هاتِ اِسقِني مِن رائِقِ الصَهباءِ

هاتِ اِسقِني مِن رائِقِ الصَهباءِ

وَاِنهَب فَدَوَيتُكَ غَفلَةَ الرَقباءِ

وَاِنهَب فَدَوَيتُكَ غَفلَةَ الرَقباءِ

Bring it; pour me some clear tawny wine.

Bring me a drink from the pure saffron wine

And snatch, may I be your ransom, the watchers’ moment of heedlessness.

And I will ransom you from the negligence of the watchmen

وَاِمزُج خُلاصَتَها بِمَحلولِ الهَنا

وَاِمزُج خُلاصَتَها بِمَحلولِ الهَنا

وَاِجعَل رَحيقَ الأُنسِ لِلنَدماءِ

وَاِجعَل رَحيقَ الأُنسِ لِلنَدماءِ

And mix its essence with a solution of bliss.

And I will mix its essence with dissolved sugarcane

And make the nectar of fellowship for the drinking companions.

And I will make the fragrance of intimacy for the regretful

وَاِقلَع أَزارَكَ يا نَديمَ وَغَنِّني

وَاِقلَع أَزارَكَ يا نَديمَ وَغَنِّني

وَاِخلَع عِذارَكَ في مَدى الأَهواءِ

وَاِخلَع عِذارَكَ في مَدى الأَهواءِ

And remove your waistcloth, O drinking companion, and sing to me.

Take off your loincloth, my friend, and sing to me

And cast off your bridle in the realm of desires.

And cast off your excuse amidst the expanse of passions

فَالحَظُّ قامَ مَعَ المَسَرَّةِ راقِصاً

فَالحَظُّ قامَ مَعَ المَسَرَّةِ راقِصاً

وَالصَفوُ دارَ لِخِدمَةِ الجُلَساءِ

وَالصَفوُ دارَ لِخِدمَةِ الجُلَساءِ

For fortune rose dancing with joy,

For fortune stood dancing with pleasure

and pure delight made its rounds to serve the company.

And the sword rotated in service of the seated

في صالَةٍ ظَهَرَت بِأَحسَنِ رَونَقِ

في صالَةٍ ظَهَرَت بِأَحسَنِ رَونَقِ

وَتَجَمَّلَت أَرجاؤُها بِمَراءِ

وَتَجَمَّلَت أَرجاؤُها بِمَراءِ

In a hall appearing in its finest splendor,

In a hall that appeared in the best condition

its corners became adorned with mirrors.

And its corners were adorned with mirrors

ما بَينَ غاداتٍ يَتَّهِنُ تَدَلُّلاً

ما بَينَ غاداتٍ يَتَّهِنُ تَدَلُّلاً

بِمَلاحَةٍ تَسبي وَحُسنَ رِواءِ

بِمَلاحَةٍ تَسبي وَحُسنَ رِواءِ

Amid maidens strutting coyly,

What’s between the beauties coquettishly fluttering

with captivating loveliness and beauty of appearance,

With charm that captivates and excellent composure

مِن كُلِّ خَودٌ بِالجَمالِ تَبَرَّجَت

مِن كُلِّ خَودٌ بِالجَمالِ تَبَرَّجَت

وَبِظَرفِها اِستَغنَت عَنِ الأَزياءِ

وَبِظَرفِها اِستَغنَت عَنِ الأَزياءِ

each tender maiden displayed her beauty,

From every cheek, beauty itself showed off

her charm dispensing with fine attire.

And with its elegance, made clothing unnecessary

الوَجهُ نافَسَ زَهرَةً في ضَوئِها

الوَجهُ نافَسَ زَهرَةً في ضَوئِها

وَالصَدرُ ناهِدُ كَوكَبُ الجَوزاءِ

وَالصَدرُ ناهِدُ كَوكَبُ الجَوزاءِ

The face rivaled Venus in her light,

The face competed with a blossom in its glow

and the swelling breast was the star of al-Jawza.

And the bosom a prominent star of Gemini

وَالرَدفُ دارَ بِجُرمِهِ في مُحورِ

وَالرَدفُ دارَ بِجُرمِهِ في مُحورِ

خَطُّ اِستِواهُ يَمُرُّ بِالأَحشاءِ

خَطُّ اِستِواهُ يَمُرُّ بِالأَحشاءِ

And the rump revolved, its mass upon an axis,

And the hips circled in their heaviness on the axis

its equatorial line passing through the entrails.

