جَنابُكَ محْفوظٌ وسعْدُكَ سافِرُ

جَنابُكَ محْفوظٌ وسعْدُكَ سافِرُ

Your august presence is protected, and your good fortune is radiant.

Your protection is guarded, and your happiness travels,

And your deeds ally with benevolence,

وفِعْلُكَ للصَّنْعِ الجَميلِ مُحالِفٌ

وفِعْلُكَ للصَّنْعِ الجَميلِ مُحالِفٌ

ورأيُكَ للنّجْحِ المُبينِ مُؤازِرُ

ورأيُكَ للنّجْحِ المُبينِ مُؤازِرُ

And your deeds are allied with noble beneficence,

And your view supports manifest success,

And your counsel supports manifest success.

And the palace of your elevation rises high in a fertile land,

وصرْحُ عُلاكَ في سَراوَة يعْرُبٍ

وصرْحُ عُلاكَ في سَراوَة يعْرُبٍ

تَبيدُ اللّيالي دونَهُ وهْوَ عامِرُ

تَبيدُ اللّيالي دونَهُ وهْوَ عامِرُ

And the edifice of your eminence among Ya'rub's nobility—

The nights pass by it while it remains inhabited,

The nights perish before it, while it stands flourishing.

Its pillars overlooking the heights of the heavens,

يُطِلُّ على أوْجِ السِّماكِ عِمادُهُ

يُطِلُّ على أوْجِ السِّماكِ عِمادُهُ

ولا طُنُبٌ إلا العُلى والمَفاخِرُ

ولا طُنُبٌ إلا العُلى والمَفاخِرُ

Its pillar towers above Simak's zenith,

Nothing but the highest and the proudest,

And its only guy ropes are eminence and glories.

And you wore the insignia of glory as an infant,

وألْبِسْتَ سِيَما المجْدِ في المهْدِ ناشِيا

وألْبِسْتَ سِيَما المجْدِ في المهْدِ ناشِيا

وسُدْتَ وما سُدَّتْ عليْكَ المآزِرُ

وسُدْتَ وما سُدَّتْ عليْكَ المآزِرُ

And you were clothed in glory's mark, growing in the cradle,

And you were weaned yet the calamities were not weaned from you,

And became a lord before your waistcloths were fastened.

And ends can be known from their beginnings,

وقدْ تُعْلَمُ الغاياتُ من بَدآتِها

وقدْ تُعْلَمُ الغاياتُ من بَدآتِها

وتظْهَرُ في أولى الأمورِ الأواخِرُ

وتظْهَرُ في أولى الأمورِ الأواخِرُ

And indeed, ends can be known from their beginnings,

And the last things appear in the first matters,

And endings appear at the very outset of affairs.

An experienced one cured the disease of fate through you,

وعالَجَ داءَ الدّهْرِ منْكَ مجرِّبٌ

وعالَجَ داءَ الدّهْرِ منْكَ مجرِّبٌ

طَبيبٌ بأدْواءِ السّياسةِ ماهِرُ

طَبيبٌ بأدْواءِ السّياسةِ ماهِرُ

And in you a seasoned practitioner has treated the age's illness,

A doctor skilled in the diseases of politics,

A physician skilled in the maladies of politics.

So you are surely connected to the rope of the kingdom,

فأنْتَ لحَبْلِ المُلْكِ لا شكَّ واصِلٌ

فأنْتَ لحَبْلِ المُلْكِ لا شكَّ واصِلٌ

وأنتَ لصَدْعِ الدّينِ لا شكّ جابِرُ

وأنتَ لصَدْعِ الدّينِ لا شكّ جابِرُ

So you, without doubt, join the cord of kingship,

And you are without doubt the mender of the religion's fracture,

And you, without doubt, mend the breach in religion.

You seek the most difficult verses so you bend,

تَرومُ الأبِيّاتِ الصّعابِ فتَنْثَني

تَرومُ الأبِيّاتِ الصّعابِ فتَنْثَني

لَيانَ الهَوادي وهْيَ شُمْسٌ نوافِرُ

لَيانَ الهَوادي وهْيَ شُمْسٌ نوافِرُ

You seek the defiant and difficult, and they bend,

The edges of the valleys while you are a pouring sun,

With supple necks, though restive and skittish.

