بسمت عن الدر النظيم

ورنت إليك بلحظ ريمِ

She smiled, revealing pearls strung in order,

and gazed toward you with a gazelle's glance.

بيضاء يشرق صبحها

في ليل ناحمها البهيمِ

Fair-skinned, her dawn shines

in the pitch-black night of her [dark hair].

غض الصبا ممكورة

يصبو لها حلم الحليمِ

Tender in youth, shapely,

even the sage's reason falls in love with her.

قامت تتيه على الغصو

ن بغصن قامتها القويمِ

She stood, vaunting herself above the boughs

with the straight bough of her stature.

بأبي وبي من أسقمت

جسمي بناظرها السقيم

My father and I be ransom for her who sickened

my body with her languishing eye.

اسمي إذا هجرت بصب

ر ظاعن وهوى مقيمِ

I am known, when she forsakes me, by patience

departed, and passion abiding.

وارى إذا خطرت بوج

د مقعد وجوى مقيم

And when she passes gracefully, I am seen in longing

that cripples, and burning grief that stays.

مرتجة الأعطاف وال

أرداف ذا حشا هضيم

Quivering at the flanks and

hips, slender at the waist.

أضحى غرامي لازما

لي في هواها كالغريم

My passion has become inseparable

from me in loving her, like a creditor.

وأغنّ معسول الشما

ئل تاه بالدلِّ الرخيمِ

And one with a lilting voice and honey-sweet

ways, proud in his tender coquetry.

جذلان يبخل بالسلا

م على معذبه السليمِ

Joyous, he begrudges even a greeting

to the love-stricken one he torments.

نادمته مستغنيا

بلماه عن كأس النديمِ

I drank with him, content

with his dusky lips instead of a companion's cup.

في خيمة ضربت لنا

من أدكن الجو المغيمِ

In a tent pitched for us

from the dusky, cloud-covered sky.

والسحب قد رشت ضحى

برذاذها جيش النسيمِ

And the clouds, in the morning, had sprinkled

the army of the breeze with their drizzle.

والماء قد وشَّته أن

فاسُ الصبا وشي الرقومِ

And the water had been embroidered by the

breaths of the east wind, like patterned cloth.

والهر يحكي في سما

ء رياضه زهر النجومِ

And the [blossoms], in the heaven

of his gardens, mirror the stars' radiance.

والورق تغني بالغنا

ء عن المثالث والبومِ

And the gray doves, with their singing, dispense

with treble and [bass strings].

فكأنها تشدو بمد

حي في أبي الفضل الكريمِ

As though they sing my panegyric

on generous Abu al-Fadl:

الصاحب الملك الجلي

ل الواهب الصدر الرحيمِ

the vizier, the majestic king,

the giver, the compassionate chief;

ملك بحسن الخلق مو

سوم وبالخلق الوسيمِ

a king marked by noble character

and by a handsome form;

المنعم الناضي ردا

ء الكبر والماضي العزيمِ

the benefactor, who casts off the cloak

of arrogance, decisive in resolve;

مفني الطغاة بسيفه

وبسيبه مغني العديمِ

destroyer of tyrants with his sword,

enricher of the destitute with his bounty.

بحيث سؤدده تقد

دم في العلاء وبالقديمِ

Thus his lordship stands foremost

in eminence and time-honored nobility.

حتف العدا غيث الندى

جبل الحجى بحر العلومِ

Doom to his foes, the rain of generosity,

a mountain of wisdom, an ocean of learning;

ذو الراحة الولاَّدة ال

إحسان في الزمن العقيمِ

possessor of a palm that gives birth to

bounty in a barren age;

ومظّم ما زال يد

فع نازل الخطب العظيمِ

and an [exalted man], ever warding

off the onset of great calamity;

سامي فروع المجد مح

سود العلى زاكي الأرمى

lofty in glory's branches, envied

for his high rank, pure in [lineage].

يهتز من كرم الطبا

ع كشارب ماء الكرومِ

He sways with the generosity of his nature,

like one who drinks the water of the vines.

يا شمس دولة هاشم ال

غراء يا طود الحلومِ

O sun of Hashim's dynasty,

radiant one, O mountain of forbearance!

قد أصبح الإحسان من

ك مخيما في خير خيمِ

Now benevolence from

you encamps in the noblest character.

لما هزمت مفاقري

باجش نائلك الهزيمِ

When you routed my privations

with the thunderous downpour of your bounty,

وجليت يا ذا الهمة ال

علياء بالجدوى همومي

and dispelled, O man of

lofty resolve, my worries with your gifts,

وأعدت عودي مورقا

بعطائك الجم الجسيمِ

and made my branch leafy again

with your abundant, immense giving,

أعرضت عن مدح الكري

م وتبت من هجو اللئيمِ

I turned away from praising the generous

and repented of satirizing the base.

وغدوت أسلك من مدي

حك في صراط مستقيمِ

And I came to walk, through praise

of you, upon a straight path.

فبقيتِ للمجد الموث

ثل منك والعز المقيمِ

So may you endure for glory firmly established

through you, and for abiding might.