

وتفرقوا شيعاً وتلك جناية

وتفرقوا شيعاً وتلك جناية

لم يمحها إلا الدم المسفوح

لم يمحها إلا الدم المسفوح

They split into factions, and that was a crime

And they separated into factions, a crime

That nothing erased but blood poured out.

Erased only by spilled blood

خلت المدائن والقرى فلأهلها

خلت المدائن والقرى فلأهلها

ولِنَبْتِها التطويح والتصويح

ولِنَبْتِها التطويح والتصويح

Cities and villages lay empty; for their people

The cities and villages were left to their people

Came banishment, and for their plants, withering.

With dispersal and commotion

فمجال كل مرابطٍ مستهدفٌ

فمجال كل مرابطٍ مستهدفٌ

وفؤاد كل موحد مقروح

وفؤاد كل موحد مقروح

Thus every frontier guard's field was a target,

So every garrison is targeted

And every monotheist's heart was wounded.

And every monotheist’s heart wounded

لم يبق إلا أعزلٌ متخلِّفٌ

لم يبق إلا أعزلٌ متخلِّفٌ

وكأنه بين الذئاب ذبيح

وكأنه بين الذئاب ذبيح

None remained but a defenseless straggler,

None remains but helpless stragglers

Like a slaughter victim among wolves,

As though amidst wolves for slaughter

ومتوج بالسيئات موشح

ومتوج بالسيئات موشح

لم يغنه التتويج والتوشيح

لم يغنه التتويج والتوشيح

And a crowned man, adorned with evil deeds,

Crowned with evil, adorned

Whom neither coronation nor investiture availed.

The crowning and decor did not avail him

يمشي على طلل القلاع تشفِّياً

يمشي على طلل القلاع تشفِّياً

بدماء حارسهن وهو طريح

بدماء حارسهن وهو طريح

He walks over the fortresses' ruins, gloating

He walks on the ruins of citadels gloating

Over their guardian's blood as he lies fallen.

At the blood of their guards while fallen

كم ضج فيها مسجد مما جنى

كم ضج فيها مسجد مما جنى

أجناده وكم استغاث ضريح

أجناده وكم استغاث ضريح

How many a mosque there cried out at the crimes

How many mosques clamored with what his troops looted

Of his soldiers, and how many a tomb cried for help!

And how many tombs cried for help

ما اجتازها جذلان حتى هاله

ما اجتازها جذلان حتى هاله

جيش مبيد للطغاة مجيح

جيش مبيد للطغاة مجيح

He had scarcely crossed them, exultant, before he was appalled

No brigands passed but were horrified

By a devastating army that annihilates tyrants.

By an annihilating army, outstanding and gallant

وكأنه مما توقد طائر

وكأنه مما توقد طائر

وكأنه فيما أسيل سبوح

وكأنه فيما أسيل سبوح

It seemed a bird amid the blaze,

As though it were a bird aflame

And a strong swimmer amid the waters poured forth.

As though it spilled torrents flooding

وتدارك الصدر ابن عمك أمة

وتدارك الصدر ابن عمك أمة

وهنت عزائمها وضاق الروح

وهنت عزائمها وضاق الروح

The grand vizier, your cousin, came to the rescue of a nation

The caliph’s cousin saved a failing nation

Whose resolve had weakened and whose breath grew short.

Whose resolve weakened and spirits narrowed

وطغت عليها الحادثات فلو أتى

وطغت عليها الحادثات فلو أتى

لنجاتها نوح لأخفق نوح

لنجاتها نوح لأخفق نوح

Calamities overwhelmed it; had there come

Misfortunes overwhelmed it, so if Noah came

Noah to save it, even Noah would have failed.

To rescue it, even Noah would fail

نصرت سعيد الدولة ابن حليمها

نصرت سعيد الدولة ابن حليمها

فُرَصٌ يقدرها لها ويتيح

فُرَصٌ يقدرها لها ويتيح

The state's Sa‘id, son of its Halim, was aided

You aided Sa’eed al-Dawla ibn Khalimah

By opportunities he gauges and makes available to it.

At opportunities he could seize for it

وتنازع الملك الأعادي بعد ما

وتنازع الملك الأعادي بعد ما

جمع العدى بغيٌ عليه قبيح

جمع العدى بغيٌ عليه قبيح

The enemies contested the realm after

The enemies contested the kingdom after

Foul aggression against it had united the foes.

Malice against it they wickedly gathered

سلبوه ثم تقاتلوا فأزاحهم

سلبوه ثم تقاتلوا فأزاحهم

عن ذلك السلب الثمين مزيح

عن ذلك السلب الثمين مزيح

They plundered it, then fought, until they were driven

They looted it then fought amongst themselves, so he repelled them

From that precious spoil by one who swept them away.

