لِعَينَيكِ ما يَلقى الفُؤادُ وَما لَقي

لِعَينَيكِ ما يَلقى الفُؤادُ وَما لَقي

وَلِلحُبِّ مالَم يَبقَ مِنّي وَما بَقي

وَلِلحُبِّ مالَم يَبقَ مِنّي وَما بَقي

For your eyes is what the heart endures and has endured,

For your eyes what the heart has found and what it did find

To your eyes belongs my heart's past and present pain, / And to love, whatever remains of me, if remains remain.

And to love belongs what is gone from me and what remains.

And for love what of me remained and what remained

I was never one to let passion breach my heart's gate, / Yet he who beholds your lashes must yield to fate.

وَما كُنتُ مِمَّن يَدخُلُ العِشقُ قَلبَهُ

وَما كُنتُ مِمَّن يَدخُلُ العِشقُ قَلبَهُ

وَلَكِنَّ مَن يُبصِر جُفونَكِ يَعشَقِ

وَلَكِنَّ مَن يُبصِر جُفونَكِ يَعشَقِ

I was not among those whose hearts love enters,

I was not one whose heart love would enter

Between favor and wrath, between distance and nearness, / Lies a realm for the tear to flow in its clearness.

But whoever sees your eyelids falls in love.

But whoever sees your eyelids falls in love

The sweetest love is that where union remains in doubt, / In estrangement, caught between hope and fear throughout.

وَبَينَ الرِضا وَالسُخطِ وَالقُربِ وَالنَوى

وَبَينَ الرِضا وَالسُخطِ وَالقُربِ وَالنَوى

مَجالٌ لِدَمعِ المُقلَةِ المُتَرَقرِقِ

مَجالٌ لِدَمعِ المُقلَةِ المُتَرَقرِقِ

And between favor and displeasure, nearness and separation,

Between acceptance and anger, nearness and intent

Angry with feigned pride, intoxicated with youth's wine, / I pleaded for grace, offering this fresh youth of mine.

There is room for the eye's trembling tears.

There is room for a tear from a fluttering, trembling eye

A cool, honeyed mouth, gleaming bright and fair— / I shielded my lips, so he kissed the part in my hair.

وَأَحلى الهَوى ما شَكَّ في الوَصلِ رَبُّهُ

وَأَحلى الهَوى ما شَكَّ في الوَصلِ رَبُّهُ

وَفي الهَجرِ فَهوَ الدَهرَ يُرجو وَيُتَّقي

وَفي الهَجرِ فَهوَ الدَهرَ يُرجو وَيُتَّقي

And the sweetest love is that whose lover is unsure of union

And the sweetest love is that which its Lord doubts its union

Gazelles with necks like yours came visiting me, / Yet between the adorned and the natural, no difference could I see.

And estrangement, so he always hopes and fears.

And in separation, it hopes for and fears lifetimes

Not every lover keeps virtue when hidden from sight, / As I keep my honor, pleasing the beloved in the thick of the fight.

وَغَضبى مِنَ الإِدلالِ سَكرى مِنَ الصِبا

وَغَضبى مِنَ الإِدلالِ سَكرى مِنَ الصِبا

شَفَعتُ إِلَيها مِن شَبابي بِرَيِّقِ

شَفَعتُ إِلَيها مِن شَبابي بِرَيِّقِ

And a woman angry with coy pride, drunk with youth—

My anger from pampering, my intoxication from youth

May God water the days of youth with joyous rain, / And work upon them as old wine works on the brain.

I pleaded with her through the bloom of my youth.

I interceded to it with the saliva of my prime

If you wear out your days seeking pleasure alone, / You shall be tattered, while Time’s garment stays sown.

وَأَشنَبَ مَعسولِ الثَنِيّاتِ واضِحٍ

وَأَشنَبَ مَعسولِ الثَنِيّاتِ واضِحٍ

سَتَرتُ فَمي عَنهُ فَقَبَّلَ مَفرِقي

سَتَرتُ فَمي عَنهُ فَقَبَّلَ مَفرِقي

And one with cool, fine teeth, his incisors bright and honey-sweet—

And it leaned toward the kissed lips of the curvy one

I saw nothing like those glances on the day they did depart, / Dealing death from pity, piercing every heart.

I hid my mouth from him, so he kissed the parting of my hair.

I covered my mouth from it, and it kissed my temple

They turned bewildered eyes, trembling and free, / As if their dark pupils floated upon mercury.

