لعلياك في أفق الكمال مطالع

لعلياك في أفق الكمال مطالع

وسعدك بالإقبال والعز طالع

وسعدك بالإقبال والعز طالع

Your eminence has rising places on the horizon of perfection,

Perhaps I see you on the horizon of perfection rising,

and your good fortune rises with prosperity and glory.

And your fortune with favor and glory ascending,

وغصن المعالي بالهنا عاد مثمرا

وغصن المعالي بالهنا عاد مثمرا

وروض المعاني قد زها وهو يانع

وروض المعاني قد زها وهو يانع

The branch of high honors has borne fruit again in joy,

And the branch of glories with delight has become fruitful,

and the garden of meanings has bloomed and is ripe.

And the garden of meanings has blossomed beautifully.

وورق الحمى في الايك بالبشر غردّت

وورق الحمى في الايك بالبشر غردّت

وغنت على العيدان وهي سواجع

وغنت على العيدان وهي سواجع

The doves of the sanctuary sang joyfully in the thickets,

The leaves of care for you have chirped with good news,

and sang upon the boughs, cooing.

And sung to the twigs while they are ardent lovers.

وهب نسيم القرب يعبق نشره

وهب نسيم القرب يعبق نشره

ووافى لنا العرف الذي منه ضائع

ووافى لنا العرف الذي منه ضائع

The breeze of nearness blew, its fragrance wafting,

The breeze of nearness blew, its diffusion is fragrant,

and the scent drifting from it reached us.

And the custom we lost has come back to us.

وعادت بك الايام تزهو كما بدت

وعادت بك الايام تزهو كما بدت

سرورا وقد ردت اليها الودائع

سرورا وقد ردت اليها الودائع

Through you the days returned to their splendor, as they once appeared,

The days have returned to you, glowing as they began,

rejoicing, with their entrusted treasures restored to them.

Bringing back to them the trusts out of joy.

واشرقت الايام حسنا وبهجة

واشرقت الايام حسنا وبهجة

وقد عمها نور من العدل ساطع

وقد عمها نور من العدل ساطع

The days shone with beauty and delight,

The days shone beautifully and elatedly,

suffused with a radiant light of justice.

Flooded with the light of justice emanating.

وقد سرت فينا سيرة عمرية

وقد سرت فينا سيرة عمرية

صدعت بها الباغين والحق صادع

صدعت بها الباغين والحق صادع

A way of conduct like Umar's spread among us,

An Umar-like conduct has spread among us,

with which you shattered the oppressors, and truth cleaves through.

Splitting the tyrants, and justice splits loudly.

وعزمك اضحى مثل امرك ماضيا

وعزمك اضحى مثل امرك ماضيا

ومالك في افعال جود مضارع

ومالك في افعال جود مضارع

Your resolve has become as effective as your command,

Your determination has become like your past command,

and you have no rival in deeds of generosity.

And you are equal to your ancestors in generous deeds.

وللملك سيفا قد جليت مهنداً

وللملك سيفا قد جليت مهنداً

صقيلا له الرحمن بالمجد طابع

صقيلا له الرحمن بالمجد طابع

For the kingdom you have been revealed as an Indian-forged sword,

The King has a polished Indian sword,

burnished, stamped with glory by the All-Merciful.

Polished for him by the Most Merciful with glory.

فيا شائما برق الحيا من نواله

فيا شائما برق الحيا من نواله

ليهنك هذا الغيث هام وهامع

ليهنك هذا الغيث هام وهامع

O watcher of rain's lightning from his bounty,

So good news, O ambitious of the life of munificence!

may this rain gladden you, pouring and streaming down.

May this plentiful rain make you delighted and bountiful.

وهذا هو البحر الذي من اكفه

وهذا هو البحر الذي من اكفه

تشير الينا بالاكف الاصابع

تشير الينا بالاكف الاصابع

This is the sea, from whose palms

This is the sea whose palms

fingers gesture toward us with open palms.

Gesture to us with fingers of generosity.

وهذا حوى العلياء والمطلب الذي

وهذا حوى العلياء والمطلب الذي

عن البذل لم يحجبه في الجود مانع

عن البذل لم يحجبه في الجود مانع

This man has attained eminence and the sought-for goal—one whom

This contains the sublime wishes and the request

no obstacle in generosity has kept from giving.

Which no reluctance in generosity has hindered.

وهذا باعلى قيمة يشتري الثنا

وهذا باعلى قيمة يشتري الثنا

اذا قام في سوق المدائح بائع

اذا قام في سوق المدائح بائع

This man buys praise at the highest price

This buys praise at the highest price,

whenever a seller stands in the market of panegyrics.

When it stands in the market of eulogies as a seller.

وهذا لعمري قبلة الجود والندى

وهذا لعمري قبلة الجود والندى

وما هو الا للمحامد جامع

وما هو الا للمحامد جامع

This man, by my life, is the qibla of generosity and bounty,

This, by my life, is the destination of generosity and freshness,

and is nothing but a gatherer of praiseworthy qualities.

And nothing but a collector of praises.

