1. بالعقل تبلغُ نفس المرء ما أملا

    ويرتقي في مراقي العزّ كلّ عُلا

    Through reason a person's soul attains what he hoped for,

    and he ascends every height upon the steps of honor.

  2. ومن تحمّل ثقل الصّبر في زمن

    يخفّ في زمن ما عنهُ قد ثقلا

    Whoever bears the weight of patience for a time

    will find, in time, what weighed upon him made light.

  3. ومن يكن بمصيب الرّأي مُتّصفا

    فكلّ أمر لهُ مُستصعب سهلا

    Whoever is endowed with sound judgment

    finds every difficult matter made easy.

  4. ومن تحلّى بوصف الحلم مُقتدرا

    فحليهُ لم يزل في النّاس خيرُ حُلى

    Whoever adorns himself with forbearance while powerful,

    his adornment remains the finest among people.

  5. ومن يكن كرمُ الأخلاق شيمته

    فوصفهُ بالعلا والفضل قد كملا

    Whoever makes noble character his nature,

    his qualities are perfected in loftiness and excellence.

  6. والمرءُ ما دام وصفُ الشّكر ديدنه

    فهو الجديرُ بإعطاء الّذي سئلا

    As long as gratitude is a person's constant habit,

    he deserves to be given what is requested.

  7. والجودُ يقتلُ حيّات الضّغائن من

    كلّ القلوب وغيرُ الجود ما قتلا

    Generosity kills the serpents of rancor within

    every heart; nothing but generosity has slain them.

  8. حسبُ الجواد السّخا بالحرّ مالكهُ

    العبدُ يملكُ بالدّينار ما عملا

    Generosity suffices the generous man to make him master of the free;

    a slave is owned with a dinar for the work he does.

  9. ومن تردّى بأثواب الشّجاعة في

    حرب فمنهُ رداءُ العزّ ما نقلا

    Whoever robes himself in the garments of courage in

    war never has the robe of honor taken from him.

  10. ومن أطاعتهُ بيض الهند لان له

    كلّ العصاة ومن عن أمره نكلا

    Whoever is obeyed by the white blades of India finds

    all rebels yielding, and whoever shrank from his command.

  11. ومن تمنّى بصدق القول يقبلُ ما

    يأتي قليلا وأمّا العكس ما قبلا

    Whoever wishes with truthful speech accepts what

    comes, though little; its opposite he does not accept.

  12. من ذا لتلك المزايا راح يُحرزُها

    يكادُ يُشبهُ فيها أوحد النّبلا

    Who could win those merits,

    almost matching in them the peerless nobleman—

  13. تاج الملوك العلي المولى الأمير علي

    نجل الأمير حُسين خيرُ من نجلا

    the crown of kings, the exalted lord, Prince Ali,

    son of Prince Husayn, the finest ever begotten?

  14. ذُو همّة تتمنّى الشّهبُ منزلها

    وهمّة تُبصرُ الإكليل مُنسفلا

    Possessed of an ambition whose station the meteors covet,

    an ambition that sees the Crown constellation far below.

  15. سيفٌ على المفسدين الدّهر مُنصلتٌ

    يكادُ يسبقُ في أفعاله الأجلا

    A sword forever drawn against the corrupters,

    almost outstripping death itself in his deeds.

  16. حزمٌ يكادُ به ما فات يُدركهُ

    من الأمُور وعزمٌ يقصمُ الجبلا

    Such resolve that he almost recovers what has passed

    of affairs, and a determination that shatters mountains.

  17. فخرٌ على منكب الجوزا مخيّمهُ

    وسُؤددٌ فوق الفرقدين علا

    Pride whose camp rests on Orion's shoulder,

    and lordship risen above the two Farqad stars.

  18. ملك تأكّد منهُ العطف لم ترهُ

    تأكيدُ عطف له في وصفه بدلا

    A king whose compassion is confirmed; you have not seen

    a substitute for him in that assured compassion.

  19. يُغري بإقدامه للجيش عنترة

    وحاتم عُدّ من جدواهُ في البخلا

    His bold advance against the army spurs even Antarah,

    and beside his bounty, Hatim is counted among the misers.

  20. كالغيث إن هطلا والبدر إن كملا

    واللّيث ان حملا والسّيف ان حُملا

    Like rain when it pours, the full moon when complete,

    the lion when charging, the sword when borne.

  21. تراهُ عن شُبهات الدّين مُنحرفا

    وقد غدا برداء الحقّ مُشتملا

    You see him turning away from religious ambiguities,

    wrapped in the robe of truth.