وَأَجيادِ غِزلانٍ كَجيدِكِ زُرنَني

وَأَجيادِ غِزلانٍ كَجيدِكِ زُرنَني

فَلَم أَتَبَيَّن عاطِلاً مِن مُطَوَّقِ

فَلَم أَتَبَيَّن عاطِلاً مِن مُطَوَّقِ

And gazelles with necks like yours visited me,

And the beautiful gazelles’ necks are like your neck, so

That eve, when weeping veiled our sight from the view, / And fear of parting stole the joy of saying adieu.

And I could not distinguish an unadorned one from one wearing a necklace.

I did not refrain fruitlessly from the adorned one

We bade them farewell, and Parting struck its blow, / Like the spear of Ibn Abi al-Hayja in the heart of the foe.

وَما كُلُّ مَن يَهوى يَعِفُّ إِذا خَلا

وَما كُلُّ مَن يَهوى يَعِفُّ إِذا خَلا

عَفافي وَيُرضي الحِبَّ وَالخَيلُ تَلتَقي

عَفافي وَيُرضي الحِبَّ وَالخَيلُ تَلتَقي

Not every lover is chaste when alone

Not everyone who loves restrains when alone

Lethal and sharp—David’s armor, strong and wide, / Is but a spider’s web when his blades collide.

As I am, and pleases the beloved when horses clash.

My chastity satisfies love and horses meet

They guide the hosts of kings, striking with such art, / As if choosing the brave soul to cull and set apart.

سَقى اللَهُ أَيّامَ الصِبا ما يَسُرُّها

سَقى اللَهُ أَيّامَ الصِبا ما يَسُرُّها

وَيَفعَلُ فِعلَ البابِلِيِّ المُعَتَّقِ

وَيَفعَلُ فِعلَ البابِلِيِّ المُعَتَّقِ

May God water the days of youth with what delights them

May God water the days of youth with what gladdens it

They cleave through every mail and armor plate, / Tearing down every fortress, breaching every gate.

And has the effect of well-aged Babylonian wine.

And do unto it the work of the unleashed Babylonians

With them he raids from Luqan to Wasit’s sands, / And plants his banners where the Euphrates meets Syrian lands.

إِذا ما لَبِستَ الدَهرَ مُستَمتِعاً بِهِ

إِذا ما لَبِستَ الدَهرَ مُستَمتِعاً بِهِ

تَخَرَّقتَ وَالمَلبوسُ لَم يَتَخَرَّقِ

تَخَرَّقتَ وَالمَلبوسُ لَم يَتَخَرَّقِ

If you wear time, taking pleasure in it,

When you wear the days enjoying them

He brings them back crimson; even the steel that stayed whole / Seems to weep blood in pity for the broken soul.

You wear to tatters, while what you wear remains untorn.

You tear but the worn remains untorn

Do not repeat my words to him, lest he ignite, / For he is a warrior who burns for the fight.

وَلَم أَرَ كَالأَلحاظِ يَومَ رَحيلِهِم

وَلَم أَرَ كَالأَلحاظِ يَومَ رَحيلِهِم

بَعَثنَ بِكُلِّ القَتلِ مِن كُلِّ مُشفِقِ

بَعَثنَ بِكُلِّ القَتلِ مِن كُلِّ مُشفِقِ

Never have I seen the like of the glances on their departure day:

And I did not see eyes like on the day of their departure

His fingertips are masters of the sword-edge stroke, / Just as he masters the subtle words he spoke.

They sent every kind of death from every tender heart.

It sent with every killing, from every sympathetic one

Asking him for a drop is like begging the storm for rain, / Blaming his zeal is like asking the turning stars to refrain.

أَدَرنَ عُيوناً حائِراتٍ كَأَنَّها

أَدَرنَ عُيوناً حائِراتٍ كَأَنَّها

مُرَكَّبَةٌ أَحداقُها فَوقَ زِئبَقٍ

مُرَكَّبَةٌ أَحداقُها فَوقَ زِئبَقٍ

They turned bewildered eyes, as though

They turned about confused eyes as if

Your generosity has graced every creed and nation, / Until praise reached you from every tongue and station.

Their pupils were mounted upon quicksilver.

Their eyelids were mounted atop mercury

The Roman King saw how you revel in granting grace, / So he stood before you in a beggar’s humble place.

