قالوا أَجازَكَ أعيانٌ مدحتهمُ

قالوا أَجازَكَ أعيانٌ مدحتهمُ

وَمِن صلاتهمُ وافتكَ أهنؤها

وَمِن صلاتهمُ وافتكَ أهنؤها

They said: Notables whom you praised have rewarded you,

They said the nobles praised you,

And the most welcome of their gifts has reached you.

And from their prayers you reaped blessings galore;

وَقد زَففت لخيرِ الدين غانيةً

وَقد زَففت لخيرِ الدين غانيةً

فَهوَ الّذي بِمزاياه يكافئها

فَهوَ الّذي بِمزاياه يكافئها

And you have led a fair bride to Khayr al-Din,

Yet to the best religion you came dancing, radiant,

And he, through his virtues, is her worthy match.

For only its virtues make you worth more.

ما بالُ مهركَ عَنها قد مُطلتَ بهِ

ما بالُ مهركَ عَنها قد مُطلتَ بهِ

وَما وفى بِحقوقِ الودّ مرجئها

وَما وفى بِحقوقِ الودّ مرجئها

Why has the dowry owed you for her been delayed?

Why did you hesitate to pay her price?

And one who postpones them has not fulfilled friendship’s obligations.

Why fail to fulfil love’s sacred laws?

فقلتُ يا رُبّ بطءٍ خلفهُ ظفرٌ

فقلتُ يا رُبّ بطءٍ خلفهُ ظفرٌ

وَالسحبُ أبطؤها في السيرِ أملؤها

وَالسحبُ أبطؤها في السيرِ أملؤها

So I said: Ah, many a delay has success behind it,

I said: My Lord, success comes slow sometimes,

And the slowest-moving clouds are the fullest.

The clouds seem slow, but with water their cores.