And you take guidance from the light of God,

وتَقْبِسُ منْ نورِ الإلاهِ هِدايةً

وتَقْبِسُ منْ نورِ الإلاهِ هِدايةً

فتُبْصِرُ بَدْءاً ما لَهُ الأمْرُ صائِرُ

فتُبْصِرُ بَدْءاً ما لَهُ الأمْرُ صائِرُ

And you draw guidance from the light of God,

So you see what the matter will lead to in the beginning,

So you see at the outset what an affair will come to.

And how many times in Rome you defeated an uprising,

وكمْ فتْكَةٍ في الرُّومِ بِكْرٍ جلَوْتَها

وكمْ فتْكَةٍ في الرُّومِ بِكْرٍ جلَوْتَها

منصّاتُها للمُسْلِمينَ المَنابِرُ

منصّاتُها للمُسْلِمينَ المَنابِرُ

And many a virgin onslaught upon the Romans you have unveiled,

Its platforms for the Muslims are the pulpits,

Whose bridal daises, for the Muslims, are the pulpits.

Its groups of enemies are humiliated,

تَهادَى وألْفافُ البُنودِ خُذورُها

تَهادَى وألْفافُ البُنودِ خُذورُها

وتَقْدُمُها عنْدَ الزِّفافِ البَشائِرُ

وتَقْدُمُها عنْدَ الزِّفافِ البَشائِرُ

She glides forward, the folds of banners her bridal chambers,

And their approach at the wedding is good tidings,

And glad tidings precede her at the wedding procession.

And when the peninsula sought your protection against evil,

ولمّا اسْتَجارَتْكَ الجَزيرَةُ والرّدى

ولمّا اسْتَجارَتْكَ الجَزيرَةُ والرّدى

مُحيطٌ وغصّتْ بالقُلوبِ الحَناجِرُ

مُحيطٌ وغصّتْ بالقُلوبِ الحَناجِرُ

And when al-Jazira sought your protection, while death

A surrounding sea, and throats choked up,

Was all around, and throats were choked with hearts,

And how can it be close to it when it

وكيْفَ له بالقُرْبِ منْها وإنّها

وكيْفَ له بالقُرْبِ منْها وإنّها

لَتأوي الى إيمانِها وهْوَ كافِرُ

لَتأوي الى إيمانِها وهْوَ كافِرُ

How could he draw near her, when she

Harbors faith while he is an unbeliever,

Surely takes refuge in her faith, while he is an unbeliever?

And the number of orphans and bereaved women has multiplied in Rome because of its horrors,

وقد كثُرَتْ في الرَّومِ منْ فَتَكاتِها

وقد كثُرَتْ في الرَّومِ منْ فَتَكاتِها

عِدادُ اليَتامى والأيامَى الحَواسِرُ

عِدادُ اليَتامى والأيامَى الحَواسِرُ

And her onslaughts have swelled, among the Romans,

The dirges for it lasted long in the land of Rome,

The numbers of orphans and bareheaded widows.

As the flowers crept forward during singing,

وطالَتْ لَها الرّنّاتُ في أرْضِ رُومَةٍ

وطالَتْ لَها الرّنّاتُ في أرْضِ رُومَةٍ

كَما زحَفَتْ عنْدَ الغِناءِ المَزاهِرُ

كَما زحَفَتْ عنْدَ الغِناءِ المَزاهِرُ

And because of her, wails have long resounded in the land of Rome,

And God has for it in existence an island,

As lutes stir when singing begins.

That resembles it in the plants of the north, Algiers,

ولِلّهِ منْها في الوُجودِ جزيرَةٌ

ولِلّهِ منْها في الوُجودِ جزيرَةٌ

شكَتْها بمُنْبَتِّ الشّمالِ الجَزائِرُ

شكَتْها بمُنْبَتِّ الشّمالِ الجَزائِرُ

And, by God, what an island she is in this world!

And it is no wonder that a dear one anguishes,

The islands in the remote north complained of her.

For another, and complains of calamities to calamities,

وليسَ عَجيباً أنْ تغَصَّ عَقيلَةٌ

وليسَ عَجيباً أنْ تغَصَّ عَقيلَةٌ

بأخْرى وتشْكو بالضِّرارِ الضّرائِرُ

بأخْرى وتشْكو بالضِّرارِ الضّرائِرُ

And it is no wonder that a noble lady should choke

And you waited half the year minus a little,

Over another, and co-wives complain of mutual harm.