عَشِيَّةَ يَعدونا عَنِ النَظَرِ البُكا

عَشِيَّةَ يَعدونا عَنِ النَظَرِ البُكا

وَعَن لَذَّةِ التَوديعِ خَوفُ التَفَرُّقِ

وَعَن لَذَّةِ التَوديعِ خَوفُ التَفَرُّقِ

That evening, weeping kept us from looking,

One evening they forbid us from looking and

He abandoned his spears, humbled and outdone, / To a master of the strike, the skillful one.

And fear of separation from the pleasure of farewell.

From the pleasure of bidding farewell, fearing separation

He wrote from a land that seems distant to the eye, / Yet near to your racing steeds that around you fly.

نُوَدِّعُهُم وَالبَينُ فينا كَأَنَّهُ

نُوَدِّعُهُم وَالبَينُ فينا كَأَنَّهُ

قَنا اِبنِ أَبي الهَيجاءِ في قَلبِ فَيلَقِ

قَنا اِبنِ أَبي الهَيجاءِ في قَلبِ فَيلَقِ

We bid them farewell, with separation within us like

We bid them farewell and the distance between us was as if

His messenger trod the path where your armies tread, / Stepping only upon the skulls of the dead.

The lances of Ibn Abi al-Hayja in an army's heart.

The spear of Ibn Abi Hayja was in the heart of an elephant

As he drew near, the ground was hidden from his sight, / Veiled by the glitter of armor and swords shining bright.

قَواضٍ مَواضٍ نَسجُ داوُودَ عِندَها

قَواضٍ مَواضٍ نَسجُ داوُودَ عِندَها

إِذا وَقَعَت فيهِ كَنَسجِ الخَدَرنَقِ

إِذا وَقَعَت فيهِ كَنَسجِ الخَدَرنَقِ

Death-dealing, piercing: David's woven armor, against them,

Fine, splendid steeds, David’s string instruments to her

He walked upon the carpet, unsure in his daze, / If he approached the vast Sea or the full Moon’s gaze.

When they strike it, is like a spider's web.

When she falls onto them like the sound of the kandara

Yet foes could not spare their lives from your hand, / With flowery words or submission’s demand.

هَوادٍ لِأَملاكِ الجُيوشِ كَأَنَّها

هَوادٍ لِأَملاكِ الجُيوشِ كَأَنَّها

تَخَيَّرُ أَرواحَ الكُماةِ وَتَنتَقي

تَخَيَّرُ أَرواحَ الكُماةِ وَتَنتَقي

Guides to the kings of armies, as though they

Encampments for the kings’ armies as if they

And before this truce, when you sent him a line, / You inscribed it on the neck of the Domesticus with a sign.

Choose the souls of armored warriors and pick them out.

Pick the souls of warriors and choose

If you grant him safety, it is what he implored; / If you grant him death, he deserves the sword.

تَقُدُّ عَلَيهِم كُلَّ دِرعٍ وَجَوشَنٍ

تَقُدُّ عَلَيهِم كُلَّ دِرعٍ وَجَوشَنٍ

وَتَفري إِلَيهِم كُلَّ سورٍ وَخَندَقِ

وَتَفري إِلَيهِم كُلَّ سورٍ وَخَندَقِ

They slice through every coat of mail and cuirass upon them,

They lead against them every coat of mail and armor

But have the sharp blades left any alive to be found, / To be ransomed by kin or by mercy unbound?

And cleave every wall and trench to reach them.

And charge unto them every wall and trench

They flocked to your blades like birds to a spring, / Passing in waves to the death they bring.

يُغيرُ بِها بَينَ اللُقانِ وَواسِطٍ

يُغيرُ بِها بَينَ اللُقانِ وَواسِطٍ

وَيُركِزُها بَينَ الفُراتِ وَجِلِّقِ

وَيُركِزُها بَينَ الفُراتِ وَجِلِّقِ

With them he raids between Luqan and Wasit,

He attacks between Al-Luqan and Wasit with them

Through Sayf al-Dawla, the Light, I have gained a station, / Illuminating the East and West of creation.

And plants them between the Euphrates and Jilliq.

And stations them between the Euphrates and Jalliq

If he wishes to mock a fool’s vain stride, / He shows him my dust and says, 'Catch up if you dare ride!'

وَيُرجِعُها حُمراً كَأَنَّ صَحيحَها

وَيُرجِعُها حُمراً كَأَنَّ صَحيحَها

يُبَكّي دَماً مِن رَحمَةِ المُتَدَقِّقِ

يُبَكّي دَماً مِن رَحمَةِ المُتَدَقِّقِ

And brings them back red, as though the intact ones

And returns them red as if their origin

I sought not to cause the envious distress, / But he who challenges the ocean sinks in its excess.