Of the equator line that passes through the viscera

وَالشُهبُ مِن تِلكَ اللِحاظِ تَتابَعَت

وَالشُهبُ مِن تِلكَ اللِحاظِ تَتابَعَت

يا وَيحَ مَن رَجَمتَهُ بِالإيماءِ

يا وَيحَ مَن رَجَمتَهُ بِالإيماءِ

And meteors from those glances followed one another;

And grey hairs from those glances followed in succession

woe to the one they pelted with a gesture!

Oh woe to him who was stoned by a mere glance

وَالشِعرُ في أَنواعِهِ ما بَينَ مَع

وَالشِعرُ في أَنواعِهِ ما بَينَ مَع

قوصٍ وَمَرسولِ حِذاءِ حِذاءِ

قوصٍ وَمَرسولِ حِذاءِ حِذاءِ

And hair, in its varieties, ranging from braid-

And the hair in its varieties between bunched

ed to flowing loose, side by side,

And braided, line after line

مِسكٌ تَمَسَّكَ بَعضُهُ في بَعضِهِ

مِسكٌ تَمَسَّكَ بَعضُهُ في بَعضِهِ

وَالبَعضُ سالَ فَفاحَ في الأَرجاءِ

وَالبَعضُ سالَ فَفاحَ في الأَرجاءِ

was musk, some of it clinging to the rest,

Musk some of it clung to each other

and some flowing, spreading fragrance through the surroundings.

And some of it flowed spreading fragrance in the atmosphere

وَالمِشطُ فيهِ مَغرِزٌ كَأَنامِلٍ

وَالمِشطُ فيهِ مَغرِزٌ كَأَنامِلٍ

بِخَواتِمٍ مِن لُؤلُؤِ لَألَآءِ

بِخَواتِمٍ مِن لُؤلُؤِ لَألَآءِ

And the comb was planted in it like fingers

And in it a comb stuck like nails

wearing rings of gleaming pearls.

With rings made of pure pearls

فَكَأَنَّ نادَينا وَهُن رَواقِصٌ

فَكَأَنَّ نادَينا وَهُن رَواقِصٌ

وَجَوالِسٌ بِتَجَلَّةٍ وَسَناءِ

وَجَوالِسٌ بِتَجَلَّةٍ وَسَناءِ

As though our club, with them dancing

So it was as if we had called and they are dancers

and sitting in majesty and radiance,

And sitters in splendor and loftiness

كَونَ وَهنِ كَواكِبَ سَيّارَةٍ

كَونَ وَهنِ كَواكِبَ سَيّارَةٍ

وَثَوابِتٌ تَزهو بِكُلِّ ضِياءِ

وَثَوابِتٌ تَزهو بِكُلِّ ضِياءِ

were a universe, and they wandering stars

As if they were orbiting stars

and fixed stars, resplendent with every light.

And fixed stars shining with all brilliance

وَكَأَنَّما البوفيه مَرصوفاً بِهِ

وَكَأَنَّما البوفيه مَرصوفاً بِهِ

ما يَشتهي وَتَلَذُّ عَينُ الرائي

ما يَشتهي وَتَلَذُّ عَينُ الرائي

And as though the buffet, arrayed upon it

And as if the fruit platter is laid out with

all that one desires and the beholder’s eye enjoys,

Whatever the onlooker desires and delights his eye

وَالكاعِباتِ بِهِ غُدُوّاً روحاً

وَالكاعِباتِ بِهِ غُدُوّاً روحاً

وَالغيدُ تَرفُلُ في حُلى وَنَهاءِ

وَالغيدُ تَرفُلُ في حُلى وَنَهاءِ

and budding-breasted maidens there, morning and evening,

And the musicians with it awoke the spirit at dawn

and graceful women sweeping along in ornaments and splendor,

While the rhythm sways in trinkets and ease

جَناتِ عَدنٍ لِلنَعيمِ تَهَيَّأَت

جَناتِ عَدنٍ لِلنَعيمِ تَهَيَّأَت

بِالحورِ وَالوِلدانِ وَالنُعماءِ

بِالحورِ وَالوِلدانِ وَالنُعماءِ

were Gardens of Eden, prepared for delight,

Gardens of Eden prepared for bliss

with houris, young attendants, and blessings.