وهذا هو البدر المنير ومن غدت

وهذا هو البدر المنير ومن غدت

لطلعته تعنو البدور الطوالع

لطلعته تعنو البدور الطوالع

This man is the radiant full moon, one before

This is the shining full moon, and after it rose,

whose appearance the rising full moons have come to bow.

The full moons became envious of its rising.

وما الدهر الا عبده وغلامه

وما الدهر الا عبده وغلامه

يجيب لما يدعو سميع وطائع

يجيب لما يدعو سميع وطائع

Time is nothing but his slave and his page,

Time is nothing but its slave and servant,

answering whatever he calls for, attentive and obedient.

Responding when it calls, hearing and obeying.

قضى السعد جزما ان رابة مجده

قضى السعد جزما ان رابة مجده

اذا جالد الاعدا لها النصر راجع

اذا جالد الاعدا لها النصر راجع

Fortune decreed firmly that the banner of his glory

Destiny has determined decisively that the den of its glory,

has victory return to it whenever he battles his foes.

When it fights the enemies, victory will return to it.

اخو فعلات لا يطاق دفاعها

اخو فعلات لا يطاق دفاعها

ومن للجبال الراسيات يدافع

ومن للجبال الراسيات يدافع

A man of deeds that no one can repel—

A brother whose deeds cannot be resisted,

and who can contend against firmly rooted mountains?

And who can defend against firmly rooted mountains?

ولم تلهه بيض عن البيض في الوغى

ولم تلهه بيض عن البيض في الوغى

اذا صبغت من حمرهنّ المدارع

اذا صبغت من حمرهنّ المدارع

Fair women have not distracted him from white blades in battle,

The whiteness of blades has not distracted him from striking in battle,

when tunics are dyed with their crimson.

When their redness dyes the fighting places.

وسمر القنا اشهى من السمر عنده

وسمر القنا اشهى من السمر عنده

اذا بيّضت سود التواصي الوقائع

اذا بيّضت سود التواصي الوقائع

Tawny spear-shafts are sweeter to him than evening conversation,

The blackness of dark nights is more beloved to him than blackness,

when battles whiten dark forelocks.

When the events whiten the blackness of dawns.

وفي سلمه بحر من الجود وافرٌ

وفي سلمه بحر من الجود وافرٌ

وفي حربه سم من الموت نافع

وفي حربه سم من الموت نافع

In peace he is a sea abounding in generosity,

In his peace, there is a copious sea of generosity,

and in war a potent poison of death.

And in his war, a lethal poison for the enemy.

ونصرته وقع السيوف على العدا

ونصرته وقع السيوف على العدا

وللضرب في الاسماع منها مواقع

وللضرب في الاسماع منها مواقع

His aid is swords falling upon his foes,

His victory caused swords to befall the enemies,

and their blows have their impact upon the ears.

And it had repercussions in the ears.

صوارمه في الهام صلت وكم لها

صوارمه في الهام صلت وكم لها

هوى ساجد بين الصفوف وراكع

هوى ساجد بين الصفوف وراكع

His keen swords have prayed among heads; how many before them

Its sharp swords landed in the brave ones,

have fallen between the ranks, prostrate and bowing!

And many bowed down prostrate amidst the ranks.

وكم غادرت فوق الثرى من معفر

وكم غادرت فوق الثرى من معفر

طريح عليه طائر النسر واقع

طريح عليه طائر النسر واقع

How many a dust-covered man they have left upon the earth,

How many worn out armors it left above the ground,

lying fallen, with a vulture settled upon him.

With the eagle of death falling upon them.

ولا بدع ان سحت دماء على الثرى

ولا بدع ان سحت دماء على الثرى

وقد سطعت منها البروق اللوامع

وقد سطعت منها البروق اللوامع

No wonder blood has poured upon the earth,

It is no wonder that it spilled blood on the ground,

for gleaming lightning bolts have flashed from them.

With its lightening flashes beaming.

بمقدمه الميمون سرت قلوبنا

بمقدمه الميمون سرت قلوبنا

وقد حسدتمنا العيون المسامع

وقد حسدتمنا العيون المسامع

Our hearts rejoiced at his auspicious arrival,

With its auspicious arrival our hearts were elated,

and our ears envied our eyes.

And our eyes envied our ears.

اسيباي يا مولى له العز ناظر

اسيباي يا مولى له العز ناظر

وفي فلك العليا له السعد طالع

وفي فلك العليا له السعد طالع

Asibay, O lord upon whom glory gazes,

My Master, whose might is watcher,

and for whom good fortune rises in the sphere of loftiness!

And in the orbit of sublime, his fortune is rising!

ويا بمن اذا ما السحب بالغيث اقلعت

ويا بمن اذا ما السحب بالغيث اقلعت

فسيب نداه بالحيا متتابع

فسيب نداه بالحيا متتابع

O you who, when the clouds cease to rain,

And O He whose pouring rain makes the clouds set out,

pour out your bounty in unbroken showers!

So unleash your munificence upon life successively!

حللت دمشق الشام فانتظمت بها

حللت دمشق الشام فانتظمت بها

عقود الهنا بالشمل والشمل جامع

عقود الهنا بالشمل والشمل جامع

You alighted in Damascus of al-Sham, and there were strung

You have settled Damascus, so it is adorned with you,

necklaces of joy through reunion, with the company all gathered.