Weep blood in pity for the splintered ones.

Makes blood weep from the mercy of the sympathetic one

The Prince tests men with his judgment keen, / Ignoring the frauds, though his knowledge is unseen.

فَلا تُبلِغاهُ ما أَقولُ فَإِنَّهُ

فَلا تُبلِغاهُ ما أَقولُ فَإِنَّهُ

شُجاعٌ مَتى يُذكَر لَهُ الطَعنُ يَشتَقِ

شُجاعٌ مَتى يُذكَر لَهُ الطَعنُ يَشتَقِ

So do not tell him, you two, what I say, for he is

So do not relay to him what I say, for he is

It avails not to lower the eyes in modest part, / If humility dwells not within the gazing heart.

A brave man who longs for spear-thrusts whenever they are mentioned to him.

Valiant - when the spears are mentioned to him, he yearns

O hunted one, stay by his side and be secure, / O destitute one, seek him and find your cure.

ضَروبٌ بِأَطرافِ السُيوفِ بَنانُهُ

ضَروبٌ بِأَطرافِ السُيوفِ بَنانُهُ

لَعوبٌ بِأَطرافِ الكَلامِ المُشَقَّقِ

لَعوبٌ بِأَطرافِ الكَلامِ المُشَقَّقِ

His fingers strike mightily with sword-points,

A striker with the edges of swords - his build

O coward, walk with him and your courage will grow, / O bravest knight, leave him and fear you shall know.

And play with the fine points of elaborately wrought speech.

A player with the edges of intricate words

If foes strive to plot against his glorious name, / His fortune strikes back with a furious aim.

كَسائِلِهِ مَن يَسأَلُ الغَيثَ قَطرَةً

كَسائِلِهِ مَن يَسأَلُ الغَيثَ قَطرَةً

كَعاذِلِهِ مَن قالَ لِلفَلَكِ اِرفُقِ

كَعاذِلِهِ مَن قالَ لِلفَلَكِ اِرفُقِ

Whoever asks the rain for a drop is like one who begs of him;

Like one who asks the rain for a droplet

For visible virtue alone cannot conquer the foe, / Unless Fortune’s favor makes the victory flow.

Whoever tells the celestial sphere, 'Be gentle,' is like one who chides him.

Like one who tells the sky, “Be gentle!”

لَقَد جُدتَ حَتّى جُدتَ في كُلِّ مِلَّةٍ

لَقَد جُدتَ حَتّى جُدتَ في كُلِّ مِلَّةٍ

وَحَتّى أَتاكَ الحَمدُ مِن كُلِّ مَنطِقِ

وَحَتّى أَتاكَ الحَمدُ مِن كُلِّ مَنطِقِ

Indeed, you gave until your bounty reached every faith,

Indeed you have tried until you have tired in every faith

And until praise came to you from every tongue.

And until praise came to you from every speaker

رَأى مَلِكُ الرومِ اِرتِياحَكَ لِلنَدى

رَأى مَلِكُ الرومِ اِرتِياحَكَ لِلنَدى

فَقامَ مَقامَ المُجتَدي المُتَمَلِّقِ

فَقامَ مَقامَ المُجتَدي المُتَمَلِّقِ

The king of the Romans saw your delight in generosity,

The King of Rome saw your pleasure with dew

So he took the place of a flattering suppliant.

So he took the place of the straining sycophant

وَخَلّى الرِماحَ السَمهَرِيَّةَ صاغِراً

وَخَلّى الرِماحَ السَمهَرِيَّةَ صاغِراً

لِأَدرَبَ مِنهُ بِالطِعانِ وَأَحذَقِ

لِأَدرَبَ مِنهُ بِالطِعانِ وَأَحذَقِ

And, humbled, left the stiff, straight lances

And surrendered the Byzantine spears humbled

To one more practiced and more skilled than he in spear-fighting.

To the most well-aimed, spear-throwing one

وَكاتَبَ مِن أَرضٍ بَعيدٍ مَرامُها

وَكاتَبَ مِن أَرضٍ بَعيدٍ مَرامُها

قَريبٍ عَلى خَيلٍ حَوالَيكَ سُبَّقِ

قَريبٍ عَلى خَيلٍ حَوالَيكَ سُبَّقِ

And wrote from a land far away,

And wrote from a distant land, its goal

Yet near to reach on the fleet horses around you.