  22. يُدبّر الأمر بالرأي السّديد فلا

    تُلفي لهُ أبدا في رأيه خطلا

    He manages affairs with sound judgment, so

    you never find error in his counsel.

  23. كأنّما كلُّ ما يأتي عواقبه

    عليه يعرُضها الأفكار والأصلا

    As though the consequences of everything he undertakes

    are presented to him by thoughts and [an unclear word].

  24. ان يُعط عهدا فما عهدٌ بمنتقض

    منهُ ولا موعدٌ من وعده بطلا

    If he gives a pledge, no pledge is broken

    by him, nor is any promise of his made void.

  25. أخلاقُهُ الغرُّ تهدي للرّياض شذى

    وطيبُ أنفاسه يستأصلُ العللا

    His radiant character bestows fragrance upon the gardens,

    and his sweet breath uproots ailments.

  26. تُغني طلاقةُ وجه منهُ سائلهُ

    إذا يُقابلهُ عن كلّ ما سألا

    The cheerfulness of his face enriches his petitioner,

    when he meets him, beyond all he asked.

  27. ما يومُ أبصرت عيناهُ غُرّتهُ

    إلا أغرُّ سعيدٌ فيه ما فعلا

    No day whose first light his eyes behold

    but is radiant and blessed in whatever he does.

  28. غدا السّماكُ بعطف القلب مُتّصفا

    ولست تُلفى لهُ في نعته بدلا

    Al-Simak has become endowed with tenderness of heart,

    and you find no substitute for him in that quality.

  29. تبّا لطائفة عن أمره انحرفُوا

    وخالفوا من غدا للأمر مُمتثلا

    Ruin upon a faction that strayed from his command

    and opposed the one who obediently followed it!

  30. رامُوا ردى أفضل عرش سواهُ إذا

    الرّدى مللا

    They sought the ruin of the finest throne—other than him, when... [text unclear].

    Death—weariness [fragmentary text].

  31. ما قيّدُوا نعمة بالشّكر بل كفرُوا

    بها لذا سُلبوا من ثوبها عجلا

    They did not secure their blessing with gratitude, but denied

    it; so they were swiftly stripped of its garment.

  32. وكلّهم صار يمشي وهو مُلتفت

    خوفا وقد كان يمشي في الورى الخيلا

    Each now walks looking over his shoulder,

    in fear, though he once walked proudly among mankind.

  33. ما زلت تُردي قويّا إثر صاحبه

    حتّى استقادُوا وجاؤوا نادمين على

    You kept striking down one strong man after another,

    until they submitted and came repentant, upon... [unfinished phrase].

  34. حلّت سُيوف كعوبا من رقابهمُ

    والشيء إن دام دهرا أورث المللا

    Swords undid the joints of their necks,

    and anything that lasts an age brings weariness.

  35. إذا رُؤُوسهمُ عافت جُسومهمُ

    جاؤوا لتجعل ذا عن ذاك مُنفصلا

    When their heads grew sick of their bodies,

    they came for you to separate this from that.

  36. أخذتهم اخذة منها أتوك على

    حال بها تحسدُ الأحياءُ من قُتلا

    You seized them with such a seizure that they came to you in

    a state in which the living envy the slain.

  37. فالبعض صرعى بكاسات المونو غدا

    والبعض راح براحات الأسى ثملا

    Some lay slain by cups of al-Munu [unclear word],

    and some departed drunk on the draughts of sorrow.

  38. قالوا وقد فلّسوا في الكبل دينهمُ

    يقضون والدّين بالتّفليس قد بطلا

    They spoke, having bankrupted their faith in fetters;

    they repay, though bankruptcy has already canceled the debt.

  39. يدُ السّعادة جرّتهمُ لحكمك من

    رفع لخفض فلا زيدٌ كفاك ولا

    The hand of fortune dragged them to your judgment, from

    elevation to abasement; neither Zayd sufficed you, nor...

  40. تفرّقُوا في الفيافي المهلكات لهم

    بلا أدلاء إذ لم يهتدُوا سُبلا

    They scattered through deserts deadly to them,

    without guides, since they could find no paths.

  41. طعامُهم من تُراب الأرض ما وجدُوا

    والشربُ من سؤر وحش القفر ما فضلا

    Their food was whatever they found in the earth's dust,

    their drink whatever the wilderness beasts left over.

  42. يرون كلّ زُعاق الماء أعذبهُ

    وكلّ صاب مرير طعمه عسلا

    They deem every brackish water the sweetest,

    and the taste of every bitter sap to be honey.

  43. هُم في ذُرى جبل كان اعتصامُهم

    وراح مُعتصما بالله مُتّكلا

    Their refuge lay in a mountain's heights,

    while he went forth seeking refuge in God, trusting Him.