Going back and forth to the enemy camps and attacking,

وصابَرْتَ شَطْرَ الحوْلِ إلا أقلَّهُ

وصابَرْتَ شَطْرَ الحوْلِ إلا أقلَّهُ

تُراوِحُ أحْزابَ العِدَى وتُباكِرُ

تُراوِحُ أحْزابَ العِدَى وتُباكِرُ

And you stood firm for half a year, save a little,

So the purpose of Rome became weak in every trick,

Meeting the enemy's hosts at evening and at dawn.

And the enemy became besieged in the siege,

فعزَّ مَرامُ الرَّومِ في كلِّ حيلة

فعزَّ مَرامُ الرَّومِ في كلِّ حيلة

وأصبح في الحصر العدو المحاصر

وأصبح في الحصر العدو المحاصر

So the Romans' aim defied every stratagem,

You tightened your breath without wavering,

And the besieging enemy was himself besieged.

On the mention of those the calamities have besieged,

قصرْتَ عليها النّفْسَ غيْرَ معرِّجٍ

قصرْتَ عليها النّفْسَ غيْرَ معرِّجٍ

على ذِكْرِ مَنْ ضُمَّتْ عليْهِ المَقاصِرُ

على ذِكْرِ مَنْ ضُمَّتْ عليْهِ المَقاصِرُ

You devoted yourself to her, without turning aside

And you risked your precious soul for it,

To thoughts of those whom secluded chambers enclosed.

And who earns risks except the risk-taker,

وخاطَرْت بالنّفْسِ النّفيسةِ دونَها

وخاطَرْت بالنّفْسِ النّفيسةِ دونَها

وهلْ فازَ بالأخْطارِ إلا المَخاطِرُ

وهلْ فازَ بالأخْطارِ إلا المَخاطِرُ

And you risked your precious life in her defense;

And its Lord would not know the value of the jewel,

And who won great prizes except the risk-taker?

If its shells had been content with counterfeits,

وما كان يَدْري قيمَةَ الدّرِّ رَبُّهُ

وما كان يَدْري قيمَةَ الدّرِّ رَبُّهُ

لوِ الْتَزَمَتْ أصْدافَهُنَّ الجَواهِرُ

لوِ الْتَزَمَتْ أصْدافَهُنَّ الجَواهِرُ

Nor would a pearl's owner have known its value,

You took them across two seas, a sea of enemies,

Had the jewels clung to their shells.

And a turbulent sea that is turbulent,

عبَرْتَهُما بحْرَيْنِ بحْراً منَ العِدى

عبَرْتَهُما بحْرَيْنِ بحْراً منَ العِدى

وبحْراً من اللُّجِّ الذي هوَ زاخِرُ

وبحْراً من اللُّجِّ الذي هوَ زاخِرُ

You crossed them both, two seas: a sea of foes,

And when the new moon appeared for the crescent you hid it,

And a sea of the surging deep.

Clashing in them the passion yet seizing them,

ولمّا تبدّتْ للمُحاقِ حَجّبْتَها

ولمّا تبدّتْ للمُحاقِ حَجّبْتَها

تُصادِمُ فيهِنّ الجَوى وتُصادِرُ

تُصادِمُ فيهِنّ الجَوى وتُصادِرُ

And when she faced obliteration, you veiled her,

The moon's sign appears while the night is ending,

You grapple with anguish among them and contend.

So we see it and hasten towards it,

تلوحُ إياةُ البَدْرِ واللّيْلُ حالِكٌ

تلوحُ إياةُ البَدْرِ واللّيْلُ حالِكٌ

فتُبْصِرُنا نسْعى لهُ ونُبادِرُ

فتُبْصِرُنا نسْعى لهُ ونُبادِرُ

The full moon's radiance gleams while the night is dark,

Alas! Where is the moon compared to you when appearing?

And you see us hasten toward it and race.

And how can confusion be allowed when the difference is clear?

وهَيْهاتَ أينَ البدْرُ منْكَ إذا بَدا

وهَيْهاتَ أينَ البدْرُ منْكَ إذا بَدا

وكيْفَ يجوزُ اللَّبْسُ والفرْقُ ظاهِرُ

وكيْفَ يجوزُ اللَّبْسُ والفرْقُ ظاهِرُ

Far from it! How does the full moon compare with you when it appears?

But for us it is the excuse of a lover,

And how could there be confusion when the difference is plain?