With houris, boys, and pleasures

لَكِنَّني وَالشَيبُ صالٍ بِمَفرَقي

لَكِنَّني وَالشَيبُ صالٍ بِمَفرَقي

وَالدَهرُ مالَ بِصَبوَتي وَصَبائي

وَالدَهرُ مالَ بِصَبوَتي وَصَبائي

But I, with gray hair blazing at my parting,

But I have become estranged from these beauties

and time having subdued my passion and my youth,

While grey hair is reconciled on my temples

أَصبَحتُ عَن هَذي المَحاسِنُ نائِياً

أَصبَحتُ عَن هَذي المَحاسِنُ نائِياً

لاحِظ لي في ظُبى أَو هَيفاءِ

لاحِظ لي في ظُبى أَو هَيفاءِ

have become distant from these beauties;

And time has inclined towards my youth and adolescence

no share is mine in gazelle-like maidens or a slender beauty.

Do I have a share in gazelles or white deer?

وَلَقَد نَبَذتُ اللَهوَ لا أَرجو سِوى

وَلَقَد نَبَذتُ اللَهوَ لا أَرجو سِوى

في أَحمَدَ خَيري وَنِعمَ رَجائي

في أَحمَدَ خَيري وَنِعمَ رَجائي

Indeed, I have cast aside amusement; I hope for nothing except—

And indeed I have cast off amusements, hoping for nothing

in Ahmad lies my good, and excellent is my hope.

Except for my good in Ahmad and the blessings of my hopes

هُوَ ذَلِكَ الشَهمُ الَّذي ما فاتَني

هُوَ ذَلِكَ الشَهمُ الَّذي ما فاتَني

دونَ المَلا في الثَورَةِ الشَنعاءِ

دونَ المَلا في الثَورَةِ الشَنعاءِ

He is that noble man who never failed me,

He is the magnanimous one who did not deny me

unlike the rest, during the hideous uprising.

Support during the dreadful sedition

لَم تَثنِهِ الصِدقُ الَّذي أَعطى الصَدا

لَم تَثنِهِ الصِدقُ الَّذي أَعطى الصَدا

قَةَ حَقَّها في شِدَّةٍ وَرَخاءِ

قَةَ حَقَّها في شِدَّةٍ وَرَخاءِ

Truthfulness did not turn him aside, he who gave friend-

Loyalty that gave sincerity its right

ship its due in hardship and ease.

In hardship and comfort did not discourage him

فَبِطولِهِ وَبِفَضلِهِ لا غَروَ أَن

فَبِطولِهِ وَبِفَضلِهِ لا غَروَ أَن

وَحَّدَت فيهِ مَوَدَّتي وَإِخائي

وَحَّدَت فيهِ مَوَدَّتي وَإِخائي

Through his generosity and his merit, it is no wonder that

So by his length and his favor it is no wonder

my affection and brotherhood were united in him.

That my affection and brotherhood were limited to him

أَمّا المَحامِدُ وَالمَآثِرُ وَالحَجى

أَمّا المَحامِدُ وَالمَآثِرُ وَالحَجى

حَدِّث بِلا حَرَجٍ وَلا اِستِثناءِ

حَدِّث بِلا حَرَجٍ وَلا اِستِثناءِ

As for praiseworthy qualities, noble deeds, and wisdom,

As for praise, feats, and presentations

speak without reserve or exception.

Speak without hesitation or exceptions

هَذي المَحاكِمُ يا لَهُم مِن ذِكرَةٍ

هَذي المَحاكِمُ يا لَهُم مِن ذِكرَةٍ

فيها بِحُسنِ رَوِيِّهِ وَقَضاءِ

فيها بِحُسنِ رَوِيِّهِ وَقَضاءِ

These courts—what a remembrance they hold,

These tribunals, oh what a lesson in them

there, through his sound deliberation and judgment.

