1. You have held the reins of love over me,
And granted me, as I deserve, the highest ranks.

2. Who am I amidst the kings of speech?
Who am I amidst the noble pedigree?

3. The protectors of poetry seek me,
And the nobles of the Arabs walk to me.

4. For me they string the pearls of verse,
And over me they sprinkle the seeds of gold.

5. I am honored as if I were a prodigy,
And I stood for Egypt as was proper.

6. So what lasting works have I achieved
While my youth has vanished into dust?

7. I toiled for my people with great effort,
Though it was a summarized endeavor.

8. It helped nothing and did not avail them,
And there remained only fleeting fame.

9. Am I anything but a poet
With abundant dreams but little achievement?

10. I speak and captivate my companions,
And that captivation contents me.

11. For a time, I clung to the tail of rhetoric,
And entered myself among those who write.

12. But I have no precedence in the field of wisdom,
Nor victory on the day of pride.

13. I am not of the elite of writers,
Nor am I the chosen poet.

14. But I gained the favor of the prince,
And the view of the minister and the merit of literature.

15. I would not have dreamed of this comfort and title,
Had it not been for the minister.

16. Upon me are his abundant favors,
And his ancient, noble lineage.

17. Sometimes he lifts my stumbling,
And kindles my flint, and other times grants me favor.

18. I enjoyed from him the shadows of bliss,
And I came to know the wearing of the caftan.

19. I walk proudly to Abidin,
Its full moon watching me closely.

20. I grasp the hand of the generous, noble ancestor,
Savior of the helpless, remover of distress.

21. And I spur on between the visiting nobility
The steeds of hope towards that vastness.

22. They came sincerely for the sake of the prince,
Not for show or greed.

23. From their Lord they have what they wish,
The pleasure of the prince and attaining needs fulfilled.

24. While for the ungrateful is the wrath of fate
And the ill-omened stars with tails.

25. For the prince’s rule is like al-Rashid’s,
To which he is bound by lineage.

26. To you Abu Hasan I profess loyalty,
For I have not ceased being devoted to you.

27. You knew my status so you brought me near,
And ennobled my worth with the House of Books.

28. And you introduced my time to the place of the literary,
When before it was violently unjust.

29. Had I the rhythms of al-Khalil,
Or Shawqi’s eloquence when he wished,

30. I would rightly thank you,
But I sought and it was difficult to attain.

31. So my thanks for your favor are the growth’s thanks
In the belly of the desert for the drops of clouds.

32. And thanks to Shawqi, messenger of poetry,
Noble brother, strong in loyalty.

33. And thanks to Dawud, lord of the plain,
And thanks to Sarkis, lord of wonder.

34. And thanks to every noble one who strove
Towards me, and every literary man who sought me.

35. They encouraged me to speak
Though among them I was not perturbed.

36. They inspired me with eloquent speech,
They taught me the way of the elect.

37. From them I took and through them I excelled,
And from them came my acquired merit.

38. So hail the precious one of the countries,
Who trails the hem of glory on the clouds.

39. And hail Sa'id, minister of the prince,
Close to right, far from anger.

40. He assumed leadership amid events
That terrify souls with sudden calamity.

41. He managed the nation and pleased the servants,
Pleased the prince and pleased literature.