بكت الخطوب وثغر مجدك ضاحك

بكت الخطوب وثغر مجدك ضاحك

ونبا الحسام وسيف غربك باتك

ونبا الحسام وسيف غربك باتك

Calamities wept, while the mouth of your glory smiled.

The engagements wept, while your glorious smile laughed,

And the keen sword glanced off, while the sword of your keenness cleaved.

And the swords told of your sharp blade that spent the night awake.

يا ابن الأولي غصبوا المماليك بالقنا

يا ابن الأولي غصبوا المماليك بالقنا

وإلى العلى لهم الطريق السالك

وإلى العلى لهم الطريق السالك

O son of those who seized the slaves at spearpoint,

O son of the forebears, the Mamluks seized the reigns by force,

And theirs is the open road to the heights.

And for them the path to the Most High is accessible.

شرفاً بذا اليوم السعيد فإنه

شرفاً بذا اليوم السعيد فإنه

يومٌ علي وإن خفيت مبارك

يومٌ علي وإن خفيت مبارك

Honor to this happy day, for it is

With honor on this blessed day, for it is

A day blessed for me, though I remain obscure.

A day of Ali, though its blessings are concealed.

ولقد عجزت عن الهناء بدولةٍ

ولقد عجزت عن الهناء بدولةٍ

نحن العبيد لها وأنت المالك

نحن العبيد لها وأنت المالك

And indeed, I have proved unequal to congratulating you on a realm

And I have failed to express joy in a state,

Whose slaves we are, while you are its master.

Where we are slaves, and you are the owner.

عربية الأوصاف ذات مكارمٍ

عربية الأوصاف ذات مكارمٍ

جبر الكسير بها وعاش الهالك

جبر الكسير بها وعاش الهالك

Arab in its qualities, possessed of noble virtues,

An Arabic description, endowed with generosity,

Through it the broken were mended, and the doomed lived.

Who mended the broken, and gave life to the doomed.

عجميةٌ قرنت بخير متوجٍ

عجميةٌ قرنت بخير متوجٍ

زفت إليه مدائحٌ وممالك

زفت إليه مدائحٌ وممالك

Non-Arab, it was joined to the finest crowned sovereign;

A Persian who combines the best adorned,

Praises and kingdoms were led to him as brides.

Brought praises and kingdoms sent to him.

ملكٌ إذا برقت أسرة وجهه

ملكٌ إذا برقت أسرة وجهه

ضحك المقطب واستنار الحالك

ضحك المقطب واستنار الحالك

A king—when the lines of his face gleamed,

A king, when the stars of his face shine bright,

The scowling man smiled, and the dark grew bright.

Makes the frowning laugh, and illuminates the dark.

فكأنه فوق الحشية جالساً

فكأنه فوق الحشية جالساً

أسدٌ على متن الفريسة بارك

أسدٌ على متن الفريسة بارك

So, sitting upon the cushion, he is like

As if above the throne he sits,

A lion crouching upon the back of its prey.

A lion upon the body of his prey relaxes.

فيغار منه البدر وهو سميه

فيغار منه البدر وهو سميه

ويخاف فتكته الشجاع الفاتك

ويخاف فتكته الشجاع الفاتك

So the full moon envies him, though it is his namesake,

So the moon envies him while he eclipses it,

And the brave, ruthless slayer fears his deadly assault.

And the brave slayer fears his fatality.

ويجود من كرمٍ بنفسه

ويجود من كرمٍ بنفسه

فنعود والمملوك منا مالك

فنعود والمملوك منا مالك

And out of generosity he gives his very self,

And he is generous with his soul,

So we return, with the slave among us now a master.

So we return while the slave among us is owner.

فاسلم فمالك في الشجاعة والندى

فاسلم فمالك في الشجاعة والندى

مثلٌ ولا لك في الجمال مشارك

مثلٌ ولا لك في الجمال مشارك

So remain safe—for in courage and generosity you have no

So surrender, for you are unparalleled in valor and munificence,

Equal, nor any peer in beauty.

And none can rival your beauty.

وسقتك غادية الشباب كما سقى

وسقتك غادية الشباب كما سقى

راجيك صوب نوالك المتدارك

راجيك صوب نوالك المتدارك

And may youth's morning cloud water you, just as

The passing of youth has quenched you,

Your bounty's unceasing downpour watered the one who hopes in you.

As your aspirations have hastened towards your attainment.

فنداك مبذولٌ ومدحك سائر

فنداك مبذولٌ ومدحك سائر

وحماك ممنوعٌ وطيبك صائك

وحماك ممنوعٌ وطيبك صائك

For your bounty is freely given, and your praise travels far,

Your generosity is unrestrained, and your praise ubiquitous,

And your domain is guarded, and your fragrance wafts abroad.

While your bounty is protected, and your scent blows freely.