Whose sea of wishes lacked resources,

ولكنّها مِنّا تَعِلّةُ وارِدٍ

ولكنّها مِنّا تَعِلّةُ وارِدٍ

بِحار الأماني أعْوزَتْهُ المَصادِرُ

بِحار الأماني أعْوزَتْهُ المَصادِرُ

But this is our solace, that of one entering

So oh Monday night! How much credit you have!

The seas of wishes, whose ways out elude him.

For the occurrence of Islam, and God is Thankful,

فَيا لَيْلَة الإثْنَيْنِ كمْ لكِ منْ يَدٍ

فَيا لَيْلَة الإثْنَيْنِ كمْ لكِ منْ يَدٍ

لمَوْقِعِها الإسْلامُ واللهُ شاكِرُ

لمَوْقِعِها الإسْلامُ واللهُ شاكِرُ

O Monday night, how many favors are yours,

You came as the drizzle came upon the meadow,

For whose effect Islam and God give thanks!

And the clouds poured down upon the place,

قدِمْتِ كَما وافَى على الكَبْرَةِ الصِّبا

قدِمْتِ كَما وافَى على الكَبْرَةِ الصِّبا

وجادَتْ على المَحْلِ السَّحابُ المَواطِرُ

وجادَتْ على المَحْلِ السَّحابُ المَواطِرُ

You came as youth comes upon old age,

Otherwise like the safety that pleases a fearful one,

And rain-bearing clouds pour their bounty on drought.

And a distant one joining after separation,

وإلا كما لذّ الأمانُ لخائِفٍ

وإلا كما لذّ الأمانُ لخائِفٍ

وواصَلَ منْ بعْدِ القَطيعَةِ هاجِرُ

وواصَلَ منْ بعْدِ القَطيعَةِ هاجِرُ

Or as sweet security is to one afraid,

And the ship sailed from you a shining sun,

And one who withdrew renews the bond after estrangement.

With its own orbit of knowledge and forbearance revolving,

وأطْلَعَ منْكِ الفُلْكُ شمْساً مُنيرةً

وأطْلَعَ منْكِ الفُلْكُ شمْساً مُنيرةً

لها فَلَكٌ بالعِلْمِ والحِلْمِ دائِرُ

لها فَلَكٌ بالعِلْمِ والحِلْمِ دائِرُ

And the ship brought forth from you a radiant sun,

And the enemies schemed against you, each in a distant

It has an orbit turning with learning and forbearance.

Deception that did not cross their minds,

ورامَتْ بكِ الأعْداءُ كلَّ بَعيدةٍ

ورامَتْ بكِ الأعْداءُ كلَّ بَعيدةٍ

منَ المَكْرِ لمْ تخطُرْ عليْها الخَواطِرُ

منَ المَكْرِ لمْ تخطُرْ عليْها الخَواطِرُ

And through you the enemies sought every far-fetched deed

And you fulfilled while they betrayed, and loyalty is instinct,

Of guile, beyond anything that minds had conceived.

And the loyal and betrayer are not equal in fate,

وفَيْتَ وخانوا والوَفاءُ غَريزةٌ

وفَيْتَ وخانوا والوَفاءُ غَريزةٌ

وما يسْتَوي في الدّهْرِ وافٍ وغادِرُ

وما يسْتَوي في الدّهْرِ وافٍ وغادِرُ

You kept faith and they betrayed, and fidelity is innate.

And these sights do not truly go blind,

And the faithful and the treacherous are never equal through the ages.

But they go blind to prohibitions and insights,

وما هذِه الأبْصارُ تعْمى حقيقَة

وما هذِه الأبْصارُ تعْمى حقيقَة

ولكنّها تعْمى النُّهى والبَصائِرُ

ولكنّها تعْمى النُّهى والبَصائِرُ

It is not these eyes that truly go blind,

Alfonso had certainly worn a garment of blame from it,

But it is reason and inner vision that go blind.

That the great kings refuse,

لقدْ لبسَ الأذْفُنشُ منْها مُلاءَةً

لقدْ لبسَ الأذْفُنشُ منْها مُلاءَةً

منَ اللّوْمِ تأباها المُلوكُ الأكابِرُ

منَ اللّوْمِ تأباها المُلوكُ الأكابِرُ

Indeed, through this Alfonso has donned a mantle

And he hurried to remove its garment, dissociating himself,

Of blame, which great kings reject.