Its prosperity is unified and unified it makes all.

وأيامها عن صبح عدلك اسفرت

وأيامها عن صبح عدلك اسفرت

وقد اينعت بالبشر منها المراتع

وقد اينعت بالبشر منها المراتع

Her days brightened with the dawn of your justice,

Its days from the dawn of your justice have brightened,

and her pastures ripened with gladness.

And its pastures because of you have become lush.

وفيها نشرت العدل من بعد طيه

وفيها نشرت العدل من بعد طيه

وذكرك في الاقطار بالعدل شائع

وذكرك في الاقطار بالعدل شائع

In her you unfolded justice after it had been folded away,

You have spread justice in it after being folded,

and your renown for justice is widespread through the lands.

And your mention because of justice is prevalent in all regions.

وجبهتها اقمارها بك اشرقت

وجبهتها اقمارها بك اشرقت

وعنها اميطت في الخدور البراقع

وعنها اميطت في الخدور البراقع

Her brow's moons shone through you,

Its full moons because of you have shone,

and veils were drawn away from her in the inner chambers.

And its veils over its chambers have been lifted.

وربوتها بالدف ينقر طيرها

وربوتها بالدف ينقر طيرها

وغنى على جنك لها وهو ساجع

وغنى على جنك لها وهو ساجع

On her hill her birds tap the tambourine,

Its birds are thrilled by your rhythm beating,

and sang upon her harp, cooing.

And they sing your glory wistfully.

وقرت عيون طالما قد تفجرت

وقرت عيون طالما قد تفجرت

وفاضت اسى بالحزن منها المدامع

وفاضت اسى بالحزن منها المدامع

Eyes were soothed that had so often burst into tears,

The eyes that have long gushed with tears

their tears overflowing in grief and sorrow.

Have settled, and their sorrowful flowing tears have stopped.

وزال يحمد الله ما ضاق ذرعه

وزال يحمد الله ما ضاق ذرعه

وذاك بفضل الله والفضل واسع

وذاك بفضل الله والفضل واسع

And, God be praised, what had taxed endurance vanished,

Whoever felt distressed praises God,

and that is by God's grace, and grace is vast.

For God’s grace is ample and expanding.

فطابت بك الاوقات واعتدلت وقد

فطابت بك الاوقات واعتدلت وقد

تنفست الايام والبين هاجع

تنفست الايام والبين هاجع

Through you the times grew pleasant and harmonious, and

Thus, the times have been set right with you and moderated,

the days breathed freely while separation slept.

And days have eased up and hostility has ceased.

ومما جناه الدهر اصبح تائباً

ومما جناه الدهر اصبح تائباً

ومعتذراً قد جاء والعذر شافع

ومعتذراً قد جاء والعذر شافع

Time became repentant for what it had perpetrated,

From what time has harvested, it has repented

and came apologizing, with its excuse interceding.

And come apologizing, and the apology intercedes.

فاكرم به مولاي من عمل اتى

فاكرم به مولاي من عمل اتى

لنحوك يسعى ليس فيه تنازع

لنحوك يسعى ليس فيه تنازع

How noble, my lord, is the deed that has come,

So favor with it, my Master, whoever acted

striving toward you, with no dispute about it!

To seek you, with no conflict in his quest.

ودم وابق في عز وامرك نافذ

ودم وابق في عز وامرك نافذ

وفعلك ماضٍ مثل سيفك قاطع

وفعلك ماضٍ مثل سيفك قاطع

Live on and endure in glory, your command effective,

With might and invincible command,

your action decisive, cutting like your sword.

And your action goes forth like your sword cutting.

ودونكها من عبد بابك خدمة

ودونكها من عبد بابك خدمة

لها منك معنى رائق الوصف رائع

لها منك معنى رائق الوصف رائع

Receive this offering of service from the servant at your gate,

A servant has brought you a humble service,

whose theme comes from you, graceful in description and wondrous.

To it from you flows meaning beautifully portrayed.

تسامت علوّاً بالطباق بيوتها

تسامت علوّاً بالطباق بيوتها

فكل معانيها الحسان بدائع

فكل معانيها الحسان بدائع

Its houses of verse soar high in tiers of antithesis,

Its houses have risen high with layers,

and all its lovely meanings are marvels.

So all their meanings are original masterpieces.

تخصك بالمدح الذي انت اهله

تخصك بالمدح الذي انت اهله

وتثني على الجود الذي انت صانع

وتثني على الجود الذي انت صانع

It singles you out for the praise you deserve,

It singles you out for the eulogy you deserve,

and extols the generosity you practice.

And praises the generosity which you have made.

فلا زلت محروس الجناب مؤيدا

فلا زلت محروس الجناب مؤيدا

لك الدهر عبد خادم وهو خاضع

لك الدهر عبد خادم وهو خاضع

May you ever remain guarded in your domain and strengthened,

So you have remained protected in prestige, supported,

with Time your slave and servant, submissive to you.

With time for you a serving slave, obedient and humble.