1. نَظيرُ الشَمس تَعلو عَن نَظيرِ

    طَلَعت تُضيءُ في عَليا الأَيرِ

    Peer of the sun, you rise beyond compare.

    You rose, shining in the upper air.

  2. وَفي أَبراج سَلطَنَةُ المَعالي

    بَدَوتَ تَفيضَ تَهتان السُرورِ

    And in the towers of the sultanate of lofty honors,

    You appeared, pouring forth showers of joy.

  3. دَعَتكَ وَأَنتَ لِلأَلطافِ روحٌ

    لِقُربِ فُؤادِها الصَدرِ الكَبيرِ

    She summoned you—you, the spirit of kindness—

    To be near her heart, O grand vizier.

  4. وَقالَت لِلمَليك أَتاكَ بَدرٌ

    تَرى بِكَمالِهِ أَبهى سَميرِ

    And she told the king: “A full moon has come to you;

    In his perfection you behold the fairest companion by night.”

  5. فَقالَ أَقَمتُ لَما أَرخوهُ

    لَدى ما لَيتي رُشدي وَزيري

    Then he said, when they recorded its date: “I appointed

    Rushdi as my finance minister [reading uncertain].”