1. رنا بألحاظ مراض صحاح

    ريان ذاك الردف ظامي الوشاح

    He gazed with glances languid yet sound.

    Full is that rump, thirsty the sash.

  2. مبتسما عن برد بارد

    كأنما على بمسك وراحُ

    Smiling to reveal cool hailstones,

    As though [moistened] with musk and wine.

  3. للألم الأقداح من ثغره

    ووردتي خدِّيه فوق القداح

    The goblets from his mouth are for pain,

    And the two roses of his cheeks above the goblets.

  4. لله ظلم تحت ذاك اللمى

    لوم عذولي فيبه ظلم صراح

    By God, what cruelty beneath that dusky lip!

    My reproacher's blame [concerning him] is sheer injustice.

  5. بطرة مظلمة كالدجى

    وغرة مشرقة كالصباح

    With a forelock dark as night,

    And a brow radiant as morning.

  6. كم صاح في عشّاقه طرفه

    من لم أبت مسكره في وصاح

    How often his glance cried out among his lovers!

    [Text unclear: who ... I did not spend the night ... his intoxicant ... in ... and cried out.]

  7. أصبعت خدن الوجد في حبه

    كما جلال الدين خدن السماح

    I [became] longing's companion in love of him,

    As Jalal al-Din is generosity's companion.

  8. بحر له كف كبحر طمى

    صدر له صدر فسيح النواح

    An ocean, with a hand like a sea in flood;

    A leader, with a breast of spacious reaches.

  9. ما زال يرتاح لبذل النَّدى

    مستجلبا للحمد أن ارتباح

    He never ceases to delight in bestowing bounty,

    Drawing praise to himself—[unclear wording]—a gain.

  10. خرف إذا ما سيل معروفه

    سال على الآمل سيل البطاح

    [First word unclear]: whenever his favors are sought,

    They pour upon the hopeful like a torrent through broad valleys.

  11. قد سخرت آراؤه بالظبي

    وهزأت أقلامه بالرماح

    His counsels have mocked the gazelle,

    And his pens have scoffed at spears.

  12. ذو العرض ما زال مصون الحمى

    بجوده والعرمر المستباح

    A man of honor, his domain ever protected

    Through his generosity and the freely available [unclear word].

  13. قلت لمن أضحى طليح السرى

    في طلب الأرزاى ينضي الطلاح

    I said to one whom night travel had left exhausted,

    Seeking [livelihood], wearing out weary mounts,

  14. يطوي الفيافي هاجرا نومه

    مواصلا بكوته بالرواح

    Traversing the wastelands, forsaking his sleep,

    Joining [his morning journey] to his evening travel:

  15. أنزل بأبيات بنل جعفر

    أبياتك الشعر وثق بالنجاح

    Set down at the dwellings of [Banu] Jaʿfar

    Your verses of poetry, and trust in success.

  16. يا شرف الإسلام ما لاح لي

    بشرك إلا قلت بشرى الفلاح

    O Sharaf al-Islam, never have I seen

    Your cheerful face without saying, 'Glad tidings of success!'

  17. كأن أخلاقك مخلوقه

    من خمرة شيبت بماء قرَاح

    As though your character were [fashioned]

    From wine blended with pure water.

  18. البرد قد جاء على عقلة

    يغزو المفاليس بوجه وقاح

    The cold has come [unawares],

    Raiding the penniless with a brazen face.

  19. يلقى الفتى الأعزل من جبة

    بجيش قر منه شاكي السلاحَ

    It meets the young man unarmed—without a coat—

    With an army of its bitter cold, bristling with weapons.

  20. وأنت تكفيني غدا أمره

    إن كف كف البخل أيدي الشحاح

    And tomorrow you will spare me its trouble,

    If the hand of miserliness restrains the hands of the stingy.

  21. أسعد بطهر ابن غدا طاهرا

    من كل عاب جانحا عن جناح

    Rejoice at the purification of a son now pure,

    From every fault, turning away from sin.

  22. سوف ترى أولاد أولاده

    بأوجه حولك بيض صباح

    You will see the children of his children,

    With faces around you, white and radiant.

  23. عش وزعيم الدين يحيى الذي

    أحيا البرايا بالندى السماح

    Live on with Zaʿim al-Din Yahya, who

    Revived creation with unstinting bounty,

  24. في نعمة مقرونة بالبقا

    يقول للحاسد مت لا براح

    In blessing joined to enduring life.

    He says to the envier, 'Die—there is no escape!'