اذا ما انْتدى حَلَّتْ عليه مَهابةٌ

اذا ما انْتدى حَلَّتْ عليه مَهابةٌ

تُعيدُ الفصيح الذِّمْر نكساً مجمجما

تُعيدُ الفصيح الذِّمْر نكساً مجمجما

Whenever he joins an assembly, awe-inspiring majesty settles upon him,

When he rises to speak, awe descends upon him,

turning the eloquent, valiant man into a mumbling weakling.

Returning the eloquent tongue to stammering confusion.

أُفيضت عليه من سكينةِ أحمدٍ

أُفيضت عليه من سكينةِ أحمدٍ

ومَنْ راح يستسقي الغمامَ فأثْجما

ومَنْ راح يستسقي الغمامَ فأثْجما

It was poured upon him from the serenity of Ahmad

The serenity of Ahmed has been bestowed upon him,

and of him who went to seek rain from the clouds, which poured abundantly.

And whoever went to draw water from the clouds returned empty-handed.

اذا قذفتْ بالنِّقْس مُلْدُ يراعهِ

اذا قذفتْ بالنِّقْس مُلْدُ يراعهِ

توى القِتلُ حتى تحسب الطرس مصْدِما

توى القِتلُ حتى تحسب الطرس مصْدِما

Whenever his supple reed pens cast forth ink,

When the arrow of destiny pierced the armor of his determination,

the foe perishes, till you take the page for a charging warrior.

Slaughter prevailed until you would think the horsemen lay smashed.

فتىً مَلأَ الأسْماع سائرُ حمدهِ

فتىً مَلأَ الأسْماع سائرُ حمدهِ

كما ملأَ الأيام بأساً وأنْعُما

كما ملأَ الأيام بأساً وأنْعُما

A young man whose far-spreading praise has filled all ears,

A young man who filled all ears with praise of his merit,

just as he has filled the days with valor and bounties.

As he filled the days with severity and kindness.

تطيش الرزايا وهو ثبتٌ فتحسب ال

تطيش الرزايا وهو ثبتٌ فتحسب ال

خطوبَ نسيماً والوزيرَ يلَمْلما

خطوبَ نسيماً والوزيرَ يلَمْلما

Misfortunes miss their mark while he stands firm; you take the

Cares waver while he remains steadfast, so you would think

calamities for a breeze, and the vizier for Mount Yalamlam.

The storms to be but a gentle breeze and the vizier mumbling.

وما ساجَلَتْهُ من سَراةِ قبيلةٍ

وما ساجَلَتْهُ من سَراةِ قبيلةٍ

ففاخر اِلا كان أعْلى وأكرَما

ففاخر اِلا كان أعْلى وأكرَما

And no chiefs of any tribe have ever vied with him

Whenever the horsemen of a tribe disputed with him,

in a contest of glory without his proving loftier and more generous.

He would surpass them in nobility and generosity.

يُعيد هجير الجدب عازبَ روضةٍ

يُعيد هجير الجدب عازبَ روضةٍ

وقد كان مُغْبرَّ المطالعِ أقْتما

وقد كان مُغْبرَّ المطالعِ أقْتما

He turns drought's scorching heat into a secluded meadow,

He returns the howl of drought to the meadows of rainfall,

though its horizons had been dust-covered and dusky.

Though the horizons had been dusty and gloomy.

وفيه أناةٌ للوعيدِ ووعْدهُ

وفيه أناةٌ للوعيدِ ووعْدهُ

وشيكُ القضاء لا يُجيزُ التَّلوُّما

وشيكُ القضاء لا يُجيزُ التَّلوُّما

He shows forbearance in carrying out threats; his promise

In him there is forbearance towards threats, and his promise

is swiftly fulfilled, allowing no delay.

Of imminent fulfillment permits no delay.

تَحمَّلُه نحوَ المَطالبِ هِمَّةٌ

تَحمَّلُه نحوَ المَطالبِ هِمَّةٌ

تفوقُ المَذاكي والمَطيِّ المُخَزَّما

تفوقُ المَذاكي والمَطيِّ المُخَزَّما

Lofty ambition carries him toward his goals,

Zeal bears him towards demands,

outstripping full-grown steeds and nose-ringed riding camels.

Surpassing the ambitious and the plodding beast of burden.