In good narration and judgment

فَبِدِقَّةِ التَحقيقِ أَصبَحَ مُرشِداً

فَبِدِقَّةِ التَحقيقِ أَصبَحَ مُرشِداً

لِلطالِبينَ وَقُدوَةَ الزُمَلاءِ

لِلطالِبينَ وَقُدوَةَ الزُمَلاءِ

Through meticulous investigation he became a guide

So by precision in investigation he has become

for seekers, and a model for his colleagues.

A guide for seekers and model for colleagues

وَإِلَيكَ بِنُها كَم جُنَّت مِن غَرسِهِ

وَإِلَيكَ بِنُها كَم جُنَّت مِن غَرسِهِ

إِثمارَ خَيرٍ في مُنى وَصَفاءِ

إِثمارَ خَيرٍ في مُنى وَصَفاءِ

And behold Benha: how much it reaped from his planting,

And towards you, how many plants have yielded

fruits of goodness amid hopes and serenity.

The fruits of good in purpose and clarity

وَكَفاهُ ما أَجرى بِأَعلى هِمَّةٍ

وَكَفاهُ ما أَجرى بِأَعلى هِمَّةٍ

لِمَدينَةِ المَنِيّا مِنَ الأَعلاءِ

لِمَدينَةِ المَنِيّا مِنَ الأَعلاءِ

Enough for him is what, with the highest resolve, he accomplished

And it suffices what he accomplished with the highest resolve

for the advancement of the city of Minya.

For the city of Minya from the lofty

فَلَكُم طَريقٌ قَد عَنى بِسُلوكِها

فَلَكُم طَريقٌ قَد عَنى بِسُلوكِها

فيها وَأَوصَلَها لِكُلِّ فَناءِ

فيها وَأَوصَلَها لِكُلِّ فَناءِ

How many a road he took care to make passable

So you have a path that he was concerned to tread

there, and extended to every courtyard!

In it and connected it to every courtyard

وَجَميلٌ مُنَزَّهٌ تَوَلّى نُظمُهُ

وَجَميلٌ مُنَزَّهٌ تَوَلّى نُظمُهُ

حَتّى غَدا كَالرَوَةِ الفَيحاءِ

حَتّى غَدا كَالرَوَةِ الفَيحاءِ

And a beautiful park whose arrangement he undertook,

And beautiful, purified poetry whose composition

until it became like a spacious garden.

Became like an aromatic meadow

وَالأَمنُ هَذا لا سَبيلَ لِوَصفِهِ

وَالأَمنُ هَذا لا سَبيلَ لِوَصفِهِ

فَالأَسَدُ وَالأَنعامُ في الأَفناءِ

فَالأَسَدُ وَالأَنعامُ في الأَفناءِ

And this security—there is no way to describe it:

And this security the likes of which cannot be described

for lions and livestock are in the courtyards.

For the lion and cattle are in the yards

هَذي مَآثِرٌ لَم تَنَلها قَبلَهُ

هَذي مَآثِرٌ لَم تَنَلها قَبلَهُ

بِاِبنِ الخَطيبِ وَجُلَّةَ الخُلَفاءِ

بِاِبنِ الخَطيبِ وَجُلَّةَ الخُلَفاءِ

These are achievements it had not attained before him

These are feats none before him attained

through Ibn al-Khatib and the foremost successors.

Not the son of the preacher or all the caliphs

حَتّى الحُكومَةُ شُكرُهُ قَد أَعلَنَت

حَتّى الحُكومَةُ شُكرُهُ قَد أَعلَنَت

وَتَرَنَّمَت بِفِعالِهِ الحَسناءِ

وَتَرَنَّمَت بِفِعالِهِ الحَسناءِ

Even the government proclaimed its gratitude to him

Until the government declared its thanks

and sang of his splendid deeds.

And crooned at his good deeds

وَتَأَمَّلتُ مِنهُ البُحَيرَةً أَن تَكو

وَتَأَمَّلتُ مِنهُ البُحَيرَةً أَن تَكو

نَ كَهَذِهِ في الأَمنِ وَالأَثراءِ

نَ كَهَذِهِ في الأَمنِ وَالأَثراءِ

And I hoped, through him, that Beheira would be-

And I hoped the lake would become

come like this in security and prosperity.