From that precious plunder, driving them away

عن أخت أندلسٍ جلاهم جحفلٌ

عن أخت أندلسٍ جلاهم جحفلٌ

متربص للباقيات طموح

متربص للباقيات طموح

From a sister of al-Andalus a mighty army expelled them,

He rid a sister of Andalusia of a horde

Lying in wait for what remained, ambitious for more.

Lying in wait greedily for the remnants

غضبانُ جبار العقاب إذا رأى

غضبانُ جبار العقاب إذا رأى

متنمراً وعن المنيب صفوح

متنمراً وعن المنيب صفوح

Wrathful, terrible in punishment when it sees

Wrothful is the tyrant’s punishment when he sees

One acting the tiger, yet forgiving toward the repentant.

An aggressor, yet is forgiving to the penitent

أخلاق مقتدر مراحم ظافر

أخلاق مقتدر مراحم ظافر

فكأنها بعد الفتوح فتوح

فكأنها بعد الفتوح فتوح

The virtues of one with power, the mercies of a victor—

Ethics of the mighty, merciful victor

As though they were conquests following conquests.

As if after the openings, further openings

ذل العدى ووفى الغريم وأنصفت

ذل العدى ووفى الغريم وأنصفت

صحف وطاب شجٍ وجاد شحيح

صحف وطاب شجٍ وجاد شحيح

Foes were humbled, the adversary kept faith, and fairness was shown

Humiliating the enemies, fulfilling promises to adversaries

By newspapers; the grieving healed, and the miser gave.

And being just, pleasing even the stingy

إن سرحوا تلك الجيوش ضئيلةً

إن سرحوا تلك الجيوش ضئيلةً

فإلى معاد ذلك التسريح

فإلى معاد ذلك التسريح

If they demobilize those armies, now diminished,

If they dispatch those meager armies

That demobilization leads only to a return.

Then to the place of their sending off

وتدوم أضغان الطغاة ولو أتى

وتدوم أضغان الطغاة ولو أتى

لعلاجها بعد المسيح مسيح

لعلاجها بعد المسيح مسيح

The tyrants' hatreds endure, even should there come

And the grudges of tyrants endure, even if after

To heal them, after the Messiah, another Messiah.

Jesus another Jesus comes for remedy

تعدو الشعوب على الشعوب وفي غد

تعدو الشعوب على الشعوب وفي غد

تهوى عروش ملوكهم وتطيح

تهوى عروش ملوكهم وتطيح

Nations assail nations, and tomorrow

Nations assail nations, and tomorrow

Their kings' thrones will plunge and topple.

The thrones of their kings will collapse and fall

قد كان يفصل بينهم ذو قوة

قد كان يفصل بينهم ذو قوة

كم هان جبار له وجموح

كم هان جبار له وجموح

One possessed of power once judged between them;

There was one of great might who arbitrated between them

How many a tyrant and rebel were abased before him!

Before whom many a tyrant bowed in dread

يقظان في البلقان يطفئُ نارَه

يقظان في البلقان يطفئُ نارَه

ومثيرُها بلهيبها ملفوح

ومثيرُها بلهيبها ملفوح

Vigilant in the Balkans, he quenches its fire,

Wakeful in the Balkans, quenching their fire

And its kindler is scorched by its blaze.

And the one who kindled it, blazing flames

لو حكَّموه كما تعوَّد لم يكن

لو حكَّموه كما تعوَّد لم يكن

في الأرض إلا طاعة وجنوح

في الأرض إلا طاعة وجنوح

Had they made him arbiter, as was customary for him, there would be

If they obeyed him as was customary, there would be

Nothing on earth but obedience and submission.

Upon the earth only obedience and devotion

مولاي شاقنيَ الجنابُ وراقني

مولاي شاقنيَ الجنابُ وراقني

أمل لشعبك في الجناب صبيح

أمل لشعبك في الجناب صبيح

My lord, your presence stirred my longing, and I was delighted

My Master, the campaign exhausted me, and hope

By a radiant hope for your people in that presence.

For your people through this campaign revived me

غنَّيتُ أبطالَ الخلافة بعد ما

غنَّيتُ أبطالَ الخلافة بعد ما

كادت تنوح عليهمُ وأنوح

كادت تنوح عليهمُ وأنوح

I sang of the caliphate's heroes after

I sang the heroes of the caliphate, after

It had nearly lamented them—and I with it.

It nearly lamented for them - how I lamented!

لك أنعم عندي وعند علاك لي

لك أنعم عندي وعند علاك لي

شعر يضيء بذكرها ويفوح

شعر يضيء بذكرها ويفوح

You have bestowed favors on me; before your highness I have

For you I compose, praising you and your family

Verse that shines with their remembrance and breathes fragrance.

Poetry illuminated by mentioning you, its fragrance diffusing