جاد لبنان على أوفى فتى

من بنيه بوسام الذهب

Lebanon bestowed on the most faithful young man

among its sons a medal of gold.

والذي عظمه من قدره

كان تعظيما لقد الأدب

And the honor it accorded his worth

was an honor to literature's stature.

شيخنا أنطون أحرى من به

يرفع الهام كرام العرب

Our elder Antoun is the worthiest man through whom

the noble Arabs hold their heads high.

يا مصطفى زادك الله الكريم وما

يزيد إلا حلى تجلو الذي وهبا

O Mustafa, may the generous God enrich you; He

adds only adornments that reveal what He has bestowed.

وهذه آية منه مجددة

زانت بك النسب الموروث والحسبا

And this is a renewed sign from Him,

adorning, through you, inherited lineage and honor.

يا من نمته إمارة النسب

فأعزها بإمارة الحسب

O you whom princely lineage nurtured,

and who ennobled it with princely merit,

واحتل في العلياء منزلة

أسمى من الألقاب والرتب

and attained a station in the heights

higher than titles and ranks,

بمصاعب الأسفار في نقل

ومتاعب الأسفار والكتب

through the difficulties of translating volumes,

and the labors of journeys and books.

أدنى فعالك لا يكافئه

أسنى القريض وأفصح الخطب

Your least deed cannot be duly recompensed

by the finest verse and the most eloquent speeches.

يا قاطعا سبب الدنيا ومتصلا

بخدمة الله هل بعد التقى سبب

O you who sever the world's bond and join yourself

to God's service—is there any bond beyond piety?

من يرقى إيمانه وهو اليقين فما

وهم الحياة وما الأخطار والرتب

For one whose faith ascends—and is certainty—what is

life's illusion, and what are dignities and ranks?

يا سعد طائفة ساموك راعيها

في أمسك ابن لها واليوم أنت أب

O blessing of a community that named you its shepherd!

Yesterday you were its son; today you are its father.

أب ولكن بأسمى ما يراد به

ولو دعتك رسولا لم يكن عجب

A father, but in the loftiest sense of the word;

and even if it called you an apostle, it would be no wonder.

أعليتها بمبرات خلدت قدرا

فأعلاك قدرا صيدها النخب

You exalted it with benefactions that immortalized your worth;

so its chosen nobles exalted your standing.

فاهنأ بخطتك المثلى وعش وأفد

بعلمك الناس ذاك الفخر والحسب

So rejoice in your exemplary office; live, and benefit

people with your knowledge—that is glory and honor.

كذا يكون رئيس الدين بدر هدى

للعالمين وتزهو حوله الشهب

Thus should a religious leader be: a full moon of guidance

for all the worlds, with bright stars shining proudly around him.

بنت نيقولا الأخ المفدى

زفت إلى نابه لبيب

The daughter of Nicolas, the cherished brother,

was led as a bride to a distinguished, discerning man.

وزوج بنت الحبيب ماذا

يكون غير ابننا الحبيب

And the husband of the beloved one's daughter—what

could he be but our beloved son?

أجمل ما كان من قران

أديبة في حمى أديب

The fairest union there ever was:

a woman of letters under a man of letters' protection.

كلاهما فاز وهو أهل

بما تمناه من نصيب

Both have won, and each is worthy of,

the lot each had wished for.

فليغنما العيش وليجوزا

مداه في نعمة وطيب

So may they both enjoy life, and may they traverse

its full span in prosperity and delight.