Like this in security and prosperity

وَلَسَوفَ يَحلو بِها لِذَوي الصَدى

وَلَسَوفَ يَحلو بِها لِذَوي الصَدى

وَتَروقُ في صَرفٍ وَفي أَرواءِ

وَتَروقُ في صَرفٍ وَفي أَرواءِ

And it will surely grow sweet there for the thirsty,

And it will be sweet for men of integrity

and be pleasing in drainage and irrigation.

And flow gently and in irrigation

فَتَرى بِأَحسَنَ حالَةٍ لَم تُؤتِها

فَتَرى بِأَحسَنَ حالَةٍ لَم تُؤتِها

وَتَعُد أَوَّلَ رَبوَةٍ خَضراءِ

وَتَعُد أَوَّلَ رَبوَةٍ خَضراءِ

Then you will see it in the finest state, never before granted it,

So you see it in the best condition it has never been given

and count it the foremost verdant hill,

And it counts as the first green oasis

زَهراءُ لِلزِراعِ تَعجَبُ لا تَرى

زَهراءُ لِلزِراعِ تَعجَبُ لا تَرى

مَن تَأَلَّفَ فيها وَلا جَدباءِ

مَن تَأَلَّفَ فيها وَلا جَدباءِ

radiant for farmers; you marvel, seeing no

Green for agriculture, wondrous, not seeing

one who has grown familiar there [wording unclear], nor barren land.

Any inhabited in it or barren

فَالِلَهِ عودُهُ الجَميلُ وَخَصَّهُ

فَالِلَهِ عودُهُ الجَميلُ وَخَصَّهُ

بِصَنيعَةِ التَوفيقِ دونَ رِياءِ

بِصَنيعَةِ التَوفيقِ دونَ رِياءِ

May God accustom him to goodness, and favor him

So to God belongs his beautiful return and distinguished him

with the gift of success, without ostentation,

With the craft of success apart from ostentation

وَأَعانَهُ في كُلِّ مَشروعٍ لَهُ

وَأَعانَهُ في كُلِّ مَشروعٍ لَهُ

وَأَعاذَهُ مِن خُلَّةِ الأَعياءِ

وَأَعاذَهُ مِن خُلَّةِ الأَعياءِ

and aid him in every undertaking of his,

And aided him in every project of his

and shield him from friendship with the inept.

And protected him from the disgrace of fatigue

مَتَّعتُ أَحمَدَ بِالرَفاهَةِ وَالهَنا

مَتَّعتُ أَحمَدَ بِالرَفاهَةِ وَالهَنا

وَبَلَغتُ أَعظَمَ رُتبَةٍ عَلياءِ

وَبَلَغتُ أَعظَمَ رُتبَةٍ عَلياءِ

May you enjoy comfort and happiness, Ahmad,

Grant Ahmad prosperity and bliss

and attain the greatest exalted rank,

And let me reach the highest noble position

وَبَقيتُ في الدُنيا بِأَكمَلِ صِحَّةٍ

وَبَقيتُ في الدُنيا بِأَكمَلِ صِحَّةٍ

وَبِزينَةِ الأَموالِ وَالأَبناءِ

وَبِزينَةِ الأَموالِ وَالأَبناءِ

and remain in this world in perfect health,

And remain in life in perfect health

adorned with wealth and children,

And with wealth of money and children

ما سارَ نَجمٌ بِالسُعودِ وَما بَدا

ما سارَ نَجمٌ بِالسُعودِ وَما بَدا

نَجمٌ بِرَوضَةِ بِهجَةِ غِناءِ

نَجمٌ بِرَوضَةِ بِهجَةِ غِناءِ

as long as a star moves with good fortune, and as long as appears

No star has journeyed with good fortune nor appeared

a plant in a lovely, luxuriant garden.