While your Lord knows what conscience's hide,

وأسْرَعَ ينْضو ثوبَها متَنصِّلاً

وأسْرَعَ ينْضو ثوبَها متَنصِّلاً

وربُّكَ يدْري ما تُكِنُّ الضّمائِرُ

وربُّكَ يدْري ما تُكِنُّ الضّمائِرُ

And he hurried to shed its garment, disavowing it,

So you faced his apology with good grace,

And your Lord knows what hearts conceal.

Even if his crimes against you were great,

فقابَلْتَ بالصّفْحِ الجَميلِ اعْتِذارَهُ

فقابَلْتَ بالصّفْحِ الجَميلِ اعْتِذارَهُ

وإنْ عظُمَتْ منْهُ إليْكَ الجَرائِرُ

وإنْ عظُمَتْ منْهُ إليْكَ الجَرائِرُ

You met his apology with gracious pardon,

For you are more worthy to lead to satisfaction,

Though his offenses against you were grave.

And more forbearing when excuses are made to you,

فإنّك أوْلى مَنْ يقودُ الى الرِّضى

فإنّك أوْلى مَنْ يقودُ الى الرِّضى

وأحْلَمُ مَنْ تُلْقى إليْهِ المَعاذِرُ

وأحْلَمُ مَنْ تُلْقى إليْهِ المَعاذِرُ

For you are the worthiest to lead toward goodwill,

Hail to the Emir of the Muslims after a lapse

And the most forbearing of those to whom excuses are offered.

That with it he inspired present and absent for God,

ألا فاشْكُروا يا أهْلَ أنْدَلُسٍ يَداً

ألا فاشْكُروا يا أهْلَ أنْدَلُسٍ يَداً

ليوسُفَ لا يُحْصي لَها الفخْر حاصِرُ

ليوسُفَ لا يُحْصي لَها الفخْر حاصِرُ

Behold, give thanks, people of al-Andalus, for a favor

Repeating its mention will sweeten mouths

Of Yusuf's, whose glory no reckoner can encompass.

As the extracted honey flows,

ألا فالْثموا منْهُ الدّروعَ فإنّها

ألا فالْثموا منْهُ الدّروعَ فإنّها

وسائِلُ للغُفْرانِ هَذي المَغافِرُ

وسائِلُ للغُفْرانِ هَذي المَغافِرُ

Behold, kiss his coats of mail, for they

And below it a beautiful one, and though her beauty is unique,

Are means to forgiveness—these helmets.

And her glance is bewitching,

ألا فاشْكُروا تلكَ الكَتائِبَ واجْعَلوا

ألا فاشْكُروا تلكَ الكَتائِبَ واجْعَلوا

مَحاريبَ ما تُبْديهِ منْها الحَوافرُ

مَحاريبَ ما تُبْديهِ منْها الحَوافرُ

Behold, thank those battalions, and make

She veiled the meanings in the blackness of her ink,

Prayer niches of what their hooves uncover.

As the thick locks veil the flowers of the cheeks,

هَنيئاً أميرَ المُسْلِمينَ بأوْبَةٍ

هَنيئاً أميرَ المُسْلِمينَ بأوْبَةٍ

أهَلَّ بِها للّهِ بادٍ وحاضرُ

أهَلَّ بِها للّهِ بادٍ وحاضرُ

Joy to you, Emir of the Muslims, on a return

For which nomad and townsman raised cries to God.

يلَذُّ على الأفْواهِ ترْدادُ ذِكْرِها

يلَذُّ على الأفْواهِ ترْدادُ ذِكْرِها

كَما شارَ مقْطوفاً منَ الشّهْدِ شائِرُ

كَما شارَ مقْطوفاً منَ الشّهْدِ شائِرُ

Repeating its mention is sweet upon the lips,

As when a honey-gatherer collects honey cut from the comb.

ودونَكَها حسْناءَ أمّا جمالُها

ودونَكَها حسْناءَ أمّا جمالُها

فبِدْعٌ وأمّا الطّرْفُ منْها فساحِرُ

فبِدْعٌ وأمّا الطّرْفُ منْها فساحِرُ

And take her, a beauty; as for her loveliness,

It is a marvel; and as for her gaze, it is bewitching.

ستَرْتُ المَعاني في سَوادِ مِدادِها

ستَرْتُ المَعاني في سَوادِ مِدادِها

كَما ستَرَتْ زهْرَ الوُجوه الغدائِرُ

كَما ستَرَتْ زهْرَ الوُجوه الغدائِرُ

I veiled the meanings in the blackness of her ink,

As tresses veil the bloom of faces.