  44. فكان ما غنموا منهُ فرارهمُ

    وغُنمهُ منهمُ البلدان والجبلا

    Their only gain from him was their flight,

    while his gain from them was the towns and the mountain.

  45. ظنّوا ذُراهُ من البلواء تعصمهم

    ومن يرُدُ قضاء الله إن نزلا

    They thought its heights would shield them from affliction,

    but who can turn back God's decree when it descends?

  46. لا يمنعون ولو في قلبه اعتقلوا

    للحظّ أو قارنت علياؤُهُ زُخلا

    They would not be protected, even if confined within its heart

    by fortune, or if its summit drew level with Saturn [reading uncertain].

  47. أعمالهم بطلت إذا شاع جُبنهم

    فهل رأيت جبانا في الورى بطلا

    Their deeds came to nothing when their cowardice spread abroad;

    have you ever seen a coward among mankind become a hero?

  48. يا أيّها الملك الميمون طائرُهُ

    ومن غدت للورى أيّامُه ظللا

    O king whose augury is blessed,

    whose days have become sheltering shade for mankind,

  49. بُشرى بفتحك وسلات وعن أثر

    فتحت عمدُون كسرا إثرما اعتقلا

    glad tidings of your conquest of Waslat; and on its heels

    you conquered Amdun, breaking it after it had fortified itself.

  50. كسرت هذا بفتح ما سُبقت به

    وذا فتحت بكسر لم يكن حصلا

    You broke this one through a conquest none had achieved before,

    and opened that one by a breaking never yet accomplished.

  51. صدمتهم بخميس لو صدمت به

    ونجم نجم تبدّى سعدُ طالعه

    You struck them with an army—had you struck with it...

    And a star arose whose ascendant revealed good fortune,

  52. فكوكبُ النّحس عند الإبتداء أفلا

    لكم توالت فُتوحاتُ مُفرّحةٌ

    so the star of ill fortune set at the very outset.

    How many joyful conquests followed one another for you!

  53. بقدر ما مدّ منها الإمتناعُ حلا

    فالله أعطاك مفتاح الفتوح فلو

    Their sweetness matched the length of their resistance.

    God has given you the key to conquests, so if

  54. حاولت فتح جميع الأرض ما عضلا

    من بعد ترشيش جمّالا فتحت ووس

    you sought to conquer all the earth, it would not prove difficult.

    After Tarshish, you conquered Jammal and Was-

  55. لات وعمدون والنجل السعيد جلا

    لا زلتمُ مُنتهى البشرى ودهرك لا

    lat and Amdun; and the fortunate son shone.

    May you always be the utmost gladness, and may your age never

  56. ينفكُّ يوما بإرغام العدى جذلا

    مولاي ما لي رجاءٌ في سواك فما

    cease, even for a day, rejoicing in the humiliation of foes.

    My lord, I have no hope in anyone but you; for

  57. أبقى مديحك لي في غيركم أملا

    إنّي طُبعتُ على حُبّ لكم فكأن

    praising you has left me no hope in others.

    I was fashioned to love you, as though

  58. باللّحم والعظم منّي جئتم نُزلا

    لا أترُكنّ حُظوظا منك ناقمة

    you had come to lodge in my flesh and bones.

    I shall not leave my portions from you resentful,

  59. والغيرُ يحظى بحظّ منك مُكتملا

    ما كان يطرأ فيكم أوعدا وسنى

    while another enjoys a full portion from you.

    Nothing would arise concerning you... [remainder unclear].

  60. وعاملُ الهند في الحسود قد عملا

    حتّى لقد قال من في قلبه مرض

    And India's blade had done its work upon the envious.

    Until the man with sickness in his heart said:

  61. بأيّ شيء من الممدوح ذا وصلا

    ما نظمُ غيري حكى نظمي فنظمي ذا

    “By what means did this man gain access to the praised one?”

    No other man's verse resembles mine; this verse of mine is

  62. نجمُ الثّريّا وذا نجمُ الثّرى سفلا

    ما حلت والدّرُّ متى

    the star of the Pleiades, and that a star of dust below.

    Not changed—and pearls, when... [text unclear].

  63. والتّبرُ في فضله بالترب قد عُدلا

    النّاس في الشّعر راعوا ذات قائله

    And gold, in its excellence, has been equated with dust.

    In poetry people have regarded the person of its speaker,

  64. وما رعوا من ذوات القول ما فضلا

    وما تفضلت عن غير به فكن

    not the excellence found in the substance of speech.

    And in whatever you surpassed others, be...

