طوت ما طوت في سهل أرض ووعرها

وجاءَتْ تسامى كاذئايب العواسلِ

She traversed all she traversed of the land's plains and rugged ground,

and came on, rising high like trotting wolves,

مخافةَ عُذرٍ أو بدارٍ بذلَّةٍ

يطارد حقاً مستقيماً بباطِلِ

fearing a pretext or a rush toward humiliation

that assails an upright claim with falsehood,

إِلى حرمٍ جمِّ المناقب لم يزلْ

مدى الدهر مشحوناً بحزمٍ ونائلِ

to a sanctuary rich in virtues, which has never ceased

throughout time to abound in resolve and bounty.

يحلُّ به طلقُ الجبين يسرُّه

شتاتُ اللُّهى عند التفاف الوسائل

There dwells a man of cheerful brow, delighted

by the scattering of gifts when appeals converge:

أبو الفتح مُعْلي النار في غسق الدجى

وضرَّابُ هام الصِّيد تحت القساطل

Abu al-Fath, who raises the fire in night's deep gloom,

and strikes proud chieftains' heads beneath clouds of battle-dust.

حماهُ ونُعماهُ اُتحيا فأوسعا

لثروة سُؤَّال ونصرةِ نازلِ

His protection and bounty were granted, and amply provided

for enriching petitioners and aiding arriving guests.

فوالى له من غير ما مثنويَّةٍ

خميسٌ كرمْلِ الأنعُم المُتهايلِ

So there rallied to him, without exception,

an army like the cascading sands of al-An'um.

صبيحٌ ينوضُ البشرُ في قسماته

كما ناضَ عُلْويُّ الغيومِ الحوافلِ

Fair-faced, gladness flashes in his features

as the upper reaches of rain-laden clouds flash,

بحيث الوجوه الغر شوسٌ كوالحٌ

عوابس من وقع الخطوب النوازل

where radiant faces are fierce-eyed and grim,

frowning under the blows of befalling calamities.

يناطُ نجادا سيفه بممجَّدٍ

منيعِ الحمى زيْن الوغى والمحافل

His sword's two baldrics hang upon a man of glory,

of inviolable domain, the adornment of battle and assemblies,

لَبيقِ الغنى والعز غير مُصاحبٍ

لبغْيٍ ولاكَزِّ الأنامِلِ باخِلِ

well-suited to wealth and might, no companion

of oppression, nor a tight-fingered miser.

وشيكُ القِرى لا تستراثُ وعوده

ولا يُمْترى معروفُه بالمسائل

Swift in hospitality, his promises are never found tardy,

nor is his bounty coaxed out by entreaties.

كأن نسيم الجاشِريَّةِ ذكرهُ

إذا مرّ غِبَّ القطرِ فوق الخمائل

His renown is like the breeze of al-Jashiriyya

when it passes over thickets just after the rain.

لطافةُ حلمٍ دونها ماءُ مُزْنةٍ

وبطشٌ كأطراف القنا والمناصِلِ

Forbearance gentler than a rain cloud's water,

and an onslaught like spearpoints and sword blades.

وركبٍ كأمثالِ القِداح تعاقروا

كؤوس السرى والليلُ مُرخى الذلاذل

And a band of riders, like arrow-shafts, drank together

the cups of night travel, while night let down its skirts,

خفافٍ على أكوار خوصٍ كأنها

أههلَّةُ جوٍّ أو قِسيُّ مَعايلِ

light upon the saddles of narrow-eyed camels, as though they were

crescents in the sky, or bows of men with mouths to feed.

تكاد مطايا العزم تخطو إِلى العُلى

بهم قبل وخد النَّاجيات الرواحِل

The mounts of resolve all but stride toward the heights,

bearing them there before the swift riding-camels' brisk advance.

نحوا من غياث الدين عزاً ونعمةً

فجيدوا بهطَّالٍ وأقعسَ باسِل

They sought glory and favor from Ghiyath al-Din,

and were showered by one lavish as rain, unbending and valiant.

وما خَزَريٌّ لهْذَمٌ هجمت به

صناعُ يدٍ في رأس أغيدَ ذابلِ

And no keen Khazar spearhead, driven

by a skillful hand into the tip of a supple, slender shaft,

طريرٌ كناب الأُفعوانِ مؤلَّلٌ

اُمِرَّ وأمْهَتْهُ أكُفُّ الصياقل

sharp as a male viper's fang, honed to a point,

made keen and tempered by the blade-polishers' hands,

تغوَّلَ في قصبٍ فأنهْرَ وانثنى

خضيباً بقانٍ من دم الجوفِ سائل

that tore through bones, made blood gush, and turned back,

stained crimson with blood flowing from the body's depths,

بأمضى من السلطان بأساً إذا جرى

يُطاردُ فقراً أو لطرْد الجحافلِ

is keener in might than the Sultan when he advances

to drive away poverty or rout massed armies.

فتىً غير ممنوع الغنى عن عُفاته

ولا لكريمِ العِرضِ منه بباذلِ

A young man whose wealth is not withheld from his petitioners,

yet who never squanders his precious honor.

عداني أن اُثني على غير مجدهِ

تفرُّدُهُ بالمجد دونَ القبائل

What kept me from praising any glory but his

was that he alone possessed glory, to the exclusion of the tribes.

فما بالُ وردي من نداك مكدَّراً

وودِّي نقيُّ الوِرْدِ صفو المناهل

Why, then, is my draught from your bounty muddied,

while my affection is pure in its draught, clear in its springs?

أفي كل يومٍ روعةٌ برسالةٍ

تُطيلُ إِلى ملكي يَدَيْ كل جاهل

Must each day bring alarm through a letter

that stretches every fool's two hands toward my property?

وهبْتَ وما فيها رجوعٌ واِن تُرد

رُجوعاً فشرعُ المصطفى غير قابل

You gave a gift, and there is no taking it back; and if you seek

its return, the Chosen One's law does not permit it.

فعشتَ عزيز النصر تصطلمُ العدى

وتعصي إِلى المعروف قولَ العواذل

So may you live, mighty in victory, annihilating foes,

and, pursuing generosity, defy the words of reproachers.

يدُوسُ بك التيجان كلُّ مُطهَّمٍ

وتُخدمك الأيامُ كلَّ حُلاحِل

May every fine-built steed trample crowns beneath you,

and may the days make every mighty chieftain serve you.