سأنشُرُ أوصافَ المُهدَّب مادحاً

سأنشُرُ أوصافَ المُهدَّب مادحاً

كوَصْفِ نزيلِ المحْل آلَ المُهَلّبِ

كوَصْفِ نزيلِ المحْل آلَ المُهَلّبِ

I shall proclaim al-Muhaddab's qualities in praise,

I will spread the praise of the refined one, praising him

As one beset by drought described the house of al-Muhallab.

Like the praise of the guest of the house, the family of Al-Muhallab

فلم تَرعَيْني مثْلَه ابنَ أكارمٍ

فلم تَرعَيْني مثْلَه ابنَ أكارمٍ

ولا كأبيهِ كنتُ شاهْدتُ من أب

ولا كأبيهِ كنتُ شاهْدتُ من أب

For my eye has never seen a son of noble men like him,

For none has cared for me like him, the son of the generous

Nor had I ever seen a father like his.

Nor was I, as with his father, a witness of the father

هُما عَوَّداني في قديمٍ وحادثٍ

هُما عَوَّداني في قديمٍ وحادثٍ

من الدّهر إنْجاحاً لدى كُلّ مطْلب

من الدّهر إنْجاحاً لدى كُلّ مطْلب

They both have accustomed me, in old times and new,

They both accustomed me, in old and recent times

Through the years, to having every request fulfilled.

Of life, to succeed in every request

وقد زادَني فوق الذي كنتُ آلفاً

وقد زادَني فوق الذي كنتُ آلفاً

نجيبٌ نماهُ للعلا خيرُ مُنْجِب

نجيبٌ نماهُ للعلا خيرُ مُنْجِب

And I have been given more than I was accustomed to

And he increased me beyond what I was used to

By a noble son whom the finest sire raised to greatness.

A noble one who grew for the heights, the best nurturer

ولابنِ أبي البدْرِ اجتمعْنَ فضائلٌ

ولابنِ أبي البدْرِ اجتمعْنَ فضائلٌ

جَعلْنَ رجائي فيه غيرَ مُخيّب

جَعلْنَ رجائي فيه غيرَ مُخيّب

And in the son of Abu al-Badr, virtues have gathered;

And to the son of Abu Al-Badr accumulated virtues

They have made my hope in him unfailing.

That made my hopes in him not disappointing

شَمائلُ طَلْقِِ الوجهِ أبيضَ ماجدٍ

شَمائلُ طَلْقِِ الوجهِ أبيضَ ماجدٍ

من القومِ من يَحلُلْ بِواديه يُخْصب

من القومِ من يَحلُلْ بِواديه يُخْصب

The traits of a cheerful-faced, fair, noble man,

The features of the bright, triumphant face

One of those men in whose valley every settler finds plenty.

Among the people is one who thrives in his valley, made fertile

أخو ثقةٍ يَهتَزُّ عِطفاه للندى

أخو ثقةٍ يَهتَزُّ عِطفاه للندى

إذا زُرته هَزَّ الحُسامَ المُجَرَّب

إذا زُرته هَزَّ الحُسامَ المُجَرَّب

A trustworthy man, whose flanks sway with generosity,

A brother of sincerity, his kindness sways

When you visit him, like the swing of a battle-tested sword.

When I visit him, he brandishes the tested sword

ولم ألْقه في الدّهرِ إلا ولِمَّتي

ولم ألْقه في الدّهرِ إلا ولِمَّتي

على شعَثٍ والصِدْقُ غيرُ مكَذِّب

على شعَثٍ والصِدْقُ غيرُ مكَذِّب

And I have never met him through the years except with my hair

And I did not find him in life except my allegiance

In disarray—and truth does not belie this.

To disheveled hair, and truthfulness is not denied

فليت أخا ذُبيانَ يَرفَع طَرفَهُ

فليت أخا ذُبيانَ يَرفَع طَرفَهُ

وإن كان من تحت الصّفيح المنَصَّب

وإن كان من تحت الصّفيح المنَصَّب

Would that Dhubyan's kinsman could lift his gaze,

I wish I had a brother Dhubyan who would raise his gaze

Though he lies beneath the stone slabs set in place.

Even if he were under the erected canopy

إذَنْ لم يقُلْ أيُّ الرجالِ مُهَذَّبٌ

إذَنْ لم يقُلْ أيُّ الرجالِ مُهَذَّبٌ

لوِ اكتحَلَتْ ألحاظُهُ بالمُهَذَّب

لوِ اكتحَلَتْ ألحاظُهُ بالمُهَذَّب

Then he would not have said, 'Which of men is faultless?'

Then no man said refined

Had his eyes been lined with al-Muhadhdhab as kohl.

If his glances were adorned with the refined