  65. سجرا هدى حياء وللتقى رملا

    يا ليت شعري هل مولاي منك أرى

    [Text unclear: kindling, guidance, modesty, and sand for piety.]

    Would that I knew, my lord, whether I shall see from you

  66. براءة لي بالأنفال مُبتذلا

    لأستعين على شُكري لأنعمكم

    a charter granting me gifts, freely bestowed,

    that I may be aided in giving thanks for your blessings

  67. ما دُمت حيّا وفضل منك قد شملا

    ورفع جاه وعزّ عزّ مطلبهُ

    as long as I live, with your bounty encompassing me,

    and a raising of rank and a glory hard to attain,

  68. أرى به في الورى جاه العدى حدلا

    فإن تجد بالرّضا والفضل منك يجد

    through which I see my enemies' standing brought low among mankind.

    If you are generous with favor and bounty, then generous will be

  69. شعري بلا كلف أولا يجودُ فلا

    شعري كزهر رّبي إن يُسق ما وجمي

    my verse, without strain; otherwise, it will not.

    My verse is like hillside flowers: if watered... [text unclear],

  70. يُصيبُ نشما وإن لم تسقه ذُبلا

    جلاء مرآك فكر المادحين لهم

    it strikes a nasham tree [text unclear]; if you do not water it, it withers.

    The radiance of seeing you, for your eulogists' thoughts, is

  71. كفاية وصدادهم الإحتياجُ ألا

    قد يظهر المدح ما فيه الصّفاءُ وقد

    sufficient; their hindrance is need—take heed.

    Praise may reveal the purity within it, while

  72. يُخفي التّكدّرُ ما في وطئه حملا

    إحسانُكم تذرُ ما يُبديه ذُو أدب

    cloudiness hides what was carried in its tread [text unclear].

    Your kindness leaves what a man of letters reveals [wording unclear]

  73. من المعالي اللّواتي سحرهنّ جلا

    فحشرُ تلك المعاني في بلاغتها

    of lofty themes whose enchantment he unveils.

    Thus the gathering of those meanings in their eloquence

  74. تُعزى لكم ولها اللّفظ الّذي جملا

    مولاي عذرٌ من التّقصير إن بدر

    is credited to you; theirs is the wording that adorns them.

    My lord, forgive any shortcoming that has issued

  75. منّي وإن جاوز الجوزاء والحملا

    ذا شعرُ مرتجل متى له

    from me—even if it surpassed Orion and Aries.

    This is improvised verse—when did it have...

  76. يبيت من حشرات فيه مثبتلا

    البال من صرف وصفريد

    It spends the night, from insects within it... [text unclear].

    The mind, from vicissitudes and Safrid [unclear word]...

  77. رموح لي والمركب الذي حملا

    لا نفع لي وبالمركوب مُشتغلا

    Restive for me, and the mount that carried...

    No benefit for me, while occupied with the mount.

  78. كذك كلُّ غريب الدّار مثلي لا

    أهلٌ لديه ولا دارٌ كمن خملا

    Thus every stranger far from home like me has no

    family with him, nor house, like one sunk in obscurity.

  79. وأنت كالبحر لم يُنقصهُ مُغترفٌ

    ولا يزيدُ به من زادهُ بللا

    You are like the sea, not diminished by one who draws from it,

    nor increased by one who adds moisture to it.

  80. وإنّ أولى الورى بالرّفق شاكرُ ما

    تُسدي إليه من الإنعام مُتّصلا

    The one most deserving of kindness among mankind is he who thanks you for what

    you continually bestow upon him in blessings.

  81. ان ذكر وشكوره يعني الزمان ولا

    يعني وذي سنّة أسرت به الفصلا

    If he remembers, and his gratitude concerns time, and does not...

    concern... and this is a custom that captured distinction through it [text unclear].

  82. وأنت أحييت هذا الفنّ مُتّبعا

    آثار ماض ومن في الأكرمين حلا

    You have revived this art, following

    the footsteps of one gone before, who dwelt among the most generous.

  83. دُم في المكارم يا تاج الملوك فقد

    يُحيي المكارم آثارُ الّذي حملا

    Endure in noble deeds, O crown of kings, for

    the traces of the one who bore them revive noble deeds.

  84. لا زلت مُؤتمنا بالله مُنتصرا

    مؤيّدا من جناب القدسُ مُحتفلا

    May you remain trusted, victorious through God,

    upheld from the holy presence, rejoicing,

  85. في ظلّ عيش هنيء لازوال لهُ

    وعزّ مُلك مديد الأمر مُكتملا

    in the shade of a pleasant life that never ends,

    and the glory of a kingdom, enduring in command and complete.