بأبى وإن كان أبى سميذَعا

بأبى وإن كان أبى سميذَعا

خُلِقت يداهُ للشجاعةِ والنَدى

خُلِقت يداهُ للشجاعةِ والنَدى

May he be ransomed with my father, though my father was a mighty chief.

I would ransom him with my father, though my father was a noble lord.

His hands were fashioned for courage and largesse.

His hands were created for courage and generosity.

راجَعتُه في أزمةٍ فكأنّما

راجَعتُه في أزمةٍ فكأنّما

جرَّدتُ منه على الزمان مُهنّدا

جرَّدتُ منه على الزمان مُهنّدا

I turned to him in my hour of crisis, and it was as though

I turned to him in a crisis, and it was as though

I had drawn from him an Indian blade against Time.

I had drawn from him an Indian-forged sword against Time.

ملكٌ كريمٌ كالنسيم لطافةً

ملكٌ كريمٌ كالنسيم لطافةً

فإذا دَجا خَطبٌ قسا وتمرّدا

فإذا دَجا خَطبٌ قسا وتمرّدا

A noble king, as gentle as the breeze—

A generous king, as gentle as the breeze,

but when calamity darkens, he turns steely and defiant.

Yet when calamity darkens, he grows stern and defiant.

أمواجُ إحسانٍ أسِرَّةُ وجهِه

أمواجُ إحسانٍ أسِرَّةُ وجهِه

لصَديقه وسيوفُ بأسٍ للعِدا

لصَديقه وسيوفُ بأسٍ للعِدا

The bright lines of his face are waves of beneficence

The lines of his face are waves of kindness

to his friend, and swords of might against his foes.

For his friend, and swords of might for his foes.

كالبحر يُنعِمُ بالجواهر ساكناً

كالبحر يُنعِمُ بالجواهر ساكناً

كرَماً ويأتي بالعجائب مُزبدا

كرَماً ويأتي بالعجائب مُزبدا

Like the sea, he bestows jewels when calm,

Like the sea, he bestows jewels when calm,

out of generosity, and brings forth wonders when foaming.

Out of generosity, and brings marvels when foaming.

يُفنى من الأعمار إن غشىَ الورى

يُفنى من الأعمار إن غشىَ الورى

مالو حَوى أفنى الزمانَ وخُلّدا

مالو حَوى أفنى الزمانَ وخُلّدا

Whole lifetimes would be spent, should mankind be engulfed by

If he assails mankind, he consumes such spans of life

the wealth he amassed; it outlived Time and was made immortal.

That, were he to possess them, he would exhaust Time and be made immortal.

والهامُ تسجدُ خشيةً من سيفِه

والهامُ تسجدُ خشيةً من سيفِه

لمّا أبَت أربابُها أن تسجُدا

لمّا أبَت أربابُها أن تسجُدا

Heads prostrate themselves for fear of his sword

And heads prostrate themselves in dread of his sword,

when their owners have refused to bow.

When their owners refused to prostrate themselves.

لا تعجَبوا إن لم يَسِل منهم دمٌ

لا تعجَبوا إن لم يَسِل منهم دمٌ

فالخوفُ قد أفنى النفوسَ وجمَّدا

فالخوفُ قد أفنى النفوسَ وجمَّدا

Do not marvel if no blood flows from them:

Do not marvel if no blood has flowed from them:

fear has already slain their souls and frozen their blood.

For fear has already destroyed their souls and congealed their blood.