Nearby, about horses racing around you

وَقَد سارَ في مَسراكَ مِنها رَسولُهُ

وَقَد سارَ في مَسراكَ مِنها رَسولُهُ

فَما سارَ إِلّا فَوقَ هامٍ مُفَلَّقِ

فَما سارَ إِلّا فَوقَ هامٍ مُفَلَّقِ

His envoy traveled from it along your route,

And his messenger travelled the route to you from it

And traveled only over split-open skulls.

But only travelled above a crumbling cliff

فَلَمّا دَنا أَخفى عَلَيهِ مَكانَهُ

فَلَمّا دَنا أَخفى عَلَيهِ مَكانَهُ

شُعاعُ الحَديدِ البارِقِ المُتَأَلِّقِ

شُعاعُ الحَديدِ البارِقِ المُتَأَلِّقِ

When he drew near, his whereabouts were hidden from him

So when he drew near, the shine of glistening iron

By the radiance of flashing, glittering steel.

Concealed its location from him

وَأَقبَلَ يَمشي في البِساطِ فَما دَرى

وَأَقبَلَ يَمشي في البِساطِ فَما دَرى

إِلى البَحرِ يَمشي أَم إِلى البَدرِ يَرتَقي

إِلى البَحرِ يَمشي أَم إِلى البَدرِ يَرتَقي

He came walking across the carpet, not knowing

And he walked on the carpets but did not realize

Whether he walked toward the sea or rose toward the full moon.

If he walked to the sea or ascended to the moon

وَلَم يَثنِكَ الأَعداءُ عَن مُهَجاتِهِم

وَلَم يَثنِكَ الأَعداءُ عَن مُهَجاتِهِم

بِمِثلِ خُضوعٍ في كَلامٍ مُنَمَّقِ

بِمِثلِ خُضوعٍ في كَلامٍ مُنَمَّقِ

Your enemies have never turned you from their lifeblood

Nor did enemies curb their madness

So well as by humble submission in finely adorned speech.

With the same submission in intricate words

وَكُنتَ إِذا كاتَبتَهُ قَبلَ هَذِهِ

وَكُنتَ إِذا كاتَبتَهُ قَبلَ هَذِهِ

كَتَبتَ إِلَيهِ في قَذالِ الدُمُستُقِ

كَتَبتَ إِلَيهِ في قَذالِ الدُمُستُقِ

Before this, whenever you corresponded with him,

And whenever you wrote to him before this

You wrote to him on the back of the Domestikos's head.

You wrote to him on flea-infested hides

فَإِن تُعطِهِ مِنكَ الأَمانَ فَسائِلٌ

فَإِن تُعطِهِ مِنكَ الأَمانَ فَسائِلٌ

وَإِن تُعطِهِ حَدَّ الحُسامِ فَأَخلِقِ

وَإِن تُعطِهِ حَدَّ الحُسامِ فَأَخلِقِ

If you grant him safety from you, he is a petitioner;

So if you give him safety from you, he asks

And if you grant him the keen sword's edge, how fitting!

And if you give him the limit of swords, he is created anew

وَهَل تَرَكَ البيضُ الصَوارِمُ مِنهُمُ

وَهَل تَرَكَ البيضُ الصَوارِمُ مِنهُمُ

أَسيراً لِفادٍ أَو رَقيقاً لِمُعتِقِ

أَسيراً لِفادٍ أَو رَقيقاً لِمُعتِقِ

Have the gleaming, sharp swords left among them

Did the whites leave them

A captive for someone to ransom, or a slave for someone to free?

A captive for ransom or slave for manumission?

لَقَد وَرَدوا وِردَ القَطا شَفَراتِها

لَقَد وَرَدوا وِردَ القَطا شَفَراتِها

وَمَرّوا عَلَيها زَردَقاً بَعدَ زَردَقِ

وَمَرّوا عَلَيها زَردَقاً بَعدَ زَردَقِ

They came to their blades as sandgrouse come to water,

Indeed they came in waves - their swords

And passed over them, rank after rank.

And they passed by them like ships after ships

بَلَغتُ بِسَيفِ الدَولَةِ النورِ رُتبَةً

بَلَغتُ بِسَيفِ الدَولَةِ النورِ رُتبَةً

أَثَرتُ بِها مابَينَ غَربٍ وَمَشرِقِ

أَثَرتُ بِها مابَينَ غَربٍ وَمَشرِقِ

Through Sayf al-Dawla, the light, I attained a rank

I reached by the State’s Sword such elevated ranks

By which I stirred all between west and east.

