جزت من أبرويز فخرا وعزا

وبسابور مفخرا لك عزا

You have gained glory and might from the Abrauis,

And Sapur made you glorious and mighty,

بزَّك الدهر تاج ملكك عزا

لا تهن فالملوك من عزَّ بزا

Time adorned you with the crown of your kingship and might,

Do not despair, for kings are made mighty by might,

أي خاقان منصب كسرويٍ

كان يعزى إلا لمثلك يعزى

What Khaqan of the Sassanid seat,

Was made mighty except by the likes of you?

أنت أدنى إلى الطراز وأولى

ثم أحلى له وأحسن طرزا

You are the closest to excellence and the first,

Then the sweetest to it and the best endowed.

يجتني الورد من خصالك غضّاً

كلما المجد هز عطفك هزا

The roses cull their blossoms from your traits,

Whenever glory shakes your side it trembles.

قد هززناك في الحروب قناةً

صعدة لا تلين بالكف غمزا

We have shaken you in wars as a sturdy spear

That does not soften when tapped by the palm.

وانتضيناك للخطوب حساما

مرهفا يهتك الضريبة حزا

And we have forged you for perils as a sharp sword,

That rends the armor and cuts it open.

فبحد الحسام فريا وبرياً

وبصدر القناة طعنا ووخزا

With the edge of the sword we charged and in the open,

And with the chest of the spear we stabbed and thrusted.

قد شربت الأمور عذباً ورنقا

ورعيتَ الدهور حلو أو مزا

You have drunk matters fresh and delicate,

And shepherded the ages pleasant or bitter.

تارة قد تروح تدرز فتقاً

وبأخرى تعود تفتق درزا

At times you may go to mend a rupture,

And at others return to rupture what was mended.

مخفيً في الضمير رمزاً مغطىًّ

ثم لم تألُ فيه تكشف رمزا

Concealing in your conscience a hidden symbol,

Then you do not cease to reveal the symbol.

قيل لي اليوم من أبو الفضل يدعى

قلت بهر أمها أبو الفضل مرزا

I was told today "the one called Abu al-Fadl,"

I said "By his mother Abu al-Fadl is a symbol."

يا أبا الفضل كنية بل واسما

قد أبى الفضل غير اسمك حرزا

O Abu al-Fadl, not just a nickname but a name too,

None but your name has made Excellence a symbol.

فابقَ عوناً لمن يناديك عونا

بل وكنزا لمن يوافيك كنزا

So remain a helper for one who calls you for help,

And even a treasure for one who comes to you for treasure.