A star in the meadow of delightful singing

رَمَضانُ هَذا قَد أَتاكَ مُبارَكاً

رَمَضانُ هَذا قَد أَتاكَ مُبارَكاً

وَمُبارِكاً لِسَعادَةٍ وَبَقاءِ

وَمُبارِكاً لِسَعادَةٍ وَبَقاءِ

This Ramadan has come to you blessed,

This Ramadan has come to you blessed

and blessing you with happiness and long life,

And blessed for happiness and remaining

مُثُنِّ عَلانِيَةً بِما قَدَّمَتهُ

مُثُنِّ عَلانِيَةً بِما قَدَّمَتهُ

قَبلاً لَهُ مِن مِنَّةٍ بَيضاءِ

قَبلاً لَهُ مِن مِنَّةٍ بَيضاءِ

openly praising what you gave

Praising publicly what it has presented before

to it before, a shining favor,

As a white favor for it

مُتَوَسِّلاً يَبغي الرِضا مُتَوَسِّماً

مُتَوَسِّلاً يَبغي الرِضا مُتَوَسِّماً

فيكَ الوَفا لِجَماعَةِ الفُقَراءِ

فيكَ الوَفا لِجَماعَةِ الفُقَراءِ

imploring, seeking your approval, discerning

Beseeching, wanting satisfaction, harboring

in you fidelity to the community of the poor.

Loyalty to you for the community of the poor

أَنعِم عَلَيهِ بِما بِهِ عَودَتُهُ

أَنعِم عَلَيهِ بِما بِهِ عَودَتُهُ

لِيَعودَ شاكِرَ نِعمَةِ الإيفاءِ

لِيَعودَ شاكِرَ نِعمَةِ الإيفاءِ

Bestow upon it what you have accustomed it to,

Bestow upon it what you have accustomed it with

so it may return grateful for the favor of fulfillment.

That it may return grateful for the favor of loyalty

أَو ما سَمِعتُ ذا الَّذي قيلَ في

أَو ما سَمِعتُ ذا الَّذي قيلَ في

هَذي البِقاعُ وَسائِرُ الأَنحاءِ

هَذي البِقاعُ وَسائِرُ الأَنحاءِ

And have you not heard this, which was said in

Or have I not heard what was said about

these lands and every region?

These lands and all the regions

قالوا أَتى يَختالُ في تاريخِهِ

قالوا أَتى يَختالُ في تاريخِهِ

شَهرُ الصِيامِ لِأَحمَدَ بِثَناءِ

شَهرُ الصِيامِ لِأَحمَدَ بِثَناءِ

They said: “It came strutting on its date—

They said the month of fasting walked proudly in its date

the month of fasting, bringing praise for Ahmad.”

For Ahmad with praise

وَكَفى بِها مِن ذِكرَةٍ وَإِشارَةِ

وَكَفى بِها مِن ذِكرَةٍ وَإِشارَةِ

يا أَحمَدَ الأَفعالِ وَالأَسماءِ

يا أَحمَدَ الأَفعالِ وَالأَسماءِ

And this suffices as a remembrance and a sign,

And it suffices as a reminder and indication

O Ahmad, praiseworthy in deeds and names!

Oh Ahmad of deeds and names

هَذا ثَنا عَبدُ اللَطيفِ يَبُثُّهُ

هَذا ثَنا عَبدُ اللَطيفِ يَبُثُّهُ

بِالحَمدِ مَشفوعاً وَحُسنُ دُعاءِ

بِالحَمدِ مَشفوعاً وَحُسنُ دُعاءِ

This is praise that Abd al-Latif sends forth,

This is the praise of Abdul Latif extending it

with praise, accompanied by a gracious prayer.

With thanks accompanied by excellent prayer

وافاكَ يَرفُلُ في ثِيابِ صَداقَةٍ

وافاكَ يَرفُلُ في ثِيابِ صَداقَةٍ

قَد زَرَرَت بِجَواهِرٍ لِصَفاءِ

قَد زَرَرَت بِجَواهِرٍ لِصَفاءِ

It has come to you trailing robes of friendship,

It comes to you fluttering in robes of friendship

buttoned with jewels of sincerity.

That have sprouted with gems of sincerity

فَعَساهُ يَحظى بِالقُبولِ تَسامُحاً

فَعَساهُ يَحظى بِالقُبولِ تَسامُحاً

وَيَفوزُ مِنكَ بِنِعمَةِ الإِصغاءِ

وَيَفوزُ مِنكَ بِنِعمَةِ الإِصغاءِ

May it, through your indulgence, find acceptance,

May it have the fortune of acceptance magnanimously

and win from you the favor of a hearing.

And attain from you the blessing of listening