I impacted what was between West and East by it

إِذا شاءَ أَن يَلهو بِلِحيَةِ أَحمَقٍ

إِذا شاءَ أَن يَلهو بِلِحيَةِ أَحمَقٍ

أَراهُ غُباري ثُمَّ قالَ لَهُ اِلحَقِ

أَراهُ غُباري ثُمَّ قالَ لَهُ اِلحَقِ

If he wishes to toy with a fool's beard,

When he wishes to joke with some fool’s beard

He shows him my dust, then says to him, 'Catch up!'

I show him my dust then tell him, “Catch up!”

وَما كَمَدُ الحُسّادِ شَيئاً قَصَدتُهُ

وَما كَمَدُ الحُسّادِ شَيئاً قَصَدتُهُ

وَلَكِنَّهُ مَن يَزحَمِ البَحرَ يَغرَقِ

وَلَكِنَّهُ مَن يَزحَمِ البَحرَ يَغرَقِ

The anguish of the envious was not something I intended,

The jealous have not obstructed anything I intended

But whoever jostles the sea will drown.

But one who barges the sea drowns

وَيَمتَحِنُ الناسَ الأَميرُ بِرَأيِهِ

وَيَمتَحِنُ الناسَ الأَميرُ بِرَأيِهِ

وَيُغضي عَلى عِلمٍ بِكُلِّ مُمَخرِقِ

وَيُغضي عَلى عِلمٍ بِكُلِّ مُمَخرِقِ

The prince tests people by his judgment,

And the Commander tests people by his opinion

And turns a blind eye, knowing every charlatan.

And is lenient with knowledge of every mended one

وَإِطراقُ طَرفِ العَينِ لَيسَ بِنافِعٍ

وَإِطراقُ طَرفِ العَينِ لَيسَ بِنافِعٍ

إِذا كانَ طَرفُ القَلبِ لَيسَ بِمُطرِقِ

إِذا كانَ طَرفُ القَلبِ لَيسَ بِمُطرِقِ

Lowering the eye's gaze is of no avail

And lowering the eye’s gaze brings no benefit

If the heart's gaze is not lowered.

If the heart’s gaze is not lowered

فَيا أَيُّها المَطلوبُ جاوِرهُ تَمتَنِع

فَيا أَيُّها المَطلوبُ جاوِرهُ تَمتَنِع

وَيا أَيُّها المَحرومُ يَمِّمهُ تُرزَقِ

وَيا أَيُّها المَحرومُ يَمِّمهُ تُرزَقِ

So O pursued one, dwell beside him and be protected;

So oh you, the sought - live next to Him, you refusal!

And O deprived one, seek him and be provided for.

And oh you, the deprived - direct yourself to Him, you are given provision!

وَيا أَجبَنَ الفُرسانِ صاحِبهُ تَجتَرِئ

وَيا أَجبَنَ الفُرسانِ صاحِبهُ تَجتَرِئ

وَيا أَشجَعَ الشُجعانِ فارِقهُ تَفرَقِ

وَيا أَشجَعَ الشُجعانِ فارِقهُ تَفرَقِ

And O most cowardly of horsemen, accompany him and grow bold;

Oh most cowardly horseman - accompany Him, you audacity!

And O bravest of the brave, leave him and grow afraid.

Oh bravest of the brave - part from Him, you split!

إِذا سَعَتِ الأَعداءُ في كَيدِ مَجدِهِ

إِذا سَعَتِ الأَعداءُ في كَيدِ مَجدِهِ

سَعى جَدُّهُ في كَيدِهِم سَعيَ مُحنَقِ

سَعى جَدُّهُ في كَيدِهِم سَعيَ مُحنَقِ

When enemies strive to plot against his glory,

When the enemies seek to plot against his glory

His good fortune strives to plot against them like one enraged.

His grandfather plots against them - an obliterating plot

وَما يَنصُرُ الفَضلُ المُبينُ عَلى العِدا

وَما يَنصُرُ الفَضلُ المُبينُ عَلى العِدا

إِذا لَم يَكُن فَضلَ السَعيدِ المُوَفَّقِ

إِذا لَم يَكُن فَضلَ السَعيدِ المُوَفَّقِ

Manifest excellence does not bring victory over foes

And manifest grace does not give victory over the enemy

Unless it is the excellence of one fortunate and favored.

If it is not the grace of the successful, guided one